14 years ago, I bid adieu in the pursuit of freedom

14 years later, I stand at your doorstep in the pursuit of wisdom

In my friendship, I found a love so unconditional

In my love is a friendship that is now irreversible

An intimate connection that sparked in the land of the free

Has brought me back to reconnect in the disguise of a shopping spree

Every morning I awaken to the sights of overcrowding and a fog of pollution

But therein lies a clarity of life, for such is the depth of your population

A richness I find in your abject poverty

In your ample hospitality, I see only a dearth for true liberty

In your camaraderie, I witness the spirits of ancient wisdom

Grounded you are in spirituality and there in, I realize is your true freedom

Smilingly you embrace the bitter truths of life, your vulnerability I see as your path to stardom

Every occasion you celebrate in colors so resplendent like the emotions in a love story

Food, music and dance I believe, are truly your crowning glory

Your culture and traditions form the roots of my identity

The essence of love you teach me as it is the reason for your unity in diversity

Once again you have taught me – YOUR HOME IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS

Fear not your destiny, for life is what it is

As I am homeward bound, I look down with overflowing gratitude

For lifting me back up and strengthening my fortitude

Tears now wet my eyelids

As I whisper through my pursed lips

Tuhne bhulne nahi diya mujhe apni pehchaan

( You didn’t let me forget my identity )

Mumbai tuhe meri jaan

( Mumbai, you are my love !! )

A lone traveler with an open heart

Under the tuscan sun my journey starts

Winding roads and lighted tunnels in my path

Blue skies and green hues in an endless swath

I drive up the steeping slopes and rough terrain

I come face to face with a beauty so insane

Torre Del Tartufo, they call it – a tower of truffles

My joy knows no bounds, it only quadruples

From pots to pans to rolling pins, a chef’s galore

Begins a culinary excursion, a foodie’s allure

Cook with love and eat with passion, the chef preaches

Learning new skills and making new friends, an experience that entices

From pizza to pasta, tiramisu to panacotta, delight in every bite

An indulgence for the palate, day after day, night after night

Among aging vines and olive trees, I witness a love that sets people at ease

High up the heels in green farmlands, a human soul embraces his passion for making cheese

A richness in nature’s bounty, lustrous in its small mercies

Lost in its gentle serenity, my mind lets go of all its immaturities

Hand made pottery to hand woven textiles, they leave me mesmerized

Every piece, a labor of love… I must stop and shop as I feel pressurized

From stone houses to poppi fields, a picture so resplendent

Nature’s beauty that comes to you in limitless abundance

It was not a vacation or an adventure

This was just the beginning of ‘MY ROMANCE WITH NATURE’

A small step for a Human, a leap for Humanity

And so begins the history of Africa – a story of a journey within for the pursuit of

INNER LIBERTY

Joburg, Soweto, Proteria, Kwazulu-Natal – are not just landmarks in the African Legacy

Entrenched here are the footprints of Gandhi and Mandela, their lives were truly a conscientious effort to practice and not just preach a philosophy

Constitutional Hill – which held witness to human savagery and fear, was once a blackhole

Now its walls of justice hold a beacon of hope for the human soul

Lesedi and Shakaland – home to the culture of the native tribes

Their passion & proclivity for nature and community – one must imbibe

Dawns a realization, In the cradle of humankind

‘OUT OF AFRICA’ is no longer just a theory, its a knowing / a belonging deep within the heart and mind

Amongst the people of Africa, I find a hospitality so REAL

The connections I make here are simply SURREAL

No contact an accident, our fates we must befriend

For my tour guides are now my friends

In their story-telling, lies the simple truth, known only to a few

Grief and pain truly reveals YOU !!!

The ride up to and the hike up Drakensburg, a tribute not just to Nature’s beauty

But to the purpose of friendships on the journey to human sanity

In the heart of Durban, lives with pride the largest Indian community

From slavery to riches, their success – a symbol of human integrity

A treasured memory here is the home hosted dinner by a 5th generation Indian family

To witness them embracing their roots is a matter of honor for me – TRULY !!!

As I return to Joburg, to visit with my Portuguese family

Carrying a heart filled with pride and gratitude, little did I know of the love that awaited me silently

The bantering, the touring and the heart to heart exchange puts to rest every bother

A big thank you to my brother from another mother

From the girl talks to  shopping to dinners and talks of clairvoyant spirits

In my friend & her generosity, I find not just a sister but a kindred spirit

A seed of understanding and trust is now sown

And South Africa is no longer just a destination but another HOME !!!

In Joburg, once home to Gandhi was the ‘Satyagraha House’

As the endorsement to the making of a ‘MAHATMA’, it is now a museum and a guest house

Spending the night here, we witness our transformation

And seal our friendship as we sit in deep meditation

I learn in depth the life & thoughts of a great soul

In his quest for political and Inner freedom, he took steps worthy of the mighty and bold

Gandhi’s ten commandments ( Ahimsa, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha, Abhaya, Sarva dharma, Satya, Asteya, Sharira-shrama, Aswada, Swadeshi ) – a manifestation of his deep contemplation

His life – a validation to the depths of his convictions

As I await take off, comes to memory a picture

The Zulu woman at Lesedi whispering to me ‘HAMBA KAHLE’ – Go well, my sister !!

As I journey back from the land of the bondage to the land of the free

My experience, a reiteration to my beliefs – The path to the pursuit of happiness lies not just in democracy, it is in the courage to live your truth, to set yourself FREE !!!!!