Serendipity

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”                                                            - F.Scott Fitzgerald , The Great Gatsby                                                          I spent the summer of 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. Oh what a wondrous time it was - magical and mesmerizing. The best days of my life yet. I have lived all my life in the plains of India, where a fleeting spring is overcome by a scorching summer all too soon, sultry days spent in the hope of relief by rains. This was summer in Europe - something I had only read in the pages of a novel, or seen on the silver screen. And it was everything that I had imagined it to be and a lot more. I had earlier penned a blog post dedicated to the Swedish summer titled Of Summer and Dandelions.  It is one of my favorite travel stories; about how

"Far away beyond the pine-woods," he answered, in a low, dreamy voice, "there is a little garden. There the grass grows long and deep, there are the great white stars of the hemlock flower, there the nightingale sings all night long. All night long he sings, and the cold crystal moon looks down, and the yew-tree spreads out its giant arms over the sleepers." Virginia's eyes grew dim with tears, and she hid her face in her hands. "You mean the Garden of Death," she whispered. "Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portals of death's house, for love is always with you, and love is stronger than death is."                                                                                                   

When the goings on of this world get you down, things like these act as a beacon of hope I came across this moving video on a site called Open Culture (http://www.openculture.com/), which is a veritable goldmine of arts, literature, music, films etc. In today's times, when the internet has become this dark, dangerous place, leading to skepticism and mistrust; sites like Open Culture define what the internet should always be used for. http://www.openculture.com/2012/07/beethovens_ode_to_joy_flashmobbed.html Before I watched this, my previous experiences with flashmobs had led me to believe that they catered only to flashy dance performances, to the tune of the latest chartbusters. Another manifestation of the 'hip' / 'cool' aspect of the generation Y. I had never associated it with something much more substantial and meaningful, not something which had a lasting impact. Definitely not something that had the power to tug at your heartstrings. What sheer joy

Travel is, truly, the only wholesome addiction. I keep telling myself that the best way to get over the disappointment of a trip being over is to start planning for the next one. There can never be too much of travel! So after returning from my wonderful trip to the hills of Darjeeling, I was pondering over my next destination. It seemed quite apt to alternate a mountain adventure with a beach rendezvous; and what better spot for a beach holiday than gorgeous Goa! For a quick introduction, here’s a short roundup of my sunny, fun-filled Goan escapade. Most memorable beach moment: Watching a glorious sunset from the white-sand Colva beach; the sky splashed with a spectacular array of colours. Most exciting moment: Backpack and camera in tow, the thrill of riding public buses, mingling with the locals, asking around for directions to explore the beautiful capital Panjim.     Most delicious meal: A mouth-watering platter of butter ri

After an early breakfast of pancakes again at the quaint Pineridge, I set out for the trip to Happy Valley. It was quite a tricky cab ride along sharply sloping, narrow, twisted paths. Finally, at the end of a steep climb, the emerald-green expanses of the tea plantation, shrouded in the early morning mist, came into view. The factory officials were incredibly kind and welcoming and proceeded to give a wonderful tour of the facility. They explained the various stages and processes right from picking of the leaves to the treatment of the leaves. It was a great experience indeed! Then it was time to visit the tea gardens. Being a Monday, it was the day off for tea plucking. So that was a bit of a disappointment not to see it. The Happy Valley Tea Estate is as beautiful as a painting. The rolling hills carpeted in various shades of green, seemingly endless stretches of tea bushes, swirling mists, scattered little huts – it was so picturesque! It was truly a happy valley! I signed off my t

Next morning’s plan was towards the fulfillment of a childhood wish. A ride on the eponymous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Or to put it simply, a glorious Toy Train ride. Come to Darjeeling and not take a joyride on the beloved steam engine? Simply unimaginable! Half-past ten was the scheduled departure of the toy train from the Darjeeling station, so there was ample time for a leisurely breakfast. Choosing to place to eat in Darjeeling is another exciting activity because you are literally spoilt for choice! My pick for the day was Keventer’s, one of Darjeeling's most celebrated culinary institutions. Its rooftop eating space with an uninterrupted view of the surrounding mountains has found its place many times on celluloid too. A filling meal of sandwiches, chicken sausage and hot chocolate later, I headed straight for the Darjeeling station. Since I had reached well on time, I had the wonderful chance of seeing the railway workers prepare for the ride, attaching/detaching the