Country Roads Take Me Home ..

Country roads take me home to the place I belong west Virginia .. 

whenever I am in the open country side that's what you will hear me humming with my tribe.

This song is etched in my heart, it tugs at all the right strings and makes me feel rooted.
The crisp air, the fresh breeze and the greenery all around. 

A cottage on the hill side with a stream gurgling, mountains in the background, trees giving shade, a pretty fence, some crops, some animals lazying around aka the first proper drawing we all used to make. How many of us got out of that picture, that first dream as a child, that perfect house, well I never did. 

Remember these 

I still do them 

Somehow, the city with its skyscrapers and busy lifestyle, with dense pollution, population and a cold attitude never really was my cup of tea. I am that country girl at heart with a big glass of lassi (churned yogurt drink or coolers, I love them too) some pakodas, bhakri desi style and if you want the English countryside we’ll throw in all the fried vegetables and chicken and I will be glad with that even. 
The nature along with the animals, flowers  make me so happy, make me want to settle down by a river aka just like my drawing style. 
There I go again painting pictures in my brain, making poetry. Oh did they tell you? Its great even for artist's brain, no wonder the poets, artists, writers and almost everyone make a beeline to be alone. 


Countryside living - the slow simple life. 
The deep purge that we need in our life.
It’s like your soul is rejuvenated and the physical benefits heaped.
A magic potion which keeps one hail and hearty forever reaped.
Like a secret lotion for beautifying the body and mind. 
Unlike the highly marketed ones these are sure shot and cost no dime 
No wonder they are so sublime. 
Yet no money equals not much demand honey,
Oh that's why they opened the big retreats.
Started with country getaways,
Which no one can beat.
Raking high moolah cause they giving you a break from your life as a treat.
All this just for some free and undiluted way of life,
Exactly that which you have lost in daily living strife. 
Oh countryside life - I salute your innings;
The magic of slow living beginnings, 
In every moment being. 
To the simplest of meanings. 
- Bhakti

Finally it’s catching up again, people are starting to understand the importance of a simple minimalistic life, less clutter more living. Less distractions more loving. Less pollution more health. 

I dream of all this and more;want a country house, simple life and so yet want the city not far away. Where once in a while I can go to the mall and enjoy the nightlife to my hearts gay. 

So am I; a fair weather country girl, scared of the insects and reptiles but enjoying the cuckoo bird in its plight. Now, that's a start we all need to make. 

Or is this the nervousness of being out of my comfort zone. Surely I want to be one of those who are friends with the ozone. 

Living every pulsating moment vs running and trying to catch up with the rat race with every movement. 

It’s a hard life which keeps your heart gentle unlike the city softies with stone cold hard hearts as their besties. 
Daily comforts will be minimal but what we need is in plenty. 
Enough to lead a happy self sustained life without the materialistic cluttter that we really don’t even want, it’s just a way of making ourself feel good for what we lack and that is plenty in the rugged countryside- character.

The quote 'it takes a village to raise a child' holds true in the countryside and that’s how the bonds that are formed stronger. 

The farm to table concept is being put to use actively by many restaurants charging a premium for their organic goods. People are even visiting the farm stays to make this in a day trip activity. Where as this is just the simple normal way of living on the country side. Grow your produce and enjoy it too;  as healthy as it gets and what u don’t have, surely your neighbour does. Thus increasing the community experience and barter system and keeping it local. Keeping it simple. Benefiting each other. 

The city folks are going after balcony gardens to bring in the nature, the zen. That’s how important nature is for the well being. 

Basking in the sun, breathing in fresh air with the plants and trees. 

It does wonder for ones health - physical and mental well being. 

The creative benefits are just some other toppings that come on this chocolate cake. No wonder writers, painters, poets make a bee line for that country living. 

There are loads of pros and cons but the pros definitely are higher for me than any cons. 

One day ... one cottage on a hill with my favorite song humming - country roads ... I am home 

Cons 

Country politics 

Being on the bad side of anyone will get you into trouble 

People are nosy 

Technology not advanced 

You won’t get everything that you need 

Social life not much 

How about doing it both - living close to the City or having a weekend country home. 

Cost of living is low or then Suburban homes is the answer offering best of both the worlds.
There are even those who have given all their comforts and the highest of position for the beckoning of the country life zen.

Just thoughts of a girl on a sunny summer day missing the countryside breeze, green trees, meadows and animals at play.

xoxo
Bhakti

p.s. check out my day in the countryside 

Weekend trip to Rice Paradise

Weekends are meant to take a break from the ordinary, mundane and I just do exactly that. Dive in to the weekend with an enthusiasm of a child having fun in his first fun fair. I love doing things that bring peace and happiness to my heart, travelling and nature rank in the first few.

So here we were travelling with a bunch of friends to the rain soaked Rice paradise lying in the backyards of Pune. No more puzzles and for those who have already guessed - Yes Mulshi it is. This small beautiful town glows and basks in its beauty like a dazzling peacock dancing in the rain. Mesmerising one and all with its splendid grandeur and Natures beauty.

It was a triple celebration - Friends Birthday, Friendship day and a good old weekend - Jackpot don't you think.

What with a big over enthusiastic bunch we had, we booked a quaint rustic bungalow in Mulshi (there are many available for stay). Very basic dormitory type setting like camping together with gorgeous nature surrounding us. Home cooked, rustic hot food.

It was an amazing weekend what with such gorgeous set of people in beautiful surrounding, gurgling streams, rustic home cooked meals, non stop pitter patter of rain, getting drenched and hot smoking bbq all done by us - heavenly.

All Ready !!

Lets go .. Candid

pic credit - Ashish P

The journey itself is so beautiful.

such a rustic old property, Zahir and me completely fell in love.

It had a small pond pool, Victorian old age statues, a lovely guava garden. It even had its very own weather vane on the highest point of the roof.

No sooner than we reached and settled we were served hot poha and pakoras along with chai. I digged in hot Bhakari along with chutney. Once we were well fed we decided to explore the place and head out for a small hike in the Rain.

Rice fields everywhere, they are so pretty, swaying in the wind and dancing in the rain.

This guy though is the best thing of the entire package ;p

We found this stream gurgling along. It was so therapeutic to just let the water flow over your feet, the light drizzle of rain and the fresh fragrance of the rain washed mud, foliage and farms with scent of wild flowers and blue canopy of the sky  dotted with specs of clouds.

Enjoying like a child

Nature and its beauty. These wild flowers are so pretty and cheerful.

Pc - Ashish

P C - Ashish

Never to leave and always to behold and protect.

oh btw a small accident, one of our friend dropped his camera lens right in the stream. We all were so worried but Thank goodness nothing happened to it. Immediately cleaned it with a cloth and after going home kept it in a pot of rice grains to soak all the moisture off..

Credit - Ashish

On our way back to the cottage after a nice excursion.

Pic credit - Ashish

Credit - Preet C

courtesy - Ashish P

First glimpse of the cottage on returning from the hike..

so inviting ..

we jumped into preparing bbq and lighting a slow fire, so magical. We were served gavran chicken curry, bhakari, rice and some vegetables too.  

The food was so amazing, we digged in. danced the night away. Beautiful memories, that's what the journey is about.

this candid snap, I am in love with this..

Pic credit - Preet C

Magical nights like these - dancing in the moon light in the rain.

Life is all about living and not just being alive.

on that note hope you liked  the post, let me know ...

until we meet again

Stay Happy and Cheerful

xoxo

Bhakti

P.S - Some pictures belong to Preet. C and Ashish .P, I have already given the credits in case I have missed any.

I am a Country Girl

Hello, 

Let's start from here, should we?

This song is my favorite. I heart it, with all my heart, gets a smile instantly to my face and I am all happy and gay. Lusting for some country life. 

Beautiful winding roads with big trees laden with fruits which keep spreading on the horizon, till your eyes can take it all. Clear blue sky stretching above you and green carpets of grass to sleep on with cool breeze singing a lullaby.  

Gurgling streams to drink in and clear azure lakes and rivers to take a dip. 

The fragrance of freshness of meadows wafting. 

These simple joys of life, of a country life. 

Cozy cottages and houses, no gadgets to distract, just pure nature, stress free life, wholesome food, real values. 

I am sorted, country girl by heart. 

My heart sings with joy whenever I am amidst nature, away from the city life. 

It allures me, keeps calling me. 

One day I will certainly go to the simpler way of life, to the simple joys. I really believe in living it simple. One day I will certainly be a Country Girl. 

Till then I satisfy myself with small trips to the countryside to keep me sane from the craziness of the fast paced city life. 

On one such day, monkeying around. 

These huge shady trees. 

Hubby challenged me to swing on the branches. 

I couldn't swing to save my life, the very best I managed was the run for the swing. 🙈😐😶☹️

Hubby dear showing me how it is done after having a hearty laugh. 

Until next time, I am definitely learning to swing. 🐵

Outfit Details 

Jeggings - vero moda

Top - Lifestyle

Shoes - Thailand 

Sweater - High Street 

Glares - Vera moda 

xoxo

Bhakti