tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54660301109232467912024-02-07T04:05:15.488-08:00A curious drop in the bucketStop. Observe. Proceed. Ponder. Learn to become a wiser drop in the bucket.Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-74057602527933163272016-09-11T21:20:00.000-07:002016-09-11T21:20:49.893-07:00Lets be the change we want to see.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">This conversation is important for obvious reasons. Yes, I choose to call this a conversation, not a blog post. If this post catches you nodding in acceptance or tugs some strings in your heart, it will obviously become a conversation between my pen and your heart and I hope it does.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">America or India, we have a very long way to go before we call ourselves a progressive civilisation. Globalization has helped people like me understand that the situation is just about the same everywhere. The US Presidential elections and the way Brock Turner case is turning out to be so nauseously similar to Nirbhaya are so telling of the place that women have in the society as of today. Irrespective of culture and country, when assault happens, it is so convenient to say that the woman asked for it. Nirbhaya was out for a movie with a man and Brock's victim was drunk. As if these are reasons enough to violate a woman's body in the most horrifying ways. I wouldn't wish such torture even for the perpetrator. An eye for an eye would make the entire world blind. And NO, locking up girls or asking them to not look pretty or asking them to cover up is not the solution. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">The only two definite long term solutions that I can see: </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">1. Inspire more and more women to ignore judgement, accept responsibility for their own lives and live it up. Yes, there is something definitely intimidating about strong and strong / badass looking women ( Weird but true, I certainly get lesser stares at the gym since my short haircut! ) </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">2. Get more men into the conversation. The kind and good men of the world (there are many) need to get vocal and dismiss their misogynistic male friends, stand up for the women in their lives, including their mothers. Understand that it is NOT okay for one parent to treat another like a doormat and the only people who can intervene are the children. If the father treats the mother like shit, stand up for her, even if it means fighting the father. If the sister is treated like shit by his brother in law, don't ask the sister to adjust for the sake of family honour. When a girl dumps your friend, don't gang up with him to call her a b****. Say NO to marital rape, domestic violence and abuse. If a friend gets assaulted, stand up for her. It is excruciating to go through abuse and unless we have more men talking about it, the world will remain where it is. Guys, your sisters, daughters and wives have the same anatomy too. Why wait until something happens to them?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">The more I think about it, the more I believe EACH ONE of us is responsible in some way or the other for the mess that we have created. As women, we have either been submissive or ignorant and as both genders, we have deliberately chosen to turn a blind eye to the day to day atrocities all around us. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">We all react where there is a rape - but unless we act by making small lifestyle and mindset changes, our roads, trains and public places will remain unsafe, our girls guarded, our mothers ill-treated, our female friends touched inappropriately every single day in public transport, our DAUGHTERS and SONS molested by unknown men and paedophiles and they won't even tell us about it because 'cultured Indian families won't discuss sexual issues', our wives condescended at work because she is a woman, our country considered as one of the most unsafe places for women in the world. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">What are we going to do differently, from TODAY? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">I pledge to stand up against atrocities in my own way, whenever and wherever I see it. I pledge to bring up a good young man into the society. I pledge to impart proper sex education to my child as a responsible parent. I pledge to inspire women to stand up to themselves. I pledge to help well meaning men understand how they can help. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">Lets be the change we want to see.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">P.S: This post was what triggered me to write: https://medium.com/@laura.louise/michelle-marks-is-dead-brock-turner-is-a-rapist-men-are-still-blaming-literally-every-single-b107c02fada3#.x24zi0mb7</span></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-9835793291178896732015-12-16T20:00:00.000-08:002015-12-18T06:13:24.250-08:00One Angry Indian Woman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
16th December.<br />
<br />
3 years ago, this day changed the course of my life. So unfortunate that it was a horrific incident that had to put the change in me but the anger has still not died. I had sleepless nights most of January and Feb 2013 because of this. A fellow sister, judged, raped by alcoholics and thrown on the streets. <br />
<br />
What a world are we living in? Why do we judge so much? Why do we and who are we to moral police anyone? Why is there a dearth of empathy when it costs nothing to show compassion to a fellow human? <br />
<br />
<div>
I have to vent my anger. In a positive way. Hence this poem. This applies only to those regressive men and women who moral police and I am NOT trying to box everyone in that mould. I have come across some amazing men in my life and my life wouldn't be complete without them. I am trying to be a humanist here, more than a feminist. So I request you to read this, with empathy.</div>
<div>
Her death should have a meaning. It should signal some change in the positive direction.<br />
<br />
<br />
My death deserves a meaning<br />
<br />
<br />
That fateful night, I was cowering with fear,<br />
Holding on to my life, so much so dear,<br />
Praying for help, pleading for mercy,<br />
As I was being punished, for alleged heresy.<br />
<br />
Coy, happy smiles, walking hand in hand<br />
Turned brutally bloody in this judgemental land,<br />
Moral monsters, policing in the dark,<br />
Left me engulfed, in terror so stark<br />
<br />
Woman, don't you dare, breach the rule<br />
For your thoughts, are just for us to ridicule,<br />
Stay wrapped up, cross your legs tight,<br />
Don't dare to open up, even when in delight.<br />
<br />
We are your world, we are your people,<br />
We are your society, we render you cripple,<br />
Live by the rule, love by the rule<br />
Sit by the rule and stand by the rule.<br />
<br />
Oh fellow being, can't you hear me?<br />
I'm as human, blood and flesh as thee,<br />
Same breed of emotions, running in my veins,<br />
Why is it, only I should hold back the reins?<br />
<br />
As I die here, I long for the day,<br />
When girls like me see the light of day.<br />
Laugh and sing, dance and love,<br />
Without having a dagger, dangling from above.<br />
<br />
----</div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-26920501499336638822013-12-04T03:25:00.000-08:002013-12-04T03:48:26.723-08:00My tryst with the underworld....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yes. You read that right. The under world. Under what is the question to be asked. Neither under crime nor under with spirits, but under water!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After all these years of travelling, I finally got to experience what could be termed as one of the most fascinating things to do on earth - diving. The very word used to send shudders down my spine, so much that I let go of a plum opportunity to do shallow beach diving in Lakshadweep, thanks to my morbid fear of water. From there, to getting 13 feet down in the mid Atlantic, I have progressed a bit I should say :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was in Bermuda Islands this November as a part of my month long tour in the Carribean and the US. My cousin was planning a dreamy destination wedding at Barbados and I was out there to soak in the sun and witness the beautiful ceremony. The bride's family lives in Bermuda - that was reason enough for me to travel across a few days earlier, spend some time with them and go around the island. As I started researching about the place, the first thing that popped up was 'Hartley's Helmet Diving'. I was amused.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Helmet Diving is a form of diving that originated in Bermuda and is based on the ancient concept of 'Bell Diving' (Alexander the Great is said to have practised that) . In fact, father of Mr. Greg Hartley who runs Hartley's Helmet Diving, Mr. Bronson Hartley, was the one who pioneered this form of diving In Bermuda. While Scuba is a more serious form of diving, this is more of a fun and an entertaining one - provided one shuns his/her fear of water. I was hell-bent on trying this out, so I went ahead and called them to reserve a place. It was November already - the beginning of the low season when cruise ships stop arriving at Bermuda Dockyard. However, as destiny would have it, there had been an inquiry the previous day from a group of 5 people and the capacity of the boat was 6! I was all set to dive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The next day morning, I was at the dockyard much earlier than the reporting time. I was going through mixed emotions - anticipation, fear, adrenaline rush... phew! Those who fear water can relate to what I was going through. The boat arrived and as I was about to board, the captain threw a challenge at me. He said "Those who are courageous walk into the boat but those who are adventurous climb over the grill and jump onto the boat!" Guess what I chose? The latter. That very moment, all my apprehensions melted away.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The boat took us about 3 miles off the coast to a shallow part of the ocean, the depths varying from 12 to 40 feet. All through the journey, our captain briefed us about the do's and dont's, the marine life and the signals that he would use underwater to communicate with us. We were given wet suits as the Atlantic waters get quite cold by November (Bermuda lies in the temperate region, close to New York unlike the caribbean islands). A ladder was lowered into the waters. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The captain was the first to go down and once he made sure that the waters were clear of any dangerous and bigger fish, he signaled us to come down. Laden with weights around our waists, we made our way down the ladder to ocean bed. Just before lowering our heads into the water, heavy helmets were placed on our heads to help us breathe underwater. These helmets were connected to a source of oxygen on the boat and air was constantly pumped into the helmet. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The moment I went down, I would say, is one of the most fulfilling moments of my life till date. Happy with what I had achieved so far, I climbed down the ladder and jumped down to find land under my feet. I held the captain's hand as he helped me walk on the sea bed. A few of the group members were there before me - I was made to kneel down beside them and hold on to an iron bar as the captain swam back to bring the rest of the group down. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was a gorgeous world out there - I could spot at least five different types of coral, sea anemones, pretty little reef fish and a few bigger ones like the Snapper and the Hog Fish. As the fish swam past us, the captain promptly displayed sign boards to help us identify the species. After about 20 minutes of under sea walking, it was time to click some pictures. We got some pictures clicked with the Hog Fish and the Snapper that lurked around us. All of a sudden, the captain seemed to have landed on an idea. He walked me to a coral formation nearby. As he turned back to fetch his camera, I understood what was going on and insisted on going back with him holding his hand - The last thing I wanted to do was to drift away in the Atlantic. He then made me hold on to a piece of dead coral. As I held it, I had a funny feeling as if hundred little fingers were tickling my hand. Petrified, I promptly withdrew my hand and went back with the captain. I didn't want a picture with the corals. I just wanted to be safe where I was.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In a few minutes, we walked back to where the ladder was. The ladder stopped midway - so while going up, one had to bend down and thrust herself upwards to reach the lowest rung. It was an adventure by itself but I wasn't complaining. It was a liberating feeling!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Back on the boat, as I thanked the captain for the wonderful experience, I mentioned the funny feeling that I had under water. He laughed and explained what it was all about. The damsel fish, a type of reef fish lays her eggs on the surface of dead corals. She gets really pissed off when strangers knock her door and resorts to biting and shooing them off. She is a tiny little thing, so even if thousands of them bite at a time, it feels like a tickle!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So if you happen to visit Bermuda or any place that offers Helmet diving, do try it out. It is an experience of a lifetime. If I can do it, so can you!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are some pictures.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhpnVFlCkRZPQN7Qm3F9eYo4lWshnA7LWeYv3FjTbudc56GHhqFaEaIIAUZ_u_WnQDlZgdIn0Z_wHC0aUIj75A_ekPAHNbjfukkXYN1EJ30hEzWdIjWbf7K53uTgXKXnQSCwWJB4XJPM/s1600/R1121381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhpnVFlCkRZPQN7Qm3F9eYo4lWshnA7LWeYv3FjTbudc56GHhqFaEaIIAUZ_u_WnQDlZgdIn0Z_wHC0aUIj75A_ekPAHNbjfukkXYN1EJ30hEzWdIjWbf7K53uTgXKXnQSCwWJB4XJPM/s400/R1121381.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNxXBP0o1Acot6CLNSTjnwBkhWu1rr8uaVWCTPUtoX6yQHoMSOY-8RXxwOqhsdEE5heub3usZdEo8iTR9ZIcMXVowBvzitCqmB3I1mAdSrCcNi0BTfxKpvGHe0ZBMvZ4al2txzPfjg2w/s1600/R1121382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNxXBP0o1Acot6CLNSTjnwBkhWu1rr8uaVWCTPUtoX6yQHoMSOY-8RXxwOqhsdEE5heub3usZdEo8iTR9ZIcMXVowBvzitCqmB3I1mAdSrCcNi0BTfxKpvGHe0ZBMvZ4al2txzPfjg2w/s400/R1121382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1HI-T2yj5JBLHleQe9O4-9gKZ_MIi21pTMpQ_808H8F_TYmFkL-8UciuWlI0LlKT7UImMFrxpoZ3sng_EJvD5oSPxnp-y8L5cIOpEwFfeh64RNf2LRREJWQCtNz5lIVKz_bpxOPy6Pw/s1600/4EyedButterflyFish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1HI-T2yj5JBLHleQe9O4-9gKZ_MIi21pTMpQ_808H8F_TYmFkL-8UciuWlI0LlKT7UImMFrxpoZ3sng_EJvD5oSPxnp-y8L5cIOpEwFfeh64RNf2LRREJWQCtNz5lIVKz_bpxOPy6Pw/s400/4EyedButterflyFish.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS4hOgVIY2V9ldWF2j_UZpr_NvTsOLoqHVTBh-PIsm1-6U7s6BT4yoE7Ya4PKgjdujN8NdmGWXZsoN1LokTp9Hm3J3obFRzi90bGNqkBRmHXrw3XHaBzisSuOw0wewZBLIh5JHSLi0J0/s1600/GolfBallCoral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS4hOgVIY2V9ldWF2j_UZpr_NvTsOLoqHVTBh-PIsm1-6U7s6BT4yoE7Ya4PKgjdujN8NdmGWXZsoN1LokTp9Hm3J3obFRzi90bGNqkBRmHXrw3XHaBzisSuOw0wewZBLIh5JHSLi0J0/s400/GolfBallCoral.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More from my Bermuda and Caribbean Diaries coming soon...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-19707101254980284212013-07-09T22:00:00.000-07:002013-07-09T22:00:50.496-07:00Of travel and entrepreneurship.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yes. Am back here after a long period of silence. A 20-day gap is certainly painfully long, considering the fact that I post at least twice a week. The reason - My foray into entrepreneurship. Trying to fulfill my dream of establishing my own little business venture. A dream, strong enough to keep me away from my blog for a few consecutive weeks. This dream tries to bring two of my interests onto one straight line - travel and entrepreneurship. As many of you might have already experienced, the path isn't as rosy as it appears in the mirage. In fact, it's just the opposite and I'm already feeling the pricks beneath my feet. However, my strong hope is that there is one elusive rose amidst all these thorns.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Going forward, in addition to my travelogues, you will also get to read my rants and lessons learnt in my entrepreneurial sojourn.<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you wish to know more about my venture, you can check this out: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/F5Escapes">www.facebook.com/F5Escapes</a>. All ladies out there, this might actually be of your interest!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wish me luck!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-58190525386362320462013-06-19T12:36:00.003-07:002013-06-19T19:57:00.753-07:00An evening with children, stories and gourmet food!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
(This is my entry to the <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=78">Indiblogger-ITC Kitchens of India contest</a>. The contest is about one's own dream weekend party with gourmet food from <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/">Kitchens of India</a>)<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Weekends. They are a boon. Time for us to escape the
drudgery and indulge in luxury, isn’t it? But for some, especially women in the
Indian context, what unfolds is more to do with grocery, cutlery, crockery and
cookery! Phew!!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like food. I sometimes enjoy cooking too. Note the word ‘sometimes’.
When I have something more interesting to do, something that would give me more
gratification and make me immensely content, then I’d rather do that than
invade the kitchen. One such ‘something’ is donning my storyteller hat. Go and
blurt out stories to children. I visit one particular place in Bangalore where the
children welcome me with open arms. While I have to accept that I’m not going
there as often as I wish to, my connection with those children is rock-solid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By now, you would have guessed where my party would be and
who the guests would be. Yes, it will be
at the orphanage cum school and my guests would be the children! These children
are either orphaned or come from the weakest sections of society, so a gourmet
party would be a life-time experience for them. My son and I will play hosts
and will plan out the menu. If my little one approves it, those little ones
will approve it too, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFElLDmPy6ELjDuFf6rkM7LJeA5u6MR8UUFyBpZNRs9jh8wkILA4AnHqb638RKL74rs1MJ0WjZ9XdMlv0hdCeQcMk5mnfO0wx3DX8N62vjBqKpj7AJNOPqO6BdnbzwVyj4XDlO5apYW8/s1600/DSCN9198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFElLDmPy6ELjDuFf6rkM7LJeA5u6MR8UUFyBpZNRs9jh8wkILA4AnHqb638RKL74rs1MJ0WjZ9XdMlv0hdCeQcMk5mnfO0wx3DX8N62vjBqKpj7AJNOPqO6BdnbzwVyj4XDlO5apYW8/s400/DSCN9198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guests</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here comes the first factor – Ambience. Chirping of the
birds returning to their nests, cool late evening breeze and loads of laughter.
When you have happy, lovely little children around, what more can one ask for?
I’d probably put up a makeshift <i>pandal</i>, just as a contingency measure. Weather
in Bangalore is totally unpredictable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAh23_mn7Ri8XHAE9MuAqg3OHctRmqvOeiWi532Lj22cw0-UyseE5m530s42B_d_Pnsfuu024eZXUxL51qgxfQ5DibQOdLcx8T6ZYRvy-HpKg3tDQdKP08eudnN_xIyY8sik63n2u99M/s1600/DSCN9191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAh23_mn7Ri8XHAE9MuAqg3OHctRmqvOeiWi532Lj22cw0-UyseE5m530s42B_d_Pnsfuu024eZXUxL51qgxfQ5DibQOdLcx8T6ZYRvy-HpKg3tDQdKP08eudnN_xIyY8sik63n2u99M/s400/DSCN9191.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The location</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second thing to take care of is entertainment. What do
you think? Would there be any other source of entertainment than my stories??? The
idea may not interest you that much, (may be even make you queasy!) but for
those little children, I’m their Story Aunty! So that evening will see free
flowing stories including impromptu performances by children, story contests
and more!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iOXrFuQcxg77f92DVWRzrt8c_U5Q-JGca9uMod5c9RzaWCm0fkpF75heFLG2_-09qobniUQD5Y8UVzimIW2cAE9DaMVKuBaL4wJgvPa3-f9OpmzX5datOD70R5vO3anh08CRlm0IGao/s1600/DSCN9200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iOXrFuQcxg77f92DVWRzrt8c_U5Q-JGca9uMod5c9RzaWCm0fkpF75heFLG2_-09qobniUQD5Y8UVzimIW2cAE9DaMVKuBaL4wJgvPa3-f9OpmzX5datOD70R5vO3anh08CRlm0IGao/s400/DSCN9200.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entertainment!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you can see, there are big plans, which means, me cooking
for the party is out of question. Here is where I see Kitchens of India coming
to my rescue. I can make/order rice and rotis and just get the accompaniments
from Kitchens of India! Talk about convenience! Not just that, it would also
help me focus on the stuff that I’d need to get done for the D-day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, here comes my menu. I have carefully selected the
items based on the nutritional value, taste factor and of course, my son’s
inputs!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/M/u/Mughlai-Paneer_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/M/u/Mughlai-Paneer_2.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/M/i/Mirch-Ka-Salan_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/M/i/Mirch-Ka-Salan_1.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/D/a/Dal-Bukhara.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Chapati rolls lined with <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/apple-cinnamon.html">Apple-Cinnamon conserve</a> or <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/mango-saffron.html">Mango-Saffron conserve</a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Rotis</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Veg Biriyani (Made with <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/vegetable-biryani.html">Veg Biriyani Mix</a>)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Nutritious <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/dal-bukhara.html">Dal Bukhara</a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Mild <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/mughlai-paneer.html">Mughlai Paneer</a> (peppered with a story from the Mughlai
era, of course!)</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Spicy <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/mirch-ka-salan.html">Mirchi Ka Salan</a> (for the little grown-up ones)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Cucumber Raita (To counter the Spicy Mirchi and to balance
the Biriyani)</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/j/o/jodhpuri-moong-dal-halwa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d2nwys1hlvqvby.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x400/7d58fb2ce93122a4202a0fb21ab6d2e4/j/o/jodhpuri-moong-dal-halwa.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When children are around, can sweets be far behind? So I’ll
grab a few packets of every dessert available with KOI, especially the
nutritiously yummy <a href="http://shopping.kitchensofindia.com/jodhpuri-moong-dal-halwa.html">Jodhpuri Moong Dal Halwa </a>. I can imagine the ecstasy in their
faces as they lap up the delicious dessert!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, that would be my dream weekend gourmet party - an
evening of stories with lovely little children and great gourmet food.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am
sure, at that moment, I’d be the most contented person on this planet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Do visit <a href="http://www.shishukunjbangalore.org/">Shishukunj Vidyalaya</a> in Ramesh Nagar, Bangalore. The
children’s English skills will leave you awed. Even the tiny tots in primary
school speak excellent English. Kudos to the teachers and the management for
envisioning and executing it all!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-28897920480130101422013-06-16T05:17:00.000-07:002013-06-16T05:17:10.997-07:00A JUMPSTART SATURDAY AT BANGALORE! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>By Malini Gowrishankar</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(This is a post that I penned for the Headstart Network, a pan India entrepreneurship network for which I've recently started writing/volunteering. To know more about Headstart, click <a href="http://headstart.in/">here</a>. Hope to see more such posts in the future!) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It wasn't yet another lazy Saturday morning, at least for a
bunch of us. It was a jumpstart Saturday. The reason? Startup Saturday was back
in town! Thanks to Yahoo, we had a wonderful space for the event this time too
- The Yahoo office at Bagmane Tech Park,
CV Raman Nagar. The audience turnout reflected this edition's theme -
'Building your Startup', with more than half of them having just started or
aspiring to start their own business ventures soon, which in turn meant that
quite a few were attending the event for the first time. Though the turnout was
lesser than usual, it was an eclectic mix, which ensured a great session.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1DMB5uLh_RC29nEaBFx7NDis-gZBTd8TpTcOTtZ7qsq6P1vFmG_TJG3qvh0xeWApOsTtNnXvboIe8q5VNdr0k7bbJNXOH3r_heOTCgDUh07CURkx6lJ0JkftXAypc8hA5TsXbZbu2JQ/s1600/Optimized-DSCN2829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1DMB5uLh_RC29nEaBFx7NDis-gZBTd8TpTcOTtZ7qsq6P1vFmG_TJG3qvh0xeWApOsTtNnXvboIe8q5VNdr0k7bbJNXOH3r_heOTCgDUh07CURkx6lJ0JkftXAypc8hA5TsXbZbu2JQ/s640/Optimized-DSCN2829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The event commenced with Prashant of Headstart giving the
audience an introduction to Startup Saturday and to Nasscom 10000
Startups. This was followed by the first
scheduled talk of the day by Mr. Chetan Kulkarni, Founder and CEO at Vizury. True to the theme, Mr. Chetan spoke about how
Vizury was built, tracing along the timeline, the milestones of the company
with respect to funding, customer acquisition and expansion. He also spoke about the background of the
co-founders and the common thread that brought them together. The talk was
peppered with some interesting anecdotes, the most notable one being the
incident that marked the beginning of their China operations. The talk ended
with an interesting Q& A with Mr. Chetan and not surprisingly, the
questions revolved around starting-up itself.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6zExA7Sr1TF5qXw7_rY67lxlymSU4Q0QVZ4Lb79E0r9AIYBwvYIYzbBQ3PLTZPyRb1SM5tGAzq5wBcqH4VhwI7mCDuf_O3xhv8GzGqp81kpCfWTi88mU8ardIpseANKmNiw0xEJ4c5M/s1600/Optimized-DSCN2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6zExA7Sr1TF5qXw7_rY67lxlymSU4Q0QVZ4Lb79E0r9AIYBwvYIYzbBQ3PLTZPyRb1SM5tGAzq5wBcqH4VhwI7mCDuf_O3xhv8GzGqp81kpCfWTi88mU8ardIpseANKmNiw0xEJ4c5M/s640/Optimized-DSCN2811.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before the second speaker of the day was ushered in,
Prashant brought in a whiff of social entrepreneurship to the event, by
familiarizing the audience to ‘Jagriti Yatra’ -
the incredible train journey for entrepreneurs and aspiring
entrepreneurs organized by Jagriti Sewa Sansthan. The fact that we had two
‘Yatris’ amongst us added to the credibility of the intro.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next on stage was Ranjan Kumar of Oye Party.com. This
session was a product demo ; Ranjan walked us through the various features and
differentiating aspects of OyeParty. He also shared the current setup and the
future direction for OyeParty. We must say he did a good job convincing the
audience and taking on their bashing, as majority opined at the end of the demo
that the venture would be a hit! Here’s Headstart wishing you goodluck with
OyeParty, Ranjan!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second talk of the day was delivered by Mr. Naren NS, Co-founder
and Global Head for Banking and BI solutions at Icreate.in. He took the audience on a time-travel,
allowing them to have a peek into his career trajectory. Tracing back right
from his college days, working on a core banking solution as a techie, starting
up, getting that elusive first customer etc. to growing and expanding his
business overseas, he covered it all. He also briefly described the company’s
transition from being a services provider to providing product based solutions
and the challenges associated with the same. Overall, it was a well-received
talk with a lot of interesting questions thrown in by the inquisitive audience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJQAIeaZ0ap7sZOw4TBjIVQx5b0C5wMNqhEk9rVuhNpjjeLJdwN5nM_OjZkN4vx5nGMNJUGgH828uMPmO-pBAkobz-osIB-47-ZAMwImIpBSl2SFcB-0fbl7CkchRXeTQVZRy9-MwCPc/s1600/Optimized-DSCN2838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJQAIeaZ0ap7sZOw4TBjIVQx5b0C5wMNqhEk9rVuhNpjjeLJdwN5nM_OjZkN4vx5nGMNJUGgH828uMPmO-pBAkobz-osIB-47-ZAMwImIpBSl2SFcB-0fbl7CkchRXeTQVZRy9-MwCPc/s640/Optimized-DSCN2838.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final offering for the day was a ‘Spark the rise’ pitch
by Ihitashri Shandilya of Mithilasmita. A nominee of Mahindra’s ‘Spark the
rise’ campaign, Ihitashri emphasized the importance of supporting our local art
and culture. She spoke in brief about her replicable business model for
promoting art, with the model currently being applied to something that she
grew up with and is very close to her heart – Madhubani paintings from the
Indian heartland.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG3AuwU4oFqkIP0DL9Fm35YQI4-2dJXELDM8SMNJAq9oJaM87AqlemJvv81cFIsHE4pi2-yFTbiUNqu4D-xw-KeXcdLudat_Eipspr4Dx9T6rhL6JR-Ug0PmV4ylAThpTkdt6uoQqIzo/s1600/Optimized-DSCN2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG3AuwU4oFqkIP0DL9Fm35YQI4-2dJXELDM8SMNJAq9oJaM87AqlemJvv81cFIsHE4pi2-yFTbiUNqu4D-xw-KeXcdLudat_Eipspr4Dx9T6rhL6JR-Ug0PmV4ylAThpTkdt6uoQqIzo/s640/Optimized-DSCN2861.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With that truly inspirational pitch and the networking time
that ensued, that day’s event drew to a close. However, for each one of us
there, it was just the beginning, for the spark to be rekindled, the beliefs to
be reinforced, the ideas to be evaluated, yet another time. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-25915272876873541862013-06-16T03:53:00.002-07:002013-06-16T03:56:24.029-07:00Rendezvous with Rhododendrons #6 – Shopping spree in Siliguree!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Not so long ago, but actually a little while ago, I penned
the penultimate post in the Rhodendron Sikkim series. My blogging frequency has
now become erratic owing to the entrepreneurial bug that has been bugging me in
the recent days. However, writing is cathartic for me and as you have waited
for quite long, here is the final post in the series.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That morning, when I scaled Barsey Top and viewed sunrise
from there, I literally felt on top of the world, although it was just 10000+
feet. That made my day, but it was time to step down
from cloud nine and get back to ground reality (literally). Yes, it was time to descend to the plains. This
was the journey – Barsey to Hiley by trek, Hiley to Siliguri by cab. En route,
we covered Daramdin Saibaba temple. A beautiful temple with beautiful paintings.
A must-see if you are in the vicinity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaEhox5pEpTfNTddPysltEzQiPeSXs60yAoltBdZB4jZcT34uIMcbkhlpaGQoAM6IHT__C6Dcvf1wa7rMrOhp3qBxTB1l9f-Zv51o74PrRzdjWGIwPZ2FHygtqA9yfue-9Ng7Suh2NcM/s1600/DSCN8304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaEhox5pEpTfNTddPysltEzQiPeSXs60yAoltBdZB4jZcT34uIMcbkhlpaGQoAM6IHT__C6Dcvf1wa7rMrOhp3qBxTB1l9f-Zv51o74PrRzdjWGIwPZ2FHygtqA9yfue-9Ng7Suh2NcM/s640/DSCN8304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Bandhu, Owner of Guras Kunj, Barsey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUGsGKqavO0YPd7y1SElT7p03IPC21WQqdN6T1HN-GyxAtZcZFOt4LjSHNy1KF99RaqCsdzo5UeU3Vd3OHiH0J3oZvYakdqzUqdB_GOQURUuQSstcOXLrcNT9wyXu34wIfn8RFoV833g/s1600/DSCN8324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUGsGKqavO0YPd7y1SElT7p03IPC21WQqdN6T1HN-GyxAtZcZFOt4LjSHNy1KF99RaqCsdzo5UeU3Vd3OHiH0J3oZvYakdqzUqdB_GOQURUuQSstcOXLrcNT9wyXu34wIfn8RFoV833g/s640/DSCN8324.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trek back to Hiley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYClsUch4XDVeci3oCTPBiUpYcHwgbPHr8XQj-RysH6A969cDE2IdhJCsBMTDD831Dwo1KgdD65kLREufKoPCqHXGiLd8EoZnENA8kEgtESYeoZPBMQdelgTrSPO1AVXfawb_2OAKnZ4/s1600/DSCN8406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYClsUch4XDVeci3oCTPBiUpYcHwgbPHr8XQj-RysH6A969cDE2IdhJCsBMTDD831Dwo1KgdD65kLREufKoPCqHXGiLd8EoZnENA8kEgtESYeoZPBMQdelgTrSPO1AVXfawb_2OAKnZ4/s640/DSCN8406.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A painting in Daramdin Sai Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiD9H66T2uain62GzXbfqMI-Z2JS8mlVjHqvXQU-aTSwg7wWD_YJ5bHM3CF4MdLlRGbLVoF-uoG9dgJWaXtqnWdvqKNO6zFCY7ASrRhwD0j4mOR7DRa5XlpXx3-4J98aMe_49Gvgy2YPI/s1600/DSCN8399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiD9H66T2uain62GzXbfqMI-Z2JS8mlVjHqvXQU-aTSwg7wWD_YJ5bHM3CF4MdLlRGbLVoF-uoG9dgJWaXtqnWdvqKNO6zFCY7ASrRhwD0j4mOR7DRa5XlpXx3-4J98aMe_49Gvgy2YPI/s640/DSCN8399.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Not sure what these lavender coloured blossoms are. Anyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our next stop-over was at Siliguri – Mainak Tourist lodge. The
place is run by West Bengal tourism and is actually a very safe, comfortable,
centrally located and decent boarding option in Siliguri, while the name ‘lodge’
suggests otherwise. With the Hongkong
market at a stone’s throw distance, my
urge to shop became irresistible. So, off we went that evening, on a shopping
spree. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Hongkong market in Siliguri is a world in itself. It is
a flea market for goods imported mainly from China and a few other countries. You
name it, you see it here. The usually
alert me was also conned into buying a Nepal made Colossal Kajal, only to find
that it is a duplicate. So unbelievably good was the finish! I also bought the
cheap Asian version of the Swiss army knives, Chinese army knives to be
precise. So when you are in Siliguri, a visit to the Hongkong Market is highly
recommended. We also bought tea in one of the government authorized shops in
Siliguri.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now to the thing that I enjoyed the most here – Street food! Momos, chats, agra pethas – we had it all! For me, this is the most important and worthwhile factor - visiting the local hangouts, chatting up with locals and having local food. The experience is simply mind-blowing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JwYuyNJKt_VwYi88w5lzBpIPfDF0c3ODOX9wxnTFxUm-rFRdENAuuui4WftJ59lR8dlXCs-Awzod5YikxPBln_mjlcIGXBrrg0aihhNtNi2uwTUsEcTEmVT8eNWSWfVHF24xbScJ10g/s1600/DSCN8449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JwYuyNJKt_VwYi88w5lzBpIPfDF0c3ODOX9wxnTFxUm-rFRdENAuuui4WftJ59lR8dlXCs-Awzod5YikxPBln_mjlcIGXBrrg0aihhNtNi2uwTUsEcTEmVT8eNWSWfVHF24xbScJ10g/s640/DSCN8449.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Mishti Dahi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvvUAQGSmUBkvhfYljyKFjiNlBwpK-588FX0T0pyY4dnRRO0lvjsQ1DbV5AMFXOUmAyLd665lyEwJ68py-CqGeblvHenEOLMmCyA_IoQd_gDBxb-bmDdQDk8waYHsRN4xWZSC4fgowcQ/s1600/DSCN8421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvvUAQGSmUBkvhfYljyKFjiNlBwpK-588FX0T0pyY4dnRRO0lvjsQ1DbV5AMFXOUmAyLd665lyEwJ68py-CqGeblvHenEOLMmCyA_IoQd_gDBxb-bmDdQDk8waYHsRN4xWZSC4fgowcQ/s640/DSCN8421.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Thukpa at Jorethang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd45sALBSxNZgeii8bCESMMheYkbiLaYax1ClH90xavQrSoKnFoWkp_fkrMKaFupq5nxUlEEV-OSCkuBULAw5TIrtj57rLIvrXT8wvZ4GMp_k583O2zXwhi0jCrSFLzPFyitOPLpW7VlQ/s1600/DSCN8417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd45sALBSxNZgeii8bCESMMheYkbiLaYax1ClH90xavQrSoKnFoWkp_fkrMKaFupq5nxUlEEV-OSCkuBULAw5TIrtj57rLIvrXT8wvZ4GMp_k583O2zXwhi0jCrSFLzPFyitOPLpW7VlQ/s640/DSCN8417.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Momo and soup at Jorethang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNQ1rTew2zWtySYR3GmmSN_-BBlqLMJHtsaQfjvvLRTcLzl0RSdv6flozGGvmfAJ3MxiJ_8rAu7a3wN_djTxXlRmZWG9UAEeiwAaRnZKfnizPvg7G0-qBBDoSamz8aZ36dyeUemZoI4M/s1600/DSCN8426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNQ1rTew2zWtySYR3GmmSN_-BBlqLMJHtsaQfjvvLRTcLzl0RSdv6flozGGvmfAJ3MxiJ_8rAu7a3wN_djTxXlRmZWG9UAEeiwAaRnZKfnizPvg7G0-qBBDoSamz8aZ36dyeUemZoI4M/s640/DSCN8426.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Chat time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtr7bJCK9A_K4iaw8JWMmI0nSyauQBVNAMc1DZHChO6Izvrna0X6moZIUjJDyBUbM_74nz5738eCxhJaQwJ9O0k4-yAlCEP4F0JLM5YNBx8lYlqjByjcbmSMJlmGUYfZyoFadYKr3BmE/s1600/DSCN8428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtr7bJCK9A_K4iaw8JWMmI0nSyauQBVNAMc1DZHChO6Izvrna0X6moZIUjJDyBUbM_74nz5738eCxhJaQwJ9O0k4-yAlCEP4F0JLM5YNBx8lYlqjByjcbmSMJlmGUYfZyoFadYKr3BmE/s640/DSCN8428.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Chat wallah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAiUifisSyoUDii7lKYkxWzBKYtCN65CKGBVvhDuTg1b4BVvLzDIbhg5pAA5iWwsd65LZaSv6AaYuBu15_HX6R0JOEZ2lQZGkdI7UtFxmKt3fd0cXhmy3y5oK6mqbestmrbuERLvuKgo/s1600/DSCN8429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAiUifisSyoUDii7lKYkxWzBKYtCN65CKGBVvhDuTg1b4BVvLzDIbhg5pAA5iWwsd65LZaSv6AaYuBu15_HX6R0JOEZ2lQZGkdI7UtFxmKt3fd0cXhmy3y5oK6mqbestmrbuERLvuKgo/s640/DSCN8429.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Momos in Siliguri</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what happened after that? The next day we packed our
bags and headed back home. With heavier bags and happy memories, of course!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
THE FACTS</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Best time to visit Barsey:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
March-April is when most Rhododendrons bloom. A few species
bloom in May, so that months isn’t bad either.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How to reach: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Till New Jalpaiguri station by train or Bagdogra airport by
flight. Rent a shared jeep or a cab from there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shared jeep: Upto Jorethang and from there to Okhrey. You
will spend less than 800 rupees but be ready to get sandwiched amongst 9 to 10
locals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cab: Our full cab trip with NJP – Pelling – Okhrey – Hiley –
Daramdin- NJP cost us Rs. 12000. It was the least of 3 quotes and was a good
deal, considering the fact that it was peak season.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stay:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pelling - Sikkim
Aurora. At the highest point in Pelling, right opposite helipad. Highly
recommended for budget travellers. The owner Mr. Raja is always ready to help. TripAdvisor recommended.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okhrey – Sherpa lodge. Sherpa hospitality is unbeatable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8VzE_4P1i_uxLn-1v8AsHl7C1_oOgerWVqR5cO4DnYjKo_4qw9OTV78c6Y1rqAyrlwK57jhRmz30msgcuZg_pwPy4INCRB1ScmNBWoi_feuHF5NL6D-nnV5gSNdmw8hha88SGXiIlJY/s1600/DSCN8382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8VzE_4P1i_uxLn-1v8AsHl7C1_oOgerWVqR5cO4DnYjKo_4qw9OTV78c6Y1rqAyrlwK57jhRmz30msgcuZg_pwPy4INCRB1ScmNBWoi_feuHF5NL6D-nnV5gSNdmw8hha88SGXiIlJY/s640/DSCN8382.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Triple room in Sherpa lodge, Okhrey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Barsey – Only Guras Kunj and forest barracks available. Try
to get that elusive double bed room there. Book early. Mr. Bandhu, the owner,
is very friendly and hospitable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Siliguri – Mainak Tourist Lodge.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The total trip is doable in approximately 7K per person (excluding airfare) if you are in a small group.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
With that, I end my
six-part travelogue. Hope this is inspiring enough for you to plan this trip
next year. Go ahead, have a great Rendezvous with Rhododendrons and let me know! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-55389817387789315572013-06-04T22:00:00.001-07:002013-06-13T23:55:07.659-07:00Skywatch Friday #9 - Peek-a-boo moon!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We were camping as a family in the outskirts of Bangalore, thanks to <a href="http://camp.linger.in/">CampLinger</a>. It was a cool and cloudy night. The campfire was burning bright and the moon was nowhere to be seen. All of a sudden, there she was, the full round moon, gleaming in the night sky and playing peek-a-boo like a little naughty girl. The pictures do little justice to her beauty.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is my entry this week to the very popular <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.in/">Skywatch Friday</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRwu6T3v2wYe9uVRUuTfwI_siqdjIXU4G0Xr88xogA5ypyhSVU6l-07W9SnXPKHSPCtBMKRIyOpmKfkkisDw-rd0a-HUsQGtfCI8xJWPfgawoTWtHm1XLW1u5O0Xjq3vkt954RHsWRaw/s1600/collage-moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRwu6T3v2wYe9uVRUuTfwI_siqdjIXU4G0Xr88xogA5ypyhSVU6l-07W9SnXPKHSPCtBMKRIyOpmKfkkisDw-rd0a-HUsQGtfCI8xJWPfgawoTWtHm1XLW1u5O0Xjq3vkt954RHsWRaw/s640/collage-moon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-9689746261112261452013-06-04T20:37:00.001-07:002013-06-04T20:38:06.498-07:00Listen to your body...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was one March afternoon in Chennai. A bright sunny
afternoon it was, but a very dark one for a few. In the drawing room of that small
apartment, he lay, sleeping peacefully, albeit in an ice box. His 19-year
old son kept talking to him, leaning on the box, asking his Dad to come back. It
was a heart-wrenching sight that I’ll never forget in my lifetime. Over the
past few months, I had seen him gradually melt down and now, he had diminished
in the horizon. Gone forever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A FEW YEARS AGO<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The occasional twitch in the stomach was bothering him. Episodes
of indigestion were also becoming frequent. He had erratic work schedules owing
to which his meal times were haphazard. The initial diagnosis was Ulcer. Of
course, given his schedules, that was a disaster waiting to strike. But, it
didn’t feel like a disaster to him; he brushed it off as a casual lifestyle
problem. But being a staunch believer of natural medicine, he started consuming
<a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_use_of_the_herb_called_keezhanelli">Keezhanelli </a>leaves regularly. However, the pain was here to stay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A FEW MONTHS AGO<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He had lost oodles of weight over the last few years. The occasional
twitch had by then turned into incessant excruciating pain. Unbearable it was,
so much that the family dragged him to consult an allopathic doctor. And the
diagnosis? Not Ulcer. Not any stomach disorder. It was Cancer. Cancer, not just
isolated to any one part of the body, but spread across the digestive system. Years of misdiagnosis, ignorance of warning
signs and self-medication had cost him dear. The carcinoma was in its advanced
stage and all that the doctors could do at this point was to extend his life by
a few months. And that too, by chopping off most parts of his digestive system
in a series of surgeries. A cheerful, witty man with a sharp sense of humour,
he never stopped cracking jokes even during these dreadful times. Post surgery,
what was left of him was just a bag of bones.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A FEW DAYS AGO<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He had become bedridden. The doctors had given up. The
family, inconsolable. The IV fluid line
was the one that was tugging him back, keeping him alive. And on that fateful morning, that March
afternoon, he breathed his last. I had gone to meet him; held his hand, the
previous evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
THE MORALS/INFERENCES (I wouldn’t call this a story though)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I’m not advocating allopathy here, nor am I saying that
natural medicine isn’t good enough.</li>
<li>All that matters is the right diagnosis at the right time.</li>
<li>It’s about respecting one’s own body. The body clearly gives
out signs. When things are wrong, the body sends out alarms. The alarms may not exactly scream on your
face, but they are there. Notice them.</li>
<li>Self-medication may not always work. Whatever branch of
medicine, a systematic therapeutic plan is needed to cull any disease or cure
any disorder.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I write this, I remember the tamil saying, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“ Suvar Irundhaldhaan Chiththiram ezhudha mudiyum”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>(“One can paint only if there is a wall”)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stay healthy. Stay happy. Chase your dreams.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(This is my entry to the Indiblogger "the moral of the story is" contest. More health related articles <a href="http://www.myhealthyspeak.co.in/">here</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-3646930165667277442013-05-23T22:43:00.001-07:002013-05-23T22:43:26.339-07:00Rendezvous with Rhododendrons #5 – Path to the sky!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ok, I’ve gathered myself now. To narrate the climbing
experience. If you reader, are an avid trekker or a dare devil, you might find
this story inane. But if you are like
me, battling to overcome your acrophobic instincts, then you may be able to
relate to this.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim, is a place
where every nook and corner radiates beauty. However, some of these beautiful
places are daunting too, especially for people like me – steep cliffs, sheer
drops, snow-covered slopes and so on. One such place is what the locals call ‘Barsey
Top’ or ‘Barsey Point’. It is about a kilometer
away from ‘Guras Kunj’, the forest guesthouse. But the catch is that the second
half of this walk is a steep climb. I’m not afraid of
climbing. I’m an asthmatic, yes, but I’ve overcome that to a fairly decent
level, with positive thinking and breathing techniques. But the bigger problem
was the fear of elevation – the gorgeous views that would accompany the climb,
those very views would make me shudder and lose my balance. But the fighter in
me said, “If you don’t do this now, you will never do any of those great Himalayan/alpine
treks that you dream of doing someday”. So, believe it or not, I was the first
one to jump up and say, “Let’s go.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ7FaHsaE2up3l2MHWJfAKBEudTtGfhqX_L2H5VbogpTLy97O1LhIiIiGhjrHyvwiewc60L-UTGE_9t2pLfOCSFGf8RMOR-nW7Pwu-nm_Rskm6l_2KAed3RIlBDLPJ4Ptggl2i28rkvk/s1600/DSCN8057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ7FaHsaE2up3l2MHWJfAKBEudTtGfhqX_L2H5VbogpTLy97O1LhIiIiGhjrHyvwiewc60L-UTGE_9t2pLfOCSFGf8RMOR-nW7Pwu-nm_Rskm6l_2KAed3RIlBDLPJ4Ptggl2i28rkvk/s640/DSCN8057.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the pathway. Who wouldn't want to tread this path?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3q7cHHlSWs3itwCYdfHyKLue_OFSCSfCnhyphenhyphen06Z1kT1yVGTV-FwH7zHZHugWWzIWPiRY2qkNf_cLZKPF1_v_yPvdxM2aLfqruHgnTcUpv5D8In3dtmtz4CFtWtt1OZJa7wrsECZJKwvM/s1600/DSCN8103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3q7cHHlSWs3itwCYdfHyKLue_OFSCSfCnhyphenhyphen06Z1kT1yVGTV-FwH7zHZHugWWzIWPiRY2qkNf_cLZKPF1_v_yPvdxM2aLfqruHgnTcUpv5D8In3dtmtz4CFtWtt1OZJa7wrsECZJKwvM/s640/DSCN8103.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temple made of stacked stones. This is common sight in Sikkim.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first half was as expected. Easy. Then began the climb.
Initially, the cobbled stone path was wide enough to accommodate 2 people
walking side by side. Later, it tapered down to a very narrow line, which could
allow 1 person to step at a time. There were places where at one end of the
stone path was a sheer drop. This was when my problem started. All this while,
I was holding one of my friends’ hands for that comfortable feeling. Now, she
had to walk ahead of me and I had to handle those steps, all by myself.
Thankfully, she was a very courageous person who happened to be my messiah that
day. She walked just before me, and still lent her hand so that I could keep
shadowing her. She also kept talking about the several wonderful experiences
that we had during the trip, so as to encourage me to keep thinking positively.
And you know what I was doing? I was
busy chanting,” I’m going to make it”. Strangely, the very presence of our trek
guide, Mr. Hissay Sherpa also provided a great sense of comfort. And oh yeah, I
made it to the top! In fact, we loved the place so much that we went there
again the next day, sharp at 5 AM to witness sunrise. The second time, I had a
bit of breathing difficulty, but it all vanished when the sun rose!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLNnygAmvCGV6ML7FavcuyrOhBgt2t4Vh2ghzqcPke2uwRYDxy2xzFp6KYH4_73kD6KRSvFcvw3xN5NCrSP9naKKdMx7n86dNYpwyRHi_FY9IkgozD3vGhde6NfJNgbNKzXKNq1FuaEc/s1600/DSCN8189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLNnygAmvCGV6ML7FavcuyrOhBgt2t4Vh2ghzqcPke2uwRYDxy2xzFp6KYH4_73kD6KRSvFcvw3xN5NCrSP9naKKdMx7n86dNYpwyRHi_FY9IkgozD3vGhde6NfJNgbNKzXKNq1FuaEc/s640/DSCN8189.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 AM at Barsey point. It's still moon's world. Can you spot the crescent?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSE9hSrf8KvdUXKWZAqYctd8s-VSpeq4plorX6pQCSwQS4OkbWxVhg9jTdXEgDaEur5K0SdtpJ8Fehp9hEkh0P6PcIe11BA8yH_II_XbYfaN5M6uwu25BWaRL26SsXv-16QoADM8xb78/s1600/DSCN8192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSE9hSrf8KvdUXKWZAqYctd8s-VSpeq4plorX6pQCSwQS4OkbWxVhg9jTdXEgDaEur5K0SdtpJ8Fehp9hEkh0P6PcIe11BA8yH_II_XbYfaN5M6uwu25BWaRL26SsXv-16QoADM8xb78/s640/DSCN8192.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The valley below. 5 AM. Barsey Top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM7TY2StEcpWMNcS1rBzzBe4iH43t0tQF6PfJtChfzZMiGv2Aqc4tuS0KRKnSs36uPeTKXgOg7cD-BIm8ShB8uLtsmw3VgneaOBrZQ5io0ZftUfgSJ5hMe1B1EB4Xla3xcbuNJR4h7jw/s1600/DSCN8201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM7TY2StEcpWMNcS1rBzzBe4iH43t0tQF6PfJtChfzZMiGv2Aqc4tuS0KRKnSs36uPeTKXgOg7cD-BIm8ShB8uLtsmw3VgneaOBrZQ5io0ZftUfgSJ5hMe1B1EB4Xla3xcbuNJR4h7jw/s640/DSCN8201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at Barsey Top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxHh2mieHtGdJaWIadGQfFYMYMOgeQxKVtNJSmvkgSsHmB-zr7OVW4JKNjDUelym-Pm5y6h7NHWPnm-SX7UCpaSh4w_vPQUcrjNyQrOIMMCGEb7BhcJHQbLHT9EzyMMlkWcpN2SsQY4w/s1600/DSCN8266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxHh2mieHtGdJaWIadGQfFYMYMOgeQxKVtNJSmvkgSsHmB-zr7OVW4JKNjDUelym-Pm5y6h7NHWPnm-SX7UCpaSh4w_vPQUcrjNyQrOIMMCGEb7BhcJHQbLHT9EzyMMlkWcpN2SsQY4w/s640/DSCN8266.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kanchenjunga range view from Guras Kunj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So why did I have to explain all this in such excruciating detail? Just to emphasize the fact that most fears are man made and that it can
be overcome with positive thinking and the urge to conquer the fear. What the
human mind can conspire still continues to amaze me. If it desires, it can make
me wet my pants on a railway over bridge; on the contrary it can also motivate
me to climb mountains! No wonder someone rightly compared it to a monkey.
Restless. Boundless. Reckless. I would've missed all these views, had I not pushed myself.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m0ia-3RnXaSOZE7888pvvz7yijabjGWxF4RMFo-JZ9omjVus_9EIQ6ru1lwxrfsBKa7nvxCEtZ0TbAtcs2k0xCfO4mz1yHLPGVbYFsA-7Jx5_65gTUjfOXgOMbt7jLkJoLabWwga9u4/s1600/DSCN8249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m0ia-3RnXaSOZE7888pvvz7yijabjGWxF4RMFo-JZ9omjVus_9EIQ6ru1lwxrfsBKa7nvxCEtZ0TbAtcs2k0xCfO4mz1yHLPGVbYFsA-7Jx5_65gTUjfOXgOMbt7jLkJoLabWwga9u4/s640/DSCN8249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views on our way back. That green hut is the place where we stayed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu1Jko54do3vB48cWzCMRhveG-_HHd-as4p5BCQX598bJWkW0L5MRO8At5Y9hUJH7w6yfNX-hwP934dzDrTyM-HmIOuNYWcChpLe9tJc2hRg2j7JaIMrv-4wzhi9Y1fnEEyHoefLsc2k/s1600/DSCN8274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu1Jko54do3vB48cWzCMRhveG-_HHd-as4p5BCQX598bJWkW0L5MRO8At5Y9hUJH7w6yfNX-hwP934dzDrTyM-HmIOuNYWcChpLe9tJc2hRg2j7JaIMrv-4wzhi9Y1fnEEyHoefLsc2k/s640/DSCN8274.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee with Kanchenjunga</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQRXx-q5_WQB73lx1QIBua1_IguNUMrF7D6dAabZncaYtAUHy7XyXLpSBuIj_9xt1thQkTDl_WEGnMNv-Epm0MPSshRksaSlWtLUVh7uvYmMagNQpD5zyH_85skqP-CR7POztLT9wHe8/s1600/DSCN8287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQRXx-q5_WQB73lx1QIBua1_IguNUMrF7D6dAabZncaYtAUHy7XyXLpSBuIj_9xt1thQkTDl_WEGnMNv-Epm0MPSshRksaSlWtLUVh7uvYmMagNQpD5zyH_85skqP-CR7POztLT9wHe8/s640/DSCN8287.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggi with the mountains!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwy7cSk3gxUavbg7rVHGOWrMTZVobBA4srjq8QoVrWrQnoc5cDIkcgcJX3SK1BqUvTn4_zBO337oUbPxAlZ27AANTvxmlxo63n0NspP9DX7C7n-CBPbEUc6NtC5r4cybvHpe0YnQmgFo/s1600/DSCN8303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwy7cSk3gxUavbg7rVHGOWrMTZVobBA4srjq8QoVrWrQnoc5cDIkcgcJX3SK1BqUvTn4_zBO337oUbPxAlZ27AANTvxmlxo63n0NspP9DX7C7n-CBPbEUc6NtC5r4cybvHpe0YnQmgFo/s640/DSCN8303.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selectively shining sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please note - I’m not saying that I’m not acrophobic now. I’m
still scared of heights, but the magnitude of the fear is slightly lesser. I’m confident
that I’ll, one day, accompany my husband on those wonderful mountain treks, which
he does every year. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And one last word here – A big shout out to those lovely
people who were with me at that time,
without whose help I wouldn't have been able to make it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S: This is the penultimate chapter of this travelogue. It
will end with my Siliguri experience. So, please do stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-58498039613928758472013-05-18T04:53:00.000-07:002013-05-18T04:53:08.312-07:00My blog's first milestone - 5000 hits for the curious drop!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
February 18, 2013 - I created this blog. A curious drop in the bucket. Am glad that it has crossed its first milestone exactly 3 months after that. 5000 Hits.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I sincerely thank every fellow blogger for accepting this newbie as a fellow blogger, helping my blog reach this milestone and most importantly, for being there as a source of inspiration and motivation. I need to tell you something very important at this juncture. I am not just a name-sake blog hopper. I don't read posts for the sake of reading. In fact, I refrain from reading when I think I can't concentrate. I read posts to make myself write. "Wow, someone's doing such a wonderful job blogging, can I try doing that too?" I feel this every time I visit Indiblogger and click on my favorite blogs. I once setup a blog in 2011, but miserably failed in maintaining it. This time, I'm not looking back. And I'm managing that only because I've cultivated the habit of appreciate genuine creativity in the blogosphere. I'd like to mention every blog that I've read and admired, but I run the risk of missing out a few of them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, its just one word. THANKS!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPhUwiH74_b9MZs-7ymPessSG3dmBQbQhOO1axTExXvcZbZYjt3KwemEM0uwOeRz4tuqV7vXMG-YA_VEX2Fg5UneO-sVNgmIl52imcW47XJM_THl82Y7Nb2sP2IU5loCLD5ai1pZjZ4s/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPhUwiH74_b9MZs-7ymPessSG3dmBQbQhOO1axTExXvcZbZYjt3KwemEM0uwOeRz4tuqV7vXMG-YA_VEX2Fg5UneO-sVNgmIl52imcW47XJM_THl82Y7Nb2sP2IU5loCLD5ai1pZjZ4s/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-63706593299102353572013-05-17T11:53:00.002-07:002013-05-17T11:54:35.486-07:00Rendezvous with Rhododendrons #4 – Barsey beckoning!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know, my posts have been sporadic for a while. Life has
been trying as much as possible to shear me away from my blog, but I stubbornly
stick to my commitment to tend to my baby (blog, I mean! My biological baby isn’t
a baby anymore, he is a little boy). It is still taking baby steps, so
nurturing it is of prime importance to me. Once in a while, it becomes a little
overwhelming, but I manage to successfully overwhelm the overwhelming feeling!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, where was I? Yes,
I went to bed that night in Sherpa Lodge, Okhrey, dreaming of dancing amidst
Rhododendrons. Did that happen? Did I
really dance amidst those lovely flowers? Read on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still vividly remember that morning. The birds were still
waking up. The cold mountain air and fog was still holding the beautiful valley
below in its wraps. The orange ball was yet to make its appearance in the
horizon. That was when I stepped out of my room, bundled in layers of warm
clothing, clutching my camera to get that glorious first shot of the sunrise,
as is always my habit wherever I go. I
held my head high, feeling a little proud that I was the first to wake up, that
I’m going to be the only one to witness the gorgeous sunrise. As I marched outside the lodge, in search of
the most appropriate location to perch my camera, I heard him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hey, sunrise dekhnaa hai? Yahaan se mast dikhtaa hai. aao!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someone poked a pin into my ballooned pride and enthusiasm.
I scornfully looked at who that intruder was. He was the person, who stayed in
the neighbouring room and it was his second day at Okhrey. He obviously knew
better. I reluctantly dragged myself to the spot where he was standing. There
wasn’t any time for my grumpiness showcase. The sun was already rising. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Y6AFlBnGOieP8vEYw5I9A7A-E_x9OhiE7_q10wDywG8WHD0T-Bxkf_8m7tephbwY2a5p9iUtlIYZCHMRbMDjPUcM-1KkMVRgakXNqO3UL6D9pgBGjtI6nM5lvIofXla3mraDXEURcDg/s1600/DSCN7843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Y6AFlBnGOieP8vEYw5I9A7A-E_x9OhiE7_q10wDywG8WHD0T-Bxkf_8m7tephbwY2a5p9iUtlIYZCHMRbMDjPUcM-1KkMVRgakXNqO3UL6D9pgBGjtI6nM5lvIofXla3mraDXEURcDg/s640/DSCN7843.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soon, my fellow travellers joined me. We had our morning
tea, entrusted our bags to the trustworthy Sherpa and set off to Barsey. Joining
us on our journey was our guide, Mr. Hissay Gyatso Sherpa. We drove up to
Hiley, which is the entry point to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. Mr. Sherpa
had arranged for our breakfast at Hiley. After devouring the yummy Poori-Sabzi,
we set off on our trek. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaTUspdYAac697ZTi_QLm-VNO1yY3PRqNysIc7Y7oWCvv_69u5_TIGDj4EDNTfClv0OML3szKvUfvn1BHa-x4eB5fNA5KwQ9h2i9joCtxILphnLzpWU0NBzLvuT43GqQepWFDuBr-4gk/s1600/DSCN7992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaTUspdYAac697ZTi_QLm-VNO1yY3PRqNysIc7Y7oWCvv_69u5_TIGDj4EDNTfClv0OML3szKvUfvn1BHa-x4eB5fNA5KwQ9h2i9joCtxILphnLzpWU0NBzLvuT43GqQepWFDuBr-4gk/s640/DSCN7992.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild berries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDMwb6-k-NV-XDRJd_RVnXctBxOs11ivSTgcvz6CB459IA0w-Skaxqcz9PN-t8Q7JCVAC7EYY7DY7Kh1LjfD_fljAt0C_HT3ZTg8EgfjKtfBu3yUkx7sHqv9HeajK7um7dVGR63Q-eyk/s1600/DSCN7973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDMwb6-k-NV-XDRJd_RVnXctBxOs11ivSTgcvz6CB459IA0w-Skaxqcz9PN-t8Q7JCVAC7EYY7DY7Kh1LjfD_fljAt0C_HT3ZTg8EgfjKtfBu3yUkx7sHqv9HeajK7um7dVGR63Q-eyk/s640/DSCN7973.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rVlN7yUhEOHuU3p-gDE00uYLLh3INIImgHwGCCwctdcqpOzrxLg8c8gccfbazniSzIEjac3XWpYiO5rTjZ9AXy6cLcpDolooQwch_mAzkhl7QAmTXTuDnW9B03Zu8LCo6nGMIay_U-c/s1600/DSCN7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rVlN7yUhEOHuU3p-gDE00uYLLh3INIImgHwGCCwctdcqpOzrxLg8c8gccfbazniSzIEjac3XWpYiO5rTjZ9AXy6cLcpDolooQwch_mAzkhl7QAmTXTuDnW9B03Zu8LCo6nGMIay_U-c/s640/DSCN7967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeNYaKsvzTUd0vKA4SoKgp42Ks0Exg79JaXR8wh-aTiX2cKFyraNAa7mDXGpuC5lRabZm5So6oM_zpYcqmRkQgQSxkbsVE1gpFMb11BnZupL4BXuCZnFAigktyN5Q7ABmUlCunOkiBwY/s1600/DSCN7985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeNYaKsvzTUd0vKA4SoKgp42Ks0Exg79JaXR8wh-aTiX2cKFyraNAa7mDXGpuC5lRabZm5So6oM_zpYcqmRkQgQSxkbsVE1gpFMb11BnZupL4BXuCZnFAigktyN5Q7ABmUlCunOkiBwY/s640/DSCN7985.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air moss</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4boYWwucRv0NLSy-8dCIw32FN4onkkf_jeKGbLuYjnEvpPCaSoy8l5i9l_DYSWPtj7DGM0ZE0SvhbuZLqW7WAGVUgTI8P3_wptAoWqTiQ8-jA39Z9NBladAQhwk6cpcOpEFlPJnT8Mk/s1600/DSCN7971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4boYWwucRv0NLSy-8dCIw32FN4onkkf_jeKGbLuYjnEvpPCaSoy8l5i9l_DYSWPtj7DGM0ZE0SvhbuZLqW7WAGVUgTI8P3_wptAoWqTiQ8-jA39Z9NBladAQhwk6cpcOpEFlPJnT8Mk/s640/DSCN7971.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lichens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having Mr. Hissay trek with us was the best part of the
trek. Armed with a Himalayan birdwatching guidebook, he helped us spot every
little bird that flew by, helped identify every exotic plant that we beheld on
our way and helped understand the locals and their ways. He also provided
insights into the problems plaguing the sanctuary – such as the heavy influx of
local tourists during festival season and the consequential littering, thereby
disrupting peace in the jungle. He also briefed us about how the supplies to
the forest guesthouse are transported in the absence of connectivity. Sherpas,
naturally have great lungpower and a number of them double up as porters to transport
the groceries and provisions uphill, offering to carry them on their backs for
a paltry sum of three hundred rupees. Tough lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwqMBmZXBkBX2o5gIjCBwImXyHXRnpTTXFpLNu2TS-MbHSr46W_v1pZFlrBdzQbEPSWWC-ZRb3hM-qdOqArYnK18bAZQVuk_ZiW1VKhmSYZ5IW9v2PxpEN-rpJxzy5wp5tUCYfE49tiE/s1600/DSCN8114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwqMBmZXBkBX2o5gIjCBwImXyHXRnpTTXFpLNu2TS-MbHSr46W_v1pZFlrBdzQbEPSWWC-ZRb3hM-qdOqArYnK18bAZQVuk_ZiW1VKhmSYZ5IW9v2PxpEN-rpJxzy5wp5tUCYfE49tiE/s640/DSCN8114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Hissay, our trek guide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a couple of hours trekking, spotting Magpies, sunbirds
and the exotic(?) Himalayan crows(no luck with spotting the elusive Red Pandas
though) and learning to tell the difference between Rhododendron Barbatum/Rhododendron
Arboreum and Grande/Falconeri, we reached the forest guesthouse, ‘Guras Kunj’.
There wasn’t much of literature on the net about this place, hence I wasn’t
sure what to expect. However, what I saw was beyond my expectations. It was an
elegant wooden cottage with basic facilities, but the location was simply
stunning. Painted green and standing amidst raging-red-fire like Rhododendron
blooms, it seemed lifted straight from a fairy tale. Probably the most romantic
of all places I’ve been to, ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Guras Kunj’ is basically a dormitory. It has one big hall
which can accommodate 20 travellers easily. There is also one double bedroom
with attached bath, which needs to be pre-booked. However, pre-booking is
tricky as it is a herculean task to reach the owner’s mobile phone. Hence, you
have to be lucky to have that room. And not to mention, we were incredibly lucky
that day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIMUtICko9gI8RbfKNMrlTqvL6Fk_xylziM92VZzJxyx_ACjzgv43lvVbEYu4Xl9RxcYldXsVRO0a98zGQyr5NfFAs0G8Kdb0Waa507Ixdf70fLAA559Ja7iKM4i7KoWJy7j0_J4Iv9k/s1600/DSCN8079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIMUtICko9gI8RbfKNMrlTqvL6Fk_xylziM92VZzJxyx_ACjzgv43lvVbEYu4Xl9RxcYldXsVRO0a98zGQyr5NfFAs0G8Kdb0Waa507Ixdf70fLAA559Ja7iKM4i7KoWJy7j0_J4Iv9k/s640/DSCN8079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guras Kunj, the forest guesthouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That evening was one to remember. I lay down on the cool
grass, watching the clouds penning poetry, listened to the whistles of the
wind, admired the stark color contrast of the ravens and rhododendrons, peeped
into a rhodo flower, witnessed a hailstorm at 10000+ feet, snuggled up and
watched ‘As good as it gets’, invaded the kitchen, dished out some French fries
for us as well as the cooks and much more. In short, I had the time of my life
that day. Never before, had I felt so emancipated. Every mountain in the
vicinity seemed to echo my excitement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkYP5KLXNN92jzUAyWr388hk3ReumxU8JNxzfAN2nWnpCDeoFn_2Y8lAQ_hpqQ5Yi5eMYx5bnjckX5QSgT_yJSx57HEp5WpraapM8ALDBssi3eVGSgmiUE4m0NxNOH1Ot0bveZZsemMo/s1600/DSCN8135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkYP5KLXNN92jzUAyWr388hk3ReumxU8JNxzfAN2nWnpCDeoFn_2Y8lAQ_hpqQ5Yi5eMYx5bnjckX5QSgT_yJSx57HEp5WpraapM8ALDBssi3eVGSgmiUE4m0NxNOH1Ot0bveZZsemMo/s640/DSCN8135.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdA5yKJ66ydHwcgNJRhcW3CCLTpvHBEkszH7PZOBEpeUvTWJpwEOpozkTJa1hFuUp74OtuW4j9tli_9W5rw7epPqW-JoD3si2GUZ09yyXcEskf8e8iI9eY5U3CktmssPoeJ6vuFOdRPb4/s1600/DSCN8151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdA5yKJ66ydHwcgNJRhcW3CCLTpvHBEkszH7PZOBEpeUvTWJpwEOpozkTJa1hFuUp74OtuW4j9tli_9W5rw7epPqW-JoD3si2GUZ09yyXcEskf8e8iI9eY5U3CktmssPoeJ6vuFOdRPb4/s640/DSCN8151.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raven and the Rhododendrons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPGhSHm-SFRqi-ZmnvIU4OMTZPCPDUx1zw9ghqfuEfkfwk6Vj0KvLzy3GK-lHpgt-f6WDqjBGFo6C8M3DPhIXYp31d240Xp9AjZHbFgpXAs-jcIREupEU6XFdwdZDjdzS52zWVzJ5rNk/s1600/DSCN8166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPGhSHm-SFRqi-ZmnvIU4OMTZPCPDUx1zw9ghqfuEfkfwk6Vj0KvLzy3GK-lHpgt-f6WDqjBGFo6C8M3DPhIXYp31d240Xp9AjZHbFgpXAs-jcIREupEU6XFdwdZDjdzS52zWVzJ5rNk/s640/DSCN8166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Rhododendron Grande</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That evening, I also had to prepare myself for the last bit of the trek – the steep climb to the Barsey point/Sunrise point and back. Why prepare, you may ask. Well, I have a weakness that I hate to admit, that any self-confessed traveller would hate to admit – I am scared of heights. The minute I look down from a height, vertigo engulfs me and bogs me down. However, I constantly try to work on my weaknesses. From being scared of climbing railway over bridges, I’ve come a long way - I’ve parasailed, climbed temple hills, done one day hill treks etc. However, mountains still manage to scare me out of my wits. I just can’t walk over a ridge or look from over a cliff. And this last part of the trip had both. I just had my fingers crossed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear reader, please let me gather myself to come back and narrate the rest of the story. Till then, hold on and stay tuned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-42532876981202372812013-05-13T01:08:00.002-07:002013-05-13T01:08:29.271-07:00Skywatch Friday #8 - a lone tree in the sky!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is a lone tree, shrouded in clouds and fog. Standing tall at 10000 feet, this is a Rhododenron tree in full bloom. Rhododendron si the state flower of the Indian state of Sikkim. These flowers are in full bloom for just two months a year - March and April. This tree lives in the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim, India.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3QKVO_s8x5JxXHMAvsiqRmtLu043PvSS_XTF7SE4eJ-m-HIGTMj7hkdbAIy4oseWEb9iIFqtJaijlRK9lCoz3fgWCQnd4X5oAnlZWswD5uBgUf-NBTYOKTT3O-SJKZXbybGVdWgPmow/s1600/DSCN8172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3QKVO_s8x5JxXHMAvsiqRmtLu043PvSS_XTF7SE4eJ-m-HIGTMj7hkdbAIy4oseWEb9iIFqtJaijlRK9lCoz3fgWCQnd4X5oAnlZWswD5uBgUf-NBTYOKTT3O-SJKZXbybGVdWgPmow/s640/DSCN8172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-62582276417078571142013-05-01T09:06:00.000-07:002013-05-01T09:06:04.086-07:00Fellow bloggers! Care to spare a minute???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello brethren,<br />
<br />
I'm currently enrolled in a short term course and I need to run a survey as a part of it. So here I am, to seek asylum in the blogosphere. If you are a WOMAN living in India, especially BANGALORE, I request you to take this survey. If you are a traveller, you have more reason to participate :)<br />
<br />
GENTLEMEN of the blogosphere, you can contribute too! Please forward the link to all the ladies you know. Thanks much!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S9KGNZD">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S9KGNZD</a></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-29455484486878105902013-04-27T10:56:00.000-07:002013-04-27T10:59:20.483-07:00Skywatch Friday #7 - Kanchenjunga range on one clear day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is how the Kanchenjunga range of mountains look from Tukla range. Tukla range can be reached by car from Nathu La, a mountain pass which is at a distance of about 50 kilometres from the Sikkimese capital of Gangtok. This place is much less crowded compared to the touristy Nathu La (thanks to its proximity to Gangtok). Can you spot something very unusual in this picture? Yes! It captures three distinct layers of mountain terrain - coniferous, arid and snowy. End of tree line and start of snow line. How cool is that? :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1jcJDHl7lghsNf63A3vGkajPPpPQwZr4LMWdIkGmPgtrAdmg06bp1qK88CJdbBWHaHvrzskZzZGLWVKF4oLEMQcvDa_FvCzTIcjAPt0qSu6flBQh4KJz0OwbEmR8nm5wrT42FCYJeT0/s1600/kanchenjunga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1jcJDHl7lghsNf63A3vGkajPPpPQwZr4LMWdIkGmPgtrAdmg06bp1qK88CJdbBWHaHvrzskZzZGLWVKF4oLEMQcvDa_FvCzTIcjAPt0qSu6flBQh4KJz0OwbEmR8nm5wrT42FCYJeT0/s640/kanchenjunga.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This post is my entry to this week's <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.in/">Skywatch Friday</a>.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-46238164526026225972013-04-27T09:55:00.001-07:002013-04-27T09:55:28.171-07:00Rendezvous with Rhododendrons #3 - Oh you, Okhrey!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been crippling to not be writing as often as I should
be during the past week. A mere one week feels like a lifetime. Calling this my
blog has now become an understatement, it is my baby, my heartchild (as opposed
to a brainchild :D) And the privilege of not giving my readers yet another
slice of Sikkim isn't helping my conscience much too. So here goes the third part, after all that much needed ado.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ah, yes Okhrey!!! Let me pause here. Guess what, am just
taking a moment to revisit the beauty so that I can paint an accurate picture.
Imagine this – A little asphalted road winding through a hill dotted with
rhododendron blooms, a quaint village with barely 10 households, a steep hill
adjacent to the village, atop which is perched a little school. Throw in some
plants and cute people here and there and that completes the picture. That’s
exactly what Okhrey is. It is a tiny sleepy hamlet in some unimaginably remote
corner of India; so remote that you cannot even find it in the Sikkim map! A
cartographer not knowing it doesn’t make it any less beautiful – it is in fact
as tranquil as it can get, yet in the
realm of civilization.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most people here belong to the Sherpa community; yes the
very same community to which Tenzing Norgay belonged. They are not only
strongly built but also very endearing! Hospitality runs through their veins
and arteries I guess. The Sherpa lodge, run by the Sherpa brothers (well, every person is a Sherpa here, so I don’t
really remember their first names and they are a little too tongue-twisting to
remember too) is a very basic yet cozy
place to stay in Okhrey. After a cup of <i>chai</i>, we headed to the h<o:p></o:p>illtop boarding school. The teachers and students were equally receptive to the idea of talking to tourists. Also the fact that it was way past school closing hours helped, as they were all in a laid-back mood. The emphasis that the Sikkimese lay on education is unlike any other part of India. After almost an hour of an engaging conversation with one of the teachers, we decided to head back to the lodge. That was something struck me. I decided to do an impromptu story narrating performance. The children initially looked quite annoyed as I was actually eating into their daily TV time! But a handful of curious ones insisted I tell them the story. So, what started off as a simple narration for a bunch of kids soon grew into a proper performance with a decent sized audience. By the time I finished my story, almost the entire lot was around me. One of the most fulfilling moments in the recent times!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We returned to the lodge after shopping in the only souvenir shop of the town adjacent to our complex. Oh man, that night was quite cold. At 8000 feet above MSL, we could sense a sharp dip in temperature. Huddled under our blankets, we dozed off, dreaming about the promises that the day next held for us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiREivbA7JUUqUWM88aVo6v1P77_vgkRUnQi1S3Xxgnax_3DG2hVK0l8sF2bx6_5tmwvgrSM7B-mLvtaTKwEx6c41Duu6gLqDgKya1t9joZ8B2Z5GML5rt3jAAZNbMDYuXtpE0GSu3Mw/s1600/DSCN7788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiREivbA7JUUqUWM88aVo6v1P77_vgkRUnQi1S3Xxgnax_3DG2hVK0l8sF2bx6_5tmwvgrSM7B-mLvtaTKwEx6c41Duu6gLqDgKya1t9joZ8B2Z5GML5rt3jAAZNbMDYuXtpE0GSu3Mw/s640/DSCN7788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very cozy room at Okhrey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsHERqMjQF0KqUxaYCOnWzhqwKFJi_KIQgxD3EBJ-IIqkSHBJtKaMT1tDyy94F2711cRTIu-R21VCyLPFfw4PGK42sxe1d0P13EBXZFZLpXSy8A3fq-eL8csmXGB50Zku4SGQlQbi_C8/s1600/DSCN7791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsHERqMjQF0KqUxaYCOnWzhqwKFJi_KIQgxD3EBJ-IIqkSHBJtKaMT1tDyy94F2711cRTIu-R21VCyLPFfw4PGK42sxe1d0P13EBXZFZLpXSy8A3fq-eL8csmXGB50Zku4SGQlQbi_C8/s640/DSCN7791.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hosts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h1ieNAwhuwMHvveTVUOzbMJ7nK0qk7E0eKcmX1xjaQfj9GGU8Yc0FH0-ABVFtP-keZi0jKNd4FYBE4MiwbBufQ4QklB9MEdoMm9qlZNMpWbo8UCLZFtnfDNQVV4YW-MBRN6SuFXrhuo/s1600/DSCN7794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h1ieNAwhuwMHvveTVUOzbMJ7nK0qk7E0eKcmX1xjaQfj9GGU8Yc0FH0-ABVFtP-keZi0jKNd4FYBE4MiwbBufQ4QklB9MEdoMm9qlZNMpWbo8UCLZFtnfDNQVV4YW-MBRN6SuFXrhuo/s640/DSCN7794.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS29E9wfQfDqnyj0C53kJFTZo8mlk4exOKYwGNf7WSHPdObZC9zp8d5IQxs2eQ9VHc3SYfmxvjY6gp99g4tDNwgGdDsaDt4tb6q4-0mAgI_s7Z2Gvc3NGvxC23lH6Naa82BvoZkXDOHw/s1600/DSCN7799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS29E9wfQfDqnyj0C53kJFTZo8mlk4exOKYwGNf7WSHPdObZC9zp8d5IQxs2eQ9VHc3SYfmxvjY6gp99g4tDNwgGdDsaDt4tb6q4-0mAgI_s7Z2Gvc3NGvxC23lH6Naa82BvoZkXDOHw/s640/DSCN7799.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rhododendron bud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHiPP_RUtVFVOjZiPZ4UiCHKCu-qIjaMJ11gmZPZhu2g72B4liflJ4PSU5GpDVbxWfduGlBSvvOSvnR7ESwEGDrFqCA3AJMRvzkUTW_7Ob8ohyphenhyphen51U6h7WN3kqQ0Uq1Qe8AD3TLOzG9Co/s1600/DSCN7803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHiPP_RUtVFVOjZiPZ4UiCHKCu-qIjaMJ11gmZPZhu2g72B4liflJ4PSU5GpDVbxWfduGlBSvvOSvnR7ESwEGDrFqCA3AJMRvzkUTW_7Ob8ohyphenhyphen51U6h7WN3kqQ0Uq1Qe8AD3TLOzG9Co/s640/DSCN7803.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely children at the residential school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuN9NBAvQXhCUbm97mEhc1sQ9YZSY7vL23OB1XF5tc3y0iC7kGd0Trc0PDsTbsdtxQAJvgCpgGvl9JC4KUZIy6sfaVvRvdGfrDtJ91rhOtCcIN-BdgGJwEZo2pwAxoBhQfc04TqMKvFw/s1600/DSCN7805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuN9NBAvQXhCUbm97mEhc1sQ9YZSY7vL23OB1XF5tc3y0iC7kGd0Trc0PDsTbsdtxQAJvgCpgGvl9JC4KUZIy6sfaVvRvdGfrDtJ91rhOtCcIN-BdgGJwEZo2pwAxoBhQfc04TqMKvFw/s640/DSCN7805.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was as hospitable as the people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqj1JqXjBouTpxcNn4bzuEID929bnLwPnevls6ZDq-Q54-Hwj7T6LihGLNM60AOJ6CW1_kzii7Qe_zX6gL9a8tEXAwU6fj37xXcABuge_ZFfTGrcfaGD62r6gUCkHgGFuMXPIuaaZBUA/s1600/DSCN7811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqj1JqXjBouTpxcNn4bzuEID929bnLwPnevls6ZDq-Q54-Hwj7T6LihGLNM60AOJ6CW1_kzii7Qe_zX6gL9a8tEXAwU6fj37xXcABuge_ZFfTGrcfaGD62r6gUCkHgGFuMXPIuaaZBUA/s640/DSCN7811.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So true!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl9zQxoztiVLJVZKo6PUpK-RMeAObvfdw7Ev0MmS_9jeUo9quoRQOV3Pro0apdl36UjXvIbDyPydVSIYBpuVH4DMCNbc3j3Tms6k4N4d56-FJV1FNO10T94ugDdav6TSkPuDSd60261Q/s1600/DSCN7820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl9zQxoztiVLJVZKo6PUpK-RMeAObvfdw7Ev0MmS_9jeUo9quoRQOV3Pro0apdl36UjXvIbDyPydVSIYBpuVH4DMCNbc3j3Tms6k4N4d56-FJV1FNO10T94ugDdav6TSkPuDSd60261Q/s640/DSCN7820.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okhrey getting ready for the night. The mountains disappear. Literally.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<i>To be continued...</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-15994739451654208052013-04-22T20:52:00.000-07:002013-04-22T20:57:07.113-07:00Another contest win!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/media/2013/04/winnersannounced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://blog.blogadda.com/media/2013/04/winnersannounced.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Another nudge. Another source of motivation. Another contest win - my second contest win. My life experiences story has been selected as one of winning entries in the Ponds Femina Miss India - Godrej eon 'Woman of Substance' contest. It is amusing to see how hardships in past life become assets for the future. The story is a little too personal to share in this public space, but I must thank all my fellow bloggers for readily accepting me into this elite blogging world! Thank you readers! Thank you BlogAdda!<br />
<br />
Here is the official announcement: <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2013/04/17/woman-of-substance-contest-winners-announced">http://blog.blogadda.com/2013/04/17/woman-of-substance-contest-winners-announced</a><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-42123106346518481742013-04-21T09:59:00.000-07:002013-04-21T10:12:18.864-07:00Skywatch Friday #6 - Sky from the sky!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Watching the sky? Bliss. Watching the sky from the sky? ECSTASY!!! This is a picture shot during my latest flight. I feel twilights look their awesome best from airplanes. What still intrigues me is the formation in the middle. Does it interest you too?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdcReXPK5R-qxf66DqXDc-au9c751F-i2FoLf9MnAic-oxg-pN7H7tZtvbCGiVTohStmnCgHb-a-Cw_ndtGriRp8ygoKHCgnvcwqMXOPSsr6LhocFdvKUwm8tRAOt_ndsiK-aTFE7KLA/s1600/DSCN7532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdcReXPK5R-qxf66DqXDc-au9c751F-i2FoLf9MnAic-oxg-pN7H7tZtvbCGiVTohStmnCgHb-a-Cw_ndtGriRp8ygoKHCgnvcwqMXOPSsr6LhocFdvKUwm8tRAOt_ndsiK-aTFE7KLA/s640/DSCN7532.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-67893208259541960292013-04-16T10:58:00.002-07:002013-04-16T18:17:08.349-07:00West Sikkim - Rendezvous with Rhododendrons #2 – Picturesque Pelling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The first episode of this travelogue ended with us, a small
group of ladies setting off to scale the Sikkimese hills. The car journey was
fun, frolic and fantastic all the way. Of course, what else could it possibly
be when three like-minded lady travellers get together? The birds of the same
feather naturally flocked together; chattered about food and destinations and
experiences. In no time, no no, actually after a long time, which seemed like little
time due to all the chit-chatting, we reached Pelling, a small touristy town in
West Sikkim.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sun goes down quite early in this part of India, hence
though we reached the place at a point in time when it would be twilight back
in Bangalore, it was pretty dark there. The hotel (Sikkim Aurora) was located at the
highest point in Pelling, opposite the helipad. Disappointed at not being able
to view the helipad right away, we retired for the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next morning, I woke my alarm up. Yes, I woke up at 4 45
and shut my alarm set for 5 am. Why? To do in Pelling as Pellingites do.
Experience the Kanchenjunga in the morning. Parcelled in warm clothing, I headed to the
terrace. I stood staring as the sky and
the mountains changed hues – from black to dark blue to orange. It was only after Kanchenjunga reflected the
first rays of light that I turned around to look in the other direction. And
what did I see? The helipad in all its glory and the orange ball escalating in
the horizon beyond. A man meditating on
the helipad and a sleepy dog added to the serenity of the scene ( picture
below). By this time, my friends had come up too. This was when the owner of
the property, the very well-informed, local trekker Mr. Raja, volunteered to
explain the significance of the place and the mountain ranges around us. He even chalked out an offbeat sight-seeing
itinerary for us around Pelling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTiMlrUqkHIo7bLE7AvcEZA5nsTVsUpzScvWdsl66KHYE0v75z6QR3cme8KlQ36vZA4kBquQQdw43NgjPhHF17IH4j5ua9aybYJ4icKYWm-mPF_3qpiIRo3vcHQiQYnlzw3_0eX3ruOY/s1600/DSCN7587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTiMlrUqkHIo7bLE7AvcEZA5nsTVsUpzScvWdsl66KHYE0v75z6QR3cme8KlQ36vZA4kBquQQdw43NgjPhHF17IH4j5ua9aybYJ4icKYWm-mPF_3qpiIRo3vcHQiQYnlzw3_0eX3ruOY/s640/DSCN7587.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sleepy dog, a meditating man, an orange ball and a helipad. Oh yeah, some red prayer flags too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our first destination in Pelling was Pemayangtse monastery. Just
google it and am sure you will find a lot of touristy information about the same. In brief, it was a very spiritual experience.
But what I wish to share with you is the
one unusual thing that we spotted there – There were several prayer flags put
up there too but for very different reasons. The list is below. Can you now see
what is so unusual?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymBtDRzAi6d_4_q8pkUE6WudEfo6lWNvKBOdfF3h9O13n5k3TyGsZMbgPkUhHZDOgFQ4mb1BLLMzDSO8pwqbxgb4XzzVgCKSHlxhSRfx_wcF5h89foFNFMPQbUtvDCEKFcr1K9eWY9Q0/s1600/DSCN7696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymBtDRzAi6d_4_q8pkUE6WudEfo6lWNvKBOdfF3h9O13n5k3TyGsZMbgPkUhHZDOgFQ4mb1BLLMzDSO8pwqbxgb4XzzVgCKSHlxhSRfx_wcF5h89foFNFMPQbUtvDCEKFcr1K9eWY9Q0/s640/DSCN7696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLENqDtAKQY8ZqLCe_IwVqQ-N8ro3tdUfHPodz0Q3Q4lMLyDN5GFi-I2jHSrV67EW86AXr34RAILT0IfjCL31f-_G8nL_uu1GH4LAJPgHmYjD_nYova7sNomaMsOlgxtDWvHdViIJDIP0/s1600/DSCN7695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLENqDtAKQY8ZqLCe_IwVqQ-N8ro3tdUfHPodz0Q3Q4lMLyDN5GFi-I2jHSrV67EW86AXr34RAILT0IfjCL31f-_G8nL_uu1GH4LAJPgHmYjD_nYova7sNomaMsOlgxtDWvHdViIJDIP0/s640/DSCN7695.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second destination was Darap village, about 8 kilometres
away from Pelling. Darap, with its resplendent fields and welcoming natives is
an emerging ecotourism destination. The inhabitants of this little hamlet
redefine hospitality. What we did was just drive into the village, walk along
the fields and trespass into one of the villager’s compounds to take a closer
look at the orchids. To our surprise, the whole family came out to welcome us. After
exchanging pleasantries, the head of the family, a local farmer began
enlightening us about life in Darap. Little did he realize that he would soon be
bombarded by questions. I really appreciate his patience to relentlessly answer
all our questions. Here’s what he said in a nutshell. Darap is a self-sufficient
village. Unemployed youth here have aligned themselves into self-help groups
and are involved in promoting eco tourism. The government provides free education till 8th
standard. It also provides training and supplies to farmers. For a change, this
seemed to be one place in India where the people seemed to be actually happy
with the local government. Good for them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBulv6uYqS1B-ETNo75UAOZLi-_4SmX1PqRCbABSf5QFO6mQuJxCHoYRdfF1poxxSS1t3UZipkFOcl8LLRVlZOVpkmVIcx6rZTGSUGSriShwk9nkVCWVkiS6tRbiYiUwGtbiP0WeWHE7Q/s1600/DSCN7648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBulv6uYqS1B-ETNo75UAOZLi-_4SmX1PqRCbABSf5QFO6mQuJxCHoYRdfF1poxxSS1t3UZipkFOcl8LLRVlZOVpkmVIcx6rZTGSUGSriShwk9nkVCWVkiS6tRbiYiUwGtbiP0WeWHE7Q/s640/DSCN7648.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cute girl in Darap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT5oC4V2SLuWkSmMnFGhfmchmzEb47aIdIoCid7c66J3PHDX9rc93DNHX0AWMnXMFM-hSiQq6mn55ZV0JXW-fpgGPNoyiTcj-dsCqgpjXW48fmBii_ycqmZhmygED9-dF7lEQfpZca2w/s1600/DSCN7661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT5oC4V2SLuWkSmMnFGhfmchmzEb47aIdIoCid7c66J3PHDX9rc93DNHX0AWMnXMFM-hSiQq6mn55ZV0JXW-fpgGPNoyiTcj-dsCqgpjXW48fmBii_ycqmZhmygED9-dF7lEQfpZca2w/s640/DSCN7661.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exotic orchids in full bloom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a brief stop-over at Changay falls, we headed to Singshore bridge near Uttarey. This is
touted to be the second highest suspension bridge in Asia. Our driver divulged
another enthralling fact which threw some light on how high the bridge was. If
a coin is dropped from the top of the bridge, it would take 15 seconds for it
to touch the ground. Fascinating, isn’t it? But for the fluttering of the prayer
flags and the whistles of the wind, there was hardly any other noise. Calling
it the abode of tranquility wouldn’t be an exaggeration. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq8Piuubqu36eY_WauVzrOWQO1hE7cp7VxeUeBJwwu9kJWDzfhMPakRWs5kZlQTMsOFV_fy6ItOfymtibhtmqyWp-7d9grMmCE5Wg88XptatqehGKd_DBbsOKQPDOVzsdzFDIbMip9J0/s1600/DSCN7723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq8Piuubqu36eY_WauVzrOWQO1hE7cp7VxeUeBJwwu9kJWDzfhMPakRWs5kZlQTMsOFV_fy6ItOfymtibhtmqyWp-7d9grMmCE5Wg88XptatqehGKd_DBbsOKQPDOVzsdzFDIbMip9J0/s640/DSCN7723.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singshore bridge span</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4n0bgg_dADmKtirPcsvh0boDxRoiTkYSrmb4-_rkQ8eUE11VGd6Uu3OlGRGy6MtlyB0otxe_N2QT5UNaOkWM0h-9Es6oMu0xwRT1KK3PE-saHtaPDrAKzl8T_qMpGhqO_vULALPL2o4/s1600/DSCN7761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4n0bgg_dADmKtirPcsvh0boDxRoiTkYSrmb4-_rkQ8eUE11VGd6Uu3OlGRGy6MtlyB0otxe_N2QT5UNaOkWM0h-9Es6oMu0xwRT1KK3PE-saHtaPDrAKzl8T_qMpGhqO_vULALPL2o4/s640/DSCN7761.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singshore bridge perspective</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our last destination for the day was something truly offbeat. It was a cheese factory! Amul's Gouda cheese is made here, at the Alpine cheese factory. Tasting some freshly curdled, divine tasting cheese and buying cheese right from the factory was a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC02uFSnVpxKvEjJigoAfS0Q3_VDDRE1aVP1LZSUMJ5ylh62bsRoIqIZg2GmuWUfoTjmjAQLx6itLXyW1SEQtFiMDkXruLfft0d9f8Gk-c0zrjPczgvROu9X82H0ZjG6K2JiAUqy-DkFE/s1600/DSCN7773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC02uFSnVpxKvEjJigoAfS0Q3_VDDRE1aVP1LZSUMJ5ylh62bsRoIqIZg2GmuWUfoTjmjAQLx6itLXyW1SEQtFiMDkXruLfft0d9f8Gk-c0zrjPczgvROu9X82H0ZjG6K2JiAUqy-DkFE/s640/DSCN7773.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Fresh cheese!!! Yumm!!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Soon, we were on our way to Okhrey, a sleepy little
village located in a remote part of West Sikkim. That was where we were
scheduled to spend that night. With all the bumpy and jumpy rides, we were
looking forward to getting there soon.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘So, how was Okhrey?’ You may ask me. I’m not going to tell you anything about that,
at least for now. Do come back for the next one. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-59626401767090462592013-04-13T08:21:00.001-07:002013-04-13T08:21:41.096-07:00Skywatch friday #5 - Above the sky!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm literally above the sky. And the clouds. All I can see is the sky. The sky is all around me. This is my real skywatch. NOTHING BUT THE SKY!<br />
<br />
Location: From the cable car to Mt. Pilatus, Lucerne, Switzerland.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8YDpLy1_Q3Dn-XsUB44PJR7w6hZ2dofucOt5UIzQRkKJzERpvTcV3K9pYv7ld7M-S8_556JVUSSMkIvSt5U2kd6dtZk6KkwUx2rowo2vkU5N5m_FBjf6JMd4YxByXpBXyc9K8fZFVU0/s1600/Sailing+thru+the+clouds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8YDpLy1_Q3Dn-XsUB44PJR7w6hZ2dofucOt5UIzQRkKJzERpvTcV3K9pYv7ld7M-S8_556JVUSSMkIvSt5U2kd6dtZk6KkwUx2rowo2vkU5N5m_FBjf6JMd4YxByXpBXyc9K8fZFVU0/s640/Sailing+thru+the+clouds.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-71587654480499937712013-04-11T12:31:00.001-07:002013-04-11T12:31:31.580-07:00Camera critters #3 - Attention!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is my entry this week to the popular <a href="http://camera-critters.blogspot.in/">camera critters meme</a>.<br />
<br />
I came across this flock of geese while trekking near Lake Chilika in India. All of them, striking an 'ATTENTION!' pose, as if listening to someone with rapt attention. Funny!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmn2X2-dMfUryShDEA9rg_yyKP_qko8kWuhC4Gl7TPcNbGi-4TwYH3OvNP8TGteOS5xGn03cLZSxdrSJoQFuxkNnjZ96CbrjboI5gia6YEaWc9pIsS0VXVLDoRNlaUALULvrM3kk1L4o/s1600/DSCN6582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmn2X2-dMfUryShDEA9rg_yyKP_qko8kWuhC4Gl7TPcNbGi-4TwYH3OvNP8TGteOS5xGn03cLZSxdrSJoQFuxkNnjZ96CbrjboI5gia6YEaWc9pIsS0VXVLDoRNlaUALULvrM3kk1L4o/s640/DSCN6582.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-65409126669671092082013-04-11T11:40:00.000-07:002013-04-11T11:48:13.134-07:00West Sikkim - Rendezvous with Rhododendrons #1 - The journey begins!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ah! Here I am, finally, clicking on ‘New Post’. Life has
been hectic this week, with piled up work to finish and errands to run, thanks
to the vacation bang on the first week of the month. But, oh boy, no regrets
there, as I've returned fully recharged, almost as if on steroids! And the time is now ripe, in fact overripe to start
my new travel series as promised. I've been maintaining the destination as suspense
ever since I promised a new series and it’s about time to let the cat out of
the bag.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TA DAAA! SIKKIM it is! West Sikkim, to be precise. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d been to Sikkim just a year back, covering East and South
Sikkim (Nathula, Tukla range, Changu lake, Namchi, Gangtok etc.) then. I must say, I was
totally fascinated both by the place and the people. I also found that there is
a lot more to explore in this tiny Indian state and ever since, I’ve been
reading up quite a bit on the same. That
was when I stumbled upon an article about the Barsey Rhododendron trail. Miniscule
efforts, magnanimous rewards – that was what Barsey in April was supposed to be.
An easily doable trail with a gentle gradient, amidst the enchanting
rhododendron spring blooms coupled with some stunning views of the
Kanchenjunga. Hmm, this sounded exactly like my cup of tea. But who would I go
with? My all time travel companion, my hubby, had already planned his trek of
the year – Saurkundi pass sometime mid-April. So, for the first time, I decided
to travel without family and find a women’s group to travel along with me. I
posted my travel plan on FB, soliciting female travel companions, and believe
it or not, there were over 20+ enquiries!(there are so many ladies itching to travel by themselves!) Last week of March, being the peak
exam season, most ladies could not make it. So, it finally boiled down to a
chic(k) group of three. Plans made, fingers crossed, breaths bated!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally the day arrived. I took my flight to Kolkata and
from there, it was an overnight train journey to New Jalpaiguri(NJP station in
the town of Siliguri). The plan was to meet at NJP. And Mr. Murphy was nowhere in the scene. All
the three of us arrived on time and met without much chaos or confusion. And what’s more, the cab from Pelling was
already waiting for us at the station! Sweet! Off we set to conquer the mountains….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(To be continued…)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S: Not too many photos this time, just a sneak-peek to keep
you hooked <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy5mKcd37937yRqLSyw0oNd_j3Cia63Sf3UwCnqhdrhqlG_Lc3Ru9CSLkTRnSpfnVIOJZaF14m0Vo_JF1p8CVRAF1g6XYL9BeVzUmJJP1n2lt33rzsBDMMCDD4_X20ltk6LMz7QO4DfY/s1600/DSCN8128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy5mKcd37937yRqLSyw0oNd_j3Cia63Sf3UwCnqhdrhqlG_Lc3Ru9CSLkTRnSpfnVIOJZaF14m0Vo_JF1p8CVRAF1g6XYL9BeVzUmJJP1n2lt33rzsBDMMCDD4_X20ltk6LMz7QO4DfY/s640/DSCN8128.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SMGyYfVh9V2mb8L14V1F9IZ5WbEm8THjtc6o67b2KvCi42jYsIq03RQKw0Uod1Alqmn7AgqdLR-KS5yd_W4zOLU9DCOH4ciOBk4rpkOi9ps_YHuLlamlc7i9shDAKclB_UYZEuK3UiA/s1600/DSCN8175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SMGyYfVh9V2mb8L14V1F9IZ5WbEm8THjtc6o67b2KvCi42jYsIq03RQKw0Uod1Alqmn7AgqdLR-KS5yd_W4zOLU9DCOH4ciOBk4rpkOi9ps_YHuLlamlc7i9shDAKclB_UYZEuK3UiA/s640/DSCN8175.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-35986365214433225522013-04-09T10:48:00.000-07:002013-04-09T10:48:48.960-07:00Mmm...Fluffy, white, non-sticky Basmati rice at home? Doable!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrSbxh-0AQ4HZ-v_MNSWemgxQ4F3IsSnjLWQl59z2xaLWUO5gy4xXAkqyMeEfFNzO3W6TTjmR-gBK-L34P7aNDlemiRrnX8JIQ3IBidV0bqAxC01PGBrvXXV3wDdp3xm2QoHbwJ_goeo/s1600/Dum-Biriyani.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrSbxh-0AQ4HZ-v_MNSWemgxQ4F3IsSnjLWQl59z2xaLWUO5gy4xXAkqyMeEfFNzO3W6TTjmR-gBK-L34P7aNDlemiRrnX8JIQ3IBidV0bqAxC01PGBrvXXV3wDdp3xm2QoHbwJ_goeo/s640/Dum-Biriyani.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the title of the post got you here, then you are at the
right place. Yes, it wasn't just a crowd-pulling or attention grabbing gimmick.
Having tried, tested, failed, tried all over again and finally succeeded
(Mohammed Ghazni isn't related to me in any way :) ), I can comfortably say
that I almost always get my Basmati right. Be it Pulao or Veg Biriyani, the
rice I cook nowadays adheres to all the adjectives mentioned above. And getting
there isn't a big deal. All you need is a little caution. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Basmati is a type of long-grain aromatic rice and is
primarily grown in India. (Yes there are other varieties too!) It is by nature
longer than the usual raw rice and tends to stay separated from the other
grains when cooked. However, it is very
easy to overcook Basmati and make it mushy. South Indians are used to working
with aged raw rice which is very tolerant to the amount of water used. For example, a cup of well-aged raw rice can
take in upto 3 cups of water, tolerate even an extra whistle in the pressure
cooker and still stay nice and good. But do the same to Basmati, it is sure to
take its revenge. So respect the rice and follow these steps:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Soak the Basmati for at least 15-20 minutes before cooking.
This reduces the cooking time of the rice and also removes some starch.</li>
<li>The thing that makes rice grains stick together is the
starch content. Repeated washing of the rice removes the outer coating of
starch (the thing that makes the water white while washing), thereby leaving
the rice less prone to stickiness. So make sure you wash your Basmati multiple
times, but exercise caution – your over enthusiasm may actually break the
grains. </li>
<li>Measuring the amount of water that you add to cook your
Basmati is of absolute importance. You may be an expert cook, but if you are
new to cooking Basmati, I suggest you stick to measuring cups for a while. You may use your eyes for measuring at a
later point in time.</li>
<li>NEVER cook Basmati in a pressure cooker!!!! The result is
almost always pathetic. I recommend the stove top or the electric rice cooker
method. In the stove top method, cook every cup of Basmati in 4 to 5 cups of boiling
salted water for and drain excess water once cooked. In the rice cooker method,
add 1.5 cups of water per cup of Basmati and cook till done. There won’t be any
water left to drain in this case. Adding spices like elaichi, cinnamon sticks, bay
leaves etc. and a little ghee while cooking makes the end product extremely
aromatic and inviting.</li>
<li>Post-cooking care also plays a significant role in plating
up a perfect Basmati recipe. Cooked basmati is extremely fragile, handle with
care. Stir it gently with a flat spatula. Never stir too much.</li>
<li>Now for the Pulao Biriyani segregation – When I make Pulao,
I half-cook the harder vegetables like beans, carrots and peas separately with
a little salt. Then I sauté the softer veggies like baby corn, mushrooms,
cauliflower, soya chunks etc., add the soaked rice and the half cooked veggies and dump them
all in the rice cooker. This consistently yields a superb Pulao!</li>
<li>For Biriyani, I cook the rice as in step 6 and then spread
it out on a plate to cool. Then I layer the rice and veggies alternately in a
heavy bottomed vessel and cover it with aluminium foil and a plate and then
place a weight on top to simulate ‘DHUM’. I put it in a double boiler to
prevent burning. The end result is astounding!</li>
<li>Don’t try making fried rice with Basmati rice. Raw rice
works much better. If you are bent on using Basmati, then use cooked and cooled rice. But do so at your own risk!</li>
<li>Last but definitely not the least important - don't fall for the trap. It is not necessary that you have to buy the costliest variety of Basmati to get the best results. Even the mid range varieties or the 'Everyday Basmati' varieties can give please your eyes and taste buds if cooked correctly.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phew! Now you see, cooking Basmati isn’t a big deal after
all! A little patience is sure to reward you with great results. Now storm you
kitchen with a warrior spirit, cook up a plate of jaw-dropping Basmati and let
me know!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-44741753088983098272013-04-06T04:42:00.000-07:002013-04-06T04:42:38.211-07:00Thus the hiatus comes to an end!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yes, the first week of April 2013 marks my first hiatus from blogging. And guess what, it was for a good cause! I generated more content for my blog by travelling to a very beautiful and exotic destination. Obviously, that would be my next travel series too! By the way, when I was away, a few things have happened in my blogging world.<br />
<br />
1. I've got my first IndiRank. It is 72. Not sure what to make of it.<br />
2. My little blog has crossed 2300 hits.<br />
3. A few more people have started reading my blog. A big shout out to all you lovely readers, who keep motivating me to write.<br />
4. My blog has started appearing in Google search results.<br />
5. Lots of wonderful posts from my fellow bloggers, missed reading all of that! Will catch up with all that soon!<br />
5. Quite a few comments on my last post, I promise I will reply ASAP.<br />
<br />
Watch out for the new travel series in a day or two! Till then, stay happy and keep blogging!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466030110923246791.post-52792613005632799922013-04-06T04:31:00.000-07:002013-04-06T04:50:24.237-07:00Skywatch friday #4 - Awesome sky at Langkawi!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tropical rainforests, turquoise sea and the blue sky - you can see it all in this picture. Can you figure out where the sky ends and the sea begins?? :)<br />
<br />
Know more about the interesting skywatch friday meme <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.in/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9B672zsw0ellROoluxjSqHSIbQNR7QTLkWiyw9GeRYxpUbagvteKDP461QkUDerFbAaJfds3qZmgV32reBaONTfODVKr2jz4sFA7WQAcphQRsCU9BogHWprNBk5TTF4yosL94eo6F4_c/s1600/DSCN5473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9B672zsw0ellROoluxjSqHSIbQNR7QTLkWiyw9GeRYxpUbagvteKDP461QkUDerFbAaJfds3qZmgV32reBaONTfODVKr2jz4sFA7WQAcphQRsCU9BogHWprNBk5TTF4yosL94eo6F4_c/s640/DSCN5473.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Malinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985185266815853201noreply@blogger.com8