Lifeless objects to lifetime memories - our non living friends in life!

        One of the earliest lessons taught in school - the identification of non-living and living things teaches us the meaning of 'being alive'. It helps us identify objects that enter and exit our daily life as nothing but non-living entities. While as we move along this journey called life, we realize these 'non-living' soon become an integral part of our 'living'.
         Knowingly or unknowingly, they start holding an irreplaceable bond that cannot be tied down to any relation but still mean a great value; impossible to ignore. As we use these things for our needs we let them become an important necessity that cannot be parted with.

        While sailing through the daily routine of life, a thought about the ‘things’ we all use cropped my mind, tempting me to frame it into words. Right from childhood to old age, we find ourselves comfortable with our own things to be claimed as ‘favorites’. Be it our ‘most loved toy’ as a kid or our ‘fancy pencil box’ in school, be it our ‘trendy shoes’ as teens or ‘valuable wallet’ as an adult, be it the ‘reading glasses’ of a grandparent or the most essential requirement of ‘cellular phone’ in today’s world, each of these objects connect with us as time progresses, making us realize the value of owing it.

          Though these objects are just tools that assist our course of life, they do teach us many aspects essential for a happy living. While safeguarding our possessions, we realize the need to be responsible. Being contented with what we have, while learning to share and care, gains birth from childhood as we take responsibility of our articles while executing ownership.

         These non-living friends assist us in every task of life, though created by us for our own service, they influence with their unique characteristics. From a clock that teaches us discipline and pushes us to march ahead to a calendar that motivates us to leave the past and look towards the future, from a bulb that inspires us with its light all around to a book that spreads words of wisdom, from an eraser that teaches us to wipe away errors in life to a toy that brings smile on our face, every article carries a unique message to affect our life in one way or the other. Though these features represent the basic reason of their creation, it is interesting to link their use with a meaningful lesson that they attempt to teach.

           Each of the daily necessities we use form a part of our life that makes it difficult to leave them away. While buying new things to replace the old sounds exciting, some of our favorite companions cannot be simply replaced. Though it is as easy as picking up something new from the market, some of these old articles become a part of precious memories that cannot be traded off.
       Since no longer useful, giving away old dolls that decorated my childhood or parting away with school notebooks that spoke about my hard work has always been the most difficult task. While cupboards scream as they get overloaded with old articles, disposing them off is surely impossible.

          As our everyday rush of life leaves us with no room to ponder about their importance, the real value of these articles is realized only after we lose them or are forced to bid a good-bye. Favorite clothes and comfortable shoes that we never get bored with, secretly sign a contract as we promise to use them forever!

         Assets of house and vehicle become a member of our family as they support and accompany us through the ups and downs of life. Our hard earned money fetches us with these necessities in life, but within no time they rise much above their value; occupying an important position in reality.

       Endless list of lifeless objects, these friends are certainly different; though they do not express any feelings, they still manage to gain a welcoming entry into our life. Toys, clothes, purses, shoes, bottles, books, newspapers, pencils, pens, utensils, television, video games, computer, cellular phone, apartment, car besides many other non-living articles we all use – they undoubtedly bless our life with great comfort. While it is necessary to limit our materialistic requirements and treasure humanity and life around, it is not possible to ignore their role and contribution. With an understanding that we depend on them only for a constructive purpose, this lifeless relation is ironically full of life!

          Grateful to my laptop that assists me in all these blogs, hope this post serves to be an apt dedication for it !!!

A trip to the cowboy land…!

          After a brief experience in the east and an existing stay at the west, when we packed our bags to explore the center of this country, there was excitement , eagerness, joy and delight that chose to accompany us during the holiday. A trip to the lone star state ‘Texas’ offered an opportunity to experience life in this well known ‘cowboy’ land! Having spent four years of life here, my husband’s happiness to show his ‘home away from home’ was overflowing by all means. While our battle of 'west versus center' continues till date, my visit was essential to be able to mark a fair grade.

           With change in time zone that moved us two hours ahead, this difference spoke about the vast distance we covered between the two. While departing from cloudy, cold weather of the west ,a warm welcome by the hot, bright sun was exciting as I could bid good-bye to the jacket for a while. The humidity and moisture in atmosphere gave me experience of my very own ‘Mumbai’ city back home. Clear blue sky, perfectly clear atmosphere, patches of plain land and greenery all around formed the initial images of the place.

          Known for being spacious, the open stretches of land everywhere spoke volumes about richness of free area.  Well planned architecture of buildings and landscape of plants decorating the divider of major roads highlighted the value of green cover in this desert. Wide spread lawns and numerous trees all over ensured a capture of good amount of rains that shower year and year to bless this land.

        Numerous varieties of cuisines and eateries of different styles worked to satisfy our hunger. From joints serving traditional breakfast of donuts and bagels to big hotels with a wide spread platter, from fast food stalls with informal ambiance to restaurants of formal set-up, there were more options but less opportunities to try them all! Exploring local shops, supermarkets and streets was fun to experience the lifestyle that ruled. 
         All this while, touring places where my husband stayed once upon a time and observing the locality around was exciting in every way as stories linked to them added colors to the conversation. Meeting his friends while reliving memories of the past provided me a glance of all the excitement they had back then.

         Multi-lane highways, huge stretch of flyovers one above the other resembling a thick,dense network and spacious intercity roads justify the high speed limit in this state. One of the highlights of this trip was being able to drive at ease as the driving culture and discipline was noteworthy. While the speed-o-meter of the car reached high numbers, it was unbelievable as it just felt average! Walking through the huge campus of my husband’s university while exploring the style of classrooms, libraries, auditoriums and cafeterias was an amazing experience in itself. Wide spread lawns, traditional buildings and unlimited open spaces of the campus looked exactly similar like those projected in movies.

           Lakes, rivers, swimming pools and ponds brought in cool currents to the hot atmosphere. Though absolutely flat as a plain land that lacks mountains or hills; numerous plants, colorful flowers and green grass formed a picturesque view of the nature around. Tall buildings and high rise commercial towers decorated the skyline of the city that shined in the darkness of night.

       Peaceful atmosphere, friendly localities, relaxed aura and lively hearts dominate the land of this lone star. An extremely wonderful trip in every way, sight of cows and horses at some places justified the cowboy touch to this state.
       Though a final calculation of marks to end this 'west versus center' war is still pending, it was undoubtedly a memorable journey that shall last forever!

         

            

Up above the world so high...

           Looking at the land with a bird's eye view, flying high to touch the sky, floating among clouds to feel them all around, experiencing the thrill of being in air ! A common and essential mode of transportation, travelling by flight is certainly a joy ride in itself. Fun for a short distance, tiring for a long one, exciting for the initial few times, unavoidable necessity thereafter, this 'aeroplane' flies high to offer numerous adventures, experiences and memories.
         An opportunity of a short flight journey recently, pulled me into thoughts of this air bound experience, it made me admire the amazing and wonderful transition from land to air and back to land.
         As a multi-step affair, many tasks are essential for a successful journey till the end. After a long process of baggage and security check, final entry into the flight and warm greetings by the cabin crew feel satisfying as the ride finally awaits to begin.
         What starts as a low speed warm-up on land while cruising along the run-way, soon catches momentum with a fast, exciting take off. Watching the land below from a distance above, it is fun to look at the trees, buildings, vehicles and roads that start appearing as small entities. Within no time, the ground decorates into a well planned landscape with green patches, water bodies, plain land and mountains spread throughout.

           While cars moving on road appear as tiny ants on the floor and buildings begin to disappear, the feeling of being far away from the world finally sinks it. Floating in the air while almost touching the sky, this experience offered by flight is indeed wonderful. Cut away from land with life down on earth, it offers an excellent opportunity to think and introspect about the joy of living. It forces one to be lost in thoughts during this disconnection from the ground, besides serving to instill hopes, wishes and plans for the future ahead.

        Sight of pure, white clouds scattered all around resemble soft cotton; as some of them appear to be moving below the flight, it provides an understanding of indeed being far away from land.  Surrounded by nothing else but clouds, it is fascinating how the pilot manages to find the correct way! While watching the cabin crew and team of pilots at work, one cannot resist but admire all their efforts and hard work to make everyone’s flying experience a memorable one. Pilots also seem to wear patience, determination and dedication that add to the respect and pride of their uniforms.

         At a great height in the sky, it becomes difficult to experience the movement of the plane for long. It appears as the flight has halted, since a glance out of the window provides a static image of everything around. Sudden short experiences of turbulences give the feel of air currents and clouds.

        By keeping oneself entertained and occupied or by enjoying a peaceful ,long sleep, the journey proceeds towards completion. The take-off process reverses itself as the flight prepares for a safe landing. All that appeared far away, soon gets into sight, as roads, vehicles, buildings all come back to life and the flight finally touches the ground.

       No matter how many times one travels by air,  butterflies choose to play inside the stomach during every take off and landing, so do the ears that open up and close during numerous moments on board. Undoubtedly a fun ride up in the air, the invention of aeroplane and creation of so many routes thereafter have helped to shrink the globe into a small, accessible world for all.  Applause for the invention that lets us fly in the sky, giving us a close enough feel of being a bird!

       Surely this ‘up above the world so high’ experience is truly wonderful as our flight shines like a diamond in the sky!

           

Home-made v/s hotel-made......a battle of simplicity over style !

              A common argument that rules every household, a wish expressed by every kid, an enjoyment to celebrate special occasions, an opportunity to shut down kitchen of the house! Delicious flavor, appealing presentation, fantastic aroma and amazing ambiance of a hotel toil together to attract customers from far and wide . While every kid wants to enjoy this hotel food,  hunting reasons to eat outside and convincing parents to agree for the same is a big task in itself.
             As a kid who loved to pull her parents towards this kind of experience whenever possible, their words about purity of home made food and its beneficial reflection on our health have finally made room in my mind, as I find myself moving towards this simple yet wonderful meal cooked on the burner at home. With an interest to try out different recipes in the kitchen and an understanding of high cost but less value kind of meals offered outside, the lessons delivered by my parents have finally brought in results!
              Though home made food is always perfect in every way, eating outside does offer some unique flavors of its own. A much needed break from monotony of life, the experience of this restaurant food brings in excitement and moments of pleasure. Satisfying the demands of taste buds, outside food is essential to take care of the glamour section of our appetite! It may not contribute much to the health requirements of our stomach but it does serve happiness to the eyes and tongue, thereby feeding a happy heart. While trying out different cuisines, it provides a wholesome experience of variety and diversity, adding to our knowledge bank and making us one with the globe.
              Attempts to imitate restaurant type of meal at home resembles an adventurous chain of events. Charged with enthusiasm of cooking a masterpiece, the process begins with big claims to draw each member's attention .It is followed by stocking up all the raw materials and finally commencing the big battle; a battle to conquer the flavors of a restaurant within the battlefield of our very own kitchen! Though some attempts prove successful as exhibited by more demands and clear vessels, some dishes are simply difficult to imitate, ending with a note, "Hotels surely add secret ingredients, impossible to decipher !"
            The importance of home made food is truly realized only after spending numerous days away from it. Eating spicy and stylish food for a continuous long time finally irritates the stomach that craves for absolute simplicity. When the so-called boring curry and rice cooked at home drive us towards itself, it is an indicator that one has indeed been away for long. Love for the homely platter while being outdoors and wish for the outside flavors while forced to be indoors mark a tug-of- war between the two, troubling a harmless and innocent stomach in the process!
           Be it warmth of love and care mixed in the daily home-cooked food or spices and seasonings of the restaurant delicacy to be enjoyed occasionally; be it peace and calm of the house that make the meals more delicious or the relaxing ambiance of a restaurant to cash in a good break, both of these are essential experiences in the world of our appetite.
         While health and hygiene demand our attention, it is fine to pamper ourselves at times and let this battle of simplicity over style continue for a lifetime! As long as these hotels spoil us with lot of options and as long as the utensils in our house pull us to get to work,there is so much to explore in the field of food !

Half yearly report of the NRI life !

             Preparing for visa while running around for last-minute tasks on the wedding list ; receiving wishes from family,relatives and friends for the big journey ahead; packing up luggage with an attempt to carry each and every moment lived at home and finally traveling miles and miles to touch the 'foreign land'!
            While all these memories feel as fresh as a blooming flower,the calender certainly wants to share a different story. Announcing a half year long journey in a far away country across the globe, it amazes me how time chooses to do nothing else, but fly!  While this six month long stay abroad certainly does not qualify to be celebrated or marked as an anniversary of any sort (though I did try to convince my husband about this new form of anniversary), the blogger in me could not resist the thought of penning down a half-yearly report of this 'NRI' life!
            The excitement and nervousness that followed me as I landed, soon disappeared within no time. From a state of being amazed and surprised at every new thing or every new experience to a state of reality that life is based on a same plot everywhere,no matter where the story unfolds or where the characters live, it has undoubtedly been a useful practical lesson to last for a lifetime. While the initial days were marked with exciting observations and sharing details with people back home, the novel experiences soon blended as a part of the everyday routine.
              Learning tricks of the trade essential for survival, understanding the lifestyle of the dwellers, adopting useful local practices while keeping the roots of values and principles taught at home firmly grounded , the hope,wish and desire was and will always be to extract the best of both the worlds.
              Making new friends, reconnecting with the old ones, exploring places and trends around and watching serials and movies coated with local touch have been the highlights of this report. While experiencing any new thing of this place, a constant temptation of comparing it with the system back home kept me occupied. Factors bearing close resemblance with those back home brought in happiness and excitement making me realize how some things were dearly missed and simply irreplaceable. 
            Hunt for products and goods like the ones used at home while trying out the freshness offered by local, indigenous produce here, combine into an interesting cocktail of variety, diversity and a wide spread spectrum of experience. This hunt was nothing less than a victory when we were able to lay hands on our favorite mango pulp and it certainly continues till date as we keep filling our cart with materials that bring along numerous memories!
            While this place greeted me with chilling wind and freezing cold, the experience of first ever snowfall with pure whiteness everywhere was truly fantastic. Amazed at how life continued even when land was covered with layers and layers of snow, it soon became a part of normal weather condition and no longer attracted the excited audience in me. From extreme cold to pleasant climate, from ice covered land to water covered beaches, our coast-to-coast relocation within a few months of arrival was indeed amazing in every way. 
             Updating family back home with novel experiences of this new place, sending photographs as symbols of captured memories, wanting to know about any modifications and changes back in my city keep the channels of communication active and busy at all times. Adjusting the clock to a varied time zone was undoubtedly an adventure in itself.
           During this short stint of being away from home, the addition of a little hero in our lives has pulled my entire focus and attention, tempting me with a wish to install a 'live camera' ;) Watching his videos and photographs have been my best friends as I cannot wait to hold him :)
              This short experience so far has been wonderful in every way. While working towards making this place as a 'home away from home',there is still lot to learn, accept and implement.  Looking forward to the other half of this year to fill the annual report with happiness, adventure, excitement and joy. 
               Cheers to my husband who has been a patient companion throughout this process of my settlement in the new place, though the initial hiccups appear sorted, there is lots to trouble him about !

                

Fun in the sun ; a ‘celebration’ called summer ‘vacation’!

        Unlimited frolic, numerous holidays, hours of play, power-packed days, fun-filled evenings and relaxed nights – endless list to describe this childhood blessing that showers upon each child year after year. A most awaited period in one’s life, summer vacations mean limitless relief from a year long boredom! Though sun throws scorching heat and days stretch for long, this season is welcomed by every student with a hope and wish that the calendar stands still for a little more.

           In contrast to the schedule back home, summer has just started to spread its heat in this end of the globe; halting schools for a long, peaceful vacation while walking me through my own wonderful memories of summer vacation filled with fun, laughter, enjoyment and thrill of a lifetime.

              The excitement of approaching holidays would begin as soon as the schedule of final examination entered our books. It was followed by numerous plans and discussions to spend the days with thoughts of enjoyment constantly ringing in the mind. Questioning parents about outdoor trips, hopefully waiting to get a response, secretly monitoring the ticketing process and waiting to know the confirmed itinerary marked all the days before exams. Though pile of books and heap of studies replaced this excitement instantly, repeated thoughts and reminders of the vacation just about to follow, brought smiles and cheer.  

               Last day of exam and start of vacation resembled nothing less than a day of freedom. As birds flying away from a trapped cage, running away from school to extract maximum happiness out of every single moment of vacation feels absolutely humorous, as I think of it today. Announcing unrestricted access to watch television and unopposed acceptance to stay away from books was like a declaration to celebrate victory over long battle of hard work, sincerity and dedication.

             While waking up in the morning resembled a tough form of punishment during school hours, these same eyes opened up quickly to start a day filled with adventure, fun and games during the holidays. With no interest in eating food or sitting quietly at home, the entire day was occupied with lot of activities. Playing outdoor in the building compound under a strong, shining sun till forcefully pulled for lunch, spending time in indoor activities with friends at home, continuing the session of morning play back in the evening and enjoying with family at night while sleeping for a next wonderful day formed the unstated time-table of every vacation. Fights, arguments and disagreements over plans of the day or rules of the game did dominate some sessions, but quick settlement and instant patch-up ensured the continuous flow of fun.

           Travelling to native place through a wonderful train journey, meeting relatives, playing with cousins, getting pampered with enormous love of grandparents while enjoying delicious food formed memories of a fantastic trip every vacation. While sharing experiences of school, learning new games from cousins, visiting places around and enjoying each single day marked our time in the native place, the journey ended with huge luggage of enjoyable moments and amazing memories. Having stayed in apartment of tall buildings, the open courtyard and individual houses of our native place attracted us to be there every passing year. 

          With company of so many cousins, every daily task was completed quickly with a hope to be rewarded for the best behavior! During the encouragement to read books and practice cursive writing, our hunt for reasons to avoid it ,certainly kept us occupied ! Mangoes, ice creams, cold drinks and candies kept calling us every now and then, forcing us to think of ways to achieve them.

          Certainly the best period in anyone’s life, summer vacation must be spent to develop memories that last forever. Those are the days to learn things beyond the control of school books and explore opportunities for an all-round development.

          Grateful to my parents to bless us with a memorable summer vacation every year, I am busy chalking a way to demand such holidays from them again and again!

           

            

Shopping right now..... shopping back then !

             Filling bags till they overflow, holding as many as the hands allow,spending money till the pocket agrees, wandering around till the energy sustains - a stress buster for many, a stress creator for a few; a recreation for some while a bare necessity for most - shopping has been with us right since the paper named 'money' commenced to spread its value. With an aim of providing goods besides happiness and satisfaction, in exchange of our hard earned wealth, shopping entered our life as a necessity for survival.
          Though a self-confessed 'non-shopaholic', much to the joy and big,broad smiles on my husband's face, the changing trends of 'shopping' in recent times and the various manners back in the past indeed draw one's attention to the different developments in this section of life.
          Shopping in our childhood meant staring at different attractive items displayed in the shop and silently creating novel plans in the head to convince parents for the same. Be it an ordinary grocery store or a stationary shop, be it cloth market or a colorful,gift shop, no shopping session could be declared successful without leaving the place with something in hand;  it was treated as an achievement to be shown around to others. With a hope that the shopkeeper too joins in the plot of convincing parents, shopping back then meant designated stores for each kind of requirements.
         Enthusiastic sales people assigned with a compulsory job of sending the buyers back with numerous bags and no money, stern owner seated behind the cash counter with eyes glued to the income flow, number of selves with well organized goods and neat and tidy place with a humble name plate characterized the experience of shopping. Labeling a shop as 'the best' for the variety of goods displayed and enormous patience portrayed by the shopkeeper while rejecting a shop as 'bad' for not offering any options were the means to rate their overall performance.
         Salesmen and women knocking at our door meant one of the ways to sell back then, but with increasing risks of disturbing privacy and safety, this style certainly declined for the good.
         Though local grocery stores next door extend the convenience of being closer while providing the service of free home delivery, shopping in a supermarket by filling up the cart has become a favorite hobby for the entire family! With so many things all around, the efforts of framing a list go in vain as lot of items gain an entry into the bill.
         While many bags walk into the house, stocking the cupboard with unnecessary things and going out of budget are the most common complaints of today! Kids of this generation definitely have an advantage, while we could only point our figures to demand for a thing, they quietly fill the trolley with what they need! Though parents do discard the demand during final check at the counter, at least some things from the many luckily gain an acceptance.
                As shopping malls and supermarkets offer a complete end-to-end shopping experience, it is necessary to define our requirements before losing away to the color, glamour and lights.Training children to value money and respect needs is essential as easy accessibility undoubtedly spoils the game.
        The trend of Tele-shopping had gained momentum some years back, though this shopping style over television and telephone is prevalent even today, the latest form of online shopping over the internet has restricted tele-shopping to only those few not wanting to be 'live' on the net! Dramatic advertisements and users' experiences decorate every product sold over the television.
           Feature of credit and debit cards along with online money transaction have introduced a novel style of online shopping. With shopping as convenient as clicking of a button and receiving the products right at the doorstep, it certainly offers a lot of advantages.
         Though this online style of shopping is gaining popularity worldwide, the real experience of shopping cannot be enjoyed; unless one walks for miles in the sun or shade; unless one leaves the house in the daylight and returns back late at night; unless a woman spends hours in deciding while a man complains with bags in hand; or unless kids get bored and demand for things to keep themselves occupied.
         Be it shops of olden time or multi-taste shops of today, be it shopping over telephone or shopping over the internet, every style has something exciting,unique and interesting to offer. Though they differ in experience and conduct, they all ultimately unite to lower our bank-balance while increasing their own :)

Raining memories of Mumbai monsoon.....

               Excitement on hearing about rains back home, requests to view photographs of the pouring shower, updates by friends about the fantastic weather, listening to mixed experiences as the monsoon casts its wet spell - aspects like these make me realize that there is something magical about the Mumbai monsoon! While rains do greet us with drops of happiness and freshness here, the pouring shower of Mumbai is different in every way. An identity to its name, it is truly loved by the dwellers of the city.

            Boredom in hot and long, humid months of summer; eager wait for the relief of rains from scorching heat, happiness to get wet in the first shower of June, being grounded for days due to heavy downpour in July ,perfect blend of rains with sun in August and final departure in September mark the four long months of monsoon. Though the rains choose to play around with this schedule, the overall sequence is well rehearsed in everyone’s mind.

          Hope for rains when sun throws heat and long for sun when rains throw water is undoubtedly a confusing request for the clouds up there! The heavy showers create wonderful memories during every phase of life offering happy moments to each one. Reopening of school, meeting old and new friends, buying bags, books, umbrellas or rain coats and hoping for a fresh, new start decorated the phase of childhood school life. As days progressed with increasing load of studies, sudden holidays due to heavy rains made this monsoon totally exciting.

           Be it making paper boats in the puddles or playing in the mud, be it running around in rain coats or watching the heavy shower, this monsoon could never go dry without punishment from parents for purposely getting wet or a warning from teachers for not paying attention!

          As elders, the thought of heading for a monsoon trip and enjoying scenic beauty of long drives keeps each one occupied with calendar in hand, hoping to make the most of the pleasant weather. Though heavy rains disrupt the daily commute with delay in local trains and traffic on roads, the sight of boiling tea and taste of delicious hot food work wonders to calm those irritating nerves within less than a minute. Enjoying a spicy meal with family at home, while watching heavy rains through the window, on an unexpected holiday from work coordinate into a perfect plot of happiness, fun and joy.

           These rains definitely fill the atmosphere with energy as water is life in itself. Lush green cover of plants and freshness in the air are amazing gifts that only rains can offer. Though it used to rain with the same intensity even years ago, recent cases of water logging, floods and chaos on the streets point towards the unacceptable modifications made by us on its land. It is nature's way of warning us towards the harmful effects of inappropriate garbage disposal and cutting down of trees. While it is difficult to contain these troubles within a really short time, small steps towards improvement will indeed make a big difference. Continuous news clippings of  old cases of traffic and water logging by media offer little help as they only target to spread around fear making it difficult for family members back home or those residing in a different location.

           Being far away from the happiness of this magical Mumbai monsoon makes me realize that it meant so much to me while I was right there, experiencing it all,  under those thick, dark clouds. Though it starts to restrict movements and spoils many outdoor plans, this love-hate relationship that each Mumbaikar experiences is difficult to pen down in words. Every person of the city does complain about the rains in one way or the other, but they are the first to share stories of joy and bonding when someone else points a figure at the happily falling drops of life.

          With a hope that rain god continues to bless every place on earth with showers of water in future and Mumbai monsoon sustains its magic forever,it is necessary that our kids too get an opportunity to frame stories of rains while their paper boats float away in happiness......

'Add' to sales, 'meant' for promotion .......the big world of 'ADvertiseMENTs'

                  They appear in between, breaking our show for 'a short commercial break'; they greet us with illustrations as we turn the newspapers; they stand tall on hoardings across the city; they occupy webpages in small,corner spaces - the world of 'Advertisements' is indeed huge, following the prospective customers, attracting the future consumers. They play a major role in the success of sales, drawing attention with novel concepts while pulling crowd with unique ideas.
                While travelling along straight roads of a desert,barren and deserted in true sense,the only sight of hoarding boards that met my eyes drew my attention towards the presence of advertisements everywhere around the globe. They knowingly follow us while unknowingly demanding a follow up!
              Working hard towards capturing audience, advertisements are the instrumental tools to build faith, trust, belief and loyalty of many consumers worldwide. As a first impression of the products being endorsed, creators of advertisements have to ensure this impression lasts forever. Though some advertisements have been successful in holding faithful consumers for a long time since their first appearance, few latest trends demand endorsements that keep pace with changing time. Recent additions in market require attractive commercials that appeal the eyes in the hope of appealing the pockets.
              As 'out of sight, out of mind' is a natural human tendency, the plot of a commercial has to ensure memorable influence.Advertisements that break into our television are greeted with irritation as they play around with our show time. Though a few do enjoy our attention as they convey a wonderful meaning. In an attempt to garner customers, some advertisements pass a useful message or teach a valuable lesson,gaining an entry into our memories. Though they appear as unwanted stop on our screen, these meaningful advertisements influence us in their own unique way. Brands and products across the world engage celebrities to endorse with a hope to be heard and seen. Exciting set-up,interesting characters, wonderful location and a lot of hard work team up to avoid being hit by the 'mute' button.
              Some interesting advertisements on small screen enjoy popularity and the honor of being everyone's favorite. Attracting ,engaging, convincing and selling all within a minute of screen space is undoubtedly a big task in a short time. Colorful pictures and matching lines of an endorsement decorate the pages of daily newspapers, weekly newsletters or monthly magazines, though at times they take up the space offering little text to read, advertisements through this form have been the oldest and most efficient of all times.
                Designing unique advertisements that speak about the appropriate product- be it in print, on screen or on a hoarding certainly calls out for brain storming sessions. As advertisements are the only tools of marketing, their presence is indispensable for the success of any industry. Growing varieties, increasing competition and innumerable options in every possible products and services have converted this world of advertising from a provision to a necessity. Besides the conventional manner of advertisements, there are many different styles and ways that take birth each passing day, after all grabbing eye balls and pulling attention is the ultimate motive of this 'AD' world.
               Impossible to ignore, these advertisements will continue to fulfill their responsibility while keeping us engaged. As customers, consumers and audience, we have little choice while being forced to bear "..... a short commercial BREAK!!"

A fun-filled 'FAIR'.......

                A celebration that offers enjoyment to all those around , an event that spells out loads of happiness, an occasion to experience an array of activities , an age old affair that has been popular forever – words that define the magical event called ‘FAIR’. For years, this fun-filled activity has been entertaining us with variations and options that match with the changing time. From an age old affair with swings and sweets to modern world fair with games and candies, this concept of fun- fair on an open, huge ground has lived to offer unique, memorable experiences to each one rejoicing in its ambience.

              Fairs have been known for their power to engage people of all age groups. Though designed for kids as they enjoy in an open environment and play around freely , the tempting feature of stalls and shops in fairs of recent time attract the adults too.

             While I always believed that it was an activity decorating land of our home country,  an amazing experience of fun-filled fair on foreign soil completely transformed my view. Spending an entire day with fun,frolic and enjoyment in a different continent made me realize that it is universal indeed!

          United by a human nature to experience variety, colors, fun and taste, this fair brought in people from different walks of life. From little kids in the arms of parents to children running around, from young friends in group to adults exploring around, it certainly kept each one happy. As we walked around to visualize food, games, rides and exhibits, I could not resist to notice the similarities between the fair here with the ones back home.

        While I entered with a clear slate, ready to explore all the novelties it had to offer, the sight of pink candy floss and a giant merry-go-round greeted me with the warmth and ambiance of a traditional fair. Food stalls serving fried delicacies, baked varieties and spicy wonders attracted each one towards the tasty aroma. Ice creams and cold drinks pulled little kids as they cried for more. Swings, roller coasters, slides along with adventurous rides added to the excitement quotient of the event.

           Stalls selling household items, kitchen utilities, decorative products, fashionable clothes staged the similar, global plot of women engrossed in shopping while men walking miles and miles away! The atmosphere was filled with happiness, joy, delight as every family and every individual grabbed in moments of togetherness.  Besides the typical activities of fair, this event also hosted flower and fruit show, stage performances, talent contests and pet shows that served as attractive magnets for all.

           Efficient management, excellent organization and noteworthy co-ordination ensured this fair to be a huge success. A month-long event on a huge spaced ground, it truly deserved the title of being the biggest fair in the county of this state . Drawing a large crowd to experience the fun, sunshine of the afternoon and  bright lights of the evening worked together to make it a wonderful affair!

          Though a small experience that lasted for a few hours, moments like these in a different country with different people indeed leave a long lasting memory. It makes one celebrate the gift of life with the realization that we all are ONE under this big, huge sky. Glad that my husband partnered in this amazing adventure, it was certainly a fun-filled 'FAIR'.....!