What Electronic Music means to me!

The last year or so has seen a lot of changes in my life and one of the more significant ones has been my introduction and pretty immediate patronage to the world of Electronica, House and Trance music. I find myself talking about it and listening to it incessantly, enough that I thought it warranted a post solely about what electronica is and why it must be regarded as highly as any other form of music excellence. Here is an ode to a genre of music that has blown me away!

When people think DJ, what comes to mind is a youngish tatooed fella, drink in one hand, half burnt cigarette in mouth, apparently spinning some sort of discs essentially playing some music. Though we all love them and won't be having the good time we do at clubs, parties and weddings, many don't regard dj'ing more than a hobby and definitely don't credit the 'hobby' to be a worthy source of music production. (It's just a guy/girl mixing tracks together). A singer or a composer, now that's music we'd say. It's time to challenge that notion and look a little further for what Electronica has to offer is a deeper and more surreal music experience. Let me explain..

Till a few years ago, my knowledge of House/Trance music was very rudimentary and was limited to some of the big name DJ's; Tiesto, Armin Van Buren,Benny Benassi and maybe David Guetta (He was just bursting onto the scene). These were the guys I knew, not necessarily liked. I went for a concert at a club here and there and happened to really enjoy the energy that these guys brought to an event. I was still an amateur, not knowing what I was getting into, not realizing I was in the midst of some great musicians. To the outside world, Electronica music is about raves and drugs and all that is wrong with society. That used to be rock and roll at one time right? How could someone enjoy music without any lyrics and just beats and tunes all night long, cynics would say. They have to be drugged they'd reason!

Oh how my world changed when I went to the Electric Zoo Festival in New York City, September 2010. A fellow enthusiast of this music, Akshay Goil, was the one who had hyped events like these and though I was keen on being part of the trance experience, I had a hidden interest of seeing my girlfriend who had just moved to New York. I bought the ticket. $270 poorer, I wasn't sure what this 2 day extravaganza in the open would have to offer. More so would I be able to take it for 12 hours a day.. Time would tell, that I would be left begging for more...

It's only fitting that I am writing this as I have a really great set playing on my Ipod to really get me into the zone of how I feel when I am consuming this music...

I arrived at Randall's Island, a little island between Manhattan and Queens, the venue of this Zoo thing and right away was impressed by the huge gathering of people. There were 3 big stages with one dj after the other continuously till 11pm. People came in all sorts of attire ready to have a great time. The more colorful and striking your outfit was the more at home you felt. Everything about this up till now suggested a big rave going out of control, kids with no purpose in life wasting their money, there only for the show and drugs than the 'music'. It didn't take more than one set (A dj on stage playing his music or 'set') for me to realize that this was something else! When the music came on, it did not matter who you were, what you were wearing or who was around you or how you felt or if you knew how to dance or not or if you cared for the music or not. All that mattered was that you were elevated into a realm of pure joy and pleasure and your body almost reacted in a natural way just like one learns how to walk. The body swayed, the hands flayed, the head bobbed; Jumps, kicks, squats, elaborate dance moves, gymnastics, dives, everything was fair game. There seemed to be a rhythm to the way the crowd moved, as drops in beat were followed by even crazier drops in beat. It was almost surreal to be just dancing and not giving even the slightest thought to what we all looked like.

The entire festival was back to back to back sets into the night that just blew the mind away. Some played up beat tracks and some played tracks that would suck you in, entrancing you in their hold and then suddenly releasing you when you least expected. Enjoying Electronic music requires losing your fear of being judged or laughed at. It's like a free fall, the more you are at ease the more you will enjoy it. The key is not to be impatient but to soak in the journey the 'artist' (dj) is trying to take you on. Many a time you can sense the artist trying to play the crowd, lulling them into a nice calm state with some melodic tunes and then when least expected, boom, into a different realm, a different tempo, a different feel.
It's a story that must be heard patiently and attentively.

Many a contemporary artist will play their brand of music, often composed by themselves (notable examples DeadMau5, Chemical Brothers, Tiesto, AVB etc.) but they will play a little more upbeat music at festivals as crowds are looking for a high energy event. Electronic Dance Music or EDM is what House Music is; Upbeat, fast paced, big highs and lows. Trance on the other hand can be a little more harder to enjoy as it really requires submitting yourself to the music. Not thinking, just letting your mind flow with the music. If one is able to do so successfully, not let the problems of the world wander into ones perception, there is nothing like getting lost in a trance track.

I am going to add links to some things EDM to get readers an idea of what I might be talking about.

Why I decided to write this was because I felt that it would be a good challenge to try and express the emotions I feel when I listen to this music. To be honest I don't feel I've done justice to it and it's one of those things you have to submit yourself to, let it affect you! For me the Electronica experience is a pure experience between me and the music. No adulteration, no distraction, just a connection between the mind, body and soul. I really do mean it when I say I thoroughly enjoy all the nuances and fine points of this genre. It's sometimes the unsaid that can say so much more than the said. That's what electronic music is in my opinion, an art form wherein the 'artist' expresses himself/herself through sounds and images that can be interpreted one way or the other. In it's pure form it's absolutely brilliant.

I hope that next time someone hears or thinks about this genre, they think twice before dismissing it. Yes there are a lot of wannabe, second rate dj's but there are some truly gifted musicians as well.
It's like when you first try a different cuisine and you're apprehensive. But one time you give it an honest shot and you fall for it entirely. That's what happened to me.

I heart ELECTRONICA!! And I mean it!

p.s. Did I mention that I don't use any drugs or alcohol while at these concerts. Pure 100% adrenalin!! Cheers

A Quest of Sorts

This post, unlike the last two is about my travels. Not too much soul searching going on in this one. Sorry. Let's talk about the time I went to the Capital. The Capital of the United States they call America.

When I think of American cities, I think interstates, fast food joints by the dozen, big buildings, big houses, suburbs and the odd attraction here and there. Obviously there are a few cities (I have not been to all American cities so pardon me if I miss any) like New Orleans, Atlanta (yes even Atlanta), Nashville, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago etc. that bring more to the table and might not be your run of the mill big sized American city. I had been hearing some rave reviews about Boston and Washington DC for some time and decided to go visit a friend working at MPAC (Muslim Public Affairs Council) for a weekend. Oh was I in for a surprise!

As the MD-90 aircraft scooped low, the Potomac river gently flowing beneath, the gleaming building of Downtown DC to the right, the plane made a sharp right towards the runway at Ronald Reagan International airport(DCA). Walking quickly onto the metro trying to meet up with my friend as soon as possible, I briefly glanced at the first brief sightings of the city. After getting of in an Area called Van Ness, we caught up on the happenings in our lives on the way to dinner. Dark and warm outside, the road appeared wide and was lined with trees. Good sign I thought to myself. I was informed this was a sort of residential and quiet area and was pleasantly surprised by the host of charming and classy restaurants that lined this slightly buzzing street. My first night in DC was to end in the apartment without much excitement.. I didn't know what to expect from the most important city in the world..

As the sunlight seeped in through the large windows in the room, I groggily awoke to what seemed like a familiar sight. There were two large trees that stood astute outside the window reminiscent of my room in Delhi and the plethora of green you surprisingly find there. Was this going to be a green city? You bet it was.
We headed in the metro towards Metro Center station, the center so as to speak of the city. This also happened to be the area of Washington DC's annual Gay Pride Parade happening this very weekend I was there! What struck me at once about this city was the wide roads, abundance of trees (surprisingly you don't see enough in big cities here) and the architecture of homes on show. The old and well restored, blending well with the new styles and designs of modern buildings. It felt grand, it felt magnificent, it felt right. As we gallivanted, turning corners at a whim looking for a place to eat, I spotted a Pho restaurant (Vietnamese rice noodle soup, absolutely delicious). Sipping on the fatty beef soup that was bursting with flavor, we sat at a table overlooking the street outside when it suddenly began. The parade was going to pass through there.. The next few hours were to be the funnest few hours I have spent for free. The parade came with a watch at your own discretion tag, but for the daring and adventurous, the gay, the lovers of celebration and the odd person that found him/her there, it was a truly colorful parade. Floats after floats, decked up, music blaring, graffiti and knick knacks flying, dancers dancing, people campaigning, water splashing, the parade had it all! For those a little taken aback and shocked at my enjoyment of such a celebration, most people that came through the parade merely showed their support and were not trying to impose themselves on the audience. It was a big celebration and it was great to see the way the Capital embraced it lovingly. I ended up with everything from a bouncy ball, candy and float to sunglasses, beads and sun screen lotion. Thoroughly entertaining.

The next few hours were to really win my heart over. As we walked away from the street that had been chaotic and colorful just a little while ago, we crossed over a bridge and were inadvertently walking towards Georgetown. What I saw as we randomly walked were absolutely gorgeous homes, the kinds you would see in parts of Europe. Homes with large doors, bold colors, backyards, front yards, big bay windows, all this in the heart of the city literally. My fascination with trees lies in that I lived in Delhi which has one of the highest green cover for a city its size and density. That's what I was loving about walking about these streets, there was a certain calm that the canopy of trees brought to this otherwise semi busy street. Each home was different, built in a different style, used different colors, oriented the windows and doors differently, but they all gelled well together and brought out, the 'Oh how marvelous' kind of expression!

What lay ahead is hard to describe and not something I thought existed outside some charming European cities. Georgetown, the famous area known for the University of the same name had boutique stores, quirky restaurants, art galleries, mom and pop stores alongside lamp posts and bushes of violet and white flowers. It felt like you were not in the US anymore. Not the US I had know up till then. It seemed like there were regulations regarding haphazard and unregulated construction as all stores in this area were built into old homes adding that extra charm. The area was abuzz with youngsters from the surrounding areas but it still seemed private enough. One of the things that really stuck out about DC was despite the myriad of people around, there is always space to be with yourself, to not be bothered if you might want that. Bustling yet peaceful, Wild yet Serene is the impression I was getting.

The icing on the cake was when in our nomadic quest through the city on foot, we ended up at the river. As we walked on the grass between interracial couples, people walking their pets and a few quiet families there to soak in the view, we found ourselves a spot by the bank and dangled our feet over the concrete. The water couldn't have been more still, the air couldn't have been more pleasant, the atmosphere couldn't have been better. Up above, as a plane made a sharp right towards the runway at DCA, a well lit yacht filled with people in Tuxedos and dresses calmly moved along the water in front of us and the trees and flowers swayed to the tune of the breeze besides us, it was apparent why I had instantly loved the city; Buzzing one minute and Blissful and calm another, exactly what the 21 year old me looks for in a place. Action and Inaction very close to each other!

The next morning I went and saw the things I couldn't have left without seeing; the White House, the Smithsonian, the Capital building. Not to take away anything from these structures, it was the small things like the clean metro, the big roads, the diverse crowd, the quirky places around, the unique pace of the city etc. that had already given this city a 10/10 in my books.

As my plane made a sharp left, as we scooped up this time, I wondered if this could be a city I could see myself living in! Why not I thought! Whether that happens or not, visits to this city in the future are inevitable!

The highs, the 'not so' highs and the Emotional conundrums of adult life!

At the risk of stating the obvious, I'd like to note that it has indeed been a while since I visited this space. As I begin to write this piece I have a very vague idea of what I want to convey and that makes me feel like a painter about to attack a blank canvas.

In recent years passed, writing has become the medium I feel I can express myself best in. I have always been one to keep my emotions, troubles and dilemmas internal and writing has emerged as the creative outlet for those. Though I am always looking to update my blog whenever something significant happens in my life (Pretty much everyday), I get tied up with the routines in my life and am unable to do so. What prompted this post was a one liner facebook message from a dear friend saying, "Everyone is awaiting an update in your well-constructed, lucid English." This was very unexpected since I considered this blog merely a personal diary, knowing very well that it was entirely public.

It's been 4 months since my foray into working life; It has been a gradual adjustment of sorts. Getting used to sleeping on time and waking up early every morning(quite the opposite of an erratic college schedule), managing the limited hours after work to pack in chores, socializing, workouts, other hobbies etc while the biggest adjustment of all has been living amongst college students when I have been the sole one working. Being a very social being, I thrive on human contact and interaction but that's something that's harder to find when you're on a strict 8-6 schedule none of your peers are on. At first I'd feel the need to set up dinners and movies every day to satisfy this need of mine but it was hard to keep up (I too, know only a limited number of people) as college kids (As I should have known well myself) are on their own trip. However it wasn't long before I actually started enjoying the time off work, just doing things myself; Working out, playing sports, reading, composing videos, cooking etc. The human interaction followed itself. I was watching a really good Bollywood film recently called 'Three Idiots' and one of the protagonists goes on to exclaim, "One shouldn't chase success but one should chase excellence." The comment is not cryptic at all and easily understandable and true. However that statement transcends to everything one might do, from striving for excellence in ones hobbies, interests and sports to less trivial things like being good with people, getting girls(hehe) and ones own annoying habits. I think a lot of us are consciously aware of our drawbacks but tend to push them to the background because we're afraid we wouldn't be able to correct them. As a little example, I have always been very active and can proudly say that I can play pretty much any sport. Though I am not a champion in any one sport but i am good enough to put up a tough fight. Recently, while playing a pick up soccer game on an open air astroturf pitch, I was being my usual self, playing and joking around with everybody when one guy, obviously frustrated and unknowing of my ways on a sporting field says, "You're horrible man, why don't you leave!" In all these years of playing sport with inumerable people, I have never ever had anyone say something like that to me, and even if I did, iit was never serious enough. I obviously got riled up and was in his face and wanted to walk off, but after cooling down on the sidelines for a bit, i had a point to prove and i played on...

... For those who know me even decently well, then they know that it's hard to keep me angry for long. Either it's because I have great inner forgiving strength or it's because I just have a very short memory, I don't know. But this time, I was thinking of it; I was thinking about the comment when I went to bed, when I went to work the next day and over the weekend. I was upset at my roommate because I felt he should have supported me and helped me knock the living bajeezes out of this guy. I was annoyed, I wanted to smash this guy's face. I didn't want to let go this one time. After all its not too often that an off color incident lingers in my memory, but this time it was. I was excited in a way. If only i saw him again, i'd actually pick a fight i thought. It took a few days for me to realize why this had such an impact on me and at some point I realized it's because somewhere I have always set myself a standard. I always have fun and take things lightly but when the occasion calls for it I give it whatever It takes. It's a standard for commitment that I have set very high and hardly find in people around me. At that moment it struck me, that maybe I need to combine that commitment with an equally strong desire for excellence! I am at Nirvana again, but that guy will one day get the answers, not with my fist or my boot, but with the way I play on the field..

Getting away from the specifics and trying to keep this piece abstract,(Isn't that what makes great paintings?) I'd like to talk about the topic of this blog post. What do I mean by the highs, the 'not so highs' and the Emotional conundrums of Adult life? Well some of it is understandable right? We can all agree that no individual's existence is devoid of hardship? Hardship, whether it's intellectual,physical, spiritual or emotional, is existent in everyone's life that depresses, saddens and upsets. On the other end of the spectrum are the high moments, the joys, the moments of bliss, peace and happiness and true internal contentment. What I decide to call the hardships or the lows then are The 'not so highs'. Isn't it ironic that when something bad happens to us, it might seem like the end of the world, but when put in perspective with respect to incidents in other people's lives or even with other 'bad' incidents as we age, they seem childish almost? That's not saying that we shouldn't feel angry or frustrated or upset (That's but natural and healthy) but rather at some point during that outburst finding some inspiration or maybe telling one self that worse things are bound to happen might make getting through the sadness easier. (With your right hand pat your heart and say 'All Izzz Well''. It's easier said than done, but a conscious effort could only help.

On a slightly different note, one thing I am sure of is that I am not an illegitimate child. I am truly my mom's son. Traits of wanting to please people and staking her heart for their happiness have been traits that I always revered and admired in her but at the same time couldn't understand. As children when we went on trips, she wouldn't find it hard to strike up a conversation with the Mahut of the Elephant one moment and the owners of a super luxury hotel the other. On the flipside, I also saw her suffer a lot, a tremendous amount. She'd put herself out there time and agaim and then would be left hanging by clients, friends and even her children at times. I wouldn't understand, I would cry with her, urge her to stop doing so but even before I knew it, she would be smiling again. It was almost like nothing happened! The early signs of my adult behavior have been eerily similar to hers but I get succor from the fact that at the end of the day whatever the hassles in her life, she can take the moment for what it is, and put on that smile that's just a little flower blossom or raindrop away.. I'd rather be hurt and happy that way then wallow in my own sorrow..

I am not sure how I got to that last paragraph, but it had something to do with my mental and emotional construct. One of my beliefs is that relationships of all sorts need work and open communication; It's when that communication either breaks down or is not transparent enough that cracks start appearing and a relationship starts slipping. I think we all crave human loving and affection, but most of us are not willing to either put in the time or the effort into getting that back or some of us don't even realize what we might be doing wrong. In today's world where Facebook birthday wishes are considered enough and a drunk friendly banter at a party makes you 'close' pals with someone, as a society, we are slowly and unkowingly losing the skill set to deal with others in normal situations in person. It's scary how many people i meet that cant keep a conversation going without drinking or without talking about regualar fluff (weather, sports, what sucks). We might not admit it but we all crave actual and meaningful human interaction. The lesson being, lets not get carried away with all that we are occupied with and try to do the small things that not only matter and impact others but keep a very important skillset intact as well. So go on pick up the phone call somebody. Anybody. Even if it's for trivial matters, Instead of texting it to them just say it to them. Easy (You don't have any minutes left, fine find someone with your same carrier). It's ought tomkill many birds with one stone!

Having sounded like a philosopher and a thinker for the best part of this blog, I must however confess that I am hardly one. In person, I probably don't appear more serious than a 4 year old (If you're my girlfriend), 7 year old (If you're my roommate)or a 15 year old (If you're an acquaintance or a decent friend). I seem to attract more than my share of misfortunes; countless tickets, a near lost passport, a rear-ended accident, missed flights (making it hard to get back to work on time) etc. But Adventures have been a step ahead of the misfortunes and it's been a truly epic 4 months. Some of the highlights include but are not limited to: Working for Delta Airlines (getting access to free flights anywhere), My first foray into being an enterpreneur with a dear childhood friend, critic and confidante Udayan Kapur as joint partners in our alternative apparel company called TOLDOS (www.toldosapparel.com), Winning Campus Movie Fest with our 5 minute movie titled 'Whispers of Shaitaan' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5sb61j7Bb4), Mardi Gras in New Orleans, A 3 day Electronica heaven (Ultra Music Festival-Miami, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqxRwdW8kxE&feature=), White Water Rafting on the Ocoee river and many more small yet significant moments. I tell you, I am intrigued by what's in store for me ahead..

I was talking to an old employer of mine yesterday who lost his wife recently. I had gone over to pay my respects and he had taken the whole thing in his stride. He was open and cheerful and we freely discussed what it was like and how it feels losing someone you care for so dearly and how he is creating a new life without her. Among other things, he started talking about how one shouldn't chase money and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I retorted by saying, "I don't want to chase success Mr. Grey, I want to chase perfection of some sort." I find that interesting because somewhere in my subconscious I have decided that I am going to strive for excellence in my life. It might not have a clear definition or form in my head right now, but I am surely going to have a good time getting there!!


I intend to write a little more frequently in the coming months. I thoroughly enjoy writing and am actually going to be a section editor for GT's newspaper, The Technique, beginning Fall 2011 (http://www.nique.net/). The appointment came as a pat on the back for what I thought was merely me being delusional in that I can write. The appointment prompted me to delay my graduation, continue my co-op with Delta another semester and give writing and managing a whole newspaper section a shot. Who knows, maybe writing has big things in store for me? Or maybe I have big things in store for writing? Only time will tell..

Till then, Brace yourselves for the ride that is life! :D

(Pictures will be posted soon)

The End?!.... Rather, a new beginning!!

It's Friday the 17th of December 2010. A day after my finals and the end of yet another eventful, exciting and hard semester in college. I sit here at work that started at 8am after a very eventful night (Josiah 'Gelato' Mangialmelli's birthday), with all but a few of the office workers gone for a christmas party, facebook statuses a plenty about people going home, friends graduating, and I sit here at my desk looking at the steady stream of traffic to my east and I cannot help but smile...

Georgia Tech, Atlanta, College, My late teens, my adulthood, my relationships AND I have come a long way. I still remember the end of my first semester and my almost giddy excitement at the prospect of going home;Seeing everybody, eating the great food, all the familiar things, it was all too mouthwatering. 7 semesters on, the gidiness has been replaced with a calmer inward excitement. I would be lying if I said I don't miss the comforts of home, the familiar smells people and places, the places of old and new and the truth is that this upcoming trip home is something I am very excited about but at the same time my thirst for more experiences, more memories and more exposure is evergrowing as we move into the new year and will not let me sit still!

Change, they say is the only constant. We all change as we go through life, yet we are all so opposed to it. I remember the instructions from all the aunites when I left for the US. They all were unanimous in telling me that I must not get an American accent and I still remember vividly the scrutiny of my oral speech when I went back the first time. You're so American they all said. Funnily I was still a FOB (Fresh of the boat) Indian in the US still struggling with my V's and W's. (For people who don't know, Indians make a mess of this and don't even know it.) Thanks to constant training (Yes every week I actually sit down and repeat after someone a barrage of words starting with V's and W's), and my spectacularly immaculate grammar nazi British-Paki girlfriend I have sorted that problem to a large extent. Then there are the digs at clothing, lifestyle choices (Toilet paper vs. Lota(reference only Indians will get)) , eating habits (I'm sorry I don't just eat khakda and dal anymore) etc etc. But those I found adorable and could deal with. But then there are things that people will not comment about. Those are the changes they didn't really approve off.( I am guilty too) Humans work in mysterious ways and their relationships (plotonic, romantic, physical, spiritual) are a result of this mysteriousness. I think a person's first experiece away from the familiar (Be it going away for college, getting one's own place for the first time, going away to war) is what really defines who they are and what they are made off. Uptill then one is bred by societal and family values, politics of the country, news of the region, family and peer pressure and is a product of all these manifestations. Then all of a sudden one's thrown into the world and that's when the actual discovery of the 'self' begins. Trust me, it's Awesome! I am not saying however that I am a guru on the ways of life (Well at least not yet ; )) but in my evolution as a 'being' (An existing organism) I have learned a thing or two.... At least I'd like to believe

I could spend paragraphs on the things I have learnt living alone and living in America but that's not the point of this posting. This posting was prompted by what a certain Mr. Arthur Hughes said to me a few hours ago while parting goodbye. Mr. Hughes is ex US military, an African American male from Tenessee (He loves his Tenessee Titans) in his mid fifities probably (I've never asked him) but with the playfullness and energy of a young adult. He is an extremely vivacious and interesting fellow with a world of experience on his shoulders. Active in the office building, he's a sparkle of light and warmth for the otherwise not-so warm and fast paced workers in this building. (Communications and Development office of GT) I will try to accurately uote what he said to me when he left today...

" I wish you the very best of luck with your endevaours Sid. I know you will go to incredible heights, you have a great positive attitude and that's what I really like about you. When you see your parent's the next time tell them they did a great job. Merry Christmas."

In my time away from home, 'I' have really taken shape. Those few words from Mr. Hughes really made my day. When he shook my hands and gave me a firm handshake bidding me adieu, I could feel the genuiness in what he said. I was touched that I had such an impact on a fellow elder co-worker in such a short time. In that spirit and taking inspiration from what he said, I am more than ready to surge into the new year with that 'positive' attitude of mine. I am ready for more challenges, more experiences, more battles and more struggles because that's what made me who I am today. To the people who are opposed to change I say, I am Me and I am here, Deal with it!

And on that note, all I want to say is..

Thank you Mother and Thank you Father!

......

And then I went to Jamaica....!

2010 has been extremely exciting for me in terms of travelling. Let me to try to list the cities I've been to:

Starting with Paris, Metz, Reims, Strasbourg, London, Nottingham (Well this was 5 times), Pamplona, Sevilla, Valencia, Barcelona, Firenze, Pisa, Rome, Munich, Luxembourg, Monaco, Qatar, Delhi, New York (3 times), Atlanta, Daytona, New Orleans and finally to add to that Jamaica the country!

Wow reading that list makes me feel really lucky! To rank them would be foolish, all trips were wonderful in their own way.

So my latest soujourn was to Jamaica, one of the carribean Islands. It was for a friend's wedding over thanksgiving break! Umm thanksgiving, what a wonderful American holiday. Of all things American, I think one great holiday that makes everyone feel nice and fuzzy inside is Thanksgiving. Simply put, friends, family, friends of friends and friends of family, and family of friends (:P) meet over a lavish spread which includes if nothing else Turkey. Now I was under the assumption that there are other Staples like gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce but turns out apart from the Bird, it's a free for all. It is however very interesting to see what is dished out at these dinners. Having eaten one previous thanksgiving at a Southern Families house where the grandma was truly mesmerised to see a foreigner to the one I had this year with my 'Aunt' and 'Uncle' up in New Jersey. There was a baked turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, lip smacking tangy cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and much else I can't remember. The one thing that stood out was a basic Indian potato which in my aunt's words was, "For those who didn't like the other fare." It added a nice touch I must say.

Anyway enough about thanksgiving. I ate a lot, you get the point! I flew to Jamaica from New York for 2 days. Definitely not enough time in what I discovered to be a very relaxing place. As a child growing up in India, watching Cricket, West indies (Jamaica is a part of the West Indies cricket team which comprises of some other Carribean islands) was the mysterious land to me. The games used to begin late at night, there was continous music and alcohol flowing in the stands, and the fans had a natural rhythm in their body that made them perpetually sway. To me it seemed like our Cricket team was on a holiday! I didn't think I would be going there anytime sooon...

Alas I landed at Jamaica's Montego Bay Airport. Jamaica is composed of 11 parishes (I might be wrong) and i was in Montego Bay. Jamaica like India was a British territory and is part of the commonwealth. Men in shorts, and women is skirts, the immigration line was abuzz. After the long immigration line and getting my money exchanged, I came out into the arrivals hall and at once felt right at home. The chaos, the buzz, the heckling ala my beloved India was happening right there. I knew I was going to enjoy my short stay. The bus driver named 'Chicken' promised us under a 30 minute ride. Before we even began he argued with another bus driver and put the other guys 5-6 passengers in our little bus. Packed to the brim, still brimming with excitement we departed. The roads seemed rickety, the traffic was wild, pedestrians crossed roads at will and peanut sellers just stood in the middle of the street as traffic navigated it's way around these wild jamaican's. The half an hour very quickly turned into 2 hours as we pulled into our gorgeous resort called the Grand Palladium. They say pictures speak better than words and I'll let the pictures do the talking. Situated over hundreds of acres on the northern coast of Jamaica, the resort plush with amenities looked like something out of the British era. High ceilings, massive arches and pillars, large windows, rich flora and fauna around. To add to this was the magnificient weather and the smoothest most gentle breeze. Wow this was going to be amazing I thought....

Though I was in Jamaica for two days, I'd be lying if I say I saw the country. I meant I saw it in the 'touristy' sense of hearing the occasional 'ya maan', taking an odd cab ride and well buying the token bottle of rum and flip flops! Being there for a wedding at an all inclusive resort meant, one didn't need to leave for anything and when I did want to there were the numerous functions that go with an Indian wedding. Ahhh the wedding... My two friends, Namit and Alefiya, both Indians but one a Hindu and one a Bohri Muslim. For those who don't think that means anything, that is not a match you hear about often. Given the societal 'identity' of the two, we were all curious to witness the wedding? What would it be like? Would it be a Christian wedding we thought, since that would have been the acceptable settlement between a Phera ceremony (Hindu) and a Nikkah (Muslim). Read on...

The first evening, arranged was the Sangeet. The Sangeet in recent times has become a function wherein friends and family depict the couples life in dance and skit. Throw in some drinks, the crashing waves in the background, some traditional Jamaican dancing and an international crowd and you have yourself a modern day destination Sangeet! Though I had landed a few hours ago, I was already enjoying the hospitable Jamaicans and the familiar wedding tunes together. Followed by a fancy sit down dinner, that was the end of day 1.

Day 2 began lazily, with me meandering about from my hotel (Oh I was not staying at the resort but at a cheap mom and pop kind of place 7 km away with two other girls who were trying to save money as well) bumming rides with the local cabbies who don't drive till they have filled their cars with passengers. Enjoying the aquamarine coastline, the wind in my hair and the sun shining down at that appropriate brightness, I got to the wedding resort. Seeping in the sun, it looked even more gorgeous than it did at night. I was told that I was one of the groomsmen and was made to scavenge for Khaki pants and a blue shirt which was to be the code! (Made me think of 27 dresses. Ok don't judge, I like Katherine Heigel) After the mafiaesque pictures (As mafia 8 brown men with different amounts of receding hair lines can look) was the time to bring the Baraat. The traditional 'Baraat' is when the Groom's side goes to the Bride's house on a horse. But remember this was a wedding off the beaten path so in our simulation, the horse was a beautifully decorated Golf cart the road to be taken was from the reception to the Bride's room. The obnoxious, ill coordinated dance to loud by gone bollywood tunes still remained the same. As we awkwardly danced to the small speaker of the portable dvd player that the driver was holding, we got some dazzled looks, but it didn't matter because we were going to get the Bride...

Picture this. It's about 5 pm, the sun is not threatening anymore, the weather is a perfect 20 degrees, you're on a green pasture with the blue ocean in the background and the beautiful palm trees on one side. The decor is plain yet classy. Chairs lined up and a simple decoration piece at the front. The scene couldn't have been more perfect. All the Razzmatazz, the dancing, the noise, the months of preparation was all a build up to this moment. As the groom walked the aisle to Bittersweet Symphony, everyone watched in silence. He was followed by the groomsmen who lined up besides him. Then came the bridesmaids and alas standing up front in the corner when I saw the bride, I almost gaped, i can only imagine what the groom felt! It was very surreal being part of a wedding from such close quarters. This was the moment we had been anticipating, what was the wedding going to be like. To everyones pleasant surprise the minister talked about love! There was no religious connotation, nothing traditional, nothing out of a book! It was pure. To sum it up, as she fought her flowing tears, gazing intently into his eyes, holding on to his hand she said, "Namit we're the same person, just viewed through different lights." As everyone in the crowd and on the wedding stage wiped their tears discreetly, it dawned on me that it is society that pollutes the purest of things and love is no different. As the new couple embraced and walked away, I gave myself a little high five in my heart! (For those who know me, you'd know why)....

Speeches, a 5 course sit down dinner, dancing and drinking followed! A truly fantastic night that ended in the pool with all the young folk and newly weds, some Jamaican rum and a box of Cuban Cigars....

It was already time to fly back the next day.. I don't know what exactly to take back from the weekend. It was too short for me to say I saw Jamaica. It was too locational and occasional (I don't think those words can be used like that) for me to say I saw Jamaica and for that reason I will go back! The slight taste of the outside Jamaica I got was enough to make me want to go back very soon. I did witness something very special though. A marriage of two people I have known since I came to Atlanta. I saw their relationship blossom while I myself was growing into a young man. The wedding was beautiful in the true sense, with the underlying theme being Love! The Jamaican Sun, Sand and Surf added that little zing which would embed those memories in everyone's heart forever!

Cheers to Namit and Alefiya Bhatia! Genuinely happy for the two of you!
I would like to end this post with something that Alefiya's father said.

"Life is like a sheet of snow, everything you do leaves a footprint so chose your steps wisely. I am proud of you child."

I know many of you out there are intertwined with your lives, not really sure of the concept of love anymore, battling base emotions of greed, fear,guilt and the like, let's take a moment to remember something or someone that brings us pure joy. A feeling that is so pure, that it brings a smile right away! Try it, it's therapeutic! Think of one friend, child, better half, co-worker, place, pet that makes you feel warm inside like a quilt and fire place on a cold night!

Keep Smiling Everybody.. A bientot!!

I'm back!

It's been a few months since I got back from my travels in Europe and I found this blog of mine dusting away in the limitless space that is the internet. Though my life here in Atlanta has been action packed with me working this summer and then being back in school, the memories and emotions came flooding back when I revisited this page. It made me realize that what I created was something I will forever cherish. There is something about penning down your thoughts, your feelings and your emotions, that make you feel ever so nostalgic that I have decided to actually use this virtual space to jot down my thoughts. I think I am going to change the name of the blog to, 'Travels, Trials and Triumphs.'

Being the first piece I am writing, I am not really sure what its going to be about. I am going to let it be the canvas for me to paint on, with the brush strokes of my brain and heart.

The last few months have been a roller coaster ride. There have been ups and there have been downs. But what I realized is that it is very difficult to keep an optimistic person down. I have always been one to move on. Things, peoples behaviour, rejections, dissapointments used to hardly bother me more than a day. I used to get on with life, with what I had going for me. I truly lived in the present. Didn't bother about the past, didn't think too much of the future. Enjoyed every moment, from the smallest of joys of waking up and dancing in the shower to bigger joys like getting an actual job and helping others out in their time of need.
One thing changed in the last few months. I became a little more human. I started to feel bad about people's actions and started doubting my actions. I wrestled with the idea that maybe I wasn't doing enough or maybe I was at fault for certain behaviours. It has taken me a while to realize it is but natural what I felt. But despite the constant confusion, I was still able to smile from day to day at the smallest of things and that is who I am. As humans we will continously face obstacles, moral dilemas and emotional riddles but the ability to still look out the window and enjoying the falling rain is what it's all about.

I don't have answers to many things at this point in my life but there are certain things I am more certain about than I was before. One of them being that 'Good always comes around.' You do good now, you will reap some benifit somewhere, somehow!

Edinburgh, Belfast and my Last Hurrah!

The last 4 months have been something of an adventure for me. In wandering from place to place, I have stumbled upon hidden treasures, places and people. As the semester was drawing closer to it's end, people were distraught at the idea of actually leaving the haven that is Europe. Leaving meant going back home putting an end to the maniacal traveling and saying goodbye to some wonderful people including the administrators, professors and friends alike.

For my last hurrah so as to speak, I was going to make a trip with my beloved to Edinburgh and Belfast. After saying my goodbyes and then sadly packing up my room in Metz, with all three suitcases in hand I left the residence early Thursday morning to take a train to Paris from where I was headed to London on the Eurostar. Another trip across the border, and like any of the other 12 or 13 in the last 2 years, I looked forward to it with the same eagerness. As I mentioned a few times in my previous blog postings, going to England or rather Nottingham is like going home. Familiar faces, places and things. Getting there that thursday afternoon, the clock had already started ticking on my last days there as this was in most probably going to be my last trip to the Kingdom for a while as the 'love' is making a move to the US of A. The first few days were relaxed and were spent doing things that I would miss about England. Eating Kebabs and chips with a lot of Mint yogurt and garlic Mayonnaise. Walking around the Nottingham University and watching a movie at the miniature theater that is the Savoy cinema.

Tuesday morning and it was time for our trip. Me and my 'love' on our first ever trip as such. With a backpack full of goodies we boarded the national express to Leeds to Newcastle and then onwards to Edinburgh. The journey was to be long and we interspersed playing cards and looking at the beautiful British countryside with occasional naps and snacking breaks. At Newcastle we had a 2 hour break before our newt bus so we ended up wandering into China town and finding ourselves a GBP 5.50 per person buffet. The heavy and fried meal though delicious made us full to the point of feeling sick. Back on the bus for another 3 and a half hours we finally arrived in Edinburgh at 8 in the evening. Now when it's mid May, and you've lived almost all your life in a country where 38 degrees C is considered cool in the summers, you are not prepared for 3 degrees Celsius. Edinburgh was exactly that, cold! Despite are curses, the city was too beautiful for us to complain for too long. My very first impression was as to how European this place looked. The architecture, the buildings, the roads, looked more European than belonging to Britain. We saw imposing Gothic structures and magnificent castles filling the horizon, in this hilly city. Edinburgh is a lot like Luxembourg in the way it is situated on rolling hills and the fact that you can get from the very top to the very bottom very quickly. After settling into our hostel and walking around a little, looking into pubs like 'Deacon Brodies' and the 'Old Judge', we called it an early night after eating a scrumptious dinner of Fish and chips.

The next morning we were up and ready by 10 and the sun was out in all it's brilliance. We were taking a free walking tour by a company called New Europe. Having done one in Munch, I knew that these tours were worth going on. We started on the Royal Mile which goes from the Edinburgh castle on one end and the Scottish Parliament on the other. A lot of pub's, parliamentary buildings and major structures are located on this one mile stretch that ends with the trendy Scottish parliament building. (The Scottish Parliament was not set up until 1996, prior to which Scotland was under the Queen of England) It was apparent right at the beginning that Scotland and Edinburgh in particular had a very bloody history. All the way from upto thousands of years back, there are traces of war between the Scots(who were from Ireland) the Brits and the local tribes whose names I forget.

Scotland through the ages has had a very stringent law in place under which many offenses leading a person to the gallows. Public hangings were common and people from far and wide came to witness them. The more heinous the crime, the more the public emotion and interest. Another very weird yet interesting thing was the coining of the phrase 'shit faced'. Now Edinburgh as I said is located on a varying altitude and everywhere there are narrow alleys leading up and down the mountains lined with houses and such. Since Edinburgh was located on a slope, the city came up with a very unusual yet effective way to dispose wastes. (Yes all sorts of wastes) At about 10 pm every night, people would shout out some funny little phrase to warn the people under their houses on the dark and narrow streets, and then a few seconds later dump all their wastes onto the street, which would then flow down the slopes of the royal mile into the river. Now as it so happened, pubs in Edinburgh closed at 10pm which meant people would start walking home once it was time. People who weren't drunk were smart enough to wait a little while and go home after the whole of the city dumped it's wastes onto the street. But those unfortunate ones who had had a pint too many would end up walking into the narrow and dark streets. They would hear the warning call from the residents above, and in their dazed state look up into the darkness and as shit came falling down, they became, 'shit faced', hence the term shit faced.

It was hard to believe that those very streets and squares where the cities wastes had once flown were as beautiful as they were. After walking around the city, hearing some interesting tales about the interesting people including the origin of Dr Jackal and Mr Hyde which was actually inspired by a true story of a respected locksmith who at night would use those key's he made himself to rob people, Greyfriars bobby the loyal dog who stayed by his masters grave for 14 years and who is buried in the Greyfriars kirkyard which also known to be the place with the most paranormal activity in continental Europe if not in the world, George Heriot's school that is supposed to have inspired JK Rowling to come up with Hogwarts and also the immigrants William Burke and William Hare, who sold the corpses of their 17 victims to provide material for dissection to the Edinburgh Medical College. Indeed there was a lot to see and learn in our tour of the city.

As we walked around we wouldn't get some gorgeous views of the Edinburgh castle. As we walked down to the valley into the prince's garden, which was absolutely fantastic as the sunshine was pouring down in heaps. The tour ended on the perfectly manicured gardens full of gorgeous daffodils and daisies and we ended up laying there soaking in the heat for a bit. We took the next few hours walking into souvenir shops listening to bagpipes and I resisting the urge to buy a kilt for myself! I stumbled upon this band called the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. They totally rock the Kilt and bagpipes. Knowing that Scotland is the mecca of Whiskey, we went into some Whiskey stores and I really wanted to buy a good single malt but the fact that I was going to take a flight meant I couldn't bring any liquids aboard. After a little more window shopping for kilts, hats, souvenirs and the likes, tasting free and absolutely fabulous fudge we walked all the way down to the trendiest parliament building I have seen at the bottom of the Royal mile. Since the parliament in Scotland was only instated in 1996, the building is very modern and trendy from the outside and I heard no end to that, having a budding architect on my side. On turning the corner at the end of the royal mile, we saw the most magnificent scene. In front of us was a huge rock face taking up all the space the eyes could cover. The rock which was perched on a luscious green hill, basking in the evening sun, made the whole thing surreal. On climbing the hill, we got a breathtaking view of Edinburgh. We could see as far as the castle and beyond on one end, and the river and boats on one end. Edinburgh had been absolutely gorgeous and unfortunately we hadn't more time there. We were supposed to go out on a whiskey experience at night but my 'love' wasn't feeling too well. After eating a home cooked dinner of rice and chilli con carne we slept away the night and woke up bright and early the next morning to leave for Belfast via Glasgow.

The train to Glasgow from Edinburgh was full of Businessman and got us to Glasgow central station in just about an hour. After sharing a bagel with bacon, guacamole and cream cheese we were on our way to Glasgow's Prestwick airport. I have to admit, I am kind of a sucker for accents. From Trinidadian and Jamaican to the British and Scottish kinds, I love them all and unfortunately to the horror of those around, try to give it a shot myself. Now the prospect of going to Ireland made my mouth water at the thought of not just the Golden Amber they call beer but at the thought of hearing the 'Irrrish'. If this was a talking blog you would hear my horrible attempt at the Scottish and the Irish accents that I am constantly trying to reproduce even while I speak. The Irish they had told me are a very friendly lot and we found out exactly that when at 10am all but 2 passengers (being us) on the flight were down a pint or two and were a few decibels short of shouting. The atmosphere was jovial and there was joking all around as The Irish, an Indian and Pakistani boarded a 25min flight to Belfast. (In all honesty there were probably a few Britishers and a few Scotts as well) Within 10 minutes of landing it was obvious that these were a friendly people. Taxi drivers, people on the streets, random passerby's all went that extra mile when we asked them a direction or something. Though the weather was horrible as it was raining heavily all the day, we were in good spirits and were both indulging in our very own newly acquired Irish accents. The city of Belfast itself isn't the most impressive capital city. There isn't much that will catch your attention apart form the city hall building and a theater or two here and there. The city is very serious about their music though, and the Odyssey Arena had just played host to Kirk Hammett and the Metallica crew a day before. Northern Ireland has birthed many a musician and you can see the cities love for music in the form of clubs, pubs and bars promoting local musicians, bands and deejay's. One such place was a pub named 'Filthy Mc Nastys' which had a very retro modern feel about it. The deejay on the night was playing some techno punk, again a very interesting blend. Another very famous pub, Lavery's was a completely different place at night from the lazy typical pub it was in the day. At night, it's 5 rooms were chockablock with people of all ages. After a fun day of just wandering about the city, soaking in the accent and going to a few bars and pubs we called it a night.

The next and final morning of the trip was another beautiful sunny day. We decided to walk around and made our way to the St. George's Market. It's the biggest open market in the UK. Everything from fish and meat to chairs and used clothes were being sold there. Though interesting I must say after seeing some other markets in continental Europe this did not impress that much. We walked on the water front at a casual pace. After hugging the Odyssey arena (We were sad we missed Metallica by a day) we slowly made our way back towards city center to catch our bus back. Soon we were on a flight back to East Midlands and back in familiar setting. That brought an end to my first trip with my lady 'love'.....

As I took the overnight Eurolines bus back from London to Paris Charles De Gaulle, there was an emptiness within as I was leaving England indefinitely. Some of my most cherished memories belong here in the land of our erstwhile conquerors. 2 years on, about 14 visits later, I left England once again. The memories will remain...


What could be a fitting end to all this travel. I think more travel, more exploration, more experimentation. I would like to at this point quote my favorite quote. "Life is like a book and those that don't travel read only the first few pages." There are many ways one can look at this quote and I think the most apt and fitting way would be that we must allow our brain and our mind to travel to different places, to different realms of thinking and explore the various possibilities, ideas, opinions and feelings. We must never close our minds and think that we've seen enough or learnt enough, because at the end of the day we are constantly and continuously developing. I am a true believer in the fact that we can learn each day and from each person around us. As the chapter on my European sojourn came to an end as my flight finally took off from Paris, I couldn't help but smile at the prospect of an even more exciting future!

To those who came in my life during these last 4 months, there were tales and stories that I will not forget and will always help me remember this period of my life fondly.

Cheers
France etait tres bien!
A bientot!