Things of Beauty

I just realized I write most of my blogs the day I go out on my night time bike rides. Not only that, it's also when there are important things to do in the morning and its too late in the night to spend any more time in front of the computer on a weekday. But well who cares. Here goes the rambling.

After a very hectic long weekend I came back tired from work today and dozed off watching the television. Woke up to my find my sis cooking dinner for me. Sweet. Went out in to the balcony expecting to find the heat strike my face with its fury but stepped in to a much cooler evening with a full moon in the sky.

Didn't need any other reason. Hopped on to my bike and took off into oblivion. When I go out for my solitary rides I generally seek two things. Either peace or the adrenaline-rush. My morning rides I generally pick out routes which are busy during the day. I like to watch those roads and their surroundings calm and quiet before the day takes off. Peace. For my night time rides I pick lonely, straight and faster routes. My bike can easily reach speeds up to 140mph(225kmph). The Adrenaline Rush. Anyway, tonight I rode for almost an hour. Both the calmer routes and the busier routes through downtown. It was a cool and clear night. The roads with less streetlights were best because the full moon lit up the entire place. I got my heart pumping and also the quiet towards the end. Can't help but post a picture of my bike :D

Which brings me to my next point. Does everyone enjoy the beauty of nature. I always thought the answer to that question is Yes. Not until recently when I bumped into someone. It happened when we both were standing on a hill(Mt. Bonnell) over-looking the Colorado river and a better part of Austin.

G: Do you come here often?

Me: Yeah.

G: Why do you come here?

Me: I like the view of the river and the green hilly side. But mostly for the sunset.

G: I wish I could say the same.

Me: Why do YOU come here?

G: Because its quiet and peaceful here.

Me: That is true. That helps enjoy the view even more.

G: Not for me.

Me. Why do you say that?

G: I am one of those people who cannot appreciate the beauty of nature as you all do.

Me: Don't you like this kind of nature(pointing to the river etc) ?

G: No. It's not that. I have never been able to see what other people see when they look at a mountain or the sea and say "Gosh, it's so beautiful". To me mountain is a mountain. The sea is a vast expanse of water. I traveled to a lot of places during my life. Most of the famous sights. Nothing touched me like people say its does. I could only appreciate the calm and serenity. Nothing of beauty.

Me(surprised): This is the first time I heard someone say what you just said. I do not know what to say. Where do you find beauty then?

G: Oh, I do find a lot of things beautiful just like everyone else does. I find all wildlife beautiful, also paintings, music etc etc. It's just the rocks, water, valley, blue skies, sun-sets etc that I cannot appreciate.

Me: Well, you have the quiet you need and you can enjoy that.

G: Thank you. There are very few people like me. So I am just curious about when I see others like you here. That's the reason I asked you the first question.

Me: That's OK. There is so much more in this world you could relish having with or around you. I am S by the way.

G: I am G. Nice meeting you.

And we talked about this and that for a while until I left. At that moment I wanted to tell her how how unlucky she was but looking back at it later, I realized she isn't. For one she doesn't know what she is missing. And there are so many others things of beauty in this world, do blue skies and deep valleys matter that much. Love, between a mother and a child, a husband and a wife, a dog and his master. There is beauty in the happiness that we all enjoy, in the relief of pain, in the satisfied need of the want. There is beauty in a zillion other places. Well, instead of calling her unlucky I feel myself lucky to have the ability to enjoy the beauty of that part of nature.

Okay enough rambling, I realllly have to go to bed now. Here are few pics I took as part of my Cloud gazing recently from my apartment( I call it Clazing :D )

Good Night!