To the hungry Hearts....

My previous blog I ended touching upon the "Season Of  Hope" as I wanted to end on a positive note - HOPE. A good friend of mine, Bhaskar suggested to write a blog on this alone as my subject. Thanks to Bhaskar for this suggestion. I like this idea and thought, because like him, most of us do see a very deep and intense thought in these 3 words "Season Of  Hope".
"Hope" is the basic fundamental quality of every human. As breath to life , hope to us. We breathe life into this word "Hope" every each minute of our lives. Dreams TO reality, nights TO days, conscious TO subconscious, knowingly TO unknowingly : Hope always stays with you , lives with you, flies with you, rests with you. Break it and it bounces back. Kill it , rises up springing high.

To borrow Emily Dickinson's poetry...

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -That perches in the soul -And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -

Absolutely, it never stops singing the tune into your soul. Don't you agree? We wish for something and we don't get it. We fall down but we rise up again, hoping for a better tomorrow. We lose something precious in life, we still won't stop, hoping for a better tomorrow we continue the search. The so called social animal "Man" comes across so much sadness , so much negativity, around the society. We read about, we hear about, we watch the news and realize there's so much sorrow around us. But, we still light up hope.  We still hope for a better tomorrow and Rise Up. This is something perhaps that differentiates a social animal from the real one. 

As I am writing this, the recent shattering news on Peshawar attacks,Hostages in Sydney, suicide bombers, merciless killings of innocent... what not they all resonate within me. Certainly any human with a heart would be moved, disturbed and feel devastated and so helpless.  We tend to think is this all about life? Is this where we live? Etc..Going down this lane...I am sure to get deviated from my topic so let me stop this topic here with a tearful and heartfelt condolences to all those families who lost their dear ones especially this year. All my prayers for them to be strong.

Hope and look forward for THAT better tomorrow.  As much as falling down in life's race is natural , so has to be getting up and catching up on the race. I believe that winning is not defined by reaching the goal first, it is defined by the attitude to reach the goal. The very intent and attempt to reach that goal makes a person winner. We all know that Failures are stepping stones to success. But recently I read this in Facebook shares "If you haven't failed then you haven't tried anything new". So true, What is your success without you trying your own ideas.  

I have failed in many attempts to not be shaken by failures in life or sadness in life, but I guess that is very  human.  Most importantly, I am glad that I could emerge out of those situations each time turning wiser. 

After the Peshawar attacks, which in no way or no means a forgivable incident, a friend posted on Facebook. He says "Is everything normal??" What he meant is just a day ago each of us made so much noise and cried about the incident and today we are all tweeting normal, back to normal on Facebook  and living normal. Is that it? That was his intent in the post - A question. There is an unfortunate answer to this, which is "YES". Everything goes back to normal. Nothing in the world can STOP nothing to be normal. As life is the name of living...keep on...go on....and on...until your last minute.

We must be normal no doubt, but if we have a heart for the people around us, known or unknown, then there is another additional step we can take. Pray for peace and happiness and again...HOPE for a better world full of LOVE for tomorrow. Let the innocent buds blossom into flowers and spread their fragrance and beauty and charm to the world. Let all humans be HUMAN. Let the world be the HEAVEN ON EARTH.

Our prayers will be answered if ONLY they are as pure, as selfless and as serene as a baby's smile. 



Not just this season but every season has every reason to be "THE Season Of  Hope". Borrowing few lines from Maya Angelou...please read every word carefully it is very valuable...

"Just like moons and like suns ; With the certainty of tides; Just like hopes springing high; 

Still I'll rise "

ఋతు సంధి....Seasons...Entwine

ఋతువులు ఆరే ... ప్రస్తారణలు ఎన్నో ... కాలం మారి కాలం వస్తుంది ...season after season...that's the way of life. కానీ కాలం మారక ముందే ...I mean ఒక season పూర్తి కాక ముందే ఇంకో season overlap అవడం, అసలంటూ ఎన్ని ఋతువులో మరిపించేస్తుంది ...
అది శాస్త్రీయ పరమైన కారణమో ... ప్రకృతి వైపరీత్యమో ... మనిషి మేధస్సుకి అంతుచిక్కని మరే సృష్టి రహస్యమో... ఏదైనా ... కాలం మారక ముందే రాబోయే కాలం ఎన్నో సూచనలిస్తుంది.

Season to season transition time ...I feel its very interesting to observe. పరిశీలిస్తే జీవితం కూడా ఇలాగే ఉంటుంది. Season after season...cycle repeats

ఇంతకీ ఈ ఉపోద్ఘాతం ఎందుకంటే ... 

Just a while ago...suddenly I woke up from my sleep filled with perplexed and unfathomable dreams ...and checked my phone ( off-late this is the way to know the time and not looking at clock :) at least for me )...its 2.45 AM December the 1st. Good Lord...the last month of the year...here it comes. 2014 is finally about to end in 31 days. I am excited this year more than any other years in my life to see the year end and really looking forward for 2015. 

ఈ ఆలోచన రాగానే నా నిద్ర ఎగిరిపోయింది. ఈ ఆలోచన చిన్న భయంతో పాటు ఒక కొత్త ఆశని కూడా ఇచ్చింది. రేపు ఏంటని ఆలోచిస్తే , ఎలా ఉంటుందో ఊహిస్తే ... ఏదో ఆరాటం , తెలియని ఉత్సాహం , తప్పించుకోలేని కలవరం.. అన్నీ కలిసిన అనుభూతి. 

As I walked into my living room picking up my laptop and settling in the couch...I grabbed the throw my kids left there last night. Wintery touch ... I thought while pulling it over to cover my legs as I sit back. The cold air and the very thought of winter and December prompted me to write this blog post...

So, continuing back on season transition, I feel like I am in one such transition phases in life.

గడిచిపోయిన సంవత్సరం నేను పొందిందేంటి , పోగొట్టుకున్నదేంటి అని ఒకొక్కరం ఆలోచిస్తే ఎవరికైనా ఒక చిట్టా తయారవుతుంది. ఒకో సారి ఈ ఆలోచన గడిచిన సంవత్సరంలోనే ఆగి పోదు ...  గతించిన జీవితంలోకి కూడా తొంగి చూస్తుంది. Successes, failures, lessons learned, friends earned, relations built, memories treasured what not...walking down that lane we perhaps end up in a very complicated wreath of thoughts. Just as one season unwinds into another, life entwines into phase after phase; each phase leaving us with tons of lessons as it unfolds. As humans we survive on HOPE....collecting the memories and treasuring them, we move into the next phase looking forward for another treasure hunt ...

పగలు తర్వాత రాత్రి లాగా , చీకటి తర్వాత వెలుతురు లాగా , కష్టం తర్వాత సుఖం is like ...season after

season...seasons repeat. శరత్తులో రంగులు మారి , ఆకులో పువ్వులో మర్చిపోయేలా చేస్తుంది ప్రకృతి, ఆ ఆకులన్నీ శిశిరంలో నేల రాలి మోడువారిన చెట్టు, మళ్లీ వసంతంలో కొత్త చిగుర్లతో పలకరిస్తుంటే ఎంత ఆనందం ఉంటుందో , చీకటి తర్వాత వెలుతుర్ని చూస్తే అంతే ఆనందం ఉంటుంది. గెలుపు తర్వాత గెలుపు ఎంత కిక్ ఇస్తుందో చెప్పలేను కానీ , ఓటమి తర్వాత గెలుపు రుచే వేరు.

2014 చాలా రకాలుగా గుర్తుండిపోయే సంవత్సరం నాకు. It really has been very eventful. Personally and professionally I have seen it come across as a life time teacher.


నా శ్రేయోభిలాషులకి, హితులకీ, స్నేహితులకీ , ఆప్తులకీ , ఆత్మీయులకీ , ఇవేవీ కాని వారికీ ,ప్రత్యేకించి, నా మంచి మాత్రం కాకుండా ఇంకేదైనా కోరుకున్న పరిచయస్థులకీ  మనస్పూర్తిగా కృతజ్ఞతలు చెప్పుకోవాలి . If not for them, I would not know that I can be what I am today. పడిపోతే లేవాలని, లేచి తిరిగి పరిగెత్తాలనీ , దిశా , దారి , గమ్యం ఏదీ ఖచ్చితంగా తెలీకున్నా , వెళ్ళే దారి సరి చేసుకుంటూ, మనల్ని మనం నమ్ముకుంటూ పోతే అనుకోని మజిలీ అదే చేరువవుతుందని చిన్నప్పుడెప్పుడో తెలుసుకున్నాం , ఎన్నో పాఠాలు చదువుకున్నాం.  మనిషికే కాదు ఈ పాఠం అన్ని జీవరాసులకీ వర్తిస్తుంది. మరి మనిషి గొప్పతనం ఏంటి?? ... అది బహుశా జీవితాన్ని వెనక్కి తిరిగి చూసుకుని, ఏ దారి నడిచామో , ఏమి నేర్చుకున్నామో అది గుర్తుంచుకుని రాబోయే రోజులకి బాట వేసుకోవడంలో ఉందేమో. నడిచిన దారిలో మనకి తోడొచ్చిన  వాళ్ళకి , ప్రత్యేకించి దారికి అడ్డుతగిలిన వాళ్ళకీ , నడుస్తున్న దారిలో ముళ్ళు పరిచిన వాళ్ళకీ , నమ్మకం ముసుగులో వెన్ను పోటు పొడిచిన వాళ్ళకీ మనసారా కృతజ్ఞతలు అందించడంలో ఉందేమో.

Like I said, how would we know how to face the challenge if we do not know what kind of challenge it is. And hence, it makes perfect sense to be Thankful than be sad or angry. Having said this, I do not mean or  saying that when in such instances I was not shaken. Certainly I was, but, amazingly discovered the NEW ME. Or should I say the Very me in a new way :) I surely am very thankful to all those who gave me this opportunity to find the REAL ME.

Looking at it as an opportunity is not as easy as said, else every human would be a sage. But if we try we may succeed one in 3 to 4 times at least.

Kudos to all friends who have taken life's challenges as an opportunity to grow, to all friends who stood as mentors to others in crisis times and to all friends who can be compassionate and listen to someone even if you cannot do much about their situation.

And now it's December. December as most of us know is a Season of chills, snow, ice, freezing temperatures, hot chocolates, festivities, Christmas lights and Christmas cheer....but how can we forget this is the Season of Giving. So, this Season of Giving... I decided to be the giving hand, the loving heart, the compassionate friend. As a first step I give my Thanks to GOD for this life and Thanks to all who gave me such opportunities to grow as a person. Here I am giving my Thanks.

As the Season of Giving, this Season also transforms into Season of HOPE. And this reminds me of these lines from the song..."Season of Hope"..."Many hungry hearts are lost and cold ... behind the lights and the Christmas cheer people hide their fear...When God reached down and changed the world forever, we can reach out, we can believe in the power of love, we can all meet a need".

In this Season of Hope...I Hope to reach my goals and grow as a much better person. Sending my wish list to Santa via this blog... :) Happy December my friends. Here's wishing you all happiness and peace in life. :)

                  Check this out.... This blog in my Voice

Let the storm rage on....

A kingdom of isolation...and it looks like I'm the Queen...

Just a simple sentence and it envelops an in-depth thought and possibly complete life story of someone deprived of life's valuables...

I am completely taken over by the song and lyrics of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-lopez for almost a year now. Usually am not a fan of any music unless I understand the lyric and it touches my heart. This song from Frozen has been a darling song for millions of people across the globe for over a year sweeping away awards and hearts with equal elan. And goes without saying I love it ...love it...love it...Especially Idina Menzell the beautiful artist brings to life every word in this beautiful song. 

Just try and focus on the lyric you will know how much it relates to the character in the movie ...in fact how much it relates to so many woman in real life... As most of us were raised and our characters carved...almost 85% of girls would hear these " House Rules"...which in reality do not bring the right personality.  Most of us grew up learning to "not say NO" even when our hearts cry NOOOOOOO.  Many of us learnt to hide our emotions and natural reactions in most cases and carry the so called "Good Girl" image. Thanks to a dear friend of mine who taught me "How to say NO" when it is a NO and how it is completely acceptable and rightful even though it is unwelcomed. If not for that I wouldn't be what I am today and writing this piece of advice to whoever this applies to. 

Looking back at the song...Surprisingly..."Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel,  don't let them know, don't let them see, don't let them in"...these lines...especially. ..conceal...conceal...conceal...most girls become woman in this process of concealing their thoughts, ideas, their feelings and even their dreams...

How unfortunate it is, that being as human as the opposite gender...."conceal" the real you and grow becomes the way to be for 85% of girls/women universally. ...be it for financial reasons or social reasons or religious reasons or whatever useless reasons that might be. How many dreams shattered? How many aspirations murdered? How many abilities grounded? How many hearts wounded?

Yes we do live in a world where significant woman contributed to mission Mangalyan. Yes we do live in a world where CEOs, COOs and CFOs of giants like YouTube, Facebook, Yahoo, PepsiCo , HP, Xerox and many many more are WOMEN ...We truly are in a world of WOMEN Presidents for Countries which are in the top list of World's largest National Economy with their GDP touching the stars. But, can we deny that, we still do live in the same world where Women struggle to "Let it go...." and realize "It's time to see what they can do ... To test the limits and break through... No right, no wrong, no rules at all...free to make their choice...dare to dream...chase the dream and see it come true...

Break the shell and listen to your heart and you will see how you can build a magnificent castle of your dreams... how you can be on top of the world if so you wish to be... crystalizing every dream like an icy blast. Set your soul free... give it the power to pierce through the sky through the ground through the wind and the ocean...

Its only the Woman, GOD's only creation,that can do anything that she thinks is possible under the sun. History till yesterday is vast...we can idolize many Heroic Winners globally...just to quote the recent one the youngest Malala Yousufzai, the 17 year old stands right there in front of our eyes with that charismatic smile...as if she's inviting you into her world... And only if you had known or read or even watched the movie about Mary Kom, a five-time World Boxing champion and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in six world championships. They both etched their lives with utmost care and conviction. Looking at Mary Kom...her background... the place she comes from, the challenges she faced, the ZERO resources and ZERO support she had earlier on in her path....and of course Malala...such a young and tender heart and such brave life.....This list can be endless.....How many do we see, read and know that can be on our idols list. Showing many the path to success.  Its only their WILL POWER...their inner strength alone THAT made it happen. No external support needed. 

Know and believe that WOMAN do not need any MAN or any one to bring her happiness or success. Only she is capable of making herself happy and WIN the World.

If you have not done it already, then TODAY is the day to put the first step forward to chasing your dream... make a promise to self... I'm never going back, the past is in the past... sky is my limit.

Tell yourself....."I'll rise like the break of dawn... That perfect girl is gone"
Let it go...let it go....I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go...let it go....Here I stand....Here I'll stay.... 

Let the storm rage on....


Finally here it is in my Voice. Listen to this blog in my Voice here.

I love you...deeply...truly....

No its not a love story....ఏ ప్రేమ కధా కాదు. కానీ...  ఇది ప్రేమ "కధల" గురించే ...

Few real life stories that I recently had known touched me, triggered me to write this blog. Revealing all the anguish that I am going through thinking deeply about love and life in general.... what is "true love" actually ??? If at all it exists...

I read this somewhere..."Love cannot exist in isolation, it will always come accompanied by agonies, ecstasies, intense joys and profound sadness". Some of us might deny , but this is so true.

We can define the "four letter" word with thousands and thousands of words....all positive and all good. But take a closer look you will see with enormous happiness which lasts for very less time there is more pain, more hurt,  more sacrifice, more helplessness, more distress. And LIFE ....is full of love. Most of the times we may not see , we may not even know we are loved.

చాలా వరకు మనం ఊహించనిదే జీవితం ...  ఎప్పుడు ఎలాంటి మలుపు తిరుగుతుందో, ఎవర్ని ఎప్పుడు దూరం చేస్తుందో, ఎవర్ని ఎందుకు దెగ్గర చేస్తుందో అర్ధం కాదు. కావాలనుకున్న వాళ్ళకి దెగ్గర కాలేము  దెగ్గరయిన వాళ్ళని కావలనుకోలేము  ...

మనిషి బ్రతకడానికి కావాల్సిన కనీస అవసరాలలో  ... "ప్రేమ" అనేది ఉండదు. కానీ  నిజానికి జీవితం ఆనందంగా సాగాలన్నా ... మనిషి జీవితానికి పరిపూర్ణత కావాలన్నా "ప్రేమ" కావాలి ....  ప్రేమించ గలగటంతో పాటు ప్రేమించ బడటం కూడా చాలా చాలా అవసరం.




 
So what's true love? Truly "true love" అనేది కధల్లో మాత్రమే ఉంటుందేమో. నిజ జీవితంలో ఉండే ప్రతి బంధం, సంబంధం కేవలం అవసరం కోసమో లేదా సమాజం కోసమో లేదా ఏ జన్మలోనో తీరని రుణమో మాత్రమేనేమో.
















కొంత మందికి ప్రేమించడం తెలీదు, ఇంకొంత మందికి ప్రేమని వ్యక్త పరచడం తెలీదు, మరికొంత మందికి దాని అవసరమేంటో తెలీదు ... సినిమాల్లో చూడటానికి, కవితల్లో, కధల్లో చదవటానికీ , పాటల్లో వినటానికీ కొన్ని భావాలూ , కొన్ని మాటలూ చాలా అందంగా అర్ధవంతంగా ఉంటాయి....

నా బలం , బలహీనత, భయం, ధైర్యం అన్నీ నువ్వే అని అనుకున్న వ్యక్తి జీవితాంతం తోడుగా ఉంటే???
మహా కవి శ్రీ శ్రీ రాసిన పాట లా  ... "నిన్ను నిన్నుగా ప్రేమించుటకు ... నీ కోసమే కన్నీరు నించుటకు ...నేనున్నానని నిండుగ  పలికే తోడొకరుండిన ... అదే భాగ్యమూ ... అదే స్వర్గము " నిజంగానే అలాంటి బంధం ఉంటే ఆ జంట చాలా అదృష్టవంతులు.

Not sure how far it is really possible to either love or be loved basing on this statement. And this applies sans gender, caste, creed, nationality difference since this is a universal problem.


ఒక రకంగా కొంచం లోతుగా ఆలోచిస్తే అవసరం కోసమో , సమాజం కోసమో బంధం ఉండటం very common and inevitable అనిపిస్తుంది కూడా. ఎందుకంటే "True Love" అనేది చాలా లోతైన విషయం కాబట్టి అది ఒక సగటు మనిషికి అసాధ్యం కాబట్టి.  It needs a clean heart, a dedicated heart, unconditional understanding, compassion,  sincerity, honesty, selflessness, respecting one's freedom, unbreakable trust and above all forgiveness. Its nearly impossible for a normal human to achieve this state as he would have to be a saint or a విరాగి to attain this state. This is my opinion.

This whole topic reminds me of my recent read..."The Palace Of Illusions" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Recently I posted a thought on facebook after reading the book. However, relating to love...in that book...Draupadi as a young adult gets to know her future from Vyaasa mahaa muni, when Vyaasa predicts her future she gets to know she would get married to 5 men, she would be the reason for the greatest "Kurukshetra" which destroys almost all men of the dynasty etc. But, of all these... ద్రౌపది ఆలోచన అన్నిటికన్నా ముందు ఒక ప్రశ్న వైపు వెళ్తుంది ... "మరి ప్రేమ మాటేంటి?? " అని.  She wants to know will she ever get "True Love" in life inspite of 5 husbands. అది చదవగానే నాకు నవ్వొచ్చింది . ఇది రచయిత్రి ఊహ అయితే కావచ్చు . కానీ నిజంగా ఆమెకి(ద్రౌపదికి) కూడా "True Love" అన్వేషణ ఉండిందా అనిపించింది.

పుస్తకం చివర్లో ద్రౌపది అవసాన దశలో శ్రీ కృష్ణుడు ఎదురయినప్పుడు ఆయనతో మాటల్లో తెలుసుకుంటుంది ... అలాంటి ప్రేమ కేవలం భగవంతుడితో మాత్రమే ఉంటుందని . మనిషి జీవితం , మనుగడ అంతా పూర్వ జన్మ కర్మ ఫలమే కనుక ఎవరితో ఎవరికీ శాశ్వతమైన బంధం ఉండదని ....  ఈ శరీరం బూడిదయితే మళ్లీ వేరే శరీరం లో వేరొక బంధం ఎదురు చూస్తుంటుందని ...అంటే మనిషి కేవలం ఆత్మ స్వరూపమే , ప్రతి జన్మలో కర్మ సిధ్దాంతం ప్రకారం జీవిస్తాడని.

I know its very philosophical and a little scary...but friends ...if that is all life is about, then I guess we must all try and quit complaining, cribbing, fighting, arguing, hurting, killing etc  ఇద్దరు పెద్దల ప్రేమ రాహిత్యానికి లేదా ద్వేషానికి, చాలా వరకు బాధని, కష్టాన్ని, consequences ని భరించేది ఏ తప్పు చెయ్యని, ఏమీ తెలీని పసికందులే . ఊహా ప్రపంచంలో కాకుండా వాస్తవంలో బ్రతుకుతూ...  సహనం, ఓర్పు అలవాటు చేసుకుని, ఒక uncommon decision తీసుకునేటప్పుడు ఒక్క సారి వెనకడుగు వేసి what if not this అనుకుంటే I guess we will be better off.

జీవితంలో ఏది పొందలేమో దాని గురించి బాధ పడే బదులు , దాన్ని మనసులో పెట్టుకుని ఉన్నదాన్ని పోగొట్టుకునే బదులు... మన పిలల్లకి మన పరిధిలో ఉన్నవారికి మంచి భావాలని, మంచి ఆలోచన శక్తినీ, విచక్షణని నేర్పితే?? అన్నిటికీ మించి స్వఛ్చంగా  నిస్వార్ధంగా ప్రేమించగలగటం నేర్పితే? Wouldn't they grow into adults who can never be cruel ??? Wouldn't we give the society a sensible human than an insensitive animal?





Don't we all love them really....deeply and truly....????

 

Khayaal - E - Khaas

 

Change is the name of the game….Of course every day is not the same and so settles in History...times do change...

दिन बदले रातें बदली ...जीने के अंदाज़ हैं बदले .......

Sure...being practical or a dreamer is totally an individual's choice of life....

I am a dreamer myself ...no doubt...and I enjoy living in my fantasy world often created in my imagination. Does not mean this only happens when I am all alone or with myself... no...not really..... I do weave the threads of imagination even when I get just a moment of echo… say at a traffic light while driving or the trigger could even be FunAsia 104.9 FM to ... a car in front of me....to...the bright orange evening sun who is ready to say good bye to this part of the world for the day so he can shine bright in the other part of the world....anything....anything….anything…

Point is...if you are a dreamer you get this golden chance of living in few precious and most beautiful moments of life even if it were meant for a second....and even if it were just in your imagination.

Memories from recent Jaipur trip with my friends colored my imaginary world really Eastman…J


July 16^th 2014 remains special to me forever for many reasons….My first visit to Hyderabad after it is no more the same in history. One thing I must say...being a true Hyderabadi.....chahe kuch bhi badal jaye...Hyderabad ki baat hee kuch aur hai. Accepted that the metropolitan culture pushed it to a different world of living, fun and entertainment.....but even today you want to enjoy that roadside panipuri....or chai...even the fresh roasted makka butta....you still can. That part of Hyderabad still co-exists. I was a little apprehensive at first but glad I found it intact...that "Apnapan..."

Thanks to my dearest friends from school for just being the same even after years and years lonnng gap...bringing in the same rhythm each time we meet and connecting the dots from where we just disappeared in life's kaalachakram. :)

Let me go back in thoughts to my most memorable experience to cherish… my journey into the history - THE RAJASTHAN TRIP

 

When we took the flight after a "supposed to be sleep over" place at freinds house that night....we were like Zombies....mainly because of complete sleepless night of sharing...laughter....talking and talking and talking to the power of infinity....

All we were looking forward in the trip was just a break from regular life where we can chill out and have masti...and of course goes without saying… “some” shopping and come back "HOME". We were taken by surprise to find this trip where we not just had fun and enjoyed and rejuvenated but were deeply inspired by INDIA's rich treasures.



What a beautiful trip it was.... as I recall…Jaipur to Pushkar to Ajmer to Udaipur....

THE GREAT _ AMBER(AMER) FORT

Ajmer Dargah...with centuries of history

World's only Brahma temple - @ Pushkar

Udaipur palace

When we 3 ladies were ready to get set for the trip.... everyone warned us…along with our parents some of our common friends too...to be careful and you know the usual stuff....watch out...don’t trust people ....be ready to defend when needed …kind of advices. But either we were very fortunate or there is still goodness and kindness alive in the society we only came across very helpful....kind and good personnel.

Be it Sawai Man Singh III (his real name is “Amar Singh” I gave this “Sawai” name to our driver because of his kindness - you will know why Sawai as you keep reading) He’s the one who took utmost care of us from the moment he picked us from Jaipur airport till he dropped us back at Udaipur airport) a very very kind and sweet person.

Another Rajput we met was our guide (I call him Raju Singh “The Guide” J) who took us through the journey of "THE GREAT AMER FORT". Palace and Fort together in one place. He was guarding us against those local hackers. His special gift to us was the “facebook photo”. He actually took these photos and took our promise that we will post them to facebook. LOL…

Most important person that I cannot forget is Syed Mehfooz Niazi our guide at Ajmer Dargah. I would say he is a perfect example of humanity and kindness and religiousness. He gave us definition of what being religious truly is. And yes…we did take a picture with him…

Our guide at Udaipur palace (Sorry forgot the name) who very patiently without getting frustrated waited as we kept breaking his flow of speech (May be I must say “emotion”) for roadside shopping at least 5 to 6 times.

Our shopping mall @ Udaipur

Here's a view of the magnificent Udaipur palace with modern day restoration

The doorman at Leela Mahal Palace, Udaipur, always with the broad smile....a waiter who had to have all the patience in the world to deal with 3 women struggling to get the best of the best pic in hot sun making sure we have no sun glasses and at the same time not closing eyes...Bhayya ek aur....ek aur...please ek aur....phew....you know how it is to get “that” perfect picture. Ohh...yeah....and he surprised us at the end of our conversation saying..."madam...మీరు Hyderabad నించా ...నేను  కూడా " and gave us a very broad and mischievous smile conveying that he understood “everything” that we were babbling taking granted that none of the people there would know Telugu. :)

 
Everyone and everything was very very pleasant and lovely.
Jaipur, A city which magnificently stands as testimony of times reflecting the traditional Rajput Architectural design. Supposed to be in the beautiful "Terracota" (Geru) color for some reason gets its name "Pink City". One of the most culturally rich heritage cities in India... We were told that the city was "Pink" washed in honor of "Prince of Whales" visit and hence the name. This kind of did not give us the best feeling for obvious reasons...but and use of a specific sandstone giving it the hue(like terracotta)...as it happens incidentally the city was "Pink" washed to restore that beautiful hue and reflect its originality when Prince of Whales arrived just as they would do for any prominent person. (reference : Making of an Indian City by Vibhuthi Sachdev )




 Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh (Sawai is a title of honor used in India, it means - one and a quarter of an average man in worth) who's name later became the City name itself, seems like had a strong inclination towards science and mathematics. Our guide was taking lot of pride talking about him specifically mentioning...Jaipur is not just culturally rich in heritage but also scientifically rich.


Riding the elephant all the way to “Ganesh Pol” …feeling literally like Princesses…
as we were walking across the Amer fort…The Sheesh Mahal …The Deewan - e – Aam ….The Deewan – e – Khaas… The Baradhari of Man Singh I,

specially built Queen’s quarters their secret entrances and security systems.  Not to forget the beautiful carpet like garden which is surrounded by Maota Lake…

this reminds us of the most romantic and very subtle expression of love in Sonu nigam’s voice…”कहने को जश - ए - बहारा हैं ....” song from "Jodha Akbar", Here’s a picture of that garden…..

 

Wonder where to begin and where to end …what to talk about…is it the Amazing Rajputi art…coupled with Moghlai intricacy…or is it the architecture which is 845 years old showcasing to the modern world of the amenities that were already built in…..or should I talk about the way artisan used the natural colors or is it the never again and never before thought of building The Sheesh Mahal…which inevitably reminds us of the Evergreen Love song picturized on the GODDESS of beauty in Indian Cinema Madhubala…”प्यार किया तो डरना क्या ...”

 

 

Take a look at these pics to have a quick glimpse of the indescribable art and love and passion all put together - sheesh mahal it is.

 Talking about Rajasthan and not mentioning of those gorgeous ladies in ghoonghat…the traditional Rajasthanee music….and the graceful dance ...hmmm…not happening… Imagine stepping into a beautiful boat where you are being waited on …to be hosted and the ambience is very romantic and musical in a very perfect time that is sun set….your boat takes you to a completely candle lit(no exaggeration) palace like hotel …traditional Rajasthanee music and dance welcomes you to the heavenly place for the royal experience….That’s exactly what we experienced….here's a nazaranaa peshkash...a treat for your eyes... and you will be swayed….

 
Truly an experience makes you feel there is love and love all over the place. There is love in the air itself. This is how I felt….

इन लम्हों के दामन में। … पाकीज़ा से रिश्ते हैं 
कोई कलमा मोहब्बत का.  दोहराते फरिश्ते हैं 
नग्मे ही नग्मे हैं जागती सोती फ़िज़ाओं में 
हुस्न हैं सारी अदाओं में इश्क़ हैं जैसे हवाओं में