Of Mohanlal , Of Ayurveda , Of Hospitality

This is a post that i was planning to write since two months or so now and was not getting time to post it , ok i accept i was just lazy . Hopefully the title helps to know that i meant Kerala, truly God's Own country . I had been to this Mallu land in the first week of Oct .

Our journey started towards Munnar from Cochin . We had hired a car and we were fortunate enough to get a friendly driver . Drive is scenic . The moment one enters Kerala we see Mohanlal the actor , Ayurveda & gold the biggest brands of the land . On the way we came across a lot of beautiful water falls & "Thoddy Bars" . I was totally ignorant initially about these Thoddy Bars later learnt that it was some juice of tree which when fermented was converted to hooch.

Munnar is a typical Hill Station with lush green tea gardens , bending roads, lakes , small markets . We had an elephant ride here . It was fun , with the elephant being so friendly n ccccuuuuuuuuteeeeeee. We had some tea & pakodas amidst the clouds . The best part of Munnar stay for me was the morning walk that I took . Initially I was very lazy to wake up from my bed with a comfy blanket . But then I got up & went out on an early morning walk and what else can I say but a few words from my favourite poet Robert Frost

"

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep. "

Our next destination was Allepey .Allepey is the place where the annual world renowned boat race takes place . Allepey also has house boats . We had booked a lovely house boat . The house boats come with a person who drives the boat , a cook & a navigator . It has cozy rooms & the top of the house boat is awesome with you either over looking the water or the starry sky in the nite . Our cook the driver & the navigator were exceptionally good . These things made think why had Kerala become one of the famous tourist destination of the world , more than the beauty of the land , more than natural resources it was hospitality of the people that makes a place . People here were very eager to serve . It was one of the most memorable evening that we spent . I liked the place so much that i wanted to buy a house boat :).

Our next destination was Cochin . Cochin is a port . I could imagine how much busy it would have been in teh earlier times . It has a very strong influence of the Portugal & French & English cultures .Some of the buildings & synagogues tell stories of the whom once the place belonged too.

On our way back to airport we had been to Kraal the elephant training institute . There are so many of them there . From small baby elephants , to teenage brats to grown up individuals . We also had a chance to visit Kaladi the birth place of Adi Shankara the exponenet of Advaiita Philosophy . Adi Shankara being my favourite saint of all times , this place holds a special place in my heart .

My Fav Time of the year

Hurray ! My fav time of the year is back again I love winters so much . Winters to me mean hot cuppa of masala chai , garama garam khana & sleeping in a bed with a thick blanket on for a long time . Wow what else can one ask for. Winters can boast of Christmas & New year's . Imagine a new year celebrations during hot dry summers . Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ! Winters in Bangalore are more beautiful with purple flowers blooming on the trees near cubbon park , on the way to chinnaswamy stadium & there is Bangalore Habba . A panorama of creativity .

Purple flowers in full bloom on the streets of Bangalore

I hate it when people crib about dry skin cracking feet . Take care na yaar I say . Well on a second thought if u see me during summer you will see a crib pot personified . Summers & me d'not go well I declare . So people if you d'not like winters you are spared ;).
So guys keep yourself warm , flaunt your wollens & knits & enjoy winter.

What makes me happy

Well, this a question I ask myself so many times , as to what would gives me happiness. If people around me give happiness , if having a good time makes me happy,if buying something for me makes me happy . Yeah these things do make me happy , but they are so very ephemeral,so very non-lasting. It is non lasting because I keep expecting something or the other always & people around me being humans may not be able to react I way I expect them to always , & though I may buy something good for today , tomorrow I may need something else .
But if I think of it, Iam really happy when I think &I speak & I act the same .Iam happy when I learn something new , Iam happy when I maintain a calm & remain unaffected by situation .But seeking happiness is what Iam here for & this journey will go on till I realize the ultimate truth of eternity.

The Kite Runner

This is my first blog & I write it with much hesitation . So I thought let me start with something close to my heart .
Thanks to my mother , Iam an avid reader . This habit goes back to days in school when I & my sis would read a lot of Tinkle , Disney World etc .Gradually the taste got better over years , though a good comic would still bring back a smile on my face .

Last year or so I got my hands on a book called "The Kite Runner " by Khaled Hosseini. Its a beautiful book & the writer is very prolific . Its about a boy who has his childhood in a war torn Afghanistan , its about how beautiful once the country was , its about how the children are same everywhere . But above all its a story of ironies of human nature . The human guilt that one has . And to get back that clear conscience again , We are all after all caught between two.
Sometimes I wonder whether one bad action of human being makes him do many good deeds just to come out of that guilty conscience. I wonder whether a conscience in making is due to circumstances we grow. And who can define what a clear conscience is .
Hmm , I chuckle & have to say " Its all in the mind "