Sony is my Munni - Love you darling

“Holding it in my hand gave me the pride of a father holding his child for the first time ever”. Yes I am mentioning about that moment when I actually could lay my hands on this masterpiece from Sony.

Once on my way to Bahrain, myriad of places and people of various cue and culture drew my attention all along the journey. Not only enjoying the sight at that moment, I wanted to go a little further and freeze those relishable moments so that I can share those beautiful moments with my dear ones and may be few years down the line I myself may lay down on a bed and go lighter by running through these snaps. Unfortunately I did not have a machine of my choice then, let me put it in simple words, I did not possess a camera of my own so that I could carry it with me all the time. Whenever I needed a camera I borrowed one from the list of available friends and subsequently my job was done without much complexity.



Me and my love



This time around none of my mates came to my rescue. Not even one of them was in a position to lend me a camera for whatever reasons they had then. With a bit of dejection, I had to leave for my trip to Bahrain. With very little time left, I could not buy a new one either. No time for that huge R&D which I perform whenever I buy something new especially electronic gadgets. I said to myself, may be this trip cannot be frozen on celluloid, better luck next time.

The turning point of the whole story which was least expected crossed here. Once I reached Bahrain Airport I had almost 6 hrs of waiting time for my next flight. Thanks for scarcity of the flights. So only option left with me was to survey the airport inch by inch in the best possible way I could and Bahrain Airport being not very big, my entire round of survey was over by one hour. I saw my watch and I could sense the pain of till good 5hrs of stay, waiting to embrace me with love. When looking around I could find a duty free shop in the airport. “Everything to see, nothing to buy” being the motto of window shopping, I followed it strictly until I saw this cute little piece from Sony.

Now the initial dejection of not being able to get a camera this time started to run down as a full length movie in my mind theatre. As soon as I regained my consciousness I could see something in front of me as though waiting for me to come and take it back home. Yes she was my cute Sony Cybershot (W310) digital camera. I lost myself to her mesmerizing beauty. May I call this “LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT”. I don’t know, but at that moment I felt she is mine and I will have her with me all along my life.

My Love - awesome

Once I decided I should own her, a crazier thing happened. Generally it so happens, our head never respects our heart in matters of choice. This happened with me also. Even when I felt she is mine but my rational mind pushed me to enquire about the features of all other models who were standing beside her as though they are nowhere in competition to her cute build. I felt, in the digital ramp of beauty contest, my queen (W310) shone with resplendence that one could imagine off. Finally after much persuasion of almost 2hrs, I threw my logical mind in to the heap of love for my newly found possession in my heart. Then at last I made it, I owned her. Once I bought her, the first thing that struck me was “Yes I owned her and she is mine forever “was a deeper felling that evades the trap of words.

Dark beauty - elegant from all sides

Her features includes 12.1 megapixel photos, 4x digital zoom, 8x optical zoom, 2 GB memory card and an elegant smooth slim design made her look sexy. Easy to handle and light weighted, anyone who even does not know a speck of photography also would desperately wish to clip a shot just because of her structure and simple handling technique. From then on the entire trip was a Photography Mela for me. I almost took around 800 to 1000 snaps in a matter of 2 to 3 days. Her Intelligent auto module is awesome and makes one to take photos just for the sake of it.

Collage of photos by new Sony W310

She and I so long make excellent companions together and eventually will continue in the same fashion in the future.

Special thanks to my friends who were not in a position to lend me their cameras this time. If they did then I would have not found my cuttie. Was it God’s will or my choice? How does it matter as long as I found my much sought after darling (W310).

                              My Love….. My Love….. Sony dear ur My Love

My Maiden long Ride - adventerous n bit dangerous

On a November Sunday morning, with cool breeze kissing me amidst the chirping of the birds, mist covered grass and destitute roads, my romantic affair with my cheetah (Pulsar 180) was at the helm. Yes, this was my first long ride (450 km.) ever since I found my love (bike). Always on job, this was the first time we both set out together in a recreative mood in pursuit of some unknown excitement.

Long ride with my love

Clueless about the distance or the place, I set out with my Cheetah (my bike's pet name) on a ride of about 450kms along with 3 other friends of mine. First time ever I filled up my macho's belly (9 lts of petrol), an apparent elastic bag. The fuel guage in its full limit was smiling at me coz I never gave him a such a feast (maximum 2lts of petrol I fill). My enthusiasm surpassed my reasoning of the purpose of the ride, I blindly followed my friends as a child following his mother, enjoying the beauty around.

That's my Cheetah  (Pulsar 180)

After about 2hrs of journey, I had breakfast (1 idli, 1 vada). My first reaction after tasting  the sambar of that small roadside motel was AYYO! (oh God!-tamil). I hope in place of salt these people use sugar in sambhar coz. both are similar in appearance, but may be possibly forgot that they taste different. Confirmation came immediately when my sugarless tea arrived. (all the sugar is dissolved in Sambhar, probably nothing left for tea). With this peculiar new tasting breakfast my ride on my cheetah resumed.

Thank you for this beautiful planet my Lord

DAM on the Way

Now 3 hours just flew off in no time before I could recognise that it is time to provide some fuel to my stomach if this body has to go any further. Worst kind of roads I have ever rode in my life. Thank to my dear transport officials. Photography was an added package on this ride. Snaping everything from grass to girl who come my way was always my forte. This time no different. Then decent lunch in a small dhaba (motel) quenched my hunger.

My shutter bug avatar

Now the most unexpected thing happened during this phase of the ride. My darling cheetah who was so long fortunate to roll on the cushion bushes of the well maintained city roads, for the first time had to pull himself on a rugged terrain which hurt him. Consequently the back tyre got punctured. By this time we have crossed the small village and about 10-15kms on the mountain ride. Succumbing to fate we hade to make our way down back to get the treatment done. In the process we almost had to forsake another one to one and half hour.

My friend Punit - all photos shown here are his

Once plastered on the wound , there is no turning back for my cheetah, he kept gliding through the curves of the mountains so elegantly that everybody stood mesmerised. Back wheel brake started functioning weakly and with time it almost died out. Now I was left with only the option of front wheel brakes. Though I could manage with successfully and at times lived dangerously though.
Going through all this drama I finally reached the intended destination "LAVASA", a hill station (near Pune) , first one of its kind in Independent India. I started my journey from Navi Mumbai at around 7am. "Heaven on Earth" is the phrase I would give to describe this place. Be it  asymmetric appartements, or the elegant villas, or the tranquil green gardens, or the enthusiastic water sports, or just the very sight of the nature from a high altitude or the smiling joyfull faces, each and everything shone with resplendence. Living close to nature is always an unfulfilled dream for mankind these days. To be frank I enjoyed the scene of some beautiful girls who were hot and eye-catching. Least to mention, I become professional photographer once I am  in such a place forgetting who we actually are, clicking shutters all over the place. Hot girls, cool picks were the final take aways by me.


LAVASA - A bird's eye view



Water sports and Apartments inside LAVASA

Flying back with a speed of about 100kmp I reached home from Pune at about 10.30 pm. The planet was draped with black cloth of the night hardly revealing anything. At times I had to beleive that my cheetah will take me home safely as nothing was visible to me. Adventerous and equally dangerous.

Villas inside LAVASA costing atleast one crore

My  maiden journey filled me with whole new excitment with a bit of fear at times which cannot be explained by the extent of words."Words die out when real experiences take birth" - my philosophy from this journey.

Myself turning Alcoholic

Late night parties, gulping many beer bottles, knocking of peg after peg was not my forte. When it comes to de-balancing ourselves, I am a total stranger until few days back, when I happened to lay my hands on a beer can. You know what, after that no stopping me.


I am made in such a way, fortunately or unfortunately that if am doing something I am totally into it or else not doing it.  No half measures in any attempt. So long during lot of occasions I did not have any interest in these beers or hot drinks. So nobody had the competence to make me drink these. But ultimately when I started drinking nobody can stop me either. Thanks to my charecter.

  It all happened in a hurry that I could hardly recollect the special occasion of my life, me drinking a beer. Mind you it is really special. I was sitting in my room lonely and had nothing to do. It was a holiday and was playing with the remote keys of the television. Suddenly an idea struck me from nowhere, may be this the time to taste the much hyped starter alcohol the "BEER". 


Without any second thought, I wore my shirt and started searching for the shop. As I was in a new country (not India) I could not locate a single shop having beer after almost roaming for about 2 hours. Highly dejected I had to return to my hotel, only to know that it served beer, of course almost four times that of the rate available outside. But after roaming so long the desire dryed off in the heat of the sun. So I decided to postpone the plan for the next day. 

My first brand

 
With prior planning this time I did not mess up, I bought two cans of  Heineken beer (330ml) while returning home from my office. I cannot wait to taste it , so as soon as I entered the room I opened the one of the cans and drank. The first drop of alcohol got into my digestive system ever. Having used to fantas and pepsis, my tongue did not appreciated the bitterness of the beer intially. But my enthusiasm of drinking overcame the bitterness and with help of some snacks I could overcome that somewhat ackward taste (amateur drinker) to complete the can. As been told I did not feel dizziness or something after gulping it, I was really cool. More than the Beer itself,  the enthusiasm of drinking it was a peculiar experience something similar to the happiness you can see in a child's face when he gets, after much persuasion the same toy he demanded. Then gradually I upgraded myself to 660ml cans and those gave me some real kicks for sometime after drinking them. No worries unless no addiction. Lets see.


Now I have also joined the worldwide club of beer drinking machos. So far so good. Just wanted to share an excitement of some peculiar kind which I never imagined to experience through this debalancing drink. Kudos to for all who are already reaping the benifits derived by gulping this wonderful drink.Non-drinkers, its worth giving it a short !!

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH

A Divine Sweet prepared by Mother Nature for her children

"Nature's gift to mankind on this planet is countless and priceless ranging from water(elixir of life), air, space to live, food to eat,other fellow beings for procreation etc...etc. Living on natural food, forms the basis of healthy and joyful living. For the first time in my life I was fortunate to taste the 'Sweet prepared solely by nature for us'. A unique divine taste that moved me into a blissful trance eluding one's imagination."

That was a bright shiny morning as always I had just arrived to my office. Just when I was doing my daily mail checks, this marvel was brought to my table. Intial appearance did not arouse my interest much. I could see a box full of white soft flour (powdery) with some irregular shaped balls immersed in it. With hesitation I searched for the smallest specimen for test and dropped in my mouth. As my eyes were deceptive to the appearance of this nature's gift (though I did not know at that time that it is from nature), so did my tongue intially. It was somewhat sticky and as I chewed I could not make out whether the taste was good or not, rather I will put it this way I liked it or not. But certainly a whole new flavour which my tongue had not tasted before. Suddenly all my senses  awoke in a flash.



Nature's Gift (sweet) to mankind

Now I did not have an option but to take another one. Then the real taste of this divine gift struck me with all its force. I became speechless for few moments. Obvioulsy as expected I pushed as many as I can into my mouth (though one by one) with a fear (infact) whether I will be able to see this delicacy again in my lifetime. After finishing almost half the box, I still found no heaviness in my intestine and my system was functioning as good as I had nothing. Mind u folks this is clear cut indication of a natural food. My intuition was this not manmade. To confirm it I started enquirng about the making of this sweet.

Just cant wait to eat !! delicious sweets

My intuition turned out to be right. This is a sweet made from the powder that gets accumulated on the leaves of the trees seen in some particluar Mountains of Iraq. As the local person said "It is a sweet from heaven". He said that the powder is falling from the top(source not known) and gets accumulated in the leaves. These branches of trees are then cut and the powder is collected and  then processed (just cleaned no sweet added). Finally the balls seen in the above snaps are made. These balls are then filled with white flour (wheat) for not sticking with each other. Then they are packed with flour and sold as shown above in boxes.

Note: No sugar or any sweetners added

Myself...enjoyin the nature's feast

So now you all might be interested in knowing the price. Yes I know. The price is on the higher side as expected, one kg of this sweet costs u around 25$ (Rs.1125/- approx). It is available in Kurdistan (Sulaimaniya), Iraq.

My taking from this: "We should strive to take our lives beyond our prejudices to experience myriads of things (small and big) strewn around us by the almighty."

Mahakali Mata in Iraq - truly Omnipresent

 "True to her praise as omnipresent and omnipotent, the Devi mata appeared in Iraq - a country which does not know her and even worse where people have never heard about her" - Do you know how?

We bloat ourselves saying that India is a secular country and a home of many religions, caste, creed, language etc..etc.. Not long ago,when the verdict of the much awaited and postponed babri masjid issue was about to be heard the whole country was cought in a cold fear of the consequences of the verdict rather than the verdict itself. Fortunately everything was as smooth as unexpected.The reason for mentioning this here is that inspite of projecting ourselves as a secular country we had had hidden indifferences under the canopy of secularism. As per my understanding, in a country like Iraq (I am right now) which apparently does not encourage other religions except their own (Muslim), I was shocked to see the portraits of Hindu Gods in one of their daily newspaper of their regional language. The fanatic image which I had in my mind about these citizens  immediately started crumbling like a pack of cards.

Linga Bhairavi - Devi

Some regional news paper was lying on the table. My habit of viewing pictures in any piece of paper before me, made me to pick the paper and started flipping the pages. In one of the pages I could see Devi Mahakali's photo. My intial response after seein this was Ah!! Am I dreaming?  Mahakali Mata in IRAQ ??? When I knew I was not I could not beleive my eyes. An instant  realisation struck me, the cosmic reality is much beyond the boundaries on my thoughts and imagination. I became crazy and started showing these potraits to all my Indian friends (only a few though) with much enthusiasm. The response from them was like "Oh goood" type of thing, atleast I was not seeing any surprise element in them as me. But I could not supress my curiosity to know what this article contains, but unfortunately out of very few languages I knew, this Kurdish (similar to Arbic but not same) is not the one.

Kurdish newspaper with Hindu Gods

So I sought help of some of the localites. Being busy afternoon hours, people could not devote time for me. They had a puzzled look in their faces when for the first time I was asking them to explain about something published in their regional language. With whatever little mastery I have attained over their language(kurdish) I was searching words from the space to make them understand about my bubling enthusiasm (see in my eyes) on this particlular topic in their newspaper. It took almost ten minutes to make them understand that I wanted to understand the content of this article. Answering their "why u need explanation of this article?" was the toughest situation I ever faced in my life. After attempting all the gestures and postures I knew, still I was not able to make them understand that I was interested to know why Hindu Gods' portrait has been published in their newspaper whom their country is now aware off. Atlast, one line came to my rescue to end all my misery. They instantly understood my anxiety when I mutterd out the phrase " You how Allah.... me same Mahakali..!!!.  Now their reactions seemed positive. I appreciated myself for making them understand atlast. 'Thank you Allah' I said myself.





Front cover the Kurdish Newspaper of concern

After all the drama when I was overwhelmed with the joy of knowing the article in detail, pat came the reply "Deepak I am busy, I tell u aftersome time" from everybody. They uttered this phrase as perfect bristish men speaking english right from their childhood(people here speak broken english).The only thing my local friends managed to tell me that the whole article is about 'SWORD'. Coincidentally if u see carefully the snap of the page containing Hindu Gods, only word in english is 'SWORD'. Back to square one.

But my enthusiasm has not faded with time (2 days). My persuasion will be alive until my curiosity of knowing the article is not fulfilled. Definitely will let u all know what the articles says hopefully in near future.



Beauty amidst misery - a pleasant experience

Certain people and places we come across in our lives stays in our memory for rest of our tenure on this beautiful planet. Such was an impact that this heaven on earth left on me when I first happened to be in this place. I will not mention the name of the country where this place is located until the end just to arouse the reader's curiosity. Certainly not within our mother India's boundary folks...!



Road side view of the plains

 
The very glimpse of this snap sings for its own beauty. Being a shutterbug myself I see the things around me with the eyes of a photographer which makes me give importance to the very details of events around me otherwise not possible in this fast world. Awe struck by the beauty of this place I tried to capture those moments of surprise which kindled a new joy within me which nowhere comes near to the reality itself. Neverthless these freezed moments gives us all a clue to the divine beauty oozing out of our nature 24x7 only for us.


These photographs were taken while moving at a speed of 100kph in my Pajero vehicle (one of my favourite). So any technical shortcomings be seen with less critical eye.

Metting place of earth and sky

This photo literally shows the vastness of the nature. Our manmade road that looks merely a scratch on this planet in between these mammoth mountains. My realisation from this is something I would cherish for times to come. I perceive this road as our lives and we are travellers in this road. These mountains are our apparent problems(day to day). Our lives (road) are carved out very well. It is we who move in someother directions and hit these giant mountains (problems in life) and then curse the creator, his marvellous creaion, not realising our own faults. If we are focussed and unwavering our journey will be not only a smooth but even a joyous one.


Rare greenery seen



Just a few green cover here and there but otherwise the whole place is dry including the climate (now u should have an idea of this place...). The reason for this dryness is that the creator has bestowed the warmth of this world in the hearts of these people and made them really wet with love and compassion. Really I have been amazed by being with this people, we shoul learn the friendliness and the openess and all including compassionate passion from these friends. Their poverty has made them rich, their hunger has filled their hearts with oneness and their friendship has shown me that real unconditional love which cant be explained with help of words. Given powers I will bestow them with all the comforts of this planet and just lead my life joyfully by looking at their happiness. 



View of a city life



The city life looks calm and peaceful. Definitely cleaner than many of our Indian cities. The people here though not literate but still have the sense of cleanliness. They hardly throw any litter on the pathways. In this context they are far more educated than most of our country literates who doest care to throw anything and spit anywhere.

Then a bridge which we crossed was really a narrow one. As expected no water was flowin in the river below. Neverthless it was exciting to see vehicles pass carefully without scratching eachother, waiting for eachother to go. Some humanity is still left in this planet to be expressed in compulsive situations. he he!!





The narrow Bridge



 

City road bordered with green trees -  very rare sight


As I was just slipping out of my consciouness and getting lost in this marvellous beauty, Suddently a seargent appeared before me and asking me something which I could not grasp. I could just here the sound his words produced. Thats it, I could not get anything whatsoever. The only thing which comes to our rescue once we are out of India is our PASSPORT. So I immediately searched for my Passport in my bag and showed him. It seems he was yelling at me for this.  He had some mental calcuations and started seeing me, the passport and sky in a jumbling sequence. Finally he supposedely understood that I am from Hindustan. He laughed at me and said oh! you Hindi....Amitab Babajhan....(Aitab Bachan they call so). A huge smile appeared in this face which gave me a sigh of relief. Thanks to Amitab Bachan .



Check point where I awoke from dream



This whole description was just a trailer of the real life movie I am now watching in this so called dangerous land. Oops...  Ok now it is ime to reveal the name of the place I am bloation about so long. It is none other than most neglected and least expected-----------KURDISTAN in Norther IRAQ.

Now I remember a famous proverb "Beauty lies in the eyes of the observer".

My First Love

    

When I boil down with my life…
U come to shower your grace on me



When the whole world knows you…
My relationship with u still remain a secret



U come wherever I go, whenever I go…
To remind me yourlove on me



Fully drenched in your love do I stand…
Only to find u left me with no bind



Ur ways of making love with me are always mesmerizing…
My admiration for u keeps rising



Late in my life did I recognize you…
To be melted in your gaze



Immense strength and tender heart both with you…
Enjoying both is my privilege.



Sometimes u come with warning and at times cunning…
Always cute looking my darling



U hit me hard with all your care…
To make me even more dare



U remain same everywhere and every time…
Please teach me this trick for good



Thank you for filling me with your grace
My whole world disappears when I see your face



U r none other than my friend, Rain….
Without you my life is totally vain!! vain!!!



U and me together make beautiful sights…
With u my future may rise to beautiful heights

U -THE INFINITE, UNBOUND

From the birth till twenty five….
I don’t know What my life? Why??

Then came a breeze into my life
To make me as sharp as a knife……


I still search the source of that incident.
May I say it is not more than an accident….

I ran outside round and round
Only to end up to know, I am totally bound!!

Where do I go, what do I do, no clues.
Every day my life has become blues….


Never did I hate my life to fullest
But either I did not know myself to the nearest…..

I kept conquering outside at every step,
Only to discover your hand in pushing me inside.....


Never did you leave me alone
Realization hit me when I mourn….

U guide me, u stay beside me
Not wanting anything but my destructive growth….

U gave me many things only to break me
Now I give myself only to u for lifetimes more….

May Ur bliss fill me up
Else I am not able to live here….


My gratitude to show me my own...
Never was I my own….

Now that I see u everywhere, anywhere
Who can deny me, nor I have any fear….

The food u give me gives me physical strength
Ur hunger makes me gain even more inner strength…

Thanks for ur days, Hurray for ur nights,
May all know u, to be free from fights....

I come, I go, but stay forever…
Only to know u r everywhere…

The nearest friend, the farthest truth,
Highest guru, mistiest person….


All for is u n only u
To assume u r there or there…


Eagerly waiting for the last day coming!!!