walking on air

There is so much to write so much to express but I just don't have words. So, I'm just gonna pen down some moments, they are always small moments that make me happy I do not need big things to brighten up my day.

So without further ado, here are the ones that made my day today :D

1. Theory exams got over yesterday and I breathed a sigh of relief, happy that the piles of notes and books have finally vanished from sight !

2. Not that I haven't had cutting chai before but today for the first time had it on a typical chai stall, the kind of one they show on television where the poor beaten down hero goes to drink tea and mourns for his lover but I wasn't gloomy, I was happy and with a friend :D

3. A friend, a special friend called me for the first time today making me jump and even making me forget I had sprained my ankle sometime back. Good thing, the sprain is gone and since then I'm more happy happy..kisi k nazar na lage ;)

4. Felt someone close..too close today whose far away, well neither we spoke nor did we meet but something happened or rather saw something !

5. Talked to my sis on skype, video chat and did all sorts of antics we could possibly do..hehe

6. Last but not the least, I activated my FB account yesterday after almost 3 long months :D

Woo Hoo...all in all 14th December, 2012 was one of the awesomest (if that's even a word) day! Thank you Allah for making it memorable and even the people in my life :)

Have a great day folks!

-Fatima

The Stopover: Book Review

The moment I leafed through this book I was reminded of a quote from the movie Alice in Wonderland.

“I’m sorry, but how can one possibly pay attention to a book with no pictures in it?” –Alice.

This is what set's the book apart, the natural photography that is weaved intricately with the plot as the story progresses. Four different stories from different parts of the country entwined into one unfold "The Stopover."

The Tibetan Wheels of Wisdom is not just the story of Varun and Meghna but Varun's exploration of Tibet and the life of people residing there. When you move past the first couple of pages, you feel you’re being transported to an alternate universe exploring the unexplored culture hidden deep within the plains and valleys of Tibet.

The photographs used are picture perfect and add a glint to the story, more like refreshing it and not keeping it monotonous which at times happens when travel merges with emotions. This book to me is categorized as a travel book with a twist and I'm in love with the concept.

When I reached the end, I wanted to read more and I felt a pang of incompleteness, all I'm trying to say is that it keeps the reader glued till the very end. And to be very true I like the concept of “Voyages to the unexplored dimensions.”

This is just the initial glimpse of the book. I would have loved to write more, but it would be like spilling the beans even before its release. The author’s have done a remarkable job and I’m confident this book will be a huge success.

For further insights into the book you can visit: http://www.thestopoverbook.com

Also the book has a fan following on Facebook of over 55,000 even before its release: (http://www.facebook.com/TheStopoverBook 

-Fatima

Melbourne Magic

"Memories are like an oasis in the desert sand of time !"

It all started on a sunny morning on 25^th of November the life altering day of my life when I and my brother suddenly whisked off our schedule as he surprised me with a trip as my birthday gift and all he said was "it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!" There was excitement, there was nervousness and with these two as a couple we headed off to experience the exquisite Melbourne.

Dunno where to begin from, the journey to Exquisite Melbourne and back home was nothing short of dreamy! This being my first air journey I was both excited and nervous; with a million questions squirming added with the imaginary beings having a tribal dance in my head. The internal debate finally dissolved after a 10 hour long journey and what came next was something I just can’t describe in words. The fun and frolic was something I’ve never experienced before and that too from my serious brother.

If, I try to write everything down then this post will overflow but there have been places and moments that I can’t help but remember and pen it down.

Gleaming in its Victorian Heritage and Modern lifestyle, this city is referred as “Garden City” and “Cultural capital of Australia”. Buzzing with eclectic and urban lifestyle, it is the most livable city and too me it’s loveable too!

We arrived in the wee hours of morning though tired we felt the subtle sun rise in the dull morning sky whilst travelling to our staying place, the Rendezvous Hotel.

Breakfast was a small affair after which we left for our journey ahead. On the way, we met a nice gentleman, a local of the city who told us about various sites. The narrow lanes, the long walks, the pristine atmosphere and the breath of fresh air greeted us on the way to Melbourne Visitor Centre for maps and free brochures.

After gathering the necessary information we headed off to, NVG Australia: Ian Potter Centre, the first public art museum dedicated to Australian art. 

Arts and History has always fascinated me and I was thrilled to see such beautiful paintings and drawings depicting an entirely different culture from the one I grew up in.

After spending about an hour there, we headed off to our next destination Melbourne Aquarium. Our journey began from Antarctica the starting point that housed the cute Penguins followed by the Weird and Wonderful creatures like sea jellies, sea horses and a variety of others. 

The River to Reef section housed animals like frogs, crabs, snakes and sea jellies depicting the wonderful marine life. The Southern Ocean was the last stop in the aquarium that included Sharks and other fishes.

Girls and shopping go hand in hand and so our next stop was the Victoria Market. I was surprised when I noticed that it was not just a typical market where you got fresh produce but also clothing and stuff. The cool air was wafting ruffling our hair though not snapping the smiles of our face. Walking down the road we were spell bound by the cheery and vibrant atmosphere in the market.  

We were famished and so our next stop was Bambini Barrista, were we had a cuppa of freshly brewed coffee and sandwiches. It was there that my bro surprised me with a Happy Birthday chocolate cake and the local crowd also wished me, this is what I remember as our “Golden Moment of the Trip.”

Having sated our souls with a delicious meal we moved to our next destination, the Medibank Icehouse. ice It’s Australia’s latest world class ice sports and entertainment venue. It was fun there, as I being a clumpy girl slipped a few times but all in good mood.  

When I finally thought this is the end of my eventful day, but my brother surprised me once again and we headed off to our last destination, Eureka Skydeck 88. The view from the top of the tower was awe aspiring. We clicked a few snaps of the beautiful sky with different shades of golden, blue and hues of pink finally settling to a dark black with the night lights gleaming down the city.

Having seen that and visiting some of the places we could cover in our mini getaway, we headed back to our hotel for a night stay and boarded a flight back to our India the next morning, treasuring a beautiful experience that will forever be etched in the crevices of our minds and hearts. And this trip was made easier due to  www.visitmelbourne.com/in. 

This post is part of contest 

it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW! on Indiblogger.

-Fatima