Merci!!!

Holidays are here - the season of being thankful for whatever we have been blessed.This might as well be the month in which my thoughts and words have found themselves least connected! It's been a while since I wrote something that's "simply Shubha". As my freezing fingers wander on the keyboard, my thoughts are haywire - some thinking of the little angle sleeping on my lap and purring away to glory, some thinking how tasty must I be for  she licks me like a candy the minute she hops on my lap, some wondering how is a kitten displaying dog behavior, some thanking this miracle for running into my arms last night and the rest wondering what do I write about!

 I would always think, just when you think things are bad, they get worse! For most part, it may be true! But while we are focusing on the worse, we overlook the flickering hope that's playing a peek-a-boo. Every cloud has a silver lining. As I feel the gentle weight of this exquisite fur creation adjusting herself on my lap, I know what's the silver lining in my present!

A few days back, I moved few inches closer to my grave. With words like "It's all down hill from now" drumming in my ears, I hated the fact that someone as precious as me is getting old! I guess I might speak for the mass when I say any birthday after 25 starts creating a void. You tend to think about your accomplishments, unfulfilled dreams, increasing waistline, receding hairline (in my case lovely silver lining on my head!), oh wait.. are those laugh lines or wrinkles!!!

As much as I hate admitting it, I am no different. I thought about all of those, more about some than the rest. Sometimes we are so busy wallowing in self pity that we forget about the love that fills our life. As the clock struck 12, I pulled my blanky over my sleepy head.

Oh no.. you are not winning over me. I am gonna sleep my way through distress and who knows, if no one remembers, I will remain 25 for life!

Little did I know, that there were beasts waiting for their turn to haunt me and accelerate the natural aging process. Finding your special ones at your door step at midnight with your birthday cake is probably normal for you guys. But being the boring person I am, being awakened from my beauty sleep would only unleash a series of not-so-pleasant sounding yawns and intimidating looks that could only be well camouflaged in the darkness! With the biting cold not helping my plight, I fumbled with the keys are dragged my body to the gate. This was my special surprise! As cliched as it sounds, in midst of the yawns and teeth chattering, I felt like I had just turned 18! This post is for all you people who made my day either by being by my side or sending your wishes from the far away land.

Just when turning older looked like a bane, I realized that I was granted with special boons to ride through the tough days! Some boons I've had the good fortune of knowing for over half my life, being blessed to witness their journey from childhood to parenthood while the others who have etched their special places in my heart, promising a future of togetherness.

This brings me back to the crux of the matter. Just when you think you have nothing going for you in your life, something turns up, making you realize your worth. Even if fail to recognize it, just remember it's always there, like the air you can't see. In my case my life is determined by the people in it. I don't have a lot of them, but the one's I do are enough to last for a life time. Finding genuine people and keeping them in you life is a tough thing to do. It's not something that people think of as a goal. It's not even remotely their dream. It's not mine either. But I cant emphasize on how important this is, for you to live the blissful life you always dreamt of. Don't rush your way to the top, to find yourself all alone. Enrich your life with people who matter, make them a part of your dreams, watch them colour it for you. As I listen to the purring growing louder, I know I have everything I need to turn my life into a very fulfilling one. The purring in your life is telling you something too. Please listen to it...


P.S : Special note of thanks to sailor for making me 18 again!

World's Most Dangerous Race

Do you want to become a world renowned TV celebrity and represent your country?

Based in Africa, “The World’s Most Dangerous Race “ is a first season, 13-part reality TV Series challenge that will be a thriller of an event for viewers and challengers alike.

As a world-first feat – you and your partner will become the first representing team to make your country proud and leave a personal legacy behind.

There are always dangers for those who fear them. The question is, how far will you go to exterminate your fears?

A recent addition to extreme adventurer, Louie Greeff’s escapades, beckons fellow adrenaline filled adventurers with a penchant for danger and passion for living life on the edge to join him in the most exhilarating race ever conducted in the history of adventure sports.

Here’s presenting the world’s most dangerous race, a one stop destination, guaranteeing a menacing encounter with everything you ever feared,  classified as the Olympics of adventure racing!

A 13 week grueling journey commencing at Mwinilunga, the source of one of the most dreaded rivers in the world – the mighty Zambezi, will put the contestants through an adventurous journey, which will not only stretch their physical boundaries, but also put their mental strength through a test of fire.

For those who think land is a safe option, this show will challenge your staunch beliefs.

From biking on treacherous mountains, to 4×4 driving, experience a life on wheels on non-existent roads that were never meant to be treaded on.

Welcomed by wild-life at every turn, participants have to be alert every single moment during the race.

Challenge the gravity by bungi jumping and abseiling down 800 feet of sheer rock faces relying on only yourself and the thin rope connecting you to life. Rappelling, Flying Fox and Gorge swinging will re-define vertigo.

Zambezi’s notorious white waters that barely let you grab a breath with their undercurrents churning your body inside out, lay the most daunting challenge.

Canoeing, River rafting, and boarding on these waters, can compel the most formidable swimmers to pray for land! River gliding in midst of 14000 crocodiles, hippopotamus, Zambezi sharks and African elephants will take more than courage.

This race, also addresses social causes like malaria, cholera and land mines in Angola and Mozambique – the unseen predators with an impact more lethal and potent than some of the most toxic African snakes.

Five international teams, each with two active participants – one male and one female, accompanied by a third backup participant, will battle it out in the wilderness of Zambezi in a race against time.

Potential challengers will be chosen by Louie Greeff, one of the very few to conquer the menacing river, based on survival questionnaires filled in by the challengers.

Three years of research on this journey, complimented by an efficient team of medical officers, game rangers and crocodile hunters, will ensure safety of the chosen contestants.

Challengers are required to be physically fit and mentally equipped to handle the extreme discomfort they will be subjected to.

Here’s a preview of your 13 weeks of impending doom.

http://youtu.be/ppHIH6zFcX4

Are you ready to challenge yourself beyond the perceived boundaries of your abilities and your fears??

Are you ready for a life where your worst nightmares turn into reality?

Are you ready to become world famous and leave a legacy behind?

Interested candidates can register on www.beyondxtreme.co.za under the topic; DANGEROUS RACE CHALLENGE Registration.

Just like that...

In one of my earlier posts, I had mentioned " If you think life is unfair, then you are a racist." I guess I should have sugar coated my words. It would be easier to get them down my throat.

My hours and hours of travelling to and fro has made me a silent witness to a lot of incidents. Some pleasant, some painful and some that accentuate my learning curve. I was looking out of my window, watching the busy roads and trying to make sense of the senseless traffic around me. My eyes feel on a squirrel attempting to cross the road. Suddenly the signal turns green. Flurry of vehicles proceed in the direction of the squirrel. A car was fast approaching the squirrel, which makes it through one set of tyres. Just when I was about to breath a sigh of relief, the other set of tyre runs it over. I shriek. In matter of seconds several other tyres are making their away over its tiny body. As I feel the trickle of tears, I ponder how can life be this unfair? How can life be over in a blink of an eye? How can all the hopes be crushed in an instant? Just like that?

I know some really mean jack asses. They are leading a blissful life after drowning others in misery. They are alive! Hell, their in-your-face paunch showcase their over flowing wealth! I am not God, but I know for a fact that if this world is a happy place, it will be happier with certain suitable demises.

I was still in a state of despair when I found myself in another jam. I saw a man on a handicap tricycle make his away on the busy one way in the opposite direction. He was caught in midst nowhere when a skoda octavia comes face to face with him. Surrounded by traffic, riding in the wrong direction didn't seem to bother the man. He was busy yanking over the phone. Well, with all due respect to him, if I were caught in that situation with a pair of limbs that would not come to my defense, I would panic and look around for help in a jiffy! I was even more interested in his actions now. With all the traffic in the world in front my bus, I knew I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. I guess he realized the same. He hung up. Taking control of his vehicle - one hand rotating the lever, the other maneuvering the handle, he took the front tyre of the tricycle on the pavement. The left tyre followed and right tyre balance itself on the road. He whizzed past skoda. I strained my neck to see him. But he had vanished. Just like that..

The answers to the questions I had previously asked, started falling in place. This time there were no tears, no sympathy, just deep respect for human spirit. Yes, life can be unfair. Really unfair. It can give you everything you ever dreamt off and take it away the next instant. It can spur up hopes in you but in a blink of an eye splash water on it. But that should never stop you from living. Fair or unfair, there's one life given to you. Whether you drown in the deluge of self pity or swim to the shore, its your call. There are times you feel helpless. But you need to realize that there will be times when you have no control over things. Holding on to things that need to be freed will make you a prisoner.  Learn to let go.

Jailhouse Rock

Have you ever been to a place and felt you belonged there? Hoped the world would come to a halt, clock would stop ticking and wished you could absorb all the beauty it had to offer? Have you ever left a part of you back in the place, hoping you would return someday, reunite with your lost self? Do you believe in losing yourself to find yourself?

If your answer is yes, then the above questions summarizes what I felt when I set my foot on the archipelago, known as much for its beauty as brutality. It's been more than a year since my trip to Andaman and need I say, I am still lost in its spectacular show of diversity.

For a sneak peek to Indian heritage and history we all are so proud of, please visit https://shubhaholla.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/andaman-times-jailhouse-rock/

P.S : Proud to be an Indian after all!