Sing a song, write a word, paint a picture .... step into the creative world of 'ARTS"

Shades during sunset captured through camera lens

         A melodious song, an interesting article, a wonderful painting, a rhythmic dance, a perfect sketch, an engaging novel - innumerable means, endless modes, diverse ways but one common goal.

         Adding a creative touch to an inner inspiration that ultimately leads to a wonderful outcome-  one of the many ways to define this field of arts!  As a means to express one’s thoughts besides conveying a significant message, these three pillars – literary, performing and fine arts assumed the responsibility of teaching, motivating and inspiring. It has been with us from the time we learned to portray our feelings.

         Besides the artist who strives to bring out the best hidden deep within, these forms engage the audience to experience those wonders. While the audience set their eyes on a final outcome, the pieces of creative talent appear to be ladened with endless efforts, vigorous practice and doses of determination, dedication and devotion.

        Be it a singer who plays with vocal chords for a soothing number or a dancer who coordinates the movements with expression and grace, be it a painter who creates magic with strokes of the paint brush or a photographer who brings the captured images to life, be it a writer who pens down powerful words or a novelist who engages its reader till the end, every artist is a faithful devotee of the particular domain while continuing to learn, improve and work towards a better creation each passing time.

          The thought that motivates an artist or the fuel that powers their efforts cannot be easily comprehended. Appreciating the work of an artist demands interest, patience and eagerness to experience what they have in store.

        Recently, on being asked if I knew how to paint as I sat down with my set of colors, the answer to my husband’s query and our discussion thereafter filled my mind with these thoughts of different art forms and their role in our life. While one may not be an expert to master a particular creative form or may not be able to gain formal training of the same, the beauty of any art lies in the freedom to experiment, explore and enjoy! It provides unlimited joy as anyone and everyone can choose to have their share.

          Every form of art crosses the course of our journey in one way or the other- either as interested ears and eyes that appreciate or as eager hands that create, we all come close to it along the way. As a form of expression, it is never restricted within any boundaries or limits. It knows no tag of language or region as people across the globe enjoy its presence.

Attempt to capture the wonderful shade of Rose

        It does the job of binding cultures and countries as every land has something unique to offer. Demonstrating the talent of a region, it presents itself on a worldwide platform.After all, arts is not owned by anyone but felt and experienced by everyone, it knows no address yet reaches destinations, it demands no money yet holds value. While keeping its door open to all, it only hopes for hard work, sincerity and honesty in return. 

         With a rich stock of performing arts that sizzle the stage - dances, songs, plays, musical instruments besides many other players contribute to the energy, enjoyment and fun. An array of colors with unique strokes and lines decorate the canvas qualifying ‘fine arts’ to be fine and fantastic by all means. Flawless flow of words light up the literary world as books, scripts and genre of various kind celebrate the field of ‘literary arts’.

              Words fall short as the scope of these three participants is spread out far and wide. Though different in every way, they unite under the banner of being ‘creative’. They infuse life in us while inspiring us to think beyond the usual. As a means to appreciate the lighter side of life, these forms undoubtedly play an important role. Beyond logic and reasoning that explain every single occurring, this creative world is required to enjoy the colors, songs and words of life.

           As a profession, hobby, interest or an eraser to boredom, each one of us associate our name with them in the course of life. Though we may favor one form over the other, all of them will continue to influence us in their own way.

    

      So what do you enjoy ? The sound of ‘Performing arts’ or the sight of ‘Fine arts ’ or the meaning of ‘Literary arts’ . Sit back and think as it may definitely take a lot of time!

               

First ever attempt to make a greeting card as a kid when I gifted it to my sister back then!

Inside the nature's refrigerator!

             

         Though shining sun, rising temperature and scorching heat are busy celebrating the months of summer, a glance at our photographs full of white snow all around, inspired me to write about our stay inside the nature’s refrigerator! Landed in a foreign country with temperature dropping below anything ever experienced before, this three month stint on the east coast offered a fantastic opportunity to feel the chill.

          Besides exploring a new place and adjusting to a new lifestyle, survival in this freezing weather certainly kept me well occupied. From first ever snowfall to ice all around, from dozens of warm clothes to accessories for protection, this cold episode undoubtedly offered me a lot to enjoy!

             Coming from a place that never gave us an opportunity to wear sweaters or don a jacket, covering myself with layers of cloth did add to my weight! Enjoying the cold outside while seated comfortably in the heat inside was tempting by all means as the heater at home became my new best friend. Occasions during which this friend chose to leave us struggling with the cold, waiting for its repair and hoping for a quick solution was all we could do !

            Within days of my arrival, the forecast about snowfall kept me charged up for this encounter of a lifetime . Questions like for how long does it fall, how does it get cleared or how do people proceed with their usual routine flooded my mind as I waited to experience it for the first time in my story! Sleeping with a wish to see the snow soon, blankets of white cover all around greeted me the next morning. 

        The entire landscape transformed within a short time as snow made its home on land. Presence of snow on roads, trees and cars offered a new look to everything as this white color enjoyed undivided dominance and fame. As a new style adopted by nature, there was purity and brightness radiating all over.

             With this cover of snow, my assumption of an unexpected holiday and life coming to a standstill was totally proved wrong as everything proceeded at a normal pace. Continuous clearance of snow from main roads and internal streets made way for vehicles as people went ahead with their schedule. Though offices may not afford to shut for a day, the sight of children walking to school or school buses plying on the roads made me realize it was just another day! While I was busy enjoying this first ever snow fall with wonder and joy, I must have definitely gathered puzzled looks and surprised attention of those around.

           Happily offering my help to clear the snow from car, my husband hoped this excitement to last for all the approaching snowfalls! With photo session to capture these beautiful memories, walk and drive over the snow was totally amazing. The entire day of this first experience was marked with an eagerness to look at fate of the snow. Either a further drop in temperature brought in icy conditions or bit of sunshine enabled its melting.  Sun enjoyed to play a prank with everyone as its shine appeared warm, while in reality it was just playing a passive role. Tempting me to go outdoors, this sunshine tricked me innumerable times!

         Leaving the house only after being shielded with warm guards from head to toe, walking hurriedly from car to indoors and indoors back to car marked our outing sessions in the cold. Though it appeared difficult to commute in the cold, it was impossible to avoid. The excitement around snowfall faded soon, as it kept visiting us quite often and my husband’s hope of getting a ready snow-free car, faded along with it!  

       

        Unknowingly, all the anxiety and tension of braving this winter disappeared in thin air as I went around in snow and cold with absolute ease. It taught us the value of planning and forced us to be prepared at all times with adequate stock of daily necessities.

     

         This nature’s refrigerator let us out as we changed our location. While this current place offers a pleasant monotonous climate all through the year, I feel fortunate to have experienced that chilly weather at least for a short while. Though the freezing temperature kept us grounded quite often and our relocation appeared as a relief, they still form some of my ‘coolest’ memories.

         Till that moment, movies or pictures were the closest I could ever get to snow and here I was touching and walking all over it! As a memorable farewell to us, there was snowfall right till the day of our relocation! Struggling to pack and move with snow all around, it fortunately gave us a clearance for our flight on time! Truly a wonderful experience while freezing and chilling in the cold, the atmosphere kept singing ‘ice, ice baby!!!’

          

        Have you enjoyed sitting inside such a refrigerator? Though the nature forces us to, do you find it ‘cool’ ?? 

A date with the green mates....!

             

                  In continuation to our discovery mode, after exploring the water world of numerous beachees when this city offered us an opportunity to experience the green cover of a botanical wonder ,it was totally irresistible by all means. A chance to be among trees and plants and visualize their richness was an excellent plan as we set on this unusual yet amazing date. From small potted plants to big, huge trees; from colorful flowers to variety of fruits; there was so much to see, learn and explore!

          Spread across huge stretches of land, on the outskirts of the city, this botanical garden is a famous tourist attraction as people get to connect with the greener shade of nature. With round-the-clock maintenance and flawless management, it has been able to open its gate to nature-lovers for many years now. 

         

          Developed with an initiative to attract people towards natural wonders, this garden has been successful in doing so with its menu of diverse species. Drawing enthusiasts of all age groups, the layout of this garden ensures to offer a memorable experience to each one. Popular among both the localities and tourists, this nature park certainly enjoys the undivided attention of its loyal patrons.

          As we entered this botanical garden on a hot, sunny day, an immediate transition from the scorching heat to a cool shade announced our arrival. Welcomed with an information brochure and guide map, the adventure was set to begin!

             While I always claimed to possess good knowledge about trees and plants, this visit posed as an excellent opportunity for my husband, as he was totally eager to evaluate and rate it! Boards displaying botanical and common name of every plant along with their brief description came to my rescue as I began to regain my lost botanical memory. This piece of information was beneficial for every visitor as interesting, unknown facts about common trees and plants entered into their knowledge base. Besides the usual trees growing all around,sight of exotic varieties and rare species transformed it into a novel experience.

  

          During a long walk inside this botanical land, the only thought that kept crossing my mind was about the numerous type of plants and trees existing in our world. Variety of leaves, flowers, fruits, stems besides their adaptive modifications for survival and growth truly demonstrate the power of nature. With numerous options in appearance and function, these green friends shower us with endless benefits.

           

          Due to systematic arrangement and thoughtful planning, there was enough room to grow and maintain these innumerable species. Demarcation of the garden into different zones provided space for all. Separate zones of evergreen trees, rainforest varieties, temperate plants, tropical species was beneficial as it made it easy to understand their unique characteristics.

             Along with local and native species that belong to the land of this region, many plants and trees from various parts of the world were maintained in an excellent manner. With information about their place of origin, type of climate, nature of soil and significance, the efforts of growing plants from far and wide brought global experience within few acres of land. It was exciting to look at a mango tree and a bamboo variety wearing the proud badge of our homeland. Viewing unique plants belonging to different continents and countries was indeed a valuable lesson for us.

         Gardens based on the theme of water, terraces, rocks or indoor styles gave insight into the field of horticulture. Artificially created water bodies with floating plants and flowers added beauty and charm to the location. Arrangement of rain water harvesting and sprinklers took care of the water requirement of plants. In an attempt to entertain the kids, a ‘child-special garden’ with swings, slides, toys, tree-houses did the job of keeping them occupied. Activities like painting, drawing and clay modeling based on the backdrop of nature worked to inspire and educate.

          Built with a great design and motive of getting people close to nature, this botanical garden helped us to admire and enjoy the beauty of greenery. It made us wonder about the selfless nature of this aspect of nature highlighting the need of its protection They are required all around us as companions on the planet. Before we rush in to reduce this green cover under the name of development, we need to realize their role as our partners on earth.

         A fantastic date by all means, these green mates won our hearts with their freshness, beauty, colors and variety! Looking forward to many such moments with nature as there is something exciting and novel always. No matter how many innovations we create around us, it is impossible to imitate the wonders of this creation.

   

       Think about your own experiences with nature, I am sure many stories are eager to crop out !

            

       

       

Weaving a World Wide Web - the linking protocol called 'Internet'

   

      Need the meaning of a word?
       - Ask the 'internet'

     Hunting for a good hotel?
      - Ask the 'internet',

      Seeking a job?
      - Ask the 'internet',

      Searching for long lost friends?
      - Ask the 'internet',

     Wish to be updated with latest news?
       - Ask the 'internet.'

      What is the weather forecast for tomorrow?
        - Ask the 'internet'
   
      How do you reach a particular location?
      - Ask the 'internet'

          An all-in-one dictionary, map, encyclopedia, yellow pages, friend and guide, this internet seems to have answers for everything!

         Undoubtedly an end to end solution to every query under the sun, the web of internet has spread its influence all over the globe; shrinking the world into a small,tiny entity. With answers, knowledge, information and options, it certainly has a lot to offer with an ease of a single click. What started off as a tool for global development and means of sharing data, soon entered each one's life as every household, school, college, office and business welcomed this guest that chose to stay forever.

         From an optional facility to a desirable feature, from a beneficial convenience to a ‘must have’ necessity, it has been with us for a long time now. All the excitement around its entry died soon as it assumed the role of being a very essential requirement of life. While food, clothing and shelter still continue to top the list of our basic needs, this ‘internet’ has slowly sneaked in to grab the same honor and has been able to achieve it with total success!

            Learning, exploring and finally enjoying it, this web has unknowingly made a special place in our routine. With a powerful network and an excellent connection it continues to invade every possible location as more and more people get added to this global network.

            As a fuel that runs these blogs, internet is the only means and mode that makes it all possible. While creating a platform to reach out to a greater audience, I realized the power hidden within the threads of this net.  An excellent stage to showcase talents and skills, it provides opportunities in every dimension, every sphere, every direction, every race !

           With a strong presence throughout, it has paved way for innovation and development. Think of any field and you realize that internet has already cast its spell ,adding absolute dependence and precious value to its name.

         Be it education, trade, entertainment or finance, internet has options for all. From allowing online money transactions to helping us find a location, from teaching a new language to letting us plan a vacation, from making reservations to helping us enjoy our favorite song collection, the list is absolutely endless. Video and text chats besides audio calls and emails have added a new touch to communication making it a blessing for all those like us as we stay connected to every aspect back home. Social networking sites and messengers have occupied an integral part of our life as we learn, share, enjoy and stay updated with people far and wide.

          Provision of online tutorials, e-books, virtual resources and educational websites give easy access to the field of education. Upgrading skills while learning about something new is exciting as the web world allows one to enter into cross sections. Bringing every possible piece of information at our doorstep, it is impossible to stay outdated in today’s world !

          Search engines that hunt and capture every little thing we ask for,function at a different,dynamic level altogether. Be it an image of a rare flower or an exotic plant from other end of the world, be it a video of a favorite song since childhood or a stage performance of most popular actor, be it facts about a far away country or details about latest development in any field, internet is truly the one -stop solution for all.

          The most common belief of today’s generation - ‘if a particular thing does not exist on the internet, it does not exist in real world too!’ points towards the wide scope of this web as it dominates every possible domain. With an ability to reach out to millions of people and spread awareness about any issue, internet dons the hat of a spokesperson to educate, motivate and inspire.

          Truly beneficial in every way, this internet is a tool for our development only if we know how and what to look out for. Due to the fear of piracy, viral attacks and hacking ,the aid of internet demands our thoughtful usage. Protecting and maintaining internet security as a guard to prevent online mishaps is necessary in every way.

            Over dependence on the internet for completion of course curriculum can limit the natural potential and true skills of students as it provides a readymade solution for every single aspect . Though it gets us close to people, it cannot replace the fun of being right next to them. While seeking help from the online world is beneficial, it is necessary to look at it as any other service or facility before it intrudes into our thinking process and gifted brains!   

       

         Thinking about the entry of internet in my life, the first memories date back to high school years when courses in computer class taught us how to use the internet and explore websites. It is unusual to imagine such a trend now, as every household has experts of this big web world while kids of today seem to possess this knowledge right from birth! From small children to old grandparents, each individual is nowhere less than a master! Slow connection of a dial up to a slightly updated device of modem and finally to the high speed Wi-Fi, I feel fortunate to have seen the birth and growth of this www world!

        Hope this internet continues to weave an endless web of information, knowledge and service as nothing is interesting unless it starts with a www.  and ends with a .com !

   Let us imagine our present day life without the internet, what would it be like ....?? 

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   Difficult to imagine, as I have lost the link with you all already !!!

   

     

  

   

Grains of sand, waves of water, moments of fun – on this land full of ‘BEACHES’ !

           

            Walking on fine sand while admiring the tides in water, observing a picturesque sunset while wondering about the horizon, experiencing waves below the feet as the sand slides away, enjoying open air as the wind currents choose to play – variety of beaches to spend the holidays and much more variety of memories during each of these experiences have undoubtedly forced us to label our ‘home away from home’ as a land full of beaches!

          While making plans to roam around, when the GPS routes us to a new beach almost every single time, it amazes us to think about the numerous options experienced so far. Making it extremely difficult to keep a track, every beach has something unique to offer. Though sand and water form the core of a beach, every place appears different with its characteristic landscape and novel appearance.

            The waves of water seem to scream out an invitation as they cannot allow anyone to return in an absolute clean state! Unless the legs have soaked in unlimited fun from the flowing water and hands have sensed happiness from the sand of the shore, it is not possible to label this ‘beach’ session as a successful one . As a regular ritual, worrying about grains of sand that spoil the car and reminding to dust it off before entering has been religiously practiced by my husband, thereby drawing a satisfactory conclusion to each of our beach adventures!

           As tides hit the surface creating intense waves, they appear to perform a perfectly coordinated play. With a shore that welcomes these waves, it is fascinating to observe how it proceeds carefully till its imaginary border before calming down. Rising with loud sound while falling back again to meet the ground, these waves truly symbolize the significance of moving ahead with enthusiasm though it encounters rise and fall several times. 

           Watching the wide extent of sea that does not seem to fit in our vision, it makes us realize about our small position and status while standing in front of these huge forces of nature.

         Unique appearance of the beach at different intervals of time exhibit the trends of fashion possessed by mother nature. While portraying a diverse look throughout the day, it demonstrates a change in mood to match the changing hours of the clock. Energetic mornings marked against the backdrop of sunrise instill happiness and freshness to the water;  lazy, hot afternoon with an intense, scorching sun force the water to radiate heat all over; peaceful evenings color it with shades of golden as the sun sets for a departure while a silent,cold, dark night urges it to relax before a new day begins. 

          Observing this changing look of water and shore all through the day is indeed a fashion show in itself. It makes us admire the beauty of this creation which is mesmerizing by all means.While attempting to find an answer for doubts like where does the sea end or how does one reach the horizon, there is nothing but confusion that eagerly waits to greet our mind at the other end.

          Each of the beaches that we have explored till date enjoyed the undivided attention of a loyal audience,eager to extract maximum fun out of the sand and waves. Small children shuttling their time between games on sand and adventures in water, adults swimming or surfing over the waves, while a few others reading a book or relishing snacks by the shore, every beach worked to offer entertaining options to its patrons! Relishing shaved ice that resemble the ice ‘golas’ back home has truly been our wonderful experience.

            Beach wedding and family photo-shoot against the waves has been a frequent sight everywhere.From a person who loves water to a person who chooses to stay away, from a fun-loving person who loves adventure to a quiet person who wants to sit still, the opportunities and choices are endless indeed. Kids refusing to leave the water and return home while parents trying variety of tricks to pull them out has been our common observation on almost every beach! 

         Though the beaches are always busy with regular traffic of people, systematic arrangements of dustbins and decent enough restrooms work towards maintaining cleanliness. While some still choose to violate the rules,overall discipline does stem from the easy availability of these arrangements.

           As we continue to mark a tick across every beach that this city has to offer and taste the flavor of success for being able to do so, the storage space of phone and memory card often give up trying to save all these images! As long as these wonderful memories stay safe in our internal memory, there is unlimited fun within our reach on this land of beach!

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 !