A small tip of the day:
Most of us have seen cotton ear buds being sold on the traffic signals for not more than 10 bucks. Now, never ever think of buying them. Reason being, these ear buds are made from used blood stained or infected cotton from the hospitals which are then bleached and used to make these buds. One can imagine how dangerous it is to use them!
So just remember before you get tempted to buy these ear buds from road side that you are actually buying Herpes Zoster Oticus (a viral infection of the inner, middle, and external ear) of the ear for a mere 10 Rs.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Memories of Dunagiri Temple
It is only March right now and Hyderabad has started heating up already. This is the first time for me in this city at this time of the year though I have spent quite some time here since last May. The sun is hot and big by 8 AM itself and am thinking of ways to beat the heat all day through. It is this moment when I get reminded of the beautiful spring it used to be in Kumaon where I spent 4 years of my life for my Engineering. The whole valley would be covered with long climber roses (infact that’s the only place where I saw roses in climbers) everywhere. The weather would be pleasant enough to go for long walks up and down the terrain in the evenings. Infact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you find a few cupid struck couples (with the “We are just friends” tag) making the best utilization of their times “studying nature” in those valleys.
But jokes apart, Kumaon was a beautiful place to be in all seasons. The winter also wouldn’t be that harsh because there would be nice sunny bright days to compensate for the chilly nights. And a coffee prepared on the heater at midnight would be the ideal thing to do, especially when you are burning the midnight oil “studying” with the whole group of friends.
Talking of the summers, I remember going frequently to the Dunagiri Temple. It was located 20 km away from Dwarahat, the town nearest to my institute. It used to be one of the most comfortable outings for us especially during any festival to pay homage to Maa Durga (I do have my wishes come true which I made there). The temple was on the top of a mountain from the Himalaya range and it took 500 steps to cover the distance. Reaching up there, one would find a beautiful and serene view of the Dwarahat town down the valley most of the times covered with clouds. Huge trees and beautiful flowers surrounded the temple and the whole place had a calmness to itself. I remember sitting in the grasslands for hours with friends chatting. By the time it was evening, there would be a wonderful wind blowing around and you would feel you are so close to God. Dunagiri temple also had a Bhandara facility and even today am not able to find a reason as to why that curry without any spices or onions used to taste so good.
There were many other places to visit in Kumaon but I felt nothing could beat a trip to Dunagiri. Especially for the trekking freaks, who would somehow find a way through the hills and mountains to reach to the top.
Now am far from that place but still the memories of the wonderful days visiting the Dunagiri temple are as fresh as the morning sun and I do wait for the day when I will go there again.
But jokes apart, Kumaon was a beautiful place to be in all seasons. The winter also wouldn’t be that harsh because there would be nice sunny bright days to compensate for the chilly nights. And a coffee prepared on the heater at midnight would be the ideal thing to do, especially when you are burning the midnight oil “studying” with the whole group of friends.
Talking of the summers, I remember going frequently to the Dunagiri Temple. It was located 20 km away from Dwarahat, the town nearest to my institute. It used to be one of the most comfortable outings for us especially during any festival to pay homage to Maa Durga (I do have my wishes come true which I made there). The temple was on the top of a mountain from the Himalaya range and it took 500 steps to cover the distance. Reaching up there, one would find a beautiful and serene view of the Dwarahat town down the valley most of the times covered with clouds. Huge trees and beautiful flowers surrounded the temple and the whole place had a calmness to itself. I remember sitting in the grasslands for hours with friends chatting. By the time it was evening, there would be a wonderful wind blowing around and you would feel you are so close to God. Dunagiri temple also had a Bhandara facility and even today am not able to find a reason as to why that curry without any spices or onions used to taste so good.
There were many other places to visit in Kumaon but I felt nothing could beat a trip to Dunagiri. Especially for the trekking freaks, who would somehow find a way through the hills and mountains to reach to the top.
Now am far from that place but still the memories of the wonderful days visiting the Dunagiri temple are as fresh as the morning sun and I do wait for the day when I will go there again.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Bravo Ashutosh Gowariker!!
Imagination knows no boundaries. It can be given wings to fly and there can be no limit to what one can draw in the canvas of his mind. Now that’s fairly simple and easy. I can imagine to be on the top of the Alps with no sweaters, may be in a chiffon sari and singing a beautiful song in my otherwise not –so- melodious-voice. Wow, that sounds so kewl by the way!
But, the real feat comes when you re live something which has already happened in the past in your own way without twisting the actual sequence of facts. That’s what I call the real imagination. And that’s exactly what Ashutosh Gowariker did in Jodhaa Akbar.
I heard and read a lot of criticism about the movie. There wasn’t any character called Jodhaa in the Indian history who married Akbar. The name of that Rajput princess was something else. All the so called activists who think they are “deeply rooted” to the Indian history and culture took no time in coming on to the roads in huge protests. Some kind of defense lawyers Jodhaa herself appointed it seemed??
But in such hue and cry, what they did not see was filmmaking is not writing a history book to be read by children of class V. No one dead or living can come and tell what really happened between Jodhaa and Akbar as a couple, as a husband & wife, as lovers. We have heard so much about Salim Anarkali, Laila Majnu and other famous jodis in the past. If someone is attempting to imagine that love would have blossomed out of a political alliance between the Moughal King and the Rajput princess also, I call it Bravo!! If someone is attempting to think that even Akbar, whose whole life went in running the then India could have fallen in love with the strong and dignified personality of the delicate and beautiful Jodhaa who herself dared to marry a Muslim emperor at that time, I give him a ten on ten for this effort.
Let’s forget whether the name of the princess was Jodhaa Bai or Jodh Bai or something else. Let’s just go back in time and see the beautiful country of ours in those times. Let’s just relive the Moughal days when the country was run by such an efficient king like Akbar whose thoughts were so ahead of time. Let’s just praise the bravery of our women in those days who otherwise were laden with jewellery but had the guts and skill to lift the sword in the battlefield if required. Let’s just loosen our tensed minds when we hear Khwaja Mere Khwaja (how beautifully composed by A R Rahman). Let’s just ourselves also untwine to feel that love, that purity, that bliss.
Let’s just thank Ashutosh Gowariker for this masterpiece.
But, the real feat comes when you re live something which has already happened in the past in your own way without twisting the actual sequence of facts. That’s what I call the real imagination. And that’s exactly what Ashutosh Gowariker did in Jodhaa Akbar.
I heard and read a lot of criticism about the movie. There wasn’t any character called Jodhaa in the Indian history who married Akbar. The name of that Rajput princess was something else. All the so called activists who think they are “deeply rooted” to the Indian history and culture took no time in coming on to the roads in huge protests. Some kind of defense lawyers Jodhaa herself appointed it seemed??
But in such hue and cry, what they did not see was filmmaking is not writing a history book to be read by children of class V. No one dead or living can come and tell what really happened between Jodhaa and Akbar as a couple, as a husband & wife, as lovers. We have heard so much about Salim Anarkali, Laila Majnu and other famous jodis in the past. If someone is attempting to imagine that love would have blossomed out of a political alliance between the Moughal King and the Rajput princess also, I call it Bravo!! If someone is attempting to think that even Akbar, whose whole life went in running the then India could have fallen in love with the strong and dignified personality of the delicate and beautiful Jodhaa who herself dared to marry a Muslim emperor at that time, I give him a ten on ten for this effort.
Let’s forget whether the name of the princess was Jodhaa Bai or Jodh Bai or something else. Let’s just go back in time and see the beautiful country of ours in those times. Let’s just relive the Moughal days when the country was run by such an efficient king like Akbar whose thoughts were so ahead of time. Let’s just praise the bravery of our women in those days who otherwise were laden with jewellery but had the guts and skill to lift the sword in the battlefield if required. Let’s just loosen our tensed minds when we hear Khwaja Mere Khwaja (how beautifully composed by A R Rahman). Let’s just ourselves also untwine to feel that love, that purity, that bliss.
Let’s just thank Ashutosh Gowariker for this masterpiece.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Let's get started
Life is a very very small journey. And that too pretty unpredictable. What we can do is be head on with it and tell straight on its face, that Hey you! I will live every second of the 86,400 you give me everyday to the fullest and will have fun in my own way.
This blog has the sole aim to enjoy every fragrance and variety of life and come out with a blast of fun!!
Happy Living!!
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