Trip to HK - the arrival day

The trip continued to a couple of other destinations, hence a little gap in the next post.

Anyway, I am back now. :)

En route to hotel, we couldn't help notice the highly developed infrastructure of the Vertical City even with those sleepy eyes and heavy eyelids. The balance between men-made and natural beauty was really amazing.

We reached our hotel around 8:30 AM and the receptionist only disappointed us despite all the elegance and smiles she could pour!

" We are really sorry Sir. The guest in the room, booked for you from today, has not checked out yet. I am afraid, you will have to wait."

" How long is it gonna take?" - me and husband unanimously.

" The check out time is before 12:30 PM. So, whenever the guest leaves we will need another 1-2 hours to get the room ready for you.

You can spend the time in our lounge or recreational areas. We will give you a call once the room is ready. Really sorry about the wait, Sir."

" Its all right. Not your fault. Thanks."

"Come on, we all know the check- in/out standard timings. How could the travel agency do such a mistake. They knew the flight arrival time. Should have booked the room from yesterday!!" I blurted out in tired frustration. 

The tone was more like it was Kumar's fault. Well, you cant take a wife out of a lady around her husband!

He ignored or let it go and we started looking for something to eat. A fight well saved. :P

Hotchpotch aside, I cant miss the perks! Those musicians during breakfast, caring staff and a mesmerizing swimming pool area among other things helped us relax while we explored the surroundings.

We finally entered into our room around 2 PM. It was a harbor facing worth-the-wait deluxe room.
We were full from that melodious brunch so just took a much needed shower and slept like babies! :) 


to be continued ..

Trip to HongKong - the dawn

the hottest orange

n' the coolest blue

merging so beautifully 

in the ocean

at the early dawn.

If only I could watch it without that (plane's)window in between!

"Boiled bland eggplant with a thin layer of mildest salsa!" The sight and then the taste of it crashed my little hope of getting some edible food in the 15 hrs long flight. I so trusted that flight attendant when she came with some note and asked for my confirmation -"Ms. Kumar, you have special food request. Vegetarian meal, right?" 

"Yes, please. thank you!" I said imagining how wonderful it would have been had she asked me to pick something from 3-4 veg options. Alas!

No, I am not a foodie. Not at all. However, whatever is served, should have some basic ingredients to start with. For my taste buds, salt is a must. Some veg gravy in mild spices with rice/Roti would do just fine.

Anyway, I started getting the feeling I am away from my home and heading towards some foreign land.

Hong Kong. Geographically not so foreign from my forever home-India but culture & food are so distant. Whereas, culture & food are not so foreign from my current home-New York but located at almost the other end of the Globe.

Officially, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China(straight from Google).

Now, that's some name! :-)

--------


The excitement of the trip kept me awake during most of the journey. The flight entertainment had a decent collection of my-type-of-stuff to help me through it.

From Kora Kagaz to Sabrina and Anamika to Breakfast at Tiffany's.
I had them all :-). 




The plane landed in the morning and we ran to catch a cab/taxi .. wanted to fly to the hotel room and sleep for the whole day!

"Sir, we only take cash, HongKong dollars. No cards in taxis anywhere in the city." The cab guy told my husband. Go to such and such place and withdraw some for yourself, you will need it in the city.

And we thought VISA, the credit card, was All we needed. Well, at least their slogan says so.

We went back, withdrew cash, got into the taxi and heard- "You Indi(यू इन्दी)" in an assertive, humbled, cute voice. Our cab driver was an elderly Chinese.

We smiled - "Yeah, Indi Indeed!" :-)

to be continued ..

Deprivation

लाखों तारे, आसमान में
एक मगर ढूंढे ना मिला
देख के दुनिया की दिवाली
दिल मेरा चुपचाप जला...


All the milestones, incomplete without you
the festivals, formality.
we lived together, near or far
we left together, seems the reality

the bodies exist; among other things
for, they can be fed
Soul is tarnished
thoughts, crippled
the heart won't ever be glad


Don't you worry, I am all strong
much more than I ever was
but die to hear -
sonny, kiddo, bachcha!
pine for the warmest hug!
deprived of your utmost wisdom, class
I seek solace in whatever does pass!

Sprinter

You are the fastest sprinter
and you are running at your best speed.
You have boundless energy and
will never take a rest.
You refuse to die before
you reach your destiny
If the journey seems
endless.
Then,
Enjoy the way

-SD

जीत

अगर जीना चाहते हो
तो जियो.. लड़ो मत,

तुम ज़िन्दगी को प्यार करते हो
उसे जीतने की कोशिश मत करो


-SD 

ईंधन

तुम्हे लिख कर शब्दों में

क्या मिलेगा, सोचती हूँ

हर पल महसूस होते हो 

मुझे यही तृप्त करता है। 

तुम्हे ढूंढना नहीं पड़ता

नयी पुरानी Photos में 

दिल के डिब्बे में अनगिनत 

Rolls रखे हैं तुम्हारे ,

और बातों में पिरो कर 

नहीं बांटना तुम्हे किसी से 

तुम्हे जितना भी पाया है

संजो कर रखना है बस। 

तुम दिखते नहीं कहीं 

ये दुखता है

बात भी नहीं करते

ये भी चुभता है

पर तुम रहे हो …

और किस तरह … 

यही बाकी ज़िन्दगी का 

ईंधन* दे देता है।

*fuel 

Water under the bridge

In the flow of the chasm, when the rocks kiss my boat
I’m not startled anymore, my merriment still afloat
I know this day and the one before that
Is water under the bridge, I’ll live to remember and quote.


The salt under the tongue when they whispered you were finished
The steam in the chest left of someone you cherished
That morning you woke up and found a dream had vanished

The steel of the eyes when you were near a piece of dust
That urge to yell at sky when u won when win was must
And the time someone quietly said, u will do it I fully trust.

In the flow of the chasm, when I reach a turn I could see
But not a whiff of what lies - beyond that low hanging tree
And yet I go on for there is something that grew in me
It’s on the blind turns in life, that I’ll find a piece of me


-SD

King

it was a dark night
  the king had returned from the battle
  enemies nor the friends would ever know;
  but
  the king was tired.
  it was a dark night

  His head was high
  His eyes were open
  feet firm on the ground
  and dreams intact
  standing alone in his camp
  till his last breathe
  he couldn't be otherwise;
  nobody knew he would fall any time
  dead, that is.

  the king was tired
  it was a dark night.

  then on the horizon
  just before the midnight
  a lovely star shone
  she was looking for the king
  since he was gone

  she smelled no fragrance
  but of her self
  she knew no stories
  but of her love.

  his eyes open but seeing nothing
  king didn't know
  she came running;

  and hugged him .

  who never knew of support
  would never ask for it
  would fall only if dead
  eyes still open.
  his honour in that dark cold night
  was held high.

  not by the kingdoms he built
  not by the glory he had
  not by the army he captained
  nor by the god he thought he was .

  but ,
  by a hug from his little love
  when he just needed support
  but would never hear of it.

  -SD

फिर मत कहना ...

फिर मत कहना कुछ कर न सके


जब नर तन तुम्हे निरोग मिला, सत्संगति का भी योग लिखा
फिर भी  प्रभु कृपानुभव करके, यदि भवसागर तुम तर न सके।
फिर मत.…

तुम सत्य तत्व ज्ञानी होकर, तुम सद्-धर्मी ध्यानी होकर
यदि सरल निर्-अभिमानी होकर, कामना विमुक्त विचर न सके
फिर मत.…

जग में जो कुछ भी पाओगे, सब यही छोड़ कर जाओगे
पछताओगे यदि तुम अपना, पुण्यों से जीवन भर न सके
फिर मत.…

जो सुख सम्पत्ति में फूल रहे, जो वैभव मद में मूल रहे
उनसे फिर पाप डरेंगे क्यों, जो परमेश्वर से डर न सके
फिर मत.…

जब अन्त समय आ जायेगा, तब क्या तुमसे बन पायेगा
यदि समय शक्ति के रहते ही, आचार विचार सुधर न सके
फिर मत.…

होता तब तक न सफल जीवन, है भार रूप सब तन मन धन
यदि पथिक प्रेम पथ में चलकर, अपना या पर दुःख  हर न सके

फिर मत कहना कुछ कर न सके


--------  पं. राम नाथ द्विवेदी (Grandfather)

देख लो

Came across one of the manuscripts by my Grandfather. The intellect!

(the paper was preserved religiously by my Mom)

इस जग में कितना ही तुम स्वच्छंद विचर कर देख लो

तृप्ति न होगी, फिर भी कौतुक इधर उधर के देख लो। 

जिस सुख को प्राणी अपनाता, वही ईश से विमुख बनाता 

सुख ही है सर्वत्र नचाता, सुखासक्त प्राणी दुःख पाता 

नहीं समझ में आये तो तुम भी जी भर के देख लो। 

सीखो जग में सेवा करना सीखो दुनिया के दुःख हरना 

सीखो भव से पार उतरना, सत् पथ में अब कभी न डरना

जो आया है जाएगा, यह धीरज धर के देख लो। 

 जग में जो कुछ बोया जाता कई गुना बढ़कर वह आता 

जो सुख देता वो सुख पाता मान व अपना भाग्य विधाता 

यदि तुम को विश्वास न हो तो कुछ भी कर के देख लो। 

जिसको तुमने अपना माना यहाँ किसी का नहीं ठिकाना 

निश्चित जिसका है छूट जाना फिर क्या उससे मोह बढ़ाना 

तन में रहते हुए पथिक तुम, हर राह गुजर के देख लो। 

तृप्ति न होगी, फिर भी कौतुक इधर उधर के देख लो । 

-----  पं. राम नाथ द्विवेदी

Away!

Now I out walking
The world desert,
And my shoe and my stocking
Do me no hurt.

I leave behind
Good friends in town.
Let them get well-wined
And go lie down.

Don't think I leave
For the outer dark
Like Adam and Eve
Put out of the Park.

Forget the myth.
There is no one I
Am put out with
Or put out by.

Unless I'm wrong
I but obey
The urge of a song:
I'm—bound—away!

And I may return
If dissatisfied
With what I learn
From having died.

"Away!" by Robert Frost.
One of his favorites.

तुम

इक तुम्हारी कमी ही, मटमैला सा आसमां बन

बारिश वाली रातों के, भीगे आंचल से 

दबे पांव उतरी है... जब तब।

- SD

घाट

वो सारे पल,

जो बांधे थे

उस पोटली में

ऊँचे-नीचे रास्तों से

गुज़रते हुये जो बनायी थी,

जला दिये 

एक फिज़ूल दिन

और अवशेष

विसर्जित किये गये

किसी घाट पर

खून

पत्थरों के डर से रुकना मत
फूल होते तब देते

राह रोकें तो डरना मत
हाथ होते तो साथ देते

नीचा दिखायेंगे पर झुकना मत
बड़े होते तो यूं ना गिरते

गलतियां थोपेंगे, बिखरना मत
सही होते गर खुद सच्चे होते

रस्मों-रिवाज़ों से दबायेंगे सहना मत
नियम मानते तो निष्पक्ष होते

तुम्हारी जि़न्दगी चलायेंगे सौंपना मत
यही हक़ होता तो फिर भगवान होते

साथ छोड़ देंगे तो गिरना मत
अपने होते तो हर दम होते।

तुम्हें दुख होगा
दर्द भी बहुत
पर जूझना.....
तुम टूट भी जाओ
तुम्हारा 'खून'* हारेगा नहीं।

*Lineage
For women who still face social evils

केलेंडर

केलेंडर तो

दिनों को जोड़ता है

पल रखे हों कुछ

तो कैसे जोडू -मिलाऊँ

तारीखें नहीं बचीं....

आजकल यूँ ही है 

इसे कैसे याद रखूं-दिलाऊँ

 फ्रेम नाज़ुक इक

इस कदर टूटा पिछले दिनों

क्या तस्वीर थी उसमें

अब कैसे देखूँ - बताऊँ

घर वापसी :-)

बाहर के मेरे कमरे की

सीलन वाली दीवार पर लगा

सानिया मिर्ज़ा का poster

संकरी बंद गली मे खुलती

आधे कांच की खिड़की

सामने की सड़क के मोड़ पर

बंधी किसी की गाय

और उसके आगे के घर में

एक छोटा beauty parlor

Scooty और शहर की सड़कें

uncle और आंटियों की नज़रें

भूले बिसरे लोग

जानी पहचानी भाषा

A lifetime

since the last time

I was here

Here I come! :-)

तब, अब !

इस शहर की हवा का शोर

जो सांसों में घुल गया था

आज फिर अलग-अलग सुनाई दे रहा है

पहले चंद दिनों सी झिझक है

अजनबीपन है।

यहां survive ना कर पाने का

वो दर्द फिर महसूस हो रहा है

Streets & Avenues

फिर से designer लग रहे है।

ख़ुद में और बाकियों में

फिर से अन्तर दिख रहा है।

फिर बाहर का शहर और अन्दर की दुनिया
सामने बैठ कर बातें कर रहे है,

और मेरी इस किताब का
Prologue & Epilogue
discuss कर रहे हैं। :-)