The Princess in the Palace

Returning from the garden to the hotel lobby, the previously petrified Bell Captains, customarily greeted me with “Namaste”, and a genuine smile as they held the door open for me.

The hotel lobby was relatively empty, as I continued roam about taking pictures.

“Claridges Hotel Lobby ~ Delhi”

Surrounding the marble floored and multi columned lobby was a collection of artwork by Ompal Sansanwal. This piece speaks to me on so many levels, especially the yogic level, because Tree Pose, or Vriksasana, for me is a magically grounded and rooted posture.

For information on the health benefits and more information on Vrikasana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vriksasana

I love how Ompal invites the observer to play around and get whimsical with their imagination.

“Sansanwail’s works are easily identified by the convoluted labyrinth – like maze of colours through which he depicts his larger themes. The figurative elements of his depictions merge effortlessly into the soft curves and lines of their geometric backgrounds, accentuating the intertwining of nature and the being, and provoking views to unravel their stories.” – http://www.saffronart.com/artists/ompal-sansanwal

Wondering about the lobby, I was delighted to spend time in the recently opened Crayon Art Gallery.

Next, as promised, I returned to the Gym and began my swim. Of course, Jai checked in on me, and so I started swimming laps, which, by the way is impossible to do “kick turns” in an infinity pool, until he retreated to his inside realm.

With Jai out of sight, I decided to sun bathe in a cabana. In February, Delhi heats up in the afternoon, and the gentle warmth of the Indian sun reminds me of early spring in Northern California. Yet, I felt the latent potential of blistering heat in summer months. Watching the few clouds that crossed the slightly smoggy sky, I was happy to be here, in the now.

Jai emerged up the marble steps, and I thought “uh-oh”. He yelled something to a couple of young men attending the pool area. One ran over to my cabana with a towel, and the other with a bottle of water. For the rest of the afternoon these two young men looked after me, and tended to my every need. I thought “I am really getting used to this. I feel like the Princess in the Palace.”