{Hermex}

2006-11-30 - 5:37 p.m.

Near the top of a mountain near Rishikesh, where The Beatles went to get holy 40 years ago, my brother and I stumbled upon a tiny mountain village, that looked like the biggest, lushest community garden you ever saw. Even higher, we found a tiny school. We were greeted with exhuberent Hello's and Namaste's as we came up the hillside. We whipped out a camera, and the kids fled in panic, but then reemerged shouting "Photo! Photo!" I motioned for them to line up against the schoolhouse, and crouched down to take the picture. Kids piled in, filling the frame. I snaped the picture and moments later, the sky went dark. Two dozen Indian kids formed a screaming dome over me, trying to get a glimpse of the picture. I zoomed in and panned, so they could see themselves, more screams of delight. Nobody was too cool to flip out, and for the first time in India, I felt totally present and connected to this place.

###

Sign my guestbook or write me

previous || next || newest || archives || profile || diaryland