Eyes Only

The Man in Black belongs to me.

So in 1979 or thereabouts, I belonged to the Stephen King fan club. In those days kids, we got letters and updates via actual postal mail. We'd have to wait, oh so impatiently, for the end of the month and hope that our newsletter would be reasonably on time. That was how I first heard about "The Gunslinger". It sounded magical and I couldn't wait to read it. I raced to the library first, and needless to say, it was not in the card catalogue (there were no computers kiddies, just fabulous huge cabinets with a multitude of drawers with each drawer containing hundreds of cards; a card for each book, telling you where it was. One needed to know the Dewey Decimal System and I'm pretty sure we learned it in school) I know some of you weren't even born 35 years ago and maybe haven't ever heard of the Dewey Decimal System, but it's still in use today, sort of. Anyhow, reminiscing will be another story for another day.

So the library was no help to me, nor was the book store I had to phone. Fernie didn't have a book store, and the one in Cranbrook insisted that there was no such book. I knew it was out there somewhere, but my avenues were all exhausted. All two of them. 

A couple of years go by and during this time, Stephen King wrote 4 sequels to The Gunslinger, and none were available to me. However...in 1982 Mr. King decided to publish all five of the short stories into one novel called The Dark Tower - The Gunslinger.  I am now the owner of a (first edition I might add) book that would end up drawing me into its world for the next 35 years. Yes, 35 years!

I waited for 5 years for the second book to be published, during which time I re-read the first one over and over. Five years! These days authors crank out books every year, and if you're James Patterson maybe every month. (The man is nothing if not prolific)

So now I have two books. The years go by and each time a new book is released, I re-read all the previous ones again. In 2004 the last book was released. Three words. Worst. Ending. Ever. 

I can't even think about it. In the 13 years since then I have re-read the series a multitude of times, but only as far as the last half of the last book. I've made up my own ending and I will never read the end of the last book again. To be fair, Stephen King did warn his Constant Readers that they could either finish reading now, or continue to the end of the book. I continued. Big Error.

During the years between his first book, Carrie, in 1973,  and Sleeping Beauties, which will be released this September, I have purchased every one of his books. I'm the proud owner of a first edition of every one of them. They are quite literally some of the things I'd save in a fire. I reread them often, and I find new things every single time. There is something about his writing style that moves me and transports me.  

In 2012, Stephen (because I feel we are on a first name basis by this point) released another book that belonged to the Dark Tower series and "fits" between "Wizard and Glass" (book 4) and "Wolves of the Calla" (book 5), which makes it book 4.5. Awesome idea! (It's called "Wind through the Keyhole" in case you need to go and buy it)

Also, as his aficionados already know, all his books have a reference to another of his books, and all his books have a reference to The Dark Tower. Sometimes just a word or a name, or sometimes a huge connection. They all tie together somewhere....even ones that seem like a whole different genre such as "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Body". What kind of a genius is he anyhow?  As a matter of fact, there is a woman in Australia who has made a Stephen King Universe Flowchart showing how all his books are interconnected in some way, be it large or small. She is a King fan's  Most Admirable Person.  Umm, if any of you reading this would care to purchase this for me, I'd  be most appreciative. Really...I'd owe you forever. So, it's on Etsy, thanks so much. Let me know when it arrives.

So, all this leads up to the Dark Tower movie. Thirty Five years since I first read that iconic line "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed".  How am I going to react when I hear it in the theatre? Will I cry and get all goose-bumply? It's likely that I will you know. But who will say it? Who is going to be the voice over? Will it be Stephen himself? He is like Alfred Hitchcock in such as he almost always has a tiny cameo or picture of himself in his movies.  Will they even say that line? I've heard rumours that the movie isn't even going to start at that point. Well, that's discouraging. Or is it?

I've spent 35 years with images of Roland, Randall, Susannah, Jake and Eddie in my mind. I know what they look like and how they sound. I can't imagine seeing them looking like...I don't know...Matthew McConaughy? Do I even want to see the movie? I mean, some of his movies and adaptations are not even worthy of being on late night TV ("The Mangler" anyone? )what if this is one of them? Or what if it's awesome and everyone loves it? And then I'll feel jealous and possessive because I feel like it belongs to me. Me, and a few others who have read and reread and love that world. Bah to those who are jumping on the bandwagon at this late date.

Anyhow, that's my take on it all.

And oh, the first line, written June 19, 1970 was "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed" and the last line, written April 7, 2004....3699 pages later is "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." 

Talk about a circle.

Don't discuss religion or politics!

That was the rule for years and years...don't discuss religion or politics at a public gathering. Invited for dinner? Discuss the weather. Discuss your children. Invited to a party? Discuss the weather. Discuss the neighbour's children. Invited to a workplace function? Discuss the weather. Discuss the boss's children. How 'bout them Knicks? Are you watching "The Walking Dead"?

In a sense, I can see why. Both issues can be touchy and sensitive, and some folks just can't handle criticism and/or differing opinions. Some people are afraid of anything different than what they grew up accepting. And nothing is worse than listening to people arguing with other people, when none of them have the least intention of changing their minds.

Personally, I hardly ever discuss politics because I find it fairly boring. I'm not a tried and true member of any party, I vote faithfully, but I vote for someone depending on their platform during the election, not on what party they belong to. I don't necessarily vote the same as my husband, I think voting is an extremely personal choice. End of discussion. I'm not here to argue, but just sayin.....

India....on the way out...

So this was the last day, and a long drive back to Delhi. When we arrived there, we dropped off a couple who were heading flying home a different route, so now we are 9. Then we dropped off yet another couple who were continuing on to Bhutan so now we are 7. We had a loooong wait in the Delhi airport and then a flight to Guangzhou, China, where we had another long wait.

Luckily one of my travel friends had some yen so we could splurge on a McDonalds coffee,

And some unusual ice cream treats. 

I can say I've eaten in China, I guess.  

Another loooong flight to Vancouver, and yet another wait and then home. I'm not ready for it to be over. I'm one of those who could travel forever. I'm already planning a trip 15 months from now, but I need something between then and now. Anyone got any ideas? I'm always game to go.

But I still have lots of pictures to post.....here's some arches and pillars and doorways:

And some people.....

And some odds and ends.

There are as many dogs roaming around as there are cows. Oddly, no cats. 

Like I mentioned before, for a land so full of people, I was surprised to be able to find so many quiet spots.

So from scenes like those to scenes like these:

And to everything in between:

(Looking for rum at a local liquor store)

I have to say thank you my friend, for showing me your India.

India....the last hotel.

As I sadly left the Lallgarh Palace this morning, I knew I'd never stay anywhere this fabulous again. I wasn't thinking it in a negative way, as in a "that was the peak, it's all downhill now" kind of way, I know I have all sorts of fantastic adventures and hotels in my future, but the fact that there was an Indian movie shoot on one on side of the hotel (and inside!) and a spectacular Indian wedding on the other side and the hotel itself was a palace....well, I can't see that happening again anytime soon.

So we drove to Mandawa, on the horrible "Indian Massage" road. It wasn't overly lengthly though, about 4.5 hours, but when you consider the fact that it was only 150 km, well, that lets you know the condition of the roads.  And the traffic.

Thank goodness for lunch breaks.

Oh! I know, I wanted to talk about lunch stops. On days that we were on the road during lunch times, we always stopped at a midway, which I explained before (were you paying attention?) isn't a chain, but just the term for a restaurant/hotel/shop that's "midway" between other towns. Some were really fancy and others were just average. In some ways they were all the same....a shop with a massive variety of souvenirs; some with good prices and well displayed items, some with horrendously high prices and items covered with dust and grime, they all had pay toilets (well, the toilet was free but toilet paper had a small charge, as did paper towel), some were reasonably clean and some were "hold your breath", they all had both western toilets and squat toilets, which are no fun if you're in pants. Or if you're a clean-freak. Hand sanitizer is worth it's weight in rupees sometimes.

There were usually a bunch of mothballs in the sinks as well, if you were lucky enough to have a sink.

A lovely spot to stop for lunch.

A not so lovely spot. (Ok....joking, we didn't stop here, it was a restaurant, just not one that we stopped at.)

An average place.

A bit nicer than average.

They all had both an inside place to eat and an outside place, I sat according to the heat outside and if there was an awning, or whether or not there was air conditioning inside. Outside is always preferable, but some places had no awning and you had to sit in the direct sun. It felt like " 🎶breaking rocks in the hot sun...🎶" (remember that song?)

This fellow was doing exactly that as we sat and ate. 

You know, even on days that I wasn't hungry and only had a drink, or tea, it was nothing less than...than...I can't even think of the right word....mesmerizing? Soothing? Calming? to just sit under a bright canopy and try to let these moments sink in. 

Plus, these stops often had outside "entertainment"

Just taking her goats for a walk down the highway....

And the trees dropped beautiful flowers around you.

Travel days weren't so bad, really, our tour guide stopped at a lot of interesting spots along the way, including this one. This fellow was still using oxen to run his irrigation system, a method called The India Bucket or The Persian wheel. I found it really very interesting.

"The Persian wheel still exists in some parts of India especially in parts of Southern and Eastern Rajasthan, where the groundwater aquifers are still shallow. In typically poorer parts of India, where electricity has not yet reached, Persian wheels are still in use. Diesel is prohibitively expensive and hence pumps cannot be used. The Persian wheel continues to be the main lifting device for water."

The farmer was more than happy to let us come and watch him, as well as take pictures of his oxen that he obviously cares for. The horns!

His fields were beautiful and lush, so it's obviously working for him!

I got sidetracked with this post, and we still haven't arrived at the last hotel, although when we did, it was worth the drive. It was the Desert Resort, our last spot, and perhaps the most unique. To me anyhow, I've never stayed at a place made of mud, and of course I mean that in a spectacular adobe way. I wrote about it already, in the "Hotels" post, but only part of it.

Two really fun things happened here, one being a fantastic buffet dinner and since it was the birthday of one of my travel companions, our guide had arranged a birthday cake for her, and a little celebration. The staff came out with a mini-band and all sorts of drums and flags and singing and a delicious western style birthday cake. Yay!

I know it's only a cake, and hardly worth 3 pictures, but it was a fun celebration and also, notice the serious staff member bringing the cake out because I'll talk more about him in a minute.

Mmm....it was so good. My sweet tooth had been lacking in cake.

Anyhow, after dinner everyone got their luggage organized for tomorrow as it was the loooong drive back to Delhi and straight to the airport. The time for suitcase tidying is now or never.

However, soon the strains of Neil Diamond came wafting into my room and I looked out into the courtyard to see a couple of the girls playing some music, just relaxing for our final night, so I decided to join them. Tossed everything in my luggage and locked it up.

Empty courtyard.

Before long a few more of us came out and as the sun went down, the rum came out,and the music changed to Punjabi dance tunes. We quickly learned a few local dance steps and the laughter began as none of us had any rhythm or style except our tour guide who did his best to teach us.

Before much longer, a couple  of the staff (one being the serious birthday cake carrier) were standing in a doorway, watching us, with what we hoped wasn't annoyance at our noise. But, nope....after a few "come on over" gestures, they were more than happy to join us and dance!

"Hmmmm....I don't know...."

"Oh...OK! Let's dance!"

It was just the most awesome way to end the trip....dancing under the stars in Mandawa.