The untrodden path

One of Sri Lanka’s most famous spot’s in the ‘Cultural Triangle’. A bunch of three city bred twenty something newbie hikers and an enormous rock to conquer. ‘Sigiriya Rock’ the locals tell us the name translates to ‘Lions Palace’ Rock.  An ancient rock guarded by a canal-like structure filled with crocodiles guarding it, was our first glimpse. A palace built atop it and bush-covered gardens was what lay in store after a stairway climb requiring 2 hours to cover. The entrance fees stood at 15 dollars (some 1000 Indian Rupees). It was swarming with people all walking in a line up the narrow stairway to the top on one side. We were tipped off that the sight on the top would be one of the best. Then just some 2 km away stood another sister rock, not the original Sigiriya but a rock as high nonetheless, less known and a house to the Pindurangala Cave temples. We read a blog on this place, during our intensive researches prior to every day’s trip. The climb sounded one of thrill. No straight steps, winding broken paths and rocks to climb with monkey-like gait. The allure of this lesser known, off-beat way through the jungle to this same amazing sight, with zero entrance fees had us pumped up.

So off we set, with only brief directions (from the abovementioned blog) to the entrance of this path to the top. A tiny shrine at the foot was where the path starts. There are 2 stairways going in different directions. We randomly pick the left one, after a small discussion assuming all would lead to the top (later we were proved right as we came across criss-crossing pathways). As we climb the tiny steps (Buddhist monks seem to have tiny feet comparatively) walking sideways as our Indian feet are too big to full step, we come across this cove where amidst patch of dark green grass, fallen leaves, pebbles and stones of different sizes is a panorama of big black stones with small steps paved in them ancient-looking tall trees and creepers and vines swish swashing all across. Again a moment to pick between paths. This time, it is the path on the right we choose. From there on the steepness overwhelms our breath. A stop after every ten minutes or so, to catch our breath was needed. During this stretch we meet a bunch of monks robed in maroon satin climbing deftly with no hint of effort on their brow, they smiled as they overtook us. The path was winding and the coolness and scent of forest air engulfs us. The journey to the top had spots where there were water dripping like tiny waterfalls, armies of black and dark red ants crawling in lines , bushes of different coloured flowers, tiny insects and butterflies here and there, stone formations with funny dents and shapes and dark cave like structures. Another surprise on the way was a sleeping Buddha statue some 35 feet tall which made us feel miniscule and a lotus pond nearby more surprising considering the altitude. Narrow and steep ledges where we had to slide through and find grips in rocks to climb up made it adventurous and not a trek for the faint-hearted.

Thus, we arrive to the top some 3 hours later, to what seemed liked the highest point there, towering over miles of landscapes. The view as promised was divine, medleys of water, a whole range of green-shaded landscapes and mist-covered far away mountains, with white and dark grey cotton-ball clouds of different dimensions and forms hovering above. The Sigriya Rock stood at one side like a huge headstone and a huge white Buddha statue on the other. Lying down on the top staring around this beauty trying to take it all in made us meditative. We could have laid there for hours but sudden droplets of rain made us sit up and start our journey downwards, as the fear of those slippery narrow ledges lurked on our minds. Fortunately, we had on our side not only the rain gods but also gravity to quicken our walk down before the darkness set in. So we return all tired out, with a feeling of new found achievement of having conquered a rock. This was an experience not to be missed and a must visit for every Sri Lankan traveller who wishes to walk the untrodden path.

Being free...

Leaving a job, with not another in hand not even a proper plan of what I would do with my time once I unblocked all those 12-14 hour days at my work place. People said if not this then what, without having any other notable talent / skill. My friends quoted their own example saying they were doing what they were  because they didn't know anything else which they could. Each to his own, but this reverse logic just never seemed right and the feeling of restlessness doing mundane jobs I needed to get out, at least for awhile. Be my own master. Just be free....

Pluses:
Being on the road..letting go of inhibitions..talking to new people...eating all kinds of stuff..running away from city noises...hearing nothing but the the insects and winds swooshing...silence in unknown places..loving yourself...being open to the universe and everything it has to offer..just going where the road leads you..

Unplanned days..surprising nights...meeting your family across states...trying out new things...taking a nap when you feel like it...rolling on the bed till the morning no longer allows you to do so...pondering about the smallest things which otherwise was a blur...roaming about carefree...smiling at strangers

Bartering a warm homecooked meal for a bed..walking on new lanes, on hilltops and around lakes...looking for stories of every place...questioning whys and hows of little nothings...having a long meal with only chatter for company...staring at waves endlessly...cycling in the rain...loosing your way once in awhile

Petting pups and camel calves..planning a trip to a foreign land..waving at little toothless kids...being unanswerable to anyone and anything...living in the moment..loosing track of time /day of the week...no agonizing wait for the weekend...swimming in the shallow seas..eating like you haven't for a month...learning new skills / things....getting rid of fears old and new..reading like you have all the time in the world

Minuses:
Having to count and think before spending every little bit..being judged by 'productive' / older people...being miserly with tips : (...no looking forward to Sundays (everyday is a Sunday)...having to constantly defend 'why are you doing this / why did you leave your good decent-paying job?' and answer 'what next?' and 'when?' once in awhile..lack of organised days (chaotic days)

So, if you hold that virtual balance, you can clearly decide which outweighs the other.....

Bombay streets: the ultimate driving test

For a newly trained driver, driving on Mumbai streets is the ultimate test. We have all types of drivers the speeders, lazy ones, extra cautious ones, honkers, headlight flashers, show-offers...Here are some experiences jotted down.

We are driving across the flyover (Bombay version of one) its more of a crawlover...so I am behind the wheel and a scrawny rider sporting a sunflower-yellow-tee and dark-black glared look just glides past the car and does a swoop with equally fashion challenged companion behind him. Thankfully the crawliness of the car prevents me from bumping into them. They smirk look behind and off they are. Aarrgh!

The phase where I have just acquired my learners licence and trying to maneuver my way across a busy market place, trying not to knock anyone down. The narrowness of the road with hawkers strewn on both sides and a busy evening makes it tough to get that sedan to other end. Being slow and steady is the only solution the way I see it but not without bearing the brunt of several restless honkers behind but I somehow hold my own. Reach the end on the street with only a few 'show of middle-finger-kinda-glances' at couple of them. My co-traveller is all along giving me relaxing tips and how not loose my cool. Phew...

The most frustrating is all the stereo-type lady drivers treatment you get from everyone around. The engine stops mid-road suddenly, sudden brakes because someone cuts your lane, an animal suddenly runs across a busy road..every reaction is meted with a nod of head and 'lady driver alert' look. This masochism even on the streets fills me with anger. Though I must point out an advantage of this lady driver stereotype syndrome is you can always get a bunch of people willing to push your car to jumpstart it at any time even after mid-night! and at any place or some random stranger to help you park in the narrowest of spaces or someone to pull that handbrake when it is jammed.

A nightride along the bandra seafront stretch or the sea-link road or the marine drive stretch has all those flaunters. They vrooom their engines to catch your attention and the zoom past you in the blink of an eye. The show is brilliant and admirable when you get to see your car magazine latest showcased model right on the streets but it would be more respectful if these owners didn't pass lewd remarks or lusty looks and the same cars weren't spotted outside the trendy colleges (driven by wasted tweenies-rich parents-spoilt brat ones)

The Mumbai-Pune expressway is one stretch of drive itself is beautiful as the winding road goes through the hills carpeted with lush green trees and waterfalls coming out of nowhere. The long tunnels gives you this cavy sort of feeling, monkeys to be spotted on the sidewalls. But read about the gruesome incidents the sight of blood and smashed metal is mind-numbing scary. The speeders love this road and alcoholic-speeders are in plenty. A drive through this lane always gives you this out of the city-feel but lurking behind your mind are all those incidents in the back of your head.

Snapshots of crazy moments:

-Mistaking a traffic policeman for a toll collector. He laughed, I laughed no harm done : )

-My spooky car plays dead every once in awhile. Only to recover by itself, like a true horror movie the lights all turn on and off by itself : o

-Sliding backwards on a high speedbraker on a busy clogged streets. My friends too embarrassed duck down! Thankfully the driver behind me, has seen my big red 'L'pasted on the back of the car.

-Car being bumped into by a crazy threesome on a bike from behind. Sequence of events : bump, fall off , give a crazed high on something kinda look and flee away in all of 5 seconds. 

-Stuck in a traffic-jam at 2 am at night..half way across the city! Terror alert across the city forces traffic police to scan vehicles (nakkabandi) on a busy road. So its 2 hour long brake-clutch drive...

-Driving all night across the city from  north to south like a homeless urchin looking for food. Bombay does need more after-12 eateries!

Those were a few excerpts of driving in the city experiences, many more to come I am sure, does seem like a roller-coaster ride every time behind the wheels (metaphorically and literally due to the potholes!), still figuring out whether its me or the city!

                                               Credit: www.mumbaipav.com

***Moments to cherish***

Pleasant memories make you smile. A tough day...the jerk-driver cut your lane...your ass of a boss thinks he knows it all...your dear friend and you have a heated argument... nothing is going your way...you just take some 10 minutes and ponder on all those moments which made you smile.

The list I came up with after a hard day of incessant bad things everything was looking black and dreary, made me feel all warm and fuzzy:
Tear-drop sized dew on the barks of the mahogany tree
Purplish horizons stretching endlessly over still waters
Stormy pools of water swirling over the sea
Flaming skies of fire
Blueberries half-crushed over ice slabs
Warm hot scones on a wintery night
Stretched of crimson hues on tiny petals
Grey kaleidoscopic skies
Old grey elephants sad eyes
Frail kittens with shadowy eyes
Echoes of insects thundering around you
Gigantic waves on stone-fenced walls
Bubble balls hazing your vision
Wooden branches intertwined endlessly
Dancers eyes smiling on you
Musical trance of the ebb of ocean waves
Brown-eyed puppy waiting for a good petting
The silence in space and deep oceans
Darkness of ancient caves
Riverbed carved with mythical stories
Snake-shaped ant armies on dusty rocks
Sketching 18th century carvings on a orange canvas
Embellishments of royal princesses shining through glass cases

The list can go on and on....but mission accomplished :) :) :)

Quiet people...let them be!

'The Power of Introverts- In a world that can't stop talking' by after reading this best-seller by Susan Cain where the trials and tribulations of an introvert have been highlighted. Not to say certain types of personality types are superior. But all different types should be allowed to co-exist in harmony without judgmental frows. How often have you heard of cases of parents apologising for their quiet child's extraordinary quietness. There should be a reason to justify it, a trauma in the past or something which explains such 'abnormal' behavior (just not interacting with people for the sake of it, even when you have nothing important to say is not a good enough reason).  This is the day and age where unabashed self-promotions are a norm, those quiet go-getters are not taken seriously or overlooked or else are constantly looked at with wonderment. Accepting all personality types is the need of the hour, so that there is no insecurity bred in those quiet children or sense of social neglection amongst them.

As a resident of a cosmopolitan bursting at it's seams city, quietness is always valued. Loudness in everything needs to be turned one notch down. If history was anything to go by Silence breeds creativity. The book describes how those scientists, artists who create something new have always succeeded in solitude, nothing 'new' was ever created or invented by a team, community or a group of people. Their space is always respected. Given this space helps nuture thoughts different from others, not influenced and sub-consciously directed always. Though at every stage our society teaches us co-operative behavior and team-building is a value promoted by it,the convenience  with the discipline it brings is wide-spread right from our schools, workplace, supermarkets, community centers etc somewhere the individuality of the person is lost. Clones are created and new ideas and thoughts are marred. Stagnation of the society could be a repercussion of this. But still someone or the other are always telling that introvert to loosen up, speak more and be normal! It is viewed as a social disorder. In my opinion, social reformation and awareness is needed to clear this myth of introvertedness and create a happier co-existence among different personality types.

Amen

(P.S. This is not a self-realisation post, I am an ambivert (little of both), mere thoughts to share but I do have a greater fondness for the quiet ones)

Back to random blabberings....

Readers, I am back!

After a long hiatus from the blogging world... my fingers started to itch again, so here I am.

Just come out of a long phase of corporate employment, every small towner's dream...and if there were any statistics to go by i am sure it would be the dream of most able bodied educated youth. Then why would anyone especially when we hear the phrase 'markets are bad', 'revenues are sinking' , 'so many jobless people desperately hunting for a job' step out of the whole thing. Income is decent and steady...people around who you work are great..hours spent are long but then its the same in most places..why take the risk?

Just the innate dissatisfaction that comes along with always wanting to do something else...wanting to be in someplace else, overpowers all that seems good from the outside.

This phase seems to be like a self-development phase, this meaningless existence (as I heard a philosopher) needs to be tested every once in awhile... and so i enter into this phase without an open mind, no routine, no race to the top for a measly more money, no pettiness around, free-will at every moment..all ready to take in new experiences and learning's.

Philosphies of the week:
'Live in the moment'
'Take risks always'
'Únconventialism is liberating'
'Karma actually exists'
'Laugh out aloud every once in awhile'
'See the world'
'Learn everything you can'
'Everyone around you can teach you something, if you only shut up and listen'
'Everyone is a nomad at heart'
'Dog people are the nicest people around....seriously do you'll know any dog lovers who are mean'
'Fear nothing...nothing at all'
'Keep your dear ones closer than close'

With that I end this post...as always my randomness may strike you but you all will get used to it..maybe even find it endearing ;)

Manipal Tales

Day1:The day began frantically with a massive security check as all the airports were on high terrorist alert on the 65 th anniversary of our Independence Day after receiving a tip off from the security agencies. A surprising moment was when a huge platoon of sum 100 policemen accosted a group of some 20 sad looking girls/women from the flight to the airport through a glass passage. Because of the oncoming Id festival was the cause of a our flight being overcrowded by Muslim sect people with humongous and plenty of baggage...and so 1 and half hour and some brownie with tasteless puffy bread later we reach our destination....the coastal town of Mangalore.
Situated some 100 kms from our destination- Manipal..the international education hub of South India.The drive along a beautiful smooth road, decorated with wet green-leaved trees and dark grey clouds waiting to burst looming over them, so we arrive after a few wrong turns. My cousin manages to get us to the villa where my sister wearing a huge toothy smile waiting to welcome us.It is her first very 'own' house, she can't wait to play host.
The hello's n introductions are done with and we take a house tour. A huge house with a garden, is what every city dweller craves for, I am already in love with the pretty house. In the evening we make plans to tour around the city and stroll across to a place called the 'End point', where the view is scintillating to say the least! Let me paint the picture walking uphill, on our left was a lake some miles away and  huge dark clouds playing hide and seek with the sun, on the right lush green dewy football fields, then suddenly whoosh..the sly winds blow those clouds right over our heads and we are caught amidst a downpour...5 people and 1 umbrella..you do the math! Ayurvedic rain wets us and everything feels so fresh and alive!

Day 2: The vacation day began late. We could get out of bed from under the covers only after 11, and then the stomach growled for some yum food. So aubergine in garlic sauce with some egg fried rice was the meal of the day. The lazy day got even more lazier after walking around the town picking things for the dinner party at night, and so we headed for a siesta. Then came evening and I set out with what seems like a mountain bike over the not-so-even terrain of Udipi...cycling around the town called for some huge effort but was the quicker and fun way to get around. My next destination was 'old tapani building' as the students fondly refer to for a movie screening of the 'A Single Man'. After a quick round of introductions we headed to the lecture room where a crowd of 20 something awaited the start of the film. It was a heartwarming movie on a gay college professor who is contemplating suicide after his boyfriend's death though it got slow mid-way and my mind began wandering to how the gay mans tastes in men were similar to mine meaning physical attributes of leanness, soft hair etc. Once we got done some 2 hours later, I headed straight to our home-for-the -next-4-days. The menu for the get-together read Bombay pav bhajji, fried breadfruit and fruit salad with ice cream for desert and chattering's and bickering's about college-life and imitations of their professors for accompaniment. The end of another satisfying day.

Day 3: Now my determination for mentioning the entire details have been afflicted by the weather, cold is creeping up my shoulders...brrr..but the summary of the day read as follows- A delicious lunch of a South Indian meal at the famous Woodland hotel..complete with the mouth-watering hot and tangy rasam, sambar and rice balls and some coconut gravy, followed by a temple visit to the Krishna temple at the centre of the small  bustling town of 'Odipi' which is more than 1500 years old. The inside walls  were adorned with pictures of Hindu mythological tales. A lake with moss colored water surrounded it, showing a pretty picture. At this auspicious moment the rain gods choose to shower their blessings on us. We were caught without any cover. So after searching around for one we separate ways after buying a bright red umbrella from a local shop. I decide to go exploring the town. After looking around the town , walking aimlessly catching a few eyes along the way because of my bright red umbrella and city girl walk. I decide to head to the nearest beach 'Malpe'. The weather is nice and cozy. I jump into the first auto I find and utter Malpe. Though I have heard its close by I have no idea where exactly it is. But a nod by the rickshaw man convinces me it may not be really that far. So after 20 minutes and 100 rupees poorer I reach the coast. The first sight of the waters, feels nice staying in Mumbai one is always starved for a good beach with clean waters and white-sands. After smiling at a few random kids who were standing at the edge of the shore I head for a walk along the coast. Strolling on the soft sands layered with shells is a peaceful feeling. On the way I bump into 2 fishermen and their boats who stare at me and my camera suspiciously..which signaled me not to attempt to start a conversation. From there I could see the now inapproachable famous Mary island known for its basaltic lava rock formations which were formed from the days Madagascar were joined to the mainland India! Just sitting on the sands sieving sands with your hands makes you feel more connected to the earth and as a Buddhist would say 'in one with the universe'. Snowy, a white-haired dog followed me as I made my way back to the bus point and so with the sunset behind the dark clouds, it was time to set back home for a home-cooked dinner with company of the university students of humanities awaited me. The day ended amidst chatter and some insider jokes and good-humored ribbing.

Day 4: Our schedule for the day read lots of food, sleep and visit to the beautiful Kaup beach. A spontaneous walk around the manipal lake under dark clouds working up an appetite in the morning was the only unplanned part of the day. The rest of the day was as planned, Kaup beach is one of the scenic beaches on the coastline, with a lighthouse overlooking huge black boulders around it. It was right out of the adventure Famous Five series book on Five at the Demons Rocks! We climbed right atop, from where the panoramic view of the blue waters white sands, stretches of trees and a stream that ran parallel to the sea held our gaze. We couldn't help but gasp at this beautiful view. Down on the sands a sense of exploring took over me I crossed the stream after poking around for hints of quick sand and reassurance from a local that the stream was only knee-deep. I gave him a thumbs-up when I crossed across to which he couldn't stop grinning. However, the moss covered rocks made my climb slippery and dangerous so I headed back across to the more approachable stretch. The similarity of shell-layered sands remained but here one could find more of the conch-shaped smaller shells. As an ex-shell collector I admired their beauty before heading along. The dark clouds above made various kaleidoscopic patterns in the open skies. a lonely old man sat on the a rock tried to grab my attention. I didn't notice it at first but then when I glanced his way I was surprised he made gestures of 'you are looking pretty' with his eyes and hands. I being alone with noone for at least a mile got a little flighty and headed right back. On the way I met at least 6 dogs out of which 2  I petted till they sighed. Few of these dogs just followed me without any invitation other than a kind glance towards them, now I'm beginning to believe that dogs for one, have a sense of intuition and somehow can sense a animal-lover when they see one. Then to fast-forward the rest of the day, it was roasted corn, ripe banana fritters, the very special 'gadbad' and a 'lighthouse' ice -cream just to go along with the theme of the day, was all we could gobble-up before we headed back home. And so ended our wonderful trip to the student town of Manipal. The next day was our travel back to Mangalore and a meet up with relatives and cousins before catching our flight back home.
Bye dear Readers now. Seahorsesojourns will be back with more tales, soon. Adios:)

A Short Trip......

One Friday evening, the need to get out to this city overcame us. We felt like just getting away from all the hustle bustle...and so we were off to the beach town of Alibaug lying at 100kms away. This town is a popular weekend getaway for many Bombay'ites. But the beginning of the trip was marred by the news that the 'catamaran'(ferry) service was defunct due to the advent of monsoons(as it is risky and capsizing of the boat is probable). So we began our find for the next best route...it was either road or railways..but shortage of drivers during the rains and the last time I sat behind the wheel was when I was on my PS3 playing the addictive Road Rage race resulted in us opting for local transport. There are frequent 'semi-luxury' buses between Mumbai and Alibaug at intervals of half-hour. The definition being cushioned albeit with wet and quaint-smelling covers. But before that...getting into the right bus was another uphill task. Inspite of leaving home well ahead of the departing time and a buffer time of 20 mins. The usually punctual trains stopped almost for half an hour at a spot, with no warning whatsoever, even the announcer refused to give any sought of information over the PIS, leaving the passengers puzzled and anxious. So when we ran out of patience we ran out of the station and alighted the taxi to the bus stand, not before being rammed into by a man...Yes..you heard right...a passer-by out of nowhere just rammed into me,with his head..the pain and scene was straight was out of the World Cup semi-final when Marco Materazi was head-butted by Zinedine Zidane(except for a few facts being different). Ok..to move ahead...now I make sure my ears are not bleeding.. and strut towards the vehicle... with the ferociousness of a banshee and the single-mission to reach that bus-stand.

Thus we reached the depot late by 20 minutes(exactly our buffer time!) only to be informed that we had missed our bus and would have to make fresh bookings...but one last try using my broken local language(Marathi) skills, yielded some results. A samartian directed us to a booth where a friendly uniformed conductor/officer sat and pointed the next bus would leave in some time and we could board it. A sigh of relief and 10 minutes later, our bus, painted in purple and white arrives and we are all set to begin our journey. Let me skip the description of the bus, so as not to bog you'll down. The route to our destination was pleasant. Trees with pink and orange flowers blooming on bright-green leaves made and arch along the highway. The landscape in some parts was fields with mud and water pools. Showers lashed against the window-panes, the clouds descended on the mountain-tops making it foggy and cool.

Finally 3 hours later and a 5 minute rickshaw ride later and after trying the local (high on sodium) chinese we arrive on the driveway of our resort for the night. By the Varsoli beach, next to the vacation home of one of Indias richest, the Top honcho of the Tata Empire.We jump straight on the thick beds in our cottage with a thatched-feel, giving the feel of being in sync with nature. A beer and fries session as heavy rains lashed against our window-panes was an afternoon well spent....unwinding...after weeks of deadlines and late-hours.
As the rains continued to lash with constant intensity we ventured out at first with our umbrellas for protection...but once on the beach the breeze forced us to abandon our protective sticks and in no time we were standing drenched on the edge of the waves...running on the wet sand...trying to capture the beauty of the sea in the rains at the risk of getting water on the lens of our digicam. Those few hours were heavenly....aahhhh...brings back a smile to my face. At the other end there were few couples enjoying a stroll on the beach, children frolicking and spattering sand all over, a black labrador running into the sea...happiness all around. The night was spent with music and chatter after an excellent warm meal and we fell asleep listening to the waves lash the shore.

The next day we hoped would bring with it the sunshine and a stroll along the stretch of the beach would be a perfect end to that short trip. But the high-tide changes our plans and we take the path parallel to the shore. On the way we bump into Mitsy the black labrador and some horses grazing on the fringes, including an all-white (a` la Shadowfax in Lord of the Rings). We have a quick Maharastrian delicacy Kanda-poha and some lime juice to build some energy for our bus-ride back and off-we are on our way back.

The bus-ride back was another task and marred the otherwise feel-good trip. But all in all it was an excellent weekend .

**Tips**
Take the catamaran if its a non-monsoon season/Just take your car and forget local road transport.

Walk carefully when on the streets of Mumbai, look left and right every two seconds to prevent people randomly bumping into you.

Take some good room-freshner to get rid of the stink in the local bus in case you dont have any other choice.

Don' order for 'chinese' food in Alibag stick to local cuisine unless you are low on salts.

Bargain with the rickshaw driver as dey will charge you double if you appear to be gullible city bred campers.

Keep your Marathi dictionary handy, when in trouble or need it is your best bet.

 Get a water proof camera and ipod (if invented by then).

Snapshots:

The Dirty Picture....out there

The rebel in me constantly quitens this urge of yelling at those prejudiced people who restrict my freedom. I have this desire to travel anywhere to the small hamlets to big cities without the necessity of a male companion to play 'bodyguard''. But as a single free spirited girl, this can only remain a dream especially in India. Why can't these high-on-testosterone species just generally control their libido. Why should the large-scale cheapness of the Indian man's mentality put a hamper on my travel plans?! The first question that comes to mind while making a travel plan is whether it is safe ? The commercialization of item songs in movies has made the image of a woman as a sex-object only more acceptable on a wider-scale. A friend recently confessed how he felt embarrassed and was ridiculed when he refused to participate in the conversation rate-womans-parts at the local boys club meet. He was scoffed at for being gay and laughed at.....gone are the days when women were treated as sensitive loving individuals who deserve equal respect. The irony lies in how the sexually repressed indian man has made our society unsafe for women. Even wearing a sleeveless top or something as common as shorts during the humid Mumbai weather calls for cat calls , lewd remarks and sexual gestures. Why? Isn't freedom our basic right....this women are sex objects whole thought has become like a thorn.....and its our freedom struggle all over-again....

Moving on the streets of Mumbai and if you are a girl with white-skin get ready to be ogled at shamelessly. That brings us to our next question, we being a tropical country hence dusky and dark skin-types are more usual, this whole white-skin obsession is shocking.

The boy next door is passe, he has become this perpetual flirt who influenced by these regressive movies and tele serials, comes to think of the world and women in a skewed manner.

There are 3 types of indian men around us
A one who thinks of women as nothing but sex objects and rates every female form on a fuckable-meter.
B one who thinks of women as house keepers who will keep their homes in good shape while they can live their own independent lives, someone to clean the mess at home.
C the rest

90% of the men are covered in th first-2 categories....
This whole herd of men are a result of 

a) hindi film interlaced with song and dance routines where women invite or sexily move while men who are the heroes ofd these films lust after them

 b) tele serials portraying women taking care of mother-in law and ailing father in-law who is being subjected to abuses from other family members and wearing a holier-than-thou spirit.
This whole generation whose every second weekend is spent at the local multiplex is largely influenced by this objectifying of women and stereotyping them.
A woman who is well-off' and if she knows to cook is a priced catch.
Now every single woman is searching for this third category but since they are only 10% of the entire lot, it is a difficult ask.

Many men find it difficult to handle liberated women who can speak their mind and are independent. They feel a bit insecure. Earlier when they were the sole bread-winners and the woman was generally the one at home taking care of the home, she was totally dependedant on this man of hers. Now when the woman has started stepping-out and has her own life outside that of her man he has started to feel a bit insecure in this relationship. With all these changes in the social ethos, most of our men still need time to adapt to. Hopefully soon they will.

Amen!

The Corporatisation of lives

For a vast majority of us who are of a part of this corporate era, which occupies the most of our time. There are many side-effects of making a corporate an integral part of your life.
a) Narrow-mindedness, the range of thoughts is limited to your work area, specialistaion promotes mastery in one field and promotes complete ignorance in other aspects of work, life. Creativity or doing things differently is applauded and taken seriously only if it is corporatised ie. there is a potential huge monetary benefit as a result.
b) Friends continue to become distant and converations with most of them become just time-fillers. Phone calls go to your voice mails or remain as missed calls. Work remains of foremost importance and friendships secondary.
c)The feeling of noone but my colleagues understand me creeps in and thus this awkward pauses when meeting people outside of work.
d)Unhealthy snacking becomes a part of your lifestyle. Since you are always on the move, picking up the easiest thing available is what becomes the norm and paunchy men with waistlines crossing the pleasantly healthy mark are a common sight.
e)Spondilitis and myopia are common maladies which affect this class, especially the laptop carrying working population.
f)Corporatisation promotes sameness, everyone seems a clone of another. Straighned hair, smart formals with similar prints , men with similar trousers and shirts. The use of similar vocabulary around. The lunch table discussions varying around cricket to movies....the sameness of everything brings with it, the advent of boredom.
g) Meetings are usually pretentious gatherings of sophisticated people ususally involving the higher management who sit around huge-screened LCD's and seriously debate movements in numbers reflected by graphs. The outcomes of many of these gatherings are generally zilch.
i) Several corporates come with their share of 'Desperados', these miidle-aged men with high libidos looming everywhere , they are fliratious with any 'decent' looking female collegue or acquaintance, they also come up with double-meaning jokes/one-liner's with sexual undertones, which make their female counterparts uncomfortable.
j) Anyone with different opinions, views, tastes is scoffed at. Homogenity is appreciated and gives rise to a sense of security.
h) Every corporate has a set of slogans/mottos/values which are brimming with positivity and motivation. These words are repeated at each gathering to promote a sense of well-being and said in high pitches to motivate the members of such organisations. Many of these slogans are phony and hollow when looked at from a broader perspective.
j) Biases are promoted by such institutions. Higher Designations call for more respect. Sucking up to such 'top-line' people is the best way to reach the top.
k) Building real relations, friends etc is replaced by networking which involves keeping in touch with as many people as you can who have the potential for future benefits for you. Genuiness is lost and every relationship is built is for a shrewdly thought-of potential gain.

These are some of the ways corporatisation has affected our lives and the cons it brings along withn it....

What annoys me.....

From quite sometime there has been lurking under the surface of my general pleasant demeanor a boiling rage fueled by the rebel in me. The reasons are many and solutions are few or largely widely-spread issues which affect-us in our daily lives, many of us ignore/ turn a blind eye to some of these issues/events but how long can we stay oblivious in our happy worlds inspite for the all the turmoil happening all around us bought to us straight to our homes by television/internet and other forms of media.
Why should we accept and go on about our routine chores as if the world is the happiest place to live in?
The usurpation of the wealth/ disproportionate resources which belong to the world and all of us including every creature that inhabits the earth by a few. The recent spate of protests by masses including the wall-street protests, those across Rome, Italy and other parts of Europe protesting against corporate greed has bought this boiling rage that many-a-common man has. The greed/selfishness and heights of it shown by some shameless corporate leaders even at the cost of leaving many a poor man hungry, dying of thirst, without a roof on their head.
The Government across nations which are in theory supposed to be a voice of our nation/people encourages this behavior because the most influential and those at the helm of things running these political parties are  fed by these same people. The first example that comes to mind is when on a visit to the Tehri dam built on the Bhagirathi river in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand there was protests being staged by the local's against the construction of this dam as it invoveld relocation/disruption of about 100,000 people, environmental concerns over the location of the dam in the fragile Himalayan region and also the potential disruption of the flow of the normal course of one of the major tributaries of the Ganges. However as usual the locals are silenced and the powerful-wealthy man who will use the electricity which will be generated by it's construction wins.
The unfairness of the world we live-in the concentration of most of the earths resources in the hand of few is something which gives me this 'aargh' feeling.

Another issue/concern which is close to my heart but very few people can relate to or even understand is the unethical treatment of animals and that to in a country where there are maximum Vegetarians and where certain animals are considered sacred. Killing of animals pleasing our palate and greedy taste-buds, the brutality with which animals are treated in dairies, use of a camel/monkey/bears in circuses or generally treating animals as lesser beings. For someone who feels all living things have equal right over this land that we share, every creature feels the same pain, has similar emotions as we have. I cringe at the sight of this cooked meat that sometimes I have to stare at when I am on a dinner with a bunch of friends.
This unfairness an general and empathy will make anyone cringe. I shall admit there is a hypocrite in each one of us but then it bothers me how some don't even notice or even care of actually go about propagating these concerns and the total lack of empathy.
Whew......those were a few things that bother me....more about the rest later.....

Regulating the internet!

Free speech and freedom of self-expression is all what the internet stands for. The Information and Technology minister of India has put his foot down on internet platforms to screen objectionable content and remove it based on their set guidelines. The opposition says the reason for this sudden intent of 'policing intrnet platforms' is the rise in the spate of anti-government sentiments and views, which could affect the popularity ratings of the leaders of the Congress party.
Personally I wouldn't want my views/opinions on anything to be pre-screened by anyone since the net is synonymous with democracy and is something the massess have easy access to and also its speed at disemmnating information is something no other media vehicle can match-up to. If I want to express my view on how the ministry is performing or why we need a change of government, there should be no law banning me from  stating this as this would hamper my basic right of freedom, the very principle on which are laws are based.
However since there were many confusions over the issue, Kapil Sibal clarified he wanted to curb abusive, objectionable content which has means to hurt the sentiments of minorities or something which has the power to cause protests should be removed , the question which immediately comes to one's mind is 'Who will  be the judge?' so in answer to that the he clarified the Governments position is that these platforms should set up self-regulating guidelines based on which they should allow/disallow content. Most of these platforms however already have a guidelines for content in place , so he is suggeting tweaking the guioelines as per 'Indian' sensitivities.
The question of regulating the Internet is unacceptable and unattainable, so all the hoo-haa on this subject has been unecessary and if the Government is taking cues from our Co-asian communist friends, they need to realise that this would invove stepping on the principles of democracy! 

Order in chaos

Order in chaos is something nature teaches us. Look around the chaotic environment in a forest untouched by man, but still everything works with clockwork precision.The whole pyramid , chain, cycles, sequence of events, set by mother nature puts everything in place leaving no thread hanging loose. Everything happens for a reason. The cycle of life and death continues and it still remains a beautiful place. The lion eats the deer who eats the grass when the lion dies his remains feed the grass growing on the soil which in turns feeds the deer(an example given the famous 'The Lion King'). The complex working of this entire gamut is difficult for us to grasp. The connectedness of everything and everyone is something that leaves me awestruck. Everything we do has an impact on this delicately balanced ecology. Our irresponsible nature of recklessly consuming the irreplaceable natural resources and over-consuming all resources because of the 'greediness' ingrained in us. This order/cycle is being obstructed slowly and steadily as the effects of our over-consumption accumulates, the wheel will stop turning and will come to halt. I envision a catastrophic situation depicted by all our 'end of the world' movies may come true.

An example of this obstruction is  the dying of the Jordan river http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=26239. There are numerous examples even in our immediate surroundings the eutrophication of the river in your backyard.

We should realise that our acts of selfishness and greediness affect not only ourselves but the ecology as a whole. The order in chaos must be respected and given its due. Everything seems do connected , nothing seems like a misfit/loose end. The bond that intertwines us all is unimaginable. No specie/ organism is self-sufficient. Just sitting quietly in a forest surrounded by various creatures, plants and everything alive makes you realise how beautiful this naturally created dependencies we thrive on are beginning to fall apart due to our irresponsibility's. I feel like a hypocrite sitting in a the comfort of my couch situated in the middle of a city, describing how i feel about all this but also a bit confused at how this all beauty started blurring , how do we go back to that place where everything was so beautiful, when will it come to dawn upon on us that we need to act soon before its too late or is there something I haven't got/something I am missing? 

The epidemic of Boredom

I was just hearing my sister read-out her 'Goodbye' mail to her former employer where she cited, 'diversity of experiences'  as one of her needs which the job failed to satisfy. It left me pondering- don't we all crave for this diversity? isn't it what keeps our minds ignited...the bored generation is an outcome of 'jobs' which strive for perfection/efficiency/precision at the cost of creativity/spontaneity. Even the rote learning ingrained in the education system provides little scope for widening one's horizons or to think 'outside the box'. The constant disinterested nature is nurtured by the lack of stimulation to the brain. We need 'entertainment' in the form of movies, music, art all which are outcomes of channeling creativity in a specific direction to maintain a balance and sustain ourselves. If we think about it -the more different things are , the more new they are -a new idea , a different way of doing the same thing excites us. This need for diversity has sparked in me this ever-increasing desire to learn different arts/skills including nuances of photography, learn to speak Russian, become a part of the project Amazon, become a certified scuba-diver and practice my 'professional skills' acquired through formal education without having to sacrifice one for the other because one has higher monetary returns in our industrialized world and it is more conventional.
The society around us,as much as it applauds diversity, does not encourage someone in the initial stages of experimenting and playing around with different things, the word's are always of caution and not encouragement for anyone who is looking to diversify their roles in the society, hence the proverb 'Jack of all trades, master of none'. Universality of the concept of efficiency and division of labour, propounded by the rise of capitalism has been one of the causes of the emergence of this 'bored generation'.The learning curve is inversely proportional to level of boredom.
Karl Marx, the co-founder of socialism was of the view " Increasing the specialization may also lead to workers with poorer overall skills and a lack of enthusiasm for their work. This viewpoint was extended and refined by him. He described the process as alienation; workers become more and more specialized and work repetitious which eventually leads to complete alienation. Marx wrote that "with this division of labour", the worker is "depressed spiritually and physically to the condition of a machine" (Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, 1844, First Manuscript, in T.B. Bottomore, Karl Marx Early Writings, C.A. Watts and Co. Ltd., London, 1963, p.72). He believed that the fullness of production is essential to human liberation and accepted the idea of a strict division of labour only as a temporary necessary evil.
It may be, for example, that it is technically necessary that both pleasant and unpleasant jobs must be done by a group of people. But from that fact alone, it does not follow that any particular person must do any particular (pleasant or unpleasant) job. If particular people get to do the unpleasant jobs and others the pleasant jobs, this cannot be explained by technical necessity; it is a socially made decision, which could be made using a variety of different criteria. The tasks could be rotated, or a person could be assigned to a task permanently, and so on.

Marx also suggests that the capitalist division of labour will evolve over time such that the maximum amount of labour is productive labour, where productive labour is defined as labour which creates surplus value.

Marx argues that in a communist society, the division of labour is transcended, meaning that balanced human development occurs where people fully express their nature in the variety of creative work that they do." (Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_labour)

Sometimes lifetimes pass-by, while people are waiting till they have the cushion of a healthy bank balance before they pursue their other interests and living with a lifetime of regret, So don't let the epidemic infect you and happy learning to all!

Back from Pondi!

Back from a relaxing trip to Pondicherry...the trip began one cloudy Wednesday morning, everyone seemed  to be going about their business as usual, the fresh morning dew was a sign of a wonderful beginning. The flight landed under the glare of the scorching Sun in Chennai- the city of temples. I sat wide-eyed on my drive all-the-way to the small town of Cuddalore. The straight-forwardness, no-nonsense nature of very ' Madrasi' is reflected  from the sign-boards to the street-signs. The hospital board read 'kidney stone center' whereas the school was named ' Student education institution'. The driver was a shy 40 year old for who barely knew Hindi, so we barely got round to introductions and few basic about the city questions (which were also quite an effort).
Next pit stop was lunch at Pondicherry , fondly called pondi. By the promenade, right under the blaze of the sun lay a line of small cafes and restaurants, but a inviting arch, covered with plants and creepers at the entrance of a narrow pathway caught our attention, it was leading us to a popular vegetarian restaurant. The food they had to offer , was finger-licking and left us satisfied. So we then continued our trip to Cuddalore a small town, more famous for the devastation that the 2008 Tsunami caused, leaving its locals reeling under the shock for a long time.

Dirt, factories, smiling locals, hot air was what described this town. There was nothing left to explore. The recent spate of industrialization had left this coastal town dirty and hot. So travelling back to Pondi/ now Pudducherry was our next plan.

A  little something about this french village, the town is literally divided into two sections, the indian quarters and the french quarters.The demarcation clearly exists and you can know in which section you are by looking on which street you are , if its a Rue - then you are at the french quarters. The french'ness' is preserved in the food they serve, languages they speak and their way of life.

Pondi has a almost spiritual air about it, it might have been the Osho asharam centrally located which spread this vibe. But also the people, foreign travellers included, eluded a peaceful vibe, unlike my earlier trip to Goa where wasted travellers were in plenty. The promenade which is a street by the beachside , welcomed you. My book gave me company one evening whereas on another I accompanied my mother for a stroll. Taking a cycle on hire and exploring the small territory was also my favourite part. I can now claim to go about pondi without asking for directions. Delicious Food, lots of it was on top of my list. We tried different cuisines- south indian, chinese, french,  italian, different deserts, soups... every corner has something appetizing to offer. A small french restaurant named 'Le terrasse' had yummy oven- baked pizzas and french onion soup, the thought of which still brings a smile on my face. Pondi which was colonised by the french, has a french quarter where streets are names Rue..., libraries are bibliotheques, bakeries are pattiseries etc. The ashram guest house we stayed in was a beachside inn which had strict rules- no drinking, no drugs, timings when gates shut and excellent rooms.One warning though 'Dont expect room-service'.
General warning, while travelling in Tamil Nadu- if you want to communicate anything, do it not once, not twice but thrice, as locals here somehow never seem to understand. There were times when we ordered paratha(wheat bread) and got chinese noodles, we asked for some salt and got a cup full of sugar instead, asked for directions to a grocery store and were directed to a hotel, it was exasperating and funny at the same time.
Enough of my blabber now, here is a what pondi was all about....

Also an interesting link- Auroville, a small model township near Pondi is a must-visit, the philosophy and message on which this town is constructed is something I as a global citizen with a 'one world, one race' philosophy can relate to and so can every peace-seeking human being.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auroville

Muck, Protests and Gibberish

2010 was the year of scams. The muck in the political system was bought to our homes by these 24 hour news channels. We were all just recovering from the Commonwealth games scam when the 2G scam surfaced. How much can one take? Anna Hazare's fight against corruption is fueled by the rage the common man has against corruption at every level, the pervasiveness of this political/ social evil has frustrated every honest indian who has to bear the brunt right from while traveling on the road to while buying a plot of land. The tipping point has been reached. The mass protests all over the country are an outlet of this bottled up frustration.
A solution suggested by one a is legalizing bribery and since it is already such an integral part of the system why not make it legal.
The government official who has the power to push a 100 crore deal and who is paid a meager 20000 salary per month will demand his portion in the form of bribes, increasing his salary is another solution but since the gap is huge, it is likely even with an increase in salary the greed remains and the problem remains.
Punishing the offenders can also prove a deterrent but often the guilty are seen escaping due to delays in our judicial system and sometimes ironically the presence of corrupt politicians who have the power to influence the working of the judiciary.
For me since I suffer from agoraphobia, participating in a mass protest is not my thing...but the rebel in me supports the cause heartily. Though the government is having a tough time tackling this wide spread unrest led by Anna , the media houses , especially have been capitalising on the issue. Dearth of' breaking news' in the past few weeks was causing a fall in their ratings. now hourly updates, vital health statistics of Anna who is on a fast, his supporters one-liners and most of all gibberish by 'experts' occupy the primetime slots.
Though I am not aware of the nuances of the "Lokpal bill". The anti-corruption drive and the awareness it has created will hopefully make our lives easier and curb this social evil if not end it.

Things to do /not to while travelling in a mumbai local train

Do-Plan you travel with a 15 mins contingency as alighting a train requires some practise and a few hits and misses.
Don't-Wear high heels and get into the second class ladies compartment, get ready to hear some classy marathi abuses form koli women whose feet you might accidentally step on.
Don't-Eat vada pav wrapped in newspaper, in first class people will look down on you with a demeaning look and also the lead in the print is harmful for your health.
Do-Be alert while purchasing the ticket as the ticket-window guy may purposely not return your change or give you a torn note, just to teach you a lesson.
Don't-Enter the train with a huge laptop bag, or else be prepared to give apologising looks to fellow-passengers, or else you will be cursed to death.
Don't-Travel in a Virar local if you are getting down anywhere before Borivali, people will poke and pinch you...no jokes...rumour has it ladies stand at doors with needles!
Don't-Listen to music from your cellphone on loudspeaker inspite of the warning announcement, or else be prepared to shell out some cash.
Do- always appreciate the regular bhajan mandali gangs because they are singing devotional songs which presumably don't disturb anyone though they can be heard 2 compartments across.
Dont-Talk in immpecable english in a train fight, you will get to hear, 'aap foreign jao, english hamein bhi aata hein par faltu mein hum jhadte nahin'.
Dont-Keep your water bottle, in the side-pocket of the bag and try hauling it over the rack above, chances are the bottle will shoot into somebody's eye and you will be showered with curses and angry looks, and if by mistake it happens, don't offer the bottle with chilled water for respite.....
Don't- stare at women through the bars of the mens compartment and gesturing is a strict no-no as it can be misconstrued as being lewd and you could be arrested.
Do-Be careful if the fourth seat next to you is occupied by a fat lady chances are three-fouths of her butt will not fit in the 1 inch space and will end up on your lap.
Do-Be wary of sitting next to middle aged droolers, the rocking of the train reminds them of their craddle days and there they are more likely to end up drooling all over you.
Don't-Standing on the footboard is a no no if you are a lady apart from safety concerns there are perverts who hold their hand out to feel you as the train passes a station
Don't-Travel ticketless on andheri stn and try to give the nonchalant look, as the expert mind-reading ticket checker will swoop down on you from nowhere and you are caught red-handed and shamefaced.
Do-If you are a lady and in a hurry use your charm and ask the college-going guy in the line ahead to buy you ticket.
Don't-Buy gaudy looking pastries from the food-stalls on the platform, the more colourful they are the higher the chances of severe case of diarrhoea.

That's all for now, but the list continues.....