Where have I been..

Hello! Long time no see 👀.
Its been a while, I have been here.
Probably, you did not notice that I was gone.

If you are reading this, Congratulations 🎉you made it through Co-Vid phase.
I know, it is not a milestone or bucket list item, like Y2K of 2000 or lunar eclipse of 2017. But, it is no less. I am so glad that you are still alive and kicking.

Speaking of milestones 🙌, it has been a decade since this blog was created.
I was introduced to blogspot as my undergrad assignment, and I started using it as my notepad to jot and save my thoughts. I usually make a point to write around my Birthday, so here I am today.

My husband recently brought to my attention that I haven't written in a long time and I wondered, what do i write about? I no longer get to witness the spectacular sunsets of the south. Nor am I am in half hearty relationships. Writing about Travel: "Where have I been all these days" fits the scope and purpose perfectly. So, come with me.

Who: I have been transitioning as stranger in San Jose city and as a married woman in life. As a matter of fact, I celebrated my 3rd wedding anniversary this week. I know right!

Where:
The term 'Sunny California" is hoax, if I may say. You have to live here to realize what this phrase means to you. Pacific ocean is always cold (even in summers)- say bye-bye to swimming at the beach 🏊.  I have much more respect for people who have to commute to work in their personal vehicles or public transit since 2018. Never in my life did I wish for Uber Air or private jet for commute, so badly.
 When: While I am not commuting to work in "Sunny California", I have been able to go places within United States, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.

 

What:Among the cities that I have visited, I absolutely loved the vibe of Vancouver and Sydney. I can choose these cities in a heart beat to revisit or relocate. Vancouver is very active, eclectic and young. Sydney is technology naive, homey, and equally vibrant.

By far the most Scenic and adrenaline pumping trip was South Island of New Zealand . Deep turquoise Lakes, vibrant wildflowers, Mountains, Never ending roads, Roasted Coffee, and Yummiest Indian food-all checked off. While I knew I would be surrounded by more sheep than humans in NZ, I also checked off seeing lifetime worth of deers. I survived 400m Bungee Jump and  River rafting over a 7m waterfall- crazy huh!

Speaking of crazy, I skied for the first time in Aspen, Co and terribly failed the lesson of applying brakes. Not once, twice, or thrice but the entire day😭. The snow clad mountains of Aspen, CO will leave you speechless either from beauty, freezing cold or bruised limbs☺.

How: I barely collect things or souvenirs per say.
I do bring some new personal traits, interests or perspective after my trips.
For example, I learned how to survive on crappy all-inclusive resort food in Cabo, Mexico. I learnt that my convent school English education cannot be counted as survival language skill and soft skills do matter.
I reached new heights of self perseverance while hiking in Sedona, AZ.
New Zealand taught me to remain minimalistic, eccentric, and play hard.
Sydney taught me to be comfortable being carefree, work free and not stressing about adapting to every piece of technology at my fingertips.

Until we meet again, stay Safe and Sane.

Kal Ho Na Ho

It is hard to say, if the Tulips in her garden are blushing more red or her cheeks,
when she hears Alexa sing by her window sill "Har ghadi badal rahi, hain roop zindagi,
Chaav hai kahhi hai dhoop zidnagi"
She hysterically bursts out reminiscing the coincidence of this song while prepping her Quinoa salad.
She reminisces on this line of the song: how she confidently jumbled the words with no qualms of authenticity.
That memory is retro as her red toaster-oven but the heated arguments over the lyrics of song and heartiness of Quinoa salad still lingers.

Palko ko leke saya

 pass  koi jo aaye.

Lakh sambhalo, 

pagal Dil ko

Dil dhadke hi jaye.

A song once cherished for no rhyme or reason,
Now rhymes a reason to revisit some untold tales of her life...

Par sochlo is pal hai jo
Woh dastan kal ho na ho
Har pal yahan jee bhar jiyo
Jo hai sama kal ho na ho
Har pal yahan jee bhar jiyo

A poet's poem

Irony of a poet is

they have made friends with word

but have limited friends to share a word.

While they can bring tears to a reader with their words,

their words are nothing but silent cries of

wanting to be heard, 

wanting to be seen

wanting to be in sync 

with person to whom its directed more than the words of this poem.

Hum tumse na kuch keh paye

तुम हमसे न उम्मीद रखो किताबों वाली मोहब्बत की

नहीं आती हमको लब्ज़ोन में बयान करने वाली मोहब्बत 

शिकयात यह रहीं तुमको 

की नहीं ज़ुबान से जताया ,

जानेमन, कैसे कहे 

नहीं गवारा तुमको खोना  

ज़ुबान के फिसलने से 

जो रूह से महसूस हो वह एहसास को कैसे लब्ज़ोन में बयां करू ?

Heran hain kyun

रिश्तो  कि नर्मी तोह कबसे चली गई थी,
आज मौसम भी सुख गया तोह हैरान हैं क्यूँ ?

तूफ़ान के सहारे से तोह कबसे बढ़ रही थी,
आज साँस छुट्ट गई तोह हैरान हैं क्यूँ ?

भीतर की रोशनी को तोह कबसे अंदेखी कर दी थी,
आज बाहार सूरज नहीं दिख़ा तोह हैरान हैं क्यूँ ?

 दिल की आवाज़ तोह कबसे शांत कर दी थी ,
आज तन भी मुरदा हो गया तोह हैरान हैं क्यूँ ?