A REVOLUTIONARY TRAIN IN INDIA

Satabdi Express which runs between Puri and Kolkata is a revolutionary train for Indian tracks.
It is very comfortable with extra leg room, comfy reclining seats, hygiene and big glass windows which gives beautiful treat of rural life of India.

To the bonus it serves welcome tea/coffee with 3 different news papers , Sumptous breakfast and then a three course lunch. Super clean toilets maintained all through the journey and the window panes are cleaned every big station it stops by. All this is done by dedicated servers and cleaning staff.

Truely had an airline experience. Almost!
The only better difference is all these services are included in the fare and taxes.

This entire experience comes at 1050-1650 ruppees and the entire journey is of 6.5 hours. 

MY BEAUTIFUL LAND!!

It is very surprising that just 20 Kms drive from the city and everything changes. From the landscape to the air, the roads, the people. Really everything.

I feel very proud of my country and its colours.

What a view! Really!

WHY I MISS ..... SO MUCH

 Where is this place, I miss so much?

This is where the sun is at its best. This is where the roads are narrow. This is where I drive around with no destination to go. It is here that the churches are whitewashed and are beautiful. This is where I stop by every chapel to take a picture of it.

Here I start my Lazy day with English breakfast. It is here I go crazy with friends.This is where I could drive around in search of a new place. The bikes could be rented very cheap. This is where we are invited by strangers to a private party. This is where there is no limit to gastronomical events. Where the party is on till you want. Where the shacks play Techno to House to Lounge.

Where the massage boards are in Russian. Where the sign boards are in Portuguese.

Where every sunset is better than the other. Where every beach is different than the other. Here you could stand next to no smoking zone and smell of marijuana in the air. This is where the beer is cheaper than water. This is where you go and every one ask you for a port wine.

Where if Baga is very crowded then Tirakol is very secluded. Where I go from North to South and from new to Old Goa in my bike. Where we make beautiful pictures by the Agoda fort. Where Calangute has the best markets to shop. This is where you still spot the hippies. This is where the night market is so much fun. This is where you eat Pork Vindaloo, Bebinca etc

Yes, it is Goa and I miss this place so much. It is different from the rest of the country and thats what makes it very special.

I wish I am in Goa now :)

THURSDAYS OF NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

Thursdays of every Magha Masa(Nov - Dec month as per the full moon days) are very auspicious. This is the time we welcome the Goddess Laxmi to our house.

The mothers, the sisters and wives are the living reflection of the goddess in our houses. They take the pain to perform the difficult rituals. Usually every wednesdays we have non-veg food in the house. So they clean the floors late night and draw patterns with a paste made out of rice powder soaked overnight and water. In wee hours even before the sunlight they take shower and perform the rituals, worship the goddess and offer fruits and delicacies.

It is not the first time I am writing about these rituals. But today it seemed very special and appealing again.

I find this ritual very amazing and its little bit like Christmas for the men. As we wake up we see the house floors with beautiful patterns. I become very curious and check around all the house doors and different rooms. This act of the women is really appreciable. How much pain they take to perform this ritual. Really they are the true reflection of the goddess in our families.

The pictures are of my sister and the patterns she drew in the house.

SHARING IS CARING # 13

Last day of the Sharing is Caring week. It was good practice for I read a lot, wrote a lot, got to know about many destinations etc. I realised I have so much to travel. Its a cliche for my blog but it is true that one life is not enough to travel this world.

I have so much more to share here in my blog and of course I will time and again. Now, this Sharing is Caring is about some of the beautiful villages of India. Yes Villages are always beautiful than the cities. Cities are polluted and always dirty. Villages are small, organised and clean.

The list from www.holidayiq.com is about 8 such villages as follows :

1. Kasol, Himachal Pradesh

source:travel.india.com

This pristine village is an ideal place to just be and let go. Walk through and chill around with sceneries and landscapes borrowed from paradise and a distinct culture from its frequent Israeli visitors. Its glittering markets and breathtaking views will leave you asking for more.

2. Mokokchung, Nagaland

source:holidify.com

HolidayIQ Traveller Kalpesh Morekar says, “Visit Mokokchung and you can see the different cultures of India. The place is ideal for nature lovers. Avoid travelling in the rainy season. Start your travel from Dimapur (chopper facilities are available). You could also drive to Mokokchung.”

3. Malvan, Tarkali

source:wikimedia.org

HolidayIQ Traveller Mandar Joshi says, “Malvan has good offerings of typical Konkani food and cashewnuts. The village is beautiful with good people. The marine sanctuary with variety of corals and other sea life is a must-visit,” says HolidayIQ Traveller Faiz.

4. Kumaon, Uttarakhand

source:trekearth.com

HolidayIQ Traveller MD Faizi says, “Kumaon is a good place for a holiday with friends. You can trek in the jungles, feel nature in the most pure form and spot various wildlife. We took an elephant ride. Because there were not many options with food, we cooked our own meals, which was fun.”

5. Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh

source:holidify.com

A fish farm, hills with a view, pine trees and paddy fields all over. This place in Arunachal Pradesh comes with absolutely nothing on its list of ‘must -do’ things and makes up for an ideal place to chill.

6. Kandaghat, Shoghi

source:blogspot.com

A small little hill side town tucked away in the Himalayas, Kandaghat is cut away from the tourist circuit. It is located on the Chandigarh-Shimla Road and it nonchalantly springs up on you just before the capital town.

7. Chitkul, Sangla

source:bcmtouring.com

HolidayIQ Traveler Sudhir Kalra says, “Last village on Indian side of border, which is accessible by road. Nothing but pure nature in its glory! It is a very small village with hardly any people around, and their livelihood depends on tourism. There are also patches of lands for cultivation. There are good streams of water all around.”

8. Malana, Manali

source:nativeplanet.com

HolidayIQ Traveller A.S. says, “This is a lovely little village in middle of dense mountain forest. The approach is not scenic but after reaching it is worth every penny. The place is very refreshing with hospitable villagers. We played a cricket match with local boys and had a great time.”

1100 KMS OF ROAD

The road trip to Calcutta was full emotions. Sometimes we were laughing, sometimes worried, sometimes scared, sometimes nostalgic,sometimes anxiety etc. Road always calls for adventure and roads in India, even more. The distance between Bhubaneswar and Calcutta is around 500 KMS and we drove around the city for another 100 KMs. In total we made 1100 KMs.

Here is the road in some pictures. 

MY FIRST TIME # 3 : MOVIE ALONE

Another first time experience. I went for a movie alone. It is a Bengali Cinema called Jaatishwar.

Again I have to repeat the same subject that India is country of many countries. Many countries coming with many languages, food, habits, cultures etc. Almost like if all the countries of Europe become one country. The feeling is same.   

Each state or region in India has its movie industry made with the regional language. The 800 bollywood movies in a year is not enough. We have many regional movies. For example Ollywood from Orissa, films of Bengal is called Tollywood, films from Karnataka is called Sandalwood, Movies from Kerala is called Mollywood etc In total it is more than 2800 movies in a year. Needless to say that is Incredible India. 

So coming back to the subject of the movie, I am very fond of Bengali Movies. They make movies with less songs like Bollywood and more intense subjects. The script, characters and the art everything is very well crafted. 

Its a great movie and the experience was very intense for me. To be there and watch this hard subject alone. I always had a bunch of friends to watch movies and this happened as none of friends in Orissa know Bengali. I approached many friends and even offered tickets and they declined thinking it would be boring. However when I saw the rating is 85 % and the subject has Portugal then I decided to must watch this movie. 

I never watched a movie alone. Not only I was alone but also I had the whole theatre to myself. We were only 5 people watching this movie remotely scattered between the 160 seats. Obviously because in Orissa most wont understand Bengali. Struggling with hard and intense subject and also my loniless I was very emotional in the end. 

I am happy to have the opportunity to watch this great Bengali Cinema in Orissa and understood that to have what you want, sometimes you have to walk alone. 

MY TRI COLOUR CITY

It was Republic day and I decided for a photo tour in the city to capture the Tri colour theme. 

For this ocassion, the three colours of Indian flag i.e Saffron, white and Green were prominient site everywhere. 

The AG Square was hosting the state parade for this day which could have been a delight for a photo tour. The colourful people, the busy streets, parade, shows, flags flying everywhere would have been beautiful. But I was not ready for all that. Blame it on my mood or the moment. I was looking for the calm after the storm. So 10 am was perfect time for me to arrive there. I made some good ones and also have little conversation with people. 

Here are some pictures from the theme "My tri colour city."

                          I LOVE MY INDIA were his words.

26th JANUARY, REPUBLIC DAY

The date 26th January is a prime day for Indian Calender. This day in 1950 India became a republic. Well this is a fact known to all and enough available online about it.

Its a bigger interest to write about how we actually feel or see it.

The country is gearing up for the celebration, so is my city. Saffron, white and green is a common sight. The theme of Patriotism is at heights. 

One of the things I was amazed to see is all the malls turning Saffron, White and Green like our tri colour flag. Seems like other colours have gone to shelves. 

The malls have various offers for this ocassion. For example Reliance Trends is running buy 1950 and get 1950. Super!!

Even the crowd is huge. Amazing deals. Time to go Saffron, white and green. Clothes of the tri colour are loaded on the shelves. They are for every one, Ladies wear, Gents garments and kids wear too. The spirit of Patriotism is at its height.