Seasons

The city of Hong Kong decks up weeks in advance for Christmas and the holidays, followed by an uncomfortable cold lull for a while before it comes to life again around CNY and spring. So do the greens, shimmering and sparkling while they can before they go on their much needed holiday in Christmas, returning to their glory in spring.

The nip in the air heralding cold, windy and dark winters is no different than the one that announces the arrival of sunny, rainy, humid summers. The deceitful sunny afternoons in autumn could well seem to be spring, if it were not for something inside us that indicated otherwise. Nature resides in each one of us; our moods, feelings and health riding the waves of its uniform cycles. There's a part of us that ebbs and flows with the seasons, although urban living often disregards its presence.

Hong Kong's weather demonstrated the वसंत, ग्रीष्म, वर्षा, शरद, हेमंत and शिशिर to the harried Mumbaikar in me who was only used to a hot and humid climate year long. Every cycle of seasons I have witnessed in this country brings about a new understanding about the perfect design of nature. The vibrant and exhilarating Vasant, and the colourful but solemn Hemant force one into contemplation about the regular ups and downs of life, bringing about a gradual steadiness and stoic attitude year after year.

I wonder whether these experiences are as much about the weather as they are about slowing down to smell the proverbial roses...