We were at the Grand Canyon for the Memorial Day weekend. And I am sure this will be the most memorable Memorial Day weekend of my life.

Grand Canyon is one of those extremely humbling experiences of my life. Gaping at the grand glory, I realised how 'Grand' aptly prefixes the canyon. We never will cease to marvel at nature's stoic manner of asserting its permanent presence against the passing human life. The Grand Canyon towered like an enigma - raising several questions in the mind, some of which were answered and many just left to time.

Our trip started with the beautiful five hour drive to the canyon with the snow-capped north rim greeting us on the way. After a restless wait at a winding line at the gate, we were there, at the Grand Canyon village. My first breathtaking view of the magnificent canyon was from the Yavapai point and then from the Mather point. We registered at the Yavapai Lodge within the Canyon Village. After a quick pizza snack, we set out for Hopi point to witness the sun set behind the canyon. It was spectacular. We got to take some great photographs of the view, some of which now adorn our living room. We had a decent dinner at the Yavapai cafe. All the while, I had no clue on how glorious the next dawn of my life was going to be. We had to wake up really early. But it was worth every wink of sleep that I lost.


The sun rising on the grand canyon and lighting up cliff after cliff is probably one of the most surreal experiences that I have ever had. I was so much in awe watching nature in all her ravishing beauty, spreading her golden radiance on the rocky canyon cliffs. The cliffs were in no hurry either. It was as though they were patiently awaiting their turn to be illuminated. There I was stuck by the spectacle in front of me, with the feeling that it was all being staged for me. The sun, the grand canyon and the morning mist were all trying to make me happy, they were all there just for me to savour, to drown me in peace and happiness. Nature's irresistible charm had just worked on me. I wanted to stay on, be another alluring cliff in the canyon and wait for the sun to light me up. Okay, I know that sounds a bit funny - anyways!

We had breakfast and spiritedly embarked on a short hike down the Bright Angel trail. Boy! what fun that was. We hiked down as we watched people with large hiking packs return from their trip. They had a sense of accomplishment largely writ on their faces - a feeling of having conquered the canyon.

After lunch at the cafe, we left for the Eastern rim. The best view of the canyon, in my opinion, is from the East Rim. While all the time I was not able to take the entire splendour in my eyes (the limitation of our senses, here), it was at the East Rim that I drank in, a relatively larger view of the grandeur. And that is where the Colorado river is seen in its winding beauty. More photographs, and we were on our way out of the Grand Canyon village. We were at the IMax that screens the Grand Canyon movie. That movie was the icing on my grand-canyon-trip cake. Do I appreciate nature's grandeur ? Or man's ability to present it in a scintillatingly realistic manner ? Oh! I was one with the canyon all through the movie. And I was so obsessed and lost in it that I left my handbag behind when we left the theater (we retrieved it later, dont worry!). Soon, we were homeward bound after the awesome weekend.

The last time that I felt my ego absolutely shattered by nature's overwhelming grandeur was at the Niagara Falls. It is water there, it is rocks here. There was a difference in my experience, though. I felt so excited at the Niagara Falls, while I felt so peaceful at the Grand Canyon. Maybe its the solemn elegance of the beckoning canyon versus the swift effervescence of the Niagara. Or maybe, its just time.

Music inspires, music invigorates, and music heals. But the deepest spiritual experience is the blissful silence that the self feels amidst those harmonious waves. And in that silence, the soul rejoices, dances and celebrates.

Silent Music & Celebrative Dance

pure, divine,
rhythmic notes,
toucheth the chord
of inner meaning…

cymbals, accordions,
even windy chimes,
bestir in it
a celebrative being…

O God! I revel in
all that You make,
Yet, it is in the harmony
of music,
that my soul doth wake!

This is a poetry by Sri Sri Ravishankarji - Art Of Living foundation.

PROMISE
If I had to promise you something, what would it be?

I can’t promise that you would always be comfortable…
Because comfort brings boredom and discomfort.

I can’t promise that all your desires will be fulfilled…
Because desires whether fulfilled or unfulfilled bring frustration.

I can’t promise that there will always be good times…
Because it is the tough times that make us appreciate joy.

I can’t promise that you will be rich or famous or powerful…
Because they can all be pathways to misery.

I can’t promise that we will always be together…
Because it is separation that makes togetherness so wonderful...

Yet if you are willing to walk with me,
If you are willing to value love over everything else,

I promise that this will be the most rich and fulfilling life possible.
I promise your life will be an eternal celebration.

...

From - http://bookstore.artofliving.org. Thanks.

Jamba Juice is a popular fresh juices shop out here. Today was my first time at Jamba Juice. I was amazed by the variety of fruit cocktails they serve over there. Especially the names of the 'EnLightened Smoothies'. They were - 'Strawberry Nirvana', 'Mango Mantra', 'Berry Fulfilling' and 'Tropical Awakening'. And the description of these drinks ran like these - 'a heavenly mix of..', 'a mind-opening medley of..' and 'a harmonious whirl of..' among others. But the one that led the lot was 'a Zen blend of passion fruit, oj,....'. Now, that was really really interesting.

Talking about fruit juices, I was a big fan of Fruit Shop on Greams Road back home. I can never ever forget the mango juice; the pure mango pulp sans ice and sugar. A nice long sip of it with my eyes closed - the pure taste of mangoes was a taste of heaven itself - almost a glimpse into the soul.

Everytime I think I have understood what death is all about, he strikes right on, blows me down, makes me gasp for breath and forces me down to my knees and stays on until I let go and say - 'All right, you've won again'. All the Gita and Upanishads in this world seem to lend no help when he decides to strike on the bull. He catches you unawares, tramples all of the hope that is left, and nails you down. The damage at the end of it is devastating. And if time heals, why does it stop now. When the sheer reality of death and its morbid consequences dawn, time seems to stop. Just when the coast appears to be clear, death storms in all its power and regality. Yes, in his own way, the great leveller is regal, sparing no one. But he never gives me a chance to understand what he really is, and remains one more of the several mystifying mysteries. Peace.