Doing the new!

I am heading out to mumbai and this would be my first pass through the phenomenal T 3 terminal that every one has been raving about. The little red light on my BB glows at 5 AM and I can’t wait to open up those messages and see what’s new. But the sleepy city is rushing past me and I can’t tear my eyes off the glitterring street lights and the early risers who are raising their shop shutters already.
Clearly this addiction or a compulsive disorder that some may call it is beyond those who don’t own this fabulous device , aren’t the ‘ blackberry boys’ so to speak.
Like yesterday , sometime in the evening , Mr husband was struggling to figure out his new blackberry. After trying out a couple of things he finally shoved it aside declaring it quite useless .
Looks like its the season of the ‘new’. Coz Just about then kat richter’s new post drops in . I read about her latest adventures about dating and writing and generally living it up.
Two ends of a spectrum. Very extreme. Very different. For some ‘something new ‘ presents an exciting prospect of discovery and for some ‘an unwelcome change’ . Somewhere between these two far ends is a place where I’d like to be every day. If only we could have right now and see what the future holds , the idea of something new would be a tad more reassuring. Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

What gets better with age?

The daily prompt threw this question at me , just about the time when I was turning a year older.
So here’s what I think…

Re-reading your favourite book a billionth time
Or fitting into the good ole jeans some years down the line

Memories captured in wornout photographs that no facebook album can replace
The promise of all-girls-reunion, every year , same place.

The bond you share with that special someone
When the older you grow the fonder they become

When an elegant composure takes over the young bohemian spirit
And the gramophone record brings alive old melodies so vivid

Relationships, beauty, songs, books and memories,
Get better like old wine , as time flies.

Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

100 days to finding true happiness !

Nope, hopefully its not one those fad diets that I plan to take up only to eventually drift off out of sheer boredom. Or so I think. I’ve realized over that past few months (well actually years, but then I wouldn’t really admit that to myself quite yet) that I am transforming into the ‘un-happiest’ version of myself. And that’s beyond the sulking over traffic jams or my constant struggle to get rid of some x kgs that I really need to! Come to think of it, the last time I wrote (which makes me happy) about being happy – was when I won this contest on chillibreeze! Now that’s umm, not a happy thought, I’d say.

My constant effort to try new stuff , change things around me and taking huge chances while I do that ( which more often than not backfire ) are all after all to seek true happiness . And isn’t that what drives every one – who’s married or single, working or backpacking, taking a holiday or shopping their bank-balance to nill?

So over this weekend, as I was trying to figure the ‘ways in which I could be happier’ I realized – those answers were quite easy to figure out. But the larger question is would getting a new hair cut , or a some new clothes or even going away for a weekend to some place exotic or serene – make me happy in the real sense of the word?

So that’s the larger question. And that would need some time to answer! So I set myself on a journey of finding true happiness – in 100 days.

Now it might sound gimmicky, this chosen number – and well there was no logic really that was applied to zero in on it too. There’s this 100 heroes project girl – I so admire and yes, I came across this other person who’s taking a 100 day crash course towards becoming an editor. But all it takes some times is pure maths to discover some ‘strange connections’ in the most bizarre situations in life.

100 days from today would begin yet another new year. Just in time – I would say. So what’s in store? Am I going to start writing more often? Yes , I will. And am I going to finally triumph over the larger issues in life ( like move away from the radar of someone’s misguided ire, don’t know / can’t say or finally win over the constant battle with the bulge – or perhaps learn to live with it! Maybe) and would there be like a structure or format to it? A daily happiness-quotient say? hmm.Lots of questions to answer. But only one thought as I start this journey- this one’s going to be an honest attempt.

So let’s get down to work. 100 days to true happiness!

Wander Lust!!

Entered this travel writing contest on chillibreeze more coz I needed one more excuse to re-visit all those amazing travel destinations , I ve been dreaming about lately.

Travel writing is truly the sweetest torture.

Agree /Disagree? Tell me here

Memories in Mortar – Fascinating Monuments Series

A couple of days back, on a storytelling spree with D over a walk, I was reminded of this fascinating story that I had come across on my visits to Lucknow. It got me the one response we storytellers yearn to get at the end of the story – “oh ! you cant be serious ! Really, is that true!” . It had the makings of the perfect drama – money, power, intrigue, royalty, religion – all embroiled into the shape of a monument.

But then isn’t that the reason monuments are built? A stamp on the face of time by a ruler who sought his moment of glory in history.

I’ve been to a couple of ‘monuments’, some who’ve found their way into the must-visit- sections of tourist itineraries and some others which are now forgotten. And I’ve realized every time I wandered gaping at their otherworldly splendor or pondering over their lonesome demeanor, how they seemed like memories captured in mortar craving to tell their story. So I took a minute off and lent them an ear. And thus began this series of notes on the enchanting storytelling of the most fascinating monuments of our times. Lukhnow , Mcloedganj, Delhi , Udaipur – catch an eclectic mix of snapshots of an era in subsequent posts. Lucknow’s Bara Imambara , is where it all began.. and that’s up next!