The Quirkiest of May!

While I was sipping on my cold coffee on a summer afternoon of May , I read about a rather weird yet hilarious offer being made! A young lawyer from Kenya, offered to marry US President Obama ' s daughter who is just sixteen for fifty cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats. 

The fellow professed his immense love for her and also suggested that once she moved to his village after marriage he teach her how to milk a cow, cook ugali (a starchy dish) and prepare mursik (a sour milk). This by far was the quirkiest news of the month of May for me. Of course it made for great coffee time gossip and brought out a smile on everybody's face whenever it was discussed.

I can't say any in about the genuineness of the proposal being made here but one thing I can can say for sure that in today's day and age of globalisation and technology all it takes to be world famous is a little bit of quirkiness!  The lawyer from Kenya became a rage world over as the news about his offer spread like wild fire across the international media!

Image from Google (lawyer on the left and Obama daughter Malia on the right).

As if this was not enough another quirk that started doing the rounds in May was that the devastating earthquake that struck  Nepal , a small country adjoining India, was blamed by some Indian politicians on religious offence of eating beef and cow slaughter by the people of Nepal.

 Image from Google (Nepal Earthquake)

Nepal experienced  the worst earthquake in decades , which was 7.5 on the richter and lead to much destruction and death of thousands of people. However some insensitive politicians had to give this tragedy a communal flavour and blamed this event on the wrath of Gods. The cow is considered sacred in the Hindu religion and Hinduism is the dominant religion both in India and Nepal. Thus a few fanatics had to blame this tragedy on the slaughter of cows taking place in Nepal to meet the beef demand. This was happening even though geologists had given detailed explanations about the reason for the earthquake. There is really no end to superstitious belief and the manipulation of people's sentiments by politicians.

Image from Google (Nepal Earthquake)

Last but not the least, Maggie , a noodles brand in India which has been a favourite of millions for ages was found to contain very high levels of lead and monosodium glutamate. These high levels are not fit for human intake and therefore the product was banned country wide. However the moot question here is that if Maggie noodles which is such a common brand that it is available on the shelves of practically every grocery store and is marketed by a very well known brand i.e., Nestlé could violate the food safety rules like this then what is the status of the other lesser known products. Really there is a need to beef up our food security laws, here in India.

                                        Image from Google 

Grilling the Summer!

Okay peeps..its getting hot hot hot here in north India! May has been excruciatingly painful with the number of cases being treated for heat stroke and constant warnings to corporates to cut on electricity consumption steadily rising  ! The mercury has touched a whopping 45 degrees.

I watched  the movie MAD MAX FURY recently and the whole concept of the movie  i.e., wars in the future for water as most of the cultiviable land turns into desert on earth and water becomes scarce, makes sense. An out and out action flick, it was a pleasure to watch it in a 3D theatre and there could not have been a better time for its release than the months of peak summer. Oh wait, June is going to be worse! But the met department is predicting that the thunder Lords might be a little generous and we may get a few showers in June! At least a few days with a couple of degrees less on the mercury barometer!

Official trailer of Mad Max Fury

Summers may be painful but the optimist in me has decided to dedicate this post to the good I see in summers!

First and foremost I have to begin with food! Nothing gives more happiness than a swelled,  hyperglycemic tummy.

The juicy , sugary fruit that I relish i.e., watermelons, mangoes and litchi are summer delights!

Image from Google

Second,  It only seems fair to bring up exercise after talking about food..

What I love about summers is that I can swim like a mermaid. It's just so relaxing to be in the pool on a hot day and it is such good exercise for the whole body! Just perfect for losing those extra pounds that were put on in the winters plus if you have a nice pool , all the more nicer..
Nothing like watching the starry sky while creating ripples in the water at night.

Third is a passion that I can fully exercise in summers i.e.,to paint and smother my hands with colour. I love to paint with oil colours and winters is  not a very supportive season for this activity as it takes days for a painting to dry. So here are some of my experiments..

I know I am not quite there yet but if I keep on it , it can only get better.

Fourth, includes travel. The best part about summer travel is planning a trip to the mountains to enjoy the weather there. A few days away from the scorching heat and in the serenity of the mountains can indeed bolster confidence to face the rest of the summer with a smile! Indeed the trip I planned this year was memorable.. a sweet 10 days off work and into the curvaceous hilly streets of Himachal.

A cup can be viewed as half full or half empty! Choice
 Is yours!

Road Trip Part 3- Delhi to Mcleodganj

The last leg of my trip included the journey from Palampur to Dharamshala to Mcleodganj. A total distance of approximately 2 hour on road.

The drive from Mcleodganj to Dharamshala is on a beautiful hilly road which takes you closer and closer to the magistic Dhauladhar Range of mountains and is lined by lush green tea gardens.

On way to Dharamshala from Palampur

Dharamshala is a small hilly  town snugly sitting on the base of the Dhauladhar and is an hour away from Mcleodganj. It has its own airport and cricket stadium.

Dharamshala

A slated house in Dharamshala

Airport

 Mcleodganj  is the current base of the Tibetan Spiritual leader,  Dalai Lama who took refuge in India after conflict with Chinese authorities in Tibet. The town is teaming with visitors from inside and outside of India. Small little restraunts and shops line the busy streets of Mcleodganj. The shops mainly sell Tibetan art, stones, woollens etc.

Mcleodganj

Mcleodganj

A famous temple that is situated at one end of the town is Bhagsuna Temple.

A beautiful waterfall is about a 20 minute trek away from the temple.

Bhagsuna Temple

Bhagsuna Temple

Trek upto Bhagsuna falls

A Tibetan monastery is also situated in Mcleodganj . It is also the abode of the tibitian spiritual leader, Dalai Lama.

I believe in treating my journey like a friend. There should be planning for the meeting, choosing the right clothes, looking forward to the fun together. So for this road trip, I decided to colour my hair. Here's a pic!

Road trip -Part 2 (Palampur)

This post describes the second leg of my road trip from Delhi to Mcleodganj. For the first part read here Part 1 Road trip to Mcleodganj

After 7 hours of road travel from Chandigarh to Palampur,  we were finally ready for a day stop before we headed to our final destinition i.e., Mcleodganj. Mcleodganj is based in the foot hills of the magnificent Dhauladhar Mountain Range and is the current base of the Tibetan Spiritual leader,  Dalai Lama who took refuge in India after conflict with Chinese authorities in Tibet.

Palampur is 2 hours away from Mcleodganj and is another hill station worth exploring. Every house in this bustling town can boast about the beautiful backdrop of the stunning Dhauladhar Range. Just walking around the streets of this town is a beautiful experience as humongous ancient deodar and pine tress line the narrow hilly streets and green tea gardens can be seen everywhere. The ancient houses with wood work is another treat to see.

A hilly road in Palampur

An old house

A view of the beautiful trees and mountains

Green fields , wild roses and mountains in the backdrop

An old house with slated roof

Tea plantations

Humongous Deodar

Places to visit in Palampur:
1. Local market : great place to pick up locally made Organic Kangra tea or woollens

local market

2. The Taragarh Palace : it is located a bit on the outskirts but the drive to the palace is beautiful and gives a feel of the Royal luxuries.  The palace belongs to Maharani (Queen)Tara devi. The palace has been converted into a hotel and rooms are available for stay.

The royal dining hall at Taragarh Palace

Portrait of one of the Royal ladies

3. Neugal Park: This is a small park with a cafe and a beautiful view of the mountains

Neugal Park

4. Saurabh Van Vihar: another park with a lake and a beautiful view of the mountains. This park is dedicated to a local martyr, Captain Saurabh Kalia (1976 – 1999). He was a brave  officer of the Indian Army who lost his life as prisoner of war, while fighting for his country against the Pakistan army during the Kargil war.

5. Drive down to the Neugal river or Beas river and enjoy waddling it water.

Neugal River

Beas River

6 . Norah Richards house: the remains of the mud house and theatre of a European lady , Norah Richards, who decided to settle in this beautiful town have been preserved and are open for visitors to see. She was a theatre artist and a writer.

Norah Richards mud house

Norah Richards theatre

Insides of the mud house

Indeed this small  hilly town is breathtakingly beautiful and a must for travel enthusiasts to visit. It offers a lot fun activities to do or just relax and enjoy the beauty from one of the many hotel stay options available.

Lastly, a photo of the guest house I stayed in... We stayed in the of new wing but the interesting part is that the old wing is a 100 years old and was built by the British during their colonisation of the area. A church and a cemetery  were located close by.

New wing of the guest house

Old wing of the guest house (over a 100 years old)

Road Trip to Mcleodganj -Part One

Finally the much awaited road trip was happening and I was on a week long break from work!  The travel destination was a hill station, Mcleodganj in Himachal Pradesh. A logical choice for vacation at this time as the temperatures are consistently rising in Delhi with summer gradually seeping in.

Itinerary:

First part: travelling by train from Delhi to Chandigarh (approx 250 kilometers). Various trains connect Delhi to Chandigarh however, the Shatabadi Express is the fastest and the most comfortable train to travel by and it covers the distance in about 3 and half hours . The train  offers air conditioned chair car bogies and food and beverages are served during thr journey. Other modes of travel include travel by road (the Grand Trunk road) or by air. The Grand Trunk road  is a multi lane highway and is a good road to travel by. A number of comfortable buses ply between the two cities and the duration is generally around 5 hours.

Second part of the journey: travel by road from chandigarh to Mcleodganj ( distance about 270kms)
 Cities and towns covered-Chandigarh-Una-Nangal-kangra Mcleodganj.
The Highway is again a good road and the journey is comfortable.  It takes about 7 hours as the last 1/3 portion of the journey is hilly.

Two well known and historical temples to cover during the journey are : Chintpurni Temple and Jwala Ji Temple

Chintpurni Temple

Jwala Ji Temple

Jwala Ji Temple

Jwala Ji Temple

Jwala Ji Temple

Jwala means 'flame' in sanskrit and the unique feature of this temple is a flame which never dies out and which is considered sacred. The legend goes that, emperor Akbar wanted to test the authenticity of the claim of the undying flame and personally came to the temple. He placed a metal shield (photo above) on the the flame in order to extinguish it. However the flame burnt through the metal and came through and this convinced the emperor.  He gifted much gold to the temple.

Jwala Ji Temple

Jwala Ji Temple

This completes my first part of the journey..next part soon to follow!

Cycling Diaries

A bicycle which I had bought in order to explore my neighbourhood better turned out to be hobby which offers me much more!

A few initial solo rides around the neighbourhood did familiarise me with places that I had not noticed earlier but it also got me to meet a group of cycling enthusiasts who love to travel long distances on bicycles.

Over a few weeks of cycling around with this group , helped me meet some really fine people, made me learn a lot about gear bicycles and how to use them and also about the basic essentials that you need to carry when cycling long distance.

Today, I was very pleased with myself as I completed a 27 kilometer ride with the group. We started out early in the morning at 6 am and rode at a leisurely pace , stopping midway for a piping hot cup of tea and great conversation at a road side stall.

Points to keep in mind while cycling:

1. Always wear a helmet - riding on  roads with moving traffic requires that you protect yourself from any accidental injuries

2. Eye protection - shades or glasses are a must to prevent any foreign object from entering the eye.

3. A water bottle to keep yourself hydrated

4. A small emergency pump and flat tyre kit to fix a tyre while cycling.

5 . A first aid kit.

6. A good knowledge of gears to be applied according to the terrain on which you are cycling.

7. Light clothes, preferably cottons to absorb all sweat.

8. Eat a little snack before heading off for a long ride. Bananas are a instant energy booster!

9. Start early, so that you can avoid the scorching hot sun!

10. Preferably,  be on roads with less traffic and lot of trees

Indeed, with these precautions riding can be a fun hobby to pursue and keep yourself healthy and fit!!

Lend a Helping Hand

Illiteracy is still a nationwide concern in India. Despite literacy rates having risen from 12% in 1950s to 74% in 2011 , still these rates are way below the average percentage of 84% in most countries. This deficit can be attributed to poverty which cripples this developing nation resulting in inability of many children to get a proper education.

An organization which is working towards giving these socio - economically backward children a chance for a brighter future is Actionaid. 

Actionaid started it's operations in India in 1972 and has been working constantly since then to eliminate poverty and injustice.

Their mission is to work towards a world without poverty, fight hunger seek justice for all the dis-empowered and education for all.

In India , Actionaid operates in 24 states and one Union Territory which include some of the most underdeveloped and inaccessible areas.

Actionaid allows citizens to be a part of their activities by sponsoring education of children. In one of the programs, by paying 600 Rupees (9.6 $) a month for a year a child education can be sponsored.

In this programme, the identity of the child being sponsored is revealed to the sponsor. Along with this a biannual report on child's performance is also sent to the sponsor. If the sponsor wants then he/she can also contact or meet the child.

The team members of this organization held a camp in my office to encourage people to sponsor children and I availed this oppurtunity to give a child his right to education.

Indeed, it was a pleasent experience to get details of the child I am sponsoring. These included his photograph, family details and address. You can also extend a helping hand and feel the happiness of this gift. Many such NGOs operate in India but a tried and tested one for which I can vouch is Actionaid.

Website details:

http://www.actionaid.org

Glistening Leaves and Tales of Sorrow

There grows a tree in the heart of Budapest, capital city of Hungary, that has leaves that glisten brightest under the sun but they carry on them the heavy weight of history. This tree stands as a memorial to Jewish Holocaust victims in the Dohány Street Synagogue.

On my maiden visit to Budapest, I was totally awestruck by the beautiful architecture of the Dohány Street Synagogue and the tales of sorrow and struggle ladden in its history.

The Dohány Street Synagogue also known as The Great Synagogue or Tabakgasse Synagogue, is a historical building in Budapest and is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world (after Temple Israel in New York). The synagogue was built in 1850 ' s  in the the style of a basilica and consists of the Great Synagogue, the Heroes' Temple, the graveyard, the Memorial and the Jewish Museum.

During the Holocaust, Hungarian Jews took shelter in this synagogue and in the courtyard of the synagogue, there are mass graves of thousands of Jews.

Dohány Synagogue

Interiors of the Synagogue

 The Holocaust Memorial in the synagogue, also known as the Emanuel Tree, is a weeping willow tree  made of  granite and steel designed by Imre Vagra, with the names of Hungarian Jews killed during the Holocaust inscribed on each leaf. 

Weeping Willow Tree!

Graves of Holocaust victims in the Synagogue

The weeping willow is an awe inspiring magnificent structure but its each leaf is associated with the sad story of a person whose aspirations were cut short by some people driven by a disillusioned man.