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Wednesday
Feb042009
A Post With Many Photos and Much Late Afternoon Sun
February 4, 2009 
A few weeks ago, the kids and Renee and I got in our little white van with a friend and her daughters to travel in the sun to a nearby Banyan tree. A Banyan sends shoots and roots up throughout a large area, many of which look like other trees, but are in fact all part of the same tree.
My friend was from England, from Devon, with daughters so round and brown-eyed and freckled that I wanted to scoop them up and keep them forever. (Not to mention their accents: "It's all rather muddled, isn't it?") She's gone back since, so this was a special farewell trip, to a tree that another friend had told us about.
"The canopy is as big as this whole restaurant," he said, throwing his arms out expansively.
We drove along, our directions limited to: "When you pass the petrol station and then look off and to the left, you'll see it out there, in the middle of a big field."
I wasn't ready to stop driving, we reached it so quickly, so I drove a little farther and got myself into a bit of a pickle trying to turn around, while small British voices in the back called, "I want to go back to the tree!"
We parked. As we approached the tree, about 20 huge Langur monkeys departed, swinging down effortlessly and loping away to a distant spot. They watched our invasion of their perch impassively.
I thought the tree would be kinda neat, but it was not merely neat. It was majestic. It was peaceful, it was shady, it was a perfect play place in a hot field. Perfect for monkeys, perfect for people. The Banyan is quickly becoming one of my favorite trees. Like the Madrone, or the Sequoia. Or the Oak. Well, I could go on and on. I guess I just like trees. Big surprise.
After I wandered around for awhile with the camera, I handed it to Kid A, so that he could take some shots. Later, when I looked through them, I was happily surprised by what he saw and snapped.
Here's the day through Kid A's eyes.
Then YaYa took the camera for a while. Here's some of the day in her eyes.
At the end of our time we all joined hands and wove in and out of the branches singing, "The Banyan tree, the Banyan tree, God made the Banyan tree, the Banyan tree, the Banyan tree, lots of shade for you and me..." And there were other verses, but I won't trouble you with them here.
Reader Comments (19)
Simply Lovely!
I miss you. I can't believe how different the kids look. Kenya looks like 10 years older than I remember. Those trees remind me of this tree in Maui, it is just as GINORMOUS and all from one trunk, it just shoots all around.
I want to come and see you all before the kids forget who I am.
I miss you. You look beautiful too.
Thanks for blogging all the time and mostly, thanks for the photos.
Love love love love love love love love love
you.
I really enjoyed this trip, thanks!
P.S. Well done Kid A and Yaya - great photography!
Oh wow. What a beautiful place with such beautiful people. I'll try to remember as I walk out into the -1 Iowa winter this afternoon.
ohhhh, I want to hold hands singing songs about the banyan tree with so many wonderful little and big people. Delightful! My list of why we must come and visit you some day is growing and now included the magical banyan tree!
It looks like so much fun - what beautiful trees. They are beautiful aren't they. Wish we could have been there with you, not that we'd climb, but we'd enjoy the time together. Everyone is growing up, I agree with Lara, Solo is getting so much charecter in his face. You look beautiful as well!!
Ditto to what Lara said.
Wow, that looks like reason enough to move to India!
It's simply gorgeous.. and the light is amazing!! It looks and sounds like the perfect ending to time spent together with friends.
oh to have been there with you lovely ladies in your cloths and bags and baby carriers hair all twisted up and dread...and to have been listening to the children. With the light and the roots.
majestic indeed.
What a perfect day.
I love that tree.
Wow, beautiful.
YaYa's pics were great! So little and that talent already shining through.
This was a visual vacation for me, living in Wisconsin, stuck under lots of snow. What beautiful pictures and what a magical place for such beautiful children to play.
looks like your oldest two take after their daddy. great photographers, the both of them.
oh i looove these trees! we have so many of these too where we live in kauai and it they just seem like the most perfect thing to ignite a kid's imagination don't you think? beautiful photos.
Looks like fun was had by all...beautiful children every one..and baby in his sling..way cute...he looks like a 'big' little guy...he's really growing. I'd heard of the Banyan tree but had no idea what it was like. Must feel odd at first to see monkeys run out from a tree.
Your photos (and your children's photos) are stunning. Reading you blog just made me feel so peaceful and good today.
I don't think I've EVER seen such a beautiful tree. Thanks so much for sharing, Rae. Do you know if they have any banyan trees in Canada? (Eastern/Central?? I'm in the Ottawa - Montreal area).
I think I'm in love...
Rae,
I've been fawning over Mognolia trees and Alders and the occasional Redwood here in Pasadena. Fawning and then some. My love to you. Oh and thanks for posting the kid's photos. Makes me think of pics Yaya took when I let her take the camera while we played at the park in Sac. They've picked up some knack from their folks. Hopefully they won't start taking pictures of their soup.