After a long time...

After a long  time I am penning in my blog.Where was I?The great news is that I am nani now. Yes I am blessed with a sweet sweet grandson . I was away and stayed with my daughter in U.S.for few months and then spent some time with my son in Belgium.I can say I was busy as well as the mood was different.  I am back again ,Life unfolds something new everyday and I am here again to explore the different colors of Life and share it with you.Wish me Good Luck.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Another new year knocks

With few dreams and new resolutions

 with the spirit of forget and forgiveness

 Is welcomed with laughter and cheers

 And celebrated with cakes and flowers

 On this lovely day with you are my best wishes

 May each day be filled with love and happiness

 Enjoy the achievement of your dreams and goals

 And find lucky charms always at your door steps       

alvida Durban

 

  सारा आलम ही  कुछ बिखरा बिखरा सा लगता है
  शौक से बनाया आशियाँ उजड़ा उजड़ा सा लगता है
नए अनुभवों  को संजो चलना  है अब ऐसा लगता है   
 अलविदा कहने का वक्त आया है अब  ऐसा लगता है 
  
 आये थे एक अजनबी से जहाँ में पर यहाँ हमने  बहुत कुछ  पाया  है
 याद रहेंगे यहाँ बिताए पल और कुछ  मित्रों में जो अपनापन पाया है
 भारतीय संस्कृति की मज़बूत जड़ों को फलते फूलते हुए यहाँ पाया है 
गाँधी जीवन शैली औ दर्शन को देखने का एक नया नजरिया पाया है
देखे हैं यहाँ  विभिन्न रंग  और  काले  गोरों की पहचानी बारीकियां हैं
प्राकृतिक छटातो  मनभाई है  और  जानवरों से भी बढ़ी नजदीकियां हैं

 खो से गए थे हम,  इस सुंदर शहर ने हमें लुभाया है
 पर क्या जीवन कभी थमा है  वक्त ने याद दिलाया है

      दूर  हैं नयी मंजिलें और  एक  नया आस्मां   हैं
       च लते हैं अब  हम जलाते  वहीँ  अपनी शमा हैं
  अलविदा  कहने का वक्त आया हैअब ऐसा लगता है

THE DREAM WORLD

The different parks in Orlando, Florida are just like a dreamy world full of imagination, beauty and glamour.

After a long flight form Johannesburg we reached Atlanta airport early morning. By the time immigration and other formalities were cleared, we realized that we had missed our connecting flight. We had to take the next flight to West Palm Beach. When we reached there it was afternoon and we were delighted to see our daughter and son in law at the airport. We were meeting after more than a year.

Now we were relaxed as they took charge of the rest of the trip. We went to a nearby Indian restaurant and had nice food. We drove to Orlando. We were quite tired when we reached the hotel and decided to take rest on that day as we had planned to visit Epcot next day.

There are four major parks in Orlando- Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood studio and Animal Kingdom. Even one full day is not sufficient for visiting one park. Epcot has wonderful rides and Magic Kingdom makes the Disney world alive. There fairy tales are reality and all the cartoon characters are there to welcome you. The babies in their prams and old ones in wheel chairs enjoy the park equally. We had some interesting rides and had a memorable time.These pictures are just a glimpse of the magnificence, beauty and the grandeur of the place.

From Orlando we drove back to West Palm Beach and stayed there for two days. It is a grand city and the clean and clear water of the beach is inviting.We drove to Miami beach the next day and had great time.

This time our journey was marked by missed and cancelled flights and delayed arrival of baggages. On 25th Our evening flight to New York was cancelled due to expected snow fall there and we had to take the morning flight. However, when we reached New York, the flakes of snow welcomed us. Our drive to New Jersey was pleasant. For the next few days, the snow covered roads and cars houses and tree tops made a charming sight.

My Belated Wishes.

WELCOME NEW YEAR

It is the dawn of a new year

With some dreams and hopes

It has a new shade and color

With few aims and resolutions

It is filled with my warm greetings

It is filled with my simple desires

I just wish that for all of us

It is a year of fulfilment and success
It is a year of love and true happiness

HAPPY NEW YEAR

स्वप्न जाल

अदभुत होता है ये स्वप्न जाल

सबके जीवन में मचाता धमाल

हर उगता सूरज लाता है कुछ सपने

और रातों के तो शहंशाह हैं ये सपने

सपनों की अद्भुत दुनिया

निराली है इनकी माया

दिन और रात ये सजाते अपनाअनूठा संसार
नन्हे शिशु से लेकर बूढी आंखों को इनसे प्यार

सपने पूरे करने को लालायित हो जाता मन

ये पथ बदल देते हैं और कर देते हैं बेचैन

कभी तो खुशियों से भर जाता है मन
 कभी अतृप्त सपने दे देते रीतापन

क्या किसी के स्वप्न कभी पूरे हुएहैंएक पूर्ण हो तो चार और उग आते हैं

कुकुरमुत्ते से उगते हैं ये सपने

सबको आगोश में लेते  अपने

अदभुत है ये स्वप्नजाल
जीवन में मचाता धमाल

क्यों पूरे  नहीं होते सपने
पर क्यों सच हों ये सपने

सारे विश्व में अस्तित्व की ही तो लड़ाई है

और इन सपनों के सामने भी स्व का प्रश्न है

तो अपने अस्तित्व की लड़ाई लड़ रहे हैं ये सपने

यदि  सच हो जायें तो वो तो नहीं रहेंगे न  सपने 
                                                                      सदा लुभाता रहता  है  

        नित नयी दिशा देताहै
      ये सपनोँ का  संसार
           है जीवन का आधार 
 
अदभुत है ये स्वप्न जाल
जीवन में मचाता धमाल

1. 

शुभ दीपावली

आज फिर शुभ दिन दीपावली का आया
जगमगाते दिए हैं औरसाथ हैं फुलझरियां
लक्ष्मी पूजन और मेवे मिठाई की थालियाँ
रंग बिरंगे उपहार और नए गीत लाया
साथ में है हमारी शुभ कामनाएं ....
आपके जीवन में सदा ये जगमगाहट हो
और सदैव ही होठों पर मुस्कराहट हो
अपनों का साथ हो सारे सपने साकार हों
और घर में नित लक्ष्मी जी का वास हो

MY TRIP TO EGYPT

Recently We visited Egypt. It was quite exciting though it started on a little disappointing note.When we arrived in cairo airport on 4th. morning,we realized that my husband's baggage had not arrived.My son who had arrived from Holland a few hours earlier was waiting outside.It took some time to clear the formalities and finally they promised to deliver the baggage next day in the Hotel.When we came outside the airport we found the city quite colorful and interesting and in some ways it reminded us of India.
We decided to go to Alexandria by train to have a real glimpse of the place.
The resort in which we had booked the room was nice and comfortable.
For next two days my husband was quite busy in the conference so I and my son hanged around and in the evenings my husband also joined us.There are various places of historical importance...castles and gardens,mosques and beaches. Bibliotheque is magnificient.People are nice and friendly. My Bindi was always a centre of attraction and though most of the persons don't know much English phrase like 'Welcome to Cairo' is very common.But very soon we realized that there is a tendency of charging much more from tourists.We also became a little smarter and started bargaining a lot.
On 7th was karwa chauth .I had taken menhadi cone,karwa and some other pooja stuff with me. That day I didn't go out.The moon was visible at around 8.After worshipping we went to an Indian restaurant for dinner.
On 9th we took a taxi to Cairo.After checking in the hotel.We took a short cruise to Nile river It was cool and beautiful .The dance and music programme was enchanting.
Next day we visited museum and pyramids at Sakura and Giza.Mummies in the museum were quite interesting.When we reached airport in the night we were tired.We had a light dinner.There we met some Indian friends who had also come for the conference.While we were chatting & waiting there, one lady came and asked us wether we are from India and she told us that she was a big fan of Bollywood movies.We remembered that Taxi driver was also remembering Amitabhji.
When we reached JoBurg next day ,we felt like we have reached home .In Durban one of our friends had come to pick us. After reaching home we were relieved to see every thing in place.I wanted to call my son but we saw his mail that he had reached safely.So we decided to have a cup of hot tea before doing any thing else.

yaadein

 जब  आते है ठंडी हवाओं के झोंके
लाते हैं  खट्टी मीठी यादों के तोहफे
अतीत का दर्पण हैं ये यादें
पूँजी   हैं आज  की ये यादें
कभी फूलों की खुशबू सी यादें, लाती  होठों पर मुस्कान
कभी जलती तपती दुपहरी बन कर दे जातीं तड़पन
जब  आते हैं   ठंढी हवाओं के झोंके
लाते हैं  खट्टी मीठी यादों के तोहफे
जहाँ सुनहरे बचपन और यादें बड़ों की छाओं की दे जाती हैं सुकून
वहीं अठखेलियां करती आती हैं कुछ यादें और कर देती हैं बेचैन
यादें उन सपनों की जो हो नहीं सके अपने
अपने से किए कुछ वादे जो बन गए सपने
यादें जो सदा के लिए बिछड़ गए उन अपनों की
और यादें जो हो नहीं सके अपने उन परायों की
दे जाती हैं कुछ बेचैनियाँ
जब आते  हैं  ठंढी हवाओं के झोंके
लाते हैं  खट्टी मीठी यादों के तोहफे
यादें कुछअपनी गलतियों की जिन्हें हम कभी भुला न पाये

कुछ गलतियां   दूसरो की  जिन्हेंहम माफ़ न कर पाये

कुछ गलतफहमियां कुछ अनछुई मंजिले कुछ अधूरे वादे
कुछ बदले रास्ते औरऐसी ही कुछ उलझी उलझीसी यादें
दे जाती हैं परेशानियाँ
जबआते हैं   ठंढी हवाओं के झोंके
लातेहैं खट्टी मीठी यादों  के तोहफे हैं
संजो इन यादों को ब चलना है
  नए कल के सपने बुनना है
 बड़ी अनमोल हैं ये यादें
जब।....................

I am back!

Today I am writing after a long time.

We (I and my husband) were in Holland with our son and as time spent with children is always pleasant, we spent some nice time with him. This time Our son had nicely planned a trip and we visited Belgium,Germany,Austria and Switzerland. The natural beauty and elegance of these places is still afresh in mind, although I missed visiting Tulips Garden near Amsterdam which I had seen last year and it had really fascinated me but this time it was closed.

The weather was nice,a little warmer. We took boat trips and day tours and saw most of the important places. Enjoying the nature; we admired the architecture and beauty of buildings.

Our trip to Titlis Mountains in Switzerland was most remarkable and we enjoyed the cable car trip, the mountains, the ice and were amazed to see so many Indians there.

There were captions written in Hindi, Indian food and above all our national anthem was being played there. Up at the mountain in the caves there are few buttons,by pressing them you can listen to the music of your choice and one option was Indian national anthem as there were many Indians we could listen Jana gana mana...all the time. I would like to share some photographs and refresh my memories again.

सिंह इज किंग

देश में चुनावों का मौसम समाप्त हुआ और सारी अटकलों को मात देते हुए कांग्रेस और u.p.a ने पायी अप्रत्याशित सफलता । और सिंह इज किंग अगेन , विजय का माहोल है और चारों ओर जय हो ! का स्वर गूँज रहा है ऐसे में देश का मंगल भी याद रहे तभी देश का कल्याण होगा।

चुनावी परिणामों ने एक स्थायी और स्वच्छ सरकार की आशा जगाई है और कुछ विकास की बातें भी हो रही हैं ।आज हमारे देश में पानी ,बिजली और सड़क जैसी लोगों की मूलभूत आवश्यकताएं भी पूरी नहीं हो पा रही हैं । कुछ सुविधाएँ जो अन्य देशों में लोगों को सहज ही प्राप्त हैं उसके लिए हमारे यहाँ आम आदमी आज भी तरस रहा है ,ऐसा तो नहीं है की विदेशों में सब कुछ बहुत सरल सहज है पर जीवन का सामन्य स्तर तो शायद हमारे यहाँ से अधिकांश जगह बेहतर हैं। विपरीत परिस्थितियों में भी भारतीय जीने की दिशा ढूँढ लेता है , प्रगति करता है और संसार के साथ compete भी कर रहा है। स्थितियां कुछ बेहतर हो जाएँ तो देश को नई उचइयां छूने से कोई रोक नहीं सकता ।

पुरानीऔर नई सरकार में यह अंतर है कि आजupa सरकार के सामने अवांछित लोगोंको साथ लेकर चलने की मजबूरी नहीं है नए मंत्रिमंडल में कई नए और युवा लोग हैं पर कांग्रेस का वंशवाद के प्रति प्रेम साफ़ झलकता है और पुराने नेताओं के बेटे बेटी पत्नी ससुर दामाद सभी दिखाई दे रहेहैं ।

इस प्रकार के जनादेश से एक स्थायी सरकार तो मिलेगी पर सरकार को तानाशाही प्रवृत्तियों की ओर उन्मुख होने और मनमानी करने से रोकने के लिए एक दृढ़ विपक्ष की आवश्यकता भी होती है जो अब बीजेपी ही पूरा कर सकती है क्योंकि अवसर वादी पार्टियां तो बिन मांगे ही समर्थन पत्र दे चुकी हैं. संविधान में कुछ संस्थाओं को स्वतंत्र रूप से कार्य करने का प्रावधान है उन्हें निष्पक्ष रूप से कार्य करना होगा । आज सीबीआई जैसी संस्थाओं पर अनेक बार प्रश्न उठे हैं जो ग़लत भी नहीं हैं। आज न्याय पालिका का भी महत्व पूर्ण रोल है और न्याय प्रक्रिया में तो बहुत दिनों से सुधार की आवश्यकता है .
आशा है कि जय विजय के इस दौर में मनमोहन सिंह सरकार जनता के प्रति न्याय करते हुए देश के हित में भी कार्य करेगी और जनता ने जो विश्वास व्यक्त किया हुआ उसका मान रखेगी.

IPL : Positive vibrations in South Africa

When IPL. was shifted out of country,to South Africa , many of us were not happy with the decision. Why India with so much resources could not do it in the country itself, even if it was election time? Or why the I.P.L. people could not wait till elections were over and change the dates? There are many industries like hospitality ,travel etc. and many people involved in ground work get benefitted from these games and shifting of the venue was a set back for them.


However when the IPL started in South Africa I could see the positive aspects of it. The country was taken by storm and it certainly gave a boost to Indian image. South africa is considered a country with high crime rate and it was election time here also,(although here the elections are over in one day only and being a smaller country it is not so complicated) but every thing was organised smoothly in a short time and games are held in a very pleasant atmosphere. People talking about matches,players and the popular bollywood stars, watching matches in restaurants and shops is a common sight.We can always hear the sound of match from neghbouring flat.

Some Indian fares and exhibition are also organised at this time and a lot of crowd goes there. We were happy to see Indian flag on some streets.
We saw some matches in Durban. The crowd at the stadium was very well organised and the atmosphere was filled with Hindi songs and music. People cheering their favourite teams and waving flags of their team or some waving Indian flag enjoyed the games.Overall it was a great experience.
IPL has given a boost to South African economy. Some programmes like giving scholarships to school children and giving money to some particular schools in every match ,has helped made it popular.It has filled this country with pleasant and friendly vibrations.