In Nature's Lap

There is so much within me bursting to erode into a torrent of words and yet…I procrastinate…I shy away from writing.
Anyway, here is a meek attempt, being fresh from a wonderful trip I had with family in green, verdant, gorgeous Kodaikanal.
We stayed in an utterly picturesque resort called Villa Retreat right next to Coaker’s Walk in Kodaikanal. The view of the town (and what lies way beyond it) from the green dewy lawns of the resort is mind numbingly beautiful and an ‘out of the world’ experience. I would stare at the view for long hours to soak in all that beauty and permanently store it in my mind’s eye (my conscious) with the intent of retrieving it as and when my eyes tire of concrete structures, dust, pollution and crowd.
During our stay at the resort, we travelled to a thinly populated, remote village called Manamannoor, roughly about 35 kms from Kodaikanal. The drive to the place is beautiful and en route we stopped at the pine forest and gleefully got lost amidst the towering pine trees that appeared to reach out and embrace the skies. On reaching the village, we trekked through some desolate hills and forests and got drenched in a waterfall in the middle of nowhere and finally lunched near a beautiful river with just cows for company.
In the town, my husband and I cycled around the lake for almost an hour and went for long walks to unexplored parts of the town.
On the day of our return, we finally managed to glimpse the glorious sunrise from the resort. While standing on the wet and dewy lawn, cold and shivering, and staring at the changing hues in the sky before the Sun finally made its resplendent appearance, my faith in my Maker was strengthened. It was such a grand spectacle, which made me realize how insignificant I was before nature’s power. I bowed in reverence to the Sun. I suppose nature offers you rare, precious glimpses and teaches you certain lessons that no one or nothing else can.
The entire family had a whale of a time and here I am, back to my spirited self.

"You will find something far greater in the woods than you will find in books. Stones and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters." - St. Bernard