It’s A Yes!

The dictionary defines the verb ‘Travel’ not only as ‘to move or to go from one place to another’ but also as ‘to proceed or advance in anyway’. I believe that the latter resonates more closely with the verb these days. Even in this era of technology where everything is available on one touch or click, physical travelling remains unmatched in the kind of expansion it can bring to one’s life. Travel fills you up not only with memories but dreams and hopes too; it teaches you much about life, people, exploration and most importantly, surviving. It makes you see what a huge universe lies beyond you little plush room or cabin. Travel is nothing short of a panacea for it can make one creative, cure depression to a good extent, makes you independent, wiser and can break old attitudes and notions like it did in my case.

Many years back till I visited the happening and beautiful Goa, I had very different notions about the place. If I were asked to define Goa in few words then, I would have said ‘drugs’, ‘dates’, ‘foreigners’ and ‘nudity’ but after one visit everything changed. Let me share this unforgettable experience of mine in short-

I visited Goa many years back on a college trip, long enough to travel and explore the place. Initially we were wary and were asked by the more cautious classmates who did not join us on the trip to keep a ‘safe distance’ from ‘that sorts’ and drugs. Many boys regarded Goan girls as ‘free’ and ‘available’ and Goan locals something as sloshed country idiots living a dull life. I will be honest here that when we reached that place, our perceptions were colored by these notions to a large extent; but that is what travel always does- it makes you unlearn and relearn the facts, breaks old molds and fills new colors into your lives. We noticed a different air. Coming from plains, I was usually not dexterous in enjoying beaches and beach parties. Women roaming around in skimpy clothing were observed with raised eyebrows. However, few days into this smallest Indian state, the only one to have two official languages- Konkani and Marathi, made me shed my old attitudes. By the way, I did not know Konkani was an altogether different language! Beaches can be enjoyed far more in swimming costumes and the humid climate of the place can discourage anyone from putting on too many clothes or heavy garments like sarees and salwar suits. The Portuguese (Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for more than four centuries and gained independence only in 1961), the aboriginal Konkani and the colonial catholic influence have led to a potpourri of cultures that is also quite charming. The dresses and skirts people wear in Goa suit the place, culture and the climate. The people are fond of liquor, particularly a local one made from cashew called ‘Feni’. 

The churches provide a cool and serene quietness, no less soothing than what I feel in temples. We visited many churches and found the love of Jesus pronounced in the very air of the place. Smiling locals, happy in their little lives closer to nature, merry and helpful foreigners giving you tips on swimming on beaches, old couples enjoying their sunset years and girls celebrating their freedom far from the peering eyes and filthy tongues of those around (unlike in Northern India), the multicultural cuisines and wonderful baked food items and a vibrant nightlife that could give wild Delhi a good complex, opened my mind and gave me a different perspective on life. If someone is different or has lesser inhibitions from you, then it does not make him or her cheap and degraded. Goa tells us precisely this thing. This place teaches us in its own subtle blithely way to coexist and enjoy life before it slips. As I said before, travel is indeed a panacea; it helped me to form some friendships that have stood the test of rough times.

I am happy that I stepped out of my little room, traveled and became more open-minded and tolerant of many things.

I am so happy to have said yes to the world!

You too can say Yes To The World with Lufthansa, the largest German airline and with its subsidiaries, also the largest airline in Europe!

Check out this beautiful video-

Images from Pixabay.com

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Say Yes To Travel

What do we have in mind when we think of hills and hill stations? I am sure around 7 in 10 people will say something on the lines of ‘serenity’, ‘calmness’, ‘joy’ and the like. However, reality can be shattering sometimes and can wash away all the notions we often have of distant places. Most of the times, movies, literature and stories make up our notions but travel can bring real knowledge into our lives. I mean to say travel is not only uplifting but can be immensely educative at times like it happened in my case.

Many years back, I went to a famous hill station named Manali. It is a small hill station in Himachal Pradesh and is located in the Beas river valley. All through the way we were looking forward to exploration, greenery and freshness. I also traveled to Rohtang Pass but came upon some shocking truths

The place is green and breezy indeed but there are many things that demand urgent attention like the issue of plastic waste. Numerous hotels and mini resorts have mushroomed in the place churning out plastic waste at an accelerated pace. The amount of waste generated is worrisome can be seen prominently in a small place like Manali. The snow at Rohtang pass was dirty and semi-melted as well, much to my disappointment.

The second issue is of lack of good schools and colleges. There were no good government schools and most children aided their parents in shops around the city. Many times I notice school kids trying to sell local fruits to passing tourists instead of being in classrooms. Illiteracy is prominent and worrisome.

Most of the roads are unpaved and some are very steep, too steep for the safety of lives. The huge number of Israeli tourists enjoying their small stay on their Military stipend had led to too many Israeli food joints to open up. The factories and the poor waste disposal systems were already polluting the place. Isolated clusters of habitation and poor electricity supply and connectivity make it tough to manage during times of flood and emergency.

I am not focusing and ranting upon the negatives only. After all Manali is place to visit and enjoy but I mean to say that it was only after travel that I came to know that hills demand attention and care. Things we read in books and watch in movies and TV many not be all rosy. Only one thing can make us see the both sides of the coin and that is travel.

The locals were cheerful and hospitable, the waterfalls are breath taking, and the Hidimba Temple was lovely. Overall I must say that the place has its own slow pace that cannot be rushed and its own rustic beauty that is charming despite being wrinkled by swelling population and uncared for natural resources.

This visit is etched in my memory because I said Yes To The World!

You too can explore, observe the real picture, become open minded and discern both sides of the coin! Just connect with Lufthansa by #SayYesToTheWorld.

Lufthansa is the largest German airline and with its subsidiaries, also the largest airline in Europe!

 Check this out

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We Owe Not Own

Have you ever wondered why of late most scientists have been keen on discovering water on other planetary bodies like the fiery Mars or one of the Jupiter’s moons called ‘Europa’? It is because the simple transparent liquid we take for granted is the first step towards life. History states that all civilizations started near rivers. We are nothing without water and dehydration is far worse than hunger pangs.

A few days back, a friend while searching for a rented accommodation told me that his only criterion was availability of water notwithstanding a higher rent. This is today’s reality- areas that boast of a good water supply are considered ‘premium’ compared to others. However, the real picture is much dark and ugly. India’s water tables have been depleting fast and in many areas- as fast as more than one meter every year in NCR, and in some areas near Ghaziabad, people have no option but to drink arsenic laden poisonous water for survival. We have taken water conservation so casually that it is now hitting us right in our faces. Already, thousands of people from Indian plains are migrating to places with water availability. Many rivers have dried up and the rest are badly polluted. With major rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Krishna and the like turning into sewers and dumping yards, fresh drinking water has become a precious commodity. The ‘World Health Organization’ estimates that in the developing world, around 80% of all diseases are water related. Sadly, the revered river Yamuna is technically dead; its oxygen content is zero and it has little aquatic life. Lakes too have become extremely filthy. Looking at the world as whole, only 2.5 % of the water on Earth is drinkable and most of it is getting polluted faster than we can even imagine. Formation of water-mafia, quarrels, gang-wars and even murders over water have become ubiquitous.

Link

We need to understand that we do not ‘own’ but ‘owe’ resources to our coming generations, just as we preserve the property in a school or college for it to be used by the forthcoming batches. Not just our country, the whole world is facing water crisis of one type or another.

To combat the problem effectively, little steps taken at home and office will be very helpful-

1.  Saving Leftover Water- The leftover water in glasses at home and office can be collected in a bucket or a container and can be used for various mundane activities like for plants, car washing and floor mopping. In my home, one person uses one glass throughout the day and glasses are kept covered so the unfinished water is not wasted.

2.  Car Washing- Wasting gallons of tap water in car washing is one thing I openly condemn. Wiping with a damp cloth works well too.

3.  Fixing Faulty Faucets- Leaking faucets are a leading factor in water wastage which can be massive in the long run. Fixing them will result in much conservation over time.

4. Avoiding Frequent Washing- Using washing machine only when load is full and avoiding garments that require much water to wash has become a must now.

5. Low Flush- Using half-flush or low flush toilets that use only 4-5 litres  of water per flush helps in reducing water wastage.

6. Cutting on Meat- Reports suggest that a vegetarian diet decreases per capita water consumption very much because it take gallons of water to rear animals for meat.

7. Rainwater Harvesting- This idea, though not new, is indeed the most brilliant and important idea for water conservation and can be applied in residential societies and even individual houses. The concept is simple- the rain water is collected through pipes in a pit or tank for reuse. This has worked well everywhere it has been applied. In fact, it is a part of life in many North Eastern states in India.

8. Spartan Baths- I suggest the bathrooms should be used not for long luxury baths or elaborate beauty procedures, but quick baths. Use of bathtub should be avoided as it leads to colossal water wastage.

Link

On an average, 150 liters of water is used per person per day and 70% of all freshwater is used in producing food. For this we can add more efforts like, keeping taps off while brushing teeth.  If per-capita water consumption decreases on a macro scale, it will surely help a lot in marathon. Another important thing is to teach our children to save water right from a tender age. Such a generation will grow up and conserve resources in far better ways.

I personally believe that concrete pavements do not allow water to percolate down to ground hence negatively affecting the water tables. Also, city sewage must not be discharged into rivers directly but only after a proper treatment in sewage plants. This will help a lot to keep our rivers clean and alive.

Livpure that started under the SAR Group, is India most trusted brand of water purifiers in India and aims to spread the message of #CuttingPaani wherein the unfinished water must be collected and used. This is just one initiative by Livpure; there are millions of ways in which we can save water. Before venturing out on far away planets in search of water and life, we need to focus on our planet by conserving water, for water is life and life begins only with water.

I will leave you with this little poem by writer and parliamentarian, Shashi Tharoor in which he emphasizes importance of water-

पेड़ों के बिन यूं लगती है जैसे धरती नंगी है

कैसे होगी वो हरी भरी? जब पानी की तंगी है

मातृ भूमि की सेवा को हमें अपना फर्ज़ निभाना है

जितना पानी बच सकता है उतना हमें बचाना है!

Check out this awesome video- 

I have contributed to this cause and you can help too 

by signing this wonderful petition@ https://www.change.org/p/cuttingpaani

#CuttingPaani  
#IndiChange

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Portrait

I am excited to share a recent commissioned work I did. 

This is a portrait of Dr. Reddy, a distinguished Indian academician. 

Below is the ref. photograph I was given for the portrait. 

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For commissions, please contact me through my blog or 

my website ankitasharma.co.in

Book Review- Sputnik Sweetheart

Title:     Sputnik Sweetheart 

Author:  Haruki Murakami

Transl.:  Philip Gabriel

Publ.:     Random House

ISBN:      978-0-099-44847-1

MRP:      Rs 499

Pages:    228

I was looking forward to reading more works by the famous writer Haruki Murakami after I read the very inspiring ‘What I Talk about When I Talk about Running’ about a year back. It is still one of my favorite non-fiction works. My latest read was ‘Sputnik Sweetheart’ which was originally penned in Japanese. It has his characteristic elements such as loneliness, alternate reality, unrequited love, Greece, and of course, cats. The novel does not have a concrete ending and leaves the reader wondering about many possible outcomes, may be similar to the satellite Sputnik- II’s remains still floating in the outer space.

In a nutshell, the plot goes like this-

The author, a school teacher, is in love with his best friend, an eccentric girl named Sumire who is a struggling writer and lives alone in a small apartment. He longs for her but she falls for Miu, a much older businesswoman. Sumire is open and unapologetic about her sexual orientation but the author cannot let go of his love for her. Sumire travels to Europe on a business trip with Miu for whom she works and then disappears suddenly on a remote and non-descript Greek island. Author reaches Greece and Miu reveals a strange and eerie incident happened 14 years ago that had changed her life forever. As he returns, he gets into trouble when one of his students is caught shoplifting. This incident alters his relationship with his girlfriend and he returns to his apartment, pondering over many things.

The novel ends on a very abstract note and is somewhat philosophical in certain parts but not stuffed with long convoluted and didactic sentences. What I could gather from the linear plot narrated in first person is that we all are broken and move in our orbits. Sometimes, we come across each other for brief moments much like the remains of Sputnik II and then go our own ways, all alone. I think the author is trying to convey that in an alternate plane (which was earth for Sputnik II where it was one whole) we live a whole and perfect life the way we desire but in reality, we all are broken pieces, revolving all alone within the orbits of our banal and mundane lives.

My rating is 3.5/5.

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer. His books and stories have been bestsellers in Japan as well as internationally, with his work being translated into 50 languages.

Dignity

Tough as a diamond and fragile as a delicate piece of chinaware, a woman’s dignity is a queer thing. Still, it needs to be protected from scratches and dirt and is to be carried like a child everywhere. This is indeed the biggest responsibility. This is a woman’s strength that her dignity is alive and kicking and it is also the most perilous thing for her to live like this in a world where everything, from rules to laws and from religion to mindsets have been designed to smash it like it were a poisonous weed, that could claim tall snooty trees, standing upright, looking down upon little sprouts feeling insecure over their growth.

Ego Hassles

Love, every time I look into your eyes,

My heart whispers

That life is too short for ego hassles

The Transformation Tide

I call those of my generation ‘The Hybrids’, for we have lived life in different eras and times. For those like me, born in mid 1980’s, as late thinker Alvin Toffler has described, it is not the change itself but the rate of change that is startling; nothing has been more surprising than the changes that have swept us along the way like leaves in wind, within the past few years. From combined families, deeper interpersonal relationships, Premier Padminis and Ambassadors, traditional home cooked food and spacious country houses with many rooms, to living a modern urban life with smaller apartments, less interference and frequent eating outs and plethora of electronic gadgets, I have experienced much transformation till now. This change has changed me, my attitudes as well as my habits in astounding ways and this can be felt in every area be it relationships, food habits, emotional orientation and preferences. We were happy in that life till we tasted a far more urban life of metros and then craved for more; we desired for more quality sans adjustments in everything. From using heavy box like mobiles with monochrome messaging to smart phones that are used for everything from calls to browsing, from music to movies, the way I communicate has undergone a paradigm change. We, The Hybrids, now desire more without an iota of compromise on quality. Undoubtedly, we are riding a tide of constant transformation.

I can vividly recall my father’s portable AM (‘Amplitude Modulation’, the old wireless sound technology) transistor, b/w TVs with huge aluminum antennas, audio and video cassettes for music and movies. Later colored TVs with FM (Frequency Modulation) audio system appeared and gradually all AM radio transmissions too were replaced altogether with FM type. In those times when CDs did not exist, tape recorders with cassettes ruled the music world. I too, have a huge collection of cassettes at my place and am confused about what to do with all that. The sound quality was very fine in our Sanyo tape recorder then till ‘Walkman’ revolutionized the music world! I carried mine almost everywhere. The music was portable and the quality too, seemed pretty good. However, when I recall and compare, I realize we were happy with a little and had low expectations from products and life in general. New and latest gadgets like ‘BoseQuiet Comfort 35 II Wireless Headphones’ have changed the whole scene altogether. The change has been swift and speedy and now people want a far better experience from music and phone calls, low noise factor and hands free ease and portability. Gone were the days when we used liquid ‘head cleaner’ to clean our tape recorder and then ignoring the noise factor, would groove to ABBA (I grew up listening to this band!) Boney M and Ghulam Ali Ghazals, fast forwarding and rewinding to reach the fav number!

When I was in college, listening to music on PCs was in vogue but that too was not portable and the noise factor had to be ignored in portables like Walkman, mobiles and small radios. However, now there is no scope of compromise, we just do not need even to think of it. The status quo has broken and innovation rules the roost. Companies like Bose have done much research in the domain of sound and music and their technology and inventions are the best one can get.

I will dedicate this small poem to my past self-

Hey you, cute little girl in pink frill frock!

Ribbons in hair, shiny shoes with lace socks

Dancing to your fav song on the rustic radio

Blaring loudly in old country house’s patio

You, who have loved music such deeply,

And would notice every beat so keenly

Got one day the best life could offer

Your dad’s old Sanyo tape recorder

Black old keys were divine and golden

Rewinding- forwarding was no problem

Jarring noise too could not stop you at all,

From enjoying Boney M and E. Fitzgerald

Now a teenager, you carry a walkman

Like it is your personality’s extension

Listening to Michael, Mariah and Martin

No issues, you feel sound is so amazing!

From that little girl dancing on old transistor

To an emotional child then a reckless teenager

Raise bars, demand better of what you do love

Now get the best for music, a part of your soul

‘Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II Wireless Headphones’ come not only with a Google Assistant but also a free app that makes switching devices a cakewalk. GA helps in listing to music without noise, receiving texts and managing daily tasks with voice command system easily, all in a few clicks. These headphones cut all the external noise so all you get is pure music, your preferred music that helps you entertain and relax for as long as you wish! Three touch button settings namely, ‘High’, ‘Low’ and ‘Off’  help a non Google user to adjust noise cancellation settings as well.

Music has always been an integral part of meditation and healing. From religious chants and hymns to sweet melodies and pure classical, music knows no shape, no boundaries and class; it adjusts itself around and pats you like a mother, hugs you like a friend, loves you like a darling and makes you walk out of dark memories. Music is life! Bose brings more spice in your life with its new technology that cuts outside noise thus giving you far better quality. I can enjoy music for 20 hours non-stop now!

Now, I can kick aside those rough noises of old radios and tapes, that annoying forwarding-rewinding and issues of low batteries (I always carried extra pencil cells for my walkman), and get the innovative and latest, re-chargeable, Bluetooth optimized, wireless, 240 V, microphone optimized and lightweight (only 236 gms) ‘Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II Wireless Headphone’. It can be used with my home PC as well or on the go with my Smartphone, as per my personal ease so I can enjoy clear noise free phone calls too. (Image link)

With us Indians, durability is always a strong factor in deciding our purchases of gadgets. In that case, I do not need to worry as the materials used are high-quality namely ‘Alcantara’ which is approx 68% polyester with 32% polyurethane, providing more durability and stain resistance for the headband and ‘Synthetic Protein Leather’ for the ear cushions. Quiet Comfort 35 II comes in Silver and Black. I personally prefer sleek and subtle silver that looks premium and stylish at the same time! 

Quiet Comfort comes with a charging cable, backup audio cable and a stylish carry case. One Lithium ion battery is also included.  (Image Link)

Dear Past Self, 

Even if you do not believe me, you can trust ‘IndiaToday’ that has rated it a great 8.5 on a scale of 10! According to India Today, Bose QC 35 II is 'the best noise cancelling headphone with a technology that cannot be beat'. mensXP.com too, has also declared QC 35 II to be the' best wireless noise cancelling headphones yet'!  

Now, I know you must be feeling slightly envious or disappointed but now tables have turned and I will not compromise on sound quality anymore as music is my life and I demand unparalleled quality and ease like that of Bose devises!

Much Love

Visit www.boseindia.com to know more about this awesome innovation.

#BoseQC35

#BloggerContest

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