tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73689492980394414772024-03-13T12:36:28.698-06:00Life is BEAUTIFUL :-)Personal BlogDeepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-45606713554813380732024-01-24T16:05:00.004-07:002024-01-25T07:19:33.999-07:00 Living in a Deep-Freezer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4Uc11FaapY1St7a4DstqQj2MZowl2M4LGsFgC_ioVednHExwCj5XLUDGrM6FsGN5VBFHJdqilPcR7kzSWuVooSlr_6nc8FbtbgPsxV9-WXuUrqvZbuyCxDl3jOd_65dhL72qcdjLao2g1OCRmZvPvC9baEGDkoAPtj01G5TElUo8CrG8kmn0blVC2ktj/s1075/Screen-Shot-2019-02-11-at-9.14.47-AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1075" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4Uc11FaapY1St7a4DstqQj2MZowl2M4LGsFgC_ioVednHExwCj5XLUDGrM6FsGN5VBFHJdqilPcR7kzSWuVooSlr_6nc8FbtbgPsxV9-WXuUrqvZbuyCxDl3jOd_65dhL72qcdjLao2g1OCRmZvPvC9baEGDkoAPtj01G5TElUo8CrG8kmn0blVC2ktj/w640-h330/Screen-Shot-2019-02-11-at-9.14.47-AM.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-e18722cd-7fff-066d-6409-944d542b57f0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Years ago, I wrote a blog post on Delhi winters, and this time it's all about Calgary winters.</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I landed in Calgary in summer, and oh my God, it was beautiful. The days were long; sunrises happened at 5 am, and sunsets at 10 pm. Nice and warm afternoons, and cool breezy mornings and evenings. It was lovely.</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I was in a different phase of life when I landed here, and took those summer days for granted. I spent the majority of my time doing lame things or nothing. I won't blame myself for that; it was a different time. Thinking of last summer reminds me of a fictional novel plot where the author describes a sad protagonist, beautiful surroundings, and she is lost in her thoughts, which are not worth anything but consuming her completely. That reminds me of the beginning of ‘Palomino’ by Danielle Steel, one of my very first romantic novels, and I loved it. And here I am drifting away from the topic yet again. :P</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Coming back to Calgary winter. When I landed here, people were trying to warn me, scare me, and honestly, to some extent, I was scared. When this December was warm, I was hoping for a worse January, and people were saying, “Oh, December is good, January will be killer.” I lived here in -50 degrees Celsius in January and went for a walk in -45 degrees. I am more than alive, and it was not that bad. I still feel Delhi winters are more difficult than this. :P</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I survived the coldest day in 55 years in Calgary, and I didn't even feel it was harsh. I wonder why these people, especially Indians who are living here for many, many years, were so scared. Delhi used to feel much colder than this, maybe because it was a moist winter with pollution and less sun. Calgary winters are dry with sun and are much better and less cold!</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To be honest, -45 degrees was not bad. Different, extreme, crazy cold, colder than a deep freezer but still good.</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Most days, I enjoyed good home-cooked food, coffees, teas, hot chocolates, while working from my warm and cozy home and looking outside from the glass walls, appreciating the beauty of falling snowflakes. I also stepped out on my balcony to capture the perfect snowflakes; they were the same star-shaped ones they used to show in Disney movies. It was like stars falling from the sky, so beautiful.</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The temperature today is 4 degrees, and honestly, it's a hot day. All my windows are open, and I still feel it's hot. Snow is melting all around, but people said we’ll get some colder days in February as well. As long as I don't have to go out much, I am more than happy. Bring it on! :P</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the month of February, Calgary hosts a Hot Chocolate Festival every year where one can try hot chocolates in different cafes, places in the city, and give a rating online. The top-rated café wins the contest. For my Hot Chocolate love, I am looking forward to it! <3</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sometimes it feels like I am living a Disney princess life; other days, a Tim Burton story. Anyhow, I miss my family a lot.</span></p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dear God, I love you, and please take care of my people. And, as you know, I always need you by my side. :)</span></p><br /></span>Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-49261458841910700032024-01-08T20:54:00.013-07:002024-01-10T19:00:59.993-07:00 A Year to Remember - 2023!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiJiLI3HaH6y1Nx6J8Em1whEIHT1AjIrKaJLLc3XhY12p6MfZhkt1n7wWjVmDM0iJTNNSC_Kk_shZb_qSzE4MhNqNvBkG6JIYA13rEyur1NEqcg3lbGchqQtfKS_rtsEHwE8jACMTNLp0UavHq8F2DlVprCEL2XHbsm_Je0Ny-NgHc_5QtuEHBkzeJjJa/s960/960-540-nova-godina-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiJiLI3HaH6y1Nx6J8Em1whEIHT1AjIrKaJLLc3XhY12p6MfZhkt1n7wWjVmDM0iJTNNSC_Kk_shZb_qSzE4MhNqNvBkG6JIYA13rEyur1NEqcg3lbGchqQtfKS_rtsEHwE8jACMTNLp0UavHq8F2DlVprCEL2XHbsm_Je0Ny-NgHc_5QtuEHBkzeJjJa/w400-h225/960-540-nova-godina-2023.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Over the past few years, I never felt like writing down my year. In fact, I did jot down my thoughts as drafts but never felt right posting them on my blog. The main reason was that they were often filled with deep and dark emotions. Most were written with tearful eyes. Regardless, those drafts will always be dear to me. Someday, if I feel like going anonymous on the internet with a new blog, I might publish them. :)</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d8c44a4d-7fff-7d4f-7e54-f8ca5db51140" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>Coming back to 2023, my year was full of emotions. The first few months were crazy sad, and I truly lived in a dark era. I think those were more of a continuation of the past few years. Anyway, in March 2023, I decided to go to New Zealand for my second Masters. I secured a seat in a sought-after course at the University of Auckland, and I was on cloud 9. I was weaving dreams of going to Auckland, living a free and beautiful life in a gorgeous country with mountains and sea. I started interacting with my course coordinator, had my university email id and student login created. Just before submitting my fees, I had to cancel the plan. Once again, it was to save something I could never have saved anyway, and when I look back, I feel fortunate certain things ended for good.</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>After saying goodbye to my NZ dream, I forgot about going out of the country and started focusing on my health, which had been going downhill for the past 2 years. I went back to the gym, restarted my yoga practice after a good break, and I was happy. I was just self-involved; I had my breakdowns but overall, I was positive. I did things I wanted to, bought myself a beautiful watch, </span></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">and soon I got</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> to know that my brother was moving to the US. He secured admission in the course he was looking for, and all of a sudden, everything changed. He actually secured admission in 2 universities, one in Asia and the other one in the States, but he chose to go to the US. I was busy helping him plan and pack for his journey while being clueless about mine.</span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>Soon enough, I got the news that I could go to Canada. My application was through, and the option came out of nowhere. I completely ruled out this possibility, a long story but it was a miracle, and I had an option I always wanted but never thought I would get.</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>My brother was leaving on June 15th, and till that day, I had no clue on what I was going to do. I focused on his journey, and after dropping him off at the airport, I was sitting and thinking what I should do. I started looking for tickets to Canada with no fixed plan in mind. While looking for tickets, I recalled a lady I met in Bali; she was from Toronto, and we are still friends. She was on her solo birthday trip to Bali and gifted herself a luxury experience for her 50th birthday. She flew business class and stayed in a 5-star property (that's where I was staying while volunteering). She explained that journey as the best journey in her 50 years of life, and that business class, the way she explained, I could never forget.</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>While looking for my Canada ticket, I thought I should gift myself this business class experience now; why wait to live until I am 50! And I booked myself a comfortable business class on a good international flight. I was definitely scared. Canada was far, very far from India. Not that I was scared of traveling alone, but I think in the last few years, I completely forgot who I was, what I was like, and what I was capable of.</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>I gave myself 10 days to pack and prepare. And in no time, I was in Canada.</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>Those were my first 6 months in India; I landed here at the end of June, and from that day, things changed. Ghosts from the past followed me till here, and I had dark, sleepless nights, panic attacks, and a really hard time for the initial few months. I used to sit here and wait for my family to get up and talk to them. I never felt this low in my life ever, and I was on my own, all alone for the first time.</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>I am thankful for how everything unfolded for me here. Soon enough, when I started being myself again, everything just changed. I ended up receiving more than I could think of; I ended up finding a decent apartment in the location I wanted, secured a fine job (I came here with my India job, and worked nights sticking to the India time zone, it was crazy). </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>I wanted to list down things I tried for the first time in my life in 2023; many things changed for me here, and I have penned down some of them below:</span></span></p><span><br /></span><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Business Class Travel</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> - I think that was the highlight of my year and after traveling business class, I find it hard to look back to economy. My journey was so good; I didn't care about the destination. My luggage was lost, but I was still happy. I was miles away from home in Calgary without luggage, with jet lag, and still smiling. I waited for my luggage for 2 days and started buying the essentials which I claimed back from the airlines. Luckily, I got my luggage back in 8 days.</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Calgary Stampede</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Stampede is like Diwali here. The biggest festival they celebrate. It's a 10-day long event and crazily massive. When I landed here everyone said you came at the wrong time, it's gonna be super crowded and messy in the city and they were not wrong. I ended up loving the entire Stampede vibe and volunteered in the event. Loved every bit of it! Even though my schedule was hectic, I had an Indian job from 9 pm to 7 am and did volunteer work during the daytime. Pheww! Insane!</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Improv </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">- I always wanted to learn acting, while searching for a school I came across an improv lab and their upcoming course on “Intro to Improv ''. I am an introvert, and doing things like these really scare me, and that was a good enough reason to give it a shot. It was painful for me initially but became easier with every class. Plus point was I managed to secure myself a good scholarship. Thanks to my sales skills.</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">New Cuisines</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">- I ended up trying a lot of new cuisines here. For the first time I tried Thai, Vietnamese, Venezuelan, Mediterranean, Peruvian cuisines here! I really liked Thai & Vietnamese. I am already in love with Mexican & Italian. My list definitely expanded here.</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="5" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">New Drinks</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Eggnog, I tried for the first time here. I don't know if they used to introduce new coffee seasonal flavors in India, but here I have developed this habit of buying a coffee and walking with it. Because of which I ended up trying many small/big coffee shops here and explored all their seasonal flavors starting with Pumpkin spice latte to Sugar cookie oat latte, which by the way is my favorite now! <3</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="6" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">First Snowfall</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> - I have been on many snow treks in India, but here for the first time I saw snow pouring down and I loved it. It was much more beautiful than I expected. I never thought I would experience this alone for the first time, but I did and it was mesmerizing.</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="7" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Banff</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">- Another place I never thought I would experience alone but I did and loved it. I didn't go alone as such but it was not how I visualized it for myself. Anyhow, the experience was beautiful beyond words.</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="8" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Winter hike</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> - In India, I always used to wonder why we climb for 6-7 days, sleep in tents to reach a place so gorgeous, I used to wish for shorter hikes with beautiful views and to come back and sleep in my cozy bed. That wish is fulfilled. Here, you need to walk hardly 10-15 kms (to & fro) to reach a strikingly beautiful place and come back, and another 2-4 hours for reaching the site and coming back to the city. Couldn't have asked for more. Experienced 3 hikes here in the last year! :)</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><ol start="9" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Music</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">- This is my favorite; after coming here I wanted to explore better music and clicked on “Iconic 80s hits” playlist on Prime music and there was no looking back. I am in love! This music is just mind-blowing, and I wish I was alive in that era, I wish this was my college days' music! It's just so beautiful, all these songs.. my God! I already am an old soul and I found my old soul music. Of course I am a big fan of Md Rafi & Kishore Kumar, but this playlist is something else. Next will be 70s music once I will get enough of 80s!</span></span></p></li></ol><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>Well, this was my year in nutshell. I also tried Kooza for the first time here; it's like a musical circus show which costed me a bomb! :P</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>I am really grateful for everything; though these days I do feel a lot homesick. I hope I will get better!</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>Dear God, I love you and am thankful for everything you have done for me; please take good care of my people. Love you! Muah :)) </span></span></p></span>Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-51725008932368151202023-12-18T11:50:00.002-07:002023-12-18T11:50:47.246-07:00Love Me Like You Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiPfYl84Y-uw9W_9MsXFKAQyh6Zvlt-8c_DNfKU-Ce9WeE4j0I3Wk6e-gyz_CATUfZKboL3Ml1iUfg80mBmqZ3_N_7UNgbRMrsBi9Y7GzzW7EFWUSTT305wbSxAa4pUszDrLkq2LsGIn6e5Gl7335FUtG3oK789SQ5e5Gk6xS9mi9oFqNpnnGRY8Wjsgb/s1349/318168247_1748866355487087_6768200940574513158_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiPfYl84Y-uw9W_9MsXFKAQyh6Zvlt-8c_DNfKU-Ce9WeE4j0I3Wk6e-gyz_CATUfZKboL3Ml1iUfg80mBmqZ3_N_7UNgbRMrsBi9Y7GzzW7EFWUSTT305wbSxAa4pUszDrLkq2LsGIn6e5Gl7335FUtG3oK789SQ5e5Gk6xS9mi9oFqNpnnGRY8Wjsgb/w512-h640/318168247_1748866355487087_6768200940574513158_n.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Yeah, Calgary loves me equally. Our love is mutual.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">When I landed here at the end of June, people used to say, 'Wait for the winters, and you’ll hate Calgary.' Now, in December, people are saying, for the first time in the history of Alberta, December is this warm. Of course, Calgary loves me. Global warming is a myth. :P</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Most people from India move to Toronto in a quest for a better life, better opportunities, then live in suburbs and drive every day for hours for work. I don’t think I am meant for that kind of life. I lived it in India, and I was sure that's not how I want to spend my entire life.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">I always wanted a small town, peaceful life. Had it been in India, I was sure to relocate to Rishikesh or Himachal after a few years, start my own small business in the mountains, and live a peaceful life away from the big city. A house with a backyard and a kitchen garden, close to the river and mountains. A morning walk in the hills with my coffee and ending my day with a beautiful sunset and a clear sky. It's still my plan, though.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Every time I thought of Canada, it was always Calgary. Much before I got my PR card. I never dreamt of a big city life with the chaos and stress.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Calgary is a perfectly beautiful small city, best of both worlds. People are warm and nice; you can reach anywhere within 20 mins if you have a car. There is a beautiful river in the city, and I can see mountains from my balcony. <3</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">The only thing I miss here is my family, and the only reason to go back for me will be my people.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Here, no one cares about where you are from, how much you earn, how fluent your English is, what you do for a living, how expensive your car is, or how big your house is or how many gadgets you own. All people care about is how you are doing, what are your hobbies, what music you like, or what you like to do in your free time. And I just love it; living here is like living a dream.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">In college, I visited a small village in Himachal for my field trip known as “Junga”; it was a village where every marriage was a love marriage, and I call it the land of love. I thought I would someday go back there and live for a longer period of time. I think I can say the same about Calgary. I feel I live in a city of love, all I see around me is couples, families, and happily married people. I just love it; it makes me smile every time I see an old and happy couple. Something I always thought of as my life goal.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">The other day I was sitting in a small Italian restaurant, and I saw an old couple in their 70s; they were celebrating the lady’s birthday with a small candle on the Tiramisu. I was feeling so happy for them that I had to control my tears. Oh God! I so badly wanted to cry! <3</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">I just love this city; it's like straight from a romantic novel. Novels I used to read and visualize where everything used to be like a beautiful dream. A place where I love sitting in small cozy family-owned coffee shops and sipping my coffee.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">The other day I was having dinner with a friend; she was telling me about her dating adventures and then asked me why I'm not into dating apps or giving it a try, and I just didn't know what to say. I think it's difficult for people to understand how having an old soul feels. I just smiled and said it’s not for me, and she said, 'Are you one of those who thinks a charming prince will come and sweep you off your feet?' Well, the truth is, I used to be one of those but not anymore. I think I don’t care anymore. I am just happy being here, eating good food, living my life, reading books, and looking forward to what's next. I think in the last 3 years, for the first time, I feel like I am finding myself back, and I don’t want to lose it for anything. I think after many years I feel at peace.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Well, I think I can write a book on Calgary; it's just something else, and I am full of gratitude to be here.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial;">Dear God, I know you are the best, and I am your favorite girl. Thank you for everything. I love you; please take good care of my people. Muuaah :))"</span></p>Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-77222015823745817502023-12-06T21:18:00.003-07:002023-12-06T21:20:49.318-07:00Driving Lessons in Calgary!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPktBrO-0sZN32W89YnOTkyi_Tt3AlN8w1xNOgnQKsV1nyiVDPLVEFoVJ2dctHEJYioAuCLnDKFB1f3UpZwK4XL2-LH-2NqcY4Lyi31BJ78y5K_sJmSnrrl2qCNWAs9n5Ia6uhD_GC3l7n04BpbUFCU70s2VdepynQGHZT8wJ0cRtkBt_RghyphenhyphenxcUIz0B7c/s2500/iStock-1063398780.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPktBrO-0sZN32W89YnOTkyi_Tt3AlN8w1xNOgnQKsV1nyiVDPLVEFoVJ2dctHEJYioAuCLnDKFB1f3UpZwK4XL2-LH-2NqcY4Lyi31BJ78y5K_sJmSnrrl2qCNWAs9n5Ia6uhD_GC3l7n04BpbUFCU70s2VdepynQGHZT8wJ0cRtkBt_RghyphenhyphenxcUIz0B7c/w640-h360/iStock-1063398780.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;"><p>Well, I wanted to write a post on Calgary first, but that’s okay. My love for Calgary will pour out some other day. :P</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">Today was my 4th driving class, and honestly, with every class here, I feel like I don’t know how to drive. Driving in Calgary is not about learning to drive; it's all about unlearning what you know and following the rules, and that is something very difficult to understand for someone who only drove in Delhi for 12 years. Road rules? What are they? :P</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">It's crazy here; when I walk on roads, cars stop and wait. Like had it been Delhi, I would have injured myself on the road multiple times. People are respectful on the roads here; they stop their vehicles and wait for you to cross the road. Seriously, and every time, it was all good until I realized I will have to do the same while driving! :P</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">Jokes apart, it's not funny. Yesterday, while driving, the only song playing in the back of my head was “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctCJ1OS2zU">Saaiyaan</a>” from the movie “Ta ra rum pum” (if you watch the song video on YouTube, you’ll know what I am talking about). And the scene flashing in front of my eyes was the one where Saif was unable to win the race and felt he couldn't do it. It was really scary for me. :P </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">Well, they took my Indian driving license anyway, and I don’t have an Alberta one. I don’t have much of an option here, and of course, I would love to drive on these awesome roads. I wish without rules though, but I got to know that after a few mistakes, they cancel your license, and then you have to wait for 2 years or so before applying again. :((</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">Another funny thing was I asked my instructor if the car he was teaching was his own or the driving school’s car, and he said, “it's my car,” and I laughed out loud. And asked, “You have 2 brakes in your family car?” Haha, and he said, “yeah, this is required to be an instructor here.” Well, a moment of silence here. He also shared that he never taught his wife how to drive here because if you hit a person on the road, you’ll have to flee the country; your life is over in this part of the world! :P It was sad for me to hear for two reasons - why will his wife only hit somebody on the road, and the other was.. he was not confident in his teaching; how will I clear my test! :P</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">Anyhow, I have another lesson left, and I am already feeling so unprepared. The driving test is like an acting test here; just look behind your shoulder every now and then and check the rearview mirror every 8 seconds, or else you’ll automatically fail! Crazy but true, if I watch the mirror every now and then, how will I focus! :P</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">Hmm… Let's see what's next. I am hopeful.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">Dear God, as always, you are needed. Please be there with me during my test and distract the examiner! Love you. :))</span></p>Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-28140310712739728292023-09-27T22:57:00.003-06:002024-01-08T21:03:58.361-07:00First day at work!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV2igN9Jn5VH3j4n_q3GlhNGkOPTm0QAzelAwu-viitRKHcpFXhnMYUNuN5qJa9cTbHeJQQCKpp65ebzh762O-PkXzx4KbDIut1RVhXSoYIpbFKhdOgOt06N-XZOAEqJEzjfiSXKndPD-vZ6ekfl-R6TH1feLjGYiMM4Nu8rYChCY0Ll_oE_lYCmvD5kG/s960/s1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV2igN9Jn5VH3j4n_q3GlhNGkOPTm0QAzelAwu-viitRKHcpFXhnMYUNuN5qJa9cTbHeJQQCKpp65ebzh762O-PkXzx4KbDIut1RVhXSoYIpbFKhdOgOt06N-XZOAEqJEzjfiSXKndPD-vZ6ekfl-R6TH1feLjGYiMM4Nu8rYChCY0Ll_oE_lYCmvD5kG/w640-h427/s1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">So, today was my first day at work in this country. I was
all excited. Nowadays, I am feeling everything with a higher intensity. Maybe
that's the thing with a broken heart; every emotion is just overflowing,
leaving me vulnerable in every situation. If it's a happy emotion, it's
ecstatic. Today, I was able to feel music after a very long time, and not just
feel it, but I found myself floating in it. I read it somewhere; heartbreak
gives a kind of superpower... Not sure though... Maybe whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">I find it difficult to feel happy most days, but today was
different. I was happy... I am happy, as if I am crawling back from the darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">Anyway, today was good. I got up early and started prepping
for my day. I had my coffee, got ready, and left for the train station. I
boarded my train while listening to some really awesome music, and before I
could wake up from the strong high I was feeling from the music, I was at my
destination. I walked to the office, and a good day started.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">It was my first day with my boss and colleagues, and I
really liked it. In the afternoon, my boss took me for a welcome lunch, which was
super cool. Oh yes, I enjoyed the food with the same crazy intensity. Something
was totally different. I was a little scared today... I feel scared when I
feel happy, scared of not feeling this way for long enough, scared of falling
back into the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">I came back home around 4 pm and wanted to linger on to this
happy feeling for a little longer. I decided to go to the gym, which I again
loved, followed by home-cooked kadhi chawal for dinner! :P<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">All in all, I am feeling really good right now. I am sure I
won't be sleeping any sooner today, thanks to my excess caffeine intake,
but yay, it was a good day. *touchwood*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">I hate myself for being so much in love; I just want to be
out of it. It's scary. I really wish to move ahead with my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">I hate myself. Really.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">Dear God, please, please, please help me!</span><o:p></o:p></p>Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-38096689558369171732020-12-11T18:59:00.007-07:002021-05-22T09:56:39.473-06:00Devil's year!<p><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OtgMJrNf4P0/X9QivbqjYvI/AAAAAAAACn4/5YlY234qKMELTsodi8UYhem1JJ78nfj9QCLcBGAsYHQ/original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OtgMJrNf4P0/X9QivbqjYvI/AAAAAAAACn4/5YlY234qKMELTsodi8UYhem1JJ78nfj9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w547-h640/original.jpg" width="547" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2020 was indeed a Devil's year. My year!</span></p><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I know, I know it's not over as yet, but, it was a strangely comforting year for me, I know the case with most of the world is different.</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am so much in love with the whole situation of work from home, chilling and working at peace. I know the work hours are crazy but that's alright. I love keeping my devil mind busy with work or else it starts driving me mad.</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The only thing I am badly missing this year is my workout, and have gained a lot of weight which I know will take time to go off, but I am somehow at peace. Other times I am on fire. :P</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The whole year was kind of okay.... but, as I have a history with Decembers, my demons are hyper-active once again and I am finding it really hard to cope up with my own self. I think I would blame it on winters. I feel everything with a deeper intensity when the weather is cold. I am meant to be living in hot climates to avoid emotions. :P</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Actually, it's not even proper winters as yet in Delhi, but this morning I could hear some loud clouds and they are giving me hopes for colder days ahead, that says messier mind!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I think I should read more on the correlation between mind and winters, at least for me it's something serious. Or maybe it's just full moon effect! </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Oh! and it's raining cats and dogs already, colder days ahead. </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Every time it's raining here in Delhi, I can't help thinking it must be snowing up on the mountains. I know I am crazy.</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Rains are always a good start and it's just 7'o clock in the morning. Well, the beautiful start of my messy day. </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dear God. please take care of my people. I love you. :)))</span></div><div><br /></div><div></div>Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-29638368552831619022020-12-11T04:54:00.036-07:002020-12-11T21:09:42.503-07:00Damned<p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S4iua1omrJ4/X9QfrlDC96I/AAAAAAAACns/4C86xSU7W3gblPMV81ItJtrHqpqISQ0AQCLcBGAsYHQ/julia-caesar-15078-unsplash-e1559842905603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="427" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S4iua1omrJ4/X9QfrlDC96I/AAAAAAAACns/4C86xSU7W3gblPMV81ItJtrHqpqISQ0AQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h427/julia-caesar-15078-unsplash-e1559842905603.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I was reading Bukowski this morning and I couldn't help connecting with his mind. It was all.. oh so soulful. Some days, I feel I am another him, other days I am Rumi.</span></span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sometimes I feel scared... Scared of myself. I have seen myself doing things I never imagined I could do in my right mind. Stop eating food for days, stopped talking to people randomly, leaving my job and just escaping away to random places, and blah blah blah. I can't handle my own mind most of the times!</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I feel these days I am unable to manage my thoughts and feeling everything way too much.. this is again weirdly scary. And as a defense mechanism my mind is already plotting a plan which will be again somewhat unexpected... destructive maybe.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am too old school to be alive in this era. Sometimes, I feel why can't I live like normal people, feeling fewer emotions and not attaching myself to anyone. I hate feeling too much. I feel I have a vulnerable soul, prone to emotional accidents. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Can you recognize that feeling where you are dying... Feeling like thousand pins stuck in your head at the same time and you are unable to breathe, mostly late at nights and early mornings? Though there is no fixed time for this feeling this takes everything out of me and I can't stop thinking. I don't know if it is a disease! Ah maybe!</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I feel I am damned. Maybe doomed. All at the same time. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am a happy person but I am an insane emotional fool. I can't get over my own thoughts and I am scared someday I will just do something absolutely crazy. On top of all this, I see dreams which are further destructive for my own self.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ahh, whatever.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I don't know what all I just wrote. Some random stupid stuff. But I need to write, I badly need to express more. And I can't. And I hate it. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Oh dear God, I need your help. Seriously. Help help help!</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And please take care of my people. Love you.</span></div></div>Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-80286527405352130182019-11-04T14:06:00.001-07:002019-11-04T14:11:46.771-07:00Mindful Thoughtlessness,Thoughtful Mindlessness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's not that I didn't miss you in the past year, I did and I wrote but it just didn't make it to the blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have never been more mindless. I am blank than ever. My mind crosses more than a thousand thoughts every day. The things I decide in the morning sounds obsolete by the same evening and anything I think late at night sink away with the sunrise. But I know that's how I have become lately. This is some other form of mental illness. Mindlessness but peace. Another dimension. Different vibration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's hard to say anything, so I don't say anything. It's funny how stupid I find it, every time I write something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My dreams are weirder than ever. Crazy funny terrible terrific dreams. I wait for the night to begin my journey into my 'dreamworld', and my night usually never begins before morning. Well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sleeplessness. I don't know from when I started having sleepless nights, maybe from the day I stopped working out. It's all upside down. I don't know what's real anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wanted to mark my presence here. This month I am completing 10 years with Pearl. Though I know, when I will read this post... I will refuse to admit... it was my thoughts ruling it. Well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Confused. Mindless. Funny. Stupid. Me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway. It's time to say goodbye. I will try to write again, something, something better. Maybe. Some other day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you, dear God, thank you for everything. </span></div>
Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-12443458466964615042018-11-22T21:10:00.000-07:002019-04-06T01:31:07.169-06:00Caffeinated, Forever!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Addictions are difficult.</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Going through the list of ringtones available in my handset, I came across this "<b>Caffeinated Rattlesnake</b>" tone, anything with caffeine attached to its name has a special significance in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am addicted to caffeine and I think its the most difficult habit for me to get rid of. Good 16 years I have spent caffeinating myself every single day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One fine morning, I decided to find out a solution to move over this addiction, as usual, I thought of Mr. Google, my savior for a majority of the practical problems prevailing in my life, at any point of time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I came across this<b> habit formation theory of minimum 21-days</b>. This theory states that if you continue to do something for 21 days or more you can form a habit or may get rid of it. Its very a controversial statement though and is contradicted by many researchers over a period of time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the 1950s, Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a well-known plastic surgeon observed a strange pattern among his patients, he claimed that it usually takes 21 days for any of his patients to accept their new look or to get used to his/her new features modified by plastic surgery. This theory was further contradicted and backed by many types of research where it was observed a minimum of 66 days were required to form any new lifestyle change or modify any habit. Pheww!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite all the researches done, it's very funny, how can someone get rid of a habit he or she spent 16 years forming in just 21 days or for that matter 66 days. It's not even practical.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even if I try to recall, in the last 16 years I have only quit coffee once, I am very proud to say this though, but, the reason was not even acceptable. I never decided and quit even at that point, there was this time in life when I used to forget drinking coffee, forget almost everything including water and food. And I clearly remember it was my internship period during my MBA days, what a terrible time to recall! Ah, anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But on a very serious note, now, I believe its high time to get rid of this pain and try to live like basic people. Oh! I am one of those '<b>basic people</b>', already, actually. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, most of the stupid things, I do, nowadays is primarily because of coffee, and that's one bad habit I can discuss on my blog. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will talk about my sweet addiction, some other day. First, Coffee!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's see, when will I grow up and finally get over this weakness. I think I need another coffee now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I know it's no point asking for anything, you'll do whatever you like, You are the Boss. Just take care of my people. :*</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com2Delhi, India28.7040592 77.1024901999999228.2581432 76.457043199999916 29.1499752 77.747937199999924tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-80391274914130794082018-11-08T08:10:00.002-07:002023-09-06T22:38:30.533-06:00Gaumukh Tapovan Trek!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beginning of this year, a holy man looked at my birth chart and told me<i>, 'You have<b> life threat </b>from Mountains'</i>. I smiled, and said, <i>'You shouldn't have said that in front of my mom'</i> ;-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my head, I thought, we all have to die one day and for me what can be better than mountains.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, sitting here, in the second last month of this year, I would like to admit it's not as rosy as it sounds, the whole ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dying in Mountain</b><b>s</b>’ idea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen it very close, twice, this year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that I am terrified or something, but I am not very excited about it, anymore. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To summarise my trekking trips this year, I have done quite a few treks in Bali for waterfalls, volcano, and rice fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming to the mountains, specifically, I have done 3 treks. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Nag Tibba</b> in January, <b>Everest Base Camp</b> in April and <b>Gaumukh Tapovan</b> in the month of October. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have mentioned briefly about the first 2 in my earlier post and had no intention of writing about Gaumukh Tapovan. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week, I was generally talking to my mom and out of the blue, she asked me, ‘<i>Have you blogged about your recent trek?’</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was surprising for me because she never ever asked about my blog.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was a bit reluctant, I said, '<i>No, I didn't write about any of the mountain treks this year. They were not my best.</i>' On which she replied, '<i>You should, good or bad, it's your journey and experience and it's your blog. It's all about learning'. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I told her about my blog, I think some 7-8 years ago. She is not very tech savvy but to my surprise, she remembered it. Though now she is a pro in online shopping on Myntra, Amazon, Big basket and other apps, this was unexpected.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I would like to give all the credit of this post to her. And I am going to skip the bad experience part for the post.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coming back to my recent trek, Gaumukh Tapovan, it was an unplanned trip which I thought of sitting on Mount Batur in Bali and booked 4 days before the departure.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I didn’t intentionally plan Gaumukh Tapovan, it happened.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t know where to begin.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was an 8 day long trip with 4 days of trekking itinerary. 2 days for to and fro from Dehradun to Gangotri and vice-versa, 1 additional day at Gangotri and 1 at Bhojwasa Campsite. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though, I changed my plan a bit and decided to descend alone a day before the trek officially ended. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trip started from my favorite Dehradun, so much I am in love this place now and it’s like my second home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always, I reached Dehradun a day in advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I met an old friend who shifted to Dehradun sometime back. We went out for dinner and a movie before my trip started.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 1- Dehradun to Gangotri drive</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a long day on the road, we reached Gangotri at 7 pm. Had our dinner and slept.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 2- Relaxing day at Gangotri<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was an extra day at Gangotri. We roamed around, visited temples and attended Ganga Aarti at Gangotri temple in the evening. Blissful experience it was. The place was damn cold which gave me a fair idea of cold in upcoming days.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 3- Gangotri to Chirbassa- 9kms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was an easy walk. We started around 9 am and reached our 1<sup>st</sup> campsite by 3.30pm. The views were mesmerizing and the campsite was good and clean. I discovered a beautiful white sand Ganga beach in the evening and spent an amazing time there.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 4- Chirbassa to Bhojwasa- 5kms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A short and not so sweet walk. This day I felt blisters on my feet and the pain was terrible. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the evening, I covered them with surgical tape but it was of no good. It was in really bad shape.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plus in the afternoon, I saw some people from other camps were playing cricket so I couldn’t stop myself and joined them and we played till it was dark, for almost 4 hours. At that moment, I absolutely forgot about my blisters though it was paining, but, I was alright.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 5- Bhojwasa to Gaumukh to Bhojwasa- 10 kms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a long day and a bit tiring as well. For me, it was additionally painful because of my growing blisters. This day we had to cross three ice-cold rivers and my blisters made it worse for me. I am in pain even when I am writing about it, right now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the first time, I felt I am losing conscious while crossing the river. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the ice-cold water, the blisters were hurting like someone was cutting my toes inside the water with a sharp knife, and the tape was all wet and washed off. After crossing the second river, tears started flowing and after crossing the 3<sup>rd</sup> one I refused to walk. I just sat down on a big rock and cried for I don’t know how long. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I honestly felt I am going to die and will never be able to walk again in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I couldn’t move because of blister-pain, my legs which were wet in icy water till upper thighs got froze and I was unable to feel any sensation in them for almost an hour. I failed to stand up, multiple times. Gosh! It was damn crazy. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 6- Bhojwasa to Gangotri<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This day was supposed to be our Bhojwasa to Tapovan trek, but, I decided to descend back for 2 reasons- my blisters and the cold. I was dying to be in warm weather.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I descended alone and lost my way in between, but luckily, I found my way back and reached Gangotri around 5pm.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was feeling blessed, I found a room and booked it. And for the next day, I decided to go back to Dehradun.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 7- Gangotri to Dehradun<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I checked for the available mode of transport and boarded a local bus to Uttarkashi and from there I took a shared cab till Dehradun. Pheww!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By 7pm, I was in Dehradun, and I was very happy. It was perfectly warm weather. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once again, I met my friend in Dehradun and since I had one extra day we celebrated my birthday in advance with another movie and lunch and dinner at an exotic place. And also, I stayed at her place for the extra day for which I never booked anything.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though I love all weathers, this trip made me realize I can’t bear the excess cold.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For my last day, that was 20<sup>th</sup> October, I had booked a nice place for myself and there I got a surprise upgrade so I had an amazing birthday celebration. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Overall, I loved my experience. There were certain bad elements I am not willing to talk about. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No, no, the blisters were not the bad part. They were for learning. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And yes, no more mountain trips this year. At least, for right now, I think so. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I love you. Take care of my people. Muuah. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Pictures from the trek-</i></b></span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-7123188571692585502018-10-29T09:55:00.003-06:002019-03-23T11:51:03.596-06:00I will Love You till Eternity!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I first heard this word 'Eternity' in the context of 'Love', I opened my big hard-cover dictionary to find out its meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At that time, the internet was not that popular and we had one common desktop at home. I am talking about 2006 and I was in my graduation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have grown up in a very different set-up. We lived in a small house, a big house in a joint family, celebrating all big-small festivals, birthdays and anniversaries together with homemade delicacies. Always close to my grandparents.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All I have seen and believed is families are meant to be together, during all thick and thin and love stays forever in good and bad times. Money is important for a living but life can be blissful even with less of it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have seen my grandpa and grandma growing old together with 75 years of togetherness. And for better or worse, I belong to the same school of thought in the era of temporary everything.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back during my MBA days, I remember writing a blog post on “How my biggest fear was getting married to a person I am not in Love with”, today my fears are even deeper.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few days back, I met a friend while traveling. She was the wife of my ex-colleague. I still remember the time I met them back in November 2010 and I precisely remember it because we visited Trade Fair together which happens in November every year. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I always thought they were meant to be, perfect for each other. It was a love marriage after 2 years of courtship. And I loved listening to their story, it was my favorite. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I met her recently, I was shocked to know they are separated. And for the most common reason, the guy cheated on her and asked for the divorce.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was heart-breaking for me and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t know how to express this but I am really scared. It's not the first and only story I know which ended like this.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People usually say I am brave because I travel solo and go on adventures, but, I believe solo travel is easy, real strength lies in surviving these relationship traumas. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s easy to travel in any corner of the world knowing that you have someone in your life with you, on whom you can blindly trust, but living in a devastating relationship is the most painful and brave thing ever.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am really feeling terrified for the past few days for I don’t know what all, maybe because of Venus Retrograde and Taurus moon or I don’t know why.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, please give me strength. I don’t have too many expectations but please help me in getting rid of the pain I am in. And take care of my people. Muuah.</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-68937664322257523862018-10-27T06:15:00.000-06:002019-03-23T11:43:32.138-06:00Bali.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5goNd806q8/W9RU6M9IZSI/AAAAAAAACYA/aG9cSqOBXccZV2O5J-sfhDEz3TR8U9rWQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180930_190522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5goNd806q8/W9RU6M9IZSI/AAAAAAAACYA/aG9cSqOBXccZV2O5J-sfhDEz3TR8U9rWQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180930_190522.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t know if I can ever do justice to this post, for love can never be expressed in words.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All my life I thought, I am a beach person, in fact, I was sure. Then one day after my Rupin trek, I realized I love mountains more than anything and there is no feeling compared to the feeling I have in the mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And eventually, unintentionally, one finely beautiful day, I fell in Love with Bali. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such a confused creature I am, no less than any Imtiaz Ali’s character. Unknowingly falling for something and one day coming to a conclusion, all my life I lived an illusion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hate being emotional. I think all the suffering I have in my life is because of this one trait. But, then, all the beautiful things I enjoy to the core are also because of this. Sometimes, I wonder if people feel even 1% of the way I feel, with even half of its intensity. I can sense every emotion in my blood and bones, to the core of my being. And I hate it. I think life is simple if you are emotionless.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All my life I just kept running away from everything that had a potential of giving me pain, and emotions were on the top of the list. I hate it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sorry, coming back to Bali.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">Bali was never my love at first sight. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On 22<sup>nd</sup> August’18, I landed in Bali at 10 pm and after standing in a long queue for immigration, luggage, currency and sim card when I finally managed to come out of the airport, I realized, my name placard was missing in the crowd of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Super tired, I called up my hotel to ask about the taxi status, on which they had some stupid reason to give and I had to wait for an hour more. After reaching my hotel at 1am, I instantly disliked the room and the rest of my night I spent online, looking for another place to stay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My first morning here, I realized my whole body was very badly shivering when I was still in a deep sleep; I managed to open my tired eyes and realized it was a deadly earthquake. Strongest that I have ever felt in my life, I rushed out of my room and thought of Lombok incidence that happened a few days ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyhow, I had a bad headache all this while and it was a super scary start of my trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I was thinking, why the hell I picked Bali for travel. Why in the whole wide world people come here for a honeymoon, why!? I was badly freaked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 2 in Bali, I changed my hotel and from that moment onward everything magically changed. My second hotel was a beautiful boutique resort a bit away from the main city in the outskirts of Ubud, surrounded by lush green rice fields. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enjoyed Ubud for 3 days before moving to North Bali where I had an interesting project to handle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">North Bali was a quiet, peaceful, serene and not-so-crowded place with virgin black volcanic sand beaches. No touristy crowd. Absolutely blissful. Perfectly my kinda place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved the sunrises, sunsets, morning evening walks, evenings in open cafes with live classic music, so much to talk about and I have no words to explain. Plus the place I stayed in was one of the best in Bali, sea facing sunrise villa in a beautiful green resort, it couldn’t have been any better for sure. Without a doubt, I lived a dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I lived there for 35 days before moving back to Ubud where I spent 10 more days before I moved back to India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And my India return was another story. My return was already booked with a 3-day long Singapore trip for my Birthday in-between. But as usual, plans are not for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">2<sup>nd</sup> Oct’18, after my Mount Batur climb, I was sitting on a mountain top looking at the beautiful sunrise in Bali. I sensed a strange craving within, I don't know why at that very moment I missed mountains very intensely. And in a fraction of a second, I was dying to go to the Himalayas. As if something was pulling me, a strange force.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I came back to my room and desperately checked all the possibilities available in near future, also, if my India return can be preponed, I could find 2 options but no Bali to Delhi ticket was available. I again checked next morning and found out one ticket option was available, booked it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I gave myself one day to unpack Bali and pack for my next adventure. Reached Delhi on 10th late evening and had my train booked for 12th early morning and had no clue how it will happen in-between. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And it happened. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was leaving Bali with tears in my eyes, but, I was looking forward to my mountain trip. Emotions are always complicated, defying all the logic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, thank you for everything, you know I love you. Give me strength and take care of my people. Muuah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-87691926965725217942018-08-04T02:11:00.000-06:002019-03-23T11:59:15.070-06:00In pursuit of Happiness!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_n6t3L7Gao8/W2VYX3AYWRI/AAAAAAAACWA/XjQXM5ymbcUhKVGnSSxRd9Tc-wmMPFSDACLcBGAs/s1600/happiness.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_n6t3L7Gao8/W2VYX3AYWRI/AAAAAAAACWA/XjQXM5ymbcUhKVGnSSxRd9Tc-wmMPFSDACLcBGAs/s640/happiness.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The year is in its second half and going through my own blog I realized I was absolutely lost all this while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">A wise man told me sometime back- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“If it happens as per your wish its good, but if it happens otherwise it’s for the best!”</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many things happened this year, unexpectedly good and unexpectedly not-so-good but I think those not-so-good happenings pushed me towards happy and good ones which otherwise were out of the question.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I genuinely believe <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">'you are exactly where you are supposed to be and what meant to be, always find it's way'.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I am the one who is too restless to accept the same most of the times even though it's imprinted on my subconscious mind. Ah, my yoga lingo. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happenings so far this year were somewhat like this, I'll start with the first one and moving on to another in the sequence they happened-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222;">January</span></u></b><span style="color: #222222;">-</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New Year Celebration</b>- I can't recall how I celebrated my new year but I am sure it was peaceful, nothing crazy. I was with my family, I got up happy, not sleepy nor sad. I was content on Jan 1st and visited the temple in evening. Blissful calm day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">2. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Karan Bellani</b>- The guy I met here on BlogSpot 9 years back and my oldest blogger buddy. He was the only guy who promised to be my friend till the end and he kept it. His unexpected death was a shock to me and it taught me a lot. I was unable to believe he is no more when I read it on FB and called him to check multiple times, one day his mom called me back looking at my missed calls in his call log to say “beta, Karan is no more”. He died of ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis</span>. I don't want to recall anything, I love escaping it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We met thrice in 9 years, so I convinced myself he is still there in Bombay living his life peacefully. But, Facebook! FB memories keep reminding me of him, the time I visited Bombay and he took days off from his schedule to show me around or when he visited Delhi and I took him to my favorite places. :(</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I still remember our walk on the roads of Bombay, at night, though we had a bike we preferred exploring roads on foot, we walked for almost 6 hours aimlessly trying roadside foods and exploring markets, we talked and talked and talked, but, I still wonder he never told me about his ALS! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rest in Peace, Karan. Bombay will never be the same for me without you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nag Tibba</b>-</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My 1st trip of 2018, I wanted it to be calm, snowy, starry and mountainy. So, I decided to go solo on a short trek near Dehradun known as Nag Tibba. It was a whole different story and a very different experience for me. For the first time I was traveling with all Delhiites (except one Bangalore guy). :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a very short 2-day trek and after day 1 of trekking, the group denied to get up at 5am next morning for the final summit. During our dinner time, in a group, they announced: “that's it, we are not going to get up early for trek tomorrow, it’s enough”. For the first time, I saw trek leader massaging legs and rubbing balm on female trekkers' knees. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The night was loud as they played loud music opened liquor bottles and started smoking. It was difficult for me to sleep, but, I managed. I was sure if no one else, at least the Bangalore guy is going for the Summit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got up in the morning and to my surprise, many more motivated themselves to drag till the Summit.:P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can never forget this experience. One good thing was I found a new friend from Bangalore with a thousand things to talk about, all nerdy and geeky. :P</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I promised myself not to go anywhere near Delhi for trekking in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222;">February</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #222222;">-</span></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calcutta trip- </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another trip to East, the good part about my office was these frequent trips but then they used to be so packed and hectic, I started realizing I no more love traveling. I wanted peace and recreational time. I mean, going to Calcutta and not getting even 10 mins for myself was crazy. Travel is always beautiful though but I need to soak into the beauty of the place which was missing. I reached Calcutta at 4pm for the event which was 7pm, all I could do was taking shower, getting ready for the evening, reaching to the venue, coming back to the luxurious hotel and sleep. Flying back to Delhi next morning! Rushing like crazy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One good thing was, I was able to finish a book during my in-flight time and skipped my dinner at the event venue to enjoy Bengali sweets at night in my hotel!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grandpa- </b>My grandpa was not keeping well for quite some time and this time it was worsening, every time I used to visit hospital I used to cry after coming back. I still remember that one evening when I went to the ICU with multiple beds and he was on the front bed and I looked at him and couldn’t believe it's him, I looked around to find him but it was him, so weak and pale and unable to move. I went closer and asked him if he could recognize me and he was unable to utter my name.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That was the moment I lost faith in the hospital, I remember he loved being at home no matter how unwell. I came out of ICU and spoke to the doctor and he said grandpa will not survive for many days and he needs to be on dialysis followed by a ventilator, I asked him what are the chances of improvement, on which doctor said survival chances are zero!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was furious and decided to take him back home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We arranged a surgical bed, male nurse and a private surgeon and had a big fight with hospital management during his discharge. Anyhow, my grandpa was happy and I could see him improving at home. He used to smile and talk to me though he was unable to eat through his mouth. He used to love home, everything here was picked by him even the designer sofa set and the curtains, I remember taking him to Kirti Nagar to select his favorite designs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was doing well but the surgeon said "he can go any moment". I denied to believe. He was improving and I was hopeful until one day he denied to talk to me. He slept for 1 complete day. And the next day He left us. :(</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was unable to believe it and why should I, he is still with me, around me. Reading it all, while I am writing it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222;">March</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #222222;">-</span></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Singapore trip</b>-</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My second office trip of the year, and although it was my first ever international trip I was not at all excited, I mean, travel used to be one thing I used to love the most and now it was also failing. After losing interest in my workout routine due to my work schedule, now, I was losing interest in travelling. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This trip was for senior management and I and my one more colleague were going as an exception, and even that exception failed to excite me. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I called my boss to say I am not willing to go and if they can cancel my booking, on which she said “you should go and bookings can't be cancelled”. As they say, what’s meant to be find its way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I landed in Singapore, it was all luxury trip for an Annual Strategy Meet, stay in 5 star hotel, brilliant buffets, dinners at the very best locations like Marina Bay Sands and The Altitude (the highest point in Singapore). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The time I enjoyed the most in Singapore was the day I landed in Singapore and decided to explore it myself by skipping my pre-booked dinner at again some 5 star fine dining property, the best part was my fone was not working.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After everyone left for the dinner, I left my hotel in the evening to roam around on the streets of Singapore. I decided to eat the local food and check out the local flea markets. So much I loved that evening, I bought local chocolates, ate local food and had the best time sitting on the street side looking at the new city, feeling the different air on my face and hair. But of course, I had to pay the price for this freedom, when my boss told me you are not a child, you are here on a work trip and are supposed to be on time and be with the group all the time. She was not very happy about my little adventure. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our routine used to be staying in the conference from 8am till 6pm, listening to the sales agendas and progress of last financial year, getting dressed up by 7pm and going to some luxurious pre-booked venue for dinner with the management.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One evening when I was sitting on the rooftop of “The Altitude”, listening to the live music and cherishing the view of the city lights from the top, I looked up at the sky and the stars. Talking to the stars, they asked me “Are you happy being here, this is so amazing?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I looked around once again, my boss, her boss and other bosses drinking and laughing and enjoying, it was a beautifully luxurious jail, with fine wine and cheese and the best of dresses people could wear and all those things most of the people dream of and would do anything for. And nothing was wrong with it. But...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, I could not relate to it, it was not my world. It was not for me. As strange as it may sound, I decided to go back to my hotel. The plan was to stay there by 2-3am but I left around 12.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved the overall feel of the city and I loved the luxury, who doesn’t, so I cherished my time in Singapore with the only wish of getting time for myself, it was just unfair to the place. What good is a big bath tub if I can’t take a long rejuvenating bubble bath.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our last day, I went for a small walk around and bought a few more things before leaving the city. Also, I promised the city to be back soon with all my time. :-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Realisation- </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After coming back from Singapore, I was subconsciously realising this was not what I wanted for myself. I cannot lose these simple joys in life for money. Along with it, there were many more things happening which were killing me within and I was unable to bear it. I needed a break.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222;">April</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #222222;">-</span></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contemplation- </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contemplation happens. And it happens on it’s own, when it’s supposed to be. I realised many things, I was happy but I was in pain. A strange pain I cannot define here. The same pain I was in, 9 years back. And once again history repeated itself. This time I had no friend so close to share with. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I needed time for myself..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Resignation- </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRJ9wMWtdMo/W2VbcqJ2VtI/AAAAAAAACW4/hUO7lJ-ncbM9Gtb3wlu7-qTHU4KR_ZuEgCLcBGAs/s1600/Goodbye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="401" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRJ9wMWtdMo/W2VbcqJ2VtI/AAAAAAAACW4/hUO7lJ-ncbM9Gtb3wlu7-qTHU4KR_ZuEgCLcBGAs/s640/Goodbye.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I needed a break and I took it. I left my job and decided to hibernate. And for the first time, I was not worried about what will happen in my future. This was what I needed exactly at that point of time. A break from my own self. And the future, I was not even thinking about it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nepal and Everest Base Camp- </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xD4bEDQsfPA/W2VbFjroWlI/AAAAAAAACWs/Hp_FtdnE8e474p2VwcYeRsuOwIGR4slsgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180430_124933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xD4bEDQsfPA/W2VbFjroWlI/AAAAAAAACWs/Hp_FtdnE8e474p2VwcYeRsuOwIGR4slsgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180430_124933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">April 17<sup>th</sup> was my last working day and on April 20<sup>th</sup>, I was in Nepal.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trip was more about Nepal for me and less about Everest Base Camp, and yes, Rupin Pass still tops the list of my favourite treks.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went for EBC with my brother, and we started our trek on 22<sup>nd</sup> April.. EBC was amazing in terms of views and the experience but it was overly commercialised and very crowded. It was nothing like a trek. It was more about crossing a valley to reach to another guest house sort of crowded place. I will any day prefer Himachal over Nepal for a trek in particular.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, I had another “Acute Mountain Sickness” and this time it was much severe than the last time, I felt I am surely going to die this time. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More than EBC it was Nepal that we enjoyed, amazing nightlife of Thamel, beautiful temples, streets of Pokhara and a round of Golf at Himalayan Golf course.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nepal was overall a brilliant experience; we experienced Lukla flight and Chopper ride which was once in a lifetime experience. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I might visit Nepal again for EBC via Gokyo lakes route, but, that’s a farfetched idea. I need to work on my fitness first. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, I guess it’s enough for now. I am not willing to talk about my next 3 month long hibernation in the mountains. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, you know what I’ll say. Thank you for everything. I love you. Take care of my people. Muaah. :*</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-84502195425245742862018-03-11T11:16:00.004-06:002019-03-23T12:01:47.747-06:00My Beloved Grandfather!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QcVh0pYKFw/WqVjtpVxYPI/AAAAAAAACTs/VzDuPBB6hBs0xv8_JMVuMRTjkAjyXLORgCLcBGAs/s1600/death-grandfather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1600" height="379" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QcVh0pYKFw/WqVjtpVxYPI/AAAAAAAACTs/VzDuPBB6hBs0xv8_JMVuMRTjkAjyXLORgCLcBGAs/s640/death-grandfather.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4.15 pm, 27th February 2018, I lost my beloved grandfather. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That very moment when I was standing next to his bed, my hands cupping his cold pale face and my ears craving to hear his voice, my words finding difficulty to come out and my throat choked.. I regretted every moment when He was there with me and I couldn't spend enough time with him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why we realize these things after losing our favorite people!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was his son. He was always very proud of me. I often heard him talking to people "my granddaughter had done this", "my granddaughter bought this", "I'll ask my granddaughter", "my granddaughter" used to be his favorite. I was his favorite.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His small small wishes and demands which He only used to tell me, who will ask me now where am I going to travel next, after my every trip who will now ask "t<i>u ne photos bhi nahi dikhayi", "kaisa tha trip", "kaisa mausam tha"...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His child-like wishes which I used to love fulfilling, how can I ever get over his words. Every time He used to crave for something special to eat I used to be the first one know. For whom I'll buy chocolates now, his favorite pastries and cookies. I remember the last thing he asked for when He could eat was his favorite cookies, which He was hardly able to eat.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every time we used to go out for family celebrations He used to sit next to me, at times even switching seats with whosoever sitting next to me saying "<i>gudiya achha khana order karti hai, main iske sath hi baithunga"</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every time I used to leave home, He used to be there sitting in the balcony, always used to call my name and when I used to look back He used to say "<i>kab ayegi mujhse baat karne", "aaiyo free hoke", "kaisi hai</i>"... Who will call me now! :(</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whenever I used to sit with him, He used to tell me his stories, his work-life, how He started his business along with the job, his travel stories, his favorite food, his life during the time of British-rule. I have heard his stories multiple times and I always used to love listening to them. His favorite one was his Mauritius travel story. I visualized that era through his eyes. I lived it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I didn't realize He left me so suddenly and since then, I avoided looking at his pictures and stuff for 11 days. I convinced myself thinking he is alive somewhere just away from this place and I'll meet him soon. I love running from situations I can't face. Coward me. Fake me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The worst ever.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today was his prayer ceremony and I was the one arranging things, I saw his framed photograph and couldn't control my tears. I so wish to talk to him and say sorry for not being able to spend enough time with him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope I'll be fine, I'll again convince myself He is there somewhere with me, till then let the tears flow and let my heart grieve. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, take good care of my Grandpa, He is with You now. And I am jealous of You today.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For you Grandpa-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Look at the stars<br />Look how they shine for you<br />And everything you do<br />Yeah, they were all yellow!</i></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Grandpa, wherever you are, I want to say SORRY for not being able to spend more time with you. I hate myself. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rest In Peace.</span></b></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-67063062107432151282017-12-30T23:55:00.000-07:002019-03-23T12:05:28.156-06:00Snowy Christmas- Kedarkantha! :-)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SKy27PKcBuQ/Wkh_vs_10KI/AAAAAAAACRc/5a8_auH2awA40L7TSojvyKqqz-8JS1mEwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20171227_090316858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SKy27PKcBuQ/Wkh_vs_10KI/AAAAAAAACRc/5a8_auH2awA40L7TSojvyKqqz-8JS1mEwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20171227_090316858.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am a girl who believes in Santa Claus and God never misses any chance to keep my belief intact. And this time, I celebrated Christmas in the mountains at Kedarkantha trek.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was my dream to celebrate snow covered white Christmas like they used to show in classic Christmas and Disney movies which as a kid I used to watch every year with great excitement. :-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year I finally celebrated my snowy dreamlike Christmas. This was very special to me because of 3 things, firstly, it was in snow clad mountains, for which I was longing for last 6 months; secondly, it was a beautiful trek and thirdly, the amazing people I met during my trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My year couldn’t have ended any better and this trip made my fantastic 2017 even more beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kedarkantha was a 6-day long trek (2 days for to & fro from Sankri base camp) and it was an unplanned solo trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Trek in brief-</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Maximum Altitude- 12500 ft</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Grade- Very Easy</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Trek distance- Approx. 20 km in 4 days</span></b><span style="color: #20124d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The journey started from Dehradun, so, I reached a day in advance and decided to sleep. :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 1- Dehradun to Sankri, Nostalgic Morning<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next morning we all assembled at Dehradun railway station, and all this while I was terribly missing my Rupin Pass trip. Rupin was something which words can never define and I was feeling very emotional.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the railway station, I met 5 more people traveling for the same trek from Bombay and we shared a cab till base camp and from that moment we formed an instant connection. All the way we were talking, laughing and clicking pictures, it was almost an 8-hour long journey which never felt this long.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We reached Sankri and decided to celebrate Christmas Eve, we 6 went to the local market searching for Plum cake and we couldn’t find any cake, to begin with, mutually we decided to celebrate our eve with Hot Chocolate at night after dinner. We bought a big packet of hot chocolate and milk powder and we were all super excited. Yayyy! :D<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After dinner, we talked and talked till the time we were super sleepy, and decided to push back our Hot Chocolate celebration post trek. :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 2- Juda Ka talab (4 km walk, 9100 ft)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Technically, this was our first day of the trek. We started walking around 9.30am, it was a very short and sweet walk of 4 km. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leisurely we walked, clicked pictures, listened to the music, ate Maggi on the way and reached our first campsite “Juda ka Talab” by 12.30pm despite taking 4-5 decent breaks. :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This place was dead cold, the campsite was near a frozen lake as the name says "Juda Ka Talab".<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a Christmas day, my coldest Christmas ever. The temperature was around -6 degrees in the night but it felt like -20 degrees because of the cold air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I slipped inside my sleeping bag around 6pm, I was helplessly dying of cold even after wearing so many layers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Skipped my dinner, dessert, and everything just to realize I was unable to sleep because of the weather and had to anyway get up for the loo at night. :(</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A terribly cold night it was and somehow I was scared of it, that frozen lake looked haunted at midnight :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I somehow managed to pass that night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 3- Juda ka talab to Kedarkantha Base Camp (4 km, 11250 ft)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The morning was much better, as it always is! :)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We again clicked pictures with the Frozen lake, talked, had breakfast and left for the next campsite around 9.30am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Easy day again, we reached our base camp in a short while and had a long day to chill. It was a beautifully sunny day in the snow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We played cards and I learned to play <b>‘bluff’</b> while waiting for our lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After finishing our delicious meal, we decided to go for a walk and play on the snow. So we 7-8 people roamed around and looked for big snow covered ground where we played cricket, catch-the-snowball, snow fight and many other games on the snow, again clicked pictures and had a great time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We realized it was already 4.30pm and was time for our acclimatization walk. We walked back to our camps and after a short briefing session and tea break, we left for our acclimatization walk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By 6pm we were back, had soup and chit-chatted while we waited for dinner. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Post dinner, we all were looking at the stars standing in a circle. What a beautiful night sky!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a while, one of our trek guides reminded us that we have to get up at 2.30 am for Summit and we should sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We all slept around 10.30-11pm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 4- Summit Day & Back to Hargaon Campsite (6 km, 12500ft)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I took this responsibility of waking everyone up at 2.30am, but somehow I was too lazy this time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe I was self-assured that it’s an easy trek and I will manage :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All this while I ate a lot, ate Maggi, skipped morning stretches and most importantly, I got up at 3am instead of 2 on Summit day :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyhow, I ensured everyone was up and we were all ready by 4.30 am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was our best day of the trip, we started our climb in -3 degrees at 4.30am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As our trek leader ordered, I was supposed to walk in the end of the queue and for the first time, I didn’t feel bad about it because that’s how a “Wolf Pack” walks. Strongest ones in the end!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me along with my “<b>groupmates</b>”, yes, it was a group now, walked in the end. Clicking pictures, drinking our favorite “<b>Magic drink</b>” ;-), taking long breaks and having the time of our lives! :))<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even on our summit day, our group took long breaks, cherished the most beautiful sunrise and together we reached on the peak-top by 9am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All this while, we were laughing, talking and having fun. While coming back, we took Maggi break, slid on the snow, played on the snow and in a very slow pace we walked enjoying it thoroughly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We reached base camp at 2pm, had lunch and proceeded to our campsite of the day “<b>Hargaon Campsite</b>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a crazy fun day, none of us was tired. We were laughing and chilling as if Summit was a cake walk! :))<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And while walking we planned our post trek celebration!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We reached our last campsite around 4.30pm and had yummy “<i><b>Samosas</b></i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Post that we were busy planning our party and celebrations, next day was supposed to be our stay in Sankri after final descend and post that our drive to Dehradun (a day after), but we decided to proceed to Rishikesh directly on our ‘day 5’ for River Rafting instead of staying at Sankri to save our one day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This evening was amazing, we talked till 11pm and though we all were dead sleepy because of the Summit day, we refused to sleep till the time our trek guide came to remind us we were disturbing other people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What an amazing sleep I had this night. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 5- Final descend to Sankri and Rishikesh travel<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As usual, I was up by 5.30 am, in dead cold and dark morning. I came out of my camp stared the starry night sky for the last time, brushed my teeth and realized there was a bonfire at a short distance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were not allowed to lit fire around campsites, so I was curious to know what is it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I walked closer to the fire to realize it was local people from some other trek group and since they were localites they had permissions to break the rules. I asked if I could join them, and they merrily welcomed me. :)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We talked, they shared stories of Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, Chopta and their village life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had my coffee with them, they arranged hot water and as usual, I had a coffee packet in my pocket :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We talked till sunrise, and I saw my group waking up. I took permission to leave. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I joined my people, we planned our day ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After breakfast, we started our descent which was a short 6km walk and we covered it quickly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reaching the guest house, I quickly took a cold shower and was all set to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left for Rishikesh post lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way, we had dinner in Mussoorie and reached Rishikesh by 12.30am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 6- The Closure- River Rafting in Winters<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have no words to explain what a warm and cozy sleep I had on a bed with a quilt. :))</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the morning, someone woke me up by banging on the door and I realized it was 8.30am and we had to leave for rafting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was my 4<sup>th</sup> time with rafting and first time rafting in winters. I enjoyed it while I was dying of cold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After rafting, we came back to our hotel and quickly packed our stuff to leave. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had our last lunch meal together at the famous “<b>Chotiwala</b>” and from there we parted ways for our respective destinations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I booked my train from Haridwar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a nostalgic moment and felt like I am bidding adieu to my very close people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the train, I was looking at the pictures we clicked and was missing it badly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was back home in Delhi by 11.45pm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Kedarkantha trek was brilliant and one of my best trips. This was my gift from Santa Claus and I am really grateful for it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And while writing I just realized we completely forgot about our "Hot Chocolate" Plan! :))</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I love you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for making this year so special, thank you for Rupin and Kedarkantha and Goa and Siliguri and everything I experienced this year. I love you.. Muaah :)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please take care of my people! :-)</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>All these pictures above except the first one of the post are clicked and contributed by my trek group members. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This time I clicked very few pictures, some are as follows-</b></span></span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-10318683966079765202017-12-05T06:47:00.002-07:002017-12-05T07:00:05.529-07:00Serendipitous Siliguri!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The moment I landed in Bagdogra, the first thought that crossed my mind was</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Someday, I'll come here for my trek"</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Siliguri for work was never on my mind to begin with!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gosh, so much I love new places.. I find myself smiling every time I travel, most of the time, throughout, without any reason and it comes naturally! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I try to control it every time I find a curve on my lips, crazy happy kid! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My journey began with very weird incidences an evening before my travel, long long story which I would not like to discuss. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I landed in Siliguri on Thursday afternoon, in a super hot weather, coming from Delhi, I was wearing a sweater and a jacket and since, a friend told me it's cold in Siliguri, I was carrying a leather jacket too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Definition of cold for someone living in Delhi and in love with snow is a bit different. I landed here and was all in sweat instantly, like I was in Chennai.. Ah, my Chennai Love! :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soon after check-in, I left for work, my work here was to be a part of an event organized by my company, and just to tell you it was a 'food festival' and people in East are crazy about food. And I was traveling alone from our North office.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This place felt so much like Calcutta but without yellow taxis and <i>Rosogullas,</i> the day ends here by 5pm, you can see dark night sky and bright moon by 5pm.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a feeling like what you feel between Delhi and Chandigarh, Chandigarh is organized though. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I met people from my Calcutta team here, luckily, the guy I met on day 1 was a half Delhiite, he lived in Gurgaon for almost 12 years, so we had quite a lot to talk about. From Rice Liquor in Gurgaon to Korean Coffee to the most happening places and the life, THE LIFE IN GURGAON! Crazy! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, who knows about life in Gurgaon better than me. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On day 1, I tried the famous <i>Singada </i>which is known as <i>Samosa, </i>and <i>Puchka, </i>our very own <i>Golgappa </i>in Delhi.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On coming back to our hotel, we tried local food for dinner, another different thing here was, everything you eat is made of refined flour, no wheat flour.. forget instant breads, even <i>rotis, parathas, pooris </i>were made of refined flour. Not trying to act pricey, ate whatever I got quietly. In Delhi, I avoid brown breads too, here I was eating white chapatis! And was loving it, thoroughly! :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next day, more people joined us from Calcutta and the group was now a big one. Too many people, too much to listen to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One more thing I have noticed in Calcutta people is, they are too possessive about their city.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was having breakfast with someone from the city, must be in his 50s, during a general discussion, I was telling him how similar I find Siliguri and Calcutta, on which he argued as if I said something very disrespectful. I mean, It's my experience and observation, indeed no two cities are same but they tend to resemble. He defended Calcutta by saying there is no other place like Calcutta in India. Ah! Right! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like Calcutta, It's slow, calm and relaxed like no other metropolitan. Best of both worlds, life in metro with a peace of small town, absolutely chilled out!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But then I love Bombay, so amazingly fast and happening and safe and what not! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was writing about Siliguri and I am roaming in India. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I seriously feel my Siliguri trip was Serendipity, I never expected it, nor looking for it but I am really happy it happened. :-) :-)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I enjoyed every bit of it with work, though, it was very hectic but I really cherished it all this while.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">December is here and my history of Decembers is crazy, already started with a super exciting and mad one. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the way, I finished few more books and already halfway through my next one, which makes it 8 in November and since my December is here let's see how many more I'll be able to finish! :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me December is Devil's month, all my demons are highly active, creating mess in my head and life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I love you. Please take care of my people and please please help me sailing through December! :* :*</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P.S.- Belated Happy Birthday Pearl :)</span></i></b></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-80828753252961442682017-11-05T01:03:00.000-06:002017-11-22T20:50:56.740-07:00In my Head!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Strange things are happening!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I finished my 3rd book this morning. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today, I got up at <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0">6am</span>, without any effort. Prepared my coffee and started reading. In between, prepared my breakfast, ate and continued with my book.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Weird thing is, every time I pick a book it somehow answers the question I have in the back of my mind or something I am thinking about at that very moment. Or may be we all know what we need to know, sometimes we need an external influence to realise what's inside our mind.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like, few days back, before I thought of going back to my resolution of reading, I strongly felt I need a psychiatrist. I was unable to cope up with my head and I was strongly in need of help. At least that's what I felt. For me it's very difficult to talk to people, sometimes I hate being an introvert. And now a days, every Tom Dick and Harry is writing articles about mental health and blah blah. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One strong reason was my messed up state of mind and other one was coming across these stupid posts on social media every now and then. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyhow, in my opinion, restricting social media usage is somewhat peaceful!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last Sunday evening, I saw a book store and randomly picked these books and decided to get back to reading. I casually decided to begin with "<i><b>Veronica Decides to Die</b></i>" by <i><b>Paulo Coelho</b></i>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To my surprise, that book one by one when talked about madness, I found my answers for which I was seeking help and was feeling restless. I realized I no more need a psychiatrist and it's okay to be in a state where I am right now. Not everyone can feel with the same intensity.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The book left me wondering what just happened and I somehow ended up liking it, for how it answered my random questions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The similar thing happened after finishing "<b><i>The Alchemist</i></b>" by <i><b>Paulo Coelho</b></i><b> </b>too, it answered questions which were not even there in the first place. As if its some kind of Magic!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was surprised for what it had done to my head.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the book (<b><i>Veronica</i></b>..) was over, I was lost in my thoughts and I wished I could live a peaceful life in a small town and wrote on my blog about my craving for that slow life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Right after <b><i>Veronica</i></b>.... I picked "<b><i>The Choice</i></b>" by <i><b>Nicholas Spark</b></i>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again, a wonderful thing happened, the story somehow left me feeling different. It was absolutely everything I would love to live. Slow peaceful adventurous life! As if someone gave beautiful words to my imagination. Except for the sadness in later part of the book I loved it thoroughly. It left me feeling happy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In between all this, I was thinking, now a days I remember all my dreams and lately I have experienced similar dream twice! And somehow these dreams are leaving a strange impact on me. The end meaning is always similar!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0">Anyway, Friday</span> night, I started reading my 3rd book which was "<b><i>Sputnik Sweetheart</i></b>" by <i><b>Haruki Murakami</b></i>. I found it dark and deep, not particularly a happy book to read. It was different experience though. Living through those dark thoughts and gloomy emotions!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't know why my brain is shouting out so loud. I have just finished <b><i>Sputnik...</i></b>, and I am still under it's effect. I might take few days to come out of it. Though I'll start my 4th one <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0">tonight</span>. Hopefully!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0">This Sunday</span> is going to be a busy one, winter is here and I have to look for my woolens, wash my summer wear and pack them back.. and few more chores to catch up with.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let's see how it will turn out to be.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't really know what I just jotted down, cleared my head though. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hope to be here soon. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dear God, thanks for everything.</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-33574275888801411312017-11-03T11:23:00.001-06:002017-11-03T21:16:13.858-06:00Happy Endings! :-)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How far should you go in the name of love?</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Woohoo :) :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I finished my second book, <i>The Choice </i>by <i>Nicholas Spark</i>! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I totally loved this one for so many reasons, one of which is I loved the story. My love for love stories made it easier for me to fall for another one, yet again. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Story began beautifully, everything absolutely perfect. The kind of life I would love to have, slow and steady in a small and peaceful town. Life full of calm, excitement, happiness, adventure, friendship and most importantly love! Love so unexpected and spontaneous!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know I am filmy and dramatic, but, I can't stop feeling happy, I started reading this one on this Wednesday evening and since then I was living in awe of it. The story was generic though, may be I was swayed away by the way it was written.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I skipped my walk for it, read it while I traveled for my meetings, waiting for client, sipping my coffee and when I was not reading it I found myself smiling thinking about it. Crazy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And all this was when I am not even a book-nerd. Though reading is one habit I would sincerely like to cultivate. Something, I admire in people.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But honestly, I am more like looking at the moon, listening to music while I leisurely stroll in the evening kind of person. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I was reading this book, I was so anxious about what will happen next with every page I was turning. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a perfectly simple story, and I visualized every situation in my head and I lived through it, experienced it. Ah, it was brilliant. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Though with every complexity increasing in the end I was wishing for a happy ending with tears in my eyes. I am sure had it been a sad ending it would have affected me, somewhat seriously. Like, I remember watching a Disney movie lately which messed up my head for almost a week and I was unable to get over it, it killed something in me and getting over it was not easy, the name of the movie was "<i><b>Bridge to Terabithia</b></i>", it left me in tears and I cried through the night.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So much I hate tragic endings, no words can explain!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I somehow crave for things to turn better in every story I read or watch, as if its my innate need to see everything turning alright. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyhow, I am going to start with my next one, Yayy :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I love you, please take care of my people. Muuuuaah :* :*</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-65847723876267982152017-11-01T07:58:00.000-06:002017-11-01T07:58:44.284-06:00Books & Me!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Reading a good book is like living in awe of it till the time it's over, </i></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>and then, thinking about it for few days with a heavy heart.</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My only resolution of 2017 was reading 25 pages every night before going to sleep and as usual I successfully failed at it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a decent history of failing at keeping my resolutions and somehow, I have accepted it. But anyhow I still try! Stubborn me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recent <span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aBn"><span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aQJ">Sunday</span></span>, I decided to revive my resolution and read at least few books in this year, though, I have finished 3 <span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aBn"><span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aQJ">in 9 months</span></span>, <span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aBn"><span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aQJ">on Sunday</span></span>, I bought 5 books and decided to give it a serious try to finish them by this Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first one I started was '<b><i>Veronica decides to die</i></b>' by <b><i>Paulo Coelho</i></b> which I finished <span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aBn"><span class="m_2780880335108991345gmail-aQJ">in 2 days</span></span>, I intentionally started with the thinnest one to regain my faith that I can do it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it gave me an assurance that I can think of finishing 4 more in the decided timeline.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I somehow believe deactivating my social accounts is proving to be fruitful. (No, I can't do things in moderation, if want to reduce something, I need an absolute cut-off). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lately, I have started carrying my book with me, to meetings, to office and try to read whenever I get a chance, whether I am waiting for a meeting or in my minuscule free time when no one is around, which I find crazily exciting. Much better than scrolling Facebook or Instagram in my free time. And strange thing is I wait to open it and read few pages every time I get a chance. It rules my head all the time and I think about it when I am not reading it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Veronica decides to die" was a good read, I didn't expect anything from it though, but still, it was better than what I thought. With every story I read, about every character, I was reassured I am Mad :P </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though, the addiction thing always happens whenever I start reading a book, but, this time it was more intense. I used to look forward to get a chance to grab it and read. This usually never happens. This time it replaced my morning-evening's YouTube hour, occupied my coffee time, I reduced time I dedicated to other important things. And I loved it. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am feeling good, and now, I am going to start another one. Yayy :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, I love you, please take care of my people. No! I don't want anything. Muuaah</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-42818354894399524232017-10-27T23:29:00.000-06:002017-10-31T05:45:16.160-06:00Slow Life.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvq_ppTSYjs/WfQSOuzPsfI/AAAAAAAACOo/ubGo7Crb3QQ0Y32oe31ipXzNMkuCj29pgCLcBGAs/s1600/safe_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="470" height="332" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvq_ppTSYjs/WfQSOuzPsfI/AAAAAAAACOo/ubGo7Crb3QQ0Y32oe31ipXzNMkuCj29pgCLcBGAs/s640/safe_image.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I want a slow Life in a small town!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So much changes with time, at one point of time, all I wanted was a successful career, money, luxury, comfort, of course, along with my people. Ten years back, my dreams were different from what they are today. My dream house used to be a lavish one in a metro city with every comfort inside and even the comforts were different from what they are now. And, I have always believed I will earn it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And today, the only thing similar from my previous dream is my people, everything else changed. I no more want a huge amount of money or a super career or a luxurious lifestyle or a very big house in a crowded city. All I need is a peace of mind, a slow life in a small city, peaceful evenings with my loved ones and good food on the table. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am back to square one, where, I again want a small house on the green hills with a small river flowing around, with everything I need to survive, clean air, clean water, clean food and a fireplace to keep me warm in winters. Less noise, more smiles and no mobiles.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I crave for stress free weekends at home, sipping my coffee in peace, reading a book, cooking in my free time for my people. Sleeping till late, playing a sport, listening to old music, doing something creative with calmness around. Travelling often.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A place away from maddening crowd. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't want a social life where I have 500 friends on Facebook, 300 followers on Instagram and hollowness inside. Wishing festivals to hundreds of people on WhatsApp and not feeling anything! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I want to be with few people I truly care about.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aah I was watching '<b>DDLJ</b>' the other day, what a life it was without mobile phones, when everything was real. Emotions were real, people used to make effort to meet, talk and see each other. So complicated yet so sorted!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Irony is, by default I belong to that Era, I have seen that life and I can compare it. And I know I can't go back there, even when I know it was so much better.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mobile phones with internet are a curse, I feel I am never free. I am always followed, entangled in chains everywhere. On every damn social media if you are online, you are visible to everybody and you are bound to reply. I hate being rude and ignorant and I don't want to be there. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes, I really wish to run away from it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I won't ask for anything from you! Just take care of my people. And I Love You.</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-10919479894703880952017-10-24T08:04:00.000-06:002017-10-24T09:31:01.418-06:00Just Another Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fq_5mtRdyYA/We9GCWmpm_I/AAAAAAAACOM/zAPFfaIuCc8VD-d8dyyjSzhOau80WZwjACLcBGAs/s1600/the_alchemist__10___cleaning_crystals_by_blu3berrystar-d7ndutk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fq_5mtRdyYA/We9GCWmpm_I/AAAAAAAACOM/zAPFfaIuCc8VD-d8dyyjSzhOau80WZwjACLcBGAs/s640/the_alchemist__10___cleaning_crystals_by_blu3berrystar-d7ndutk.jpg" width="472" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I need a dragon to commute in Delhi! (Those who love game of thrones will understand)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't remember writing about my day in last 3 years. Wow!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Advantages of driving a big car is you don't feel like driving it most of the time. You think of distance, traffic and the most important thing parking hassles. And then comes in mind the famous-accessible-convenient Delhi metro and if you are going back during traffic time, Ola play saves your day! ;-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today was a good day. I love days when my brain is busy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had a meeting in a far away land. Of course! 40 kms one way is far away. I thought of driving first, but then I thought let's explore new metro routes. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From my Delhi office this metro station was 1.5 km walk on Google map. I decided to walk, festive gave me so many reasons to walk more. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Such a college kid feeling it was. I was all ready like I used to be for college, flat sneakers, loose shirt, skinny denims. Woohoo and the adventure started! :-D</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Carrying my laptop backpack, I left office. Walked, boarded metro and slept for good 30 mins. Yes, I can sleep anywhere, anytime! :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then a long walk till client's office. It was a good meeting.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had my next meeting in the other corner of Delhi. I left for my office and it was 1 pm already... Ran towards office, ate my food, recharged myself with caffeine and left for the second meeting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This time again I preferred public transport, so convenient it is plus I was thinking I can shed down some festive weight this way :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After my meeting, I took Ola and enjoyed some good Ola play music. Such a relief.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes I feel, I am living Santiago's life from 'The Alchemist', I saw a dream, decoded it and somehow lost. My current phase seems like the one where he was working with the Crystal Merchant, clueless about anything else in life. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My life is adventurous. Some days, I live main protagonist's life from Imtiaz Ali's movie and most of the time I am a Disney princess, talking about having courage and being kind!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Life is good. Life is busy. But I really miss my workout routine and other important things I am missing on to. Whatever it is. Let it be. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God, If this was what You planned, So be it! </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't want anything from you. Nothing. Absolutely Nothing! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just take care of my people. </span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-58862451174421327512017-10-02T08:27:00.000-06:002017-10-09T04:58:42.384-06:00I am Blessed! :-)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am not Lucky, I am Blessed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have always believed I am God's favorite child and He loves me the most. :-)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been through some real tough phases in life where I was almost sure I won't survive, but, not only I survived, I emerged stronger than ever before.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We keep finding these articles written everywhere talking about "supreme power"; "whatever happens, happens for our good"; "there is a light after dark" and so on, but I have practically experienced all this in my life in different phases.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have so many practical examples of situations where I craved for something, badly wanted it, but God allowed me to cry, scream and shout but kept it away from me, and he always made me realize later how good it was for me and I was being saved from big disasters. At times, I had some serious fights with God but He always replied back.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They say "<b>Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck</b>", and I absolutely believe in this. And not because I read it or heard it, I have experienced it in most crucial situations of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have faced series of rejections in situations where I was sure to succeed, but there also God was saving me for something very good which obviously I couldn't see.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We humans can't see the future and I specifically get really restless at times. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am headstrong and I crave for things very badly, my intensities are very different from normal people and that's one reason I try to keep myself away from basic addictions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being strong headed is not only a blessing, its a curse as well. It makes you a difficult human being. If it gives you power to get over what you want, it also makes you equally weak. Strong head makes you prone to addictions and you want what you want, it makes you stubborn, your head rules you and makes you really miserable. Ah not getting into it. May be someday I'll write on pros and cons of being headstrong. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everyone is blessed with certain strengths and weaknesses. My biggest weakness is I am not expressive and I suffer a lot because of this one trait in every sphere of life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am deviating from my topic!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was about my gratitude towards all good things happening in my life, and for God for loving me so much.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe in miracles and have witnessed them in most unexpected situations. And yes, I am waiting for one</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know God you are protecting me from all the bad in life. I feel really lucky at times, though I get depressed when I don't get what I want. You know that I am your little kid who wants everything. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God, I know I bother you a lot by asking too many questions, emotionally blackmailing you, crying and fighting, but I know, you know the best for me and you'll take care of everything in my life. Please give me patience to handle things and take care of my people.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love you, muaah :-))</span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-59942593119286782572017-09-14T04:41:00.000-06:002017-09-14T07:53:37.422-06:00Crazy Goa Story!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GN15EOECio/WbpWMpIZvRI/AAAAAAAACMY/HUkDCEnN26Y1_-CtJFhfZFOtiLxCuLFwwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170910_092305657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GN15EOECio/WbpWMpIZvRI/AAAAAAAACMY/HUkDCEnN26Y1_-CtJFhfZFOtiLxCuLFwwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20170910_092305657.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before starting the post I would like to tell you something, I would never recommend solo travel to anyone, for it spoils you to the core and gives you such a Godly feeling you'll crave for it every now and then. And it's highly addictive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's not that I don't want to travel with people, I am selective and I have always met some amazing people during my journeys. I have my specific people I would love to travel with. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Goa was always beautiful just that I felt it for the first time. Love at first sight is for real but Goa was my love at third sight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It all began a few days back, I was craving to travel and was unable to find any good trek. So, instead of compromising with any trek, I decided to pick Goa. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I booked my hotel and flights online and was all set to leave. I booked a decent property with a private beach and other good amenities, so, I didn't bother much to go into the details of location, for I thought its Goa how remote it can be.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 1- Fisherman's Wharf!</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day came, I landed in Goa in evening and checked the location of my hotel. First surprise was Ola or Uber doesn't operate in Goa and second was my hotel, which was 2 hours away from the airport :P </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was all excited, super fun it was going to be. All thanks to my Goan friend, I managed to reach my hotel at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_480076746" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11.30pm</span></span> and on his recommendation, we tried a brilliant place for dinner on the way, a place called Fisherman's Wharf, which was absolutely amazing. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't know from where to begin, from the food to the dessert everything was mind-blowing and a special mention for the music. It was my favorite English classics playing live. Songs that literally gave me goosebumps and I was back in time. The one I can recall was 'I just called to say I love you' by Stevie Wonder. Crazily amazing. My evening couldn't have been any better. :D</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After check-in at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_480076747" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11.30pm</span></span> it was a very long walk till my big mansion like room which was quite scary and too big for a li'l girl like me :P </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was scared to switch off the lights, but I gathered my courage and slept with an idea on my mind.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 2- Goan Bus Journey!</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Got up late, skipped my sunrise. Roamed around for 30 minutes looking for my breakfast buffet. On the way I saw Golf course and a way to beach, it was <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_480076748" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10am</span></span> already and my breakfast was till <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_480076749" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10.30am</span></span> but I couldn't resist the temptation of checking out the beach. I ran towards it. Went near the water, sat there for 5 mins then rushed for breakfast. Quickly ate everything I could, followed by yummy desserts and rushed with my coffee to the beach. :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aah, I loved my first coffee at the beach! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day had just began. I walked till the shoreline on the beach, sat there for quite sometime. It was a beautiful empty beach. Suddenly, I recalled I am on a marooned beach, 2 hours away from the main city and decided to do something about it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I called up my online travel portal asking for booking cancellation for next few days for which they told me talk to the hotel reservations and all, finally, I successfully cancelled it and paid almost 70% of booking amount for just 1 day. Anyway, I was free now but the challenge was to move out of that place. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got ready, and at the reception I asked reception people how I can commute from there for which they told me I can hire a taxi paying exorbitant amount of money. Pheww!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Luckily, there was one guy at reception counter from Delhi, he asked me to sit for 2 mins, he helped me on how I can move from there easily without spending so much. We talked for some time and I gathered some info about Goa. From his hometown to Delhi to his hotel management to his Goan job and life at this isolated hotel to his conservative family and his happening Goa life, he had a good story to share. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I finally, left the hotel and reached Goa in a local bus. The drive was beautifully amazing. On the way, I booked another hotel in North Goa. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way to my next hotel I tried local Goan street food and visited Dona Paula which is a famous tourist spot there. In evening, I had my dinner at a famous shack named as Bottle bay at Baga beach. Quite a day it was and I absolutely loved every bit of it! :)</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 3- Casino Day!</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, this was a day in my new hotel, I got up late and ate my lavish breakfast in huge crowded buffet at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_480076750" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10am</span></span>. I believe people wait for 10-10.30 when it's about to get over. Anyhow, I managed to eat my food well. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Post that I came to my room and decided to go out and explore the city, but I realised I have already explored this area last year. So, my mind convinced my heart and they both decided to sleep and chill. In evening around 4 I decided to go out and visit Sinquerim beach and post that I visited casino.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I visited casino with a friend of mine who is settled in Goa, so things were easier for me. I had someone who explained all the games to me and we even won most of the times. We recovered everything we spent for entry and earned some more. Yayy! It was a happy evening.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved the feel of it overall.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 4- The Art of Chilling!</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got up at 8am and slept at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_480076752" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">12 midnight</span></span>. Rest, I can't recall much. Time truly flies. :P</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 5- Home Sweet Home!</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My last day, I was as usual feeling Goa with more intensity as I was leaving. And by <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_480076753" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5.30pm</span></span> I was back home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, along with a brilliant experience this trip was about certain realizations. I have realized that I am a mountain-person. It's not that I enjoyed beaches less. I loved it too and was super happy all this while but, I belong to the mountains.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rupin spoilt every atom of my being and after coming back from beaches I am craving for mountains with much higher intensity. Its an unbearable longing.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right now I am terribly missing these 5 things-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Night sky full of stars</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Silence of mountains</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Dead cold</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Softness and purity of snow</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>A feeling of being home!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aah! I am crazy. I was always a beach person but this change happened unknowingly without any realization and I am craving for mountains now more than ever!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I love you. And, I know you'll handle things well in my life. Please give me patience and take care of my people. Muuaah :*</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Goa clicks (camera- Moto X play)-</span></b></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-82326491373856141522017-07-29T10:40:00.000-06:002017-07-30T01:31:38.986-06:00Rupin Pass- Everything Beautiful!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oLvODTbf7AE/WXy1JtCghhI/AAAAAAAACKQ/YsGQ8BZcGuI5BE54wh_kgE2GQ5P7phrRwCLcBGAs/s1600/19748844_10154784090322686_8900203798394589771_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="960" height="378" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oLvODTbf7AE/WXy1JtCghhI/AAAAAAAACKQ/YsGQ8BZcGuI5BE54wh_kgE2GQ5P7phrRwCLcBGAs/s640/19748844_10154784090322686_8900203798394589771_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"Give your heart to the Mountains,</b></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>
<span style="background: white;">For they'll never Break it,</span><br />
</b></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><b>For they'll keep it Safe”</b></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></i>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have always
believed I am more of a beach person and never had any doubt about it till the
time I visited Rupin pass.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s been more
than a month since I am back from Rupin pass and many times I tried to write
about it but I couldn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rupin pass
was my 5<sup>th</sup> trek and it was different from last 4 for many reasons.. one reason was... in
Rupin we had 2 days of village stay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Initially, during our village stay, I was missing the isolation and serenity of camping, but now… when I look back… I realise that was one of the most beautiful
part of my journey. Living among those amazing people, beautiful kids, wooden
floors and that warm lifestyle was a brilliant experience in itself and I loved
it. Especially, Day 2 of our village stay where I discovered an amazing place
to sit and look at the majestic mountains and starry night sky! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aah and I am
back there already!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So much love
I have for this trek, maybe that’s why I am unable to express it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was an 8
day long trek started from Dehradun, Uttrakhand and ended in Shimla, Himachal
Pradesh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The memory is
still fresh in my head from day 1 till the end, except for the names of the
sites, I am really bad with names.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trek in brief-<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maximum Altitude- 15200 ft<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Weather- Rainy/Hailstorms/Snowy/Sunny<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grade- Moderate- Difficult<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Trek distance- Approx. 65kms in 7 days</span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This time my
brother joined me for the trek, we reached Dehradun a day in advance and enjoyed
the city and famous food.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Road Journey from Dehradun to Dhaula-<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our pick-up
was from Dehradun Railway station where our group assembled. We started our road
trip around 7.30am for our first campsite at Dhaula. Around 5pm we reached
Dhaula, roamed around, interacted with group. It was a closed campsite, very
less to explore. We ate early and slept early.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dhaula (5500 ft) to Sewa (6300 ft)-
7-8 kms <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0odeWDOQL4E/WXy1YD2LptI/AAAAAAAACKU/CnZ_wAnPvpwHgwp3DhAr0QTszcQ7Ua2vQCLcBGAs/s1600/19702001_10154784091817686_3829800880835253657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="960" height="386" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0odeWDOQL4E/WXy1YD2LptI/AAAAAAAACKU/CnZ_wAnPvpwHgwp3DhAr0QTszcQ7Ua2vQCLcBGAs/s640/19702001_10154784091817686_3829800880835253657_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was our
first day of trek, it was an easy walk and also, it was day of ICC Champion
trophy’s final match between India and Pakistan. I don’t follow cricket that
much but I never wanted to miss the final match. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since, it
was our village stay I was very hopeful to find TV and some connection to
follow the match. In a hope we walked. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Around 1-2
pm we reached our campsite and had lunch followed by random games. It started
raining heavily around 3pm. We waited for it to stop, around 5pm we managed to
find a TV with match on. But, we were told not to bother the local people by
out trek staff. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Match ended tragically. I am glad I didn’t watch it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sewa (6,300 ft) to
Jhaka (8,700 ft)- 9 kms</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ssl-moN9JUw/WXy18ihhyYI/AAAAAAAACKc/2pzTujzovvYBCwOsrw4k54Uq-ciplUKPACLcBGAs/s1600/19748696_10154784141937686_1394785558276772181_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="960" height="402" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ssl-moN9JUw/WXy18ihhyYI/AAAAAAAACKc/2pzTujzovvYBCwOsrw4k54Uq-ciplUKPACLcBGAs/s640/19748696_10154784141937686_1394785558276772181_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was
our day 1 of homestay and last day where we had an option of taking shower. And
how can I miss this opportunity! :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was
not a very difficult walk. We reached Jhaka around 2-3pm. I am having
difficulty remembering exact timings but that feel is there in my head.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a
beautiful wooden house, I loved it. We had a small dining room where we ate our
meals and played random group games. I loved the food.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
evening we went for an acclimatization walk to an old temple. During our walk,
we saw an isolated house in the mountains, I can’t explain that feel. It was
calm, it was peace. It was a pull I can never forget. That magnetic pull I felt
was very strong, I can still sense it with the same intensity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only miserable
part of the day was night, I couldn’t sleep. And we had to walk 12kms next day.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 4<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Jhaka (8,700 ft) to
Saruwas thatch (11,150 ft)- 12 kms</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Utoze7DTUcs/WXy1lHzL2xI/AAAAAAAACKY/dJDIzVZIAskWUr0fIqFhFNZQC2k-rfPiACEwYBhgL/s1600/19702380_10154784093037686_1141060493201401082_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="960" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Utoze7DTUcs/WXy1lHzL2xI/AAAAAAAACKY/dJDIzVZIAskWUr0fIqFhFNZQC2k-rfPiACEwYBhgL/s640/19702380_10154784093037686_1141060493201401082_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I left my
room at 4am, anyway I was up. Took a cold water bath, stretched myself and was
ready for the trek.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was
again an easy day. Not very hectic. The homestay we stayed in Saruwas was just
brilliant. I specifically loved people there. And the food was delicious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We reached
around 2pm, I saw a female standing alone, I started a conversation with her,
she told me she was the resident of the home we were staying in. We talked about
her family, marriage, kids, life and everything. She was telling me about her
lifestyle where she told me she goes to the forest every evening to bring food for
her cattle. I asked her if I could also join her and she gladly agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had
lunch and soon after my lunch I discovered a beautiful place where I could sit
and stare the mountains, oh it was so so amazing. I didn’t realise I was
sitting there for 2 hours undisturbed, I heard my new friend’s voice where she
was calling me for her jungle trip. Yayy, I was so excited to go. :)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am
really happy I went with her, it was a beautiful experience and we talked about
the village, people, food, life, addictions, India-Pak final match and so many
other things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After
coming back from my Jungle trip, we went for an acclimatization walk till
waterfall.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Post dinner, I enjoyed star-gazing at my favorite spot with my favorite
music plugged in. Pure bliss!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 5</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saruwas thatch
(11,150 ft) to Dhanderas thatch (lower water fall (11,680 ft)- 12 kms</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LfmQu3kzNk/WXy2KU0oFdI/AAAAAAAACKg/LRMBA0rT1KIVJtpYVrlrWMBk3QYW0VRoACLcBGAs/s1600/19748484_10154784092552686_598922269896504517_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LfmQu3kzNk/WXy2KU0oFdI/AAAAAAAACKg/LRMBA0rT1KIVJtpYVrlrWMBk3QYW0VRoACLcBGAs/s640/19748484_10154784092552686_598922269896504517_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From here
our proper trek started, where we stayed in camps on beautiful campsites. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was an
easy-moderate walk with 2 small snow patches, we reached our campsite around
4pm. It was astonishingly beautiful. And finally it was cold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I share a
strong love-hate relationship with cold. I love it but I can’t bear it. And
since I left thermals at home I was shivering most of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The night
sky was perfect for star gazing and since this was our first proper campsite, I
was craving for the starry sky. I was out for an hour looking at the sky but it
was damn cold for me. I was forced to slip inside my sleeping bag. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dhanderas thatch
(11,680 ft) to Upper Waterfall camp (13,120 ft)- 6 kms<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHN6rRvgQco/WXy2VKvYX4I/AAAAAAAACKk/AbVhjjyrGZoUiZVnxjHv2yYiD7U_MFhhQCLcBGAs/s1600/19642808_10154784092062686_2258936364700755132_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="614" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHN6rRvgQco/WXy2VKvYX4I/AAAAAAAACKk/AbVhjjyrGZoUiZVnxjHv2yYiD7U_MFhhQCLcBGAs/s640/19642808_10154784092062686_2258936364700755132_n.jpg" width="408" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was an
unexpectedly short walk. In just 3 hours we were at our next campsite which was
very close to the upper waterfall. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Site was
brilliant. Everything was brilliant. Except the cold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
evening we went for a short acclimatization walk when it started raining cats
and dogs. We spent most of our evening inside the tents.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next day
was a big day, the “Rupin pass day”, so we were supposed to get up at 3am to leave
our campsite by 5am.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Okay, I forgot
to mention in all this while I realised my waterproof shoes are not really
waterproof, so that was again an adventure for me :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We slept early
this evening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upper Waterfall
(13,120 ft) to Rupin Pass (15,250 ft) to Ronti Gad (13,420 ft)- 16kms<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYcgcNKZxlI/WXy27yQQLeI/AAAAAAAACKo/lo-2JgoQ4houFSr-_4JKBOTiPFZStl3PACLcBGAs/s1600/19702450_10154784091477686_1995964624090083564_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="960" height="364" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYcgcNKZxlI/WXy27yQQLeI/AAAAAAAACKo/lo-2JgoQ4houFSr-_4JKBOTiPFZStl3PACLcBGAs/s640/19702450_10154784091477686_1995964624090083564_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The D-Day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We got up
on time, ate breakfast, and left almost on time for our climb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a
snow walk day, I was scared of snow but after this trek, I am somehow in love
with snow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved
this day, amazing views and beautiful walk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day was a
bit hectic but our leaders were really good, we completed this day successfully
and so called difficult day was easily managed by our entire group.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
evening was so peaceful and calm. And I was sad as this was our last day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Ronti Gad (13,420
ft) to Sangla (8,800 ft)- 12 kms</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This day
was difficult for me, I was feeling tired and realised I was down with fever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That last
12km walk was really strenuous for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We reached
Sangla around 2-3pm, had lunch and left for Shimla around 4.30pm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We reached
Shimla at 1am in night, took a cab till chandigarh and from there we got a Volvo
till Delhi. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By 10am we
were back home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rupin for
me was more about facing my fears. My fear of AMS and snow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realized drinking water is really important, more water you drink less prone you are to
AMS. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved
every bit of my Rupin pass journey and I wish to go back to the house we saw on
day 3. May be someday I’ll go back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I
can’t tell you how thankful I am for this experience. Please take care of my
people. I love you. :*</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some more clicks-</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7368949298039441477.post-51236820523067032802017-07-14T18:54:00.001-06:002017-07-14T19:08:43.752-06:00Oh no! I missed my Flight!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This nightmare
is haunting me since the day I missed my flight for Chennai in Dec 2014, and to add
on to it... I reached just 2 mins before the boarding gate closure for my Kolkata
flight in March 2017. So, I know my brain is not at fault. It’s me. :(</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s 5am… a beautiful
Saturday morning and here I am… up with my eyes wide open, sipping coffee and
waiting to leave for airport for a flight which is at 10am. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And… I need
no alarm. My brain is strong enough. :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, last
night I decided to sleep early… thinking I have to travel tomorrow so I’ll get
up late by 8 or so and quickly rush to the airport. But no, my brain had some other plans... I couldn’t sleep before
12. :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then a
beautiful dream started where I saw, I was playing cricket and missed my
flight. I was up again at 1 am. :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ah! it was
just 1, I slept again just to see another similar dream and was up at 4 am. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My my! My brain
is so good and hyper active all the time during weekends. I am loving it. :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On weekdays,
I set 6 alarms to get up early... just to miserably fail at first 5 and push
myself out of bed on 6<sup>th</sup> and on weekends it’s absolutely a different
story altogether. I crave to sleep till late but up at 5 or 6 am without any alarm
and that too after sleeping late, sometimes very late.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wanted to
be in deep sleep at this hour where I am sitting on my bed and typing this as I
sip my coffee... Anyway, that’s how may be my Saturday was supposed to begin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s see
what’s in store for me today... By the way, I am too excited to travel to this
new city.. yayy :D<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ahh and my
eyes are hurting :P<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear God, I
LOVE YOU… Please take care of my people and please think over granting my wish
we discussed this Thursday and wait… yesterday as well… Muuaah :*<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Deepika http://www.blogger.com/profile/13863607959810728932noreply@blogger.com0