White Herons

White herons spread their wings,
at the river banks,
fluttering and flapping,
to fly high…up in the sky!

Wading through the wind,
crossing the lakes, the wide rivers,
across the open fields.

White, feathered herons,
Fly high… up in the sky!

The huge armed Gulmohr Tree

Come Spring,
the carroty floral buds,
blossomed and swayed,
as the breeze shook,
leaves fluttering,
in it’s full youth.
The huge armed Gulmohr tree,
rooted firm and deep.

Come autumn,
the twigs and boughs..
all dry and arid,
livid & dismayed,
the leaves shedding slowly,
lifeless, it stands bare.
The huge armed Gulmohr tree,
rooted firm and deep.

Our life is like a tree, goes through different seasons; yet survives, sustains and continues to inspire. I love Gulmohr trees,(Delonix Regia, an ornamental tree) i remember having it in our yards before. On opening the windows, the breeze would flow in through the trees and fill in our heart and soul with it’s purity!

Wishing you all a great morning!

Am touched…

…after watching this beautifully animated movie Up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A dream like …imaginative creation ! Guys, if you haven’t watched it… you have missed something! It’s FUNtastic!

I wonder!

Hotel, a place where so many people from different places stop by, stay over and go away. Some return and some leave never to return. A place, where people find it convenient to meet up over breakfast, lunch or dinner to catch up with friends / loved ones, to unwind, to celebrate, mourn,  over some serious, not so serious, funny, casual talks/matters/discussions. If we think hard and be a little observant we would realise there’z so much that happens round the clock on the spot in a hotel & behind the scenes.

Life of the staff out there must be equally tough & challenging to upkeep the standards and likewise. Through the eyes of their guests they get to witness Love, lust, hatred, greed, etc … irrespective of caste or creed… tragedies, forlorn tales, fables & much more get churned as the day ends. It’s larger than life; all at one place, strange & enigmatic it is!

I just finished reading this book Chowringhee by a famous writer Mani Sankar originally in Bengali and later translated in English by Arunava Sinha. Set in the backdrop of a luxurious and famous hotel in early Calcutta, the writer takes us through different characters in the hotel of varied shades in the by lanes of the then Calcutta. Narration is extremely gripping, inspiring at times with some famous lines, and thought provoking.  Vikram Seth, on reading the Hindi version was lost in it for days. I feel the same, as if wandering through the Chowringhee lane.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Our life is but a winter’s day:
Some only breakfast and away
Others to dinner stay and are full fed;
The oldest man but sups and goes to be
He that goes soonest has the least to pay.

-          A.C. Maffen

Check before you eat!

Disgusting…I feel to read this piece of News in TOI today morning, the heading read as “Worm creeps into chocolate again”(Refer the link for the detailed news report), raising & nut Bourniville chocolate – A cadbury product. How many of us actually analyze the chocolate bars or for that matter any edible stuff before buying? Maximum consumerism or attention we can pay is to the date of manufacture and expiry details. Right? Beyond that we obviously cannot cut apart or dissect the product & test it ourselves before eating or gifting to the ones we love! I mean I gorge on chocolates and like gifting them too but we obviously love our loved ones and would not want to risk their lives.

Jaago Graahak(Consumer) Jaago!

Event – Served with Love!

As I have always said and that’s what I strongly believe, cooking to me is therapeutic! The joy one can derive by cooking for the loved ones is inexplicable in words. I enjoy it to the core. I have not yet gained expertise in most of the cuisines… however; I can claim that whatever I cook or have cooked so far has always been with love & passion and that’s why i guess Mom’s khana always rocks as they somehow manage to add that extra element of love leaving the meals lip smacking  

I have been following Arundhuti’s blog for quite some time now, and I could not help but participate in one of her Events(Refer the link for more details)  that she declared sometime ago. The event says that this January prepare a dish that is most favourite with the person we love! It can be ANYone…parents, siblings, friends, husbands, kids, cousins …anybody we love to cook for!

Here’s what I made for my brother this month – “Gajar ka halwa” !! He simply loves it so much so that even a huge helping is always less and he wants to devour more of it. Carrots are best available during this season & i thought why not a dessert which is so famous in India!! 

An American writer quoted : “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.”

Evening muse!

The lantern lit the dark street,
as the dusk slowly shadowed.
Birds rest as silent & meek,
in their nests, ready to feed.
Dreadful nights trailed behind,
in pursuit of crisp daylight!

Majestic it is!

I truly enjoy train journeys. The fact that I get to swiftly pass through several unknown towns, villages, cemented house, thatched roofs, a few abandoned places, rivers, lakes, streams…several mountains and hillocks, desolate, farmed lands etc. besides the regular junctions/stations. SORRY…I love nature so much that I can go on and on… 

Coming back to train journeys, I remember earlier it used to be frequent with family…visiting our native place during summer/winter vacations (I never knew then… we would be robbed of such a privilege once we start working). These days considering TIME is money, we usually hop on to aircrafts. For many, it still remains the most affordable and convenient means to commute.

Train journeys can be real fun when travelling with family or friends. Time apparently zip ..zap..zooms gossiping, snacking, sleeping in those berths, sometime glaring at fellow passengers, befriending a few may be if they don’t appear weird…though it’s better to maintain distance from strangers. You can become pals too for lifelong if you meet the right ones perhaps.  Rhyming in between …“Chhhai Garam” “Samosa”… the hawkers make it even more interesting…& somehow add a distinct flavour to the journey altogether! 

When travelling alone, books, iPod serve as my best companions in the train. A sudden trip to Kolkata during this New Year eve left me nostalgic!