The past few days have been extremely hectic and nerve-racking. There were times I felt that I couldn't handle the stress anymore. And then there were some, when I just didn't wanna get out of bed. Sometimes you start to wonder whether your efforts are in fact taking you towards your goal. Whether you will make it through or not. It happens to all of us at some point of time. At times like these, don't fret. We all have our own coping mechanism to face our demons.
Today I wanna share with you all something that probably might help you guys! It's something I did once when I was feeling low and had some time on my hand. Check it out. :)
When I'm feeling low, I usually find some way to get myself back on track. This is just one of the ways. I would love to know what you guys do in times like these.
I haven't written a blog post for a long time but I'll come up with something more, real soon.
Till then, adios ! :)
I think I have mentioned before that I'm a hardcore fan of romantic movies, be it tragedy or some fairy-tale romance. Something about the way that one selflessly loves the other,in the movies, captivates me. More often than not I end up thinking about the characters, their life and even end up thinking about how the story might carry on, had the movie continued.
So, one such day, I had just finished watching this romantic tragedy and for some strange reason I had connected well with the lead character. No, nothing in our lives was common and yet somewhere I felt that I could feel what she felt. And so I decided to write a poem based on it. I think, that there is no better way of expressing emotions than poetry. So, here is what I came up with. I hope you all like it, :)
To be very honest, now I don't even remember which movie it was!! Maybe a few of you would be able to relate to it. Anyway, I think that this poem could hold a different meaning for different people. In either case, don't be sad. Remember that dialogue? (excuse me cause I'm not being too accurate with the dialogue)... " End mei sab theek ho jata hai. Agar theek naa ho, toh woh end nahi. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost" ("Everything always ends well. If it doesn't end well, its not the end. The movie is not yet over.").
That's it for today! I'll see you all soon. Till then, adios!
Hey guys! Its been quite a while since I last wrote something. I recently shifted to Pune. And as a fact, we all know how difficult it is to adjust to a new place and therein to a new life. I spent almost a week cribbing about how different this place is from Mumbai and how I miss being in Mumbai. Though the later part still stands true, once you get used to it, its not that bad here. Well anyway, there have been a few small things that I noticed during my stay here,which infact prompted me to write this post.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN PUNE WHEN- 1) You ask someone about a building you're trying to find and they tell you they don't know where it is; And you take some 10 steps forward and find the building staring right at you.
2) You get used to waiting in a 2 km long traffic jam and everybody around you barely even notices the traffic.(Yep! It is kinda like an eternal truth that people have accepted.)
3) And you feel blessed on that one day when you reach your destination in less than 15 minutes, which otherwise takes more than an hour.
4) You adopt a new hobby of staring at the number plates of cars and bikes and judging which part of Maharashtra/India they belong to. (Blame it on the excessive wait in the traffic. :P )
5) People on two wheelers are GODs and are given way by even the car and bus drivers.
6) The cost of reaching to some cafe (by an auto-rickshaw) exceeds the total bill you incur at the cafe,
7) The auto-rickshaw drivers charge you triple the actual fare and try to rationalize it by saying, "Return bhada nahi milta, Saheb." ( "We don't get another passenger while returning,Sir.")
8) You find Misal Pav more commonly found than Vada Pav (Oh! How I miss Mumbai.)
9) Everybody, right from the auto-driver to your boss(most probably), speaks Marathi. (So, better learn it while you can.)
And last but not the least, 10) The pizza place guy tells you that he cannot take your order because the address you mentioned was difficult to find and he'd have to give you the pizza for free if he did not reach there within 30 minutes(company policy). :D :D :P :P
But despite all this, Pune isn't all that bad. Every city has its flaws and its charms. There is so much that is just amazing about Pune. But I will keep that part for later. Thats all folks, Keep reading. Till then, adios!
Hey guys! Yesterday, our final year engineering results were announced. Now, officially, we bid adieu to our college life. As happy as we all were about finally being 'Engineers', there was a certain realization that, we won't ever share those classrooms again. We won't be able to complain about how we have to eat in the canteen since we don't have enough money to go anywhere else! And then end up complaining about the canteen food as well. No more college fests, birthday treats, group study, planning trips during vacations; and the list goes on and on. The same college that we all used to complain about (Yeah! We do a lot of complaining... :P ), now seems just perfect. All those memories have just started to come alive and how! I had been warned by my parents, cousins, relatives and just every person who had passed out of college that these college days are never going to come back and are meant to be lived. And we did just that!
I'm not saying that the best part of our lives is over but I sure am going to miss college as hell. I'll be missing all my crazy friends. I'll remember every little detail, for all my life. This is the end of one of the most amazing phases of my life and to celebrate it, I would like to dedicate this small piece to all my friends, who made my life in the college SO very exciting and easy! Cheers guys! I'll miss you all !! :)
If you guys do like, comment below. And once again, thanks a lot for reading my blog. For those of you, who are still in college, enjoy it to the core! Trust me when I say you are gonna miss it. Yes, even those of you who hate it at the moment! I'll see you guys soon. Till then, adios!
I woke up in the morning today, feeling all dull and messed up. I had this feeling like, 'Maybe I'm not really as good as I think I am. I have all these ambitions, goals but they are nothing but dreams'. And I thought to myself, "Oh great! What an amazing way to start your day, Isha. ". So, then, as a routine, I turned on my computer and decided to tune up some songs. I had this urge to listen to 'Something I need- One Republic' and so I logged onto YouTube. What happened next, was just karmic- if I may say so. In the suggestions after the song, there was this song called 'I Lived-One Republic' and I thought, "Hey! That's something I've never heard before. Lets try it!" and here is what happened after that...
I LIVED - ONE REPUBLIC
If you just saw that video, you'll know what I'm talking about. It was just the song I needed to hear. I am surprised I missed this amazing track by One Republic cause I absolutely love the band! It just lifts you up, doesn't it?
My favourite lines from the song: "I hope when the moment comes, you say, "I did it all. Owned every second that this world could give. Saw so many places, the things that I did.....".
And then of course, I had to listen to a whole bunch of other songs. Its really amazing to notice how each of us can relate to one song in so many different ways. The other day, I was watching an interview of Chris Martin (lead singer of Coldplay) with Howard Stern and he mentioned that, he did not like discussing as to why he wrote that particular song and about what or whom the song was, because he wanted the audience to enjoy it and relate to it in their own special way. I fell in love with him, then and there. :P :D.
So, taking this opportunity, I'd like to share with you all a few of my favourite songs that instantly lift me up. Or just make me feel happy in some or the other way. I hope they help you too someday, when you need it. Check it out. :)
SUPERHEROES - THE SCRIPT
And that's another favourite band of mine. This is their new single from the album, 'No Sound Without Silence'. Their music is simply too powerful. Their songs make you feel the emotion. A few of my other favourites are 'Nothing' and ' Breakeven'- they are kinda sad but amazing, nevertheless.
My favourite lines from the song: "When you've been fighting for it all your life. You've been struggling to make things right. That’s how a superhero learns to fly. Every day, every hour Turn the pain into power."
NOT AFRAID - EMINEM
[Warning: This song contains some explicit words.]
For those of you who don't like Eminem, you probably can skip to the next song. But this song definitely has to be on my list. If you, just for a while, decide to ignore the rude words in his songs, you would actually be able to see how beautiful and meaningful his songs are. Okay, so he has had a bad life and a disturbing career at times but he writes what he means and that is all that matters.
This song does not just motivate you to keep trying but also lets you know that its okay to feel the way you are feeling because there is at least one person who has felt the same and that it is possible to get over the feeling. Also try listening to 'Mockinbird' by Eminem if you haven't.
My favourite lines from the song:"I'm standing up, I'ma face my demons. I'm manning up, I'ma hold my ground. I've had enough, now I'm so fed up, Trying to put my life back together right now!"
COLDPLAY - LOST
Coldplay has never failed to amaze me by the variety in their songs. This is one amonst the many tracks that is absolutely a treat for the ears. I mean, if things aren't right at the moment, it does not mean they won't ever be. This song is about that. It tells you that nothing is permanent. Everything is fated to change and that all your failures are temporary too. Such simple words coupled with a simple tune. And yet the song just lingers on in your head for a really long time.
Other Coldplay songs I love are- Scientist, Viva la Vida, Violet Hill and Yellow.
My favourite lines from the song:"Just because I'm losing Doesn't mean I'm lost. Doesn't mean I'll stop. Doesn't mean I'm across.."
And, last but not the least...
BRAVE - SARA BAREILLES
I literally have no words for this song. Everything worth saying has been included beautifully in the lyrics. If you wanna do something, just go do it! You don't need anybody's approval or anybody telling you it's a bad idea. Its your life and the decision to do or say something HAS to be yours. And why do you feel the need to hold back? Others aren't. So just close your eyes, take a deep breath and go for it. You'll be great! :)
My favourite lines from the song:"Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live. Maybe one of these days you can let the light in. Show me how big your brave is. Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out. Honestly, I wanna see you be brave."
I think, no matter what you are feeling, somebody else has felt it before and has written a song about it. And that song is going to lift you up. You just have to go and find the one that does the magic for you. All of the above work very well on me. There is no better cure than music!
I'd like to know what kind of music you guys like to listen. Just comment your favourite songs below.
Thanks for reading my blog. I'll see you all soon. Till then, adios! :)
"Errrr..Inconvenience is regretted..!" This is just a two-liner to inform to you all that I have decided to put the Mumbai-series on hold for a while. Why, you might ask? Because I had recent been to a place I was told NOT TO VISIT AT ANY COST in the month of July. And quite honestly, I'm extremely eager to share my experience with you all.
However, this post is going to be a tad bit different than my previous posts. You'll know as you read on.
Before the marathon begins, there are a few things I want to share.
1. In Rajasthan, DO NOT trust the guides you hire at the tourist spots, when it comes to negotiating guide charges. They will most definitely rip you off. (Unless you hire a proper guide with receipt.).
[This guy said he'd charge us Rs.100 and we agreed. After the tour, he said we'd agreed on Rs.200. It was just horrible.]
2. When in Jaipur, make sure you walk on the footpath at all times. Otherwise, chances are you'll get hit by a bus/car/bike or even a cycle.
Because it is your responsibility to try to stay alive, not theirs.
3. And if you manage to survive the traffic, just put on those ear plugs, cause everyone-I mean EVERYONE- with some form of vehicle, loves to honk. I mean, quiet is just so old fashioned..!! Right?!! *sigh*
4. Make sure that you do a little homework and decide the places you want to visit before you go and hire a vehicle. Otherwise, you'll end up visiting only those places that your vehicle owner wants you to visit.
And now,some food and shopping tips:
1. When in Rajasthan, make sure you try all types of Bengali sweets,esp. Malai roll. Also, do try Ras Malai, Ghewar, Meethi Kachori and Balushahi.
2. Dal Kachori, Dal Bati Churma and Lassi are their specialty and should definitely be on your list.
3. Almost everywhere, you'll find shokeepers selling the "100 gm Rajai"- which is a quilt that weighs just 100 gms. Its a good bargain for any price under Rs.550.
4. If you are into jewellery, you are in for a treat. There is a great variety in bangles, necklaces, earings, etc. The Meenakari work is their specialty.
5. ALWAYS shop from the local markets rather than emporiums and boutiques. You will get the same thing at almost 3/4th of the price. [Your car/auto driver will take you to some shop which is supposedly "government approved". Do not fall prey to their tactics and ask him to drive you to the local market.]
Jodhpur local market:Sardar and Girdikot market. Jaipur local market:Johri bazaar, Bapu bazaar,Nehru Bazaar.
Yeah! That was quite it !
Well, there is a great saying that goes: "If a picture is worth a thousand words, then here is my story"-Isha Pradhan... :P :D.
And abiding to the phenomenal statement, I present to you, my journey to Rajasthan !!! I hope you all enjoy it.
UDAIPUR:
..And the journey begins!
A view of the balcony- Hotel Sita
And the lobby at night.
On the way to Nagda
Nadga- The old capital of Mewar
Another glimpse
A beautiful mural at Nagda
Exquisite carving
On our way out...
The Jaisamand lake
Rocks at Jaisamand- A view from the boat
Boating at lake Pichola
Leela palace,Lake Pichola (owned by Leelas group)
Time to go to Karni Mata temple(behind Lake Pichola)
Karni Mata temple
A view from the top- Udaipur
City palace- Udaiput
Cite palace- From the top
Thank you sky for the dramatic effect
Maharana Pratap museum and art gallery
Saheliyon ki Badi
JODHPUR:
Udaipur to Jodhpur
A stop at Ranakpur
...And off we go again..
Umaid Bhavan palace, Jodhpur
The magnanimous Mehrangarh fort
Inside the fort
"Mommy! Can I have this room please? "
And of course a perfect fleet of stairs!
Bye-bye fort. Hello 'Osian camel camp'..!!
"Umm..Lemme just take a pose" (Osian)
Atop a camel- Yayy!! :D (Osian)
JAIPUR:
Albert Hall, Jaipur
The famous markets of Jaipur
Jantar Mantar
Another view of Jantar Mantar
Jal Mahal
Kanak Vrindavan
Nahargarh fort
Perfection..!! <3
Amber fort (Beware of tour guides here. Total waste of money!)
The famous Sheesh mahal
A view from top of the Amber fort
And a trip to Jaipur is incomplete without a visit to the Hawa Mahal
Who'd have thought Hawa Mahal could look like this from the inside??!!
THE END
I hope you all enjoyed the post. And Rajasthan, I feel, is even more beautiful during monsoon!! So, if you plan to visit Rajasthan anytime after July 10, I'd say go for it..!! I haven't included the details like my hotel stay or the cost of travelling, etc. If you want me to include that, do comment below..
Thanks for checking out my blog! See you soon. Till then, adios!
