_Steemit attracts people from all over the world, and like a whirlpool, we all have converged here by some mutual force of nature, sharing our worlds in a living vortex of information._

Far Away Places

Having accumulated an amazing 1500 followers, I realize that I have come to know a few people here on Steemit, and these people live all over the planet, some close by, and some far away. Of all of the faraway places that have interested me for my whole life, the country of India is perhaps the most fascinating for me. It is a place known for it's mystery and inherent wisdom, and I'm happy that I now have a friend on Steemit who lives there. @maya7 is that friend, and on her page she shares lovely poetry and many bright photos of the flowers that decorate her world there in Assam, India. I easily found a photograph of a beautiful temple in Assam, and below is something which I drew for @maya7, 'Temple in Twilight': ![IMG_2295.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmd6pZ66P3NCWNCVp4UwhXnBkmFjPmnFr5rG2HCyKZD3To/IMG_2295.jpg)

Assam, India

Next I wondered where in the world Assam was, and I opened up the world atlas to find that it is nested right against the Himalayas in Northern India. ![IMG_2307.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeWndjgayLfw3L93uojLzMwozbPqmcLGG7At6QjddN6gt/IMG_2307.jpg) ![IMG_2304.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSwgCRb8bLq811Bb7UqqqhbPe4ubUEQqtAz5Nf5Xkgu7G/IMG_2304.jpg)

Even without the lines of the map, Assam can be seen by the shape of the landscape on the Earth from above:

![IMG_2309.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQFbBr5qgbh35XftmEULmnes3YHE9aMcSxu98NDNYJWkA/IMG_2309.jpg)

Drawn Back to the Temple

There were many photographs of Indian temples on the internet, but one of the most beautiful that I found was the Kamakhya Temple in Assam, India. There seems to be some magic in this temple, and in this photo, the building looks like some sort of technological device. ![Screen Shot 2018-02-07 at 3.16.18 PM.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmea4uao1S28PcoWQLDcfNLoRGtM5BeXZ9J13TMQcKEPD1/Screen%20Shot%202018-02-07%20at%203.16.18%20PM.png) _Kamakhya Temple in Assam, India- image source Wikimedia Commons_

Interesting Wildlife in Northern India

I had forgotten that India was home to a one-horned rhino, and these animals can still be found in Assam:

![Screen Shot 2018-02-07 at 7.40.28 PM.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQkqmDXXcvnL1vKbgBdG76XVoaiPCc2NTHX5ZXkMVYc5Z/Screen%20Shot%202018-02-07%20at%207.40.28%20PM.png) _image source, WikimediaCommons_

Of course I've always liked snakes, and of course Assam has snakes!

![Screen Shot 2018-02-07 at 7.39.49 PM.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSRa8rCCiYmC5nF1BwwBN8ip4v3nNw5YvCu3XP2kQbLkQ/Screen%20Shot%202018-02-07%20at%207.39.49%20PM.png) _image source, WikimediaCommons_

There are surely countless other things in Assam that I can't experience by flying over the internet, or by opening a world atlas, but just a glance at Assam makes it seem like an interesting place to live. ![Screen Shot 2018-02-07 at 7.51.43 PM.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQXNygbpSuJgNcD5hUUhkhoQGvJz3btTQF9J83FGt6utm/Screen%20Shot%202018-02-07%20at%207.51.43%20PM.png) _image source WikimediaCommons_

I've been drawn back to that temple again. It sure does look like a machine of some kind, while I have a feeling it's full of flowers and people, love and kindness.

My friends do live in interesting places, and Steemit swirls them all together into a single living thing. I appreciate all of my friends here, and look forward to seeing many more far away places here.

Thank you @maya7 for bringing your world closer to mine-- your home looks like a fine place to live!

_Everyone! Be sure to go and see @maya7 and read some of her poetry, and you will be able to tell that she is constantly surrounded by flowers there in Assam India!_ ------------- _images above are mine except for the credited Wikimedia photos. For more variety and for sheer curiosity, click below these birds_ ![IMG_2143.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcFQFiVxHbWWdmDxkzkbJtTexo2Yjj8yCfTsQZBrG8DY9/IMG_2143.jpg)

click _@therealpaul_ for more