16. Horses in the moonlight

Yesterday, I stayed up far too late (reasons: distractions and reading), and just as I was going to bed, I decided I wanted to look at the moon. So I put my toothbrush in my pocket and went outside to gaze at the moon. It was hanging yellow and large almost directly overhead. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw that the trees had really clear moon shadows. It was like it was really midday, but someone had turned down the intensity of the sun. I looked towards the horses, and I could see some movement there, so I decided to go to them.

They were standing there peacefully, watching me approach. Horses have great night vision (at least better than humans), and I was also making quite a racket, snapping lots of twigs and stepping on other noisy things as I approached, so the horses were well warned of me coming. When I reached them, my eyes were totally adapted to the amount light the moon gave. I could pick out the different horses and see quite well what they were doing, but I couldn't see their faces very well, and therefore decided to stay cautious.

I ducked under the fence (a single wire electric fence), and stayed well outside the horses' space, except when some of them offered to say hello to me. Most of them were standing resting and snoozing, as they would normally do during the day, and really, nothing had changed in their behaviour as a result of nightfall. This is completely normal for horses, in case some of you thought that they lie down and sleep for eight hours straight like we humans do.

I just stayed there with them and experienced nature in the moonlight. I saw the moonlight highlight the white socks on some of the horses, I studied the bushes, and realised I could see every single leaf. Everything looked different, but also just the same, bathed in moonlight. I saw the horses relax, and relaxed and breathed with them. I felt the magic of the night all around me, in the fireflies that would light up occasionally over a bush, in the song of the crickets, and in the horses standing there so quietly in the moonlight. I let the small amount of stress that was still in me trickle out and disappear into the night.

I left the horses with a clear and relaxed body and mind. I had spent my first midnight with the herd, and it was beautiful.


Books read: 17
Pages read: 4726

PS: Total side note: Today's biggest laugh (for me at least), was this video. As a bonus, it is also informative.

15. Car bugs and the wonders of nature

Yesterday evening, I came back to my room, and in the darkness of the corridor outside my door, I saw two tiny green lights. It looked very much like a miniature car with green headlights, but I realised the light must come from some sort of bug, and I wanted to see what it looked like, curious as I am. So I opened the door to my room and turned on the light inside. I could see the faint outline of an approximately two centimetres (close to one inch) long bug. But when the light hit it, the green lights faded. I shut the door again to see the green lights, and they brightened up again, right before the bug flew off through the window. It flew off smooth and steady, and it reminded me very much of the flying Ford Anglia in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, only in miniature version. It made my evening a bit brighter (in more than one sense), and put a smile of wonder and enjoyment on my face.

I love how everything is alive here, everywhere you look. The other day, I was lying in the hammock, and what the locals call a maniku (I think that is how it is spelled) came out beside me, in the grass, and started searching for food (bugs, I presume). It looks like a weasel or a Norwegian 'mår' (according to google translate, this is a 'marten' in English). It is quite small, and very cute and furry, with a bushy tail. I watched it foraging for food for a while, taking care to stay quiet, and then it disappeared into the bushes.

I am very fascinated by nature. Its complexity, harmony, balance, and diversity are just a few things which draw me to it. I am also naturally curious, and I love asking questions about the world surrounding me. I am always wondering what different animals eat, how they live, and how they survive predators (if there are any). It is also very fascinating to see how different living organisms face and create solutions to the problems they might have in surviving and thriving in any given environment. Examples include camouflage, lights, poison, and lots of other things that animals and plants use to stay alive.

Also, everything in nature has its reason and consequence. The flies and mosquitoes that bite humans (like me) and make them itch (a lot), are doing it to feed their young or to survive. These bugs are then prey to birds or bats or lizards, who again are prey to eagles and other predators. And when they die, it all comes full circle, and small bugs and flies eat the carcass. It's the circle of life, as they would say in The Lion King. And really understanding that you are a part of that circle, gives a feeling of peace and certainty that is very deep and good to rest in.

This evening, I watched the horses in the moonlight, and saw the stars twinkling above. The fireflies were lighting up, and the crickets were singing. How lucky I am to be here now, I thought. How lucky I am to live on this green and blue planet, so full of life!

Books read: 17
Pages read: 4726