It's not the destination, it's the journey ...

Road-trips..who doesn't love it? I don't know about others but I love road-trips since my childhood.

"All you need is a wheel in your hand and four on the road." 😉 ~ (modified Jack Kerouac's quote)

It was after my high-school exams, that we got into our summer holidays as the results were not out yet.

Family decided to go to Mahabaleshwar, which is in Maharashtra State of India. The British colonial rulers developed this town into a Hill Station, served as the summer capital of Bombay Presidency during those days.

"Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter." ~ Izaak Walton

This place is a treat for nature lovers as it has lush green forest, there is a fort that King Chatrapati Shivaji built it called as Pratapgad. It's beautiful and to go there you need to do some hiking. Since there is a holy river Krishna Nadi, at the bank of it there is a temple as well.

Besides visiting the scenic places, and eating the local cuisine of Maharashtra there are five temples with old Indian architecture. It's basically a holiday resort, honeymoon sport and pilgrimage site for people. So any age can enjoy the trip.

"Roads are a record of those who have gone before."~ Rebecca Solnit

We had booked a van and it was so much fun, I remember through the trip it was Samantha Fox who's cassette was playing in the van. So many beautiful vista points and pictures and the best part was to stop at certain places to eat because the food taste will vary as you make progress within the Maharashtra state.

I remember going for a boat ride at Venna lake and a horse ride, it was such a fun ride. There's also an Elephant point rock which reminds me of the Elephant rock at Valley of fire near Las Vegas.  

After all the fun, food and friendly time, on our return we were all dead asleep until my Dad suddenly started the 'funky town' on the cassette and everyone jumped off the seats..lol!

Road-trips are so much fun that it gives you, your own space and privacy when you are in your car or van. You will enjoy specially in this pandemic time as people were crowding at the airport for vacations.

We often do road-trips in US as there is so much to see here and you can drive along and go to as many States as you can based on your vacation duration. Music is one best company during such trips and one must be ready for anything and everything to face whether it's the food, stay or meet people along the way.

"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." ~ Tony Robbins 

~ Dawn 

Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time

Take only memories, leave only footprints..!

 

Today I am going to talk about my favorite vacation. Well, growing up every alternate year we used to visit my maternal grandma's place for summer vacation. My Dad's side of the family only had cousins as my grandparents died very early while my Dad was still young. Hence, summer vacation used to be in Kerala, India. 

I remember how we as kids are studying hard to give the final exams and Mom used to be busy shopping gifts for my granny and my aunts and kids and also clothes for me to wear in that part of the region. Mainly she would buy long skirts, no sleeveless, no shorts, no short skirts and these were clothes that I will be wearing when I am at my granny's house. I was told you can wear whatever you want here that's not a problem but when we go to granny's place its a village and people don't look at you with respect when you're wearing short dresses etc. It was weird but that's how it is.

"It is better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times."

Living at lush green place was such a beautiful memory even today. There was a river called Pamba Nadi (Nadi means river) and my granny and her kids whoever were living nearby would take shower there and I used to love to play in the water hence I used to make a trip to the river more than three times and since we were coming from the city, my granny would say you city people may not be used to the cold water from the river and you will fall sick and guess what I would fall sick and then everyone in the house will come to rescue me as I was the youngest grandchild then. But guess what, after that I would be strictly asked to take shower at home with hot water! That was boring, but I really had fun with my aunt who would take me everywhere she goes.

Having those beautiful memories from childhood, growing up and traveling around is fun but the favorite one that I felt was when we as a family went to Hawaii - Maui island. 

We had booked an apartment where we could cook in the kitchen as well. The soil, the plants, trees and flowers everything was so similar to Kerala that I had to educate my kids about these and also shared my childhood stories. It was funny when I saw Mimosa Pudica flower and asked my kids to touch the leaves as they are also called touch-me-not plant. Kids started enjoying as they touched the leaves and the leaves would shy away and close and they repeated this just to see if it really happens. 

"Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings." ~ Hodding Carter

I was surprised to see African Tulip tree in Hawaii as after leaving India, I don't think I have seen this in any other country that I have visited and one can only imagine my happiness connected to my childhood as this tree has ornamental flowers and has small claw like buds which has fluid inside. As kids we used to cut the tip of the bud and the water used to come out like from a piston and kids used to put it on each other while playing and the seed of this tree is hidden in a boat shaped shell and we used to also play with those after removing the seeds... so much to share with kids and my kids could see the happiness that I was having while sharing some of my childhood stories.

Similarly you go anywhere there's a beach and these beaches are so fun to be in as the water is warm unlike the California beaches where its so cold that you can't get out there without wearing your jacket. It was so much fun we did all the touristy stuff, road to Hana and watching the sunrise, the waterfalls, then for snorkeling which was an adventure because that time I didn't know how to swim and I was wondering if I would be able to snorkel.

I overcome the fear of getting drowned and with the help of the trainers I was able to initially go in the water and slowly as I was enjoying watching the sea animals under the sea water, I realized my trainer had left me to assist some other kid and for a minute I was conscious but soon got control of it and enjoyed snorkeling myself. That was an amazing experience which I will not forget.

Besides that, we also did the helicopter ride tour and it was so beautiful that reminded me of Kerala. Everything had a connection with my childhood, the Mother Nature, the flowers, the trees that specifically grows in tropical country and here I could see everything just like that. 

"Smell the sea, and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly." ~ Van Morrison

It was a two week vacation but I fell in love with this place and started looking for job because I didn't feel like leaving this place!

Well, like they say your desires and priorities and responsibilities all will come to one decision - it's packing time.

No matter where I have been since my childhood, its always the nature that has captured my heart and it makes me feel happy that nature has so much to offer to us - the Love and Happiness!!!

"Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which consciously separates the past from the future." ~ Maya Angelou

~ Dawn

Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time

There is more to life than simply increasing its speed

After 5 to 6 years of gap, I was visiting India. The eagerness is always there as what is changed and how well the country is progressing as we read about it all the time on the net.

All this makes real sense when you actually land in the country and observe things closely. As I was passing by from one city to the other, I felt if I had started blogging daily (provided that I had the net accessibility all the time), I had so many stories to tell but then in mind I had thought of one liners which I will make a list of to express what I observed and felt about the New India and its people.

As we all know that growth and its diverse impact goes parallel and hence there might be justifications for many things but then at what cost? I will make the list and would like to hear from others too as these could be one observation and comment but it could vary from people to people. Let’s dive in…

• The speed of progress is going so rapid that at the other end if anyone is dying there is no action to it.
• Replica of west is what east is changing towards – why?
• Malls are the theme of the country – but then why take away the India out of it?
• Constructions everywhere whether it’s the malls, metro rails or even houses – with poor housing facility, transportation to the common people and to add to it pollution of all kinds whether air, sound you name it.
• Progress of a country but people are suffering due to the environment – for whom are we creating?
• Looks like there is a race and we have to win no matter what – even if at the cost of the lives of people.

• There is no feeling for each other, neighbor or so – everyone is in the rat race and want to reach the sky – I don’t care even if I am crushing someone’s throat as long as I am moving on the right path.
• It seemed like there is a barometer of who is rich and how can one be richer – the show business is so much that it is already getting into the minds of next generation.
• Kids evaluate situations based on money in mind, as the schools also they go shows the class system as who can achieve to get admission and you cannot!
• Surprised to witness the thought process of two kids who are raised in two different countries – one talks of safety and one talks of affordability.
• Man has reached to the moon, plans to buy and sell property on the Moon yet we are stuck with our caste and religion and the differentiation with the mankind.
• Country is doing everything to make sure the standard of living be as same as of western countries – from one aspect it is good that brain drain will be stopped but the way it is being done needs some planning and preparations.
• Real talent and skills are dumped on the side track – no one cares for anyone’s talent as long as one is able to fulfill others requirements – what’s in it for me?
• The kind of feeling and sentiments people have developed outside of the country – is missing as if the heart is completely removed from the body.
• Metros are either busy building malls or fly-over and metro rails – in the name of these constructions politically all tops are enjoying the benefit already
• Poor is still poor and the rich is trying to be richer – where is my developed India?
• In all these, the true culture still exists in the hearts of people as I was witnessing the Ganpati visarjan (Lord Ganesha Idol immersion in the sea), the unity, the love and cultural aspect evolves the depth and closeness of it in people. I did experience the sentiments while the people are going with the procession – the sadness that after visiting us for 10 days Lord Ganesha is departing from us – is a sad part.
• The people in the forces are taken care that’s what I am proud of my country and the government.

In the end, all I have to say is I still long for my country and would like to settle somewhere, that’s not metro and where it’s not too backward under-developed place. I want to live in the heart of the country where all these malls have not taken over yet I have the internet connectivity to be able to be connected globally with my friends and relatives. I long for that place in India and would love to reach back to the roots where I come from. As all the rivers no matter where they flow at the end they all join together to make a big waterfall!
“Speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure” ~ Aldous Huxley