Each of us has a place we turn to or remember in our hour of despair, and just the thought of the place pulls a veil of colour and happiness, however ephemeral, over our troubles. Though short-lived, these magical places have the ability to cast a spell that guides us through vicissitudes.
I have been fortunate to have found and acquainted myself with a few of these supernatural healing havens that have added so much bliss to my life. Currently as I pursue my studies in Hamburg, Germany, I seek answers to my questions and the elixir of upliftment by going and sitting by Lake Außenmühlenteich.
Außenmühlenteich is an artificial lake surrounded by lush green trees whose leaves change colour with the seasons. It is home to brown ducks that leave a triangular trail of ripples as they paddle along gently on the turquoise blue water and also to elegant swans that are as white as snow. If you’re lucky you might even catch a glimpse of sprightly bunnies nibbling at blades of grass under the shade of mighty trees. The lake is forever teeming with life.
I sit on the steps leading to the water, which gives me a panoramic view of the lake that never ceases to amaze. On summer days, the blue sky over the lake carries small tufts of clouds and is crisscrossed by contrails of jets and aeroplanes. The water reflects the sky and trees perfectly, making it a painter’s dream. It is a sight to behold.
The lake has been my spot for star-gazing sessions and life-changing decisions. It has given me company when I craved for solitude and it has been the place where I’ve had the most poignant of conversations with people close to me. I’m ever so grateful to have found this gem; I wish I could wrap her and take her with me wherever I went.
Back home in Bengaluru, I found my happiness pill at Lalbagh. Very similar to Außenmühlenteich, Lalbagh has a picturesque lake surrounded by a serene park with ancient rain trees, plants with colourful flowers and fruit-bearing trees. I’d make my way there early in the morning to catch the sunrise over the lake, sitting on one of the stone benches and taking in the smell of wet soil. There is no better way to start your day.
During a brief stay in Thiruvananthapuram , I had the pleasure of frequenting St. Andrews beach every day for three months. The beach slowly grew on me and turned into a spiritual home. I’d go running on its soft sand at the brink of dusk and watch the sky turn crimson as I finished my run. The sky would be full of stars and sometimes Venus would make an appearance. On the edge of the horizon the sea was dotted with lights from small fishing boats making their way back to the shores.
A visit to the beach always put things in perspective and my worries seemed to fade into insignificance in front of the vastness of the sea.
Be it Außenmühlenteich, Lalbagh or St. Andrews, these places have held answers to many of my questions and lifted my spirits on the worst of days. They have been a blanket of warmth in the dreariness of winter and a cool breeze in summer. I yearn to find more such places even as I long to be back in these havens, which have been banks of happiness along which I row down the river of life.
sribalaji.setlur@tuhh.de
