Beneath The Sport of White and Blue

We drove into the vastness of the Blue, a few weeks back..... The firmament in it's true rich color brightening up our minds while the playful giant whites stretched in pieces and toured all over, taking us for a wild ride in the open.
(The picture put up here is one of those captured, is of the drive)

It seems to be the dream of each of the gorgeous cacti that grew in the wilderness that stood tall and high in groups and in solitude. An absolute get away spot for the busy minds. The sun was up and strong shining over the clouds which enriched the whites and highlighted the grays impregnated with moisture waiting to pour heavily in manners.. that a canvas can't produce with paints and brushes... Such is the power of our Mother Nature.... The well metalled highway stretching through the undulating topography guided us through the bosom of Kenya..... At the fringes of the island of Mombasa...

The thorny green patches of different shades quenched the thirst of the rusty soil that added color to the frame. Low sand dunes of grayish green hue fenced the road where the land looked naked and served as the natural embankments to the few small concrete settlements and hatchments.. The soil of which were held tight by the trees of similar kinds, to retain moisture for their survival.. All along the drive it seemed as if the frames that my eyes captured were repeating itself... There was monotony as humans have left it undisturbed ... ....As our car sped past by at about 100kms an hour, locals clad in contrasting bright attires were seen walking in ones and twos, every 5 or 10minutes, completely nonchalant by the forlornness and unblemished by the heat... Sight of umbrellas is a rarity. Nature has fortified them all to endure the abandonment........

'Jumbo !'.....they smilingly greeted waving at each other as they walked passed by.... they were complete strangers ... but I guess the high spirit within them makes it all easy to combat such harsh conditions ... It is a part of their life and such a sight is very common in Kenya...There were herds of goats (guess getting ready to turn into delicious fillets packs in the meat market), carelessly grazed across the sparse crops of malnutrition greens, and when I looked around to search for the shepherd... I saw her sitting right in the open, breaking bricks and stones relentlessly - guess, she was making the best use of the time she had at her disposal- may be to gather those broken pieces for her home....

The thrill and excitement of such exploration grew in our hearts as we ventured further into the semi arid regions. Kenya's geography is marvelously varied. Diversity exists at all corners as we shifted our gaze all around the 270 degrees of the wild open and the wonderment made the drive all the more intriguing... there was pin-drop silence within us... as for me, everything that I saw came straight out of the Geography text books .... And related every bit of what we had learnt to what I saw. Lucky to be able to see with my naked eyes to remember all my life, for now my understanding of the climatic condition that prevails here and it's co-relation to the natural vegetation and habitats couldn't have been more profound, for my real life experience made it all obvious.

Such sorts of barren stretches are all over the place in and around our home here.... a few sectors bound by cemented walls, to mark the ownership of their respective land owners…… I thought to my utter dismay - that, when they have so less to live on, then why not try and use those lands that they own, to grow vegetables for their kitchen, and some of which they could sell in the 'boga' (vegetable) market to make themselves economically more sound?...... On the contrary the locals set the bushes on fire to burn down the under-growths only to make it even more barren! .... It was devastating to see how the fertility of the soil was been subjected to such fire and heat, (not to forget the already existing hot weather conditions)…only to make it even worse and infertile??!!... When asked - I was told that they had to keep them all clear, as they fear that the thick grasses would become the ideal place for the extremely poisonous Mamba snakes to begin its habitation putting our lives at stake...

It's been about a month that the first bout of rainy season has set in, which is called the ‘winters’ in Mombasa.... AND to my surprise, I saw all the barren lands miraculously covered by a thick carpet of healthy thick green grasses all around...... It almost happened overnight……… It is unbelievable. ..........Thus, it is the Mamba snakes which is not letting the super fertile soil to nurture the vegetation and for the life to grow and blossom to its best!!..... The vast stretches that appear barren to us are extremely rich in minerals and if cultivated on, can produce harvests beyond comprehension...

I wish to go on the drive again, through those semi-arid regions to see if they have turned lush green and transformed into lovely meadows under the enormous roof of the Blue sky and then I am sure the superb cloud patterns would have a frolicking time admiring the Earth below, enjoying the marvels of nature and it's ‘true colors’ from a bird's eye view...

If only I had the Aladdin’s magic carpet, I would have taken pictures of the same and celebrated Mother Nature’s magnificence and bounty over the miseries, that are more apparent as, we, humans have left it undisturbed, un-toiled, untilled and unexplored....

Serendipity - Life in The Land Of Smiles

The Land Of Smiles .... As the phrase suggests, it truly exists in a country like Thailand... It is as true as the beauty that she exudes in every form and manner...........

Apart from the natural beauty that is picturesque and serene, by which the entire world is enamoured, it is the beauty of the beautiful minds and of the rich culture that holds more value to me and I am completely smitten by (I don't mind if I am percieved as such).... Having lived there for about 5 years, so much I have gathered and learnt. Every moment I have experienced that I keep reminiscing very often, brings a smile back to my face.... A smile that exudes my serendipity of having had the opportunity to live the life that harbours there.

When I speak of the place (such as the city of Bangkok) to my associates, who either have learnt about the place from some source or have had the opportunity to visit as a tourist - I relive the life when I hear them speak eloquently and volumes about the beautiful beaches, the classy hospitality that begins right from when you are warmly greeted to take your seat in the Thai Airways, the profound ettiquettes they follow, the various and innumerable occasions that they celebrate with zeal, pomp and grandeur, the various small and big shopping arcades where one can just simply get lost in awe by the huge collections of goods of every kind - some very very affordable or reasonable and others that are expensive if one chooses to go for the branded ones, the food that encompasses delicacies from all over the world... you name it and it's all there ! - without compromising on the quality and ethinicity of each, the cleanliness and hygiene even while one savors on the food being instantly cooked and served at the array of road-side piazzas, the well maintained public transport system- the air conditoned and non- air conditioned buses, taxis of different bright colors, the tuk-tuks (autos) and off course the luxurious cars (BMWs, Merc, Hummer, the smart Mini Coopers, SUVs of all kinds) that zoom past by every minute, the traffic rules and regulations which one can never disregard and does not despite the traffic congestion nobody honks!!! - it is insulting if one does so...and the cheapest and the fastest mode of transport running through the city, transporting thousands are the boats that speed through the canal - that itself is an experience by itself...etc, etc....... all of which is so true that it still amazes me.... It is a country which holds a lot more than the pubs and the much talked about trades that involves fornication.... I am sure it exists everywhere, so why speak about just that with the very mere mention of the place? !... I not only fail to understand but it hurts me deeply...... I console myself by making myself see the fact that, not many have had the opportunity to live a life there and for years together, and thus, they cant help but just see the 'glitz' , the 'glamour' and the 'easy availabilty of services that one can enjoy at affordable prices', that attracts so many billions of tourists all round the year.... True, the choice is ours, but it would be unjust to malign the nation of blowing it out of proportion...

I am sure if one has the desire to know more about the life, the culture the people there, it would be an overwhelming experience.

With keen observation, I have watched the life there minute by minute, thanks to my Dependent Visa that did not allow me to work unless later I was absorbed as a consultant and did freelancing... Coming back to my observations, I may try to narrate a few incidents that will remain very close to my heart... each of which has given me a tremendous learning, and I hope I have been able to imbibe all the virtues that touched me very deeply and help me emerge as a better human being....

The King's prayers to his fellow people....

When we had just landed in Bangkok and I was getting used to the new life there, the nation was struck by the Bird Flu, something that I heard of for the very first time then... We tried to keep ourselves abreast with the measures that the nation was taking to. Tourism had gotten affected due to the scare that had affected the minds of the aspiring visitors like an epidemic and the economy there was facing a crisis of a grave nature.... One evening while we went to dine at the Mall Ram, just opposite to the Petchtip Appartment where we were residing, (an off shoot of the Ramkamhaeng Road)... we settled ourselves with some delicious Thai ciusines such as the Khao Pad Gai, Khao Man Gai, a non-veg preparation with roasted cashew nuts, Chicken and Fish Steak (yes we did not refrain from eating chicken) and Chilled Pepsi with nám-khăeng (ice-cubes- a must topping when cold drinks are served).... we were watching the television that was hooked up to the pillar in front of us....... the Thai news channel was on.... thankfully the english sub-titles were scrolling by for the 'farangs'(as they would call the non-thai people/foreigners) to comprehend. We saw the honorable King giving a speech to the masses in Thai language, about the ways to beat the economic crisis and the ways to retain the tourists... and he said (per the english subtitle).. " If we have adorned a smile in the past to welcome the beautiful visitors to our country , then we must now do so twice as much to make them comfortable in every manner.. it is our foremost duty and the onus lies on each and everyone of us to keep them happy as long as they are here...." ... and there was this huge round of applause in the Mall that not only resonated within, but it still resounds in my mind.... I was overwhelmed. How simple a thought, but so profound as this.. that He honored us as his valuable visitors and asking his fellow people to take care of us in the best posible ways they could !......... something I have experienced in all truth and honesty from every Thai people I have come across at any given point of time till date... they did live upto their King's expectations... they worship him like God, respect him like the Father of the Nation.

Truly the Land Of Smiles it is......

I pay my Earnest, Profound, Heartfelt and Humble Respect to the King Bhumidole.. may He Live Long !

More of my experiences in my next series of blog.......... (as I desire to keep it short and simple for your convenience in reading )

Tick Tock! Tick Tock !

Time and tide waits for none.......

The clock ticks away... the Minute hand and the Second's racing with each other while the majestic Hour hand stands patiently and firmly for it's turn to come, to move ahead with a kingly gait......

In those seconds, minutes, hours that never seem to stop from going round and round, marks the ageing of today.... so many incidents keep occuring in those fractions of the seemingly limitless motion of the clock..... yet it never tires out... Unknowingly the world keeps moving along with the unstoppable. It all seems like a crazy inertia of motion that is making our lives frenzied with so much to do and trying to stop so much from happening .... the world seems to be churning in such an imbroglio of events. And we are a major part of the same... How amazing it is, that one can't determine his/her day's schedules without this piece of machine. We make sure that it keeps ticking as we keep them recharged with batteries for their long life! I wonder to what extent it (clock) has become indispensable in today's life... machines have we all turned into... machines we depend on... It marks the beginning of our day and shows its hands to call it a night !...One half of the earth sees the daylight, while the other looms in the dark of the night... The world witnesses diabollically opposite timings but without the clock stopping from ticking......... it goes on and obout the 12 digits at regular intervals, without a moment's halt, but we keep tossing between the 'days' and 'nights' which we determine with suffixes such as 'a.m.' and 'p.m.'....The Present transits to Past, and the Future as the Clock ticks away....... I can't help but feel that we have become mere puppets in the hands of the Minutes, Seconds and Hours. Completely enslavened with the concept of our 'time running by'..... thus we keep running to and fro towards realising our dreams, aspirations, goals and aims by keeping a watch on the Watch!....... The rate at which the Earth rotates, is gradually pacing down... I wonder if we would be able to abide by the Hands if and when it(Earth) stops from rotating...A phenomenal change would be witnessed that would be witnessed by every living creature on this planet, and their lives would not be as it is today...Especially people who are not living at the Polar regions, would wait for the dawns and the dusks to break......and guess, the wait would be then of eternity....... guess again, it's the TIME that would say what is in store for all of us !........

I visualise the globe(earth) squeezed into the perimeters of the wall clock that keeps a vigil at me with such threatening gaze, that I not only love to imagine, but cherish the fact that I am able to reduce the dynamics of this mere machine into words and smirk back at it, saying... "yeah you see... it is finally me who you got to depend on, for it is my pregogative to speak and write about your glory !... and present you to the world the way I want to! "

.......... Well !....who am I kidding?? !!! (sigh).... Time is what determines our past from present, and present from future.......and so on and so forth...... It rules! ... just as it is saying that it's now 2:a.m. and that it's time that I retreat to give my mind some rest !!... So, wishing you all a very good night...and hoping to see you tomorrow moment my alarm goes off !!!!!....

...aah that reminds me that I have to set the alarm and give the Time the privilege of taking it all over once again!

Time it is !

Sweet deams.....................

A Warm Welcome Greetings to My Most Adorable Neighbours

Just as I was sipping on my cup of morning tea, a bunch of twigs came flying by, on my bed. It was windy and I looked up to see.....

There I saw two little birds that looked like sparrows with twigs in their cute tiny beaks, hopping and skipping all around the top most array of the horizontal collapsable glass window panes . To my surprise, I found a beautiful nest that they were still working on to perfection. Without making distracting movements, I slowly crept below on my bed, to take a closer look at the nest and what the little birds were upto.................

I was astonished and amazed at their work of art and the fact that all of the thin but strong twigs were of one particular kind. All of them bore furry tips of light greens with a strong dark brown midrib. By then they had already made the basic foundation with those twigs. I kept watching at the industrious effort they were putting in and they co-ordinated amongst themselves in a typical pattern as they were at it. One would fly away and get a twig every half a minute from somewhere outside, and the other would push the twigs with it's beak intently, while it would perch itself inside the round bowl shaped nest, the opening of which faced outside overlooking the canopy of trees. I guess they chose their spot keeping the beautiful vanatage point in their minds. They knew what division of labour means. They knew what they were doing. After a point of time, I saw them swapping duties and went on building and designing their home all day long. This kept on happening until mid day, and then they were not to be seen for quite sometime............ I believe they flew back to their previous home for lunch and rest.... Just about a couple of hours before the dawn would set in, they appeared and began with the rest of the arrangements of their new home......... In the evening, I waited thinking that they have finished building their nest and hoped that they would arrive to begin their new life in this beautiful nest that they had built all day long....... I waited and waited........ but they were not be seen............

Next morning, even before I woke up they had already started setting up their new place by flying in more twigs and arranging them per their requirements......... gradually I saw the face of the nest facing towards inside the bedroom closing in, as the mesh of the twigs grew thicker and thicker. Thus the wall was built firm and nice, keeping temselves from the prying eyes of the onlookers...... All along my bed towards the window had such twigs strewn across which I believe could not hold itself from the sea breeze, but they did not stop at that..... They were resolute and seemed happy and gay while they rested in between on the window panes chirping away to glory.... A breather they needed surely !

It's been about 3 days now that I see them busy weaving the nest.....

I am still waiting for the time when they would completely settle in their new home and then we would have the most adorable neighbours to ourselves. I plan to feed them with grains and befriend them in the long run, keep them in good humor, happy and take them into my confidence....

But what makes me extremely happy is the fact that they chose the window of my bedroom, despite seeing us living and moving in and out as we would be busy in our daily chores....... I assume I have already earned the faith, trust and confidence of my would-be neighbours.... and hence the rest will fall into place.......

I welcome the beautiful couple to their love nest... my earnest prayers, love and best wishes to them to mark their house warming. May they live happily forever.... ... as I take a trip to my Flight Of Fantasy along with them...............( chirp! chirp! chirp! )

Exploring the very essence of what makes us human

"Who are we?Are we just another primate - The Third Chimpanzee according to writers like Jared Diamond - or is there something special about us that distinguishes man from every other living creature, as philosophers - even 'Darwinians' like Dan Dennett - believe? No one doubts that over the last 10,000 years or so, humans alone have been able to change their life styles out of all recognition: concrete cities and the internet, heart transplants and space flights. The question is, how? Is the difference between man and chimpanzee merely quantitative - a heightened ability to think and reason, for example - or do we also possess some distinct quality that makes us unique? I favor the former view, but do not believe that it is simply a matter of cerebral function (Homo sapiens, 'thinking' or 'wise' man)...."

"What is the essence of humanity?. That is to say, what is it about humans which makes them fundamentally different from other species? When asked this question most people will give strange and misguided answers - often 'It's the ability to cooperate in a society' or 'the ability to show compassion.' These are patently untrue. Tiny brainless fish have the ability to swim in schools, and survive quite well in their own society. They follow the direction of the collective - if one fish panics, and swims frantically in a particular direction, they all follow. Many animals show apparent compassion. Certainly they make huge sacrifices for their own offspring, sometimes dying to protect them. While some would argue that this may have more to do with genetic survival than compassion, it is hardly a convincing characteristic of humanity. In fact, the essence of humanity is rationality. Only man has the ability to reason and to act on that reason for long-term benefit - to ignore the emotional programming, and the emotional desires which dictate actions to irrational animals. Choosing something which may require a great deal of emotional and physical suffering in the short term, but will create a long term benefit can only be done by a human. Only a man can willfully improve himself, to make his life better, to shape his environment. For rationality to exist, there must be incentive. Rationality does not exist in a vacuum. To deny a human the benefits from his rationality is to deny him the purpose of his rationality, and hence to deny his humanity.

Now, as I keep my quest about the above alive, I am propelled to think more which only stirs my emotional being above the rationale me. Living in different environments, adapting to new cultures and life styles are the obvious demands of being a traveler to destinations unknown. It does help one to widen one's horizon of understanding and comprehending life in a new light as realizations begin to develop within. Realization of facts from fictions. Analyzing how justified we are being to ourselves and towards the society at large. Ironically we also start evaluating to what extent the society at large is being responsible for each individual existing within. They seem to come all hand in hand .Expectations come by naturally, as it is inherent. Our brains which are much more developed than any other living creature on this earth cannot stop but calculate. Calculate our contributions to the returns we expect, or so as to say calculate what we deserve for the time we invest in each of our endeavors. In this effort, factors that come to question are our morals, integrity, ethics and philosophies which determines the very existence of us as humans but are continually being compromised on a day to day basis. When such torrid situations and circumstances arrive, we suffer from conflicting emotions, brainstorm to find solutions to resolve the situations and circumstances. We still keep compromising for survival.

Our system also demands the various levels of standards of living. There is a clear demarcation between the haves and the have-nots. And it only seems to be truer that unless this vicious cycle continues, our system would not be able to survive. We are social beings and hence depend on each other in some manner or the other. So to keep this demand and supply curve going, such differences are made to exist at all realms of life and society. Just as the ecological balance is the basic foundation for the animals to survive on, unfortunately I am being bound to equate such with the apparent need of such standards of living that is so much needed for the society to exist.
In this bargain, we see teeming millions lead a life of starvation. Starving due to the lacuna of means and abilities provided or acquired. Starving due to denial of opportunities. Starving due to the list of the Priority Class of people who seem to snatch away the rights to equality with the power that they hold and use advertently or inadvertently. Such starvations are not only existing within the lower ranks, who we catagorise as the poors, but within the middle class and also the affluent.

History has chronologies of the Revolutions that have occured. Changes that are constant, happened due to the revolutionary movements and also due to the discoveries and inventions that have brought about chnages in our lives. We seek for the changes to happen and demand it from the society or the authorities. I would say, if changes are required, then it is within each one of us that are to be brought about, for each one of us makes the society we live in. Revolutions, discoveries and inventions are the very essence of our existence, then why not contribute to the same. Each one of us are responsible for the cause. Mutual acceptance is much needed to bring it to a constructive level. Instead of focussing on 'I' we can with little time, patience, compassion can focus ourselves to the 'We' as it is the 'We' that builds the human society. We seem to be consumed on what we have on our plate all the while in the name of survival. I realise today that as it is understandable that each one of us first needs to focus on our own survivals to think and care about the person sitting next to us, but we too have to devote ourselves a little for the other person too for the growth and development of the race, for our lives are all weaved in manners that get disclosed with only time, and the fact is We Are Inter-dependent !.

There is a leader in each one of us and a follower too. It is the choice that we make which either makes us want to be the leaders or the followers. When I speak of being a leader, I focus on taking initiatives, which is not an easy task surely. Apprehensions of not being accepted keeps playing and sometimes become a deterrant factor towards progress. One can't deny that there is struggle all the way. That is where the teachings of our mentors play an important role as they have set examples of the struggles they have faced, the persuasiveness they have exhibited and adhered to and fought the battle till the end. Not all problems are solved with the same formula. But keeping those means of solutions in mind, we as developed beings can use are abilities to formulate ideas and construct or bring out about the means of development by formulating ones that are apt to the situations and conditions. Not to disregard our roots, but changes bring about developments in each one of us. To strike a balance between the two is much needed. Supporting one another would help overcome the stumbling blocks.
All of this can be made possible, if there is the touch of humanity. It is easier said than done, but never impossible with belief in what one wants to achieve and understands the true purpose of being born as human beings.I may also add that it all begins from home.Understanding, unconditional love, mutual respect, trust, compassion, support, empathy, appreciations, incentives are the little gestures that would help us achieve. It does sound surreal for we seem to be in a choc-o-block or a catch 22 situation all the time. But I realise that a lot could be achieved, conquered and resolved if each one of us could sit back for a while, steal ourselves from the mechanical mundane world and delve ourselves into the depth of the very essence of what is humane. Putting aside all our materialistic needs for a moment, trying to see and feel the pain our fellow beings are going through, which are just as much as ours, if not more, would not put us in any loss.

I am sure all of us do halt for a while to take a look at the unkempt pile of bricks by the streets which are just brought out of the kiln, but how many of us do think to lay them towards construction and or may I fashion it thus - that how many of us do take the initiative to translate our thoughts into actions. They may seem to be insignificant in ones eyes, but such one brick is built with a lot of care and specifications just for us.....

.... this is one such profound realisation that my mind keeps wondering about, when I experience each moment of the life that is breathing in an under developed country like Kenya, a country which could have been more beautiful for their own people to live in... A country which could be more than just the wildlife sanctuaries and safari tours that the world prides about. Could have been truly glorifying if the human civilization could come up as it has in any other continent.

... more in my next blog.......

Best Regards, Best Wishes & Prayers.... From a visitor to this part of the world holding an 'Alien Card' !!!