Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Really natural !
Nature is beautiful, to say the least.It is always working & the results are magical.It works slowly & steadily -never furiously like us The end result, is that nature continues to stun us with beauty, which refreshes & inspires us.
When I was small,I stayed in a place, where my dad grew a small garden. My dad, found gardening very relaxing & would inevitably be found there, tending to his numerous plants,shrubs,etc.In the backyard,there was a papaya plant.It had grown in the usual manner -having an umbrella like cover of leaves at the top from which hung some fruits.We devoured the fruits often.Once ,our backyard gate, was left open.A calf came & just ate the the papaya top.Now, the papaya plant looked just like a stick- its umbrella was gone ! We were upset.A few days later ,we saw fresh leaves & new shoots at the top.Very soon ,it grew into a well built papaya tree ! And then, it bore us so many fruits, that, we had to distribute amongst our well wishers & friends !
After some years,my dad was transferred to a place, on the banks of the holy Ganges river.From our home ,we could see the water of the holy river.In summers,we would head to the river & take a cool & refreshing bath.We also looked at peacocks on the opposite banks.Whenever we had guests visiting us,we made it a point, to take them to have a holy dip in the Ganges .After all ,how many get a chance to wipe away their sins in serene surroundings ?
In the holidays ,I would visit my mother's native village, where, we would bathe in the river & then go to the temple for feast.We hardly swam & the cool waters were soothing in the hot summers ! I visited my grandpa's farms once in a while & we travelled on bullock carts ! The slow winding journey would make us drowsy, till we reached our destination.
When I visited my paternal aunt's bunglow in Vadoadara,I would pick up chamelis & mogras for my aunt's daily puja .The chameli shrub had wound its way towards the bedroom & it smelt superb ! I would water the garden regularly.The smell of wet earth reminded me of the monsoons which would soon make an appearance.
After we shifted to the metro, for our college education,I thought, I would hardly get to see any natural wonders.I was absolutely wrong.My neighbour grew a small garden downstairs, just next to the building where we lived.She had planted kadipatta plant , some flower shrubs like hibiscus & others.Her hands were magical & her plants grew beautifully ! She would give me fresh curry leaves & we would use them for rasams & sambhars.Inspired by her,I planted the hibiscus plant, in the kitchen window, in a pot.It grew magnificently & every Tuesday,I would offer the red flower to Ganpati as I did Ganesh puja.
Again, we shifted & this time, it was a green colony, full of trees & meadows.The walks, we took, rejuvenated us after a hard day's work. The tress & surroundings looked, as if we were in a hill station and the temperature inside the colony was always, below, the average, in the rest of the city.
After my marriage,I always had a Tulsi plant for company.It keeps the air pure & can be added to tea for that herbal touch .My kid is found of puppies & is the one, who spots them on roadsides,even, when we travelling.A year or two back ,she & her friends found some puppies.They tried to cajole us -parents into adopting them & as we refused,they hit upon an idea! They would carry milk & biscuits to feed the puppies daily.In spite of this tender love & care ,the puppies died except one, which survives to this day.It is now, an adult.My kid always calls it & it responds by running behind her ! My daughter & her friends keep running after a cat, which has made its home, in the building, where we stay.I tell my daughter & her chums to stay away from the cat which is pregnant most of the time & will therefore, be aggressive.I am glad, in a way, as she is having her own real experience of Nature !
This blog post is written for the The Kissan 100% Real Blogger Contest on IndiBlogger.Please do share your real experiences which motivate us in enjoying the nature even as we marvel at it !
When I was small,I stayed in a place, where my dad grew a small garden. My dad, found gardening very relaxing & would inevitably be found there, tending to his numerous plants,shrubs,etc.In the backyard,there was a papaya plant.It had grown in the usual manner -having an umbrella like cover of leaves at the top from which hung some fruits.We devoured the fruits often.Once ,our backyard gate, was left open.A calf came & just ate the the papaya top.Now, the papaya plant looked just like a stick- its umbrella was gone ! We were upset.A few days later ,we saw fresh leaves & new shoots at the top.Very soon ,it grew into a well built papaya tree ! And then, it bore us so many fruits, that, we had to distribute amongst our well wishers & friends !
After some years,my dad was transferred to a place, on the banks of the holy Ganges river.From our home ,we could see the water of the holy river.In summers,we would head to the river & take a cool & refreshing bath.We also looked at peacocks on the opposite banks.Whenever we had guests visiting us,we made it a point, to take them to have a holy dip in the Ganges .After all ,how many get a chance to wipe away their sins in serene surroundings ?
In the holidays ,I would visit my mother's native village, where, we would bathe in the river & then go to the temple for feast.We hardly swam & the cool waters were soothing in the hot summers ! I visited my grandpa's farms once in a while & we travelled on bullock carts ! The slow winding journey would make us drowsy, till we reached our destination.
When I visited my paternal aunt's bunglow in Vadoadara,I would pick up chamelis & mogras for my aunt's daily puja .The chameli shrub had wound its way towards the bedroom & it smelt superb ! I would water the garden regularly.The smell of wet earth reminded me of the monsoons which would soon make an appearance.
After we shifted to the metro, for our college education,I thought, I would hardly get to see any natural wonders.I was absolutely wrong.My neighbour grew a small garden downstairs, just next to the building where we lived.She had planted kadipatta plant , some flower shrubs like hibiscus & others.Her hands were magical & her plants grew beautifully ! She would give me fresh curry leaves & we would use them for rasams & sambhars.Inspired by her,I planted the hibiscus plant, in the kitchen window, in a pot.It grew magnificently & every Tuesday,I would offer the red flower to Ganpati as I did Ganesh puja.
Again, we shifted & this time, it was a green colony, full of trees & meadows.The walks, we took, rejuvenated us after a hard day's work. The tress & surroundings looked, as if we were in a hill station and the temperature inside the colony was always, below, the average, in the rest of the city.
After my marriage,I always had a Tulsi plant for company.It keeps the air pure & can be added to tea for that herbal touch .My kid is found of puppies & is the one, who spots them on roadsides,even, when we travelling.A year or two back ,she & her friends found some puppies.They tried to cajole us -parents into adopting them & as we refused,they hit upon an idea! They would carry milk & biscuits to feed the puppies daily.In spite of this tender love & care ,the puppies died except one, which survives to this day.It is now, an adult.My kid always calls it & it responds by running behind her ! My daughter & her friends keep running after a cat, which has made its home, in the building, where we stay.I tell my daughter & her chums to stay away from the cat which is pregnant most of the time & will therefore, be aggressive.I am glad, in a way, as she is having her own real experience of Nature !
This blog post is written for the The Kissan 100% Real Blogger Contest on IndiBlogger.Please do share your real experiences which motivate us in enjoying the nature even as we marvel at it !
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Ajnabee, tum kuch jaane pehchane se lagte ho ......
Travel always excites me. I love meeting people & exploring new places.Of course the bonus is shopping for fabrics,handicrafts & other items to take back home as a reminder of the travel.Such things are like trophies to show off that I had indeed travelled to exotic places.Nowadays ,such trophies are not needed as photographs can be uploaded on to the net & exhibited to the world !
I recall, that my earliest travel was to my paternal Aunt's place at Ukai,Gujarat.I loved the big bunglow & swinging on the jhoola there.I would adorn my hair with flowers like mogras & chamelis.I overdid that & had to give it up as my head would ache .Later ,my aunt shifted base to Vadodara ,Gujarat & we travelled there, during holidays.I loved the toy train in the Kamati bagh & the bhajiyas on the roadside.As I grew up ,I had fallen in love with the textile market there.I would buy reams of cotton cloth for being stiched into salwar kameez & churidaars.I would also visit the Khadi Bhandars & buy numerous items like pillow covers,kurtas,etal.My love for Vadodara is nostalgic & lingers..
In school,we attended picnics to Agra & Khurja ,a small town in Uttar Pradesh which has a ceramic factory.In Agra ,I saw the white Taj Mahal against the over cast dark clouds & that image stays etched in my memory.From Khurja ,I got a playset consisting of a teacup sets & also a flower vase.Those days are really memorable, as we travelled with our school friends & had lots of fun.We had no worries & all of us were in an age, full of innocence !
In College ,we went on an educational trip to Pune.There were comparisons done about the financial status.The innocence of childhood had given way.In spite of this ,we did bond on the journey, like never before.
After marriage ,we went to visit Ooty .It was off season & we enjoyed visiting the rose garden & other sights.Later,I visited Ahmedabad ,when my hubby was on an official trip there.I travelled alone, looking at the sights of the city.My hubby was working & could not accompany me.I was glad, in a way, as he would not breathe down my neck, when I went shopping !
After my kid was born,we rarely travelled, as travelling with a baby, meant lot of pre conditions had to be satisfied.After she grew up ,we have resumed our travels.We visited Goa,Himachal Pradesh ,Malyaisa & Singapore to name a few places.I am of the opinion, that we must travel as much as we can, whenever my kid has holidays.This is so, as kids grow up so fast & before we know it,they are in college.Then ,they would dislike travelling with us.We would lose their company.Nowadays ,kids dislike travelling with parents even in their teens.I feel ,we must enjoy our trips in the company of our kid.We bond like friends & the joy of travelling, makes it, so memorable ! Travelling is so educative - my kid recalls whatever she has read in her books & is amazed that she is seeing, whatever, she had read in her text books & elsewhere.
We meet many people on our travels.We exchange numbers & addresses & then forget all about them, the moment, we are home.One family, has remained in my memory, though we never contacted after the trip.
This was on our trip to Himachal Pradesh.It was a package tour .There were many families like ours- husband,wife & kids.We got along well.I bonded with one housewife, who had come with her hubby & a daughter, who was in kindergarten.They had stayed in USA for quite some time & returned to Pune,India .She had been working before marriage & had left it when she had to accompany her hubby to USA.Her daughter was born, whilst, they were abroad.She yearned to work now, that she was back, in India.She could easily get domestic help to take care of her kid.Still ,she could not garner courage to step out & work.I empathised with her, as I also am a home maker, having left my job to take care of my kid.In both our cases,there was no compulsion to work & yet, we felt left out .We felt that we had become useless -staying at home.Her kid had still to get acclimatised to the weather in India as she was falling sick all too often.During the travel also ,she would throw up on daily basis.I felt, as if my story was being played as I could sense her helplessness in enjoying the travel , as her kid was falling sick.My kid had got so afraid of the throwing up, that she would constantly sleep with her head on my lap, while we toured.This irritated me ,just as that kid being unwell, bothered her mom.I woul carry tissues with me & offer her when she had run out of supplies.I could connect with her as she had been an NRI for some time .My brother being an NRI ,I could comprehend her feelings very well.We sometimes sat together on the numerous bus tours & participated as a team, in Antakshari & other games.When it was finally time to bid good bye,we all exchanged addresses & phone numbers.Surprsingly ,she did not have an email .I took her hubby's email id & promised to keep in touch.
I did forward some mails to her .I received no replies -not even an acknowledgement.I thought of calling her up but gave up that urge.I still don't know why.I hope & trust, that she is on a job now, as her kid must be quite grown up , as all this, was about four years back.She was an Human Relations person & many flexi work options are available .Maybe ,they have again left for shores abroad.I will never know.I still feel ,we can chat for hours. She had told me so many interesting things about her HR Stint.
My relatives stay in Pune & maybe if I am lucky ,I may meet her, by chance there, when I go visit Pune. That's a distinct possibilty .Or maybe, I should take a trip abroad with Expedia as she may be abroad now ! Expedia, because, they will plan out everything & I have to just pack my bags & enjoy the ride ! I can book my trip from the comfort of my home ,online @ http://www.expedia.co.in/ & relax.Expedia will plan all details - stay ,food,travel etc.This is a bliss, which takes out the travel stress ! So that ,I can, discover friends in the midst of strangers in different places !
I recall, that my earliest travel was to my paternal Aunt's place at Ukai,Gujarat.I loved the big bunglow & swinging on the jhoola there.I would adorn my hair with flowers like mogras & chamelis.I overdid that & had to give it up as my head would ache .Later ,my aunt shifted base to Vadodara ,Gujarat & we travelled there, during holidays.I loved the toy train in the Kamati bagh & the bhajiyas on the roadside.As I grew up ,I had fallen in love with the textile market there.I would buy reams of cotton cloth for being stiched into salwar kameez & churidaars.I would also visit the Khadi Bhandars & buy numerous items like pillow covers,kurtas,etal.My love for Vadodara is nostalgic & lingers..
In school,we attended picnics to Agra & Khurja ,a small town in Uttar Pradesh which has a ceramic factory.In Agra ,I saw the white Taj Mahal against the over cast dark clouds & that image stays etched in my memory.From Khurja ,I got a playset consisting of a teacup sets & also a flower vase.Those days are really memorable, as we travelled with our school friends & had lots of fun.We had no worries & all of us were in an age, full of innocence !
In College ,we went on an educational trip to Pune.There were comparisons done about the financial status.The innocence of childhood had given way.In spite of this ,we did bond on the journey, like never before.
After marriage ,we went to visit Ooty .It was off season & we enjoyed visiting the rose garden & other sights.Later,I visited Ahmedabad ,when my hubby was on an official trip there.I travelled alone, looking at the sights of the city.My hubby was working & could not accompany me.I was glad, in a way, as he would not breathe down my neck, when I went shopping !
After my kid was born,we rarely travelled, as travelling with a baby, meant lot of pre conditions had to be satisfied.After she grew up ,we have resumed our travels.We visited Goa,Himachal Pradesh ,Malyaisa & Singapore to name a few places.I am of the opinion, that we must travel as much as we can, whenever my kid has holidays.This is so, as kids grow up so fast & before we know it,they are in college.Then ,they would dislike travelling with us.We would lose their company.Nowadays ,kids dislike travelling with parents even in their teens.I feel ,we must enjoy our trips in the company of our kid.We bond like friends & the joy of travelling, makes it, so memorable ! Travelling is so educative - my kid recalls whatever she has read in her books & is amazed that she is seeing, whatever, she had read in her text books & elsewhere.
We meet many people on our travels.We exchange numbers & addresses & then forget all about them, the moment, we are home.One family, has remained in my memory, though we never contacted after the trip.
This was on our trip to Himachal Pradesh.It was a package tour .There were many families like ours- husband,wife & kids.We got along well.I bonded with one housewife, who had come with her hubby & a daughter, who was in kindergarten.They had stayed in USA for quite some time & returned to Pune,India .She had been working before marriage & had left it when she had to accompany her hubby to USA.Her daughter was born, whilst, they were abroad.She yearned to work now, that she was back, in India.She could easily get domestic help to take care of her kid.Still ,she could not garner courage to step out & work.I empathised with her, as I also am a home maker, having left my job to take care of my kid.In both our cases,there was no compulsion to work & yet, we felt left out .We felt that we had become useless -staying at home.Her kid had still to get acclimatised to the weather in India as she was falling sick all too often.During the travel also ,she would throw up on daily basis.I felt, as if my story was being played as I could sense her helplessness in enjoying the travel , as her kid was falling sick.My kid had got so afraid of the throwing up, that she would constantly sleep with her head on my lap, while we toured.This irritated me ,just as that kid being unwell, bothered her mom.I woul carry tissues with me & offer her when she had run out of supplies.I could connect with her as she had been an NRI for some time .My brother being an NRI ,I could comprehend her feelings very well.We sometimes sat together on the numerous bus tours & participated as a team, in Antakshari & other games.When it was finally time to bid good bye,we all exchanged addresses & phone numbers.Surprsingly ,she did not have an email .I took her hubby's email id & promised to keep in touch.
I did forward some mails to her .I received no replies -not even an acknowledgement.I thought of calling her up but gave up that urge.I still don't know why.I hope & trust, that she is on a job now, as her kid must be quite grown up , as all this, was about four years back.She was an Human Relations person & many flexi work options are available .Maybe ,they have again left for shores abroad.I will never know.I still feel ,we can chat for hours. She had told me so many interesting things about her HR Stint.
My relatives stay in Pune & maybe if I am lucky ,I may meet her, by chance there, when I go visit Pune. That's a distinct possibilty .Or maybe, I should take a trip abroad with Expedia as she may be abroad now ! Expedia, because, they will plan out everything & I have to just pack my bags & enjoy the ride ! I can book my trip from the comfort of my home ,online @ http://www.expedia.co.in/ & relax.Expedia will plan all details - stay ,food,travel etc.This is a bliss, which takes out the travel stress ! So that ,I can, discover friends in the midst of strangers in different places !
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