7 Peek a Boo-Columbia

For last few days in almost all my blogs or comments I brag and squirm about my nomadic lifestyle. But not even once I shared any of my traveling experience in words. So finally following my fellow bloggers steps, I thought of sharing my very recent expedition. These days mostly we are sailing in and around US of America but due to changing rules and regulation one cannot go ashore in any part of America. So you can well imagine me being a total prisoner. But at last my wish come true & today i got a chance to unleash Columbia. See how diligent and sincere this blogging journey has made me. In spite of terrible migraine, killing feet and sunburn, am trying to write my words correct. So please forgive me for not writing about history and cultures of Columbia. We had only twelve hours for sightseeing, hogging, shopping and posing. It was short trip but worth the wait. After all beggars can’t be chooser’s. Right!!

Here am sharing few amateur pictures of my trip. Mind you am not a proficient photographer and I like posing then capturing. While looking at the images, you are requested to ignore your rants of critical mind rather endeavor pictures through your heart. 

Bienvenida Columbia..............................................................................................

City-long short

The Famous Fort

Personal Cruiser's

Beautiful Clutter

Shoo-US

Blue Heaven

Cargo Carriers

Enjoy Columbia through my eyes.............................................................................

SEVEN Childhood Crushes......................................................

“Ringa Ringa Roses Pocket full of Poses Husha! Busha! We all fall down!

Am sure most of us have played this rhyme countless time during childhood. We have so many foolish childhood memories hidden somewhere back in our minds. And watching your own kids going through the same stage doing the same crazy innocent things must have taken you to your own infancy period. There has been a fast change since then. Games, stories, rhymes, comics, cartoons, everything has been altered in accord with child’s psychology. Irrefutably certain changes are absolutely wonderful for growing kids but still I find my childhood had been much simpler & more constructive. These days’ children prefer indoor games over playing in the greens. I remember I hated leaving my friends in the evening due to my mum’s endless calling & bickering.

Like my father, my mother was very strict & disciplined when it comes to our studies. Time slots had been assigned for our every activity. After school we were only allowed to watch cartoons for an hour and twice a day on Sundays. God how I detested it. I had my share of cartoon crushes. Some were my idols & friends in my dream world. My love for cartoons has still not vanished with time. They are my stress busters and helps me in uplifted my mood after a dark day.

Let us go down the memory lane and revisit our childhood obsessions…………………………..............

TOM & JERRY-They are the most classic cartoon characters. I love the rivalry & all the comedic fights between the two iconic characters Tom the Cat & Jerry the mouse. With their crazy chase and funny frying-pan fights, Tom and Jerry have been making us giggles for as long as I remember.

JUNGLE BOOK-“Jungle jungle baat chali hai ,pata chala hai, aree chadi pehenkar fhul khila hai fhul khila hai”.I am feeling so nostalgic by just writing & humming these lines. Mogli, baghira , bhaloo the fantastic three  with honesty and intelligent traits. I loved how every story ends with a moral lesson. A must watch for children!!!

HE-MAN – He-Man and the masters of the universe. I was blindly in love with this character. Though at that time I was very small & hardly understood the story. But still for the love of the man, I use to watch it without blinking.

 DUCK TALES- The first ever Disney cartoon.Adventures of Uncle Scrooge and his three cute ducklings. And the best part is Uncle Donald’s nasal voice. Hilarious aren’t they?

 PANCHTANTRA-How many of you remember the story of tortoise & geese. There are more then 100 stories in panchtantra with a moral ending. And I want my children to read these beautiful stories in future.

POPEYE- Popeye and his family & look alike nephews Peepeye, Pupeye, Pipeye Poopeye. He was one of my childhood crush & now by taking inspiration from him married a sailor. And so I call my hubby Popeye………:)

 

PINGU- And the last but the cutest of all Is Pingu. Pingu & Pinga in there lovely igloo. He is the reason why am obsessed with penguins. My car key ring, soft toy, curtain holder has a penguin image. Funny!!

I can see smile on your faces!! I wish they should telecast them again so that I can understand these cartoons better and laugh my guts –out.I would love to hear about your favorite cartoons.

SEVEN Sacred Chants...................

On my first day post, I encompassed shades of my own self. However I wish to append another aspect of me i.e. My  firm belief in God. Its part of my parent’s legacy. We are the descents of “Parashar” rishi & have the Saraswat Brahmin lineage. Being born into a Brahmin family “pandits” to be precise, the knowledge of existence of God has been instilled from the birth. Though as a child performing rituals, worship and chanting mantras was merely done for routine presence .But as I grew old, I felt the uncanny desire to read & comprehend our ancient Hindu mythology. After reading Ramayana, Mahabharata , Bhagwat Gita & Shiv Puran , I felt the subsistence of God.

For me being a theist means believing in the concept of Karma and performing your deeds without expecting the fruits of your actions. I deem our good deeds never get unrewarded and we definitely pay for our selfish Karma’s.

I bond with God when I chant hymns. It’s my way of cleaning my mind from unwanted thoughts & connects with divinity. There are thousands of mantras in our holy books dedicated to different deities. These are the one which soothes my mind & gave me clarity.

Vakratund mahaakaay suryakoti samprabha
Nirvign kuru me dev sarvakaareyeshu sarvada
(Lord Ganesha is the Lord of beginnings and we worship Ganesha before starting any work to ensure hassle-free work. So my morning starts with humming of the meaningful chant.)

 

Om bhur bhuvah svah Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dheemahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.

(Am sure most of us recite Gayatry mantra since childhood.

"May we attain that excellent glory of the god:
So may he stimulate our prayers.")

 Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivaya / Om Namah Shivaya

For sports like shooting, you need bouts of concentration. And so meditation was the part of our physical training. As the mind concentrates more and more on the mantra and its meaning, it conditions the mind and takes me to higher states Shiva intone not only helped me to focus but bestowed an opportunity to connect with him.

Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvaartha saadhike
Sharanye trayambake Gauri
Narayani namosthute
It is a secular sloka as it were, intended to have people pray the Divine Mother for blessing us with auspiciousness and wealth, afford Refuge from problems generated by our Karmas .

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare ...

(During my stay in scotland,I happen to meet a family devotee to ISCON. They pursued me to attend one of their gatherings and after that there was no looking back. It amazed me not only the Indians but how Scottish devotees are dedicated to the deity.)

Om Namo Hanumate Bhaybhanjanaya Sukham Kuru Phat Swaha
 (God of peace & protection. My belief in the diety becomes stronger after a deadly incident. In 2009, near Seychelles, our ship got attacked by somalian pirates. I remember how one of the officer’s wives kept on reciting the Hanuman chalisa & we survived the attack.)

 om asto ma sadgamaya
tamso ma jyotirgamaya
mrtyorma amrtangamaya


Lead me from the untruth to the truth.

Lead me from darkness to light.

Lead me from death to immortality

I remember this hymn from school days.we used to recite these verses after the end of prayer

                                           " om shantih shantih shantih"

  

SEVEN Smells To Smile................................

Sid: Hey Wifey,Guess what? Got  call from the office, my leave is over & have to join back in two days time.

Ria: (Blank) bluffing huh?

Sid: No am serious. You too as well joining with me. What?? Are you not happy?

Ria. Off course am happy. Its just we haven’t spent enough time at home and parents are expecting us to visit them.

Sid: I know baby but you know the drill. I am leaving for office to collect our papers. Will you manage with the packing?

Ria: (sigh) You forgot. As if I got a chance to unpack them.

Sid: Grrrrrr…See you later.

Ria:………………………………………………………………………………

“Do not wish for things you regret later”. God has really fulfilled my desire to the fullest. Living a nomadic life has its own pros & cons. Adventure, sailing, exploring numerous places, exotic food, who shall not wish for a spectacular life. I know few people yearn to fill-in my shoes. However they are not aware of the darker side. Leaving a life behind, people you love, tit bit joys, home-cooked food and friends can undeniably turn a person to alter his wanderlust longings.

Living far away from your cocoon, you only left with the undiminished memories to treasure & to embrace them with people & places. I recollect my bygones through pictures, videos, letters, cards, food & smells. Ah!! Smells, how they forge a link and take us back to the finer moments of the past. I am a victim of nostalgia & few distinct smells are what sustain me to overcome my homesickness.

Sacrosanct smell of Wet Mud- 

The small pleasures of inhaling the first rains, smells of the wet grounds ring bells of the imminent springs. Those wonderful earthy fragrances buried under evoke my childhood memories. Dancing in the first rains, long geri routes, ginger tea with hot pakoras , pool parties reawakens bond with your old self.

Sinful smell of mom’s cooking-  

Is anything more scrumptious then mom’s home cooked food. It’s indeed my treasure trove. All the aromas coming from the kitchen, the smell of baked apple pie, the fenugreeks tadka , whiff of all the sweets & delicacies transports me across thousands of miles straight to my mum’s kitchen.

Sensual Smell of Dad’s Aftershave- 

Being an Army man, my dad was often away on deployment. I remember he always used to keep a shaving kit full of scents & aftershaves. Old spice, that’s the aftershave my dad wore but it has indeed changed now.

Scrumptious smell of Mangoes- 

Entering the house & sniffing the fragrance of fresh mangoes means the arrival of summers. Bless our parents for maintaining our old village orchids so that we can pass on the legacy to our own children.

Smell of Shoe Polish- 

Call me crazy but am addicted to the smell of bootpoish.And it certainly took me back to school days. For many years it was an evening ritual to polish shoes along with my siblings & a challenge who will shine them  most.

Sweet Baby smell –

The best smell in the world has to be the smell of a new born baby. I feel babies have special & distinct fragrances .Am very close to my 1.5 year old niece & have kept her romper with me as souvenir. I still get the whiff of Johnson's baby products & my heart yearn me to embark on motherhood ride soon.

Sacred Smell of Incense sticks –  

Whenever I went to my parents place, my morning kick starts with the sacred smells of agarbatti and I never forget to carry them along. Though it’s not allowed to light on ship for safety reason but still they spread its aroma all around.

 “Heart thoughts are profound, hindsight aches and hope is obscure. I'm craving a great adventure -- one that leads me back home.”

SEVEN SIZZLERS...

Scratching my head for almost my entire evening walk and juggling between the dilemmas upon choosing on my next blog post, I suddenly came to a halt. While mumbling the word “seven” like a mantra for umpteenth time, something special struck by lightening. Yes Seven Sizzlers. How can I not remember the most beautiful part of my life? 

Friendship…………………………………………………………………………….......................

Seven Sizzlers was the name of our gang back in my fashion college & was inspired from the Famous five. While writing this post, I have a big giggling smile on my face and the sadness of the moment at same time. In one minute you reminisce good old days, all the fun, gossip, bitching, pranks, exams, canteen, maggi, make-up everything transports you to the crazy time with mad people. And the other fills you with melancholy. Time and distance has abated the bond of companionship.

With heavy heart & joy tears in my eyes, am dedicating this post to my besties. Let me introduce you to my seven lifelong treasures.

1) Trisha (The rich brat) –Born & bought-up with silver spoon in mouth, she was the living credit card of our group. As like most of college bums, we all were forever short of money. From buying cola to bribing the local policeman for chalan , our friend in deed always bails us out. Being the product of divorce parents, she was a kind of loner until she enters the devils den. All hell broke loose & the only rich crooked into a brat. RICH BRAT.

2) Swati (The Nerd) –It was always a mystery to us that why a math’s genius would leave her PG and can pursue a total polls apart field. For her it was breaking the rules and running from the constant pressure. We were always in awe of her. Assignments, presentations, CAD, everything was piece of cake for her. I guess she’s the reason, we all are proudly holding the degree today.

3)Neha (The 4:00 AM )-She was the most composed person I ever know in my life & thus the 4:00 AM tag. Whenever any of us required advice or wanted to pour our heart out, she was always a call away. She hated argument & confrontations & always eating our heads to be prudent. Today our group is still floating without hiccups and the soul credit is SHE.

4) Ishpreet (The Amazon)-5.7, 70 Kgs , ex judo player and the  Gunda of our gang.She was like a bodyguard for all us and a threat to eve teasers. Though we still complain how she ate the biggest portion from our maggi bowls.

5) Manisha (My Alt-ego)- My childhood & best friend. Though we were estranged for a time being but destiny has other plans .We reunited again and since then the thread between us became stronger. Through her only, I met the rest amazing people I can count on.

6) Aastha (The beauty wid brain)-Hottest girl with the best brains around. She was the most popular girl of the campus. She is the best example to counteract bimboo beauties.

7) Anu (The sunshine)-That’s Me. I remember the word sunshine from our college scrapbook which my friends chose for me. A bit of salt ,  a bit of sugar and a potpourri of everything.

I hope after reading the post, my friend will not drill me and pierce me with daggers.

PS: All names changed and one chum is missing from the pic.

SEVEN – faces of Me

Encouraged by one of my blogger friend, I am here to embark on my first ever writing challenge. The write tribe is yet again came-up with “Festival of words” blog marathon. Though it’s only for “Seven” days (from 1^st Sep-7^th Sep) but I look forward to write, read & meet some like-minded people during the small voyage. Write- Tribe

Let’s start with my own self. It surely will give an insight aspect of ME.

I am a …………………………………………………………………………..

Ø      NOMAD – Traveling has become a vital part of my life. Being a sailor’s wife, I spend more then half a year wandering around the world. Explored many beautiful countries & places and discovered the beauty of diverse cultures, ethnicity, weather, people, food, which you only had read in your geography books.

Ø      DESIGNER-Before my nomadic life, I was a profession designer (Ex-Nift) .Still whenever I get an opportunity, love taking-up freelance work. From decking up my house to food to clothes, you will discover sprinkles of my creative life.

Ø      FITNESS FREAK – Though am foodie to the hilt, my addiction to work-outs is boundless. Gym is almost my second home. I loved being in shape fit & healthy but size-zero trend surly boggles me.

Ø      SHOOTER – Yes that tells my fitness syndrome. I took up shooting by chance in my 12^th standard & still participate in numerous championships. Though its hobby now due to lack of time, still the worship of passion jogs in my blood.

Ø      SHOPAHOLIC – One big spendthrift, suffering from compulsive buying disorder. From clothes to shoes to bags, I just love shopping .Well who does not?? If you do not find me home, please check the clothing joints. God helps my husband who suffers the aftermaths of my binge buyings.

Ø      READER – Reading is my passion & collecting them is part of my OCD trouble. I hate lending books to my friends and gets irritated if someone disorders my bookshelf. Fiction, Non-fiction, contemporary, romance, biographies, I can gorge on anything.

Ø      WRITER – I have recently entered the world of penmanship. I know am novice but unless you take that first step, how will you finish the line. My reading habit has leaded me to discover the beauty of writing. The sole reason behind this challenge is to polish my writing skills and to spread my horizon.

 Hope I keep my words for long & continue this challenge without hiccups..See you Tomorrow

                                                                                                                        

TWINKLING TRINKETS......

After the bride & maid’s trousseau, the most imperative part of the adornment is “Wedding blings”. Every girl craves to look scintillating on her D-day. From finalizing bridal costume to jewelry, lots of planning & exploring needs to be done before accentuating the perfect look. Nowadays no girl wishes to adorn the age old Reds & maroons yesteryear colors but rather opting for pastel shades from oranges to even blue. The traditional feel is of course present, but a lot of cross-culture fashion has seeped in. Same goes with Indian wedding jewelry. Modern bride ensures that her jewelry must complement her outfit rather than just loading herself with heavy gold ornaments that often end up looking hideous when teamed with a designer bridal wear.

Indian fat weddings are not generally limited to a day but it’s an elaborate 2-3 days event with complete traditional rituals. Consequently outfits & trinkets should be chosen in accordance with rituals.

Haldi/sangeet/mehndi – These are the most auspicious & treasured ceremony in a girls wedding. It symbolizes pure, untainted & bright future for the girl’s new beginnings. To match the internal thoughts, nothing is better then embellishing “Fresh Flower jewellery”. Floral jewellery is an upcoming hottest trend which is in fact inspired from our ancient tradition. One can also use artificial flower as they are much cheaper then the fresh flowers. They are extremely beautiful to look at & can be designed to complement the brides outfit.

 

Wedding –  And the D-day. Searching and deciding the right wedding jewelry complementing your trousseau is a big tiresome job. Certainly there are lot wedding planners in market which can be at your service with a click of your finger, but they ridiculously expensive. To overcome your dilemma, there are few useful tips which should be consider before buying.

- LESS IS MORE. Do not go for the whole bridal set (necklace wid rani har).They are extremely tacky n out of trend.

-If your bridal wear is bold with heavy embroidery, choose lighter & impressive necklace jewellery.

-If you are fascinated with head to toe blings, go for lighter lehanga with pasty colors.

-From gold to diamond to polki to kundan, bridal jewellery is coming in various metals with cost differentiation.

-KUNDANS jewellery is most popular among the modern brides. Although every form of Indian jewellery is in great demand but kundan jewellery has become a prominent style statement these days. They just not look spectacular but have become the paragon of royalty.

-Apart from neck & ear trinkets, hair n hand accessories are important too. From trendy maang tikka to jumars , bride will no doubt look like a  goddess.

-To enhance your hands adornment bit more, designer “kaliras”& handlets are very much in demand.

-“Ghughat” our classic antique custom is back with a bang. Sporting a see through dupatta not only is in sync with the latest trends but also inculcate the Indian spirit. You can even show-off your hair embellishments with this style.

Customs often changes as the time evolves, but the association of jewelry and the wedding has an inseparable bond that is very delicately crafted in the Indian culture from the past thousands of years and will certainly prosper in the coming years ahead!!