Tales from the Island of Serendip 4 4

[jhutton2]

Michael, there are literally tears in my eyes and I am having to wipe them off my cheeks. Thank you for sharing and making this morning very special for me!

 

Jason

[Flex Mentallo]

Thanks Jason. It's good to know.

[Yellow Kid]

My niece married an Indian in Baltimore. It was an amazing event, extremely colorful, but only lasted one day and I am so happy that I was able to attend the ceremony. Later they went to India and had a ceremony more like Michael just described but I was unable to attend it.

 

Thank you for sharing this most moving experience.

Richard

[Flex Mentallo]

Thanks Richard. Sadly, no white horses or elephants!

[Pat Calhoun]

& Herrick comes to mind as well, my friend:

 

I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers,

Of April, May, of June, and July-flowers;

I sing of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes,

Of bridegrooms, brides and of their bridal-cakes...

 

Cheers!

[Flex Mentallo]

Nice, Pat.

[Flex Mentallo]

Mirage

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

I've been to many hill stations in India, from Ootacamund in the south to Simla and Manali in the north.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

But I had never managed to reach Darjeeling, in West Bengal.

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Edward Lear's painting of 'Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling' perfectly captures its romance.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Immediately following the wedding Purnabha and Lucina set off for a brief honeymoon in Darjeeling.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Sadly, it did not quite match their expectations.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Whatever it once may have been, the town is now very dirty and overcrowded.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Of course, this does not prevent the Indian Tourist Board from promoting it as a romantic getaway.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

And unfortunately the miniature railway proved to be the biggest disappointment.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Spending most of its journey winding through narrow streets. They never did see Kangchenjunga, enshrouded in mists.

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

'We are very bored, so really wish you were here.'

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Still, they had their moments, thank goodness...

 

 

 

 

 

 

..and I think what mattered most was the sense of liberation at last...

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Meanwhile, I had a number of missions to take care of...

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Paddyfield School had now become 'The Captain Nirmal Sen Gupta Memorial Institute'.