Trip to Nepal

All were longing to go on some trip and the discussions were common. Finally,after suggestions  from different people, we decided to go to Manali. And more research on it began.The search for hotels and spots where in we can go in Manali and nearby ,began.It was October and as per our research the major spot called Rohtang Pass was found  to be closed  due to snowfall or some other reasons.  Still there was 90% probability that we would go there .Our minds were exploring places nearby Manali but our hearts were not there. And all of a sudden, we saw a link blinking at the top right corner, a kind of advertisement which we usually ignore.It read "Kathmandu trip package" at a very reasonable price. "Oh wow", said both together , "look at that ,can't we go there?." My colleague and me were very fond of a trip to somewhere out of India. Though it might not be a that different country from India. Owing to its presence touching Indian boundaries,the cultures were not that different. Even Nepalese are very common in India and we could generally see them working in different parts of our country.
Still, a desire to go in flight ,as I haven't been to anywhere by air probably as there wasn't any need of it ,aroused a curiosity in us. We searched more about it,talked to fellow employees who were supposed to be the part of our team or the trip team.

Then came some refusals for the same on various issues. Sad, we can't go abroad. For us it was not less than going to Paris or Singapore on a holiday.Again, resumed our search for Manali. The next day,the desire had not vanished and my colleague again asked me to confirm things regarding the package to Kathmandu and we together ,in hope of going abroad started our own search to Kathmandu.Our hearts were stuck in the package... trip to abroad.. aahh...

Finally we managed to convince others for our trip to a so called foreign country. But our hearts were assured only when the tickets were finally booked. Filght tickets.. wow!! For me, it was like one dream come true.. (one because obviously there isn't any end to those).And now started the wait for one month as we were supposed to go in November and luckily, November is considered as the best time to go to Nepal.

One month passed..

Finally the day arrived. We reached office early that day as our cabs were to pick us from there only. And our journey started..

We reached Delhi International Airport T3 and the process of check-in started.Some problems were faced but got solved. We entered the plane,Indigo and the beautiful women,I am certainly talking about the air hostesses, welcomed us. Now came the time for take off. We fastened our seat belts and all was set to experience the beautiful journey by air. Take-off was the best part in the whole flight journey, seemed as if on a roller-coaster ride.. Amazing...

Finally, we landed at Kathmandu Airport , saw the cab driver holding our name plate. Quickly got into the cab  and headed towards our hotel.
First day was reserved for shopping in Thamel. It was too expensive and Indian food was difficult to find .Nothing was bought. I wonder why people say it is very cheap place. We didn't find anything at nominal price,everything was so expensive and can't even speak of their quality .The next day we went to Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.Pashupatinath, a place of pilgrimage ,known as one-eighth part of the Badrinath temple in India and the Tirath yatra is said to be incomplete without being there. Also it is the only place outside India which comes with the other holy places that are part of Tirath yatra. Wow..!! we, at such a young age have been to that holy place.Good indeed !! Then we went to Devis fall, waterfall where water goes to such a depth that you can only see the water falling down and down till the very last point of your sight.Then, comes the turn of a cave which was 50 metre down and then 100 metre in length. It was amazing. Owing to it being near to Devis fall, we were able to go inside the cave which took us to the fall itself, but even now the water was falling down only and not seen to be flowing anywhere.



Devis Fall :





The view was worth watching, the mountains covered with snow made the mood of the day. Awesome scenic views everywhere were the reason for Nepal's beauty. It was like Nepalese were blessed by Nature. Tourism seemed to be their major or perhaps the only source of income. The most exquisite view was that of sunrise. When the first rays of Sun fall on the snow covered Annapurna Range,the hills top seemed to be of orange color, we were at such an altitude that even the sky seemed to be below us and only by looking straight without moving our heads up, we could see the mountains just at a small distance from us. Awesomeness of the place was witnessed by many people from various countries. All with their high resolution cameras,SLR s were capturing each moment as the sun was rising. Some river was flowing at the bottom on one side and clouds seemed to be spread like a mat on the other. The rays of sun falling on snow covered mountains enhanced their beauty and at the same time there appeared the slowly rising sun from between the clouds. The wondrous view made us all feel as if we were on top of the world . To mention, the whole credit goes to Pokhara, a place in Nepal which was so blessed to have such a worth watching and unforgettable view of Sunrise.Also, the sunset is very famous here, but due to lack of time we were not able to witness that.

The awesome Sunrise  of Pokhara:

The Annapurna Range :

The next day, we went to Pewa lake, another awesome place in Pokhara. Well, I must say each place has some uniqueness and has taken space in my memory with the common thing among them being their awesomeness and their beauty as being blessed by Him. Pewa lake, a very large lake having a temple which is all surrounded by water and the only means to go there was by boats. We, being eight in number required two boats, four on one,and started steering towards the temple. We got down there, clicked pictures,and again on boats, heading towards the shore on the other side of the lake. It was another amazing small journey.

Pewa Lake :

Our next plan was to move to THE WORLD PEACE STUPA,Pokhara. We were at the other side of the Pewa lake now and the way to stupa, as told required an hour of climbing up the mountains and trekking from the other side of it to get down to the city. Adventurous, it seemed, and we started our journey climbing up to the hill top where the Stupa was. It was wonderful, we met many tourists from various countries on the way. We were walking and walking but the monument was nowhere to be seen. Tired  now!! took rest in between but had to climb, as there was no other way left. Climbed and climbed up the hill... in search of the stupa.. and there it was. Beautiful !! we were at the top. Nothing seemed above us. The place was like a heaven. Amazing, wonderful, great ! All greenery in the vicinity and in between stood the white colored Stupa. It was a great monument. We clicked plenty of photographs as all of us wanted to captivate the view. It was dawning and we were to get back to our hotel, so we started trekking downwards to get back to the city. On the way, we saw a bus coming, all were very tired so felt good looking at the bus. We boarded the bus, singing and enjoying the songs in the bus, we reached the city.


World Peace Stupa:

We were all hungry since morning, so we went to a restaurant, ordered Indian food and the delivery of the food as usual was after a long wait of nearly one hour. We finally had the food. Finding Indian food was very problematic in Nepal and wherever available , it was very expensive.

After having our supper, we moved to our hotel.We slept quite early as we were to board our flight the next day. Finally in the wee hours of morning, we left the hotel, said goodbye to Pokhara. We reached Airport in the noon ,boarded our flight and landed on our Motherland.

It was a great experience on the whole. My first and second flight journey was awesome, second as I am counting our return journey to be at number two. I particularly liked the takeoff part and the landing part. On reaching, I informed my family and friends of my arrival.Ate a lot of Indian food as if hungry from days and felt proud be an Indian, after all there is no better place than our motherland.



Some of the views I captured :


Pewa lake :

In the morning :

Kathmandu Market :

 Swayambhunath Temple :

The Pewa Lake

PashupatiNath Temple

Views from inside the plane:

Pewa lake:

Where the mind is without fear

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee

Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

-Rabindranath Tagore

Perplexed!!

A second freedom movement is going on all over the country. A movement against corruption,to punish the white collar people who are always masked because of their high cadre,but possess a white collar in corruption too.Anna Hazare is the man,who took the initiative along with some of his fellow members . They have framed a so called Jan-Lokpal Bill which is ammendment to the earlier Lokpal bill framed by the government some time back.The new Lokpal bill is the need of the hour as they say and about 92 % of the countrymen are supporting the cause.

The point of my bewilderedness is whether this is actually an apt bill ? Does it contain all the points that would make India corruption free in the near future ? Would it really change the mindset of people who pay bribes just to make their work done at the earliest or perhaps when it is nt possible at all? Is it really going to make the inhuman humans or the government corruption free ? Will just the fear of getting castigated change the money minded politicians? Or who assures, the government after passing of this bill would  be corruption free  or the people would not be corrupt anymore ?
To take a simple example: We bribe traffic policeman just to get ourselves rid off the challans. Or what about the fake medical bills or the telephone bills we make in order to get them reimburse from the Employers. Are we not corrupt ? Let us eradicate corruption at our individual level first. Corruption free India consists of corruption free people  and not just only corruption free government . The real  supporters would be those who take a pledge that they would not take or give bribe ,would not make fake bills,etc  and then only you are a real supporter of this cause.

Well, seeing it with an optimistic eye, I supported him. Knowing about the bill and thinking that it would revolutionize , I supported the passing of the bill and infact gone to the candle march held here.

But, to my surprise, even after following the march, something striked my mind.
Is it the apt way in actuality? Would it not give a kind of direction to anyone who wants to make his work done on emotional grounds? For instance ,anyone would blackmail the government and say "do this for me else i would fast unto death" or a group of people forcing to pass a law made by them or else they would start the similar fast.

Some things are making me muddle headed and I am not able to get across the dilemma.
Any help or views on this would be appreciated.

gems of life

friends are a part of life

with them,u learn the art of life

u play with them..

do lots of masti..

time changes ,,

when you become a famous personality

forget how much they used to care

meetings with them are very rare..

lonely ,, some day you think of them..

N all the old buddies come to mind..

desperately u want to talk to them..

if only they have some time..

Alas! but the same scenario is there

they are busy, no time to spare..

you feel lonely, you feel sad

if only u cud have maintained some contact..

now you realize, now you repent..

those days were awesome,with friends you spent..

never lose diamonds, collecting stone(s)

for friends are gems,if their value is known..

Never let this happen in your life..

give them time, with full delight..

those people are blessed,who have good friends..

for not all are capable ,of keeping gems..

enjoy your life with your best buddies,,

feel proud that you are so much lucky..

show your friends how much you care

as people like them are very rare..

time will change but should not your feelings..

else will enter your life only sufferings and hurtings..

stay blessed and happy with your best pals..

remember on earth they are the only angels..

choice.....

Life is full of choices
Make sure you pick the right one
Don't listen to the voices
Hear only yours and you have won

Many people will tell you
You need to change your looks
Don't take to heart their view
Fabulous bods are found only in books

There is only one voice
That you should listen to
It will help make the right choice
That is perfect just for you

Your looks are your own
Someone will always love you
You will never be alone
Look in the mirror and you'll see who

A promise..

As you sit in silence,
Wondering why
I'll be your shoulder to cry on
Until your tears run dry.

When you've been hurt,
And can't believe what they've done
If you need someone to talk to
I'll be the one.

If a close friend hurts you,
And you don't understand
Remember I'm here,
I'll lend a helping hand.

Burdens are lighter when carried by two,
And I just want you to know
I'm here for you.

समय की बात

अब तो कुछ कर दिखाने का वक़्त आ गया है
अपने आप को साबित करने का समय आ गया है॥
बचपन से देखा था जो ख्वाब ,
आज उसे पूरा करने का सही समय आ गया है॥

कब तक रहेंगे अपने माँ बाप पर निर्भर ,
कब तक चलेंगे उनका हाथ थामकर,
अब तो खुद अपनी जीवन की डोर सम्भालने का समय आ गया है॥

बचपन से जिस माँ ने पाला हमे ,,
आज उसी माँ का नाम रोशन करने का वक्त आ गया है॥
जिस पिता ने की सारी इच्छाएं पूरी हमारी ,
आज उसी पिता का काम सम्भालने का वक्त आ गया है,

१ अंतरा जिंदगी का खत्म हुआ,अब तो दूसरी पारी को खेलना है
जिन्दगी ने जो सिखाया अब तक ,
अब उसी जिन्दगी के इम्तिहान में,
अपने आप को साबित करने का समय आ गया है॥

हम सही तरीके अपना कर करेंगे पार, इस दुसरे इम्तिहान को भी,
याद है सारे संस्कार जो दिए ,माता पिता ने कभी,
इश्वर- कृपा,माता पिता का आशीर्वाद और दोस्तो की दुआओं से,
हम सबका नाम करेंगे रोशन,
इस बात को साबित करने का समय अब आ गया है॥