A Journey Is an Adventure in Itself

A handloom at the shawl emporium, Manali

One of the best feelings in the world is when I travel. I just love the journey be it anywhere. I love to lower the window and let the wind, regardless of how warm or cold it is, rush through my hair. I love wind in my power. And I think my straight, non-fussy hair are perfect for this. Even after messing it up in every way possible, it still falls straight down. Thanks, galactic powers to-be. You probably knew all along that I couldn't be bothered to brush them out.Anyways, enough back-handed self compliments. Back to the joys of the journey. Whenever I get into a vehicle, I imagine soft music playing in my head, sit back and settle into the seat, and turn my head towards the window. I'm all prepped for the journey. This is when I'm ready for the world. Bring on your sights, sounds, people, and wonders. My mind will take them all in.


At Manikaran, Manali

Because I have a runaway imagination, there is a story everywhere I see. And of course, each person gets their own soundtrack. The busy ones get calm instrumental music. The quiet ones get music with lyrics. The agitated ones get a folk/country singer performing live at their side. The dreamers get a grand musical show all to themselves. I have to partial to them. They are after all  "my people".


Of course, like Japanese tourists, I too get trigger happy and look for things, people, places (crevices and cliffs included), and sights to click and capture. Of course, there is nothing like the mind to relive the memory of the moment. And you need people to share the experience it with. The moment when you experience something life-changing and you look sideways to see that the friend standing next to you also experienced the same are moments worth cherishing. My "moments" always make me smile. I'm proud to cherish those cheesy moments.

So go have those journeys. Go click those moments. Cherish those memories and make sure you have plenty of those to keep you company for a lifetime.

Of Photographs and Memories...

I've always wanted to do a photo essay and have looked at various themes and photos, trying to piece them together into a tale. I found that this is a very time-consuming and painstaking exercise and I need time for it. And since I'm a procrastinator by genetics, I present to you my first closest attempt at a photo essay.

All of these pictures are of Kerala, my home state. While I have many more beautiful pictures and fond memories of the places in Kerala, I thought I'd start with these pictures. They're of my most recent visit (last year). 

Hope you enjoy these as much I enjoyed taking them.

Sunset in Nellambur, Kerala. This was outside the home of a cousin of mine. Nestled between the mountains, Nellambur is an absolute paradise.

This is similar to a lot of roads in Kerala. I just wanted one to remind myself of how country roads compare to city roads. 

If I had to have a house in the lap of nature, I want it to be exactly like this one. Small, beautiful and homely.

Believe it or not, Photoshop brought my grandparents closer after their deaths. They don't have a pic together when they were alive.

Sunset again. I really love sunsets!

Roses planted by my mom.

My nephew Alvin. He's an Australian now.

My niece who's a semi-Kuwaiti.

The veins and branches spread outwards from this more than a century-old tree and provide shade to many a weary soul.

A decorated altar, common to many orthodox churches in Kerala.

One from the flock.

And this is the century-old tree in multicolour.

A church in Manarcad, Kerala

My mother is a nature buff and always wants to pose next to plants or flowers.