Dream Trip 2008: September

Great Travel Moment

I had been living in the small Indian town of McLeod Ganj for about two weeks when the monsoon started. It came three weeks earlier than expected and the local vendors quickly stocked up on umbrellas. The rainbow variety pictured above became the ubiquitous icon of that foggy little town. Seas of them would explode out in a colorful burst the minute the clouds opened up as they so often did. I still have mine and every time I use it I think back to this picture. Look closely and you'll notice that this umbrella is protecting two people from the soggy downpour. Friends, lovers, acquaintances? Who knows. I will always wonder and this image will always bring me back to that moment.