Gallivanting in Queen’s Land

It is said, that for any writer, mountains are the best places to come up with a good story or plot for a book, as they are havens for a peaceful mind and provide inspiration in nature’s proximity. This summer, as an escape from Mumbai’s scorching heat and hoping to get a thrust to write something better, I paid a visit to the Queen of Hills – Mussoorie, nestled in India’s Land of Gods i.e. ‘Devbhoomi’, Uttarakhand.

The journey from Dehradun Airport to Mussoorie was a starting point in Uttarakhand’s emerald green world. As we reached Mussoorie, the mountains seemed to welcome and embrace us in their wide arms. Our abode throughout the stay in Mussorie was Kasmanda Palace, a heritage hotel, which itself was an opportunity to live royally. It is situated on the busy Mall Road, where there is a plenitude of shops and mesmerizing view of mountains below. The palace is situated on top of a hill away from the hustle and bustle of the busy road. This more than a century old palace is like the one you would see in movies, where hunted animals are seen on the walls like trophies and steps are covered in royal red carpets. It is adorned by pictures of lineage of Kings who ruled the small kingdom of Kasmanda. The history of palace displayed is worth a read, as it explains how the palace has been through various avatars since its construction in 1836. It also mentions about the hunted animals seen in palace and how the kings, in order to protect their subjects, had killed these man-eater animals, thus not glorifying killing of animals. There was a cannibal tigress and a leopard kept in a glass cabinet, hunted between the years 1953 to 1958, who seemed life-like even today, with their belligerent eyes. Everything about the palace is regal, right from its rooms to the heritage items showcased in the property. The Her Royal Highness or H.R.H. point is a part of the palace where Queen Mary, wife of King George V had had tea and was thrilled to see the view of the mountains. It was indeed a scenic sight where you could get a panoramic view of humankind settled in the accommodating mountains. In the evening, the mountains and the settlements beyond them glittered like a Queen’s jewellery. The chilled evenings were a much-awaited respite from the beads of sweat experienced in Mumbai in the month of May.

The next morning, we headed out to explore the nature’s bounty. Our first stop was Yamuna Bridge, where we saw Yamuna, one of the holiest rivers of India running placidly with its pure waters. The river taught us to go with the flow of life with patience and calmness. As we were in the Land of Gods, taking their blessings was a must. We proceeded to visit Goddess Santura in her temple. It is believed that Santura Mata spared Mussoorie from a fierce earthquake in 1991. Therefore, this sacred place has profound significance among the people of Mussoorie. The story made me think of the strong divine impact on us and how God looks after His valuable creations, in times of calamity and prosperity as well. The temple is milky white in colour signifying its sanctity. The temple offers breathtaking view of green valleys below it, giving you much needed rejuvenation in untouched nature’s presence. We went ahead to meet another of God’s numerous forms, by visiting a Buddha Temple at Happy Valley. Surrounded by a meditative environment, this small temple offers peace of mind. Having sought an acquaintance with ranges of tall mountains now, it was time to explore the palette of colours on flowers at Company Garden, not far from Buddha Temple. The garden looks ebullient with a variety of flowers that it flaunts. Roses of different colours shine proudly in the gardens. A nursery within the garden is a place several multi-coloured flowers greet you and present a treat to your eyes. I remember a particular patch in that garden where flowers of all colours that you can imagine were present. It reminded me of my childhood colouring books in which I excitedly used all crayons of my box to colour a picture of garden! The evening slowly started turning into a cold one and we retired into the warmth of our palace hotel, like sincere subjects returning under their King’s protection.

The next day was a combination of visits to natural and man-made wonders and another rendezvous with God. We began our day by paying a visit to Naag Devta temple. Another refuge of solace, this temple is surrounded by soothing cool breeze and serenity. On its way, there are simple teachings for our day to day lives written on the walls, reading which, we ask ourselves whether we really lead our lives in these ideal ways. With a hope that we will engrave these thoughts in our minds, we headed for our next destination. We visited Mussoorie lake next, an artificial one, and it gives scope for other recreational activities and adventure sports around. The lake acts like a magnet, attracting many tourists to explore its various other offers. We were already in the mountains, but now it was time to visit a jewel originating from these mountains in form of a waterfall. We headed to Bhatta falls next, where we could hear the wild gushing of waters from a long distance. The force of this abundantly flowing milky white water was an exceptional sight to see. Freshly gifted by nature, the indispensable source of life looked pure and transparent. We drove to reach Dhanaulti next, where we went higher in the mountains, cutting across its series of zigzag, sharp turns. The air got cooler in the afternoon and the sight of green mountains and trees beautiful than ever. Our first stop in Dhanaulti - Surkanda Devi Temple, was an ultimate test of endurance, trekking and patience. This temple is situated at a highest point that you can imagine. The experience of climbing 8 to 9 kilometers of the mountain to reach the temple was exhausting as well as exhilarating. After taking frequent breaks and finally reaching the temple, beating all odds and levels of tiredness, we felt like victors who successfully passed a physical fitness test! We sought the Goddess’ blessings and thanked her implied way of teaching us that we can always overcome the difficult situations of life, if we have patience, courage and strong willpower. The view that we got from the top of the temple made us realize how far we had come climbing, motivating us to implement the same principle in our lives by progressing steadily. Exploring Dhanaulti further, we visited Eco Park – a vast expanse of 13 hectares covered in deodar and oak trees. The park looked like a typical picnic spot. The firmly standing tall trees seemed like disciplined people who followed a straightforward path of life. A tradition known as memory sapling plantation is followed in the park, as a part of which, one can plant a sapling in memory of their loved ones. What a beautiful way of remembering your loved ones than looking after and nurturing a new life with your own hands!

On our way back, we saw the King of Mountains gazing at us from a distance – the sacred Himalayas. So far in my life I had seen Himalayas only in pictures and had read about them; their significance in mythology and fascinating facts. But to see them with my own eyes was like a picture forever imprinted on my mind. These snowclad mountains were glittering in the sun, making evident to everyone who the real King was, among the numerous green mountains that we saw. The sight of Himalayas accompanied us till the long part of our drive, giving us enough opportunities to extol this distinct marvel of Nature, albeit from a far distance. To get a closer view of the magnificent Himalayas with the help of telescope, we visited Lal Tibba next, the second highest point in Mussoorie. On our way to Lal Tibba, we passed by the areas which were British establishments earlier. The surroundings still seem like pre-independent India, almost taking us back to British era. We saw Ruskin Bond’s home on our way. No wonder that the creatively conducive and pleasant climate of Mussoorie inspires him to come up with such good stories, revolving around the contentedness, innocence and simplicity of life in a hill station like this one. Having explored the lengths and breadths of Mussoorie, we called it a day, tired and satisfied at the same time.

The next day we headed out on foot to reach Gun Hill Point. A cable car ride is available to drop you there. We could see Himalayas even from there, wishing us a pleasant morning. Their sight again made our day. We walked around the Gun Hill Point enjoying the pleasant climate and gathering the marvelous view of mountains as much as possible, as it was our last day of stay in Mussoorie. The mountains also have their own way of telling how unique they are from each other. We went to Camel Back road next to see how these mountains took shape of a camel’s hump as if to distinguish themselves in some way.

Throughout our stay in Mussoorie, we relished the delicious and authentic North Indian delicacies and unleashed the foodies within us. Everything about the place was memorable- the untouched nature, kind people, the proudly standing temples and even the cycle rickshaws! Everything looked picturesque and like a description that you would read in stories. A vacation in a storyland like Mussoorie gave me a glimpse of utopian, fictional world that exists in stories where life is perfect and people are happy with whatever little they have. It was a lesson in appreciation of Nature which taught us to be humble and still be strong like the gargantuan mountains.

Thou art Slave of Thy Creation!

Lately I have been in a strange kind of friendship. Though this friendship started 3 years ago, these days I have being seeing a different face of this friend. In every friendship it is quite common that we fully understand each other over some period. I spend 9 to 10 hours of my day with my friend every day. It’s none other than the crucial professional tool, Microsoft Excel.

Winds of automation are blowing around the work I do and that’s when the macro facet of Excel comes into view. These macros are believed to be smart and are capable of finishing our work in lesser time than what we did manually. Of course these macros run well albeit some hiccups, but in the end they emerge victorious, thanks to the background commands given to them, the language which appears like Greek and Latin to me. Not exactly being macro literate, I sit agape when they run into error and immediately goes the call for help to those who have mastered this language. I sit patiently till these experts decode the macros and convince them to work properly. The time that goes in this patch-up is equal to the time I could do the same work manually. Sometimes these macros turn their back on you when you expect the most to count on them. In such situations I think to what extent we are dependent on technology and how helpless we feel when these wonders of technology don’t function. Sometimes, I ask myself who the real robot is- the automated tool or humans themselves, who don’t get to use their mind constructively.

We hear so much about automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) these days that it makes me question the importance of human minds. Are we just going to let the rust cover our brains? Surely, automation makes work lot easier and saves time; the minds behind it are creative. But what if this automation is robbing people of their jobs and most importantly the ability to think on our own? Quite frequently I hear statements like, “This all is being automated so that you can focus more on qualitative and analytical work.” When asked what exactly they mean by ‘qualitative’, the answer is unknown to even to those who make such promises. Of course, the work being qualitative cannot be quantified in any answer, or so do I convince myself when I do not get any plausible reply.

For a country like India where population and hence workforce is growing at a rapid rate, automation can seem like an idea in grey zone, especially when we know the fact that labour is cheap in labour abundant countries. Ironically I see new faces around me in an environment where automation is given so much boost. I shrug it off thinking, “Maybe they are the ones who are going to do some qualitative and analytical work!”

Recently I read in a newspaper that implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in HR also can save time in routine tasks like reviewing thousands of applications, corresponding with candidates, scheduling interviews, interviewing, making offers and onboarding, thus reducing process costs as much as 1/10^th. Soon many administrative tasks in HR could be replaced by RPA. This could also mean that your HR manager could be a robot who will decide whether you are fit for a job or may schedule an interview for you. The human touch in Human Resources would soon be lost in an effort to reduce costs by 1/10^th! All this is again so that people work on value added tasks. This definition of value-added remains vague. Thankfully the article acknowledged the fact that RPA cannot replace human decision making. We can hope that this value-addition could be in terms of sound and fair decisions.

I remember hearing about the period in banks when people chose the option of Voluntary Retirement Scheme when computers made an entry in their manual world of banking. People who are habituated and are convinced that the work they manually do is accurate, find it hard to come to terms with computers and the technology that follows. Nowadays I see many jobs coming up for automation processes. In a way, you develop something that works automatically and eventually ends up replacing you. So much for the ease in processes! In spite of this, we see that some people do not trust these new vehicles of technology or are ignorant about it and prefer standing in long queues. On one hand where we see so much thrust being given to automation and technology for the benefit of mankind, we see many who refrain from this newness and go the conventional way. With reduced manual intervention in processes, surely the scope for errors and inefficiencies is reduced.  Still, the void of human touch and human angle cannot be filled up with these manmade robots.

I believe that the only places where humans will always thrive are hospitality and food industries. You would not like a robot to welcome you or serve you food when you go in an airplane. Nothing can replace the special taste of food made by your mother. So far there is no technology developed for that. Soon there could be a technology wherein you input the ingredients along with the quantity required and command it to prepare a dish; but it won’t allow you to add the most important and intangible ingredient – mother’s love and warmth. Robots are robots after all who do not have the ability to think. They are the products of human creativity to ease the life of and at times replace humans. But they surely cannot replace some forms of creativity like a painting in which only a human can draw and paint those emotions. We have high-tech cameras today, sure, but the idea to capture that beautiful smile or a scenic place is a decision which comes from a human mind, before we are lost in a virtual world and forget what natural and human feels like. It is necessary to understand that technology or robotic automation is a way to reduce manual work and yes, to focus more on quality. But it should not let us overpower us in such a way that it starts to dominate us and leads to restricted and straitjacketed thinking, devoid of any ideas, just like robots.

As I express my thoughts about automation, the macro that I have been running since 30 minutes proudly flashes on the screen the amount of time it took, as if to prove every time how faster it is than me. Starting to admit that fact, I open the file in which it has created wonders only to find out that it has missed some data here and there or has replicated some data twice. I laugh at it ruefully saying, “Not so smart after all, you product of human creation!” and there again goes call for help to those who created this ‘wonder’ to (quite contrarily) make my life easy!

Be Susegad

India is a land with history where foreign conquerors established their supremacy in various parts of the country. Though these erstwhile rulers are now a part of the pages of our history, they have left their footprints in our country in form of their architecture, languages and culture, giving us an opportunity to walk back into the times when these powers dominated our nation. Having frequently appreciated British architecture in Mumbai, it was time to visit the state of India where the Portuguese ruled. We visited Goa, widely known today as the party capital of India. I had visited Goa as a child, but Goa has a changed a lot in the last few years. Going there again was something to look forward to, to feel if the changed face of Goa still brought any childhood memories back.

Several Bollywood films have glamourized Goa. Goa has more to offer than just parties. Idyllic beaches and vast expanse of coconut trees add to the beauty. To reach the erstwhile Portuguese home, we travelled by Tejas Express, a premium train offering flight-like experience. On the way to our hotel, we saw several houses painted in bright colours depicting the colourful, contented and susegad i.e. relaxed life the people lead. Since our hotel was in the vicinity of Calangute Beach, we headed to this ‘happening’ place in the evening. Swarming with people in every corner, this beach is lucrative to many who have set up restaurants and bars, ensuring good time to those who wanted to relax. To create an energetic atmosphere, famous dance tracks were playing thus strengthening the party mood. We walked on the beach enjoying the view of the sea and the people who enjoyed getting drenched along the waves. The bright orange evening sun was taking leave for the day promising to bring a sunshine full of hope the next day. As a child I thought that the sea swallows the sun when it sets. I felt nostalgic remembering the naivety of childhood.

Next day we set out to explore South Goa. Our first spot was Coco Beach, named after the large number of coconut trees that surround it. Sitting in a boat we had an amazing rendezvous with the dolphins who swam along the boat as if to build camaraderie with us and exhibited their stellar swimming skills. As we sailed in Coco Beach, we got views of the Old Portuguese jail, Aguada fort and millionaire palace. The old Portuguese jail looked ramshackle, having lost its former glory. The bungalow of a diamond merchant nestled in the greenery looked grandiose concurring to his rich status. The cool sea breeze while we sailed made it a soothing experience. Our next stop was Miramar Beach which gave me a déjà vu feeling of having visited it as a child and building sand castles with my sister. The almost white sand and the clear water reminded me of Bondi Beach in Sydney. Tall coconut trees act as welcoming entrance while walking towards Miramar Beach. Next we visited Dona Paula, where Mandovi and Zuari rivers meet the Arabian Sea.

In spite of having the image of a party hub, Goa is also home to religious faiths in form of beautiful churches and temples. We visited Balaji and Mangeshi Temple and sought blessings of the Almighty. Mangeshi is an incarnation of Shiva and also the deity of Mangeshkar family. The splendid architecture of the temple embellishes the divine presence of God. We experienced serenity in God’s own abode. To meet God in His next home and experience divinity again, we paid a visit to Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral. Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO world heritage site and holds mortal remains of St. Xavier. It is said that the saint’s body is still fresh as the day it was buried. We got the view of the mortal remains of St. Xavier and it seemed that he was in a deep, peaceful sleep. The interior of the church is simple though it is guarded by strong altars. We experienced the same serenity inside the church in divine presence. This tall church and its intricate designs enthralled me. In the courtyard, we saw a beautiful view of the memorable day when Jesus was born in a shed-like structure surrounded by various animals. The statues of Mother Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in a manger looked lifelike, letting us imagine that day when the Lord was born. The Se Cathedral, which stands opposite Basilica of Bom Jesus, was built by Portuguese to commemorate the victory of Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese general against the Muslims. The Se Cathedral houses the ‘Golden Bell’ which is the largest in Goa. It is said that in the olden times the ring of this bell reached several kilometers and the villagers were notified of events through this bell. The Cathedral also houses an archaeological museum, where we saw stone scriptures in Marathi, Urdu and Persian excavated in different parts of Goa. It also explained the history of Goa. Outside the museum is a tall standing statue of Afonso de Albuquerque as if to welcome us to the historical times. Thus, we cherished the mesmerizing views of South Goa, learning something about the Portuguese rule and spending time with the beaches, attracting tourists like magnets.

Next day we visited North Goa. We started our day by visiting the Aguada Fort of the Portuguese which was built to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. This fort provides a spectacular view of the fresh blue Mandovi river below. The word Aguada means ‘water place’ thus explaining its presence around the river. It also has a light house which looks pure white as if it was built yesterday. Not far from Aguada Fort, we visited Sinquerim beach next, which resembled like the one which we would see in Mauritius or other famous beaches in the world. The meeting of soothing blue water with the sand is a beautiful colour combination that one would see. Our next spot, the snow white Saligaon Church was located far away from the hustle and bustle of the city surrounded only and only by tranquility. The beautiful image of Mother Mary holding Jesus in her arms literally seems like God watching over all of us. Goa being a hub of beaches, we visited Baga, Anjuna and Vagator beaches where we saw people enjoying their vacation basking in the company of the sea. We ended our North Goa trip with Chouranginath temple, again an incarnation of Lord Shiva, relaxing ourselves in the composure of the temple.

We felt the Portuguese presence wherever we saw boards in various shops in Portuguese language. It showed that the Portuguese roots are still firm in Goa where people are descendants of Portuguese heritage.  Attracting tourists all over the world, we saw many foreigners exploring Goa on bikes and on foot getting the tan that they needed. On the journey back home, we met a couple from New Zealand, a German woman and a New Zealander man who had come to visit Goa along with their children. It was a pleasure to converse with the woman in German and she had a gleeful look to know that an Indian could speak her language. I feel proud about our nation where tourists come from all corners of the world to explore our rich heritage. The world is wonderfully connected with the mobility options and of course the internet prompts us to visit a different city or country. I wondered about the time when the Portuguese discovered and invaded Goa when none of the modern amenities were present. I think it was only their zeal and curiosity which encouraged them to travel for days and months together to reach a faraway land where everything was new and foreign, be it people or the landscape. They came, they saw and they conquered. It was a challenge that they accepted and made a mark in our history. We bade goodbye to the party capital where beaches, churches and temples provided us respite from monotony and taught us to be susegad in life.

Profanity, I swear!

Headphones have become a must these days. No, not because you can’t hear anything clearly anymore. Nor there is any disturbance in the background. However, the things that you may want to hear can be disturbing. If others listen what you are listening to, eyebrows will be raised and you don’t want to be judged for the content that you are watching. In today’s era of web-series, using cuss words without any censors has given entertainment the raw and realistic representation that it needs. Hence, the need for headphones has risen more than ever.

When entertainment in form of web-series was unknown to me, I remember watching Roadies on MTV or English movies and series on television with frequent beeps at places where it would get uncomfortable to watch with the family around. Any viewer could make out the derogatory or objectionable words from the actors’ lip movements. Maybe a hesitant little step to maintain the originality of the content! If I have to play devil’s advocate, I think that swear words do not always have to sound violent or offensive. They give you fits of laughter and sometimes can be embarrassing as well, if they are articulated in a casual manner. And we Indians feel the sense of familiarity and solidarity with Hindi expletives in particular. As a result, some dialogues and scenes in Sacred Games and Mirzapur gained popularity, apart from the content they showed.  As a Narcos fan, I loved Wagner Moura’s performance as Pablo Escobar. His Spanish expletives and emphasis on each syllable with evident hatred for his enemies made him look like a formidable protagonist-cum-antagonist.

When I was learning German, I took interest in its slang expressions as well, to understand how the language changed its forms as human emotions varied. Gradually the German movies and series acquainted me to some ‘Schimpfwörter’ or swear words commonly used, ‘Scheiße!’ being most common and innocent one. In one of my classes when we were discussing about ‘Schimpfwörter’, we came to know that swear words evolved too, with immigrants entering Germany from various nations. I wondered the number of ways in which we carry our heritage like food, culture and even expletives!

Swear words are not limited to any particular class in a society. They are found in books as well, to convey the situation or environment better. Sometimes the portrayal of a place or the people living there cannot be convincing unless a real picture is shown, albeit with cuss words. And reality, though savage, is something that we long to watch or read because we want to peep into the real world. We swear when we have a reason to be angry with someone or something. But when it comes to music, which is supposed to be soothing and refreshing, cuss words or vulgarity in the songs having no solid context, seem totally unnecessary and look like a means to be a popular hum among listeners. The sentiments associated with expletives are eventually dissolved in the process and soon these words become a part of daily language, though we may not utter them at certain places or in company of some people. Suddenly cuss words and expressions start sounding ‘cool’ to us.

Another amusing thing about expletives is that they are used differently by men and women. Indian men tend to utter Hindi expletives more, in their raw and original form, whether while having casual talks with friends or colleagues or even when there are arguments.  Expletives are very common and come out very smoothly in any normal discussion between some men, especially when drinks act as appendage and sobriety is given a break for some time. When women are around, some men tend to get conscious and avoid saying any beep word, trying to act all suave. I have experienced this in some cases when my male friends or colleagues uttered cuss words in a matter-of-factly way and then immediately realized and apologized for having said them in front of me. I shrugged that off thinking it as a way to express certain emotions. For women, abusing in English makes them sound womanly. Men have a united stand when it comes to hurling abuses- they stick to regional language. But disparity can be seen among women, especially in local trains. Women traveling by first class compartment act sophisticated and hence you may hear English abuses in most cases. On the other hand, women in the second class compartment vent out their anger with a regional touch, sometimes beating out men in the abusing competition. What follows is a melee between several women, almost looking like a riot on the road. In spite of this, some heads turn when they hear a woman using expletives; they think it is very untoward or tomboyish. Wait, aren’t we living in a society where women and men are treated equals? It’s quite ironical that swear words have a restricted use only to men, when in fact some of these words are associated with women. 

Expressing anger or disappointment is a natural human tendency. Some people clear the differences by amicably resolving the disputed matters, while some use these cuss words as weapons to hurt or insult those who have wronged them. It all depends how people tackle anger and disappointment. Also, the usage of atrocities has a lot to do with the environment we grow up in, the people we hang out with or these days, the web content that we watch. In some cases, these very words can get a person in legal trouble. Hence, it is necessary to make careful and prudent use of these words.  Having said that, you cannot label someone as lowly of character just because he or she is foul-mouthed. The real person beyond those words could be warm, kind and affectionate. Coarse language could only be one of the shades making him or her probably a grey personality. Language evolves because of people. Hence, even languages have palette of words, good and bad, like distinct façades of people. It is up to us, which shade we choose from this palette, so that it suits us the best. We play with words every day, even with swear words. So let’s make sure that we do not succumb to the injuries nor injure anyone with these words in a fit of anger or anxiety because extreme emotions are momentary but words remain ingrained in mind for long.

On a Faraway Land

Nowadays we all have become globetrotters, or at least that’s the word we use when we upload umpteen pictures of our trip on social media. Some trip pictures inspire us to go on the same trip ourselves to discover that place and experience the same magic as shown in the pictures. The world has come closer today and a variety of flight options, attractive deals and cashbacks have made travel a cakewalk. Our ideas to visit a particular place is based on our extensive internet research, reviews and pictures. However, Google, the one stop where we find all our answers, may not have answers about the unspoken, undiscovered and unheard part of the world. That brings us to the question whether man has really discovered the entire world. Does the world have more than what catches the eye? What more secrets are yet to be unearthed on this Earth of ours?

It seems I came across one such interesting page of the mysterious world when I read about Sentinelese tribes in Andaman Islands, believed to be one of the world’s last tribes uncontacted by civilization. They came in the news for killing a young American missionary. The article also spoke about other uncontacted and isolated tribes in various parts of the world. Reading about these tribes and what they did for a living, fascinated me. In a world where we strive to make our presence known, here are sets of people who choose to live a life of solitude, away from the modern civilization. I think that they are real guardians of our planet as they protect the natural environment and live a humble life by reaping the gifts of Nature, quite contrary to the ‘civilized’ humans who are wiping the precious elements of Nature off the Earth.

The fact that they are ‘isolated’ and ‘uncontacted’ made me read about them. The internet, in so many forms, connects people from all parts of the world. Yet there exist people like these who are complacent to not be in touch with the modern world. Sometimes I wonder if we can ever live a life like these tribes; isolated and cut off from the world. Is it difficult in today’s world, unless you are nestled in a forest or a mountain with no network in cellphones? In today’s corporate world, it is believed to be rewarding to be always reachable and accessible. There are many people who would still prefer working or checking official mails after going home. There are workaholics who reply to mails even when they are on vacation, making them look like indispensable to the organization. Even mails late at night would mean that you are really dedicated to your work. Such people should learn a thing or two from these uncontacted tribes who do not bother to make their presence known or feel the need to prove anything to people around them.

Man by nature is social and hence we have societies. We have many people around us, but still we may feel lonely, lost and isolated in the crowd that we are in. Therefore, some ‘me-time’ is something that we really need to gift ourselves every day to know ourselves better, to take off the masquerade that we wear and be good listener to our own mind and heart. It should be a break from all the hustle and bustle around us. We go on vacations to get away from all the monotony, to have peaceful time at an exotic place. Yet the mind wanders to the likes and comments on our pictures that we post on social media. Recently I read an article wherein some travelers, in order to get the feel of the place and to truly live the experience, did not carry cameras with them. They just wanted to spend time with that place without letting the world know about their experience. While there are some rational travelers like these, one of my acquaintances had a hard time in a scenic place like Ladakh because he could not find mobile network there to upload live updates and pictures of his trip. With the bustling world of Instagram and Facebook, the world is at our feet and fingertips. Hence it can be challenging to resist the temptation of not being visible on them for a few days. I have seen three categories of people; first, who are totally detached from the nexus of social media, the second who are moderate users of social media and the third, for whom social media is the fourth basic necessity. This last category has regular posts about routine activities of life; be it traffic, crowded railway platforms, weekend plans or something as trivial as posting a ‘Good Night’ selfie. Such people, I feel need a change in the privacy settings of life.

‘Me-time’ for me is spending an hour or two reading, a window which lets me look into the real and fictional world. It is a break from the drama by some real characters around me. We are surrounded by distinct humans who make our lives better or worse; we are surrounded by the modernity which I think could be difficult to part with, though we can certainly modify the way of life. We are part of a civilization which is prospered by the behavior of humans, whether it be in form of committing some deeds or expressions through social media to make their existence known. Sometimes this need for isolation or detachment can have an ugly face as well when we see family members or friends sitting in the same room without interacting with each other, glued to the phone going through the posts of friends with apparently better lives or hypnotically enjoying a gripping show with headphones on, thus literally shutting ears and mind. People are walking and changing with technology and each one of us is just a fine particle in this huge mass of humans, always competing and comparing, without having the need to look for what is best for us. It might not be practically possible to live a nomad life like the tribes or of abstinence from technology, given that it plays a pivotal role nowadays. But surely we can take frequent breaks from this widespread web. Taking a break from modernity or people does not necessarily mean heading out alone somewhere. It could also mean spending time with the people who mean to you, albeit off camera or check-ins. The memories created in that much time could be the best moments of isolation from rest of the world. Meaningful conversations and laughter with someone without having to put a mask on, spending time doing something what you really love, could possibly be the paths to live a life as serene and oblivious like the uncontacted tribes of the world. This ‘me-time’ should be like the space that is only known to you, it should a fictional and ideal land in your mind, where no one is allowed to intrude with vagaries of life. It could be the best gift for you, from you.

The Call of Terra Australis

The globe has been fascinating me since eternity. Different continents, the countries existing within them, the seas and rivers that act as boundaries and beauty of these countries, mountains ranges that spread far and wide, different time zones, everything seems well structured by Nature. If the Earth were a spherical board, then all the countries on it would seem like well-placed tiles with diverse geographies and equally diverse living beings. Each country on the Earth scores very well in its own unique way. As a child, I took great interest in going through the colourful maps in the Atlas. My sister and I often played the game of spotting a city in the world map. A test of eyesight and time, this game used to be my small steps of getting acquainted to the world. The world that was restricted to the pages of my Atlas unearthed soon, thanks to the numerous novels that I read and travel to a few countries.

This year it was time to explore another continent. In fact, I explored a continent cum country. Which continent other than Australia can give you this joy? We visited Sydney, the largest city in Australia. Known as Terra Australis or the Southern Continent, the journey to Australia was indeed a long one. However, all the hours of long journey passed in a jiffy with the excitement surging every hour to discover a new city. Finally, we reached Sydney on a mildly sunny but chilled morning. The onset of fun began from the commute to hotel itself, as I was curiously looking at the sparsely occupied wide roads, the shops, hotels and museums on the way. We reached our humble abode for the next few days and wore off the tiredness of our long journey.

Soon we were charged up to explore the city in the evening. We set off on foot with Google map, the ultimate tour guide throughout our time in Sydney. Our first stop was a vast expanse of greenery in form of Hyde Park. A perfect spot for evening walk in the pleasant weather, Hyde Park is synonymous with tranquility. We walked along the natural green carpets relaxing and rejuvenating ourselves. We saw people lying down comfortably on the grass, having hearty conversations. The park has Anzac Memorial at its centre. It is a symbol of respect to all Australians who served the country during the First World War. I felt that the memorial could not have a more pertinent place than Hyde Park where peace was omnipresent to pay homage to all the brave hearts. Walking further ahead, we saw a tall standing statue of James Cook, a British explorer who achieved the first European contact with Australia during his voyage to the Pacific Ocean. We left from the park, gaining some insight about Australia’s origins and history.

It was getting dark and hence the time came to visit Sydney Tower, the tallest building in the city. When we reached Sydney Tower, I had a sense of déjà vu as it brought back my memories of Kuala Lumpur Tower. We saw the glittering skyscrapers of Sydney from above. The view looked festive with the city decking itself up in colourful lights. We walked around the entire circular area, getting views of churches, gardens and office buildings below from different angles. Sydney Tower is like the tallest student in a class who is visible from every corner. We spotted Sydney Tower wherever we went, amidst other tall buildings, acting like its competitors, but were no match to its height.

Next day we visited one of the darling places in Sydney, the Darling Harbour. This Harbour seemed to have this magnetic pull of attracting a variety of restaurants, commerce and serene waters all at the same place. There was a Ferris wheel as well to add to the entertainment factor. The Ferris wheel again gave us the opportunity to ‘reach heights’ from where we could see the Australian flag at the harbour swaying calmly in the cool breeze. As the evening slowly advanced into darkness, the tall skyscrapers showed their luminous side, casting some of their shimmer on the waters of the harbour. The dazzling waters along with the high-rise buildings presented a collaborative view of natural and man-made wonders.

The next morning we headed out to explore more of Darling Harbour and its beautiful surroundings. Our first stop was Chinese Garden of Friendship. It celebrates Chinese heritage and culture and is filled with bamboo plants, resplendent flowers and waterfalls. The garden signifies the bond between China and Australia. Wandering in the garden gives you the feel of being in China, as you see dragons painted on garden walls and typical structures that you would see only in China. Thus, it was like experiencing another country in a continent cum country!

Darling Harbour also houses an aquarium, Madame Tussauds Wax Statue Museum and Wildlife World. The SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium contains a variety of Australian aquatic life, the special ones being from the Great Barrier Reef. In the Wildlife World zoo, I was glad to meet Koalas for the first time. Very affable and one of Australia’s unique creatures, we can learn from them to sleep peacefully without having anything to worry about! They were as though physically and emotionally attached to the Eucalyptus trees as they held on to them like a pillow to sleep on. Bidding goodbye to Koalas with the hope of seeing more of these endearing animals, we visited Madame Tussauds next, the hall of famous personalities all over the world. Among the numerous notable personalities that we saw, we were longing to see some of our famous Indian faces. And there they were, the stars of cricket and Bollywood – Sachin Tendulkar and Shah Rukh Khan. Clicking pictures with their wax statues were ultimate fan moments. The lifelike statues of all personalities and the craftsmanship behind them, was another example of unbounded human creativity.

The greenery in Sydney had already captured our hearts. To our delight, Sydney provided us one more opportunity to walk through huge acres of greenery and admire a variety of trees. Choosing an evening again, we went to Royal Botanic Garden, which is stunningly located near Sydney Opera House. You get the opportunity to experience the blue and green colours of nature, with adjacent Opera House providing classic entertainment. Again an example where natural and manmade wonders come together to soothe the human minds!

The next few hours of that evening were my memorable and precious moments in Sydney, none other than at the grand Opera House. Having experienced theatre only with Marathi plays, Opera House was a hub where every form of art was welcomed. To call Opera House a theatre would be like only half describing it. For me, the magnificent Opera House was an experience like never before. This lotus-like structure which is the poster icon of Sydney truly appreciates and encourages theatre in all forms. We attended a captivating Tap Dance show which was worth every single dollar. A guaranteed source of entertainment for two hours, we were awestruck by the performance of these immensely talented Australian tap dancers. It was a never-seen- live-before dance style for me. Everything in the periphery of Opera House exudes grandeur. Like a keen observer, I looked in and around Opera House absorbing its elegance in my eyes and mind as much as possible. Appreciating Opera House’s external beauty and actually experiencing what it has to offer, are two different things. It surely is a man-made wonder, where artists create wonders everyday by stunning the audience with their talent. Adjacent to Opera House is another icon of Sydney- the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Acting like a crown to the Sydney Harbour, the illuminated Harbour Bridge provides a spectacular view. Sydney Harbour Bridge with Opera House at its side celebrates the spirit of Sydney. The entire area encompassing these two magnificent structures with a multitude to restaurants to dine at with the view of Sydney harbour, gives you a feeling larger than life. You cannot simply capture them in the camera and store as pictures; they give you grand memories much more than in pictures to last long.

We headed out next day to capture a shade of blue, in form of Bondi Beach. On the afternoon that we went, the wind and sea were playing some game in which the wind was blowing unstoppably and the sea had waves low and high to display its strength. We walked on the white sand with the cold wind making sure to give us shivers. The waters were calm and angry, changing their mood every now and then. As we drenched our feet in the cold waters of the sea, the waves came gushing at different intensities to welcome us. The beach was spic and span and the water limpid. It was clean and beautiful as Mother Nature had envisioned it. The clear water was encouraging us to clear our minds as well and advising life to go on, like its never-ending waves. Sanity can be learned from every element of nature.

Next day was our last one to explore the beauty of Sydney. We travelled to Blue Mountains where the three mountain sisters were waiting to greet us. On our way to Blue Mountains, we got the opportunity to meet Australian animals for one last time at Featherdale Wildlife Park. We saw Koalas again, shying away from people as usual. Some of them were asleep, clutching to their dear trees, while others looked at the spectators with their sleepy eyes. The kangaroos looked timid and they enjoyed the company of other kangaroos as they ate together and hopped from one place to another joyfully. Having two tiny feet in the front, it’s interesting how they jump like in a sack race. Thanks to their tiny frontal feet their young ones stay safe in their pouches. They were amicable and relished the food fed by humans while getting their backs lovingly stroked. A little away were two dingos, sitting in a photographic pose for the paparazzi around, although one dingo chose not to get into the limelight much. These native, cunning looking dogs of Australia are known for their speed and agility. They look like domestic dogs but their hunting styles very much define them as wild. Moving ahead from this deceptive creature, we lent our ears to the cacophony of various birds of different sizes and distinct colours. Saying goodbye to these Australian natives, we continued our journey to Blue Mountains.

We were fortunate enough to get a taste of Australian countryside as well, as we halted at the village Leura for lunch. A kind of village that you would imagine in books or watch in movies, with houses having gardens in front of them and various shops, restaurants of different cuisines, a post office and fresh air around. It was like being part of one of Nicholas Sparks’ movies where nature looked bountiful. After sometime we finally reached the scenic Blue Mountains. Our first way of exploring it was on a skyway from where we could see the gargantuan mountains, with the Three Sisters nestled in them. We then hopped onto the Scenic Railway, the steepest passenger railway in the world. It was truly an amazing experience with expansive view of the rainforest and Jamison Valley. We then went for Scenic Walkway to discover the tranquility of an ancient rainforest. Along the way we read information about mining history at Jamison Valley. The Scenic Cableway also provides a spectacular view of Jamison Valley and Three Sisters. Next we went to Echo Point, where we could get a closer and breathtaking view of the Three Sisters, the rock formations that are called Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo. Their story is traced back to the Aborigines. The entire area around Blue Mountains exhibited the untouched beauty of nature. The mountains and the sisters would stand strong for centuries to come, for their foundation is formidable. Enchanted by this another wonder of Nature, we headed back to hotel on a cruise till Sydney Harbour. We sailed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with tourists clicking as many pictures as possible of it against the setting sun. Finally, we got down near Opera House to say a final goodbye to this enthralling structure. We gazed at the Harbour Bridge and Opera House for a few minutes, mentally clicking pictures to store them in our eternal memories. Thus, they were the last stops of our Australian journey.

Traveling to a developed country teaches you a lot of things. Not only the sightseeing places in Sydney but also the quality of life of the Australians was worth appreciating. I found that the pedestrians walking on the road are given equal consideration as the cars. Permitting to cross a road only when the pedestrian signal opposite showed green, the pedestrians need not look left and right before crossing the road. It also means resisting the temptation of not crossing the empty road if the signal shows red. We traveled by scantily crowded trains without having the need to perform stunts while boarding it. A moderately crowded train at 6:30 or 7.00 in the evening is something unfathomable for a Mumbaikar. Another unfathomable aspect for Mumbaikars would be the fact that Sydney retires early for the night. Roads would be deserted, with only a handful pedestrians around. Australians have indeed taken, “Early to bed, early to rise makes you healthy, wealthy and wise” seriously! The next morning, we headed back home, getting last glimpses of the city as we made our way to the airport. Satisfied that I put a tick on one more country on the world map, the long journey back home was the time to cherish all the fun that we had in Sydney. I looked forward to explore many more countries in future outside the Atlas, for the world is an infinite space waiting for us to have a rendezvous with each of its diverse facets.

Dejected on being Rejected

It is said, “Everything is fair in love and war.” Though love and war are emotions and situations that are two extreme ends of a pole, we still expect them to be fair. Yet most of us overlook this ‘fairness’ part of the proverb. We emphasize more on the ‘anything and everything’ aspect of love and war. I was convinced of this fact when I came across a news of youth stabbing a girl because she did not reciprocate his feelings of love. If love is fair, then why should it have element of violence? It is like love being overshadowed by violence and force. When war (violence) mixes with love, there is no space left for fairness.

When I read and think about such cases, I realize that some human beings are averse to rejection and criticism. We hear some haughty statements like, “I am not used to listening to NO”. This attitude has a lot to do with a person’s upbringing when his or her wishes are somebody else’s commands. Another reason is the machismo or patriarchy existing in a society like ours which turns some men into jilted lovers or perpetrators.

Rejection is capable of bogging us down and sometimes even a reason for falling into depression. But it is also like a bitter medicine which one has to take in order to do better in life. Rejections can teach us a lot. For someone who gets no response from any of the jobs applied, one always has an opportunity to hone his or her skills and be tailor-made for the best job that awaits. Isn’t it why it is said, ‘Failure is the stepping stone to success’? In our country where rat race is ubiquitous in every field, rejections are also inevitable for many who do not get an opportunity to see their dreams taking shape in a desired college or in a dream company, despite hours, days, months and years of hard work. However, patience helps and ultimately rewards the hard-working.

So how can the effect of rejection be diluted? It is good to have one goal in life and strive towards its achievement. Having said that, it is always better to have a plan B as well. There is always a possibility that we may necessarily not get what we want. In such a scenario, it is better to go with an alternate plan than cursing the fate for not granting your wish. Because time sprints and waits for none, the disappointments can look uglier if there are no efforts to drive the car of Life on some other, albeit bumpy road. We wish to lead our life on a smooth road, but the road is not always smooth. There have to be speed-breakers in form of rejections and failures. They are the toll that we pay to value what we already have in life and constantly persevere to improve.

In cases where love for someone does not get reciprocated, I think that life still should not stop for one person in particular. Resorting to extreme steps or going binge drinking in memory of that person may seem entertaining in movies or novels, but in reality it is an irrational step.  Life can be better without that ‘one special person’ and you alone have to be a catalyst for that betterment. It starts by keeping least expectations from people around you. That one step helps to ease the pain of disappointment that could arise in future.

Though rejection, failure, disappointment make us gloomy, but to fear them and not give something a try is again a sign of having low faith in yourself. Fear of rejection will never pull us out of our comfort zones and forever keep us complacent. If you have a lot of potential, but still refrain from doing better for yourself with the fear of being rejected, it is like being unfair to yourself and killing the strengths that you may possess. A person can still achieve what he wants by overcoming all the demons in his life, maybe not in the prime of his young age but at later point of time in life. The sense of satisfaction on fulfillment of a dream by defeating the hurdles in form of rejections and failures is the greatest feeling in the world. It is a test of a person’s perseverance and endurance to go for something that he likes, fighting all the odds. Rejections or failures can be shattering at first, but when taken in a positive way, it is possible to rise like a Phoenix and still win the world.