I was glad that my neighborhood offered everything I needed for raising up my kid. A secure environment, friendly neighbors, wide open space for children play area , school, hospital and market place just at walking distance from my place.

What more could I have asked for after shifting to a small town from a big metro? I really liked the stretch of vacant roads which was otherwise never available in metro city. Fresh veggies from the nearby field brought by local women in the morning everyday was a boon unlike the weekly Wednesday market in the metro wherein I loaded my fridge with veggies for the whole week ahead. I also enjoyed the guava tree in the backyard and the sparrows chirping the entire day which refreshed back memories of my childhood.

In my enthusiasm I completely overlooked the Baraat ghar (community hall) in my neighborhood    . At the very end of the children play area stood the building that hosted all sort of ceremonies throughout the year. And being one of the park facing houses we are the mock spectator of all the ceremonies that were held in this hall. Oh! Wait it’s not the hall anymore. They have started hosting lawn parties too and the venue is the children’s play area. Be it birthday party, wedding or any other function they just didn’t mind putting up a shamiana (tent) in the park and playing the loudspeaker.

I really don’t bother whether I am invited in these parties or not though the chances of invitation are rare as we have just shifted and do not have many acquaintances. However, what bothers me is the loudspeaker which keeps on banging till late nights or rather until the party is over.  We arrived here during the rainy season which lasts for couple of months and it rains like cat and dog. So we had no idea what it would be like after Diwali when the marriage season starts.

Imagine you cannot hear your own voice in your own house when they start the Dj. Even when I am writing this the loud speaker is playing some kirtan and the time now is 11.00 pm. Well this is not the situation here alone. We Indians have a knack of doing everything loud. We love making a fish market of everything. Today one of my neighbors is having ear piercing ceremony of their six year old daughter and since the morning the punditji is performing puja chanting mantras and kirtan on the loudspeaker.

I wonder what the point of loudspeaker is in this entire ceremony other than disturbing people. Somebody must be sick, someone must be preparing for exam next day and imagine the plight of infants and old people. Can anybody sleep tonight? But why do we have this situation in our society now. Earlier whatever be the ritual loud speaker was never a part of it. I remember the loudspeaker being played only during festivals and fete to attract people. But when the rituals and celebrations are personal so what is the point of playing the sound so loud. People who are part of it enjoy while people like me who are not are only victimized.

Nowadays people just want a chance to play the loud speaker with the bollywood chartbusters the whole day and if that is not enough then after a hectic day when you come to relax at home you are tortured by the Jagratas (singing lords name in bollywood tunes). Is the God really listening? Has anybody heard of “decibel”??

You know what, I think god is listening. Just now the police patrol team came and instructed my neighbor to switch off the loud speaker and perform their puja within themselves and not among the sleepy neighbors. So the noise pollution for the day I think has subsided till the morning. So now I can clearly think what I wanted to write.

I would like to thank you first for coming through with me this far as the noise outside was very disturbing and I could not concentrate on my thoughts. Okay so what I wanted to convey is our country has Loud Speaker Act which for some reason has failed to implement. Maybe because of our ignorance or our lethargy in taking any action. So now a little insight into the noise pollution and law as it may have affected your life as well.

 

Government of India has enacted the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to control the increasing ambient noise level in public places from various sources, industrial activity, construction activity, generator sets, loud speakers, public address system, music systems, vehicular horns, and other mechanical devices. In fact loudspeaker or a public address system shall not be used except after obtaining written permission from the authorities under Rule 5. Authorities mean District Magistrate, Police Commissioner and other officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. And it cannot be used at night (between 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.) except in closed premises for communication within, e.g. auditorium, conference rooms, conference rooms, community halls and banquet halls. According to other Supreme Court directions, even the peripheral noise level of privately owned sound systems should not exceed five A-weighted decibels. Also beating a drum or blowing a trumpet or using any sound amplifier during the eight-hour period is not permitted.

The thing is if we do not take action then as a victim of noise pollution we should be ready to face the music in the long run. Noise does affect our body. It causes stress and increases blood pressure which ultimately affects the heart. Not having proper sleep at night can cause headache, mood swing and low performance in work. So do not blame your boss if he gives you a bad remark at work. Nevertheless if you are a pet owner then imagine the plight of your pet who could not even speak out for itself. You must have seen them take the darkest corner of your house during Diwali but they are equally tortured when someone uses the loud speaker all day long. Lately I have observed my child raising the volume of the TV whenever he watches a program. He says he is unable to listen otherwise. It is definitely an alarm for me. My next door neighbor also complaints of high pulse beat whenever the Dj plays in the baraat ghar. In spite of all these problems we still let them hurt our self.

With so much said what can be done if somebody violates these norms. Well as the Act says they can be penalized and punished for the same. So let’s think of some peace now. After all there are so many things one can feel happy listening. So next time you suffer from noise pollution in your neighborhood make a visit there and make an appeal to them to lower the sound of the music system or loud speaker. And nothing comes out of it then feel free to dial “100” and get relieved.

It was a chilly January midnight in Delhi and I sat beside my dad wide awake. Helpless! He was trying hard to catch on his breathe and I could do nothing to help him rather than just sit and watch. The experience of that night still gives me goose bumps. He was tossing and turning in his bed to get some relief and I had no one to help me.

I was new in Delhi and lived independently. My work schedule left me no time to socialize. It had been two years since I came to chase my dreams here but the glitter and glamour of the metro took me nowhere. I might have changed overall as a person but when it came to personally know someone or have a 2:00a.m friend I was completely blank. My savings, my repute in my workplace or my skills were of no use to help my dad in this hour of need. I was desperately waiting for daybreak so that I could do something for him.

Dad had come to pay me a visit from our hometown and he did not confide me earlier that he actually was not well and wanted to consult a specialist here. I was quite glad to have him at my place where I stayed alone in a rented accommodation. We had a great time few days back but now I sat wondering why he not told me earlier or why I could not notice his problem before. It was fun to have him in the house. He would prepare the breakfast and when I came in the evenings he would serve me his special snacks. It felt like home again with his arrival.

But this morning when I left for office he had gone to the AIIMS hospital and spent the entire day waiting to meet the doctor who in turn did not bother to even listen to him for more than five minutes before handing him the prescription. Dad was very angry with the doctor’s behaviour and in turn he did not buy the prescribed medicine and returned home. When I came back in the evening he was looking very tired but I did not bother much. And in the midnight his trouble started and I had no clue what was it all about till I saw the prescription. Although I could not make out anything written on it but the date caught my attention. Dad was also not in a position to tell me anything. I felt so lonely sitting next to him watching his restlessness.

Finally it was daylight outside and dad fast asleep after a troubled night. I did not disturb him and tip toed outside. It was too early in the morning but I had to find help. I found one chemist shop in the market open by then. The owner was an old man himself. I showed him the prescription and asked about medicines. Till now I thought dad was having gastric problem and that was the cause of the trouble. The old man’s answer left me very disturbed when he said the medicines were related to heart. I asked him me to give me information about heart specialist here.

I made an appointment with the doctor and took dad when he woke up. The doctor conducted few tests and said dad’s condition was very serious and he needs to be admitted in hospital. Dad refused and went home. We had a heated argument regarding hospitalization but dad stick to his decision. I made another visit to the doctor and this time alone to ask if there was any other way. The doctor recommended complete bed rest and constant observation along with some medicines and diet.

I was confused by the time I reached home. Help was way too far and I had little confidence in my abilities to attend dad in this situation. Adamant that he was I knew he would rather go back to home town than get admitted in hospital here. There was no possibility that mom could come down here or dad could travel back. I did not know what to do. The doctor had said not to worry and just stick to what he had advised. I badly wanted to discuss my situation to someone who would help me out. Mom would not have helped me as she would fall back on me after hearing the situation. She was far more tensed than anybody else in the family. It was not right time to call my younger sister as she was taking her semester exams and would be disturbed hearing dad’s health.

So practically I was to handle to whole situation but I was not confident. The day passed out fine and dad felt fine after taking the medicines. However, after dinner he again felt restless but not like the previous night.  He was tossing and turning in his bed but his breathing was normal. I was sitting uptight beside him clutching the phone whether to call the doctor or not. But after about ten minutes he was snoring. Just when I was thinking of the long night ahead my phone rang. I was startled to see my aunt calling. She stayed in Mumbai and was quite close to dad. Usually she called up dad’s number but now she called on mine. I walked out of the room to answer the call.

“I hope I didn’t wake you up?” She asked

“No. Pishi.” I answered.

“How is Anu?” She shot back.

Her question was so straight that I wondered whether she knew about dad’s condition or not. She continued without waiting for my answer.

“Actually I was wondering to call him up since I heard he had come to your place. But I didn’t get time. He had mentioned to me that he would consult a doctor in Delhi. Has he done yet? ”

I told her the entire episode and she heard me without interfering. She, being his younger sister, knew dad more than me. So she did not advise on hospitalization. Instead her words were, “See dear. You know your dad does not listen to anyone. And as far as help is concern you know very well it is not possible for anyone to come down to you. You are old enough now and I believe you can handle all situations much better than anyone else. So be your own help and do what you think best for him. I have confidence in your decision and know he can come healthy out of it with you beside him.”

After tits and bits she hung up but her words kept ringing in my ears. Just talking to her I felt light at heart and her words boosted a new confidence in me. She injected the “belief in myself “with her words and there was no looking back from then on. I never questioned my abilities again.

We all must have encountered a situation like this in our life where someone’s words like our parents, friends, teachers, colleagues, boss or just someone we met at the bus stop or in the train must have build us or shattered us.  But then the same holds for our words too. So MIND YOUR WORDS as they can build someone or break someone.

The Garden of Five Senses, as the name suggest, is definitely a place to enthral the five senses of your body. This is an ideal place to enjoy your Sunday branch with family on a lazy winter day. It is in close proximity to Qutub Minar. The exact route is Said-ul-Ajaib village on the Mehrauli-Badarpur road. The sprawling garden is stretched on about twenty acres of land and gives an awesome view of the Qutub Minar and Mehrauli area.

The garden is designed specifically to invoke sense of touch, smell, sight, sound and taste within the body. The entire area is categorized accordingly. Just near the entrance in the Khas Bagh area is the Mughal garden pattern of garden which is very captivating.

Beside it is the water fountain area with numerous stone elephants in red splashing tons of water with its trunk. The sight is very soothing with the green blanket of artistically trimmed hedges at the background. The path will lead you to a small open area with pillars at one end like an open stage. Most of the dance festivals are held in this part of the garden.Further following the trail leads to Neel Bagh, a pool of water lilies surrounded by variety of bamboo bushes and climbers.

A little climb from here following the shady trail will lead to the giant wind chime. The sound of the numerous bells of the chime gives a very soothing effect to the ears. Just like a humming of a bird.

A gaze at the sprawling green landscaping on the slopes just beside the wind chime is another attraction of the garden. This area is dedicated to awesome metallic statues in various dance forms.

And the slope down the other side leads to the open amphitheater of the garden. This is the venue for live shows and concerts held in the garden. There is a small food court at the backside of the amphitheater to munch something while watching a show.The main food court of the garden is near the entrance of the garden which hosts food festivals. The garden also host flower show in the month of February every year. Throughout the year the garden hosts food and culture festival of many states.

 

The garden is definitely a must visit during such occasion as it gleams with decorative lights and musical fountains during the evenings. On other days one can enjoy the camel ride during the daytime apart from the variety of flowers and fragrances.

With so much to offer the garden has some flaws too. The main problem is connectivity. The garden is about three or four kilometers  off from the main road or the nearest metro station. It becomes very difficult during the evenings to get back to the main road from the garden. The auto stand can charge much more during evenings and besides it is not safe travelling alone during evening as the road is deserted. Also visiting the park on other times is quite troublesome because of the love birds. It is very embarrassing sometimes to venture with family and kids as they display affection publicly in a very indecent manner. The authorities should do something about it otherwise like all other parks in Delhi this will also end up being another lovers nest.

In the land of Kamasutra lies the taboo word “Sex”. Our society prohibits the use of this word openly, although Mumbai, India tops the chart in “Red Light Area” of the world. Does this figure mean anything to you?  Indian men and sex are the two different sides of the same coin. Both speak about the face value (read here Indian society).

Indian society has always been a male dominated society. A peek in history will get us close. Turning the pages of Ramayan you can read the chapters of “Sita’s Agnipariksha” (Test of fire). Ravan, the King of Lanka, had abducted Sita and to prove her sanctity to Ram, her husband, had asked her to take the test which she took and came out untouched by the fire. Even after this she was asked to leave Ram as she was captive of Ravan for more than a year. Ram was never asked to take the test.

Chapters of Mahabharat will tell you how Draupdi was conferred as wife of five brothers and none came to her rescue when she was disgraced by one of her brother-in-law, Duryodhan, amid a court full of male members. They silently watched her as she cried for help from each member of the court and her five husbands while she was pulled up by her hair and ripped off her sari. However, they could not succeed in this act after Krishna’s intervention.

That was an era of Hindu kings ruling India. But much later with the intervention of Muslim kings in India started another ritual, the “Sati Pratha”. Here the wives of the Indian men who lost the war and died would willingly jump alive in the burning pyre to join her husband in the after world. Earlier it was practiced by the royal women only as they did not want to be sex slave of the Muslim kings but later it became ritual of the society wherein a widow was forced to join her husband in the burning pyre alive. However, no record of men joining his dead wife over the pyre is recorded in history.

 

In all these incidents that I have mentioned above you must be wondering about connection between the Indian men and sex. Of course my examples above project Indian women in a very dim light. But then it is the fact. India is one of the leading countries in gender bias. Women folk are no more than a number or figure for the survey organisations. Here I am talking about general. Some of you will not agree with me but then take a chance to look out of your face book and tabs you can easily see what I am talking about.

So in a country of biggest gender bias sex as an act can only be a tool, a tool to show power rather than an emotional need. It’s more physical fulfillment than mental.  The reason for this mentally among the Indian male is because of the Indian society. Right since childhood a male child understands that he is far more privileged than his female siblings. That enforces the power of male sentiment within him at a very early age. Playing protector to his female siblings is the first role he leans to play. Many a times, you must have seen a teenage girl accompanied by a five year boy to the neighborhood. The teenage girl is made to believe she cannot take care of herself and so she must have a male escort no matter how young he is.

When the child grows up a little more he learns the basics of protecting his own female folk while take chances with other female folk. Courtesy his hormone blast as an adolescent. While both male and female body feel this change inside their body. However, an Indian male child can follow his instincts wherein an Indian girl child learns to control. Moreover, society embarks more restriction on her making her availability very restricted. Some are forced to quit school and wedded off. So the prime time when these children should have interacted with each other they are warded off. Understanding each other would have developed the trust and much needed respect for each other which now remained buried deep under desires till it is further provoked.

In India sex education is also a taboo. Even though schools books have chapters dedicated to human reproduction but our trained teachers are embarrassed to discuss any questions on that topic. As a result students are left to fend for themselves. So imagine the plight of a child who cannot ask question to his teacher or at home or his elders about sex. So how else could he find his answers? That’s how he turns to sex magazines, porn sites or may be to the red light areas. But that instead of answering his question craves him more. And before he could understand anything he is married to a girl of his parent’s choice and within a year is already fathering a child. And finally he is a busy family man.

 So where is sex in Indian Men’s life? Is he frustrated? Is he really satisfied?

I believe with education the thinking in Indian society can be changed.  The gender bias has a big negativity on the Indian sex life. For a healthy relation to start respect is the foremost thing. With respect comes the love and it is not chained in a “mangalsutra” that an Indian married women tie around her neck. Love and respect cannot be forced upon you. You have to earn it and for that you need time. Just because you are embarrassed answering your child’s sex related queries does not mean that your child has grown up and needs to be married. Of course he has grown up and that is the reason he is asking. So don’t feel shy to answer him.

I have seen many parents either walk away or shoo off their children whenever there is an intimate scene on the T.V. Even I do it sometimes but my five years old ask me to put on the same channel. And I am kind of zapped what to answer him when he start throwing questions about the scene.  But if there is any sex educational programme for a teenaged child then I think parents should watch the programme with the child. If you really want your child to confide in you then you should make a rapport with him from a very early age.

A survey last year says Indian men have least sex. It can easily be blamed to late working hours, hectic schedule, stress factor and other priorities. Another survey says India tops most in domestic violence. Now what is the connection between the two surveys? Is it frustration? Is it dissatisfaction? Is it stress? Maybe all as a whole.  Indian men are tied in a vicious circle, a circle of desire and craving for his materialistic needs. What he received is what he is giving back. He has to get out of it and create a new circle for himself full of desire and fulfilment for his emotional needs. He needs to lie on his back for a while and rethink about his role in this society. Is he doing what he has been passed on or he is doing something better than that. Then only Indian society can see a change where domestic violence, rape and gender bias see elimination.

 

Yes you heard me right. Today is Valentine’s Day and there is a reason for dressing up to woo your man.  How about the Indian way ? So ladies here are few tips to dress up the Indian way. No I don’t want to let down the man folk out there. You guys can get a good idea to buy something on your next visit to India.

• I shall start from the toes. So after pedicure and polishing your toe nails what else you do? You can put “Alta” to dress it up as in the picture above. It a red liquid used by Bengali girls to dress up their feet. Once it dries up you can put “Payal” (anklet) and “Bicchiya” (toe ring worn in the middle finger).  “Bicchiya” is mostly worn my married women in India and an auspicious part of women jewelry. 
  
  

 

 

• Now is the time to jazz up your perfect waist. Well don’t worry if  your statistics are not that of a model. Your man will always love you the way you look. This is just a treat to him on this special day. Indian women use “Kamar-bandh”. Sort of belt that makes you look more tempting. I have a picture here to make you understand. They come in all variety just like the anklet. Simple chain to designer piece of jewelry ranging from ethic to contemporary. Just try once.

• Now the hands. Your hands are Manicured or not just a touch of “Mehendi” on your palm can surprise you too. The design and the color is so awesome that you would like to do it more often. You can also apply mehendi designs on your feet instead of “Alta”. However both have a different getup. Of course in applying mehendi designs you need an expert mehendi designer. If you happen to visit India then get a design book and make someone paint for you back home. You must take note that it will take couple of hours for the application to dry up and as long as you keep it on darker the color will be. In India the color of the mehendi on the palm is the love indicator. Darker the color means the more your man loves you.

 

• So done with mehendi its time to wear jewelry. Bangles and rings are used to enhance the beauty of the hands. You can choose from simple to elegant designs for both. Some picture here will give you the idea

 

• With so much done how you can forget your slim and long arms. You don’t have one? Don’t worry. Your man will always love you the way you look . So show off your arms with armlets. Instead of tattoos these piece of jewelry looks classier. Just take a look. Yes you will love it.

• Now it’s time for the neck. Be it bare back or cleavage dress that you plant to wear a necklace will always complement it. I do not have to write much here as the ball is entirely on your court now. So I leave it to you. Of course some pictures will surely tell you how we like in India.

• Same goes for ear jewelry. From rings, tops to “jumkas” and dangles you can choose any. It will always frame your lovely face.

 

• Now let’s do the head and do the hair. Here again the designs are plenty. I would like to mention about “Parandhi”. Even if you have short hair you can use this accessory. Its a long braid with lots of designs in it. You can check the picture to understand it.

 

• If you are doing a bun then again this small piece of accessory “Juda pin” can make a lot of difference.

 

• The most important part is the face and we have nose pins in various designs and “Maang tika” (forehead jewelry) to compliment it to enhance your features. Both are favorite jewelry of Indian women. And of course nothing is complete without the “Bindi”. Here are some pictures to give you an idea.

 

Well I have mentioned every detail that Indian girls love to use. Now it is your turn to try them.  You can also try any Indian dress like the sari, salwar kameez or ghagra with these jewelry and get ready to turn the heads on. And don’t forget to share your picture with me as I would love to see how you look in Indian attire. Mail me at mongos812@gmail.com and I shall post in my blog. Here at the end is the picture of one of the most beautiful actress of Indian Classic Cinema, Madhubala. A true Indian beauty.

Today I want to share my feelings after reading a blog here. It was photo album of a tourist who had recently visited India. His blog title caught my attention (wrongly captioned) and his uploaded pictures annoyed me. So here I am to share few things to remember while visiting India.

India is captioned as a mysterious country for generations. Of course land of snake charmers, cow
worshipers, naked sadhus from the Himalayas, self proclaimed babas, land of gods and what not. Even when you are reading this your neurons must be showing a different image at the back of your mind. Sure you are surprised that I could read your thoughts. Lols.

Leave them behind. India has traveled much beyond that. We are not just a land of poverty stricken illiterate people who come begging at every crossing or love to paint the walls just anywhere pissing or make pavements our home or spit on road or throw garbage as if it was made for this purpose or relief ourselves just about anywhere without worrying about hygiene. Yes India is nasty if you read this but then we are the second most populated country in the world after China and area wise much smaller. So the density is bound to be more. However we are surely not proud of this statistics and we are taking the necessary measures. We have come a long way from being the most documented street children series or chaos and crowd in our local trains and buses.

I rather wish that you visit India by learning more about its culture and people who under all the circumstances have succeeded in preserving their values. We are the country that still believes in miracles of god and look for all opportunity to worship him. Therefore every time we greet someone we fold our hands and touch our heart to say “Namste”(Namah: Aste – Sanskrit term). We still love to celebrate every occasion with color and lights to show the positivity and energy we believe in. To face the struggle of the day each morning we draw strength by touching our elder’s feet. The monument of love – Taj Mahal is a living example of how far a man can go for his love in India. And the same is with the women folk here. Amid all the strife in life she would celebrate “Karvachauth or Savitri Brath ” for her husband. It is just in India that a female deity is worshiped and some tribes
in North East India have matrilineal society.

Few years back news hit the headlines that an Indian couple residing in Norway had lost the custody of their two toddlers because they fed the children with their own hands rather than using a spoon and slept them in the same bed which the couple shared rather than slept them independently. Well this was shocking as in India we eat our meals with our own hands and feed the children the same way. Our affection does not allow us to let a young child sleep independently in other room. By practicing this we make a lifelong bond with our child and the role reverses as we grow old. At the peak of our age it is
our children who play the role of our parents and care for us rather than leave us independently. Such is the beauty of our relationship and values.

And without understanding these values and customs if you visit India all you will capture in your lens is begging street children, poverty, chaos, maddening crowd and everything that we are ashamed of ourselves. But if you really open your heart while you see India it will be different experience.

We believe “Atithi Devo Bhavo      ” means (guest is god). So we greet you like god and give our best to make your stay pleasant. Yes I know you did face problem with one of us but that does not mean India as a whole is bad. While you are ready to share your woes on your blog then why not also share what really touched your heart during your India trip.

In the end I want to share this link with you to say why I LOVE MY MOTHER.

Jot few lines if you find this good.

 

 

 

 Nestled in the Dhaludhar Mountain ranges of The Himalayas, Mcleodganj is home to the Buddhist spiritual leader H.M Dalai Lama. This small town situated in Dhamashala,Himachal Pradesh in India is the spiritual destination for practicing Buddhism. Monasteries, stupas and the monks make most of the town. This small town is also home to Tibetan refugees who for generations have succeeded in conserving their culture and tradition. Amazingly Mcleodganj is also known as “Little Lahsa ” for its Tibetan ambiance.

Mcleodganj is unlike any other Himalayan retreat in the country. The restaurants, cafes, lounges, shopping centers are more westernized than Indian. However, there are fewer Kashmiri  stores too. North Indian food is also served in some of the restaurants here. Mcleodganj gets most of the Indian tourists from North Indian states like Punjab, Delhi, Himalchal Pradesh and others. Because of H.M Dalai Lama it has established itself in the world map too with tourists from all over the world visiting here throughout the year. Most of these international tourists reside here for longer duration. Practicing Buddhism, yoga, meditation, learning or just enjoying the spectacular view of the Mountains and the Kangra Valley. You can learn more from  Mcleodganj sightseeing.

The main town of Mcleodganj has lots of hotels and guests houses for the tourists accommodation. The nearby restaurants and market place makes the main town a hip hop place. It is advisable to make hotel bookings in advance here to avoid any problems. Naddi, Banshu and Dharmkot villages also have numerous hotels and guests houses which are cheaper compared to the main town. However these locations are few kilometers away from the main Mcleodganj and mostly preferred by those loving peaceful atmosphere to hustle and bustle of the crowd. Dharmkot needs special mention here as this place is dedicated to meditation centers and monasteries. A brief idea can be sought from Mcleodganj hotel search.

Reaching Mcleodganj is very easy with good connectivity by air, road and train. Nearest  airport is Gaggal Airport in Dharmshala which carters to domestic airlines. Nearest railway station is Kangra from Pathankot. From Delhi, Himachal Roadways Volvo bus services operate overnight journey to Mcleodganj everyday. Volvo tickets can be purchased from ISBT Kashmere Gate (HRTC) and Himachal Bhavan, Chandralok Building, C.P.

It was a rainy day and a family of frogs set out to enjoy the rain. They were playing near the road which had a lot of potholes. Lost in their singing and dancing they went up in the middle of the road. Suddenly one of the frogs fell into one of the potholes and started crying for help. Immediately all the frogs gathered around the opening of the pothole. They could see their friend stuck up in the hole and looking up pathetically at them for help. They really felt sorry for him.

“Don’t worry we are here we will get you out of here. Here just catch hold of my hand and jump up.”
It was quite an assurance for the frog in the hole and he jumped. And lo!! He missed. He tried again but missed. He gathered all his strength and tried gain but to no avail. Another frog attempted to rescue him.

“Here just catch my leg and get out of here.”

Once again the frog jumped but he missed by inches. He tried again and again but failed. All the frogs outside were bucking him up but he failed them. Exhausted he sat down. The frogs outside had also lost the interest in rescuing him and some of them had gone back to play while few still remained.

 

All of a sudden the sound of an approaching motor was heard and the panic grew. The frog was trying hard to climb up and the others were trying to pull him up. But all the time he missed the edge. Meanwhile the sound of the approaching motor was very near and all the frogs ran away to save their lives. jumped but he missed by inches. He tried again and again but failed. All the frogs outside were bucking him up but he failed them. Exhausted he sat down. The frogs outside had also lost the interest in rescuing him and some of them had gone back to play while few still remained.

The frog sat all alone in the hole. At first he screamed for help but found no one coming to help him. Then he heard the sound of the motor. He almost froze thinking of the painful death under its wheels. He cried but no one was there to hear him. His voice echoed in the hole. He remembered how happy he was with his family. How enjoyable the rain was. And suddenly the thought of still being alive brought smile on his face.

He cannot just die like that.

And the mere thought filled him with strength he had never experienced before. He was getting a chance to live and he was not trying. The sound of the motor was just few meters away. But that did not stop him. He gathered all his strength and jumped. He missed. He jumped again but missed. He jumped again and this time he was out of the hole. He had saved himself. He soon joined his family and started playing.

We all fall in the hole sometime or the other. Relationship not working, Marriage turning sour, failure in the examination, business going down, and targets not met.

Rise and fall is a part of life and everyone goes through it. But when we are down we expect others to bring us up. Pray some miracle to happen and God send his angels to help us out. While we sit and brood over our bad times. Just like the frog in the hole crying for help. But actually the strength lies within us.

THE NEVER GIVE UP ATTITUDE.

And the time we realize that, we come up in life. It is not how many times you have failed in your achievements but actually how fast you came out of your failure. Before anyone could help us we have to help ourselves. If we remember our good times, when we had tasted success then the magic can be created again. After all it was us who had achieved that so why not now? The attitude to succeed should not be given up and that lies within self.

So always THINK POSITIVE.

Tips for Vacationing with a Child

 

 

 

 

So you are planning a gadget free vacation in a remote destination this year. Good for you. It will give you all the juice you need to unwind yourself. But have you ever thought how would your child react to such themes?

Exactly, you never thought of it. Of course there is plenty to do in the daytime like hiking, biking, swimming and much more. But once the sun is down and there is no TV or any other means of electronic entertainment to juggle with your child will surely come nagging to you.

So before you run to pack his video game here are few tips which can really help you and your family members enjoy the vacations utmost. And do not forget to thank me if it really helps you.

So here are few tips for you.

• Ask him to pack some of his favorite story books. At home with the study schedule and preparing for exams he has less time to flip through the pages of the comic books that you bought for him on his last birthday. Evenings here is the perfect time to engage him in reading these books.

 

•  You can also ask him to pack some his favorite toys and indoor games too. Sometimes due to busy schedule you do not get time to play with him. Evenings are the best time during this trip wherein your family can enjoy a game together.

• When was the last time you gazed at the stars? Did something ring inside you? Oh yes, what else could be the best time to lie on your back and gaze at the stars. While asking him to choose his pick of stars you can also educate him about the vastness of our universe, planets, satellite, constellations and much more. Children love to learn the fun way rather than the books.

 

• What best could be telling stories to your child or rather share your childhood stories. Your child will easily relate to you on all the occasions.

 

• A night stroll can also be very interesting. You can teach the child to decipher different sounds from the surrounding. Moving out with a torch light can help you even locate the source of these sounds. This way your child will learn about different crickets if there happen to be any. However if your child is too young then he might not enjoy the stroll in the darkness. In that case you have to indulge in other activities.

 

• Another very interesting activity is to ask your child to keep a journal of this trip. Evening is the best time to think and write about the activities of the daytime. This will encourage him to jot his thoughts as well which can share with his friends when he goes back. It will also develop your child’s writing habit.

 

• Your child can also enjoy coloring and sketching if he has a knack of it. So whenever you plan a trip make sure to ask him to pick up his crayons, brush and paints as well.

   

And in the end if you really want your child to enjoy his vacation in a remote area without bothering you adults much then plan your trip with another family that have children of almost same age as your child. That will keep you and your spouse off from babysitting your child during the entire trip. So have more fun when you plan your next trip.