On way to Coorg...

A lone journey to a new place... I'm on roads alone after more than a year... Over last one year I've traveled a lot...sometimes with family, sometimes with colleagues, sometimes with friends, sometimes with strangers who became best friends, gang of bikers and many more. And yes alone as well but for official purpose. Not like this, in my own company to explore the unexplored... Just to travel, just to enjoy the journey and to discover myself once again..

The day started on not so happy note.. Booked a cab to bus stand but the driver didn't turn up on time.. He called late and irritated me canceled the booking and went to the nearby auto stand.. Lucky to get an auto comfortably (not to forget its office time). But nobody knew where exactly the TTMC bus stand is.. Not even the autowallah! As most of the autowallahs in Bangalore are, he also was weak with our common language - 'English'. I tried to explain again that I need to catch a KSRTC bus to Coorg. Then he asked again if I want to go to bus depot, and I said Yes! Thats where I want to go (wondered at times simple things are so difficult to explain).

The moment I entered the place I understood why nobody knows it by its name TTMC bus stand. It is new bus stand and most likely became functional just a week ago. No wonder it is not there on google maps or anywhere else for that matter. Not a single man was there on the platform from where I had to take the bus.. It is an astonishing thing to find an empty platform at 7.30 AM in the morning in a country like India.

Anyways... M sitting alone at this virgin, granite laid platform waiting for the conductor/ driver to come while writing this post... More to come as the journey unfolds...

"for some miseries in life, the only answer is - WAIT"

Why South East Asia?

4 splendid days in Cambodia, my second stint in SEA countries. Serene, beautiful and lovely place...Once again I came across loads of Europeans, Australians and people from rest of the world. And this time I was forced to think that What is so Special, so Enchanting about South East Asia that millions of people from different culture and ethnicity come here and live here, thousands of miles away from their homeland... This made me observe the simple little things about these countries that make them so special. Here are few of my observations -

• Climate - Tropical climate that is neither too hot nor too cold makes SEA a perfect place to relax. But yes rains make it difficult to go around at times.
• Beaches - What more do you want in life than a pristine beach with white sand and turquoise blue waves?
• Jungles, gardens full of trees not concrete - Places are so real and close to nature that you can spend you days simply walking around the place.
• Food - SEA has adopted world food with whole heart. Most of the restaurants serve food that is available in your road side deli. You name it and they have it. And yes who can forget the free flow of liquor.
• Economic - Be it food, homestays, hotels, hostels, things of daily need, everything is so cheap. Its a heaven for back-packers traveling on shoe-string budget. And if you want to taste luxury, they have the best of the options available.
• People - People are by far the sweetest and most humble. Simple, down-to-earth, Eager to learn about different cultures they welcome guests with open heart. They have seen hardships of life yet they'll always greet you with a smile :)

Like this there are many more reasons that make this place so special that whoever visit here once, definitely wants to come back again....

...IN THE END

Don't know where the life will take me in the next few years, don't know what I will be doing and where I'll be living in next 10-20 years. Its all very hazy and unclear. I have stopped planning things because life don't turn out as you plan it to be. Life simply is LIFE and it has its own plans for you.

Still when it comes to end, I see things pretty clear and simple. I see myself in a small neat one bedroom house on a beach. Yes, you heard it right, ON A BEACH!! Vast endless sea is visible from my room through the door sized glass windows. Every morning I wake up with chirping of Sea Gulls and every evening sun sets at the horizon. Spending my days reading books, cooking, sometimes listening to my favorite music. Every evening witnessing a new sunset sometimes hurriedly packing my stuff to rush inside and at times simply sipping coffee and enjoying the marvels of nature. Starry nights with moon-lit bed of water....What more to ask for?

And yes I also see myself making new friends with the loners or groups who come there in search of some quiet time, some soul searching, some peace. Sharing our stories and experiences. I visit the nearby market sometimes for basic necessities. By market I don't mean any mall or flashy departmental store....a simple roadside flea market where I meet people who are not running behind money, who are relaxed and want to live every bit of life rather than running behind it.

Why life has to be so complicated? Why we have to live in this concrete jungle? Why we can't live a simple peaceful life close to nature away from the cacophony of these evergrowing cities...

Mann bole ke rasmein jeene ka harjaana duniya dushman sab begaana inhe aag lagaana Mann bole mann bole, mann se jeena ya marr jaana

Photograph Courtesy: Photgraphy Talk (Jeanclaude Vankanban's album)