A MESSI(Y) FAN IN THAILAND !!

It was a usual sweaty day in Bangkok. I was in a bus to Chatuchak Market from Kao San road. It was little crowded and then there was only one seat available. Like a gentleman, I left it for a girl.

So, I was hanging on the aluminum road for rest of  the ride. All the way, this girl was watching football in her ipad. I was very amazed to find a football fan and that to a female fan. But, then I assumed it is okay as it is Thailand and unlike in India, women could be in love with football.

This girl in particular was very much into a game. She got me curious. In the beginning I thought she is watching a match online which she might have missed. But then she was constantly changing her search every 5 minutes. This time she made me very curious and I could not move my eye sight from her ipad.

She had this thing for impatience and something made me feel that she is bit messy. She would not stick to one window and every now and then she would get very excited. Completely detached from other commuters she was totally into her ipad and in small intervals would make a fist in celebration. Sometimes she would slide to watch the same goal many times. As many as 15 times, yes I counted.

At some point,  I even wanted to ask her but then I thought it is of no use as all her search were in Thai and she might not speak English. May be I was sigh too.

However, I was completely into her ipad  and after 20 mins, I realized she is a Messi fan and checking on the best goals by him, his achievements, strikes etc.

Really how messy is this Messi fan. May be that is the magic of this game called Football.

SMILE PLEASE # 5 : MONKS DO NOT SMILE

SMILE PLEASE is where I bring beautiful smiles from around the world into my blog.

But this one is different or unique is more appropriate word. This was when I was in a Monastery in Kao San Rod of Bangkok. I was spending a day in Bangkok after 2 months in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Myanmar. I was tired and had planned some rest before my return to India.

So I landed up in a temple in Kao San Road after breakfast. I had been to this temple before, yet I thought why not another time. And then something very usual happened. I noticed a little group of young monks sitting on a discussion in a jovial mood.

I wanted to make a picture of that moment. I have known by then that some monks could be sigh for pictures or would not like to be photographed. So I decided to ask before making the picture and they all nodded yes to my question.

While, I was making my picture the monk in the center laughed. It was a shock for me as I never saw a monk laughing like that and I could not capture the moment. I wanted to get that laugh. Although they were a group of noves, i.e young monks, they are already taught to give up on emotions. Immediately the happy monk, who was living a moment full of happiness as he is been photographed by a foreigner, sealed his smile.

I wanted him to smile again. Not only for my picture, but more for himself. I made many pictures and would politely say every time Smile Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee!

But there was no success. If you see the pictures carefully then you would notice the emotions hidden behind this quiet monk.

SELFIE # 2

Any guesses, where is bunty? 

Is it Morocco, Western Sahara, Jordan, Egypt? So where would you guess me out from this whole wide world? 

May be somewhere in gulf or Africa. That is what was the reaction of my friends to this selfie. 

Well, I have not re-started my travel yet.  This look is how we survive the heat in my hometown Bhubaneswar in Eastern India. A region which shoots the mercury as high as 48 degrees celcius this summer. 

But talking about Morocco and Western Sahara, hopefully I would be there oneday and this experience would count :)

SONHAR É GRATIS # 2

SONHAR É GRATIS! = TO DREAM IS FREE

 Here is another dream which is fun, curious and most of all its very weird.

It was a good morning and the air smelt very fresh, like we say in India fresh like Switzerland. I was in a bus to arrive in Amsterdam. It was a routine like I am with my friend Jorge. We arrive at the bus station and had one day in Amsterdam before we leave again for Utretch.

But as we get down the bus, I see a series of Indian cows & buffalos being bath. The scene is a bit of mix of India with standards of Holland.

I was very surprised and yet moved ahead and Jorge who has been to Amsterdam before decides to stay with the bags in a Coffee shop for a while and work. I moved on to check the city centre and later join him for a bicycle ride around the canals.

I started walking and admiring the beauty of the city. Oh my god I did not realize but When I did, I was more surprised to find myself in a lousy street. It was like if you imagine Hauz Khas in New Delhi with a tint of Amsterdam. It was crowded with people and suddenly my childhood friend Deva who lives in Florida pulls my hand to surprise me more.

He tells me that he shifted this morning and I should help him arranging his stuff. I wanted to run away but then decided to help him over a coffee and croissant for an hour.

When I arrive in his room and while moving things I notice combustible items which could make explosives for Nazis secret mission in Warsaw.

Oh my God!!

The next moment I am shivering and running to my friend Jorge. I see him getting into a restroom but when I follow him its a huge Turkish bath with many families . I am still in panic as I dont find my friend. I woke up with a feeling : can I dream a bit more.

Of course I am thinking of traveling all the time and to how is very difficult.

 However to dream is free!!

SONHAR É GRATIS # 1

So here is my dream of the day, fresh from the wee hours of this morning. But when I started to write, it became a poem. Or atleast I made sure that it ryhmes.

              SONHAR É GRASTIS = To dream is free

I had a dream today that I am in a place I have never been before. 

The Moscow is not red but roman. 

It has the pillars of an Athenian

I dont know how on earth I land here. 

If at all Moscow is anywhere near. 

But I am happy that I have a bonus city to pin before my journey is over.

Suddenly am helping the old Indian women climbing a ladder,

As a museum in Zurich has door only in second floor. 

I am happy again that I am traveling more. 

FROM MY WINDOW SEAT # 3

This picture is from Cartagena, Colombia.

The city of Cartagena is a beautiful time that has come to halt from the colonial days of Spain in Latin America. The walled city with beautiful Cathedral and churches, the embarked ships, historical center, the culture thriving between the locals etc takes you back to another age.

But today more than the city of Cartagena it is the picture of the ship which got me nostalgic about Cartagena.

While I was walking by the historical center there was a beautiful ship which is now a museum. I was curious to pay a visit but then it seemed so touristic and also because of tight budget as it was almost end of our three months in Latin America that I decided to enjoy its grandeur as a spectator from the pavement. 

I managed to make some pictures of this colonial ship and was so happy for not visiting it. 

I believe the picture of just the ship would not be so beautiful without the reflection of the Cathedral on the glass window which stopped me to get closer to the ship as a non paid visitor. Sometimes things happen against your wish and in return that makes you happier. I was very thrilled and happy for the beautiful moment captured by the window pane.

SONHAR É GRATIS = To dream is Free

 SONHAR É GRATIS is a portuguese quote meaning'"To dream is free". This is going to be new for my blog. I have decided to share what I dream. Of course it has to be about traveling :P 

That is true. What we dream and what not we dream, all comes free of cost.Immediately I was traveling in flashback. 

Although my dream left me very thoughtful, but it is well concluded by a picture made in the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. 

Last year around same time, I was making a city tour in São Paulo with my friends Jorge, Pedro, Susana with her kid Sebas, Inacio and Helena(Leninha). I was very excited about Brazil because I could use the little Portuguese I know before entering into the Spanish speaking countries of South America. I was reading everything around. It was a great day between Avenue Paulista, the beautiful Orealhão, the fair of Benedicto Calixto, Batman Alley etc. Suddenly Inacio and Leninha who were equally excited about my interests in Portuguese, pointed to a electric pole with a Grafitti. They asked me to translate into  english and I could that it means, "Dream is free"

Here is the picture from that moment. s a portuguese quote meaning'"To dream is free". 

This is going to be new for my blog. I have decided to share what I dream. Of course it has to be about traveling :P 

That is true. What we dream and what not we dream, all comes free of cost.Immediately I was traveling in flashback. 

Although my dream left me very thoughtful, but it is well concluded by a picture made in the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. 

Last year around same time, I was making a city tour in São Paulo with my friends Jorge, Pedro, Susana with her kid Sebas, Inacio and Helena(Leninha). I was very excited about Brazil because I could use the little Portuguese I know before entering into the Spanish speaking countries of South America. I was reading everything around. It was a great day between Avenue Paulista, the beautiful Orealhão, the fair of Benedicto Calixto, Batman Alley etc. Suddenly Inacio and Leninha who were equally excited about my interests in Portuguese, pointed to an electric pole with a Grafitti. They asked me to translate into english and I could that it means, "Dream is free"

Here is the picture from that moment. 

FOOTBALL FEVER IS ON :)

Writing about Football in a country where Cricket is celebrated is almost out of place. But its true that I connect more with Football than Cricket these days. Well its an universal game and played everywhere.
So Portugal did not make it to the Quarter final and I am disappointed.

But football & cricket are very unpredictable games like rain. Anything can happen for the burden of Permutations and Combinations. I will miss the super fast Ronaldo. But I am optimistic and 5 years goes by swiftly if you travel too much. But the cup is on and we still have some teams to cheer up.

So here is a football picture from my trip to the beach of Puri on the occasion Holi. I dedicate this picture to all my Portuguese friends.

VIVA PORTUGAL :)

A GREAT COINCIDENCE!

Last night after the celebrated victory of Brazil over Croatia and before I went to bed, I was in thought of Fifa World Cup.

I realized that in July 2010, I stepped into a foreign land for the first time. It was the day for the final match of Fifa World cup 2010. 

I arrived in Cape town, South Africa and everyone was geared up for the Final March. Is it not a pleasant coincidence that My first international travel started with the Finals of World cup. 

So GO... FIFA

GO... TRAVELING ... HURRAYYYY!!"

NOSTALGIAAAA!!

There is football in the hitlist and calling for celebration. But there is another celebration which is calling me from a country around the Mediterian Sea.

Its Portugal and the Celebration of Santo Antonio. Last year, I had shared too much informations on this festival of Portugal in my blog. 

This year too am living the Nostalgia. 

The sound of the Tram, the crowded metros, the bustling Alfama, the Fado music, streets of Lisboa, the smell of Sardines, beer flooding the street, the zillion pictures I clicked, then the house parties moving to the streets, the friendly Portuguese and much more. 

I want to be there in Lisbon with my friends. 

A TRAVELER's CONFUSION!!

Yes, I am confused which country to support. 

In India, cricket is a religion. But all my childhood I have played football. I don't even know how to score run with a bat. So definitely am a football lover and have favourites. But at the sametime, having travelled with emotions, I have favourites too. 

I love the Brazilian team, the German and the Argentina too. Some where I would support Colombia, Uruguay and the French team too. 

But please lets keep a secret that deep in  my heart, it is Portugal that I want to win. 

FIFAAAA !!

Couple of minutes, even less than an hour the football world cup 2014, Brazil would be live. 

My brother in law, who is also football fan in this country where its cricket which is worshipped, asks me you have been to Brazil. Then he says should we go again. 

I smiled and gestured him that he is tickling a traveller. 

Last year around same time I was in Rio de Janeiro and the country was already gearing up for the World cup. I was so excited. I wish I can travel to Brazil now. 

So now its time for : GOOOOO......GOOOOOOAL!!

WEIGHT OF LOVE!!

In Paris, everything is a monument. Everything that exist has some significance. 

The french bridge, Pont des artes, has a great significance. Tourist and the locals both celebrate a tradition to lock their love using padlocks on the bars of this bridge. This beautiful tradition is considered as a vandalism.

It is really sad that a section of this bridge broke on the morning of 9th June. But its not the first time. This historical bridge was damaged by the German bombs in world war I & II. This time it broke for the weight of the padlocks. 

The pont des artes on the river Seine gives beautiful views of Paris. But the beauty of this bridge is due to golden and colourful locks.

Lets hope that the weight of love does not call for end of this tradition. 

SOUTH AMERICA : 1 YEAR

One year of South America tour.

Many destinations, many smiles accomplished. On this day me and my most steady travel friend Jorge finished our 3 months tour in South America.

 Everytime the little spanish I spoke to explain that I am from India. The immediate reaction would be "Dios!! Otro Mundo". It means, "God!! The other world".
The idea was to travel in all the countries falling under the equator line. We went all the 8 out of 9 countries. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, Equador and Columbia. The only one we could not go is Paraguay and that is because we were short of time and also my visas issues.

This day last year, I was excited to board a 4 day flight to my country, India. Yes not some hours or a day, it was a journey of 4 days. 

I left behind the other part of the world which I miss so much.

Today in India, I miss something a lot i.e the Otro Mundo(The other world).