The 'calls' you MUST TAKE

Since many days I have been fighting with myself for taking some calls which I had to take but still I strongly feel I could have avoided those. 

Often, as individuals we take calls every single day every moment . It can be as simple as what to wear and what to pair it up with , which route to take to work every single day or as is typical in Indian households what to make for tomorrow in terms of the food itinerary . 

There are some easy calls that you need to take and they do not impact much in life . Then there are some not so easy calls that you need to take and they may have an impact on your life . Lastly, there are some must take hard calls which definitely impact your life. It also depends how you see things and what is the heart-mind combination you follow up with.

My chance meeting with a flower seller aged 11 years made me understand that these calls are usually choices we make . These calls are usually linked back to who we are as persons and what we are as individuals.

The flower seller named Arsh took up to selling flowers at Delhi crossing way back when he was 6 . He said he has a simple funda in life . He likes to see people happy and smiling at him when persistently knocks on their car windows . For him , for those 10 seconds everyone is the car thinks about him , everyone who can see him sell the flowers also thinks about him .

He occupies mind space and for those seconds he blocks everyone's thinking . May be good and may be bad which we as humans might be thinking .  

Flowers make you smile and so do kids . There are some which roll their windows down and their are some which just don't.  Its a call which we take . 

When you as individuals take these calls be sure , very sure that its linked to something larger . Something which make you develop as a human and complete as an individual . Something which makes to at peace , happy at face and calms you.

Its hard to take calls but then life was never meant to be an easy walk .  Right from choosing a new smartphone , to making plan to your most wanted destination or for that matter picking up the right one you would want to marry - calls are all what we take in life. 

Look back and think in the weeks , months or may be years gone by the calls that you have taken may have changed you in more than one way. You may have not realized this but yes you did take a call . 
  
Next time ,remember me when you take calls . Remember , that you took a call to read what I wanted to share :) 


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On a lighter note,  I watched the first day show of the movie HIGHWAY  . Not many people would know , its based on something called as the Stockholm syndrome.  A tough watch but worth a watch . 

Also, you need to listen to the song - Patakha  Guddi sung very well by the talented Nooran sisters. 


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Sarahan and the divinity all around

Bhimakali Temple , Sarahan

"Woh pehli baar jab hum mile;
haathon mein haath jab hum chale;
ho gaya yeh dil deewana;
hota hai pyaar kya isne jaana; "

It's a beautiful song. And this was playing on our very own BOSE surround stereo equipped 4x4 as we headed towards an unknown destination.

Busy,I was in the journey. Niki was almost nearing the ninth circle of sleep.Poor Ranbir was trying his level best to make us reach safely.And my dear Rads - was thinking - wow ! It's so beautiful in India. [ These 'Indian gone US' -people I tell you :P ]

A friend called in on my cell.It was close to 12:10 am.

"Hey Karan - what is your plan for the 9th February.Let's attend the wedding".

Everyone woke up.Systems started and it was all afresh. This was only , one half.

And all were after me.

• Ranbir - " what the ***** . koi bhi phone karega raat ke barah baje".
• Rads - " people's man . Let some people sleep please."
• Niki -"kya hua .All well na "

It's a proven scientific phenomena that when you are in deep sleep and suddenly the phone rings the heart beats faster ,pulse too and it takes a while before to realize what exactly is going on.A dangerous thing though.

And when you are all alone , with your gang and a road which has just your car's noise to echo yours ,  better be careful.

I hate to say but Indian roads are not that well to drive @ nights.Unless,it's really urgent.


We were heading to Sarahan . A beautiful place in my favourite state - HP. Also, called the gateway to Kinnaur.

You have to see it to believe it.It's simply beautiful.

We reached around 5 in the morning.Everyone was shit tired.But ,the landscape was breath-taking.Nobody wanted to take a nap / tea / bath.Just sit and relax.

And Ms.Niki spoke very softly to all - "Guys ,if you wanna enjoy this please have a small power nap and some tea ,because it's decently chilly out here.

Also,we need to see the famous Bhimakali temple in the morning.


So,get going,will you ? Yes ma'am. Roger that.

All of us went inside and slept like there is no sunrise ever going to happen.

But,Rads - bang on time - 7 cellphones alarmed at the same time.Whats more with the same wake-up tone. "Tere liye....."

After all the usual dramas everyone was up and well.Had a small breakfast and headed towards the temple.

The temple is dedicated to goddess Bhimakali. It's a beautiful temple with superb flowers all around.The temple is simply huge and built in a great architectural way.

See it to believe it.

Sarahan has small bird zoo as they call which is a small trek up the hill.Worth the pain. :)


Places like these are beautifully spread.
They have so called 'tourist places'; 'adventure places' ;sight seeing places; and simply 'awe' inspiring places. Choose your pic and make a move.

Planning is required only in terms of your stay.

HP is famous to have HPTDC hotels / resorts at the best of the places all over HP.So,you can choose and prepare accordingly.The stay was superb.

Jogging,trekking,tea and pakodas , local people and local shopping stuff . It was all so nice.

So,next time when you visit HP ,try shifting from the normal Shimla and Manali herd.


There is more to be explored and seen.........


btw-it seems everyone is either getting married or engaged. I have six wedding functions lined up for the next week.Now I know why they say - "February is the love month .So why not,tie the knot."

And add to this someone has his birthday also in February.What more ? ~ !



PS  -  Since this was an impromptu trip  we decided to use something new and innovative on this  . From flights , hotels and car hire they have everything covered up for us .  New idea and a great execution interface , we were impressed .  
The website link is  -  http://www.skyscanner.co.in

Communicate and Stay Wired

As I look out of my window here in Calgary , the entire ecosystem seems so changed .  I have to say sorry to all of you - my readers ,  my networkers and my dear fellow bloggers who took out the time to write into me asking me why am I not writing these days . 

Apologies to all . Honest answer to this would be , there were so many moving parts that I was actually finding it hard to squeeze in or rather squeeze out time in the wheel of time . There were many instances when I felt the need to write but I somehow just couldn't sit down and gather my thoughts . 

But if I were to summarize this by way of quote then it would be something like  - “Letting go doesn't mean that you don't care about someone anymore. It's just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.”   

And here am I back onto the table with a very different world around me this time and this I am going to share my thoughts on something which many of want to do but often don't do , including me -  Communicate ( that's what I am doing right now ) .

I met a very interesting person who happens to hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Communications) from MICA  .   My first reaction to this was how can you have a degree in communications since that's what everyone in the world does . Or tries to . 

NO. Your way of thinking and my of thinking are both wrong .  We think we talk , we share and in turn we communicate but then this has nothing to do with communication. 

The very basic parameter of communicating is being honest and being absolutely honest and at times , blunt .   Some may like this some won't  . Those who care for you will understand and those who don't , then you don't need to care . 

Communication also involves placing a certain amount of trust in the other person and make him / her feel a part of you  . I agree ,  there aren't many that you may want to place your trust upon but trust me even if you have just one persons , its good enough . 


Speaking to your mom that you scored less in exams falls under this  . Writing an email marking the world then politely apologizing to your boss that it was a mistake is also a facet of this . Paying attention to the small moments and investing them with attention and importance can make a big difference toward a couple’s overall satisfaction in their relationship. This also is a part of the above .


Under all of this comes into play a very important thing - ability to compromise . The ability to compromise refers to an individual’s willingness and proficiency at finding the middle ground. Being able to compromise is a sign of maturity. It is also needed in any relationship. 

If one person always gets his/her way, the other person is bound to feel dominated, and resentful. These negative feelings can rip the heart right out of any relationship. Finding the happy middle can provide the best of both worlds… giving and receiving. 

Sharing the last dish of an ice cream with a friend is always better than eating it all alone, isn’t it?

Remember this next time you feel you are being too dominating or are being dominated . 

Remember, no one is trained on how to have a great relationship with someone, so we are bound to run into problems. Everyday you nurture so many relationships or associations as I call . Not all of them need you in full but the ones that do - try your 100% . 

This friend of mine made me understand that communication is more than just talking .Everyone needs room to breath, room to sort out their own thoughts, feelings and problems. If someone is always hanging on you, there is a tendency to want to push them off to reduce the burden of carrying them all the time. Providing individual spaces gives any individual the ability to see things more clearly.  That's the need of the hour these days. 

Will leave you all with a one liner thought - If a trusting relationship is cultivated and maintained, the ability to try new adventures and take new risks are enhanced . 

Talk , talk well , share , share honestly and communicate , communicate with a willingness to compromise. 



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That's a huge new year 2014 overdose , I guess :)  . In between all of this I was writing and visiting a lot of new places back in Delhi , India and sharing my thoughts on Zomato .  Hope you will like them .


A beautiful song for a fresh start to a great new year 2014 .


Stay blessed and do good karmas !!

The Dhauldhar Circuit & beautiful Himachal Pradesh

'Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.' In line with the above saying and also keeping up a date with my travel itinerary, I thought it was time to take a much needed break . 2013 , so far has been a bit busy for reasons known to me and God.

Dhauladhar range

So , we decided that we should skip the so called ‘summer’ places and go to a place or circuit ( a cluster of places ) which have winters , just like Delhi or may be a snow flake more . And the circuit chosen was the - DHAULADHAR CIRCUIT in my home state of Himachal Pradesh 

This trip was indeed one of the best one I was a part of and also one of the few which were a bit long.

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The Dhauladhar Circuit derives its name from the Dhauladhar peaks of Western Himalaya. It passes in the shadow of the mighty and majestic snow clad Dhauldhar ranges, which dominates the beautiful Kangra valley ( hence sometimes called as the Kangra circuit )  dotted by flower filled meadows, temples, tea gardens and flocks of sheep.

This circuit covers  - Chintpurni - Jwalamukhi - Kangra - Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba - Dharamsala - Chamunda . We added to this – Bharmour as well .

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Thanks to the AAI we have a beautiful airport at Dharamsala which will actually take your breath away . Surrounded by the Dhauladhar peaks around and neatly maintained by only two carriers – SpiceJet and Air India, servicing the same the journey indeed is under 2 hours from Delhi.

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Dharamsala & Mcleodganj

One is called as the lower Dharamsala and the other one is called as the upper Dharamsala ( about 9kms from Dharamsala ) . A nice neat place ( given it was winters and hence an off season with minimalist tourists , vehicles and noise ) the entire area was pristine . One can hop on to the Kotwali Bazar by the evening and see the entire narrow lanes bustling with activities on both sides .  

Key must visit places are –

Temples

1.       Chamunda Devi temple

2.      Kunal Pathri temple

3.      Brajeshwari Devi Temple

4.      Masrur rock-cut temple

5.       Bhagsunag Temple & waterfall

6.      Dal lake

Other places

1.       Kangra Museum

2.      Dharamshala Cricket Stadium

Mcleodganj is also the home of Tibetan exile community and hence you will find a lot of Tibetan monks with handheld beads chanting prayers . The star studded sky will surely make you feel that ‘life in a city ‘ is really not worth it. The entire place has a host of eateries both big and small that serve delicacies from all across the globe to both the tourists and the foreigners who keep flocking this place in search of peace and a ‘ good time out’.

Tibetan prayer wheels

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Dalhousie

It is built on and around five hills, Kathalagh, Potreyn, Terah, Bakrota and Bhangora & is a gateway to the ancient Chamba Hill State . Major places to see are:

1.       Dainkund Peak

2.      Bakrota Hills

3.      Bakrota Hills

4.      Dalhousie Cantonment

5.       Sadar Bazar

6.      Tibetan Market

7.      Panchpula

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Khajjiar

Khajjiar sits on a small plateau with a small stream-fed lake in the middle surrounded by green meadows and dense forests. Also called as the Mini Switzerland of India .This place has only two key things to be seen - Khajjinag temple & the Khajjiar lake.  Make sure you stay at this place and enjoy the calmness surrounding the entire Khajjiar. 

Khajjiar

Chamba 

The town is situated on the banks of the Ravi River (a major tributary of the Trans-Himalayan Indus River), at its confluence with the Sal River.The town has a large number of temples and palaces and hosts two popular jatras (fairs), the "Suhi Mata Mela" and the "Minjar Mela".The Lakshmi Narayan temples complex, devoted to the Vaishnavite sect, includes the main Lakshmi Narayan temple, built in the 10th century by Raja Sahil Verman which is "the place" to visit. 

The Chaugan (a Sanskrit word meaning: “four sided”) is the nucleus of all activity in Chamba, surrounded by impressive administrative buildings and a shopping arcade built during the British period and today it is commonly used for cricket matches, picnics and promenades during the mid summer months.

My First Liebster Blog Award

What is a Liebster Blog Award?

The Liebster Blog Award was created to recognize and/or discover (new) bloggers. “Liebster” is a German word for sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, or favorite.

Who Nominated Me?

I was nominated by my fellow blogger Rupesh Malik . I feel grateful that he thought of my blog.

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What are the Rules?

1.     Link back the nominator of the award (why not show some love back as well!)

2.     Nominate 10 more bloggers (except the nominator) and inform them

3.     Answer the questions asked by the nominator

4.     Ask 10 questions from those you nominated

5.     Add the award image to your site

Continuing with the custom, Rupesh  also asked me certain questions. Here are their answers:-

Q.1 What is the primary focus of your blog? –

Connect – since I write for a variety of genres across love, relationship, travel , B-school , education , Young India and reviews – its important to connect with people / readers who feel the same , sense the same and hence connect with the same . This also lets my creative writing flow in.

Q.2 What is the story behind your blog’s name? 

My blog’s earlier name was -karansayz inspired by my favourite WWE wrestler – The Rock ( who always says – The rocks says….. ) and hence . Post , I bought a domain name with my own name.

Q.3 What accomplishments are you most proud of?

Everday is a learning day and hence gives us moments to be proud of . Something which stands out is – recently being featured as the kick-starter by Hindustan Times for there series-corporate curry – which features -Gurgaons most talented corporate executives .

Q.4 What inspires you to write? 

My dad ( who is a writer himself ) and life ( which gives us so much to share with everyone ) .

Q.5 Three things you want to do before you die?

Live Life Fullest !

Q.6 Five random facts that most people don’t know about you?

–I like being vocal about things I feel strongly.
–I would love to learn cooking. Somebody needs to teach me though.
–I have a strong sense of reading people ( something which I learned through astrology though I still fail to read some )
–I love to travel to places which are neat , secluded and water all around.
–I hate to wake up early in winters.

Q.7 One thing that annoys you the most?

Liars & people who are ashamed to accept their mistakes.

Q.8 Anything that you would like to change about yourself?

You can’t change or challenge God’s creation. Accept and move-on.

Q.9 An awesome moment that you can never forget?

When I made it to my B-school – Symbiosis Institute of International Business,Pune – SIIB.

Q.10 What is the most insane thing that you have ever done in your life till date?

I try to do insane stuff everyday . Helps keep the child in me happy.The “most” is yet to come.

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Loving your Love

An interesting call came my way yesterday .  A friend said she is flying to the US to marry someone whom she has never met ( its ALL online ) and has no interests in coming to India. Yes , parents knew a zilch on this and the girl , in spite of my heavy head  banging was in no mood to listen to me . Sometimes even I fail .

The second interesting call came from my dear friend who is scheduled to get married to her fiancé of three years  , next week . And this one was a shocker!! He is cancelling the marriage and marring someone whom he met just about 6 months back . Before you get your thinking horses started , the ‘would be girl ‘refused to get married to him since she could feel the pain of the actual girl . The boy shared the same with his fiancé . 

And there is more. The fiancé’s reply was- "Yes ,you should go ahead , because for me your happiness is supreme and even if you get married to me I know you will never be able to love me and stay with me . So it’s far better to be with someone WHOM you love than you not loving someone .

Love is like water

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My take ( since I knew all the three ) on the second stance  and the fiancé  ,for me particularly commands nothing but respect and more respect . Believe me , I feel like kicking my friends butt for this but the finance’s stance and revert have left me shaken . How can you let go of someone you love ? Someone you know ? Someone you are about to get married to next week ?  But , in between all of this remember what she said – YOUR happiness is supreme. 

This is called enlightenment . This is true love. A person has seen the future. A person with so pure a heart has actually visualized that she will not be happy and moreover , ‘he’ will not be happy.

We can debate and curse the ‘would be girl ‘ and the guy but the fact of the matter is , the fiancé has actually shared the truth  . She has understood that she herself will not be happy. People can say why were they getting married at the first place or weren't the two in love ?

Love is water. You cannot define it  . There is a fine a layer which separates liking from loving . People often confuse the two . You may like someone and yes its love, at a much lesser level though but no , its not loving .

Love is what you "2" make it

Loving means you love the person in a way you don't love yourself also . Her presence makes you lighten up , sparkling to be more specific and more importantly you know she feels the same . When one is down and low , just be seeing her sitting right next to you can actually make one feel blessed . Love also means that you know the other person has limits and he may not have lived your life . This makes a chance to make him live your life , learn with him and make him to do things you are a master at . It's like saying a child , a new born , is fresh into the world and here is this one person - mother  ,  who pampers him with all the love she has. And more. 

I am still thinking my stand on the above two but believe me there is no right or wrong . At the end there are 2 persons who love each other 100% and more. 

And yes , things will not be the same as ever . But remember moments are something that only two people make special . It doesn't matter even it’s a simple coffee and a Parle –G. Spend time loving these people and making these moments special. This time don’t leave things to chance.

It’s like saying you don’t live life . You live moments with those special someone’s doing sweet nothings.

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Interesting song for last month of 2013 - Here it is -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRZlFpxV1Bo

Art of relationships

Sri Sri says - Like in the spring, the entire creation just springs up. The birds sing, trees blossom. Like that when energy is kindled in you, it creates awe. You spring out of dullness, out of the inertia, out of the routine. New life springs up - that is love and may be that's what happens in love.

It’s a strange world and stranger than this are the people that live here. And even more than this are the relationships ,that these people get into.


I am no expert in the area of relationship nor there is anything wrong or right in a relationship . There isn't any prediction which happens and there aren't any chances that don’t occur . Somewhere in between all of this two people stay and keep themselves afloat .


A father and a daughter relationship is on a different trajectory all together . Considered one of the most pious of all this is a relationship where the two are only two and just for the two . The father knows one day the daughter has to go and there will be void in his home and in his heart . The daughter knows he will always be the first man in her life and nobody , NOBODY will ever care for her and love her the way her father does .


A son and a mother is a typical sweet and sour relationship wherein the son , in cases , the baby will always remain a baby . He will never grow old , he will never be too big to not be a baby and never to old to not to come and discuss his life with his mom . This is a delicate one and filled with just pure love and care . A bond so strong that words can’t describe much.

A would be wife and a would be husband , is a relationship which is in middle of nowhere . They stay in the middle , the settings in the background changes . If they were friends at one point and then they choose to take a level beyond this then though a higher level is attained the very essence of friendship at times get lost and hence this is one of the most sensitive of all relationships.


A boyfriend and a girlfriend who have been together for a good time ( believe me there is no good time . 5 years is too less a time and 5 days is too big a duration ) and have vowed to stay together till eternity is one of those which is build on dreams . Dreams on life , what future holds , how things moved and will move and a whole lot of un-hidden things .


And then there is somewhere in between friendship – a relationship which nobody understands but everyone wants to be a part of. Remember , good friends and close friends are those with whom you can fight , cry on their shoulder , pull a leg or an ear or may be just cook up a coffee with more water and less coffee . This is a relationship which can only grow and grow and become more strong . These are people who help you lead your life and make you see the mirror when you may be shining a bit too bright . One of those relationships in which you have to be either inside or around the fence but not outside.

These are just my thoughts and I am sure there would be loads of unsaid relationships you were a part of or will be in one .Nurture them , stay in them and most importantly believe in them.

Can a new found friendship between two people move into a husband –wife domain . Aha !
Go for it !! Why not !!

Next time , will tell for sure.

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Listen to this song to ease you out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR4DZ0qb9Mg