It took me more than a day and a good night sleep to reflect on what I felt when I visited the desert for the first time.
The Sam dunes are located at the heart of the Thar dessert in Rajasthan. In a single day, I zoomed through the dunes, which made me excited, taken aback, nauseous, thrilled and enchanted: all at the same time.
On the other side, riding the camel as it dug it’s foot in the sand with each step was so calming. The glistening golden piles of sand, the soft winds , and camels standing proudly, rightfully on the land that is theirs; it was everything I did and did not imagine.
However, the part that made this experience most magical for me, was that I shared this adventure with mom and dad. Living a thousand miles away from them, I miss them most. The vastness of the desert, the fast swooping wind in that Jeep, riding on the camel, all came to life because I was with the two most precious human beings in the world. (That’s why photos 8 and 10 are my favourite!!)
There’s an old saying, that sand is like time, it slips away from the fingers, no matter how tightly you hold on to it. Playing with the sand while watching sunset, I was reminded of this saying. I realized that time was also fleeting and limited, and how all you can do is make it worthwhile and special before it slips away.
In a world where one is constantly chasing dreams, working hard to meet goals and deadlines, trying to make a place in the world, this particular memory with them is etched in my heart to make me smile and tearful every time I stop and think of it.
A Wanderer's Tales 