After some vigorous debate fuelled by glasses of Beaujolais, Glen, Casa Amigo anejo and Disorono, where topics ranged from priviledged kids, our over indulgence, broken promises, the comparative scenary of Harper's Ferry versus the Yellowstone river, the water temperature, and the alternative options available we, we decided to cancel the white water rafting. An opportunity cost exercise in action, if ever I have seen one!

The agenda for Day 5 was the West Thumb geyser, mud volcanoes, Yellowstone Lake, the Norris geyser, the Porcelain Basin and the Artist's Paint Pot. The West Thumb geyser is so called as it resembles a thumb (a slightly crooked and deformed one though!). Stories of fishermen catching fish in the frigid waters of the lake and dunking it in the hot geyser to cook it was a tesman's ingenuity! First laundry at Old Faithful and now a geyser streamed fish!

The aquamarine waters of the lake merged with the azure shadows mountains and horizon stretched beyond the infinite. At almost 8000 feet, this is the largest lake in the US at this height - a caldera within a caldera. Formed by a volcanic cone collapsing after a powerful volcanic explosion- it was more ocean than lake.

On either side of the walkway on the lakeside, the earth frothed and bubbled and hissed and steamed - a constant reminder of the super volcano we were on - a volcano holding it all in and seething in the inside for thirty thousand years! Man - I would be so overdue for an violent and raging eruption if I had to hold it all in for thar long!

A lone yellow canoe, the stillness of the waters and the little brown and white birds with big names - Clark's nutcracker- hopping around in the acidic sulphur laden waters of the rocky beach and the bubbling waters of the geyser was an universe onto itself. Sitting there you could imagine the dinosaurs walking these lands and the huge water ones slowly raising their heads from the depths of the lake.

A picnic lunch at the lake was high on our list, but the benches were near the parking lot and not very appealing. The kids were super hungry - parking lot view be damned! But when Indian parents are on an agenda - growling stomachs don't stand a chance! So we set out to look for the perfect spot - women in search of a view! And what a view it was! The Yellowstone Lake picnic pavillion was on a hillock overlooking the black sand beach of the lake framed by cobalt waters - with not another human in sight. The beach waiting for our footsteps creating memories in the sand. The cold lake water gently lapping at the shore looking for playmates. The solitary raven was the only sound breaking the silence.

And then there was us! The noise and cacophony of an Indian picnic lunch with a full set of food, dessert and tea, directly transported the beaches on Puri and Digha to Yellowstone. The only thing missing were the street hawkers peddling their fare.

Then off it was to the mud volcanoes - where the earth gurgle with the sound of boiling hor mud and the mus geysers sprayed the stench of putrid sulpher into the air - a primordial landscape where nature was still at work. The Dragon's Mouth geyser spewed hot steam from its dark crevice and the sound of boiling mud filled the air.

The Porcelein Basin was a stark contrast. A pure white delicate expanse filled with deep blue cauldrons of hot water that glistened in the sun. A walk around the area was like walking in a glass plate with delicate designs etched on its surface.

The Norris geyser - the hottest in Yellowstine with temperatures reaching 400 degrees F - was warm and moist. Folklore has it that a man fell in once and it took 2 minutes fir his flesh to melt away - a macabre story if there ever was one!

The last pit stop of the day was at Artist's Paint Pot. Walking through the pine forests under a setting sun, we reached an oval area with small pools of blue, while, green and ochre - mother Nature's pallette beckoning the artist within us to imagine what could be!