Let it Snow!!

Today was the first day of the Snow!! Its truly magical when you get up in the morning and look at the white blanket of snow through the window. It seems like you have been transported to another land painted in pure white by Mother Nature. Its almost a year now that I am in US. I have seen all the four seasons and its just amazing to see how seasons transform before your eyes. One layer of colors part away to reveal the next layer. It seems as if Mother Nature is weaving one beautiful set of colors after another.
Its been a long time since I wrote something in the blog. Spring was in the air the last time I penned my thoughts. There has been so many changes since then. Summer passed by with sun smiling in all its might. Birds chirping away, flowers blooming and returning the courtesy. The rays of sun touching the lake with so many small diamonds just sparkling away. The clear blue sky and the green mountains make you sit and gaze at them forever.
 Well all things dont last forever. Summer had to go and so was I. I had to change my abode just when the leaves had started changing colour. Boy was I glad, i changed the location at the right time. How else would I have been able to glimpse into another marvel of nature. The green leaves just changing their color to yellow, orange , ochre ,bright crimson and million other hues. It seemed as if every tree was in flames with bright red against the backdrop of the sun at the end of it.
Alas, this did not last as well. The leaves had to fall and wither away giving to the harsh winter.
Winters are magical time too with the holidays coming up. The cold air making you sit inside with warm sweaters, a cup of coffee and an old book to read. You just dont want the time to fly!!
Every season comes with its own list of favourite things to do. Thats what makes it so special that you have to wait a whole year to do it.

ಮುಂಗಾರು ಮಳೆ

I know most of you don’t understand the title. It is written in Kannada(spoken in the state of Karnataka, Southern part of India). If you are wondering what is written its ‘Mungaaru Male’ which means Monsoon Rain. Wondering why did I write it?? It’s a name of a blockbuster Kannada movie released in 2006. I finally got the chance to see it. ( yes after four years!!) It really felt good seeing a Kannada movie after such a long time.
After seeing the movie, I came to a revelation that : You realize how much you miss something only when it appears in front of you. You may not miss it every moment or every day of your life, but it still lies in a small corner somewhere in your mind and heart waiting patiently to be discovered. Finally when you take a peek at it, you think how did I live all this while without it.
This was the exact feeling I got. I just missed living in Bengaluru after seeing the movie. I have spent the best years of my life in Bengaluru. The beautiful garden city of Kannadigas where people really know the true meaning of hospitality and friendship. I could never find the unique blend of traditional and modern outlook of life anywhere else.
Its just amazing how you move forward and one nostalgic moment takes you back in years crossing the breadth of time. I may live anywhere in the world but my heart lives in Bengaluru and it will always be my home.

Dear Darcy

The other day I was watching Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time. How many ever times I see it, I still cant get enough of it. And the most surprising part is , at the end of it I can't stop falling in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy. I love him in all forms that I see him: Books, TV Series, Movies. It is really amazing how Jane Austen could create such a 'perfect' character who is not perfect at all. You will hate him the first time you meet him. Proud, arrogant, snob who seems to think that there is hardly anybody who deserves him. But as you go along, you are touched by his sensitivity, caring nature and ardent desire to marry Lizzy inspite of all odds. Your heart will cry to see him suffer as Lizzy tells him that she will not marry him even if he is the last person on the earth. Its endearing to see how he follows his heart defying all his mind has to say. And what a joy in the end when he finally finds his love in Lizzy and they live happily ever after. If you have never read the book, I highly recommend you do so. You will definitely see your Prince charming in Darcy.

Spring is in the Air

Spring has begun and oh what joy it brings!! Days are longer and warmer. The days of withered trees are gone. One smells of the fresh leaves and sees the soothing green on the roads. Heart fills with warm gratitude for mother nature.This is also the time when the flowers start blooming. So many beautiful colours in different shapes and sizes. Right at this moment, Washington welcomes visitors to the famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. This festival is held in Skagit County of Washington during spring. This is the 27th year of the festival and so many events are organized during the festival. It is a must go for people who love tulips, colours or flowers. There are so many flowers to see in all different colours. We went to the featival last week and I was thrilled to see so many tulips of different colours. My favourite one was the red tulip . I just couldnt stop looking at it. I have some photos below. It was blissful time and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. More photos can be found here.

Back from the deep slumber

I checked the date that I had last penned down my thoughts.. Gosh its been more than a year! How time flies by... I keep thinking oh I should write this, I should write that I never come down to actually writing it...Thats how the last year have passed.. So many thoughts run by in one's mind and so many things one want to share with others.. How is it that people express themselves? Hmm.. I really wonder sometimes.. Anyways ..I am back from the deep slumber with a resolution of expressing my thoughts here...Hope I dont sleep through the year again!!!

Viva Las Vegas!!

No I am not an Elvis fan and neither am I writing about the movie. But yes I am writing about The place -'Las Vegas'. What bells does the name ring?? Hmmm... Casinos, Parties, Beautiful people in beautiful clothes, the glitz, the glamour, the lights.. The list goes on.

It is true if you want to escape a world and enter into another, you can go to Las Vegas. As you enter 'The Strip', you really leave the world behind with all the realities and the mundane existance.
Where do you wish 'n' dream you wanna go, wanna see and wanna do? You name the place and its right there in Las Vegas.
The romantic streets of Paris, leading to Champs Elysees overlooking the Arc de Triumph and a romantic dinner on the top of eiffel tower with a beautiful view of Yes Las Vegas(Of course not the River Seine).

Julius Caesar welcoming you to the powerful city of Roma to watch the 'gladiators' in the Colosseum. You can throw a coin as well in the Trevi hoping to see the real Rome.

Next comes the beautiful Venice with the canals sailing across in Gondola. Overlooking the canals is the Doge's Palace and the St.Marks Square. Walking through the bridges across the canals brings the magic of Venice alive.

If you havent got enough of Europe, you can next enter the world of King Arthur and jump into the medieval age. Entering the forests of Sherwood, you can try your luck with the Robin Hood.
Coming out of Medieval Age, you can head towards Egypt and enter the world of Pharos. Of course you may not find Ramses but you can certainly find the great Pyramid.

If this wasnt enough, you can go to New York and visit Liberty herself standing next to the majestic Empire State Building.

You are wondering what else is left... Of course there is much much more.. You can witness the dancing fountains, view a volcano in all its fury burning with lava...

If you thought Las Vegas was just a land of opportunity, think again. It is a land where dreams are made, dreams are lived and dreams are forgotten.

वह ताज!

"The epic of love written in white marble"! This is how people describe The Taj Mahal-The Number One of the Seven Wonders of the world.The story of Shah Jahan and his immortal love for Mumtaz Mahal! When you hear it you think, how can anything be so beautiful!! How can a monument made of stones personify love in all its glory!! Believe me it does. I entered the town of Agra after travelling for some 16-17 hours in train from Pune.Tired by the journey, went straight to Hotel in Agra's colourful autorickshaws.Being a history freak, I always wanted to visit the capital of Mughal Empire . My date with the Mughal Empire started with the visit to Fatehpur Sikri. The huge buildings built in red stone tells their own story. The huge Buland Darwaza, the Birbal Bhavan, Diwan-e-Aam , beautiful Diwane-e-Khas and of course the 'Jodha Bai' Mahal sends you back to the Mughal Empire. It was quite a thrill to me to walk the walks where Akbar had walked, had held his meetings, listened to Tansen. All the stories, all the history came alive. I wonder how did they live in such granduer amongst such beautiful architecture.The next destination was to visit the tomb of Akbar the Great. As history goes, he started to build the tomb much before he died but couldnt live to see it complete.
The next destination was the Agra Fort. We were already tired by now walking around in the sweltering heat.This is the place where Shah Jahan spent his final days watching Taj Mahal in peace. This was my first glimpse of Taj Mahal. Standing at the edge of Yamuna, the white monument holding within itself thousands of years of history and the beauty of India.The whole world recognizes India by this beautiful monument. After having my first glimpse, I was eager to see how Shah Jahan looked at it. The fort is a beautiful mark of Mughal Architecture with the beautiful carvings, paintings and the story on stone. As I moved on into it, every object, building in the fort spoke about its master. The series of Mughal kings who ruled India for a long time. Finally I entered Shah Jahan's chamber and caught a view of Taj Mahal. Although today, its partially covered with concrete buildings, you can imagine how did Shah Jahan feel looking at his beautiful wife resting his peace and longing to be with her forever. He wanted to build another Taj for himself in black marble but rest is history. Moving on, we finally headed towards the grand finale. To see the Supreme Taj. It takes quite an effort to get inside but believe me its all worth it!! I caught the second glimpse of Taj through the huge red gate. The feeling is unbelievable. You really feel at that point of time, how can anything be so beautiful! You can stand there and look at Taj for hours together without feeling it. Its like a dream. I went up to pay solace to two remarkable people who were responsible. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lying next to each other in peace. I left Taj with a beautiful memory and with the hope to see it again dancing in the moonlight.