Love Birds - Literally!!

All for love!! -- I had a wonderful experience of shooting these love birds one fine March morning at Qutub Minar. The post on the original Qutub Minar walk to follow soon.

Decaying Morals in Indian Society…Or Outdated Me!!

Today, I learned some shocking facts about one of my friends. And off-late, I have been having one too many conversations that lead to same thread -- 

• Is this the same society that we grow up in? 
• Do people have no values anymore? 
• Is this happening in real? 

I would not judge any of these people, because I don’t know what their situation is – but far too many instances make me perceive that values and morals are actually decaying.

I was told that Marriages are made in heaven – Really? – Is it still a sacred institution?

• It is surprising how many conversations happen around extra marital affairs. What is more shocking – the number of people I know who are having a little something outside of their marriage.
• This man – I happen to know… he lies about his marital status, has himself up on the dating site – have multiple relationships. Lies. Cheats. Has sex with his partners in his house, on the same bed that he shares with his wife. Lies that his dad is dead to gain some sympathies. Lies about life and death in general to forge relationships. And then, if he doesn’t get what he wants, he calls the other person as outdated and maniac.
• This women – apparently a philosopher keeps on writing about standards/ morals/ philosophical quotes. Always having issues with people. She is married with a cute daughter and an apparently loving husband. Guess What – she is having extra marital relations with two dudes. Really? How does she manage time? And how does this she deal with her hypocritical self? And how does her conscience allows her to sex-text her multiple boyfriends when she is sleeping with her husband?
• This dude cheats on her wife with her best friend. Gets super mad when finds out that wife is flirting with his friend. Divorces and marries another person. Still trying to maintain relationship with Ex’s friend. God… I went crazy listening to his story.
• This dude is having a relationship with his sister-in-law.. It runs in the family – literally!!
• And on and on and on….. gawd!!!
• A classic -- if you tell a person your observation, then you are sticky. Wonder what prompted a person to lie about a death in the family to get some extra marital sex? And the fact that he is sleeping with more than one person outside of wedlock - i am wondering what he told the other person. Who did he kill?

If a person develops something with one person outside his/her marriage – I can still not understand. With one to many – well, I must be a maniac. Extra marital relationships with multiple people – even my friends across the world will disdain … is this what has happened to India? Or did I have a very different, clean view of the world. What happened to fidelity? Sanctity of relationships? What is happening to emotion called Love? Or, are we so devoid of love that we go to any extent to satiate our primal needs?

There is nothing better than the truth… OK, what if you catch people compulsively lying all the time – and you don’t see a perceived benefit?

• She and I went to same college. We are old college friends. Really, you were in DU and she was in Agra. None of you pursued further education. You must be kidding me! Or, probably they have a college that runs across the two locations. Silly me!
• There was a death in the family – then how come you are on the Mobile store, buying your Note 2.
• I need money, because my husband has a slip disk, and is on bed rest. OK – I see your photographs next week when he is running on the beach. You forgot about the excuse you had to borrow money. Seriously!! Are you even aware how much can online presence reveal about you?

Treat all as equal… well… the society is thriving by suppressing the weaker

• Screaming/shouting at people who are below you – or working for you
• Charge more if there is an urgency – even in a matter of life and death
• If someone overtakes you on the road… oh well – the person must have committed a crime
• Ok.. will not even start talking about the women angle

Why do we always need to take an advantage of the situation? Why does it always have to be one up the other? Why, why and why so much of aggression?

Be a doctors because that is a noble profession –no. not happening.. not anymore!!

• Apathetic attitude
• Invent diseases to extract maximum out of patients – because they are at your mercy – literally
• Money, money, money – and misdiagnosis… and god save you if you have the insurance

And I better end my list here….

OK.. I think I should stop writing, or I will be a maniac. It could be also that I am being a cynic – but what I learned today has left me a little unsettled. I really pray that I don’t lose my humane side. I know if I confront anyone of the people, I would be called a looser. Seriously – I would rather be a looser than lose my humane self, or the values that I grew up with. 

And though I am tracing Dennis Brown, I do have to thank him/her for sending some shocking facts my way. 

Fake IDs and Account Hacking

It is funny how creative stalkers are. First Sarah White, then Dennis Brown, then the person who used my card for Matrix connection ... and now some person in London who likes my friends enough to log in as me --- wow... I must be popular/ infamous :-).

And seriously - you did have enough time to track what I was doing -- and telling me that you are watching out for me!!

But seriously, who so ever you, you all are, I do have to thank you for showing me some light or colors :-). Cheers!! 

Dubai Desert Safari – An Enchanting Evening

Desert Safari in Dubai definitely made it to my top 10 things to do in Dubai. It is a roller-coaster ride in the Arabian sands, which gives you an experience of culture and food as well. 

The Desert Safari includes:

• Pick and drop
• Dune bashing in 4WDs
• Camel riding
• Quad biking
• Cultural experience – henna painting, sheesha, belly dancing 
• Dinner and drinks – Soft drinks, tea and coffee are on the house. You can purchase alcohol. To eat are plenty of local food and kebabs - enough for both vegetarian and meat eaters’ palette.

Even though I experience motion sickness, I thoroughly enjoyed dune bashing – and skipped camel ride and quad biking. Yeah – had to trade off. 

The dune bashing led to an enchanting Bedouin camp. It almost looks like a storybook site. We had plenty opportunities for photo, and then the entertainment, and drinks and dinner started. There are side kiosks for souvenirs and henna. If you are interested, you can wear an abaya and get a photo shoot.

The cultural entertainment is also good – there is a male dancer whose skirts lit up with fluorescent lights and then of course – a mesmerizing belly dancer. The best part about the belly dancer was that she was thoroughly enjoying her dance.

My 2 cents - one of those things you have to try and it is fun if you have realistic expectations (I have camped in Wadi rum – but I didn’t compare).  I personally enjoyed it and think it's definitely worth the price I paid.

Some Tips –

• Take your pills if you feel car/motion sickness.
• You will surely be tossed and turned around – so, ensure you have eaten at least an before you sit in the car. Don’t drink too much water either on the way ( yeah – seriously!)
• Wear shoes with buckles, the ones that you can easily open to get the sand out.
• Use one of the deal sites to make your reservations. This will surely save you the money.
• Try not to sit in the back. It can get cramped.
• We took the evening tour. There are morning and overnight options available.

2013...

2013...

Fresh start .... fresh 365 days... and I am hoping they will be far better ... far better than 2012 :-).

Loved this message from one of my best friends..."wishing you a very happy, prosperous, fun-filled, less travel intensive, shopping-full, peaceful,and safe 2013 - with loads of love".

Thank you my dearest -- and I hope the same for you. I also hope that i am able to forgive more - and let go more often :-).

Cheers to fresh start and to new beginnings!!

And There Goes My One Inhibition for a Toss

14^th December’2012 – Gurgaon Annual Bash

Never ever – and I repeat – never, ever I thought I will dance in front of my 2500 colleagues. Yes, and that too on Gangnam Style. Yes, it still takes me a while to believe that it was real, and that I did it.

It was time for the annual, year-end company bash. And as always, the creative heads were planning a gala event. 

As a part of tradition, the company leadership does a small performance. This time, I got pulled into the event. There was a funny script, where we had to walk the ramp – like a fashion show ramp. When I signed up for the same, I was told I will just have to be present – and to save my international roaming, I said yes, OK – I will be present on the Stage. How bad can that be – one would ask ;).

And then – when I walked into the practice session, I realized what had I really signed up for. I will have to do a cat walk; and then dance on Gangnam. OMG – that feeling in my stomach. But what the heck – I did decide to go for it. We practiced for a week – and then there was D-day. I was told by my best friends at work to “chill out”, have fun, and let it loose.

D-Day – started with fun, girly talks on make-ups and dresses. And then, the time came when we had to drive to the venue. And there – our group was called, and the moment I stepped on the stage, I felt fine and confident. I walked, and danced like no one is watching. And, I enjoyed fully. We were called for an encore, and we did it again. 

The program was so appreciated, and so many people complimented me – whether they knew me or not. I felt like a Rock Star.

To wrap up the evening, I connected with my best friends, danced to the tune of DJs, and had a total evening of fun!! A great time and enjoying while letting go of an inhibition – thank you my friends for making me do this :-)

Cheers!!!

P.S – no photo for this write up to protect privacy of all!!

I Believe in Kindness of Strangers

2^nd December 2012 –  UAE National Day

Three of us friends were in Dubai, and it was buzz and alive with activities because of 41^st UAE National Day. The whole city was lit up – tri color. The streets were super busy, and so were cabbies. The traffic was packed. It was so much that any driver would think twice about entering back into a lane after getting out of it. 

We wanted to go to Jumeirah Beah Walk (JBR Walk) to be a part of festivities – which was doubly packed than the rest of Dubai. So, three tourists took a cab from Atlantis to the famous JBR walk.

While getting out of the cab, one of my friends left her swanky, expensive mobile in the car. Losing a phone is more than just a loss of money these days – with this – you practically lose your privacy – and all your contact details. So, you lose your social network as well. We figured the loss within 5 minutes, any by that time, we had lost the cab. We panicked. I tried calling her phone – thinking probably it is still somewhere with us – in one of our bags. We didn’t hear the phone – and no one answered. It was a moment of … OMG.

But guess what - we got a call back from that phone. It was the driver. He told us to be right where he dropped us, and told us that he would try to reach there as soon as possible – as soon as the crazy traffic allowed him to come. And he came –braving all the chaos, to give us back the phone. Truly god sent.

Some people can arguably associate this with the fear of law – but I was humbled by the kindness of him. He could have totally deposited it in lost and found – but he was far too kind for that.

So, THANK YOU Stranger. People like you instill the belief in kindness and in humanity!! 

Salute to you!!