Until next time...

I couldn't decide which blog to post this on but since all my sentimental posts are on this one, including the last "Good bye" post when I left CEP, I decided to post this one here too! :)

Sigh. I don't even know where to start. I know I write a lot about change, its inevitability, its heart wrenching pain, it being a new chapter and so on...but it's easy to preach than to practice. A huge change for me is in the happening and that's saying goodbye to Swansea, for now I hope. I always say I'll be back...just to revisit the place, the memories...

Having said that, the last three years have been the most amazing journey of my life. I grew to be the person I am today (or so I like to believe) because of Swansea, the education, the people and most importantly, the independence that led to responsibility (again, I hope).

If had to start thanking people and jotting down memories from day 1 on this post, it would be endless. Nevertheless, I have a long list of people who have made the experience of Swansea what it is and I know I wouldn't want to have it any other way :) All you guys, you brought out the good, the bad and the evil (I had to :P) in me - (this is the part where I tried jotting down names, but there are way too many!)

So having failed at that, you know who you are. You hold a special place in my heart and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making Swansea home :)

It's difficult to say goodbye, but it's even more difficult to let go of the memories. But as rightly put, it's better to always look forward but mainly, live in the present. As said correctly from The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, "There is no present like the time." :)

Swansea, you will forever be my second home.

Dear Stranger, Happy Birthday! Sincerely, Stranger.

Dear Stranger,

Today, you reminded me of the days when humanity, kindness, friendship and love were most important. You may not have realised the impact of your small act, but it made me realise that in today's world, we hardly give importance to the things that really matter. For this, I sincerely thank you.

Sincerely,
Anu.

To my readers,

My friend and I were sitting in front of Forum Mall (Bangalore), and just talking about random stuff. You know how it is when you catch up with friends.

While doing so, we observed a group of boys in front of us. They were hiding a cake, which had a number of candles on them. Another group of boys were bringing in the birthday boy, covering his eyes. They brought him towards the cake, then revealed the surprise. The expression on the birthday boy's face was one I will never forget. The genuine happiness and joy on his face is one that is rarely to be seen.

What moved me in this act of friendship was when the cake was cut and distributed, the boys also distributed the cake to the people around.

This kind of attitude in today's world is rarely found. I would like to thank these boys, not for the cake, but for putting a smile on my face and making me take part in their circle of happiness. This took me back to the days when I was a kid and I would distribute chocolates all around the school, to people I knew and to people I didn't know, just because I wanted them to take part in my happiness.

Sometimes, it's best to keep things simple. Simplicity is what brings happiness. Today's incident was one I will always remember and cherish. Once again, Happy Birthday Jagdish! :-)

They shared their cake!

The group of boys. Photograph by Sundeep Chevour

New York, New York!

New York, New York

New York...a city of dreams. Sounds like something Fitzgerald would say. Actually, something he would precisely say: "The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in it's first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world." - F. Scott Fitzgerald on New York City.

New York City is a place that you would like to give time and patience to explore. There's just so much to do and so much to see. Taking a tour bus would be ideal if you are staying a short while. But if you have the time (and energy), I suggest you just walk most of the city and make use of the trains. Walking would be the best option as you'd see a lot!

There's lots to do in New York City. There's the mainstream tourism - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Photography Museum, Times Square, Broadway, Empire State, Freedom Tower, Central Park, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Wall St and many more things. However, here's a list of things that I personally enjoyed:

1. The Photography Museum: is conveniently located at 43rd street, busy ends. It looks pretty small, and it is. But it has millions worth of information. The photographs clicked are beyond amazing. There are creative displays such as tiny photographs made to look like windows of buildings. The place does not allow you to click photographs, but that's alright! Who wants to create art by clicking pictures of other art? Art is for appreciation.

The museum is under the International Center of Photography, so if you are interested, you could sign up to become a member.

Phantom of the Opera

2. The Museum of Modern Art: most commonly known as MoMA; one can easily spend a whole day at this museum. The place is filled with works by famous artists like Ansel Adams, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dal, and many more. MoMA is a huge place to explore. There are different floors, categories and genres.

Times Square

3. Broadway: If you're in New York, please do try to go for a Broadway show! It's one of the best experiences ever. The show that we went for was The Phantom of the Opera. The show is magnificent, the acting is brilliant and the music is grand as ever. An interesting fact is the music is performed by music students from New York University some nights. Also, remember to dress up all fancy!

4. Times Square: Busy central! Times Square is a photographer's dream...sometimes. The place is always so busy, it's unbelievable! There are people dressed up as characters walking about, there's ten different genres of music playing about everywhere, there are street artists performing or painting, and there are the group of tourists clicking pictures from all sorts of angles. If you're the kind that likes to observe crowds, Times Square is the place for you. Grab a cup of coffee or a bowl of Cold Stone ice cream and just sit there, observing people. It's not the weirdest thing that can happen there, trust me!

View from the Empire State Building

5. Empire State Building: Catch the best view of New York City from the top of the Empire State Building. The best time to go is during the night, when the city is lit up and you photographers can capture some breathtaking pictures. It gets quite crowded, but everyone gets a chance to enjoy the view.

These are my top five "to do" things in New York. Comment below on what you would like to do or have done during your visit to the world's busiest city, New York!

All Photographs taken by Author.

Rhossili Bay!

Cliffs at Sea

I've been to Rhossili three times, and this was my fourth trip. I was excited, as usual. There's nothing more than travel that gives me an adrenaline rush. Tanushree and I headed to the bus station from Swansea University. We were meeting a few more friends there; that's what made the whole trip more exciting! The three different trips had been three different experiences, because of the people I went with.

Turns out, our friend, Ketan, was the only one there. His roommates were meant to join us. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, they couldn't make it. We didn't let that affect our excitement though. It was Ketan's first visit to Rhossili, and we were determined to make it lots of fun!

Walking around

We took the bus. It was more or less a 45 minutes journey. We did our own things - clicking pictures, listening to music, talking - and finally, we were there!

It's like the weather suddenly decided to match our moods, and it was sunny! Rhossili Bay is gorgeous when the sun shines all over the damp grass. The waves across the bay look dramatic, no matter what weather! But the colour of the water, that deep, oceanic...almost "can't-stop-staring"...blue, happens only when the sun is out; and this time, we were lucky.

Our lovely walking surface!

We walked on top of the cliffs, daring to approach the edges. We clicked many pictures, putting our photography skills to work. As we kept walking, we saw a young man, of our age. He had a backpack, a small snack and his Nikon D3100. He was seated on a bench, observing the people and scenery around him. We didn't notice how he looked as we were more engrossed in our experience. But I do remember Tanushree whispering, "He's like you! You came alone once, didn't you? So cool!" And I couldn't help but smile to myself, thinking that there are people out there, just like me.

We finally reached the left-end of the bay, where we could get a sort of clear view of Worm's Head. There were pebbles between the end of the bay and Worm's Head. It was 13:30hrs and the tide comes in at 17:00hrs. We were all seated, gazing out and taking in the beauty of the nature (and the warmth of the rare sunshine). Just when we were discussing whether or not we should cross to Worm's Head, the young man we had observed earlier stood behind us and smiled. He greeted us.

The four of us exchanged names and a few facts about each other. His name is Brian and he is a student from America.

Stopping to click photographs

Then the most amazing two and a half hours of my whole stay in Swansea, began. We crossed the stretch between the bay and Worm's Head. It was lots of walking, climbing, jumping and photography. Alongside all that, it was a lot of laughter, stories and talking mini-autobiographies of our lives.

We finally made it to Worm's Head, like it was a hike from one city to another. We were not tired. We still burst with excitement. And this journey just made our hearts pump with more adrenaline. After a few photographs at Worm's Head, we headed back to Rhossili Bay.

At Worm's Head

There, we enjoyed the most beautiful sunset, where Brian said something I'd never forget, "God is just showing off now!" Indeed he was...and why wouldn't he? The world is so beautiful.

The beautiful sunset

Needless to say, it was one of the most epic journeys of my life. I met a new person, discovered new things about people I knew, did what I enjoyed most - photography and adventure...and had a new experience. Like I said, Rhossili is a place where you are guaranteed to always have a different experience, no matter how many times you go.






Some helpful facts:

- If you're travelling from Swansea City Center to Rhossili, take the bus number 118.
- Buy a day ticket - it should cost you 4.70 Pounds, with return.
- Wear waterproof shoes as you'll have a lot of walking to do in a lot of wet land.
- Carry water and some snacks as the cafe closes pretty early (around 5pm , if I'm not mistaken).
- If you plan on crossing the stretch to Worm's Head, good footwear and a decent backpack is recommended.

Comparisons

I think it is normal human nature to have the need to compare. We compare our clothes, appearances, things, work load and so on.

But can you imagine life, if for once, we didn't compare how one is better or how one is worse? If we could just sit and be happy about the half a chocolate we have? Why is there the constant need to compare?

And let me bring in the technological factor of today: Social Networking. It's a good thing...but reality is that we've articles (some useful, some not so useful) circulating about the most random shit on earth. I recently read an article about why Montreal is better than Toronto. Fair enough article; but not when your arguments are based on a better party and booze life.

Another thing we all (students) tend to do is compare the amount of workload we have. Why? Are we trying to make the other person feel bad that we're working more? Who are we kidding? We spend half our time procrastinating on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our beds; and the other half cribbing about the amount of work we have. If we cut off one of two, preferably the latter, we'd have enough time to do the "work" we crib about.

As I mentioned earlier, comparing is human nature. Sometimes I think that without comparisons, we'd have no motivating factor. For example, when my friend complains to me about the amount of work he has, I realise that I, too, have work (probably not the same amount) and actually get that work done because I feel guilty that he has more work than I do. Which is probably not the case anyway.

As for comparing places...don't even go there. That's probably the most stupidest thing to do. Places are different...they hold different cultures, historical facts, people, food, architecture...everything. It's like comparing a potato and a carrot...they're both vegetables. Let them be bro.

Crossing Roads!

Crossing the road is a task and a half. I mean if you live in a country like India, you've to look all directions...have a 360 degree vision yo!

I've been in Canada for 3 weeks now. And crossing roads here is easy peasy. They have the signal to let you know when you can cross. You don't have to do the whole "look right..look left..yada yada.." Now, you just have to stare at a signal that has a walking man.

Ever noticed how awkward it is when you're crossing the road? I mean if you're a group of people, all well and good. But when it's a couple of people...or you're alone. Man! It's like all eyes on you bro! And you don't know what to do? Do you smile? Wave? Look down? Why should I look down? I'm not ashamed. Should I do a dance and entertain them? Should I look straight? If I don't smile, they're gonna think I'm a bitch. OMG I'm the chicken crossing the road!

See in India that's not a problem. Because while you're moving, so is the traffic.

So many thoughts. So many awkward moments. Or maybe it's just me. Let me know. If it is...then I need some serious help.

Stay safe.

(I really couldn't think of anything else to blog about...any ideas are more than welcome.)

Updates, Travel, Thoughts & Discussions

I know I haven't blogged in ages and the handful of people who actually read my blog, I sincerely apologise. But I do have my reasons. I'm travelling! From Bangalore to Dubai to New York to Toronto! Yes. That's a lot. Expect a lot of travelogues soon!

Moving on, recently, while I was in Bangalore, my career options dawned upon me. I decided that travel journalism is it. I mean, who doesn't love travelling? And I also discussed all these thoughts with my friends and family. To which many people asked me or told me, "Watch Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani!" and am like...okay? Apparently the main character is a traveler. Yay him!

So 2 days back, I finally watched the movie. I'm not going to review it. But this further led to a more interesting conversation with my sister. I said the movie was ironic as the character who had traveled the most knew less about life than the character who had stayed put in one city. To which my sister added on..."Travelers go and see touristy places; the same place that every man would see. One who stays put in a place knows every corner of the city...they explore the unexplored and discover something new." Which is life, right? We'd all rather discover something new rather than dwell on the same things over and over.

So that's my post folks. More will come up probably around September.
Happy Summer everyone! :)

A Weekend Getaway: Pondicherry

Hello Pondy!

Pondicherry Railway Station

Looking for a quick weekend away? Pondicherry is the answer. The small town offers a lot for a weekend. Pack your bags and catch the next train or bus to Pondicherry because this is a place that guarantees lots of opportunities for photographers, adventurers, travelers, foodies and most commonly, a combination of all.

The city is highly influenced by its past colonization by the French in the 1700s. The people of the city can communicate in Tamil, English and some in French too. Easy for those of you who are not familiar with Tamil. Furthermore, most of the architecture is European, with bright colours such as yellow; high ceilings and big windows.

Being a small city (town?), it has many advantages; people know the area pretty well to direct you, communication is easy, most touristy places are near each other, people are friendly and the environment is relatively clean. Adding on, you don't even need local transport if you're in for a good walk. Think it's worth it after eating all the delicious French, Italian and of course, South Indian food!

Let's establish, before you read further, that a weekend is more than enough to see Pondicherry. It's not that there isn't much to see. It's just that the place is rather small for you to spend a lot of time. Unless, of course, you like spiritual life and beaches. Then I'd say take 5 to 6 days to see the place and find your inner self.

Things to see, do and eat!

1. Auroville

Auroville "Welcome"

Auroville "Golden Globe"

Auroville is a small town about 8km from Pondicherry. The easiest way to get there is hiring a cab. What's there to do? They have a small visitors' information center for those of you who are interested in the history of this beautiful structure. Furthermore, all you architects, this is a must see for you! The structure started construction in the 80s and was completed around 2008. So go and find out what the deal is with the time taken to construct this massive structure.

If you want to go inside the "Golden Globe", you need to make an booking in advance (if this is your first time). I suggest you do it online as the chances of you getting a booking on the spot are really really low.

2. Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach

The peace of going to a beach, sitting and observing the waves as you drift away in your own mind. Sigh. This is the place to be if you want peace and quiet or just pure fun with waves! Paradise Beach is an island. To get to this island, you've to go on a 30 minute boat ride. Once you reach the island, chill with a good book or a drink or swim or just stare at the waves...as anything is legit on an island with a beautiful beach!

3. Aurobindo Ashram

Looking to discover yourself? Want to know more about the history of Pondicherry? Head to the Aurobindo Ashram - the most peaceful place to be when meditating. The place is filled with people sitting, cross legged, as they meditate for inner peace, discovering themselves or just for some relaxation. The place is worth exploring to understand the values and teachings of Sri Aurobindo and Mother.

Local Beach

4. The Local Beach

The beach in Pondicherry has no sand. It has been covered with rocks. But it is still worth a visit as Le Cafe is situated here. Furthermore, climbing down the rocks for some pictures is totally worth the view!

5. The Sacred Church of Jesus

Sacred Church of Jesus

Visit the Church to reconnect with God. Aside from this, the European combined with Indian architecture is admirable.

6. Eat outs!

There are quite a few options for people to eat. Being a vegetarian, I probably cannot help you non veg eaters. However, I'll give it a shot! Firstly, vegetarians, you have to eat at Surguru Hotel. They have the best veg food you can think of...from dosas to idlys to vadas to naans to paneer...sigh. They also have accommodation services.

Le Cafe's Cold Coffee

Le Cafe serves anything really...they have cold coffee, french fries and for those of you in search of a little bit of France, they have croissants!

Other than that, I cannot give more information in the food aspect of things. But you are sure to find signs directing you to various places to eat. The most common cuisines you will find are French, Italian and Indian...all authentic.

Plan your trip!

So if you're looking to travel to Pondicherry, there are many ways to get here. The bus, train or if you're the daring types, you could drive down on your own! Many hotels are available to accommodate you according to your comforts. The hotels are more than willing to organise a taxi for you to get around the city. Otherwise, you could always walk around or take an auto rickshaw.

It's the perfect place for a relaxing weekend away from a metropolitan city. Or just a break from the monotony of a fast paced life.

All Photographs taken by Author

London

So I was in London a few days back. It's not like I've not been there before, but this was my first time exploring the city alone. The sole purpose of going was to apply for my Canadian Visa, which look about 2 hours only. Very efficient, I must say.

1 and a half days in London. Alone. Best experience ever. Recently, I knew I deserved a break. Lots going on with work and life in general. I really needed a break from Swansea. Don't get me wrong. Swansea is a lovely place. But once in a while, it's good to be alone in a crowd of people. Rewording that, it's good to be in a place like London.

London is a city worth exploring. I know many people who travel like to explore the unexplored. But I believe that exploring the explored can be equally exciting. Why? We are all different people. Seeing something from your perspective is seeing it differently. This is why opinions matter. If we all looked at something from the same perspective, life would be boring.

When I arrived in London Paddington, I just sat there for an hour, staring at people. I was in awe as to how many people there were! Furthermore, the cultural diversity of the city is amazing! From Africans to Indians to various Europeans! So many people from all over the world! I felt like I was at an International Conference of Trains or something. You don't hear only English being spoken. It's every language you can think of: Spanish, French, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, German and so on.

After my hour of observation in Paddington, I headed out to Soho. Soho's night life? Happening. Such a live place. Loud. Plenty of people. Music booming from everywhere. People dressed up. Youngsters everywhere. Smoking. Drinking. Very live!

The next morning, I headed to the Canadian High Commission on Grosvenor Street. At 6am. Grosvenor Street is parallel to Oxford Street. So I had to pass by Oxford Street. Guess what? Busy even at 6am! People walking at a fast pace with coffee on one hand and a newspaper on the other. Most people rushing to work or rushing to catch the tube to work. It was amazing! I felt so safe in the presence of such a vivacious crowd!

After my work at the Canadian High Commission, I just walked around the city. I had a day pass.  I went to every place I could within the given radar. Started off with Oxford Street. That place is a beauty. Busy all day, people rushing about every minute. It's like the Time Square of London. Really. Oh and another thing. I had to hide my face and walk around. The shops around are so tempting. Student budget and what not. Just walk and wave. Walk and wave.

I then went to London Bridge. It was amazing! I stared at it for a few minutes. Busy traffic all over, cool breeze once in a while. It was a good feeling. I regretted not carrying my camera. But if I did, I probably would not have been allowed inside the Canadian High Commission. So meh.

I could only look around the place for a couple of hours. But those few hours were some moments of my life I would never forget. Sometimes, it's good to stick with the regular than trying to be unique. Don't always try something new. Try the old too. You might discover something new in the old!

Distance

With family, it could be the worst.
With friends, it could be bad.
With lovers, it could be heartbreaking.
With acquaintances, it could be a new beginning.

With family, it's a bonding factor.
With friends, it's a travel opportunity.
With lovers, it's a test.
With acquaintances, it's a new friendship.

In the past, there were letters.
In the present, there's Skype.
In the future, who knows?

One thing is for sure,
Distance formulates value.
Formulates strength.
Formulates responsibility.

It strengthens emotions.
Intensifies feelings.
Creates realizations.
Builds up personality.

Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles

Turkey Part I

Swansea to London to Istanbul to Cappadocia to Istanbul to Dalaman to Marmaris to Dalaman to Istanbul to London to Swansea. Whew! Never thought we'd do this much in a week. Then again, what's life without spontaneity?

On a more serious note, this trip was a short one. But totally worth it. All thanks to the beautiful country of Turkey and the lovely group of friends that were on this trip. Having said that, a week is not enough to see Turkey. Hell, a week isn't even enough to see Istanbul!

Istanbul

Istanbul is not the capital city of Turkey, as many people would assume. Ankara is the capital city of Turkey. However, Istanbul is probably more popular because this is where the Galata Bridge is, from which both continents, Asia and Europe, can be seen; a small part of Istanbul is in Europe while the rest of it is in Asia. Turkey on the whole is considered an Asian country.

Dolmabahce Palace
Photograph By: Parinetha S Aradhya

Istanbul has the most famous mosque, Hagia Sophia, which was once a church. Therefore, when you go inside the mosque, you will notice that there are paintings of Mary, Jesus and a few crosses here and there. Architecture in Istanbul (And in Turkey, in general) is a mixture of European and Islamic. You will find a mosque everywhere. Another place worth visiting in Istanbul is the Blue Mosque. It is famous mostly for it's Blue Dome, which has some intricate design work worth seeing.

In Istanbul, we also went to a place called "Dolmabahce Palace" which was served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. It is divided into two sections: Harem, the administrative area, and Selamlik, the residential area. We only got to see Harem as we had time restrictions. However, seeing Harem on its own was enough. We are not allowed to take photographs inside the buildings as some parts of the building are made of real/pure gold and crystal and therefore, photography could damage these materials.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia: Walking to the Caves
Photograph By: Anupama Subramaniyam

Cappadocia is very famous for its caves. It is known as the cave city. We stayed in a hotel called the "Local Cave Hotel" which has adapted some of the caves into rooms. It was quite a climb for us but the views from the rooms are totally worth it. The city (more like town) is really small compared to Istanbul.

We visited the Underground City. This is a "city" that was constructed BC and it has 12 floors. When you inside, you more or less feel like you are inside a cave. The tunnels through which you walk are rather narrow and small. On the whole, it's the experience that counts and somethings makes me think that even in those days, constructing something so complicated yet useful was possible without machinery. It was a good experience.

The caves in Cappadocia are quite a climb. They are high up, near a stream of water. The caves have some Christian paintings that were made by the Greek during the migration of people between Greece and Turkey years back. These paintings have faded today due to it's age and of course in the past, some of the paintings were deliberately rubbed off due to nonacceptance of religion. Today, of course, this is not the case.

Marmaris and Pamukkale

Pamukkale
Photograph By: Anupama Subramaniyam

Our next destination, Marmaris, is near the beach. However, our timing was impeccable as we went during a thunderstorm. Therefore, we couldn't spend much time at the beach. However, we did go to Pamukkale, which is a three hour drive from Marmaris.

Pamukkale is a natural site of hot springs on this big rock of calcium. More than anything, walking on this "calcium-water" source is the most amazing feeling ever. The water is cold at some points and warm at others. Pamukkale is a relatively hot area so we enjoyed it the most (coming from cold, windy, rainy area!).

General
The food in Turkey is pretty traditional. If you are Indian, their spicy standards do not match yours. No matter how spicy you ask them to make it. If you are vegetarian, welcome to a "pide" spree. Pide is nothing but Turkish traditional pizza, which is like normal pizza but the bread is ten times better. Which brings me to my next point: Bread. Bread in Turkey is to die for. They really know their bread. You will find endless variety of bread, all freshly made. The smell of fresh bread. If you are in Turkey, you have  to try their Pita Bread. Total food-gasm. Best part? Bread is complimentary.

Traditional Turkish Wine
Photograph By: Anupama Subramaniyam

On the whole, the trip was worth it, even if it was a week. I would not recommend visiting Turkey for those who are physically unfit as you have to climb a lot! I am not even exaggerating. Having said that, the views and information are totally worth the climb. So if you're in for some fantastic knowledge gaining session, good food, good wine and some adventure, Turkey is the place for you.

Visiting?

If you are visiting Turkey, here are some tips. Note that we went to Turkey in January so these tips are according to the weather we experienced which was all types, rain, snow and sunny.

- Carry enough clothing to keep warm and protect from the rain
- Travel by the tram/metro in cities. Very cheap!
- Buying a sim card with data services is worth it. It will help you navigate better.
- Hiring a car is not a bad idea.
- Visit Marmaris during summer.
- If you have an Indian Passport (I know this because I have one), you get VISA on arrival.

Personal Experience to follow soon.

Gravity?

I haven’t blogged for a while now. Mainly because I’ve been on another holiday. And the semester stared. Busy busy. Some recent conversations have led to this post. This post is going to talk about the most random thing you can think about. Because being random, spontaneous, weird, etc. is the new cool. Yo.

"Anti-Gravity Trees"
Saint George Church, Cappadocia
Photograph by Anupama Subramaniyam

So I was on holiday in Turkey (post to follow soon) with a few friends: Ketan, Pari, Suniel and Varun. It was a good holiday. Good bonding session, got to see new places, ate good food, bought new stuff…you know, normal holiday-y things. However, we came across these rather weird trees. We didn’t know what to call them! They looked like they had gone through an electric shock and a huge argument with gravity. We called them “anti-gravity trees”

This brings me to my next point. Can anything really be anti-gravity? Think about it. Trees grow upwards, not downwards. We grow taller, not shorter. Or maybe because I am not a science student, my theory is stupid? Don’t blame me. We art students think about very profound and mind-boggling things that this thought of gravity is just the tip of the ice berg!

Anyway, having said all that, I've to get back to my world of literature. This thought just hit me and I had nothing to blog about so being random it was. If anyone has any crazy ideas, thoughts or anything, please do share them in your comments. I’m all ears for crazy news! Peace. 

Express Yourself

So I haven’t blogged in a while. I was on holiday. And then exams came in the way (they still are in the way but it’s a good stress buster to blog. There are other ways too but for that you can refer to my other blogpost, 10 Things I did Last Night Instead of Studying).

First of all, Happy New Year! It’s 2013 and we can finally get over the whole “The world is ending” crap. The world will never end. Period.

So this post is an inspiration from the recent trip to Zambia. It was a rather short one but it was eventful. Lots of ups and downs, realisations, responsibilities, advice sprees, catching up with old friends, realising who your friends really are, hanging out with kids and realising they’re not kids anymore and so on.

But the most important lesson I learned when I was there is that priorities change. Yes. They do. As you mature, so do your priorities. 4 years back, my priority was to make the guy that I am in love with realise that I am in love with him. And for some reason, I wanted him to love me back. Today, I look back at that 16 year old and laugh. What kind of shitty priority is that for a 16 year old girl? I didn’t even understand what love was at that age.

Today, my priority is to do well in my exams. I have to do well. Why? Because I finally realise the amount of efforts my parents are putting in to educate me. I mean, some people out there do not even have the opportunity to be educated. Why should I throw my opportunity down the drain? Plus, my second (and main) reason is that I LOVE MY COURSE. I know what I want to do when I am done. Which is why I cannot wait till I am done!

But who knows, tomorrow my priority could change. I may be married and my priority would be to make breakfast for my husband. Gosh. To even think of that is not a good feeling. No. My husband shall make his own breakfast.

Anyway, point being, even though your priorities do change, just remember that you shouldn’t change. If you want to do well in your exams, do well – study hard, work hard but keep time for some relaxation too. Let the information sink in. Remember, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” On the same lines, if you get married or get a girlfriend/boyfriend, spend time with them – make them feel special, treat them like they deserve to be treated; but keep time for your family and friends too…your parents, siblings, good friends, etc.

Life is too short to sit and prioritise all the time. Don’t let maturity or age affect your priorities. Sometimes, let go, live life and be spontaneous. Friends come and go, girlfriends come and go, boyfriends come and go, exams come and go, jobs come and go but relationships? Family? Good friends? They’re here to stay forever. If you’re reading this, take out our phone or open Facebook. Message your mom or dad or best friend and just tell them that you love them. Life is too short to wait. Express yourself. 

The 'End' of the World

So apparently the world is going to come to an end soon. December 2012. Hmm.

How many of us actually believe in the end of the world? I mean, if you die, isn’t that the end for you? Hence the end of the world? Okay so maybe I don’t make sense. But there’s a point there.

For me, the end of the world has always been something dramatic in my head. Like Sam (from Supernatural) jumping into Hell to save the world from the apocalypse. So do we have a Sam in our world? If so, that’d be awesome. Because we’d have Dean too and well…Dean. Enough said.

There are a few people that I’ve had the whole ‘end of the world’ discussion with. One person, whose point was rather interesting, was that it’s not the end of the world, but a new beginning. This could be true. I mean, before the universe exploded to form the planets, for all we know, there may have been humans living in that unexploded universe, discussing the end of the universe. Then, the world was formed. Now the world will end and will form something new. Then that new thing will end and form some other new thing and so on. It’s the circle of…life?

Point being, if the world is actually ending this December, we need a bucket list no? I have a friend back in India. She’s been a real inspiration. She had a normal bucket list. I mean, we all do. But how many of us have actually done things out of this bucket list? My friend has done most of what she wanted to: She pierced her nose, she got a tattoo. Sigh.

Scuba Diving
Photograph By: Lakshmi Subramaniyam

So my bucket list, and mind you, the list may get longer (not in order of preference/importance):

    1.       Go scuba diving: Done

    2.       Visit Amsterdam: Done

    3.       Visit Greece

    4.       Go on a Euro Trip

    5.       Lay down under the stars

    6.       Go bungee jumping

    7.       Go sky diving

    8.       Get a tattoo

    9.       Kiss someone under the stars

    10.    Write a novel

    11.     Write a script for a movie

    12.    Visit China with my sister  

    13.     Visit the outer space

    14.     Learn to play the violin

That’s about it for now. I’m sure I could think of more. But my mind is blank now.

One thing we need to remember is that the end of the world could be true…or it could just be a concept. A belief. Or as my friend described it, it could be a new beginning. It’s better not to reflect upon it too much. Make a bucket list. Live your bucket list. The end of the world is the end of your life; the end of your life is the end of your world. Remember that. 

Meeting the Metro

I had just got back from my holiday in Dubai. I spent some quality time with my loved ones and soon they all diffused into memories, as I dived into a sea of assignments. However, an unexpected long weekend gave me the opportunity to ride on Bangalore's newest mode of transport, the Metro; or as it is locally known as, Namma Metro. 

For illustration purpose only
Photographer: Senashia Ekanayake

Having ridden on the Metro in Dubai, I did not have high expectations of Namma Metro. I was ready to compare the two. 


Between the two, I preferred the Metro Stations in Dubai. I am no architect, but the stations in Dubai were more  artistically designed, therefore more appealing to the viewer's eye. The Metro Station in Bangalore was very plain and boring, but much more spacious than the one in Dubai. This may be for the accommodation of a large crowd as Bangalore is more populated than Dubai.


The train in Bangalore was similar to that of the one in Dubai. However, personally, I thought that the train in Bangalore was far more informative and convenient in terms of accommodating a large group of people. 


The prices of the tickets, in both Dubai and Bangalore, were relatively affordable considering the value of the currency of each place respectively and the distance covered. The Metro in Dubai issues small cards, the size of a standard business card. These cards are disposable once completely used. The Metro in Bangalore issues tokens, which are a little larger than a coin. These tokens are reusable, therefore saving paper and reducing the chances of littering at the Stations. However, the tokens are small enough to easily displace.


My journey on Bangalore's Metro was from Mahatma Gandhi Road, popularly known as MG Road, to Indira Nagar and back. A one way journey took me approximately 10 minutes, whereas by auto, the same distance would have taken me much longer and cost me probably 5 times more. 


To sum up the whole journey, it was unique and quite nice, for the simple reason that it was a different experience to have traveled a fairly long distance so quickly, with no noise, no disruptions and no pollution. We may be frustrated with the construction of the Metro right now, but once it is fully constructed and starts functioning at a regular pace, we will appreciate it's existence. 


© Anupama Subramaniyam

A conversation that led to a blog

So am on The Twitter a lot lately, and I had this conversation with a total stranger sitting in another part of the world (or so he claims) and two of his questions struck me; "What are your dreams in life?" and "What has been your memorable vacation till date?" for which I had a spontaneous reply, to both (surprisingly):

A holiday in Durban, South Africa

I have many dreams; to travel the world, become a successful media personality, make my own movies and documentaries one day, publish my own novel(s) one day, host a show perhaps, own a beautiful beach house and give something back to the needy.

My memorable vacation? My dream vacation is Greece! *smile* But one that I've already been on is Cape Town, South Africa. Beauty beyond description...from the beach to table mountain to the Cape Point to Robbin Island! It was amazing! *smile* 

The whole point of this, is that, sometimes even a stranger sitting in another part of the world can help you discover yourself. Of course I knew those are the things I want to do in life, but I never actually explained them to anyone. I may have dreamt, but today, I am determined to make this happen. I am determined. 

© Anupama Subramaniyam