Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas is about hope, love, joy of giving and sharing, of being together and the merry feeling it fills me with. It's a feeling that comes from deep within my heart and soul.

So, I can't help loving it, no matter if it's not the White Christmas that I have been wishing for, no matter if it's  without friends, Christmas cake, Christmas tree, Christmas eve party, Christmas dinner, no matter if my stockings shall remain empty, no matter if I can't get family to join me in my enthusiasm for Christmas.

It's still Christmas, my Christmas, and I'll be celebrating it's spirit, so I'll still make my Christmas wishlist, I'll still hang my stockings, I'll still sing jingle bells, I'll be thankful for the family and friends I have, for a lovely vacation that I have just had, for being well fed, clothed, for the luxuries I take for granted, for being healthy and alive and I'll makes wishes for the happiness and health of all those who I know and with all that I'll wait for another Christmas to come next year, with the hope that, it shall be my Christmas.

                    'Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.' - Calvin Coolidge

Travelogue Phuket 2012 - The Beginning

free
momentarily
from the chains that hold me
joyous
I
open my arms
to embrace
the wind and skies
I
wish to find
my wings
and beyond the clouds
I
want to fly
to
find somewhere my own sky
to
paint it with the hue of my joy
let me be
a bird
free to fly.

Why do I want to travel? the inevitable question that I get asked before and after my every trip by family, by friends, by colleagues, so much so that I have started asking this question from myself before and after every trip.

Why do I travel?

And every time when I ponder over this question at the start of my trip,
Surprisingly, I never have a sure answer, and every time it's a different one. But the most two compelling reasons that make me perennially itchy and restless for traveling are - One, to seek a change from my regular everyday life, to take a break from the boredom of daily routine of work and life and the stress it brings along, helping my body and mind refresh and rejuvenate. Second is my love for food and travel provides me countless opportunities to experience a new cuisine, discover countless new dishes, so traveling can always get me excited with the idea of all the unexplored flavors that I shall get to experience.

But when I ponder over the same question at the end of my trip,
I do have a few more reasons for wanting to travel and to keep doing so once and again, it's because of all the wide range of experiences that accompany traveling. These experiences (some good, some not so good) range from meeting new people, listening to their stories, making new friends, coming across varied cultural experiences, exploring new places, dealing with new and at times unforeseen situations and challenges, the process of discovering something new. And more importantly the change that this whole experience brings about in me as a person, in my outlook towards the world and towards myself.

In the end traveling is important to me because this process of exploring places and people, helps me explore myself as a person, discover aspects of me that I was unaware of, it makes me more dynamic by helping me look beyond my comfort zone and explore the limits that I have set for myself and going beyond them, and in this whole process bringing within me changes, for the better or for the worse I can not say. But changes for sure.

This is how this trip also began,
me wanting to go somewhere traveling to take a break from my routine, when my friend Jacob was kind enough to ask me if I would like to join him in Phuket, for a Muay Thai fitness camp that he would be attending. And I agreed glad for company of a friend, eager to explore a new place and a new sport and thus began all the planning, research and preparations.

And finally after quite a few hiccoughs, many brain storming sessions about tickets, stay and other logistics (the credit for most of which goes to Jacob, I really do marvel at his ability to get so much more and valuable information from net than I do) I was all set to begin with my December break and now that I can look back at it, it was a wonderful one.

A few tips, if u are an Indian Citizen traveling to Phuket, Thailand -

• Plan your trip in advance if u can, it gets you cheaper deals on air tickets as well as hotel reservations.
• Even though VISA on arrival is not a big deal, just an extra hour of delay at the airport (and u shall have to show currency worth 35000 Bhat in hand), U can get it done from the Thai Embassy and it's a very simple process. (which takes about 3-4 days with proper planning and information, which is available online)
• I found it a better deal to get my money converted to US Dollars here and then converting Dollars to Thai Bhat in Thailand. (There are ample money exchange counter at and near both Bangkok and Phuket airport)
• Thailand is one of the countries which u can fit in any budget, all u need to do is research well, and be it hotels, to planning activities, to cab services all information is easily available and even on arrival, the locals ( at least in Phuket) are very helpful.

P.S - for more details about the travel please follow the next few posts

Phuket Dec 2012

I have been away for a while now, because I was on a vacation.

Phang Nga Bay, Phuket

Destination - Phuket
Duration - 10 days
Activities - I'll need a while a to put everything down in words, a travelogue is in process, though I doubt if i'll
                 to see it to the finish line and of course loads of pictures, which need to be sorted out.

What now? - Now that the vacation is over, I am feeling blue. This is the crazy thing about vacations, before     they begin, U can't wait for them to start and once they do, u just don't want them to get over.

I think the only way to get over a vacation is by planning another one.

So this is what is on the cards - work, party, write the travelogue, plan a new trip and of course work on some of the personal projects that are pending.

Happy December

December

I stopped midway in the mad rush

as the realization struck that

It's December again.

I

took a deep breath,

welcoming the Winters,

letting the chill seep in

letting the calm set in.

For 

the first time in so many weeks

I stopped feeling like a string

tense, taut, ready to snap.

I 

love December,

it reminds me that a year has gone by

that time has been lost

But

it also fills me with hope

that there's another year waiting just around the corner.

Waiting

with so many days, so many months

to be filled with

all that is yet to be done.

It's the time

of the year to take a break.

To 

Hibernate,

Rejuvenate

to 

Begin again.

It's 

the time to let go what is gone,

to dream and hope for what is to come,

with Christmas and snow

just around the corner

it's the time

to spread joy

and to let cheer take over

and let the soul heal.

Happy December

(P.S. - I wish there was a movie titled 'happy December' showing the essence of December, and like every year I wish I would get to see and enjoy a white December and a merry Christmas)

Small treats

This post is inspired by this lovely post by my blogger friend Relyn http://comesitbymyfire.blogspot.in/2012/11/small-treats.html on her blog 'Come sit by my fire'

Small Treats, those tiny little things that, can brighten an otherwise dull, crazy or bad day in just a moment. The magical little things that make up magical little moments, which make life vibrant and beautiful.

My Small Treats

 include 

Surprises, getting them and giving them * getting flowers * Daisies * Sunsets * Teddy Bears * watching my gold wish swimming in it's bowl at night * walking on the cold damp grass * enjoying a walk in the cool breeze on a silent night * star gazing * dancing * listening to music with lights dulled and letting it take me on a high * watching one of my fav movies at home on a Saturday night with bowl of soup, burger and ice cream tub * warm nice smelling bubble bath with music in the back ground * talking to friends * writing letters * making personalized gifts * crafts * painting shirts * watching children play * a warm glass of milk with ginger bread * watching the first snow of the season sitting on the porch * reading a nice book tucked up in my quilt on a winter night * dreaming about finding love and spending a lifetime being in love * spa * helping someone in need * the look on the face of an elderly after spending some time with them * hugging someone when they are feeling low * long drive in the country at night with music and wine * cooking * baking cakes and cookies * desserts * the feeling after doing my one good deed for the day * getting hugged and kissed by mom while I'm still in bed * sharing a casual laughing moment with dad * feeling of being taken care off* pillow fights * shoes * a well fitted party dress * sitting in a bar with a drink and music * lying on the grass under the sun on a cold winter's day * the smell of autumn * the spirit of festive season * singing * sitting in a coffee shop on a rainy day with a warm mug of coffee while I write a few lines * rich creamy hot chocolate * painting * the smell of sunday mornings * dreamless peaceful sleep * memories * good times with friends * eating roasted marsh mallows * halloween parties * saying thank you * picnics * travelling * open air candle light dinners * reading poetry *

all that I can remember at the moment, but it's just the tip of the ice-berg. What are your small treats?

I Believe...

The way u treat people describes your character.

 So if u want to know what people feel about u, look back and see how u treated them.

 U treat someone well, they feel good about u, u treat someone like shit, they feel crappy about u. 

Perception is relative. 

So be careful about the way u treat people.

Musing

Been a while,

 since I have done some writing, 

apart from maybe a few lines,

 bits and pieces here and there, not much.

I was wondering why?

 because writing gives me joy, 

joy because it is an instrument through which I communicate

  not just with people around me, 

but also with myself. 

most of the times

I express thoughts better while writing than speaking

In fact

as I begin writing about them

my thoughts start getting clearer

problems start making sense

I understand myself better

And

solutions start coming to me

And I end up in a better shape

then when I began.

Then why haven't I written in such a long time

actually

why haven't I been able to write?

The answer,

I guess is that I write,

when my conscious and unconscious mind communicate with each other

The conscious mind,

 struggling with it endless queries and confusions

While

The unconscious mind

tries to help it look at things

with a clearer perspective

in the process

clearing the clutter,

making sense out of the chaos.

I have not been able to write

because

I have not been at peace

I have been galloping, worrying, chasing

while 

the unconscious mind 

has been trying

to tell me 

to 

slow down

calm down

quit chasing

to accept what I have heard

but 

I am refusing to acknowledge.

That

what has to happen shall happen

that for everything

under the sun, there is a season and reason

and 

that 

I need to only do what I can

do what I want to

do what I feel is right

and 

forget about the rest.

no amount of 

chasing

wanting

worrying

is going to make a difference.

I am not writing

because

I am refusing to listen to the dialogue

happening within.

(P.S - at the end of this post of course I will start the process of trying to listen)