Petrichor

Exploring India's premier national park in Uttarakhand was a long-held dream realized. Jim Corbett National Park not only acquainted me with its resident tigers but also offered insights into the life of Jim Corbett himself. His literary works sparked my curiosity and offered company during breaks between safaris. Numerous moments left me in awe: The gentle descent of golden leaves from the towering Sal trees. The profound silence enveloping the forest. To interpret the language of the forest. The majestic presence of the Ramganga river. Witnessing two fish owls unsuccessfully pursue a yellow-throated martin. Hearing the measured tread of a tiger through the dry leaves and finally seeing it in its habitat(more than once). Perusing Jim Corbett's books within the park. Recognizing the profound significance of such sanctuaries, benefiting both wildlife and personal introspection. At times, the safaris seemed like a quest, a fervent pursuit to sight tigers. The outings typically co...

They have been living in India for 500 years and there are 10 lakhs of them and I hear about them only today! I came across a neat article and would spare writing another of my own. Here it is. A hardy bunch of softies...precious. In it goes in my Bucket List!

I've been wanting to write about my 8 day silence program ever since I got back home. But every single time I attempted to write about it, I would turn blank. After a while, I did not want to write about it at all. Four months after the program, I am not sure I realize the magnitude of its effect on me. I can definitely feel and see the changes. Almost like a new ME. Only that, if it is ME or me, doesn't seem very significant now. I don't claim that I have been there, done it all. No way! There are still so many struggles that I go through. So many things that bother me. But, somewhere, it is ok. Whatever be it. It's just OK. I don't have the need to be emotional. As much. It is so much easier to detach myself from most situations if I really wish to. What all we had to go through in the name of preparations for the program? The daily practices!!  The diet!!  The schedule changes!!! When I sat for the program, I wanted to feel, "This is it. This is th...

So. I managed to read Robert Fischer's "Gandhi". For some reason, I did not want to read his autobiography(again). I wanted to read about him as a second person. And since this book was the inspiration for the movie " Gandhi ", I was able to relate to it better. The whole book went all "Mahatma" about him. There were words that touched the heart. "He did not want the British to have no strength to fight Indians; He wanted them to not have the heart to do so." It may seem immaterial, but what touched me most about the Mahatma was that he was not born like one. He was a normal atman with all the crap like we all have. In his younger years, he had told lies, got immensely furious on many things. But he rose over all of it. His vision made him do so. What touched me even more was that he contradicted himself on many occasions. He never settled with one thing. He was constantly learning to do what is best for a given situation at that particular t...

I walked to a small temple nearby. It was a special day for the little one. A quiet moment for us. S loves to play with the kittens in the temple. I bought an archanai plate from a vendor outside. He was the first one I saw. But another vendor, a lady, a usual(vendor) was watching this & as I entered the temple started abusing. Usually my mother buys from her & today we bought it from someone else. I reminded myself, "A quiet moment...". I patiently told her that it was not intentional(& I am not a regular at the temple nor was the archanai). She was in talking mode- not listening. So I continued my way into the temple. The temple took my mind off a little from the incident. This place is almost like how it was when I was a child. I had spent days eating lunch here. On my way out, I had to pass the same lady. Now, she was wild. I told her, "I was going inside the temple...Do you have to be so angry? Next time I will remind myself to buy from you." What I...

that I get these days is simply mind-boggling. I am coming across so many people who are, what do I say,...mmm...different. Way different than what you would expect a normal person to be. On one side I see compassionate people, people with so much compassion that they would leave all they are doing to answer your one genuine question; people who have left a career in s/w(in the US) to settle down with a farm in India; many many more. All these people are so motivating. What's better than being the way to show it? And all of this, I did not know about for so long. I am coming around to believe that if you start looking for something earnestly, that something you will get(maybe something even more). Sometimes, I feel myself wondering. Aren't we all(Indians, Americans, Pakistanis, Talibans) living in the same world? The different continents that was one huge continent millions of years ago? Whom are we fighting at? Whomever we fight with, whatever we fight with, aren't we all ...

This happened a few days ago. I am a travel blogger too & read others' public journals, well at least from a few specific people. So, there is this lady who is traveling around the world. She is a Westerner. India happened to be one of the stops in her life's journey. Now, I cannot imagine to travel without a plan in place, without making proper arrangements for food etc. So, obviously, I adore people who do all that. Anyways, coming back to the point, she travels alone & makes friends everywhere. She has recently traveled to Calcutta(or whatever it has changed to now) & has posted pictures of the streets, roads, people AS IT IS !!! Now, we all know how the streets of Calcutta can look to us. I love Calcutta. I have stunning memories from the city. The city is dirty, polluted & over-populated, but it has flavor. This lady has mentioned this too! Well, it is her blog & she has the right to write what she feels like. Below there, I see a comment from A patriot...

I am fairly interested in interesting recipes(read 'never cooked before marriage'). Every time I try something new, I cannot wonder at the amazing variety of Indian dishes. We are filthy spoiled. Its absolutely no wonder that wherever we go, Indian food makes me hog for. Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Italian cuisines are definitely tasty in their own way, but are there any variety? I doubt with my little knowledge. Man, I so love Indian food. Food is one of the main reasons I travel :-) Nothing can give me good digestion or sleep but rice/roti. If it is curd rice, its a dream-come-true! Indian food is no more an addiction. It is survival!!!! for me, at least.

I am one among the millions of people who have migrated from India for one of the many reasons. Until I left the country, I don't remember being away from family even for a short period. My memory of Chennai, precisely: - The best veggie foods available. -lovely school with lovely teachers & of course, memory of a great childhood -the same with college -friends & extended family whom I last met at my wedding -traditional & conservative society where I like some & hate many -my scooty that took me places I knew not -the bus & train -the pollution -Ranganathan st crowd -the name change from Madras to Chennai -geographically safe city We had a get-together 2 days ago where we were talking about how we live in the past. Chennai(or any other city/town in India) is not the same as we think it to be. We all have left Madras couple years ago & still think it to be as intact as it was when we left. Subsequent visits over the last couple years have proved to be drasti...