Serendipity

C.S Lewis's movingly beautiful dedication of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' to his god daughter... "My Dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say but I shall still be, your affectionate Godfather, C. S. Lewis."

‘Someday’ – When Europe called

Verona is the perfect day-trip destination from Milan. So when there were a couple of free days during the university trip to the SDA Bocconi at Milan, I decided to visit Verona with my friends. There are direct trains to Verona from Milan, and if you plan carefully enough, you can get really cheap tickets. Our Milan-Verona round trip tickets cost just about 25 euros each. Quaint, charming, picturesque - Verona is one of those typical, story-book European towns with an enchanting old-world feel. And of course, to add to the magic and romance, there is the little detail of Verona being the abode of Romeo and Juliet. Seemed like a citadel protecting the city in the days of yore Summer blooms in the park There is something about Verona and beautiful balconies, and I haven't seen Juliet's balcony yet Entrance to the city Lovely sculpture Majestic The spectacular Verona arena - the precursor to Rome's Colosseum In the streets of V...

“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 re...

"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 ...