The Experience of a Lifetime

The most beautiful place I've visited is undoubtedly The Grand Canyon. It was, to me, a canvas showcasing Nature's majesty in all its glory. And someone way up above was having a good one the day we visited, so she very kindly arranged for it to rain, then threw in some sleet, followed by snow, after which she got a gusty wind going. All of which was leading to the grand finale, a brightly shining sun! :) I died and went to my personal Heaven that day. :))))

We missed an amazing sunset view (so I was told), 'cos someone omitted to factor in the difference between PST and Mountain Time. (And it wasn't me, cross my black heart) But it has made narry a difference to me. I absolutely L.O.V.E.D. the visual delights and certainly want to go back; and this time camp on the erstwhile riverbed.

One of my most prized possessions today is a twig I carried back from my visit. We aren't supposed to remove anything out of there per the rules, but I just had to carry back a gateway to my experience. This twig transports me back to the views I had of our Mother Earth that day (sometime in 2004, I think), in which I find a measure of peace. The visit remains a trip into the spiritual realm for me.

Enigma - Return To Innocence

[This is not the original video associated with the song (for which embedding has been disabled on YouTube), but it is a beautiful one nevertheless]

That's not the beginning of the end

That's the return to yourself

The return to innocence

Don't be afraid to be weak

Don't be too proud to be strong

Just look into your heart my friend

That will be the return to yourself

The return to innocence

If you want, then start to laugh

If you must, then start to cry

Be yourself don't hide

Just believe in destiny

Don't care what people say

Just follow your own way

Don't give up and use the chance

To return to innocence

That's not the beginning of the end

That's the return to yourself

The return to innocence

Don't care what people say

Entwined

Your Smile, I treasure

Your Grace, I worship

Your Attitude, I covet

Your Emotions, I reflect

Your Charm, I protect

Your Soul, I drape around mine

Your Heart, I make love to

Your Determination, My strength

Your Compassion, My inspiration

Your Courage, My shield

Your Hope, My dreams

Your Joy, My wings

Your being, a mere vehicle to enable the above.

The Louis Theroux Collection

I was recently gifted the Louis Therous Collection and was eagerly looking forward to watching it - given the interesting theme of exploring a variety of sub-cultures and Louis Theroux looking mighty intelligent, as also to better understand the "genzo" style of journalism.

Each of the series featured within the collection (across 2 themes - exploring subcultures & following 'celebrities') turned out to be complete wash-outs. I am appalled by the total lack of preparation on the production house' (BBC-2) and the presenter' (Louis Theroux) parts in respect of most the subculture they have undertaken to 'document' and with each of them being satisfied with portraying only the most cursory, basic understanding of each subculture to its audience. Most of the identified subcultures were of interest to me and I would have thought that covering a wider spectrum of views within each subculture and delving into each of them in greater depth ought to have been the obvious choice. In my mind, most have turned out to be meaningless documentaries. And this ought to be an insult to the average TV and/ or documentary viewer' intelligence and time (not to mention money, as the BBC continues to be financed by license fees approved by the Parliament).

(I am biased about the follow-the-celebrity bits, 'cos none of the ones featured in the collection are of any interest to me. So no opinion on them)

Phil Ochs - I'm Tired

(The lyrics are included within the video)