tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-858801047187821492023-08-08T13:25:54.392+05:30Umang; The Joy of Livingmy personal experiences and musingsUmanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-84541562288889591092015-09-14T22:09:00.006+05:302022-05-12T11:55:31.970+05:30Kerala, an experience !<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Kerala is the most amazing place I have ever visited. I am much impressed by the place and the people themselves. No doubt it is a beautiful place with different geographical features but the most amazing thing was the people around. Whoever I met and talked to were so kind, generous and disciplined. Anyone I happen to meet in Kerala was so so so generous that their behaviour encourages you to behave like them. Auto Rickshaw Driver, Bus Conductor, Local residents, Shopping Mall Staff, Restaurant Staff, you choose anyone; they are like a gem of the people. For Example, we happened to get into the wrong bus in Boat Jetty in Ernakulum, as the bus conductor found it out he requested us to get down at the next stop and helped us to get into the right bus, which was not of his concern at all, I was like spellbound. And are you thinking if we paid him the fare? No, not at all. I have never met such a humble public bus staff ever, nowhere. You dare not imagine that in Nepal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">Another example, we took our hotel room in MG Road, Ernakulam. We wanted to go to Cherai Beach the next day. We took an auto-rickshaw from our hotel and asked him to take us to the bus stop from where we could get a bus for Cherai Beach. Also requested him to show us the bus, as we wouldn’t recognize the correct bus. He rode us to the bus stop; he was moving his auto here and there and was turning it many times. I was wondering why he was doing so. At last, he stopped behind a bus and told us, that we were supposed to get onto the bus standing in front of us. I mean can you imagine people being so helpful to two unknown people in an unknown town? </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeZChmnhkvk/Vfb0dqUko2I/AAAAAAAATlc/9KXufVq8_BI/s1600/Kerala%2BVisit%2BOct%2B20121.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeZChmnhkvk/Vfb0dqUko2I/AAAAAAAATlc/9KXufVq8_BI/s320/Kerala%2BVisit%2BOct%2B20121.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our train experience to Kerala</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">15 Oct 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We boarded a train from Gorakhpur to Ernakulam, Cochin, Kerala. It was a tedious fifty-three hours journey on the train. We were to spend three nights on the train. For sure it was meant to be very boring, but contrary it was not tiresome at all. We met different people during our train journey. Though the travel was not that pleasant from Gorakhpur to Lucknow. Some railway staff came and sat in our compartment and were talking nonstop. Their voices were irritating and my head was about to burst listening to their loud talks. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">The compartment was silent as they got off in Lucknow Junction. Then we happened to meet a very nice big family. They were a whole lot bunch of people with two sweet little cousin sisters. Who knew not Hindi but English and Telugu only. I still remember their names- Sadvi and Saranya. They made our journey to Kerala even more exciting. And their grandfather was a gentleman. A man in his late 40s was educated and had a lot of sense of humour. He kept us telling us the speciality of South India, things to do and not to do while in Kerala. He insisted we try banana chips which is one of the famous snacks of South India. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">18 Oct 2012</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">It was evening when our train stopped in Ernakulam Junction South. Unknown city, unknown people, we just followed the people who got off the train just to see where to start. We talked to railway guards to know the place where we could get hotel rooms for the night. They suggested we go to Fort Kochi, a foreigner centric place. We took a prepaid auto rickshaw from the train station to Fort Kochi. It was dark already and the Kochi was shining like a star. The street lights were reflecting on the seawater, it looked glamorous; I fell in love with the place immediately. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">We met a very energetic and humorous hotel owner in Fort Kochi; he must have been in his early 50s. We decided to stay at his hotel. As I told him I do write a blog he wanted me to write about him and his hotel “Elite Hotel” on my blog and I promised him that I will do that for him. He also requested us to take a photo standing in front of his hotel to post on my blog :D</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hXQou1lJUJI/Vfb086YPfkI/AAAAAAAATlk/flZpXRo3n60/s1600/Kerala%2BVisit%2BOct%2B20122.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hXQou1lJUJI/Vfb086YPfkI/AAAAAAAATlk/flZpXRo3n60/s640/Kerala%2BVisit%2BOct%2B20122.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around Fort Kochi</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">19 Oct 2012</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Early morning the next day we set out to explore Fort Kochi. It was mainly a tourist area. You can find many restaurants around here offering varieties of foods and these restaurants were always packed with tourists. We went the Vasco da Gama Square, the narrow walkway that runs along the Fort </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: NE;">K</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">ochi beach, to see Chinese Fishing Net. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Once just a fishing accessory, now a big bait for tourists. We paid IC 200 to see how it was operated. More than four fishermen were needed to operate it and were made in such a way that the weight of a man walking on the main plank was enough to cause the equipment to be pulled down into the sea.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Fishing was usually done in the morning and early evening. The net was descended into the water for a</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">short time and then raised delicately by pulling on the ropes. We also participated in pulling ropes. The slow rhythm and balancing of the net</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">were spellbinding to a first-time viewer like us.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvbCmUevrsQ/Vfb1ZwingGI/AAAAAAAATls/TMjX5cN769A/s1600/Kerala%2BVisit%2BOct%2B2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvbCmUevrsQ/Vfb1ZwingGI/AAAAAAAATls/TMjX5cN769A/s640/Kerala%2BVisit%2BOct%2B2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Fishing Net in <span style="font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 15.3333px; text-align: justify;">Vasco da Gama Square, Fort Kochi</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The same day after breakfast we headed to Alappuzha also known as Alleppey for the House Boat experience. All arrangements were made by the hotel owner where we stayed in a Forth Kochi. We paid him IC 7000 for transportation and boathouse stay. We were welcomed by very pleasing staff- Akhil and Binu of Minar de’ lake House Boats and then we started our houseboat journey. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We floated for 24 hours in Vembanad Lake in a houseboat. It was an amazing experience. We tasted Keralan snacks made from ripe bananas and then delicious ethnic Keralan rice and curries. Akhil and </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Binu also managed us to visit a small village there. We were amazed to see the way people were in those backwaters. Their daily household and business were entirely dependent on those backwaters. The only means to connect those households to the city were waterways. They had a school bus… no not a bus but a school boat to carry school children. They sold fish and vegetables on the boat. All their washing and cleaning were done in the same water, no idea what water they drank.</span> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWQxcfI9r2o/Vfb2EBkQduI/AAAAAAAATmA/cG37hRGMThA/s1600/IMG_6456.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWQxcfI9r2o/Vfb2EBkQduI/AAAAAAAATmA/cG37hRGMThA/s320/IMG_6456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kerala Backwaters</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">20</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;"> </sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Oct 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We, me and Kamal, love the sea, sand and sun. After saying goodbye to Alappuzha backwaters we headed directly to Alleppey Beach. After spending hours at Alleppey Beach, we went to Marari Beach. We found not many people around and also felt abandoned so decided to return without wasting any time. We had no plan where to go after that. And saw no public transport to go back.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We kept walking unless we could find a ride. After walking for more than an hour we found an auto-rickshaw. We told him we wanted to go to Varkala. He drove us to the bus stand and waited for us until we could get the right bus to Varkala. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We reached Varkala in the afternoon. We took a hotel, freshen up and went for exploring the city. I cannot explain in my words what a view it was. It was breathtaking and mesmerizing. You never get tired of looking at the sea, it was immense and ecstatic. I must say Varkala is one of the must-visit places. I might not know what heaven looks like but I felt Varkala was not a penny less than Heaven. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">There were restaurants on the cliff adjacent to the Arabian Sea. The evening views of the sunset were worth seeing. We enjoyed dinner along with the Sunset view. One of the most memorable days of my life. We met many Nepali guys working in those restaurants in Varkala. Some of them had been living there for more than decades. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">Varkala lured us so much that we decided to stay there for one more day. We spent more than 80% of our day at the beach. The next day we had to leave early morning. We had already packed our bags and were all set to leave the hotel. We had to clear our bills before we leave. We looked for hotel staff for about an hour, but nobody was there. We shouted for them nobody answered. So we decided to write a letter and leave the money along with it. We wonder still today if the manager got the money.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWq3gniM054/Vfb3HiAp8tI/AAAAAAAATmQ/oLmnKv_UHYQ/s1600/IMG_6532.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWq3gniM054/Vfb3HiAp8tI/AAAAAAAATmQ/oLmnKv_UHYQ/s640/IMG_6532.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Varkala Beach</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">22 Oct 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrAsVdwM5oI/Vfb2ho5LDKI/AAAAAAAATmI/C7by4myNwps/s1600/IMG_6754.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrAsVdwM5oI/Vfb2ho5LDKI/AAAAAAAATmI/C7by4myNwps/s320/IMG_6754.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">AC bus operated by Kerala Govt.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">We were suggested by locals in Varkala to take an AC bus to go to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. I was more than stunned to see the bus, as we did not have such a bus in our country or let’s say at least I hadn’t experienced that yet. Comfortable, spacious, clean and reasonable fare, what could you ask for more. And of course, AC was on. You might think why I am focusing this much on AC. Well, we found out that in Kerala if you want a hotel room, they will ask you first question AC or non-AC if you go to a restaurant, there are two menus AC and non-AC :D<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">We reached the capital city very comfortably. We explored the city or say a small part of the city. We went to the Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Then we visited some of the famous silk showrooms. Their silk sarees were awesome. And their staffs were so kind and generous. Felt like I could buy all those sarees they showed us. Nevertheless, I did some shopping. We took a train back to Ernakulam. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;">We met Sijju on the train. Sijju a young south Indian from Thiruvananthapuram worked in Ernakulam. He had never been to North India. He was shocked to know that we two were there in Kerala for holidays from Nepal. He was asking us time and again ‘just two of you? He told us that he would like to visit Nepal someday and would love to see us. We shared our email ids and promised to meet him someday. He flattered us by saying that we both look like movie stars and wanted us to stay in Kerala and act in Malayalam movies. :D We reached Ernakulam and waved off to Sijju. It was already dark. We stayed in a hotel on MG road. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n7-AM0UZ3xU/Vfb3igzYKwI/AAAAAAAATmY/MMaEPWJhNYE/s1600/IMG_6597.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n7-AM0UZ3xU/Vfb3igzYKwI/AAAAAAAATmY/MMaEPWJhNYE/s640/IMG_6597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What we captured from Varkala beach </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">23 Oct 2012</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We visited Spice market in Jew Town, Mattancherry. We took a ferry from Ernakulam to Mattancherry. It was about a 20 minutes ride. On the same day, we also visited Cherai Beach. It was about a 1-hour bus ride from MG Road. Cherai beach became crowded with the setting sun. We kept on playing with waves as long as we could and returned to the hotel when it was already dark. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day we boarded a train to Gorakhpur from Ernakulam Junction. In our compartment there was a family of three; husband, wife and daughter. They too were travelling from Kerala to Gorakhpur and finally to Bhairawa, Nepal. They told us, that the man teaches in a School in Bhairawa. We reached Gorakhpur on 25<sup>th</sup> October 2012 around 7 PM. We took a Tata Sumo to the Nepal border along with some Army Men, who were returning home for Dashain. We reached the Nepal India border at around 9 PM. We took a Taxi to Butwal Bus Station from there, which took 2 hours to reach there. After that, we took a lift in a reserve Microbus to Narayanghat. We reached Narayan ghat at around 12 AM and finally, we got on a local bus from Narayanghat to Hetauda. We reached home at about 2 AM the same night. It was an exciting and rushy day after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Enjoy the video :)</span></div>
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Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-63591806653240952892012-08-19T15:41:00.002+05:302022-05-12T11:51:51.697+05:30Lost & Found<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGYkRugq3Gk/UDC6E2KBnrI/AAAAAAAAAaU/jCwyFO4FPLY/s1600/photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGYkRugq3Gk/UDC6E2KBnrI/AAAAAAAAAaU/jCwyFO4FPLY/s640/photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.5px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bhim Shumsher JBR (centre) and other Ranas</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I found this photo on my way to the office, lying on the road and was full of dust. As my eyes fell upon it, I picked it up </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">hurriedly</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and wiped the dust with my hand as I was curious to see the people in the photo. I hardly could make a guess that the photo must have been of Nepali soldiers. I was so happy as if I
found the valuable thing and showed it to my colleagues, contrary they took it lightly. In the evening when I reached home after the office, I showed it to
Kamal, he was as much excited as I was. We both tried to figure out who
might they could be, and when that photo might have been taken? Some days passed by in our curiosity.
Suddenly one day we thought to forward the photo to Vintage Nepal to post on
their FB page. As they had been posting such photos in their timeline. Kamal sent a scanned copy to them. They were
able to find out the people in the photo and the year photo was taken. It was taken in 1930 AD. And people in the
photo were Then</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> Prime Minister Bhim Shumsher
JBR (centre) and other Ranas, including Padma Shumsher JBR and Juddha Shumsher
JBR</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">. And hence our curiosity came to an end. I thought it was worth sharing with you guys. </span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: inherit;">Below is the link where you can see the photo on
Vintage Nepal’s FB page.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=290287441058647&set=a.183429031744489.48697.182987745121951&type=3&theater">https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=290287441058647&set=a.183429031744489.48697.182987745121951&type=3&theater</a></span></div>
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Thank you.</div>
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God Bless :)</div>
Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-74681116957834731382012-07-24T18:40:00.002+05:302022-05-12T11:33:07.522+05:30Dear Girl,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6IqRREPCDs/UBUNjve3vII/AAAAAAAAAYc/bQm4AcFLlA0/s1600/rose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6IqRREPCDs/UBUNjve3vII/AAAAAAAAAYc/bQm4AcFLlA0/s640/rose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />I know you very well and, you know me for a long time now. We were not friends but we were connected to each other in that way. We shared many beautiful moments in the group together. Again we were not friends though. I have a closest friend since childhood, who likes you now. I am not sure if he loves you cause he has never pronounced that word for you in front of me. I guess he loves you. But I am not sure whether he has expressed this feeling for you in front of you. Because I know him since my childhood he cannot express feelings and emotions like me. Unlike him, I have learnt in recent years to jot down my feelings as it arises. And let people know what I feel for them.<br /><br />So I thought this is the way I can let you know how much he thinks of you, dreams for you and might loves you and wants you to enter his life with loads of love and happiness. I hope I am able to portray his feelings for you, though he has not requested it from me.<br />I am not sure if you will read this post ever in your life, cause I am not going to inform you neither address you or him or anyone else about it. But by chance, if you happened to read this post, believe me, that this is meant just for you. <br />With all the love.<br />Umang<div>
God Bless</div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-71363858955008188842012-05-09T13:26:00.003+05:302022-05-12T11:16:03.850+05:30Into the Nature<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2vElaotiwW8/T6o0iJgQHMI/AAAAAAAAAUM/THEu4ZelVLk/s1600/Goshainkunda+Apr+2012.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Gosaikunda Lake situated in Langtang National Park in Rasuwa Nepal" border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2vElaotiwW8/T6o0iJgQHMI/AAAAAAAAAUM/THEu4ZelVLk/s320/Goshainkunda+Apr+2012.jpg" title="Gosainkunda, Langtang National Park, Nepal" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Frozen Gosainkunda<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Gosainkunda is a sacred Hindu and Buddhist religious site. I am not aware of Buddhist mythologies and inscriptions but many Hindu mythologies attribute Gosainkunda as the abode of Hindu deities Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Many Hindu Puranas and epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat refer to Samundra Manthan, which is directly related to the origin of Gosainkunda. Its holy water is considered of particular significance during Gangadashahara, which takes place in Jestha (the second month of the Nepali Calendar) and the sacred thread festival Janai Purnima, in Bhadra (the fifth month of the Nepali Calendar) when thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit the area. Gosainkunda is believed to have formed from the digging of the land by the Trishul of Lord Shiva after he drank the poison from Samundra Manthan and desperately wanted cold water to quench the overwhelming heat.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gosainkunda is not only famous for religious purposes but also is one of the most attractive trekking routes for tourists visiting Nepal. It attracts tourists with its natural beauty and diversity. It falls under the Langtang National Park, which is also the habitat of the most endangered Red Panda.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Tourism Map of Langtang National Park<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span>The popular starts to the trek to Gosaikunda are in Dhunche or Syabru Besi both from the Langtang side. Alternatively, trekkers may also start from Sundarijal, which lies on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Dhunche is in the Rasuwa district and is about eight hours bus ride from Machha Pokhari, Balaju, and Kathmandu. And Syabru Besi is about forty-five minutes away from Dhunche. Trekkers can start their trekking from either point. Syabru Besi is not only starting point of the Gosainkunda trek but also of the Langtang Valley trek. If you are starting from Dhunche, the first day involves a long steady climb to reach Chandanbari, which is at a height of about 3300 metres. On the second day, one reaches Laurebina (also called Lauribinayak) at about 3910 metres. At this point, some trekkers choose to climb ahead to Gosaikund, though altitude sickness is a concern due to the rapid ascent. Many trekkers choose to stay at Laurebina which also provides excellent sunset and sunrise views of the Langtang and Ganesh Himal. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Langtang peak<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_16T7XaY1mE/T6o18w3lUWI/AAAAAAAAAVM/er7ICqPRYEw/s1600/hanging+bridge,+gosaikunda.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Hanging Bridge over Ghatte Khola, Langtang national park" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_16T7XaY1mE/T6o18w3lUWI/AAAAAAAAAVM/er7ICqPRYEw/s320/hanging+bridge,+gosaikunda.JPG" title="Hanging Bridge over Ghatte Khola, Langtang national park" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBol9p2Wx9Y/T6o1uibGpVI/AAAAAAAAAU8/LwkwlMoC9c8/s1600/dhunche.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Dhunche, Trekking starts from here, Langtang National park" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBol9p2Wx9Y/T6o1uibGpVI/AAAAAAAAAU8/LwkwlMoC9c8/s320/dhunche.JPG" title="Dhunche, Trekking starts from here, Langtang National park" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Me posing just before starting our journey :)</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span>11</span><sup>th</sup><span> April 2012, 4:00 AM, it was raining heavily, though it was not Monsoon. Since someday it’s been raining daily. I was worried a lot cause this weather could have ruined our trekking plan up to Gosainkunda. Despite heavy rain, four of us, I, Kamal, Puja and Utshah anyway, hit our road to Dhunche. It was no less than a battle to get onto the bus which was already packed with passengers more in the corridor than on seats. We somehow managed to stand. It was 7:00 AM when the driver started the engine. The road to Dhunche was scary in some places. Landslides of the last monsoon weren’t yet managed. But we also had a chance to enjoy scenic foothills. Before the arrival of Dhunche, there was an Army check post, where all the foreign tourists were supposed to register themselves so that they have a record of tourists visiting that area.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-choS9UbQYj0/T6o2HLs5YqI/AAAAAAAAAVU/_m91Dl9cHgo/s1600/hotel+deurali+gosaikunda.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Deurali Hotel in Deurali on the way to Gosaikunda" border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-choS9UbQYj0/T6o2HLs5YqI/AAAAAAAAAVU/_m91Dl9cHgo/s320/hotel+deurali+gosaikunda.JPG" title="Deurali Hotel, Deurali on the way to Gosaikunda" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Hotel Deurali<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">We reached Dhunche at about 1:30 PM; someone on the bus had suggested we climb the hill the same day, as we had ample time before sunset. We agreed on the same and started the trekking right away after having light lunch in Dhunche at Maila Dai ko restaurant. We walked all the way up through Rhododendron (National flower of Nepal) covered forest; it was not an easy day for us. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It was a long steady climb to reach Deurali, we had thought to reach Chandanbari by the end of the day but we could not, as it was already dark when we reached Deurali, 2625 metres. There was only one hotel and we had no choice but to stay there. We had dinner, dal, bhat, aaluko tarkari and achar. It was very delicious after the tiresome walk. We could not wait to go to the bed as we were tired as hell. What I liked most about these hotels in the mountains is – they are very clean and tidy; they serve hygienic foods and are very polite and courteous despite all those difficulties of life.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">12<sup>th</sup> April 2012, 6:00 AM, we had Tibetan bread with omelette and tea for breakfast and started climbing up to Chandanbari around 7:00 AM. Chandanbari is also known as SinghGompa, situated at the height of 3300 metres. Before Chandanbari arrived Dhimsa was at the height of 3007 metres. There was an Army Check-post. They must have been placed there to control wildlife trafficking. It took us around 2 hours to reach Dhimsa from Deurali. We stopped by a hotel in Dhimsa for a tea break. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">We met a German couple there. They were returning back to Dhunche. The wife nearly broke her knee as she slipped off on the snow and was walking with difficulty. We reached Chandanbari at around 10:00 AM. There was a cheese factory and I was surprised to know that it was of DDC. We bought cheese and enjoyed it along with the scenery. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vA_0bzn1FAE/T6o2X5nJSvI/AAAAAAAAAV0/pDt4oDsnMEM/s1600/singhgompa.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Singh Gompa also known as ChandanBari" border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vA_0bzn1FAE/T6o2X5nJSvI/AAAAAAAAAV0/pDt4oDsnMEM/s400/singhgompa.JPG" title="Singh Gompa" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">After half an hour's rest, we again started our way up to the Cholangpati, situated at a height of 3584 metres. The walk from Chandanbari to Cholangpati was not much difficult as it was ascending slowly. We mostly saw pine forests there. It took us one hour to reach Cholangpati from SinghGompa. We decided to rest for some hours and had lunch there. At around 2:00 PM we started climbing up to the Lauribina, 3910 metres. It was about an hour's walk from Cholangpati. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Hotels in Cholangpati<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">As we reached Lauribina, I started having a terrible headache. I thought I was having a headache because of the cold, as the cold wind was blowing and there had been heavy snowfall last night. We reached a hotel in Lauribina, the nearest hotel, it was packed with foreigners. We rested there for some time and climbed even up to other hotels. We happened to find a room in one of the hotels. It was hotel Maya, small but the rooms were okay. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">The Buddha temple on the top of the hill could be seen clearly from the hotel we stayed in. We enjoyed the magic of clouds. It would come to our glass window and cover it and would disappear within minutes. The wind was blowing very swiftly and clouds were flowing with it. I had never ever seen clouds so near to me as if I could touch them with my hands. When there were no clouds we could view Langtang Lirung, Ganesh and Sanjen Himal.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UQvUZztjHpM/T6o2PprYciI/AAAAAAAAAVs/aunMrsvpuDg/s1600/lauribinayak_apr+2012.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Lauribina or Lauribinayak" border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UQvUZztjHpM/T6o2PprYciI/AAAAAAAAAVs/aunMrsvpuDg/s200/lauribinayak_apr+2012.jpg" title="Lauribina or Lauribinayak" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Lauribina</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">As I was enjoying the scenery, my headache was becoming severe. I pretended not to care much about the ache, so asked hotel Sauni to make a noodle with lots of garlic in it. We had noodles and I took medicine so that I could sleep for some hours.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">I tried hard to sleep unfortunately I could not hold my body for too long. By then I was pretty much sure that I had altitude sickness. Without panicking, I put on warm clothes and started descending. I vomited at the same time, and a local on the way told me that I had altitude sickness. I and Kamal hurriedly ran down towards Cholangpati. We reached there in less than half an hour. I felt much easier after getting there. We decided to stay in the same hotel where we had lunch in the afternoon before climbing to Lauribina.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> (To be continued in next post)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6gOvI2tAQ5k/T6pC5UtrfuI/AAAAAAAAAXY/ruD-DITE53E/s1600/IMG_0043.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Cholangpati" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6gOvI2tAQ5k/T6pC5UtrfuI/AAAAAAAAAXY/ruD-DITE53E/s640/IMG_0043.JPG" title="Cholangpati" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">A bird is seen on the way on a snowy morning. Did not know its species, so we gave the name 'SNOWBIRD' :)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p_4Z7glv0qo/T6pFj-0INZI/AAAAAAAAAXw/LB5Oc_WfOUI/s1600/IMG_9897.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Cholangpati" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p_4Z7glv0qo/T6pFj-0INZI/AAAAAAAAAXw/LB5Oc_WfOUI/s640/IMG_9897.JPG" title="Cholangpati" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">While we reached Cholangpati, he was busy cutting mountains:), his name is Krishna, who helped us a lot later...</span></td></tr>
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Photos by: <a href="http://imkamalkumar.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kamal Kumar</a></span></div>
Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-57629120647136305282012-03-31T23:00:00.003+05:302022-05-12T11:31:31.643+05:30Rafting Down The Blue... Oops! Grey Trishuli!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXzht6Ztas/T4KGXcWLs-I/AAAAAAAAASA/fkpyFIirYik/s1600/DSCF3021.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXzht6Ztas/T4KGXcWLs-I/AAAAAAAAASA/fkpyFIirYik/s640/DSCF3021.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trishuli River</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>I love adventure and travelling if both happen at the same time I love them the most. I was thinking about rafting quite a long time then, and my craze for rafting increased even more when my husband along with his colleagues went for rafting some weeks back. I evoked my colleagues in the office for rafting, some of them liked the idea and eventually, we went rafting last Saturday. We enjoyed it a lot. Everyone was excited and afraid as it was the first time for all of us. In my case excitement level was higher than anything else, exactly similar to when I did a Bungee Jump some years back in The Last Resort. It was a combination of real thrill and excitement. I can experience the thrill of being on the hanging bridge at a height of 160 meters above the Bhotekoshi River Gorge even today. It is the scariest thing you can do and the best feeling once you have done it. It is equally fun and terrifying. As the crew were tying me up with the cord and safety belts I was listening to the roar of Bhotekoshi, as if she was challenging me to jump, at the same time one of the crew members with the camera asked me ‘are you afraid Umang?’, he was taking my video, I smiled at him and said ‘I am more excited than afraid.’ listening that from me, he smiled back. They took me to the cockpit, and asked me to extend my hands as if I was ready to float and counted one…. Two… Bungee…, I jumped. Wooo! It was a lifetime experience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1o6t6y9bs6Y/T4Kmyj98OlI/AAAAAAAAAS4/WZzmnrkdJE8/s1600/DSCF3013.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1o6t6y9bs6Y/T4Kmyj98OlI/AAAAAAAAAS4/WZzmnrkdJE8/s640/DSCF3013.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing in front of the camera before the journey begins</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2riSF5oAji0/T4KkAv6g-fI/AAAAAAAAASY/SHozdDFunv0/s1600/DSC02123.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2riSF5oAji0/T4KkAv6g-fI/AAAAAAAAASY/SHozdDFunv0/s640/DSC02123.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.5px;">Here begins our journey of adventure</td></tr>
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It was 31-03-2012, we all gathered in our office at around 6:30AM; a bus from the travel agency came to pick us up from our office. The three-hour bus ride ahead provides an opportunity for learning; all of us were excited and happy to talk about that. We reached Charaudi, our rafting spot. We changed, had breakfast, applied sunscreens to avoid the sunburns and put on life jackets and helmets for safety. All of us were given a paddle to row the boat. Our guide gave us a short orientation class. He explained about commands and safety measures we need to follow while rowing the boat. As the guide was explaining the safety measures I realized that many of my colleagues were turning pale and blue, because our guide was talking about each and every possible consequence of drowning and breaking heads and legs. In the meantime "I don't want to scare you. I just want to prepare you," said our guide who offers these potentially lifesaving pointers:<br />
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-If someone falls off the boat into the river (or rather, when someone falls in), pull them out by the shoulder straps of their life vests - not by their arms, and certainly never by the head or neck. <br />
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-Listen to your guide's instructions. He is the one in charge of the boat and gives the rowing commands, of which there are four: forward, fast forward, back, right back (in which the right side of the boat rows backwards while the front rows forward, causing the boat to turn to the left) and the opposite command, left-back, turning the boat to the right. <br />
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-If you get thrown out of the boat and find yourself getting swept toward an obstacle in the water, a fallen log, say, then whatever you do, don't try to swim under the obstruction, as you could get entangled or pinned down. <br />
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-If jettisoned, assume the safety position, floating on your back. Stay calm and keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. People who panic tend to do the opposite.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elXUkxgSfvU/T4KH5jrzHwI/AAAAAAAAASI/0jyLTSDmtMQ/s1600/DSCF3056.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elXUkxgSfvU/T4KH5jrzHwI/AAAAAAAAASI/0jyLTSDmtMQ/s640/DSCF3056.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We rarely got a chance to take photos during rafting as the camera was in another boat :(</td></tr>
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Finally, we jumped into the boat, we took our seats. "Okay, let's move out. Forward!" he yelled, and we paddle out in a column of three blue and yellow rafts. Within fifteen minutes, the rafts hit the first major patch of rapids and lurch violently. Two of our group of nine are tossed from the raft like ragdolls. The raft is still bobbing and spinning around as we pull them out of the water, one by one. The excitement had begun. Everyone got back into position as we continued our semi-controlled descent down the raging corridor. Rapids upon rapids awaited, they were churning and gurgling like boiling water but were cold. As the boat cut through the water, waves broke over the bows, drenching everyone. The only thing left dry in the reporting boat was the camera equipment, stowed in the waterproof box on the raft. Names of some of the rapids were- Ladies Delights, Upset, Landslide, Butterfly and Tiger/Chicken Heart. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7rgxTgLyag/T4KIGNtYvvI/AAAAAAAAASQ/eRjAU6_L_2s/s1600/DSCF3082.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7rgxTgLyag/T4KIGNtYvvI/AAAAAAAAASQ/eRjAU6_L_2s/s640/DSCF3082.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped here for lunch, we were delighted to have food as we were very hungry after hours of rowing. :)</td></tr>
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As I noticed with my friends, the first rapid experience was scary but it was fun as they became more used to it. After experiencing 2-3 rapids all of us were more deliberately waiting for rapids to come and drench us. As the rapids would hit us everyone would scream with thrill and excitement. We spent about three hours on the raft filled with fun, fear, excitement and thrill. After this three hours long aquatic roller coaster experience, with enough sore muscles to keep an army of massage therapists busy for days, we arrive around a bend in the river to the bank for an inviting buffet lunch waiting for us on a sandy bank. Our group has endured the whitewater with no injuries, but with memories of a lifetime. <br />
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Thank you, guys.<br />
God bless :)</div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-20105880594213395752012-02-24T23:09:00.001+05:302020-09-18T13:19:11.219+05:30Lucks!<br />
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A friend, a sister, a teacher, a student always loving and
rarely irritating is LUCKS. Her name is not LUCKS actually; it is given name to
her by me. Today is her birthday and I thought of wishing her in a different
way. Here come a big warm hug and a very special birthday wish for my special
Lucks. Happy Birthday, darling. You were always so close to my heart and will
remain so. The only difference is that I am not able to spend as much time as
before with you. I had a great time being with you for more than two years. You
were always there for me in my ups and downs. You always had been my strength. We
shared secrets and had the same opinion about life, love, family and friends. It
amuses me even today that how my sayings, feeling and opinions inspired you
always. I must agree that you were a good student and at the same time, you were
my teacher. I learnt many lessons about life from you. Lucks I am getting too
emotional now, do not know what to write more about you. Even now, while I am
typing this I am smiling, thinking about you.</div>
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I always loved your over
smartness <i>'malai pahilai taha thiyo, khali tapailai jacheko' </i><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> you were too funny
Lucks. And your stupid jokes, I enjoyed them a lot. When I had no reason to
laugh, you made me laugh. Your birdie voices always consoled me in need. I have
so many reasons to thank you Lucks. Thanks a lot. You had always been an angel
in my life. Once again wish you a very happy birthday and all the happiness in
your life. Love you. I miss my Dairymilk.</div>
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God Bless!</div>
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<br /></div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-23216120164629529152012-02-13T16:28:00.004+05:302022-05-12T11:34:31.442+05:30Gardening in Winter<div style="text-align: left;">
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<em>In the hustle and bustle of urban life, your garden is the place where you have contact with nature and enjoy some quiet and peaceful time. Therefore, it deserves special attention in terms of dedication and constant maintenance, to make it a welcoming sanctuary in every season including winter. </em></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbw134FVIZ8/TypUKA0MtHI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/a-qNY3761z8/s1600/gwne_garden_home.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbw134FVIZ8/TypUKA0MtHI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/a-qNY3761z8/s400/gwne_garden_home.jpg" width="400" /></a> Keeping the freshness and greenness of one’s garden in a foggy, frosty, cold winter is a big challenge for anybody. Plants are also living things: they suffer the winter like many of us do. In the absence of proper care and nourishment, the gardens would be lifeless in winter. Many people ignore their garden in the winter. The feeling is that, once the flowers fade and the leaves die, there is nothing of interest in the garden. Nothing could be further from the truth. With all the work you do to keep your garden beautiful and attractive from spring to autumn, why let your garden die down in winter? Against the harsh backdrop of dew, fog and earth, you can plant a variety of plants that will add dimension to your garden. By selecting proper winter plants (which are listed below) that produce flowers when most other plants are dormant, you can bring colour and interest into your garden even when the days are cold and gloomy. Winter is actually time to rake up all the leaves and make a compost bin so that they can be recycled into an excellent soil conditioner. It is also time to prune shrubs, trees and rose bushes which prepares plants to bloom and grow for next spring. It is about protecting your plants from the changes in the weather, cleaning up from the summer’s reward and winterizing gardening tools to ensure that they stay in good working condition. In winter, it is obvious that the cold temperature makes it very difficult to maintain and grow plants and flowers. But, this is not impossible if you prepare ahead of time during the previous seasons. With the first fall of temperature, it is necessary to begin the pruning of plants and new plantations have to be done before cold winter arrives.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hA4fpHdbiVk/TzjsXKaLaRI/AAAAAAAAARE/7EwEsvqEACQ/s1600/2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hA4fpHdbiVk/TzjsXKaLaRI/AAAAAAAAARE/7EwEsvqEACQ/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden of Dreams, Kehsar Mahal, Kathmandu</td></tr>
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<strong>Plants and flowers for winter gardens</strong></div>
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1. Foxglove flourishes in shade. Grow foxglove plant in partial shade in well-drained, acidic soil, rich in humus.</div>
2. Snapdragon (baghmukhe) needs rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Grow it in full sun.<br />
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3. Nasturtium has showy, often intensely bright flowers and rounded leaves. Grow it in full sun to partial shade.</div>
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4. Pansy (putali phool) is one of the most popular and recognizable cool weather annuals. Pansy tolerates a variety of soils. General-purpose fertilizer works well with it. Grow in partial shade.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4B8BJGiLBHE/T6NnQ3NcpxI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Szg2ayLY2Jc/s1600/Photo0044.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4B8BJGiLBHE/T6NnQ3NcpxI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Szg2ayLY2Jc/s200/Photo0044.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumila Liliput (in my garden :))</td></tr>
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5. Calendula (asarfi) is commonly called “Pot Marigold”. It blooms throughout the season. Grow in full sun or partial shade.<br />
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6. Sweet Alyssum flourishes in loamy, well-drained soil. It requires very little attention. Grow in full sun to partial sun.</div>
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7. English Ivy needs well-drained soil. It can act as ground cover and also can climb heights. Grow in part shade to full shade.</div>
8. Weeping Winter Jasmine (jaii) is a fast grower. It tolerates almost any well-drained soil and suffers no serious disease or insect pests. Grow it in sun or shade, but it flowers more heavily in sun.<br />
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9. Bulbs are also good for winter gardening. Among the most popular of winter-flowering bulbs are Daffodil, Crocus, Hyacinth and Tulip.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvvTmhLifEQ/TzjssMQPBPI/AAAAAAAAARM/Aa7hk9iKtfQ/s1600/3.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvvTmhLifEQ/TzjssMQPBPI/AAAAAAAAARM/Aa7hk9iKtfQ/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bougainvillaea</td></tr>
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<strong>Tools and their uses in gardening</strong></div>
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Sickle (hasiya)—it is used for many purposes. In gardening, it is used to cut grasses, branches, etc.</div>
<strong>Pruning saw (karauti)—</strong>very useful for removing branches which are too thick for secateurs or loppers and when working in confined spaces.<br />
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<strong>Rakes (chande)—</strong>a leaf rake is the most effective tool for clearing up a heavy drop of leaves.</div>
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<strong>Hoe (khurpi, kuto)—</strong>hoes are tools used to create furrows in the garden for planting; to break up hard, clumpy soil; and remove weeds. Hoes come in many different sizes and weights; they also come in a wide variety of blade shapes.</div>
<strong>Grass shear (kainchi)—</strong>grass shears are used to prune and give shape to shrubs.<br />
<strong>Lawnmower—</strong>lawn mower is used to trim lawn grass. <strong>Secateurs (Pruner) (kainchi)—</strong>secateurs are used to spruce roses, shrubs, etc. for a cleaner cut with less crushing of the stem.<br />
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<strong>Leaves collector (doko)—</strong>this can be of bamboo or plastic and is used to carry dried leaves.</div>
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<strong>Watering can (jhari)</strong>—watering cans in metal and plastics are available in the market. Their purpose is to water plants.</div>
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<strong>How to take care of gardening tools</strong></div>
1. Remove soil from tools after use.<br />
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2. Never store tools wet. Make sure they are dried completely before storing to prevent rusting and wood handle rot.</div>
3. After use, wipe the metal parts of pruners, shears and saw with oil.<br />
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4. During the offseason, sharpen your tools. You can use a whetstone for sharpening cutting tools. Also, a file can be used to remove nicks and smoothen the edges of your tools.</div>
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<strong>Things to do in the garden in winter</strong></div>
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1. Pull up all weeds and dried leaves and begin a compost bin. Composting enables you to recycle garden debris and provides excellent soil conditioners for the next planting season.</div>
2. Cut back dry stems, remove diseased leaves from evergreen plants and discard them into the trash. Do not use diseased leaves for composting; it may transfer the disease to plants. Prune roses and remove stems that cross each other.<br />
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3. Shape other bushes and trees into desirable shapes to ensure blooming next spring. Cut off all dead wood from vines, trees, bamboo and shrubs. Check support for vines and strengthen them.</div>
4. A brick-paved path on the lawn adds charm and ambience to the home garden. Be sure to scrub green algae off the bricks. And, keep the edges weed-free and clean.<br />
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5. Aerate your soil well, pull weeds and improve your soil texture. Add organic matter such as leaf mould or compost to your soil. Adding ash from firewood is an excellent way to provide nutrients to your garden soil.</div>
6. Clean your garden tools. Be sure to sharpen the edges, and oil the necessary parts of the tools. If you keep your tools in good condition, your work in the spring will be easier. Make sure blades are wiped off and clean before storing them in a dry place.<br />
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Happy gardening and may you and your family enjoy long leisurely sun-soaked days in your thriving winter garden!</div>
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<i>originally published on <a href="http://www.healthylife.com.np/gardening.php?id=828">healthy life</a></i></div>
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Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-46837940572353397022012-01-19T16:37:00.005+05:302020-09-18T13:22:08.365+05:30A letter to Black Rose<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cU7M-mwB-lg/Txf5S52JQCI/AAAAAAAAAQs/FYqUEQAYt7E/s1600/happy-birthday.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cU7M-mwB-lg/Txf5S52JQCI/AAAAAAAAAQs/FYqUEQAYt7E/s320/happy-birthday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A year come and goes by. We make friends, we apart from them
with the passage of time, with changes in preferences. And I believe every friend
who comes to be part in our life, builds a special compartment for them in our
heart that nor it is collapsible neither replaceable. They stay there forever
in the form of sweet memories and remembrances. Sometimes they might be overshadowed
but not detached. Today I would like to confess that you were always in my
heart also in all those days when I was not with you when you were not there
with me when I was happy and sad. I am trying to resume our custom of ‘expression
through the letter’ your 16<sup>th</sup> birthday onwards. :) Wish you wonderful
days ahead and all the success and achievements you deserve. Happy Birthday, darling.</div>
<a name='more'></a>As you know how poor I am in case of expressing my emotions
and feelings, I lack words as I have to say my feelings to people. The same thing
is happening to me right now. I do not know how to say you that you have always
brought so much fun, life and laughter in my life. You were my secret diary in
my college days, a single person to whom I used to pour all my sorrow,
curiosity, laughter, life and happiness. You were a single person who used to
make me laugh every day. You are the one who knew my first crush. Your
stupidity and your intelligence both used to amuse me. I still remember a day
when you tore your newly stitched Salwar Suit slipping on the road in the main
market, I was worried thinking you might have got injured and was willing to laugh
seeing the big hole in your cloth. Hehehe…………..wow! I simply loved those days.
We had such a beautiful day together. They always bring a smile on my face.
Thank you for everything. Love you, my
dear. Take care.<br />
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Happy Birthday to you,</div>
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Happy birthday to you</div>
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Happy birthday dear ……..</div>
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Happy birthday to you………….</div>
<br />
God Bless<br />
With Love :)Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-57723944476592662952011-12-30T19:44:00.003+05:302022-05-12T11:38:40.594+05:30Goa Fun!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Day 6 (2<sup>nd</sup> October 2011) Sunday</span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym4681upg4I/Tv3Ctq8aQ-I/AAAAAAAAANk/mkybTflebN8/s1600/DSC02742.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Early morning train to goa from Mumbai CST" border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym4681upg4I/Tv3Ctq8aQ-I/AAAAAAAAANk/mkybTflebN8/s320/DSC02742.JPG" title="Train to Goa" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Morning Train to Goa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We had great days in Mumbai. It was a lifetime experience for me. And the next chapter was about to begin, Goa. Had heard a lot but never had a chance to visit Goa earlier. I was excited a lot. We took an early morning train to Goa from CST, Mumbai. I had thought that we would be able to see the sea all day long on the way to Goa because as per the map Goa is just at another end of the Arabian Sea from Mumbai. Contrary to this we happened to see the mountains and our train passed through numerous tunnels until we reached Goa. Truly saying my excitement was slowly going down as the train was passing through those dark, dusty tunnels.<br />
I was<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaJN0fHt42k/Tv3GRgg5ZSI/AAAAAAAAANw/BBGF0C85TkE/s1600/DSC02780.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Colva Beach, most clean and less crowded beach" border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaJN0fHt42k/Tv3GRgg5ZSI/AAAAAAAAANw/BBGF0C85TkE/s200/DSC02780.JPG" title="Colva Beach" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colva Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
not liking the tunnel experience, dark, dusty and smelly tunnels. I must have felt such because we were travelling in Sleeper Class this time. Windows remained open all the time. Here I would like to request one thing from all passengers who travel by Train, not to throw waste and rubbish from the window. All of them were throwing the waste, plastics, and leftovers from the windows. I think only two of us were putting everything in a plastic bag so that we could bin it afterwards. The railway tracks looked so polluted due to all those plastic bags, wrappers and styrofoam plates.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eswccMmfXrw/Tv8EeexB43I/AAAAAAAAAOU/Q3CHiSo_rZY/s1600/DSC02832.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eswccMmfXrw/Tv8EeexB43I/AAAAAAAAAOU/Q3CHiSo_rZY/s200/DSC02832.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Cathedral</td></tr>
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Finally, we reached Madgaon, Goa at about 8:30 PM. It took us about 14 hours to reach there. We happened to experience the same as in Kurla Railway Station in Madgaon, Railway Station. As we stepped out of the train, taxi drivers, auto drivers and bike taxi drivers swarmed up around us. It was dark already and on top of it, it was a completely unknown place, I was reluctant to trust anybody. We took some time to know about the rates and I was much concerned about safety. Taxi Drivers had an office outside Railway Station, we paid for a taxi and took a bill from them. We finally got into a taxi and the taxi driver, Babban, promised us to take to some budget hotels with good services and rooms. We took his mobile number too, in case of any chaos that would be helpful to us.<br />
He drove us to the South Goa, which was nearer to the station and brought us to Hotel Vhailenkuti. The room looked okay and the rate was reasonable, so we decided to stay there as it was already 10:00 PM by then. We changed and went out for food. Surprisingly, most of the restaurants were open in Goa, I felt as if people all over India sleep only after midnight. We had good food in Panjabi Dhaba. Fish Curry and Rice were the best of all.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Day 7 (3<sup>rd</sup> October 2011) Monday</span></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ev2Kf7o5pgg/Tv7_5Kb912I/AAAAAAAAAN8/_90JBGY5pKw/s1600/DSC02784.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ev2Kf7o5pgg/Tv7_5Kb912I/AAAAAAAAAN8/_90JBGY5pKw/s320/DSC02784.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colva Beach</td></tr>
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We woke up early morning and headed directly to Beach, Colva Beach which was just two minute walk from our hotel. I was spellbound as I saw the sea. It was a breathtaking view for me. I was in a great hurry to get into the water. I jumped into it and was screaming every time as tides push me back towards the beach.<br />
We spent the whole day without caring for sunburn. We built a sand house, played hide and seek in the water, collected stones and shells and took photographs as much as we could, in total we enjoyed ourselves a lot. It was a lifetime experience for me. We returned back to the hotel only after the beach was closed.<br />
What I liked the most on the beach in Goa was that there was a lifeguard looking after everyone on the beach, they were warning people from time to time when the tides were high or if anyone entered the water beyond the territory they had marked. We took shower, changed and went for dinner. This time a new restaurant, there were many restaurants nearby Colva Beach but the common food in all those restaurants were Fish Curry and Rice. I liked it the most. They cooked the fish with coconut in it; it was really an awesome recipe.<br />
Each day Fish and Rice were made sure on our menu. ‘Fenny’ is another thing you must not forget to taste in Goa. It is a locally made alcohol either from Cashew Nuts or Coconut. Our Tour Guide told us that Fenny actually is also a medicine if taken in proper quantity each day. He also told us that we were allowed to take a maximum of three bottles of Fenny without paying tax to other states or countries. So we decide to take at least a bottle of Fenny with us.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKjsRu6Ii0U/Tv8GKYCYffI/AAAAAAAAAOg/dy4qXkbHFVE/s1600/DSC02984.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="rocky beach with red sand" border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKjsRu6Ii0U/Tv8GKYCYffI/AAAAAAAAAOg/dy4qXkbHFVE/s320/DSC02984.JPG" title="Vagator Beach, Goa" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vagator Beach</td></tr>
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Our Hotel Manager, a Nepali Guy, knocked at our door late at night to ask us if we were interested to go sightseeing the other day on Hotel Bus with other customers in the hotel. We agreed immediately and paid 750 IC each which included visits to- Anjuna Beach, Vagator Beach, Calangute Beach, a deep-sea Dolphin watch in Sinqurim Beach and finally a cruise on Mandovi River. We were staying in South Goa, a very peaceful and very beautiful Colva beach with fewer people, and the next day we were visiting North Goa.<br />
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Day 8 (4<sup>th</sup> October 2011) Tuesday</span></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkgpGLIpkN0/Tv8HxZKW2WI/AAAAAAAAAOs/pK2HGGPjn9Y/s1600/DSCF2159.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Most Crowded beach, also known as queen of beach in Goa" border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkgpGLIpkN0/Tv8HxZKW2WI/AAAAAAAAAOs/pK2HGGPjn9Y/s320/DSCF2159.JPG" title="Callangute Beach" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Calangute Beach</span>
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We woke up early morning, had breakfast and reserved the best seat on the bus on which we were supposed to visit North Goa. Slowly other people came and occupied other seats. The driver of the bus was also the travel guide for that day. He introduced himself as Anil and was also instructing us about the rules and regulations to follow in Goa as a tourist as he was driving the bus. He told us that the police in Goa were very strict, unlike police from other states.<br />
North Goa was crowded in comparison to South Goa, though very clean and tidy. They had fine roads and we saw many industries on the way to Goa.<br />
Goa is not just a tourist area but also there are many big industries. It is the smallest and richest state in India. It is famous for beaches, a mixed custom of Hinduism and Christianity, Cashew Nuts and Fenny.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SUSMrnLP5o/Tv8B_8ocijI/AAAAAAAAAOI/wsTmmyIe_Yc/s1600/DSC02973.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SUSMrnLP5o/Tv8B_8ocijI/AAAAAAAAAOI/wsTmmyIe_Yc/s320/DSC02973.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anjuna Beach</td></tr>
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At first, we were taken to Anjuna Beach, this beach was different from the Colva Beach in South Goa. It was rocky and had red sand. After the Anjuna, we went to Vagator Beach. Vagator beach had many attractions like motorboats, parachutes, water skiing etc. But we were warned by Anil not to participate in a card game where those people use black magic to loot tourists.<br />
Then we headed towards Calangute Beach. We came to know that this beach was said to be the queen of all the beaches in Goa. It was much more crowded than any other beach and I found waves much more notorious there. I loved Colva Beach among all the other beaches I had been to in Goa.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMbwy2YIoS8/Tv8JS2L20_I/AAAAAAAAAO4/TmtPp9rndu4/s1600/DSC02957.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="got a chance to see Dolphins in mondovi river" border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMbwy2YIoS8/Tv8JS2L20_I/AAAAAAAAAO4/TmtPp9rndu4/s320/DSC02957.JPG" title="Mandovi River, river cruise and Dolphin visit" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep-Sea Dolphin Visit</td></tr>
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We then headed to Sinqurim for deep-sea sailing to see Dolphins. We took our seats on the motorboat which accommodated the other eight people along with us. We put on a life jacket and the journey began. We happened to see a mansion of a diamond merchant from the sea, which faced the huge Arabian Sea to the front. It was elongated from the bottom of the hill to the top and could be accessed into the house on a motorboat under the hill. After about 1 hour of sailing, we happened to see a family of dolphins.<br />
We hurriedly took some snaps. Then the last destination of that day was a river cruise. The cruise was on the Mondavi River in Panjim. We spent that evening on the top of the ship enjoying the sunset and Portuguese music. It was really fun when I danced upon a call from the MC of the cultural program during the cruise. We returned back to the hotel by 8:30 PM. We changed and went out for dinner. Goa looked beautiful at night with all those lights and shops targeted at tourists, somehow similar to Thamel of Kathmandu.<br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Day 9 (5<sup>th</sup> October 2011) Wednesday</span></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tRUdi13yA98/Tv8LZpIC6MI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/y_5UDv4y5Sk/s1600/DSCF2225.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tRUdi13yA98/Tv8LZpIC6MI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/y_5UDv4y5Sk/s320/DSCF2225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruise on Mandovi River</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0_J7NPTbik/Tv8OiNiA96I/AAAAAAAAAPo/U7Y_ge2-m1Y/s1600/DSCF2249.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0_J7NPTbik/Tv8OiNiA96I/AAAAAAAAAPo/U7Y_ge2-m1Y/s320/DSCF2249.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mahalaxmi Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The next day we decided to spend a day on Colva Beach and Madgoan. We also wanted to visit some churches nearby on that day. Actually, I wanted to see Shanta Durga Temple on that day, which was built much before the Portuguese invaded Goa and was destroyed by them and was renovated when they left Goa. But our hotel manager discouraged us to go there alone. So we decided to visit the nearby Mahalaxmi Temple in the evening. First, we decided to go to Mudgoan. We took a local bus from Colva, which is the most used vehicle by Goan People for day to day up and down. We roamed for some hours as we did not know where to go and what to do in Madgoan. Then we returned to Colva and went to the beach. We returned to the hotel after the beach was closed and then went to the Mahalaxmi Temple after a shower. We bowed our heads and bought two sarees for our mothers from Mahalaxmi Temples. Actually, those sarees are offered to Mata Laxmi by devotees and then the trust taking care of the temple would sell them at a very cheap price, the money went to the trust eventually. As it was Mahanawami it was worth visiting Mahalaxmi Temple on that day. We had to catch the early morning train the next day. So we packed our languages and went to sleep early.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Day 10 (6<sup>th</sup> October 2011) Thursday</span></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJJGPydakk8/Tv8UXeqQ_EI/AAAAAAAAAQA/nn_MHVdG-VQ/s1600/DSC02928.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJJGPydakk8/Tv8UXeqQ_EI/AAAAAAAAAQA/nn_MHVdG-VQ/s320/DSC02928.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We standing on Sea Shells </td></tr>
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Auto Driver came to pick up us from the hotel to the railway station at 5:00 AM. We had to catch a train at 6:30 am and it was about a 35-minute ride from our hotel to the station. Auto took IC Rs. 250 of us. We reached there before the time. We were worried since last night thinking that if the train arrived late at Madgoan Station we could miss the train to Gorakhpur from Kurla Station which was timed for 11:30 PM the same day. Luckily the train was just 15 minutes late.<br />
We were very happy that the train was not that late. We went in and took our seats. We reached Kurla Station on time. We had 4 hours of time to spend before our train would arrive at the station. This time our train was Kushinagar Express. We waited in the waiting room and enjoyed tea and other food available at the station. At 11:30 PM we boarded the train. Our travel agent Mr Mahesh had booked really nice seats for us. Each time we had a first birth ticket, which allowed us to enjoy the sceneries from the window. This time a Muslim family accompanied us, an old lady and her two granddaughters and son. We had dinner and slept on our berth.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Day 11, 12 (7<sup>th</sup> & 8<sup>th</sup> October 2011) Friday & Saturday</span></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJG9Uz57108/Tv8RgjsaxlI/AAAAAAAAAP0/AFo51v6WHt8/s1600/DSCF2228.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJG9Uz57108/Tv8RgjsaxlI/AAAAAAAAAP0/AFo51v6WHt8/s320/DSCF2228.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classical Portuguese Dance</td></tr>
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Early morning we wake up to the sound ‘<i>garam garam chaye'</i> of railway staff. We were nearby Bhopal when we opened our eyes. We had cardamom flavoured tea from him and ordered for breakfast, bread and omelette. We had to spend a whole day and night in the same compartment then. We reached Lucknow at around 8 PM. A gentleman entered our compartment, we had introductions and he told us that he also had been to Nepal many times for business. He knew about many places in Kathmandu. From him, we came to know that a place called Orai on the way to Gorakhpur was very famous for its Gulabjamun. It was so famous that even the trains stopped there for 2 minutes each time so that passengers could enjoy the taste.<br />
We decided to purchase some. Orai arrived, we hurriedly got off the train and bought some and got on the train. It was hot and served in a mud bowl; it was giving out a very pure and delicious scent. We could not resist long and tested one each, it was amazingly tasty. Our next stop was Kanpur, the train reached Kanpur around 12 AM, and the gentleman got off the train. He had told before bed that every Saturday night he would take the train to Kanpur to meet his wife who worked in Kanpur as a lecturer in a college. Actually, the railway in India is a boon left to them by the British. It is the biggest organization employing the largest number of people in the world.<br />
Finally, we reached Gorakhpur, our destination at 8:30 AM. We took a car to the Nepal border and a direct bus to Hetauda, to get tika and blessings from our elders as Dashain was not over yet.</div>
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It was a wonderful stay in Goa. Fun and fun……………. Just loved it. :-)</div>
Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-2469859869512708442011-12-28T14:16:00.002+05:302022-05-12T11:50:26.553+05:30Useful household cleaning tips<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"></span><br />
To Remove: <br />
Red wine stains from cloth <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Gently squeeze it in good club soda water </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wash as normal with soap and water </span></li>
</ul>
Candle wax from carpet or tablecloth <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Scrape as much wax off as possible </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Place the blotting paper on top of the hardened wax </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Place the hot iron on top of it </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Move the blotting paper around to absorb the melting wax </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Carry on until it all has been removed, but be careful not to burn the fabric underneath <a name='more'></a></span></li>
</ul>
Chewing gum <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Put ice cubes into a plastic bag </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Place it on top of the chewing gum to harden it </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Slowly scrape the gum off </span></li>
</ul>
Rust stain from cloth <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Rub lemon juice into the fabric </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Sprinkle salt on top </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Leave to rest for at least an hour </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Rinse and wash in the normal way </span></li>
</ul>
Coffee stain from cloth <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Dab the stain with glycerin </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Rinse in cold water </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wash the normal way </span></li>
</ul>
Ketchup from carpet <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wipe up the excess ketchup </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Rub glycerin into the stain </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Sponge with warm water </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Use tissue paper to remove excess water from the carpet </span></li>
</ul>
Stains from copper utensils <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Add lime juice to salt </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Rub the mixture into the stain </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wash with clean water </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Dry the utensils with cotton cloth, copper will shine like new </span></li>
</ul>
Bad smell from a room <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Soak a cotton ball with a few drops of good-smelling oil or your favourite scent </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Put it into a vacuum bag before you vacuum </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">When you are done with vacuum a beautiful scent has been added to your room </span></li>
</ul>
Dust from artificial flowers <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Pour some salt into a paper bag </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Put the flowers upside down in the bag </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Hold tight in the opening of the bag and shake energetically </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new </span></li>
</ul>
Burnt on food from the skillet <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the pan </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Bring to boil on the stovetop </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Burnt will be easily peeled off </span></li>
</ul>
Water stains and dirt from clay candle of water filter <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Take some salt in your hand </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Scrub it for some minutes </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wash the candle with clean water </span></li>
</ul>
Stains and add shine to windows pane or mirror <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Add a drop of vinegar into warm water </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wash the glass or mirror with the solution </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wipe with crunched up newspaper until dry and shiny. They will sparkle like new </span></li>
</ul>
Hair dye stains from skin <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Soak cotton with Dettol-antiseptic liquid </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Gently rub it on the stain </span></li>
</ul>
Turmeric stains from cloth <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Put talcum powder as soon as you get the stain </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Wash normally with soap and water </span></li>
</ul>
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Hope these tips help you to ease your household tasks.</div>
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Have a good day.</div>
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God Bless.</div>
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</span>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-16141217857701479722011-11-26T10:43:00.002+05:302022-05-12T11:44:01.035+05:30My Birthday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xO-PyiQM6JY/TtHJKUeSqXI/AAAAAAAAAMk/pa2Kw9lQSrE/s1600/happy-birthday.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Birthday celebration, Chocolate cake" border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xO-PyiQM6JY/TtHJKUeSqXI/AAAAAAAAAMk/pa2Kw9lQSrE/s200/happy-birthday.jpg" title="Birthday Cake" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Cake</td></tr>
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It is my birthday today. 26<sup>th</sup> November 2011 counted on my fingers how old am I now? And observed me in the mirror if I looked old. No! not even a trace of old age. I felt happy. Last night my husband wanted me to wake up till 12 AM so that he becomes the first one to wish me on my birthday. I was half asleep when he woke me up and wished me ‘a happy birthday. He had brought Cadbury Gift Packet and a beautiful shawl for me. A surprise gift, Wow!<br />
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I woke up early morning and sign in to my FB, my friends had already started posting on my timeline. It makes me very happy to receive birthday wishes from all my friends and dear ones. I went to Pashupati Nath Temple with my husband to thank him for his grace towards me and my family. Whenever I go to the temple I always thank God for his blessings, grace and kindness, he has given me happiness in my life without asking, strength whenever needed and wisdom to tackle difficult situations.</div>
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Some people were donating blood under the shade outside a temple. I thought of donating too, but my husband told me that they do not seem that organized and did not allow me to. But he promised me that he will let me some other time.</div>
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Many old women were sitting outside in the sun; they all were from Pashupati Biddharshram. I thought to distribute sweets among them. I bought Jerry from a nearby shop and distributed it among them. They were so happy to get it that each of them blessed me. Maybe that was what I looking for. I felt so satisfied and happy to talk to them and receive their blessings.</div>
Then we went to Sankata Temple. I lit a butter lamp there and went to Putalisadak to meet some of my dear ones. After an hour we were back at our home. My husband made rice pudding for dinner.<br />
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Here I would like to thank all my family and friends for their wishes for me. Each word is precious to me. Thank you for your love and care towards me. Love you all.</div>
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It was a perfect birthday celebration for me.</div>
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God Bless!</div>
Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-41323489601410758652011-11-09T21:18:00.003+05:302022-05-12T11:43:04.015+05:30Mumbai Diary<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Day 1 (27-9-2011), Tuesday</b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RDm3IzGlfgc/TrqjiYNDarI/AAAAAAAAAMU/eKbKAH9fD3c/s1600/kathmandu-to-mumbai.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RDm3IzGlfgc/TrqjiYNDarI/AAAAAAAAAMU/eKbKAH9fD3c/s200/kathmandu-to-mumbai.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It was 4:30 PM; hurriedly I left the office and headed home with my husband, where we had our backpack ready by last night. I and my husband ate some food, carried our backpack and left for Bhairahawa, from where we were supposed to take a rickshaw up to Sunauli then 3 hours car ride and finally to Gorakhpur Junction. Though it was a hectic schedule, I was excited about the train journey which I was about to experience the following day for the first time in my life. We boarded the bus from Gongabu bus station at about 8:30PM; it took about 12 hours to reach Bhairahawa bus station. </div>
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<b>Day 2 (28-9-2011), Wednesday</b></div>
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It was Ghatasthapana day, which did not lure us much, which would have if we were back at home. We took a rickshaw up to Sunauli and crossed the NEPAL-INDIA border on foot. Had thought of many evils about border security guards but I did not experience any such incidents nor did I see any traces of fear and insecurity.</div>
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We hired a TATA Indica up to Gorakhpur Railway Station. It took us about three and a half an hour to reach Gorakhpur. We happened to meet two interesting characters on the way to Gorakhpur. A man and his wife, man worked for Nepal Police and was sending his wife on a working visa to Saudi Arabia through an illegal way from India.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/298397_304101919606462_100000199681868_1473643_879927878_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/298397_304101919606462_100000199681868_1473643_879927878_n.jpg?dl=1" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorakhpur Junction</td></tr>
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Finally, we were in Gorakhpur Railway Station; it was about 2:30 PM, Indian Time. Since we had tickets for AC compartments, we were entitled to enjoy the facilities of the AC waiting rooms. We took shower, changed clothes and waited for our train which would leave the station at 9:30 PM. As we waited for the train we found that many Nepali actually visit India during the holiday season. We felt good to see Nepali faces in a foreign land.</div>
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Our train arrived at the station, and we walked up to our compartment i.e., AC Tire 3, B2-25, 28. I must mention here that the train was neat and clean. I liked it inside the train. Luckily two Nepali faces entered our compartment. Two ladies-I felt nice to have a companion from my country. So did him. But contrary to our expectation, the taller looking lady was rude and from her telephone conversation, I doubt if she was taking the other girl, Kanchi (she screamed at her saying this name) to Mumbai to the red light area. I was not sure but I sensed a smell of human trafficking there. She did not allow Kanchi to interact with us, nor did she allow her to stay in her berth without a curtain on. So we could not find out much about them.<br />
The railway staff brought dinner for us, which we ordered half an hour earlier, we ate dinner and slept. As we woke up early morning at 5 AM, we were on a bridge over the GANGA, in Kanpur. We bowed our heads to Ganga.</div>
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<b>Day 3 (29-9-2011), Thursday</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/311021_10150322682482085_539077084_8351308_584917181_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/311021_10150322682482085_539077084_8351308_584917181_n.jpg?dl=1" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhel Puri</td></tr>
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The two people, who boarded last night on our compartment, got off in Kanpur. Now we were only two in the whole compartment. I liked it very much. We put the curtain on; it felt that only two of us were in the whole world. There was nothing to worry about we kept on trying each and every food the train (pantry) staff would bring- Bhel Puri, Bada Paun, Dal Bada, Biryani, Tea, Coffee, Sweet Corn, Cucumber everything. Since we were only in our compartment, we tried different poses for a photoshoot there. We tried sleeping on each berth. We danced and sang, we played Baghchal, Marriage (card). Most of the time, we enjoyed outside views while other passengers were sleeping or reading newspapers. After all, it was our first time on a train.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316293_10150322681372085_539077084_8351301_410201969_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316293_10150322681372085_539077084_8351301_410201969_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying outside view from Train</td></tr>
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<b>Day 4 (30-9-2011), Friday</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300213_304102936273027_100000199681868_1473676_2073514203_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300213_304102936273027_100000199681868_1473676_2073514203_n.jpg?dl=1" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mumbai in an early morning</td></tr>
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Our Train arrived at Lokmanya Tilak Station, Kurla, Mumbai in the early morning at 4:30 AM. It was still dark. As we took our luggage and got off the train, the taxi drivers/auto drivers swarmed up around us. This was what I did not like the most. We tried to ignore them and headed towards the station enquiry room. But they were determined not to leave us like that; one of them followed us for about an hour. Finally, we found some Nepali Guys-Amit and his friends queuing up to get a ticket for the local train up to CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station). We requested him to buy two tickets for us as well, he was really a great help to us. I found Mumbai Local train so punctual and disciplined unlike what I used to see in Bollywood movies. I also found people in Mumbai were friendly and helpful. And was compelled to think that we always had misinterpreted India and Indian People and that not all of them are bad. And I believe Bollywood movies are also partly credited to develop such feelings in us. We reached CST along with them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/320793_10150322684102085_539077084_8351319_1330530410_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/320793_10150322684102085_539077084_8351319_1330530410_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gateway of India, Mumbai</td></tr>
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Mumbai- I found it huge, rich and lavish. It was early morning about 6:30AM; when we reached Central Mumbai, it had not woken up yet. We decided to go to see the Gateway of India directly. The walking distance from CST to the Gateway of India was just 30 minutes. The Gateway of India and The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel face each other on the bank of the huge Arabian Sea. The Gateway of India was built in 1911 and The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was built 21 years before the Gateway of India. Colourful ferries in the Arabian Sea in the early morning looked beautiful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315585_304103689606285_100000199681868_1473684_1452386964_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315585_304103689606285_100000199681868_1473684_1452386964_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Taj and Gateway of India </td></tr>
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We walked around for about three hours there and set out in search of a hotel. Though we had already booked a hotel in Grand Road, someone suggested we not stay in that area. So we tried to find out a budget hotel in Colaba. We roamed for about an hour and finally found a hotel behind The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. And luckily the manager was Nepali. I was very happy to find a hotel in such a lovely place. Sea on two minutes walking distance, it was simply wow!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303875_10150322686677085_539077084_8351332_1798222880_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303875_10150322686677085_539077084_8351332_1798222880_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The street which took to our hotel</td></tr>
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We got into our room. It was an old British styled room. We did not waste time, took shower, changed cloth and hurriedly went out; again we went to The Gateway and took a ferry (INR 130 each) to Elephanta Cave. It was about one hour ride; we reached a small Island with Rock Mountains. Those mountains are carved with huge Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is also registered as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. To enter the heritage site, visitors need to take a ticket, INR 10 for Indians and INR 250 for Foreigners. Since we could speak Hindi fluently, I asked for two tickets in Hindi and paid just INR 20. We saved INR 480 in this way. Photography was prohibited by the Indian Navy on the way to Elephanta Cave, but we stealthily took some photos from the ferry.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-_Jl1-FKMQ/TrqXjIWZ-pI/AAAAAAAAAMM/u2uaSfpOTnI/s1600/DSC02602.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-_Jl1-FKMQ/TrqXjIWZ-pI/AAAAAAAAAMM/u2uaSfpOTnI/s320/DSC02602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephanta Cave</td></tr>
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As we got back from Elephanta Cave, we walked around the city. Coconut water did wonders on such a hot day. We went to MC Donald’s for lunch. I must say it was so crowded with teen <span class="st">Mumbaikars</span>. We walked around the city, did some shopping, and had dinner in a fine restaurant. Overall it was a great experience in Mumbai.<br />
Mumbai added a very memorable day to my life. I loved Mumbai the most at night. I must say ‘Mumbai never sleeps. It was so lively at night, people meet friends, go shopping, got together, they walk on the street so carefreely at night, which is very contrary to our Kathmandu. One more day in Mumbai was yet to come.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298527_10150322691937085_539077084_8351377_2125935760_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298527_10150322691937085_539077084_8351377_2125935760_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mumbai @ night</td></tr>
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<b>Day 5 (01-10-2011), Saturday</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298195_10150322694857085_539077084_8351412_1190004630_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298195_10150322694857085_539077084_8351412_1190004630_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Jalsa', Mr Bachchan's house</td></tr>
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My only wish in Mumbai was to see “Jalsa” and “Mannat”. In so early morning we took a Local Train from CST to Juhu. We were not sure about the distance from the railway station to Juhu Beach, we decided to go to Juhu Beach at first and then to Mr Bachchan’s House. We reached Juhu Beach after an hour's walk. Juhu Beach could not attract me much, it was polluted and the water was stinking. I entered the sea reluctantly. We took a photo from a local photographer who carries a camera and printers and provides you photo instantly. We tried some Indian dishes on Juhu Beach. And not to forget a rash-gola, which I will never try in my life again.<br />
Then we set on a mission to find ‘Jalsa’ Mr Bachhan's house. We found it, two guards were there, I thought I need to take permission before I take snaps in front of it. We took permission and took some quick snaps in front of ‘Jalsa’. I was expecting if I could see just a glance of Bachchan's.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312179_10150322695427085_539077084_8351417_158216107_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312179_10150322695427085_539077084_8351417_158216107_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Mannat' King Khan's House</td></tr>
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My next wish was ‘Mannat’. So we took a bus to Bandra from Juhu Bus Stand. We reached Bandra, and then we took another bus to Bandra Stand from Bandra. Bus fare in India is cheap and very systematic. And there are reserved seats for ladies, the elderly and the differently-abled. There are certain rules to follow while you travel by bus and <span class="st">Mumbaikars follow that. I liked the disciplined way of the bus and passengers.</span></div>
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<span class="st">We reached Bandra Stand, and Mr King Khan’s House stood just in front of us as I got off the bus. Written ‘Mannat, Lands End’ on the wall. Many fans were already there. They were taking snaps in front of the house. I thought to talk to SRK’s guard first. I peek inside through the window of Guard’s House. There were SRK’s posters all over the wall. I talked to his guard and told him to convey my message to SRK. The guard was very friendly, he suggested I write a letter to him and he would give that to SRK. I was very happy just to think that SRK would read my letter, I wrote a letter and gave it to him. We found that nearby there was a Bandra Fort. We went there; found that it might be the most popular dating spot in Mumbai. We saw a couple everywhere. Busy and lost in their world. We enjoyed the scenery and the sea.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296116_304105729606081_100000199681868_1473726_1298401243_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296116_304105729606081_100000199681868_1473726_1298401243_n.jpg?dl=1" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bandra Fort</td></tr>
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We took the bus back to Bandra and a train to Mahalaxmi Station. We were then heading towards Haji Ali Darga and Mahalaxmi Temple. It was about a 1-hour walk from the railway station to Haji Ali. We bowed our heads from outside to Haji Ali Darga and walked toward Mahalaxmi Temple. It was 7 PM when we took back the bus to Colaba, where our hotel was. We went to the hotel, freshened up and again came out for dinner. As I explained earlier, Mumbai was glittering at night. I simply loved it. I almost fell in love with Mumbai.<br />
Mumbai is best for street shoppers. You can find everything on the street, clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery and accessories, souvenirs etc. Chinese products were also commonly seen in street shops, as in Kathmandu.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303713_304104439606210_100000199681868_1473696_720845543_n.jpg?dl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303713_304104439606210_100000199681868_1473696_720845543_n.jpg?dl=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street Market in Colaba</td></tr>
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We ate dinner and for the last time, we went to watch the Gateway of India, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. They looked beautiful at night on the electric light.</div>
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<span class="st">That was the last evening in Mumbai, next day we had an early morning train to GOA. We talked to ourselves that the two days and two nights were not enough to explore this beautiful city. We missed many things but also were happy because we lived two beautiful days in Mumbai. Thank you, Mumbai for adding such a memorable day to our lives.</span><br />
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Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-12147329127045515362011-09-13T10:33:00.003+05:302022-05-12T11:45:02.502+05:30Made for Each Other<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqlxk9WReaU/TxhWXTwdxgI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/AJpTg3VZBAU/s1600/DSC02945.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqlxk9WReaU/TxhWXTwdxgI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/AJpTg3VZBAU/s320/DSC02945.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">umang & kamal</td></tr>
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As our second marriage anniversary is approaching, I am thinking if my life has been changed after marriage. Not much I must say. I used to be an independent, carefree, spontaneous girl and I feel the same after two years of marriage. I married the same guy whom I loved so much. We got married after three years of our love affair. It was an adventurous and most beautiful part of my life. </div>
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Though we were classmates, I never happened to care about him when we were in school. I hardly noticed him or care for him in class. He was like the other seventy students for me in my class. But he always tells me that he was in love with me since his school days, though he never tried to reveal it then. We appeared at SLC, and school life ended. We moved ahead in life. I joined +2 in Hetauda and made new friends. Never cared where is he, what college and faculty he joined? I did my +2 and Bachelors from the same college. I heard from some of my school friends that he was then a Journalist and worked for Communication Corner and he read the news every morning and evening. Since he was my classmate, I had some kind of hidden desire to listen to him reading the news. After several days I happened to listen to him. I found his voice so mature, so clear and perfect for a newsreader. I must say I loved his voice.<br />
<a name='more'></a>I came to Kathmandu for my further studies. I joined college. Many good and bad things happened to me in between, but the best ever thing that happened to me was our meeting. We met after six years on New Year’s EVE, 2006. He was a changed man than what he used to be in his school days. And I think so was I. We started meeting quite often. I just loved to be with him and listen to him. I do not know who proposed first but we were in love already. God made us for each other. Otherwise, I would not have met him after six years suddenly on a new year’s eve.</div>
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It was difficult but we convinced our parents and got married after three years of affair. And see how it is already two years and we are so happy together. I do not know how but my love for him increases day by day. I feel he is the one who is there for me to inspire me, to support me, my real-life hero ;). And sometimes he is like my baby, who makes me laugh with funny things and childish behaviour. I am experiencing the life of two people at the same time: wife and mother.</div>
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Thank you, God, for blessing me with such a beautiful life. </div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-8693281573640279402011-08-07T14:48:00.004+05:302022-05-12T11:45:35.978+05:30Happy Friendship Day<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>August 7, the first Sunday of August, Friendship Day. As I am aware that the UN has declared July 30 as an International Friendship Day, but also there is a strong attachment with August as a Friendship Month, 1<sup>st</sup> week as Friendship Week and First Sunday as Friendship Day. I do not want to replace this day with any other date.</div>
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Today I am being a little bit nostalgic. I am getting a flashback of my school and college days frequently. I had many friends then, it’s not that they are all gone but also we hardly happened to see each other. And top of it I find it rather awkward to share everything with them as I used to do back in my college days. Maybe it’s because I have found a best among the best friend in my husband itself.<br />
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Today I posted a status on my FB addressing all my friends, the post was- Some friends are very far away, some are still in touch. Some pretend that they do not care for me anymore and some always make sure that I am being informed how much they love me. Today is the day I must let my friends know that I love you all as usual; I care for you and it hurts when you try to ignore me. Happy Friendship day to all my friends. Surprisingly I got many ‘likes’ and some comments. And also a long mail from one of my very close friends. I am feeling good and also felt like browsing through all those old emails in my inbox. I did check some, starting with the oldest one. As I was going through the texts I recalled all those moments which I lived through. I smiled somewhere and I was sad somewhere. It is a very good experience. I would suggest you try it once. You will feel awesome. </div>
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Stay happy…………. Keep smiling……………</div>
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God Bless</div>
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<br />Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-46398940115852431062011-07-31T16:09:00.003+05:302022-05-12T12:06:20.012+05:30How well do you know animals?<br />
1. Which is the only animal born with horns?<br />
a. Cow <br />
b. Rhino<br />
c. Giraffe <br />
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2. Which is the only bird that can also fly backwards?<br />
a. Kingfisher <br />
b. Sparrow<br />
c. Hummingbird <br />
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3. Which is the only mammal with hair on the soles of its feet? <br />
a. Ape <br />
b. Gorilla <br />
c. Polar bear<br />
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4. Which is the only mammal that cannot walk backwards?<br />
a. Elephant <br />
b. Donkey <br />
c. Kangaroo<br />
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5. Which are the only 2 animals that can see behind it without turning its head?<br />
a. Rabbit & pigeon <br />
b. Rat & parrot <br />
c. Rabbit & parrot<br />
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6. Which is the world's most destructive mammal, other than a man?<br />
a. Squirrel <br />
b. Rat <br />
c. Monkey <br />
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7. Which fish has the shortest memory span?<br />
a. Sailfish <br />
b. Goldfish <br />
c. Starfish<br />
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8. Which animal has no vocal chord?<br />
a. Zebra <br />
b. Giraffe <br />
c. Horse<br />
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9. Which of these has its eye bigger than its brain?<br />
a. Owl <br />
b. Ostrich <br />
c. Frog<br />
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10. Which of these has four noses?<br />
a. Butterfly <br />
b. Snail <br />
c. Leech<br />
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11. How many teeth does a mosquito have?<br />
a. 47 <br />
b. 1 <br />
c. None<br />
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12. What is a rhinoceros horn made of?<br />
a. Hair <br />
b. Bone <br />
c. Muscle<br />
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13. How many eyelids does a camel have?<br />
a. 3 <br />
b. 2 <br />
c. 0<br />
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14. Which domestic animal's eyes have rectangular pupils?<br />
a. Goat</div>
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b. Cow </div>
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c. Horse</div><div><br /></div>
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15. Milk of which mammal does not curdle?<br />
a. Camel <br />
b. Yak <br />
c. Goat<br />
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16. Which bird lays egg only in the morning?<br />
a. Cuckoo <br />
b. Hen <br />
c. Duck<br />
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17. Which animal laughs like a human being?<br />
a. Horse <br />
b. Donkey <br />
c. Hyena <br />
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18. Which animal cries like a human being?<br />
a. Elephant <br />
b. Cat <br />
c. Bear<br />
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19. Which is the largest flesh-eating mammal on land? <br />
a. Siberian tiger <br />
b. African lion <br />
c. Polar bear<br />
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20. What animal cannot stick out its tongue?<br />
a. Hippo <br />
b. Rhino <br />
c. Crocodile<br />
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<b>Answers:</b><br />
1 - 5 all c<br />
6 - 10 all b<br />
11 - 15 all a<br />
16 - 20 all c</div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-82440589368797762642011-07-12T20:33:00.003+05:302022-05-12T12:05:40.218+05:30Food QuizEating is perhaps the most popular pastime in the world among all races. Yet, there are some things about food that many might not be aware of. This quiz could surprise you besides, of course, giving you a new enlightenment.<br />
<br />
1. Which is the most popular spice in the world?<br />
a. Black pepper <br />
b. Cumin powder <br />
c. Coriander powder<br />
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2. Which is the hottest chilly among these three?<br />
a. Bhut Jolokia <br />
b. Infinity chilly <br />
c. Mexican Naga<br />
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3. Which fruit is not good for pregnant women?<br />
a. Papaya <br />
b. Guava <br />
c. Pineapple<br />
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4. The only vegetable that contains Vitamin B12 is?<br />
a. Mushroom <br />
b. Broccoli <br />
c. Pumpkin<br />
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5. Which is the only non-animal food source of Vitamin D?<br />
a. Mushroom <br />
b. Cauliflower <br />
c. Broccoli<br />
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6. Which fruit has a higher quantity of fibre than any other dried or fresh fruit?<br />
a. Avocado <br />
b. Figs <br />
c. Bel<br />
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7. Which is the only fruit with seeds on the outside?<br />
a. Blackberry (Kimbu) <br />
b. Strawberry (Bhuin Ainselu) <br />
c. Raspberry (Ainselu)<br />
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8. Which was the first vegetable grown in outer space?<br />
a. Onion <br />
b. Potato <br />
c. Turnip<br />
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9. Which is the only food that does not spoil?<br />
a. Butter <br />
b. Honey <br />
c. Jam<br />
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10. Which is the most expensive cooking spice?<br />
a. Astoefida (Hing) <br />
b. Saffron <br />
c. Vanilla <br />
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11. Which spice is known as "the spice of paradise"?<br />
a.Saffron <br />
b. Vanilla <br />
c. Cardamom<br />
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12. Which vegetable is also referred to as the "apple of love"?<br />
a. Sweet Potato <br />
b. Red Cabbage <br />
c. Tomato</div><div><br /></div>
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13. Which fruit does not gain flavour with cooking?<br />
a. Pear <br />
b. Apple <br />
c. Peach<br />
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14. Which of these are buds picked before they bloom into flowers?<br />
a. Sesame <br />
b. Pepper <br />
c. Clove<br />
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15. Which is the fourth most important non-cereal food crop in the world?<br />
a. Cauliflower <br />
b. Onion <br />
c. Potato <br />
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Correct answers: <br />
Questions 1 - 5 a<br />
Questions 6 - 10 b<br />
Questions 11 - 15 c</div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-79114577505571089892011-07-07T21:14:00.004+05:302022-05-12T11:48:12.291+05:30Comforting The Elderly<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><em style="color: #5b473b; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">If they do not have any source of income (like pension, old age allowances) give them some money on a regular basis so that they can spend for their day-to-day small needs. Even if the allowance is small, it doesn’t matter because it will mean a lot to them and make them feel more independent.</em> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="" src="http://www.healthylife.com.np/fckimage_healthy_life/image/issue_19/Comforting-The-Elderly.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;">Last month I went to Briddhashram at Pasupatinath and talked with some octogenarians abandoned by their family. A significant number of elderly people told me that their son and daughters-in-law showed them the way to the elderly home just because they had been ‘uncomfortable’ with their children. At the most care and love demanding age, those old folks are spending very lonely, boring and nostalgic days in an old age home. All the beautiful moments shared with their loved ones have been lost.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;">On the other hand, there is a person like Dil Shobha Shrestha who has provided shelter for 28 elderly women in her own residence in Soaltee Mode, Rabi Bhawan. She has been running the old age home single-handedly for about 12 years now. She does everything in her capacity to make her boarders’ life easy and simple. Her daily tasks include feeding, cleaning and clothing them, looking after their basic needs, doctor’s visits etc. Most of the women were rescued by Shrestha herself. They had been in pathetic condition before and had found sanctuary at her ‘Aama ko Ghar’. She is providing shelter and peaceful life to all those elderly women despite having no blood relationship with them at all.</span></span><br />
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Are we doing enough?</strong><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;">After talking with Dil Shobha Shrestha, only one question arises in my mind, are we doing enough for our elderly family members?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;">They nurtured us when we were kids. They took care of each and every need of ours and made sure that we were always happy and smiling. They helped us evolve. They taught us to differentiate between right and wrong. But, often when they grow old, we forget to care for them. Here, I am talking about the elderly who are the foundations of any family. When they grow old, our roles are reversed as it is time for us to care for them and make them feel happy and needed.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;">According to psychotherapist Nirakar Man Shrestha, MD, it is very hard for the elderly to accept the feeling that they are no more bread earners of the family. The feeling of guilt and burden slowly drags them towards the darkness of depression. They start feeling lonely and discarded and unlike the youth and the children, they pass through immense psychological changes. For example, they find their children have grown up enough to take decisions on their own. Once living together in a joint family, suddenly the two of them are left alone at home; they have property but no dear ones to look after them. The lack of family, social and financial support is the major cause of anxiety in elderly people. Moreover, dementia is common among the elderly, due to this they forget things more often. They might feel lost and useless. Here emerges our role to make them feel that they are still part of your life. Their advice is necessary for each family matter.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;">Listed alongside are some things we might be able to implement in our day to day lives to make our elderly loved ones feel gifted.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1em;">As we know, each of us has to pass through this age someday, sooner or later, why should we not start the practice of making this phase of life beautiful for everyone? If we start it from now, our children will learn from us. Taking care of your elderly today is preparing a safe elderly passage for yourself. It is actually a cycle of life – ‘you get as good as you give.’ </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">Six must do’s</strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Treat your elderly with respect and dignity. If he/she is capable, allow them to make decisions about their life. Be diplomatic while talking to them. Don’t hurt them with your words. Do not impose things/rules on them.</span></div>
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Invest in their health. Be proactive, taking them for regular medical exams. Never wait for them to ask you. Book periodic appointments in advance with the doctor for a whole year.</div>
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If they do not have any source of income (like pension, old age allowances) give them some money on a regular basis so that they can spend for their day to day small needs. Even if the allowance is small, it doesn’t matter because it will mean a lot to them and make them feel more independent.</div>
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If they are not staying with you, call or visit them on a regular basis. Do not forget to wish them on their birthdays and anniversaries. If possible, organize family gatherings and present them on these occasions.</div>
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Always encourage them, praise them for their desire to live and make them feel needed and that they are still an invaluable part of your life.</div>
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Never complain, or make your elderly loved ones feel what you are doing for them is a burden. Make them feel that you enjoy doing things for them.</div>
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<div class="article-para" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">Six should do’s</strong></div>
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Get your family involved with your elderly ones. Allow your children to visit with them. Keep them involved in your children’s life and education. Ask for their help and give them suitable chores in your home.</div>
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Teach your children to behave with the elderly in a respectful and polite way. The courteous behaviour of your children makes them overjoyed.</div>
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While going out, do not leave them alone at home. If they are not capable of cooking and cleaning, hire a maid who will provide company and help them with their household chores.</div>
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The elderly are not liabilities but assets. We can take advantage of the experience and knowledge they have earned in their lifetime (parera janeko kura). This makes them feel that they are contributing to family and society.</div>
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Volunteer to do special things for them. Eg: take them shopping or out to dinner or request their help in gardening flowers or vegetables.</div>
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Take your elderly loved one to visit other elderly relatives occasionally. They feel good to see and meet people of the same generation.</div>
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<div class="article-para" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">Six can do’s</strong></div>
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Listen to what they have to say. This helps you to find out their state of mind. It is said that a man becomes a child two times in his lifetime, first when he is young and second when he is old. So, treat the elderly like you treat your child; be as tolerant and forgiving of small faults.</div>
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Keep them updated about current events. Read to them from newspapers. Let them watch their interesting shows on television. This makes them feel that they are still a part of the world.</div>
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Discover a favourite hobby of the elderly and help them fulfil the hobby. Encourage them to cultivate a hobby if they do not have any, like cooking, painting, gardening, playing indoor games, knitting, reading, writing, etc.</div>
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Attend holy places with them and advise them to get involved in the Satsang or holy company. Arrange pilgrimage trips for them.</div>
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Encourage the elderly to participate in social communities organized for senior citizens. This keeps their body and minds active.</div>
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Record special moments shared with your elderly loved ones in a camera, tape recorder or just jot notes down. They might have stories of their times, along with cherished memories, which we may find very interesting.</div>
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Originally published in <a href="http://www.healthylife.com.np/feature.php?cid=33&id=556">Healthy Life</a></div>
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</div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-42892262676324902982011-06-17T23:09:00.003+05:302022-05-12T11:48:32.427+05:30life keeps on movingHi! Friends, I was lost somewhere in some other world for so many months and finally, here I m today at 11:26 Pm (17 June 2011) willing to post something on my blog. Hope you have not forgotten me. I really hope so. So many things happened in between, I got married, I changed my job, I joined new faculty etc. etc. In all this, I happened to meet many new people and lost some dear ones. Some I cannot get back if also I want to, my grandmother and grandfather (miss you and love you always) and some may be does not like to come back to me :( sad is not it? Anyways this is called life. I think I have learned some very useful lessons about life in this part of my life. I feel like I have become more mature than before and I can tackle situations as per their demands. <br />
I believe you guys also went through many changes in between. Many good and bad might have happened, but life doesn’t wait or rest for anything. It keeps on moving. <br />
Good night<br />
God bless.Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-29720002674418157952009-09-20T23:00:00.002+05:302022-05-12T11:49:22.797+05:30Question, Answers !<div>
It was last night<br />
I had asked you a cold question,<br />
Though you have already slept<br />
I waited for a long,<br />
Your warm breath upon my chest<br />
sparked the answer,<br />
your eyes were closed<br />
still, they were saying so much.<br />
your honest and delighted face<br />
scattered the light of devotion<br />
your arms around me<br />
answered everything,<br />
even the question I had not asked.<br />
till the dawn my dear<br />
I watched you completely<br />
I felt you at full<br />
and I got all the answers<br />
sweet, honest and abstract.<br />
since then<br />
we have been lacking questions,<br />
because we just have answers<br />
sweet, honest and abstract. </div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0Kathmandu 44600, Nepal27.702871 85.31824427.688812499999997 85.298503000000011 27.7169295 85.337985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-36280014433251787292008-06-26T07:07:00.001+05:302022-05-12T11:48:55.769+05:30Years ago<a href="http://kamalkumar.com.np/"><strong>by Kay-Kay</strong> </a><br />
<br />
Years ago,<br />
a pleasant co-incidence was born<br />
in the middle of nowhere.<br />
Then lost among the crowds,<br />
hidden inside its own beautiful world,<br />
unfurled inside the dreams<br />
and enjoyed alone,<br />
all alone.<br />
<br />
After cascades of years<br />
I called the co-incidence again,<br />
On a shinning evening<br />
the stranger was back in the town,<br />
with the gift of blurred memories.<br />
There were two for tea<br />
and tea for two,<br />
drinking up the sky,<br />
counting the stars,<br />
But the moon itself was with me.<br />
<br />
we spoke; silence, smile and lust<br />
then we lost.Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-90878347449071549432008-01-22T19:07:00.004+05:302022-05-12T11:51:19.285+05:30Paused Dreams<div>a long long time ago<br />
he was following a thread of way<br />
made by the colourful butterflies,<br />
and he was paused<br />
at a beautiful theatre of flowers.<br />
Then he followed the height<br />
of dad's shoulder,<br />the warmth of mom's lap,<br />
he followed to get the teacher's good,<br />
but paused at the end of childhood,<br />
one day he measured the distance<br />
to the moon,<br />
when about to fly, it was mid-noon,<br />
so again it was paused to itself,<br />
in the middle of the eternal space.<br />
Dad's darling and mom's little boy<br />
with best friends happiness and joy,<br />
would stop the cosmic, if he can,<br />
nowadays, he is a gentleman.<br />
walking down the same lane<br />
of Monomandu<br />
he frequently finds the dreams scattered,<br />
over the dusty and narrow streets of life,<br />
the butterfly dream,<br />
the dream of dad<br />
the dream of mom<br />
and the manic dream upon her angel's eyes.<br />
all are paused, and throwing "goodbye"s.<br />
Now he wants not to be at the top<br />
his dreams are just seeking a full stop!</div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-49299613275257891682008-01-21T14:49:00.000+05:302012-07-25T09:53:51.852+05:30सपनाऊ सपना हो,<br />
तर मैले उसलाई भेटेको छैन,<br />
न त देखेको नै छु,<br />
मस्त निन्द्राबाट एक्कासी बिउंझिदा ,<br />
न त मैले उसलाई घ्वाप्लाक्क अंगालो नै हालेको छु,<br />
उसको शहर सुतिरहंदा,<br />
नियोन लाइटले कौमार्यता छरिदिएको सुनसान सडकमा<br />
न त मैले उसको आंचल नै पक्डेको छु,<br />
न त म उसंग जुनको उचाईमा पुगेको छु,<br />
न त क्षितिजको गहीर्राईमा होम्मिएको छु,<br />
फूलको सुवासको गीत पनि गाएको छैन,<br />
छहराको संगीतमा नाचेको पनि छैन,<br />
न त लेखिएको छ सिंगमरमरको छातीमा उसको र मेरो नाम<br />
न त देखिएको छ, कुनै परी कथाको परिकथा भित्र,<br />
न त कुनै नो म्यान ल्यान्डमा उन्मुक्त भई हराएका छौं, हामीहरु ।<br />
तर ऊ सपना हो मैले नदेखेको सपना मैले नभेटेको सपना ।Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85880104718782149.post-25696795374465518722007-02-28T12:00:00.001+05:302020-09-18T13:36:00.090+05:30seeing Your face<div>
<em><span style="color: red;">swear, since seeing Your face,<br />the whole world is fraud and fantasy<br />The garden is bewildered as to what is a leaf<br />or blossom. The distracted birds<br />can't distinguish the birdseed from the snare.<br />A house of love with no limits,<br />a presence more beautiful than venus or the moon,<br />a beauty whose image fills the mirror of the heart. </span></em></div>Umanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586700424491360042noreply@blogger.com0