Silent.

I wish I culd put in words wht exactly is on my mind, then I would do so with alacrity. But this is something that I DARE not say loud. Most of the times, I fear...fear of my own words..they might lie. I am also frightened by being swept away, losing all perspective, all logic, all balance. The truth is so earth-shakingly profound. It's a story played out a hundred times. For the first time I am condemned to silence.

Mumbai Mayhem.

Rains paralysed Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, turning it into a virtual sea on Wednesday, trapping thousands in homes and offices, in stationary cars, buses, trains, railway stations and airports.



More than 100 people across Maharashtra lost their lives in the partly natural, partly man-made disaster, as Mumbai underwent a torture unprecedented even by the standards of a city whose streets routinely get flooded every monsoon. Large numbers were trapped or killed in mudslides. Some were reportedly electrocuted while walking through flooded streets where overhead power lines had collapsed.



Ladies and Gentleman - Let us observe a minute's silence for all those people who could not cope with the magnitude of the crisis and have lost their lives.

"I had an abortion." - she said. I watched her innocence vanish as she spoke to me.

Her whispered words cut into my heart and silenced my brave words. V was married for four years now and a mother of a two year old. She terminated her pregnancy because she thought it was too early for a second child.

I saw her heart break and her world shatter as she narrated her suffering caused by abortion. She grieved for the baby she aborted and begged to God for forgiving her for emptying her womb.. She never imagined that she would become an abortion statistic.

Her life became a surreal blur the minute she aborted. Guilt was her shroud. She gave people so many excuses for having an abortion. "It's not the right time," or "we aren't settled into our own lives," or "we could never afford it," or "I have health problems." All of these statements were true, but I knew she was only trying to convince herself that her decision was sound.

She knew pregnancy was a risk when she missed pills. She took the risk. She became pregnant. She chose abortion. Her choices had repercussions. She spent her days reflecting on her existence and herdecision. She questioned everything. She wondered how her life would have been different with one more child. She pondered damnation. She spent her days drowning in tears and idleness followed. She made no excuses and both husband-wife took full responsibility of their actions. She kept hanging on to what-if's, her imagined life kept her in limbo. She wasted precious time wishing she had made a different decision.

I hugged her...told her it would be fine. Told her that she is still worthy of love and worthy of this life.

I knew it was unbearable for her. The hurt. The sadness. The loss.

Pls V...let go. Pick up your feet and move on. Surrender to reality and embrace the present, pack it carefully away with all the other memories and experiences that make a woman. Please gain control. Please continue to live....

At work..listening to "Tumse kahe yah hum na Kahe" from the movie Bride and Prejudice...almost alone in the cubicle...thinking about HIM, missing HIM, arbitary thoughts swirling in the mind, tea is strong.. ..liking it, it's raining outside, monsoon is lovely, 'P' is talking, giving me company..but I am hardly listening to her..mind is somewhere else and so is the heart..someday I am gonna crash against some rocks and sink in unknown shores....peace till then.

Hope you guys had a lovely weekend!

The vagabond heart chases the elusive mystery called LOVE,



The writings on the wall, the scribble on the sands, the etching on the aged bark....

all seem like forgotten memoirs, left behind by unknown travelers of time, searching for that Thing called LOVE......

Mumbai ko dho dala...rainwater ne :D

The weather was behaving beautifully today. Plenty of cloud cover and gusts of cool breeze.



It's like the water bearing clouds had so much of weight that they decided to drop it all together. Rains automatically evoke nostalgia. Tho' travelling becomes a mess. None of the harshness of bright sunlight and the irritability that comes with it. And the drive is wonderful – makes the quota of polluted air I inhale everyday worthwhile.

Why do i love this song?

The sun is going down on me
As she surrenders to the sea
So steal the night and fly with me
I'm calling, I'm calling

The moon is high on me and you
Is my message breaking through
Darkened skies that once were blue are falling

So hear me now

Calling out your name
Burning on the flame
Play the waiting game
Hear my calling, hear my calling

Forever, and ever

Through distant lands and mountain streams
My river's running through your dreams
There's an ocean in between
Forever, and ever

Chasing shadows through the years
I whisper softly to my dear
Be sure to know that I am here
Forever

Calling out your name (I wish that could come true)
Burning on the flame (I'm reaching out to you) Play the waiting game
Hear my calling, hear my calling

Whipsers in the air (I dream you into life)
Hear a lovers prayer (I pray for you tonight)
I can feel you there
Hear my calling, hear my calling

No man is an island
That's an empty sin
Discovery is a journey
Just have to let me in

Calling out your name (I wish that could come true)
Burning on the flame (Reaching out to you)
Played the waiting game

Calling out your name (I wish that could come true)
Burning on the flame (Reaching out to you)
Play the waiting game
Hear my calling, hear my calling

Whipsers in the air (I dream you in my life)
Hear a lovers prayer (I pray for you tonight)
I can feel you there
Hear my calling, hear my calling

No man is an island (I wish that could come true)
That's an empty sin (I'm reaching out to you)
So steal the night and fly with me I'm calling
Hear my calling.


Hear me calling...

When you miss somebody...

Words get tangled on your tongue

And you stumble on your feet

When you miss somebody

And everywhere you think you see them

Walking down the street

When you miss somebody



--Wave Goodbye by Chris Cornel



I miss you, I miss you a damn lot.

Lemme show you London city....

Britain abounds in enticing cities, towns, villages and hamlets. London can be different things to different peopls but it will never leave you indifferent; whether you are fleeing its concrete immensity or dazzling in its light's. London is also a cradle of multiculturalism. It's a kaleidoscops of different cultures, more fascinating with every twist. Several of the world's finest museums and galleries compete for your attention with the icons of old-money London such as Harrods, Mayfair and the Ritz. oyal London beckons with airs, graces and traditions.

It's difficult to get your bearings in vast and sprawling London, and only more difficult when you're using the geographically nonsensical tube to get around. Places we visited:

Trafalgar Square:

In many ways Trafalgar Sq is the centre of London, where great rallies and marches have taken place, and the New Year is ushered in by tens of thousands of revellers. It's also here that Londoners congregate to celebrate anything from football victories to the ousting of political leaders.

National Gallery

There's an astonishing collection of European paintings at the National Gallery, one of the finest galleris in the world. More than 2000 paintings form a continous time-line, from the Old Masters in the Sainsbury addition and the enaissance-influenced West Wing to the Dutch and Italian-focused North Wing and East Wing. The cream of the gallery's exhibits are:

--The Arnolfini Portrait - van Eyck

--Rokeby Venus - Velazquez

--The Wilton Diptych Bathers - Cezanne

--Venus and Mars - Botticelli

--The Virgin of the Rocks - da Vinci

--The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist - da Vinci

--The Battle of San Romano - Uccello

--The Ambassadors - Holbein the Younger

--Equestrian Portrait of Charles 1 - Van Dyck

--Le Chapeau de Paille - Rubens

--The Hay ain - Constable

--Sunflowers - Van Gogh

--The Water-Lily Pond - Monet

--The Fighting Temeraire - Turner.

Westminster, Victoria and Pimlico

The City of London has always concerned itself with the business of making monet, Westminster has been the centre of political power for over a millennium and most of its interesting places are linked with the monarchy, parliament or the Church of England. The area is a remarkable spectacle, a picture of rare architectural cohesion and an awesome display of power, gravitas and historical import.

Pimlico, to the south and southwest, is unfortunate to be clumped with these. It is, by comparison, mind-numibingly bland and would probably disappear in an x-ray. Its only redeeming features are Tate Britain and the view it affords across the river to Battersea Power Station.

St James's and Mayfair

Mayfair is where high society high fives. Its defining features are silver spoons and old-fashioned razzmatazz. As any Monopoly player knows, it's the most expensive place in London, and if you land here you could go bankrupt. St James's is a mixture of exclusive gentlemen's clubs, historic shops and elegant buildings.

Buckingham Palace

The official residence of Queen Elizabeth 11, Buckingham Palace is at the southwestern end of the Mall. It was built for the Duke of Buckingham, it has been the royal family's London home since 1837. Nineteen lavishly furnished staterooms, used by the royals to meet and greet, are open to visitors during part of the summer when HRH takes her holidays to Scotland. Here too, we culd not visit the interiors :-(.

Changing of the Guards

London's quintessential tourist attraction takes place when the old guard (Foot Guards of the Household Regiment) comes off duty to be replaced by the new guard in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. You can gape at the soldiers' bright red-uniforms and bearskin hats as they shout and march in one of the world's most famous displays in pageantry.

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is home to the popular landmark the Eros Statue and was named after the stiff collars that were the sartorial staple of a 17th-century tailor who lived nearby. It is a ridiculously busy hub characterised by gaudy neon advertising hoarding, choking fumes and reliable Tower Records.

Oxford Street

Oxford St is the zenith of High St shopping, a must or a miss depending on your retail persuasion and eye for style. West towards Marble Arch, there are many famous department stores, including the incomparable Selfridges.

Regent Street

Distinguished by elegant shop fronts, Regent St is where you"ll find Hamley's, London's premier toy and game store (I've picked up quite a lot of stuff for my lil' boy :-)), and the upmarket department store Liberty.

SOHO

One of the liveliest corners of London, this is the place to come for fun and games after dark. It belnds with some of London's trendiest clubs, bars and restaurants.

Covent Gardens

This elegant pizza, London's first planned square, is a tourist mecca where chain restaurants, souvenir shops, balconied bars ans street entertainers vie for the punters' pound. It positively heaves with activitity.

British Museum

London's most visited attraction is the largest in the countrt and one of the oldest and finest in the world, boasting vast Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Oriental and Roman galleries among many others. Among the many must-sees are the Rosetta Stone, the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics; the controversial Parthenon Marbles, which once adorned the walls of the Parthenon in Athens; the stunning Oxus Treasure; and the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo Ship Burial site.

Tower Of London

It is the most essential sights to see in London, and a window into a gruesome, fascinating history. It is also one of the city's three World Heritage sites. The most striking building is the huge White Tower, in the centre of the courtyard, with its solid Romanesque architecture and four turrets, which today houses a collection from the Royal Armouries.

Millennium Bridge

It is known as the 'wobbly bridge' to Londoners. Its low-slung frame looks pretty spectacular, particularly when its lit up at night with fibre-optics - the so-called 'blade of light' effect.

London Eye

Right on the Thames, the British Airways' London Eye is the world's largest sightseeing wheel. It's certainly the most fondly regarded of all London's millennium projects.

It is a thrilling experience to be in one of the 32 enclosed glass gondolas, enjoying views of some 25 miles across the capital. The 135m-tall wheel takes 30 minutes to rotate completely and it's best experienced at dusk.

London Aquarium

One of the largest in Europe, the London Aquarium has three levels of fish organised by geographical origin.

Hyde Park

At 145 hectares, Hyde Park is central London's largest open space. A mere soothing structure of Princess Diana - a meandering stream that splits at the top, flows gently downhill and reassembles in a pool at the bottom - was unveiled in mid-2004.

Madame Tussaud's

This toweringly tedious waxworks collection is still living off the name it made for itself. Here the celebrities have to pose with you for your camera and you get to spend as much time as you'd like with them (because they're wax), that's probably why so many tourists flock to this museum. There's so much to see at this museum it's unbelievable. As you enter the museum you walk up the steps you see wax people on the steps. You proceed to an elevator, which takes you high above the city streets to a dinning hall that's chock ­full of stars such as Bradd Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Christopher Reeves, and Governor Pataki. Next you exist to the left, which leads you to a reenactment of the French Revolution during the late 1700's. Here you see dead bodies flung on top of one another, heads on sticks, and loud war sounds. Lights masterfully recreated this period in history. When you leave this room you enter a room that shows the process of making a wax person. From the exact eye color to the clothes and position the wax person is in, everything is done prolifically. The next room is actually a big white hall filled with presidents, poets, and governmental figures such as George Bush, Tony Blair, Aishwarya Rai, The BIG B, and Princess Diana.

Royal Observatory

Charles 2 had the Royal Observatory built to help solve the riddle of longitude. Success was confirmed when Greenwich was designated as the prime meridian of the world, and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) became the universal measurement of standard time. On this spot you can stand with your feet straddling the western and eastern hemispheres.

Here are this pics:

Me back...if anyone of you dares to retort..beware...I am Beethoven. Sheesh! My sense of humor....

Was holidaying in Scotland and London. A BIG thanks to all those who sent ideas and helped us plan this entire trip. We had an amazing time and I would really recommend a trip like this to everyone. I don't want this post to be the epic read of a lifetime, so I''ll treat you to some highlights and pictures. So here goes:

Scotland - Places we visited:

Lake District:

-->Quote William Wordsworth:

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er dales and hills
When all at once I saw a crowd
A host of daffodils.....

The Lake District has long been considered one of England's most picturesque areas. The drama and diversity of the Lakeland landscape is unmatched anywhere else in the country - a rich tapestry of jagged mountain ridges, steep -sided valleys, glassy lakes and undulating fells that has bewitched Roman soldiers, Romantic poets and Victorian holidaymakers alike. The Lake District remains one of the most inspiring (and exhilarating) destinations in Britain.

Sights:

The World of Beatrix Potter: It has lots of models reconstructing episodes from Potter's tales. A meandering path leads to the real focus - the shop - where you can potterise your life.

Blackwell Arts and Crafts House:is an impressive 19th-century mansion designed by Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott. It remains one of the finest surviving examples of the Arts and Crafts movement, distinguished by its simple, elegant architecture and sense of space. Most impressive is the White Drawing Room, which looks out across the gleaming lake.

Windermere Lake:This lake has a mix of new and old cruises plying the Lake from Bowness Pier. Regular boats run to Ambleside, Lakeside and Ferry House from Hawkshead and Hill Top.

Edinburgh:

Scotland's capital has a magic that seldom fails to captivate visitors. Modern sophistication melds with staunch tradition from both ends of the social spectrum to create a unique whole, built in noble stone in the most spectacular of settings. It is no exaggeration to describe it as one of the most lovable, and livable, cities on the planet.

The joy of Edinburgh (pronounced ed-inbra) is its size. It posses all the facilities of a major metropolis, there's no hours spent crossing town to get to the latest nightlife hotspot, or wandering about with a street directory. Exploring the city on foot is a delightand is always punctuated by views: the majestic castle clinging to its volcanic crag, Arthur's seat like a chunk of the Highlands dropped into town, or the glimmering Firth of Forth.

Sights:

Edinburgh Castle: Perched high on an extint black volcano, this castle couldn't be more dominant; it towers over Scotland's capital and leaves an inedible impression at first sight. It is visible from every part of the city, and also because the One o'Clock Gun booms out from its battlements at lunch time. This castle is the reason that Edinburgh exists. It was captured by the English during the Wars of Independence, the castle was destroyed by the Scots and it has been rebuilt, strengthened and renovated in the 16th, 17th and the 18th centuries.

Inside the castle, the most interesting sights include: the Stone of Destiny, St Margaret's Chapel (he oldest building in Edinburgh), the Palace (including the Scottish crown jewels) and the National War Museum of Scotland.

Royal Mile: One of the world's most captivating streets, the Royal Mile follows a ridge that runs from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and is riddled with closes (entrances) and wynds (lanes) on either side that make for an intriguing exploration.

At the top of the Mile, just below the castle, the Camera Obscura offers great views over the city from inside the Outlook Tower. Originally, a Victorian attraction, a mirror projects a colour image of the city on to a white table. On the way up the stairs, there's an intriguing display of holograms and optical illusions.

Further down the hill, there is Parliament Square, largely filled by St Giles Cathedral, is on High St, the middle segment of the Royal Mile. This was the heart of Edinburgh until the 18th century, and a cobblestoned Heart of Midlothian is set in the ground.

Then there is The Real Mary King's Close. It is the one way to penetrate the underground world beneath the Old Town. The spooky visit brings to life the sorts of people that may have dwelt there, both rich and poor, who tell stories of their lives. The grimmest is from a man whose job was burying plague victims.

Scottish Parliament: On October 9, 2004, the newest building in the Old Town was opened. The Scottish Parliament was meant to have been a triumphant symbol of devolution but turned into a sabby political scandal. However, now its finally open, it has won great praise for its architecture. Alas, we could not visit the interior cause it was closed due to the G-8 Summit.

Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat: Edinburgh is blessed with having a wilderness on its doorstep. Holyrood Park covers 260 hectares of varied landscape, including mountains, moorland, lochs and fields, and contains some rare plants and insects. The highest point is the 251m - high extint volcano - Arthur's Seat.

Our Dynamic Earth: Looking like a giant white crustacean from the outside, this modern interactive museum sits in the shadow of the broodsing Sailsbury Crags. The extravaganza of special effects, which recreate and explore the planet's history from the Big Bang to the present day is mind blowing.

Princess Street: This street is a spectacular retail thoroughfare with exquisite views across the gardens to the castle and the jumbles of striking facades that line the Old Town. About midway down Princess Street, the massive Gothic spire of the Scott Monument. Princess Street Gardens, home of a colourful Christmas market (the mulled wine is a godsend!) and ice rink in December, are cut by The Mound - a hugh pile of earth dumped during the construction of the New Town, which provides a road link between the Old and New Towns.

The Royal Yacht Britannia moored by the new Ocean Terminal shopping complex, was used for royl travels abroad from 1953 until its decommissioning in 1997. This monument to 1950s style and decor offers an intriguing insight into remarkably simple royal tastes. Thermometers maintaining bathroom temperatures and windbreaks designed to prevent sudden gust.

Oban

Oban is a peaceful waterfront town on a delightful bay with sweeping views.....out of season. In summer its hectic, reflecting the popularity of the nearby islands. The town itself, although mildly interesting, relies on its importance as a major connection point with the Inner and Outer Hebrides for its thriving trade. It's the biggest town in the area but it's easy to get around on foot. Atop the hill is McCaig's Folly, a curious Victorian recreation of the Colosseum!

Sights:

Isle of Mull: The darling of the Southern Hebrides, Mull pulsates with its annual tourist injection, which courses through the soggy island every summer. Mull is an environmental playground with jaw-dropping mountain scenery and a lush, sprawling interior. Offshore is the spiritual magnet that is the holy Isle of Iona, while the main town, Tobermory, has lately experienced a boom of its own; its the place where the hit show Balamory was filmed.

Isle of Staffa: This uninhabited island off Mull is truly a magnificient sight. It forms the eastern end of that geogogical phenomenon which begins in Northern Ireland where it's known as the Giant's Causeway. The Fingal's Cave pushes out of the sea like a grand pipe organ. You can walk into the case via a causeway if the sea is calm.

Inverness

The fast growing city of Inverness is the main settlement in the Highland region and both gateway and hub of the area. It is considered one of Britain's best cities for quality life.

Sights:

Fort Augustus: This was earlier the headquarters for General Wade's military road-building operations in the 18th Century. Life and activity hums around the Caledonian Canal.

Caledonian Canal: Three lochs, one of them famous, comprise two-thirds of the 60 mile Caledonian Canal. Loch Ness, Loch Oich, and Loch Lochy are some of Scotland’s finest engineering examples.

Ness Islands: As you stand along the edges of the Ness Islands, you will feel a part of nature. You can view the River Ness from many different vantage points. A Victorian footbridge connects each of the Ness Islands. As you meander down paths that take you through the wooded areas and along the banks, you will see many different types of wildlife.

Inverness Floral Hall and Gardens: Named “Beautiful in Bloom” by Britain in Bloom, Inverness is virtually bursting with pride and color. Everywhere you look in the city, you’ll see pots and baskets laden with colorful flowers. The apex of this horticulture honor can be found at the Floral Hall, located in Bught Park. The hall contains a tropical conservatory, a section housing many different types of cacti, and an informative visitor center.

Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre: Still surrounded by mysterious legend, the center explains the historic lore of one of the region's most renowned residents. Tales of the Loch Ness Monster are still popular, and the area continues to draw visitors curious about "Nessie." - the elusive Loch Ness monster.

Here are some pics:

Edinburgh - Camera Obscura


Scottish Parliament


The Royal Yacht - Britannia


The Real Mary King's Close


Edinburgh Castle

Top Five - Romantic London

* Kissing in the back of a black cab.

* A squeeze on top of the London Eye.

* Jumping hand-in-hand across puddles.

* Walking back from the pub together just before closing time.

* Canoodling on, or by, a canal.

When I see people merrily in love, I envy them.

To feel so much love and trust for someone, that you want to give your whole and soul to him, with the cognizance and assurance that life's journey, no matter what it brings, would be more blithe and meaningful, must be a wonderful feeling.