out of the comfort zone !

I finally gathered the courage to move out of my comfort zone.... and it's not as bad as I thought it would be. It's definitely different but not that difficult and even if it is difficult at times you always have the option to adapt or to stop. So, life has changed quite a bit. From rush of a metro to quiet countryside, from air conditioned vehicles to the good old rickshaw, from a beautiful valley to a scorching plane, from the comforts of home to a lonely corner.... things have changed but I know it's just a phase and most importantly it's what I chose for myself.... it must have been the biggest risk I've taken till date and a first major independent decision too and I just hope it works out. The wise must have had experienced something to say that the biggest risk in life is not to take one... so here am I starting with one.

My morning starts with a cup of tea, I prepare my own breakfast, I manage the lunch on my own, I see almost a hundred patient a day without even knowing their language still I manage exchanging smiles and joke with them, I cook, I clean, I work I work insanely, I keep myself busy enough and hardly get a 'me-time', I'm making friends, I'm overcoming fears, I'm challenging myself everyday for something new sometimes I achieve that, sometimes I keep trying and quietly say myself "if not today then tomorrow", I'm stretching my limits and I'm trying them too, I know my imperfections better now and I rejoice in being the mess that I sometimes am. For now it may not be the perfect life but for this perfect moment it is the kind of life I should living !

     

this is the cup that starts my day!

the view from my balcony  !

a DIY thing to pass the leisure  TV-less hours

something that keeps me going !

a mess that I'm!!

and that's me !

the good the bad and the idlis !

 This has been one of my favorite pictures my first South India trip. I'm no good at writing a travelogue but I like clicking things that I find interesting and later on looking on all those pictures itself sums up the memory of the entire journey. So, coming back to this picture it was adorning the walls of a restaurant in Hyderabad called Kebab Theater. The place had a very interesting decor, all the walls were adorned by movie posters and the chairs too had photos of legendary bollywood characters including Mogambo and to add up to everything food was very good. Anyway am not going to talk about any particular restaurant here but the eating culture in southern part of India in a general sense. One major difference that I found was that South of India was much more cleaner than the north of the country. In my school as well as my medical school most of the teachers and students were South Indian and so was the food culture so I have always had a soft corner for that part of the country  and my first experience of the place was truly happy one simple people adn simple lifestyle is what was most attractive. I know it's not the case always but in a general sense southern part of India looks way more simple than other parts, the way they love their language, their culture, the way they are not embarrassed to walk around in lungis and eat with their hands these are all impressive trait . For now lets concentrate on the food so, their kaafi (coffee) at any place was awesome ! so was the dosa and idlis and of course and eating it all with your hands adds up to it.  here are few more pics

let those loops hang...

While I might not agree that 'diamonds are a girl's best friend' but I have to agree that there are very few girls who don't like a bit of bling once in while. So lets admit women do have a tiny-mini soft corner for jeweleries and everyone has got that one favourite piece. I consciously never collected jewelry but at times I do like to add that extra bling when I'm getting ready and a nice piece of jewelry does catch my attention.

So now a days that I'm having some 'me' time i got to open my boxes to discover quite a collection of little pieces which have been treasured over years by me, lets not talk about gold, diamonds and other precious gems here, lets keep it to fashion jewelries here so here are some of my favourite pieces of loops 

bugs for your ears??? looks creepy but the they look awesome when you put them on 

 these turquoise ones are another favorite of mine... transparent and vibrant  it was a gift someone got for me from Turkey and it's been a treasure !

 these are the most frequently used loops of mine and these were in fact the first ever non-gold jewelry and it's been my favourite one with cream and green pearl

 some fresh flowers picked up at Pantaloons Store, India

 the above two are silver earrings which my home town ie Kathmandu excels at, in the street of Thamel there are numerous silver shops giving you a choice of varieties of silver jewelries and gems. these ones are so light and apt for everyday usage

these simple sea-shell earrings which I bought on Merina beach Chennai just for souvenir sake turned out to be quite a treasure at an insanely cheap price as they just add the uniqueness to the face whenever worn 

these are my the most favorite ones, nothing beats a desi jhumka, got these from Janpath, Delhi and can't ever get enough of them and the compliments I get every time I put them on

 a very ordinary buy on one of the street markets in Hyderabad but they looked so beautiful and vibrant when they hang down beautifully amidst the hair locks

some simple pleasures of life !

So it was the first day of joblessness and I quite enjoyed it to be frank. After years of dedication to books and degrees and then landing into a job that didn't give me the satisfaction I was looking for it was a bold decision to quit. Don't know what life holds next but am sure something good will come out of it, it's just a matter of time. So, in the mean time when I've got all the time for myself I'm determined to make the most of it... so since I had ample of time I got to go through the picture library of mine and got few clicks which I felt I should share here

these are all taken from my terrace.... one of the advantage of living in a city which despite of man-made mess is naturally beautiful :) and is there anything more beautiful than nature herself ???

another random post

The winds are changing directions .....and I'm ready for a sail :)
I'm taking a risk .... perhaps one of the biggest one I ever have ... leaving all the security and comfort behind looking and walking in a direction unknown I don't know where will the path lead me but I'm looking forward to it with a heart full of hope ....
before I start walking again there is a little break and I'm determined to make the most of it and do things that I otherwise don't find time to do..... It's time to Dream some good dreams (it's been ages) , Read some good books, Paint some silly pictures........ stuffs like those are how Intend to spend coming 15 days of my life when I'll be free, lets see how much can be accomplished.... and for now here are some feel good pictures that make me smile

D.R.E.A.M.S

stuffs that we are made of

(A pic taken a one of the gardens in my city)

 A house full of books 

(picture coutesy: Femina)

This picture is a part of an article published in a magazine and this makes to top slots on my wishlist !

Tulips

I told you I was hooked to these childish scribbling of mine, it's soooo fun !

simple reasons to smile ....

Sometimes all you need is something as insignificant as a pretty shade of nailcolor to make you feel happy...  so look around and find those small nothings which can make you smile !

postcards from pokhara

there are few glimpses from my recent visit to Pokhara...too lazy to write, an pictures speak more than words so have a look.....

Sabbatical September !

September is supposedly my sabbatical month.... not in all literal senses though, as I'm on no vacation physically or mentally, but astrology suggests that September is a month when I'm on a recuperation kind of thing. And boy I am into astrology...just for fun sake though (confession that is !) . Yes, am a Linda Goodman fan and why not she was too good at her work, and I once in while do go through the zodiac columns especially the ones that almost always suggest that life has something good coming up every month, day or week, and I'm a fierce Libra, correction there... libra is hardly fierce so call it a loyal libra. So, September is a month when I should be relaxing and assessing the year gone by and rejuvinate myself for a new personal year to begin, and the funny is that I too feel that by this time of the year I'm lazy than most of the year and by the end of this month I'm ready to put on that silk gloves over my iron hands and wave to the world fleetingly.
So, in a nutshell right now I'm plain lazy, all I want most of the time now a days is cuddle up under a soft summer blanket with a fine book in my hand and sip up the coffee kept on the bedside table, or I just want to gaze out of my window to see the rainy grey sky slowly turning into beautiful blue and welcoming kites flying high ( yes that's how autumn begins in my city and it's almost here :)) and most of the time I want to sleep dreamless without a thought on my mind. wishes they are I know.... *sigh*
Moreover there are things occupying mind and heart, issues to deal with, battles to be fought, hearts to be won, faith to be stored, challenges to be tackled, and a life to be loved !
 So, even though I'm not having a sabbatical september but I'm having my share of things even if in small doses and I'm just hoping and praying and wishing that the days will come ...the days that have so often been dreamt of prayed for... in the mean time it's still a life which is no doubt a blessing . :)

the unshakable faith i've 

isn't it such a cute one??? 

found this on internet and couldn't help sharing !

may his blessings be showered upon all of us 

the book i'm reading right now

the movie i watched yesterday night

it's worth a watch do give it a try for some beautiful performances & music with a 'feel good' story !

if you don't have a reason to smile, try finding one !

trust me I try doing that every time and it sort of helps 

 

a nice cup of coffee is always relaxing 

 a glimpse of september sun

the picture was taken last year in september at an hour's drive from kathmandu, it was stil on my mobile so just insta-gramized it !

and before concluding the post some words which I'm abiding by right now....

“Let yourself be drawn to the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” Rumi

a break that builds you up again....

once in while when life gets too monotonous and too tiring everyone need a break and obviously not everyone can afford it with all the time and budget constraints, but let not that hold you back, in fact let nothing hold you back if you truly want something ( that's my own personal mantra ! ). so, if you are in that kind of mental status, plan a day out to the nearest escape you can think of, fine if it's not that exotic and fine you have been there thousands of time.... sometimes you don't realize how familiarity adds to comfort... so go there to the place you have been thousands of time.... sit there without thinking a thing, watch at the crowds or buildings or sky or sun or river whatever that place has to offer, you won't need to put in your brains as it will all be so familiar.... and you can simply unwind letting your thoughts flow freely... and if you have an eye for adventure trust me you can find a new one anytime at any place you like to, remember every person and everything always has an element that can surprise you so look for that surprise, so if not much then try a restaurant in the vicinity of that place, or a local shop you have always seen but never took notice of or simply explore that street, you never know what might be in store !

recently i did a similar thing, was bored by daily routine and time constrains won't allow me to take a weekend off so, just took an afternoon off and made a visit to this very famous landmark of my city, called the Boudhanath Stupa . It lies in one of the busiest area of the city so it's not a getaway for sure, just half an drive from my house and believe me gave me all that i was looking for. irrespective of the fact that i have been there so many times before and taken almost all the relatives of mine from Nepal and India and abroad whosoever visits our city to this place, going there all by myself just fro relaxation was quite fun. It's crowded, it's bustling with life, and yet i found the peace i was looking for, so i guess you just have to look hard ;) and for the surprising element, i had never explored the handicraft shops in the vicinity as i always thought those were meant for tourists, but this time i just checked in one of the shop and it did surprise me, i got some really cool stuffs at a good bargain... the place is full of beads and mask shops and which girl doesn't like a little of bling ! so it was after all a good idea to just go to a nearby place and yet feel rejuvenated.

  here are few pics and those who want to know more about the site can go to wiki and read and there is also a documentary by BBC on seven wonders of Buddhism which includes this very stupa too... so, have a look
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudhanath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrzXMC0QhT8

from a different angle

the handicraft shops in the street

isn't that cool.... and especially if you believe that fashion has no rules !

nature talks....

one thing i look forward while on a health camp is the surrounding areas, for the reason that the camps are usually organized in rural areas and as expected these areas are still far for hustle bustle and pollution of the city life..... where the pristine beauty of nature is still preserved in its nascent form.... so here is a click from today's health camp... wishing that i was carrying a better camera rather than just my phone....

food for thought !

feel good clicks :)

I've no special talents or any specific hobby, by nature I'm a very lazy and laid back person with a variety of interests but none where I excel.... but, I'm not complaining because by now I've learnt to accept and love myself with all my imperfections... my imperfections keep me sane and human and trying too... if not to attain a perfection then at least to attain that perfect balance between perfection and imperfection.... :)
So, I was talking about my hobbies.... I have an unusual one on my list... I collect wedding cards.... well call me a mush queen, am not complaining.... since very childhood I was fascinated by romance and a wedding card for me would symbolize something very romantic.... with age I came to realize that it's not just the romance which goes into making of a wedding card.... especially in our subcontinent weddings are way more than commencement or culmination of a romance ... for us a wedding card symbolizes of course romance but along with it an approval...some promises. ... cultures....traditions....a celebration....some prayers and blessings ! so, I always felt it inappropriate to let a wedding card go into trash right from a very young age... so I started collecting them....
And I have another hobby too... that is to click all the things that I find pretty.... am no photographer at all but I click just for the beauty and the 'feel good' feeling of the subjects.... so here are some of my feel good the clicks .....

                            

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ps :  sometimes I'm my favourite subject :)  i know NARCISSIST... can't help it I'm a Sheldon-Fan ;)