We may receive pleasant surprises when we expect them least. When I was suggested the place called "Branson" in the borders of Missouri and Arkansas for a weekend trip I visualised to be a small town on the shores of a lake , worth a day's tour. Yes I don't deny the fact that it is small . But how could I imagine that this place is big enough to house 50 entertainment theatres with multitudes of artists, magicians, gymnasts, circus people performing each day to entertain crowds arriving from neighbouring Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri?
The drive to Branson is through valleys between densely covered Ozark mountains. The trees on the both sides were assuming bright fall colours a rare phenomenon unheard in my country. The multiple curvy concrete roads, though man made, added more beauty to the surroundings. It's resorts were built in the midst of thick green covers, and it's multiple lakes add sublime beauty to the gorgeous surroundings.
Our stay in resort was very memorable and reminded me of a forest guest houses way back in my country where I stayed with my sister's family. The walls were typically adorned with antilope's horns. The walls were nothing more than thick wood logs and interiors were made with rich quality wood. It was truly amazing to watch so much wood being used for building purpose. It pained me to watch many notifications on the way indicating sale of acres and acres of land with lush grown trees for development purpose.
New York Broadway attracted my attention when I had to choose my show and I was thoroughly disappointed with it. Shanghai gymnasts fared better though they were no where nearer to Vegas performers. Branson was almost like a family Vegas. It had two important things to offer to the tourists over five decades, one is entertainment and the other being beautiful nature. I think it is a great combination.
Shanghai performers have shown their country's high lights as no body did. The great cultures have lot of their own to show case to the world like skills , artistry, stories, music and dance honed over centuries. To learn about India one need to have a special interest. At his own peril he has to get acquainted with things therein. Modern India for long is closed to the world. It is unhealthy to depend on our IT sector alone for the much needed recognition and prosperity.
The butterfly museum, it's humid environment, it's various butterflies reminded me of India. The caterpillars, the glowing insects , butterflies how long ago did they fly in my back yard? Not very long ago. May be ten years. Now am I able to see them? May be as not often. The small jumping frogs which jumped into my house the moment I opened my back door seem are in extinct. How could it be? Yes. It is possible. It is not difficult to make bad things possible.
We went to the wild after the museum. I think I exhausted all my vocabulary. I need to coin few words to explain the beauty of changing nature.Yet I felt I was passing through a phase of diminishing returns. I had enough of every thing here. I need some gap to renew my interest in these things. The fall hues, the ups and down the hill by the lakes, deep green woods , I am experiencing repetitive fading emotional raptures. It is time to experience some thing very different.I am tired of too much beauty. I can not conceive any further.
I am saturated. I need a break. It is the time to go back to my country. I must once again get into that insane traffic, unhygienic eateries, reckless crowds, loud musics, lengthy movie ticket lines and wet bath rooms. There I can thrash any body, I can pat a child, I can pray loud, I can cross in the midst of a busy road. I do not think that I love to do that. But I have got more familiarity with them. A disgusting familiarity can make me love any thing exotic once again.
My unscrupulous politicians, my torrential rains or floods, my Midnapore nuxalites, my home grown love jehadis, my Hindu opportunists, increasing neighbour hood Taliban threats, each and every thing is big enough to make me anxious. My fluttering news paper at the door, my inevitable news channels, my endless cut outs on the roads, constantly remind me of the mess around. And I am unconsciously dragged into them. I really don't look forward to them. But I am just a part of them.
Did I ever miss anything here in US ? When I question myself I cannot help think about strong filter coffee. Countless varieties of best coffees of the world were available to me. But none of the coffee was good for my palate. I am so much used to the chicory blend least flavourful sawdust sold to me in my market. Surprisingly I never missed Indian food, though I wouldn't thoroughly like exotic herbs in my platter..
Lack of domestic servants necessarily doesn't appear to be a problem here. In fact , engaging servants in India is increasingly becoming headache for people like me. Perhaps I am one amongst many who cannot extract work from people. So I am happier with the machines. I started viewing Indian work force with high regards after coming here. The way things are skillfully handled by my people back there is praiseworthy. In times where smartness in India is misread as English speaking, I think we need to pat our many youngsters who barely can speak English but handle things exquisitely.
I am fascinated by the orderliness, cleanliness and discipline over here. The comforts don't look very exiting as most of the things are available in India. We are not so much behind. Perhaps not at all. But I don't see any possibility of our growing so clean and orderly. It is too much to ask for.
My unscrupulous politicians, my torrential rains or floods, my Midnapore nuxalites, my home grown love jehadis, my Hindu opportunists, increasing neighbour hood Taliban threats, each and every thing is big enough to make me anxious. My fluttering news paper at the door, my inevitable news channels, my endless cut outs on the roads, constantly remind me of the mess around. And I am unconsciously dragged into them. I really don't look forward to them. But I am just a part of them.
Did I ever miss anything here in US ? When I question myself I cannot help think about strong filter coffee. Countless varieties of best coffees of the world were available to me. But none of the coffee was good for my palate. I am so much used to the chicory blend least flavourful sawdust sold to me in my market. Surprisingly I never missed Indian food, though I wouldn't thoroughly like exotic herbs in my platter..
Lack of domestic servants necessarily doesn't appear to be a problem here. In fact , engaging servants in India is increasingly becoming headache for people like me. Perhaps I am one amongst many who cannot extract work from people. So I am happier with the machines. I started viewing Indian work force with high regards after coming here. The way things are skillfully handled by my people back there is praiseworthy. In times where smartness in India is misread as English speaking, I think we need to pat our many youngsters who barely can speak English but handle things exquisitely.
I am fascinated by the orderliness, cleanliness and discipline over here. The comforts don't look very exiting as most of the things are available in India. We are not so much behind. Perhaps not at all. But I don't see any possibility of our growing so clean and orderly. It is too much to ask for.
I loved the nature. It may be or may not be one of the most beautiful countries in relative terms. But I have seen the large stretches of green belts, beautiful lakes, ravaging rivers, majestic mountains and thundering waterfalls.. still alive.. which should qualify this place to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's sparse population in terms of it's land offered me an opportunity to be one with the nature. It's liberal outlook allowed me to eat and drink whatever and wherever want. It granted me freedom from dress code. Freedom enjoyed by their women offered me new insights into the concept of personal freedom. Law enforcement here reinforced my belief in good governance. I am turning to be an optimist. We have not yet lost good things. Half of the forests of earth are not lost. Still we have Antarctica . Amazon forests are have not turned thin. We have not lost good things yet.
Admist all the contemplation I say adieu to this place. This is very necessary to comprehend more, to rejuvenate, to renew, to reinvent life. It is much needed break. I would like to bid fare well showing statue emblematic to welcome than to goodbye. I always thought that it is very metaphorical to Americanism.
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