Sunday, January 20, 2019

Love for Travel...

This morning after breakfast I watched a small documentary of a small tea stall old man from Kerala traveling around the world with his wife. They look like they are in their 70s and he was so passionately talking about traveling in spite of his fewer earnings.

Reminded me of myself in terms of passion. I see a lot of people being passionate about traveling around me. For me, it is quite different and each time I experience some series of events.

1. Before the trip: I will suddenly come up with a place... triggers could be anything...maybe I saw a show in tv and I thought the place is beautiful... maybe I saw some friend going there or maybe I know a friend living there... Then I propose this to Ravi. Ah.. he is not that much into traveling..mainly because he is traveling Monday to Friday throughout the year on business.. it is unfair to push him to travel for a vacation. After coming back from business trip.. he sees sofa at home like one sees sunset by the beach.
So there are times when I plan on my own. Frankly, it takes some courage to decide that, but again I always remember I am born to live my life.
Tickets booked.. and then I spend days not planning the trip but only looking at the accommodations. I basically clear out everything I am not keen on and finally choose somewhere I think a) I can create the memory for myself b) Choose a host in Airbnb from whom there is something to learn
Accommodation booked and if there are any visa stuff, I take care of them, at this point it pinches that I am spending a lot ;) But it is going to be worth it.

2. Few days to Trip:
All excited, I would have shown the place I am gonna stay to every friend of mine and everyone at work.

3. On the day of the trip:
Today is the day I scold myself for all the trip plans, mainly because I hate flying. It is so damn scary. Actually I kind of used to hate it but never scared. Ravi once told me when we were in a flight, he is scared of flights and he has picked this from his friend KC. WOw.. that shit got me. Since then I am shit scared..every flight entry is like "I am gonna die". Every touch down is like athiest saying "THANK god I am alive this time!"

4. During the trip:
Mostly do nothing if I am alone.. find some nice place to eat and hang out... talk to Airbnb family and just chill out.. if there is a beach or mountain I watch the sunset and roam a bit in the city.
Sometimes, I think how far I have come in my life.. always trying to understand in each place why locals like living there.. what is that so compelling.

5. Coming back day:
Generally never sad to be back to Malaysia and home. I love Malaysia and it is always nice to be home. But again flying sucks. One thing I think in my mind on that day is..do I want to return to this place sometime again?

Finally what I hate doing during a holiday are....and what I say to people....
Trekking (you guys suck if you had made me trek), packed full day sightseeing plan (go yourself, I am not in)... Eating cheap bad food to just save on holiday (Not coming with you again)



Here are a few lines about places I went so far...

1. India: Hello I am born here. it probably is me.
2. Malaysia: Mic drop. I want to live here rest of my life
3. Singapore: Second most hated country... but I don't hate it now as much as I used to.
4. Indonesia: Bali will be my most favorite relaxing vacation ever.. been there 5 times and love it each time, especially people. Lombok is a special place too.. my first island solo travel.
5. Thailand: Amazing food, people are ok. A lot of shopping.. Do I want to return often... meh..not really..depends on the company..alone maybe not.
6. Philippines: Went there immediately after the wedding.. stayed in fancy places but have not been to beaches..which are popular.. anyways.. I never felt like going back there.. felt too crowded and expensive.. a lot of junk food
7.Vietnam: Been there more than 20 times in the last 5 years on work.. third most visited country.I have a love-hate relationship with this place.. I like the vibe in the HCMC city.. cute coffee shops.. nice food..but then I don't why I don't like it very much..
8. Nepal: I love Pokhara.. actually road drive between Kathmandu and Pokhara. I will never forget it. Beautiful. Although Kathmandu didn't attract me much. People were just ok.
9. Cambodia: I have some nice memories staying with an Airbnb family..opened me up.. a white guy living with local who has a child from other local (who is not living with them)..their son was full of love.. it made me think I should adopt children from cambodia..they are so cute..
10. Australia: It is the most scenic place I have ever seen. Unfortunately, I didn't go in summer to see many many stars. Passing by a lot of wineries and simply stopping the car in the forest to watch Koala bears was a priceless experience. Great ocean road trip and first time watching penguins, in fact, a lot of animals is something I cherish.
11.  Japan: This was our most waited trip in 2018 and we went for ten days..covered Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka and all the way north to Iwate. I had a killer plan just because they had Shinkansen -  World fastest train. From one end to another end of Japan it took a couple of hours..so why stop at one place. Japan countryside is our favorite. We ate chickens satay and cheese rice in a small village, went to Onsen, met some really kind old Airbnb couple who I really call couple goals.
12. US: Went there multiple times and wonder how time passes by.. mainly because of Swetha and her friends. They all keep us entertained and feed us like babies. I would go there anytime.
13. Dubai: Don't ask me more, I hate this country the most. Lacks soul, there is visible slavery and finally, it is plastic without trees.
14. Srilanka: After, Bali Srilanka is my second favorite holiday..went there a couple of times and always fell in love to see how untouched some places are. I love their food.
15. England: Most impromptu trip ever after watching a tv show and that too with my sister. Covered so many village stays and stayed in the best Airbnb's ever. Did antique shopping. York is my favorite in England. My dream to stay in a house where they produce and sell country flowers was easily fulfilled there.
16. Scotland: Short 2 days in Scotland Edinburgh but can't stop thinking of that dreamy town. I can't believe it is real. England and Scotland's trips are special because of Swetha with me.
17. Maldives: Beautiful beaches and starry nights are favorites. Chased Manta Ray fish and saw how dead sea was inside...

I think I want to keep a small record here.. 17 countries in 5 yrs time are quite huge for me...but I learned I love traveling a lot...it is something that can keep me super motivated and excited to work at the office.

For a while maybe I am not going to travel..but when I can I want to go to some places in India (Kashmir, Kochi(from there to Madurai)) and some parts of Kerala,  New Zealand, Turkey, Egypt, Ireland, Iceland, Venice, Bhutan are on my list.. :)

Below is the pic from my most recent UK trip.. me, Suche (my friend for the last 12yrs) and Swetha





Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Hello 2019! We have come long way

సముద్రానికి చాల దగ్గరగ ఉండటం అంత సులువు కాదు...
అలలు మనసును చిత్తు చిత్తు చెస్థాయని అనిపిస్థుంది..
సముద్రం నిషబ్దంగ ఉంటె మనసు షొరు పెరిగినట్టు ఉంది..
నెను వెల్లె బోటు సగం సమయం పడిపొతదెమొ అని అలొచిస్తె,
మరొ సగం ఇలాగీ సముద్రం లొ ఎంత దాక వెళ్ళొచ్చు...
కొన్ని ఎళ్ళు ఇలా వెల్ఠె ఎలా ఉంటుంది జీవితం
మనిషి మారిపొతాడు కదా అంత సమయం లొ?
ఒక ప్రశ్న...
ఒక సంవత్సరం ఒక మనిషి అన్ని వదిలి ప్రయానిస్థె.. మారిపొతడా?
నాకు తెలిసిన సమధానం.. మారిపొరు అని..మారాలంటె అంత సులువు కాదు అని...
అలా మారిపొవాలంటె వాళ్ళ జీవితం లొ ఉన్న కొన్ని ప్రశ్నలకు ఊహించని సమాధానం దొరకాలి...
ఉదాహరనకు
నెను దెవున్ని గుడ్డిగ నమ్ముతాను అంటె..
ఒక సంవత్సరం
చాల దేశాలు తిరిగాక 
వాళ్ళ నమ్మకాలు చూసాక నేను దేవున్ని గుడ్డిగ నమ్మనవసరం లేదు అని తెలుసుకుంటే అది మార్పు...
ఒక మనిషి ఇలాంటి ఆలొచనలు ఏవి లెకుండ, జీవితంలొ ఉన్న ముఖ్యమయిన సంధేహాలు ముందుగానె తెలుసుకుంటె.. వాళ్ళు ఎంత కొత్త ప్రదెశానికి వెళ్ళిన మారరు..
నా చిన్నపుడు అంటే డిగ్రీ నుంచి మాస్టర్స్ కి వెళ్ళినపుడు.. మా చిన్న ఊరు నుంచి పెద్ధ సిటి కి వెళ్ళినపుడు...
నేను చాల మారిపొయాను.. కాని ఎవరైనా మారావు అంటె అసలు ఒప్పుకునేదాన్ని కాదు.. మార్పు చెడ్డది అనుకునేదాన్ని.. 
కాని..చిన్న ఊర్లూ ఎన్నొ అంక్శలు ఉంటాయి..
అబ్బాయిలతో మట్లాడకూడదు...ఇలాంటి అలాంటి బట్టలు వేస్కొకూడదు..
వెరే అబ్బాయి పక్కన నడవకూడదు...బయటకు ఒంటరిగా వెళ్ళకుడదు...ఇంకా ఎవేవొ.. ఒక్కసారి సిటి కి వచ్చాక అందరూ ఇవ్వనీ నార్మల్ గా తీసుకుంటారు..ఊర్లొ మత్రమే ఇవి చాల సిరియస్ గా తీసుకుంటారు అని తెలిసాక.. మనసులొ పెద్ద కాంఫ్లిఖ్ఖ్ట్.. ఏది కర్రెక్ట అని
చాల నటించాల్సి వచ్చింది ఆ వయసులో.. ఊర్లొ వాళ్ళకు అనుకువగా ఉంటూ..సిటి లొ సిటి లొలా ఉంటు..
చాలా కాంఫ్లిఖ్ఖ్ట్.
రియలిస్టిక్ పాత్ చూస్ చెస్కున్నాను అపుడు చాల డిఫికల్ట్ ఉన్నాకాని.... అదే పాత్ లొ ఉన్నాను అప్పటినుంచి.. ఇపుడు మెజర్ చైంజ్ అయ్యే స్కోప్ లెదనిపిస్థుంది...
కాస్ట్ అఫ్ దట్ చైంజ్ వంచె వాజ్ ఎ రిలెషన్షిప్
ఇపుడు సిళ్ళిగా అనిపిస్థుంది ఇలాంటివి.. ఎవరికైన చెబితె నమ్మలేరు..
ఒక్కొసారి కొంచం బాదెస్థుంది.. ఎంటబ్బా నా ల్యైఫె లొ అంత పెద్ద చైంజ్ఆ ఏజ్ లొ జరగాలా అని..
ఎపుడొ ఒకసారి ఎలగైనా ఆ మార్పు వచ్చెది..

big dreams..at least they were considered big back then..I would have realized what is normal and what is abnormal sooner or later.. and all my thoughts were normal actually..

15yrs back matter...
still fresh in mind..still leads to serious thoughts lot of times..still makes me emotional..

life until 25yrs felt like so precious...then, later on, felt maybe not so precious..it is supposed to be normal

2019 also may be a normal year

I want to write a lot in this blog in this year... importantly those things that I always wonder "if I can write or not"..


Super proud

 My little brother is no more little.. He has grown up so big that now he went to a new country to study I feel quite proud of him and also ...