Saturday, November 30, 2024

Death : Let Go


 'UNANGUVAN VALAREYERE SAMAYAM EDUKKUNNA MURIVUKALIL VALIYORENNAM !!!!!!' A wound that takes long to heal. Fact is it never heals. Life grow around it. 


Bagavat gita chap 2 slogam 22 says - 'Just as a man casts off his worn out clothes and puts on new ones, so also the embodied self casts off its worn out bodies and enters others which are new'; and 19th say 'He who takes the Self to be the slayer and he who thinks he is slain, neithet of them knows. He slays not, nor is He slain'.


Here he is, between his favourate 'Kaya' Raw Banana and 'Chena' Yam, planted by him.


Death is the fact and the only reality of life. True every thing in life comes with an expiry date. We, our loved ones, our job, goals, ambition. 


But who determines the expiry date? (Not just that of our dreams as was the question in the Manju Warrier's come back movie 'How old are you?')


Covid did bring us to face many untimely death in a blow, I did lose my shoulders to lean on in the last decade. But this year was different.  Every month could witness the death of someone close and dear. 


The last from my grandmother's generation her only surviving sister who was bedridden for long  made me realize there was a time for death. An uncle who gave my sister her name was bedridden for more than nine months since the beginning of this year and now is no more. News of my colleague passing away, whom we used to call Akshay Khanna for his dashing look, is a shock. Just in mid forties, what would be plight of the family?


My father's dear friend and colleague, who was there for us, for everything, irrespective of our asking or informing. When I first got my job and moved to this side, on the day of joining hostel, even before we reached, he was there. Those were the days of no mobile phone, I wonder how he knew. Unlike for his family lineage,  like my father he too is gone a little too soon for the illness that caught him and aged him sooner.


The process of dying is natural and follows several steps. You might be curious about what will happen to your body after you die or you might prefer not to think about it. 


Memories lingers and there is a void. The pain is there to stay. Only that other things in life is built around it and life goes on. For us until one day we too are gone, but still the process will continue.


 Natural death is one thing, but why do someone take away their own precious life, an invaluable gift. How can one do that when they have seen their own child go through it and the family plight then? Depression,  Drinks and Drugs are deadly combination. 


 Natural death can be sudden due to natural cause like heart attack, accident or one may be bedridden for a considerable period of time. Given a choice though I would like to slip into death at the blink of an eyelid, I know to those around it would be a shock. Being bedridden give time to those around to come to terms and adjust to the fact better. Nevertheless the void is a void. One uncle after being bedridden for couple of years bid good bye this year. Though it was tough and sad to see a healthy man bedridden,  he not being around has changed the course of his family.


 Death is one thing that, I don't want to think about, but always come to my mind and now with every ticking of the clock, I think of it more often. Thanks to socialmedia, newspapers and the mushrooming war every where that take away so many innocent lives. As human beings can we not work towars and pray for PEACE?



Thursday, November 28, 2024

Magical Dubai Dairies

Finally it was dream come true, waiting for Dubai visa, having got the tickets for 22nd to 27th November irrespective of anxiety creating health issue.  Thomas Cook guide was Mhmdminhaj Kt 8157024156 Mhmdminhaj.Kt@thomascook.in

 The queue for baggage claim was long on landing Dubai on 22nd November. The setup in Dubai is different. 

City welcomes you with Dubai Gate plated in gold.




As you offboard at Dubai, you do not get any specific vibe, it feels like any other city.




Stay was at Hotel Howard Johnson by Wyndham

Day 1  was the arrival and rest, with actual travel to start the next day the 24th was feeling lazy so did not go out. 




Also had to wait for the phone call from travel agent too. the places around were :



Though reached late noon did not have lunch, items all looked expensive India wise 😂 and it was odd timing  to eat, had biscuits and Britannia cake slice from home. The tour agency  did not suggest any restaurants as promised. 

Temperature outside was said to be 30° but travel in AC and room AC was pretty cool 👌🏻 and good.

Finally came the message:

"Tomorrow morning please have your breakfast between 7AM till 8:20 AM and be ready in the ground floor lobby for our sightseeing which will begin at 8:30 AM sharp and we have to depart with our guides .

Please be on time, Tomorrow we will get information about the city and do a part of our city tour with guides have a photostop at Zabeel Palace , and visit Burj Khalifa in the Dubai Mall, go to Gold Souk ( Carry copy of passport in phone if you have to buy some gold) and evening will be in Global Village . Lunch and dinner will be in an Indian restaurant.

Make a small bag of essentials that you may need for the day as we will get out after breakfast and come back post dinner to the hotel."

That was not an exciting message, vibe was missing. 

Dinner was yummy.



There were 54 ppl on trip. 🙆🏻‍♀️  clubbed with sotc. Thomas Cook initial group had only 20. 

Breakfast first day of actual trip, the 23rd was  Indian.

First look started giving vibes. 😂 



Burj Khalifa 




It was for just 1 hr ..just enough time to go up and down and get quick pics



So the priority list was ticked off.

Then visited Gold Souk was there for  2 hrs!




Some families were buying gold. After going around had to sit waiting on a bench as it was too hot outside. Felt like Gold souk was not required. 

Global village was 👌🏻 starting only around  5 pm. A larger version of the Kolkata park.  There was so much to explore and maybe shop and eat too. Tried that Turkey ice cream. Wo jo kalipichu kalipichu tharane. 😂 ice cream was like any other normal one  ..but experienced the turkey way. 😂






Had  dinner and reached back to the room.

In  Coach one aged lady sat with me. Her daughter and her friend sat behind. 

Was always stuck with the Bengali family,  but missed the important one. They had gone to see the night view of burj and fountain at night after dinner. Should have gone with them. What a view they had captured . 

24/11, plan was the frame, limo ride , monorail to palm Jumairah in limo batch of 20  so maybe 3 batches. Limousine is big  limo

There was  one big event around then, Dubai run, Early morning entire shake Zayed road will be full of crowed. It's a vibe one time experience. So expecting road blocks.

On 24th  started at 9;30 with limo.


 Limousine Ride though done before was interesting, it was a vehicle for 20. But yes got breakfast from hotel.


Local guide Ali gave the Souvenirs at the restaurant. 

 Then frame, palm and one yacht cruise in the evening .

Dubai frame's sykwalk was amazing. It's 48 floors up... so dont worry  😂 you can wear anything and walk.




Then yacht cruise 🛳

Night life 👌👌 We had two yacht with unlimited drinks - soft drinks and beer. 




ò

Skyline from harbour.


 First day covered, half day City tour of Dubai with Gold and Spice Souk, Burj Khalifa 124th floor (non-prime slot), Free time to explore Dubai Mall and Global Village.

Our group was





Skyscrapers are similar everywhere..  I too got the same Singapore feel. Yacht view is the same but if done at night...its a diff feel. 







Museum of the future day and night view







Day 2 visited Dubai Frame, Experience the Yacht Ride on Dubai Marina, View at the Palm, One way Monorail to the Plam

25th Miracle Garden

Soothe ur eyes for some time 😊

Jisha + Jose = Joshi , got a new name 




Desert safari... is a rough sand bashing . Want to experience this . For ppl with heart and spine issues they take slow trip.

Desert safari is batch of 6-7. He said ppl can either setup their own batch else he will allocate. Bengali Couple already counted me in in their batch 😂




Finally we could do the Desert Safari – dune bashing 




Followed by the BBQ dinner





On the way to desert safari . But typical Indians. One argument over for seats on vehicle. That Mumbai two friends and aunty... typical Mumbai smart!..jam ke behas with these bengali Couple 🤷🏻‍♀️

Behas went on escalation 😂😂 Result everyone waiting,  They both won 50-50.

As promised bag of gifts was given.



Next day was Abudabi, did not go. Stayed back in hotel to visit friends and relatives. 



Finally could get the night view of Burj too. 






My checklist was burj, palm view, desert safari and fountain bonus. Am done. Lesson learned was better to arrange for a local tour, than with a tour guide.  Got chocolates , dates and souvenirs. 


Final return was on 27th. Thanks to Susan, halted at her home and left to Alappuzha the next day with a heavy bag and lot of sweet memories. 

Package Highlights that were ticked off are  Limo Ride and 3 Lunch, One-way Monorail to The Palm, Visit Dubai Frame, Free flow of soft drinks and beer on yatch, 1 Gift Box - 8 Souvenirs of UAE 

Personal best and highlight was Night burj, and night yacht cruise and desert View...

All set for the next trip......