My Personal Journey with Travels

I am taking part in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words 8th - 14th December 2013

So today's personal journey is with "Travels"

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” 

― Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 7: 1966-1974

Until about 4 years ago, I wanted to travel and see the world, even though I've seen a lot of the world and very grateful that I've had the chance to do that.

But after my dad passed away in 2010, my whole perspective on travel changed. The urge to see these places all over the world died and travel for me took on a new meaning. People rather than places became priority for me. Visiting family and friends that hold a special place in my heart are the places I want to go to.

I also got the urge to travel the length of my homeland of India. Perhaps because my life took on a very spiritual twist and my spiritual quest took me back again and again to India. But I won't go into all the details of the places I want to see there and why as I've already blogged about these and you can read them all in my 7 Journeys Series

I've always said I'm really so lucky to have the opportunity to live in two of the most beautiful countries in the world; India and New Zealand.

I have often wondered why I was born in India and why of all the places in the world I landed up in New Zealand. And after a lot of soul searching I came up with this answer.

 India for me is my spiritual home on Earth and a part of my soul lives there. It's great history and stories of yore in the form of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are somehow connected with my destiny, with my spiritual journey, with my life's purpose. The more I read them the more I learn and the more I delight in them. It would therefore be inevitable that this would be the great country I would be born in. But living in India for many years surrounded by poverty, I became quite apathetic to it. It's not that one doesn't feel for the poor it's just that one takes that condition for granted when it's all around you. I lost the ability to feel that unselfish compassion for people.

I am convinced that in order to fulfil my life's purpose, I needed to reconnect with that compassionate place in my heart and hence the Universe sent me along to New Zealand.

New Zealand is also a very spiritual country. When I landed here 25 years ago I could feel the high energy and vibration of the place. It was exhilarating. I saw compassion everywhere. There is a generosity of spirit and a kindness I have not seen anywhere in all my travels. Hence it was the perfect place for me to reconnect with my compassion and to become more heart centred. I am also convinced that it is here that my life's purpose will begin and take me where I need to be.

And so I give you in pictures, my 2 favourite places in the world that bring me great joy.

Mumbai, my hometown - the palm trees and the sunsets are spectacular. Pics taken on my various visits there.

Wellington, my adopted hometown - spectacular views wherever you go

(last 2 pics taken from my lounge)

Join me tomorrow on my next journey with some People

My Personal Journey so far:

Day 1 = Memories

Day 2 = Food

Day 3 = Books

Day 4 = Music

Check out some Day 5 posts and some Day 4 posts that I really enjoyed:

Jose's Musical Memories of Bandra - brought back some memories

Jyothi's Musical Roar - a different type of music

Cat's Christmas Music - something truly special and my favourite instrument too.

Have a fabulous day

Warm Regards


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UBC 15 - AtoZ - Mumbai

Day 15  of the Ultimate Blogging Challenge and the letter  M  for the  AtoZ Blogging Challenge


M is for ....  Mumbai

After posting a very serious post for L I thought I would lighten up a bit and write about my memories of Mumbai. So here goes ...

I would get a rupee a day as pocket money. I usually spent it on a choc-cream ice cream and peanuts. And I still had a bit left over at the end of the week that went into my trusty piggy bank. Over the 5 years at Senior School the peanut packet got progressively smaller exemplifying the law of diminishing returns.

A plate of Bhelpuri or 5 dahi puris cost one rupee. I remember many years later when I asked for a rupee plate of dahi puri, the bhaiya (vendor) looked at me like I was completely insane. He was too polite to say it in words and as he was the gully (lane) bhaiya for many years he handed me one puri on a plate as a gesture of goodwill for past custom.

Coca-cola gave way to Thums up - I never liked Coca-cola again. Chiclets were our favourite chewing gum and the phantom candy cigarettes were the only cigarettes I ever "smoked".

The Mumbai sandwich is a unique culinary delight that has to be experienced as it cannot be described. The sandwich bhaiya outside our University college would often call me Indira. It was a handy name as each time he made that blunder, he awarded me a free sandwich! I marvelled at how among hundreds of students who flocked to the stand, he remembered the orders  - hot for D, very hot for S, medium hot for R and bland for Indira!

Cassata ice-cream and chicken sandwiches at the Kwality restaurant at Kemps Corner - the most Divine chicken sandwiches ever eaten.

Studying late into the night for exams and rewarding our hard work for the day with midnight jaunts to Chowpatty to have "blotting paper" kulfi was as exciting as opening up the birthday gifts.

Emphasising "special" chai when ordering from the chaiwalla at work - this was to ensure that the chai was made in a separate pot from coffee and that it was sweetened with sugar and not jaggery.

Sitaphal (Custard Apple), Chikoo, Lychee, Ratnagiri Alfonso mangoes - how I miss those fruits.

As teenagers, we learned the art of getting on and off the BEST buses and perfected it over time but for this, the umbrella was a compulsory piece of equipment. I got very good at using it effectively on the bus. And getting a seat upstairs on the double decker bus was a treat.

The 11am Saturday matinee show at the Empire Cinema (opposite the Sterling Cinema) was a regular haunt after boring Accounting lectures. I've lost count of how many times I watched Romeo and Juliet. Leonard Whiting was heavenly reprieve for surviving a class full of assets and liabilities that fell off the balance sheet into oblivion.

I lived through 2 Indo-Pak wars clutching my dog Snoopy under the dining table in darkened rooms (black chart paper taped on all the windows) when the air raid sirens went off.

Gully cricket - this was even more riveting than any televised cricket match and far more entertaining than any available Doordarshan TV programme.

Dandiya Ras during Navratri - the "dhanta ta ta" beat that will forever be stuck in my head.

The annual Hindi movie at Diwali projected on a white bedsheet in the gully - rich, poor, old, young - we all came together for 3 hours of entertainment.

The 1000+ cracker salute at Diwali that went on through the night and scared both my dogs Snoopy and Fuji to death.

Govinda, Ganpati visarjan, Holi - If you have to celebrate festivals, do it in Mumbai!

These and many more are memories of my days in Mumbai that are etched in my mind and will live forever.

And instead of posting the usual iconic stuff you see in Mumbai, I will try and show the Mumbai that makes it so special for me.

bazaar at Linking Road, Bandra

Hanuman Ghanteshwar (Bell) Temple, Khar

Wherever you go in Mumbai you are sure to bump into a temple, mosque or church.

At the Gateway of India - Victoria rides

Someone's wedding - The weddings in India are something to be seen and experienced

Flute vendor

Coconuts - being brought down from the tree

Sharpening knives - Churi Dharwalla

Palm trees - my favourite trees. Palm trees look so elegant.

Bullock cart

Monsoons

Shoe at Kamala Nehru Park

Paanwalla

Dahi puri

Sunset from Joggers Park - The sunsets in Mumbai are spectacular

I am so grateful for the chance to have been born in and lived in such an exciting city - Mumbai meri jaan.

Wish you a magnificent day

Warm Regards

Blogfest - Vacation Happiness or Headache?

 Toni Lynn Ferro-Cloutier is the host of this prompt for Blogfest 2012

I love travelling and have been blessed to visit so many beautiful places in the world. I have travelled across the US, UK, Europe, a lot of Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

For me travel vacations are definitely happiness with a capital H. But living down under in New Zealand means that other than getting to Australia and some Pacific Islands, I have to travel long distances and that is definitely a headache. But always worth it in the end.

Over the years my idea of vacations has changed. Previously it was about the place, the thrill of seeing something new. Now it's all about the people. I vacation to visit my near and dear ones.

My favourite vacations now are in my beloved hometown Mumbai. I absolutely love it there. Amid the chaos, confusion, noise, pollution, dirt, smell ... I find my soul and it rejoices.

Here are some pics of my beloved Mumbai taken on my various visits there.

 Taj Mahal Hotel and Gateway of India

 Air India Building and Oberoi Hotel (don't know what it's called now, I know it as the Oberoi)

 Mantralaya - Administrative headquarters of the state of Maharashtra

 Marine Drive

Palm trees at the Otters Club

 Rajabai Tower

Sunset from Joggers Park

Happy Vacations whenever and wherever you go.


Warm Regards