tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624683532499614382024-03-23T05:41:32.414-07:00Anand ElangbamA real nutty character who is an epicurean to the hilt... someone who thinks life is how we perceive and conceive it, not what we've been offered, a lover of nature, wildlife and an environmentalist to the core... An amateur artist, photographer, writer and A total Music Buff...Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-79796506992965207632016-10-06T06:00:00.001-07:002016-10-07T06:47:13.878-07:00A detour to Gangtok (Sikkim) a.k.a.The land of mystic splendour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QoBm3f5hDBA/V_ZCQeU_DhI/AAAAAAAAAlw/Ufh_egclup8JMD4yI7vBz0-dPrghG0aDgCK4B/s1600/IMG_1452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QoBm3f5hDBA/V_ZCQeU_DhI/AAAAAAAAAlw/Ufh_egclup8JMD4yI7vBz0-dPrghG0aDgCK4B/s320/IMG_1452.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gangtok from my hotel, Tashi Delek</td></tr>
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For some, the thirst for
adventure and journey to the unknown are hard to contain and when opportunity Knocks,
I couldn’t let it pass without seeing the land of mystic splendor or Gangtok.
Also, endearingly referred to as the Eight Sister States of North East India,
Sikkim has been on my mind for a long time. It is perhaps because I had so many
friends from my St. Stephen’s College days and D.U. days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still remember those fantastic Sikkim House
Parties and Darjeeling Parties during our graduation years. The aggressive
tourism promotion of the State in recent years might also have influenced me to
explore this mystical place, and after some really picturesque photographs got
uploaded by friends on Facebook, I was committed to this visit hook line and
sinker.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MB1GqthgDPs/V_ZGj9W1TtI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/h5zq5ntMbSEfItVJBWIK5KBIFIX5YjVtACK4B/s1600/IMG_1419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MB1GqthgDPs/V_ZGj9W1TtI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/h5zq5ntMbSEfItVJBWIK5KBIFIX5YjVtACK4B/s200/IMG_1419.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lifeline of Sikkim: The River Teesta</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0itz5fEPaLU/V_ZDDCUkkMI/AAAAAAAAAmE/BGuL1JpmexEleoyamxx80BBpyyoCDnPZQCK4B/s1600/IMG_1431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0itz5fEPaLU/V_ZDDCUkkMI/AAAAAAAAAmE/BGuL1JpmexEleoyamxx80BBpyyoCDnPZQCK4B/s200/IMG_1431.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a hearty breakfast at MG Road</td></tr>
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Call it destiny or whatever, I became
good friends with two government servants from Sikkim during a short training
at Shillong and Bhopal. The two elegant ladies were responsible for the final
decision to take a detour before reaching home from my long vacation. Gangtok,
the capital of Sikkim has been on news for all the right reasons in recent
times. It holds promises of being one of the greenest and environmentally
caring Government and people. What I didn’t expect was the logistic of
traveling to this remote region and its topography!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like all North Eastern States of India, I
found that the biggest challenge here was also accessibility and transportation.
To reach Gangtok, one must travel by train or plane to Bagdogra, Siliguri from
a limited number of Metros. There are shared taxis and Innova cars for hire and
one must drive through Siliguri and Darjeeling (all in West Bengal) before
closing in on to Sikkim. The drive to Sikkim goes through one of the most
picturesque highways of India, all along the beautiful Teesta River. It takes
you approximately 5 (five) hours to reach Gangtok from Bagdogra.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vnkV3mlFg0M/V_ZEbNcY7mI/AAAAAAAAAm0/1PkVIECdAvA170MH_grGNYhoZdF7KIk9QCK4B/s320/DSC08730.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MG Road Gangtok, where the universe converge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4muYL0Y9828/V_ZEi2MJK3I/AAAAAAAAAnA/n51q328c9jAagmsxtIWvYtPpvi6gVLcYQCK4B/s320/DSC08736.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deorali Chorten, Adjacent to NIT.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bzjGyKJHORQ/V_ZE3BFXwTI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/3PzWPDg5s9IMzRRjMCDyFAO1zLl7_9SdwCK4B/s320/DSC08792.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="180" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the waterfall at the creepy Shaman's place</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yE5xBCs2Kpk/V_ZEwJnm8nI/AAAAAAAAAnI/Tcsu4sAtiPsAljr5e1ve03tO9E6K5CXaACK4B/s320/DSC08756.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next generation monks at Namgyal Institute</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHrEzS_KNSM/V_ZFFgg2y8I/AAAAAAAAAnY/gBHkiEnkqPoMwFwdEYjwG8b6yrE80GyrgCK4B/s200/DSC08861.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A village stall selling Sikkimese Snacks </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwe5OCOUHZg/V_ZFPFD9FxI/AAAAAAAAAnk/JN34F7iQQZojirpvUoopCJHnYYcKmDZCwCK4B/s200/DSC08863.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where prayers are written to the sentient beings </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XP_4KC8B37c/V_ZFlss6SGI/AAAAAAAAAns/-52TDJnCG-Q11lPUexrzl087BV_D-yfeACK4B/s320/DSC08912.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Changu Lake</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKKvfjUreNc/V_ZFwV_UAWI/AAAAAAAAAn0/peFINFiaF0whMKyYrzzrO4gUeHhTEWrYQCK4B/s1600/DSC08923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKKvfjUreNc/V_ZFwV_UAWI/AAAAAAAAAn0/peFINFiaF0whMKyYrzzrO4gUeHhTEWrYQCK4B/s320/DSC08923.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A decorated Yak to attract the tourist at Changu Lake</td></tr>
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While Imphal valley is elevated at
approximately 786 M, Gangtok is about 1600 M above sea level. There are only 4
(four) districts in Sikkim, which are simply referred to as also North, South,
East and West Sikkim. The sheer climb on the mountainous road meant getting used
to high altitude and calm resilience to nature’s wrath like occasional landslides,
earthquakes, torrential rains, etc…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
in my mind, it is the very essence or the source of the temperament and culture
of North East people of India -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quiet,
Laid back, Tolerant, Resilient and Strong.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vnkV3mlFg0M/V_ZEbNcY7mI/AAAAAAAAAm0/1PkVIECdAvA170MH_grGNYhoZdF7KIk9QCK4B/s1600/DSC08730.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4muYL0Y9828/V_ZEi2MJK3I/AAAAAAAAAnA/n51q328c9jAagmsxtIWvYtPpvi6gVLcYQCK4B/s1600/DSC08736.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yE5xBCs2Kpk/V_ZEwJnm8nI/AAAAAAAAAnI/Tcsu4sAtiPsAljr5e1ve03tO9E6K5CXaACK4B/s1600/DSC08756.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bzjGyKJHORQ/V_ZE3BFXwTI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/3PzWPDg5s9IMzRRjMCDyFAO1zLl7_9SdwCK4B/s1600/DSC08792.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHrEzS_KNSM/V_ZFFgg2y8I/AAAAAAAAAnY/gBHkiEnkqPoMwFwdEYjwG8b6yrE80GyrgCK4B/s1600/DSC08861.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwe5OCOUHZg/V_ZFPFD9FxI/AAAAAAAAAnk/JN34F7iQQZojirpvUoopCJHnYYcKmDZCwCK4B/s1600/DSC08863.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XP_4KC8B37c/V_ZFlss6SGI/AAAAAAAAAns/-52TDJnCG-Q11lPUexrzl087BV_D-yfeACK4B/s1600/DSC08912.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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The centre of Universe for every traveler
to Gangtok has to be M.G. Road or Mahatma Gandhi Road. The Government has
cleverly invested in making it look like some European city centre or square
where on the street corner, a makeshift stage is put up every evening for
cultural and other entertainment shows. The streets are well decorated with
flower beds and paved with tiles and bricks against the backdrop of fancy
stores. Add a variety of restaurants and bars to go with the celebratory
ambience in the evening and what do you get? Yes, the ace card that makes
Sikkim such a great Tourist Destination is through the legalization of liquor
manufactures and sales from which maximum revenue is generated, beside Tourism,
Education and others.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xuBTn6MiZ4U/V_ZGP1Gc5JI/AAAAAAAAAoA/gCiD8TWrj4kRgunOstg0VO2qvdk2AwDcACK4B/s1600/DSC08847.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSNhmgC8W_k/V_ZGUWWXjFI/AAAAAAAAAoI/SuvbHP9iWTQnV3eNzqL4VrmqNKz-Vf-MwCK4B/s1600/DSC08849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSNhmgC8W_k/V_ZGUWWXjFI/AAAAAAAAAoI/SuvbHP9iWTQnV3eNzqL4VrmqNKz-Vf-MwCK4B/s200/DSC08849.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying Rumtek Monastery with Chunni, another dearest friend & host</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xuBTn6MiZ4U/V_ZGP1Gc5JI/AAAAAAAAAoA/gCiD8TWrj4kRgunOstg0VO2qvdk2AwDcACK4B/s200/DSC08847.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Wangmu Sonam, one of the dearest friend & host</td></tr>
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Gangtok offers a treasure cove of
beautiful architecture and style when one observes the magnificent monasteries
and temples with keen eyes. For adventurers and hikers, there are some treks in
the mountains that are worth sweating for. A memorable visit to Rumtek
Monastery and window shopping in ubiquitous curio shops is fun to start with.
Wai Wai and Maggi, beside Momos are the most favorite and cheap snacks to be taken
with their tasty local Temi Tea while sightseeing. A visit to Namgyal Institute
of Tibetology and Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom could be a fulfilling
experience intellectually and shopaholically!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC_fJW7-Tz0/V_ZDl7nvVBI/AAAAAAAAAmY/sI3BT3ZwkEosyHZgwcIbS4EihkF5kYQaQCK4B/s1600/IMG_1464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC_fJW7-Tz0/V_ZDl7nvVBI/AAAAAAAAAmY/sI3BT3ZwkEosyHZgwcIbS4EihkF5kYQaQCK4B/s200/IMG_1464.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indo China border at Nathu La pass</td></tr>
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For someone venturing in to this
mountain, one cannot return home without a trip to the Indo-China border at
Nathu La Pass. It is a full tour package, and tourists are obligated to pay
some fees, submit 2 passport photographs and copy of I.D. or Adhaar card for
identification to any travel agent without which a trip is not possible. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This
is one of the subtle and effective ways in which State Tourism generates income
from visitors for the benefit of the local business</i></b>. This full-fledged
sight-seeing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>include a stop-over at Baba
Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple and Changu Lake, where domesticated Yaks are
used by the poor locals to attract tourist for a short ride and photography.
Baba Harbhajan Singh’s story is an interesting one where this young soldier
gets killed during the Indo China War and his spirit continued to haunt the
place, helping Indian soldiers to avoid many catastrophes through dreams and
signs. Such is the beliefs so strong that legends abound of his feats even
after his death and so, the Indian Government decided to posthumously<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H3jzj4fz7Xk/V_ZDcQ9GBmI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/RlS84aEGdkUL5khLVZYtKQVtzg1ZhOMFACK4B/s1600/IMG_1453.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a> build a
memorial temple, his personal properties and room kept intake and Train
reservations made as well as his salaries paid till he attained the age of retirement
till very recently!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgEjWu63sD8/V_ZDtouk3UI/AAAAAAAAAmk/h-Wb-PHqGrYdgh5PaqQLEXvOnlNtt-mBQCK4B/s320/IMG_1467.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My most favorite photograph of my last supper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NahD41Aix0/V_ZDx2Ghp5I/AAAAAAAAAms/qtVvEMk9rKwY_pok_pXwdGhUGrEwDFbJgCK4B/s1600/IMG_1466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NahD41Aix0/V_ZDx2Ghp5I/AAAAAAAAAms/qtVvEMk9rKwY_pok_pXwdGhUGrEwDFbJgCK4B/s320/IMG_1466.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chung, the local wine of millet</td></tr>
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An exquisite array of homecooked
Sikkimese meal of rice, edible orchids, pork, herbs, mushroom, etc., all
prepared in my honor by my beautiful and generous friends became the highlight
of my short trip. That was when I could finally lay my greedy hands on some of
the most delicious Sikimese cuisines I have ever tasted, taken with a
traditional wine called “Chung” prepared with fermented millets and drank, using a bamboo straw . Another experience captured, another memory created for life, and a friendship
that will be cherished during my lifetime. In due course, I also invited my
friends to visit Manipur or Kangleipak (the name I prefer) and bade a warm
farewell to some of the most hospitable people I have ever known in my life. I
confess, I am one hell of a lucky person and I have such a great sense of
gratitude for being surrounded by some of the best people I have the privilege
of calling “MY GREAT FRIENDS” in this world, My playground.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-14281364344921566872016-10-04T10:11:00.001-07:002016-10-14T18:42:45.363-07:00My Japan Sensation September 2016: Is it the Land of the Rising Sun or Land of a highly advanced Aliens? Let's find out...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sharing my magical moments of the Journey<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYzSss95gWQ/V_PXgCVjTwI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ykuphnmPsicG3rQ_n0MlNBuZqjZkISocACK4B/s1600/DSC08697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYzSss95gWQ/V_PXgCVjTwI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ykuphnmPsicG3rQ_n0MlNBuZqjZkISocACK4B/s200/DSC08697.JPG" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nipon flag at Sumo</td></tr>
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Having
never made use of a local travel agent for visa process before, I thought,
‘what the hell? Let’s try it this time!’ My patient friend from Tokyo made no
complaints whatsoever in all those days of documentation and correspondence,
made over-complicated by my travel agent’s handlers from Kolkata and Delhi.
Yes, it’s not advisable to use a travel agent to pursue a visa, especially when
you’re a seasoned traveller like myself. I learned my lesson the hard way, all
because I belong to this remote region of North East, far away from where they
issue visa in Delhi! But after a lot of heartache uncertainties and irritation,
I did get my tourist visa for 30 days to visit Japan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OM1FMpa6a1U/V_PYX-EjJBI/AAAAAAAAAiE/1MXKCBsTkcgrQY4y9ZoiqGw9lxn_SXHuQCK4B/s1600/DSC06871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OM1FMpa6a1U/V_PYX-EjJBI/AAAAAAAAAiE/1MXKCBsTkcgrQY4y9ZoiqGw9lxn_SXHuQCK4B/s200/DSC06871.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heritage metro station near Meiji Shrine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOKgCqPzxRA/V_PX_iWn4HI/AAAAAAAAAh0/rIQ6mOtWu4Qq0N0ibIE6dGul6Plc-IGpgCK4B/s1600/DSC06860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOKgCqPzxRA/V_PX_iWn4HI/AAAAAAAAAh0/rIQ6mOtWu4Qq0N0ibIE6dGul6Plc-IGpgCK4B/s200/DSC06860.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A japanese curio shop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvXXxMG_lHU/V_PgWfgIfcI/AAAAAAAAAk8/h4wqmHS5SU43YxGy0WHi52DKG9IcwUYWQCK4B/s1600/DSC08249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvXXxMG_lHU/V_PgWfgIfcI/AAAAAAAAAk8/h4wqmHS5SU43YxGy0WHi52DKG9IcwUYWQCK4B/s200/DSC08249.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirakawago, heritage village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhMourw7l0M/V_PhDik63rI/AAAAAAAAAlI/tFjHI-HGFbkWikwio7ga4ezq39sqZpZGACK4B/s1600/DSC08542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhMourw7l0M/V_PhDik63rI/AAAAAAAAAlI/tFjHI-HGFbkWikwio7ga4ezq39sqZpZGACK4B/s320/DSC08542.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magical Arashiyama bamboo grove</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drYgfZkZRTQ/V_PXvJQ2BrI/AAAAAAAAAhk/6CY7Ya3IiJAS2KdABM0W_Nshw-W9q5P8gCK4B/s1600/14203087_953251701464371_447895726_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drYgfZkZRTQ/V_PXvJQ2BrI/AAAAAAAAAhk/6CY7Ya3IiJAS2KdABM0W_Nshw-W9q5P8gCK4B/s200/14203087_953251701464371_447895726_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dearest college mate, Aalok Kumar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-80_SHQk0GBg/V_PXzs2zYCI/AAAAAAAAAhs/i5zq7MoVFWUHCUx_2t7c-D7AxL3Beh0NgCK4B/s1600/14191353_953251668131041_450585151_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-80_SHQk0GBg/V_PXzs2zYCI/AAAAAAAAAhs/i5zq7MoVFWUHCUx_2t7c-D7AxL3Beh0NgCK4B/s200/14191353_953251668131041_450585151_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yusuke Ogawa, my local guardian angel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20LAdWmE_do/V_Ph7tzsLPI/AAAAAAAAAlc/qcAFo2iSrMU4DROBRu8ZfdmbZxQ_g0_vgCK4B/s1600/IMG_1408%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20LAdWmE_do/V_Ph7tzsLPI/AAAAAAAAAlc/qcAFo2iSrMU4DROBRu8ZfdmbZxQ_g0_vgCK4B/s200/IMG_1408%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping on the foothills of Fuji at Motosuko lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KF6QLUh9Bgw/V_PYMNhMZ6I/AAAAAAAAAh8/MHNTZIJApkc9BX4GZaUj6JDnclwYe2_wgCK4B/s1600/DSC06863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KF6QLUh9Bgw/V_PYMNhMZ6I/AAAAAAAAAh8/MHNTZIJApkc9BX4GZaUj6JDnclwYe2_wgCK4B/s200/DSC06863.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most crowded Shibuya Crossing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jG341aa0uus/V_PYiuulZTI/AAAAAAAAAiM/b1DwOjkNCOc7vatVb7hqk6Vhu8_P0ACNQCK4B/s1600/DSC06873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jG341aa0uus/V_PYiuulZTI/AAAAAAAAAiM/b1DwOjkNCOc7vatVb7hqk6Vhu8_P0ACNQCK4B/s200/DSC06873.JPG" width="112" /></a><o:p> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drYgfZkZRTQ/V_PXvJQ2BrI/AAAAAAAAAhk/6CY7Ya3IiJAS2KdABM0W_Nshw-W9q5P8gCK4B/s1600/14203087_953251701464371_447895726_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-80_SHQk0GBg/V_PXzs2zYCI/AAAAAAAAAhs/i5zq7MoVFWUHCUx_2t7c-D7AxL3Beh0NgCK4B/s1600/14191353_953251668131041_450585151_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynsQPcpjE7o/V_PZgjzlKaI/AAAAAAAAAik/a-9Cj2odX5UixTKcs9_O0Pf8aO16EMpAwCK4B/s1600/DSC07082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynsQPcpjE7o/V_PZgjzlKaI/AAAAAAAAAik/a-9Cj2odX5UixTKcs9_O0Pf8aO16EMpAwCK4B/s200/DSC07082.JPG" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo Tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0TbBgFwN1c/V_PahFyr1SI/AAAAAAAAAi8/mNRSHNM_YBsZ1YJKT9RxWQ-BY9JC_WVAgCK4B/s1600/DSC07288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0TbBgFwN1c/V_PahFyr1SI/AAAAAAAAAi8/mNRSHNM_YBsZ1YJKT9RxWQ-BY9JC_WVAgCK4B/s320/DSC07288.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimono clad beauties at Asakusa Shrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4dIqYU-WNrg/V_PcoCSnUtI/AAAAAAAAAjY/P6voELjKMlYIBTcJSfWosA6kwqfZHTK6QCK4B/s1600/DSC07300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4dIqYU-WNrg/V_PcoCSnUtI/AAAAAAAAAjY/P6voELjKMlYIBTcJSfWosA6kwqfZHTK6QCK4B/s320/DSC07300.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With two admirers :) at Asakusa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The
required list of documents are available on the official website of Japan
including the downloadable forms. So, no worries, even if you’re a green horn
traveler! Just google and get on the wagon of exploring using the Internet. It
helps. Get a credit card or prepaid travel card with JPY or Japanese Yen and
few cash ready for your journey ahead. Second, A Japan rail pass or JR Pass is
a must have if you’re traveling for the first time and if you’re a budget
traveler like myself. They are priced at subsidized rate and available online
only to foreign tourists, while still outside Japan or also, available while
still inside the airport. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Book hotels or
hostels or whatever takes your fancy, a Ryokan or Inn online using booking.com Once
you arrive at their two most important international airports, Narita or
Hanega, be sure to buy a pre-paid local Sim card for the best deals. Language
is not such an issue as I feared initially, at least in the airport!<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yP_hGQvmwAw/V_PaKjnXu5I/AAAAAAAAAiw/_V5Mwvcqtmg1rc1vbiycGYV1LXV579aqACK4B/s1600/DSC07210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yP_hGQvmwAw/V_PaKjnXu5I/AAAAAAAAAiw/_V5Mwvcqtmg1rc1vbiycGYV1LXV579aqACK4B/s200/DSC07210.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World's biggest fish market and Shushi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rH9c_7m0Epo/V_PZICK4iHI/AAAAAAAAAiY/ZWeVhJdqJ0UwSuZMXTFiGzX9B6R8rfl7wCK4B/s1600/DSC06924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rH9c_7m0Epo/V_PZICK4iHI/AAAAAAAAAiY/ZWeVhJdqJ0UwSuZMXTFiGzX9B6R8rfl7wCK4B/s200/DSC06924.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Shinto Wedding at Meiji Shrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olRV-fQwi5U/V_PdNbrAgEI/AAAAAAAAAjo/r_oUXuFvB9E0zz330PWbjebtJ3clH_jeACK4B/s1600/DSC07477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olRV-fQwi5U/V_PdNbrAgEI/AAAAAAAAAjo/r_oUXuFvB9E0zz330PWbjebtJ3clH_jeACK4B/s200/DSC07477.JPG" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cute commuter from my station Hiro-o</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
It
pays to prepare your travel itinerary before you land. Saves a lot of time and
confusion. On reaching a metro station, get down to the basics of saving mode.
Get a Passmo or Japanese Metro Pass, by using the ubiquitous kiosks and vending
machines, after choosing your choice of language of course. Oh wait! They have
only Japanese and English hmm… Thank God, for small mercies! Now, all you need to know about the trains in
Japan is that they all run on time. Hyperdia.com will tell you at least 5 best
routes and trains to reach from your station to your destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p29XOskSXw8/V_Pdml8UThI/AAAAAAAAAj0/eaEQ_ZZgEAsWC3dPn8FKoZWUAIdQtkxFwCK4B/s1600/DSC07676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p29XOskSXw8/V_Pdml8UThI/AAAAAAAAAj0/eaEQ_ZZgEAsWC3dPn8FKoZWUAIdQtkxFwCK4B/s200/DSC07676.JPG" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiroshima Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h47C4fu1naQ/V_PeYSRqz_I/AAAAAAAAAkI/JlXasbpjMFwA5vlq5dan0FOXGkUyS_rRACK4B/s1600/DSC07797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h47C4fu1naQ/V_PeYSRqz_I/AAAAAAAAAkI/JlXasbpjMFwA5vlq5dan0FOXGkUyS_rRACK4B/s320/DSC07797.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where wild deer roams with tourists at Miyajima Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Apps
must have are citymap or google map and accuweather.com are a must too because
nobody talks to nobody in Japan while traveling hahah… just kidding but
seriously, they are a quiet lot and rarely communicate. Yes, taking a phone
call while traveling in public transport is a no no! You will only see them
sleeping, staring in space or just staring on their smart phones, i.e. when the
gentlemen and ladies in black and white suits are not fanning themselves. I
tell you, it’s a sight that tickles my funny bones and just to watch this
amazing race discreetly became one of my favorite ways for time-pass. An
umbrella, if you’re traveling during rainy season. With this, you’re well
equipped to explore Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. Easy, Nah? Lolss…. Not
really!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-87734434727970981442014-08-31T23:55:00.000-07:002014-09-01T00:00:03.582-07:00Revival of Inspirational Poems<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="usercontent"> <b> After a long time of recess, I am posting these two poems I have written a while back and hope that I will get inspired to write more in future...</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="usercontent"><b>An Ode to Shiroy Lily</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="usercontent">Shiroy Lily! The inspiration of many
a poets and writers,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">Easy to imagine but hidden from the prying eyes of the
mere mortals,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">Far away across a barrier of mountains at Shirui hills,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">Like a heavenly damsel that cannot be conquered by the
ordinary,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">Hidden away like God's relics amongst the cotton
clouds,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">She welcomes only the intrepid admirers to cherish its
beauty.</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">One must climb a thousand stairw</span><span class="textexposedshow">ays to heaven,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Walk miles across wild grass and green forest of
yonder years,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Carrying a dream, like sword to slay the dragons of
failure,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Only the determined are honoured to pay homage to
her abode.</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">And when I finally stood proud as a stallion at the
summit, </span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Humbled and in awe of the challenge I faced with
silent determination,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">As with weary limbs and slithering sweat,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">I realizied that it was worth all the pain and the
struggle,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">For the final glimpse of a vision, which was once a
dream.</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Andy E.</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">10-06-2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="usercontent">April Inspiration!</span></b><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">As the rain stop falling through the April leaves,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">Robins perching on the bamboo swing and sing,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">Frolicking, and Awake; from a night of slumber,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">While pairs of wild doves in an ecstatic shiver of
companionship,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">Dance to the rhythm of the rustling morning breeze.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">And as I gaze through the crystal glass,</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">That, which separates my world from theirs,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">I feel a curious sense of peace and wonder,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Like droplets that trickles down the wet leaves,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">An April Inspiration, perhaps! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Of good things that comes to life,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Like in so many ways prevail,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Even after a dreary night of lights and sounds,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">In an epic drama of life that is as bewitching as
real,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">There’s yet a Hope, as tranquil as this April
morning.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Andy E.</span></div>
</div>
Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-43166888115003388682012-10-25T21:28:00.000-07:002012-10-25T21:28:44.896-07:00ROAD TRIP EUROPE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ROAD TRIP EUROPE: Chapter 1.
<br />
<br />
Author: Andy Elangbam. (All works are original and non-fiction. Copyrights are exclusively reserved by the author, Thank you).
<br />
<br />
Prologue:
The lyrical melody that best describes my road trip to parts of Europe might be something like this, “ Where do I begin, to tell the story of how great a love can be, the sweet love story that is older than the sea…”
<br />
<br />
Yes, my love story with Europe goes back as far as the time when I used to spend hours mooning over places I would visit one day, skimming through those colorful postcards, pictures and illustrations that I could lay my hands on during library hours in school and college. When friends and acquaintances asked my motives for going to Europe, I have often called it, “ a sort of pilgrimage.” Ending up as a history honours student in College and University was perhaps not a coincidence, even though I had my doubts in the past. Learning and teaching history, geography and political sciences also helped sustain the passion for traveling and exploring.
<br />
<br />
The Planning:
<br />
<br />
All plans for visiting a college mate in Japan were made for September 2012 when out of the blue, a friend who also loves traveling suggested that it would be nice to drive around Europe. I had been to England and a couple of places only last year but the prospect of going on a road trip was too tempting to resist. From that moment on, I took the initiative for reservation of air-ticket through my travel agent. We got a fair deal and within days, my friend and I were on the net, planning and preparing our itineraries. Whereas I got the flight ticket for both of us, my traveling companion did almost all the booking for hostels and the rentals because I could not do it without a credit card. Everything went in haze after that because we were busy trying to find time between our office work and our upcoming trip. Needless to say, we ended up running short of time for a much needed homework and research. Yet, I decided that the uncertainties of not planning everything well were half the fun of traveling too!
<br />
<br />
The disadvantages of living in a remote region like Manipur came to the fore when we had to fly to Kolkata to get our visas, weeks before our actual journey started. It meant extra and unnecessary expenditure, even though we took it as a short break from the monotony of life. Our stay there was spent running around (literally!) for application of visa, gobbling down nice and expensive food in restaurants, window shopping in mall and watching a great movie of the newly released “The Dark Knight returns.” The movie was awesome. <br />
<br />
The interim period in Imphal was filled with a sense of dejavu and tension while we waited for the confirmation of our Shengen visa for two weeks. The confirmation came on the 15th day and we got it finally, even though the person who was carrying it delayed it by few more days due to miscommunication.
We left Imphal on a warm sunny afternoon of 8th September, 2012 by Kingfisher for our onward journey to Paris from New Delhi on the 10th midnight.
<br />
(to be continued)
</div>
Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-25117764278429351682012-09-01T20:07:00.001-07:002012-09-01T20:09:11.421-07:00Visiting Manchester City, Lake District & Friends, Cumbria, UK.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Inspiration of William Wordsworth & English Industrial Revolution!<br />
<br />
Prologue: This chronicle is a continuation to my previous series of Visiting UK that I stopped uploading for quite sometime due to various issues. My journey would continue further after this...<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">F</span>or those soccer fans, Manchester United would be considered as one of the best club teams of the world. For a person with a passion for History, Manchester City meant as one of the most important places of Industrial Revolution in England. Lake District was also home to the famous English poet, William Wordsworth . <br />
<br />
One need not wonder from where he got the inspiration to write such famous nature poems if one visits Lake District in Cumbria, UK.
My visit to meet Manish and Linthoi who lived in Manchester City began on a train from Coventry. It was a beautiful journey across fantastic English countrysides and I found out that there were two stations. The first one was called Manchester city University and the other being, Manchester City Picadilly, which came later and that’s where I got down. I had a phone and I wasn’t worried because Manish was there to pick me up at the station. On our way to his house, I saw old mills and many warehouses, which reminded that I was truly lucky to be visiting a place of such historical importance. A place I read about once as a History graduate in the European History Class.
The station was bigger than most of the others I had been to and it took sometime for both of us to meet finally. He was driving a cute red mini and confessed with an embarrassed sigh that Linthoi had taken the bigger car to London to pick up her parents. We had already discussed that I would not be meeting Linthoi as she would be there to watch one of the Wimbledon matches with her parents whom she had gone to pick up from Heathrow. I was quite amazed that she went driving alone too. It was regrettable but at least, Manish was there to play the host to me fortunately. <br />
<br />
Manish and I had plans to visit Lake District and later, I would be traveling alone to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Their house was in the suburb and what a house! It was a beautiful typical modern English home in an equally amazing neighbourhood. I could see chapels and rolling green hills from their backyard. The air was a bit chilly but I was really happy that I made it this far. We had the house to ourselves and I cooked a meal, helped by Manish. He took me around for a short drive and I had to take out some cash from the atm with my travel card. We spent the better part of the evening making plans for my journey to Edinburgh, booked my train ticket using Manish’s credit card and I paid him in cash. We had to go to Lake District the next day and the following day, I would be on my way to Edinburgh. I booked my hostel room on the phone at Edinburgh.
<br />
<br />
Our drive to Lake District in Cumbria was simply a heavenly experience. The homes were curiously built with black slabs of stones and the place was hilly with beautiful lakes and narrow roads. I read somewhere that the best way to tour Lake District was to backpack and walk around. I understood the reason why and regretted that I had only a limited time to achieve that feat. We went boating and then, Manish wanted to take me more into the interior to an isolated lake and on our way, we had lunch at a typical English Inn. I decided to try the roast chicken, beer and Yorkshire pudding. It was tasty and light. I saw beautiful rolling hills of Lake District, and Manish confirmed that due to it close proximity to Scotland, the topography was pretty similar. He showed me a Quarry on top of a rocky hill and the view was breathetaking. I even thought it was quite similar to scenes of Manipur, only cleaner and free of dust! What fascinated me were the long and unending stone walls, crisscrosed on the landscape, which is a universal sight everywhere in England. It was a remnant of the Pre-Industrial Revolution in a phenomenon called “enclosures” when private property began to be enclosed by individual property owners. It was a pre-cursor to Capitalism and Industrial Revolution, which incidentally flourished in Manchester, England during the 18 & 19th Century.
<br />
<br />
Manish dropped me at the station the following day and I was on my way to Edinburgh to see Scotland. The land of the Braveheart and Highlanders!</div>
Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-35678007890920005302012-07-06T09:30:00.000-07:002012-07-06T09:30:56.925-07:00Poetic Licence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
April Message!
<br />
<br />
As the rain stop falling through the April leaves,
<br />
Robins perching on the bamboo swing and sing,
<br />
Frolicking, and Awake; from a night of slumber,
<br />
While pairs of wild doves in an ecstatic shiver of companionship,
<br />
Dance to the rhythm of the rustling morning breeze.
<br />
And as I gaze through the crystal glass,
<br />
That, which separates my world from theirs,
<br />
I feel a curious sense of peace and wonder,
<br />
Like droplets that trickles down the wet leaves,
<br />
An April Message, perhaps!
<br />
Of good things that comes to life,
<br />
Like in so many ways prevail,
<br />
Even after a dreary night of lights and sounds,
<br />
In an epic drama of life that is as bewitching as real,
<br />
There’s yet a Hope, as tranquil as this April morning.
<br />
<br />
Andy E.
<br />
<br />
The Gift<br />
<br />
A gift so sublime that we can give,
<br />
Only if we have a heart of gold,
<br />
When, in our eyes of wrinkled wisdom,
<br />
Etched with lines of silent years,
<br />
Will mirror a dignified hunger.
<br />
<br />
Even if invisible hands reached out,
<br />
And touched our hearts, ask for nothing,
<br />
Nothing much is left afterwards,
<br />
When the world shut at the blink of an eye.
<br />
<br />
But pray we sleep with eternal smile,
<br />
Knowing we have been cared for and loved,
<br />
Not for some heroic deeds,
<br />
If only for what we believed in.
<br />
To be fair is such a feat,
<br />
For the mortals, the sinners.<br />
<br />
If only one realized the worth,
<br />
Of giving with one’s heart,
<br />
'Only don’t be late giving it'.
<br />
<br />
AndyE<br />
<br />
Shadow of a man!<br />
<br />
I dreamt of you last night,
<br />
Found gravity falling into you,
<br />
And after all these years,
<br />
Been thinking my heart mended,
<br />
But I was wrong again this time.
<br />
Piece by piece I’ve given it to you,
<br />
And what remains as I,
<br />
It’s just a shadow of the man I was meant to be.
<br />
Don’t be surprise if I am a stranger to you,
<br />
It does to me every morning I wake up,
<br />
Sweating and swearing what has become of me,
<br />
A broken man with a broken heart,
<br />
Dreaming of things impossible,
<br />
Still living but not thinking straight,
<br />
It’s just a shadow of the man I was meant to be.
<br />
<br />
AndyE<br />
<br />
Melancholy<br />
<br />
Thoughts that bewail melancholy,
<br />
Surround my decrepit spirit,
<br />
An echo of silent scream,
<br />
Reverberates in my empty universe.
<br />
<br />
Much as I wipe with flailing vigour,
<br />
The passing years of tears and fears,
<br />
Leaves me gasping for mercy.
<br />
<br />
The cruel world mocks me,
<br />
A price I must pay regardless,
<br />
Without a chance of a bargain,
<br />
No, not even with Lucifer!
<br />
<br />
AndyE</div>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-88331853855482593922011-08-16T23:10:00.000-07:002011-08-16T23:13:30.487-07:00Chapter 4: Visiting Oxford, England.VISITING THE FAMED OXFORD, ENGLAND: June2011.
<br />
<br />Did you know that British students pay half a less amount of fees than foreign students in most U.K. Universities?
<br />
<br />I understood that even if there were undercurrents of resentment at certain levels about the excess of immigrants and Asians, Universities in England could not ignore the fact that without foreign students and their contribution to the economy, English economy would not be the same. Visiting Oxford was like a dream come true. I am sure that most of the English literate population of the world grew up with names like Oxford dictionary, Oxford University, etc.
<br />
<br />The train to Oxford took only few hours from Coventry and it was good to travel during the off peak time as it was cheaper and less crowded. This knowledge was helpful in all my train travels everywhere in England. I looked up my travelling companion, "Europe on a shoestring." A lonely planet publication and a very helpful book for a budget traveller like me. I also scanned the map of Oxford and read about the places I could visit during my journey.
<br />
<br />My first impression of Oxford as I got down from the train was one of a busy and a popular city, with Oxford University as its predominant edifice inspiring awe and admiration of many a traveller like myself. I enquired about the last train timing from the information desk before getting out of the station for safety reasons because it was a one day trip only. The station was quite crowded with tourists and inhabitants alike. There were many bars and restaurants just outside the station and rather than taking a bus as an option, I decided to walk the streets of Oxford as advised in my book.
<br />
<br />My first focus was the Christ College and its Church, supposedly the most famous place in Oxford. It was as beautiful as in the Harry Potter's Movies. The entry fee was 7 pounds and there were plenty of tourists, taking pictures everywhere. The guides inside did not hesitate to throw in Harry Potter's names here and there to entice the tourist's thirst for excitement. But one simply had to enjoy the fine gothic and renaissance architecture or the ambience of the place than really bother about anything else. Some of the areas were out of bounds for tourists for obvious reasons- there were students everywhere as the colleges were “Living and Learning entities,” not some museum or historical monuments. I admired the cleverness of the Brits in making Oxford University a tourist place as well as a seat of learning. There were other famous colleges everywhere and they all charged entry fees. I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Tourism’ gives a run for money for the University than just the College Fees!
<br />
<br />I could not miss the free entry to Oxford Museum where I saw such precious scientific inventions from all across the world, especially mariner's and mathematical instruments. The opera building was another interesting one. The market was as lively as the University itself and crowded to the brim. My camera ran out of battery afterwards and I just enjoyed just walking and observing the people and the beautiful city that was Oxford before heading back to Coventry late in the evening.
<br />
<br />I assumed that Universities played a major role in English life because most of their cities displayed their University names as a sort of identity of the Cities themselves. As the train took me back to Coventry, my mind was already filled with plans for my next destinations - Manchester Picadily, Lake District and Scotland.
<br />
<br />To be continued.
<br />Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-29318767944961535482011-08-02T02:59:00.000-07:002011-08-03T23:19:50.490-07:00Chapter 3: My summer in Cornwall, England.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pyyr_RDgKJg/Tjo5tFX3JRI/AAAAAAAAAVw/ece7p_GHV9s/s1600/DSC00688.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pyyr_RDgKJg/Tjo5tFX3JRI/AAAAAAAAAVw/ece7p_GHV9s/s320/DSC00688.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636881330306753810" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iSBYiL36_44/Tjo5s76z9aI/AAAAAAAAAVo/w8aHthWYucw/s1600/DSC00552.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iSBYiL36_44/Tjo5s76z9aI/AAAAAAAAAVo/w8aHthWYucw/s320/DSC00552.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636881327768991138" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQS860Idzmg/Tjo5stAh44I/AAAAAAAAAVg/KfwrKBu3EoQ/s1600/DSC00533.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQS860Idzmg/Tjo5stAh44I/AAAAAAAAAVg/KfwrKBu3EoQ/s320/DSC00533.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636881323766440834" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyhytX2OCwI/Tjo5sYwHlMI/AAAAAAAAAVY/nK01OVg2JCQ/s1600/DSC00488.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyhytX2OCwI/Tjo5sYwHlMI/AAAAAAAAAVY/nK01OVg2JCQ/s320/DSC00488.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636881318328898754" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b0O4tMCiC3M/Tjo5sQ0FieI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/fy8uIodUROM/s1600/DSC00432.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b0O4tMCiC3M/Tjo5sQ0FieI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/fy8uIodUROM/s320/DSC00432.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636881316198058466" /></a><br />"My Summer in Cornwall," smilingly said the lady who took a picture of me on the beach of Bude, Cornwall. I felt such pleasure on reaching the place called Bude, via Exeter. The friendliness of the inhabitants combined with the beauty of Cornwall, often a favourite muse of many authors and painters made this trip a special itinerary on my list. I carried my beachwear, a rug, and my backpack with the hope of taking surfing lessons if the weather permitted. My expectations were more than fulfilled. I felt that it was off the beaten track of International Tourism as I did not see many Asians or Africans travelling with me except for some local tourists. One of the bus drivers I chatted with told me that he was a Londoner who decided to settle down in Cornwall because he liked the peace and quiet.Cornwall hills also happened to be a favourite of the Dutch according to him. <br /><br /> My journey from Coventry to Cornwall was an exciting but tiring bus ride in one of those very efficient national express buses. A commendable thing about the bus services were that they not only follow a strict code of punctuality, the drivers including women drivers also drove by themselves without a conductor and they took charge of every passenger's luggage without much ado. Every buses had a CCTV inside and outside. So, it was sheer pleasure to just look at the LCD screen as we criss-crossed some of the most beautiful English landscapes and cities. We stopped at Bristol for lunch, and it was bigger than most of the cities we passed through. I had to catch a local bus from Exeter to Bude. However, the bus driver informed me that he would not be driving to Bude directly and he gave me an option to either wait for the next bus or catch one from Launceston if I chose to travel with him. I chose the latter and soon as we careened towards our destination, I realized that I was the lone Asian in the midst of the locals who talked with a peculiar accent. The driver left me in a beautiful place called Launceston, after informing his colleague to pick me from there on his radio. Such friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers to a lone traveller was something I had never faced anywhere!<br /><br /> I realized that it was getting late and bought dinner from a Chinese take-away which I conveniently found adjacent to the bus stand as I waited for my next bus. Two friendly ladies also joined me latter and soon as I chatted with them, they asked me if I was a Chinese or a Mongolian! The local bus driver was a young chap and he had another woman colleague, and both of them looked up the map to locate my hostel address. They even stopped the bus next to the street closest to the hostel! On seeing an inn nearby, I entered and asked the receptionist if she could direct me to my hostel because I was kind of lost in the absence of any signs of the building itself. An employee having dinner there asked me to wait for few minutes and afterwards, he drove me to my hostel in his own car. I was really flattered and thanked him profusely for the Cornish hospitality. <br /><br /> The hours were late but I decided to check out the beach before I slept. So, I went out after checking in to my room. Bude took my breath away and the beach was just few minutes’ walk from where I stayed. I took my camera to take pictures and after a strong gust of wind, it soon started drizzling. I turned in to my cheap but very decent hostel for the night with a promise to try surfing the next day. I got up the next morning and on my way to the beach, I bought an outdoor jacket on sale while doing my morning photo shoot. It was cloudy and the lifeguard predicted an unfriendly sea for surfing and even though I a saw a couple of people surfing, I decided to spend my day visiting a place called "Clovelly." <br /><br /> Clovelly was supposed to be one of the most favourite tourist destinations. I got all the required information from their tourist information centre and got up on a local bus. Soon, I was on my way to Clovelly and again, I was dropped off in one place from where another bus took me to Clovelly. The City Centre through which we entered Clovelly charged about 7 pounds as entry fee. <br /><br /> The place turned out to be one of the most beautiful places I had ever visited. Once a fishing village, perched on the cliff with a vista of the blue ocean and home to the famous author Charles Kingsley, who once wrote children stories and a place which inspired Charles Dickens, Irish painters, as well as sailors during the great war and the second world war. I saw Charles Kingsley's museum which was the house he stayed in most of his life and like all the homes of the famous men and women of England I had visited, all the rooms were furnished in its original settings with many photographs and antique pieces. <br /><br /> The descent to the shore along the cobbled walk was amazing with interesting shops decorated with exotic and colorful flowers, restaurants and mules too! There were no sand on the beach, and it was stone pebbles that lined the shoreline to my utter surprise! After my tour of the place, I finally climbed up again and found to my trepidation that I was the only passenger to wait for the last bus. I shopped while I waited and bought souvenirs and a tent on sale again. As always, the bus came punctually right on time and with great relief, I returned to Bude all safe and sound. <br /><br /> On the last day, I had a hearty Cornish breakfast and English tea which had become an essential part of my trip before my return trip to Coventry and make plans for my next destination, Oxford.<br /><br />To be continued.Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-30761251177965987302011-07-25T00:12:00.000-07:002011-07-25T00:23:17.381-07:00Chapter 2: Exploring the Midlands, England.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tr-NwnJ8wKw/Ti0ZwagdOXI/AAAAAAAAAVI/oRijGrKGo2k/s1600/DSC00389.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tr-NwnJ8wKw/Ti0ZwagdOXI/AAAAAAAAAVI/oRijGrKGo2k/s320/DSC00389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633187028450228594" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjYsKhg2D6w/Ti0ZwXUSPQI/AAAAAAAAAVA/6nppGklsb38/s1600/DSC00383.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjYsKhg2D6w/Ti0ZwXUSPQI/AAAAAAAAAVA/6nppGklsb38/s320/DSC00383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633187027593870594" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-isE925UD7y0/Ti0ZwP2wD7I/AAAAAAAAAU4/hSQGKqXxw8E/s1600/DSC00390.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-isE925UD7y0/Ti0ZwP2wD7I/AAAAAAAAAU4/hSQGKqXxw8E/s320/DSC00390.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633187025590947762" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzGUerWWOyI/Ti0Zv21OW_I/AAAAAAAAAUw/DLhzAaQ6ems/s1600/DSC00365.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzGUerWWOyI/Ti0Zv21OW_I/AAAAAAAAAUw/DLhzAaQ6ems/s320/DSC00365.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633187018873658354" /></a><br /><br /><em>Did you know that the name “England” is often mistaken for “United Kingdom” or “Great Britain?” England is one of the nations that make up the U.K. The people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although a part of Great Britain are not too pleased if mistaken for English! You will find Scottish nationalist, Welch nationalist and Irish Nationalist amongst the British, as most of us know them. They are proud of their unique national identities and their history, not to mention their accents! </em><br />But what makes "the British" as they can be called utterly refined and civilized as compared to many countries of the world today is perhaps their unity in thoughts and action, their mannerisms, their love of their country and sensitivities to their environment and people in general. <strong>A sentence is not spoken without a greeting- “Hi there” or “Hello, excuse me” nor complete without a “Cheers, Mate!” or “Thank you.” Just simple words really, but like I always say – These words can sometimes move mountains of cultural and linguistic barriers. It is no wonder that other Countries could not match Britain in diplomacy and British Rule not so long ago.</strong><br />The administrative divisions of England is simple. They have Counties and Burgs, which may be equivalent to Indian States and Districts, although with distinctive connotations. I found it most convenient to plan my travel itinerary at Coventry, where I stayed with the small but lovely and generous family of Dr. Bish Elangbam(as popularly known in his University hospital). I could explore England, staying in this Midland Town and get the best out of the famously picturesque English Countryside.<br /><br />My first day was to visit the birthplace of William Shakespear - Stratford upon Avon. It was not very far from Coventry and we drove down to see Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespear’s childhood home. The apple orchard and the forest walk impressed us most. The motorway was incredibly beautiful and so were the houses as we crossed many beautiful towns and cities such as Warwick, Kenilworth, etc. enroute our destination. The houses were mostly built with embossed red brick in a typically English architectural style. I saw English Tavern, Inns and the famous Avon River of Stratford upon Avon. Some folk artists band were performing on the cobbled street and people would drop a coin or two as a form of appreciation. What amazed me most was the preservation of their greenery, exotic flowers and homes which all bore different characters and colors based on the area and history. Almost all the homes have been preserved since the 17/18th Centuries or even earlier. Castles and Churches have been preserved to attract tourists, perhaps also as a reminder of their great heritage. <br /><br />The next morning was sunny to start with and quite unpredictable as English weather goes, it rained in the afternoon. I tagged along for an English lunch to Cotswold. Bish, Bebe and I drove down with the help of GPS to visit their old friends, Lady Belinda and her husband, who lived in a quintessential English mansion at a beautiful and remote farm of Cotswold. The drive was fabulous. We had different courses of meal as usual with red wine and cheese, beside the main course. Their mansion was also of 17/18th century and during post lunch tea, we discussed about the state of affairs of Manipur and history. Incidentally, Lady Belinda happened to be an author on Manipur POLO and perhaps, sparked by one of her ancestrial link with the colonial British era of Manipur, she continued to be fascinated by our history and people. On our return journey, we stopped to experience an English Pub in Cotswold, in one of the most romantic places on Earth! All credit to my wonderful host for giving me a new vista of English countryside and lifestyle.<br /><br />To be continued.Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-59277816139798067252011-07-13T04:00:00.000-07:002011-07-13T04:10:44.949-07:00The Tourist from the North East<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Df0pvWhMXCs/Th18nKabFrI/AAAAAAAAAUo/k69O5I7Lw4g/s1600/DSC00107.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Df0pvWhMXCs/Th18nKabFrI/AAAAAAAAAUo/k69O5I7Lw4g/s320/DSC00107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628792121534912178" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHQr4YRRMqE/Th18mzHJvOI/AAAAAAAAAUg/wPsBJjnq_6k/s1600/DSC00399.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHQr4YRRMqE/Th18mzHJvOI/AAAAAAAAAUg/wPsBJjnq_6k/s320/DSC00399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628792115280067810" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDzdUtoPDBU/Th18mja7MwI/AAAAAAAAAUY/7BGjdpd5LYE/s1600/DSC00371.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDzdUtoPDBU/Th18mja7MwI/AAAAAAAAAUY/7BGjdpd5LYE/s320/DSC00371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628792111068033794" /></a><br />Chapter 1: Prologue<br /><br />“Why do you want to visit the Netherlands?” asked the man behind the glass wall of the Kingdom of Netherlands embassy at Chanakyapuri, Delhi. It was a simple question alright. My response was equally simple, “I have always wanted to visit the place!”<br /><br />I guessed I got it right. I don’t know. But after an uncertain wait for few days I finally got my Shengen visa to visit the rest of Europe other than the U.K. I flew to Heathrow, London the next day.<br /><br />The first thing that struck me on landing was the bizarre way “Time” seems to work in this world we reside. Knowing the time difference didn’t prepare me for the difference in the length of daytime between our countries. It was already past 7 p.m. but it was bright as morning there. The daytime persisted till about 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. Then, morning lights came at about 4 a.m. Later, I found out that it worked the exact opposites during winter season. Long dark nights, and very short daytime. Amazing!<br /><br />Call it “my lonesome adventure.” A pilgrimage, if you like. Or perhaps, my Mecca of childhood dreams and fantasies. The geographical illustrations and the travel books I consumed since my 4th /5th grades or the curiosity that burned during those long boring university days as a history student were all instrumental for this journey to Europe, turning dreams into a thing of reality. I landed safe and sound to what once was “Pax Britannica!”<br /><br />After a long and miserable queue at the border control immigration point and the usual immigration queries from a bored and irritated officer, the first thing to do was to buy a SIM from a machine by inserting 10 pounds note. I didn’t know that I had to buy another 5 pounds worth of top up to make it work. I tried in vain. I asked a pretty blonde sitting next to me to help me. She tried but after a while, we both agreed that I might have to buy another top up. But by then, even the sales girl in the shop couldn’t get it to work. The last bus to Coventry had left as informed by the tourist information centre. I tried calling up my nephew, Charan, but there was no response. I felt a little panicky!<br /><br />Finally, I got some change from a shop and called up Biswajeet, with the intention of asking him to pick me up because by that time, I was truly exhausted from my long journey and the wait at the immigration point. Fortunately, a familiar voice answered and he agreed to come down from Coventry even though it was a 2 hours journey by car. I felt embarrassed to trouble him so but because of the predicament I was in, I felt much better when he asked me to wait for few hours. Later, we found out that my SIM was blocked automatically as I tried too many times and had to wait 24 hours to make it work. Imagine!<br /><br /> (To be continued)Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-55065250355017564302011-03-31T05:25:00.000-07:002011-03-31T05:28:40.822-07:00Inspired by Real Life experience<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFKaUfw_U2c/TZRzbTSVMfI/AAAAAAAAAT0/6FLYLoykdl4/s1600/Dimapur_night.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFKaUfw_U2c/TZRzbTSVMfI/AAAAAAAAAT0/6FLYLoykdl4/s320/Dimapur_night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590219950344450546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P30VHT62f6I/TZRzKUy2XLI/AAAAAAAAATs/3aVA-TtIzt4/s1600/27032011626.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P30VHT62f6I/TZRzKUy2XLI/AAAAAAAAATs/3aVA-TtIzt4/s320/27032011626.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590219658691501234" /></a>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-71918930791431906752011-03-26T19:45:00.000-07:002011-03-26T19:58:35.512-07:00DIMAPUR NEZCC COLLAGE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-26Y6BTL_-Gg/TY6nDgoFY6I/AAAAAAAAATc/wlTa26S29M8/s1600/20032011589.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-26Y6BTL_-Gg/TY6nDgoFY6I/AAAAAAAAATc/wlTa26S29M8/s320/20032011589.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588587866352870306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBsFXLFCZR0/TY6nDclf5LI/AAAAAAAAATU/xlwLdcjH7ao/s1600/20032011604.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBsFXLFCZR0/TY6nDclf5LI/AAAAAAAAATU/xlwLdcjH7ao/s320/20032011604.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588587865268282546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPC-CbnBN9E/TY6nC5axcPI/AAAAAAAAATM/nqgMJ5jKxGk/s1600/nezcc_wine.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPC-CbnBN9E/TY6nC5axcPI/AAAAAAAAATM/nqgMJ5jKxGk/s320/nezcc_wine.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588587855828054258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OF6u8jtB08/TY6nCkFb_yI/AAAAAAAAATE/Su80Y55IoxQ/s1600/nezcc_mizo.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OF6u8jtB08/TY6nCkFb_yI/AAAAAAAAATE/Su80Y55IoxQ/s320/nezcc_mizo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588587850101423906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsfBis06qqk/TY6nD60QR0I/AAAAAAAAATk/Js-ZvpSywv4/s1600/20032011621.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsfBis06qqk/TY6nD60QR0I/AAAAAAAAATk/Js-ZvpSywv4/s320/20032011621.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588587873383237442" /></a>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-14139843677910218872011-03-26T02:19:00.000-07:002011-03-26T02:25:47.368-07:00Spring Festival, DimapurDIMAPUR, THE GREAT LAND ON THE BANK OF A RIVER.<br /><br /> <br /> My flight schedules between Imphal Tulihal Airport and Dimapur Airport were rudely interrupted by a delay of few hours. I was told that it was to be expected in one of the worst sectors of Indian Aviation destinations. Notwithstanding the ill maintained state of both the Airports, I was rather mystified by the degree of stoic silence and indifference shown by leaders of both the States of Manipur and Nagaland. <br /> My visit to Dimapur had a purpose this time. I was to attend the Spring Festival organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre. It was a tempting invitation I could not resist, merely by virtue of the event itself, the invitee and the chance of a home-stay experience that was more worthwhile than travelling great distance.<br /> I was struck by the beauty of the Stage decoration which was an art in itself, designed by a naga sculptor in an inimitable naga style. The performance by artists from different parts of India, accompanied by live folk musicians made an excellent array of cultural synthesis that one rarely sees in India.<br /> The book stalls were limited and so were the book lovers. The dwindling number of booklovers across the world could perhaps be attributed for the shortfall in the sale and quality of the book stalls itself. However, it was an expected call and nothing could be done to assuage this limitation. One could only hope optimistically for a pragmatic compromise between paperback and digital technology in future.<br /> For those who relish native delicacies, it was also a venue to try their taste buds. Beside the more popular momos and chinese cuisines, Rice wine (mystically written as Zoutho!), smoked pork, akhuni, anishi (?), etc. were available on the few food stalls put up for the food lovers.<br /> I realized that my chance visit to the forgotten land on the bank of River Dhansiri, presently known as Dimapur, was once inhabited by the Kacharis around A.D. 10. They built forts and left their heritage of monoliths in the heart of the city, and now, preserved in a dilapidated state with a fence. The monoliths, which came in different designs, shapes, and sizes were also the silent spectators to the phenomenon of continuity and change of history of this place.<br /> Dimapur, the city resembled any of the growing small cities of India with evidences of few open drains, narrow roads with potholes, few affluent homes, impressive malls, busy shopping centres, etc. Only the grandeur of the omnipresent Churches visible in most places could be the testimony to the monolithic role they play in Naga society and politics - perhaps much akin to the once flourishing monoliths of the Kacharis once upon a time.Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-88553564670550165002011-02-08T06:07:00.000-08:002011-02-08T06:11:55.864-08:00Funny People<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Funny how people around you have such different sense of priorities and understanding. It never fails to baffle me how they try to show they care about you in most annoying ways. Sometimes, they can go to such ridiculous lengths, thinking that they know you better than you know yourself. In more ways than one, I suspect that they just don't know the art of an intelligent conversation. They unknowingly or knowingly try to cover it up with their limited knowledge, even going as far as trying to thrust their beliefs and opinionated views on your conscience or behavior. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">What they seem to forget is that some people are not easily affected by anything other than their own. You may call them by different names, such as stubborn, arrogant, egoistic, cocksure, etc. This type of personality hates labels and yet they can be defined as someone who cannot be influenced by any means and by anyone because they think they know best about themselves. Through years of experience or wisdom gained from voracious reading and hard work, they have developed their own universe in which they dwell with such confidence and indifference that they are hard nuts to crack, least of all by anyone whom they consider inferior in every sense. What they consider important and worth keeping, they will do so only in their own terms, granted of course that such terms meet their high standards and good tastes. Uncompromising in so many ways, I belong to such type of personality fortunately or unfortunately!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Vexed at being reminded so much about what I ought to do or what they think about me, I try to simply ignore or prefer to remain a passive listener in many of those meaningless social gatherings, which I am compelled to be a part of from time to time because of a stupid sense of piety. Even worse is trying my best to act as if I am interested in anything they might say because good manners forbid me to counter their attempt at good advice, however ridiculous it all sounds to me. Herein lies the state of my mind at this juncture of growth, because I remain different than their sense of normalcy. Hence, I represent a riddle to these so-called well wishers who feel that any deterrence is an aberrance. Therefore, they try to show they care in most funny ways- like telling me to try black magic to get my hair back, to try some lotion, to get a hair transplant, to get married without thinking too hard, to marry someone who will serve my parents, to marry someone who will bring all good things in my miserable life as they believe my life to be... How funny!</span></span></p>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-58079630170385866942010-12-29T06:05:00.000-08:002010-12-29T06:23:14.582-08:00My New Year Resolution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TRtBAXdCJxI/AAAAAAAAAS0/cEWc1IUJCqw/s1600/N-year%2BCard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TRtBAXdCJxI/AAAAAAAAAS0/cEWc1IUJCqw/s320/N-year%2BCard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556106039843235602" border="0" /></a><br />It's that time of the year again. It's that season of goodwill when everyone should be doing an act of virtue. It doesn't matter if you don't have anyone special in your life. What really matters is the thoughtfulness and sensibilities to your surrounding. I also believe that everyone should make a positive resolution for the New Year. Mine is to travel and visit places I have never visited before!<br />Another important resolution is to remain positive come rain or sunshine. I have very little to offer to the world but I continue to serve my people in my profession as a humble Govt. servant to the best of my abilities. If I cannot offer commitment to anyone special, I may be excused, for I am very committed to sharing my ideas and principles with people who respects me. It doesn't matter how rich or how poor for somebody to be a noble soul. And in the depth of my conviction, there still burns the fire of optimism. I thank the Lord and my parents for making my life comfortable and for providing good education. These two has always given me confidence and a strong belief in myself in the face of obstacles. Yes, I resolve to be positive and travel the world as long as my body allows me and my spirit of adventure burns.Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-42127425639968311052010-12-14T04:10:00.000-08:002010-12-14T19:40:14.843-08:0010 days Vacation at Karnataka & Kerala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeH02iDPBI/AAAAAAAAASo/XN4uS4oY01M/s1600/DSC04676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeH02iDPBI/AAAAAAAAASo/XN4uS4oY01M/s320/DSC04676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550554407818705938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeHmX8hXtI/AAAAAAAAASg/jXbO0v-diAo/s1600/DSC04976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeHmX8hXtI/AAAAAAAAASg/jXbO0v-diAo/s320/DSC04976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550554159090065106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeHVxg3K7I/AAAAAAAAASY/z67Nua_DPtM/s1600/DSC04452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeHVxg3K7I/AAAAAAAAASY/z67Nua_DPtM/s320/DSC04452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550553873895599026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeHKH27SaI/AAAAAAAAASQ/ly0Kfl2vvUQ/s1600/DSC04627.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeHKH27SaI/AAAAAAAAASQ/ly0Kfl2vvUQ/s320/DSC04627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550553673735293346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeGQ-m4v3I/AAAAAAAAASI/USIMgqKPE3Y/s1600/DSC05257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeGQ-m4v3I/AAAAAAAAASI/USIMgqKPE3Y/s320/DSC05257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550552691999555442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeF_8ZQnkI/AAAAAAAAASA/gV7d5uA7Gew/s1600/DSC04500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeF_8ZQnkI/AAAAAAAAASA/gV7d5uA7Gew/s320/DSC04500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550552399347752514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeFfOwnedI/AAAAAAAAAR4/ctlvB-d38_M/s1600/DSC04191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeFfOwnedI/AAAAAAAAAR4/ctlvB-d38_M/s320/DSC04191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550551837341874642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeERzBb6GI/AAAAAAAAARw/isO9ztVV2wc/s1600/DSC04930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/TQeERzBb6GI/AAAAAAAAARw/isO9ztVV2wc/s320/DSC04930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550550507046299746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br />Saturday, the 4th Dec. 2010:</span> Our Vacation started with a direct flight from Tulihal Airport, Imphal to Bengalaru Airport, Bangalore. We landed a few minutes ahead of schedule and B'lore airport turned out to be really brand new one (only 3 years old), very impressive and built like any other international airport. I could see how much development had taken place since the last time I was here in the year 2000. A middle aged malayali driver came to pick us up in a brand new Xylo and he spoke good english. Originally from Kochi but working at Bangalore, he drove slowly towards the city. We discussed our plans for the next day trip to Mysore on our way to the hotel. He wasn't very confident with the driving, or perhaps, he was just too apprehensive of his new car!<br />The hotel was named Dew drop, close to Majestic Rd, just opposite "Mantrin Mall," supposedly the biggest mall in B'nglore. It was a new one and quite comfortable. After leaving Ima, aunt and cousin sis, I took Somorjit to Brigade Rd., with the intention of taking him to a pub/bar and then, a nostalgic meal at my favourite restaurant, Hotel Imperial. I had forgotten the name but I knew the place and so, I found it with ease once the Auto dropped us near the St. Patrick Church, my old landmark. I felt a pang of nostalgia as we got into the joint, Guzzler, as others were too crowded... The music was still good after all these years. I had my favourite kerala paratha and kababs at hotel imperial to end the day.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">5th Dec:</span> After a hearty complimentary breakfast, we moved on to Mysore for sightseeing at about 8.30 a.m. We crossed Ramnagar, famous for its role in the film Sholay, Mandya, the sugar town, toy town and silk town... It was a beautiful drive with few stopover to buy toys and souvenirs. It took us about 3 hours to reach our destination. We drove across the town, seeing the governor's residence, to Mysore Palace and then, to Brindavan Garden. Our driver, Gokul was well versed with the history and the place. There were two parts of the palace, one owned by the Govt. and the other, under the royalty's care. I made use of my Guide book to the max to learn about the palace and what a palace! It was huge and filled with treasures, paintings and antiques.<br />On our return journey after an uninspiring view of Brindavan Garden, I called up Kheda and we made plans for him to pick me up from Forum Mall for a night stay at his place. I wanted to see Forum mall and buy a pair of chappals for my beach wear. The place was crowded and after a hectic window shopping, I did buy one and drove with Kheda, behind his Kinetic honda. He took me to his and Surchand's joint, named Misty, the sweet chain. It was fun, meeting old friends again. There was a very convenient beverage shop next to theirs and we bought vodka for the night. Balan came and picked us up and winded at Kheda's place. Met Ritu and her bro. too. It was fun. We slept at about 2 a.m.!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">6th Dec:</span>My friend dropped me at the hotel in his Aveo, on his way to the office. We were flying to Kochi after our complimentary breakfast. It was a one hour flight from B'lore to Kochi and the temperature was 31 C. Hot! For a winter standard but normal for Southeners. Another Malayali from Kochi, Veeju met us at the Airport in a new Xylo. He spoke Hindi but understood english too. He would drive us across Kerala but he wasn't too bright either. If you ask him about the places to visit, he would say, 'yaha kuch bi nahin hain!' most of the time and because I forgot to read my Guide book, we missed two important places at Kochi - The Dutch Palace and the Synagogue at Old Fort town, because it was already closed. But we enjoyed the beach, the fishing sights and the first church built by the Portuguese. For dinner, we tried Kerala dishes at our hotel's roof restaurant at the Ernakulam commercial area. The beer was good!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">7th Dec: </span> The next destination was Thekaddy (Perriyar), where they grow coffee, tea and famous for spice. It was a hill station up in the mountains and our drive was one of the best, because we crossed such beautiful villages and small towns filled with colorful and well maintained villas amidst a vast greenery, a waterfall and a view point, in the jungle which resembled Arunachal Pradesh or anywhere in the north east. We were promised a great deal at this place and our hotel, named Abad, was one of the most beautiful ones. I went for their Ayurvedic Full body massage as soon as we reached and it cost me Rs. 1100/- for an hour. We missed the Wildlife sanctuary by a few seconds and we decided to see it the next day. We went to see their martial arts performance of Karla and then, shopping for spice and tea, coffee etc. Early the next morning at about 6 am, we drove to the Perriyar Tiger Reserve and we waited a long line for our much anticipated safari. Turned out our anticipation was not worth it because we didn't see any tigers, but saw wild buffaloes, a deer, some exotic birds and wild boars. My mouth was watering of course... the boat ride in the morning was an exceptional one though.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">8th Dec:</span> After the safari, we moved on for the next destination to Kumarakom, another bird sanctuary. It was only about 3 hours drive and not a good drive, rather disappointed with Thekaddy. We were wrong! Kumarakom hotel was brand new, only a month old and named, Royal Riviera for a reason. It was marvelous. They had their own cruise that we rented for our group of five only. The boating turned out to be the best in our Trip. Kumarakom Backwaters was a bit off tourist map and not too many boats. Our boatride was such an exhilarating one that we were all ecstatic at our experience. The weather was magic as it had rained in the morning and we experienced the best cruise ever and witnessed the sunset in one of the most beautiful backwaters of Kerala. A place not to be missed!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">9th Dec.</span> We drove further into south, to Alleppey, also described as the Venice of India. It was the most famous backwaters of Kerala. Our hotel was a disappointment, named Arcadia Regency. We took a smaller boat along with our driver and it was a long and expensive boat ride across the Alleppey backwaters. We tried fresh grilled fish at a stopover with coconut milk. We came back just around 6 pm, as we were meant to, as all the boats must return by 6 pm because the fishermen of Travancore starts netting their chinese fish nets by that time. It was a rule that everyone must follow. The traffic in the backwaters was really busy and we saw a great number of boathouses. At night, Somorjit and I tried one of their Halal dhabas and had a wonderful meal.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br />10th, 11th Dec: </span>Another long journey of 4 hours to Kovalam and we decided to take the city road and miss the by-pass in order to see the city of Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum, the State Capital. We crossed the famous towns of Kollam or Quillon, Kottayam, etc. It was a beautiful drive and we decided that Kerala was indeed the cleanest state by far, after witnessing their villages and towns which were kept neat and clean. Other Indians ought to learn from them and the only disappointment were the tourists, who have left their indelible mark of environmental disregard with empty mineral water bottles and junk food plastics in the backwaters. Shame on Indians and the antipathy of the tourists who remains indiferent to environmental protection or preservation!<br /><br />Our Hotel Samudra, supposedly one of the oldest amongst the premier hotels of Kovallam had its own private beach, a swimming pool and a view to die for. I loved swimming in the aftermath of our dip in the ocean and in the morning after a long walk, during my photo shoot. We all loved it and relished the fact that our trip was coming to its cool end. Kovallam, famous for its beaches and one does not need to wonder why. The Keela beach, next to ours was open to public and the hawa beach, the light house beach was filled with foreign tourist, hotels and sea food restaurants. The beach was one of the best joints I have visited in India. We loved it as much as we loved trying out sea food delicacies of tuna fish, sear fish, king fish, snapper, tiger prawns, mutton, paneer, kerala rice, beef, butter naan, kerala paranthas,etc, etc... It was funny about the newspaper covered beer bottles which was supposedly banned huh! What a spoilsport rule for such a cool place... Anyways, rules are made to be broken, right? Who can resist a chilled beer of kingfisher premium in such an ambience. I couldn't...<br /><br />It drizzled a bit early in the morning of 11th as we headed for the Southern most tip of India, Kanyakumari. Our hired vehicle needed to take a permit as we entered Tamil lands and it was a long drive of about 3 hours. Kanyakumari was another experience and I found that the confluence of the three oceans of Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Seas was distinctly visible by the color of the Sea, which had three different colors, Amazing! The short boatride to the Vivekananda Rock, and its twin rock, statue of saint Veeruvalur was achieved after standing in a long line of pilgrims. I became friends with a White lone Canadian Traveller from Vancouver, who told me of his amazing stay in India for 6 months. He had travelled from North to South after flying out to Andaman and Thailand for a short while. Awesome!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">12th Dec: </span>We got up late at the Kovallam beach hotel and headed for Trivandrum Airport. We bade farewell to our patient driver, Veeju or Vaijju. We were flying to Kolkata via Mumbai. I did some shopping at Mumbai Airport. It was fun. A night stay at Kolkata Manipur Bhavan where we finally faced the bitter fact - Our Bhavan must be the worst bhavan in India! A dirty, smelly room supposedly given to officers was our fate for the night before heading for home the next day via Agartala.<br /><br />13th Dec, 2010: Reached Home safe and sound with no current, no water, no fuel and no gas. The story of comfort level in Manipur, the bejewelled land of the damned!Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-5026891752739599002010-07-16T22:29:00.000-07:002010-12-14T07:31:46.354-08:00Introspection<P>What is the meaning of my existence? I am constantly troubled by this thought and further introspection gives only a myriad of answers that is yet to find anything nearer to a satisfying lucidity. </P><P>What worth is our life if we spend half of it sleeping and the rest is spent worrying about our daily chores and survival? The remaining hour at our disposal is so encumbered with the irrelevance, mostly mistaken as the truth or a leap of faith. Strange is the irony that marks our everyday in a pervading theme of self-delusion and mockery. Fools that we are, we are always taken by surprise or act like one taken by surprise rather than admitting to our own folly, manifested in so many ways around us in our search for money, power, fame and glory. </P><P>When bad things happen, we take refuge under the wings of philosophical or religious bigotry. Thus, never admitting the truth in the midst of our maelstrom, our life which has lost its meaning of simple living and loving in peace and harmony.</P>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-74564071754039351232010-02-12T22:14:00.000-08:002010-02-12T22:16:22.782-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S3ZDknGsctI/AAAAAAAAARU/m2PVIb169wI/s1600-h/anand_blog_pic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S3ZDknGsctI/AAAAAAAAARU/m2PVIb169wI/s320/anand_blog_pic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437607896347865810" /></a>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-18226749389459882852010-02-07T07:50:00.001-08:002010-02-07T08:39:06.592-08:00Confession<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27shrppmCI/AAAAAAAAARM/lQCwmfy3VmE/s1600-h/DSC03394.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27shrppmCI/AAAAAAAAARM/lQCwmfy3VmE/s320/DSC03394.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541863680022562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27sgxljGMI/AAAAAAAAARE/PMvTiSXwrPg/s1600-h/DSC03470.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27sgxljGMI/AAAAAAAAARE/PMvTiSXwrPg/s320/DSC03470.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541848093563074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oHx3CtJI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/iuV7ZhzLhEc/s1600-h/DSC03416.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oHx3CtJI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/iuV7ZhzLhEc/s320/DSC03416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435537020623697042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oHcVKl_I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/nlRuVWXW60k/s1600-h/DSC03599.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oHcVKl_I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/nlRuVWXW60k/s320/DSC03599.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435537014844463090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oHGf5ZdI/AAAAAAAAAQs/xRt5oWSD5ao/s1600-h/DSC03574.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oHGf5ZdI/AAAAAAAAAQs/xRt5oWSD5ao/s320/DSC03574.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435537008983893458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oGrMNU6I/AAAAAAAAAQk/KaO6KEAlPyo/s1600-h/Photo+13.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/S27oGrMNU6I/AAAAAAAAAQk/KaO6KEAlPyo/s320/Photo+13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435537001653556130" /></a><br /><p>I have been thinking lately and it didn't hurt! </p><p>What do you do when you are surrounded by judgemental people? That's what I feel or what I have been made to feel this last few years because I chose to be by myself. I know that I am some kind of freak because I just can't comprehend my life with someone. My sickness or abnormalities of liking to be alone or to remain in solitude is like a taboo around my universe. I know that I love to be by myself most of the time and I cannot imagine liking anyone around me everyday. That will be too much of sacrifice to my well guarded cocoon of bachelorhood. Those who care for me are worried about getting old and what society might look at me or talk about me but what they don't understand is that these are the least of my worries. I know where to look for issues and society is not one of them. "Society" has never interested me. They have never played an important part in my personal decisions although I might have followed social customs when it deals with others. I am somewhat a lost soul because of my lonely existence. The thing is that I prefer my loneliness rather than suffer the agony of suffering a lifetime of unsuitable partnership or sharing the same bed or room! I know I am sick. But, please understand that I am only human with such frailties and imperfections. </p>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-1778708821056344702009-12-13T22:52:00.000-08:002009-12-13T22:55:04.731-08:00The tragedy of our lives<div align="justify">Happiness, much like everything in life is transitory. It is a momentary phenomenon much like misery. It comes and goes like tides in an ocean. The important thing is that it is entirely a personal experience, which is not easily comprehensible to a next person. Unless of course, if it is reflected externally in the form of spontaneous laughter, smile or a dreamy disposition.<br />Why are we so afraid to grow old and why remind ourselves of the passing time? If time is so important, why do we feel that we are always running short of it?</div><div align="justify">The important thing for me is not to let “Time” dominate my life. I should be the one to manipulate “time” to suit my own purposes. Time, after all is as unstoppable as everything in nature. It will carry me through different stages of life whether I like it or not. Humans have simply identified the passing of time externally as young and old, or past, present and future. To me “ Time” is what you make of it. Time is how you use it and how much happiness you get out of it. </div><div align="justify">If happiness is to be defined, my personal definition would be living life to the fullest doing something you really enjoy doing at the right time. We are often guided by religion or spiritual guidance in our search for eternal bliss. We even contemplate and introspect many theories but often end up confused and capricious. We often experience regrets even knowing that “regret” is only something like smelling a whiff of a scent in the air. Once gone, a moment is gone forever.</div><div align="justify">Our fates are sometimes guided by circumstances, though not all of it, I must add. For some, whom I categorized as the determined types, they create their own destinies. For others whom I sometimes call “the lucky ones,” things happen in harmony if they put little efforts. Then, there are those who are the “unlucky ones!”</div><div align="justify">Making the best out of something in one’s possession is also a way of living. However, it is doubtful if they have the real substance of life. Yet, this seems the most common and logical way to conduct our lives because most of us seldom fulfill our dreams. We just exist and work, hoping and dreaming of a better tomorrow. We end up putting our faiths in our hard work and efforts, for a better tomorrow. We work like automated machines. We may complain from time to time but unable to escape the monotony of life that industrialization and institutionalization has wrought in our lives. </div><div align="justify">We end up as victims of our own creation -the society. We are like prisoners of our social, religious, political and economic dogmas. We stop seeking our true self, “The I” and sacrifice “To Us.” Perhaps, that is why most of us are so lost today. A tragic end to a phenomenon I call “Life.”</div><div align="justify">Anand E.<br /></div>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-55705467355456113782009-10-22T19:29:00.000-07:002009-10-22T19:57:14.958-07:00When our Minds Change<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZ_pJ2jI/AAAAAAAAAP8/n5wX_wq9ELc/s1600-h/niagara_boat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395623961961290290" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZ_pJ2jI/AAAAAAAAAP8/n5wX_wq9ELc/s320/niagara_boat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZlwOTLI/AAAAAAAAAP0/yPE5sw_-l9A/s1600-h/toronto_downtown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395623955011620018" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZlwOTLI/AAAAAAAAAP0/yPE5sw_-l9A/s320/toronto_downtown.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZVCEK-I/AAAAAAAAAPs/83JDTfRJ6pI/s1600-h/highw_montreal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395623950523050978" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZVCEK-I/AAAAAAAAAPs/83JDTfRJ6pI/s320/highw_montreal.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZOg-tII/AAAAAAAAAPk/ZcmG2wtOS3E/s1600-h/countryside_401.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395623948773667970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbZOg-tII/AAAAAAAAAPk/ZcmG2wtOS3E/s320/countryside_401.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbY37JTlI/AAAAAAAAAPc/slb1Y17AqAk/s1600-h/Andy_niagara.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395623942709399122" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SuEbY37JTlI/AAAAAAAAAPc/slb1Y17AqAk/s320/Andy_niagara.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>What do we do when our minds change? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I am only human. I have the right to change my mind or commit an error. I am not infallible. And yet, I try to make the best out of my mistakes or changes I am compelled to take. I try not to make the same mistakes again or not to change my mind too often. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Some may say that I have a tendency of a whimsical infant, while some may say that I am restless. I admit, I am all that. I am whimsical to the extent that I often feel the need to rebel from boredom and monotony by taking risk like changing my profession too often. I also feel very restless most of the time because I always feel that I can do better than what I have been doing so far. These two friction drives me constantly to unknown territories and experiences I would never have gone if I had not taken the risk or changed my mind. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The point is that even when things don't work out and my mind changes, I always leave with a smile knowing that I have achieved few things, whether big or small. I feel that I have gained some new experiences and new friends wherever I may have been. The future is not really important because I have lived most of my life for every moment, merely following my whims, my dreams and my wisdom. I don't consider myself a winner in many sense, but I do consider myself a winner in following my dream. The consequences are irrelevant and inconsequential because I don't believe in living like others do. I live the way I chose to. Thank God!</div></div></div></div></div>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-72692995350804873232009-10-10T20:29:00.001-07:002009-10-10T20:35:11.872-07:00Toronto Vista<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSJTZwXcI/AAAAAAAAAPU/ErR_2VosU4I/s1600-h/DSC02002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391180548719795650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSJTZwXcI/AAAAAAAAAPU/ErR_2VosU4I/s320/DSC02002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSJI-YPXI/AAAAAAAAAPM/GqFco9-_rNM/s1600-h/DSC02012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391180545920613746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSJI-YPXI/AAAAAAAAAPM/GqFco9-_rNM/s320/DSC02012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSIgbRSJI/AAAAAAAAAPE/RXU8iWceXro/s1600-h/DSC01987.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391180535035938962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSIgbRSJI/AAAAAAAAAPE/RXU8iWceXro/s320/DSC01987.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSIUPTrUI/AAAAAAAAAO8/nvsSENGkESY/s1600-h/DSC01976.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391180531764538690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSIUPTrUI/AAAAAAAAAO8/nvsSENGkESY/s320/DSC01976.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSH6jcSnI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ip7eRD9M2MU/s1600-h/DSC01971.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391180524869667442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/StFSH6jcSnI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ip7eRD9M2MU/s320/DSC01971.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-91961547733007741682009-10-07T20:21:00.000-07:002009-10-07T20:25:17.082-07:00An Immigrants Tale.So, my friend, your predictions did come true. My plane from Delhi to Brussels had many Punjabees even though the seat next to me remained empty. I could only thank God that there were no crying babies and no harassed mothers sitting next to me!<br />Then, at the Brussels airport, I almost lost my watch at the security check-in where they literally abused our bodies, removed our shoes and checked our wallets, I was lucky enough to get it back from one of their offices after I went back searching for it. I thought somebody had snitched it, having suffered the agony of more than 8 hours journey, 3 hours wait at the Delhi airport and scepticism borne of being brought up in India. I really sweated it out there because it was my late father's watch I was wearing!<br />My journey from Brussels to Toronto took another 9 hours or so but it was memorable. I had a 79 year old half Belgian, half Canadian White villager sitting next to me and he simply entertained me throughout with some interesting quotes and stories about his countries. Again, I thanked God that it was not some old senile lady but a fairly wise old man who enlightened me with old wisdom!<br />As soon as we landed in Pearson International Airport after an agonizing few moments of turbulence and memories of the ill fated Air India Flight flying from Canada, as we flew over a vast lake Ontario, I was glad to be on ground. It was announced that the airport was voted as the best one in the world by some authority. I was amazed to see very few planes and a deserted looking airport. It gave me a sense of deja vu. It reminded me of a thought I had when I went to Chandigarh for my IELTS test. I had imagined Canada to resemble the empty and impersonal streets and buildings of Chandigarh and my nightmares were finally confirmed. It really looked empty, spaced out and impersonal as hell. I knew my clocks were ticking for my return journey.<br />My new experiences continued as I passed through a sterile protocol of security and custom check by smartly dressed police personals, mostly women of different origins and men who dressed like soldiers in some PC games. I began to feel like an immigrant and was treated as one. However, I had joined a fraternity of immigrant insecurities with one of my back seat passengers, a young chap who was also suffering the same agony as I, a first time immigrant and a first time travelling to West from Faridabad. We became friends and held on to each other like lifeline with a sense of Indian brotherhood, made stronger only when we are out of our own country.<br />Fortunately, my friend did turn up and drove me away from the massive airport and I remained seated in her Honda, with a sense of uninspiring awe and apprehension, because I did not see a single soul walking on the roads, even after we left the Highway. From that moment till now, I have seen, eaten and mixed only with Chinese and Asian people and I have seen, perhaps only 10/15 white people here in Canada. What a turn off!<br />So, you can expect me back soon enough and you will not miss me much even though, I have decided to complete my paperwork and join a three day tour as a tourist before heading back to my crowded, dirty, poor but very real India. Jai Hind!<br />Anand.Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-54532809404758432552009-09-04T23:16:00.000-07:002009-09-05T00:17:43.552-07:00Musings<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQepp3yzI/AAAAAAAAAOs/TnnKqaGpDGc/s1600-h/Myhomepond_anande.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377879023797390130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQepp3yzI/AAAAAAAAAOs/TnnKqaGpDGc/s320/Myhomepond_anande.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQePmIpnI/AAAAAAAAAOk/JVUe9WMxa-o/s1600-h/AnandE_SonydscT70.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377879016802395762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQePmIpnI/AAAAAAAAAOk/JVUe9WMxa-o/s320/AnandE_SonydscT70.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQdp3nVrI/AAAAAAAAAOc/cDlzXK0NYpw/s1600-h/AnandE4_sonydscT70.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377879006675162802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQdp3nVrI/AAAAAAAAAOc/cDlzXK0NYpw/s320/AnandE4_sonydscT70.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQcxK3zSI/AAAAAAAAAOU/f9Y-WZ4q0yY/s1600-h/AnandE2_SonydscT70.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377878991455112482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CTnQIGj9chE/SqIQcxK3zSI/AAAAAAAAAOU/f9Y-WZ4q0yY/s320/AnandE2_SonydscT70.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I sometimes take off, to an abstract plane of thoughts and moods,<br />Often tired with the burdens of man-made realities.<br />Seemingly in a state of trance,<br />I ponder the impossibles and drift in the clouds of probabilities.<br />A strange escape that releases me from the shackles of mortality,<br />Is the amalgamation of my sense and mind into a journey of sensuality.<br />I am truly alive, only when I forget there's still work to be done,<br />And instead live my moment as it exist in this state I call fantasy.</div></div></div></div>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662468353249961438.post-23687097423440271452009-08-17T01:48:00.000-07:002009-10-10T21:01:35.575-07:00Manipur: The story so far ...<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"The irony of reality is such that those for whom so many articles and proclamations </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">are made or written for never cares to read them or follow them"</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Andy E.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Imagine living in a land like ours. In a year of twelve months </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and seven seasons, </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">two things are constant in our society. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It occurs one after another irrespective of </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">anything that is </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">happening in the world. They are Haraoba </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(Festivals, Concerts, </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Shumang Leela) and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Awaba (Bandhs, Blockades, Curfews, Terrorism and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Extortion). </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The two companions walk hand in hand, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">together in a dance of </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">decadence and depravation, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">creating an environment of hopelessness and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">morbid outlook on its inhabitants. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is no sign of any positive change or </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">any sign </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">of foresight amongst those who wields money and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">power, except </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">cynicism and vengeful criticism rather </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">than a constructive one. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For those few who are forward looking and helpless </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">in the eye of </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">such storms, they have chosen to migrate </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and settle down elsewhere </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">for good or bad. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Some of the trends and transitions taking place in </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">my land are astounding. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Before the advent of industrialization, our society </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">has embraced industrialized </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">lifestyle. Before the </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">advent of proper education and pragmatic health service, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">we have adopted to live like affluent middle class. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The adult inhabitants are </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">obsessed with the prospect of </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">making easy money and it is no wonder that </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">many have been duped in this process by </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">ambiguous schemes, projects and diseases…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Academic is a sham because none of the institutions </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">are functioning, as it should be. </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It seems like the students </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">are not imparted anything in the schools. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Rather they spend months after months attending </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">numerous Tutorial Groups, </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">which are apparently more </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">helpful and more expensive. It is such a mystery </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">how parents are able to afford such lifestyle, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">their extravagance, </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">which are taken as liberty by </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">bike riding, car crazy and mobile </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">phone addicted </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">adolescents. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Competitiveness is taken for granted. An obsession </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">with Medical and </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Engineering career prevails amongst </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">the so-called general population </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">whereas those who </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">enjoy reservation status are into competitive </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">examinations for administrative career. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Granted that these choices </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">are the results of </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">the system in which we function where there is </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">absolutely no competition based on merit or integrity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">How unfortunate that Reservations, like Grants and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Loans are </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">heavily manipulated and exploited as vote </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">banks in our flawed democracy. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">If the bigger picture is seen, there is a growing gap </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and an invisible wedge </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">created between technical people </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(who are mostly general category) and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">top administrators (who are becoming predominantly </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">reserved category) </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">especially in our land. This is a dichotomy </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">because an ideal society should </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">be based on coordination </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and co-operation, not on contradiction and complexes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is no limit for corrupting minds and abilities of </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">the inhabitants by reinforcing </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">their lowly status. They are </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">subjected as historical misfits instead of encouraging </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">them to walk shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">privileged group after one or </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">two generations. It would have </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">been better if based on economic status rather than </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">a social one, which inadvertently creates psychological </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">complexes. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The parent </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">seems hard hit by another obsession and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">wants to shine in their offspring's glory. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Irrespective of their abilities and mental strengths, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">the parent never ceases to </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">pressure their young </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">ones to attain and achieve everything under the stars if </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">not the impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Social activism guided by material gains and political </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">opportunities are </span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">the highlights of the day. How ironic </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">that despite so many grievances and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">public outcry, the public continues to </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">remain mere pawns to manipulative </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">politicians and activists, and all end up </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">bickering for money and personal </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">favors when the time for choosing their </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">leaders come. They seem to forgive </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and forget everything except the idea </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">of exercising their rights, sadly without duties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Institutions and organizations, which are the </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">supposed to be islands of the brave </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and noble, have turned into wimps who </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">are more scared than they care to admit. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Herein lays the paradox of our so-called </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">democratic institutions. They have become </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">biased, unreliable and mere spokesperson </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">of various agents who use intimidation, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">sycophancy and lawlessness as tools of </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">manipulation and exploitation. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;">How Unfortunate! You imagine but I live it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in -18.95pt 0pt 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">Anand E.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span style="font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p>Anand Elangbamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18154676279265403904noreply@blogger.com7