FOR fear of people mistaking my blog as a tavelogue of some sorts, i refrained from this post for some time. but the inner surge to sahre the beauty of that trip with some anticlimax and finally an wonderful climax prodded me to post this.Hence you are reading this .
First things first, the trip itself was a suddenly planned one, or the one thrust at the last minute (thanks to a scheme announced by credit card issuers some time last year for its Golden card holders,).Since i have already planned for a trip to Delhi inconnection with an official trip it became comparatively easier to extend the programme form Delhi to Simla. The added attraction is the presence of my wife by my side.The fact that we both had been looking for an escapade, after some hectic events back at home, which were physically and mentally tiring, all at the same time, we were in fact ( to gether for a change!!) looking forward to that trip.
AND THE CRedit goes to my ever inspiring and ever ready daughter , who checked and booked confirmed tickets for all legs from Delhi to Simla and back to CHENNAI.(in no time using her cards/online bank transfers etc). Special thanks to her for making the trip memorable, as things were in place even before we departed thus removing the uncertain elements.
The journey was to Delhi, and then from Delhi to KALKA and from KALKA to SIMLA and again from Simla to another peak point above simla (called KUFRI).The schedule was, on ward train from Delhi to be boarded at 9.40 pm, with the schedled arrival at KALKA at 4.40 am, (the next day), just in time to catch the hill train from kalka leaving from Simla at 5.40 am.The official duies were over as per plans and i was back in home to have a relaxed dinner and arrive in time at Old Delhi raiway station .Immediately on arrival we were greeted by the board at the entrance of Delhi station to the effect that the train frm Kolkata to Simla via Kolka is behind schedule by 2hrs and is expected to depart only at 11.40 pm instead of 9.40 pm.There were hardly any options left as the journey from RK puram (my brotherin law's place) to old DElhi has already consumed an hour and a quarter and thus the only choice was to stay at the station.Our immediate worry was that the connecting train from KALKA to SIMLA is not psossible to be boarded as our train , (going by the announcement )will reach Kolka by 6.40 am (instad of 4.40 am )whereas train to Simla is to depart at 5.40am. We do not know when is the next connecting train.Added to that the loss of tkt cost on account of train missed.All charms of going to Simla , HAVE STARTED DRYING OFF AT THAT MOMENT.
Still we were known to have come across several such instances in our life journey together and we decided to take it in its strides. There was a MACDONALD RESTAURANT AWAITING WITH ITS NEON sighns declaring 24 hrs "open" sign.WE decided to have a retreat there, to spend the next two hours and also to have a cup of hotchocolate (which is surprisingly not available in Macdonalds situated near our residence at Velachery , Chennai.)
We also thought we could engage in small and sweet conversations with my son (celebrating his 26th birth day , for the first time away from all of us at Hongkong) and daughter who is left alone at CHENNAI in the company of her grand mother.Accordingly we carried out our plans, talked to son and daughter, munched french fries and gulped hot chocolate, gossiped about our earlier visits to hill sations/resorts , and saw the time nearing 11.30 pm.In anticipation of arrival of train, we left the warmth of MACDONALDS,proceeded to the platform No 10, where the train from Kolkata is expected to arrive only to be greeted with the announcement that the train which was running late earlier by 2 hrs is running late by 4 hrs and the expected time of arrival was indicated at 2.30 am. We knew then for certainty that our plans are going helter skelter and we also know by then that what can not be cured shall be endured.The icy night and the blowing wind added to the discomfiture and again made an attempt to spoil our moods.But we have decided that what ever be the outcome, we are going to experience every minute as fresh and positive as it could be, for the day happens to be our son's birth day and we did not want any event to beseech our happiness on that day.
After a few more announcements stepping up the delayed arrival, by 15 minues each time, the train atlast came at 3.30 am.( A DELAY OF 6 HOURS).We immediately boarded and went to sleep, to compensate for the earlier loss of sleep. While my wife realy succeeded in getting some sleep, my ill equipped preapredeness for the late train joiurney, in dipping temperatures , made it difficult for me to sleep and as such i started travelling backward in my memory towards the earlier birthdays of my son and how each of his last 3 bith days were unique in some sence or other.2009 at Mumbai, 2010 at HYDERABAD and 2011 at Hongkong..wah:)By the time my eye lids closed on me due to sheer tiredness, and the early morning sun was slowly giving the much desired warmth as a shield from the previous icy night we have arrived at Kalka.Yes train has made up atleast 90 minutes of delay and reached Kolka at 9.15 am.
And when we hurriedly disembarked and started enquiring for the next train to Shimla, from Kolka we were informed that the next train is to depart in about 15 minutes from the adjacent platform.And when we reached in break neck speed to the platform we saw the galmour and splendour of the train Himalayan Queen , standing majestically , waiting to depart. And hold your breath...The attendants checked our tkts and escorted us to the Coach C1, WITH OUR RESERVATIONS intact and politely enquired as to the break fast that we would like to have, after serving us a hot flask of fragrant tea.My wife's sullen moods, if any all drifted away (surianai kanda pani pola)on seeing the flask with steaming tea(she is a connnosiur of good tea)and when we settled respectively in our seats the train left the plat form.
The journey time , is one of the longest, i have seen.It took about 5 and half hours and what a journey it is.Unforgettable one. There were 101 tunnels,enroute, besides double the number of bridges and curves.The sight which came before us was enthralling and engulfing at the same time. Nature's gift was at its best .THE BREAK FAST COMPRISING OF Alu tikkia, biscuits, and pot of tea were equally attractive.It was as if we have been transformed from human beings to DevaS.So lovely. so reassuring and so quietening on our nerves. WE missed our near and dear very much at that time. At the same time the manner in which the day has beautifully unfloded before us after a night of uncertainties, also gave a signal to us that our Son's birth day is going to be an unforgettable one and that the year AHEAD for him is going to be a glorious one.SENTIMENTS AND WISHES OFCOURSE!!And i am sure that they will come true.
To make the long story short, we checked in at our resorts at 4pm(behind schedule by 4 hrs)took a long hot shower bath, went down to the lobby to the bar to keep ourselves warm, had some hot chapathis and fried rice and retired to bed just in time to discuss the next days programme.Simla was at its best in the glowing sun, the next day morning. As usual after missing the buffe break fast (which was supposed to be available up to 11 am , which was however declared closed at 10 am itself when we arrived at the restaurant,)we settled for some hot puris and sambarvadas.When we enquired about sight seeing we were informed that there is nothing much to see except hills , hills and hills in that order.However when we rechecked again we were informed that 12 kms from where we stayed (Mind you we were at a height of 2800 meteres above sea level-i,e 7500 feet above sea)the town Kufri has got a few market places besides horse riding etc. The temperatures were hovering between 1 degree and 10 degrees and as such we have to physically do some thing to keep warm and hence we decided to move out.ANd what a fantastic experience it turned out to be.
After initial reluctance to go for horse riding, some how we managed to reach the concensus and took to riding along with another couple and then suddenly saw the entire place was swarmed by people of all ages from all parts of the world, riding on the back of horses of various sizes and colour.It was a journey of 2 hrs up and down by the horse.After being tempted to take the photos on the backdrop of ice and after having slipped twice in the process (fortunately no major injury to either) we decided to call it a day and return back. Then we saw the nature's gift of ice and snow. What started as small drops sooner grew in size to that of pellets and when we were half way thru our return we have been covered by snow and ice and the entire area became a dream coloured in white, absolute,unpolluted white ice and snow.We took a few photos again in the back drop of snow (which came much more beautiful than the ones which we took at the spot intended for such photos earlier after almost breaking our knee joints!!)Oh Eththanai Kodi Inbam vaiathai engal Iraiva!!
And the story never ends when the tide is good and flowing . THE MOMENT WE CAME DOWN to the place frm where we started and got down from the horses, the aroma of hot tava chapathis accompanied by the smell of the side dish from a near by hutment drew us (like a magent attracts the iron ore) and each us us after the horse ride were really ffeing hungry. Thus the food we had in the back drop of the icy rain is one of the most unforgettable ones and the priceless one at that.
the photos we took as memoirs will always bring back the pleasant memories of this trip and if there could be another trip, i wish the same to be in the company of my son and daughter so that the smiles and warmth of the journey will ever be itched in memeory.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
FROM DARJILING TO SHIMLA
I had always been a nature's person.Let me amplify stating that i feel like a child, full of bliss and devoid of any sorrows whnever i am cuddled in the lap of the nature.
Be it sea side , be it a mountain side or be it a forest ..what they call in tamil as Neithal, Kurinchi,Mullai etc.. i feel that the nature's abundance and beauty make me smile and get immersed in its vast expanse.
Some of these places i have visited in the company of my wife , some of them in the company of my family, some others in the company of my friends and some of them alone. Whether i have travlled alone or in the company of some one is unimportant. What is important is that every such visit energised me and enthused me to face life in better perspectives.
Time and again these visits have proved one thing..the smallness of human being, in the presence of the natures' vastness.Viz Huge mountains, the thick forests and the deep blue seas. These are places which are less traversed and conseqently less habitated and therefore less polluted.I did not mean the pollution of air and water . I mean the pollution of minds. Where the mind is held high and where the senses are supreme, the words and deeds strike harmony with each other resulting in peace of mind and bliss. Where there is no meet of the mind and heart, there results disharmony.
It is possibly the serenity of the place of vist, the peace in abundance witnessed there and the resultant calmness of mind which flows therefrom that makes such visits , worthy of remebrances.
It is almost 30 years back i have visited Darjeeling.The photostaken in black and white and the one taken in colour in an automatic camera, then of me and my wife(which has almost faded out making it difficult to understand who is male and who is female in that photo!!), the hot cups of tea which we gulped(no count on the numbers-as we have gone with out proper clothing to a hill resort)to keep us warm, the unsuccessful attempts that we made in the morning hours to get to see the peak of everest in the back drop of the golden Rising sun(due to continuous rains ), the trip that we had to Katmandu( Nepal) sneking across the borders, the visit to PASUPATHY NATH TEMPLE, THE pirated CDS we picked up at Rs 50 per CD in those years(Aradhana, HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA are a few which i still remember for its clarity and the resilience taht these CDs had ) the heart beats which went fastert when we were stopped near a check post to check our belongings, the chappathis which we prepared at KOLKATTA to last atleast for 3 days of our stay, the paruppupodi combination with chappathi which we tried first at that point of time, the sweet nothings whispered and seldom understood then all linger in my memory at this point of time when i have visited Shimla.
Life has almost come a full circle as it would appear.From DARJILING in East to Shimla in North.Both places, i have been accompanied by my wife.The feelings and temparaments and the fulfillment levels have undergone a sea change over these 3 decades. There are of course places which we visited along with our children and surprisingly the visits have taken place with distinct precision . If 1980's witnessed our trip to Dargiling, 1990's saw our trip to OOTY, 2000's saw our trip to Kodikanal and again to OOTY, and the current decade, our recent trip to Shimla.
These visits are remembered for various factors and reasons.Some of them nice and some of them not so nice, But what is important is that the places perse have always left a soothing effect on mind and body and it is only the individual expectations and the feelings which at times created a blur.The best way therefore to rejoice a visit is to enjoy the moments as if we are born at that moment with out carrying any legacy from the past. Once we develop such an attitude to life, to shed our unwanted legacies, life becomes vibrant and bright.THERE IS A NEW LEAF/LEASE TO LIFE THAT generates in the process.
Be it sea side , be it a mountain side or be it a forest ..what they call in tamil as Neithal, Kurinchi,Mullai etc.. i feel that the nature's abundance and beauty make me smile and get immersed in its vast expanse.
Some of these places i have visited in the company of my wife , some of them in the company of my family, some others in the company of my friends and some of them alone. Whether i have travlled alone or in the company of some one is unimportant. What is important is that every such visit energised me and enthused me to face life in better perspectives.
Time and again these visits have proved one thing..the smallness of human being, in the presence of the natures' vastness.Viz Huge mountains, the thick forests and the deep blue seas. These are places which are less traversed and conseqently less habitated and therefore less polluted.I did not mean the pollution of air and water . I mean the pollution of minds. Where the mind is held high and where the senses are supreme, the words and deeds strike harmony with each other resulting in peace of mind and bliss. Where there is no meet of the mind and heart, there results disharmony.
It is possibly the serenity of the place of vist, the peace in abundance witnessed there and the resultant calmness of mind which flows therefrom that makes such visits , worthy of remebrances.
It is almost 30 years back i have visited Darjeeling.The photostaken in black and white and the one taken in colour in an automatic camera, then of me and my wife(which has almost faded out making it difficult to understand who is male and who is female in that photo!!), the hot cups of tea which we gulped(no count on the numbers-as we have gone with out proper clothing to a hill resort)to keep us warm, the unsuccessful attempts that we made in the morning hours to get to see the peak of everest in the back drop of the golden Rising sun(due to continuous rains ), the trip that we had to Katmandu( Nepal) sneking across the borders, the visit to PASUPATHY NATH TEMPLE, THE pirated CDS we picked up at Rs 50 per CD in those years(Aradhana, HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA are a few which i still remember for its clarity and the resilience taht these CDs had ) the heart beats which went fastert when we were stopped near a check post to check our belongings, the chappathis which we prepared at KOLKATTA to last atleast for 3 days of our stay, the paruppupodi combination with chappathi which we tried first at that point of time, the sweet nothings whispered and seldom understood then all linger in my memory at this point of time when i have visited Shimla.
Life has almost come a full circle as it would appear.From DARJILING in East to Shimla in North.Both places, i have been accompanied by my wife.The feelings and temparaments and the fulfillment levels have undergone a sea change over these 3 decades. There are of course places which we visited along with our children and surprisingly the visits have taken place with distinct precision . If 1980's witnessed our trip to Dargiling, 1990's saw our trip to OOTY, 2000's saw our trip to Kodikanal and again to OOTY, and the current decade, our recent trip to Shimla.
These visits are remembered for various factors and reasons.Some of them nice and some of them not so nice, But what is important is that the places perse have always left a soothing effect on mind and body and it is only the individual expectations and the feelings which at times created a blur.The best way therefore to rejoice a visit is to enjoy the moments as if we are born at that moment with out carrying any legacy from the past. Once we develop such an attitude to life, to shed our unwanted legacies, life becomes vibrant and bright.THERE IS A NEW LEAF/LEASE TO LIFE THAT generates in the process.
On love lost and gained
At the outset, my apologies to " friendson" for dealing on a subject where in he has portrayed hardly few hrs back , some observations ,( some of which may be contrary to views expressed herein ), published under his blog"transientlines @blogspot.com".
His post on "love, wisdom and such silly things", i admit, has given rise to the thoughts in this post.
I am reminded of the famour writer Sujatha, who boldly advocated in his novels that love is nothing but the chemistry of harmones in the body.I am also reminded of JEYA KANTHAN who narrated in his writings as to how people are hypocritic in not admitting that love leads to desire and desire leads to lust and as such they are inseparable and coexist.Then came BALA KUMARAN WITH HIS POWERFUL WRITINGS, MORE INCLINED TO PORTARYING THE WOMEN'S SIDE THAN THE MAN'S SIDE WHO CLAIMED that in all cases of crisis arising on account of love, it is only woman who are left high and dry.Now the issue is not as to who is right or who is wrong. The issue is primarily aimed at anlaysing whether we are reALLY grown up and matured to analyse our own reactions to love and hate.WHAT EVER HAS BEEN SAID BY THE WRITERS REFERRD TO BY ME AND THOSE ABOUT WHOM I HAVE NOT REFEERED (such as THI.JANAGI RAMAN, KA.NA.SU,PUDUMAI PITHTHAN etc whose novels also speak about the various facets of love and its impact)the fact remains that all these writers have also portrayed what they have experienced or what they have seen as those experienced by others.In other words there is no finality to any of those views. So long there is going to be human race in existence, the experience that they are going to undergo, love perse, is going to be as varied and complex as one's imagination can go.
I have visited DARGILING in the year after my marriage,i have visited ooty, when i have been blessed with a son and daughter, i have visited Kodai kanal when my children have started moving from child hood to adult hood and recently i had been to Shimla.During these years my love and affection has gone under stress and strain and each time, it has emerged stronger and bolder and i have a sence of joy and fulfillment.And i feel that the issue is one connected with consultaations, compromise, agreements and of course argument too.If there is a basic trust in the
character and capabiliies of the other person then even arguments tend to produce the mutually beneficial results and if there is mis trust then the whol;e word/read as world has become a fiasco.
The lesson that i have learnt so far in trying circumstances is that nothing has always got a permanant meaning,in other words good becomes bad and bad becomes good , tolerance becomes admantness and viceversa and thus every thing is bound to change and shall change over aperiod of time. For those who understand that change is constant, the recognition that the moments of joy and sorrow may not be constant will come.Once that recognition comes, expectations start decreasing. AND ONCE EXPETATIONS ARE ON THE DECLINE THE ACTS OF THE OTHER PERSONS START HAVING declining impact. I remain what i am and i allow the other person to remain what he or she is.In other words i know my levels of freedom and i also respect the freeedom levels of others.WE coexist appreciating each other and their needs. REAL HAPPINESS FILLS THE VOID THEN.
MAY THERE BE PEACE OF MIND AND HAPPINESS PREVAIL FOR ALL AROUND.
His post on "love, wisdom and such silly things", i admit, has given rise to the thoughts in this post.
I am reminded of the famour writer Sujatha, who boldly advocated in his novels that love is nothing but the chemistry of harmones in the body.I am also reminded of JEYA KANTHAN who narrated in his writings as to how people are hypocritic in not admitting that love leads to desire and desire leads to lust and as such they are inseparable and coexist.Then came BALA KUMARAN WITH HIS POWERFUL WRITINGS, MORE INCLINED TO PORTARYING THE WOMEN'S SIDE THAN THE MAN'S SIDE WHO CLAIMED that in all cases of crisis arising on account of love, it is only woman who are left high and dry.Now the issue is not as to who is right or who is wrong. The issue is primarily aimed at anlaysing whether we are reALLY grown up and matured to analyse our own reactions to love and hate.WHAT EVER HAS BEEN SAID BY THE WRITERS REFERRD TO BY ME AND THOSE ABOUT WHOM I HAVE NOT REFEERED (such as THI.JANAGI RAMAN, KA.NA.SU,PUDUMAI PITHTHAN etc whose novels also speak about the various facets of love and its impact)the fact remains that all these writers have also portrayed what they have experienced or what they have seen as those experienced by others.In other words there is no finality to any of those views. So long there is going to be human race in existence, the experience that they are going to undergo, love perse, is going to be as varied and complex as one's imagination can go.
I have visited DARGILING in the year after my marriage,i have visited ooty, when i have been blessed with a son and daughter, i have visited Kodai kanal when my children have started moving from child hood to adult hood and recently i had been to Shimla.During these years my love and affection has gone under stress and strain and each time, it has emerged stronger and bolder and i have a sence of joy and fulfillment.And i feel that the issue is one connected with consultaations, compromise, agreements and of course argument too.If there is a basic trust in the
character and capabiliies of the other person then even arguments tend to produce the mutually beneficial results and if there is mis trust then the whol;e word/read as world has become a fiasco.
The lesson that i have learnt so far in trying circumstances is that nothing has always got a permanant meaning,in other words good becomes bad and bad becomes good , tolerance becomes admantness and viceversa and thus every thing is bound to change and shall change over aperiod of time. For those who understand that change is constant, the recognition that the moments of joy and sorrow may not be constant will come.Once that recognition comes, expectations start decreasing. AND ONCE EXPETATIONS ARE ON THE DECLINE THE ACTS OF THE OTHER PERSONS START HAVING declining impact. I remain what i am and i allow the other person to remain what he or she is.In other words i know my levels of freedom and i also respect the freeedom levels of others.WE coexist appreciating each other and their needs. REAL HAPPINESS FILLS THE VOID THEN.
MAY THERE BE PEACE OF MIND AND HAPPINESS PREVAIL FOR ALL AROUND.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
On Relationships
I have been watching the tussles and the heart breaks witnessed time and again amidst the genders. I am conscious in not using the word, lovers or couples , simply because of the fact that the diffrence in gender in itself is a sufficient cause to create misunderstandings ,in waht ever be the type of relationship.
This is because that a male is not going to recognise the pain of his female counterpart when she is thru the delivering phase of a baby , however much he sincerely attempts to know about it and offer solace, Similarly the female counter part will never ever come to know the agony and pains that the male counterpart has gone through when she is going thru all those lablour pains inside the hospital.
It would be wonderful if both involved sit to gether , clasp each other 's hands and spend a few moments to gether in silence instead of eloquently describing how each has felt during those moments .At such times silence is the golden key which opens the closed doors and apply it self to the wounds inflicate dand imagined!!
Some one said that with all our vocabulary at our command still we could not heal a hurt or pain thru mere words while a hug, or smile or any other physical gesture possibly could replace thosands of words to be spoken to convey one's true feelings.
This is why when some one dear and near is away, not withstanding the constant touch you may have with him/ her still you feel like being by the side of the person in physical form to offer support and comfort.
Going bach to the conflicts i desscribed in the initial para of the blog,i have also found that those who are in love either exhibit great courage and wisdom and at times they also exhibit utter stupidity and lack of sensitivity.I know that the persons perse are not responsible for this type of behaviour for they are under the prowess and magical spell of the fourletter word "love'.And that is the reason nothing else counts for them except their love and in the process tempers run high, words flow without reasoning and if the conterparty also reacts with out reason there follows a stalemate.This could be true of 90 out of 100 cases and if 10 of 100 do not undergo the same type of experience hats off to them.
It is this 10% that we are required to follow and emulate. I do not normally give prescriptions of any kind to any one except saying atht the solution to any conflict faced by a person lies within the person himself/herself.Still i am tempted to give a prescription to those who have loved and lost, those who are in love and those who have seen their love blossoming into a marriage with or with out the support of near and dear.
YeS, FIRST THING IS TO RECOGNISE THAT THE TWO IN ANY RELATIONSHIPS ARE EQUALS.
THE SECOND IS TO LIVE TODAY, TODAY AND NOT OT LIVE YESTERDAY TODAY.
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO REMAIN SILENT AT LEAST FOR FEW MOMENTS WHEN CONFLICTS ARE BROODING .
IF ( and that is the biggest if) only the same is not only preached but practiced , it would be the real connotation of love, for true love simply understands and do not argue.
This is because that a male is not going to recognise the pain of his female counterpart when she is thru the delivering phase of a baby , however much he sincerely attempts to know about it and offer solace, Similarly the female counter part will never ever come to know the agony and pains that the male counterpart has gone through when she is going thru all those lablour pains inside the hospital.
It would be wonderful if both involved sit to gether , clasp each other 's hands and spend a few moments to gether in silence instead of eloquently describing how each has felt during those moments .At such times silence is the golden key which opens the closed doors and apply it self to the wounds inflicate dand imagined!!
Some one said that with all our vocabulary at our command still we could not heal a hurt or pain thru mere words while a hug, or smile or any other physical gesture possibly could replace thosands of words to be spoken to convey one's true feelings.
This is why when some one dear and near is away, not withstanding the constant touch you may have with him/ her still you feel like being by the side of the person in physical form to offer support and comfort.
Going bach to the conflicts i desscribed in the initial para of the blog,i have also found that those who are in love either exhibit great courage and wisdom and at times they also exhibit utter stupidity and lack of sensitivity.I know that the persons perse are not responsible for this type of behaviour for they are under the prowess and magical spell of the fourletter word "love'.And that is the reason nothing else counts for them except their love and in the process tempers run high, words flow without reasoning and if the conterparty also reacts with out reason there follows a stalemate.This could be true of 90 out of 100 cases and if 10 of 100 do not undergo the same type of experience hats off to them.
It is this 10% that we are required to follow and emulate. I do not normally give prescriptions of any kind to any one except saying atht the solution to any conflict faced by a person lies within the person himself/herself.Still i am tempted to give a prescription to those who have loved and lost, those who are in love and those who have seen their love blossoming into a marriage with or with out the support of near and dear.
YeS, FIRST THING IS TO RECOGNISE THAT THE TWO IN ANY RELATIONSHIPS ARE EQUALS.
THE SECOND IS TO LIVE TODAY, TODAY AND NOT OT LIVE YESTERDAY TODAY.
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO REMAIN SILENT AT LEAST FOR FEW MOMENTS WHEN CONFLICTS ARE BROODING .
IF ( and that is the biggest if) only the same is not only preached but practiced , it would be the real connotation of love, for true love simply understands and do not argue.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
KUNG HAI FAT CHOI
I WISH ALL THE READERS (I CAN ALSO FANTASIZE OF MILLIONS OF READERS TO MY BLOG:):)A LIVELY CHINESE NEW YEAR. KUNG HAI FAT CHOI...WHICH LITERALLY MEANS HAPPY NEW YEAR.
IT WAS EXCATLY 13 YEARS BACK IN 1998 I WITNESSED THE GRANDEUR AND GLORY OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR FROM THE OPEN TERRACE OF THE FLAT AT GOLDKING MANSION,TAI HANG DRIVE WHERE I WAS DESTINED/BLESSED (WHICH EVER WAY U TAKE IT) TO STAY FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS.
And the colourful parade of crakers and teh rilliance of lights emitted by them still remain green in my memory. It was as if thosands of deepavalis being celebrated all at the same point of time. Imagine the population of Chennai coming around with kith and kin to marina and start firing craKERS ALL AT THE SAME TIME AT THE DOTTED HOUR.
I still remember the punctuality with which the grand event will start and finish. It used to be around 8 pm in my days . And note it, it will start exactly at 8 pm and it will conclude exactly in 30 minutes, i,e by 8.30 pm.the precision with which the timing is adhered to, the manner in which the clouds are monitored, the ease with which the traffic is controlled are all factors to be seen to be believed.
My initial reaction when i witnessed it in first year was that the credits belong to British who held seige over hongkong for decades and who left the island under a bipartite settlement only in July 1997.So i was in fact not very keen next year(1999) to attend to the grand show, for fear that the same may not be as orderly or as good as the one witnessed in 1998.I was proved wrong. The second one was more majestic than the first one.In fact the jubiliation of having won back Hongkong from hands of the British, possibly added more passion to the whole show.
I would like to know how the event is celebrated as of now and i have goaded my son (who has landed in HK DEC2010)not to miss this event. I have consciously used the word goading as my son is shy of crowds and i bet the crowds are going to be there in thousands,still the colourful sight of the entire population joining together to celebrate an event , ushering of new year, is great feat to watch and cherish.
The year is said to be the year of rabbit. Chinese years are always linked to animals and that is possibly because of their close love and appetite(conscious use)for them .nO OFFENCE MEANT ANY WAY. In a country whose population is incresing leaps and bounds, availability /sufficiency of food is a major concern and hence the people have been taught to make use of what is availble around them to take care of their hunger.
RABBITS ARE SAID TO BE FRIENDLY, TACTFUL AND CHARMING.The year is also predicted to be one of charm, friendliness and warmth.I recall my last Rabbit year in HK island, when i was present in a chinese restaurant,celebrating the new year with my chinese staff with a tamil song!!yes as atrue lover of tamil, i sang the song "Sen thamizh then mozhiyal,nilavena sirikkum malrkodiayal" with karoke , accompanied by a lovable dance by a few chinese girls and the night became an unforget ful one.I wish all my readers ,my chinese staff,my friends and above all my dearest son KUNG HAI FAT CHOI..:):)
IT WAS EXCATLY 13 YEARS BACK IN 1998 I WITNESSED THE GRANDEUR AND GLORY OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR FROM THE OPEN TERRACE OF THE FLAT AT GOLDKING MANSION,TAI HANG DRIVE WHERE I WAS DESTINED/BLESSED (WHICH EVER WAY U TAKE IT) TO STAY FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS.
And the colourful parade of crakers and teh rilliance of lights emitted by them still remain green in my memory. It was as if thosands of deepavalis being celebrated all at the same point of time. Imagine the population of Chennai coming around with kith and kin to marina and start firing craKERS ALL AT THE SAME TIME AT THE DOTTED HOUR.
I still remember the punctuality with which the grand event will start and finish. It used to be around 8 pm in my days . And note it, it will start exactly at 8 pm and it will conclude exactly in 30 minutes, i,e by 8.30 pm.the precision with which the timing is adhered to, the manner in which the clouds are monitored, the ease with which the traffic is controlled are all factors to be seen to be believed.
My initial reaction when i witnessed it in first year was that the credits belong to British who held seige over hongkong for decades and who left the island under a bipartite settlement only in July 1997.So i was in fact not very keen next year(1999) to attend to the grand show, for fear that the same may not be as orderly or as good as the one witnessed in 1998.I was proved wrong. The second one was more majestic than the first one.In fact the jubiliation of having won back Hongkong from hands of the British, possibly added more passion to the whole show.
I would like to know how the event is celebrated as of now and i have goaded my son (who has landed in HK DEC2010)not to miss this event. I have consciously used the word goading as my son is shy of crowds and i bet the crowds are going to be there in thousands,still the colourful sight of the entire population joining together to celebrate an event , ushering of new year, is great feat to watch and cherish.
The year is said to be the year of rabbit. Chinese years are always linked to animals and that is possibly because of their close love and appetite(conscious use)for them .nO OFFENCE MEANT ANY WAY. In a country whose population is incresing leaps and bounds, availability /sufficiency of food is a major concern and hence the people have been taught to make use of what is availble around them to take care of their hunger.
RABBITS ARE SAID TO BE FRIENDLY, TACTFUL AND CHARMING.The year is also predicted to be one of charm, friendliness and warmth.I recall my last Rabbit year in HK island, when i was present in a chinese restaurant,celebrating the new year with my chinese staff with a tamil song!!yes as atrue lover of tamil, i sang the song "Sen thamizh then mozhiyal,nilavena sirikkum malrkodiayal" with karoke , accompanied by a lovable dance by a few chinese girls and the night became an unforget ful one.I wish all my readers ,my chinese staff,my friends and above all my dearest son KUNG HAI FAT CHOI..:):)
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
DAYS AND MOODS
Days are not alike and so also are the moods.Hardly 72 hrs back i was celebrating the conclusion of one more of my successful completion of the quarterly reviews .The results by any satndard were good and all were happy and that includes auditors too.The fact that except for some exchange of words here and there, with out which you don't get the satisfaction of having done your job(he he he), no other major scuffle also added to the peace of mind.
HARDLY 48 hrs back i was enjoying the company of the newly arrived twins when i went to see my cobrother's daughter at the hospital in T.NAGAR.The babies looked like plucked flowers, and when they smile in their sleep it is a refereshing experience to be a party to it.
And the last 36 hrs some what startled me a bit.All old ideas and arguments that i used to wage for and against love kept cropping up. ALL BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN DATE OF ONE OF THE IMPORTANT events all of us in the family were looking forward to.After an initial period of knee jerk reaction, followed by feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, i sat down to take stock of the situation. The fact that my wife who was witness to the proceedings also cooled down by then enabled us to think of the options.
AND YES, THERE WERE MORE THAN FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE.PERHAPS EACH OF THE OPTION IS GOING TO TAKE FURTHER TIME TO FOLLOW UP AND FIRM UP and may be the cost facto too is involved. Then , what is the point in lamenting on something where in you have limited choices to pusue? What shall not be fought aginst shall be endured >>is it not?No offence to any one, a comment in a lighter vein only.
And once the options are clear, last 12 hours have brought in again sanity, wisdom and smile.Personal effectiveness at its best.D day (the immediate one is a week ahead) .But no issues,the confidence gained will stand to wade thru the thick and thin.And i am reminded of my paternal side, my father and his brothers and the manner in which they have handled issues, most of which always revolve around a marriage.ANY ONE ELSE IN THEIR POSITION WOULD HAVE CALLED QUITS UMPTEEN NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT EVERY TIME I HAVE SEEN THEM GALLOPING AROUND TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS.And special credits to my paternal uncle sri Jagannathan, whose mischivous smiles(even when he was bravely struggling against cancer)alwys have turned the tide in his favour.When their thoughts and blessings are there around me in plenty, it looks pretty silly of me to feel dejected, what ever be the cause .
i sign off with a smile and confidence in the fond memories of my forefathers...and this blog as also the event, a week away are in dedication to their greatness :)
HARDLY 48 hrs back i was enjoying the company of the newly arrived twins when i went to see my cobrother's daughter at the hospital in T.NAGAR.The babies looked like plucked flowers, and when they smile in their sleep it is a refereshing experience to be a party to it.
And the last 36 hrs some what startled me a bit.All old ideas and arguments that i used to wage for and against love kept cropping up. ALL BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN DATE OF ONE OF THE IMPORTANT events all of us in the family were looking forward to.After an initial period of knee jerk reaction, followed by feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, i sat down to take stock of the situation. The fact that my wife who was witness to the proceedings also cooled down by then enabled us to think of the options.
AND YES, THERE WERE MORE THAN FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE.PERHAPS EACH OF THE OPTION IS GOING TO TAKE FURTHER TIME TO FOLLOW UP AND FIRM UP and may be the cost facto too is involved. Then , what is the point in lamenting on something where in you have limited choices to pusue? What shall not be fought aginst shall be endured >>is it not?No offence to any one, a comment in a lighter vein only.
And once the options are clear, last 12 hours have brought in again sanity, wisdom and smile.Personal effectiveness at its best.D day (the immediate one is a week ahead) .But no issues,the confidence gained will stand to wade thru the thick and thin.And i am reminded of my paternal side, my father and his brothers and the manner in which they have handled issues, most of which always revolve around a marriage.ANY ONE ELSE IN THEIR POSITION WOULD HAVE CALLED QUITS UMPTEEN NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT EVERY TIME I HAVE SEEN THEM GALLOPING AROUND TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS.And special credits to my paternal uncle sri Jagannathan, whose mischivous smiles(even when he was bravely struggling against cancer)alwys have turned the tide in his favour.When their thoughts and blessings are there around me in plenty, it looks pretty silly of me to feel dejected, what ever be the cause .
i sign off with a smile and confidence in the fond memories of my forefathers...and this blog as also the event, a week away are in dedication to their greatness :)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
From a child to a mother
There are good times and bad times.These are basiclaly classified based on the events perse in one's own life and in lifves of those closer to one self.But if only some one sits back and analyse with out any prejudice, wisdom will be there to the effect that all times are good and it is the way we associste the events with it that changes the complexion.
The post and its contents are a reflection on the news of twin addition to my family circle.In the process i have become a grand father twice in a span of one minute,yes the arrival of twin sons to my co brother's daughter , one at 9.29 am and the other at 9.30 am, gave me those crowns.One , i am told looks like the mother, soft and chubby, while the other possibly reflects the father, cute, lean and mischivous.
It appears as if i have seen the mother of the twins herself as a kid only few days back.Yes at times decades appear like days and days appear like decades.All in life..and the life comes in circles.No doubt on that!!
Hardly 18 months back, i was extending a moral support along wih my wife to this mother of twins, blessing her for her desires to become fruitful.And in a span of 18 months she has become a mother , and the first one at that TO BE BLESSED WITH TWINS.
Having seen her in close quarters as a lovable daughter, an obedient child and an understanding/calm girl (in her teens) it is difficult to believe that she has now become a mother.A girl develops fast, they say compared to a boy, and it is something to be seen to be believed.And all said and done. i am sue that those twin kids are really blessed to have a mother like her, calm, cool and amiable...
MAY THE HEAVENS BLESSINGS BE SHOWERED ON THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY OF HERS EVERY SECOND..
The post and its contents are a reflection on the news of twin addition to my family circle.In the process i have become a grand father twice in a span of one minute,yes the arrival of twin sons to my co brother's daughter , one at 9.29 am and the other at 9.30 am, gave me those crowns.One , i am told looks like the mother, soft and chubby, while the other possibly reflects the father, cute, lean and mischivous.
It appears as if i have seen the mother of the twins herself as a kid only few days back.Yes at times decades appear like days and days appear like decades.All in life..and the life comes in circles.No doubt on that!!
Hardly 18 months back, i was extending a moral support along wih my wife to this mother of twins, blessing her for her desires to become fruitful.And in a span of 18 months she has become a mother , and the first one at that TO BE BLESSED WITH TWINS.
Having seen her in close quarters as a lovable daughter, an obedient child and an understanding/calm girl (in her teens) it is difficult to believe that she has now become a mother.A girl develops fast, they say compared to a boy, and it is something to be seen to be believed.And all said and done. i am sue that those twin kids are really blessed to have a mother like her, calm, cool and amiable...
MAY THE HEAVENS BLESSINGS BE SHOWERED ON THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY OF HERS EVERY SECOND..
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