Posts

Showing posts with the label Travel

A Prayer of the Flying Fox

Image
Dear You, I bet the cemeteries heard more honest confessions than any court, Airports have seen more love than any wedding and Hospitals have heard most sincere prayers than any place of worship. Because regret is stronger than gratefulness, so loss is felt stronger than gains.  Be it a friend who left us for an absurd reason, Love that is faded over time or a loved one who departed too soon. We hold on to them like a tight rope that’s going to stop us from falling free. “ Ok now you move forward and slide down whenever ready ” my instructor told me for the third time. I was sitting on edge of a platform of (what I suppose) 200 meter tall tower. I had my safety jacket on, and it’s attached to the pulley of an overhead cable that was connected from the tower to a lower point. This is what I signed up for, in my recent trip to Bintan in Indonesia.  The idea is to freefall from the platform and slide to the lower point which is popularly known as “Flying fox”. The instr...

U guessed it right! - Singapore Series

Image
King of skies, a show not to be missed in bird's park There is a general perception that Singapore tourism is over rated. What is in Singapore that’s unique? It’s probably smaller than the city you are living now or countries you have already visited. Many call it the microstate of Asia. It does not have cultural monuments like churches of Europe or temples of India, There are no spectacular natural sceneries like that of Holland or Amazon forests, there are no blue beaches and definitely not much history or artefacts to compete with others. But I bet you cannot show me a country with similar background, attracting millions of visitors each year. A culture that’s melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arabic communities. A central hub for travel & transportation, 4 national languages, several museums, a budget destination and a perfect example of the quote “It’s not what you got but what you give”. Every brick of Singapore that shines today is result of constant planni...

Change is permenant - Singapore Series

Image
My mom was so dissapointed since the lion didnot vomit, on that day ;) In the last few days I was so busy shopping, packing and couriering stuff that I forgot the change happening to ME. I have to adapt to different lifestyle, culture and people. You might think it’s not big a deal for someone who lived in India for 28 years and that's my sweet home. But if you have lived a perfect system like Singapore your standards of everything is set and it’s such a pain to revert back to the old ways. Singapore has become my home away from home. In India I would be judged for all my actions, but here I can be myself and still be respected as a person. There are no questions about what time I go home, what I eat/drink and to which deity I bow my head to. When I came here, I realized the only way I could fit in, is be unique and different just like Merlion of Singapore. A photo with Merlion is destined to be framed for the show case. And I bet people won’t ask you where but when it’s take...

Om Mani Padme Hum - Singapore series

Image
Serenity personified You can make out the places someone travelled just by looking at their fridge door, thanks to invention of magnets. If you want to pick up souvenirs for self or for your friends at budget rates, the place to go is china town. You just need an evening to explore this 6th in the countdown attraction. Get down at china town MRT and take the pagoda road exit. Above this exit, stands a beautiful garden bridge from which you can see the architectural beauty of the china town. All through Pagoda road there are 3 for $10 shops selling different souvenirs. You can also buy table top decorative here, beware some shops are exuberantly priced. Once you are at the end of the road, quench yourself with chilled Thailand coconuts. Then take right and you can see the famous Hindu (Mariamman) temple. Keep walking and you would reach Buddha tooth relic temple around the corner. It's the biggest Chinese temple in Singapore (so you can’t miss it) dedicated to Maitreya Buddha....

Its the final count down - Singapore series

Image
Last night I was gifted a box Lindt Swiss thins from a friend. It’s a chocolate I would want to safeguard for me in locker. While returning from train station I saw this couple walking along. The dad was carrying a small and cutest baby. Being me, I opened a conversation. The one month old angel’s name is Valarie. Valarie then yawned, a most beautiful one and rubbed her eyes to look at ‘the talking’ me. That was enough for Lindt to find its way from mine to her mom’s hand. The most important things in life are not THINGS. And Giving is more satisfying than receiving. Garden festivel - 08 Let’s start the countdown of the attractions you have been waiting so far. I narrowed it down to 10 places. For anyone who wants to visit Singapore the first website you should be looking at is this . It has got all the information you need for your trip. We have already seen how green Singapore is in this post . One thing my mom liked about Singapore is that there is at least one park, walk-a...

Welcome to my Farewell - Singapore Series

Image
Its official now! I got my itinerary for travel to India. Next week same time I would be home. I am not sure whether I am excited or scared or happy. Last two nights went sleepless, while I was trying to find my closure. I know its going to be ok. It’s just the anxiety and discomforts of the transition stage that's flipping me out. Near Espalande Singapore 20 december 2007 It’s hard to summarize two years of my life here. I learnt cooking, washing and also the one thing I thought I would never do, the thing I hated for my entire life – Ironing. I learnt more about myself through difficult times, because I was all by myself. Living away from family would teach you more lessons than any college will. I missed my family in the first few months and also had a terrible break up from a long time relationship. I vividly remember breaking down in the toilet of an amusement park. Albeit, it’s all those things that sculpted ME and I am grateful for it. My office building. On the flip...