Nothing official about it

Its college, I am at the threshold of being an adult or rather I am an adult now. Presumably, I have responsibilities on my shoulders, relationships to maintain, trust to earn and most importantly time to manage. Delving deeper into it, I realize its the most important quality which I lack. The parkinsons law, work expands to fill the time possible, holds true. The last six months I have been busy doing nothing, tired inspite of any physical workouts and lazy despite of being full of energy. But one must derive humor from his work, his attitude and most importantly his life. Theres so much to laugh about the way my life has evolved in the last six months and I draw inspiration from it.

Koi kami mere vich hovegi

Have been addicted to Debi Makhsoospuri poetry these days. I wonder, how can someone be so good? His words touch my heart. This is one is regarding a person, whose contemplating about his life. He thinks, that may be, he is feeble, weak and maybe he lacks something which has stopped him from becoming what he wants to be. The words depicts his dilemma, from many perspectives, the perspective of love, friendship, career, social prestige. Ultimately the person comes to the conclusion, that 'koi kami meri vich hovegi', meaning I might be having some weakness or a problem within myself. His humility to accept his mistake rather than putting it on someone else or blaming it on luck, makes this song very touching.

JE YAAR MERE NAAL GUSSE NE
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI
JINNA UTTE CHIRA DA SI AETBAAR
JE OHI MERE NAAL GUSSE NE
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI

KISE DIL VICH PHERA PAAYA NI
JE KISE NE MAINU CHAHYA NI
MUH SOHNE KINNE HONTH SOHNE
NAA KISE TE MERA AAYA NI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI

RUKNA SI JITTHE RUKEYA NI
JHUKNA SI JITTHE JHUKEYA NI
JE SAMEY DI CHAAL NU TAKEYA NI
JO BAN-NA SI BAN SAKEYA NI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI

IK TAGMA JO MASHOORI DA
YAARA DI HIKK TE PAKKA AE
IK ISHTIHAAR JO NINDEYA DA
MERI PITH TON JE NAHI LATTHA AE
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI

KAYIAN TON CHOOTHA PAI GEYA MAIN
KAYIAN DE MANN TON LEH GEYA MAIN
MERE NAAL DE AGGE LANGH GAYE
JE KALLA HI PICCHE REH GEYA MAIN
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI

JE KHAT VI AJJKAL GHAT PAUNDE
TE MILAN VI LOKI GHAT AUNDE
OH JEEBAN NAAL DEBI DANGDE NE
DIN AUKHE HI JE KAR LANGHDE NE
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI
KOI KAMI MERE VICH HOVEGI

To all you drinkers!!!*

I was listening to Punjabi shayari, or to put it in a more subtle way Punjabi mosiqui. Debi Makhsoospuri mangum opus is copied below. It illustrates the love for drinking and elaborates the extent to which people are addicted to it. Sure, drinking brings its share of sorrows and disgraceful moments but the ecstacy and state of nirvana it brings is unparreled. Life sure becomes surreal. So, if someones feeling a little down, or a little up, drink, it helps both ways!

I was listening to this(written below). I am sure the persons who drink would like it, the persons who left drinking some years ago would love it as well. And, may be who would start drinking after some years, would enjoy it as well, provided all of them understand Punjabi!!

dekheya na labh,na koi hani pee gaya,
main botla ch ghol ke jawani pee gaya,
main daru ch ghol ke jawani pee gaya,,
kineya de Zulam te tokhe pee laye,
main kineya di khore meharbani pee gaya,
jinah ne wataiyaan kaiya naal mundiyan,
vech ke main ohna di nishani pee gaya,
thodi bohti bhavein hun hou bachdi,
"DEBI" lag-bhag Zindgani pee gaya
eh sade bai debi ne likheya hai

Just a food for thought.

1. Why do people drink, anyways?
2. Why is it such a part of European culture and maybe not a part of Indian traditions?
3. Do animals have some intoxicants as well?

* Just writing this, doesnt mean I drink. The views expressed are not personal but gathered from a lot of sources.

Addicted

Its been three days, and the same song has been playing on my mind. Its all over, everywhere I can hear it. I have been listening to it and the addiction seems to grow. The lyrics remind me of someone and just forces me to fall in love all over again. Its the thing, I share with Enrique maybe, all his songs feel so ............. The lyrics are below, deleted the Ring my bells thing, that's the only thing in the song which doenst appeal to me.

Sometimes you love it
Sometimes you don't
Sometimes you need it then you don't and you let go..

Sometimes we rush it
Sometimes we fall
It doesn't matter baby we can take it real slow..

Coz the way that we touch is something that we can't deny
And the way that you move oh you make me feel alive
Come on

You try to hide it
I know you do. When all you really want is me to come and get you

You move in closer
I feel you breathe
It's like the world just disappears when you around me oh

Coz the way that we touch is something that we can't deny oh yeah
And the way that you move oh you make me feel alive so
come on

Say you want, say you need
I can tell by your face love the way it turns me on

I say you want, I say you need
I will do all it takes I would never do you wrong

Coz the way that we love is something that we can't fight oh no
I just can't get enough oh you make me feel alive so come on

Say you want say you need I can tell by the way you're looking at me I turn you on
say you want say you need if you have what it takes we don't have to wait lets get it on.

The song sure has rung my bells, I hope someone can hear it.

I wonder!!!

I wonder. Its been just two days, Im here in Iceland. Since 2nd August, the day I returned to India, I was waiting to come back and now I feel bored. The place is seems so familiar, same buildings, same people, same cars, the joy of discovering just isnt there. Its just the cold winds, snow and night thats new. I pack myself into the best winter clothes I bought from India, but still the wind seems to get in. I wonder I might be very cold inside, thats why everything just gets in.

My mentor wants me to come again, but strangely this time I dont want to. The long flights, never ending queues at IGI, the food in the flights have had their effect. I might land up getting a job here, but then what happens! I dont want to be a cynic here but I just wonder how would it work.

My friends in college are going to Manali on supposedly the last college trip we would have. Alternatively I would be traveling to Denmark and Sweden(or Germany) but I want to be in Manali! I dont know why? I again wonder that maybe, my fascination of traveling alone has flew away just like the daylight hours in Iceland.

Its disappointing but still, Life is wonderful. I thank god for giving me what I wished for. Just offer me a job so that I can work my way up the ladder fast and then return to India as soon as possible. Now thats what I want to do, writing sure helps you find out your inner thoughts!!!!! I wonder.

Jhoomo Re!!!!!!

Chal bulla chal uthe chaliye
Jithe saaare *****
Naa koi saadi jaat pehchane
Naa koi saanu mane

Heard this song on way to Helsinki. Sitting between a group of people, one is able to contemplate things better, atleast that happens with me. Kher sahab captures the essence of my thoughts in these four lines. Its so unfortunate that staying with people you have known all your life, one has to behave in a certain way, conform to your own fucking standards. Being in Iceland, I realize, here I do things which I like to do, I love things which I really love, I eat what I like to eat, go to places where I like to go. What else do I aspire in life? But does that mean, I wont do things termed as 'strange' and 'wierd' at places familiar to me. And, Is doing strange and weird things the quintessence of life. I dont know, its confusing. Kherji please help me out again, with a song, ofcourse!!!! What else can someone else think of.

'Israel Odyssey'

Scanning my email sent folder, I saw whole bunch of emails describing my travels to friends. The following is one of them.

____________________________________________________________

How have you been all this while? I have been doing quite well. I had a very nice time in Israel. There were so many places to see and a lot to experience. Israel has such a rich history that it's one county everyone must go to. I consider myself so lucky to have made this journey. Its' such a small country in terms of size but its got everything from history, culture, natural beauty, beaches, but unfortunately wars, conflict and a lot of destruction as well. I am returning back to India now and was in Jordan for a day before coming back. The journey across Israel was memorable. This was the first time I was traveling all alone but it was so much fun exploring the place all by myself. I made a lot of friends as well and had a great time.

First I went to Tel Aviv as I had some work to complete at one of the market research companies there. My colleague's were really helpful and they appreciated the work I did. In short, the work went really well. After that, I started my travel around the country.

My journey to Israel started at the place where it all began, The Dome of Rock. I was fortunate enough to visit the church where Jesus was born, and where he was crucified. The place where Prophet ascended to the heavens and to the Western Wall - the holiest place of Judaism. I also visited the holiest place of the Baha'is – The Baha'i Garden at Acre. Israel has so much to offer and there is so much to see. All this makes me wonder why it all happened in Israel? This place must be special, people no wonder call it the Holy Land. Are there any reasons given in the Bible, as to why Jesus was born there and not at any other place.

I fell in love with Jerusalem. Jerusalem is unparalleled in terms of its history and culture. Earlier I had thought I would stay 2 days in Jerusalem but I was there for 4 days. Jerusalem did enchant me. (Im just not able to put it into words, you would have to be there to understand). There is just so much to see in and around Jerusalem. It means so many things to so many people. To Muslims it's about the Al Aqsa Mosque, to Jews it's the Western Wall and the Christians want to visit the Via Dolorosa and the Church of Holy Sepulchre. I hope that it doesn't have to witness more wars and conflicts now. The trip to the Church of Nativity, Bethlehem was good too. I had to cross over to Palestine to make it to Bethlehem.

I took a day trip to the lowest point on earth - Dead Sea. I had a dip in the waters and just the feeling of floating on the water was so exciting. To see the sun rise at at the Dead Sea was so mesmerizing. I traveled to the Tiberias as well & to the Sea of Galilee. I rented a bike and rode all the way around the Sea of Galilee. Its around 61 kms, though I was really tired after the trip but it was fun. I really did learn a lot about Judaism and Christianity on this visit. Visiting the Church of Holy Sepulchre, just walking through Via Dolorosa and going to Bethlehem I was able to understand the life of Jesus Christ a little bit.

I will surely take a lot of memories of this trip along with me. But the visit to Israel made me miss the final of Cricket World cup which India won. I am so disappointed that I missed it but excited as well that India won!!! It would have been so exiting watching it back home with friends, but anyways if I have to be away from India to make India win I don't mind that!!!! I am back in India now and the hectic college life begins all over again.

I made a Jew friend as well and learnt a little bit about Judaism. It's so great to meet people from diverse backgrounds, religion and culture. Its such an learning experience meeting them and learning about things they believe in and the rational about it.

I hope you are having a good time. Its so good to hear that you like traveling as well. I personally like it a lot too. Just keep your traveling passion alive so that it makes you to come to India and I see you soon!!!

Bless!!!!!(Icelandic way of saying bye)