Loving London!!

This land has somehow charmed me in its mysterious ways..read on..

I still remember the day I landed! After staying in downtown Toronto I was expecting the same high rises and a high tech modern city, so landing in the greens and amongst the narrow streets was a like a 'well....err...hmmm...nooooo'. But yes I arrived during fall and was privileged to see the marvelous colors nature had to offer.

Now after two months I am totally in love with this place! (may be its the after marriage effect :)) )..the same traditional homes, the narrow lanes, the cobble stone streets, the churches, the lamp posts, the greens, the peace, the people are now dear to me. The very sight of a high rise or a 20th century structure is ugly like a monster, like a black spot on a masterpiece, like some jerk honking and disturbing the country side tranquality! like an angry ugly pimple on my face :(

I had my first snow in London! And it was an amazing experience..( missed him :) )
The earth was adorned in a new white sheet and it was a heart winning sight first thing in the morning. I touched snow like a small kid touching and loving a pup for the first time :))

My office is a great place! It looks like some studio with lots of color, modern classy furniture for coffee breaks, huge iPod posters and 'think different' ads! Not only do I like eating Apple, I also love working working for Apple..It shall always be close to my heart. My co-workers are an amazing lot..never had the out of place feeling though I was so different from them in looks, accent, color ...
We all are from different parts of the world but we all speak the same language (na not English :) ) I mean ..C, Java.. the computer languages!..I strongly believe this IT revolution has really brought the earthlings much closer not just by the internet or high speed cabels or bluetooth technology but by the whole revolution, the whole process of developing these cutting edge solutions. I am Indian, he is English, she is Italian.. We all work together, think on the same platform ( you know Unix, windows. ! )..and the only thing that brought us togther and now binds us together is the IT revolution. WE SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE!

I think I am too emotional about this..mm I ??! I just love every creation of God and hence this idea of International harmony appeals me soo much!

to be continued...

March 4th 2007 "The Papaya Treat"

Am back!! ..wanted to write after I bought a papaya today for 4 pounds!! thats around 350 Indian rupees!! wo wo I am eating gold! hehe! water is more expensive than beer..the small water bottle I buy on stations is 1.50 (129 INR :)) ).. I better not get into beauty, cosmetics and apparels :). Any Indian would find London expensive! .. BUT BUT what am I to do then..I love to shop and cannot live without it...! so I decided to switch my focus away from the fashion houses to health stores ;) its cheaper atleast ! lol I really enjoyed shopping in Toronto but somehow am unable to get much into it here..I am thankful indeed as its preventing that hole in my pocket::)

March 5th 2007 "Daffodil Delight!"

Spring has arrived! The harbingers of spring are the beautiful daffodils! Along the grass and the lakes you see these yellow faced beauties stading out of this world..First I felt someone purposefully planted them so beautifully..Little did I know that they are growing around with their choice making this place more amazing..if you were a poet, you would feel like sitting next to them on the greens and write something like Wordsworth did, if you were painter you would feel like capturing their beauty on your canvas, if you were a singer you would like to compose something letting them know how pretty they are.. well I am neither of them! so I choose to capture them in my heart..
( yeah yeah they are in my cam too :)) )


March 6th 2007 "Something to learn"

I was waiting for the bus I usually take to the tube station along with an elderly couple.. the bus arrived and as a courtsey which I really appreciate here, everyone gave way to the elderly couple on the bus.. as we entered the 'no place to even stand' bus, people from the front seats quickly got up and gave their seats to the couple.. ( the front seats are always reserved for the aged and disabled).. i was so touched by the courtsey and respect everyone has for the elderly and the aged.. Back in India no one even bothers, no one cares about the 80 year old man couging and struggling to stand in the train when some jerks are busy enjoying their game of cards.. something we all should learn and understand - Respect and Care for the 'less abled'.. long live humanity..

March 7th 2007 .. no time to write,, tensions!

Dedicated to my love!

Feb 2007, On this Valentine...

Love you forever..

I had never met you, I had never known you..
But I know now that I had always loved you..
In my purest of thoughts, is where I hold you..
In my deepest of heart, is where I pray you..

Blessed and alive, is what I am feeling,
As I discover, the reason of my being,
My love for you, shall never cease,
Unfading and true, it shall always increase..

You came with something, my God had promised,
You gave me something, I shall always cherish..
Till time prevails and the universe be..
My love shall only breathe you and me...

Be my angel, be my friend..
Be by my side, till my end..
Be my courage, be my guide..
Be my happiness and be my pride..

I promise to love you forever and ever..
I promise to hold you and let go never..
'Marriages are made in heaven', was what I knew
Today I see it coming so true..

Though I had never met you, though I had never known you..
All I know now is.. I had always loved you..
<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

Reeti

Track to Almora .. May 1997 - In a poem!

May 21st 1997

Track to Almora:
Our topmost camp was surrounded by vast snowy mountains.
The beauty of the forest ... and the magnificence of the
mountains .... was simply .. astonishing and awe inspiring.
A glimpse of the beauty in a few words below:

*******************************
In Gods Own Country
********************************


It seemed I was in a paradise of snow,
To seek my God and I know,
The heavenly mountains and the pacific seas,
Are whispering in my ears.. that he is with me ...

With the crimson dawn, as the flowers unfold
They revealed a beauty .. untouched untold..
The dew drops gleamed like pearls so bright
And adorned the forest in the morning light.

The streams and falls rolled on and on..
And sang with the pebbles a solitary song,
Natures music .. breezed all day long..
So sweet n subtle on a beautiful morn.

Slowly and slowly, as the sun begins to set,
The hues get deeper.. at the crest,
God's own country, at its best,
In a journey of an eternal quest.

The floating clouds in the silent sky,
Lift the veil of stars as they pass by,
As they twinkle in a glassy guise,
trees in moonlight dance with jive.

As I embraced the vastness of the mountains and trees ..
The tranquility of the heavens was at my knees..
Reeti

The Canada Experience..!

April - August 2006


Bonjour!

( That was ‘hello’ in French !)

As we embarked upon our first onsite trip (I was accompanied by my friend Preeti) .. our minds started to imagine.. our minds started painting a picture of ‘Toronto’- also called the city of imagination! Even more beautiful than we imagined and even more colorful than we painted, was Toronto!
One of the safest cities of the world and rated as one of the best cities to live in, Toronto means ‘a meeting place’ and it surely was a meeting place for people from all around the world. We were amazed to find such a wonderful blend of cultural diversity in peace and harmony..

Toronto is famous for housing the worlds tallest tower – the CN tower, alas how exciting it was to walk on the glass floor at 1815 feet. I still remember Preeti screaming as I pulled her on the glass!

One thing that comes to your mind when you think of Canada are the world’s famous Niagara falls. An hour and a half drive from Toronto are the majestic falls. The first sight of it sends a chill down your spine! We took a ride on the ‘maid of the mist’ to admire the falls more closely. They are truly natures marvel on earth. As we approached closer to the falls we were engulfed in the mellifluous mist and beauty of largest falls on earth!

Few minutes from Toronto are three islands Hanlan’s, Centre island and Ward’s island. A ferry takes you on the ride. It made our day as we rode bicycle’s after seven years! You can see people biking, running, skating, jogging and enjoying the summers to the fullest.

Our next destination is the province of Quebec. We visited Quebec city, Montreal, Kingston and thousand islands too!

Old Quebec city reminds you of the old European towns with cobble stone streets, musicians and stage artists performing on the roads, face painters and magicians charm you with their flair. We felt we were flown back in time surrounded by fairy tale characters. New Quebec city was incredibly beautiful, with an astounding architecture of every house we came across.

Montreal charmed us by the Notre Dame church. A mass was already in progress as we marveled at its lavish and beautiful interiors, stained glass windows, gold-tipped polychrome carvings, paintings, statues, and especially its lavish altarpiece.
Biodome De Montreal (Biodome Of Montreal) was a home for the entire ecosystem! We saw beavers and parrots and tiger sharks and penguins all under one roof!

Thousand Islands actually left us counting every island we passed by on our 2 hours ferry ride. These are a chain of islands that straddle the U.S.-Canada border in the Saint Lawrence River Julia Robert, Sharon Stone.. to name a few owned classy houses on each of the islands! We heard that the rich and famous came once a year to vacation on these islands.

Ottawa, the capital of canada has the parliament hill, house of common, canadian national museum, mint factory..etc. We were on time for the world famous tulip festival held every summer! Ottawa, portrays the true culture and tradition of canada.

Be it the colorful tulips or the wonderful mapel leaves, we will cherish the sweet memories of Toronto forever!

Salut !