Life works in strange and beautiful ways and one such road is what lead me to Denver.I headed to Denver for having as much fun and doing things i had only thought in my dreams.What awaited me was not just fun ...but a greater package ...9 loving hearts , with tonnes of warmth and 1 brother whom i had given to space and time and life thought i shud no longer miss.Things i had nt imagined ...not even in my dreams.
Well .. this post series is about my trip to Denver and Colarado Springs ...the places I visited , the things I tried , the adventures i put my self thru and best of all, the young men I met as strangers and parted as buddies.I shall refer to them by their pseudonames as our heroes dont like publicity as much [:p]
They are:
X - My sweet lil' brother .Oh the tiffs and the tussels ..I ll leave them to the past, coz thatz where they belong.I just dont have anything to say except that hez a brother I yearned for all along..and i found him back :-)
Alpha - A level headed guy ...small and smart.A gentleman in a kid's pack.A deep thinker and brilliant young chap.He likes to get just the feel of things ...just about anything under the sun and then stay putt.
Beta - A brainy guy ...also hard-working ( as much as I know !!!) , compassionate , studious guy ...you can call him a warm person...whose mission on earth is to increase global warming.Beta , the world needs your brain keep it working !!!
Raghavan - A versatile person and an ardent Kamal Haasan fan , whoz very keen on eye donation :p A percussion instrument player , palmist , musician and a humorist rolled into one.One who majorly gave me bouts of laughter..itz tough not to laugh when hez around.
Pulikutty (Alias) Ottaeri Nari - A very hard-working and responsible guy who bears on his shoulders more than his share of responsibilities...well experienced at many odd jobs and an excellent driving coach.He deserves more fun with life though.
Romeo - If we all need food , air and water to live ...he needs a mobile.A gentle and calm fella with enduring patience especially when it comes to posing for fotos .Well hez gotta charming smile :-)
Karappanpoochi - Dont ask me the root of his name ...the explanation does nt have a place here.I ve to say hes a very soft spoken , compassionate young man whoz best at lending a helping hand.Very subtle in expressing things.
A.C.P Anbuselvan Alias Sanjay Ramasamy - Well, you really have to cautious with this guy! He may look as lil' too meek and soft spoken ...thatz how well he disguises.A very enthusiatic , naughty , sharp young chap who might take the mollywood by storms.
Hez getting his portfolio done !!
Siddhu - A guy whom i dint get to know as much.One with a philosophical lights on , lost in his own world mostly (my guess is he was busy seeing ...sight seeing to be in specific) and the rest of the time went hi smelling wine [:p] and dozed.Food and sleep are his passion.
Naataamai - I saved up things about this guy till the end coz I ve a lil more than his share to tell.One with a level-head , exorbitant sense of humor ( he owes it to his home town-vaellampaalampatti(CBT) ..hope i got it right), adventure freak and with extra-ordinary people management skills.One brilliant person who awoke the rebel in me ...until i saw his sunshine personality.Truly a gem of a person.His adventures make me go whopping!!!
Now about the places I visited , I ll leave you with the listing now:
1)Aspen Mountains
2)Rockies
3)Pikes Peak
4)Cave of Winds
5)Royal Gorge
6)Garden of Gods.
More posts , pictures and details to follow...See you soon :-)
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
What would I do over this weekend ?
Well ..I m heading-off to Denver for some authentic fun.Hoping to make loads of them to share with you :-)
Let me tell you a secret ... you know ...this is my first ever flight ALONE. With just my wild imagination for company I already have butterflies in my tummy (not just there!!!) and the whole episode is giving me such a thrill!!! I m as much excited about it though :)
Hope to see you all back here soon( if I dont end up breaking my bones skiing ...dint I tell you thatz on my list ?).
Keeping my fingers crossed ...
Let me tell you a secret ... you know ...this is my first ever flight ALONE. With just my wild imagination for company I already have butterflies in my tummy (not just there!!!) and the whole episode is giving me such a thrill!!! I m as much excited about it though :)
Hope to see you all back here soon( if I dont end up breaking my bones skiing ...dint I tell you thatz on my list ?).
Keeping my fingers crossed ...
Wings and Whacks - Heading to my new den...
Let me be quick about my travel from Atlanta to Minneapolis.This now was a small flight both in size and space ( as in distance).It must have been sub-zero then and I saw a pretty youg gurl walk in shorts , tee and slip ons , relishing her ice-cream!!
My god!!! I would have died of hypothermia.For me walking from the security check to the plane was so much of a challenge ..more so becoz of the winds.
The flight lasted over 2 hours and just whne I was grateful for
the hassle-free travel ( touch wood) ..my baggages were kinds lost and I got them the next noon.Thanks to all the expert advice , my hand luggage stuff helped me survive.
Seeing snow for the first time in my life, the what I felt about it...
thatz something I just cant put down in words.I was a little to excited ...that can
be an under-statement.
The drive from the airport to my apartment (after the sumptuous dinner at Maran's )was a white-carpetted one:)
I ll end this post with a pics of my apartment....well mine is one of these...and each of these is a rear-view(Is nt the view of the rear , a rear view ? :-))
My god!!! I would have died of hypothermia.For me walking from the security check to the plane was so much of a challenge ..more so becoz of the winds.
The flight lasted over 2 hours and just whne I was grateful for
the hassle-free travel ( touch wood) ..my baggages were kinds lost and I got them the next noon.Thanks to all the expert advice , my hand luggage stuff helped me survive.
Seeing snow for the first time in my life, the what I felt about it...
thatz something I just cant put down in words.I was a little to excited ...that can
be an under-statement.
The drive from the airport to my apartment (after the sumptuous dinner at Maran's )was a white-carpetted one:)
I ll end this post with a pics of my apartment....well mine is one of these...and each of these is a rear-view(Is nt the view of the rear , a rear view ? :-))
Monday, March 05, 2007
When I looked down from the sky ...
Cotton candy factory
Fleece fields..
A river runs through...
When the clouds, land and ocean met...
View from my window seat :-)
Fleece fields..
A river runs through...
When the clouds, land and ocean met...
View from my window seat :-)
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Wings and Whacks - Bonjour Paris, je suis venu ...
French has always been a fascination to me...the language ( with the little I picked up schooling thru college) and the people , for their relaxed way of life and sensuous taste( as much as I ve read of them).
The trip from Delhi to Paris was one worthy of my detest.My self-talk helped me survive.My seat ...I was sandwiched between two french ladies , one of them I was getting higher than we were flying... drowned herself in drinks.The one time she was not drinking she managed to eat the sandwich with the wrapper on and got the yogurt spilt all-over.The best I could do was shut my eyes tight and sleep...
The lady on the other side dint wake up except to eat and I liked her better.She smiled.And when I tried to strike a conversation I knew the French I learnt aint any good . So , I chose to smile back again and that ended the conversation that never happened.
'Expansive'- the word just would not suffice to describe Charles de Gaulle airport. Our flight scheduled at 1.00 was delayed by an hour and we got to spend an hour at terminal E of CDG playing games ( learning ABCD :-) ) The other football game that was there ..I dint get a hang of it.And another game spoke lotsa French than I can take.
The slight thought of getting a bit to munch waned out as we saw them priced in Euros.We decided to stick to the in-flight food.
We alighted the flight to Atlanta and Randy who was sitting next to me was too kool that he offered me his window seat :-)The view of the day sky was simply awesome as we flew over the fleecy, cotton-candy clouds, especially where the clouds peak up life snowy moutains.The experience was very humbling...the thought about the big guy who keeps churning the cotton-candy out.
Randy was much surprised to know that I had nt touched meat anytime in my life and had picked up strange ideas on Hinduism ...that shaving the head and wearing a sheet was Hinduism.The little he knew of Hinduism and India , the more he spoke on , which I chose to ignore.When people donot know something, you can tell them.But when they think they know and that only what they know is right , then I hold my silence.
Through the entire 9 hour flight I kept myself occupied ...reading, drinking the skies , watching a movie ('Marie Antoinette') , updating my journal , reading a book ('How to speak Minnesotan') and filling myself with the food.
Around late in the noon our flight landed in Atlanta , U.S.A.
Well , this post is getting way loo long ..so here I ll say 'Chao!'
Rest in next...
The trip from Delhi to Paris was one worthy of my detest.My self-talk helped me survive.My seat ...I was sandwiched between two french ladies , one of them I was getting higher than we were flying... drowned herself in drinks.The one time she was not drinking she managed to eat the sandwich with the wrapper on and got the yogurt spilt all-over.The best I could do was shut my eyes tight and sleep...
The lady on the other side dint wake up except to eat and I liked her better.She smiled.And when I tried to strike a conversation I knew the French I learnt aint any good . So , I chose to smile back again and that ended the conversation that never happened.
'Expansive'- the word just would not suffice to describe Charles de Gaulle airport. Our flight scheduled at 1.00 was delayed by an hour and we got to spend an hour at terminal E of CDG playing games ( learning ABCD :-) ) The other football game that was there ..I dint get a hang of it.And another game spoke lotsa French than I can take.
The slight thought of getting a bit to munch waned out as we saw them priced in Euros.We decided to stick to the in-flight food.
We alighted the flight to Atlanta and Randy who was sitting next to me was too kool that he offered me his window seat :-)The view of the day sky was simply awesome as we flew over the fleecy, cotton-candy clouds, especially where the clouds peak up life snowy moutains.The experience was very humbling...the thought about the big guy who keeps churning the cotton-candy out.
Randy was much surprised to know that I had nt touched meat anytime in my life and had picked up strange ideas on Hinduism ...that shaving the head and wearing a sheet was Hinduism.The little he knew of Hinduism and India , the more he spoke on , which I chose to ignore.When people donot know something, you can tell them.But when they think they know and that only what they know is right , then I hold my silence.
Through the entire 9 hour flight I kept myself occupied ...reading, drinking the skies , watching a movie ('Marie Antoinette') , updating my journal , reading a book ('How to speak Minnesotan') and filling myself with the food.
Around late in the noon our flight landed in Atlanta , U.S.A.
Well , this post is getting way loo long ..so here I ll say 'Chao!'
Rest in next...
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Wings and Whacks - Capital city
On Feb 9 , I set out to the U.S of A.
For the first time flyer I m , my itinerary was fun ...more so because I was not alone :-)
More places, to me ,meant more travel ...what I dint realise that there was a flip-side to it ...I ll save it for the dessert.
My itinerary : Madras-> Delhi-> Paris-> Atlanta-> Minneapolis.
The Indian Airways flight from MAA-DEL took off at around 6.30. The vessel was packed with weary frequent flyers ... I cud see it from their weary eyes and the haste with which they pulled their blinders on.The gentle-men on either side of me belonged to that genre.
The first ever time in my life I remained silent for a little over 2 hrs!!!Boy ...I simply cud nt continue ...I started rattling off ( much to the misery of Mr.Arindosh ... thatz what I heard his name as, who was devouring every business magazine as if his life depended on them..may be it did..I donno!!) .
He was the one who helped me put in and pull up my hand baggage from the storage compartment.I owe him a thank-you .
The 2.5 hr flight got extended by 45 minutes due to the heavy fog in Delhi.
After quite an arduous effort , we ( prasaaana ,dana and myself ) , along with baggages as big as us , headed to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. On our way I struck a conversation with the cab-guy and he understood the battered hindi I spoke ... I feel elated!!!
My flight to Paris , scheduled at 1 am took off at around 2.00 .We embarked the flight after the successful security check .Boy that was the longest ever queue I had fallen in!!!
Oh I shud tell about the NRI guy who stood just ahead of us in the queue.His rambling was so much that it put me to shame!!Well ...he knew sooo much...and he whined as much!!!
And here comes the dessert I saved ... more travel meant more security- checks!!!And every check simply puts a smile on my face ...which eventually breaks-out into a giggle.I knew I would be annoying them with my giggles ...but I cud not help...I felt tickled!!
I was riding on first-timer high and that helped me through the series of rip-offs we were put thru...they frisked everything ...jackets , shoes, cameras, passport -pouches.Another thing that I m really fond of are the trolleys...they remind me of the 'nadaivandi' ( a toddler's toy to teach walking).They cheered me up between the check-ins and check-outs.
A bird's view of the capital from night sky is what I would call ...simply awesome !!
Gayu , I can hear you say , "I told you so!!!!" :-)
What follows is my first French rendezvous ...
Stay tuned...
For the first time flyer I m , my itinerary was fun ...more so because I was not alone :-)
More places, to me ,meant more travel ...what I dint realise that there was a flip-side to it ...I ll save it for the dessert.
My itinerary : Madras-> Delhi-> Paris-> Atlanta-> Minneapolis.
The Indian Airways flight from MAA-DEL took off at around 6.30. The vessel was packed with weary frequent flyers ... I cud see it from their weary eyes and the haste with which they pulled their blinders on.The gentle-men on either side of me belonged to that genre.
The first ever time in my life I remained silent for a little over 2 hrs!!!Boy ...I simply cud nt continue ...I started rattling off ( much to the misery of Mr.Arindosh ... thatz what I heard his name as, who was devouring every business magazine as if his life depended on them..may be it did..I donno!!) .
He was the one who helped me put in and pull up my hand baggage from the storage compartment.I owe him a thank-you .
The 2.5 hr flight got extended by 45 minutes due to the heavy fog in Delhi.
After quite an arduous effort , we ( prasaaana ,dana and myself ) , along with baggages as big as us , headed to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. On our way I struck a conversation with the cab-guy and he understood the battered hindi I spoke ... I feel elated!!!
My flight to Paris , scheduled at 1 am took off at around 2.00 .We embarked the flight after the successful security check .Boy that was the longest ever queue I had fallen in!!!
Oh I shud tell about the NRI guy who stood just ahead of us in the queue.His rambling was so much that it put me to shame!!Well ...he knew sooo much...and he whined as much!!!
And here comes the dessert I saved ... more travel meant more security- checks!!!And every check simply puts a smile on my face ...which eventually breaks-out into a giggle.I knew I would be annoying them with my giggles ...but I cud not help...I felt tickled!!
I was riding on first-timer high and that helped me through the series of rip-offs we were put thru...they frisked everything ...jackets , shoes, cameras, passport -pouches.Another thing that I m really fond of are the trolleys...they remind me of the 'nadaivandi' ( a toddler's toy to teach walking).They cheered me up between the check-ins and check-outs.
A bird's view of the capital from night sky is what I would call ...simply awesome !!
Gayu , I can hear you say , "I told you so!!!!" :-)
What follows is my first French rendezvous ...
Stay tuned...
From the other side of the globe ...
If you are reading this post and if you dint just hit upon here by accident ...thank you ...you sure have loads of vitamin H ...Hope :-)
Now that what you ve hoped has happened...go ahead I ve loads of storied to share ...
Lemme start of with how started off with my first ever flight ... that happened on
Feb 09 , 2007.
As I headed to the other side of the globe , the getting ready and setting-out was as much fun as the travel itself.I had the whole bunch of my folks come over to see me off.I sure I m filthy lucky when it comes to people ..I simply get the best !!!
Having put the peg in place , lemme sign off this post here.
"Wings and Whacks" , my not-so-travelogue ,
Coming up next ...
Now that what you ve hoped has happened...go ahead I ve loads of storied to share ...
Lemme start of with how started off with my first ever flight ... that happened on
Feb 09 , 2007.
As I headed to the other side of the globe , the getting ready and setting-out was as much fun as the travel itself.I had the whole bunch of my folks come over to see me off.I sure I m filthy lucky when it comes to people ..I simply get the best !!!
Having put the peg in place , lemme sign off this post here.
"Wings and Whacks" , my not-so-travelogue ,
Coming up next ...
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Can't-think-of-one syndrome - VII
I have nt kept count of the number of times I typed out a post on my notepad and then ... let it go unsaved.The last one I did that to was a post mentioning Ramesh's 300th post.Well, that got me inquisitive to know about when I started blogging and the day is 05,Oct,2004.
A surprise awaited me there at my first post.Someone had actually taken the time to hit my archives, read my older posts and leave comments ...some of which are more than one-liners!!
Thank you Nullity for your time and comments , especially for going with them , when the prospect of me seeing them was limited !! I am happy :-)
I remember the many times I sneak into blogs , enjoy the posts but leave the place without a trail even when I had something to say.I really cannot rationalize as to why I do that.
This year on I ll make an effort to leave 2 cents if I have them :-)
Btw , this year ...no resolutions in my kitty ...lots of dreams though !!
A surprise awaited me there at my first post.Someone had actually taken the time to hit my archives, read my older posts and leave comments ...some of which are more than one-liners!!
Thank you Nullity for your time and comments , especially for going with them , when the prospect of me seeing them was limited !! I am happy :-)
I remember the many times I sneak into blogs , enjoy the posts but leave the place without a trail even when I had something to say.I really cannot rationalize as to why I do that.
This year on I ll make an effort to leave 2 cents if I have them :-)
Btw , this year ...no resolutions in my kitty ...lots of dreams though !!
Monday, January 01, 2007
A new beginning ...
This world, where every canine barks its day,
where the feline so busily pry,
where the populus so run the rat-race,
sans an end, a destiny,
into an absolution that is ever-far,
God gives us a reason to live,
a new hope, as an answer to all our mumbled-prayers,
the cure for the world's pain and strife,
a new cry, a new ray ... so pure -
a babe is born.
Wish you all a very happy New year!!!
May the year be filled with lots of love, light and laughter :-)
where the feline so busily pry,
where the populus so run the rat-race,
sans an end, a destiny,
into an absolution that is ever-far,
God gives us a reason to live,
a new hope, as an answer to all our mumbled-prayers,
the cure for the world's pain and strife,
a new cry, a new ray ... so pure -
a babe is born.
Wish you all a very happy New year!!!
May the year be filled with lots of love, light and laughter :-)
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
A snapshot of me...
Itz 12.45 am. and my music is blasting.I want to cut out voices... especially the one screaming within me.Wondering how long I can keep the music going ...
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
shall I call this a tangy day ?
Today I had lotsa oranges for lunch.One that I just gobbled (wish I dint have to do that...but had to ...owing to non-technical reasons!!) and lots more that I relished.I loooove oranges ...for the happy color it carries,for the scented spray that it sends when I remove the peel...the fibre, the tingling that it does to my olfactory sensors, the tangy taste and for the happy , cheerful fruit it is :-)
Shud call this day ...tangy !!
That apart I will just mention about the "Decorate your workplace" contest that Pk and Monu have vividly portrayed.After a reaaal long time ..it was great team effort...and we won :-) Reminded me of my school days and college days ...when we got a little toooo creative or shud I call it weird :-) ?!!
The storms have ceased at my sea...now I m enjoying the calm and happy that the rough patch is over.Trying to enjoy the missing feeling.Guess itz worth the try.
Somehow now, I think of this:
"If you love something,
Set it free...
If it comes back, it's yours,
If it doesn't, it never was yours...."
And how true it is !!
I m thankful for all the love that remains , all the love that keeps me going , for the love that I ve lost, for all the love that has come back to me ...I really am :-)
Shud call this day ...tangy !!
That apart I will just mention about the "Decorate your workplace" contest that Pk and Monu have vividly portrayed.After a reaaal long time ..it was great team effort...and we won :-) Reminded me of my school days and college days ...when we got a little toooo creative or shud I call it weird :-) ?!!
The storms have ceased at my sea...now I m enjoying the calm and happy that the rough patch is over.Trying to enjoy the missing feeling.Guess itz worth the try.
Somehow now, I think of this:
"If you love something,
Set it free...
If it comes back, it's yours,
If it doesn't, it never was yours...."
And how true it is !!
I m thankful for all the love that remains , all the love that keeps me going , for the love that I ve lost, for all the love that has come back to me ...I really am :-)
Friday, December 22, 2006
A discussion to share
Therez this funny thing about humans( as much as I know), the more the prospects of not getting something, the more is the yearning for it . Be it a material , personal or emotional need, what we donot have we pine over all the more.If only we cherished all that we have life would be sooo much better ...is nt it?
That apart, I had a discussion with nn which I would like to share here ...on this blog:(ofcourse acceptance has been obtained from nn :-) ).
> Hi,
> are you conducting some psychological survey on women or wat?
> But still I choose to answer for two reasons:
> 1.I presume you are a guy whoz set out to understand the fairer lot.And I appreciate your effort.
> 2.May b it will my 2 cents to the women in your life.
> Here you go:
> What is Ur thought on what an average female wants out of a
> relationship? Complete possession ?
My response:
> I believe that
> every woman looks for a sense of belonging in any relationship.Shez
> wired that way.And ofcourse there is an element of possessiveness with
> every woman ...the reason being she puts in so much of her care and
> affection into the relationship that she values.
> What you ve nurtured you find it tough to let go ...right?
Do U feel that women have intimate stuff from past relationships inside their minds which probably do not get out even to the most understanding of partners ?
> My response:
> Letting out intimate stuff and have an understanding partner are two different things.A woman may have stuff from her past relationships on her mind.But may choose to leave them alone becoz they simply might not make sense anymore.
> A most understanding partner shud be ok with it.Is nt it?I believe once a woman loves someone ...itz tough (nearly impossible) to hate that person.What she does with the new relationship is she simply loves or tries to love someone more.What she
has ...she holds in the palm of her heart.
> What is the biggest expectancy in a woman,when she gets involved in a relationship ?
> My response:
> 'Commitment' is the word.
> Quoting nn@xyz.com:
Hi Rish,
> What is Ur thought on what an average female wants out of a
> relationship? Complete possession ? Do U feel that women have intimate stuff from past relationships inside their minds which probably do not get out even to the
most understanding of partners ? What is the biggest expectancy in a woman,when she gets involved in a relationship?
> Whoa... So many questions eh ? Let me see how many get their partners answers)... : )
> NN.
That apart, I had a discussion with nn which I would like to share here ...on this blog:(ofcourse acceptance has been obtained from nn :-) ).
> Hi,
> are you conducting some psychological survey on women or wat?
> But still I choose to answer for two reasons:
> 1.I presume you are a guy whoz set out to understand the fairer lot.And I appreciate your effort.
> 2.May b it will my 2 cents to the women in your life.
> Here you go:
> What is Ur thought on what an average female wants out of a
> relationship? Complete possession ?
My response:
> I believe that
> every woman looks for a sense of belonging in any relationship.Shez
> wired that way.And ofcourse there is an element of possessiveness with
> every woman ...the reason being she puts in so much of her care and
> affection into the relationship that she values.
> What you ve nurtured you find it tough to let go ...right?
Do U feel that women have intimate stuff from past relationships inside their minds which probably do not get out even to the most understanding of partners ?
> My response:
> Letting out intimate stuff and have an understanding partner are two different things.A woman may have stuff from her past relationships on her mind.But may choose to leave them alone becoz they simply might not make sense anymore.
> A most understanding partner shud be ok with it.Is nt it?I believe once a woman loves someone ...itz tough (nearly impossible) to hate that person.What she does with the new relationship is she simply loves or tries to love someone more.What she
has ...she holds in the palm of her heart.
> What is the biggest expectancy in a woman,when she gets involved in a relationship ?
> My response:
> 'Commitment' is the word.
> Quoting nn@xyz.com:
Hi Rish,
> What is Ur thought on what an average female wants out of a
> relationship? Complete possession ? Do U feel that women have intimate stuff from past relationships inside their minds which probably do not get out even to the
most understanding of partners ? What is the biggest expectancy in a woman,when she gets involved in a relationship?
> Whoa... So many questions eh ? Let me see how many get their partners answers)... : )
> NN.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
An other kind of ode ...
A quick note:
2 years ago I posted An ode to a friend...(You have to forgive me for the bad indentation ...there simply aint any :-)Lost them during shipment from LiveJournal to here).
Now I have done a follow up on the self-same :-)
Goodbye ...I ll save it for the end;
Where it began we painted the picture with a rosy blend.
The friend you were to me... I thought you deserved an ode,
and that thought I dont repent not this far down the road.
Just when everyday spake the tongue of rainbow hues,
there came the blacks and whites...giving the picture hazy blues.
Special moments drowned in the haunting silences,
we spoke of new terms...freedom,space and independence.
And then appeared the grey spaces and moss,
all that we built with our hands and hearts... went for a toss.
The sunny days are the ones with the past,
Our walks have waned and now not steadfast.
Our paces have started to vary,
when I slow down you scurry.
When I fasten my stead,
you fall back and let me take the lead.
Funny ...how different we think.
When I say there are too many strangers around us,
About making new friends is your buzz.
A smile I smile not to be seen,
looking at you reminds me what I could have been.
But if I were you and you and me were same,
then between us, there would not be as much fun and game.
The time has come for us to seek new avenues,
Now, we are at cross-roads..ahead, we have many rues.
Letz tread our ways in our own pace,
and shine a smile when we meet face-to-face.
So long... so good ..the laughters, good times, sharing and pains,
Letz tell ourselves "Well with life ...nothing remains".
2 years ago I posted An ode to a friend...(You have to forgive me for the bad indentation ...there simply aint any :-)Lost them during shipment from LiveJournal to here).
Now I have done a follow up on the self-same :-)
Goodbye ...I ll save it for the end;
Where it began we painted the picture with a rosy blend.
The friend you were to me... I thought you deserved an ode,
and that thought I dont repent not this far down the road.
Just when everyday spake the tongue of rainbow hues,
there came the blacks and whites...giving the picture hazy blues.
Special moments drowned in the haunting silences,
we spoke of new terms...freedom,space and independence.
And then appeared the grey spaces and moss,
all that we built with our hands and hearts... went for a toss.
The sunny days are the ones with the past,
Our walks have waned and now not steadfast.
Our paces have started to vary,
when I slow down you scurry.
When I fasten my stead,
you fall back and let me take the lead.
Funny ...how different we think.
When I say there are too many strangers around us,
About making new friends is your buzz.
A smile I smile not to be seen,
looking at you reminds me what I could have been.
But if I were you and you and me were same,
then between us, there would not be as much fun and game.
The time has come for us to seek new avenues,
Now, we are at cross-roads..ahead, we have many rues.
Letz tread our ways in our own pace,
and shine a smile when we meet face-to-face.
So long... so good ..the laughters, good times, sharing and pains,
Letz tell ourselves "Well with life ...nothing remains".
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
My Madurai trip
Its been quite a while since I been away.
Let me start-off with my trip to Madurai.I believe that therez an innate beauty in simplicity....be it a city, people, food,thinking or life-style.Madurai is a city thatz close to my heart for this reason...simplicity.With 3 years spent in this city and more away from it... my liking has just got better.
This capital of Pandyas has a charm of innocence , apart from the alluring temples, the varied landscapes, lush green fields,
a tantalizing spread of food (which also happens to be low-cost),simple people and their beautiful slang of tamil.
My trip lasted for a little more than 2 days, during which I attempted to drink as much of the city...meeting friends, feeding fishes, rock-climbing(well the not so tough one), temples, jigarthanda(a delicacy very specific to the city), roadttu kadai parotta( Indian roti) ,the closely string madurai malli(a genre of jasmine flower),sungadi sarees, long rides thru the villages, masal vadai and tea from MKU canteen and meeting the people of the land.
The temple tank of Thiruparankundram temple is the my most favourite place on earth. It has been my bodhimaram, den and my asylum...whatever name you give.The place has helped me clear the clouds and gain objectivity when I needed it.I have learnt to hear to my inner voice, as the ripples lapped up against the walls of the tank.Feeding the fishes is more than a mere obsession ...probably it is what is zen for me.For what the place does to me...I simply love it.
Thanks to Niraj, for the early morning drive to Vadivaelpuram.The place is a 20 min ride from Thirunagar and what makes this place special is the beautiful picture the place presents.A small temple with a temple-tank abloom with lotuses , at the foothill of a not-so-big rocky hill.And this entirety surrounded by lush green fields , interspersed with banyan trees.If one gets to go half-way up the mountain and takes a keen look , then one can trace water flowing downstream to the fields.I spent quite some time there feeding the fishes with rice puffs and chap from the village picked a lotus for me from the tank :-)
For a city-bred person like me, with sparse exposure to nature , it was like a small piece of heaven.
I really wish I could narrate my experience as much as I relished it.But then I know I ll miserably fail.
So, I choose to stop here and upload the pics which can do the narration better(well you ve to keep waiting on that...until I gain access to the resouces...but sure I ll do the uploading )
Bye for now.
Let me start-off with my trip to Madurai.I believe that therez an innate beauty in simplicity....be it a city, people, food,thinking or life-style.Madurai is a city thatz close to my heart for this reason...simplicity.With 3 years spent in this city and more away from it... my liking has just got better.
This capital of Pandyas has a charm of innocence , apart from the alluring temples, the varied landscapes, lush green fields,
a tantalizing spread of food (which also happens to be low-cost),simple people and their beautiful slang of tamil.
My trip lasted for a little more than 2 days, during which I attempted to drink as much of the city...meeting friends, feeding fishes, rock-climbing(well the not so tough one), temples, jigarthanda(a delicacy very specific to the city), roadttu kadai parotta( Indian roti) ,the closely string madurai malli(a genre of jasmine flower),sungadi sarees, long rides thru the villages, masal vadai and tea from MKU canteen and meeting the people of the land.
The temple tank of Thiruparankundram temple is the my most favourite place on earth. It has been my bodhimaram, den and my asylum...whatever name you give.The place has helped me clear the clouds and gain objectivity when I needed it.I have learnt to hear to my inner voice, as the ripples lapped up against the walls of the tank.Feeding the fishes is more than a mere obsession ...probably it is what is zen for me.For what the place does to me...I simply love it.
Thanks to Niraj, for the early morning drive to Vadivaelpuram.The place is a 20 min ride from Thirunagar and what makes this place special is the beautiful picture the place presents.A small temple with a temple-tank abloom with lotuses , at the foothill of a not-so-big rocky hill.And this entirety surrounded by lush green fields , interspersed with banyan trees.If one gets to go half-way up the mountain and takes a keen look , then one can trace water flowing downstream to the fields.I spent quite some time there feeding the fishes with rice puffs and chap from the village picked a lotus for me from the tank :-)
For a city-bred person like me, with sparse exposure to nature , it was like a small piece of heaven.
I really wish I could narrate my experience as much as I relished it.But then I know I ll miserably fail.
So, I choose to stop here and upload the pics which can do the narration better(well you ve to keep waiting on that...until I gain access to the resouces...but sure I ll do the uploading )
Bye for now.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
A smile and a tear
Therez this strange thing about relationships...the ones that go to be a memory , belonging to the past.Each one of them leaves behind moments to cherish or lessons for life.
No relationship really ends...a part of it we carry with us every day and onward,whether it is a familiar phrase instilled in us , a poem shared, a tiff over a bite of chocolate, the name-calling, that silly secret.I believe that this is the way it works.Else we would all be as open as when we started out and as unexposed to goodness or pain.
No, I dont say that with every awry relationship we shrink.It is just that we become a little more prudent about letting people or relationships influence us to the hitch.
I know getting hurt is inevitable, but to hang on to the pain or not is about personal choice.It is simply that I tell myself to give my best to the thing that is in front of me and then, when it is dusk, be happy for the day which gave me the mirth to bask in.A tough one I try to teach myself...but worth it.Life is more complete.
Sure life is beautiful...what else can give me a smile and a tear at the self-same spell of time :-)
No relationship really ends...a part of it we carry with us every day and onward,whether it is a familiar phrase instilled in us , a poem shared, a tiff over a bite of chocolate, the name-calling, that silly secret.I believe that this is the way it works.Else we would all be as open as when we started out and as unexposed to goodness or pain.
No, I dont say that with every awry relationship we shrink.It is just that we become a little more prudent about letting people or relationships influence us to the hitch.
I know getting hurt is inevitable, but to hang on to the pain or not is about personal choice.It is simply that I tell myself to give my best to the thing that is in front of me and then, when it is dusk, be happy for the day which gave me the mirth to bask in.A tough one I try to teach myself...but worth it.Life is more complete.
Sure life is beautiful...what else can give me a smile and a tear at the self-same spell of time :-)
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Appreciation Day
Today itz Appreciation day at work.What came to my mind was this:
"To those of you who have pushed me, thank you.
Without you I would have fallen.
To those of you who laughed at me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have cried.
To those of you who just couldn't love me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have known real love.
To those of you who hurt my feelings, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have felt them.
To those of you who left me lonely, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have discovered myself.
But it is to those of you who thought I couldn't do it;
It is you I thank the most,
Because without you I wouldn't have tried."
~Author Unknown
"To those of you who have pushed me, thank you.
Without you I would have fallen.
To those of you who laughed at me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have cried.
To those of you who just couldn't love me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have known real love.
To those of you who hurt my feelings, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have felt them.
To those of you who left me lonely, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have discovered myself.
But it is to those of you who thought I couldn't do it;
It is you I thank the most,
Because without you I wouldn't have tried."
~Author Unknown
A snap-shot of me I
I continue to surprise myself on how gracefully I take my lessons with life .Just that, heart of hearts, I wish I dint have to take them..the real tough ones.Then again ... I know they are good for me. I need to grow , get better , gentler, stronger ...
I know I can rest for a while and then, move on I must.Staying behind is not a choice I give myself.
So move on I will, with my lessons in my heart :-)
I know I can rest for a while and then, move on I must.Staying behind is not a choice I give myself.
So move on I will, with my lessons in my heart :-)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Short story 1
Thanks to Ammani,I ve finally took to trying my writing skill.
So, this is lead line for i ask you write - 10:
Somewhere in the dark recess of that wooden cupboard, there is a photo album. And somewhere the middle of the album is a photograph of Vaijayanti. She's leaning against a tree, looking up at something and smiling. What is she looking at? When was this photo taken?
And here is my 50 paise:
Itz more than two decades since that day had met itz dusk , but my memory of it still shines through.Vaiju...the angel-next-door, known as Vaijayanti to the rest of the world , wore a saree for the first time.Not that she was of contemporary or tom-boy make...she was one of those delicate souls who would blush at even the slightest glance.A loud word from her is something I ve not heard of...since our childhood days.
By virtue of my profession I was the chosen one to catch a glimpse of her through my nikon.The damsel, draped in a saree,
toddled her way into my backyard and I zeroed-in on my favourite mango tree for the spot.Smile was her language and she needed no prompting on that .Just when I was done with the shoot , she looked up at the sky and smiled ...she spotted a garudan, an auspicious sight ... an good omen for her marriage under discussion.For me that spelt a beautiful memory etched on my film.
The omen was true - she is curled up in her baby-like sleep , as I flip through the album , on this warm sunday noon.
So, this is lead line for i ask you write - 10:
Somewhere in the dark recess of that wooden cupboard, there is a photo album. And somewhere the middle of the album is a photograph of Vaijayanti. She's leaning against a tree, looking up at something and smiling. What is she looking at? When was this photo taken?
And here is my 50 paise:
Itz more than two decades since that day had met itz dusk , but my memory of it still shines through.Vaiju...the angel-next-door, known as Vaijayanti to the rest of the world , wore a saree for the first time.Not that she was of contemporary or tom-boy make...she was one of those delicate souls who would blush at even the slightest glance.A loud word from her is something I ve not heard of...since our childhood days.
By virtue of my profession I was the chosen one to catch a glimpse of her through my nikon.The damsel, draped in a saree,
toddled her way into my backyard and I zeroed-in on my favourite mango tree for the spot.Smile was her language and she needed no prompting on that .Just when I was done with the shoot , she looked up at the sky and smiled ...she spotted a garudan, an auspicious sight ... an good omen for her marriage under discussion.For me that spelt a beautiful memory etched on my film.
The omen was true - she is curled up in her baby-like sleep , as I flip through the album , on this warm sunday noon.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
A lesson for life
We pick up lessons from strange places...the back-seat of an auto, an unfair deal , a spider , a babe ,a tsunami-struck village,a signature line, a stray dog ...well...today I took my lesson from a tramp...one can actually be happy at the road-side, with tattered clothes, measly food and no roof over the head.
A smile so full ...so full of life...I wish I had my cam with me.
I need a flash card of the lesson.
A smile so full ...so full of life...I wish I had my cam with me.
I need a flash card of the lesson.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Why I love spaces
Spaces...I ve always loved them.Be it the spaces as in the skies (back then, I was so much of a star-gazer),the spaces in my dwelling place ,the spaces between the words I type, the silence that lives flanking the musical notes or the spaces even in my relationships, for that matter.I love them for their very existence.And even more for the sense they make.Somehow I feel that spaces add more meaning and beauty , with their being so subtle yet so indispensable.
Speaking of my personal space...it has been my den,refuge, asylum ,haven.That is where I lick my wounds, heal them, reminisce good times, reflect or simply stare into the rough country I carry within.The place saves my sanity.
For me, a person is as rich as the people one has in his life.And as I see , my life has been bejeweled by very special people.Love simply grows with giving.The more thatz given ,therez always more to give.Thatz what I believe.
All that said, I still need my space, where even the soul thatz my skin will not have a say.
"Dont hold me too close for I would suffocate", says a would-be doctor.And my thoughts are so much with her.
And I somehow feel we are not alone and that there must be so many out there exalting space.And about those who think otherwise , I simply wonder how they can choke joyfully.
" You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."
- Khalil Gibran, The prophet.
Speaking of my personal space...it has been my den,refuge, asylum ,haven.That is where I lick my wounds, heal them, reminisce good times, reflect or simply stare into the rough country I carry within.The place saves my sanity.
For me, a person is as rich as the people one has in his life.And as I see , my life has been bejeweled by very special people.Love simply grows with giving.The more thatz given ,therez always more to give.Thatz what I believe.
All that said, I still need my space, where even the soul thatz my skin will not have a say.
"Dont hold me too close for I would suffocate", says a would-be doctor.And my thoughts are so much with her.
And I somehow feel we are not alone and that there must be so many out there exalting space.And about those who think otherwise , I simply wonder how they can choke joyfully.
" You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."
- Khalil Gibran, The prophet.
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