TheBanyanTree: Dreaming a Place...Part Three

[Dee Churchill]

Dateline: March 3, 2000
 
I can't tell you how glad I am we still have the emu and ellyphunts. Keep
and all his friends were invaluable but even he agrees, we couldn't have
done it without our feathered and leathered buddies.

The first thing we figured out was that the bar had to be open-air and full
of light. The second thing we figured out was that we wanted it to be that
wonderful childhood thing that is always remembered fondly...even if you
never had one yourself...a treehouse. Not even a real "house",
actually...just a platform resting solidly on the welcoming branches of the
Banyan tree.

But what a platform! Keep showed us where to find the teakwood
planks...huge, thick solid planks with a rich sheen. The ellyphunts packed
'em in for us and, between their muscle and the monkey-folks' agility, we
managed to get them up in the branches. Now picture this...a long, wide
platform that ambles around the whole outer perimeter of the Banyan tree
complex, about two stories off the ground, spanning branch after branch in
its circle. Leaves below and above but clear views either to the world
outside the Banyan tree or down and up within the Banyan tree.

All things considered, it's pretty level. A bit of a slope here and there
but nothing serious. An interesting jig-jag or zig-zag from time to time,
just to accommodate the way a particular set of branches go. There are
sturdy railings along either outer edge but that's more for casual leaning
than anything else. In a virtual world, the last thing you have to fear is
hurting yourself if you absent-mindedly walk off the edge. You'll either go,
"Oops!" and loop around and fly right back...or you'll make a soft, safe
splat down there, get up, dust yourself off, and beam yourself right back up
again.

Of course, you don't have to go flying around or beaming about if you don't
want to. We have "elly-vators". Yes we do. We got to worrying about the
ellyphunts feeling left out if we were lollygagging around above-ground.
Then we remembered the Dumbo Effect.

Ellyphunts are willing to do just about anything if you bribe them with
enough banana bunches and sugar cane bundles. It wasn't hard to convince
them that flapping their ears was the key to flight...and access to the
world above the ground. There were a few interesting accidents in the
beginning. Two ellyphunts colliding in the middle of the air is an awesome
sight. When they both hit the ground immediately thereafter, some of the
Banyan Tree dwellers thought there had been a meteor strike.

Before long, all the ellyphunts were whirling and twirling around through
the spreading branches and slipping magically through tight spaces with
pinpoint accuracy. Well...except for Herman.

You might remember Herman. He's the oldest of the ellyphunts and I don't
think he sees too well, although he'd never admit it. To avoid certain
disaster in the air, we convinced Herman he would shine as the Elly-vator
Head Honcho. We call him Sir Herman now and he loves it. When you want to go
up...or down...just whistle for Sir Herman. He'll be happy to take you in
either direction...vertically. If you value your welfare, however, do NOT
allow him to take you in any horizontal direction whatsoever. We don't know
for sure how many trunks the Banyan Tree actually has...we do know Sir
Herman has smacked into a significant number of them.

With the emu, it was a different story. They tried hard but their tiny
little wings simply did not give them the liftoff thrust they needed. This
was easily overcome, however, when we ordered a shipment of battery operated
Propeller Beanies from Hong Kong. Eve is so proud of hers...it's decorated
with lacy frills and pink ribbons. Be sure you compliment her, won't you?

Oh...those Beanies use rechargeable batteries so if you see an emu with its
head stuck to a tree trunk...leave it alone. It's plugged into a recharging
socket.

You'll notice that there are clusters of deck chairs in conversation
groupings all around our treehouse platform. And lots of big cushions for
lounging and leaning against. There are hammocks swinging conveniently here
and there and even a few tires suspended by vines if you feel like that kind
of swinging.

The bar is set up here, where I can look out at the spectacular falls, just
over that way. Sometimes, when the sunlight hits the mist just right, you
can see rainbows. By the way, there are some wonderful swimming holes just
this way from the falls...skinny dipping is encouraged. Just watch out for
Cees...he might be fishing.

I've got a special on our very own libation today...our world famous Banyan
Bubblies. Champagne with Chambord (raspberry liqueur) and just a touch of
peach schnapps. The colorful butterfly fluttering on the edge of the glass
is real...admire it before it flies away to decorate another drink. 

Now...got your Bubbly? Good...find a comfortable chair with a good view.
Lean back and sip. Listen to all the wind chimes hanging everywhere. And the
birds. And feel the breeze as it wafts through this airy haven. Pluck a wild
orchid if you feel like it and stick it in your hair.

...and enjoy the stories and the very good company. Welcome home.

Hugs from Dee, sittin' on a bamboo bar stool, strummin' on a ukulele, trying
to sing, "Tiny bubbles...in the wine..."