Because I love books...

2:20 AM Unknown 0 Comments

Hi there,

How you guys doing ? I had a great week and weekend. Even though I look forward to a very productive weekend starting today, I am still in the hangover of last weekend. I went on a teeny tiny summer vacation. More like a weekend+2 days getaway. And it was awesome. I spend some quality time with my family and friends. I will be sharing the details with you soon. Meanwhile here is my reading list for next 6 months. I am yet to finish The Invention of wings. But I really want to finish all the below books this year itself. I am trying to find some more time for reading on an everyday basis. My roomie and her classic movie collection is a serious distraction :P Still, let’s hope for the best.

First Frost – Sarah Adison

The things you won’t say – Sarah Pekkanen

Maximum City – Suketu Mehta

The Boston girl – Anita Diamant

Cutting for Stone – Abraham Varghese

So what is on your reading list ?

0 comments:

Quotes day !!!

6:22 AM Unknown 0 Comments

Hi there,

Its been almost a week. I know. I promised a post on my reading list which is still in progress because you know the hunt for best books never ends. So after I told you guys that I am pretty much free last week, I have been the busiest of the week. :( I feel so guilty about not having any new posts. Also am finding difficulty on having my travel pics to upload online as my laptop is no more working. That is why all the delay. I am asking my dearest friend Mr.Rain for so long but he is not helping at all. :(

But that is fine. I will figure out something asap. For now, I have a few of my favorite quotes. I am a fan of inspiring quotes. Whenever am down I just google some quotes and read for a few minutes and I really works for me. Hope you will like it too.

0 comments:

Travel Diaries - McLeod Ganj – Dharamshala

12:57 AM Unknown 0 Comments

What can I say about this beautiful place ! It is like a dream or may be its how heaven looks like. Ya it must be. Because once you rest your foot in McLeod Ganj the first thing flashing in your mind is - Am canceling my return tickets. Am not going anywhere. This is where I belong. Honestly, that’s what I felt.

McLeod Ganj is a nature’s gift. The fresh air, water and the mixed culture , it’s all adding its share to this beautiful piece of earth in the lap of Himalayas. I was literally shivering when we got down at McLeod Ganj. It was in April you guys…still it was so cold for me. My friend could manage even without a jacket. (hmm. I wonder what he is made of !!) Anyway, it was our first unplanned trip and we had no idea about the place. Well, it is not that we had no idea… we knew this place is going to steal our hearts at the moment we heard the name ‘McLeod Ganj’ from a fellow passenger. Did I tell you that’s when we decided to get down there ?? Ya…it’s so not me, but I thought let’s do it. It was 4 o clock in morning and I was sure it can’t be unsafe at that time.

So we got down at McLeod Ganj without a hotel booking or a taxi number. We went in the first decent hotel we saw but they said no rooms where available. That was sort of weird because it was a huge place and it was not even peak season. Then we realized that out foots are still in the conservative soil of India and it was 4 in the morning and we were a couple with light luggage. Phew. These are the moments I kick my partner for this instant decisions and crazy butts. Seriously. I don’t like mess or confusions. I like everything planned and straight and unaltered. I know how boring I sound. L But I really get out of control if step out of my comfort zone. Silly me!!!

But thank god for smart phones and internet and travel sites. We could find a hotel online and called them up and even got a taxi to reach there. This place we found was just a few steps away from the Tibetan market of McLeod, which means we never had to hire a taxi again. Haha. We saved some bucks there. The best part was that I could see the pine trees and snowcapped mountains from my balcony. Who thought one day I will wake up to such an amazing view.

After a quick nap we headed to a local restaurant for breakfast and had yummy homely Tibetan breakfast. I was a bit surprised to see all the Tibetan people and Tibetan markets and food and Buddhist monks but a little light to history was a great help. Here we go – When China took power of Tibet a lot of people including Dalai Lama was exiled from Tibet. The 14^Th Dalai Lama established the Tibetan Government in Exile for rehabilitating Tibetan refugees and to restore freedom and happiness. While this mission is still on, a large number of Tibetan refuges are now part of Himachal Pradesh.

Tibetan market is a beautiful view and a great shopping zone. I found the Tibetan art, culture and heritage very fascinating. The first thing you notice in every single Buddhist is their compassion. From there on I started learning more about Buddha and his preaching. My partner was so happy that I got interested in Buddhism, considering he is a Jain and Buddhism and Jainism go hand in hand. Hahaha…Really, he just need a nice cool breeze to be happy J.

We headed to the Tsuglag Khang, the Dalai Lama's temple and on the way we found a small temple and checked it out too. The prayer wheels in these temples were a gorgeous sight. I didn’t know how to use/turn it and I definitely didn't know it was that heavy. I didn't had to pick it up but I had to push hard each one to make it move. So I decided not to put pressure but relax and enjoy the peaceful terrain. We spent almost one hour, simply sitting on the lawn and it was the best time I have had in the whole trip. Obviously cameras were not allowed inside the shrine. So no pics to prove the beauty of this place.

In the afternoon we hiked to the Bhagsu waterfall. It was an amazing walk. There is a small Hindu Shrine up there were we also have a pool, an area to fetch fresh/holy water and to dress up and click pics like a Tibetan couple. We had to go a little more ahead to reach the waterfall. There is a paved way towards the fall, but my friend saw a café just down the fall, so we took a non-paved rocky way towards the café first. (Told you, He eats eats and eats. I am a bit worried about the little quantity of flesh on my body whenever he is hungry but thank god he is pure veggie. Lol) Our out of the way ride was a thrilling one. We could sat down on a big rock, soaking our legs in the most clean water and look up to the water falling like its straight from heaven. I will never forget that moment and that sight.

0 comments:

Weekend getaway - Dakshinachitra - ECR Chennai

11:29 PM Unknown 1 Comments

Hi guys,

Hope you all having a great week. I am pretty much free this week. I mean apart from going to work everyday I don't have anything planned for the whole week. That is actually a good news to myself because now I can have more time for this blog. And I have already planned a few posts for this and coming week. So check out this space everyday.

For today, I found some of my old pics in a hard drive which are clicked in Dakshinachitra, Chennai. Dakshinachitra is museum dedicated for South Indian architecture, life style, arts and culture. Basically you can find heritage homes built in ancient South India style like The Kerala Christian home, The Madras Brahmin home, The chikmagalur home of Karnataka, The coastal Andhra home etc...

There are a few great shops and a nice traditional south Indian meal corner. I really did enjoy my day there. So whenever you guys go for a drive along ECR do check out this place. Its worth it.

P.S - During the time of my visit I was not into blogging or photography. So below given are the only pics I clicked on that day. Honestly, these pics do not do any justice to such an awesome place. You go and check it out guys, You will know what I mean. :)

1 comments:

Life updates

2:30 AM Unknown 0 Comments

Hi there,

Hope you having a great week. Have you planned anything for the weekend ? My weekend is going to be a quiet and comfy one. I have planned to stay indoors for 2 days watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S and reading my new book. Oh Ya, I have ordered The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd and it will be delivered today. Finally I decided to get over my ‘lazy-for-reading’ sickness and get back to track. And I thought it would be good idea to order a paperback this time.

I love my kindle. It is the best thing when you travel or you are running out of space on your book shelf or you live with someone who doesn't sleep while the light is on(I know most of us read late nights). But sometimes I don’t get the feel that am reading a book. So once in a while I have to get my hands on paperbacks too.

See how easily I get carried away. The post title says life updates and am talking about I don’t know what all….you know what, the word I say to myself the most is ‘focus’. Now you know why. So back to the real post. Here are some recent updates on my life.

I became an aunt !!! Again !!!! actually, for the third time !!! hehe, but I become very excited every time. This time it’s a nephew for me. I already have two nieces so I was secretly wishing for a nephew. Both my nieces are a great help in emptying my wallet for all those hair-bands and bangles and ballerinas. I hope the latest one is different, At least he won’t need any ballerina. Happy wallet, happy me.

I successfully completed 4 years in my job, also 4 years in Trivandrum. I can’t believe how fast time flies. I am looking forward to move to a new city but I can’t get enough of this beautiful place. I am soon going to miss all these trees, the windy and rainy climate, the beautiful beaches and the most awesome people I met here.

We are shifting… Ya it’s sad but true. Even though I have to stay back in Trivandrum for a few more months, I can’t stay at the place where I stay right now. Me and my bestie are in apartment hunt. Somewhere close to work place because I don’t wanna drive too much.

And here are a few pics which I think is related but you all will realize not at all related to this post. :P And ya that is my bike,,I call him Sunny. :) And its definitely a 'he'.

So that’s all for now. But I have posts on my 'To Read' list coming this week and a weekend getaway details coming later this week. So do come back.

Bye.

0 comments:

Weekend getaway- A road trip to Kanyakumari

10:52 AM Unknown 0 Comments

Here is a post from my bestie about her recent trip. There would be more travel tales from her in coming weeks...Stay tuned :)

I was planning for this trip since forever. Finally it’s here.

On a fine Saturday morning, we started the trip in our bike . We first headed to Padmanabhapuram palace. We reached the palace by 9.30 am.

Padmanabhapuram palace was the official residence of the Maharaja's of the former State of Travancore.

The Palace Complex comprises of about 10 double storied traditional buildings. Almost all buildings in the palace are interconnected.

The palace also contains 17th and 18th century murals. The royal splendor of the Padmanabhapuram Palace is quite overwhelming. The Palace Museum is located on the right of the courtyard before you enter the main gate of the complex. It exhibits furniture, wooden and granite statues, coins, weapons and utensils. The guides were not so helpful, but we walked inside the entire wooden palace and enjoyed its beauty.

We, then headed to Kanyakumari. Sun started being harsh on us. We geared up so that we are least affected by the heat. Throughout the journey to Kanyakumari, we could spot small shop selling mangoes in abundance(Rs.100 for 4kgs!!!)

We managed to reach the hotel by 12.30. It was sea facing and we could see the Vivekananda rocks from our balcony. We freshened up fast and headed for lunch. We had our north Indian meal from Punjabi dhaba. We planned to visit Vivekananda rocks& Thiruvalluar statue as there was very little crowd.(we still waited for more than half an hour in the queue).

Vivekananda rock is more of a sacred monument dedicated to one of the most revered spiritual leaders - Swami Vivekananda.

Thiruvallavur Statue, a gigantic 133 feet (41 m) tall statue of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar,is one of the biggest statues in Asia.

It was quite interesting.

In the evening, we rode to the sunset point and it was beautiful. at night, we spent time walking through the crowded streets with local shops. We managed to get a good bargain on cashew nuts (*wink*)

We were exhausted and just packed our dinner and headed back to the hotel.

Our hotel receptionist was so kind that he rang the bell in the morning to wake us up for the sunrise. To my surprise, We could watch the sunrise from the hotel rooftop. That was my first experience watching sunrise.

This was a quick visit to the Shridi Sai temple on our way back.

After breakfast, by 11 am, we drove back to our place, being happy about a beautiful weekend.

It was quite a short trip, but was very interesting.

0 comments:

Travel Diaries - The Royal Udaipur

12:03 AM Unknown 1 Comments

Udaipur is like a beautiful princess. So elegant, so modest. This was the capital of Mewar kingdom. Wherever you go in Udaipur you hear a new story about Maharana Pratab or Udai Singh or Rani Padmini. And its all very fascinating.

There are a lot of places to see in Udaipur. The best thing to do is to ditch your tour operator and explore the Udaipur streets by yourself like we did. We spend half a day in City palace and half a day in shopping the vintage stuff outside the palace. By evening we took a walk to the shores of Lake Pachola and got refreshed by the cool winter breeze and by night we got to see some authentic rajastani art forms at the Bagore ki Haweli. Luckily we were in Udaipur on the new year eve. (Yes. this post is late by 6 months :(.. lazy me !!!)

Bagore ki Haweli has got some really cool stuff to see too. I cant share all the pics here even though i really want to...
One thing you cant miss in Udaipur is the night light show at City palace. At the show they narrate the histroy of Mewar kingdom and there is some pretty good light works, But what is amazing is the view of City Palace at night. It was mesmerizing.