Experience is the key of learning: Taiwan

First is always special. here i am sharing my first ever experience for travelling abroad. Although venue is not listed for great tourism but when i reached there i explored many things. My travel is scheduled for learning and its in mid winter season.

Being a beginner, you always felt some anxiety, obsessions and lots of instructions from elders but actually hen it comes to our mind its always confusing what to choose what to not. Well I was the first who traveled outside India from my family and its obvious to have lots of emotions, expectations, values and morals to keep in mind. Just remembered text books in 8th standard where we all read about Mahatma Gandhi. When he was going to South Africa, his mother asked him few pledges and that are 

"never eat animals", "never drink alcohol" etc. thankfully my situation is way different. Reason being mentioning Mr. Gandhi here is because of social values and emotions of our Indian family. It feels you close to them some may feel its foundation but i feel its how we brought up in peer environment, the love and affection of our family. In my situation it was more than family, all neighbors and relatives are concerned and passing instructions to me. Can you imagine how would a person feels after listening so many instruction specially when he travels abroad for very first time???

Actually, i did a mistake, didn't converted currency fortunately i get reimbursement. I dont know why i missed that may be lots of instructions or unable to make correct decision but it could be difficult to manage there. Anyways, Taiwan is a island like small country and Taipei is its capital city. I reached there via Hong kong one of the largest airports in the world.

I was excited to see how different a country is from India. My destination was a hotel in mid of the city, besides a metro station.  Challenges for me is, language, food and culture. I have 5 dyas working and weekends are actually for my passion "exploring". My 1st weekend destination is "Xindia green park". Wow, in a different country, you listen India feels you like homely. Park was not extra ordinary but well developed man made leisure park situated besides a river. You can do alot their like boating, carnivals (Mela) like in India, artificial water fall etc. I walked through a bridge which was similar to "Laxman jhula or "Ram jhula" in Rishikesh, Uttarakhad in India. Although i never been to Laxman jhula or Ram jhula before this hanging bridge but we Indians have listens lot about those Jhulas. (Jhula = bridge /swing).

You may admire with those beautiful pictures. I spent a beautiful Saturday evening there and thinking of Sunday morning. Taipei city zoo, one of the largest zoo here in south Asia. You can witness many animals across globes despite of their different climate. But cute white panda is attraction of this zoo. he plays and adores you with every moment. Another thing i would like to mention dishes made up of "tea". Word itself refreshes you. However I could not understand what kind of ingredients they have put in dish but core ingredient is tea. Taiwan produces different kind of tea and these people lives mostly on natural things like pineapples, sea weeds , tea, vegetables and they use these in their eating habits. This country is depends on sea foods but at the same time they have variety of fruits and veggies. If you visit here, should go to hill and taste dishes made of up tea, its extremely different and delicious. for reaching there, you have to travel through cable car known as Udan khatola from Taipei zoo.

After a innovative trip to zoo, i realized I cant better use weekends outside India. I am fully delighted to discover new places, new cultures and even new food (ofcourse vegetarian). Somehow I learnt new things there, like no body knows me, I forget about how any social pressure, new to language and culture, even people are talking about me " I cant understand them". it is the other side of life. full of freedom, no foundations no worries etc etc. I can walk on streets (since it is safe country) in shorts , i can dance on street on hindi songs , i can manage to eat things. We wonder this kind of life is a dream for us. Well we all need to wake up rush all routine works and get to the office on time, whole life went on "tiffins" and you are always struggling to get fruitful holidays. Always worry about society peoples etc etc. 

I can say that "Moh maya se pare jivan ki anubhuti" mens leave everything behind and live life at fullest. I was eagerly waiting for next weekend and checking all the possible boxes what i can do? In between, I found somewhat new thing for me that too in work (I went for learning not for holidays), that is "Thanks giving Day". Many of us may be aware of it but i am dumbo and experiencing for the first time that too outside my country. We were seprated and the other groups are supposed to prank us. They have made some menu card in which they wrote in innovative way for example grapes is written as cricket or something else. For me, even understanding what is written is even more difficult since it as written in Mandarian (chinese). With no clue, what i am ordering with the help of local peoples i Ordered food.

I have got Duck toy instead of meat, and look like a perfect prank meal. even this sounds better than a happy meal for me because it has that essence purity of love and joy of serving at good times.

Getting involved and enjoying at office moments, I could see the happy faces and art of saying thanks to all. It is important sometimes to recognize people just to boost their self confidence. Take home message for me is to say sorry, thank you, i am with you, i can imaging etc etc not for formalities but for realizing someone who is alone or seeking some support in good or bad times. Oh! wow that's life and that's we human beings are. forwarding to the next weekend, a carnival type arrangements at a big lawn where all NGOs are raising funds for some noble and novel cause. Ofcourse all NGOs working for different kind of peoples like orphane homes, old age homes, burn survivors, special kids etc. A place to attract for shopping with a cause which is helping others. I can see different age groups and some NGOs are performing dance or skits also. I was fortunate to witness a group dance performance of Down's sydrome kids. Many of us may not know but I am related to this firls Ican explore lots of opportunities in DS peoples.

Till now, i have listen and saw sand on beach but a place where i can see black sand then i heard white sand, that is exciting. I went to Tamsui on sunday, that is a sea shore and black sand on the bank. People talk about White sand beach that is few miles far from this place. his place is mixture of beauty, peace and fear. Beauty is nature, peace you feel and fear of being alone for long time in blowing winds. people gathered here for boating, sketches and roaming. its at one side of the city and at between particular time period you can get public transportation. 

That's how my 3rd weekend spent. I love to be near nature. We can say that its a human behavior, what he has, he doesn't care, he always running for what he don't have. Why we are like that? why we are not satisfied? Yes satisfaction is appropriate word for us to tell about our strong intensities. We could not control on our own curiosities and resulting into many damages. Actually, defining very ill but its a cause of crime in the world. Anyways, another weekend and another sea beach. We all heared in fairy tales, a mountain and greenery, life on the beaches , well i explored it. Taiwan changed my perception , it taught me adjustments and change my thinking towards life. I adjusted with language, people, food and these bearers actually for evolving me and my skills. Memories are always precious and joy ful. When I came back home, it was like new person and its new begining of my life. New begining!!!!

An...ant.

  

A nature's paradise: ranthambore fort

Rajasthan,  India known for pride, historical battles and heritage. Lots of people talks about peace of udaipur, architecture of jaipur, dessert life of jaisalmer, courage of chhitorgarh but very few may attract towards ranthambore fort. The fort is built somewhere in 10th century. Ranstambhara or ranthambore is associated with jainism and then captured by prithviraj chamhanas (chouhan's) till 13th century.  

This fort was hunting land for jaipur kingdom. Well history is not my focus at all, important is its location and forest.

Our journey is aimed at famous temple situated in ranthambore fort.  Mostly tourist are attracted by wild life sanctuary and tiger reserve at ranthambore. Yes, that is attractive but for those who loves nature or search million moments in simple forest view, this place is like paradise for them. Since, its Rajasthan  best time to visit is winter season. Ranthambore is near by sawai madhopur city. Train and road route is easier here and as I mentioned many tourists comes for wildlife sanctuary.

We entered in the fort by our jeep, as we crossed entry gate, it's all green near by. Greenery with water travelling through huge and tiny stones forced me to stare a bit. Road is narrow and hilly, all around large trees with deep silence of human life that is you can feel only you and yours companions noise with background music of birds, trees, water and wind. 

You know, there is always pleasure to witness such scene in my life. It may be I am biased with greenery or may be I live in plateau or in city life I miss to admire such things but a small vacation to these lifestyles refreshes you and actually you can afford more than 3 or 4 breaks in a year.  We people always full of broad roads full of cars and noises sometimes I feel we forget how beautiful a short narrow silent road is? Or you drive alone in late afternoon winter feeling sunset rays across branches of trees, those noises behind the trees of guessing the name of bird or that ups and downs in water makes noticeable noise. Actually its purest form of water, air and climate which heals your all stress from inside. I dont know how others feel but I feel wistful whenever I remember those experiences. 

Journey continues and jeep has to stop at a point, suddenly you realize you are not alone. Many more groups are there to adore this beautiful place.  And new journey commences from here and that too by walk. Yes you have little extra time to adore the beauty. As this is a fort, fort through wildlife and destination is a temple. A deadly combination,  in one trip pilgrim, wildlife and nature can be travelled and different age groups can be easily targeted. We found broad stairs going up towards the temple. As a proper fort, there is huge gate in between to welcome us. We are continuing our nature love those water trees birds etc. Its feels like they are also walking with you. Unlikely to other places, I didn't find any packaged drinking water merchants near by but I witnessed many peoples serving water that too from utensils made up of mud known as "matka". 

I am not afraid of having that water because it's as good as a packaged water infact better than that. You feel more close to nature and minerals can be preserved ofcourse hygiene of a person should be consider.

We continued our walking, and at the top sunset looks pretty although in hindu religion sunset is not good. In scientific means, sunset means energy is reducing. Sun is powerful source of energy. I am wondering how beautiful sunrise is? Further more, it's like monkey's village. Lots of monkeys around and asking for something to eat. And one may experience through funny things like monkey took glasses or purse or may eat from your hands. Walking about 2-3 kilometers adorning nature, at doorstep of temple lot of movements by monkeys feels sudden shift from peace to jolly environment. 

Temple is of lord Ganesha who loves sweet and his idol was simple soothing and you can spent lot of time to stare his idol. It is said lord ganesha here fulfill all your wishes, lots of marriage invitation across the country invites him for prosperity. Temples are always centre of peace and I dont know why the architect of temples may be different but meant to be close to yourself into God. 

Entire journey was full of colors, color spread by nature. Lives here was not cool as in cities but more satisfying than even a best city of world. It may not be lavish to climb mountain for temple leaving wildlife but it is more cheerful and secure to take a walk within wildlife and adore carnivores animals and birds. Its pleasant to be satisfied with yet another destination.

kshitij: infinite point where hill top and cloud meet

Kshitij is an hindi word, means infinite point where cloud and hill top meet. Of course its present across the globe. I think it's not just a view but it's a feeling. Feeling of divine peace or beauty of nature which not only looks lavish but refreshing too. Mountain region or view itself is a unique creation of God. People who lived near or on the mountain may not able to value how luxurious a life has been there. Obviously its difficult for them too because they have to arrange daily neccessary things like food or how difficult a transportation is.. we cant even imagine how long they suffered for educating their children. 

Moving to my journey, I have been to many places like cherapunji (meghalaya, India), shillong (meghalaya, India), mount abu (rajasthan,  india), pachmari (madhya Pradesh,  india), tamsui (Taipei city, Taiwan), bhimashankar (Maharashtra,  india), massourie (Uttarakhand,  india) etc one thing is very obvious and common "the spiral roads".  Spiral roads are risky, induce vomiting and headache but when it comes to admire beauty we forget its scarcity. A nice saying "rasta khoobsurat ho to Manzil ki parwah nhi krna chahiye " means "if roads are beautiful then forget about destination ". Well these spiral roads have their scenic beauty.

when we climb upwards, speed may be slow to admire those beautiful natural sceneries. Climbing up means gradual low oxygenation and need to take breaks in regular intervals. One thing I learnt while traveling,  lime water, half filled stomach and proper breathing makes you healthy and prevents headaches and vomiting. Small landslides or drizzling showers or snow makes roads even beautiful.

I mentioned taking breaks, that means to admire natural beauty and refresh relax in that soothing environment. Even somewhere government also tagged this.

It is wonderful experience to finish your 1 hour journey into 2 or 3 hours. Actually this is the excitement go, stop admire. This cycle continues till you reach the top. 

The top, which we are ambitious to see or wish that journey will end but actually even after hectic travelling or some upsets in health (due to roads) you still manage to realize or feel the nature. Nature is just not colorful but vividness also. The creatures, landscapes,  trees, wind, tracks or even infinite point where clouds comes down to touch the earth (mountain) or mountains raises himself to fly in clouds. Whatever you say simply its adorable 

Despite of humans develop themselves,  technology helps but still humans are unable to compete the natural sceneries. And we should admit that we are not even in the hunt with God's creation. Humans can actually maintain its dignity if they really willing to preserve. When we reach to the top, we could see the end point or we can say the meeting point of mountains to clouds. 

 These pictures may tells the beauty but when we admire in 3 dimensions (in real), totally falls you in love with the valley. You can spend lot of time while adoring those refreshing views and memories let you live forever in it. Kshitij always reminds you there is no end, it's a new beginning.  One cannot make a complete picture it requires atleast two; mountain and cloud, mountain,  cloud and brizzles  or forest , ice , mountains and clouds. Every single contribution makes a complete picture that cherishes you life long.

Ana...nt

Camp life in a lap of nature

Life and its routine is fast and monotonous. Every one should opt a break from his/her routine schedule. The break should be planned at different place like if you live near sea shore, you should go the place where sea is not in sight. I lived in a plateau region living between work and family. Its urbanization which makes us busy with traffic, pressure of work and maintaining lifestyle. 

The winter is about to finish and summer is about to come. It's like a green, lavish spring type season here in India. I have decided to travel in mountain region and try something new. May be a change in environment and climate would work I guess... 

India is a vast country with lots of variations in climate, locations and cultures. One may get a break to witness mountain,  sea shores, historical parks, temples etc etc. You can say lots of options to plan and explore with India.

I have decided to go towards north, in the lap of mountains and a lifestyle on the bank of river. When you think about it, you visualize rising sun somewhere behind mountain,  noisy river raised down from mountain, a rural lifestyle where getting comfortable is actually needs efforts.  With these wishes, I went to Rishikesh,  Uttarakhand. Yes sounds like pilgrim but at the same time its adventurous. 

A pre booked campaign in spring like season in mountain.... actually excits from inside. On top breezy, cloudy and rainy weather is like ice cream on a cup cake. Near about sunset, I reached the venue. Venue consists of old fashion homes in tent, an huge garden and outreach washrooms. Just wow to lavish greenery & companions who are part of this exciting trip. 

We have allotted our tents and served some snacks with tea. Caffeine is much needed in such climate after a long journey. It's going to be darker and in lights soothing and beautiful evening. When shower turned to rain, it becomes little tough but wonderful experience.  We spent time together as night progress and we enjoy games, climate and last the food. Best is still to come.

First experience in tent and mountain range is still exciting but somewhere deeply I realised fear of flies, mosquitos,  reptiles although it's just fear. We went to sleep with some amazing memories of evening but as I woke up.... a heart warming view was infront of me. Yes nature at it's best. Actually we got a chance to see entire view in morning. We were surrounded by green lavish huge mountains and a noisy river behing our camp area. Morning could be so beautiful we cant even imagine in night. At this point enjoying and experiencing the view and nature is like refreshing in lap of mother (nature). Time is like paused for sometime and sun rays changing colors of mountain. Peace is what refreshes you and your soul with these views and what more can be expected in traveling to the heaven of earth. Heaven is the place when you forget all your worries, routines , work and just lost to the beauty of nature. Even a lost internet and phone calls added more time to be hugged by nature. We wish to continue our pause but need to explore more creations of God.

Our journey continues to some adventures but still at hills in the lap of nature.

Ana...nt

Narmada: kalyug ki Ganga

Narmada a river known as "kalyug ki ganga". Kalyug means 21st century and all know about ganga's purity.  When we heard about the word "narmada", it feels like an idol . An idol which has it's own way own direction still treated equivalent to Ganga. Strange but true. 

 Narmada river originated from Amarkantak in madhya Pradesh,  India.  A less known places in Vindhya mountain region as compare to Himalayan ranges (origin of Ganga). Most of the rivers originated from west and ends in (Bay of bengal). Unlikely to this narmada river starts from east and ends into western coast into Arabian sea. Its direction is just opposite to Ganga but purity remains same. 

Since its course is in west central India, Narmada becomes lifeline of madhya Pradesh,  gujrat and many cities, villages are depends on this river. From amarkantak, river goes to jabalpur, hoshangabad, badwani omkareshwar, maheshwar in madhya Pradesh and bharuch in gujrat before its end into arabian sea. Agricultural,  cultural and religiously Narmada is treated as god not only in this region but it is among holy rivers in India. 

I must share that, Narmada river is dangerous for divers as well because "storms" of this river cannot be seen over the surface, unlike to other rivers. 

Because of many pilgrim and historical locations around narmada, and river travels parallel to vindhya mountain range, its importance increases several times. My body, my nature is entirely made up of this river since birth I am consuming narmada river water. For me value of narmada is much more than any holy river. 

As Ganga, Narmada is also close to lord shiva. Ganga was originated from lord shiva, and every stone in narmada known as lord shiva. "Narmada ke kan kan me shankar" a famous phrase near to the river. Narmada is mentioned in vedas and purans and refer to moksh dayani in kalyuga. 

I never got a chance to visit either amarkantak or khambat (end point) but I witnessed omkareshwar, maheshwar, badwani hoshangabad and jabalpur. Here I am going to express my views on bhedaghat,  jabalpur. A mesmerizing place to visit where narmada is about 400 meters deep even an expert diver is afraid of.  Flow of river here is swift with such and within stones made it like smoky feels and known as "dhuadhar "(smoky).  I am sure you cannot resist to spend some more time at dhuadhar with the views and peace at bank of narmada.

Travelling further 5 kms, at bhedaghat all.small mountains turned like white marble and little broad but very deep water senses like inner peace. On other hand its scared being such calm but deep water. As sun changes its direction during entire day time, all mountain shows different shades which looks really beautiful. When it comes to bhedaghat, short trip via boat into narmada with its history and importance is like a big gift to the travellers. 

From dhuadhar to bhedaghat, many temples are situated and as you travel peacefully,  you can hear bells of temple which soothes you and your soul. For a person who made up of the water or for the person who witness peace of river is just amazing experience. Narmada teaches us how to remain silent on surface when lots of storms going inside.

Narmada harr

Ana...nt

A travel to holy Ganga: Haridwar

Ganga, synonym of purity. Ancient Indian history suggests ganga is originated from Lord Shiva. Shiva is symbol of patience and simplicity.  As ganga originates from him, ganga symbols purity. Ganga is known for purifying soul and hindu religious people usually goes to ganga.

There is lots of literature and stories available on Ganga. I had a pleasure of my first visit to Ganga.

As a planned trip, our first stop was New Delhi. We took a cab and traveled 250 kms towards north to reach haridwar. Haridwar city is one of the major milestone of river ganga. Here many religious activists and activities can be witnessed. "Seeing ganga is equal to taking bath in it". We have decided to take holy bath, and after we reach we went to bank of ganga river known as "har ki paudi". Har ki paudi refers to foot print of lord vishnu and it is said that a person who took bath here in ganga have blessings of lord vishnu and lord shiva ofcourse free from all karma that hurts other (paap). It is interesting in hindu religion that people always fear of their karma, although knowingly or unknowingly every individual in his/her course of life can't be perfect and some karma's may hurt other. Karma is like an log book which records goods and bads. Karma is depends on situations and decision making abilities. 

Getting back to ganga, we were mesmerized with the climate of haridwar, little bit rainy and windy. Over it a strong flow of crystal clear water. Thanks to government of India and government of Uttarakhand state to ensure its purity. Month of march we visited usually increase in temperature but as we dive in ganga it's almost freezing. For us it's like next to ice and honestly we do not take bath in such a cold water at home. Another interesting is you cannot use soap or shampoo for bathing still you feel refreshed.  May be this is due to quality of Himalayan water or minerals present in ganga. 

It was extremely difficult to stay in water for a long period but a short span gets you refreshed. You and your soul may feel close to god, that's what a pilgrim or holy places known for. That's what ganga turned you into purity and your prayers into God. People says "reaching heaven after death is reaching God's world" but I would like to say heaven is on the earth and you have to live for experiencing in the God's own world. For sure Ganga refers to moksh dayani (way to God's home) is actually its purity and experience of holy bath at har ki paudi haridwar. 

Namami gange 

Attractive purity in hindu religion 

Ana...nt