One Hundredth: Favourite Things

I have been saving this post, for a long time. Twenty Days and One Hundredth Post.
Twenty days ago, I celebrated my TSth birthday. I decided to tick these two off my wish list: Fossil Virginia & Fossil Georgia.

[Blank]

Sometimes through the diagonals of the edges,
a whirling form moves, twists and turns.
In the depth of nights, I fathom the self
blinklessly staring at the marquee tracing
the present, past and the moment, brief.

And thus flees the time.

A to Z challenge 2015: Survival and Reflections from the Journey

I remember the diverse feeling conjunct with enthusiasm on April 1, 2015. Days leaped even before I realized (time has been playing havoc with me, it's already May). I randomly landed on a blog where I came across the A to Z 2014 survivor's badge. So when I discovered more about the challenge, the sign-up list was already beyond 500 blog listings. The uncanny part of me wanted to be the 1000th signee. So I would visit the blog every day to check if the list is nearing 999. I visited the co-hosts' blogs from 2014 to get an idea of how the challenge worked. So I went on to decide the theme, even though initially I wanted the arbitrariness of blogging to reflect.

Z is for Zeroth lastingness

Y is for Yonder dream

Background: Charles Kingsley's, The Water Babies

X is for Xanthous armor

Postcard Image Source

W is for Windswept boulevard

V is for Verdant point

U is for Ubiquitous foreshadow

I am NINE blog post away from ONE Hundred! ( I take no liberty in counting in the 58 Draft posts, somehow I could never have the audacity to put them up now.)
I dislike the old silly self =)

T is for Tactile notes

S is for Schmaltzy letters

R is for Rouge planet

Q is for Quixotic pictures

P is for Perpetual frenzy

O is for Opalescent time

N is for Northern star

M is for Magnanimous touch

L is for Lovelorn

K is for Kafkaesque mind

J is for Juxtaposed song

I is for Interim amour

H is for Heart shaped findings

The other day (I think 5th of April) when I was trying my very first Tasseography reading, I couldn't believe the leaves taking a heart shape.
And the unpleasant part was not able to capture it in midst of the reading where I evoke all my concentration. I wouldn't let anything distract.
Well, it is deep-rooted in my existence now, still undeciphered.
Read A Heart shaped fluke to know what I am talking here.

G is for Gilt hair

F is for Felicitous tidings

E is for Equanimous mindfulness

P.S. I am managing to post the letter 'E' with a hustling schedule (though 48 hours late), I can't give up, not yet. :)
Furthermore, I am savoring the five minutes I dedicate in composing these.

D is for Dulcet Voice

C is for Cerulean Sky

B is for beauty of a moment

A is for arcadian smile

On the cloudless mornings of early
spring, I remember going to bed at
daylight. Rephrasing the
conversation in my thoughts,
reminiscing his husky voice in the
quiet of the night. Uncurling
myself with his resplendent
laughs, exquisitely imagining him
inhaling the fragrance of the
darkness in the past hours of
midnight. Frolicking with slumber,
chasing the recent past: a distorted
him, with his ravenous cinnamon
hair and his liquescent arcadian
smile.

Friendship

At this very hour of night reading theories reflecting memories in its rarest essence. I could not hold back myself from reliving something I still remember... 

Diminishing Disparities with Digital Literacy in India

Would you prefer a precise byname 'Digital Literate' for being a blogger? Or would you like being acknowledged as the one who is constantly glued to their smartphone, tablet and adept laptop?

Source

My Conclusive Bucketlist: Ten wishful things

The term "conclusive" is my deliberate attempt to convey that my bucket list extends beyond reasonable limits. Life, being unpredictable and ever-changing, finds solace in the brighter side of my extensive existence, and perhaps in anybody's.

A Foodophile's persuasion to visit Singapore: Why you ought to visit Singapore for Food.

You are a Foodophile, an ardent lover of food, variety of cuisines. You can chow down anything and everything that’s been served to you.

You yearn a Food Journey, exploring various cuisines finding solace in bittersweet, tangy, pungent, spicy and sweet flavours.

Healthy Breakfast picks made tastier with Kellogg's

My childhood breakfast memories are filled with the aroma of hot, piping idlis with sambar, poha topped with grated coconut, vegetable omelettes, and generously coated bread with marmalade—all thanks to Mom's culinary skills. She is the epitome of balanced cooking, blending nutrition with taste seamlessly.

As we grow up, the responsibility of preparing our own breakfast falls on our shoulders. Thanks to Google, a plethora of recipes is at our fingertips, allowing us to elevate our meals with both nutrition and taste.

A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal

I find my unsettled mind ablaze with increasing fervor—an impulse challenging the dominance of writing above all else in the current context of my life.

Nevertheless, I ought to take this A to Z challenge.


I couldn't decide on a theme, initially, I decided I would go with the ideas as they occur. But I refuse to risk my whimsical mind.

Here's what I had shortlisted:

Temporal Progression
John Keats (I m referring Odes, Sonnets and Romanticism)
Reminiscence
A Manifesto of being a Logophile/Deltiology
My most loved/liked Characters from Literature

And I finally settled with the theme: Exquisite Adjectives and Typewriter
I yearn for a typewriter (very archaic, I know), not just another but... A New, Pink (Neon fuchsia to be precise) with my name embossed in Gold Letters and the keys with black coloured alphabet.
So here's what I have in my mind. Something like this I would experiment with prose, poetry and extracts (fragments of writings) typed out on my Neon Fuchsia Typewriter laced with Exquisite Adjectives in my head.

The idea is to keep the posts short summoning ideas and memories and unmasking my choice of adjectives. That's how I can limit my writing to a few words foretelling a way to valley of ambiguity. And mostly I am intrigued by the interpretations.

Quoting Edward Said "...for interpretations depend very much on who the interpreter is, who he or she is addressing, what his or her purpose is, at what historical moment the interpretation takes place."

Ernest Hemingway said...

Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

Is it that Intelligent people aren't happy?
Or that they are never stable with happiness? Their curious mind never let them still.
And just like Aaron Eckhart says Happiness is a state of mind. (Love Happens)


Yesterday, I prepared myself and completed jotting down in a minute (only the typing).
I tried thinking. recalling and typing at once, not this part ofcourse.
International Day Of Happiness, to all those who shuffle to this post.

I would be...

A Blank Notebook.

that would hold the writer's reflection
hold a dead flower, that is still living
that would be existent until the pages are intact.
Even if they're apart, they'd be somewhere
Existing.

Just like people.


The One-Minute Writer Prompt: If you had to change yourself into something that would make you completely unnoticeable in your life, what would you be?
If you'd like to take a minute out every day for writing, Visit http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.in

And for St Patrick's Day, for finding a 4 leaf clover. I am still not giving up. =)

A Food Connoisseur's Utopia: Singapore

The other day, my family was planning a mini vacation this summer. Daddy has shortlisted few different places, but my Brother is insisting upon Singapore. He could meet his school friend who is settled there. So piqued my curiosity, I started researching about the weather, sights to see and the uniqueness of the shortlisted places. I read about Singapore and I was tantalized with the culture and people. I read a few Singapore food, lifestyle and personal blogs and there was striking warmth about them.

I have read this a millions of time: Undoubtedly, One of the finest things about Singapore is the FOOD.

There is no denial of the above sentence, when the people eat, drink and relish multicultural cuisines with passion. Singapore is a multi-culturally diverse and rich in heritage and this is reflected on the variety of cuisines.  A Ruler of Southern Part of Chola Dynasty (India) named the city Singapura known as Lion City. It is also believed that the name was bestowed by a Buddhist Monk during the 14th Century.
The History of Singapore is certainly interesting with reference to its rich diverse culture and the variety of cuisines.
While reading about Singaporean Culinary Delights, I came across http://discover.stayfareast.com/ displaying various appealing Food Images, Outlets, Cuisines to try, Restaurant and Hawker Centres suggestions, Hotel Bookings and Hospitality.
Singaporean Cuisines is often labelled as ‘Melting Pot’ of Flavors and Foods with a reflection of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Cantonese and unique Peranakan. Singapore is also widely known for its crowded Hawkers Centers or open air Food Courts.

Singaporeans prefer Round Dinner tables and the shape forms utilitarian value and considered as an essence of their Social gatherings. The Round table according to them allows members in large numbers, also nobody would feel left out to participate in conversation. This has certainly emerged from the culture of eating together including home, dining places and food centres.

While surfing through the Discover FarEast, I learned about variety of dishes like Duck Leg Confit, Foie Gras on Creamy Lentils, Yum Woon Sen, Crab Spaghetti, Grapow Moo and Five different types of Prata served with variety of sauces, kaya (fruit curd), Sugar and ice creams. Chicken Floss Prata is delectable, scrumptious and must-have of the Singaporean Cuisines. The texture of the chicken filling in the Prata resembles to Candy Floss, very light and fluffy.

For Vegetarians, there are lots of variations like Burgers at Vegan Burg, Nasi Lemak (Fragrant Rice with Coconut Milk and Pandan leaf) , Pasta aglio olio (Garlic flavoured Spagetti), Cottage pie, Principessa Salad, Haloumi and the Mezze Platter, Spanakopita, Risotto and Vegetable Tandoori to list a few.

If I had to choose one meal which suits my preference is: Hainanese Chicken Rice.
Hainanese Chicken Rice is considered as National Dish of Singapore which is a complete meal in itself. Hainanese Chicken Rice is cooked with spices like ginger and garlic, dark soy sauce and lime juice for tanginess. Sesame oil adds a distinct flavor to it which blooms with cilantro and Jasmine rice. The aroma with all these exquisite ingredients must surely tickle the taste buds of foodies. One tantalizing ingredient that adds the zing is Sriracha Sauce which is made from Chilli peppers, garlic and Vinegar.
I would be pleased to feast upon Chilli Crab as a side dish to the Hainanese Chicken Rice with Principessa Salad on the side.
I would love to devour Roti Prata with Ice cream and Rojak, an unusual combination as a dessert.

There are so many palatable and delight to eyes varieties of food in Singapore. And the official website is of a great help in exploring the multicultural heritage through pictures. They also have the hospitality options and easy Hotel bookings and a prodigious list of food, dining options and places to visit. From what I have read and seen, I think Singapore is a magnificent coalesces of diverse race, language, religion and culture that reflects the food to a great extent. The diversity of cultures certainly brings out different flavors creating a lively scene on the culinary front. I have been browsing Discover FarEast and dreaming about the culinary scenes and the cultural heritage. And I think visiting would be a lot better...

I Choose to start memorizing better

Choices assuredly reflects ability, and unfortunately they come in a variety of possibilities. Before I start unfolding my ways of implicating the new Moto E in my life, I get the privilege of declaring that I am not attentive but lackadaisical.

Image Source: http://www.startwithmotoe.com/

I never get criticized by the elders of my family, even if I have my hands, fingers and eyes glued to the phone. No, my family isn't permissive; rather they are delighted that I use my smartphone not just for chitchatting and WhatsApping fingers but for studying. Hence, I decided to share my ways of using a smartphone as a mode of study, with an added interest in making learning less boring.

My father got me a new phone when I was in my first year, a decent smartphone.

I use my phone as an alarm and reminder
Alarms in mobile phones aren't rare, but I need the loudest ringtone possible since I am a heavy sleeper. So Moto E comes with vibration, MP3 and WAV format alert tone types. My current phone supports only inbuilt alert-type tones.
Well, I use the facility of reminders as reminders for drinking water every hour, reading 20 pages before I sleep and most importantly for movies and series I want to catch on television.
 

Image Source: http://www.startwithmotoe.com/

I use my phone to feed notes and ideas at any given moment
Wouldn't it be great if ideas come to you at your own convenience? I wouldn't have had to carry pen and paper notes everywhere. So I feed most of these vague ideas that come to in the memo of the phone. The internal memory of Moto E comes with 4GB internal memory, and I am sure I wouldn't have any memory issues with this one.
 
I use my phone to capture moments and create everlasting memories
Selfies ascend the list when I talk about pictures I click with my phone. Other than that I like capturing pictures of flowers, day breaks and clouds and then all the 'else' things as well.
Moto E has 5 MP, 2592 х 1944 pixels with features like Geo-tagging, panorama, HDR and camcorder with 480p@30fps. Apart from a magnificent camera.

I use my phone as a planner for reading and studying
I generally plan what I should be reading and researching in the coming week. so that I can feed the required data and sort out the texts as well. It helps me keep track of what I have read and yet to read. I feed my phone with required texts which I usually read while I am travelling. Entrancement, I am talking about. No matter where you are you always have an option to slip into your own world, oblivious to the noisy and irksome surroundings. (Hello crowd & traffic)
Moto E has a 4.3-inch (~63.0% screen-to-body ratio) Capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours with 540 x 960 pixels (~256 ppi pixel density) resolution. The screen is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Everything just gets easier.

I use my MP3 player to listen to audiobooks and lectures
You wouldn't find anything but John Mayer's albums and a few various artists' songs. I have these sleep-inducing instrumentals which are saviours for insomniac sleepless nights. I listen to lectures and audiobooks while I am travelling to university or the library. Moto E has the features of Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic with MP3/eAAC+/WAV/Flac player for audio and DivX/WMV/MP4/H.264 player for videos

Image Source: http://www.startwithmotoe.com/

I use my phone to Read on Google Play Books and Microsoft Word adds convenience to my life
With Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat), upgradable to v4.4.4 (KitKat), planned upgrade to v5.0 (Lollipop). It gets easier to have some of the very rare books near at hand that are useful for references. I don't play games regularly but I have downloaded a few, if ever I get bored, I make sure to draw a line. Microsoft Word is such a quick and easy way to check notes and save them in desired formats.

I use my phone to forward notes and papers through emails
Life just gets easier when you are out with your friends but suddenly you get a call from your fellow study mate asking to forward him the research paper you had worked on, for reference.

With WLAN  Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot and Bluetooth v4.0, LE, connecting to the world is instant with just one touch.

Apart from all the mentioned uses, I use my phone to stay in touch with my friends; old and new with Facebook, WhatsApp and Google Hangout. And the battery life is an added great benefit for those who use their Smartphone in varied ways. The battery of Moto E is a non-removable Li-Ion 1980 mAh battery with a 60-hour endurance rating. Moto E is an outstanding Smartphone with so many features and long battery life and is modestly priced.
There is so much you can do with just your phone, changing your approach to things to be precise.
And there is always something more you could do with a smartphone.

Visit http://www.startwithmotoe.com/, to explore a world full of options you could do with Moto E.

An Epistle to My Enduring Mind

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 52; the fifty-second edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with Metro Diaries by "Namrata". To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Let me embody this pristine white sheet,
With meticulously selected peaceful words.
And the chaos, more than your eyes would meet;
A rampageous consciousness whirling a storm.

Streaming memoirs, existent old-fashioned lastingness
Fleeting by the season translating chill to fine warmth.
A sensual spirit upheaval arrested in a temporal caress.
A mind silvered with ecstasy, grief and tranquility.

An unceasing unapologetic hope crystallizes in the midst.
Swarming everlasting winters, summers, falls and springs,
With the infinity of reflections considered youth kissed.
An enduring timelessness of a flight of fancy caged in time.

Drifting, drifting forth the borders of steady horizon,
Unquestioning so far brimming, meandering with light.
An isolated longingness uniform with unexplored reasons,
My perpetual snarling ageless mind, a leis to my aging body.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Participation Count: 01

A Baby's Happy Moments

The other day, I was commuting to Andheri when a lady entered the metro compartment, accompanied by her baby girl dressed in adorable pink. The little one, around 8 months old, gazed around with an angelic expression. Both the mother and daughter shared a striking resemblance, their eyes resembling calm, still water—dark and deep.

Amidst the chatter, two noisy ladies conversed loudly. Seated in front of the mother-daughter duo, I marveled at the convergence of two distinct worlds. On one side, the animated chatter, and on the other, the serene presence of the mother and her calm, angel-eyed daughter. Typically, infants can be restless and impatient during their early years, with diaper changes and frequent feedings.

Yet, this baby was different, exuding happiness in her own world. She smiled and playfully attempted to touch her mother's nose, displaying remarkable patience. The mother, in turn, gently ran her hand over the baby's bottom through her peeking dress. Eventually, they disembarked at their designated station.

Reflecting on the experience, I wondered about the unusual calmness of a typically cranky baby. Envisioning the future, my thoughts raced to the prospect of having a patient and serene child like her. Imagining all the cute clothes and toys in various hues—pink, blue, yellow—I found myself pondering over potential names for her.

Exiting the train, I strolled to the library, lost in contemplation. Later, at home, as I unwound from the day, sipping on green tea and flipping through channels, I encountered an advertisement that instantly brought back memories of that little baby in pink.

I found the answer to my puzzle and pondered, the baby girl was calm and happy because her mother took the preeminent care of keeping her baby dry, clean and happy.

Envisioning the future with my own child, I've crafted a plan to foster their happiness:

~ I will talk to him/her while growing up, a lot. We will have a few hours in a day as 'quiet time'.
This will encourage and build patience and perseverance in the baby.

~ I will sing him/her to sleep, if not I will put on some calming sounds of seas/forests that induce sleep. And definitely put him in Pampers baby dry pants for a sound, undisturbed sleep.

~ And most of all, I shall devote my entire time of day, week and months to his/her growth. That is what I shall never get back even if try, watching him/her grow a plittle every day.
And I am sure, I shall write poesies on his/her every mood, action and the happy moments.

If you wish to keep your baby happy and dry visit: http://www.rewardme.in/tag/Pampers

Homecoming to optimism and assurance

Have you ever tried living the present moment as a whole, as if there was none before or would be?
Or tried writing prose or poems by squishing absolute emotions you've felt in a moment, transforming them into words? But have you tried describing a moment's worth in a moment? As someone said a moment is a medieval unit of time equivalent to 90 seconds.

You climb the mountain to view the scenic beauty, being close to nature. That moment, when you set your eyes upon the view, you came along this far. You toil diligently the entire month for that little amount of increment. That moment, when you get your paycheck that surpasses the amount you calculated in your mind. A new mother holds her baby for the very first time. That moment is nothing but a surreal reality for her. When you come home after a long tiring day and find your pet dog wagging his tail waiting for you at the door steps. That moment, when he pounces on you with all the love in the world.

Each of these moments overflows with hope, happiness, warmth, love, and optimism.

I cherish a moment brimming with assurance and elation, etched in the sparkle of my mother's eyes. A decade ago, as we moved to our new home, her gaze radiated pride, joy, and the promise of a brighter future. With meticulous attention, she shaped the house, from the color of the door rims to every piece of furniture. Throughout those six months, I vividly recall the gleam of optimism and happiness in her eyes. She transformed our home into a manifestation of her vision, a living dream.

Home is often deemed a sanctuary to return to, but what if it's imbued with warmth, love, and optimism? Wouldn't that be truly remarkable? Yet, such a haven doesn't come effortlessly. My mother invested her time, soul, money, hope, and optimism to create a space that would play a significant role in our growth. Her dream was to nurture us, her children, with care, optimism, and love. It took years to find the perfect place aligned with her vision, but she never relinquished hope. She believed in discovering it before it was too late before we grew up. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she clutched some papers, her face illuminated with optimism and elation.

I revisit that moment whenever I'm disheartened or lack hope. It becomes a wellspring of strength and a renewed belief that what we wish for is always waiting around the corner, ready to emerge when the time is right.

Undoubtedly, my mother stands as my pillar of strength, optimism, and happiness—an unwavering source of positive energy. I am blessed to return home to an atmosphere brimming with optimism and assurance, shaped by my mother's vision of our dream home.

To find your visioned dream home filled with positivity and optimism, visit https://housing.com/lookup

A windfall

Someday, someone will uncover this,

tucked within the undisturbed pages,

eagerly waiting to be discovered.

Long-forgotten tales dissipate with change, vanishing into the currents of time. I ponder the fate of ours. One day, I might deliberate on meticulously documenting the events, while on other days, I push away the notion of piecing together those moments. They're akin to holding a delicate butterfly, with just enough tension to grasp and enough slack to let go. But in reality, what do I truly possess when my hands are empty?

Could it be deemed a windfall, pronounced above all?

Psychic Dissonance

If I toss some letters your way - P S Y C H I C D I S S O N A N C E - whether arranged or abrupt, and instruct you to create all three, four, and five-letter words from them.

Hold on.

What's that term again?!

Anagram?

I can't remember what is it called.

~

Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I reach for is the newspaper. Bombay Times, typically on page 5-6, mostly on the left page. It provides everything you need to engage your brain: mind-benders, comics, Scrabble, crosswords, and astrology. Every morning, I eagerly look for them, solving them, jotting down the words, and absentmindedly smiling at Calvin, Nancy, & Garfield.

Similarly, my brain has been a whirlwind of thoughts - thoughts that refuse to depart, thoughts that won't stay. Habits are much the same; once you get into the rhythm of something, it whirls you back to the same place where you started, until you're dizzy.

But for the mind, there's a conflict, an irresolvable conflict - with intellect, Psychic Dissonance.