Talking Tours (3) - Gaurav Anand

In the 3rd installment of Talking Tours, I met Gaurav Anand, from Dehradun who wholeheartedly agrees to give us an interview. Gaurav is an avid traveler who wants to live life to the fullest. During interview, he discussed everything in detail and made me understand his point of view on different topics. It's good to know thoughts of different people - what they think on various topics, what keeps them ticking. May be there is a learning for us somewhere in these thoughts.

Talking Tour is a series of personal interviews about those who does posses thoughts of their own. By interacting with different people and to know their thoughts, gives me a good feeling. Every one has a story to tell. Each one of us, has some attributes which are unique some times and common most often.

Tell our readers something about yourself.
Fun loving, a traveler by heart who wants to explore world.  I love to experience and experiment new things  - be it new trend, new place, food or anything.

What is in your personality which you like the most?
My confidence & self belief


What is in your personality which you dislike?
Sometime I find it difficult to say NO even though my heart/mind wants to say NO.


What are the qualities in a man which you like?
I like those, who not only wants to enjoy each day, but also each and every moment of life.


What are the qualities in a woman which you like?
Determination & Self Respect


What places you have traveled so far? What is your favorite place & why?
I am a big time traveler. I have been to many places in India & abroad.  My list is long, however I might have missed few places in this list. Hope you also like that:

In North I have visited - Jammu, Kashmir valley, Pehlgaon, Mussorrie, Nainital, Dharamshala, Jamta, Chail, Chandigarh, .

Central India - Agra, Bhopal, Panchmari

Northeast - Gangtok, Darjeeling, Peiling, Kalinpong

Southwest Part - Munnar, Thekri, Allepy, Kovalam, Mumbai, Lonavala, Goa

Western India - Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, Pushkar

Abroad - I have visited Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Pataya, Krabi

Religious Places: Haridwar, Mathura, Rishikesh, Chintpoorni Devi, Naina Devi, Jwala ji, Shirdi, Vaishno Devi

My favorite picks:
In India, I would like to visit Munnar again because of the breathtakingly beautiful locations there. It's a haven of peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination. A must visit place in India.

Abroad, I like Krabi. Very neat and clean beaches, awesome weather, coastal cuisines & not to forget - Water Sports.


Which place you have traveled recently and how was the experience?
I visited Rajasthan very recently and there we have gone to places like Jaisalmer, Jodhpur etc.

Experience was great. Can't forget the sunset point at Jaisalmer, forts in Udaipur and lot of other things to appreciate for.


Can you name some of your favorite hangout places in the city you live in?
Delhi Heights café & Golas in Gurgaon.


Are you a foody? Which food you liked the most?
Yes I am.
Punjabi by nature, however I am more fond of Rajma Chawal, Chinese, continental, Mughlai cuisines.


Tell us something about your hobbies?
In spare time, I watch TV. Other hobbies include, travel, exploring new places


If not in your current role, what would you want to be?
Would have been visual merchandiser OR Wine Taster, Food Reviewer, Movie critic.


How you cope up pressure situation?
I don’t take pressure much. I just take life as it comes. When in pressure situation, I tell myself, whatever is in my destiny I will get. So no need to crib on something, but always give your best shot.


What is your mantra of life?
God has given us only one life. Enjoy each day & live every moment. I like the song from old Golmal movie - "Aaaney wala kal jaane wala hai, ho sake to ismein jindagi bita do, pal ye jo jaane wala hai"


How you start your day?
Not a morning person, my morning starts a little late around 9 am. Well I look at my daughters face & thank god for everything.


Who is your reel life hero/heroines?
Anil Kapoor - He doesn't look like someone in mid 50s. He still looks young. His energy and enthusiasm to do things differently (like recent TV show - 24 series) is something to appreciate.

Next in line is Kirron Kher. I admire her for her persona, self-confidence. She entered quite late in movies but she made her mark in no time.


Which character in history (or current life) inspire you the most?
Yes, I want to mention a friend of mine (Neeraj Tiwari) whom I really admire.  Whatever he has done in his life, he has done himself. I regard him for his hard work, his dedication, his enthusiasm and his zeal to achieve something in life.


Your favorite movies/shows?
TV Shows - BIG Boss, India's got Talent, Sara Bhai Vs. Sara Bhai, Two & Half men
Movies - No entry, Devdas, 3 idiots, 2 States


What do you think are the biggest areas for improvement in our country?
It's high time that we need to change our thinking. Whatever we have learnt as part of our education, we need to apply the same in our thinking. Fact of the matter is, we should be broad minded - open to adopt new thinking, give respect to women, have civic sense. All these things we have learnt in our school/college days, but are we applying it our daily life? This is where we need to put more emphasis. Apply our education into our lifestyle and thus help in making India a developed nation.


Do you cast your vote every time?
Ashamed to say don't have Voter ID. I take an oath that I will definitely vote next time.


Anything which you want to share with readers who read this interview?
Be happy, live tension free enjoy each moment of life. You never know.....'Kal ho na ho'. What ever you want to do, do today.

Thank you Gaurav for sparing some time for this interview. We wish you a Great New Year 2015.

Evening Sun

"Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye...." 

Beautiful moment of evening Sun captured while driving.

Talking Tours (2nd Installment) - Samir Gupta

Here is the 2nd installment of Talking Tours. This time, Samir Gupta, from west Delhi shared his thoughts with us. He was soft spoken and discussed everything in detail.

Talking Tour is a series of personal interviews about those who does posses thoughts of their own. By interacting with different people and to know their thoughts, gives me a good feeling. Every one has a story to tell. Each one of us, has some attributes which are unique some times and common most often.

Tell our readers something about yourself.
I am from Punjab. We shifted to Delhi in 80s. I live in a joint family. In academics, I have done MBA & I work in a travel company in NCR Region.


What is in your personality which you like the most?
Punctuality - I am very punctual & hate those who doesn't value time.


What is in your personality which you dislike?
Sometime I over think on petty issues. This over-thinking, sometimes generates negative thoughts which I want
to overcome.


What are the qualities in a man which you like?
I like people who stand by what they say. People change their words when put in the actual situation & I hate them who are deceptive.


What are the qualities in a woman which you like?
Understanding nature, patience level, supportive & emotionally strong characteristics


What places you have traveled so far? What is your favorite place & why?
Though I haven't traveled much, but still I can list some places:
In India - I have been to Shimla, Mussorrie, Chandigarh,
Abroad, I have visited Thailand & Dubai. Till now, Thailand is my best pick as it was my first abroad travel and I really liked the nature over there.


Which place you have traveled recently and how was the experience?
Shimla - Very good place. Famous for weather, I was lucky to experience cloudy season over there. It was like heaven on earth.


Can you name some of your favorite hangout places in the city you live in?
Deer park in Hauz Khas, Humayun Tomb, Qutub Minar in New Delhi.


Are you a foody? Which food you liked the most?
Yes, I am a big time foody. I love Punjabi food mainly Dal-Makhni, Paneer Tikka, Shahi Paneer, Chilly Paneer (with lot of onions is must for me).


Tell us something about your hobbies?
I like playing outdoor games mainly volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis. Basically sporting activities interests me a lot.


If not in your current role, what would you want to be?
An Entrepreneur & I certainly think I will become an entrepreneur one day.


How you cope up pressure situation?
I try to divert my mind in some other activity. Instead of thinking too much on it, I try to involve in some other activity. After some time, when I feel fresh, I then work for solution.


What is your mantra of life?
Believe in yourself & expect less.


How you start your day?
When I wake up, I crave to get some fresh air. I go up to the balcony and enjoy the morning air. That is my way of connecting the supreme being.


Who is your reel life hero/heroines?
Shahrukh Khan - because of amount of hard work he has put in to reach this level.


Which character in history (or current life) inspire you the most?
Karna in Mahabharata. As I mentioned in my introduction, I like people who stand by their words. Karna was a character who stood by his words despite knowing the truth. This inspires me a lot about value of words.


Your favorite movies/shows?
Mahabharata (BR Chopra) / Pursuit of Happiness / Haasil


What do you think are the biggest areas for improvement in our country?
Bringing down the black money and thus increase cash flow in the country.
Increase security measures.


Do you cast your vote every time?
Sometimes. Because I don't have the trust the way Indian Political system works.


Anything which you want to share with readers who read this interview?
Don't be governed by others. In this rat race, develop your own methods of success. Don't over think on anything and enjoy the simple moments of life.


We wish Samir Merry Christmas and a Great New Year 2015.

Fog on Delhi Roads

Snaps of Delhi under the veil of heavy Fog @ 2.46am.

Shots taken while returning to home from office. On the way, fog was so dense that we could not locate the left cut on the road. Instead we took the 2nd left cut and went ahead on the route. By the time we realized we are not on our usual route, we found ourselves 15 kilometers on opposite side of the road. It took us 5 minutes to analyse how we reached here and then we figured out it was due to 2nd left cut, not the first one which we wanted. Anyways, we took U-turn to lead to the correct road.

Chauffeur gave us a tip on how to drive safely in this situation when there is heavy fog on roads. He told us to locate the white line in the middle (or side) of the road and just follow it.  Seems like valuable advice.

Celebrating Season - 'Winters' Finally Arrived

It’s the time of the year again when there is mist in the air, when there is “warmth” in sunshine, when parks & gardens attracts more visitors during day time, when we eat more and drink less, when days are short and nights long – Yes, I am referring Winter Season. "My name is Winter & I finally arrived". Though it got delayed by couple of weeks this year, but no complaints, we are enjoying this change in climate. The recent snowfall in hilly areas dipped the temperature by 10oC and last Sunday there was heavy showers in Delhi NCR and weather remained cloudy throughout the day. It was beautiful day in the weekend.

This change in climate has brought those old sweaters, jackets, inners, mufflers which were hiding somewhere in cupboard/almirahs. Now, early mornings are little laid back as we tend to take extra 15-20 minutes to leave bed. Suddenly, sale of tea, soups, samosas etc. have grown up. You find more people spending time on terrace enjoying the bright sunshine and in a way appreciating the Nature; elderly women take this opportunity to knit woolen sweaters for their kids – This is the best part.

These changes in our lifestyle due to change in weather has impressed me so much that I decided to write a post every time when there is change in season. In a way, there is strong connection between nature and living beings and these seasons give us the opportunity to realize this connection.

So, if I ask a question – what are the best things you like about winters? So here are my best picks:

Winter Fashion Trends – For me, personal grooming gets an extra space in winters when we know we can add another dimension in our usual dressing with blazers, jackets, sweaters, sweat shirts etc.  Don’t men look more stylish with winter clothes than plain shirt & trouser combination?

Satisfy your taste bud – One thing which I really like about winter is plethora of dishes to try for. Digestive system usually works well during winters and we tend to eat more than usual.

Comes the winter in full swing and we have variety of Paranthas (flatbread) for our bellies – Mooli parantha, methi parantha, gobhi parantha, plain parantha along with butter, is the trademark breakfast during winters in Northern Part.

Seasonal stuff for Time pass – Lot of options available in winters: 

Peanuts & Chikkis – Best thing about peanuts is you keep on consuming it though you know you are stomach full. Try it with salt and it adds another dimension in taste.

Fruits Bonanza – Guavas, Oranges, Grapes – Go to terrace and enjoy these juicy fruits under bright sun shine.

Dry fruits – Good for health and a very useful time pass in winters

Soups – During winters, these soups become the best appetizers – hot n sour, tomato soup, sweet corn soup, noodle soup etc. I like Thai Mashroom soup, what’s about you?

Last but not least Tea/Coffee – This is one of the most popular habit of all seasons, however in winter season consumption of tea/coffee is just increased 2 to 3 times than usual.

Reading book under bright Sunshine – Don’t know about others but I really like reading under the sun during winters.

Early morning exercise – Early morning workout has its own charm in winters. Whether you are doing Yoga, running, weightlifting or simply jogging, early morning dew and fog make it perfect to concentrate on your workout activities.

Gateway to festive season – While in India, festive season starts from Navratras in Sep-Oct, but due to global warming, winters are now pushed ahead to December. Real winters now last for two months (Dec-Jan). During this time, we attend marriage functions; celebrate festivals like Christmas, New Year, Lohri, Pongal etc. In West, people celebrate Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year – After 15th December, majority of these people go on holiday and come after 1st week of January.

These are some of my favorite picks from Winter season. What about you? Please share your winter experience. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Terror has no religion

Yesterday terrorist attack in an Army school in Peshawar, Pakistan is one of the heinous attacks in recent times. They targeted school children, went from one classroom to other and fired openly without seeing whom they are killing – a highly condemnable act. It is said that children are form of God and they killed those small innocent children.  Some reports also showed that they burnt teacher alive in front of students. This shows that terror has no religion, no cast.

My condolence to those who lost their loved ones and my prayers to departed souls. Time for introspection to stop promoting terror - I think it’s high time that all countries should unite and fight against terrorism.

Talking Tours (1st Installment) - Hitendra Rana

Talking Tour is a series of personal interviews about those who does posses thoughts of their own. By interacting with different people and to know their thoughts, gives me a good feeling. Every one has a story to tell. Each one of us, has some attributes which are unique some times and common most often.

For the first installment of this series, Hitendra Rana - an IT Professional, gave his interview in his office.

Tell our readers something about yourself.
I hail from Aligarh (North India). Born in a traditional family - I always wanted to be associated with IT industry. And I got my wish fulfilled as I am happily placed in my current organization.
I am married, and happily living with my lovely wife & two cute kids.


What is in your personality which you like the most?
Sincerity/ Hard work & Honesty


What is in your personality which you dislike?
Sometime I get frustrated very easily.


What are the qualities in a man which you like?
Honesty


What are the qualities in a woman which you like?
Simplicity & soft spoken nature.


Which places have you traveled so far? What is your favorite place & why?
Jaipur, Udaipur, Panipat, Haridwar, Dehradun. Of these, I like Jaipur the most as a cultural heritage.


Which place you traveled very recently and how was the experience?
Mussoorie. The place was good, but not that exciting.


Can you name some of your favorite hangout places in the city you live in?
Connaught Place in Delhi.


Are you a foody? Which food you liked the most.
:) I don't considered myself as foody. I like simple food without much spices.


Tell us something about your hobbies?
Spending time with my kids


If not in your current role, what would you want to be?
A Government official :)


How you cope up pressure situation?
Take a glass of water, think about if the solution is in my control? If possible, plan the solution. Else ask yourself if you have given your best shot to resolve it. If the answer is Yes, then leave it and wait for the right time.


What is your mantra of life?
Follow your dreams


How you start your day?
After I wake up, I remember my parents & God and thank them for everything what I have.


What are your reel life heroes/heroines.
Amitabh Bacchan (Actor) / Lata Mangeshkar (Singer)


Which character in history (or current life) inspire you the most?
Subhash Chandra Bose - He inspires me for his contribution to our country.


Your favorite movies/shows?
3 Idiots / Comedy Night with Kapil


What do you think are the biggest areas for improvement in our country?
Respect for woman, balance of per capita income


Do you cast your vote everytime?
Most of the time.


Anything which you want to share with readers who read this interview?
We have got only one life, so live it to the fullest and do what you think is right ethically and pursue it.