Germatt

 Last weekend we planned glacier express and booked everything from Chur. But when the train came at chur it didn’t have our coach and they neither informed nor upgraded , instead he said.. AC of ur coach was not working and so we have upgraded u in this coach which was without AC.. only you could open the window, infact it was a downgrade as coach was very old. I never imagined something like this in Switzerland. And here it’s so hot that one can’t imagin travelling without AC and that too for 6 hrs.. we had to leave and travel back to Zurich to take another 2 trains .. to Berne and then to germatt but then at Visp we came to know that due to some accident , train is not going to germatt and since it’s a no car area , we were quite frustrated but then got a cab and reached Germatt around 8 PM.

It’s beautiful beyond imagination, a dreamy place, we were booked in Alpine stadt hotel, near railway station only. We kept the luggage and went out to dinner at Golden India.. Indian restaurant, they take the last order at 8.45, so we hurried and enjoyed everything even kulfi.

Next day we took a special train to Gornergat Matterhorn, It’s a 45 minute journey to the highest top of Europe The route is really steep and people get down at stops for hiking. Ticket is also high, it’s 110 chf for adults.

At the top there are multiple attractions, like virtual really of all peaks around Matterhorn, stone building, restaurant and ice palace

This is heaven for hikers and nature lovers

Rhine fall & Black forest

 I have seen Rhine fall 10 years back but when I was looking for a day trip I found this combination best and reasonably priced too. 80 chf per person . They start at 12.15 from Silquay central bus stand. We travel 30 minutes on highway and then it’s a scenic drive  in the forest. There are dark tall pine treees.our destination is Titisee, it’s a small medieval town with old houses , some refurbished, a lake in the centra and restaurants and shops. This is the place from where Black Forest cake started. We also tried it.. they put alcohol in it, so not to my liking. One can do boating or just roam around souvenir shops and have lunch. We are given 2 hours only which I think two little for all that, I wish they increase even 30 minutes more, it would b worth it because the walk from parking to centre takes 15 minutes each way and if one takes lunch in a restaurant, one hour is needed to order and eat and pay. But it was beautiful place. And yes Cuckoo clocks are made here at Drubba, they give a 15 minutes demo also.

From here we go towards Rhine fall , driving thru many old villages, they are so beautiful.. colorful, clean and picturesque. BTW Titisee falls in Germany , so if anyone buys something with more than 100 euro, one can get a tax refund of 10%  while leaving Europe 

Rhine fall is the highest fall in Europe. One can take a boat ride of 15 minutes, it takes you very near to fall. It costs 9 Euro per person. Then there is an Indian counter for food like samosa tea dosa and all. Imagine one samosa for 4.5 chf..(400/-)😀.

Scenery is beautiful everywhere.. again it’s a stop for less time only, so just enjoy the scenery. And back to Zurich , we reach around 7.15.

We take a taxi back and I was told by my son that here drivers are honest and any ab driver is supposed to take u by shortest  route and charges accordingly, so we took a cab  without asking anything and he fleeced us.. we paid 130 chf for a distance meant to be charged 80-90.

A lesson learnt.

Hunting for life partner

 Seeing the people and marriages around me I have come to a conclusion that there are certain signals which tells us in advance that these people are not going to work together and we shouldn’t help them marry.. these traits are..

If before marriage girls demand expensive clothes, jewellery or honeymoon in Europe.. and here the criteria for expensive is not any absolute amount.. it’s your feeling according to your standard.. if u feel it .. then it is.. she is not going to jel with you.. let her go.she is not made for u.

And the same way if boys or in-laws demand anything.. be it money or things which you don’t want to give then better leave them.

If girls are into artificial equality too much.. leave them, they are not worth it.. they will never make u happy.Like some girls work and keep their salarary to them and expect husband to run house and spend on them and  May be on their parents too.

So the first question both sides should ask what they are going to contribute to marriage

Will they share the expenses equally? 

Will they share the housework equally?

How will they manage investments?

Who will do what?

One could take the help of marriage counselling also.Though we can’t have a guarantee about anything but still one must prepare well.

LET IT GO!!!

There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this!
When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with
you, loving you, calling you, caring about you,
coming to see you, staying attached to you.

I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody who left.



People leave you because they are not joined to you.
And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means
that their part in the story is over.
And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over
so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.
You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over.

Let me tell you something.  I've got the gift of goodbye.
It's the tenth spiritual gift; I believe in goodbye.
It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know
whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me.
And if it takes too much sweat, I don't need it.

Stop begging people to stay.  Let them go!  If you are holding
on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never
intended for your life, then you need to LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...
LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back,
and see your worth...LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge
LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs
or talents... LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude...LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...
LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a
new level in Him... LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship.
LET IT GO!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help
themselves...LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed...
LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to
handling yourself and God is saying
"take your hands off of it," then you need to... LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past.  Forget the former things.
GOD is doing a new thing for this year!!!
LET IT GO!!!

why?

Why people today are getting egos bigger than their personalities...most of the people are so hung up on praise that they are far removed from reality and anybody reminding them about it becomes pariah...

Unless we take criticism in our stride we can never improve ourselves.I always think that whenever someone says anything negative, people start blaming that person only, instead of looking inward and trying to figure out whether there is some truth ..... most of the people behave irrationally with criticism...not many have the strength of character, yes thats what is required to take it in your stride....generally this is what happens....


Parents...as long as you keep telling them that they have done the best and they are always right, they are happy,the day you point the opposite...you are an ungrateful child, who doesnt even know how much parents suffered and all that.

Hubands...They always like to listen that they are god's gift to their wives, and as long as you pamper their ego, their stomach and their family..you are just great otherwise..god save you:)

Wives...Whatevr they may  get from their husbands, they are never thankful in anyway, its their good luck that they got it, but whatevr they are not getting, its not their bad luck or anything lacking in them but husband and his family is at fault.

Sisters:...just listen to them, their gossip,all the time, be their sounding board, morale booster and partner in crime..you are the best, the day you dare to speak your mind.the truth.you are doomed.

Brothers...They are really a god's gift to sisters, as is told to everyone from their childhood and they take it so seriously,that all the onus for maintaining status quo lies on sisters only......

children......do whatever they want you to do, have no mind of your own,and never ever ask for any protocol...you are greatest mother on earth, do the otherway......and you wouldnt find a place even below the earth.

Son.inlaws..They are the most indifferent lot..you dont exist as long as you dont interfere with their daily routine.though at the back of their minds too..MIl is dominating:)

Daughter-in-laws;..Pamper them silly, break you back doing everything for them, but the day you demand your share of love and respect..commanding and demanding comes into the picture and..you will become a monster.in.law.

What has family come to?

Whenever somebody says something negative about us..we must stop and think for a minute..may be he/she has some iota of truth....but if we surround ourselves with the people always praising us even if its not hundred percent true, then we are living in an illusion, we may be temporarily happy, but for long term happiness and growth we need to grow and learn the truth.and if need be there ,then change also.

Trip to Prague

 Since I am in Zurich this week I planned a visit to Prague, It is just one hour 20 minutes flight from here.we took a morning flight and reached there around 9 AM. It is a small and convenient airport. We had booked Hilton old town , so that it would be easy to roam around. From airport one can take taxi or public transport also. If one is staying there for 2-3 days , one can also take a pass for 48 hrs or more and it’s valid in all mode of transports.

In old town, there are many hotels and Hotel Paris and Hotel kings court are just next to tram station.

Prague is a city of majestic buildings, be it houses , commercial buildings or museums, all are grand buildings with statues and carvings, haven’t seen anyother European town like this. It’s so beautiful and maintained.

Old town square is huge and surrounded by cafe and restaurants, and all tourist buses, vintage cars , tram and hop n hop off tours. There main attractions are

Astronomical clock.. majestic structure and every hour, there is a parade of apostles on the clock

Old town hall.. it has an underground structure too but we didn’t go as as it was not advised to people who have back problem or heart problem.

Old Jewish quarters.. It’s a 10 minutes walk from the square.There are few synagogues and old cemetery with lots of graves and halls showing all their burial society history and paraphernalia and 2-3 room’ walls are inscribed with names of people perished there at the time of Jewish holocaust. It’s a very sad reminder.

Prague castle.. it’s 20 minutes drive. There they St vitas cathedral and royal palace and many gardens, must be the biggest castle in the world.one needs to walk miles to see it fully.

Charles Bridge.. it’s on Vitava river and near old town square only, one can see the city on both the sides and see the nicknacks there

Crystal is made there , so we found beautiful crystals product everywhere.

Billa supermarket is where one can buy everything specially water:)

Rest, it’s like any other European town full of designer shops, one IVKO, we found quite beautiful.

But here hop on hop off tour is useless, better take conducted tour.

We found Indian restaurant also.. Indian Kitchen and had lunch there, it was good.Checzk cuisine is all about duck,pork,beef, so not for us,so we had Italian or Mexican.

Statue of Equality

 We went there yesterday. It’s the second tallest statue in sitting position. It’s of great Shri Ramanujam who brought equality in learning.

It is near Hyderabad airport , around 30 KN’s from Hitech city. Before reaching there we see two tea centres and though we didn’t stop as we were getting place but they are a good place to have tea. At the main place, there is enough parking and it’s a huge place, beautifully landscaped.

First we have to deposit our cameras , mobiles and foot wear at a counter. It’s free service. Any eatables are also not allowed inside. Plus they advise you to go there wearing Indian dress, though it’s a case at many temples also, not that devotees follow it.

Then we take entry tickets. It’s 200/- adult and they have multiple counters, very convenient even there is crowd.. even baby feeding chambers are there.

Once we clear the scanning they put a stamp on the back side of palm.. and it’s om in Hindi, Sanskrit whatever, it was such a nice feeling to have that and then another surprise.. we can get traditional tika at our forehead.. same thing we do in Kashi, Vrindavan but there u find people on the road doing it.

Around the boundary in a circle they have made 108 Sannidhi or little rooms, with god Vishnu ‘ different mudras and incarnations ,some famous ones too like one in Padamnabha temple in Thiruanantpuram. Here I wished that they had mentioned some details of scene depicted in either Hindi or English, it would have increased our happiness manifold,But even now it’s an experience to have. There they are selling books about it in all languages and after every 27 idols, there are toilets, water and prasadam available.

Then in the centre there are 108 steps reaching to the main statue. Steps are quite broad and comfortable, at the same time for senior citizens and differently ab led people, lift is there and wheel chairs are also there. State is surrounded by fountains and one can see the city from the top like a view point too. Once evening lights come, it’s absolutely beautiful to watch the area lighten up and statue in different colors. There is a light and sound show also.

Now time to pack and leave and it’s dinner time, so we see that after exit food is available with all varieties, it was reasonably good and clean. There is a shop of pears also with beautiful collection of jewellery and one shop for Ayurvedic products.

The way it is maintained , it’s amazing.. very nice and clean and worth an experience.

Jorasanko.. Aruna chakravarty

  This story is in two books and it’s about Tagore family, Brahm samaj and culture and traditions at that time in late 18th century.

These two books are important for me for reason.. because my young daughter.in law got them for me signed by the author. But I feel sad to say that I didn’t find them very interesting for multiple reasons. There are so many characters and big families that it was mighty difficult for me to remember the names and relations. Then I found that Rabindranath Tagore , so adulated and all was not so great as a man or husband or father, only as a poet. And in his family girls were married at a young age of 10 or 12 and got kids at 14 or May be 13. They were kept inside and couldn’t be out in sunshine even. I felt really sad to see their plight.

All in all those times were very regressive 

400 Days… Chetan Bhagat

When he started writing, I loved his books but slowly i started getting bored and now instead of going up his writing is coming down. This one is a cheap thriller where all characters are more or less murky.. so much so that even hero heroine have no character, and for it’s very important to see protagonists behaving sensibly.

People sleeping together easily without any hesitation or thought are not my cup of tea, I may be old fashioned but married women sleeping with others is not done.. even if marriage is not working, first get out of it and then look for green pastures and same for single men .. sleeping with married women is not ok, it’s not love only lust. Here a young beautiful model is dated, feted and persued by a wealthy man and she is happy.But she is not able to adjust to his family and later she adjusts even with her husband having affairs with his employees .

No good.