Natural High

The year started off with a cold pensive post. Once again it is silently slipping away at last and I thought it would be inappropriate to end the year without another pensive post. I've become insomniac again so I've got all the time in the world.

2011 has been bittersweet for me. I don’t know what the remaining few days have in store for me. I don’t like surprises, whatsoever. I usually spend Christmas Day listening to Jim Reeves’ ‘Twelve Songs Of Christmas’ and I might do the same this year too.

I bade farewell to a handful of very good friends this April when I came to live in this city. I had been practically living with them for the past two years and it wasn’t easy parting ways. But old must give way to the new, right? And so I left, and so I came; a new city, a new life.

The first few weeks were unkind, yet I experienced something very strange. I didn't know the language well and all I did was walk around the city looking at life. I hardly talked to anyone and for the first time in my life my mind was at rest. All I did was think and write in my journal. It was like a natural high, like those two minutes of sweet surrender before waking up in the morning. My mind was pregnant with ideas, always. I'm very glad how everything turned out to be the way it is now. The trick, as it turns out, is to project all self-loathing and personal frustration into a creative canvas.

I’m settled now, and college too is going smoothly. I've made friends with a host of interesting people which I really enjoy talking to. I guess that's the upside of 2011.

life is short
when it’s done, it’s done.
so while on the run,
why not have some fun?

Here are a few more pictures to wrap up the year.

Happy Holidays,
Benzy
 

The Fallen

'There is almost nothing that has such a keen sense of fun as a fallen leaf.' 

— J.M.Barrie 

(My personal favorite, probably the most beautiful thing I've ever captured.)

The Sky Is Falling

Inside, Outside, In Between

From Here To Eternity, Tatooed with Taboo

Timeless

November Sky

Misty November skies.

Because The Sun's Too Loud, It Makes Me Cry

November Blues (Pure Vintage)

November Morning

I drew the curtains aside and saw the most beautiful morning.

Moonlight Kiss

"For the night shows stars and women in a better light." 
— Lord Byron, Don Juan

Is Time The Enemy ?

Is 'Time' really the enemy? or Is it just our 'Psyche'?

The Other Room

Why do we always have an ominous feeling of  'The Other Room' ?

Another Day, Another Sunset

Two birds contemplating over sunset.

Homebound

Diving into Heaven, a bird home-bound.

New Frontier

"Find yourself a new frontier. Life is going, going, gone."
— Caleb Followil

Birds, Birds, Birds

Taken on 16th at sundown.

Abstract Yet Tangible

A pot of toothpicks.

Even Birds Can Be Lonely

Taken on August 30th at 9 in the morning. I was on my way to class when I saw this majestic pigeon sitting alone on top of the portico. I paused a moment and took this picture even though I was late for class.

Bad Storm Brewing

These photographs were taken sometime in June this year minutes before the rain started pouring down.

Spreading ALOHA

The following was shared to me by a dear friend last year when I was really under the impression that I was just another dime a dozen, that I couldn't make any significant contribution to this world of ours. I then read this oath and realized that I could make a significant contribution just by being me, just by being a little kinder.

 

I will Live Aloha (take twelve specific actions)

Submitted by Robbie Alm

A stands for AKAHAI, meaning kindness.

L stands for LOKAHI, meaning bring unity.

O stands for OLU'OLU, meaning politeness.

H stands for HA'AHA'A, meaning humbled.

A stands for AHONUI, meaning enduring.

Respect all elders and children.

Leave places better than you find them.

Hold the door. Hold the elevator.

Plant something.

Drive with courtesy. Never drive impaired.

Attend an event of another culture.

Return your shopping cart.

Get out and enjoy nature.

Pick up litter.

Share with your neighbors.

Create smiles.

Create a list and share it.

You don't have to be a politician, or the president of a company, or a famous doctor, to make everyone's life better. Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.

P.S. Please consider sharing a story, thought, picture, question or whatever is on my your mind about this commitment by adding a journal.

Celebrating One Complete Year Of 'benzy'

The past year has been quite a ride for me. Turning twenty, changing career and settling in a new city. This blog has kept my sanity intact through these hard times and I really would like to thank you folks for keeping it alive. I have a lot of great ideas to share with you in the future but for now let us take a moment and reflect back on the past. 

Thank you again for visiting.

Need For Change

Wake up, get out of bed, stand, walk, slip, fall down again, breathe, suck in the pain, walk again.

How many times have we been in this situation? How many times have we fallen? And how many more times have we stood up? If you actually count, the numbers might be shocking, I'm not even going to try. Gravity seems to be working on us a lot stronger these days. It is a really sad thing if we think about it: working, dragging ourselves against nature all life long. And all for what?

I'm still searching for the answers. I believe I've asked the right question.

Arrange, Rearrange

We got rid of the old bookcase and scattered the books on the floor beside the bed in a bohemian fashion. It looks beautiful, especially in the evening with the tangerine light coming in through the window.

Aristophanes' Lysistrata

 

I just finished reading Aristophanes's 'Lysistrata'. All I can say is Wow.

Blue Skies, Warm Sun

Some days are just perfect with blue skies and warm sun. 

This picture was taken last November (2010). I was walking through the corridor when all out of a sudden noticed the sky between these two buildings. There was so much clarity in the Blue. I just had to take a picture.

Contemplation Over Lunch

This photograph was taken sometime in September last year. I was inside a food joint with a friend. Next to us was a group of scientists discussing some serious scientific stuff over lunch. Me? I have a simple mind satisfied by simple pleasures. I was contemplating over these cutlery while waiting for the food to arrive.