Loreena McKennitt - Nights from the Alhambra

Caravanserai. Raglan roads. The mystic's dream. Cymbeline. Marco Polo. Dante's prayer. the Bonny Swans. Huron 'Beltane' Fire Dance.

Putting the CD on, lying down on my bed for a siesta on a hot, timeless Malaysian afternoon, the last orange rays of sunlight permeating in a warm glow from the drawn curtains, somehow, too sweet, already cold but nevertheless great teh tarek on the battered wooden desk where i used to assemble my plastic scale models, attracting armies of ants (black, tiny, and acrid-smelling when you squish them). Its funny but this is what i think of, of Malaysia, and home, when i am abroad - that cosy room that is too hot (and orange-y) in evenings, the call to prayer at 5 in the morning just as i start to get into bed, having fun making supper at 2 a.m., pasar tanis (morning markets) with my father, the chilly morning air on my face, driving, picking greens...

***

I had let my thoughts wander and it instantly, always, runs back to magical Nepal, a flood of memories - that night in Belahiya, getting drunk on Royal Stag whiskey and coke, celebrating "graduating" India (What happens in Belahiya, stays in Belahiya), strolling the lakeside at Pokhara with a few really cool guys and gals, staying on for 2 weeks, lazy late breakfasts at the Pumpernickel Bakery's pretty garden by the lake, a 10 day journey up into the heart of the Annapurna Range, an awe inspiring amphitheatre of ice, snow and giants rising out into the sky. The route up was psychadelic, from the Macchapucchare base camp (i hope almost a year after Nepal, i can still spell this right. I used to pride myself for being able to spell, and pronounce it correctly, instead of the lazy ol' "fishtail", as it is also known.) on, walking through the shifting clouds, swirls of mist dancing around tors, a sea of flowers, red and yellow and purple and pink, and me, walking/floating through it all, no end and no other person in sight. Psychadelic, amazing, breath taking - its what i only use those words for now.

Above: My home in the clouds - notice the little cabin, bottom left... Taken 9 June 2008, Macchapucchare Base Camp - which isn't really a base camp cos you arent supposed to climb it. The locals consider it sacred, the abode of Gods. It wasn't hard to see why.

Above: Macchapucchare looming magnificently right in front of us. See the tiny people at the bottom of the photo? The awe, the grandeur... 9/6/2008


Above: A beautiful dream. Through the clouds on the way to Annapurna base camp. 9/6/2008

And also legendary Kathmandu, the end of the road for me, and the hippies who made it, 30 years ago, overland, from Europe. A fanless room at the south end of Thamel, next to Thamel High School (???) and breakfasts at Helena's rooftop - 99Rs (a dollar and a half for 2 eggs, sauted potatoes - which are the best, ever, and a banana, grilled tomato, sausages, toast, jam, butter and tea/coffee...), going for those long walks out of town into the Kathmandu valley, to the Swayambunath monkey temple, Patan, Pashupatinath...


p/s - the CD was bought for 30 Nepali rupees at a music shop in Pokhara, near Camping Chowk.