Its not even an hr since I have returned home from the fulfilling, just over 24 hrs trip to the sacred Sai Baba Temple and my beloved village Bandaardhara. Thanks to SSN, 8 of us had planned the sacred trip to Shirdi - some 300 kms from Mumbai on Saturday. I left office early and reached the new BoB office in BKC. It had been quite a while since i went there and memories, good and bad, came flashing back. I went to the new treasury office and realized that the luxury of space that gov employees enjoy is not comparable to prvt sector. Atleast very much true in my case. I had a good look at the lavish new office and went to the new cafeteria. It again reminded me of my days at BoB, queing up for the subsidized yet decent quality food, snacks time etc.
Post lunch at the cafeteria we all gathered and left for Shirdi at around 3 pm finally comfortably managing to reach around 9. I had heard about Shirdi since childhood in movies and knew it as a place where people come from far off places with great devotion. We quickly located a hotel and without much delay headed straight for the Sai Baba Temple. Must say we were lucky and smart with the timing as in no time we managed to get immensely satisfying darshan. The place was sparcely crowded at this hour. Must say that this was probably the first time i felt happy, peaceful, calm inside a religious place and really felt like praying. The temple compound was well managed, clean and no body would run behind you for dakshina. You could also locate people from all religions at the same place which was unique. We spent a good amount of time inside the compound and also participated in the night aarti. The entire experience was fulfilling and made me smile.
Post the visit, we headed for dinner and some shopping which was followed by Mafia and Dumb C in the hotel till late into the night. As planned, next morning we headed for Bandaardhara, which was almost on the way to Mumbai. 3 of us had already been dere just 5 months back but it din lessen the enthu we had, more so to show the wonderful place to rest of us. Although, the place is best visited in Monsoon season, people still liked it. Unlike last time, the spillway was not working, we couldnt resist to go inside the cold water of the dam. After some swimming, rounds of photography, dinner and boating we left the place at around 4:30 pm. We had hardly spent 3-4 hrs at the village but i guess it was worth it.
On my way back, as usual I was looking and admiring the beautiful Western Ghats and wondering what next is in store for me.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Mumbai 'Local'
People call it the lifeline of Mumbai - The Mumbai local which covers the entire stretch of this mad city tirelessly, up and down, to and fro, almost round the clock. I have a special place for this lifeline in my heart. As soon as I came to this city, i started using it extensively for commuting and have traveled thousands of kms since then thus spending a considerable time on the track mostly thinking about my life and at times thinking about the lives of my fellow passengers. I still cherish boarding the train with my ipod on and news papers out. I still prefer to use this mode and for many reasons including the vada pao of the local stall on the platform. I think its the best way to understand the city and whats it made of. Traveling from suburbs to the town one can easily appreciate the contrasts it exhibits and the quickness with which the 'local' brings it to you. Its the cheapest, quickest and surest way of reaching yr destination.
I mostly travel by second class (must confess - at times when second class is full to the brim and I cant wait any longer, I board the first class without having a ticket for it). One day when i was on yet another 'trip' on the local and was done with my newspaper I begin to notice who my fellow travelers were. and there were variety of them. There were laborers, fruit sellers, small shop owners for whom the train is a necessity. These are very poor people who travel miles daily to reach their business location. They will usually be carrying their tools, lunch boxes etc in small cloth bags. Then their are college/school going kids with a backpack. Then their are service class people like myself, who flaunt the latest gadgets - phones, ipods etc , and are dressed in typical business attire. Then comes the slightly older generation, usually traveling in groups, seated and discussing the latest political agenda with nothing much to carry along. Also present are the hawkers which sell unique products at amazingly cheap prices. I thought how the same train carries people from different walks of life and offers no differentiation to the rich. It maintains the same speed for all, charge them same fare, offer them same comfort etc. It is such an integrator.
As usual, there are a few things which i don't like about the trains. They could be cleaner for one. I hate it when the trains are over crowded. I don't mind if i do not get a seat but i cant travel when i cant stand comfortably (and hence the up-gradation to first class at times :)). Lately, Mumbai railways have done a wonderful thing by converting all trains to 12 compartments (from 9) and starting some 15 compartment trains as well. That's a truly commendable effort to enhance customer comfort.
I often get this desire - to board the local and travel to the farthest station from Mumbai - appretiating the changes in the landscape, the surroundings and the variety of people it serves.
I mostly travel by second class (must confess - at times when second class is full to the brim and I cant wait any longer, I board the first class without having a ticket for it). One day when i was on yet another 'trip' on the local and was done with my newspaper I begin to notice who my fellow travelers were. and there were variety of them. There were laborers, fruit sellers, small shop owners for whom the train is a necessity. These are very poor people who travel miles daily to reach their business location. They will usually be carrying their tools, lunch boxes etc in small cloth bags. Then their are college/school going kids with a backpack. Then their are service class people like myself, who flaunt the latest gadgets - phones, ipods etc , and are dressed in typical business attire. Then comes the slightly older generation, usually traveling in groups, seated and discussing the latest political agenda with nothing much to carry along. Also present are the hawkers which sell unique products at amazingly cheap prices. I thought how the same train carries people from different walks of life and offers no differentiation to the rich. It maintains the same speed for all, charge them same fare, offer them same comfort etc. It is such an integrator.
As usual, there are a few things which i don't like about the trains. They could be cleaner for one. I hate it when the trains are over crowded. I don't mind if i do not get a seat but i cant travel when i cant stand comfortably (and hence the up-gradation to first class at times :)). Lately, Mumbai railways have done a wonderful thing by converting all trains to 12 compartments (from 9) and starting some 15 compartment trains as well. That's a truly commendable effort to enhance customer comfort.
I often get this desire - to board the local and travel to the farthest station from Mumbai - appretiating the changes in the landscape, the surroundings and the variety of people it serves.
Kala Ghoda Fest - 5th Feb - 13th Feb 2011 :)
Its that time of the year again!!! Yes, KGF is back in town. Its been only two days since it started and I have already visited it twice!! Just cant stop liking it. As expected, the street is all dressed up and lined with sculptors, stalls put up with colorful stuffs, the art is on display, the lights are on and the stage is set for plays.
Unlike last year, i found this time fest to be on a grander scale with more movies, plays, performances on the list. I usually ask myself this question - Why do i like this fest so much? What does it stand for? and i answer to myself - the fest promotes art, music, dance, plays, acts, creativity etc all of which are ways in which a man expresses his thoughts and thus the entire fest stands for freedom of man's expression and is a celebration of it. I am not only overwhelmed by the number of people who visit the fest but by the variety of them. Old, young, boy, girl, rich, poor, Hindu, Muslim, Indians, Foreigners etc one can find people from all walks and kinds. To be honest this is the prime i like the fest. It feels nice to be present among 'humanity'. and share the enthusiasm.
I have already visited the fest on both the days and simply loved it. Needless to say, I am looking forward to clock more visits in the next week and this time planning to do some shopping as well :)
Unlike last year, i found this time fest to be on a grander scale with more movies, plays, performances on the list. I usually ask myself this question - Why do i like this fest so much? What does it stand for? and i answer to myself - the fest promotes art, music, dance, plays, acts, creativity etc all of which are ways in which a man expresses his thoughts and thus the entire fest stands for freedom of man's expression and is a celebration of it. I am not only overwhelmed by the number of people who visit the fest but by the variety of them. Old, young, boy, girl, rich, poor, Hindu, Muslim, Indians, Foreigners etc one can find people from all walks and kinds. To be honest this is the prime i like the fest. It feels nice to be present among 'humanity'. and share the enthusiasm.
I have already visited the fest on both the days and simply loved it. Needless to say, I am looking forward to clock more visits in the next week and this time planning to do some shopping as well :)
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