Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Phuket - Day 2
On the 7th August, we were very tired by the long journey and was not feeling to wake up in the morning. I was not feeling to wake up in the morning. But I got up and stepped in the Gallary of our room, I was taken aback by the beautiful cloudy morning waiting to greet me. Also the scenic ocean view was a bonus.
We immediately brushed our teeth, had a coffee and went to Karon beach which was at 15 minis walking distance from our Hotel. Below is the pic of Karon beach.
Ocean was roaring like Lion and as the waves hitting see shore hard no one was daring get inside the waves. But the scene was very beautiful. Sky was cloudy and gray, the ocean waters were white, foamy, and sand was white too. From beach we can see some of the Islands in the Andaman Ocean looking like bonsai from the distance. One island was looking like a green Broccoli bunch. After some photo session we took a small walk in the lanes of Phuket. I saw this lady selling some food items on the streets. I particularly like the bike which can carry your stuff and when needed can be used as a street shop. We can find such bikes many in Phuket on streets.
Also I noticed most of the hotels have open kitchen at the entrance. Customers can see the hygiene maintained and the way it is prepared. We returned to hotel with the excitement to explore more of the Phuket in remaining three Days. We got ready and had a nice breakfast. For remaining day today we had booked “Hongs by Starlight” tour by John Gray. August, we were very tired by previous Day’s he long journey followed As decided at 11AM exactly the John Gray’s Canoe trip driver came to receive us. I really love the punctuality Thai people have. It was a long one and half hours journey to the Dock. Shortly we landed on a big boat. We were the only Indian couple in the tour. Most of the crowd was from Australia. The tour started with the introduction from the captain to the crew members and what all will be done in the Day. The Breakfast served was light and delicious followed by Phuket’s famous juices. The view on the way was spectacular. So many small Islands welcomed us on our way. Lush green, stiff slanting high rocks were truly breathtaking. Water was green, the typical fresh ocean green. Phuket was at its best, as it was cloudy we sat on the overtop deck. Below are the pictures of one of the island the sharp edges of the rocks hanging from the roof of the Hongs.
After an hour or so our boat was parked at place one ocean and we were educated about canoeing by our captain. The small Islands in the Andaman sea have caves inside them, these caves are called as Hongs. They can be explored during low water time only. Usually around 2PM the water level falls and the gates of the caves are opened ( I remembered Khulaja sim sim dialogue from Alif Laila). Captain told us safety measures like how to protect ourselves while crossing the sharp rocks and not to touch any rock on our way as canoes are really small boats and some touch can influence the direction of the canoe which can be dangerous inside the hongs. In one canoe two tourists and a sailor were accommodated. I sat at the front my husband behind me and our sailor at the rare of the canoe. Below is the picture of a canoe.
Our Sailor’s name was Chap. Chap was around 21-22 years old and was tattoo loving person. All around his body he was painted, he barely knew English but few English words and our expressions completed the conversation for the rest of the day.
This was the first time I was seating on the boat so close to ocean, I have to just stretch my hand to reach water. I have done banana boat ride in past but this boat was lower that banana boat. I don’t know swimming so I preferred to wear Life Jacket. I was excited as it was my first canoeing experience. We went inside caves which had so narrow entrance that one has to lie down completely (as shown in below pic) in the canoe to pass through it, once you are inside its dark, as dark as night. Chaps torch which was mounted on his head showed us the spectacular, amazing treasure nature has saved deep inside these caves. The roofs were carved with natural salts and water dripping from the rocks. The rocks inside were hanging from the roof like a dripping drop, they were indeed very sharp. Sharp enough to cut your skin and make a serious damage. But I was so mesmerized by the beauty of mother earth that the dangers of rock didn’t scare me.
Inside some caves there were beautiful trees and fishes, crabs and other marine animals. After visiting many caves we were on our way back to the boat when the storm struck the Pha Nga Bay and it started raining.Our canoe was like a small leaf dangling on the waves. It was little bit scary but I enjoyed. After coming back on the boat we had some free time for swimming in the Andaman ocean. We had a great time, now we were hungriest and I must mention food was delicious. It was a fairytale ambiance, it was raining outside and we were having hot and tasty sea food, followed by was equally seducing coffee. Krayton is a show piece made out of natural things like flowers, leaves and banana stem. Thais offer it to ocean on every full moon night and make a wish. They believe these wishes are fulfilled. With the help of Chap we also made our Krayton. Below is stuff required to make a Krayton.
And below is how it looks after crafting.
Making and offering our Krayton was a total spiritual experience. No one said a word, the impact was long lasting. This brought an end of our wonderful day in the
Hongs by Starlight.
We immediately brushed our teeth, had a coffee and went to Karon beach which was at 15 minis walking distance from our Hotel. Below is the pic of Karon beach.
Ocean was roaring like Lion and as the waves hitting see shore hard no one was daring get inside the waves. But the scene was very beautiful. Sky was cloudy and gray, the ocean waters were white, foamy, and sand was white too. From beach we can see some of the Islands in the Andaman Ocean looking like bonsai from the distance. One island was looking like a green Broccoli bunch. After some photo session we took a small walk in the lanes of Phuket. I saw this lady selling some food items on the streets. I particularly like the bike which can carry your stuff and when needed can be used as a street shop. We can find such bikes many in Phuket on streets.
Also I noticed most of the hotels have open kitchen at the entrance. Customers can see the hygiene maintained and the way it is prepared. We returned to hotel with the excitement to explore more of the Phuket in remaining three Days. We got ready and had a nice breakfast. For remaining day today we had booked “Hongs by Starlight” tour by John Gray. August, we were very tired by previous Day’s he long journey followed As decided at 11AM exactly the John Gray’s Canoe trip driver came to receive us. I really love the punctuality Thai people have. It was a long one and half hours journey to the Dock. Shortly we landed on a big boat. We were the only Indian couple in the tour. Most of the crowd was from Australia. The tour started with the introduction from the captain to the crew members and what all will be done in the Day. The Breakfast served was light and delicious followed by Phuket’s famous juices. The view on the way was spectacular. So many small Islands welcomed us on our way. Lush green, stiff slanting high rocks were truly breathtaking. Water was green, the typical fresh ocean green. Phuket was at its best, as it was cloudy we sat on the overtop deck. Below are the pictures of one of the island the sharp edges of the rocks hanging from the roof of the Hongs.
After an hour or so our boat was parked at place one ocean and we were educated about canoeing by our captain. The small Islands in the Andaman sea have caves inside them, these caves are called as Hongs. They can be explored during low water time only. Usually around 2PM the water level falls and the gates of the caves are opened ( I remembered Khulaja sim sim dialogue from Alif Laila). Captain told us safety measures like how to protect ourselves while crossing the sharp rocks and not to touch any rock on our way as canoes are really small boats and some touch can influence the direction of the canoe which can be dangerous inside the hongs. In one canoe two tourists and a sailor were accommodated. I sat at the front my husband behind me and our sailor at the rare of the canoe. Below is the picture of a canoe.
Our Sailor’s name was Chap. Chap was around 21-22 years old and was tattoo loving person. All around his body he was painted, he barely knew English but few English words and our expressions completed the conversation for the rest of the day.
This was the first time I was seating on the boat so close to ocean, I have to just stretch my hand to reach water. I have done banana boat ride in past but this boat was lower that banana boat. I don’t know swimming so I preferred to wear Life Jacket. I was excited as it was my first canoeing experience. We went inside caves which had so narrow entrance that one has to lie down completely (as shown in below pic) in the canoe to pass through it, once you are inside its dark, as dark as night. Chaps torch which was mounted on his head showed us the spectacular, amazing treasure nature has saved deep inside these caves. The roofs were carved with natural salts and water dripping from the rocks. The rocks inside were hanging from the roof like a dripping drop, they were indeed very sharp. Sharp enough to cut your skin and make a serious damage. But I was so mesmerized by the beauty of mother earth that the dangers of rock didn’t scare me.
And below is how it looks after crafting.
Making and offering our Krayton was a total spiritual experience. No one said a word, the impact was long lasting. This brought an end of our wonderful day in the
Hongs by Starlight.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Clear the Clutter
Excessive clutter in every facet of our life leads to stress. If you are surrounded by clutter in your life you are unknowingly inviting the chaos. By devoting a little of your time to getting rid of the clutter in your life and maintaining things relatively clutter-free , you’ll reap the rewards of pleasing living areas, reduced stress, and a more organized and productive existence. The best way to start by taking small steps to declutter your work place, home, car and everything in and around you. The combined small steps will lead to big improvements in long run.
Declutter your work place
Take out all the stuff from the drawer of office desk. and put bavk only what you use and required. Throw away unwanted printouts, papers etc. When papers come sort them immedietly, toss, delegate or simple file but do not put them on your desk. Set up a basic alphabetical filing system with a folder for each project or client. Keep your office supplies and other items in designated drawers. If you need to, label things, but the main thing you should do is designate a spot for every item you decided to keep and make sure that it stays there, or goes back there when you’re done using it.
Declutter your Computer
Go thru all the folders you have, if there are some folders you are no more using delete them if there are pictures take them on CD or hard disk and keep safely or upload on picasa but delete from computer. Unwanted documents, delete them. Get rid of most or all of the icons on your desktop. They not only slow down your computer, but they also create visual clutter. There are better ways of accessing your information.
Your Home
After work place, home is the place where we spend most of our time where we host guests, parties and relax. No wonder messy home also adds to daily stress.
Your Room:
Start with whatever lies on floor, Pick everything and keep neatly. Take your old newspapers ans magazines and either sell them to raddiwala or donate to library. Arrange your bed properly. Spread the bedsheets nicely. Clean your show pieces, wall hangers and furniture. Donate what is not required or not used. Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets, and closets, keeping them out of sight, but still neatly organized and uncluttered. Do this one room at a time.
Manage your wardrobe:
For many people wardrobe is a place where they throwaway the things they want to keep out of there sight. Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets, and closets, keeping them out of sight, but still neatly organized and uncluttered. Do this one room at a time.
Your Life:
Reduce your commitments: We don't realize when our life becomes too clutter with all the things we do with our home, office, friends, family, social gathering and so on. Take it easy! Don't expect too much from yourself. you don't have to work hard in the office and then again have an eventful night with friends. Look at the each area of your Life and consider what brings you joy and value. Anything that doesn't make you happy and doesn't add value, reduce those commitments. If you do this you will have more time to do things you love. Don't gather too much information that is also a clutter occupying your mind. Don't spend too much time on anything doesn't interest you. Spend time to revisit your financial portfolio. Make a list of FD's in which bank they are and when are they expiring. If possible reduce the number of accounts you have. See if you have reset your Internet and mobile banking password and you remember them. Make sure all your documents like Mark sheet, company joining and relieving letters, salary slip etc are well organized and safely kept.
Manage your routine :
Many of us do not have set routines in our daily life and simply tackle the daily work responsibilities, chores, exercise haphazardly. This unstructured way of life style adds to stress and unproductivity. Batch your work. Instead of doing the laundry everyday do it once a week. Instead of going to glossary shop frequently make it a habit to do it once a week. Plan your weekly and daily schedules.If you cook daily, try to clean dry and cut the vegetable one day so that they will be readily available on time, clean furniture, windows etc once a week. Keep your accessories like earrings, goggles, bags, shoes clean and in structured way so that they should be handy when required.
Once you’ve successfully decluttered, whether it be one area or all the areas mentioned above, clutter will inevitably begin to creep back into your life. You must be vigilant in weeding it out on a regular basis, or it will just take over your life again. So make it a habit so declutter daily and include this in your daily routine.
If you try this, let me know if it made any difference to you.
Declutter your work place
Take out all the stuff from the drawer of office desk. and put bavk only what you use and required. Throw away unwanted printouts, papers etc. When papers come sort them immedietly, toss, delegate or simple file but do not put them on your desk. Set up a basic alphabetical filing system with a folder for each project or client. Keep your office supplies and other items in designated drawers. If you need to, label things, but the main thing you should do is designate a spot for every item you decided to keep and make sure that it stays there, or goes back there when you’re done using it.
Declutter your Computer
Go thru all the folders you have, if there are some folders you are no more using delete them if there are pictures take them on CD or hard disk and keep safely or upload on picasa but delete from computer. Unwanted documents, delete them. Get rid of most or all of the icons on your desktop. They not only slow down your computer, but they also create visual clutter. There are better ways of accessing your information.
Your Home
After work place, home is the place where we spend most of our time where we host guests, parties and relax. No wonder messy home also adds to daily stress.
Your Room:
Start with whatever lies on floor, Pick everything and keep neatly. Take your old newspapers ans magazines and either sell them to raddiwala or donate to library. Arrange your bed properly. Spread the bedsheets nicely. Clean your show pieces, wall hangers and furniture. Donate what is not required or not used. Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets, and closets, keeping them out of sight, but still neatly organized and uncluttered. Do this one room at a time.
Manage your wardrobe:
For many people wardrobe is a place where they throwaway the things they want to keep out of there sight. Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets, and closets, keeping them out of sight, but still neatly organized and uncluttered. Do this one room at a time.
Your Life:
Reduce your commitments: We don't realize when our life becomes too clutter with all the things we do with our home, office, friends, family, social gathering and so on. Take it easy! Don't expect too much from yourself. you don't have to work hard in the office and then again have an eventful night with friends. Look at the each area of your Life and consider what brings you joy and value. Anything that doesn't make you happy and doesn't add value, reduce those commitments. If you do this you will have more time to do things you love. Don't gather too much information that is also a clutter occupying your mind. Don't spend too much time on anything doesn't interest you. Spend time to revisit your financial portfolio. Make a list of FD's in which bank they are and when are they expiring. If possible reduce the number of accounts you have. See if you have reset your Internet and mobile banking password and you remember them. Make sure all your documents like Mark sheet, company joining and relieving letters, salary slip etc are well organized and safely kept.
Manage your routine :
Many of us do not have set routines in our daily life and simply tackle the daily work responsibilities, chores, exercise haphazardly. This unstructured way of life style adds to stress and unproductivity. Batch your work. Instead of doing the laundry everyday do it once a week. Instead of going to glossary shop frequently make it a habit to do it once a week. Plan your weekly and daily schedules.If you cook daily, try to clean dry and cut the vegetable one day so that they will be readily available on time, clean furniture, windows etc once a week. Keep your accessories like earrings, goggles, bags, shoes clean and in structured way so that they should be handy when required.
Once you’ve successfully decluttered, whether it be one area or all the areas mentioned above, clutter will inevitably begin to creep back into your life. You must be vigilant in weeding it out on a regular basis, or it will just take over your life again. So make it a habit so declutter daily and include this in your daily routine.
If you try this, let me know if it made any difference to you.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Phuket Day 1
My latest visit
to Phuket was a amazing combination of learning about culture abd heritage
of Thailand, enjoying the scenic beauty of Andaman see and canooing
to spectacular caves. I have been to thailand for 4 Days with my Husband.
Below is how we spent our four Days
Day 1: A culture
and heritage tour with Chaya
Day 2 :Visit
to Karon beach and John Gray's canooing trip
Day 3: Pha Nga
Bay by speedbaot with Sail tours and a relaxing Thai massage at Mantra
Spa
Day 4 : Elephant
treking in the morning and Phuket sight seeing by renting a motorbike
On the 5th of
August we left home at 6PM to catch a flight for Phuket. Me and my husband
Swapnil were very excited as this was going to be our firct oversees
holiday. Filght was scheduled at 9 and was about to reach Bankok by
6:45 and then we had a connecting flight at 7:45 to Phuket. Both the
flights were by Thai airlines. The journey was pleasane but the flight
got late by half an hour and we reached Bankok by 7:30. So we missed
our connected flight then we took our Visa on arrival as the fnext flight
was ay tje vclose timing sxcheduled at 8:30, we took our visa from the
fast track counter costing us 200 bht each more. the distance from gate
where our flight arrived to the Visa counter is considerably more and
one has to literally run if you are running short of time as ours. But
a airport attend lady helped us and came a long way woth us showing
us the exchange and the visa counter and then taking us back to the
gate where Phuket flight was scheduled. Finally we boarded a 8:30 flight
to Phuket. A tasty juce and sandwich was served on board. We arrived
to Phuket by 10:45AM. From above in the place we could notice the innumerable
islands Phuket has. The green forests were eqully eye catchy. The sky
was cloudy and it was raining. Phuket has International airport but
it is comparitively smaller. The guy we have booked for airport transafers
has already arrived to pick us from the airport and drop us to our hotel
in Karon beach. It was an hour journey through some big and curvey roads
and sometomes throgh small lanes. i noticed the big electricity cabling
on the sides of road. Homes were having slanting roof, i guess this
may be because Thailand is a tropical country the chances of rain are
more. We reached hotel by 12. We have booked a cluture and Heritage
tour with Chaya, immedietly after freshing up Chaya came to pick us
at the correct time 1:45PM. Chaya was very interested to share her knowledge
on history and culture of Phuket and Thailand. Below a pic with Lovely Chaya.
She asked us about our
Arrival and journey, after she came to know we haven't had our lunch
she took us to a local restaurant to have authentic Thai food. That
was good and cheap. Along with the chicken noodles she introduced us
to Thailand's favorite drink, iced coffee. I loved it, sweet and cold. Below is a Thai chicken noodles, the white balls you can see in the bowl are fish and a cold black coffee.
After which we went see the sino portugeas buildings and a old house
build in the fusion stype of European and Thai architecture in Phuket.
The building was 200-250 years old and currently 4th and 5th generation
of the family are taking care of the building. The furniture was 200
years old and was ordered from Italy. It was good and introduced us
how Thai people lived in past.
In every Thai
building you will find the spirit house. They beleive that the spirits
of the people who were leaving on that land may be some 200 years or
even before that are still there, and instead of facing their evil we
build them this house so that they can leave there and protect us from
the evil. Below is a snap of a typical Spirit house.
After that we went to Gypsy village, Gypsies are taller and
darker than other Thai's. There homes are elevated from the ground.
They leave at the closest proximity from the sea. They are close to
nature and are not materialistic like other Thai's leaving in
town. We do not find fencing to their homes. When Tsunami hit the coasts
none of the 2000 Gypsies died, as they understand the sea and nature.
When the water was taken a back by sea they understood something terrible
is going to happen and this water will come to coast with bigger force,
so they just grabbed their children and ran. I could see some expensive
cars parked out of their houses. We can get pearl jwellary in this town.
Chaya bargained for me and got me a good deal. Also the real fun was
when we ate the fresh fried fish here. It was a total delight. Below is Gypsy home.
After
this we went to a souvenir shop where I got some stuff in good price...again
Thanks to Chaya for taking us to the local shops. Here the rates are
same for locals and tourists. After some shopping we went to a Buddhist
temple where some monks were chanting mantras and it was a spiritual experience. Temple had Budha statue in the meditating pose. Below is the pic from Budhdhist Temple.
After this
we went to visit the Chinese temple where we saw 100's of statues of Chinese emperor and militants. On the way of course Chaya was sharing
the knowledge on this.
After all these sight seeing we were hungry and
she took us to a nicest restaurant at the range hill from where we enjoyed
the beautiful view with tasty dinner. Chaya is a very warm person and
guided us on how should we spend our next 3 three Days effectively in
Phuket. She dropped us back to hotel by 9-9:30 PM. At the end we felt
we have got so much in so less time.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Book Review - Sister of my Heart
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Phuket Trip
Below are some spectacular views from Phuket
Above is the Karon beach on the early morning of 7th Aug.
This is the Karon beach early morning in rainy season.
This is one of the island I clicked on the way to canoeing.
Kha noi island from the closer distance.
One of the cave in the Andaman oceans of the Pha Nga Bay of Phuket.
On our way inside the cave.
Islands from the rear side of speedboat.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Book Review - The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Divakurni
It’s been past 4 weeksI have started to read “The Palace of Illusions” by Chitra Banerjee Divakurni. It is the depiction of Mahabharata through Draupadi’s lenses. Writer has mighty pen to take us in the age Draupadi lives. While reading book I was feeling as if Draupadi is my best friend and is telling me what all she has gone through in her life. Each chapter is interesting and indulging. Dedicated chapters are written for the important characters in Mahabharata who has influenced Draupadi’s life. Some of the characters which are not much elaborated and given importance in Mahabharata but which are important from Draupadi’s perspective are explain detailed in the book. For Example Dri, Draupadi’s brother is explained nicely in bits and pieces in first ten chapter. Some characters which are described noble and good hearted in Original version of Mahabharata but if they are not the same from Draupadi’s view, writer had written them in that dimension. Chitra’s Draupadi is rebellious. She is not ready to surrender herself to destiny. She asks questions(unlike what we read in most of the ancient dramas, woman are born to obey there fathers, brothers and husband and are not allowed to question them). She believes she has much more things to do in her life than other princess of her age and her times. She likes Shikhandi who is neither woman nor man because she is mighty and brave. We find Draupadi a regular teenager when she find Karan’s portrait attractive before her swayamwar because of his golden arms and earings. She expresses her desire to have access to his portrait whenever she desires. We can easily relate ther struggle to imitate her father’s queen and to look good and confident in all the court ladies. Ms banerjee has the strong hold on language and puts the every aspect asthetically and aptly thus it improves the impavt of Draupadi more on readers. She never looses her focus on Draupadi not even for “Krishna”. All the characters come in book when they come in Draupadi’s life. But some of the facts are little bit taken away from Mahabharata like Drupad (Draupadi’s father) was not so happy to get a girl out of Yagya. And the fact that Draupadi was brown and not much fair and beautiful as we read in much of the books. But given the fact that these descriptions actually take us nearer to Chitra’s Draupadi and understand her psychology better as most of us are the brown women in today’s India using faireness creams to get that white, bright and tight look(You naughty, don’t think anything else I mean our face here :)).
In India it is said that every woman must have three relations in her life. A woman should have a mother, a sister and a daughter. As these three are the persons who understand her and give her valuable advices timely. Draupadi is a woman who doesnot have either of these relations. The characters in this novel are humanistic whereas the characters in Mahabharata are more about demigods, Princes and prince. But Chitra's Draupadi is strong, rebellious, intelligent and thinking. She prefers to be called as a Panchali opposing the egoistic name of Draupadi given by her father. She is a woman who loved one man all her life and was married to other five men. She has made choices in her life. But still at some points we can make out though she was strong and respectful the place of woman in that society was no different from what it is today. Her husbands and other respectful men in the Hastinapur who never came to her rescue when she was being sexually assaulted in the court, for them Dharma and their words were more important than the dignity of women in their family. But when it came to war they forgot all the rules to win the battle. Some of the instances and scenes of this novel are missing from original Mahabharata but they are so perfect fitting at that particular situation that we can easily accept writer's imagination. The chapters and their heading are also very interesting and apt. As the pages unfolds Chitra's Draupadi captures our soul and mind completely. Even after finishing the book Chitra's Draupadi lingers in our thoughts.
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