In Love with History....

Only One day in Athens! You gotta be kidding me! The land of philosophers like Aristotle, Socrates, king like Alexander, poet like Homer, scientist like Archimedes......There is so much to say about the legacy of which remains the foundation of western civilisation.

 

Lots more awaited us as we first headed out to 'Manhattan of Aegean' better known for the battle between Hercules and Giants of Gaia. My first impression was a little disappointing to see such an arid and dry landscape. I wondered why the world is obsessed with Mykonos. But i was to be proven wrong -  saw the most stellar sunset by the crystal clear azure waters; partied hard at Scorpios Beach club; indulged into the delicacies; Walked down the windy cobbled streets of the downtown ‘Hora’ on the west coast ; Blissfully sat by rocks alongside the sea beaming with music at night; Relished an  amazing ice cream scoop at a tavern and of course got a rocking picture by the most photographed church Pangia. Surprisingly, the same place was a world away in terms of vibe the next afternoon - calm and serene with beautiful 16th century round windmills sitting above the harbour. Oh yes!! where Shahrukh and Rani danced to the tunes of 'Tauba tum hare.....' I got one pic too!!

 

We set out for a Ferry to yet another island in the Cyclades, Santorini. The strong Meltemi northern winds blew through the ferry deck while sailing through islands of Paros and Naxos before docking at a croissant like wonderland.  I was in awe of the multicoloured cliffs  that soared out of a sea drowned volcanic crater topped by whitewashed buildings. Walking in the rains sounds crazy but that’s what we did - in and out of villages at Fira and Oia in this “tailor-made for me weather”.  The Blue and white colours of the island made me fall in love with this jewel of nature's handiwork. Who would believe that a Minoan city destroyed by a volcanic eruption would become so?

 

The very next day we set out Sailing in Aegean on the Catamaran boat around secluded bays. It was indeed the time to switch off and appreciate the stillness of the turquoise blue waters and black sand with music and barbecue. The highlight of the evening was an engaging Zorba dance beginning with slow rhythms that got faster, bringing us all to the moment of joy and in no time we all went swirling endlessly to the beats like we were born to it.  Fortunately since you are always holding hands I did not tumble down. Lolz

 

And now to my favourite part- Athens . Acropolis Hill, the highest point of the town, Parthenon, a Temple that heaves with history and archaeology. Having seen two ancient temples of Athena and Erechtheion, it was  time to lay my eyes to this lovely stone half-moon-shaped amphitheater made by Romans where they were prepping up for  a live performance that evening. Not to be missed is the Panathenaic Stadium and the view of the Parthenon from its 21st aisle and the Hadrians Library.

 

Like they say that some of the best trips include times more spent deep inside the halls of a museum. These grand buildings which are impressive in their own right take you by their awe. It was an enriching experience though too short to have visited both Archaeological museum and Numismatic museum which houses a rich precious heritage. The inscribed stone inventories only assured a forgetful me that it's not just me who needs constant notes to keep a track of things , it was very much the  way being followed since ancient ages.  The day ended with a relaxed evening walk through the vivid streets of old neighbourhood of Plaka. You can’t help but bump into the Greek Orthodox Church with Byzantine influence, totally treasured the mosaics and frescoes.

 

Next on our list was Corinth to get a view of the 6km canal which connects the Ionian sea with the Aegean sea. This also separates the Peloponnese region from the mainland. It is is considered by many to be where you will find the ‘real Greece history’. This is where the Mycenaean king resided and from where his beautiful wife eloped leading to Trojan war with the Troys.

 

Dead tired after days of non stop fun and feast, we planned a day trip to Delphi only to fulfill my daughters checklist of seeing Temple of Apollo. I have to admit that I would have been a fool though to not have given to her wishes. Besides the incredible history of this being the centre of earth and located at a point that it makes a perfect isosceles triangle with Acropolis ( Temple of Athena) and Olympia( Temple of Zeus) this place had some inner peace n beauty about it. The serene drive along the villages was an amazing experience. On the way back we stopped for lunch at Arachova, a mountainous village nestled picturesquely at the foot of Mount paranassos. An old time village with cute little shops of olive wood stuff and gorgeous warm hosts at the tiny tabled restaurants,  we had the best gourmet experience with dishes suggested by a local. The paved walls reminded me of where snow white must have found her way into the dwarfs house and decided never to leave them and go back home.

 

It seems to me that even though there were wars, there were no phones, no entertainment, the ancients had the luxury to live in the moment and the intellect to create the times ahead that we now claim to be ours. History has some fascination to me, delving into it is like reading storybooks carved in stone. Its like falling in love with an era that I can’t experience. Only imagine an idea of how world used to be. 

Nopes & Ayes!

“Mom, I qualified for the finals of Oxford Union Debate”, called Ananya when I was at work. I told her that since it’s a second Saturday she surely could manage to participate without missing out on her school. “It’s in person, Mom! and you know what I am going to Oxford.”; she exclaimed. I was zapped with the words and also quite taken by her thrill. I obviously refuted outrightly not knowing what this debate platform meant. By the way we finally did go with her team member Ansh and her Mentor Swati, after not one but many glitches which I am sure both the kiddos don’t want me to mention. Sorry, I mean young adults. 

As the largest British Parliamentary schools’ debate competition in the UK, the Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition is aimed for keen students in senior school. Contentious motions are expected to be given to the students where there is only 15 minutes preparation, with no access to the Internet or help from external parties. Students then utilise this time to structure their arguments in a cohesive manner to formulate a well-reasoned speech- clever use of word play can often come to be helpful in terms of gaining points.

The debate consists of four teams, containing two speakers each, which are divided into two sides that speak for and against the motion. Due to the style's origins in British parliamentary procedure, the two sides are called the Government and the Opposition.

When I heard the conveners explain all this to the competing teams, I suddenly looked at Ananya and Ansh, wondering as to whether they were even aware of this. And to my surprise they were. She was the Prime minister and her friend the Deputy PM in the upcoming round, and they were quite clear of their goals whether they were the opening government or closing opposition or whatever all of it was. I could only grab a chocolate to gulp it all down because I could hardly get a word of all that into my head.

Debate was well staged at the Union Poetry Room. Ananya and Ansh communicated their ideas to each other effectively. Asking the relevant POIs, giving out clear rebuttals were all keys to secure a good score in the eyes of the judges. It seemed some serious business I should tell you. I was fortunate to witness them debating seeing their cheeks fully flushed. I realized the challenge was that they were not to state their opinion. They had to position themself to win an argument, dismissing their companion’s points no matter whether they agreed or not. They were in this fight to be crowned the person most in the right.

When I saw other pro teams , I saw them talk in very militaristic language, very strong arguments- Arguments that have a lot of punch. Arguments that are right on target. The way they said ‘No, Thank you!’ to the interjections a few times and then take it up the other times, their responses made it sound like there was no possibility of negotiation on the point put forth by them. Period.

Having witnessed these budding debaters, for a moment I myself felt trapped in the bubble of feeling very right about everything.

And so at the end of it when you are not in the winning position, you do feel a level of disbelief because you feel you can just get up argue that too convincingly. Who does not want to experience the joy and delightful taste of victory after all. Winning gives us the sensation of relief after hard training for days, accompanied by the euphoria and satisfaction of proving that we are good at something.

But then like everything in life, there is also another face of the coin that we should also embrace as strongly as we do when we win…when we lose. And the fact is that You’re going to lose most of the competitions you enter. But the way to lose with style is to create possibility. To be creative... To do exemplary work that’s worth talking about.

So next time if you are losing sleep over not winning....look at the mirror and say this 

“Damn. I think that i am way too young to be getting wrinkles around my eyes." And move on to experience the next thing. Rest assured that will be only bigger than what u just did.

PS: Did I want them to win? Want- Ayes to that one but did I expect- Nopes. I expected them to experience. The whole of it and sink it down fully, engraved into their memories of formative years, never to fade out!

Benaras Diaries!!!

Hmmm, when we planned to visit with our friends, being a Shiv Bhakta, I was only keen to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple and start my 2023 on a beautiful note, amidst other things that every tourist supposedly does as a customary thing in the city. Obviously we will take the over rated boat ride and see the Ganga aarti but whats the big deal about it? Brahmastra had only made the exaggeration even more exaggerated I thought to myself.

Anyways, when we stepped out for a late night walk to Dadhashwamedh ghat, my head did not want to believe what my heart felt. Any picture I clicked, I wondered whether it was a photograph that looked like a painting or was it a canvas that looked like a photo? Unlike the glorified movie version, the spiritual connection in this city was evident.

The entire city boasted of an ancient feel. There was a chill to the air as we walked through the colourful paved roads, dotted with rickshaw drivers, the narrow streets, peeling paint on the sandstone walls, tiny innumerable chai shops, temples in every nook and cranny, niches filled with skilled Paanwalla’s, pillared balconies with intricate jali work. At this hour the streets seemed quiet, almost serene.

Aloo-kachori, Tamatar chaat and freshly made Idlis looked super delicious. So we ventured off to find these promised tasty treats. I was impressed by how intense the operation looked at the Kaashi Chaat Bhandar, multiple hands served and even more sat behind, spooning the delicious delicacies being handed out one after the other.

Next morning, we headed to Dhamek Stupa, where Lord Buddha preached the first sermon to His five disciples after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. Veneering sandstone cylindrical structure which draws thousands of international tourists dates back to Ashokan period. Although we had more fun in being fooled by the local guide into clicking pictures with fake laughing buddha before we finally reached the aesthetically designed masterpiece.

Evening was surely much awaited. It was time to return to the waters, this time to visit Dashashwamedh Ghat for the evening Ganga aarti. Oh how could I forget! Divya would not let me move down without putting the Chandan tika with trishul on my forehead. Felt funny bigtime and yet soaked in the Varanasi charisma!!!

Anyways, we trodded down the staircases on the Ghat which lead down into the waters of the Ganga. As our boat slowly chugged along the river, stretching to around 80 odd Ghats, we were bessemerized as each ghat unfurled a different style of architecture- Old houses, Brijwasi palace, Munshi Ghat, ashrams, ornate temples, and haphazardly built homes. Our boat paused, and as the engine died down, we hovered in near silence and I sat in awe, watching on as the sky slowly turn from Prussian blue to cobalt and finally deep dark and still.

We glided back to the docks where thousands upon thousands of people were here to witness the colourful event in all its divine glory. We were near the back of the pack in our wooden boat slowly crashing into others as everyone tried to get a view of the ceremony. Thus I gave up on clicking any decent photos and settled into my seat to truly appreciate the magic of the moment. As floating candles balanced on leaves and hovered around us, I felt a clear sense of gratitude pass over me.

After the aarti, the chants and the ringing bells, before I headed back, I paused at the banks of the dark water, cool waves gently probing at my feet, and closed my eyes while I placed the leaf basket delicately into the water. I smiled contently knowing it has been more than what I had expected from this city. This was beyond magical. It was new years eve and I knew that my start had been beyond words.

Even though we missed a guided tour by Nitish at the Benaras Hindu University, I’m not going to lie; it was lot to take in. They say that traditions are age-old in this City of lights which is believed to be the centre of Earth. While for many come to bathe in The Ganga as once in a lifetime journey, for others it marks the end of their lifetime, as their ashes form on the Manikarnika Ghat and fade into the water below. If ever there was a pinch-yourself moment, this was it.

 “I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.”

CHOPTA CALLING......

People often have a phobia about trekking and think that it is not meant for them; it is a stunt performed only by professionals. Well, that is absolutely true.- at least for an amateur like me. Nevertheless, I decided to take on the challenge and climb onto this trek from Chopta, supposedly the Mini Switzerland of India. A small tourist town located in Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand, it is also the last road ahead to Tungnath Temple & Chandrashila peak.

Tungnath is the highest Shiva Temple in the world located at an altitude of 3680m and is one among the Panch Kedar Shrines. Believed to be more than 1000 years old, the temple is closed during the winters and the deity is shifted to Mukku village.

It can be classified as a fairly easy trek – on the difficulty level and can be ideal for a first time trekker. And so I believed. Honestly, with me I would say beggars can't be choosers, I just wanted to do this. All I knew is that my end objective was to not slip down and come back triumphant in one piece after climbing up all the way to the highest temple in India. When Divya and Shashank proposed this, I was thrilled honestly and not wrongly so.

This indeed is one the most beautiful winter treks if you like snow with prettiest meadows where you see wild flowers blossoming if you visit Pre-monsoon. It was a pleasant morning with a fresh cold breeze, sun rays falling on the glittery tiny drops of water sprinkled on the grass and astonishing view of Kedarnath and Chaumukha Peaks.

The clouds were as though playing hide and seek with a little drizzle and hailstorm on and off. The trail zig-zagged steadily gaining altitude. The real challenge was the steep rise- an elevation from 2800m to 3500m in a stretch of just 3 km. However, we trekked up one step at a time falling in love with nature and letting my mind take a break amidst the pristine surroundings from the busy everyday schedule.

Though we missed spotting the state bird of Uttarakhand, colourful Monal – on the slopes near but the view from the top was totally worth the climb enhanced by snowy peaks around. I loved savouring the peace and listening to the wind that blew furiously with the sound of the bells making it a divine experience.

While writing about this exciting trip, I cannot miss to mention our deluxe campsite in exquisite location. Tents laid out in green meadows can be a beautiful experience if you want to get a real campsite feel. Thankfully we did not have to lay them out by ourselves. The website read comfortable accommodation in Swiss camps entwined with the facilities of comfy beds, attached washrooms, onsite nice dining facility  , Battery Operated lights and 24 hours hot water supply. We thought we were all set.

The stay was a unique one. We learnt how to lead a happy life with minimals. They had wood fired stoves and two people manging the whole accommodation. There was no power except for two hours at night because there was actually no need for one. No devices was the real detox we all needed. The food menu had no barbeque or appetisers but one of the most simple delicious meals I had had in ages. And the best part were our cozy tents. By cosy I mean 12 of us packed in 2 cabins with a small make shifter fireplace in the room.

The path down to the tent from our cars was no less than a trek- more like a teaser before our final expedition. But hats off to the two guys who were managing all the chores to ensure all basic necessities to us. I wonder how they could survive, enjoy and rather hop in such difficult terrain and weather.

Before heading off to Chopta, we took a one night stop over at Devprayag, a spiritual hamlet situated at confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirati  forming the Holy Ganga. The place we stayed in offered tranquility nestled at the base of mountains on all sides with gushing riverside- A view to die for. Walking by the river side coupled with a little adventure at rafting was only adding to the excitement of this long-awaited trip.

Kudos to Apoo and Anuj who suggested and planned this trip and to Divya for such a flawless execution. Shashank and Gagan need no mention. A special mention to Ashish and Dharam without which the trip would not have been so comfortable. Who are the latter two? I guess I shall leave that to my fellow trekkers to explain. Lolz!!!

Memorable, divine and panoramic! There is something  about hills and river that intrigue me. The hills remind me to look up. That feeling of achievement when you reach the top and the weightlessness when you look down alongwith the sense of awe as you are immersed in the wilderness cannot be put in words. On the contrary, rivers remind me of the endless flow of life and the serene down to earth attitude. When I am in a place like this, its as if I am in the middle of a conversation- Like the river telling me that it too shall pass and mountains saying that it does’nt matter anyway.

 

 

 

Nevertheless, She persisted.......

 

 

A quest to climb a mountain high

With a smile but a deep sigh

Beautiful dreams written in gold

But some beliefs needed to be cajoled

A foggy vision and hands tight-fisted

Nevertheless, she persisted!!!

 

Observing and absorbing every scene

Some fights within that could not be seen

Success is failure turned Inside out

Overshadowing every cloud of doubt

Mixed feelings of distrust & hope co-existed

Nevertheless, she persisted!!!

 

Things did go wrong and knew they will

With steep curves that carted uphill

Impediments that threw out of gear

Grim and thorny to see anything clear

Sometimes weary , sapped but  encrusted

 Nevertheless, she persisted!!!

 

Every journey is queer  with its twists & turns

No matter what, one is bound to learn

Looking back on the battle afterwards

Some stories cannot be put to words

She wanted to say but resisted

Nevertheless, she persisted!!!

  

Hold a little motto, say a little prayer

Nothing is too far, you are almost there

Regardless of the time it takes

Once you have resolved, you cannot shake

Only a brief soreness that subsisted

Nevertheless, she persisted!!!

For the love of Rains.....

 

 

 

The tiny raindrops dripping silently on my face

Melting my soul as my fingertips embrace

Dwindling off the dreariness bringing solace.

Putting my heart into the right place.

 

The tiny raindrops soothingly humming down

Thawing my heart as they touch the ground

Knocking my window coming unannounced

Spreading the earthy aroma  that sticks around

 

The tiny raindrops rejoicing with no fuss

Leaving its imprints on every teeny buds

Following the rhythm of breeze that it must

With unbound joy making the two of us

 

 

The tiny raindrops  drizzling from up the sky

Resounding the keynote " Never say die"

Breathe all the solitude in with a deep sigh

Relish the  placid sound of peace dropping by.

 

The tiny raindrops that may sound more insane

Have infact come back to run by again

Nothing gets better with more & more complain

That to enjoy a rainbow, you must enjoy rain

 

 

 

All I want is to be me…….

 

 

A feather Ocean full of eyes

Magical blue when these rise

Ogling at me with so much pride

Cheering high with sheer delight

 

In awe of my rainbow sheen

Crown like a Queen not often seen

Iridescent colours flair and dance

Golden plumes with a poised glance.

 

A national bird with a star

Preening myself in the barnyard

My liquid eyes whirling to life

How I wish they knew, as I sighed.

 

Helpless! I do surrender to that spell

Just like the bunch around …tells

Whispering slowly, I ask them to pause

Do not adore me just because.

 

These bare words & mindless  thoughts

Just do not help me connect any dots

Don’t just tack on handsome to me

Being flawless can get tricky to be

 

Can I just feel unadorned for once?

Simple and happy like my loved ones

A bird with beauty of its own within

Never mind the titles that I win

 

Sometimes I just like to be

Feel the sky and smell the sea

May be Glorious , symbolic of integrity

But all I want is JUST TO BE ME!!!!!