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Down the Memory Lane

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  • A Journey through Europe – Final Chapter (Vienna)

    A Journey through Europe – Final Chapter (Vienna)

    Vienna was not a part of our original travel itinerary. But the moment we received our visa, excitement took over logic, and we added two days in Vienna—just like that! Thinking about it now, it was one of the best spontaneous decisions we made. Maybe we should have added a few more cities. 😀

    Rome to Vienna

    We took an evening flight from Rome to Vienna, because the train would have taken 12–16 hours, and we didn’t want to spend half a day travelling.

    Before I talk about the journey, I have to mention the Rome airport. The Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport felt like every other busy, bustling airport—crowded terminals filled with duty-free shops.

    With 2–3 hours still left to board the flight, I wandered around doing some window shopping. That’s one thing that I really enjoy doing in the airports. Picked up some Italian Venchi chocolates and found ourselves a cozy corner to relax in.

    Suddenly, we heard some soothing classical music. At first, we assumed it was being played on the public speakers, but to our surprise, a passenger was playing the piano, which was placed right in the middle of the seating area! When he finished, a little child took over and he also played some superb tunes. The whole airport turned into an impromptu concert hall. It was so magical. 😊

    On the flight, we met a very friendly co-passenger who shared tips on what to do in Vienna. His warm nature and cheerful smile made us feel good about the city that we were heading to—one of the world’s best cities to live in. 😊

    Vienna – First Impressions

    Vienna—or Wien in German—is a city where every corner blends imperial history with artistic brilliance. It’s known for its association with classical greats like Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert, earning it the title “City of Music“.

    It’s also famous for its palaces, culture, Viennese Coffee, Schnitzel, and the delicious Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel).

    This is one of those cities where the crime rate is low, the quality of life is high, and peaceful living feels like the norm.

    In our two days there, we truly felt that it’s one of the best cities in the world—for people to live in and for kids to grow up. 🙂

    Day 1 – Exploring the City

    We had booked a Big Bus city tour to check out the city, and the starting point was near the Vienna State Opera. We took a train from our hotel and were surprised to see how empty the trains were—and even more surprised by the absence of security gates or checks. One just has to validate their tickets in good faith there.

    Honestly, I don’t think this kind of thing would work anywhere else. 😀

    Being the sincere people that we are, we bought and validated our tickets every single time. 😀

    Vienna State Opera

    Vienna State Opera is known for its world-class performances and timeless architecture. This opera house is the beating heart of Vienna’s musical heritage. Even from the outside, it carried an air of elegance and cultural prestige.

    We boarded the Big Bus from here and grabbed seats on the open-top deck.

    Schönbrunn Palace

    Our first stop was the stunning Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence. Although some restoration work was happening outside, the interiors were breathtaking. The Baroque architecture, ornate rooms, and vast green gardens reflected the grandeur of the empire.

    We walked through the gardens, soaking in the serenity. It felt meditative.

    (Pics of Schönbrunn Palace)

    Belvedere Palace

    Our next destination was Belvedere Palace, home to some of Austria’s finest art collections—including Gustav Klimt’s famous “The Kiss”. This artwork uses gold leaf, silver, and platinum, and though it’s iconic, I personally found many other paintings there, which were even more captivating.

    Every floor offered stunning views of the palace gardens, and we just got lost in the beauty.

    (Pics of Belvedere Palace and the paintings)

    After the visit, we returned to the Vienna State Opera and headed for lunch.

    Lunch at Veggiezz

    We found a vegetarian restaurant called Veggiezz, where we ordered a Club Sandwich and an Avocado Roll—with fries, of course! We weren’t counting calories on this trip. 😀

    St. Stephen’s Cathedral

    Next, we visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna’s most iconic church. Its patterned roof tiles and Gothic spires look spectacular from every angle.

    We wandered around, gelling around with the crowd. We saw this shop called Cheese & More and entered the shop to pick up cheese. They made us taste about 50 different kinds of cheese (Yeah, i told you that we were not counting calories 😀 ). We ended up picking up a few block of cheese to take back home,

    (Pics of St. Stephen’s Cathedral)

    (Cheese)

    Day 2 – To the Countryside: Kahlenberg

    On our second day, we wanted to go outside the city, to check out the countryside. So, we decided to explore Kahlenberg, a scenic hill overlooking Vienna Woods.

    It promised nature, history, and panoramic views—and it delivered.

    Google Maps showed a route with three trains and one bus. It took us about an hour to reach the top. The journey felt dreamlike—lush greenery, peaceful surroundings, quaint villages, and winding roads.

    St. Joseph’s Church

    Right as we reached, we saw the beautiful St. Joseph’s Church. There was some work going on inside, but we explored the terrace behind it, which offered spectacular views of Vienna.

    Stefaniewarte

    We hiked to Stefaniewarte, a viewing tower famous for its views of the Danube and the city. Unfortunately, it was closed that day, but we enjoyed spending time in the woods before heading back.

    Hiking Down to Grinzing

    We chose a 3-km descending trail to Grinzing, passing through forests, vineyards, wine taverns, and scenic valleys. The stretch of grapevines, the earthy aroma, and the quiet beauty made the walk unforgettable.

    My travel companion played some music on his phone, and the whole hike felt cinematic. We met a few people ascending and descending on the way, but they didn’t seem to mind our Hindi music. 😀
    Well, i can only hope that they didn’t. 😀

    Once in Grinzing, we found a cute little café where we tried Apfelstrudel, or the Apple Strudel, Austria’s national dessert. The apple-cinnamon filling inside the flaky pastry was divine.

    Grinzing itself felt like a charming old-world village with cobblestone streets and storybook vibes.

    Apfelstrudel

    We took a tram from Grinzing to Schottentor, switched trains again, and returned to our hotel.

    The Final Few Hours

    Once we reached back the hotel, we decided to have a quick grab at a cute looking cafe nearby. We had a Vegetarian Quiche and a Salad. They both tasted heavenly.

    Before heading to the airport, we did some quick shopping. If I could, I would have packed the entire city—and Europe itself—into my luggage. That’s how much I was in love with the place.

    But the memories… those I’m carrying forever.

    We took trains back to the airport as we wanted to feel connected locally till the time we left the country and the continent.

    So, this concludes my series of blogs that I wrote on Europe. Hope you were able to enjoy the ride with me, even if I was not able to narrate it so well. 😊

    Thanks for being such a wonderful audience and wishing you all a great year ahead.

  • When in Rome, do as the Romans do – Chapter 5 (Rome)

    When in Rome, do as the Romans do – Chapter 5 (Rome)

    Having seen all those artistic masterpieces in and around Florence, we were all set to move on to our next destination – Rome.

    Rome is one of the cities that I had read so much about in all those Dan Brown books, and books by other authors. I had already formed an opinion about how the city might look. Believe me, my imagination was nothing in comparison to the actual reality. The city is so much more beautiful in real and is one of the most breath-taking places in Europe.

    The Journey

    We left Florence in the morning and headed towards Rome. It was a 2-hours journey by train. When we reached the Termini or the Terminal in Rome, we could see a lot of people in the station. That showed that the city was a major tourist destination.

    We checked into the hotel, left our luggage and went out to have our lunch. On checking ChatGpt, we got to know about this famous Vegan restaurant called Rifugio Romano, just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. There, we got to eat some Vegan Pizza and something called as Suppli Vegan, which was a deep-fried rice Ball with Vegan Cheese and Tomato Sauce. The meal was delicious, and we were really happy to start our journey in Rome with something so special.

    Rifuggio Romano

    Vatican City

    Once our hunger was satiated, we started off with our journey towards the Vatican City. We took a metro train from the Termini and got down at Ottaviano station. The train was crowded but we were able to find some space to stand. Got down at Ottaviano station and started our walk towards the Vatican City.

    It was about a kilometer walk and the route took us through some busy shopping streets. I was expecting that there would be some kind of boundaries or walls or security when we cross the border and enter the Vatican. Surprisingly for us, the Vatican City, which is a country in itself, is tucked away within the bustling streets of Rome. How can a country exist inside a city of another country, right? 😊

    There were huge walls at the entrance of the Vatican with a complete security check to enter the Square.

    We had not booked any tickets so we just stood in the general queue to get inside the St. Peter’s Square. Being a Friday afternoon, the crowd was manageable and we were able to get inside after about 20 minutes of standing outside. Being used to queues and crowds in India, standing in this crowd felt like home. 😀

    Once we got inside the tiniest country in the world, the complete atmosphere changed. A calmer air and a grander scale, every detail inside was literally out of the books that I had read. We did not know where to start looking. There were curved colonnades and fountains and a towering Egyptian obelisk.

    (Pics of Vatican City)

    Here is some history 😊 (Picked up from Google) – St. Peter’s Square was designed in the 17th Century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. There are 2 semicircular colonnades there, made up of 284 Doric columns and 88 pilasters completely surrounding the circle. It gives a sense of protection to the complex and the sacred space.

    As we walked towards St. Peter’s Basilica, the immensity of the façade and dome awed us and we were spellbound. The sheer beauty inside the Basilica took our breath away. With so many gold details, marbled floors and mosaic, every corner had a story to tell.

    As we stepped outside the Basilica, we saw Swiss guards guarding the Pope’s residence. Its believed that Swiss are known for their loyalty and combat skills.

    The St. Peters Square had many more remarkable things inside. There was a beautiful depiction of Noah’s ark. The detailing in the statues made them look so real, with their expressions captured so naturally.

    (Pic of Noah’s ark)

    Piazza Navona

    Once we came out of the Vatican City, I put Piazza Navona on the maps, and we started to walk towards it. The entire journey from the Vatican to the Navona felt like we were going through layers of history. Have never seen a city so historically beautiful like Rome. We walked over the River Tiber over the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele bridge, which connects the Vatican area to the rest of Rome. Walking on the bridge felt like we were strolling through a gallery. It had so many marble sculptures and each of them had a story to tell.

    We crossed through Castel Sant’Angelo, a stone fortress that had witnessed a series of historical events. It is believed that there is a hidden corridor inside which links it to Vatican. Again, the bridge leading to the Castel Sant’Angelo was lined with sculptures of beautiful angels.

    I felt that the entire city of Rome was like an open-air museum.

    From there, we walked through narrow cobblestone streets, following the path that Google maps suggested, and passed various elegant squares. And after passing through a few alleys, we reached Piazza Navona.

    I was not prepared for the beauty of this place. It was like we stepped into a painting. With fountains on 2 sides, the entire Piazza was in a form of rectangle. There were street performers, singing and performing acts, and so many groups of people gathered around. The vibe was so vibrant, with a perfect harmony of art, history, beauty, romance and life.

    The Fountain in the centre is the Bernini’s Fountain of Four Rivers, which is a stunning spectacle of marble, representing the great rivers.

    (Pics of Piazza Navona)

    We just sat there for a while, enjoying all the fun and frolic around, and the serenity of the fountains. It is ironical to be at peace when there is so much happening around. 😊

    Well, it was time for us to move on. We thought of going back to the hotel by taking a bus for the return trip. While the bus stop showed only a few meters away, the path had another surprise for us. There was the Pantheon standing majestically enroute. How can a city be filled with so many historical monuments and they all crop up so unexpectedly? 😀

    The Pantheon at one time was a shrine for all the Roman gods and was built in the 2nd Century.

    (Pics of Pantheon)

    When we got down near Rome Termini, I happened to see the famous Indian restaurant, Saravana Bhawan out there. And, I felt so home-food-sick by then, that I really wanted to have my dinner over there. Over a plate of Masala Dosa and Curd rice, we decided that we would have our next meals also there. 😀

    The next day at Colosseum

    While we had a booking for a group package of Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum at 12 pm, we had a whole morning free with us.

    So, we set out to check out Piazza Venezia, where the amazing Altar of Fatherland stands. It is such a massive marble monument and looks too majestic and cool. It looks like a Wedding cake, and that’s what it is called. With layered terraces, and an ornate façade, we just climbed up the steps and sat down to absorb the panoramic views and the beauty inside. From there, we could see the ruins, domes and Colosseum as well.

    (Pics of Altar of Fatherland)

    Having seen Gladiator movies and knowing what happened inside the Colosseum, I was not too excited about seeing the monument. But I was still very much interested in checking out the ruins around.

    Colosseum is one of the seven wonders of the world, and the history inside is so well-preserved.

    We had a guide who was super passionate about Roman history and the Colosseum, that walking with her talking felt like a history lesson in itself. And she made the images of past come alive with her vivid descriptions. 🙂

    2000 years old Colosseum has an ancient amphitheatre inside, surrounded by strong walls. Walking through the tunnels and arches, we were told separate entrances were there for the royal family and the general public. History behind every corner and crevice there was explained in detail by our guide. She made the Colosseum come alive for us once again. And I was flabbergasted by the cruelty of the kings that time.

    The thought of gladiators fighting for their life inside for the benefit of the king’s entertainment was so sad. I was surprised how the crowds around cheered such barbaric acts then.

    (Pics of Colosseum)

    Once we came out of the Colosseum, we headed towards the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.

    The Roman Forum was supposed to be a bustling centre for political, social and religious life in the olden days, filled with public spaces, basilicas, markets and temples. While we walked through the ruins, it felt like we had stepped back in time, The crumbling columns and the ancient stone paths stand to tell the story of Rome.

    And, above that is Palatine Hill, which is supposedly the birthplace of Rome. Rome was founded here. The Palatine Hill was the home for the emperors, with lines of luxurious palaces, which overlooked the Forum. Walking through the ruins of the palaces, and Forum, we could visualize the grandeur of the olden days.

    (Pics of Palatine Hill and Roman Forum)

    We were so physically and mentally exhausted after the Colosseum that we did not have the appetite for anything else, except for food that day. 😊

    Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain

    How can a trip to Rome be complete without visiting the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, right?

    So, next day, we took a bus from near the hotel to reach the Spanish Steps.

    Spanish Steps is a place where elegance meets energy. There were a series of steps that connect Paizza di Spagna to the Trinita dei Monti church. The steps are so graceful that we were forced to climb up even though we were feeling so tired. 😀

    (Pics of Spanish Steps)

    With so much of photo-shoots happening behind us on the steps, we found a quiet corner where we just sat and took in the busy life below. There were a series of cyclists going on a tour around the fountain, and it was such a beautiful sight to see. With lots of branded shops around, coffee shops and so much to look around, the whole place was booming with energy.

    (Pics of cyclists)

    Trevi Fountain

    I had read so much about the Trevi Fountain that I could not have left Rome without checking it out. Just a few minutes’ walk from Spanish Steps, we were surprised to see a long queue waiting to get inside, make a wish and take pictures.

    As we had reached this place in the peak afternoon, the crowd there was also at its peak. It took us at least about 30 minutes to reach the base of the fountain but it was totally worth the wait.

    The baroque statues in the fountain were so spectacular, and the water itself was so pristine and pure that we could just keep looking.

    It is believed that one can toss a coin over their left shoulder into the fountain and make a wish. So, this was a wishing fountain. So yes, I did throw the coin over the fountain making a wish. After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. 😊

    (Pics of Trevi Fountain)

    There were still some places that we wanted to check out, but were out of time. After all, Rome was not built in a day, and it definitely requires more time to check out the beauty of the city. Something left for the next time. 🙂

    After the Italian episode, its time for me to take you to another beautiful city in a beautiful country, which is the birthplace of Classical music, coffee, art and heritage.. Will see you soon in Vienna. Till then, stay safe and happy. 🙂

  • A Journey through Europe – Chapter 4 (Florence)

    A Journey through Europe – Chapter 4 (Florence)

    After spending 5 unforgettable days in Switzerland, we made our way to Italy — ready to lose ourselves in the artistic soul of Florence and Rome. From Swiss greenery to Italian Grandeur, we were anticipating a dramatic shift in the scenery. 🙂

    We were truly excited to check out the Renaissance masterpieces and the opulence of Baroque architecture.

    Roman history is one of the oldest in the world and the cities in Italy have their own stories to narrate. We felt the history come alive at every turn for us in Italy and every corner had its own tale to tell.

    The Journey

    The journey from Lucerne to Florence took us via Milan, where we had to change trains. We were booked on the super-fast Italo train from Milan to Florence, but we were in for a shock when our train was delayed by about 2 hours due to some issues in the track and route diversions. The crew in the train served some complimentary snacks, maybe to soften the delay-panic. Thankfully, we had also picked up some sandwiches and cookies in Milan station to eat on the way.

    We met an old lady in the train, who was around 82 years old and was traveling alone from Lucerne to Logano. She was quite friendly and told us that that she had 3 houses in Switzerland – one each in Lucerne, Logano and Zurich., She kept moving between the houses and stayed at each place for a few months. I wish she could adopt me and I could help her with the staying part. 😀

    We reached Florence only at 9pm that day and by the time we checked into the hotel, we were too tired to do anything else.

    A date with history

    Florence is also called as Firenze in Italian and is considered as the birthplace of Renaissance. The art, history and culture are so abundant there. The best thing is that the entire city can be covered by foot, and there is no need to use transport.  

    With so many world-class museums and piazzas, the city has so much to offer.

    We set out in the morning after a sumptuous breakfast of all the usual stuff, but we also got to eat fresh Burrata cheese there, which was so soft and gooey and when we cut that open, it had a nice creamy interior. It clearly melted in our mouth, leaving behind such a lingering taste. I have never eaten so much of cheese in my life put together. Europe was truly pampering us. 😀

    The weather was quite hot, so we had packed water-bottles, caps and sun-glasses. Our backpack always had these items throughout the journey.

    Just a few metres from our hotel was the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, which was a Gothic-Renaissance church, with beautiful Marble façade. There were a lot of benches around for people to sit, relax and view the church. Also, it was surrounded by a lot of restaurants, serving food and the famous gelato ice-cream. This was one place that we visited several times during our stay. And, we also saw some activities and campaigns happening while we were there.

    (Pictures of Santa Maria Novella)

    Our next stop was Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which is also known as Duomo. Another masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, the dome is so magnificent that one can keep looking at it. The place was crowded with many tourists lined up to go inside the Cathedral. We decided to skip the entry and instead tried to devour the place around. The vibe was so amazing with a lot of painters doing live sketches, and selling their art.

    (Pictures of Duomo)

    From there, we walked some more to reach Uffizi Gallery. On the way, we crossed several Piazzas including Piazza della Republica, Piazza della Santa Cicilia and Piazza della Signoria. You might ask what these Piazzas mean. Well, these are public squares, and are mostly found around churches or important monuments. We were so surprised that almost every other road had a beautiful piazza with some form of sculpture or fountains amidst them.

    (Pictures of Piazzas)

    Uffizi Gallery was quite crowded as well, and people were standing in queues to enter. Again, there were many artists scattered outside, selling their art, and making sketches of people who were interested. As we had to cover a lot in Florence and we did not have much time, we skipped going inside the Gallery. There was so much more to check out in the city.

    Another few steps from Uffizi Gallery, and we reached Ponte Vecchio. It is one of the iconic places in the city, and is made of Medieval stone, and spans over the Arno river. We were told that this was the only bridge in Florence that did not get destroyed during World War II. Surprisingly, the bridge was completely covered with jewellery, art and souvenir shops. We tried to take a picture from the middle of the bridge. I guess this is one place in the city, which is the most photographed, as we saw so many tourists waiting to take pictures.

    (Pictures of Ponte Vecchio from the other side and the shops on Ponte Vecchio)

    After spending some time on the bridge, we proceeded to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens. We decided to buy entry tickets for Boboli Gardens and check it out, to see how the gardens looked in the Renaissance city.

    Boboli Gardens was a huge lush green park with various sculptures and fountains, and several steps to go to higher levels. We climbed up all those steps and checked out all the gardens and fountains and clicked some photos and videos of the view below.

    (Pics of Boboli Garden)

    As it was so sunny and hot outside, we decided to give ourselves a break. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant on the way, where we had Bruschetta and a Pizza, along with a cold lemonade. Then, went to our hotel to take a short rest.

    In the evening, we thought of exploring the market-place to get a feel of the shopping in the city. We went to Mercato di San Lorenzo, where there were lines of stalls and shops selling leather products, regular touristy items like fridge magnets, keychains, t-shirts, bags and other souvenirs.

    From there, we headed over to Vivoli, a shop recommended highly by my daughter. Though google maps said that its only a 1-kilometre walk, it felt like we kept walking through the alleys and narrow lanes.. 😀 Vivoli is a place that’s quite popular for Affogato. There was a long queue outside and we had to choose our Affogato first and pay for it, and then get the delivery for it. Affogato is an Italian dessert, consisting of vanilla ice cream or gelato, over which a shot of hot espresso is poured. The hot coffee poured over the ice cream melts it and makes it bitter-sweet. I won’t say that it was my favourite during the trip as i couldn’t quite make out the taste of it. Either it should be coffee or should be ice-cream.. 😀

    (Pics of Vivoli and Affogato)

    For dinner, our hotel receptionist recommended Shake Café near Santa Maria Novella for trying out some vegetarian stuff. We drank a Mushroom Latte coffee there, which had cinnamon, mushroom, maple syrup etc. and was advertised to reduce stress and enhance the immunity. To munch along, we got a Falafal Wrap, which was amazing.

    Day 2 – Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa

    The next day, we had an early morning guided-tour at 7.30am from behind the Florence railway station. As we would have skipped breakfast in the hotel, we requested for a take-away from the hotel, and they were so courteous and generous that they packed a heavy picnic basket for us, consisting of fruits, muffins, croissants and juice. It was as if we were going away for days. 😀

    We assembled at the meeting point and boarded a double-decker tourist bus. Luckily for us, we swifty boarded to the second level and got the first seat on top, which allowed us an unhindered view of the entire road in front of us, giving a feel of Tuscany.

    Siena

    The bus journey started off from Florence and took us through vineyards and rolling hills. Our first destination during our day trip was Siena. Siena is a city which feels like it is frozen in time. We were dropped in the parking lot from where we trekked for about 1 kilo-meter to reach another meeting point where we met our guide. Before starting off the tour, our guide told us to take a bio-break in any of the cafeterias as we might not have access to public washrooms in any other place. And a smart way to use the washroom is to buy a cup off coffee or something to eat. 😊

    We passed shops selling huge pizzas and we were so glued to the sight.

    Once we were all back, the tour started with a short walk to the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the famous horse racing takes place. We were told by our guide that the race is an annual event, and is competed between the 17 neighbourhoods of Siena and they all have their own flags and emblems.

    (Pics of Piazza del Campo)

    Just a short walk from the Piazza was the stunning Siena Cathedral — which is one of Italy’s true Gothic masterpieces. There was a marble façade, completely black and white, with intricate carvings, and detailed mosaics. Inside the cathedral, there were vivid frescoes, and panels carved and inlaid on the marble floor (heard that it took several years to complete that). Every corner felt like a piece of art. It’s a place that captured the grandeur of medieval Siena and we were awestruck at each and every artwork on the floor and the ceiling.

    (Pics of Siena Cathedral)

    San Gimignano

    Next, we drove through the heart of Tuscany to reach San Gimignano. It is known as the “Town of Five Towers.” This city definitely belonged to some ancient medieval age, and felt like nothing had changed since then. Old buildings with medieval stone towers rising above the vineyards and olive groves, this place had made the time to stand still. There were shops in those buildings which were selling all kinds of artwork and leather products. We wandered through the charming alleys, tried some pistachio gelato and Tiramisu, and felt connected to the history of Tuscany.

    In the afternoon, we stopped at a family-run winery in the Chianti region for a delicious wine tasting. We got some breads, cheese and pasta to go with some white and red wine. The food was delicious and so was the wine, especially with the surroundings of vines around.

    Our final destination was Pisa. The place is known for its iconic Leaning Tower. We tend to automatically tilt our heads seeing the tower, to match the slant. 😀

    We had seen the pictures of the Tower, but seeing it in real was a completely different experience. There was a duomo behind the tower and a lawn spread across. We sat there, relaxed for a while and soaked in the beauty of the place. Before leaving, we picked up a Capuccino and then took the bus back to Florence.

    Leaning tower of Pisa

    I feel that Italy has something for everyone – history, art, food, nature, music, lifestyle. One can easily get pulled into the alleys and get lost in old times. Devour more of Italy in my next blog on Rome. See you soon there. 🙂

  • A Journey through Europe – Chapter 3 (Lucerne)

    A Journey through Europe – Chapter 3 (Lucerne)

    Saying goodbye to Interlaken wasn’t easy; its beauty had left such a lasting impact. Sometimes, it feels like good things should never end, right? A little more time there would have been wonderful. Still, there was so much more to look forward to. Like kids on an endless adventure, we hopped from one excitement to the next. 🙂 Our next stop was Lucerne — or Luzern, as it’s called in German.

    There were trains every hour from Interlaken to Lucerne, so we had enough time to check out from the hotel, take a bus to the station and then take the train from Interlaken OST. But, before that, we tried to spend a few more hours walking past the streets in Interlaken, trying to soak in as much as possible.

    The journey to Lucerne

    The journey from Interlaken to Luzern was quite beautiful and breath-taking. It took us through valleys, lakes and mountains. We have never been so glued to the window of a train before. 😀

    (Views from the train)

    While the beautiful landscapes started to diminish as we neared Lucerne, the view was replaced by a more urban terrain. We could see more of churches and buildings surrounded by lakes and the Alps in the background. The total journey time was about 2 hours.

    After getting down in Lucerne station, we boarded a bus which took us closer to our hotel.

    We checked into the hotel and as usual we were eager to rush out of the four walls and explore the city. The city was quite busy with many tourists moving around in groups along with their organized tour operators. The different tour operators were holding flags of different colours and several people were following their group leaders.

    Chapel Bridge

    We grabbed a Panini Sandwich, and a Hazelnut roll on the way and headed out to the famous landmark called ‘Chapel bridge’. It was just a 10-minutes’ walk from the place where we stayed. A wooden bridge with a water tower in one end, the Chapel bridge has some beautiful paintings inside, along with a lovely array of flowers outside. It was built in 1333, and it is the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe. Walking over the bridge felt rustic and nostalgic, as if we’d stepped back in time — it was truly magical.

    (Pictures of Chapel Bridge)

    Upon reaching the other end of the bridge, we could see many open-air cafes and restaurants, most of them fully occupied. Though we were tempted to eat something, we were craving for a visual treat more than a hunger treat at that moment. 😀

    After walking along the lake for some time, we took a ferry ride to a place called Weggis. The ride across the crystal-clear water, with hills rising in the background, gave us time to reflect and do some soul-searching. As the urban landscape faded and small clusters of houses appeared along the shore, we lost ourselves completely in the beauty surrounding us.

    (Pics of Weggis)

    Sitting on deck chairs in Weggis, having fruit yoghurt, we felt like the life had taken a pause.

    Mount Pilatus

    Since we had removed Mount Jungfrau and Mount Titlis from our itinerary, we decided to visit Mount Pilatus the next day. For me, it turned out to be a good decision. We got to do some hiking while enjoying a scenic round trip and got breathtaking views. Also, there wasn’t any snow there 😀

    We had purchased a Golden Round Trip ticket for Mount Pilatus, which allowed us to use various modes of transport to reach the summit and descend. The complete round trip included a bus, cable car, gondola, cogwheel train, and boat. One could also do the route in reverse. The trip is designed to offer different perspectives and experiences of the mountain.

    (Picture Courtesy – FullSuitcase searched on Google Images)

    The journey upwards

    • Leaving the hotel, we got into a bus headed towards Kriens. It was a 20-minutes ride through the city.
    • From the Kriens bus stop, it was a 1 kilometre walk towards Schlossweg. (That’s the place for the cable-car)
    • From Schlossweg, we got into a Cable car till Fräkmüntegg. It was a pleasant journey upwards, with only the 2 of us in one car.
    • From Fräkmüntegg, there was a Gondola ride that we had to take to reach Mount Pilatus. It was our first experience on a Gondola and we were thrilled to see around and outside.

    The ride took us above a valley that was smeared with green pastures and tall, sturdy trees standing so neatly and in an orderly manner.

    Upon reaching Mt. Pilatus, we got to know that we could go on several treks to different peaks there, each giving a different view of the valley below. The highest peak, Pilatus Kulm is about 7000 feet above sea level and Tomlishorn peak is just a few feet shorter. Also, there was one trek that took us within the mountains and we could peep out of them. We did about 4 treks in total.

    We had to tackle some steep trails to reach the summit. While I was gasping for air at times, it was heartening to see so many senior citizens braving the trek with smiles on their faces. At the top, there were wooden chairs shaped like airplane seats — it was fun to sit there and quite literally feel on top of the world.

    (Pics of Pilatus)

    The view from the summit was enchanting, though very cold and windy. Wherever we looked, it was mesmerizing. Lake on one side, mountains on the other, and the air was so pure.

    After spending about an hour in Pilatus, it was time for us to come down and proceed to the cogwheel boarding point for a ride down the mountain.

    This cog-wheel train from Pilatus to Alpnachstad is the steepest rail in the world and has two coaches in it. We chose to sit in front, along with the driver, to get the best views of the descent. There was a clear sign on top saying “Do not talk to the driver”. But I am sure he must have got so much disturbed due to our frequent movement around for taking pictures and videos. 😀

    The train moved at a slow pace with few tunnels in between, while also giving way to another train climbing up from the opposite direction. The journey to Alpnachstad was about 30 minutes, and that was totally worth our time. We could also notice a few trekkers walking alongside enroute.

    (Pics of Cogwheel train)

    We had covered Mount Pilatus in just about 4 hours, and had an entire half day available with us. So, we decided to go to Zurich. It was only a train journey from Alpnachstad to Luzern and another train to Zurich from there.

    Zurich

    Zurich was busy and slightly crowded compared to the rest of the places that we had seen in Switzerland. We had no planned itinerary over here. Just asked ChatGPT about what we could do in a few hours. The AI suggested to walk over to Bahnhofstrasse, which is a famous shopping street. It was just a walking distance from the Zurich HB station. The vibe was amazing and it was good to look around the shops and do some window-shopping. We took trams and buses from there to reach the Chinese Garden, which was located just near the Zurich Lake.

    (Exploring Zurich)

    Zurich lakefront was so beautiful and we could see a lot of people relaxing there in their own way.

    After munching a Green Salad along with an African Mint milk tea from a nearby restaurant, our heads turned towards the lawn sprawled beside the lake with the green carpeted grass, inviting us to come and relax.

    Though the day was super sunny and warm, a cool breeze from the lake made it pleasant. While we sat on the lawn, we felt as if we were reliving stories from our childhood English Textbooks. We understood what ‘recreation’ meant. It is not just about running behind things, but to sit, relax and spend some quality time with family and friends. 🙂

    We forced ourselves to get up from there, and then proceeded towards Polyterrasse, which is just behind the Zurich University.

    ChatGPT suggested that it offers some great views of the city. Though the views were good, we were more interested in seeing the students gathered around for some kind of activities. 🙂

    It was so easy to move around from one city to the other in Switzerland, and we were surprised that we could experience Zurich in just a few hours, and got a feel of the city.

    By the time we reached back Lucerne, most of the bistros and restaurants were closed, and we ended up eating dinner in an Indian restaurant named Kanchi. We ordered a North Indian Thali. The food there was amazing. Or, maybe it was because we were eating Indian food after almost a week. 😀

    Glacier Garden

    The next day in Lucerne, we visited the Lion Monument and Glacier Garden, which were close-by. The Glacier Garden is about 150 years old and displays glacial potholes from the last ice age. Also, there are fossils of palm leaves and shells. There was a tunnel that leads one into the rock where we could walk through the geological history. There are lights, animations and rock features which made the experience so interactive and immersive. Also, there was a mirror maze inside where we both were trying to find our way out like kids. 😀 There was also a winding staircase that led us to a garden with a lovely view outside.

    Though we could spend only about 5 days in Switzerland, the memories from there are going to remain forever.

    My whole idea of writing a series of blogs for this trip is for the sake of sharing the experience with others and for my own journal. I took help from my travel companion (husband) for this blog, and some of the wordings in this blog are his. 🙂 I know that i can’t do justice in describing the beauty that we experienced.

    As a conclusion for this blog, I would just like to say that in our fast-paced lives filled with stress and action, a few days of pause in the midst of nature could be the best prescription for anyone.

    From Lucerne, our next stop was Florence in Italy. Will see you soon in Florence with my next chapter. 🙂

  • A Journey through Europe – Chapter 2 (Interlaken)

    A Journey through Europe – Chapter 2 (Interlaken)

    Paris had set the perfect tone for our European journey, and with hearts full of excitement, we looked ahead to our next stop – Interlaken, nestled in the heart of Switzerland

    Euro Rail

    We had a morning train at 8:18am from Gare de Lyon station; a TGV Lyria train from Paris to Geneva. It was going to be our first experience on a Euro train, and we were both excited and anxious. Anxious because we had no clue about the formalities in the station. Turned out to be a smooth experience though.

    We reached the station 30 minutes before the departure, and just roamed around the station waiting for the announcement. The platform number for the train was displayed only 20 minutes prior to the departure. So, it was like a guessing game for everyone waiting in the station. Once the platform number was displayed, we were allowed entry through the gates and into the train.

    TGV Lyria train

    On boarding the coach, we found a place to stow away our luggage, and went to our seats. The train started on time and picked up a maximum speed of about 294 km/hr. It covered a distance of around 540 kms between Paris and Geneva in just over 3 hours.

    Due to some technical issues on the tracks in between, our journey got delayed by 30 minutes. They gave constant updates, which kept everyone informed about the problem on the track. We were in no hurry and enjoyed the ride. That gave us time to go and check out the cafeteria and have a coffee in between. 😀

    (Pictures of Cafeteria)

    Swiss Trains

    Once we got down at Geneva, it took us a while to figure out how to change platforms to catch our next train. We had got a Swiss Pass made for 6 days, which allowed us unlimited rides on trains, buses, trams and boats across Switzerland. So, from Geneva onwards, we could get on to any train.

    I had downloaded the SBB app, which gave real-time information on Swiss trains, their timings and also the platform numbers. There were multiple train options and several routes to reach another city. The best option for us was to take a train from Geneva to Bern, which took us about 2 hours, and then another from Bern to Interlaken, which took another 1 hour.

    Our Train route

    The best part was that all the platforms in the stations had a ramp walk which allowed people to carry their luggage easily. We had become a pro by then in changing trains at the stations. 😀

    What I loved most about these trains was that it was relatively empty and you could sit anywhere you wanted. Coming from India, where most of our trains run at full capacity, getting to choose seats and change seats is such a luxury. 😀

    Inside the train

    The journey throughout was so scenic and it took us through picturesque villages, lakes, valleys and mountains. The journey on the train itself was like some kind of a dream.

    View from the train

    Interlaken

    We reached Interlaken West station at 3:30pm and then walked to the hotel from there. The air and the atmosphere were so ethereal that all our senses felt alive and we were completely reveling in it. Everything about this place was out of a fairy book. Am sure I have not seen any other place like Switzerland in my life. <3

    Interlaken, the place that we reached, means “between lakes”, and is surrounded by Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. This beautiful town is nestled between these lakes, overlooking the majestic Alps, with Jungfrau standing magnificently in front.

    What hit us the most in Interlaken was the number of Indian people around. I guess Yash Chopra has made this place so hugely popular with his movies that the maximum tourists here were Indians. So, we felt at home. 😀

    The landscape, the pure greenery, the sweet air, beautiful boutique shops around, everything in Interlaken was out of the world. We went out for a stroll, had a gelato ice-cream in the cold, saw the statue of Yash Chopra, and strolled around and inside the Hohematte Park, which is a huge ground in the middle of the city. All the paragliders descend on this vast open park. Just to sit there on the bench, soaking in all the beauty, felt like heaven.

    (Pictures of Interlaken)

    It was so beautiful to witness the sunset in the mountains, which gave such a nice hue to the place. The orange glow in one of the pics above is actually the light from the setting sun.

    Trekking through the villages

    The next day was my husband’s birthday and I had planned a list of places that I wanted to take him to. One of my close friends had suggested that we cover Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, as she had gone hiking there a couple of years back, and was completely in awe of those places.

    Though Switzerland is well-known for Jungfrau and Mount Titlis, our itinerary did not include either. I am not a big fan of ice or snow and rather preferred greener and calmer environment. What we, or rather I, wanted to do was to explore the villages. My travel companion did not complain, and agreed later that it was his best birthday ever. 😀

    Lauterbrunnen and Trummelbach Falls

    Our day started off by taking a train to Lauterbrunnen. On reaching there, we took a bus to Trummelbach falls.

    Trummelbach is the world’s only glacier waterfall, which is inside the mountains, and can be accessed via lift, steps, and paths. There are about 10 waterfalls inside the mountains, and each one was worth hiking. This waterfall alone drains out about 20,000 liters of water per second. That’s so unbelievable, right?

    Picture from top of Trummelbach falls

    (Trummelbach Falls)

    As soon as we got down from there, we saw a lot of senior citizens with a series of small MG cars. It was such a cool sight.

    Wengen                                                                                                                                        

    Our next stop was Wengen. We took the bus back from Trummelbach to Lauterbrunnen Station and then caught a cogwheel train from there to Wengen. The cogwheel train goes on the steep mountain slopes, and is again one of its kind.

    (Picture Courtesy: Google images)

    It took us through valleys and farms and reached Wengen in about 15 minutes. Once we reached Wengen, we felt that we were completely alone in the vast green-land. Amazing setting to sing the song “Main aur Meree Tanhayee aksar yeh baatein karte hain”. We could just get lost in the beautiful serene green space.

    We walked through the village, with beautiful houses and lovely flowering pots outside. We must have walked for about 2 hours, taking breaks in between, just for sitting on the pavements, and watching some kids play.

    We started to realize that no amount of photos or videos could do justice to this place. What we were seeing and experiencing had to be absorbed in our hearts, to be taken out and seen whenever we wanted to.

    (Pictures of Wengen Village)

    Grindelwald

    From Wengen, our next stop was Grindelwald, which required changing a few trains again. Changing of trains in Swiss is really easy, and the journeys go like a breeze.

    It was time for lunch, and as we wondered what to eat, a restaurant selling Samosas caught our eye. We were craving for some Indian food by then and ordered a plate of Samosas, Fried Rice and Chai. Once our hunger was satisfied, it was time to satisfy our soul. 🙂

    We started a 3-km downward trek to a gorge glacier in Grindelwald. It was an amazing walk. We put on some old Mohammed Rafi songs on the phone and walked quietly. Suhaana Safar aur yeh mausaum haseen. Hamein dhar hai hum kho na jaaye kaheen. 🙂

    We crossed some farms, where cows were grazing around. The bells tinkling on their necks was so soothing to hear. I really wanted to stay there and not come back to our real lives.

    (Pictures of Grindelwald)

    Brienz

    We took a bus back from the Gorge to the Grindelwald Station and changed trains to reach Brienz. It was the city after which the lake was named.

    As soon as we reached Brienz, all the passengers got down and were seen running. That made us curious and we joined the race as well. 😀

    There was a ferry standing and we saw that everyone was getting on to it. We were so happy to find out that the ferry ride was also covered in our Swiss pass. What else could anyone ask for? We did not even care to check where the ferry was going, and just got on to it for the ride. Greedy for adventure always. 😀

    Luckily for us, the ferry was going to Interlaken and it was the last ride for the day. While the train took 15 minutes, this water-route would take 1 hour. It was the most amazing 1 hour on water for us. The serene lake, the beauty around, small patches of huts in the distance, the setting sun, the hues of the skies, the mountains in the backdrop, everything felt like a dream.

    (Photos of Lake Brienz)

    Map of the places we covered around Interlaken

    On reaching back Interlaken, we got down at the OST (OST means East), and walked back to the hotel, shopping for some souvenirs in between. It was one of the most blissful days of my life.

    In Interlaken, I felt that everything else had taken a back-seat. We felt as if we were floating, so mesmerized by the beauty around us that the food became an afterthought. We became one with the nature and the memory of that oneness soothes my senses and calms my nerves even now.

    I think this was the hardest blog for me to write, as I struggled to capture the beauty of this place with just words and photos. Truly, it’s something that must be experienced firsthand.

    Continue with me on my journey through my next blog on Lucerne.  

  • From Books to Boulevards: A journey through Europe – Chapter 1 (Paris)

    From Books to Boulevards: A journey through Europe – Chapter 1 (Paris)

    Europe has been like a literary dream for me since childhood. It is a place that I’ve known through the pages of my favourite books. I had always visualized the cobbled streets, the boulevards, historical landmarks, green pastures dotted with cows wearing bells, museums, palaces, Cathedrals and Alps, but nothing had prepared me for the sights, sounds and flavours of the real Europe. Every city that we visited was so captivating that I could have easily imagined settling down in one of them. 😀

    With a history that stretches back centuries, Europe balances the old and new so effortlessly. I was amazed to see how well they have preserved the artefacts, heritage and history, while the present is thriving along beautifully. It is like Hampi and Bangalore (without traffic) co-existing. 😀

    Planning

    My initial idea of exploring Europe was somehow centered around Paris, Rome and Switzerland. I wanted to go on top of Eiffel Tower, devour the Louvre Museum, check out the world-famous fashion street-Champs Elysees in Paris, go around the charming villages of Switzerland, and then visit the beautiful city of Rome, where the timeless beauty and history come alive at every turn.

    I did a lot of research and had put my entire plan on a spreadsheet (Picked up this idea from Arjun, my husband’s youngest cousin). My best friends throughout my planning and journey were ChatGPT, Google Maps, Forex card and my husband, of course, who was a willing and happy travel companion throughout. 😀

    With 2 weeks of leave, I didn’t want to go around the entire Europe but cover only the places that I most wanted to visit. Also, I really wanted to experience the Euro rail journeys and eat the local food (Vegetarian). So, we did not go through the regular package tours, but got one customized for ourselves, with just the flight and train tickets, hotels and entry tickets booked. We were on our own mostly and were not travelling with a group anywhere. It has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. But we were able to explore the cities at our own pace, with only each other for company. After so many years of marriage, 2 weeks of just the two of us does become a little testing and overwhelming at times, but it was mostly good and fun. 😀

    Our Itinerary

    We were to travel to Paris first, spend a few days there, and then go to Interlaken and Lucerne in Switzerland. From there, we were going to Florence and Rome and then end our journey in Vienna.

    I will try to break my blogs into different chapters for each city, so that it doesn’t become lengthy and boring. 😊

    Chapter 1 – Paris:

    On the flight to Paris, we had a French lady sitting next to us. When she saw that we were clicking pictures of the beautiful landscapes outside, she understood that we were first-time travelers to her city. She sweetly took a photo of ours and gave us some tips about what all to check out in Paris. We just smiled, nodded our heads and said “Merci”. 😊

    1st day in Paris

    As we landed in Paris airport on Tuesday morning, the first thing that I noticed was the long queue for immigration checks. Clearly, Paris is one of the busiest airports in the world. It did take a long time for us to clear that. Once done, we reached the hotel and were greeted with “Bon Jour”. (Bon Jour means Good day or Hello in French). As it was still early to check-in, we dropped our luggage and set off to explore the city. We were so excited about kicking off that we did not feel an iota of tiredness, in spite of missing out on the sleep in the flight. I felt at least 2 decades younger and revitalized throughout the trip. 😀

    The first thing that we did was to walk to Gare de Lyon station, which was just a 5-minutes-walk from the place where we stayed. Gare de Lyon is a major hub in Paris, serving both inter-city and international trains, in addition to being a key metro station. It took us about 15 to 20 minutes there to figure out how to get a metro ticket, which trains to take and where the platforms were. Google maps suggested 2 to 3 different ways and trains to reach the place that we wanted to visit. Who creates such kinds of confusions, right? 😀

    So, we just closed our eyes and picked up one option. No, I am kidding. 😀

    The good thing is that the train ticket is a standard fare trip, whichever train you take, and whatever station you get down within 90 minutes. You can also change trains in between. So, we did end up taking a wrong train, came back and boarded the correct train. Just part of the experience. We were too thrilled to complain. 😀

    Our first stop was Place Vendome. With a brief stop for lunch at Pret a Manger, where we had our first taste of French food, with Avocado Veggie Sandwich, Pain au Chocolat, and a Cappuccino, we proceeded towards Place Vendome. It is an elegant square, with a classy architecture, luxury branded shops around, and the towering Vendôme Column, which is a victory pillar built by Napoleon.

    Place Vendome

    From there, we walked over to Palais Royal, another beautiful structure, with lovely gardens and arcades around. We walked around a bit, sat beneath the canopy of trees, relaxed and soaked in the surrounding atmosphere.

    (Pictures of Palais Royal)

    Then, we took off to see the Seine River, which beautifully winds through Paris, and provides a picturesque backdrop to most of the iconic landmarks. Having a river in the middle of the city, with so many historical bridges over it and surrounded by promenades, gives the city a tinge of romance, serenity, elegance, and glamour. We walked along the Seine River and reached Bastille market and square. Bastille was again a very lively place, with lots of activities happening around, and lined with cafes and bistros.

    (Pictures of Seine and Bastille)

    The day we reached Paris was the day that the French Government collapsed, and there were a lot of police activities around, and strikes as well. Thankfully, it did not impact us much, but some of our experiences the next day were marked because of the political turmoil.

    2nd day in Paris

    After a breakfast of Croissants, fruits, cheese and lots of cheese, we again took the metro and reached Tuilleries Gardens, an amazing place to walk around, with the Olympic flame in the centre. It overlooks the Louvre pyramid. We were surprised to see a lot of people sitting around the fountain with a book in hand and just enjoying the time there. How I wished I could join them. 😊

    (Picture of Tuilleries Garden)

    We had a 11:30am entry for Louvre, but due to the ongoing strikes, the first entry itself had been delayed, and we had to wait outside, with rains pouring. Luckily, we had umbrellas with us. The crowd management was excellent and there was no stampede considering the number of people waiting outside to get in.

    (Picture of Louvre Pyramid)

    As soon as we entered the Louvre, all our focus shifted to the beauty of the museum. There is just so much to see and admire there, but we had only 3 hours with us. This is when I took help of Google and AI and searched for the must-see exhibits. Suggestions popped up – to go to Denon wing, and Sully Wing, where we could find most of the well-known paintings and sculptures. Honestly speaking, I enjoyed every part of the museum, and it was difficult to pick up favourites there. We were totally enamoured by the paintings – Last Supper, Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, Coronation of Napoleon, Wedding at Cana, and a lot of beautiful sculptures around. As expected, Mona Lisa had the maximum footfall and had several people standing around, but I did manage to take a selfie with her. Not sure what Leonardo Da Vinci wanted to convey through that painting, surely nobody would have guessed that the painting would reach such heights of popularity.

    (Some pictures from Louvre)

    We took a quick lunch break and ate a Quinoa salad, and a Falafel sandwich. It was quite cold and we were wondering why people don’t eat warm food here. 😀

    From Louvre, we went to Eiffel Tower, by changing a couple of metro trains. We had to meet our guide in a specific location, from where she took us on a tour of the tower. Our guide, Camille, was from Burgundy. She was young and passionate about narrating the stories and went into detail about everything. It was more like a history lesson. 😀 While many people in the group left her midway, we hung out with her till almost the very end. The Tower is a marvel in itself. We had to change 3 lifts to reach the summit, and the view from there was awesome. What we saw from the top was a view of Seine River, and the landscape. Surprisingly, almost every building in Paris is topped with a signature grey roof, giving the city a picture-postcard skyline. Though it was raining and super windy, the experience was one of its kind.

    (Picture of Eiffel Tower and view from above)

    By the time, we reached down, it was time for us to board the Seine River cruise. Just below the Tower, we boarded the boat in the drenching rain. It was nice to enjoy the rain-soaked city, while sitting inside the boat. We met a few Indians aboard, and it was nice talking to them, sharing our experiences.

    We could not see the glittering Eiffel Tower in the night as it was raining and we had to travel all the way back to our hotel, by changing multiple trains. But, we did see the lit-up Eiffel Tower and it was stunning.

    (Picture of lit Eiffel)

    3rd day in Paris

    3rd day was a day we wanted to spend at our own pace. We took the Big Bus hop-on hop-off and the first place that we got down was Notre Dame Cathedral. There was a huge queue outside, and we were wondering whether we should go inside or just enjoy the cathedral from outside. But somehow the church beckoned us, and we joined the queue. It was so stunning inside that we could not resist ourselves from taking a lot of pictures and videos.

    (Picture of Notre Dame)

    After a leisurely round around the cathedral, we went out meandering around Latin Quarters, had a lunch of pizza and pasta and then took the Big Bus again for another round. This time, we got down at Arc de Triomphe. Again, a beautiful structure commemorating the people who died during the French revolution. Across Arc de Triomphe is the famous Champs Elysses, which has various luxury brands lined up in the street. If you want to check out the latest fashion trends, then this is definitely the place to hang out. With an enormous Louis Vuitton shop, and long queues in front of Chanel and other shops, it is a happening street in Paris. We took a break here and had some nice Creme Brulee and Crepes.

    (Pictures of Arc and Champs)

    We wished we had another day or two to cover Montmartre, Versailles and at least a complete day inside Louvre. But, there should always be a scope for another visit, right. 🙂

    Food

    Being Vegetarians, we do have limited choice wherever we go, but surprisingly, we did get to eat a lot of interesting food. Panini was one of my favourites, along with Crème Brulee, and of course different types of Croissants every day. We also tried sandwiches, Madeleines, Crepes, Salad, Bruschetta, Pasta and Pizza. As a backup plan, we had carried some packets of ready-made MTR Upma and Poha to tide us through times when we did not find anything.

    The Vibe

    People around were quite warm and friendly. Like we say Namaste, a Bon Jour here and there was so common. I really loved the sight of so many of them riding cycles or jogging around. I guess that’s what gives the city a younger and brighter look and vibe.

    Some Tips

    • Do pack comfortable shoes, as you might end up walking at least 20,000 steps a day and climb steps everywhere.
    • The Public washrooms charge money, so do keep some change in hand. Or, better get into a café, order a coffee, and use the washroom there.
    • Use a Fanny bag, to carry your phone and purse. We were cautioned by several people that carrying valuables around is unsafe. Thanks to my friend who gifted me one on my birthday, especially for my trip. So thoughtful of her. 🙂
    • Leave your passports in the hotel. You don’t need them anywhere.
    • Universal adapter for power charging is a must. Thanks to a friend who let us borrow hers.
    • Wishing people Bon Jour and Merci helps in reaching out to them.
    • Souvenir shopping near Notre Dame Cathedral is cheaper than other places.
    • Metro is the fastest and cheapest way to travel around, and you get the feel of locals.

    Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. My next blog would be on Interlaken. 😊

  • Ayodhya and Varanasi with family, lots of luggage, rains and chaos

    Are you wondering what this random topic is? And, what is Uma going to tell us this time? Well, let me take you all on a journey, which was filled with fun, entertainment, and also chaos. 😀

    So, there was a wedding in the family, and as this was the wedding of the youngest cousin of my husband, we all were super excited to attend it. In fact, some over-enthusiastic people amongst us had regular meetings online and offline, to decide on our dance steps, to go shopping and also to plan the event management. We also had a Steering Committee Whatsapp group created for that. 😀 Yes, that was the height of our excitement. I guess our regular life was put on hold as this project took precedence over all the other projects in life. Even the bride and groom would not have imagined the amount of effort that was put by super-excited relatives like us. 😀

    As the wedding was in Delhi, we decided to club some Teerath-yathra along. Having left Delhi about 12 years back, whenever I am visiting Delhi these past few years , it is always combined with a visit to some holy place, like Muktinath, Badrinath, Kedarnath and Vaishnao Devi shrine. So, this time, we thought of visiting Ayodhya and Varanasi. I know.. I know.. you must be thinking that there are hill stations also around Delhi, which I should be considering 😀

    While I am a veteran in Varanasi tourism, my paati (grandma) having lived there, and we having spent most of our summer vacations there (You can read more about it in my blog… Kashi-see it through my eyes..), Ayodhya was a new place for all of us. And, the new Sri Ram statue was the main attraction.

    So, we booked rail tickets for our family for our trip to Ayodhya and Varanasi. My husband’s cousins and their families also decided to join us on this pilgrimage, so, our initial group of 4 members inflated and went up to a total of 19, in just a few days. The more, the merrier we thought. 😊

    The group of 19 members comprised of 8 senior citizens, 3 kids, and the rest of us, who don’t consider ourselves as old yet. 😀 And, for all of us, we had about 40 luggage in total. Imagine the chaos and anxiety that it would have caused us.

    Ride to the station

    Post the marriage celebrations, we embarked on the Teerath yatra, taking a cab from the wedding venue in Chattarpur to the Old Delhi railway station. The map showed 1 hour 30 minutes, so we left at 6pm for an 8:30pm train. It was quite a distance with peak traffic in the evening that took us almost 2 hours to reach the station. While we were getting delayed due to the traffic, tension and anxiety was building up in our heads about managing the smooth boarding of the train, with kids, elders and the humungous count of luggage that we had in total. Also, with the station having too many platforms, and with no planned dinner for any of us, that was another train of thought running on our minds. We thought that we could eat anything we got, but the seniors and kids could not be expected to do that. I am usually a very organized person, and chaos like this make me nervous. And, I was making my co-passengers in the cab nervous and jittery as well. I am sure Neha must be nodding her head too severely for this. She kept saying “Bhabhi, itna mat tension lo.. 😀 “

    Old Delhi Railway Station

    Anyways, we reached the railway station, with just 25 minutes to spare. And, the train was stationed in Platform 16. If you know the layout of Old Delhi station, the platforms are really long, and a platform has 2 trains standing. Don’t ask me how the passengers understand and how the trains operate. It’s really a wonder to me.

    We got the seniors and kids, along with some of us on the electric buggy, and arranged a porter to take the luggage, while the others just walked. The Electric vehicle drivers were so adventurous and took us on an adventurous ride, between tracks, in between trains, slopes, stones and dark paths. I thought that if we could survive that, anything else would be easy-peasy. 😀

    In all that chaos, we completely forgot about the dinner. But, luckily for us, a very thoughtful cousin of my husband, Kumar, who is known for his large-heartedness, had packed 20 burgers, and his equally thoughtful mother and aunt got Idlis packed for the seniors from their home. And, the fun part was that the entire family was spread across 4 coaches. So, the food was being passed from one coach to the other. It definitely was a family picnic.

    Ayodhya

    We reached Ayodhya early the next morning, and Prakash (another cousin), who managed most of the logistics in our journey, had booked a hotel for all of us to freshen up, store our luggage and visit the Shri Ram temple.

    We took shared autos and those dropped us about 1 km from the temple premises. We were told that the temple was nearby so we started to walk, but there was no sight of the temple. Even though there were wheelchairs available for seniors, we didn’t take them as we didn’t realize that the walk would be so much. The walk took us through the main road, and imagine us keeping track of our entire clan in the crowded roads. 🙁

    In the temple premises, there were wheelchairs available for the seniors, along with an escort, for getting the entire darshan done. And, they charged only Rs 180, with the wheelchair pass granted, on showing the Aadhaar card of the senior citizen. A person and a child could accompany them along. So, we all tugged along with the wheelchair, with the elderly, and the kids. The entire route to the temple and darshan took us only around 20 minutes. And, the Shri Ram statue was simply magnificent. You just had to take a look at the idol to fall in love with the Lord.

    Shree Ram Statue in Ayodhya from Google images. Phones are not allowed in the temple.

    On the return back from the temple, we decided to walk back to the hotel, and explore all the shops on the way. We had sugarcane juice, and picked up random stuff, to carry back home as souvenirs.

    Something that we picked up, for the kids.. 😀

    Ayodhya to Varanasi by train again

    From Ayodhya, we had booked Vandhe Bharat train in the evening, to Varanasi. And, that’s when we realized the enormity of our luggage and people combined. The platform was under renovation, overflowing with people. We and our luggage occupied a lot of space as well. 😀 Luckily, this time, all our seats were in the same coach. However, the challenge was that the train stopped in the station for only about 3 minutes. Added to this anxiety, there was no clue or indication on the train’s coach position which is usually displayed 15-20 minutes prior to train’s arrival. 

    Thanks to a food stall vendor, who was kind enough to give us an indication as to where our coach could possibly be stationed, which turned out to be near-accurate, we were saved a lot of last-minute running. We decided on boarding the seniors and kids from one gate, while loading our luggage from the other gate. We monopolized both the gates of the coach, without regard for the other passengers. Thankfully the halt was longer than we presumed.  While we started stowing away the luggage on one side of the coach, the rest of the co-passengers started complaining about not getting enough space for their luggage. We never had a dearth for drama. 😀

    Once, everyone and everything was settled in their seats and overhead spaces respectively, we had our own group session in the middle of the coach with the decibel levels peaking enough to irk our co-passengers. I am sure if I had been in their position, I might have felt quite annoyed. 😀 Thankfully, there was nobody like me among the co-passengers.. 😉

    Vande Bharat provides some really good tea and snacks. And, we were all passing Kachodis and other stuff around, extras that our seniors didn’t want to consume, were being passed on..  This time again, we missed the dinner, as we were under the impression that it would be served in the train but that was to be served only after the Varanasi station.

    The journey was close to three hours and we reached Varanasi at 9pm, and loaded everyone and all the luggage in a set of 2 Omni Vans. I can’t believe how we actually fit into it, but again the ride to the hotel was filled with talks, jokes and laughter.

    The Stay in Varanasi

    We had rooms reserved in GRT Mahalakshmi Chattram, which belongs to the GRT group. The hotel reservation needs to be done by sending a mail to the hotel and it is not available on any of the booking apps. The hotel and the rooms are so immaculate and fantastic. The best part is that they serve food, which gives a feel of home-cooked stuff. From morning tea/coffee, breakfast, lunch, to evening tea/coffee and dinner. And, all of this is provided without any charge. The only expectation is that you have to take note of the food timings, and you have to be present there in the dining area, as per the time defined. Its your wish how much you want to contribute towards the food you eat. That’s something which is really generous and charitable in today’s world. You just have to donate whatever you feel like, in the box there, which is again not forced or expected at all.

    Late night Chats and Chaats

    While the seniors and kids managed to get food in the hotel, some of us, who still had energy, at 10pm in the night, decided to venture out for food. Thanks to my Bangalore counterpart, who was part of the steering committee of the marriage event, and our project lead – Poornima, it was decided that chaat was something that could not be missed out of the agenda, irrespective of whether it rained or stormed. 😀 So, we went out to Dhashaswamed Ghat to try and grab some chaat, lassi and to get a feel of Kashi. Thanks to people like Poornima, I at least got to check out Varanasi the way I had never seen before.

    We went to this place called Deena Chat Bhandar, which was just about to close. When we told them that we came from Delhi specially to eat there, they were quite accommodating, and served us whatever chaat variety that was remaining. Some of their popular and must-eat chaats are paalak chaat, tamatar chaat, basket chaat and papdi chaat.

    Once we had our heart’s content, we decided to go and check out the Ganges. The Ganges was overflowing and the water had almost reached the land level, with almost all the steps submerged. It was sad to note that we could not get down the steps and sit there, to enjoy the beauty of the river, and the surrounding views. We took some photos around.

    Overflowing Ganges
    Dashashwamedh Ghat

    Once the photo session was over, we went to have some lassi. No, it was not some lassi, it was almost the entire menu of lassis that we tried, at 11.30pm in the night.

    Night view of Varanasi

    Here comes the rain

    The next day, it was pouring and raining heavily. So, Prakash, our group leader, decided to hire a couple of big vehicles to visit Kashi Vishwanath temple. He is a very good negotiator, being in the Sales line, and apt for all such work. 🙂 Again, it was an interesting mix of allotment of seats for us all to fit into the Innovas. Unfortunately for us, the same day, the Chief Minister had also decided to seek blessings of Lord Viswanth, so the roads were temporarily blocked. With rains and road-blocks, the vehicle dropped us about 5 kms away from the temple and asked us to take cycle rickshaws or autos. In that pouring rain, Raghu, another cousin of ours, quickly bought 5 to 6 extra umbrellas so that everyone could walk on the roads without getting completely drenched. Want to write something about Raghu. He is one magical person. He knows when to get what for people. While in Ayodhya, when everyone was craving for curd and not doing anything about it, he went out and bought a bunch of buttermilk packets from some shop that he had to search in that hot afternoon. I am sure he got the maximum blessings that day.

    Well, coming back to Varanasi and the rains, the set of autos that we booked, were instructed to drop us all at a particular spot, and those auto-wallahs drove like James Bond over flooded roads and rains. Another unforgettable experience.

    From the spot that we were all dropped, we all started to walk towards Kashi Vishwanath temple and Annapoorni temple, which was a km long walk. Everyone was trying to balance the umbrella, hold the hand of one of the seniors or kid, and walked. And, in between, we tried to do a headcount and keep a track of our family too. We all got a good darshan, but were super tired by late noon, with tempers running high, stomachs growling, and the rains continuing to pour. But, everyone was contented and felt blessed.

    Well, this was how we completed our trip to Ayodhya and Varanasi. The group of 19 split up and people started returning back, at different times to their respective destinations. But, we all had bonded so well that we felt bad when the group size started shrinking.

    It was amazing how the elders managed to cover all the places, without complaints, and still smiling, and the kids were amazing, and kept us all entertained throughout. It sometimes feels so good to travel with a mix of people, and people of all ages, also to adjust and accommodate to everyone’s needs. The feeling of fulfillment was mainly due to that.

    Taking the liberty of posting our lovely family picture. 🙂

  • Arigatou Gozaimasu Japan !!

    Arigatou Gozaimasu Japan !!

    The title, translated in English, means – Thank you so much, Japan 🙂

    This blog is dedicated to the people of Japan, and to the country itself. <3

    I have tried to pen down my impressions of the place in the form of notes, points and pictures. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing about it.

    Culture and Heritage

    An unusual blend of rich culture, heritage with high-tech technology, Japan is definitely one of its kind. Nowhere have I found such a lovely group of people, who are so friendly, warm, caring, mindful, and at the same time, super-intelligent.

    They display such rare acts of gratitude and thankfulness, which most of us have forgotten, worldwide. Bowing down and greeting even random strangers is such a lovely gesture. And it comes from the heart. A week there and I too started to bow down automatically, and saying Arigatou gozaimasu. I strongly recommend a week of training for all our children there, and adults too. 😉

    Visa and documents

    Visiting Japan is really tough for Indians ☹. But, having said that, visiting any country outside India, is tough for us. With so many documents required to obtain visa, one can easily feel frustrated about the whole damn thing. Having gone through VFS for visa, they asked for all sorts of documents, and proofs. But, surprisingly, the Japan consulate had some really friendly and accessible people, who made life easy for me. I never thought that we could talk to the Consulate directly, for help and assistance.

    A week in Tokyo

    I stayed in a hotel in Ginza, and the office was about 1 Km away, just across Tokyo station.

    View of the Tokyo station from the office

    A view from the office

    The main entrance to Tokyo station

    While we tried commuting by train the first day, we decided that walking was faster, easier and more fun. Our colleague, Akiko-san, who really deserves to be mentioned in gold lettering, made sure that we got our ID-cards for entering the office, showed us around (starting from the office to the different places in and around Tokyo), and made us feel so comfortable throughout our trip.

    Going to office from Monday to Friday, there was hardly any time to see anything at all. By the time, we came back from the office, tired and hungry, the restaurants would already be taking the last orders of the day, and the shops would be on the verge of closing.

    Walking back from office to the hotel

    Rains and umbrellas everywhere

    Food

    For vegetarians, it’s a little difficult to find food to eat. I was struggling to eat salads the first 2 days, its definitely not my favourite food. 😀 But, my caring colleagues made such a great effort to find places that were vegetarian friendly, and got me some really nice stuff to eat and try. In fact, I also visited a couple of Indian restaurants, where the food was quite good. Some Indian restaurants definitely worth visiting are Annam and Bombay Sizzlers. Though I had carried some readymade MTR Upma and Poha packets, I am happy to say that I brought them all back, unopened, as I was able to manage with some excellent food. We also went to some authentic Japanese restaurants, which were located on basements that were run by old Japanese couples, with warmth and love. For people who like to experiment, one can try the:

    • Vegetarian tempura (You just need to be specific about vegetarian ingredients to the waiters 🙂 )
    • Japanese curry (My favourite dish in Japan). Surprisingly, they have some nice vegetarian options.
    • Vegetarian Udon noodles
    • Dungo

    For non-vegetarians, the place is a foodie’s paradise. I am saying it based on my colleague’ expressions, on trying out all sorts of food. 😀

    Ice-cream made with Green-tea and Kidney beans paste

    Vegetarian Tempura

    Salad

    Japanese curry and rice

    Weekend – Traveling around

    Considering that its so difficult to visit the country from India, I knew that I might probably not visit it again. So, I extended my stay by 2 more days on personal expense. Should have extended by at least a month (there is so much to see.. 😀 ) We tried to cover 5-days worth of places in those 2 days, thanks to the colleagues of mine, who short-listed the places, and we traveled in local transport everywhere. Traveling around anywhere in Japan is quite easy, due to the complete wide-spread railway network. I felt that every street had a connectivity to a station nearby. Was really amazed by the 5 to 6 levels underground platforms.

    Underground train station

    Friday night

    Tokyo Tower:

    To get the best night-view of the city, Tokyo Tower is definitely a must-try. While we tried to capture the marvel of the structure, which looked quite like Eiffel tower, we also sat down to have an ice-cream on top of the deck, which is definitely a must-do.

    While my colleague pointed out the TCS building, saying its Tata, I felt so proud of our country and Tata, of course. 😊

    Tokyo Tower

    View from the Tokyo tower

    India’s pride – TCS office 🙂

    Saturday

    Asakusa

    I think this was the best place for me in Japan. With a mix of street food, shopping sovereigns, and a lovely Buddhist temple, the place had so much to offer. And, considering that it was raining, we could see a street full of umbrellas and people under them. We had some delectable food there. My colleague, Sharry, who is from Malaysia, but knew Japanese, made sure that I tried a lot of the local food. Some of the food that I tried was – Matcha Gelato ice-cream (it had so many things in it that I took a pic for the ingredients :D), and the Taiyaki, which was again, quite amazing.

    Asakusa Senso-ji temple

    A beautiful lady doing a photo-shoot. I took her pic as well 🙂

    A street in Asakusa

    The ice-cream that we tried.. a bit expensive but totally worth it.

    Picture Courtesy: Sharry Wong, holding the ice-cream we shared 🙂

    Shibuya

    Changed trains from Asakusa to Shibuya. I had to see this place, just to witness the crazy crossing. Living in India, we don’t crave for people crossing, but have you seen people crossing all over the road, in such an organized manner? That is some sight to behold.

    Shibuya Crossing

    Shinjuku

    Took another train from Shibuya to Shinjuku, which was not far. This place was like some kind of a colourful, jazzy market area, where you could find almost everything. From a drinking street to food streets, a range of shops and things for people to try and buy.

    The jazzy Shinjuku area

    A narrow drinking and food street, which was definitely a must-visit street

    Day 2

    Odawara Castle by Shinkansen and Kamakura temple

    Travel by Shinkansen (Bullet) train was there on my wish-list from day 1. But, I had no idea where to travel by that. My helpful colleagues suggested that I go from Tokyo Station to Odawara, by Kodama train, enjoy the castle over there, and then come back by local trains from there.

    So, that’s what I did. The ticket price was a little expensive – about 3400 yen per person for a distance of  about 85 kms, covered in 30 minutes, but it was definitely worth it.

    Like us, there were other travelers too, who were figuring out which train to take, and how to pay for the tickets. We paid through currency, and got the tickets on Kodama train. While waiting for the train, we tried to take a few pictures, and modeled around. Am sure, the locals would have thought we were crazy, or maybe, they would have already been used to having such crowd around. The train was empty and we got all the time to roam inside the coach. The train did not pick up speed until about 10 minutes later, till it was out of Tokyo, and then it sped off as if it was going in a time-lapse mode. And, there were no vibrations felt inside at all.

    Waiting eagerly for the Kodama train

    The bullet train – up, close and personal

    We reached Odawara at 11:30. The only spoiler was the continuous rains, so the first thing we did was to purchase an umbrella from Lawson’s convenience store. We paid about 1500 yen, and thought that the amount was too high, but I am still using that umbrella in India, so, its fine. 😊

    The Odawara castle was pure white, and looked so magnificent. We climbed on top of the castle, and clicked some lovely pictures. And, I also tried another Japanese dish called Dungo there, which was awesome.

    A lovely walk to the Odawara castle

    With the lovely Akiko-san (Look at how much she is bending, to match my height) 😀

    Odawara Castle

    As it was raining and cold, and we had walked so much, Akiko-san recommended a foot massage in the hot spring. Wow, that was amazing, and instantly relieved us from all our stress. 😀

    Relaxing hot spring

    From there,, we took some local trains, and reached Fujisawa. And, then took Enoden train to Kamakura, which is famous for its Buddha temple, and lots of street shopping. Enoden train went though some narrow roads, and halted in a few stations, in between. Each station had something really wonderful to offer, along with a beach as well. People, who are familiar with Japanese animated serials, would know what this train is all about. For me, the experience was too good, and quite different from the rest of the things.

    Enoden train

    A train station on Enoden train-route – That’s the Pacific Ocean in view, with the train approaching

    A view from the train – passing through narrow alleys – with heavy rains

    Kamakura temple

    Street-shopping in Kamakura

    After eating some more street food, some more shopping, and visiting the temple, we took the local train to Yokahoma. Its again a lovely place to hang around, though we were quite short of time. There is a lovely colourful Ferry wheel there, and ships anchored on the port. The clouds were so happy that day that they kept pouring, without a break, so we couldn’t venture out much outside. Just had some hot tea and biscuits, and then returned back to Tokyo.

    The beautiful Yokohama

    Ferry wheel in Yokohama

    By the time I reached back the hotel, it was almost midnight. But, Tokyo is such a safe place to roam around, and I could still see a lot of people outside in the night.

    Japan has left back some really sweet memories for me to cherish. Along with the place, the people there are the main contributors. 😊

    Some notes from the trip:

    1. I didn’t carry a lot of Japanese Yen. I carried my International debit card, which worked like charm everywhere.
    2. From the airport to Tokyo City Terminal, we took a Limousine bus, which cost about 2800 Yen. It covers a distance of about 70 kms in an hour, and you will be so surprised to note that there is hardly any traffic on the roads at all. Most of the people use public transport, so the vehicular traffic is so less. Coming from the most traffic-congested place like Bangalore in India, this was the best thing about this place.
    3. There are vending machines everywhere, and you can buy drinks anywhere and anytime.
    4. Every station has a self-serving Kiosk, where you can buy your tickets, with coins or currency notes, and it would give you back the exact change. You could also get a pass like JR or Pasmo, and keep recharging it.
    5. There are free toilets in public places, and they are maintained so well, with all the high-tech features. I guess Japan has the best toilets in the world, with features that one can’t even imagine.
    6. There is no concept of wasting food. All food that’s not sold during the day, is sold at half the price or less than that, in the night, especially the bakery items, which still taste so yummy.
    7. Our office had a unique concept of vending machine, where you could get 1 free drink a day, but the machine would work only if there is another person showing his/her card as well. And, within 30 seconds, you both need to choose your drink. I would say, a very good way to make sure that you bond with others. 😊

    Vending machine in the office – expects 2 people to swipe their cards to get free drink 🙂

    Arigatou gozaimasu for reading my blog. 🙂

  • Muktinath – A trip to remember

    Muktinath – A trip to remember

    This blog is about my recent trip to Nepal/Muktinath. It’s been pending for the last few weeks due to my sheer laziness to write. The recent incident of the missing flight in Nepal brought me back into this space. And, here it goes….

    Ok, let me ask you a question first. What do you do when your mother expresses a wish to go on a pilgrimage trip, and wants you to accompany her? You would of course say yes, thinking that you are doing a great deed, right?       

    Well, that’s exactly what happened when Nepal beckoned me through my mother. Apart from the temples that we wanted to visit, I was quite excited about the country itself, as it is the nation of the towering Mount Everest, and beautiful landscapes. I did some research online and was chatting with some travel agencies in Nepal about booking a package through them. But, somehow, I didn’t know if they could be trusted. So, we did the tour booking through a known tour operator in Delhi.

    Our planning was too good. My parents were to come from Chennai and my husband was to come from Bangalore. Their connecting flight was from Delhi. As I was already in Delhi for my office project, I was to take the same connecting flight to Kathmandu from there. We all met at the airport, and I got some samosas packed for parents from Bikanerwala, as they wanted to eat something from Delhi 😊

    We happily landed in Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu in the evening (their time is 15 minutes ahead of us). After clearing the immigration, and collecting baggage, we checked into the hotel. It was bang opposite to the airport. We immediately set out for a walk. Though there was nothing much to see on that road, we got a feel of the place, and got the currency exchanged. It was so nice to get more value for the Indian currency. 😊

    Kathmandu Airport

    The next day morning was our flight to Pokhra, (a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu). The place is known for its natural beauty and adventure sports. Rain welcomed us when we landed, but we still managed to visit the Pokhra lake in the evening, which is beautiful, and quite similar to the Naini lake in Nainital.

    Pokhra Lake

    The following day was our flight to Jomsom (only a 15-minute flight on a really small plane that could seat only 20 people). Got the feeling as if we were traveling by a cramped bus, and the flight actually went over various hills before touching down at Jomsom. (This was the same flight of Tara Airways that crashed recently). The flight journey was no less than an adventure.

    Boarding the flight
    Inside the flight
    View from the flight

    We were to have our breakfast in Jomsom and head towards Muktinath by a bus. It was an hour’s journey from Jomsom, and the bus went via roads, and snow-capped mountains, which reminded me of my trip to Ladakh last year. From the bus stand at Muktinath, it was another hour’s trek to the main temple, with about 500 plus steps. My main challenge was to hold my Amma’s hand and make her climb all those steps. She completely refused the horse ride, and the steps were exhausting for her. But, as the saying goes, the tiredness evaporates when you see the deity. While we rested there, after the darshan, it was interesting to see people taking bath, and being filmed by their family members. Well, we kept our opinions to ourselves and started our trek back. 😀

    Steps to Muktinath
    Muktinath temple

    Our return trek back was smoother in comparison. We stayed overnight in Jomsom, which was quite cold, had really small rooms, with no hot water, and we all had to share a room. But, we were quite happy that we had a good darshan for which we had come all the way. Never thought that God was busy making HIS own plans for our return.

    Jomsom Village

    We were a group of 65 people from our tour package, and we were all supposed to travel by 4 or 5 different flights back to Pokhra. And, as luck would have it, the weather the next day was so windy that the morning flights could not make it at all from Pokhra. We were told that we might have to travel by bus at around 10am. We got ready to do that too, as we really wanted to escape the cold and almost deserted Jomsom. Our bus was just about to leave when we saw a flight landing in the airport. The air became jubilant (I mean in the bus) and everyone wanted to get down from the bus and get onto the flight if they could.

    The scene at the airport was like the Titanic ship. The airport was filled and overflowing. You could see people shouting and scrambling for boarding passes and seats in that small flight. Unfortunately, there were only 2 flights operating that day, and they were going back and forth from Pokhra to Jomsom. Somehow, we managed to get a boarding pass for my mother on a flight, and were told that we could board the next flight after it returned back from Pokhra, after leaving my mom and other passengers.

    Guess what, the flight that my mom was to board, had issues and an engineer had to come all the way from Pokhra by the other flight to take a look at it. My mother was stuck outside in the tarmac for 2 hours. They were neither able to come inside the airport nor were they allowed to board the flight. The security people in the airport were so good that I was able to send across a packet of biscuits to her. The engineer finally flagged that the flight could depart, and we were happy to see my mom board the flight. Unfortunately, as soon as the flight left, we were told that it would be the last flight for the day, and all the remaining stranded passengers would have to make the bus journey from Jomsom to Pokhra. The time was already 2pm by then. On top of that, we were also worried for my mom’s safe journey back. Considering what happened to that same flight 2 weeks back, we were really lucky that she reached Pokhra safely.

    Our bus journey from Jomsom started at 3:30pm. Though the Google maps showed only 150 kms and a 5.5 hours’ drive, the bus driver told us that it would take 8 hours. I was thinking that he was just making it up and wanted to probably scare us. But, when the bus started to move, we were in for a shock at the condition of the roads, or rather the lack of it. It made my trip to Ladakh and Pangong feel so much smoother. The bus went over River Gandaki (Yes, it actually did, over the stones that are considered to be saligramams and water, with no bridges). There were places where only 1 vehicle could pass and there were trucks coming from the opposite direction. There was a lot of maneuvering to be done. We just avoided seeing outside the window, as we could see the deep ravine and the river flowing and it gave us the shivers. As if that was not enough, the bus stopped in between, and the driver started to do some repair to the engine. Imagine our fear, with the thought that we would be out in some jungle/deserted roads, with no shelter and no vehicles for rescue. Somehow, the driver did some mechanical work on his own and was able to move the bus after 45 minutes. So, with the added tension of the treacherous route, we also had to worry about the condition of the bus, and the darkness outside, with no lights on the road. (The driver told us later that he never looked to his left or right as he gets the chills himself). I thought that I would actually attain Mukti that day. While people in the bus started to flare up at all and sundry, and mostly on the tour organizer, who did not even travel with us, we were just trying to count the hours that were left for our journey. There was also a forest fire blazing above us on the mountains, and we didn’t know where else to look.

    Road from Jomsom to Beni (the worst stretch on the route) (Got this pic from Google)
    Crossing River Gandaki

    We managed to reach Pokhra by midnight and were so exhausted that didn’t want to travel anywhere else. Unfortunately, we had to again take an early morning flight from Pokhra to Kathmandu the next day.

    The trip back to Kathmandu was uneventful, and we managed to visit the world famous Pashupathinath temple in the evening. All our tiredness and most of our anger dissipated with the fantastic darshan at the temple.

    Pashupatinath temple
    Jalnarayan Temple

    We had to return back from Kathmandu the next day. Though we covered the 2 main temples there, somehow, the trip was more about visiting airports and catching flights than anything else. We took about 8 flights in 5 days, and that was quite exhausting.

    I wish I am able to travel again to Nepal, but more leisurely and without any package deals. Also, to be able to enjoy the place at my own pace.

    Feel really bad about the people who died during the plane crash from Pokhra to Jomsom recently. May their souls rest in peace. My prayers to their families.

  • A dream travel to Ladakh

    A dream travel to Ladakh

    I do a lot of things impulsively. Can’t say that I have always benefited out of them, but still, some of them have turned out to be a blessing in disguise 😀

    So, this trip to Ladakh was also booked on impulse. Imagine, an adventurous trip at my age, and that too during the Covid times, whom was I trying to kid? I had my fate sealed. Or, did I?

    Why Ladakh?

    This has been a place on my wish-list for quite long, and I knew that I had to visit there before I became too old.

    Travel with daughter

    I think if you want to bond with a person, then you should choose to go on an adventurous trip with that person. 😀 Anyways, none of the people I checked with, wanted to risk such a travel, so chose to go with my daughter instead.

    Pre-trip jitters

    Once I booked the travel and tickets, there was no looking back. Though I looked daring and gutsy to many, only I know what I was going through. I was reading a lot of things about the place only after I had safely deposited my money on the airline tickets, and the package. Why does it always happen like that?

    I heard that the high-altitude sickness could be quite difficult to endure, and the roads and the journey itself were going to be quite strenuous. Well, there was no point in cribbing to my husband too, as the trip was solely and completely planned by me. But, he was quite supportive about it, thankfully. Also, I did not share my plans with many as I would have been chided for travelling alone with my daughter, that too, during these pandemic times.

    The first hiccup was to get the RTPCR negative test. Well, I underwent it with a lot of apprehensions. As soon as we got our negative report, we got to know that our flights got rescheduled. In fact, I had never heard a flight getting preponed by 15 hours. As a result, we reached Leh a day earlier itself. Have you ever heard that happening with anyone? On the positive side, I got one extra day to spend in Leh, which also gave us more time to acclimatize.

    Our first impression

    While still on the flight, the plane was navigating through ice-capped mountains, and we were left wondering whether we would land on a normal runway, or would we just drop on the top of the mountain somewhere, maybe with parachutes. 😀

    A view from the flight

    Well, we did land, amid the mountains, on a proper runway, with a small airport waiting to welcome us.

    And, immediately on getting out of the flight, I started to curse myself. I had come loaded with so many woolens, and the weather in Leh was burning hot. 😐

    The hotel

    The hotel that we stayed in, was like any other hotel, but what we loved the most was the view of snow-covered mountains from the window of our room, and it was a complete paisa-vasool.

    Room with a view

    And, what I enjoyed most, was the break that I got from cooking. Its been 18 months since the lockdown, and to not think about what to cook for the next meal, is a feeling that’s a complete bliss.

    The group

    The next day, we met the group of 6 more girls, who were to travel with us. While one group looked to be quite indifferent, and were not even trying to interact, the other group was so busy making their own videos or reels that we didn’t matter to them at all. Well, I think this is what’s rampant in today’s generation. They are a self-obsessed lot. 😀

    Soon after the initial introductions, we faced our first challenge. The other groups were a gang of 3, while we were only 2 of us. And, the cabs could accommodate only 4 in each. So, who would split from each group for the trip? Well, do the math. Knowing that I was the aunty in the group, they decided to discuss it with me, and we decided to split from each group for each 1 hour of the journey. It was agreed upon, though reluctantly. But guess what, by the end of the trip, everyone was happy to sit wherever they got the space. 😀

    The journey and the route itself were so spectacular that one could get lost in one’s own zone. No wonder, you see so many bikers enjoying their rides, though they too travel in groups.

    The tour

    Once the tour started, we got to experience the many beauties of this lovely place. With deserts, sandy mountains, Zanskar and Indus rivers flowing along-side, the rugged roads, waterfalls and streams flowing on the roads, which we had to cross, and of course, the snow-capped mountains in the backdrop. The eyes can capture only so much of beauty at one time. This place is so overflowingly beautiful.

    Places covered:

    Day1:

    • Shanti Stupa: It’s a beautiful Buddhist monastery and Stupa on top of a small hillock. A lovely place to meditate, relax, and self-introspect. Also, the view from there is too good.
    Shanti Stupa
    View from Shanti Stupa
    • Leh Palace: A rustic palace, with some amazing artifacts, which gives an idea about the culture of the place. Also, the view of the city from there is again too good to be missed.
    • Shopping: The Leh market offers a variety of Ladakhi stuff, with Tibetan markets, dryfruits, momos and Kahwa tea (Not to be missed)

    Day2:

    • Zanskar-Indus Confluence: This is where the 2 rivers meet. The route to this place follows the river, and you would feel that you are one with the nature.
    • River Rafting on Zanskar river: This is an adventure that was quite scary for me, especially when the guide was explaining all the risks involved. I was thinking why he is only talking about what to do when we fell down. I didn’t want to think about falling down at all. 😀 I enjoyed the rafting thoroughly, an experience not to be missed.
    River Rafting
    • Hall of Fame: A museum built by the Indian Army, showcasing the defense paraphernalia, and a memorial for those who died during the many wars. Was totally impressed by the gear, camps and transport used by the soldiers in the rough terrain of Ladakh and Siachen. Salute to the brave soldiers. This place really made me cry out of patriotism.
    Hall of Fame in Leh Ladakh - A Place to Feel Pride!
    Hall of Fame
    • Pathar Sahab Gurudwara: I love visiting Gurudwaras anywhere. And, this one is located nicely amid the mountains. And, we got the kadha prasad and garam chai. What more could anyone ask for, especially after the river rafting, and nothing to eat for lunch. 😊
    Ladakh tour packages
    Gurudwara Pathar Sahib

    Day3:

    • Khardungla Pass: This is supposedly the highest motorable pass in the world. Completely covered with snow, the altitude is so high that you can feel the low levels of Oxygen. It makes you feel dizzy when you step down. But we managed to get some nice pics here, before we were forced to leave. People are not supposed to stay there for more than 20 minutes.
    Near Khardungla Pass
    On the way to Nubra
    • Nubra Valley: A lovely valley, amid the mountains, with desert sands. We did camel ride there, on double-humped camels. And, then we stayed in a lovely camp, with stream flowing through the camp site. The food was amazing there. For me, it was one of the highlights of my trip.
    Doubled humped camels
    Our camp site in Nubra Valley

    Day 4:

    • Pangong Lake: It took us around 12 hours to reach this place, as the normal route was blocked due to flooding on the road. The stretch from Nubra to Pangong via the alternate route was so treacherous that it felt like off-roading throughout. And, it took us through 2 more passes – ChangLa Pass and Wari La Pass. But, the view throughout was so good that we couldn’t get enough of it, and I couldn’t capture everything on my camera. At the end of the day, the destination was so beautiful that the tiredness just dissipated.
    On the way to Pangong
    The view of the lake and the camps

    Day 5:

    • Pangong to Leh: This route was much better, and we already knew what we would be experiencing, so we were better prepared. 😀
    • Thiksey Monastery and Stok Palace: Some more beautiful monasteries and palace on the way to Leh, showcasing the Ladakhi architecture, and a peaceful place to meditate.
    Thiksey Monastery
    • Druk White Lotus School in Shey: Its popularly known as Rancho’s school, as this was where some of the scenes of the 3 Idiots movie was filmed.

    Day 6:

    • Ladakhi Food in an old Ladakhi house: This was where we got to experience the Ladakhi hospitality and their delicacies, which included mouth-watering food like Momos, Thupkas, butter tea, and apricot desserts. While the other youngsters in my group did not find it too appetizing, I loved the food.
    A view of the Ladakhi Kitchen

     Challenges faced during the trip:

    • You can feel the low level of Oxygen in the air, while you go higher, especially in Khardungla and Pangong.
    • The road from Nubra to Pangong was closed due to flooding, which doesn’t happen quite often. But we were unlucky to face that, and we had to travel via another route, and ended up spending 12 hours on the road. Though, the route was spectacular, the roads were really bad, and there was work going on in many places, which resulted in us waiting for long on the roads, for it to clear.
    • If you are going through a package tour, do check in advance about which hotels they will make you stay. We got to know after reaching Pangong that me and my daughter were to stay in a camp, which was 10 kms further down, and we completely refused to travel further. So, we had to adjust in a wooden hut, which was unbearably cold in the night, especially with rains throughout the night.
    • Carry enough snacks with you, as you might not find many eateries on the roads.
    • Carry cloves, cardamoms along, or take anti-sickness medicine 30 minutes before travel. Otherwise, you would miss the fun by falling sick.
    • Carry enough cash with you as there are no ATMs outside of Leh, and digital money doesn’t work.
    • Better to wear layers of clothes, so that you can remove a few layers if the weather becomes hotter.

    Just thought of putting down my experience in this blog. I hope you enjoyed reading it. 🙂

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  • Pandemic Households

    Like everybody else, I have spent the last 15 months with my family and only with my family.

    In fact, the family time has been so much over the last year, that we could all make movies like Sooraj Barjatya’s “Hum Saath Saath Hain”. I am sure nobody would dare to ask “Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?” after this. 🙂

    A lot of people got their wishes fulfilled of spending time with their folk. But we had asked for quality time and not for so much of quantity. God! Sometimes, you just go overboard in fulfilling our wishes!!

    Our houses have turned into musical chairs. With schools and offices moving into the house, the poor house suddenly has to bear the brunt of it. People are constantly moving from one room to the other, in search of wi-fi and quietness. The Maths problems, and English grammar are interspersed with business calls and meetings. Sometimes, I forget what I am talking during my calls, as I am busy solving the Maths questions that the teacher is asking my son. 🙂 And, kids also know which meetings we are on, and know the technical terms that we keep speaking.

    Initially, when the lockdown started, people were kind of excited about it. It was like playing ghar-ghar in the actual sense, like the way we used to play during childhood. Everyone was in a cooking spree. The food was being cooked and immediately posted to Instagram, even before anyone could touch the food, to inspire the others. The cooking virus was spreading faster than the Covid itself, and soon everybody was busy baking cakes and what-not. 🙂

    But soon, with the increase in waists, and tightening of clothes, people turned into fitness freaks. And, now, people can be seen running everywhere. Don’t you see a sudden increase in the number of runners? People seem to be running everywhere, except to their offices. 😊

    Not sure how people used to run to the office earlier, after finishing all the work at home. But, now, with the work from home scenario, neither the housework gets over, nor the office work. We are continuously juggling between the two. There are times when I am drying the clothes, or cooking food, in between my calls. I think this is what is called as the work-life balance. 🙂

    Another thing that increased during the pandemic, was the zoom calls. There were calls happening with school friends, college friends, old office friends, relatives, and whoever who wanted to join these scheduled calls. Surprisingly, these people never tried to keep in touch before the pandemic. The need to connect now, has taken so much of precedence over everything else.

    There are also many who found time to binge watch so many web-series and movies. And, the stress to catch up with all the web-series that others were watching and suggesting, was soon taking its toll.

    This pandemic has taught everyone to become more tolerant of each other. Imagine, a fight between husband and wife had to be fought inside the house. With the lockdown on, people couldn’t even go outside to sulk it out. Jeena yahaan, ladhna yahaan. 😊

    Sorry if this post has hurt anyone’s sentiments. That was definitely not the intention. It was just purely a fun post. Trying to be positive in these Covid positive times is challenging and tough.

    This is it from me. You guys take care and stay safe and keep that smile on. 😊

  • Mother of another teen

    Hey folks! How are you doing? Hope the pandemic did not hit you bad.

    Stay strong, wherever you are, and things will get better very soon. Just keep that positive thinking high.

    I am back from a long sabbatical. And, guess what, I am struggling to find words. Words are evading me. So, you may ask why I am writing at all.

    Not sure how many of you have read my post on having teenage daughters. Here is the link for the same.

    At that time, I had promised many that I will come back with a post on teenage sons as well. So, here I am writing about those cute little devils, who are soon going to rock your house. Stay calm. 😀

    Mine is turning 13 in a few days, and he has already started to follow his sister’s footsteps. Mind you, the sister is still in her teens. So, you can imagine what our house is going to be like, at least for the next few years. 🙂

    But, having one teenager at home already, would actually prepare you a bit, and you can use it as a reference to deal with the second. That’s what you think. Well, that’s what I think too, and am hoping to do. Wishful thinking. 😀

    Now, I have 2 volcanos at home. And, I guess the best thing for me to do is to put some cotton in my ears. Or, earplugs and listen to music. Anything would be music to the ears, compared to the yelling match that happens.

    So, what are the teenage symptoms? Well, if you have a son, you will know for sure that your son is getting into that unruly phase, by the way he behaves. All kids are different, and they may have their own way of growing up, and for dealing with the hormonal changes that happen.

    I can list down some of the changes that I see in my boy. Nod your head if you feel the same or post your comments if you don’t agree with them. Either ways, I would love to hear back from you. 😊

    • Starts measuring his height every day. And, now, his waist as well.
    • Starts looking into the mirror and checks if facial hair has started to appear.
    • Talks a lot, and a lot of nonsensical stuff at that. I wonder where my silent, innocent child has gone. Who sent this chatterbox in his place?
    • Starts thinking he is cool and that he can get away with anything.
    • His sense of humour is at its peak, and he laughs at his own jokes, even if nobody else does.
    • If he is a bookworm, better hide all the adult content books, as he is keen on surveying and taking a sneak peek at anything that’s available. Also, mind what you say in front of him. The Google is very helpful in assisting the curiosity of these boys.
    • Mood swings are high. One minute, he is Mr. Cool and the other minute, he is Mr. Dynamite. Gets angry more often but shuts himself up in the room when he is super angry.
    • Starts entering the kitchen more often and tries preparing dishes. Well, we are getting some nice tea everyday evening now. (Perks of working from home. 😊)
    • Starts giving more importance to clothes. Till yesterday, he would not even bother about what he is wearing, but now, the colour, the texture and the design has become important.
    • Technical handyman at home, thinks that he can fix anything and everything.
    • Becomes Mr. Know-It-All.
    • Becomes more perceptive and observant. Lends a helping hand when he thinks that mother might explode anytime.
    • More participative in the family discussions and has a say in almost everything.
    • More opinionated, and has an opinion on everything, even on his mother’s dressing sense.
    • Enjoys food and is almost always hungry.

    Well, all said and done, he is definitely a very understanding and caring child, whenever he is free from thinking about himself, that is. 🙂 He has a lovely smile, which lights up our dark moods. 😊

    The only advice I can give everyone is that you need to be ready to give a listening ear to your son. He may have a lot to share, so just be there to hear him out. Also, teach him to be more helpful in the house, and show respect to the girls. We cannot expect the society to change, unless we sow the seeds of change that we want to see. The change requires a mindset change, which will start from the house.

    God help me with the 2 teenagers at home. If I remain sane, will come back soon with more of my writing.

    Till then, you guys take care, and share your experiences too with me, here.

  • Class Reunion of ‘93

    Class Reunion of ‘93

    Hello friends! How have you been? Hope things are going well in your life, and you are doing things that make you happy, at least once in a while. 😊

    It’s been some time since I visited this space. Writing had taken a backseat, as I got busy with lots of other things. But, when I heard from people that they missed my blogs, it made me so happy that I immediately wanted to wear my thinking caps and write. Thanks for showing all the appreciation for all the random things that I write about, ever so rarely. 🙂

    Coming to the current topic, this blog is influenced by a movie that I recently saw. Any guesses? Tamil movie buffs would instantly know that I have loosely picked up the idea from the movie called 96, which is about school reunion. I had heard great reviews for 96, and I really bugged my husband to watch it with me. While, hubby found it to be too slow and was waiting for some action to happen, the romantic me was just enjoying each and every frame of it. 🙂

    I loved the theme and the story, and the way the 2 main characters still loved each other, even after 2 decades of not seeing each other. The way the boy, and later the man, went completely thunderstruck and dumbfounded whenever he confronted the girl he loved, was so real. True love really makes one speechless. They conveyed their love for each other in just a glance. The small gestures, the shyness and coyness, the stolen glances, gentle nudging, sharing of tiffin, racing of heartbeats, riding bicycle in companionable silence, missing the person badly, the relief on seeing the person afterwards, and so many small things are enough to show the love for each other. While stalking is considered an offence, the hero in this movie stalks his beloved in such a loving manner that I found that to be so endearing. He was like a guardian angel for her, unbeknownst to her, and was protecting her, while she led her life normally, without even having an iota of knowledge that the person she loved, was always around her.

    A lot of times, people are left wondering if their love is one-sided, and whether it will be reciprocated or not. And, due to this hesitation, a lot of relationships flounder even before they start. Wish people had the courage to speak up.

    The best part about the movie was that the protagonists met after 22 years and they respected each other, spending whatever time that they could, with each other, without making their relationship adulterous. That definitely is a feat to achieve in these days. There are usually very few friends that one can emotionally connect with, and the physicality in such a relationship simply ruins it. Maintaining such a relationship platonic is not an easy thing, but that is what can help the relationship to sustain for a longer time. Keep it simple and uncomplicated.

    I always felt that the love that one imagined in school, was only infatuation or being high on the teen hormones. :-D. I know a lot of people who have got married to their childhood school sweethearts, so I guess they were lucky to find their soulmates in school itself. I used to be such a nerd in school that books were my only love. And, it was not just the study books that I read, I was too crazy about story books, which I secretly read, without my parents’ knowledge. I only had secret crushes in the outside world, but no one knew about them. Such was my school life, with absolutely no time for love.

    This movie stuck a chord with me because I too had a reunion this year. I met some of my school friends after almost 25 years. No, don’t start imagining stuff… :-D. Unlike the movie, I did not meet any of my old crushes, so our reunion was not complicated in any way.

    I had a lot of apprehensions before going for the reunion, and was dissuaded by my family, who thought that there was no point in meeting people after decades. People move on and there would be no common ground to share. How would we connect, was the main question? But, I wanted to satisfy the inner curious side of me and wanted to find out what had changed and how people looked and were placed now, after getting out of the school that we all shared.

    Our reunion group was a mix of 10 people, with 5 girls and 5 guys. Nothing romantic about this equal mix, as none of us were a couple in school days. :-D. Though a lot of people had intended to join initally, for some reason or the other, they all backed off. Maybe, the curiosity of checking out their schoolmates after decades was not too high in them. Well, so the 10 of us met in our school and spent some time in our classroom and corridors. Surprisingly, our classes and school looked to be much smaller than what they used to be earlier. Well, for sure, the classes and the school had not shrunk. It was our worldly exposure that had expanded, which made our classrooms to look smaller.

    We roamed around the corridors that we used to loiter around, during our free periods. We were reminded of all the songs that we sang, all the games that we played, all the mischiefs that we did, all the gossips that we shared. I had bunked school once in Class 10 and had watched ‘Dil’ movie in my friend’s house. I was so high on Aamir and Madhuri ka pyaar that the stupid me was back to school again to catch the school bus to home. My Math’s teacher caught me and asked me where I was, during the day and why I had bunked the classes. I cooked up some story for her, but I am sure she was smart enough to understand that I was lying. Thankfully, that was never reported to my parents. And, thankfully, we never had Parent Teacher meetings each month that time, the way our kids have to suffer now.  😉

    So, coming back to the reunion, unlike all my apprehensions, we had a really good time. We stayed over in a resort, and we talked the entire night. We played games, and we forgot that we were all leading very busy lives, with family and jobs to go back to. A particular game, Mafia, was played with so much of fervour that we instantly became kids. For those 24 hours, we were back in our old childhood days, reliving old moments. We pulled legs, teased endlessly, and made fun of each other. A lot of old childhood stories and secrets came tumbling out. In fact, we were instantly 25 years younger than our actual age.

    Each one of us have done well in our lives, personally and professionally, but none of us were trying to blow our trumpets. We had a doctor, a lawyer, a tech consultant, an Image consultant, and IT professionals amidst us, but who cared about what we were. We were still the same old classmates that we were, 25 years back.

    School friends are the only people, who are aware of that vulnerable side of us, as they knew us from before we became what we are now. We don’t have to be pretentious in front of them. How easy and simple life is, when we can be our natural selves, without having to put on a face for others, don’t you think?

    My advice to people: Never miss your school reunions. If not anything else, you will definitely come back feeling younger.  😊

    As for me, I have gained many good friends after the reunion, the people, with whom I had completely lost touch. And, the best thing is that we talk as if we are still in school. Feel the loss of years and age when we converse.

    PS: Special thanks to our friend Moorthy, (he insists that his name is Murthi 😉) who, with his insistent and persistent follow-ups made sure that at least 10 of us reached for the reunion. Though, he was teased by all of us for his relentless messages and mails, he was a good sport about it. And, thanks to Neeraj for taking care of the entire logistics, and making it a memorable experience for all of us.

    Friends in High School

  • The unrealistic expectations that we have from our kids

    The unrealistic expectations that we have from our kids

    Agreed that being a parent is not an easy job, but why do we always have to make a big deal of it. We fuss so much over our kids and create a whole drama of being a well-wisher of the child so that he becomes extraordinarily fantastic. We want our child to be good at everything – academics, sports, dance, music, art, and whatever that we can think of.

    We keep telling our kids that we are shouting at them because we don’t want others to point fingers at them. 🙂 We keep giving lectures to them because we want them to become good human beings. Just because we are parents and the little beings have come into our lives, does it give us the authority to become Hitlers? Well, don’t think that I am standing on some high elevation and writing this blog. I am also a typical parent, whose day starts and ends with being a correctional warden, a monstrous task-master, and sometimes a loving mother. 🙂

    ‘Our test results show nothing out of the ordinary. I’m afraid your child is ordinary.’

    As a mother, I have so many expectations from my child. While some of them are realistic, some are really not practical and are completely unreasonable.

    1. I want my kids to speak the truth and nothing but the truth: Well, if you give them cold stares when they don’t finish their lunches and give them a lecture on how expensive the vegetables are, they will surely want to lie to you, by either throwing the food in the dustbin or feeding it to some dog.. 😀
    2. The kid should not be rebellious: I really get irked up when my daughter rebels and argues with me. I also keep telling her that I was never like her when I was a child. But, come to think of it, we don’t want our kids to grow up and become subservient, do we? There are times when the kids really need to stand up against injustices. If parents had their way, kids would only be glued to their books and score high marks, as if nothing else was more important in life. 🙂
    3. We want our child to always be cheerful and happy: Why does my child keep sulking and why can’t she have a pleasant smile on her face? Hey, our kids are not mannequins to always have a plastic smile on their faces. They have to undergo a lot of stress and can have bad days too. The least that we can do is to try and cheer them up or lend them our shoulders to cry on.
    4. Why doesn’t our child win any prizes? We attend the annual day functions and wonder when our child would be on the receiving end of the coveted prizes. :-D. Am not sure how many of my readers have brainy children, but am sure most of them, including me, wish our kids too could win some prize one day and make us proud. Well, this is for all those parents and for me too. Our kids are really good as they are. They need not win prizes to become successful in life. I was a school topper but look at what I am doing, writing blogs, hoping that someone would read them… 😉
    5. Get good reviews at PTM: We really wish that the teachers only gave good reviews in the parent teacher meeting. And, if we hear even one complaint, we really want to give a tongue-lashing to the child. Hey, looks like we are suffering from Dementia. Do you think we were a totally obedient, studious and a polite lot in our school days? Come on, it is the teachers who need to change their mind-set. As long as our children are not causing any harm to the other kids and are only behaving as kids, it is no big deal.. :-D. If my daughter’s teacher does not have anything else to complain about, she cribs about my daughter having too many friends. Never thought that being friendly was a sin too.. :-). So, just chill.

    Don’t suffer from memory lapses. Don’t forget that you were once a child too and would have done something similar in your childhood. You cannot expect your child to be perfect in everything. Let him be a child and let him learn from his mistakes. You can only help in grooming him but you would be doing a great deal of service by letting him be him, without putting too much pressure on him. Support your child, motivate your child and show that you are there for him, when he requires you. 🙂

    '...And this is our spare son in case the first one doesn't live up to expectations'

  • Let the child remain a child…

    Let the child remain a child…

    5 years back, when my 8-year old daughter came and told me that she knew all about menstrual cycles, I was flabbergasted. I didn’t know how to react, especially because my mother had never discussed all these things with me till I was actually on the verge of it. But, after the initial shock, I was happy that I did not have to initiate this discussion with her and could freely have a talk with her on this subject, now that she already knew about it. Though I gave her a small introduction to it, I also told her that she need not worry about all that till sometime later.

    You might be wondering why I started this blog on such a serious note. It is because this is what I want to discuss in this blog. Don’t you feel that the children of this generation are maturing too fast? Why is the innocence and childhood disappearing so quickly? In fact, the children of this age know a lot of things and are smarter than our generation. If I look back at my childhood, I was blissfully unaware of so many things happening around the world. Either I was innocent or I was totally stupid. :-). As per most of my friends, I fall in the latter category. 🙂

    Well, I don’t want to deviate from the main topic….

    On my son’s 8th birthday this year, we had invited a few of his friends, and were totally surprised by the use of their language and their topics of discussion. My son told me later that some of his friends used the ‘F’ word quite frequently and casually. What shocked me was the indifference of the parents who don’t stop their child from using such words. The child is probably growing up in a surrounding where such a language is being used and the child picks it up from them and uses them liberally, thinking it to be very cool. Or, it is their friends who teach them. Either way, the child needs to be told. We cannot control the child’s exposure, thanks to television and other social media, but we can definitely supervise and monitor what the child is learning and doing, and how he is talking and behaving, right?

    One of my friends was telling me the other day that her young son’s older friends forcefully closed the door in their room in the house and showed him some dirty videos. The child felt so uncomfortable with all that and came back and told his mother all about it. I really appreciate the child for opening up to his mother, instead of brooding about it. In fact, such incidents can cause mental trauma to the kids unless they discuss it openly with their parents. As for his older friends, I am surprised that their parents allow them to access internet without any restrictions and supervision.

    There are so many parents in our generation, who are handing over the phone to their child, to engage them so that they don’t bug them for their time. Or, it could be because the parents are bowing down under peer pressure and want to look liberal and cool. Agreed that we need to make our kids tech-savvy but it doesn’t mean that the child has to be given a smart phone at such a tender age. Whatever it is, the parents need to understand that the child is too young to understand the difference between good and bad. A couple of days back, my husband’s cousins had come to visit us and we were having a discussion on parenting. They told me that one of their cousin’s child, aged only 7, had a smartphone of his own. Also, he was actively on a Whatsapp group, which had people from the older generations. And, looks like everyone in the group cheered the child for being the youngest in the group. Imagine the kind of forwarded jokes that float around in the family and friend circles. Is it necessary for the child to be a part of all that adult discussion?

    Well, I could just go on and on ranting about it but I would like to stop my rants and make a request to all the parents in my group:

    1. Please do take out time from your busy schedules and spend it with your child in a qualitative manner. Talk to them about what’s happening in their life. Even if their stories sound boring and unending, it is a major thing in their life. After all, we have also grown up doing exactly that. 🙂 Talking to them will make you understand what’s going on with them. Also, we need to put ourselves in their shoes while listening to them. Forget for the time being that you are the parent. Act like a friend. It helps. 🙂
    2. Please stop the child when he uses abusive language. Also, explain to him why his choice of words are not acceptable.
    3. Stop comparing, if possible. The other child in the class might score better than your child but we cannot expect every child to be a topper, right? Each child is special and needs time and space to grow. Don’t suffocate him.
    4. Agreed that we are living in a competitive world and our child needs to compete really well in order to beat all the competition. But, please don’t force your aspirations on the child. Give him some space and let him find out what he likes the best. There are many schools here which start preparing the child to become Engineers and Doctors at the tender age of 5 itself. Why are we forcing our children into this mad rat race?
    5. Have healthy discussions with them on all topics. In fact, teenage is the time when the kids get attracted to the opposite sex. This is completely normal and we have also gone through it in our growing-up years. My daughter is quite open with me and tells me about all her friends, including the boys. I listen to her and laugh with her and tell her stories of my own from my childhood.
    6. Lastly, please do not buy smartphones for your children till they are at least old enough to understand the rights and wrongs.

    Let the child remain a child till we can help it. Let them grow in their own sweet time. What is the hurry of making them into an adult? Let’s preserve their innocence…

    This song from Taare Zameen Par is so apt for it…

    Dekho Inhen Yeh hain Os kee boondhen;

    Patthon kee Godh mein aasmaan se khoode,

    Naazuk se moti hans de phisal kar

    Kho naa jaaye yeh taare zameen par…

    child1

  • How much is too much?

    How much is too much?

    We live in this digital age where we have gadgets for doing almost everything. But, while the world is becoming smarter with smartphones, we are actually turning dumber, don’t you agree. We rely on the phone and technology for everything, instead of applying our brains or our limbs. Well, to the point the smartphone helps us in staying connected and getting our things done, it is definitely a boon. But, the same thing turns into a bane when it just becomes a permanent fixture in our hands and we refuse to log out of Facebook or Whatsapp.

    Well, my blog is not about our addiction to the phone, but the growing addiction of children towards this gadget. As I move around my apartment complex, I see a lot of young children glued to their own handsets. Instead of playing some outdoor games, they enjoy watching videos, accessing Facebook and playing games on the phone.

    The other day, I got a ping on my whatsapp and found out that I was added to a group called “Deadpool team”. I started to wonder whether somebody had added me by mistake. But, then, I realized that the group was created by my son’s classmate who is only 7 years old. Initially, I thought that maybe the group consisted of the mothers of the kids on the group, but was really shocked to find out that the kids themselves were online and were chatting with each other. Kids behaving this way is one thing, but what baffles me is that their parents are really cool about giving their handsets to the kids so that they can surf the net and do whatever they please to do. We all know how things are on the net and how ugly some of the websites are. Do we really have to expose our children to all that stuff at such a young and vulnerable age? You can call me a product of old school thinking as I am quite against kids using technology that is not required by them.

    My daughter has several groups on Whatsapp that she accesses on my phone. And, she makes it a point to drop a hint several times that all the friends on her group have their own phones. She says that they do not disturb their parents for checking the messages. Though, I have told her that I do not have any plans of buying her a phone for the next 2 years at least, I am sure that the rate of dropping hints will only keep increasing and she will hold a grudge against me till then. And, the sad part is that I am not actually sure if I should go with the flow or hold my own stand about technology and its usage. The point is that there should be a necessity for it, before it is granted to the kids.

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    These days, the parents are much more relenting than what the parents used to be in our generation. Kids only need to ask and the parents are too ready to oblige. What are these parents trying to prove? Love and affection can be shown in different and better ways too, rather than giving such material things. Is it really cool for the kids to flaunt their phones and show to the society that they are available online? With the kind of society that we live in, with online stalkers and crazy lunatics, is it safe for the kids to be exposed to all that cyber-crime at such a young age.

    Apart from the physical problems that the radiation might cause to your children, it also affects them mentally. In fact, I was just browsing the net about the effect of phones on the kids and found out the following facts:

    • As per a study conducted, children who use smartphones more regularly, develop a low sense of well-being. In fact, many of them become prone to anxieties, depression, restlessness, sleeplessness, etc.
    • At an age, when their mind is fertile and their body is craving for physical activity, a phone can disrupt their growth and turn them into zombies.
    • Kids become so distracted about who is online and who is messaging that they concentrate less on their studies and do not get time to pursue their other hobbies.
    • Children are exposed to all the inappropriate sites that are definitely not meant for them.

    Well, the only positive thing about phones that I can perceive is that it gives a sense of safety to the children and the parents. If your child is going to a far-off location and you would like to know about their whereabouts, then, you really need to be in touch with the kid. Such circumstances can warrant a phone, but even then, a normal phone would do, I guess.

    What is your take on this? Please do share your views. And, by the way, thanks for reading my blog. Stay happy and blessed. 🙂

  • The mesmerizing beauty of Hogenakkal

    The mesmerizing beauty of Hogenakkal

    Hogenakkal…. Does the place sound familiar to you? Well, I had never heard about this place till my brother told me about it. While people keep raving about Ooty, Goa, Coorg, Kodaikanal and other places, I have never heard anybody talk about Hogenakkal. This is because it is a small place, and does not have many hotels to stay, which is quite surprising. Still, it draws a large number of people from different places. It is so enchanting and so mesmerizing that one can actually feel connected to the roots.

    Hogenakkal is located in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, and is quite famous for its waterfalls, with Kaveri River water falling from the rocks. The place is quite close to Bangalore, (only around 180 kms), and it can be easily covered in a day trip.

    We went there in August 2015, and were actually looking forward to spending some quality time over there. We made a booking in a TTDC hotel, Hotel Tamil Nadu, as we really wanted a break from the routine, and wanted to spend a day somewhere outside Bangalore.

    We left Bangalore at around 7am in the morning on Saturday. It was an awesome drive from Bangalore. All the avid travellers would know that this beautiful garden city is actually surrounded by astounding rocky mountains all around. So, as soon as you leave Bangalore, and you are about 70 kms away, you will find yourself in the midst of beautiful rocks, mountains, and greenery. We stopped over at A2B (Adyar Anand Bhavan) in Shoolagiri. The place was so crowded, and people were standing in long queues, fighting for their Upma, Pongal and Vada. 🙂 Well, there is no dearth of hungry people in this world. 🙂

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    The drive took us via Hosur, Krishnagiri, and Salem Highway, and then on the Dharmapuri-Hogenakkal State Highway. For people who love road trips, there is so much to savour on this route, with lovely greeneries, small rock mountains, water lakes, mango vendors, etc. When you are about 12 kms away from the place, you get on a narrow hilly road. The road signs say that you are entering forest area, and you should be careful of elephants crossing the roads, etc. Well, we did not see elephants or any other animals, but still enjoyed the ride through the wilderness and solitude.

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    We checked into the hotel, and went searching for the waterfalls. The place was quite crowded, and we saw a lot of men and women holding oil bottles in their hands. It took us some time to understand that they were all masseurs, and were ready to give oil massage. Some steps further ahead, and we saw a lot of oily creatures around. Well, these creatures were the men, who were getting the oil massage done. I started to curse my brother for suggesting this place. Did we come so far to see such an unsightly sight? Well, we passed through all those oily people and got onto the Hanging Bridge, thankfully without slipping.. 🙂 We were awed by the spectacle. The waterfalls flowing from the rocks were magnificent, but still, it was nothing as compared to all the other falls that we had seen, like Kempty Falls, Athirapally falls, etc. We were still thinking of what was so spectacular about this place.

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    And, then, we saw a sign showing directions for Parisal ride. For people, who are wondering what a parisal means, it is a Tamil name for coracles. We went looking out for them. Well, let me tell you, when I saw the Parisal (circular boat), I was really scared of getting on it.

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    We negotiated a rate of Rs. 950 for a 1 hour ride, and got onto the boat. After going about 500 metres, the boat man asked us to get down and walk some 500 metres. And, before we could turn back, he had lifted the boat on his head, and was walking behind us.

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    We got down some steps, and a lovely sight awaited us. There were so many parisals waiting for the passengers in a narrow valley between the rocks.

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    When we got back into the parisal, the boat man took us near the major falls, and then took us on a ride through the River Kaveri. He even did a twist on the falls and it was no less than an adventure ride in itself.

    Let me tell you, I have never experienced something like this ever before, in my life. This place is not so popular, and yet, has such lovely attractions. It connects you with nature, and you are amazed to see the nature at its purest. Some of the famous movies shot over here include Roja (Remember the Chinna Chinna Asai song) and Raavan (Abhishek and Aishwarya movie)

    By the way, when you visit there, remember that there are not many eateries around. Though there are lots of fish fries sold in the local market, for vegetarians, only cucumbers are available.. :-). Hotel TTDC is the only decent place around that offers some good and edible South-Indian meals during the day and Rotis/dosas during the night. So, go prepared with your own snack boxes.

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    Well, it was definitely a paisa vasool trip for us. Thank you brother for suggesting this place to us. I had wanted to share the experience with my friends, but never got down to penning it down. I know it is coming out a year late but well, here it is anyways.. 🙂

    Our India is definitely incredible, and has so much to offer. There is still a lot left to be explored.

     

  • Choose to be happy

    Choose to be happy

    Life throws umpteen challenges at you and you end up wondering if you are a fielder in some cricket ground. You are confused deciding whether you should catch them or allow them to cross the boundaries. And, in the process of fielding whatever life has to throw at you, you sometimes get stuck up in a black-hole and get a feeling of discontentment and unhappiness. After all, it is not humanly possible to achieve everything in life, right? And, there is always something that pricks your conscience and makes you feel helpless. Well, guess what, the choice of being happy or not, actually depends upon you and you alone. If you want to be unhappy, even winning a lottery cannot make you feel happy as you would probably think about the tax cuts. 🙂

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    There is a major difference between how an optimist and a pessimist looks at life. While an optimist sees opportunities even in his failures, the pessimist will even convert his success into failures. While it would not be easy to become an optimist overnight, the idea is to maintain a balance and achieve some moderation.

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    So, what is the key to happiness? Wish there was some secret formula, which could lead to eternal happiness. I have heard that alcohol or drugs can give you some temporary happiness but these can also cause permanent damages. And, they definitely are not worth taking the risk, are they? Well, I give below some simple and doable things which might actually make you happy. It definitely works for me, most of the times.

    1. Don’t listen to others. Do you know something? Out of the 100 people that you meet, 80 people will always find a fault with you. And, it could not be because you have a problem, but because they have a problem with their mind-set. In fact, I have realized that people tend to make you feel guilty, even without intending to, sometimes. If you are doing A, they would expect you to do B, and if you are doing B, they would say that you should have continued with A. So, stop living your life as per other people’s standards. Set your own standards and live accordingly. At the end of the day, you should be contended and happy and that is what matters.
    2. Be positive: Our lives have become so stressful that we have forgotten to live and enjoy. And, if something goes wrong personally or professionally, we tend to hit the bottom of our emotions. We, humans are so fragile that even the smallest of incidents can leave a huge impact on us. So, for a change, why don’t you think about the positive side of things? Even the worst calamities in life can have something positive to teach you and you will have a lot to learn from them.
    3. Set achievable targets and prioritize them. Are you torturing yourself with tasks that are not achievable? Why don’t you set some small and achievable tasks which can give you happiness once they are accomplished?
    4. Find happiness in the smallest of things. There are some really simple things which can give you tremendous amount of happiness. Happiness is just a state of mind and it totally depends upon you to be either happy about what you have or to be unhappy about what you do not have. It is like viewing the glass as either half-full or half-empty. For me, my simple happiness bucket would include having pizzas with my kids, visiting a bookstore and picking up some books, playing a game of scrabble with my son, building houses with Lego toys, a game of table tennis with kids, a night stroll after dinner with the family or simply lazing around reading a book. What is in your bucket-list?
    5. Go for walks. Exercise your body and your mind so that your good mood endorphin gets released. And, when you go for walks, try to breathe the fresh air and observe your surroundings. In fact, I love the sight of kids playing in the sand in the park, without a care for the world. How we wish we could be like them, right? Why did we ever think that adulthood would be more interesting?
    6. Talk to your loved ones. This is really important. Make it a practice to call up your parents regularly, if they are staying far. And, do keep in touch with everyone who is important in your life. Recently, when my youngest mama/uncle passed away, I felt quite guilty as I had not called him up in the last 2 months. In fact, I never expected him to die so soon, but that is no excuse for not keeping in touch, right? There is no surety to life, so do pick up the phone and call. Whatsapp or Facebook might give you a preconceived notion of being connected but they do not give that personal touch.
    7. More importantly, believe in yourself. Even if you face rejections and failures, do not forget to believe in yourself. Remember that life is too short to waste away on such things. So what if your project didn’t work, or you were fired from your job, you still have your physical and mental faculties intact, which is more important. There is nothing more important than life and living.

    Happiness is not measured by the amount of money that you have, the kind of car that you drive, or the posh locality that you live in. Happiness is measured by the number of smiles that you help create, the number of lives that you touch, the love that you help build in your family, and the overall contentment that you feel. So, do change your measuring yardstick and look at some simple pleasures. Your life would be less complicated and more contented.

    And, if nothing works well for you, just put your hand on your chest and sing this song.. 🙂

    All iz well….

    Jab life ho out of control, tho honton ko karke gol…

    Honton ko karke gol, seeti bajaake bol..

    All iz well…. !!!!

    This is my happiness anthem… 🙂

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  • Education: Are we moving in the right direction?

    Education: Are we moving in the right direction?

    “Your child is excellent in all the extra-curricular activities, but she needs to improve in studies.”

    This is what I keep hearing all the time. And, I dread going to the Parent Teacher meeting, as the teacher keeps ranting about how academics is more important than sports or dance, and why my daughter should be concentrating more on studies. She says that academics should be the main priority, and my daughter should be scoring more marks. Well, isn’t she right? So, why am I cribbing? Actually, how many more marks, is my question. Well, I don’t consider 75 – 80% as a bad score, especially when the child is not mugging up things, and is studying on her own. Also, when she is trying to explore all the other possibilities in life, as well, right? But, the teacher doesn’t think so.

    In India, we measure success only by the number of marks that a child is getting. In that process, if the overall development of the child suffers, then so be it. How many kids come out of the education system as well-rounded people? While they have all the bookish knowledge, they lack practical experience. And, on top of that, there is always the constant pressure to excel and super excel. Do you know that the rate of depression among the younger lot has increased so much in our country, due to the pressure of studies? In fact, our country is ranked the highest in the world for suicide rates in the age group of 15 – 29 years. So, why are we building up so much of pressure on the younger lot? While some children are born brainy, the majority are average-kids, right?

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    Do you think it is easy to study in our country? With the cut-off in some of the colleges getting close to 100, probably, our country expects to produce only nerds. And, what happens to people, who are below the 90 percentile? Are they less brilliant? We are actually undermining the confidence of the children, by burdening them with the need to score more and more. And, in the process, the quality of education suffers. There is always some kind of rat race, where only the winners get rewarded.

    Leave alone the admission into the colleges, even getting into a nursery school is a major challenge. Yes, the pressure to compete starts at a very young age for our kids. They have to be ready to face complete strangers in the process of getting admitted into a good school. And, if the child is not able to get through in a particular school, he is reprimanded by the parents. Why is the child not allowed to be just a child? Why do we rob their innocence so early?

    My poor 7 year old has to carry a school bag, which weighs about 10 kg. Though, it is not building up his muscles, it is definitely weighing him down.. The kids carry such heavy weights to the school, because there is so much to be covered in one day. They keep having all kinds of assessments throughout the year, leaving them with no time to play and recreate. In fact, my kids have tests every Monday so they have to sit and study during the weekends. Isn’t that torturous? Weekends are for relaxing, right? If a 7 year old is burdened with so much of studies, I wonder who should be doing the actual playing. I feel bad about scolding him for playing with his cars and guns, and for not putting in more efforts into studies.

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    One of my daughter’s friends flunked in one of the subjects. And, she did not show her paper to her parents for almost a month. Her mother kept asking her about it and she kept telling her that she has not received it. In fact, the mother called up my daughter also to find out. So, why was she scared of telling the truth to her parents? It was because she was scared of the reactions of her parents. Naturally, all the parents want their children to be good in studies and come first. With so much of competition everywhere, the parents also cannot be blamed. Don’t we ask our kids all the time, ‘How much did that other person get? And, how come he or she is getting more marks than you?’ Take my own example. Mathematics is my favourite subject, and I really get touchy when my kids commit some silly mistakes in their Maths paper. Well, why do I fail to understand that what I find easy can be quite complicated for them?

    The lines from this song of Taare Zameen Par is so apt for the kids:

    Dekho inhein yeh hain os ki boondein

    Patton ki god mein aasmaan se koodein

    Angdaayi lein phir karwat badal kar

    Nazuk se moti hans de phisal kar

    Kho na jaayen ye taare zameen par

    It is good to be competitive, but the competition should not become the only thing to focus on, right? Do we ever sit and ask the child if he understood what he has studied? Also, are the studies focusing on what he or she wants to do?

    I also feel that the kids of this generation have to face more number of challenges than what we had to face in our childhood. This is the age of smartphones, computers and internet. With so much of distractions around, and all the CCA and CCE activities happening, kids have so much on their plate.

    Why don’t we just change our education system and provide personalized education to each kid, instead of having a standard set for all? I sincerely hope that the future education system is designed in such a way that the kids will get to study what they feel like, and in the way they feel like.

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    Also, we should try to focus on making the kids more confident and self-assured. They should be made capable to handle all kinds of challenges in life. Academics alone will not take them everywhere. Even a rank holder might not be able to lead a company if he does not have all those other necessary soft skills and leadership skills.

    Well, God bless our country, and I hope the teacher has something better to say for my kids, the next time. 🙂

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    (Pictures picked from Google)

  • A mother of a teen

    A mother of a teen

    13 years ago, on this date, I was travelling by a DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) bus to the office. There were many co-passengers, who looked at me and told me that I should start taking rest at home. But, at that time, the maternity leave was only 56 days in our office, and I had to literally work till the very last minute, which I did. In fact, I went straight to the hospital, from office, on 2nd December. (No, it was not a dramatic entry, like it happens in the movies. 🙂 ) I kept waiting for the pain, which never came, and my sweet little angel refused to come out. She wanted to spend some more time inside the cozy womb. She decided to make an entry into the outside world only after 18 hours, that too, after a C-Sec operation, on 3rd December… 🙂

    She was such a doll, and was wrapped in a pink shawl, when she was shown and handed over to us. My heart went out to her. She got all the attention from all the family members, as she was the first child in the next generation. A hugely pampered child, she refused to grow up for a long time. 🙂 I still remember that she used to make me feel so guilty when I had to travel abroad for my official trips, and I would end up crying in the airport, thinking about her and missing her.

    Tomorrow, she will be 13 years old, and she has already got that rebellious streak, which comes along with the teens. And, I suddenly feel that I am dealing with a volcano. It really takes a lot of patience to control your temper and emotions, at times. Though, I am known for having a short fuse, I am really trying to learn to become a mother of a teenage daughter. Wish there was some crash course conducted to handle this. But, we have to be hands-on parents, and have to deal with parenting, on the job.

    So, what are the growing up symptoms? Well, if you have a daughter, you will know that your daughter is getting into that teenage phase:

    • Being bothered about the pimples so much that special attention is given to each and every pimple.
    • Spends at least 30 minutes in front of the mirror, and still looking unsatisfied about her looks.
    • Decides to cut her hair, on her own, out of the blue, and feeling quite proud about it. (Well, don’t ask about my reaction. It took me days to cool down. )
    • Stops celebrating birthdays in the usual manner, as it has become quite boring. Prefers treating the friends outside home, away from parents.
    • The bangles and accessories slowly start disappearing from your cupboard, and end up in hers.
    • Looks become so important that it takes hours to just straighten up the hair, which is actually looking alright.
    • Needs a separate deodorant, cream, face-wash, lip gloss, and God knows what all.
    • There are long conversations on phones, with friends, and mostly, in low whispers. Nobody can hear what is being spoken, and there are multitudes of secrets being exchanged.
    • Becomes health conscious, and is quite concerned about eating unhealthy food, but actually ends up eating all the junk food.
    • A lot concerned about weight, and even a few grams of extra weight puts a frown on the face.
    • Starts sizing up the boys, in a discreet manner, thinking that nobody is noticing. (Well, mom definitely notices :-))
    • Room is totally messed up, but she feels quite comfortable, sitting over the mess.
    • She thinks that mom and dad actually need to be trained in a lot of things.
    • Starts speaking in acronyms, and slang words.
    • Dress shopping takes hours, as she has to try out everything, and still feels unsatisfied about how it fits, and looks.
    • Wears dresses, which have become quite small, but are more fashionable for her, now.
    • Shorter the dresses, the better they are.
    • Arguments become a daily routine, and she has an answer for just about everything.
    • And, the best is that you are reminded of your teenage years, and are actually worried about what all will happen next. 🙂

    Well, all said and done, my daughter is my best friend. In fact, I feel good to share a lot of things with her. And, I try to keep a straight face, when she tells me some of her secrets. Am sure that I am told only 10 to 20% of them. But, well, she has a right to her privacy, and too much of interference is not going to help us in any way. Well, it is easy to write than to actually practice, especially when you don’t know what will happen next. This is a lesson that I need to learn. 🙂

    I miss my little girl, with those innocent looks, who used to listen to us, or at least tried to listen to us. In place of her, I have got a person, who has her own perception, and her own mind-set. As long as things are in control, it’s alright, I guess. And, I hope I am able to remain sane till she becomes an adult.

    So, to all those people, who have lovely daughters, do get prepped up, otherwise, you will not know what hit you. And, share some of your experiences with me, on this blog. 🙂

    Here are a few quotes, which I found on Google, which actually explains the teenager’s behavioral patterns.. 🙂

  • Life begins at 40

    Hello friends!!! How are you? Hope everything is going on as usual.. Have been absent from the blogging scene for quite some time now, as I was busy pursuing some of my dreams. 🙂

    As you would have guessed from the subject of the blog, I turned 40 this year. It means that I have completed 4 decades in this world. Hey, but i was just born yesterday… how did i become so old so soon 😉 (Haa.. haaa.. that was definitely a little over-the-board statement.) Though, a lot of people commented.. ‘Wow, you are 40 now’, which actually meant that you have become old, but I do not feel any different. In fact, I feel much younger and much more mentally active now than I have ever felt in my entire life… 🙂 No, it is not an exaggeration. I am a 20 year old now with 20 years of experience.. howzat? 🙂

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    Age is just a number, and it is all in the mind. If you feel that you are old, then, nobody can save you from your miseries. Maybe, you should try looking out for an old age home then. 🙂 As per what I believe, you should eat and live a life like there is no tomorrow… Agreed that my BMI is on the higher side, but that doesn’t mean that I will stop eating Pizza and all other yummy fried items. (By the way, Bangalore is a haven for foodies like me, and you get some of the best vadas and dosas here. :-)) Coming to the BMI, my husband, doesn’t have an extra inch of flab on his body. And, how does he manage that? By eating healthy food like Oats, Ragi, Corn Flakes and all other health products, which have absolutely no taste. 🙂 We live contrasting lives, under the same roof, but we both are quite happy. <touch-wood>

    Even though, I feel bad about my greying hair and my stiff body sometimes, I am enjoying being 40. I am more matured now and know a lot of things, and would not want to trade it back with 20 less years. Who would want to get back into the grind of studies, career, marriage and childbirth again? We have crossed all that, and we feel happy when we look back into our pasts, without any regret of the approaching old age.

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    When you are young, you are always running behind something. There is so much on your agenda that you don’t live your life. You have to finish your studies, look for a job, look for better jobs, and then get married, and have kids. All these are things, which have to be done. And, if you try to stray away from this customary path, you are not seen in a kind light. There are only few people, who try to pursue their dreams and passions, while the rest of us only end up making money. So what if you are not enjoying your work, you are at least getting the money into your account at the end of the month. I am sure majority of us have lots of commitments on our heads, and earning a consistent salary is more important to us than doing what we would have loved to do.

    Life gives the same set of options and opportunities to everybody, and it is our wish how we want to utilize them. There are things, which I am doing now, which should have been done by me about 20 years back. But, no regrets, and as the saying goes, ‘Better late than never’. There is only one life and we should live it.

    So, for me, life is taking a new start at 40. What about you?

    (By the way, between you and me, I would rather live till 60, eating all my favourite food and doing all my favourite things, than extend my life by 10 more years, and torturing myself with tasteless food. 🙂 ;-))

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    (Photos Courtesy: Google…)