Vedasri Siddamsetty

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  • Who reads anyway!

    I have been mulling over this for a year or so, whether to actually keep running my blog because, well who reads anyway. all my friends watch movies. Even the most sorted readers have actually stopped because of child care or house. Care or people care are simply because of life. I was appalled when a friend of mine said that he began to read Amar chitra Katha because the words in typical stories are extremely morose. Then a bookstores like blossoms which runs profitably writer, Ruskin born who are making their millions so I am on the lookout for people who actually read. On a recent trip, I finished five books and had decided that I shouldn’t be reading anymore, because my all the words have literally gone and jumbled up in my head, my head is literally full of words. But during this time, I realised that my skin improved Valey because well while reading books, I had no time to stare at the phone enhance happily, missed out all the blue light showers that I was giving myself all these days.

    Shalini Passi said that she wouldn’t certain conversations or certain because well, they’re not good for her skin. I think the first thing we can start to bring together is books and read books because well, they may really be good for asking, considering fill up almost 3 hours, which we would otherwise look into social media specifically our phones. So while I feel, I have finished my yearly quarter of books, yes. Done with my quota books for the entire lifetime. I am now wondering whether I should write this blog or well technically dictate this blog, but I stopped writing a long time ago. While I did try the podcast for a couple of sessions when Spotify made it hard to record Spotify, I promptly gave up. It was all about being easy. Well I am water and I flow on the easiest path!

    So are you a break from my most consistent hobby, which is reading? I’m going to do other things like reading the newspaper, which I rarely do, I’ll probably take to reading balance sheets! So what are your suggestions my dear readers for reading things which are not books well, maybe magazines cut the deal. My books have been a constant companion since childhood this year. I’m going to look out for real companions and spend more time in chatting talking dictating post on my blog. Probably dictating a whole book like Trump. Coming to Trump have a lot to say, maybe that’s for another blog post! One week in the hills has made me realise that some experiences really fall short of words. The orchestra of the English language, it does not always allow us to communicate what is felt. Some experiences are truly awe inspiring. smile, I put a hold on books. I am still open to reading a lot of other things, including perhaps people! So the next time you see me in the street, you may well catch me, smiling at you, instead of being lost in my thoughts with a face that shows a rather absorbed expression. I’m really looking forward to this new hobby of reading people.

  • The Land of the Gods!

    Uttarakhand at the northern part of India, shares it’s Himalayan border with China and Tibet yet it holds in it’s midst the soul of India. There are no doubt Gods, then there is nature and with the two confluencing in this beautiful Indian state there is peace and calm amongst the rains, thunder, lightening, steep slopes and even narrower bends. Before we landed at the Jolly Grant airport we did a plethora of studying of videos by influencers and none of them matched our feeling of actually being here and unearthing jewels that are not in the notes of any travel influencer. Now I am thoroughly certain that travel journals are pretty much useless because as they day, you can’t have the same river twice as either the river has changed or the shore. For time is the invaluable factor that changes the experience if not for the person themselves coming here with a different feeling.

    So read on with your own discretion!

    The Jollygrant airport is extremely quaint just like Dehradun that is inundated with beautiful cafés yet offering the latest of the brands in it’s glitzy malls. Our places of interest were the Doon School and the Forest Research Institute, both of which were awe-inspiring campuses with red brick buildings and an alumni that makes one delight. The Doon school for one gives out all those Harvard feels but this boys school misses out the Hogwarts dining hall. It makes up the lack with a wellness centre (why in the world!) and some seriously noteworthy old boys. Equipped with all the latest facilities, even their curriculum is a crisp IGSCE, the curriculum that has taken the world by storm. The student boards were impressive with very relevant topics being mulled on by the students. The Forest Research institute that trains the Indian Forest officials also reiterates the importance of forests and documents with great alacrity the types of Indian woods. As an architect employing wood in all her projects u was mostly excited to see how other Indian woods measure up against my Favorite teak. There is no parallels to teak I found, a fact I knew but garnered a scientific reason. The fact that a popular Ali’s Bhatt movie was filmed there is unfortunately the talking point rather than its super informative museums.

    The Dehradoon zoo was given a miss yet we managed to visit the famous eatery Kalsang eating the momos and ramen. Well it didn’t measure up against our local Favorite Shokudo, a gem of a place and I couldn’t help but surmise how Bangalore serves up better Tibetan food than Tibet itself. The world is flat indeed, as decided my Husband chiding himself for not waking early in the morning to catch the sunrise from the same balcony that he sat and saw the sunset from! I had to promptly remind him that the sun does not rise from the same spot that it sets at. This my seven year-old quipped on how do I really know that this earth is round? Did I see it with my own eyes, it could all be half Bluff. Well, the greek philosopher’s who first argued that the Earth is flat would be so amused with this evening, conversation of ours.

    Mussoorie is probably India’s least populated but beautiful hill station in Uttarakhand. The mall Road of Mussoorie literary serves up the latest and fashion, hair accessories, clothes, stockings, and even Korean brands that bring you the latest in skin care. The pretty Mall Road is split in two levels offering great views from both the levels. The bakeries in the mall road are actually delightful and as old as time. Several children’s play areas that dot the Mall Road were super effective in keeping the seven year old glued. My new find in terms of the stores was Koja a curated store of Corean goodies. This small Road has been the subject of many a short story of Ruskin Bond and hence I had to pick my loot of Ruskin Bond books from the Cambridge book depot. The library chalk on one end of the Mall Road and the Kurri Chowk at the other end of the Mall Road protect this road from the use of vehicles in the evenings. The steep climb from the mall Road to our hotel ensured that we were in good appetite all the time. Hotel climbed up along the Gun hill with its pretty pastel coloured room cottages.

    Almost seeing Ruskin Bond characters running around the Mall Road, we had to go to Landour that is located at an elevation from Mussoorie. Landour is a Cantonment town with the Indian Institute of technology management located in its tiny precinct. in Landour Cha Dukan is a lovely tea stall right from the British era. Landour Ba house is another magnificent landmark. The Landour Infiniti loop as it is called takes one in an infinity symbol pathway across the top touching upon the Lal Tibba scenic point. Cafe Ivy was another favourite something that not many influencers talk about. At a Prakash and Co, we loaded up on our gems and bought some for friends and family. Landour is also this place where Ruskin Bond resides in a two bedroom flat with his adopted family. He claims that though he could live in this world, he picks a tiny two bedroom flat in Landour that shows him the Shivaliks or the lower Himalayas and the might upper Himalayas on a sunny day. We were undoubtedly mesmerised with its stone streets. Deodar pines. The field of Landour is simply remarkable.

    Winding out from Mussoorie, we headed to Kanatal, literally is secluded with nothing but the hills for company. This is also just like Landour, a perfect place to probably do nothing. The sweetness of doing nothing they say, but can be cherished if it is only for a little time! From Kanatal we did, what would go on to be probably the best memory of the trip that is to visit the Tehri Dam. This one location not guided by any influencer in spite of the videos we saw about the space. The rope way that we took from Kanatal to the Surkanda Mata Temple was state of the art, but the cable car that we took across the Tehri Dam literally won our hearts. The Surkanda Mata Temple in itself was extremely beautiful as a piece of architecture and the vibes that had for the devotional. Located at an elevation of about 2700 m above sea level, this temple looked much like Nepali architecture in its build and feel. With many army personal visible in the location, we knew we were close to the international border! Not as close, but closer than we would have been in Bangalore!

    The Tehri Dam is extremely exquisite with a dam built on the blue waters of the Bhagirathi River, the upstream of the head stream of the river Ganges. This dam is used for generating hydro power. It is used to store water for the people in the Garhwal region. Chatting up with the local on the other side of the cable car we were told how beneficial Modi‘s government had been to Uttarakhand. I could test the fact having been here more than 20 years ago when this state was merged with the present Uttar Pradesh. Having been on a school trip, Mussoorie was a place where a lot of my friends lost bags, wallets, and it just seems so scary. But this time around it seemed super safe that I myself ended up walking on a nature trail all by myself. This beautiful state of India definitely deserves a lot more, but then it also has. It has the Chardham, which is Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, the mouth of the river Ganges. It is a holy spot in fact, the entire state I feel has this excessively holy vibes to it. Not to mention the holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh amongst its others. I am told by the locals here, then Nainital is very beautiful and I remember it just as that. With the weather in the hills quite unpredictable, it could be raining once second and bright sunny the next the calm that the mountains give to the passing clouds is truly commendable. Sitting on my hotel, balcony, one night with my husband and son sick, I was treated to a red display, a sound and light show of thunder and lightning. It was probably not rare in this part of India, but to me, it was exciting of a lifetime. Much like Arora Borealis lightning streaked up the sky, like the white in an x-ray, and then after a couple of moments was accompanied by thunder. The view of the hill in the dark without much habitation, made it look like a black cat sleeping under the velvet sky, starlet velvet sky. The sky full of stars provided the perfect backdrop for this beautiful light and sound show.

    On our return we headed to the holy city of Rishikesh, a beautiful spirit pervades this Indian city that witnesses according to me the best part of the Ganges. The Triveni ghat is so serene inspite of the many people who visit this ghat for the Ganga Aarti. At Varr we treated ourselves to the temple thali, an artisanal thali that serves temple food of popular temples around India. My Favorite was the pudina paani! Rishikesh is vast and sprawls across to make space for pilgrims who visit this Garhwal region for pilgrimage or pleasure! Uttarakhand has a vibe of this anonymous celebrity like an oxymoron where the question to be mulled about is whether God is nature or is nature God?

    PS. This beautiful state also comes with its share of disclaimers. The winding roads and the altitude had me looking after a sick adult and a sick child. Messed up digestive systems, headaches and generally a difficulty in the hills, not to mention the traffic jams of Landour could bring out the temper in most drivers or existential questions in others. I myself quite okay, pulled my back with a sudden motion of sitting! Just plain and simple sitting. Talk of tragedy. Then the drive and the general effect of sitting during the various modes of travel gets to one. The importance if posture was one of the things that were imprinted on me. It’s not easy to be a Pahadi like they say, but if you are one then you are blessed.

  • Learning grace at 38!

    Far ahead seems an apparition

    That closes in without a reason

    And through the looking glass

    There is a vision of the past

    One that we choose to unsee

    But that comes back to thee

    There are always many whys

    Inspite of the sweet delights

    A lingering feeling of cries

    That provoke many a sighs

    For what could’ve would’ve

    And what should’ve may’ve

    Only if it had a reason to be

    And set the mind totally free

    Being a lover of what is

    Is the only way to whiz

    Off the stories of yore

    That could make a bore

    Whatever is the reality

    Is certainly the responsibility

    When the words come easy

    There is a way to be breezy

    And that is giving attention

    To things other than tension

    The excitement of the new

    Can certainly drive out the blues

    And as the reds and pink arrive

    They bring with them the drive

    To be more easily forgiving

    Of all the humble beginnings

    We see through the looking glass

    But then cannot change the past

    Then instead of being past caring

    There is a way to be full of daring

    Surrendering to life with all it’s is’es

    Blowing out to the wind the kisses

    The present is the only present

    A gift we choose of reckoning

    The sadness of the could nots

    Do tie their formidable knots

    What is yours will forever be

    Yours no matter how busy the bee

    It comes in its time when it doesnt

    There is a mandate that it mustnt

    So dust off the sprinkles of the coulds

    Let go of the worlds of the woulds

    There shouldnt be the words shoulds

    For nothing is better understood

    Than what is actually in the hood

    Whatever will be will be

    And that mindset sets one free

    From all the needed validation

    Across the mighty hall of nations

    No matter what the rat race

    Learning grace at thirty-eight!

  • In the Start-Up Capital

    As architects we are forever starting-up, building green field projects from scratch or brownfield ones staggering up something with what have in our midst but in the real start-up world, what is built is sometimes physical, sometimes non-tangible and at the most digital, tech-oriented and thats what grows exponentially. While most start-ups intend to build a product, a service and then sell to the bigger companies, exiting at the right time and of course making millions, there are those that are built to last, well the Tatas and Birlas were at one time a start-up. So finally after 9 years of living in the Start-up Capital of India, I managed to find myself at a start-up conclave, where 11 people presented their ideas, that have been in the running for 6 months or more and showed their projections for the future.

    As an architect I am not trained to read balance sheets, future growth projections, but then learning this aspect seemed so much fun, and it also is apparently what the world runs on. We do enjoy the products of the world and are deeply reliant on them. Watching how ideas come to life, is exactly what an architect envisions in every project, yet these ideas impact not just the few who use the building or see them but influence the economics of a place too. The brands that caught my fancy are of Debelle Cosmetix, a breathabale and cruelty free nail paint company, Naarica period underwear, who’s pitch was nothing short of stellar, the Moggu studio for fancy, feminine shirts, the healthy bowl compay Urban Fork founded by two very enthusiastic twin sisters educated in Boston and finally the Pink Earth, the girl who makes stunning jackets and skirts. With the fun round up I couldnt stop but wonder what product I would have like to start a company on! Just when I zeroed in to nails, walked in Ashwini the founder of Debelle!!

    Well that just meant that I would have to think some more but the whole experience of seeing these entrepreneurs being mentored and firing up their ideas to execution was a high point. The josh as they say is always high in the start up circle and what better than to have the idea outlive you. The idea of making lives better, of owning the creative cycle of the idea, seeing it taking a course of its own is a lot like being an author or architect all the same, yet the risk and the rewards could at times be incomparable. From what I see in the start-up space the start-up could be either service oriented or product-oriented and apart from the intellectual property it has to be worked on from the team to the actualisation.

    For once being in the start-up capital I felt enlivened by the feels of this space and I know whats going to be on my mind for the next few days! A start-up idea ofcourse!!

  • Why late nights are not worth it.

    Yes yes I hear you, the sky full of stars, the full moon night or well the crescent moon, the beauty of the velvety sky all of that is yes, but when the sun’s rays pierce through the sky in the morning we all well know who is the boss. A sentiment I had this morning after indulging in some fun playing pickle ball last night in a play arena. Okay first of all I do not get that game, in fact you can’t blame the game, as a child too I never understood the competitive spirit, for me only games you play against the earth (read golf, swimming, or hiking) makes sense but even in those you are actually measuring against yourself. But being around people, laughing my lungs out, and being social is always a recipe for dopamine. It could also be a recipe for disaster, sometimes depending on the conversation or who we are talking to! Last couple of years insomnia had be talking, sparked by who said what and what could have been said. Well we all know where coulds, woulds and shoulds lead to and that is nowhere. So after a late night full of slapstick fun and literally people talking mindlessly, well that is clearly what happens when the sun goes down, I am deeply convinced that no late night is worth it. And this comes from the girl who has danced all night till the sun literally came up, for more days than I can count on my finger. But then again dancing in the sunlight is far underrated and even more fun I must say.

    As the sun begins the next day I am still so sleepy playing a really weird game, a mishmash of tennis, badminton, table tennis and what not, beginning to want to rub my eyes to eternity and all the laughs too do not provide any amount of solace. The balance of happiness built with laughter comes crashing down with the brain not reset with the cerebrospinal fluid cleaning it up. Sleep is the only time it is supposed to work they say. And with all the toxin in my brain I can hardly concentrate. The sun comes up everyday and while it is the best to be up with the sun, I completely endorse that knowledge. Even when I typing this out now I am not very sure of what I actually wanted to convey. And thus I know that late nights are so not worth it. Scientific studies say that some animals are nocturnal and come out in the dark, yet I am not reiterating that humans are not one of those and though all our exposure to the blue light may be evolving us into some weird breed of nocturnal creatures, basking in the daylight is definitely the way to be. While I go take a walk in the sunlight and silence all the late night engagements, I hope to strengthen my mind enough to say no!

  • Gymtimidation!

    The first 30 minutes after exiting the gym are fabulous, the endorphins flowing the happiness exuding and as the day wears out, the little fellow remarks did you go to the gym today? And a couple of days later he presents to me his scientific finding, that I get cranky on the days that I have gone to the gym. What a eureka moment he had, before promptly banning me from going to the gym. I was intrigued by his observation skills and then googled some more to find that it is actually a thing. But the gym is neutral and it isnt to blame, what is to blame are overtraining, poor form, anxiety about being at the gym (“gymtimidation”), not enjoying the activities you’re doing, pushing yourself too hard, inadequate rest days, or even underlying nutritional issues – all of which can lead to feelings of fatigue, irritability, and a negative mood after working out. 

    While most of those may have been abetting my case, except for the over-training and pushing myself too hard, and inadequate rest days part, the fact remains that I do have a poor form, am anxious about being at the gym, I obviously consider it a torture chamber, and have nutritional issues for sure, with the poor air quality, the constant stimuli and not enough movement or sunlight who doesn’t. While I have flitted to the gym in the past, only after eating a whole brownie do I walk into the gym, it took me that much to get in, I haven’t been an avid lifter. The feel-good hormones do make their way in the beginning and then evaporate just as easily even before the sun calls it a day! Obviously a good trainer will help, but good is again hard to find. Then there is the question of fasted or non-fasted workouts, pacing out the workouts and lots more. The gym helped me tone up, am sure it always will, but it also tones down my patience!

    The fitness trend glorifies the gym and all that can be achieved in there, which I do not doubt in the least, but for now its time to play some music and move!

    p.s However, Axe said, exercise can actually also lead to spiked levels of anxiety or depression. ‘Gym rage’ – could working out make anger worse? Isabel Clarke a NHS clinical psychologist states that if you are experiencing symptoms of stress, working out can heighten your emotions. Therefor exercise should create a positive experience, so make sure you spend time doing what you enjoy. 

    If you find yourself leaving the gym in a worse state than entering research suggests many alternative ways you can keep fit, such as running, home workouts, swimming, fitness classes, martial arts, team sports, and even something more gentle, such as yoga. Opting for slower-paced exercises, such as a brisk walk, Pilates or Tai Chi will prevent you from getting too ‘hyped up’, which is what in turn causes our emotions to run wild. Not only will varying your exercise benefit your body, but it will also help to keep your mind active. Furthermore, joining group or team classes will encourage you to socialise more often, all of which will lead to improved emotional well-being. 

    Ahem! Am glad that summer is round the corner and its soon time to hit the pool!!

  • An orange a day!

    Have you ever thought whats the first thing you’d like to eat in a day. Wellness experts give us a whole range of things that we can eat, while some harp on jeera water, others say turmeric water, still others say lemon squeezed in warm water while others say consume it with a dashful of honey. No matter what there is always a chime or two on what first to fill into the golden time of the empty stomach. I have always loved the feel of an orange early in the morning, the treat to the empty stomach, but then orange is my favourite fruit of all time and colour too, but thats for another post!

    Eating an orange as the first thing in the day puts me in such a happy place, that the moment seems to be won already. And the second best option that seem close in composition though not exactly the same is a lemon squeezed into water. Yet citrus in not just taste but also smell is such a wonderful way to start the day, if you’ve whiffed at the sweet oil essential oil, you’d know what I mean. The orange tree is native to Southern China, Northeast India, and Myanmar and while the mandarin is hard to peel and consume in wedges, the Nagpur Oranges of India are literally the best! I first spotted an orange tree in Portugal at the Pena Palace on the outskirts of Lisbon, and it was such a delight. The scent is disarming and charming.

    And then come the plethora of preserved options as marmalades, as compotes and sugary drinks, but the best of all is the fresh orange juice. Though I naturally gravitate to oranges, now out of curiosity I looked up on what oranges contain other than Vitamin C, on further exploration I found that oranges contain fiber, sugar, carbohydrates and protein. And the new buzz word these days is collagen, with requires Vitamin C to be produced. While the doctor has recommended Vitamin C serum to be applied on the face, I’d love to have this fruit of nature essentially in my being. If you are what you eat, then I am an orange olright!

  • My favourite author!

    Jane Austen, yes there is no surprise there and though I force myself to read non-fiction every now and then, I am a through and through fiction girl and this month, the month of Love and all things nice, I invite you my gentle readers 😉 to join me on this author read for the month. My favourite book of Austen is Pride and Prejudice and in 2011 driving through from London to the Stonehenge we suddenly taking wrong turns found ourselves at the Crescent in Bath, and what a beautiful place is that. Bath is stunning in its architecture and a perfect setting for the novels that Austen wrote during her time. But it is not so much about architecture, her novels mostly have female protagonists and touch upon themes that are so endearing to me, especially her sharp observations on the social lives of the British gentry of her time.

    While the humour of Wodehouse is delectable, the entirety of Austen’s characters are absolutely stunning. While Lizzy is a thoroughly splendid character she is funny, brave, kind-hearted and intelligent, she is everything sometimes that I want to be. However this month I am putting this book that I have reread almost a hundred times away and am going to read an Austen novel that I have always been meaning to and that I am finally getting around to. And that is actually two books, but they were bound as one in the beginning, the Northanger Abbey and Persuasion! My favourite television show has been Downton Abbey and being stuck in the 1800 England seems to be a fun thing to do for me. So this February, here we go!

  • Assert>Dessert

    The woman who screams the loudest wins. Oh well that is a line borrowed from the jungle, for the lion roars the loudest and he is the king afterall. But in the more civilised world, tone and volume make for an important combination. And the screaming belles are best avoided and tuned out with assertiveness.

    In a world where you can be anything, be assertive. Assert, so you dont have to reach out to dessert.

  • Making life a vacation

    Recently I consulted a doctor, a naturopath (my favourite line of medicine) and he remarked how am the most healthy and happy on a vacation, and suggested that I take a vacation every month to which my sister-in-law remarked why not make life a vacation and that got me thinking! Its not something I have not heard before, my father has told me that since when the travel bug made it to my veins, he always said why look forward to travel, make your daily life itself like a vacation, this came my way about 22 years ago but then it was reiterated very recently and very strongly at that. Now armed with physical (literally) proof I began my quest on how to make life a vacation, well knowing that vacation is what happens once in a while and is novel is what makes it unique, yet breaking it down to a basic structure here is what I have surmised, makes life a vacation!

    1. Walk a lot. On vacations I hit about 20000 steps a day gladly, looking up at beautiful sights. If the vacation is with my husband that number is a lot lot more!
    2. Breathe in fresh unpolluted air, since most vacations are in places with better AQI than Bangalore!
    3. Eat as much as I wish, since the measurement devices used to measure food while cooking at home are not available, every meal and every day is different, sometimes its lesser than normal and sometimes its more. Ah yes, when in a much more developed country like Switzerland, read expensive, the need to grazing on food becomes unneccessary and food is only looked for the nutrition it provides and sometimes my appetite vanishes too! So staying hungry becomes wildly possible. LOL and fasting is great for the body they say!
    4. Dress well, smile a lot. Since we are forever taking pictures to record the fancy memories we are dressing to the hilt and smiling a lot more than we do on a normal day at home!
    5. Living out of a suitcase, so basically with everything else safely locked at home, our circle of belongings are limited to whats in the suitcase and they say a woman’s happinesses in inversely proportional to the amount of things she owns (or hordes)!
    6. The point of novelty, vacation always means seeing something new or doing something different, every day is novel and this novelty is exhilarating. I love the fact that each day is new, there is nothing routine about a vacation. First of all the time zone is different, jolting one’s body and apart from that even when the time zone is the same, it is a different day!
    7. Seeing the different ways of living and accepting that there are all kinds of people in the world, not being biased on one’s type of food or dressing or even thinking, frees one from any point of judging and thats brilliant.
    8. Finally to know that home’s waiting, and so is dal and rice! Especially when we travel to countries where we dont easily find dal and rice, I miss that the most, and after one week thats all I need to provide myself the jolt of energy to continue on. Yet there is always joy in coming back home. While sad that the vacation is over, there is always the happiness of being home. I have not always loved travelling, in fact until I went to architecture school I found travelling a chore. Only in order to see architecture of all sorts I would make all the effort to go, perhaps if I werent an architect I’d only go to the beach, and thats because I love swimming in the ocean and if I lived by a swimmable beach and weren’t an architect I’d probably never travel at all! And then in corollary wouldnt need the vacation in the first place 😉

  • BAPS Hindu Mandir

    Inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi last year, the Baps Hindu Mandir off Abu Dhabi is the first temple of that scale in the middle-east, and the the number of Hindus working in the region, it is but a valued addition! The temple is similar to all its peers across the world, yet is so absolutely wonderful to see in real. The best part is the immersive 3d show that explains in detail all about the temple, how it came to be and the fact that it’s being is somewhat an amalgamation of all religions. The land was donated by an Islamic sheikh, the architect a Christian, the project manager an atheist and so on! The valuable insight of having the tenets of Hinduism scale across boundaries made be realise how this ancient and brilliant religion is a minority religion in the world. And just two or so countries embrace this religion, with Nepal being the only country that states it as an official state religion, in India and Srilanka, it is just one of the religions. And with such a minority in general, it is oxymoronic in nature that India gives so much preference to minority religions in the country that are actually major religions in the world!

    I feel proud and incredibly lucky to be a Hindu, just with the way the religion lays itself out, the mythological stories, the lifestyle, the festivals, the colour and gaiety! Being in that temple made me proud to be a Hindu, to embrace our very many Gods around who we have millions of stories, making them real and relatable, yet virtuous and God-like. With the kumbh mela on, I watch on with pride as millions across the world come forward to enjoy the spectacle of Hinduism. I congratulate whoever made BAPS in Abu Dhabi possible, yet with the lore, the books, the Vedas, the might of Hinduism, there is much to learn for the majority!

  • Dizzying Dubai!

    The region’s youngest and most effervescent city, revels in its location, a couple of hours away from the glitz of Europe and the bustling bylanes of India or even the climes of Africa, and with its geography, natural treasures (read oil), exemption on taxes and a visionar sheikh it has managed to gain a stronghold as the belle of the ball and with good reason. There is so much to be seen that cannot be seen, so much to do that cannot be done, so much to feel that cannot be felt and of course so much to be spent that cannot be spent! There is no amount of money that will ever feel enough in Dubai, the lux of it all is absolutely dizzying. And the scales that the buildings reach is literally like reaching into the homes of the Gods. While we landed in Abu Dhabi and drove to Dubai we were introduced to the desert first and took in the topography of the land before we saw what the visionary humans did to it and yes it is unbelieveable.

    Driving on the main Sheikh Zayed road we were greeted with the most expansive traffic snarl that took us over two hours to traverse from one end of the city limits to the other. We were concerned to know that our Taxi driver could well drop us into Dubai but would not be allowed to ferry passengers back to Abu Dhabi and would have to go empty. Strange rules I thought to myself, just as we passed enormous signboards, then the Jumeirah Lake area which was again unbelievable. Reclaimed land, so much of it, so well maintained and now there are even parks with pretty specie of trees from all over the world growing comfortably in Dubai. While there is nothing natural about the city, this man-made wonder is a spectacle in itself and what mankind can do if mankind chooses to!

    Our touristy day in Dubai, got me first dressing in my glitzy best, well I had to match the city’s glam quotient and we went up to the frame, to see the skyscrapers of the city from a distance, even then we were not prepared! The taxis and cabs in Dubai need a mention on their own, from Teslas to Ferraris everything is a call away, but as a green person I had to call a Tesla and so when our ride appeared we were in for a treat, from the Dubai Frame as we drove to the Burj Khalifa our Tesla had a glazed roof and sides and well what a way to zip through the city at 9 am in the morning, the city is all practically asleep at the tender hours in the morning, for us in Bangalore 9 am is practically afternoon with a majority of our day past us already! But Dubai is a city of the night, well the lights look better at night, and the city is totally lit, also the sun is too harsh in the day!

    Our driver decided I look Emirati and took us to the Burj Khalifa residences as I typed out the location on our Uber and then with more time in our gorgeous Tesla we managed to reach the base of the tallest building in the world, ready to make ascent. Fifteen years after it was inaugurated and fifteen years after really really wanting to go. The building is stunning, inspired by the make of a flower in plan rising like a sheathed sword into the sky, trimming into a thinner crescendo, it is marketed to the max, as the guides go about all day talking of what is out there for all to see, reiterating facts on how the Khalifa, the tallest building in the world was built in a span of 6 years, a time frame that sometimes is what it takes to build a swanky farmhouse in India! Yet the main feature that came to my notice was later, which every guide and information chart refuses to mention was when we later headed to the museum of the future a fellow Mom elucidated me upon, that the Burj Khalifa is not connected to the sewage system of the city, as are a lot of buildings in Dubai. Hardly beknownst to that fact, I was amazed to know that the city administration decided it was cheaper to truck sewage from several prominent buildings that to connect it to the sewer system of the city. I couldnt help but feel that after all, all that glitters is not gold.

    Yet the Dubai Mall, the Museum of the future are experiences in Dubai, and we most conveniently avoided the souk! The Museum of the future is greatly hyped up and the visitors get to experience what the team thinks will be the matters of the future. Divided into 5 chapters, the future is said to be all about energy tapping from the sun with panels on the moon (!), then there is the point of wellness as in the future depression is set to be the new pandemic, there is the point of bio-hacking, by using fungi of different sorts to recharge the soil of the forests that may be depleted of nutrition in the future, and then there is the matter of transportation where people can fly in their bat-suits, access information through their 3d goggles and be driven around in their intelligent self-driven cars. I wonder why smart is used for tech powered devices, but not intelligent. The final chapter is titled future heros and is a very fun play area for children. It mustve been great, since it was attested by my 6 year old! Parents have to wait on the fringes and thats when i made acquaintance with the french lady in tech, her project at the moment was the AI goggles back in France. Also she enlightened me on the present scenario of Dubai.

    The parks speckled around this desert city are truly a miracle, what the sheikhs have managed to create in Dubai is truly something out of the world, as expats rush in to buy, live and get a slice of luxury in Dubai I wonder, is it necessary?