wondering around - part 2

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One of the recent sunny weekend day, went out for my usual walk. Two strangers stopped me and said something in French. I replied, I can understand French very well. Man(rather the boy) said ‘we are American student here on exchange program to spread the message of God’. Only then I noticed badge on his shirt “Jesus is our god…”. my initially thought- oh boy, this is not going to end well. Almost immediately, I said sorry boys you are wasting time with me because I am an atheists and he asked –“what’s you are point in life?” my reply- I am going for move-n-pick ice-cream now and that’s my point in life… to have good ice cream. I laughed and moved away before he could reply.

Well, I am not an atheist. I just wanted to run away and don’t want to have comparative analysis on Hinduism & Christian or any religion. Belief is such a personal thing. I believe that it is impossible to know anything about God and its a social invention because the belief that this life is all there is would be psychologically unacceptable or unimaginable. I call myself an agnostic because I do not consider it is ever possible to know the nature of God. If a God exists, which may but can not be proven because by the very nature of what a God is, that being is beyond our ability to comprehend and always will be.

Anyways, I was curious about that loaded question-- what is the point in life? kept wondering.. still wondering..

wondering around - part 1

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As mentioned ( land of music) I did the trip to Austria. Onward Night Train journey introduced me to follow traveler. Yet another random meetup, an interesting travel companion & I decided to explore the place together.

Unplanned day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia. City is pleasant surprise with very interesting sculptures at almost every corner of old town. Walked around on grey day but unfortunately couldn’t catch ferry back to Vienna. while train journey is quicker but i thought ferry ride could have been more interesting.

Vienna – everywhere its all about Mozart. OK I get it Mozart… is important man for western classical music but Vienna is certainly more than Mozart. I was very curious to find about Sigmund Freud and It wasn’t very easy to find any trace. And ofcourse, many locals talked about another popular Austrian-american - Arnold Schwarzenegger. :) And thing which I don’t know before – Graffiti started in vienna. Street art were found in many place and my favorites are at kirchengasse, donaukanal, nashmarkt, burggasse, beritegasse,..

Next stop Salzburg- woke up late, walked up to festung fortress- nice view of the city. Came down, had nice food, relaxing in local café, reading a book. ‘Hello mr’ a voice from behind. Old man asked if am I a tourists!...that was the start of interesting hour long conversation about the city, history, india,.. he offered to play chess on the giant chess board painted onto the ground in old town. I won..oh ya I did.;) afternoon, sound music tour.. that’s a must in Salzburg. Another interesting fact which I didn’t know before- sound of music movie is not popular in Austria.. they have their own (original story) german version of trapp family.
Salzburg Street music


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And OK, Yes I am Indian but cricket does not excite me anymore. but I have to say this IPL T20 season somehow got me. I couldn’t help but to watch last two matches played by my hometown team and cheer for their victory in finals.
now, I heard Indian cricket team went out of world champions with very very poor performance. my message to Indian cricket fan: GET OVER IT.

Now (un)defined

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As I look behind, path filled with joy,
with experiences that graduated me to a man from a boy,
with little tragedy or guilt
with some clutter of past doubt.
As I try to look ahead into uncertain empty road
and my sight tries to envisions a future as it unfold
with the hope of strong & truth.
As I take the opportunities, the choices that befalls me
and I try to grab the chances that await me...

But I will plead, NOW
and leave the future to the future..

Let’s start talking

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Growing up I was introvert, shy boy. While I was comfortable starting conversation with some people from common forum (school, university, work place…) but I didn’t feel comfortable among strangers and self-confidence wasn’t my USP. Like most Indians, we don’t always talk to strangers especially to opposite gender. We just look at them from distance and keep wondering should we talk or not.

Somewhere along my journey that got changed slowly. I always had great interest in travelling and I did travel all my life… family summer trip to various parts of India very couple of years from Kashmir to Andaman Islands and I started travelling very early in my career as well but before 6 or 7yrs ago I was relatively new to backpacking experience. I used to share my place-to-visit list, plan trips and would request friends to come along.

Once Me & friend of mine made trip to Romania. This was before Romania was part EU/schengen. He planned the trip and I tagged along. We flew into Bucharest and took train to Brasov. One impressive charming young girl and another gloriously beautiful young girl was sitting opposite to us. And If it’s like in the movies then boy would start talking to the girl and sooner or later song/dance would happen. But we were just two Indian boys still not sure how to start the conversation. 10mins into the journey, the girls started talking to each other in Romanian and we boy was still busy looking at them and imagine song/dance in our heads. 20mins into the journey, one girl saw my friend reading a newspaper. she asked if she would take look. Ofcourse he wasn’t going to deny it. within like 2/3mins later, she returned the paper back. Curious us asked why! and started talking to the gals. Turns out the girls weren’t travelling together. They were strangers to each others. This girl couldn’t even read English well. She asked for the newspaper just to start the conversations with us. so the Charming girl was a teacher(girl sitting left in the photo above) traveling back home and beautiful girl was model(girl sitting right) in Paris. Yes :) 30mins into the conversation, she started showing her portfolio book with all these great photos of her. The girls told us- what to do, where to go, what not to do, etc… by the end of the train ride, we exchanged our contact details. My friend & I kept wondering, admiring how impressive these girls started the conversation with strangers/boys and how we boys suck at it. After wonderful day trip around Brasov, we reached our hostel and noticed we share the hostel room with two young girls from Scotland doing backpacking trip. We are quick earners now we knew how to start a conversations. So started talking- our travel plans, their travel plans, good pubs nearby, etc... And that’s how I started my conversations with strangers.

This experience wasn’t about boys talking to gals. But It was about young Indian boy feeling comfortable with myself to make connects with any strangers regardless of nationality, gender… and making life experience more adventures, interesting & diverse. Since then I was never dependent of any of my friends to travel along because I realized world of full of yet-to-be-friends.

We appreciate our families & buddies for adding colors to our life but we tend to over look those souls who visit us just for brief period- during a trip, in a pub, in hotel/hostels, ticket queues, follow traveler. My life is full of those interesting people, fabulous moments and I am a better person because of them, you, all of you. I will not say thank you since there is no need for thanks & sorry among friends. right!?;)

Land of Music

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As I will sleep in comfortable pullman berth,
night train will bears me to place of worth.
When my eyes open to blissfully sun,
I’ll reach the wondrous land.
No doudt this journey bound to bide content,
as I took heed to make it a wonderful event.

That's My Favourite things too


Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

I need no more

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No I need no more, not today
it's all here
the clear ovals of a glass of cafe,
a small piece of cake,
a book,
soul pleasing music,
not to mention the odd snarling picture
and the way these different things
each a different height
singing a perfect harmony of day..

yes I need no more, not today
but tomorrow is a different day.


for Lyrics: Click here

Fear Industry

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I picked up this article - Can't afford to ignore the enemy at the gate from J. while this is not new, many people have written about it in great detail and with numbers/stats but still voice of reason is away from public discussion, media house, policy maker/politics.

Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear", is a brilliantly done documentary explains in great detail about politics of fear.


"The things we fear most may be least likely to occur, which means the time, trauma and treasure we invest in them is a complete waste.

Security itself is an illusion. It is a perception that exists only between our ears. No army, insurance policy, hazmat team, video surveillance or explosive sniffer can protect us from our own immune system, a well-intentioned but clumsy surgeon, failing to look before crossing the street, an asteroid randomly hurtling through space or someone willing to die in order to do others harm.

In this sense, the only things that can truly make us more 'secure' are not things. They are the courage to face whatever comes with dignity and intention, and the strong relationships that assure we will face the future together, and find comfort and meaning in doing so."

Idea or Reality?

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I wonder is it just me or we people fall in love with idea of things rather than reality of things. !?

Music: Chicken soup for the soul

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Recently I wrote about how I don't like habits turning into additions, but their are few exceptions to that rule. Music is one of the them. I don't know how? from when? but its been part of DNA. I always like to expose myself to new genre, musicians, language. Growing up- radio was my main source. Late night FM used to play very nice songs and that's how I got introduced to many artists specially in English. I used to lock myself in the room and record cassettes from FM-radio. I didn't learn hindi at school, I learnt it by watching some very interesting DD serials and music...(big thanks to Gulzar, KishoreKumar, M.Rafi,) 

And my hometown is big on Indian classical music. December is music festival season and Its getting bigger & better every year. When I was little- for couple of years may be, my dad used to get seasonal pass for Music Academy concerts. That's when I realized the magic of Live performance. Since then I try not miss any opportunity to watch live performance. Over the years, I watched countless performances live bands/musicians from east, west..classical, opera, jazz, fusion, some great orchestra,.. Watching Live always makes me wonder why am I not blessed with such talent to play musical instrument. And I always wished somehow magically, I woke up one day then I can play guitar(because Iam lazy to learn & practice).

My habit rather addiction for finding new music continued. with few interesting friends we share playlist. that is another source. then came youtube & iTunes.. african, arabic, persian, etc....wonderful music of the world became accessible. and my additions of digg for new music continues... I bookmark some of my finds at youtube playlist

my recent fav: Karsh Kale, Rahul Sharma, Imogen Heap, Anais Mitchell, Faithless, Oceanlab,..

Share your playlist.

Its one of those days

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I got hooked Imogen Heap music. I found out that she is touring europe and visiting Luxembourg just couple of week before. Managed to get tickets & saw her Live. Opening act was by American singer Back Ted N Ted - Ryan. He was good. but when Imogen perform its like watching- birth of music. she is great, making wonderful tunes from anything & everything on the stage.

View all

Get your own

Watch her interview & music

And that's just start of my weekend.. I didn't had any plans for the weekend. After wonderful music night on friday, slept late woke up late on saturday. Cooked myself nice bruch. It was a cloudy day, went for long walk. I got last minute message from a friend that old movies are been played in local theatre and if I would be interested to join her. checked the timing & surprised to find Cinema Paradiso was showing. No brainier. Someone was explaining about this movie but now I can't recollect with whom I had this conventions. anyways, Movie was nice. finished at 10. meet another friend, went to local music bar watched live performance from 2 indie bands from UK- HomeLife and Savoy Grand.

Another wonderful day,weekend..one that I had no plans for. Well, turns out my plan was- to be surprised.

Its one of those days...