Back after a long time !! US ramblings

It definitely does not seem like yesterday . The last blog posting I made was a few years back . A lot of water has flown under the bridge as they say in these years . Hope to be more consistent going ahead as all my friends insist I should be ..:)

Here are a few poems I wrote during my recent trip to USA- coffee etc and its spelling etc did not bother me much...

The Statue

The great statue of liberty and enlightenment

Swinging with the winds and the changing times

Reminds

Us that freedom is not free

But it is important

To break the shackles

Both within and outside

That’s the time when

The real liberation

Happens

Both from within and outside

The internal outdated thoughts and patterns

The outside distractions and obstacles

And even screaming priorities

Its upto to you

To choose, select

Or just do a ctrl+alt+del

That’s creating your

Personal statue of liberty

That stands tall and mighty

In the ocean of life

Learning to Relax

I am learning to relax .

To look at things and not think .

To see and yet not reflect .

To enjoy the sun ,the wind ,the chill

and yet not dwell about any hidden meaning .

to simply live in the casualness of the Moment

and enjoy this beautiful

Journey called life that goes from one destination to another

 I Am learning to enjoy the moments

Without any learning  

Water..

By the Brooklyn water front and bridge

The water front resonates with me

the ripples are like the hundreds of thoughts coming to my mind time and again

some reach the shores

some don't or do they .

That's the mirror of the mind -the water front

There are embankments

And some open areas

We don't know when 

The flood happens though

Most of the times it's calm

Seemingly Calm

A thousand waves are created and broken

 in this calm Mind daily

My Selfie Moments

I have had my selfie moments with myself and my thoughts . Uninterrupted undiluted me .

That's working to understand the real me .

The stuff that I hide from myself

the things I just want to keep below the carpet

In the womb of time .

I wish they weren't there but they do gnaw

I better deal with them.

It's these selfie moments which show the real picture warts and all the blemishes sans make up that's what I sought

In the crowds of Manhattan

The cheers and claps at Broadway

The causal conversations and aimless walks there was an aim

For sure 

Way... ward and Journey series

In transit

As the people come and go

So do the thoughts

Headed some where

But can land anywhere a times

Else most  of the times a safe landing is assured

The body in in transit’ but the mind could be static

Or vice versa

This journey indeed

Has many dimensions

A new place

A new view and new landscape

With new voices and words

Yet the theme of meeting and parting

Of meeting again

Discussing the different and same things continues

There is a new hue yet everytime

You step in this place

Which is then no more new

On Paris

A  quiet vibrancy

That underlies the

Silent activities

A life brimming with life

Seems same

Yet so different

The warmth

With a different hue and sophistication

The newness of the place continues to charm

The traveler  or one and all

Way

Which is this way

Which I don’t know

That I  am on

As the thoughts take form of words

And later some insights

Capturing the multiple essences floating

All around 

Our Journey

The journey

Of exploring questions and answers

Is a long one at times

Short one depending on the

Nature of the questions posed to you or by you

Nevertheless the wheels are in motion

Moving fast at times

At times inching ahead

With a dreary slow pace

Yet covering an important ground

Even if you are not aware of it

The journey despite all variations

Still continues

Bhimashankar – The Joyride on 14th April

The Western Ghats in Maharshtra offer a unique view to the unsuspecting traveler . You can see the verdant ghats and later on as you come towards Mumbai even the coastline . I happened to visit Bhimashankar temple and wildlife sanctuary over the weekend . The drive was really full of surprises . We began very early in the morning from Mumbai . Later the drive was mixed with smooth roads and bumpy turns .We went via the Pune Mumbai highway and then took a diversion that took us to Manchar . We stopped briefly for breakfast at the food court near Lonavala . The court offers mouth watering Maharashtrian delicacies even early in the morning . And my friend who really wanted a break from the standard North Indian fare found the stuff like kothimbir vadi , bhajias a good way to start her day !!

This drive through the winding ways / roads in the Ghats was exactly like going on a joy ride. After almost 5 and half hours we reached Bhimashankar in the afternoon . The place is really in a small village and despite the fact that it is extremely popular with tourists it really lacks basic amenities eg a washroom , water etc . There used to be an MTDC(Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation ) resort in the past but that has been closed .

The Shiva temple is about a ten fifteen minute walk from the parking area . One has to descend through a flight of stairs to reach the temple . On the way there are stalls selling all wares like flowers, toys and other memorabilia like stickers, statues , key chains etc . The place is famous for pedhas( an Indian sweet made out of milk and sugar ) . The temple is really ancient . It was not crowded when we entered and hence for a change there were no long queues. There is an ancient feeling in the temple, almost like visiting an old house . There is a huge bell there donated by Chimaji Appa which he won in a battle against the Portuguese at Vasai Fort .

For more details visit http://www.bhimashankar.blessingsonthenet.com/ or http://www.aroundpune.com/bhimashankar.htm. There is a small pond or kund as it is called in local parlance within the temple premises from where the River Bhima originates . There is a wildlife sanctuary nearby which has a smattering of animals like the flying squirrel, tigers, deer etc .The temple has a lot of significance and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas ie 12 most important and holy shrines of Lord Shiva in India .


While coming back we came through the Malshej ghat route . This was a slightly longer route and went through real circuitous roads . But nevertheless it was again a very pleasant drive . After a brief stopover at a roadside resort near Kalyan we were on our way back to Mumbai . For food on both the routes you will find the road dotted with hotels and resorts. You can take a call based on the look and feel of the resort/ hotel & the hygiene levels and decide which one suits your requirement the best ….