Life !!

The journey of self discovery, of exploration, of finding our path! Well yes, that is where many of us are at our life right now. This phase of our life can be a little scary because we are pushed out of our comfort zone. Each day seems different yet the same. When we look closely, we realize that each day is showing us something about ourselves that we didn't know or were not consciously aware of - our likes, our dislikes, our interests, our priorities, our tribe or the people who resonate with us. Many things are changing in our life. Our dreams, our priorities, our circle of friends and those whom we trust, our area of interest, etc.

While this phase of our life is scary, it can also be a wonderful time if we allow it to be! No matter where you are, if you also feel like things around you are changing and that you are questioning your life and who you were previously, then some of these tips might just help you.

1. It is ok to be where you are..

Know that it is OK to be at this phase of your life. It might be a little intimidating because you are discovering and seeing life in a new light. But then, this is a beautiful change in your life and it is showing you who you truly are or truly can be! So embrace it!

2. Self Care 

When you are discovering your life path, it can get a little unsettling since you are in the middle of so much change. During this time, you should practise a lot of self care and self love! Exercise, do what you love, paint your nails, eat an ice cream, listen to some awesome music and dance your heart out. The simple pleasures of life can bring a lot of joy!

4. Many won't get it, and that is ok.

So, if you are at a place of discovery, you will feel like trying out things, learning things, starting something or leaving something. Sometimes even you won't know what your doing. And since ours is a society where if we are different, there will be those who will ridicule us or make fun of our journey. And that is ok. NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET YOU. YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO EVERYONE.  The right people will get it. 

5. Embrace being IMPERFECT

In our world where so much emphasis is given to being perfect (just look at the advertising industry), it can be a little intimidating to face our own imperfections that come up during a phase of self discovery. But we need to tell ourself that A REAL PERSON IS IMPERFECT. PERFECTION IS FAKE. So embrace all those imperfections :)

So to end my today's post, just remember to follow your path, your journey, and your timing in life. Don't compare yourself to a friend or family member. Everyone has a specific set of gifts and each one's life is timed differently. Go with the flow and rhythm of your own life!

Being a Konkani

So I'm back to writing after a long time.  And this time I'm writing about a topic I've never written about before.

Everytime people ask me what's my mother tongue and I say Konkani, I get a mixed response from them.  Some people think Konkanis are the same as Marathis. Others think we are the same as Tulu Brahmins. Some know about us. And then there are a few who haven't ever heard about our community.

Ours is a community which is spread across many parts of India. The Brahmin community has different sects like Goud Saraswat Brahmins, Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins, Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins, etc.  There is a slight difference in the dialect of Konkanis settled in different parts if India.  So, when a Mangalorean Konkani speaks to a Kerala Konkani, we find many differences  in our way of speaking. Over the generations, our language has taken in some of the words of the local community. So those of us living in Kerala use a few Malayalam words in our day to day conversations. The same happens with Mangalorean Konkanis, and those settled in other parts of India.

We can also find some differences in the cuisine.  Those of us settled in certain parts of India are pure vegetarians, while the others are not. There are some different dishes which are included in our food based on where we are settled.  In spite of these differences, there are many commonalities in our food. Delicacies include Patrodo (prepared from a leaf), Ghasshi, Val Val, Adgei, etc. Konkanis from all parts of India prepare these dishes or variations of them.

There are many theories of our origin. According to a theory, the Vedic people settled near the banks of river Saraswati and we are the descendants of these people. Some historians believe we were originally from Goa and fled to different parts during invasion of the Portuguese rulers. There are other theories as well.  Konkanis are around 6 million in population.

Ours is a community which is very old and has seen the rule of many dynasties, kings. It has lived through many changes. It has kept a little of each experience, but has not let go of its traditions and culture.

It's wonderful to be part of such a small, diverse and ancient community!

The Old Man At The Station

It was a usual day.  I alighted from the train and walked along the platform. There were many people -  a sea of people actually; all running towards their destinations. Some were college kids, with text books in their hands, memorizing some long theorem in their book.  And then there were the working people, who are always in a hurry. There were a few sales people with small bags of wonderful things. Their bags contained wonderful gemstone earrings, hair bands, clips and a large number of other things.

In the midst of all this, a little ahead of me was an old man. He looked very old. His hair was completely white. He wore a simple white shirt and brown trousers. He had a pair of spectacles. He carried a backpack which actually looked very cute on him.  There was something different and unique about this old man. He wasn't in a hurry towards any place. He did have a destination to reach, like all of us do, but he didn't rush. He took his time to enjoy every step. He observed his surroundings carefully with a look of contentment and peace.

After a while, I crossed him and started walking away. And then when I turned back, I could see him far away; strolling slowly and joyfully.

I sometimes wish we could all be like him. Being in the moment, and enjoying what it has to offer us. Instead, our society expects us to rush and reach our goals. It is a never ending race. People in MNCs are rushing to climb and reach the top of the corporate ladder. Children are made to rush to learn extra curricular activities and top their class with flying colors and grades. We even get to see people rushing to enjoy their weekends at malls, shopping centers, and restaurants. There is a rush for online shopping too!!

May be we can learn a lot from the old man - to quit the rush, to stop pushing so hard, to let go, just be in the moment, and enjoy the simple things of life!! 

Being Mindful

Living a mindful life is one of the biggest gifts we can give ourselves. Being mindful means just being in the present moment, without thinking about our past or worrying about our future. This is quite a rare concept for most of us as we live in a world where our minds are constantly bombarded with thoughts. We keep looking at our social media feed and that in turn makes our mind think about many random things.
We have thoughts about what our future will be like and this drains us of our precious energy.

The theory of mindfulness tells us to just be in the present moment. What is, is. It tells us that the only actual moment is the present moment. Like in the movie Kung Fu Panda, Oogway tells Po 'Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift, and that is why it is called the present.'

Cultivating the habit of mindful living is very difficult in the beginning, as we are not used to it. We have been taught to chase and rush in life. The busier you are, the more successful you are considered. But in reality, some of the most successful people are those who have traits of being in the present, without over thinking and analyzing things which are not in their control.

A wonderful person I came across was Thich Nhat Hanh. His videos and articles are wonderful. They explain the concept of mindfulness in a very simple way. He teaches us to let go those parts of our life that are not in our control, to stop overthinking and to just be in the present moment.

Mindfulness is a beautiful habit for all of us to cultivate.

Let's Be Grateful !! (Daily)

Life these days has become so fast paced that we go through most of our day in a mechanical way. We are not aware of most of the things happening. In the midst of all this, we forget to notice many of the small things we have that we can be grateful for.

Many of the things are taken for granted. We do it all the time. Think about it. How many of us are consciously aware and grateful for the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we own, our family. our friends, our planet earth, the air we breath, our freedom, etc. ?

It is proved that having an attitude of gratitude has many benefits. It helps us be peaceful with our life and takes the focus away from what we don't have. It makes us realize how fortunate we are to have so many things gifted to us by God. 

If we take a few minutes daily to just be grateful for 5 things, this will make a wonderful difference in our life. We can do this tiny exercise in office, while brushing our teeth in the morning or before going to bed. We can do it at any time. We can do it many times daily. The more we remind ourselves of what we have the more we have. The list will just increase. 

So, lets try this and make our life better and more peaceful! :) 

Prince Adrian Of Calpurnia :)

I am a fan of Hallmark movies because they have a cosy and heart-warming feel to them.  Sometimes when the world feels too cold, Hallmark movies warm up my heart.  One movie which has been my favorite for a while is ' A Royal Winter'.  This is the kind of movie I can watch while I'm lazing around in my pajamas and all I want to do is have a cup of chai, some rusk and watch a cute movie.

So coming to the whole point of my blog post, I am writing about the lead character Adrian (played by Jack Donnelly). Before going into that, let me write a little about the movie.  The movie  'A Royal Winter 'is about an American girl Maggi Marks and the prince of Calpurnia, Adrian.

Maggi is a very talented and qualified girl.  She is a law grad.  She belongs to a family of intellectuals and is expected to do well in the field of law.  Maggi doesn't like working in the corporate world since she feels all she would be doing would be chasing deadlines, sitting in an office, wasting her time and energy doing a job that her heart doesn't connect to.  She gives an interview in a leading law firm and realizes the interview  didn't go well. She has to wait for 2 weeks for the result. It is during this time that her friend Sarah and she take a vacation to the wonderful town of Calpurnia. Maggi is very exhausted and stressed out with her career and job. Her friend Sarah is very nice and she tells Maggi to relax and keep her heart open to meeting the right guy (just in case they find a nice and caring guy).

Calpurnia is a small kingdom in Europe and Adrian is the prince of this kingdom.  His father is no more and he lives with his mother Queen Beatrice in the palace. Adrian is going to become the King soon.  Adrian is shown as a person who is very good at heart but doesn't like following rules. His mother wants him to be like his father but he sees things differently.

Adrian :-)

Maggi and Adrian meet each other on the streets of the kingdom by chance. Adrian wants to be hospitable and friendly with Maggi as she is a tourist visiting his kingdom. He also wants to make up for having spoilt her hat (that is how they first meet when he accidentally runs his bike over her hat! ). But Maggi is very shy and reserved by nature. (Just like me :-) ). She isn't the kind of girl who would randomly socialize with someone. She is shown as sensitive and introverted but very lovable.  The wonderful thing about Adrian is that he understands that about her nature in their first meeting itself. He realizes she isn't the kind of girl who would flirt with a guy. He sees that she is reserved and likes that about her.

After consulting with her friend Sarah, Maggi decides to meet Adrian that evening. He had invited her for a cup of coffee. As she isn't an extrovert and an outgoing girl, she is a little hesitant speaking with him. Adrian wants to get to know Maggi as a person and at this point he doesn't reveal that he is Royal.

After spending some time with him, Maggi also likes Adrian, but she doesn't know he is a prince.  While Sarah and she go to the museum they find out that Adrian is the prince and he has been hiding it from them. The media has also spoilt his name by calling him a playboy. Maggi is angry that she wasn't told the truth. But Adrian tells her that he wanted them to know each other as REAL people and not for superficial reasons. He then takes the risk of showing her his secret coaching center for kids (which he hasn't shown anyone before). His valet Felix tells Maggi Adrian is a wonderful person. He is good at heart. Maggi is pleasantly surprised. Adrian then invites Maggi for a royal dinner at his house. She is hesitant initially but accepts the invitation.

What I like about Adrian through all of this is that he makes the effort to get to know Maggi, all the time keeping in mind that she is shy, a little afraid, reserved and currently exhausted due to her career.  He sees a genuine person in her and that is what he likes. He gives her a chance to know him too. He doesn't go after social status, her talking skills, money, beauty or her community. He looks for her character and her heart. He is also very loving and protective of her. He ensures that she is fine. He is really caring! Some of his words like ' I'l make time for you', 'Stay', etc. are just beautiful!
It says so much about his nature.

In return, she respects him for who he is as a person, and inspires him to become a good king. She tells him to follow his heart and not try to be what others expect him to be. She tells him not to fall into the trap of peer pressure. She motivates him to do better in life.

Their connection is just amazing. It is so heart-warming. It is SIMPLE, GENUINE, LOW PROFILE and REAL. And that is why I love the story of Adrian and Maggi!! :-)

P. S.-  prince Adrian is simply the best :-)

Budget FriendlyTrips

If you are the kind of person who can't stay in one city continuously and wishes to keep backpacking then you are most likely what the world calls as 'Traveler', 'Nomad', 'Explorer', etc.  We have this strong desire to keep going. Be it a small journey to a nearby place or a more planned and long trip, the joy and satisfaction we get after returning back is something only we ‘Travelers’ would understand. It is something we can’t explain using words.

Most of the people who love to travel would have experienced similar situations during their journeys. One common situation is when they over spend money during a trip without knowing that there are more reasonable options instead. I think this happens to most of us Travelers. Especially if we are completely new to a place and have no idea about the location, then we can end up spending more.

What can we do to save ourselves from over spending? What are the precautions we can take as passionate travelers? Well some of them are:

1. Read Well About The Place

Once we decide on a location, we should read as much as we can about the place. Many sites like Tripadvisor, Thrillophilia, etc. are helpful.  These sites contain actual reviews from other Travelers and we can use the information while planning our trip.

2. Transportation Details

The mode of transportation to reach a place is very important. If we know anyone living at the place we are planning to visit, we can get information from them about the best ways to reach the place. If not, we can always get information from reliable sites on the internet. Once we know the best way to reach the place, if we do the bookings in advance, we can save up on a lot of money. Flight, Tatkal Train Tickets, etc. operate on Dynamic Fare concept, hence we might end up spending triple times if don’t do the advance bookings.In our case, it is always planned at the last moment. We are trying to change!

Apart from this, the transport within the city is also very important. We should ensure we have a plan as to how we will travel within the city/destination.  Sometimes, we have cheaper options like local buses which can help us avoid cabs.

3. Accommodation

While there are many options to stay, the main points we need to consider is the safety, hygiene, facilities, comfort and the cost of the place.  If we take a little extra time to research on staying options, we can find some wonderful pocket friendly places. But this usually takes a little time and effort on our part.

4. Tour Activities

There are many tour packages available in most places these days. We need to carefully check the details of the package (what is included, excluded, taxes, etc.) We can compare the various packages and then decide if we wish to opt for one or just take things at our pace and travel as per our wish. We can compare the prices of all the available options and then decide.

5. Food

While we travel, we have to depend on outside food. Sometimes, we end up spending a lot of money on food which is actually unnecessary.  This happened to us while we traveled to Coorg. We stayed at a budget hotel, but the food at the place was extremely costly. We ended up spending a lot of money on the evening we reached. The next day morning, we backpacked away and found a small and simple place with fresh food and reasonable prices.

6. Shopping

Sometimes it so happens that we visit a city and feel tempted to buy a lot of things from there. While we visit local markets, we should always try to blend in with the local people there. If possible, we should speak in the local language. It is best if we find out if we need to bargain or not before we even go to the place. Also, we need to remember that we shouldn’t over buy things which we will never use. (This happens to me a lot L).

There are many more tips that can be used to have a budget friendly trip. At this point, I can’t think of anymore.

Hope we Travelers save up on some money and use it for another trip J

Happy and Responsible Traveling!!