Good Morning Vietnam!

 

When we 3 damsels started to plan a girls trip, Vietnam was far down in our list. We started off with Greece (out of budget), Sri Lanka (political tension), Maldives (nothing much to do), Morocco (bad weather), Thailand (too cliche) and a few more before we finalised on Vietnam. We had very less expectations from the country esp after its war with the US and French colonial rule for 100s of years.

The day finally arrived on 11th of Jan 23 when we departed from Mumbai airport to Da Nang by VietJet flight, popularly known Sorry Airlines due to its frequent delays and bad service but we were lucky. Flight was on time and we reached Da Nang by 730 AM on 12th Jan. Exchanged dollars @23300 rate/$ and also got our sim cards that we had booked through Klook. The cab driver was on time who drove us to Brilliant Hotel, which lived upto its name. The room, food and service was indeed Brilliant. 

View of the Dragon Bridge from our stunning room

Day 1:

Had the world famous Banh Mi for breakfast after which we rested a while and went for Hoi An night tour. Our guide Hung was excellent and he guided us well. Stopped at Tien Hieu Marble Handicraft store on the way and saw some beautiful marble statues and sculptures. 

Went to silk museum first then to a Chinese temple (Quan Cong Temple). Japanese bridge (Cau Pagoda (Chùa Cầu), and old town looked very nice. Then had coffee at a local cafe, took a scenic boat ride with lanterns and candles and then shopped a bit at night market. 

Later had an amazing vegetarian dinner at a restaurant by the river (Tiem Ca Phe Nha Minh). Due to my migraine I couldn’t enjoy it to the fullest but hoping I can go back and spend more time in this ancient town which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Tip of the day: Keep a day’s gap after you travel as this immediate tour got hectic for us.

Day 2: 

Left for Ba Na hills at 8 after breakfast. It was a group tour & we went in a mini bus. Reached Sun World entrance, and boy was it well made! Beautiful decor and architecture. Went up by cable car (super clean and maintained) through scenic forests and valleys. French town was mind blowing, we thought we were in Europe. Really blown over. Experiences the amazin self controlled rollar coaster ride and roamed around a bit. Ate at the Indian restaurant and tried to see other stuff but ran out of time. Went to the next level where we saw the Golden bridge and pagoda. After we got back to the hotel, at 9 we went to the hotels 17th floor and saw the Dragon spit fire for few mins. This happens every Fri, Sat and Sun at 9 PM. If we had the time and energy we would have loved to witness this a bit closer. 
Tip of the day: Make sure you wear good shoes and carry a jacket .

              

Day 3: 

Flew to Hanoi from Da Nang through Vietnam Airlines, very good seats and good service. Checked in at Hanoi E Central hotel for a day. Decent enough for a day amidst the bustling Old Quarter. Lunched at Aalishan as we had already started craving for Indian food. Then took a cab to Lake Hoan Kiem and had coffee at Laika cafe. The place was at the centre of Old Quarter with a super cool vibe. Walked at the Hun Cuo Bridge which was lit red. This park around the lake is really a peaceful area in Hanoi, very beautiful place for evening or morning walking. Clicked some pics, then went to Aahar for dinner. Average food. On the way back to the hotel we witnessed lot of couples dancing on the road at the centre of Old Quarter to amazing latin songs. The whole vibe was so so chill!

Tip of the day: Don't miss the night life at Hanoi sp on weekends.

Day 4:

We drove to Ha Long bay which took about 3 hours, stopped at a pearl factory on the way. Once we reached Ha Long bay we took a small boat to reach the bigger one for around 45 mins. Glad we chose Dora Cruises who were excellent with their service and food. Lot of vegetarian options too. After lunch and freshening up, we went for kayaking. After that enjoyed the view from the jacuzzi at the deck! Dinner was nice too with good music and some cooking lessons from the chef. 

Tip of the day: Ask the cruise manager for night squid fishing which we missed. 

Day 5: 

Went to see the water caves early morning. It was freezing cold but the boat ride from the floating village was awesome. We passed by 2-3 water caves and interacted with other hotel guests. Checked out and reached Hanoi around 4 pm, checked in at The Chi Boutique which was much better than the previous Hanoi hotel. Went shopping at old quarter. 

Tip for the day: If you have the time, try to shop at one of the malls for good leather bags instead of street shopping. 

Day 6:

Left for a 2 hrs drive to Nin Binh. Guide Wendy/Queyn was very cute and sweet. First we stopped to see Bai Dinh Pagoda which took about an hr. Then had lunch at a local village. Weather was freezing today too. Next went to Trang An boating. 2 hrs rowing through a landscape similar to Ha long bay. After a cup of coffee and went on a hike to the Mua Caves a point to climb the 500 steps to the top of the mountain to see the best view of Ninh Binh and Lying Dragon statue.

Tip for the day: Good shoes again as lot of walking.

Vietnam you really blew us over with your beauty and amazing people. Till next time!

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Mesmerizing Meghalaya

 19th Oct 2019

We left for our flight from Pune to Chennai by cab. 3 hours stop over in Chennai where we had our dinner and rested a while in the lounge.

20th Oct 2019

Flight from Chennai to Guwahati was comfortable, we reached at 8:00 AM, cab driver Swapan was waiting for us. He drove us to Shillong prudently. Had a nice breaky at Jiva veg on the way. We checked in at Pear Tree Hotel, very cozy and comfy room. Post lunch we went to see Wards lake. It was very serene and beautiful. Met Carl's family there who drove us around the city a bit and then we had dinner at City Hut Dhaba. Food was excellent. 

21st Oct 2019
Left from Shillong around 9 am and saw the following on the way, elephant falls, wakodok view point, garden of caves, wah khana falls n nokalika falls (couldn't see the falls clearly due to heavy fog) arwa caves. The road to Cherapunjee Holiday resort was very bad and there was a lot of oncoming traffic due to some market day. Reached resort around 6 PM. It gets very dark by 5 itself. Had early dinner and crashed. Room was nice food was delectable.

22nd Oct
Left around 9 after a heavy breakfast and started the trek around 9:45 AM. Hired a porter for the bags and thank God we did, as the trek was very treacherous. 3600 steps but very steep. Had to climb down a mountain and climb up another one but what a beauty throughout. Saw the longest root bridge then 2 more bridges and a root bridge later we reached Double Decker Root Bridge. Was breathtaking. Spent good 2 hrs there, mind soothing and calming place. Had a headache so popped a disprin. Fed fishes, walked barefeet in water and played with butterflies. Not many tourists too. The rainbow falls was another 2 hours so didn't go for that. Trek back was very fatiguing. Reached back around 5. Food at the resort was quite piquant.

23rd Oct
Left for Mawlynnong village around 9 am. Roads were OK but bits were bad. Village looked very clean with tar roads and proper villas. Had thali lunch there itself and after an hour of walking around, left for Dawki. Again end of the road towards the resort was very bad with no sign boards. We got a bit scared as the roads look deserted and maps didn't help. However, reached Beetle Nut resort safely. Room was very clean, ordered dinner from the same resto.  

24th Oct
It started drizzling in the morning. After breakfast went for boating in Dawki river but couldn't see crystal clear water due to rains :( but had a good time floating about in the river on a simple boat rowed by simple fishermen. Zip lining was also closed, they said they'll start in Dec. Checked out and left for Shillong. On the way went to Krang Suri waterfalls. Sasha was in the car and we both went using the ponchos, 15 mins trek, it was mind-blowingly beautiful and a very different type of landscape. Had thali there at a local resto, mast rice dal veggies and Glenn had fish. Headed towards Trishi falls but the road was bad and a car had got stuck so we got saved. Skipped it and reached Pear Tree directly.

25th Oct

Was raining whole day so went to Don Bosco museum by cab and clubbed with Swami Soumya Smaya and Sriya. We had met them at Cherrapunjee resort. Kids had fun, lunched at Three Little Birds cafe, awesome place and great food. Then they dropped us at police Bazar and we took a cab to meet Carl and family and we dined at Tripura Castle. 

26th Oct

Carl picked us up around 9 and we went to see Edmunds college and cathedral. Then checked out and left for Guwahati airport around 11. Flight was just a few mins late, reached Kolkatta and again got access to travel club lounge. Had a sumptuous dinner and boarded Pune flight which was around 45 mins delayed. Reached home by cab around 1:15 am.

 

    

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Knock Knock Knock

Trouble came knocking
Knock knock knock
I asked, "who is there?"
Trouble didn't answer
and so I opened the door anyway

I am here to stay, it said
Don't mind me, and BTW I won't make my bed
I wasn't bothered by the 1st line 
but 2nd one hell yeah!

I was sure it was just being a lazy guest
and it can't stay longer than happiness
Cause happiness always makes the bed
and even puts the toilet seat down!

I just have to keep making the bed 
a few more days.
Cause once I do that happiness
will come back smiling through the door.

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Osciallting thoughts

When I read this article by Kim Zapata (source www.babble.com) I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was as if she has ripped my heart out with those words and what I have been going through almost everyday for the past few months. Every time I see a brother protecting his sister from falling, every time a girl shares a FB post and tags her sister about the bond they share, every time a see a baby being smothered by kisses by her elder brother, my heart aches. My husband and I again go through the pros and cons and after a couple of days of struggling views, push the thought back, yet again. I am not sure if we'll ever go ahead with the decision, if we'll ever take the plunge, but when I read this today, I couldn't help but share it on my blog to remind me after a few years, in case we don't go for it, the struggles of my heart and mind, the oscillating thoughts and the heart ache of a mom who feels incomplete. Sasha - please forgive me if we are not able to give you a friend in the form of a brother or sister, to help you understand the bonds of a sibling, for the lifelong support that many share and a beautiful family of four that fills many a photo frame.

Dear Little One,

I should probably start by saying that I’m not pregnant with you and I’m not having you. At least not anytime soon. At least not yet.

Make no mistake: I want to have you. For months now, I have dreamed of carrying your little body close - of tickling your toes and holding your little hand in mine. I have spent many hours trying to imagine what it would feel like to conceive you and carry you and hear your heartbeat for the very first time. I’ve puffed out my stomach and arched my back, wondering what I would look like; wondering what I would feel like. And I’ve spent hours talking with my husband (and your father) about why now is the right time - or the best time - to have you.

I’m trying to convince him why we should transform our trio into a family of four.

Yet even though I am “ready” - ready to carry you and nurture you and to have a second child - I am still terrified. I am still scared to death. Because things didn’t go as planned with your sister. Shortly after she was born, I struggled. I struggled mentally and emotionally. We - as a family - struggled financially. Your father and I struggled with our relationship. One day I nearly walked out; one day I asked for a divorce.

Depression nearly destroyed me. Postpartum depression nearly took my life.

And while that, in an of itself, is a damn good reason to be frightened and afraid, it isn’t postpartum depression that scares me most this time around. (Not anymore, at least.) No, this time, the fear is all about me, and my own personal inadequacies.

You see, selfishly I am afraid that if - and when - I have you I will become angry and resentful, because there is not enough of me to go around. Right now, with your sister, there is already not enough of me to go around.

I worry that in having you, I will have to make a difficult choice: I will have to put you in daycare much younger than your sister or I will have to sacrifice my job - the career of my dreams and the career I fought for an entire decade to obtain.

I’m afraid that I’ll be so exhausted and stressed that I’ll take it out on you, or on your sister.

I’m afraid that, if the PPD returns, I won’t be good enough or “well enough” to care of you.

I won’t be the mother you need or deserve.

I’m afraid that your sister’s antics - being an older, outgoing, and a risk-taking toddler — may cause me to miss out on your childhood. I will cover my eyes and count to 20, but when I remove my hands you will be crawling. Before I find your sister, during our never-ending game of hide and seek, you will be walking. And then you will be grown.

I’ll mourn the memories we never made.

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Spin the Globe

I once dreamt of travelling the world,
See in real what the tabloid boasted off.
Big wide roads and cool shopping malls,
A life many dont get to see.

Out of the blue
My stars started to grace me.
I took up to the sky
Flying like a cuckoo.

From east to west,
I underwent a change I never imagined.
Tall towers and lovely beaches,
meeting people and funny creatures.

The introvert became a tourer
Learning more about different cultures
Then she met the man of her dreams
Now I call for bookings and say "for two" :)

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The Incomplete post #1

Here is a post I found in my drafts today: 

Since the time that G & I got to know that we are going to have a third member in the family, I have been meaning to write a post about our feelings and the amazing journey we'll be taking together - capture few emotions in words worth reading after years!

It was the first month of the new year, day 17, I can never take those 2 pink lines out of my head :) felt so surreal and G had tears in his eyes. It was every couples dream, every parents wish to hear that they are going to become grandparents - grand news indeed for all family n friends! We decided to keep the news amongst immediate family till the 1st trimester went smooth. Mugdha Parasnis - our OB advised us to go for the first sono after 2 weeks.

The first trimester was a mix of nausea, giddiness and frequent visit to the loo'se ;) but overall went faster than I daunted.

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My Inspiration

When I opened my blog site today (after what seems like a decade) to share it with a friend , I realised that the last post was written by me in Jan 2012 - that's exactly when I got to know I am pregnant :)

I thought it's time to get back to writing and what more do I need for inspiration than my beautiful angle Sasha! She turned one last September and the times been flying like a Boeing aircraft and I feel like a passenger in it without a seat belt.

It seems like just yesterday that she was born and today she is stacking dabbas in the kitchen and calling out my name like a cute little bunny. Seeing God's miracle everyday firsthand is what makes people have kids, I guess. Cause who would otherwise want to sign up for a year long sleepless night shift ;)

 

Right now I am juggling between office work, house keeping, photoshoots, editing work, album designing and the most important being a mother. All this is possible cause of my hubby Glenn, my spine and my to whom I everyday whine ;) I hope I continue to post my thoughts here from time to time so that years later when I sit and read these with my daughter, I can share a good laugh and a soulful tear with her. Thank you Almighty to have blessed me with such a beautiful life!

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Ten Things That We Will/Won’t Miss In 2012

Looking back, 2011 was surely a year full of wax and wane, creating history that will be studied by our future generation. As we come to an end to the first month of 2012, lets ponder over a few events and muse over personalities that/whom we will and will not be missing in this Year of the Dragon

           

 First let’s cover the events that left a deep impact on us and will always be remembered with a scar. 

People who we wish never reappear:

            

            Apart from Voldemort, we will certainly not be missing the departure of Col.Muammar Gaddafi and the terrorist that shook the US of A, Osama Bin Laden. 

History was made when protests led to the resignations of the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents, and when UN-sanctioned Nato air strikes helped Libyan rebels overthrow Muammar Gaddafi’s brutal dictatorship. Gaddafi’s capture and death on Oct 20^th at his hometown Sirte, Libya, at the hands of the rebels closed a long and dark chapter in the country’s history.

Another black chapter came to an end in the early morning hours of May 2, 2011. A nearly decade-long search for the world's most wanted terrorist came to an end - Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden was killed in a US operation in Pakistan in May in a mansion outside the capital of Islamabad. 

Events we wish never happened:

             

              2011 was also known as the year of disasters. With historic floods, droughts, and tornadoes, this year has broken the record for the number of billion-dollar calamities. 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan on March 11, 2011 triggering tsunami alert along Japan’s Pacific Coast and to at least 20 countries. This largest tsunami catastrophe was the worst history of earthquake in Japan but what’s creating more global concern is the possibility of the leaking radiation to the air following the explosion of two nuclear plants in Fukushima, Japan. From January 1-31, earthquakes hit Argentina, Chile, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Tonga. By the following month that was from February 4-21, earthquakes struck Burma, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Sulawesi, Fiji and New Zealand.

 

            As if nature’s fury wasn’t enough to wound us all, Anders Behring Breivik, shot 69 people, in a summer camp in Oslo, Norway. He said his actions were ‘atrocious but necessary’. In Nov, the court-appointed experts ruled him criminally insane.

Now let’s talk about those events & people that we will be missing for years to come. 

People who we wish were immortal:

             

            As some say, 2011 was a year when music died. Shammi ji and Dev Anand were the charmers of 60’s and 70’s. Bollywood can boast of songs that were composed, sung and picturized on these two heroes even today. We also lost the Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh to the after-world. The singer struggled with a brain haemorrhage for 17 days before he breathed his last on October 10. He mesmerised music lovers for over four decades with his soul stirring numbers. 

The music world lost a few more of its gems with Amy Winehouse, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (one of the greatest legends of Indian classical music and the oldest living exponent of the Kirana Gharana), the soulful voice of Ustad Sultan Khan and the legendary singer-composer and the most iconic figures from Assam, Bhupen Hazarika.

On the other side of the world, millions mourned the death of Apple’s visionary Steve Jobs. One of the greatest CEOs of his generation, Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. His death gave us a chance to reflect upon what a great corporate leader can do to the world of technology.

Events we wish could be frozen in time:

             

            Without doubt almost every Indian will never forget this year as Dhoni and his team bought back the World cup to India after 28 years. Co-hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the World Cup eclipsed every other event between the 19^th of February and the 2^nd of April this year. The fact that India won the Cup on home soil was the perfect icing on the cake. The whole nation was euphoric and Indians from all over the globe were on the streets celebrating joyously.

 

            One massive event happened on April 29^th - the British Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. After months of top-secret planning, the invitations were mailed, the details finalized, and the big day arrived. For estimated 2.4 billion people watching the royal wedding, it was definitely the wedding of the year, probably even the decade! 

            Apart from these a few more events on a positive note include Anna Hazare’s rise to bring corruption to an end with his Lokpal campaign, F1 Indian Grand Prix Race coming to India, Sachin breaking another record to score 15000 runs in Test cricket, the world’s cheapest tablet PC Akash launched in India and a medical breakthrough with All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) creating a new drug called Naringin, for treating Alzheimer`s disease.

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Blind with eyes open

You tune out when they need you the most
Can't you see the fragile hands?
Can't you see the pain behind the frame?

Too busy to underpin, you let them take support of peglegs
Have you forgotten the time when he gushed you on your first step?
Have you forgotten the days when he was the gladdest dad watching you crawl and run?

Keeping them happy in a swish house full of likewise geezerhoods,
Is similar to providing freedom to a bird in cage.
All they ask for is some time worthwhile, not seeing you turn guile
So open those eyes, wake up and foster those dry leaves. 

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What's with the staring?

Have you ever tried to dress differently in a crowd? Be it going in shorts for a movie in chinchwad, wearing a singlet top at laxmi road or even a summer dress at MG road? I bet you'll get more stares than Rajni and Shahrukh together! Esp from the fairer sex. And I am not talking about revealing clothes or way out of the ordinary - just simple attires but a little non-desi. I sometimes avoid them but nowadays can't help but stare back at them and sometimes even ask "Is something wrong?"

It's one thing to check-out what's in and who's wearing what but these arn't those. These are more like "How can you wear this?" or "which country did you buy THAT from?" It really bugs me and I even tried to ask my friends if they get the same kinda gaze and yes, they do too! It's disappointing that this happens more often in India than any other country. Have we not heard the term 'Minding your business'?

So if any one of you fall under the lot of 'gazers' please enlighten me on why do you stare so much or you truly not aware that you are gapping at a girl awkwardly? Wonder what Lady Gaga thinks about this!

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Paranoid about Android?

We all keep hearing about Android and Android phones, but what exactly are they? Well, quite simply, Android is a mobile operating system, based on Linux kernel and developed by Android Inc., in 2005 that was purchased by Google. They all have a nice touch screen interface like the iPhone. But there are other features that distinguish it from the rest of the lot. One is that Google built Android as an open architecture – that means anybody can develop applications (“apps”) and enhancements for your phone – making it infinitely customizable. Other touch screen phones may allow you to add apps but might not give you the flexibility to change the core interface; don’t like the way your phone handles text messages? You can download a different text messaging application. While the most phones can only run one app at a time, the Android is a proper multi-tasking mobile OS that can run multiple apps like the Google Maps, media player and browser at the same time without any hiccups. Android Market is the online app store run by Google, though apps can also be downloaded from third-party sites. Developers write primarily in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries. No wonder Android is world’s best-selling Smartphone platform. The operating system (OS) is also used on net books, tablets, Google TV, and other devices.
The release of version 1.0 was in September 2008 and there have been a number of updates since its original release. These updates to the base operating system typically fix bugs and add new features. Generally, each version is developed under a code name based on a dessert item. The code names are in alphabetical order (Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, and the future version, Ice Cream Sandwich).

Facts about Android:
1. Android was devised way back in 2003 by Andy Rubin and Rich Miner only to sell it to Google for $50 million. Google put the concept in cold storage until 2007 when it announced plans to launch the Android mobile platform. Today Rubin is the director of mobile platforms and Miner the group manager, both at Google.
2. The Android operating system consists of 12 million lines of code including 3 million lines of XML, 2.8 million lines of C, 2.1 million lines of Java, and 1.75 million lines of C++!
3. The first publicly available application was the Snake game.
4. The first mobile phone to run on the Android operating system was the HTC Dream G1 released on 22 October 2008.
5. The first malware for the Android OS was the SMS-Trojan, which was called Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.apk that would run up your text messaging bill.
6. A recent survey revealed that the majority of Android users are men. Actually, the majority of all Smartphone users are men, but in the case of iPhone the difference is slight, 57% are men. With Android 73% are men. So now you know which one to gift to your spouse. ;)
7. An important point to note about Android is that concerning of music and video. It does not have the official media to desktop syncing client.

How to choose an Android Phone?

Some of the best selling Android phones in India per thinkdigit.com are Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Incredible S, Google Nexus S, LG Optimus 2x and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. As you might know it’s raining Android phones in the market. Moot on the following factors before you buy one:
a. Processor - Welcome to the 1GHz and dual core processor age, bringing lightning fast performance to many new Android Smartphones. Dual core Smartphones are increasing, but a lot of smartphone buyers may find adequate power by sticking with 1GHz.
b. Data Storage – Most can go up to 32GB of external memory with a Micro SD card, but do not forget the internal memory especially those of you who run a lot of applications or multi task at a high rate.
c. Display - Decide between a multi-touch display, a traditional physical QWERTY keyboard, or a hybrid; this will greatly narrow down your search.
d. Battery Life - For those that are using their device for work or other situations where a long lasting battery is key, this will be a major consideration when comparing devices.
e. Price - Last but the most important factor is how much of your pocket do you want to burn to possess the gizmo? Or as the ad says, what did YOU do to get your android phone?

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Nostalgic

There was a time not long ago
When there lived an angel
Never knew her charm, nor her magic spells
Sari clad, oh she used to mingle

She worked through day and night
Seldom glancing into her wishing well
Trying to please folks around
With lotsa lines about

Then came a time
When the stress took its toll
But then she realized
It was too late to fight the blow

Slowly her light started to fade
To make her glow forever in fame
Wishing her presence in good and bad times
Amma we miss you every single second!

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WHO IS PACKING YOUR PARACHUTE?

A stone-age hunter tracked a set of paw prints through the grass
lands. He eventually came upon the largest and most ferocious
looking saber-toothed tiger he had ever seen. The animal was
recently killed and a small man stood beside it.

Amazed, he asked: "Did you kill that?"

"Yes."

"How could a little guy like you put down a huge beast like that?"

"I killed it with my club," the man replied.

"Wow!" the astonished hunter exclaimed. "How big is your club?"

The man thought for a moment. "I guess there are about 30 of us."

We may not be hunting saber-toothed tiger, but we all need some help
to get through this life. We need people who are ready to assist.
People who will encourage, teach, challenge, support and watch out
for us. One of the best metaphors I know for such people comes from
Charlie Plumb, a public speaker and retired naval officer.

After Plumb graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, he flew jets in
Vietnam. He was shot down by a surface-to-air missile after 75
combat missions. He ejected and parachuted into the jungle. The
Vietcong captured him and held him prisoner for six years in North
Vietnam. Today, Plumb lectures on lessons learned from that
experience.

He likes to tell the story of a day when he and his wife were
sitting in a restaurant and a man at another table approached them.
"You're Plumb!" the man said. "You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from
the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked the former pilot.

"I packed your parachute!" he said. Plumb gasped in surprise. The
man pumped his hand and continued, "I guess it worked!"

Plumb assured him it did. "If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't
be here today."

The pilot couldn't sleep that night, thinking about the stranger. He
wondered how many times he might have seen him on the ship and not
spoken because he was a fighter pilot and the man who packed his
chute was "just a sailor." He thought of the many hours the sailor
had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the carrier,
carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute,
holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

When Plumb lectures, he often asks his audience, "Who's packing your
parachute?" He is asking: who is watching out for you? Can you
identify the people who have packed your parachute over the years
and those who are packing it today?

I think of a music teacher who taught me that it was not enough for
me to learn the instrument. I must also have fun with it. Ever
since, music has been a source of supreme joy for me.

I think of a school teacher who, after listening to a reading of a
short story I performed before the class, described the impact of
that story on him. That day I fell in love with story-telling and
understood the important role stories can play in a person's life.

I think of a young woman who believed in me and instilled within me
a life-long belief in myself.

I can think of many people who have packed my parachute. In their
own way, each helped me land a little more safely. Some have been
true teachers for me, some have been compassionate healers, and some
have put me in touch with deep, spiritual values. They influenced me
more than they ever knew.

Who is packing your parachute? And just as important, whose
parachutes are you packing? Who looks up to you? Who may depend on
you for courage or encouragement? For understanding or guidance?

To those who have packed my parachute over the years, I am indebted.

For those who are packing it yet today, I give thanks.

And to those whose parachutes I am packing, I promise to do my best.

-- Steve Goodier

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Bhigwan – Birder’s Paradise

In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence - Robert Lynd

             There are many places in and around Pune for a birder’s delight but for a vivid birdwatcher, Bhigwan is a solace. It’s a catchment area of the mighty Ujani Dam, a small town on the Pune-Solapur highway (NH-9), about 100 kms from Pune.

How to reach Bhigwan?

1. Public Transport –

ST buses bound for Solapur and onwards from Pune and also Solapur/Chennai bound fast trains stop at Bhigwan.
a. Duration – 3.5 hrs for bus, 2 hrs for train

b. No need to drive, cost effective

c. One will have to manage exploring the vast area on their own, which can be a turbulent task. To watch the Flamingos, one has to reach Bhigwan before sunrise, public transport schedules may not be suitable for this.

2. Personal Vehicle –

Cars [Bikes are also suitable for the more adventurous bunch ;)]
a. Duration – 2 hrs

b. Time flexibility, can explore many birding spots, can carry photography equipments, food and other luggage, best option if you want to watch the Flamingos at sunrise.

c. Roads aren’t car friendly and even though you can explore a lot of birding spots, you may have to park cars at the closest point and walk. This is not the case if you go on a bike.

3. Things To Carry –
Breakfast and lunch, water, cameras, laptops to transfer images (if reqd), binoculars, cap and an extra paper bag to dump waste. Please do not litter.

4. Route -
Head towards the NH-9 then follow the route Pune > Hadapsar > Loni > Kedagaon > Patas > Kurkumbh > Ravangaon > Bhigwan. Once you reach Bhigwan, take a left towards Diksal before the river bridge. Take right from Diksal and travel by road which heads to Bhilarwadi Sugar plant. This road cuts through the backwaters and is very tapered, wide enough for just one vehicle to pass.

                 As soon as you start driving towards the lake, with water bodies on both sides, you immediately start to spot migratory water birds in large numbers -- ducks, terns, twany eagles, cotton pigmy goose, lesser whistling teal, ruff, clamorous warblers, marsh harriers, comb ducks, ruddy shelducks, common kestrels, Eurasian wigeons, gadwalls and shovellers. It’s advisable to walk this patch of the road as birds are very sensitive to the engine sounds. It also saves your car the scratches from the thorny bushes on both the sides. You also start to see a lot many egrets, rollers, bee-eaters, kingfishers, drongos, coppersmith babblers, crow pheasants, gray hornbills which are not that camera shy.

                 After travelling for about 4 kms, you reach the end of the bridge, where fishermen have set up a small roadside village. From here, one can hire a small fishing boat to take a closer look at the ducks, sea gulls flying over your head and eagles catching its preys. Exotic species such as flamingo grace this place with their presence between the months of Dec – Mar. The boat ride to see them up close costs about 150-200 per head. One can sit there for hours watching them fly, hunt, sleep and dodge partners lovingly.

Words cannot completely express the glee of visiting this place and one can just hope and pray that awareness and government’s proposal to turn this place into a bird sanctuary will enhance the Bharatpur of Maharashtra!

                                            On my way!

                                The flamboyance of flamingos...


© All the photos are copyrighted to Arthi Audiseshan

This article was printed in the Dec'10 issue of Pune City Digest magazine.

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Power Walking – Take it up a Notch

 

Have you always dreamt of becoming fitter, getting those flat tummy muscles and bursting with energy, but bored of the everyday exercise routines? Want to learn something new to lose weight? Then read on, as all you require for what I am about to tell you are your own two feet and a good pair of shoes.

    Power walking, also known as speed walking, is nothing but rapid walking with one foot always on the ground accompanied by vigorous swinging of the arms. Hundreds of doctors recommend it and research studies can’t stop lauding its benefits. Experts  in the field  of sports and fitness have described walking as "the nearest activity to perfect exercise". You may wonder how something so simple can be so significant, but as you begin to learn more and more about your body and the benefits of power walking you will realize that it is true; the action of walking may be simple but the results for your health and daily living are far reaching.

    While most of us are familiar with the benefits of jogging, power walking comes as boon to those who want to take it easy on the joints. This is because when you power walk, you hit the ground with less than half the force when you jog. Now this doesn’t mean you pick your shoes and start speed walking. This aerobic activity comes with a little practice. Its recommended you start with regular walking speed and work on your pace on a daily basis. Once you hit an average of 7-9 km/hr and a regime of 4-6 power walks a week 20-30 minutes a day, that’s when you can call yourself a pro.

    Power walking not only burns calories but it also builds your upper body muscles, strengthening and firming them.  It is the most natural and fundamental of all human conscious movements; it can be done by anyone and anywhere. There is no age limit, its free it and can be done anytime during the day.  To get the maximum benefits, make sure you get a good pair of walking shoes. You will want to invest in some really good ones. Walking shoes that are not too heavy, are roomy, and have some give. When you bend the shoe, it should give easily at the ball of the foot, and when it is on your foot, make sure there is a thumb’s width of space from the front of the shoe to your big toe. Shoes that are too tight or firm will make it hard for you to walk comfortably for very long. As for the attire, any comfortable clothing would do. You do not need to invest in special clothes or equipment to power walk effectively.

    Atul Jagdale, a freelance personal trainer rightly quotes, “Walking is the most natural thing to do – at your own pace and time. Power walking works as an icing on the cake since its very effective for weight loss. To top it you don’t spend much.”

A few tips to keep in mind when you  start power walking:

1.       Avoid busy streets.  Look for a garden or a race course close by for this process. If you are using a treadmill, try to picture exotic locations like a beach or vast grasslands. This will keep your mind relaxed and boost you to complete your daily rounds.

2.       Take short quick steps than long strides. It’s surprising how much farther you can go this way.

3.       Swing your arms and close your fists in a relaxed way. This way you’d walk faster. Make sure your elbow is bend to 90 degrees.

4.       Keep your posture right. Stick that tummy in and tighten your butt.

5.       Breathe naturally. As you walk, take deep, rhythmic breaths, to get the maximum amount of oxygen through your system. Walk fast enough that your breathing is increased yet you are not out of breath.

6.       Take short breaks if you go breathless. Adding intervals is the fastest way to get fitter.

7.       To get that speed, try to think you are running late and don’t care a hoot about the onlookers.

8.       Last but not least, make your walk fun. Belt a Mp3 player along to keep yourself in rhythm. If you can find a partner to hook up with, nothing like it!



So take that speedy stroll to 'switch off' and stay healthy!

This article was printed in the Oct issue of Pune City Digest Magazine

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Toast

                Love is really funny. A cute smart girl & a handsome witty guy worked in the same office for 2 years. Both sort of liked each other, apparently visible from the smiles exchanged while crossing each others cubicles. The guy would throw a few flirtatious filmy compliments on chats. He would secretly send her an anonymous bouquet of flowers & a cute teddy bear on her birthday. She knew it somewhere that it was him, but never had the courage to ask. Time went by. Some months later the girl had to go for an international trip. Casually she told him that she did not have a nice jacket for the trip. Knowing that his brand new jacket was oversize for her, he still offered it like a hero and she too accepted it with a smile.

             Who knew that a jacket & the time spent away from each other would bring them closer.
With every ticking  second of the many international calls, their hearts started to beat in unison. They knew right then that they wanted to spend their life with each other.
         
              This is the story of Arthi & Glenn.
              To Love, To Laughter, To Happiness Ever After!
              To Arthi & Glenn. Here's wishing you guys a lifetime of happiness!

                                                                                                       ~Prashant Joshi

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A Humble Spirit

In his own eyes, Mike was the most popular guy around. "A lot of women are gonna be totally miserable when I marry," he boasted to his date.

"Really?" she said. "And just how many women are you intending to marry?" (Maybe you new that guy.)

But I like the story of a young woman who wanted to go to college. Her heart sank, however, when she read the question on the admission form that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst.

To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear applicant: A study of the admission forms reveals that this year our school will enroll 1,452 new leaders. We would like to accept you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."

Sometimes a little bit of humble pie goes well with a rich meal. Actually, what passes for conceit in many people is often just a plea for attention. A poor sense of self may cause one to want to be the prominent star in every constellation. Humility, on the other hand, does not require that one shine less brightly than others, simply that all be given opportunity to shine.

That great 19th Century African American educator Booker T. Washington exemplified the power of a simple and modest spirit. A story is told of a day when Washington, then a professor at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, happened to pass the mansion of a wealthy woman as he walked to work. The woman did not recognize him and called out, "Hey you! Come here! I need some wood chopped!" She was a product of her southern post-Civil War culture and simply perceived him as a black man who was there to do her bidding.
Without a word, Dr. Washington peeled off his jacket, picked up the ax and went to work. He not only cut a large pile of wood, he also carried the firewood into the house and arranged it neatly by the fireplace.

He had scarcely left when a servant said to the woman, "I guess you didn't recognize him, ma'am, but that was Professor Washington!" Embarrassed and ashamed, the woman hurried over to Tuskegee Institute to apologize. The great educator respectfully replied: "There's no need to apologize, madam. I'm delighted to do favors for my friends."

The professor may have taught one of his greatest lessons that day. It was a lesson about astronomy: he taught that every star can shine without one out-shining all the others. It was a lesson about peace: he taught how self-interest must often be set aside for the good of the whole. And it was a lesson about spirituality: he taught about the power of a meek and humble spirit in a world where aggression is too-often confused with strength.

It is a lesson we are still learning.


-- Steve Goodier

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White River Rafting on River Kundalika

Bungee jumping, paragliding and river rafting were on my bucket list for a very long time now. So when my brother referenced to the river rafting website, I immediately shot an email to my friends list looking for participation. There were no second thoughts on their minds too as 7 of us planned this adventure trip within a day’s time. Although most of us had just heard about white river rafting, planning the trip was quite easy. The travel company’s website was quite informative and helped us make booking on time and provided us with many tips.

First let me give you a heads up about the place. Kundalika is a small river flowing from the Hills of Sahyadri to the Arabian Sea. The river is fed by the excess water from Tata Power's Mulshi Dam Project on to a series of hydroelectric projects and dams, where the water is released in the morning typically at 6 am, the rapids thus generated are used for rafting.
We started off from Chandani chowk at 0600 hrs and reached the spot by 0800 hrs. Since there aren’t many dhabas or eateries open in the wee hours, its recommended to carry your own breakfast. Make sure you don’t stuff yourself before the rafting session. We parked our vehicles at the base camp and hired a 6-seater up to the river about 10kms far, that cost us 500 bucks. We were briefed by our guide Ganesh, who told us the dos and don’ts.





And then and then we took our positions and did what Ganesh said -
"Farward paddle!"
"Fast farwards!"
"GET DOWN!"
"HOLD OON!"

The rafting session lasted for 2 odd hours – we gushed through level 2 and 3 rapids and was quite an adrenaline rush. We were screaming and getting wet as our raft hit the rapids. Not to mention the splash water fights with other rafters. We were allowed to dive in and swim for the last 2 3 kms, which was a highlight of the activity. It was worth every rupee spent [Rs. 1250 to be exact ;)]
Then we changed to dry clothes and had the option to munch some snacks at the local thelas, but we opted to find some place on the way back. Luckily we spotted a joint called Orchard Resort, which was recently inaugurated. We all relished a sumptuous lunch buffet for Rs. 149 and headed back to Pune around 1500 hrs.

How to reach there:

Pune – Chandani Chowk – Pirangut – Paud – Mulshi – Tamhini Ghat – Vile Phata (Diversion), 79 kms – Just ahead of this diversion, look for a very small hotel (dhaba) called Deepsayadri – continue ahead, take a right turn (lookout for this turn which slopes downwards, just after the railings) - continue ahead till you see a bridge. Turn left just before the bridge. You will see unfinished / under construction structure and river Kundalika flowing behind it. This is your Rafting Start Point which is Saje village.


Few leads before you plan a trip:

- Rate `700 on weekdays and `1250 on weekends
- Kids below 14 yrs of age aren’t allowed to raft.
- Swimming skills & Previous experience - No need to worry there
- Best quality life jackets and helmets will be provided


Things to carry – change of clothes, towel, floaters, drinking water, plastic bag to carry wet clothes, avoid wearing any accessories and try to carry ready to eat food.

If you decide on an overnight trip you can stay either at the Durshet Forest Lodge or the Empower Camp at Sutarwadi and club rafting along with other activities like bird watching, rappelling, rock climbing, kayaking (only in monsoon), night walks in the forest, barbecues and campfires.

A lot more info at http://www.kundalikarafting.in




More pics @ - http://picasaweb.google.com/arthiaudi/WhiteRiverRaftingAtRiverKundalika?authkey=Gv1sRgCKXRzOLP47r6wgE#

This article was printed in the Oct issue of Pune City Digest Magazine

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How much of Facebook?

When I was asked to write a snippet on any random topic, the first thing that came to my mind was the current hot topic of social networking and Facebook. I thought this is a good opportunity to pen down my views on the subject since I am on the site almost the whole day!

Wiki defines Social Network as a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called "nodes," which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige. Social is the key word here. For generations we learn and teach our kids that we humans are social animals. And in order to survive in today’s stressful lives, we strive to keep that point in mind and revive it time and again. The site’s popularity is clearly visible. I can’t stop myself from logging onto Facebook every morning before I even check my mails. Be it sharing the numerous funny videos posted by my friends or writing on friends walls the day doesn’t start without a funny tag line ;)
I remember during the initial days of Facebook, how excited most of us were to find long lost school friends, sharing loads of pictures and videos, virtual poking each other, throwing virtual pillows and of course, planting seeds in your Farmville! Right from games to super cool applications, many of the users have built a great credibility and gained customers for their various business. Its main USP, however, is that it serves as a dating site. Facebook has been the reason for many solitary souls’ smiles!
Albeit its gaining popularity and number of users, as for any invention, there are the disadvantages too. Major ones being, if you are in cognizant, strangers added as your friends can gain access to personal information, risk your safety and can lead to negative and unpleasant scenarios. You may not even be able to verify your “friend’s” credentials and it might be a false account for all we know.

Facebook may not be all that good or bad. It’s up to us, the users, to decide what kind of information to share. Share with a sense of responsibility and don’t let the cyberpunks trespass what’s personal to you.

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Book Review - Train to Pakistan

Train to Pakistan - by Khushwant Singh published in 1956 - Fiction
Although I have read a lot of books since I was 10, this is my first book review. Thanks to Rahul who inspired (read as forced) me into this one ;)
Train to Pakistan is a book based on the partition of India Pakistan right after India's independence. It takes us to the summer of 1947 to Mano Majra, a tiny village in Punjab. The partition means almost nothing to the local villagers and all is well between the sikh farmers and muslim tenants of the village until the local money lender Ram Lal is murdered. Jugga and the England returned social activist become the prey of Punjab police. The heavy drama shifts drastically when an east-bound train makes an unplanned stop at Mano Majra, coaches full of corpses. The flabbergasted villagers have not yet accepted the truth when reality slaps them once again when Sutlej floods from neighboring village. Action paces on as the magistrate, Jugga, Iqbal (the social activist) and village heads try to tackle the revolting violence. Also, the attitude of local police and niggling government officials is very nicely portrayed. The end however leaves a lot of open threads. Once I was about 4 - 5 pages away from the end, I was keen to know how will he end the series of misfortunes in the village. Frankly I was a bit disappointed since I was expecting something out of Mr. Iqbal as well. But to sum it up, Mr. Singh's eye to detail makes it a total page turner. Train to Pakistan gets a "Must Read" tag.

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