Square Peg in a Round Hole.

“Square Peg in a Round Hole”, each one of us has been in this situation, it is a state of being misfit in a particular situation. It could be an assignment at work, a family gathering, a partnership for a venture and so on. It is fine to surpass such situations, if they come in small packages like in the examples given above. But it could lead to bigger problems, if life is full of such situations or such a situation becomes your life. It could mean being in a wrong job or a profession, or married to a wrong person. Now, that calls for some deep thinking and analysis.

It is said that life is not always the way you want it to be, it is also said that, whatever you are destined for in life, it happens. However, one should not be convinced with such quotes, rather try to pave a new path or go the way a few people had the guts to go. If your marriage is in a soup, you can endeavor to work towards it in every possible way. But if all else fails and things go out of hand, the ball is in your court to choose between lifelong harassment or to fall prey to your neighbours  wagging tongues , for having taken the bold move.

And what if it so happens, that few years down the line, you realize the professional choice you sacrificed for your family was the right choice, or the profession you took up, out of coercion was not your forte, then you would experience a “Square Peg in a Round Hole” situation. The acclaimed and renowned movie “3 Idiots” has thrown light on this situation. The plot of the movie involves three guys, pursuing engineering. Heart of heart one of the lad, is a staunch admirer of wild life photography and his passion lies there. In a society where the only professionals that are glorified and recognized are engineers, doctors and MBA’s, out of parental pressure this lad forgoes his dream of becoming a photographer. Sooner or later, he realizes failure is not always a stepping stone to success, it could also mean he is not in the right direction, he is not cut out for this profession and his heart belongs elsewhere. In short, he is in a “Square Peg in a Round Hole” situation. What does he do? Listens to his heart, turns all stones unturned and explores his true potential.

So, it is not always how much money you collect in your account, how much appreciation you get from a society or how much you manage to stay in your comfort zone.  Life is well lived if you wake up every morning excited about a new day, gather many eureka moments, add value to each day, think out of your comfort zone, go the untrodden path and end your day with a grin. Live by the ”YOLO philosophy” which is widely recognised, now a days. YOLO stands for You Only Live Once……so live your life to the fullest and live with no regrets.

The above mentioned are my personal views only for reading and enjoying, with no intention to hurt or influence anyone.

       

    

Velas turtle festival 2014 – An escape from cacophony to calmness.

Velas turtle festival 2014 – An escape from cacophony to calmness.

 “It was dark and my body was cramped up. Slowly, I tried opening my eyes and stretched my front feet, as I awoke from a deep sleep. Crack, it went, the shell I was resting in broke open. It was still dark, I was surrounded by a soft cushion of sand, I wanted air to breathe. With lot of efforts on my tiny weak torso, I kept flapping my legs backwards, and pushing myself upwards. After battling with the sand for a few minutes, my head finally popped out, I could see light, I could breathe fresh air and I was out into a new world. I was surrounded by so many giants, but they were nice to me. As soon as I was out, I could hear these humans cheering on my arrival - they applauded and sang the birthday song.  I felt so special.  After a few minutes, I was picked up by one of the human and put in a basket. I was worried and clueless, where I was being transported to.  After a while, I was placed on a brown aisle of wet sand leading to the sea. There were barricades around my path and the humans were standing behind these barricades. I felt like a celebrity by birth - the crazy crowd, the cameras, the brown carpet, the security and me doing my turtle - walk. I did miss having other turtles like me around for company. As I took my first baby steps, I was hungry, I was worried and I was curious to know where I was heading. Ahead was a huge body of water waiting to gulp me, as I was nearing it. But there was no looking back, I had to keep walking, to begin my life in the sea world.” These would have been the thoughts going on in the infant turtle’s mind.  

Lets go in a flashback mode, March 28, 2014, as per my Friday morning ritual, I opened the last page of the newspaper which gives an update on the activities and events happening around town over the weekend. A picture of a small baby turtle walking on the sand, with the caption “Welcoming Baby Turtles” caught my attention. I quickly read the details, it was a turtle festival which happens every year at Velas, when people travel to this beach to welcome baby turtles into this world and encourage them to take their first baby steps into the sea. I was exhilarated, I immediately contacted the concerned event organizers for a few enquiries. There was no scope for thinking much, so instantaneously decided that I had to be at Velas that weekend.

On Saturday morning, 9:45 am, boarding a white bus I was off to Velas. I was apprehensive and excited. The bus was slowly filling in with new faces. The music played in the bus was also unheard of but I felt happy to hear something new. This was just the beginning.

It was 6 in the evening after passing through tiny narrow pathways, we reached Velas. The bus halted amidst a vast expanse of land, the beach was a small stroll away. No sooner did we reach the beach, we were disappointed to know they were no hatchlings that evening. Nevertheless, the remaining evening was spent getting to know each other, playing with the waves, listening to the breeze and enjoying peaceful time with ourselves. The sky was slowly stretching its dark and star studded blanket over it, indicating it was time to rest. With a hope to catch a glimpse of the baby turtles early morning, we walked back to the bus. It was a fifteen minute walk, guided by the light emitted by the moon, stars and torches. The innumerable glow worms and the sweet sound of the insects added to the delight.

Our accommodation was in the village, a beautiful cottage with a verandah in the front. We were weary and hungry. Dinner was simple home cooked delicious food made by the locals. We were instructed to awaken by 5 am atleast so that we reach the beach on time. But being far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, amidst tranquil surrounding and clear starlit skies, we  chose to spend time conversing, sharing stories and star gazing till it was past midnight. Finally, taking our positions on the mattresses spread on the verandah we put our minds to rest.

I woke up at 5 am feeling fresh as a dew, I sat upright and breathe in some fresh air, which is impossible to find in the city. Life in the village has two major problems paucity of water and electricity. It was still pitch dark, we had to manage all our early morning chores right from brushing to changing clothes in the narrow beam of the torch light. A big drum was filled with water which was the only source of water, the faucets in the house had droplets falling out when turned on. But nevertheless, it is good to once in a while come back to your roots and have such an experience, rather than being slave of the comfortable and non-stop life that we lead. 

Finally around 6 am on a Sunday morning, we sat on the cool sandy beach, in anticipation and with our fingers crossed. As it started getting brighter, more and more people started coming. There were people sitting around an enclosure. The enclosure was made for conservation of the Olive Ridley turtles. The eggs are collected and preserved in the sand pits and covered by a basket. After an incubation period of 45 – 55 days, out pop the babies.  I could relate the feeling, when I would wait for my exam results. I have always experienced when the wait is not too long it is a positive outcome, and otherwise. It was indeed a long two hour wait, we were getting all excited and anxious at the same time. Thankfully it was worth the wait, because of this one cute little fella who did wake up late on a Sunday morning, unlike his 13 siblings who broke open from their eggs the previous day.      

 

Lucky Charm

 

The Enclosure

 

Turtle walk - Too tiny to spot

Home away from Home

                                                                                          Ashwini Joshi 

Myself

My journey has just begun, and I am on a quest,

Wandering eagerly in search for the “Treasure Chest”,

Chest of knowledge, happiness & peace of mind,

And this I will seek if I leave my worries behind.

Seek and you will find it, but the time must be right,

But patience is what I lack and instant is what I like.

Taking a risk is what I dread, I am too lazy to take a plunge,

For pessimist is what I am and negative I have become.

Pessimist probably because my confidence is too low,

But swear I’ll do anything for it to build and grow.

Fear, insecurity in me they reside,

But just with a little confidence these feelings I hide.

I hide because I am reserved and I don’t like to share,

But I pour my heart out to the people who truly care.

Special bonds I love to make and nurture them so they grow,

Through my abundant love and caring gestures, my feelings I show.

Expressive is what I am, I have been that way for a while,

With my appreciation for others I bring too many smiles.

Submissive is how he made me and so easily I let go,

But now people who take me for granted will be kindly lead to the door.

Lies is something I can never speak, Truth I cannot hide,

With my wit and sense of humour, trust me it will be a joyride.

Friends I like to keep not just for outward show,

And if you ever become my pal, we have a long way to go.

Now when overshadowed by trouble, life gets out of gear,

I am gonna get into action, and not shed a single tear,

My Strength I will strengthen, weakness I will weaken,

Its time for revolution because my soul has ‘AWAKEN’.

                                                                                                              Date: 20^th September, 2007

                                                                                                 ASHWINI JOSHI

“Blame it on Yashraj” – written and directed by Bharat Dabholkar

Blame it on Mr. Dabholkar for without him we would not have laughed till our jaws ached. The play is a satire on how weddings these days have traversed from a ceremony of few hours to few days, from a simple marriage hall to destinations far and wide, from a few simple rituals to many, from just a pocketful  of expenses to expenses which make a hole in your pocket. The plot is similar to the english movie "Father of the bride" with the glamour and extravagant wedding concept imbibed from Yashraj movies. 

The plot revolves around a Punjabi man - Mr. Tondon who behaves like a hitler but appears to be henpecked. One dialogue which the man says "I wear the pants in the house, but my wife decides which ones." is one such evidence. He is married to a sweet bengali lady Shoma. They have begetted two kids. Their daughter Rumjhum who is "Papa's favorite", has returned from the USA after pursuing higher studies and the man of her life. Their son Yudi who is caught in the web of applications and social media platforms, that he seems to forget there is real life outside. As his father says “Yudi has only 15 friends in his real life and 51,000 on facebook ".

Mr. Tondon also the narrator, takes us back to the scene in his life which he equates to a bomb blast. The day when Rumjhum makes a confession that the guy she wants to marry is a Muslim. This scene is full of laugh out loud humor and funny drama shaama in the true bollywood style. Mr. Tondon not completely in favor of the marriage, decides to meet the boy and his folks. Aman and his parents seem to be descendants of some emperor, living in the lap of luxury, staying in a mansion where servants outnumber the people staying in the house. And how can one not mention another member in their family “Puchki”, and no don’t go by the name its not a Golden retriever or a Chihuahua, it is a Rottweiler.

As the main agenda of the meeting unfolds “Wedding Planning”, Mr. Tondon finds himself in a whirlwind of expenses.  What makes it a mighty affair? The best wedding planner, high end hotels, clothes by the best couture, food spread that is a global fusion and to add the Yashraj quotient dhamakedar dance performances.  Mr. Tondon makes  funny attempts to reduce the expenses, but they are inevitable. After, all it’s the first wedding in the family, even if he has to mortgage his property, but the wedding must happen the Yashraj way. 

  

It was thoroughly one of the funniest weddings I have attended ,as the tag line of the play suggests. A complete laugh riot with fresh humour that keeps you guffawing from the start to end. 

These are my personal views on the play, the views are not meant to hurt anyone.

From “Mind” to “Matter”

Thanks mom for holding my tiny hands and teaching me to write, for today I can put my thoughts on paper. I remember right from when I was a toddler, English has been my favourite language and creative writing my interest, I would thoroughly enjoy assignments like making sentences using new words or proverbs or essay writing. As I grew up this passion for writing was like a ignored child which was never nurtured. I made attempts to revive this passion, but it was difficult to find the inspiration or energy or time in this quotidian lifestyle. I tried writing a few articles which never saw closure. Slowly and steadily the feeling of incompleteness started creeping in. There was something my life was lacking - my true passion. My curious self wanted new experiences, my heart wanted to share, my creative juices wanted to flow and my hands wanted to write. Thus, I began blogging.

Writing is a journey, whose destination is the reader. It is a journey, in which all your senses are passengers who make the journey worthwhile. Eyes, nose, tongue, skin and ears each helps you gather an "Experience". Its the heart that adds the emotional quotient and the "Mind" who knits the right words to create "Matter". So Mind is indeed the Captain, who is able to convert mere words to substance, that can evoke feelings in the reader. Some read for sheer pleasure, for some it may be a source of inspiration, some may be moved by it, for some it may be a relief from pain, some may find a solution in it… and so a writer can impact a reader in multifarious ways. Hence, I embark on my journey “From Mind to Matter”.

Carpe Diem

Latin words “Carpe” means “enjoy, seize or make use of” and “Diem” means “day”, with this motto in mind, I set for my long awaited trip to South East China.

I felt a mélange of emotions as I sat in the cab: Apprehensive, as it was my first solo tour abroad, Anxious, to know who are the unknown people I will be exploring an unfamiliar place with, Worried, as I would be leaving my dear ones at home for a long time and Excited as the day had come to witness and experience a new world.

The reporting time was 10:30, we reached the airport one hour prior, due to miscalculation of time. However, it gave me some time to grab a bite as I had scarcely eaten a meal that day, due to the last minute packing and trip arrangements. The tour organizers with whom I was going with, organise tours exclusively for ladies. These ladies fall under the following categories: “Grey hair, Green hearts” or “I want to break free” or “”Single women travelers”. One feeling that gathered us here was our love for traveling. While I was waiting for the others to arrive, I got acquainted with two of my fellow travelers, although my eyes kept searching for the girl who would be my room mate.

It was ten thirty, our tour executives handed us our air tickets and some munchies and bidding a final goodbye to our family we began our voyage. Lugging along the two stroller bags and completing all the formalities, I set out to the waiting area. The waiting area looked like a mini dormitory, with a lot of travelers having a siesta. More fellow passengers started pouring in, I spent my time conversing with the two fellow passengers, who shared their previous travel experiences with this tour operator.  

The flight was a five and a half hour journey, catching a sound sleep was in vain due to the freezing temperature and not so comfortable seats. Still I managed to catch a few winks. It was ten in the morning when we reached the Hongkong International Airport. As I walked into the airport, I felt enthralled being in a new place and seeing new faces around. The airport was humongous and sparkling.   

Our first stay was at Macau, after lunch in Hongkong, we were to take a jet foil to Macau. To get to the jet foil we had to go through a herculean task, the port had huge passages and a number of escalators to climb down and what made it challenging were the huge bags we were traveling with. After a few mishaps, minor cuts and bruises we managed to board the jet foil on time.

Floating over the pristine waters of the South China Sea, we reached Macau. A bus took us to Venetian, one of the best hotels in Macau. Macau is a gamblers paradise, it has got a chain of high class luxury hotels which we saw on our way to Venetian. The hotels looked splendid with the unusual colorful light works and billboards with motion pictures. Venetian was one such magnum opus. It was a huge edifice with each corner very well crafted. Each room was 750 sq metre, with lavish space and exquisite interiors. After changing into our party clothes, we headed for a scrumptious meal and for exploring the interiors of Venetian further. Inside Venetian, there were many artificial lanes created which had many flamboyant restaurants, sophisticated shops, ponds and bridges. Each lane was wonderfully decorated, welcoming Christmas eve. What was unique was all the lanes had a ceiling which resembled the sky at night, so one would get a feeling that its night even if its broad day light outside. It is something to see in person.

Day 2 in Macau we visited a few famous sites, one was “A MA Temple” a Buddhist temple and another was the St. Paul Cathedral Church. The other main highlight of Macau other than Venetian was the observatory deck, one of the tallest building which is at an altitude of 338 meters. It was a delight to have a panoramic view of the entire city of Macau, from this deck. We stood on a floor which was fitted with glass flooring  through which we could see the ground beneath, few ladies were terrified to even step on this floor. For people with an adrenaline rush, there were activities like bungee jumping, sky walking and many others. Although, due to constraint of time, we couldn’t indulge in any of them. With some sweet memories, we bid adieu to Macau.

The glass floor on top of the "Observatory Deck"

Macau to Shenzen was again in the jet foil, it was also the only journey  in the entire trip where I had a sound sleep, feeling all rejuvenated for Shenzen. We reached Shenzen by early evening. After resting for a bit, we went to “Louohu Market” a place you get anything under the Sun and it is an apt place for bargain hunters. It was a different experience,  firstly, as I was shopping alone in a place where people don’t understand English and secondly, although I don’t possess the skills of bargaining, it was quite easy here.

Next two days in Shenzen, we visited two theme parks. One of the theme park was called “Overseas Chinese Town East”. It is at an altitude of 400 meters and is freezing cold. A spectacular theme resort which is a culmination of natures beauty and man-made artifacts – like waterfalls, adventure rides, fancy cottages, monuments, statues, live human statues etc. It is an absolute camera friendly place, in fact one highlight of the place is that couples come here with their wedding outfits to be clicked at various scenic spots with different artistic and creative poses. Another theme park we visited in Shenzen was “Windows of the world “. It doesn’t take 80 days to travel around the world, at Windows of the world it takes just one day. It has miniatures or replicas of all the wonders

of the world and other famous monuments across the world. We also had a virtual trip over America, through a 3 dimension movie. But the best part was a grand evening show which was a feast for our eyes. The performances had graceful dances, jaw dropping acrobatic acts, energetic music, electrifying light and fireworks and around 500 artistes. Besides the sight seeing, we were taken to a jade factory and bamboo factory. “Jade” is a light green n whitish, smooth and translucent semi precious stone. Jade is to the Chinese, what Gold is to the Indians. The factory had a lot to offer which included Jade ornaments, show pieces, statues, pots and also feng–shui articles made of Jade – like the “Pixiu” an auspicious creature which brings good luck. Bamboo is supposed to be anti bacterial, so the factory sold napkins, towels, clothes, shoes, toiletries made of bamboo. With our hearts content and mind energized, we headed to our last destination Hongkong.

Hongkong is a highly civilized place. It is the only place among the other two places where the local people can speak English. When you are in Hongkong you cannot return without a trip to the “Disneyland”. Our visit to Disneyland unleashed the kid in all of us. We witnessed the Disney Parade where all the fairy tale and cartoon characters came to live, sat on some thrilling rides and watched some exquisite performances and 3 dimensional shows. The cherry on the cake was that our funfilled day ended watching breathtaking fireworks splashing over the dark night, to the sound of music. It was indeed a day worth ruminating over. In our last destination, we also visited the Madame Tussuads museum, the local shopping area and the “Repulse Bay” – which is a beach surrounded by buildings inhabited by the rich, much alike our waterfronts in Mumbai.  Speaking of Mumbai, as it is said “Home is where the heart is”, my heart was longing to return home with a baggage full of wonderful memories and an enriched self confidence. Although, my thirst for traveling and exploring the Earth remains insatiable, a lesson learnt from the trip was “Do it when you have the strength and energy, don’t push it for “Someday”.

                                                                                       Ashwini Joshi