just trying

I always thought how nice it would be, if I could post blogs to my
blog from my mobile phone or e-mail! So, I am trying to do just that
now.

Train Journey by Janshatabdi

The General Compartment

I generally dislike train journey by general class, meaning the class other than the air conditioned class. No, I am not a snob. But I just cannot take the smell of sweat and toilet cocktailed in the same compartment. It’s absolutely nauseating. This time, i.e. yesterday, I had to, yes “had to” board the general class chair car of Janshatabdi for a 4-hour journey to a nearby town. Janshatabdi has a very good reputation all over India for being one of the most efficient and good train services in India. Ok, I took the decision to check it out, hoping, may be, it’s general class chair car will be a little improved and better than other trains.

It was scantily occupied and the 3 : 2 seating arrangement was looking good. It was cleaner than I expected. Most of the window seats were occupied and I got one too. Great.

A river Bridge on the way

The journey started. I was happy to get a window seat. It's late autumn and people would either not sweat or would sweat less. Even if some smelly cats do manage to board the train later, I had my windy window seat to give me fresh air from outside. The large window of the seat I occupied was to be shared by two rows of seats. A middle aged man was sitting on the window seat in front of me. Soon after the train started, the man seated in front of me, started sneezing once…twice...thrice…five times ... without covering his mouth. Then he spat through the window! How disgusting was that!!! And guess what? He didn’t even say ‘excuse me’ or even ‘sorry’. Argh…utterly disgusting! I tried to protect myself from all the bacteria that was let loose in the atmosphere by covering my face. I cursed myself for not listening to my 6th sense. It was shouting its heart out asking me to give in to the second thought I had before boarding the general compartment.

The Paddy Field and Flower beds

Well, after making me suffer like hell, he fell asleep. I thanked God for small mercies. Once the train started, I tried to enjoy the outside view and clicked a few landscapes that appealed to me.

Another passenger, a boy almost my age seemed to be a music lover. Well, by now, everyone in the compartment knew it. Some shrieking Hindi movie songs were playing in his all-in-one mobile phone and we had no choice but to hear it and bear it. Well, may be he was yet to be introduced to a thing called the ‘head-phone’; especially when travelling by a public mode of transport!

The train was scheduled at 6.20 in the morning. I was surprised at the "have seen all, done all," couple sitting behind. They were some early risers and early eaters I guessed! The man was burping non-stop and yes, sitting on the front seat I could hear his amplified burps that must have given him a repeat taste of whatever he had gorged in the morning. Eew!!!!!!!

I thought and told myself, "am I over-reacting or is it meant to be always like this in this part of the train!?" Well, then I realised, it’s not the general compartment that was to be blamed. It’s the people. Why is it like this, that some people do not know the basic manners? I kept questioning myself…the whys and whats and hows…all kept coming to my mind but without any answer.

But yes, one thing is certain for me now, I will never travel general class again, no matter how short that journey is!

Nokia N73 Music Edition

My World is in it :-)

Yes, I have it and it is one of the best mobile phones Nokia has ever produced. It’s been 2 and half years since I have been using this phone and NO I have no intention to replace it with anything else. If I HAVE TO buy another phone, it will be Nokia N 73 again. Apart from the usual phone tasks that it is most efficient at, it is also an excellent camera phone with Carl Zeiss lens and 3.2 mega pixels. Outstanding music quality and sound system, conveniently large screen, light weight, very handy size and superb Internet accessibility makes it the PERFECT MOBILE PHONE. Need I say more? I love it. Go buy.

Reminiscence of a Passion

An aeriel view of the largest river in India, Brahmaputra, in Guwahati, Assam

Gardening is not just a hobby. It’s a passion of the heart. I have been sticking to this passion of mine in wherever I had been to. Gardening in Guwahati, Assam was the easiest, so was growing up :-). The climate there is moderate and very comfortable. The seasons are distinct in their own style. So, the perennial and seasonal flowers bloom their hearts out when it’s their time of the season.

Satmool, a herb creeper in full bloom in my Guwahati home

In Delhi, where I had spent the best and longest professional tenure, had its own charm. The winter in Delhi is simply the best winter I had ever experienced. 

The supply of flowering plants had never been an issue. The perennial, seasonal all satisfy you. I was lucky enough to stay in two houses where both had huge balconies to keep many containers.

Rose Garden, Jubilee Park, Tatanagar

Then, the destined cycle of several movements occurred in my life. Tatanagar in Jamshedpur comes first when I think of the variety that I’ve got for my garden. Having another home in Jamshedpur/Tatanagar definitely helped me in taking my own time in exploring the plant outlets and huge nurseries. It’s a pleasant trip every time. The unusual collection could be due to the proximity of the TATAs with the rest of the world. The collection is very satisfying.

TISCO Nursery

Then came along in my list of places of residence, the beautiful and picturesque hilly terrain in the bordering state of northeastern India, Mizoram. Gardening became a full time job as the climate is erratic and totally unpredictable. 

My Mizoram Garden

5 minutes of sunshine and 5 minutes of downpour and 5 minutes of cloud and endless minutes of strong wind make it difficult to keep several plants I loved to keep. The Gazanias will flower in the morning and when the sunshine goes it winds up its bloom. The Verbena suffered due to the untimely rain. Nasturtium simply gave up. However, I managed to grow a lot.

National Highway 7, on my way to Hyderabad

Then my professional life took me to Hyderabad. A total opposite of the hill station. Hot, dry and a city on stones. Though, this time, I learnt a lot about hardy plants. I learnt about cactus and succulents and I found a lot of plants actually love this kind of climate. Hyderabad also added to my collection of plants.

Allamanda

Now, my present home is in the eastern coastal region of India. Ever since we have come to this coastal area I am learning new things about gardening. However, there is a pre-condition this time. I do not have space to keep a lot of containers. So, in containers, my collection is small that include, curry leaves, coriander, chillies, Aloe Vera, neem, hibiscus, lily, fishtail fern, Sword fern, Tradescantia zebrine, Vinca Victoria or Noyontora, Gardenia and a few more. As mentioned in my previous post, necessity is making me learn about Vertical Gardening. I am into collecting climbers, vines and creepers now. A few common ones are keeping me happy so far. Looking forward to collect some more……

Vertical Gardening

Gardening has always been an intense hobby since my childhood. I am fascinated by the work of Mother Nature and God. Its nothing but the work of art by God Himself. This hobby has come to me through heredity. Yes, my father is into fruits gardening as a hobby and my mother simply loves a kitchen and flower garden in her front yard. Though age and work is keeping my parents away from pursuing their hobbies, I am addicted to this passion of gardening. I have been planting seedlings and assisting my parents whenever they worked in my paternal home garden. Even during my college and university days I always had a plant or a container on my desk. More...

The suckers did it again- Serial Blasts in Assam

Today is the black day in the history of not only, Assam and India but for humanity in general. 18 serial blasts in the crowded market places by unidentified terrorists cannot be justified in any way. I don’t know what to say to whom! The corruption of the Tarun Gogoi government in the state of Assam, the step motherly attitude of the Central government towards the state and the out of way love of Congress towards Bangladeshi immigrants and other illegal immigrants are some of the reasons of this situation in my homeland Assam. Yes we are helpless now, but not for very long. The nonsensical terror traders, just know that we are not cowards like you to stab from the back. We can take you all - head on. Only thieves and cowards do things like you did. It will be better if the concerned understand the intensity of things coming their way. Do not underestimate the peace loving Assamese. We are the sons and daughters of Lachit, Mula Gabhoru and Chilarai.

So far the Bangladeshis are concerned; get back to your country beggars.

For the good for nothing sons of the soil who encourage these kind of terror in their own motherland, you are the worst suckers ever.

The above photograph is by: Anupam Nath