10 Challenges : 6 Places

This one is probably my favorite to list :) I love to travel and I have been lucky enough to do so. It's certainly one of the most difficult parts to pick out my favorite places but here are some which influenced me in more than one way. 

1. Jaipur (Rajasthan, India) - The pink city has been one of the most important parts of my life. My mother and father both being from Jaipur have their roots there and the bond was passed on to us too. Yearly visits to Jaipur kept it alive and made it even stronger. Not only our ancestry but the history of the city itself keeps inviting me and is almost like a passion. Now that I don't get to visit Jaipur as often, I miss the place and constantly yearn to be there. Every time I am there, I feel a sense of peace and calm and satisfaction. 

2. Fond Du Lac (Wisconsin, USA) - FDL is the first city I visited (and lived in) in USA. A very small town of Wisconsin located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. What I feel about the place is hard to express in words. It was the place that made me realize and made it sure for me, that it isn't about east or west, isn't about cultural differences, not about races and communities, but its all about love. It's about the bonding of  people. FDL became the place where I truly admired the beauty of all weathers. I still remember my first day in snow. I fell in love with the place that very day. After my one year stay in FDL, I knew for sure, if I were ever given a choice, I would gladly settle down there and spend the rest of my life in the heavenly city. 

3.  Ajmer Sharif Dargah (Rajasthan, India) - I went to the dargah of Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, when I was 10. And till date, I feel the same energy flowing in my veins, just thinking about it, which I did when I was there. I never felt the same way at any other place. I still get goosebumps looking at the pictures or watching a video, or just closing my eyes and thinking about it. It amazes me how I remember every single detail about the place. Being there was like standing in front of the almighty. People wonder how it would be if we ever get to see the one powerful. For me, it was that moment when I entered the premises of dargah. And it's wonderful how at that age I had the feeling and it stayed with me. Now hearing about the place all commercialized, I wonder if I would feel the same way when I would go there again. But something tells me, I would. 

4. Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh, India) - I don't usually like to talk about SHAR, coz the place is my weakest point. Ever since I could remember, I always wanted to be a part of ISRO and SHAR was the place I wanted to work in. I worked towards this goal all my academic life and succeeded. Couldn't remember a day when I was happier than the day I signed my joining at SHAR. Later when I saw the station where I was posted, the launch pad for GSLV rockets, it was magical. Crashing waves on the shores of Bay of Bengal and the peace and quiet of the jungle, the launch pad became my fortress of solitude while I was there. I don't regret leaving the place, but I sure miss it, big time. SHAR is the place which transformed me into a whole new person, for better and for worse. Who I am today, is mainly because of the time spent there. SHAR made me a whole lot stronger, mentally and emotionally.

5. New York City (New York, USA) - The city where you feel Life oozing out of every dimension. Where you know everyone but don't know anyone. The city where everyone is the king. A city that never sleeps. The city which is a small world in itself. The city where you are never alone but yet you are, always, alone. The city, which when hurt, changed the face of the world. Food, music, colors, cultures, history, art, people - everything about it attracts you. You can't help but fall prey to the charm of the place and yet you love it. The place where I would go if I want to forget all my worries and just Live. 


6. Indore (Madhya Pradesh, India) - Where I was born and brought up. The place which runs in my blood. Every part of me is soaked in the spirit of this city. I am an Indorie inside and out. I love absolutely everything about the city. Food, markets, roads, festive spirit, places, people, even the senseless traffic :) - every single, small little thing. It's a city which can only be experienced. Nothing you read, hear or see would be enough and accurate to give you the picture unless you've been there. It would be injustice to wrap up about Indore  in a small lil paragraph, so I am going to dedicate an entire post on my Love :) 
Until then, Chao! 

10 Challenges : 7 Wants

This list is more like a Wishlist. :)  I WANT - 

1. To do something for myself - For the past 5 years I have been roaming around the world. Now I want to settle down and do something which would give me self-satisfaction. (Not that I mind traveling, but it has become a restriction lately). 

2. To say what I need to say - Nothing expresses this one better than John Mayer's song "Say what you need to Say".

3. Nikon DSLR - I have been wanting to get an SLR for so long but always end up buying something else. But now this gadget is on the top of my "to buy" list along with the full lens set. 

4. A (MontBlanc) Fountain Pen - I was introduced to fountain pens when I was in 6th standard and ever since I have been a fan. I owe my fairly good handwriting to these pens (and of course, nanaji's guidance). Now coz of all the technology, I hardly use pens but I still want to own a beautifully crafted fountain pen. 

5. Personal video library - Being a movie/TV lover, I definitely want my personal collection of original dvds/blu-rays/cds. This one I'm sure would be a reality the soonest as I share this one with Rits :) 

6. Drive a Porsche convertible - Though my knowledge of cars is limited but one thing I know is, I have a thing for sports cars and convertibles. And would love to drive one (preferably a Porsche, jst for the looks of it) on a long drive in Wisconsin country side. 

7. Martin Acoustic Guitar - Whether I play it or not, I want this just to make me feel good. :) If it brings out the lost passion, that would be a bonus :) 

10 Challenges : 8 Fears

Here are my 8 Fears - (not in any order). 

1. Snakes - I think I mentioned it before, and that's that. Just the thought of 'em makes me nervous and uncomfortable. 

2. Getting into water - Water-parks, beaches, even bathtubs - not my thing. I certainly enjoy sitting on the side, photographing people having fun but getting wet is not for me. 

3. Losing my teeth - This is like my worst nightmare. I have had this dream countless times when I wake up with one of my teeth broken. And let me tell you, that ain't funny :( 

4. Crazy rides - Dark tunnels, speed, sudden drops, heights, crazy turns - anything that would pump up my adrenaline - big No No.  Only thing I do in amusement parks is click photos :) (and ride those small toy trains, of course) 

5. Losing my identity - I often wonder, and fear, what if in playing all the roles of a woman's life, I lose myself.  

6. Closed spaces - I have what is called borderline claustrophobia. I don't hyperventilate but confined spaces make me anxious and uncomfortable. I get numb and tingly at the same time. 

7. Missing a train or flight - I try to reach railway station and airports (too) well before time. This fear of mine is a serious discomfort for anyone else traveling with me coz more than often people end up getting bored at the station/airports. 

8. Cockroaches - They are more a dislike than fear. I can't bear to be in the same room with a cockroach. Specially the big flying ones. They are just creepy.

10 Challenges : 9 Loves

Didn't think Nine Loves would be so difficult to list. You see, I have so many :D 

1. Family - Don't we all understand the meaning of LOVE in the family? 

2. Guitar - Wouldn't be wrong to say Guitar has been my first love since I was 12. And nothing has changed much since then except that I don't play anymore. I just enjoy listening someone else play. 

3. Bridges - I have been lucky enough to see some of the most beautiful bridges in the world. But be it an engineering marvel like the Oakland Bay Bridge or Golden Gate Bridge or a small one in the beautiful country side. A simple bridge on river Shipra or Worli Sea link, I absolutely love Bridges. Its hard for me to not stop over/near a bridge and take a snapshot. 

4. Movies - I am a typical movie buff. I love movies, I live movies. I watch movies, I can talk movies :) An ideal Sunday for me would be sitting on the couch, munching popcorn and watching non-stop movies. I don't have any special taste, but any and all movies would do. 

5. Trains - I don't miss a chance to travel in trains. Every time I visit India, I make it a point to at least travel once by railways. And my love of trains includes the lil small kiddie trains in parks and gardens :)  

6. Stationary - I have this huge stack of pens, pencil, papers, clips, cards, copies, colors, files and what not which I hardly use but I find it hard to stop myself from getting something from stationary aisle every time I am in one. 

7. Photography - I would have to thank my dad and then my husband for this one. Dad, for introducing me to the beautiful world of photography and Rits for getting me "my" first digi cam. Though my love of photography is a but annoying for him at times, when I make him stop in the middle of the road, or spend too much time looking through my lens and not the surroundings. But he has been a patient supporter :) 

8. Travel/Outings - Doesn't matter if I am going to some exotic beach resort for a long vacation, or the neighborhood park, I love to be out with family and/or friends. 

9. Ocean - Ever since my first visit to the sea shore in Sriharikota, I am deeply in love with the salty, humid ocean air. Despite of my fear of getting into water, I still love sitting on beaches, harbors, shores just to smell the ocean. Nothing feels more peaceful than the sound of crashing waves and the endless reign of water. 

P.S I have SO many more, wasn't fair leaving them out. But a challenge is a challenge :) 

10 Challenges : 10 Secrets

I had been following this blog for quite sometime. Its simple, its honest and its very close to real life. Makes you "feel good" most of the time. And the latest post seemed like a good read and an interesting challenge. So I thought 'lets take it' :) 

Here is my Day 1 - 10 Secrets. (Don't 10 Secrets seem a lot :P). Anyway. 

1. I am a Pessimist. Glass is always half empty for me. No matter how hard I try to look at the brighter side, I end up looking at the darker one. 

2. I have Snake-Phobia. Watching even the simplest picture/video of snake (let alone a live one) could spoil my night's sleep. I don't go to any public restroom, closed spaces, changing rooms and even my own bathrooms, without glancing over for some 'hidden' snake. 

3. I can't let go (more honestly, I don't want to). I had been trying for so long. But I just can't. If something goes deep enough, it would never come out. That sometimes makes me miserable but I still feel like it completes me. 

4. I have a photographic memory (or so I think). I remember things, people, places, which even amazes me. Ask me about a place I went to when I was 5, and I could give you full description. But I suck at numbers. Family and friends have a long list of complaints about me forgetting important dates, days and occasions. 

5. I am, what people call, "anti-social". I love being alone. Or with only very close ones. I hate when I have to dress up, go out and visit someone. I am not the happiest one when people visit. I try to escape out of any possible situation where I would have to sit and talk. 

6. I am a day-dreamer. (Did you know, I am going to be an NGeo photographer who teaches environmental conservation at a renowned university and paints in free time) Like they say, if you dream, dream big ;) 

7. Only thing I regret is giving up my passion for guitar. And now after all these years, I don't have enough courage to pick up the pieces again. I keep hoping I would some day. But like I said, being a pessimist, I doubt I would. 

8. I have a thing for crime/police dramas. I can watch Law and Order all day long. I can spend my whole weekend sitting in front of TV watching anything with police/FBI/CIA and crime. Haven't seen much of Hindi crime series, so can't say the same for 'em though. My family thinks it shows the destructive side of me, so be it ;) 

9. I am a softy. Ask me anything with only a hint of politeness and genuineness (is that even a word?), I would certainly say, yes. No is a hard word to find in my dictionary. 

10. I am a pretty good liar. So don't believe everything I say ;)

There. You know a lil more abt me :) 

Be back soon with my "nine loves". 

P.S Shilpa - thanks for the post and the idea. I couldn't resist myself. :)