Am I busy..??

(Federal Warning.. This message is labeled, "Show off") ;-)

Why wud both of you dames ask me the same question? C'mon, I am not here to do time pass any all. Lol.. Though I can understand the genuine ( ?? ) concern behind it.. ;-) Hahahaha...

So, Mdm. MBA Bandarr & Mdm. Juari Bandarr, if you wud have known as to how I wrote this blog, surely, u'd be believing me.. And yes, rolling with laughter too! ;-)

So, one and all, wassup? Its been really long since I wrote! I have been on toes.. North Carolina was minute to minute packed! And the worst was the heat! 105 degree Fahrenheit! It was the first topic of discussion where ever I went! And the climate out there is as humid as Mumbai.. 60% humidity.. If I choose Carolina, I am not gonna miss home for the weather atleast! lol..

But, on a serious note, equally amazing was the experience! If ever the Indian education system wud become so student friendly..?? IF ever..

Will love to write bout it wenevr I can..
(Bandarr, before you say it, let me.. I know, I have started one more topic and leaving it incomplete, I'll try n complete it. Cos cant continue writing in my present situation.. ;-).. Lol..)

So, let me just get back.. And keep guessing, where does this blog come from.. ;-)

Cheers!

The Fling!

This was an article written by me on June 27, 2005! It was very relative to the then! But just as I was discussing htis with someone, I found this old thingy in my inbox! So, posting it again!

The Fling...!

Life is fun with its ups & downs, the tipsy-curvy way, the curved & the straight roads, sometimes a turn around, sometimes a roadblock! It's LIFE...

My life was same. Just that it was like that of white water, full of hustle n bustle. It was like "Bich bhawar me gud gud gote khaye.." And, happened my first fling when I was in fifth standard. The fling, which has sustained since then. Rather, it's seen a tremendous growth in last few years. Its, THE FLING...!

It's nothing else but my fling with Vipassana! This is the story of my affair, which transformed my life from __________ to __________. I purposefully avoid to use any adjectives in the blanks as they'll become relative to my perspective. Thus, after going through this story, may you decide on your own, what fits there.

Darshan Mundada.. The most unwanted! I was one of the most undesired as a child. Except for my family & a few very close relatives, it was all a negative approach for me. I remember times, when except for my Dad, I had no one besides. And, it was nothing of anyone's fault. It was my own negativity. A very hyperactive child, I could never sit at a place for more than a few seconds. No words or hands or sticks or any other means could stop me. My initial school life was worst. Not a single day passed without complaints. At times I was debarred, at times I was punished, at times, sent back home! It reached to the peaks, when school just wanted to throw me out. I had to change hands. It was a roadblock! But whatever happens, happens for good. At that point, I had my first crush.

Coming from a family where culture dominates, and parents being disciple of Vipassana, I was also recommended for the same. Actually, I already had my first introduction with the practice when I was just in 1st std. I'd attended a few 1 day children shibirs in Pune. But I frankly accept, the attraction at that time was not of the exercise but of the hot puri & batata bhaji with amazing mango murabba! The taste still rolls on my tongue. Later, on the insistence of Shri Asawaji, I did a 3-day children's course in Igatpuri in presence of Guruji Shri Satyanarayanji Goenka. It was a turning point. For the first time it so happened that, I was not blamed for doing anything in 3 days of the camp. It thus developed a sense of belonging in me..

A significant change started. So much so, that people openly started asking me, how come you are behaving well? Many other factors blending together, it gave a facelift to me. But still, the boat was not out of rough weather, as the captain was not yet stable. Again, last few years saw a few steep slopes n sharp curves in life. And up came a pending promise, The words I'd promised to Dadiji n Dadaji, that what so ever may come, I'll complete a 10 day Vipassana course once. After returning from USA, on priority I went for it. It was much more of a patient approaching the doctor, with no knowledge of the doctor's capacities & in turn, no confidence, neither in himself nor the doctor.

December 14 to 25, 2004.. The 10 days, which lead to a complete transformation. It lead to a life which I always wanted, full of satisfaction & peace. Satisfaction in what I am, what I have, what is me. Peace in being. It's just a feeling inexpressible in words. But all this said & done, it was not an easy task to complete a 10-day course. It was just the promise & will power which kept me going. First 5 days were just observation, as the whole theory was contradicting my trust in God n supernatural powers. Then came the evening of 6 th day when, during Guruji's cassette, he spoke about the correlation between both, The God & The Exercise. I could hear the Gita which I'd learnt since years, but for the first time, I did understand the true meaning. N, my perspective towards Vipassana changed! Changed forever, changing me forever..

Friends, that's the start of a story.. I know, this is not a platform to discuss individual, but still I narrated my part. Just for the sake, that may you all try once for this art! Its nothing extra, neither does it contradicts anyone's basic thought process. Its just logic to our living! I did it, & I know what difference that makes, may you all get an opportunity to experience the bliss..

(June, 2005)

...

Thats the situation! I think the steam was let off too much! Cos, not able to gather a single thought to pen down..

Hmmm.. "Rukawat ke liye khed hain!"

Will be back after a short break!

The Jetlag..!

I have been always proud of myself for 2 things.. Drinks cant get me high and jetlag cant get me down. And yes, the pride cracks..

The day I landed in Hague, I was sleepy like anyhting. And the irony was, at midnight 12, Hague was a s bright as evening 6:30 of summers, in India! India and Netherlands have a time difference of 3 hours, and with the addition o fday light saving, it is 4 hours. So, midnight 12 in the Hague meant Morning 4 in India.. So, I still take pride saying I was not jetlagged but it was natural! ;-).. lol

Aint it an amazign concept! When th ewhole world is cribbing about undue usage of resources, here is a simple idea, which saves a lot of energy. Because in summers, the sun rises early and sets late, the days are brighter. So, to utilise this, Europe, USA an dmost of the high latitude countries forwards their clocks by 1 hour. As quoted on one of the sites, "Daylight Saving Time "makes" the sun "set" one hour later and therefore reduces the period between sunset and bedtime by one hour. This means that less electricity would be used for lighting and appliances late in the day. We may use a bit more electricity in the morning because it is darker when we rise, but that is usually offset by the energy savings in the evening."

And to my surprise, from the bigfat search engine, Google, I came to knwo that India also had this concept at a point of time! WOW.. Thats good.. What is our energy and environment minister doing today?

As goes the Wildebahn..!

When I named this blog WILDEBAHN, I never knew, it will seriously take me to wild roads and I will write bout them some day!

Being on the old travelled paths after years is sure to take you down the road of memories! And the drive from SFO to San Jose was nothing different! It swarms back the memories of 2004.. Of the spur of moment trip to SFO to meet 2 friends. A journey, which changed my life for good forever! Bonded me with two other people from 2 other corners of the world! And today, I am back in this town. trying to recollect the name of the beach, where we 3 celebrated our friendships, our lives, the best moments of my US stay then!

Last few days have been pretty much busy! I first landed in Amsterdam and immediatly travelled to the I'nal city of law and justice, the Hague, or Den Haag, as called in Dutch! It is a city where an individual will love to live. Full of greenery.. Full of water bodies.. It is just amazing. As perfectly described by an European Mayor, "Cities are made for people, not otherwise..", as it is considered world wide. And beat this, my first intro with this city was, a typical Dutch accident. Can anyone of you imagine, what it has to be? An 84 year old man is banged down by a 18 year old girl. And what are they both driving? They are cycling.. Yes.. CYCLING.. The Netherlands is a nation, where the Minister of state also prefers to travel on a bicycle! Here is where I realised what fresh air means. Guys, there's loads for all of us to learn..

Yes, there's so much of Hague I have to share, that I will write bout it later. Right now I am just letting off a bit of the steam. Cos the internet was so expensive in the HAgue, that now in the US, it is my first priority to write! ;-)

Yeah, so after finishing of the conference in the Hague, and later spending an extra night in the city I am in love with, I flew for the STATES! The land where dreams are made, lives are lived, the land which we may hate to accept or love to deny, but in truth, rules the world! The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Last time I was here, it was a 3 months stint! But today, when I was landing, it was a different emotion. I am sure, all me friends who are alreeady here or will be here in future, know what this feeling is. Waiting in the long line at the immigrations, and reading the board saying : VISITORS.. It gave a rise to loads of thoughts! And incidentaly, with Sanyukta's grace, I am reading the book, "Maximum City" by Suketu Mehta! Now, for immediate instance, you may not be able to place all these contexts together! Butas I will go an adding to this topic, surely, u all will react!

I have just landed and reached home.. I'll grab a quick shower and a brisk walk. Get back to you with loads of Wildebahn stories later.. Keep reading and reacting too..!

Is it going anywhere...??

9 years... Break..

6 years... Break..

5 years... Break..

4.. 3.. 2.. 1.. BREAK..

Weird, ain't it? Wat numbers, years and breaks? I too thought of the same, as weird as it could be.. Breaks ranging at any span from a few months to few years!

Ok, I spoke enough in code language. Last few months, I have been observing the relationship trends, and this is what it is. I have seen the best of the relations coming to a closure in a timespan. And the reasons, if we discuss on this platform, we will have whole lotta bunch of people rolling with laughter. Yet, these will be the one's who have been through it some or other time.

Relations seem to have become like the doll marriage which we had in kindergarten. A small tug, and the so called strong bond of a relation goes snap. What is it that has made our bondings, our emotions, our affinity so weak? And where is it going to take us?

(... This is just a start to a thought.. Probably it will evolve the next I blog..)

Clustrmap