Friday, February 3, 2012

Passing Clouds

Winter seems to take leave, with a flourish, making an exit with a roar and a flash, accompanied by bursts of torrential rains. It turned bitterly cold towards the fag end of January, and we're in for some intermittent showers and strong bellowing winds.

Come to think of it, it happened last year too. Temperature plummets, before it gives way to a short but pleasant spring season. It touched around zero degree this time, and maybe lower in the wilderness. But was thankful when it slipped back to single digits, and led me to wonder how people get on with long dreary winters, putting up with the brutally harsh cold, for days together!

Skies here, are generally a huge dull blanket of greyish blue and sightings of clouds are a rare occurrence. And so when I came upon them (couple of weeks back), as they seemed to drift along and hover for a while, having lost their way, was filled with sheer, simple joy!

So tried to capture the blazing sun in its westward journey against the lovely backdrop, while racing across the desert in designated concrete paths. Was reminded of the countless mesmirising twilight scenes captured or witnessed, in India. Dusk always evokes a sense of awe and bliss, and was left with lingering thoughts as, how nature fills and paints our world in different hues, and back home led me to these immortal lines by Keats  :

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its lovliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon ...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Of the few movies watched this month, nothing struck me as incredible, but wouldn't say it was disappointing too, except for Life of a Tree, which was. So thought shall put down my two cents, with scores.

~ Rango - Characters were adorable; could've been better. 7.5
~ Hugo - Was like an old fairytale, the little girl was charming. 7
~ Tintin - Good light entertainment, impressive transformation of the characters we are so used to in print. 6.5
~ Return of the Planet of Apes - Surprisingly liked parts of it, leaves an unsettling feeling. 7
The Tree of life ~ Well, somehow was left untouched, by the gravity or the sensitivity, as it should have. 6.5

Wanted to watch Descendants, but haven't as yet. As an afterthought, liked the last part of Harry Potter, the way it was wound up and absolutely loved Midnight in Paris. And how is Agneepath, honestly?