Bucket-List 2013 Week 2 – Bridge Climb, social event and a lot more

Hello My Dear Friend,

 A big warm hug and beautiful smile for you

 You must have been thinking where have I gone after declaring this big bucket list here. I have been busy doing the stuff I promised I would do and guess what, its been awesome doing things like this. I am back to share the snippets of my week. Here is also a link for my bucket list for 2013 if you haven’t had a look.

My Promise to live life – My BucketList 2013

A little bit different and also another post about the fears I have in my life with a reflection of other reader’s experiences along with it. My Fears

One items already finished earlier this week: One item crossed off the list with an awesome day

Also another post on the week before since I have started this bucket list of mine. http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/bucket-list-2013-week-1-belgian-beer-and-a-girl-with-a-hood/

Now coming back to last week I had so much planned for last week and everything went quiet well leaving me a little tired after the week. I started my week with some

 Item Number #21 - Eat in one of the best restaurant each month – Bar H, Surry Hills

It was my flatmate/friend’s birthday a month ago and I had booked this place for almost a month to celebrate. This place is usually booked for few weeks in advance but finally we had an amazing dinner here last week. It was a seven course banquet with red wine in Bar H (http://www.barhsurryhills.com/). My friend just loved it so next time you are in this area, this place is definitely worth trying.

 It’s a 1 chef’s hat restaurant (Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2013), run by MasterChef guest chef Hamish Ingham.  Our courses included Crispy skinned spatchcock, Braised beef short rib, Chilled silken tofu and Steamed pork wontons accompanied with leaf salad and jasmine rice. We had an awesome night with good food, good wine and nice music.

 Item Number #30 - Try at least 10 different cuisines -Lebanese Cuisine

 Yes that’s right, I did try Lebanese cuisine last week and that too a kebab that every one talks about. Being vegetarian all my life, I never really tried a lot of things. But now that I have been more flexible, then I am able to choose lot more things in various cuisines. I loved this Kebab other than beef which think I do not enjoy so much so I better avoid eating it. My friend Jonathan introduced me to this food and I enjoyed his company with this awesome new cuisine. Although there are so many more cuisines on my list as of now and I would say that this bucket list is just an excuse to eat good food every now and then and trying new flavours for a person like me who usually sticks to the tried and tested food generally.

 Item Number #47 - Climb the coat-hanger, Sydney Harbour bridge

Now that I have ticked off another item from my bucket list completely, I would like to share my experience with you more in detail in another post as I don’t feel I would do any justice if I try to write only few lines about my experience of climbing the most famous bridge of Australia. So let me come back to you with another post for the same to enjoy my experience with me on top of the Harbour bridge

  Item Number #50 - Do one thing new each week – Organized a social event for 10 people

This is an ongoing work that I will keep my mind busy working and organizing something new. It really helps me to keep my creative edge working to plan something different each week and trust me, a lot of good things are coming out of it. Last week I organized a social get together event in a well known glamorous urban oasis  – Ivy (http://merivale.com.au/ivy).

 

It offers eight bars and beautiful restaurants. Here I was organizing this for people I had never met before and it end up into a successful event where people just loved it and I made some new friends there. We had planned to go to this one pub but then looking at the interested parties we went to another pub – Establishment in the city (http://merivale.com.au/establishmentbar) for few more drinks.

It also falls under the same ownership. Then few girls were hungry so we went to favourite night spot – Hungry Jacks for some snacks where we were able to talk without any noise or loud music.

Later we headed to another famous place ‘ The Argyle’(http://www.theargylerocks.com/). The night was just amazing with these new friends I just made and we all enjoyed it a lot.

Eurovision 2013

Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest expressing her victory in 2013 Eurovision Song Contest [Source: http://www.smh.com.au ]

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual singing competition held among many of the active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and radio and then casts votes for the other countries’ songs to determine the most popular song in the competition. The contest has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956 and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. It is also one of the most watched non-sporting events in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally, Eurovision has also been broadcast outside Europe to such places as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela despite the fact that they do not compete. [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest]

The performance was watched by an estimated international audience of 120 million this year. Here are some pics from the event.

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Full results for 2013:

1. Denmark: Emmelie de Forest, Only Teardrops – 281 points
2. Azerbaijan: Farid Mammadov, Hold Me – 234 points
3. Ukraine: Zlata Ognevich, Gravity – 214 points
4. Norway: Margaret Berger, I Feed You My Love – 191 points
5. Russia: Dina Garipova, What If – 174 points
6. Greece: Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis, Alcohol Is Free – 152 points
7. Italy: Marco Mengoni, L’Essenziale – 126 points
8. Malta: Gianluca, Tomorrow – 120 points
9. Netherlands: Anouk, Birds – 114 points
10. Hungary: ByeAlex, Kedvesem – 84 points
11. Moldova: Aliona Moon, O mie – 71 points
12. Belgium: Roberto Bellarosa, Love Kills – 71 points
13. Romania: Cezar, It’s My Life – 65 points
14. Sweden: Robin Stjernberg, You – 62 points
15. Georgia: Nodi Tatishvili and Sophie Gelovani, Waterfall – 50 points
16. Belarus: Alyona Lanskaya, Solayoh – 48 points
17. Iceland: Eythor Ingi, Eg a lif – 47 points
18. Armenia: Dorians, Lonely Planet – 41 points
19. UK: Bonnie Tyler, Believe In Me – 23 points
20. Estonia: Birgit, Et uus saaks alguse – 19 points
21. Germany: Cascada, Glorious – 18 points
22. Lithuania: Andrius Pojavis, Something – 17 points
23. France: Amandine Bourgeois, L’enfer et moi – 14 points
24. Finland: Krista Siegfrids, Marry Me – 13 points
25. Spain: ESDM, Contigo hasta el final – 8 points
26. Ireland: Ryan Dolan, Only Love Survives – 5 points

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eurovision-2013-results-bonnie-tyler-1897827

Link to the site for Eurovision: http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

 

 

 

Salvador Dali and surrealism fascination

Reblogged from Lina Way:

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I have always been fascinated by surrealism and Salvador Dali in particular. When i look at his art it always makes me think about human subconsciousness and psychology.

One of my friends has a copy of Salvador Dali sketch “City of drawers” (1936), and i just fell in love with it!

“City of drawers” makes use of the psychoanalytical reference of Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud; “City of drawers” like “The Burning Giraffe” has sets of drawers, which fits in with Dali’s quote: “the only difference between the immortal Greece and contemporary times is Sigmund Freud, who discovered that the human body, purely platonic at the Greece epoch, nowadays, is full of secret drawers that only psychoanalysis is capable of opening.”

Read more… 277 more words

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings - Dalí

Reblogged from ImagineBella:

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This weekend I have had the amazing opportunity of visiting an exposition about Dalí in Madrid. It will be on untill September, 2013 in "Museo Reina Sofía". And amazingly it cost me nothing! If you showed the woman your student card it was free to enter; and there was no queue at all which was a plus.

Since every single work of art that Dalí created was not in this museum, there are some others which have colaborated with the retrospective of the artist and have lended them the paintings they owned to include them in the exposition.  

Read more… 266 more words

Legendary Spanish painter Salvador Dali

Not that I ever study art or knew much technicality of art other than having my own creative edge with things. A painting got my attention though and there were some conflict about whose painting it can be and people were saying that the symbols look like from Dali although the Vladimir Kush. It got me a bit intrigued as the painting was so symbolic and that’s when I felt the urge to know more about it. Here is some insight that I found.

Legendary Spanish painter Salvador Dali was one of the greatest figures in history. Master of surrealism art and originators of symbols like: grasshopper for fear, butterfly as a symbol of soul and many others like this. It’s so beautiful to see the world in your own terms and view. Although we do have our own perspective as that’s the way we are created really. But then we try to get merged in the crowd and not be unique and fight against our uniqueness all the time to be part of so called social norms. I salute these artists who just see what they want and create their dreams and visions on paper and let the world know what they think and see through their eyes.

Someone once said no artist think what others want to see and then draw accordingly, but they rather draw whatever

they feel like irrespective of people’s reaction to it. Let the world think what it thinks, do not care but rather just live it every day in your own way.

 

Here are the symbols from Dali:

• Ants are the symbol of death or decay
• Snail is on other hand is the head of human
• In Dali’s paintings the elephants have skinny legs. Sounds unrealistic right, but that’s the way he imagined this surreal world and this is his world in his paintings.
• Have you ever seen the melting watch in some showroom as antique piece, its inspired by Dali’s imagination of soft watch and his watches are timeless? Reference: http://www.dali-interart.be/pdf/DALI_SYMBOLS.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether it’s subconscious mind or the hallucinatory dimensions it’s all shown so beautifully in his work that it’s hard not to get impressed even after twenty years of his death. Dali was a painter as well as sculpture and after being taught by the renowned teachers in Spain his talent was not hidden for long and soon he became famous.

 

Dali claimed that his eccentricity was the main source of his creative energy. He died in 1989 but by that time two museums were already devoted to him. He knew how to get publicity as well and his appearance in each exhibition proved it very well. He created nearly 1500+ painting with other work of his. A very famous and creative personality and I thought you might like to know him as well. So if you are interested to know more about him and his work here is the link.

http://remingtonsfineart.com/The%20Dali%20Experience.pdf

2,000 canoes setting a world record on Fourth Lake in New York’s adirondacks

This is taken by Nancie Battaglia

Ten Famous Autocorrected Quotes - Volume Two

Reblogged from The Dimwit Diary:

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Suppose a young man with a wild imagination and too much time on his hands went to a greasy spoon diner one evening at 3 AM.   Suppose the same young man grew tired of all the belligerent drunks and lot lizards that usually frequent a greasy spoon diner late at night, so he began to surf the interwebs on his smart phone to occupy his time until his gyro omelette and rye toast were ready to be served.

Read more… 154 more words

Santa Maria della Salute – Venice, Italy

Reference: Think Outside The Box

 

Merging into food – me, myself and food

                           Camouflage Body Art by Carolyn Roper, Source: www.getmadeup.com

 

Don’t clap too hard – it’s a very old building. – John Osborne

 

The Queen Victoria Building, now affectionately known as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen – stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists – in a worthwhile project. Originally, a concert hall, coffee shops, offices, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople, such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers and florists, were accommodated. (reference: http://www.qvb.com.au/about-qvb)

“Earth laughs in flowers” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

“See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…we need silence to be able to touch souls.” – Mother Teresa

I am not a drug addict or a smoker but I think I am becoming Internet addict and looks like it’s even more dangerous as its changing the way my brain works…Do you feel the same?

Today in this post I would like to draw your attention to the most common and increasing problem in the society. I hope you think for some time and reflect back the way we are living today and make sure you are not falling into this trap of technology that we ourselves have woven around us today. We can also discuss more on this if you would like. I am trying to recover from this initial phase of internet addiction that I have recently realised and will be more than happy to share more insight into this if needed.

Sign of Internet Addiction: (reference: http://www.netaddiction.com/)

• Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?
• Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?
• Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?
• Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?
• Do you stay online longer than originally intended?
• Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
• Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?
• Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, and depression)?

Other Symptoms Include:

• Failed attempts to control behaviour
• Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in computer and Internet activities
• Neglecting friends and family
• Neglecting sleep to stay online
• Being dishonest with others
• Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of online behaviour
• Physical changes such as weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome
• Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities

The categories of internet addiction includes: (reference: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Internet_addiction)

• Sex – the person uses the Internet to look at, download or swap pornography or to engage in casual cybersex with other users. This results in neglect of their real-world sex life with their partner or spouse.
• Relationships – the person uses chat rooms to form online relationships (‘online dating’) at the expense of spending time with real-life family and friends. This could include having online affairs (‘cyber adultery’).
• Games – this can include spending excessive amounts of time playing games, gambling, shopping or trading. This can lead to severe financial troubles.
• Information – the user obsessively searches for and collects information.
• Social networking addiction – includes the desire to constantly monitor social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. This includes constantly updating profile posts and checking messages to inform friends of what you are doing at the present moment.

Cause: Now as per the various researches there can be many things that can actually cause this addiction. Some of the reasons can be as follows:

• Personality issues – the user may have personality issues that make them likely to become dependent on a range of things – such as cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, other drugs or the Internet – given the right circumstances.
• Shyness – people who are shy in real-life situations may be drawn to the anonymity of the Internet and believe they can be their ‘true selves’ when online.
• Biochemical responses – the person’s brain responds to the online rewards with ‘feel good’ chemicals and this biochemical ‘high’ encourages dependence.
• Escapism – the Internet is so absorbing that the user can forget about their problems or escape negative emotions while online. Because it makes them feel better, it encourages them to turn to the Internet more and more for relief.
• Instant gratification – search engines help users find what they want quickly – for example information, gambling opportunities or pornography. This instant gratification encourages them to stay online.

Our brain like our other body parts is always changing the way it works with changes in our activities. Our dependency on technology is reshaping our personality and wiring of our brain. Our brain is always adjusting to new things in life and how we are looking at the information in our daily life. “The deeper a technology is woven into the patterns of everyday life, the less choice we have about whether and how we use that technology,” Mr. Carr wrote in a recent blog post on the topic.

In today society students feel lonelier if they haven’t got their smart phone with them even when they are constantly surrounded by thousands of other fellow students. This seems to become big issues with the ability to communicate face to face and causing anxiety in people. We need to look into it and I would say that we bloggers spend a lot of time writing which is a very effective tool to focus on one topic and helps reduce internet addiction in case we are able to write without feeling the need to check our emails or browsing the internet every few minutes. Check out some self-help on the same.

Self-Help: In this situation you might want to use some self-help

• Take note of your symptoms – for example, keep track of your behaviour, thoughts and feelings.
• Think about why you use the Internet so much. What makes you go online? Is there a real problem you’re not facing up to?
• Brainstorm (think about) other ways to cope with your problem that don’t involve the Internet. Choose some that will work and put them into practice.
• Use relaxation methods like deep breathing or meditation to manage anxiety symptoms.
• Rediscover the neglected areas of your life – for example, socialise with friends, make love to your partner, take your children to the beach, get out and be active.
• Seek professional help if necessary.

Less is More: How to Communicate Less but with More Power

Reblogged from Power Up Your Life with Asia Trainers:

Yes, you too want to be a powerful person today by communicating with more power.  Say goodbye to misunderstandings and people not following your way. You want to increase your sales, earn more money, have happier relationships with others, and most importantly, get more done with less. Power Communication is the way to the present inter-connected and instant world of smartphones and tablets.

Read more… 1,005 more words

Bucket-List 2013 Week 1 – Belgian Beer and a Girl with a hood

Hello My Lovely Bloggers,

A big hug to all from me. I had an amazing few days since I have started this bucket-list for this year. And I am back to share it with you to spread this joy around. You know I have 50 items of all sorts of things on my bucket list for 2013. Here is also a link for the same if you haven’t had a look.

My Promise to live life – My BucketList 2013

A little bit different and also another post about the fears I have in my life with a reflection of other reader’s experiences along with it.

My Fears

One items already finished earlier this week:

One item crossed off the list with an awesome day

Friday night with bunch of girls with party dress and then a getting changed into totally different look with boots and a hood for a beer and some good music alone. I can’t believe its just Saturday night now and I still have a full day left whereas I feel like I have lived almost a whole life in last few days. As you know I have big time fear to go into a bar/pub by myself. Not any more…lol….makes me happy to say that finally…as I have been on this mission now and feeling that its going away. It might still take a while to get an expert in it..lol..but it will happen and I am certain about that.

Item Number #30 - Try at least 10 different cuisines - Belgian Cuisine and Belgian Beer

I was supposed to meet this group of people from new meetup group I just joined in a Belgian beer cafe and I was happy to try this new  place called ‘Heritage bar and restaurant’. It was a shame as no one turned up and in other situations I would have been completely. But not today not this year my dear friend. It will be very hard for life to disappoint me now that I have got a taste of happiness. So here I was seeing opportunity to go to this bar by myself as part of overcoming one of my fear http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/what-are-my-fears-people-say-i-dont-have-any-but-lets-look-at-it/  (item #50). So I went in and asked at the reception if any one from the group has arrived. Answer was no. I went in and checked for the best Belgian beer and as I am a sweet tooth so thought that something sweet will be nice. Finally I got myself ‘Kriek’. Kriek lambic is a style of Belgian beer, made by fermenting lambic with sour Morello cherries. The name is derived from theDutch word for this type of cherry (kriek).

I just loved it as I had Bavarian beer before but never Belgian so only today I came to know that it’s known one of the best in the world. And I loved it as well. With a nice book I had a good hour by myself. Then I realised that I can try the food and that will make towards item #30 on my bucket list as well. So I ordered ’White Rabbit Pie braised in dark beer served atop creamy mash potato and Dutch carrots‘ for mains. I know I am not vegetarian anymore that’s what I just told my flatmate as well. But I think this year for me is all about knowing and experiencing new things and it is one of them. Food was good as well and meanwhile there was a guy sitting in the bar for quiet some time in very casual clothes and a backpack that gave me clue for him being a traveler. And you know what since I have started travelling, I have got a sweet spot for travelers in my heart and whenever possible I try to make sure that they feel home even for an hour or so talking to them at times. And also I am always curious to know about their experience. I am not too bold to go to every traveler and start talking but I don’t miss an opportunity either. So here I was having dinner and this guy was also trying to order dinner for himself. It was a moment when I realized that both sides there is an amount of willingness to share the company for dinner than sitting alone. So I introduced myself and came to know this very nice guy, Boris, is from Russia who was travelling here and New Zealand for two weeks. Conversation started with some facts and direction soon went towards philosophy and why people travel kind of topics. It was just an amazing time during I had really. Such a mind opening time when this person was questioning many things that I never even bothered to think. It is awesome to talk to people from different culture and countries. As you get to see a whole different perspective at times of world and life and so much more. So I accompanied this fellow traveler, feeling myself a traveler as well, to the train station and till this time it felt like we are friends from a long time. This is the best feeling with travelling and travelers at times I think when it doesn’t take long to get along as both people are so friendly and open to talk to others. I bid good bye to Boris and promised if I ever come to Russia then I will visit him. What best can be there than to have a local to show you around.

So I am one more step closer to my bucket-list. Oh you are waiting for the interesting news from yesterday – Girl with a hood? OK, right I need to share that. Now before I start let me tell you that I used to read a lot of comic books when I was a kid and always believed in super heroes who save the world in the night. I know sounds funny right but that was me when I was growing up really So here is the story:

Time: 11:30 PM

Phone ringing… ‘Hey Beijie, Do you want to join for a drink? I am at the train station just got back after meeting friends for drink’

‘No, I am going to bed as feeling tired dear so you have fun and I will talk to you tomorrow.”

“Alright, I am just walking home as well.”

Dressed in a party dress and a white fur coat. Listening to music and walking a bit slower because of the high heels. Walking home in the hope to get rid of the sandals as soon as possible. Still willing to go for another drink after 3 vodka and one wine….got home cold and quickly got changed with so much energy…may be the clothes were not comfortable… now dressed in jacket with a hood and boots…another image of darkness, trying to get lost in the night and walk to get few drinks. Getting over the fear of loneliness and daring to go alone to a bar. Sitting in front of the heater re-thinking the whole plan of going out again. It was an adventure if I do and also can turn into something really stupid after few drinks I already had. But no matter what I was thrilled with this idea of going to a cool bar I had just searched for -’Kelly’s on King’. So finally I thought I can at least just go for a walk. So I got my phone with music on and got the hood on and left home. Here I was all on my own feeling like some super hero out and about. Got near the bar where I wanted to go but then I went to ATM to get some money and headed back to the bar. It was one of the coolest bars with Karaoke on the move. I enjoyed a beer with awesome ambiance. It was a good thing to listen to my heart really. I came home and slept like a baby as I had to meet a friend this morning for breakfast. So this was the story. Let me know what do you think I know it’s getting too much of the bar fear thing…I am also thinking in the same like and I think I should better start work upon my half Marathon goal before putting on more weight with these drinks now. Bye for now, I will be back with further updates..promise for year 2013

Keep smiling and stay happy my dear friend!

What are Space people doing in Sydney?

Sydney Tower – What’s wrong with it?

 

Hey friends, here is a picture of Sydney Tower. I want you to guess what’s wrong with this picture. Do you want to give it a try?

Lessons on LinkedIn

Here is an example. You want to work as an Administrative Assistant at The Select Family of Staffing Companies and hope that you can find that opportunity by speaking with the head of Human Resources, who you don’t currently know. Your friend Steve, however, is connected with the head of HR at Select. What better way to catch the HR Director’s eye than by having her trusted friend Steve “introduce” you two?

via Lessons on LinkedIn.

Bucket-List 2013 Week 1 – One item complete with few fun days

Hello my dear blogger,

You know what, I can call myself a bucket-Lister now. And you know why because I have already started the adventure from yesterday. Sorry couldn’t give you update as I was busy with an awesome event I was attending and came home really late. Wait I will share all my fun with you of course.

Here you go first thing first – As you know I had finalized my bucket-list for 2013. If you don’t know yet then here is my adventurous and fun list for this year.

Bucket List for 2013

A little bit different and also another post about the fears I have in my life with a reflection of other reader’s experiences along with it.

My fears

So now you know what is my item number #46 ? Right ‘Have a schooner at Australia’s oldest pub: Fortune of War pub, Sydney‘.

And guess what I have done it…yippi…today. I thought why not cross of some easy and quick things during the week. But as you would know from my list of fears – one of them is to go to a bar or pub by myself. So here in this item it was not just one thing but two really. It was about completing the task and what made it more challenging was that I can’t  walk into a bar/pub by myself. So here I was avoiding to go there and end up working in office till 7 PM and finally thought to go home and leave this task for some other day. Then suddenly a thought came in my head – what if I just do it that way I will be able to cross of one item from my list and say that I have done it. And then I started walking to the oldest pub in Sydney – ‘Fortune of War pub’. And while going there I tried to be cool about the whole thing so started listening to music, although my brain kept telling me to go back as I was getting so nervous thinking what will I do there? Will I be able to even name the drink? I have of course been to many pub/bar but just not by myself. It was the longest path I ever walked to any pub I think. But as soon I got there, I smoothly entered there and ordered my drink. It was surprisingly smooth. As if I am just used to of going to pubs and drink by myself. Although a nervous feeling kicked again looking around and not seeing many girls and none of them were by themselves. But there were many guys by themselves. I don’t mind to talk to any stranger but this is not the kind of place I really prefer as people have different agendas and I was there just for my bucket-list and it could be a hard job to explain that to some one really drunk. But anyways I was lucky to get a call from my flatmate and I had company on phone and she couldn’t believe that I went to bar myself and couldn’t stop laughing. And it took me 30 minutes to finish my drink and then I finally took a train home. And the picture above is not from today as guess what I didn’t take any picture as that might have looked a bit too much – going to bar and taking pictures

Now also few more awesome things happened today and yesterday. Let’s finish stories of today first. I was coming back home when I saw my next door neighbors sitting outside their house. I went inside feeling that I would like to get to know these people. I felt a but shy going to them and initiate a conversation at my own. But then the beer early this evening was handy. I went back and said hello to them and it turned out into a more than half hour session of laugh and get-to-know-each-other time that I just loved it. I then realized that I have awesome people living not far from me. So yes, sometimes if you feel something in your heart its worth doing it or at least giving it a go. I am just learning this as I have my own fears and hesitations. But this year I will set my soul free…lol…or at least try to do so.

Martin Place – On the way to the bar!

Now time for the weekly item #50 - Do one thing new each week

What could I have done? Guess..oh just take a wild guess…alright I will tell. I have been vegetarian all my life. Only recently I had chicken in the plane from Sri Lanka to India when they mixed my choice of meal and I didn’t want to stay hungry so I got myself into eating chicken. I should make it clear that I don’t have any religion restriction for the same as I am not religious. But its moreover my choice. So yesterday I was out with other people and they ordered steak. And I thought why not do this as new thing for the week. And I ordered it without knowing what it is exactly. Then one person in the group realized that I am vegetarian and they felt I might have ordered it by mistake but there I was not going to back out from it even after know what it was now. I wouldn’t say I liked it but at least now I know how it taste. It’s more about trying new things and opening my senses to things and tastes, smells, feelings and a lot more this year. I still prefer vegetarian food but now I can survive no matter where I go as I have removed that hesitation from inside me.

Item Number #50 - Overcome one fear

This is an area where I have been working upon more than one fears at the moment. You can check them out in my list of fears. Here they are:

1. Fear of loneliness
2. Fear of boredom
3. Fear of rejection
4. Fear of unknown

I am working on my first two fears by staying happy and comfortable with my own company at home. I write and try to lessen the feeling of not being able to do anything when at home by relaxing and writing and then listen to my heart and do something fun if I feel like. Not by planning but more spontaneous I would say.

Third one (rejection) is something I am working upon as well by reasoning the reason for others reaction or behavior and also by not taking things personally. I can notice the difference in small things now which is a good sign. But you know what I am not even feeling that people are rude as I am trying to put myself into their shoes. But of-course it will take some time.

Shortcuts – I am not sure if I want to try this

Thanks for sharing this fantastic post andreasmoser

Shortcuts.

Tackling Human Trafficking [The Barrister Magazine]

Reblogged from Little Explorer's Blog:

Recently human trafficking has returned in the UK media spotlight, as a study by the Centre of Social Justice has been published denouncing the Government's failure to tackle this complex form of transational crime.

The internationally recognised definition of 'human trafficking' can be found in the Palermo Protocol (Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children) …

Read more… 843 more words

How Versatile you would like?

My blog has been given so many awesome awards now….I am going to talk about my blog as third person then think ….it is calles interesting, super sweet, hugger, sunshine…now I am feeling a bit jealous of this blog  of mine..hehehehehe…I am in a different mood today now you can tell…I just don’t want to write something general as why not as versatile award means something so why not make this post a little bit versatile….

Shaun (http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com)

&

Anil  (http://anilcm.wordpress.com)

Two amazing bloggers have nominated me for this award. And what can be the best way to celebrate these moments then to actually start a thread to share the versatile themes with other people. All we have to do is share something that you think you felt versatile recently in your life.

 

 Here is some more information about me in pictures and small comments :

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/about/

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/what-keeps-me-alive-want-to-know-lets-have-a-look/

Also recently I am doing 50 items bucket-list for 2013 for the first time so have a look as you would have some fun on the way or at-least it will make you laugh on my funny ways to do stuff at times I am sure  ;)

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/category/life-2/bucket-list/

This is my recent way to show my love for life that I want to share with a smile.

Now here is a small part of my family of bloggers but you are very unique and versatile in your own way so come and chat here as I would love to know more of you.

http://mysuccessisyoursuccess.wordpress.com/

http://eyedancers.wordpress.com/

http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/

http://ausafabidi.wordpress.com/

http://ecomom22.com/

http://eebrinker.wordpress.com/

http://sonelcorner.wordpress.com/

http://peopleplacesandbling.com/

http://michellemarieantellg.wordpress.com/

http://harrienijland.wordpress.com/

http://cluna1.wordpress.com/

http://daveimagines.wordpress.com/

http://belleofthecarnival.com/

Interesting People and Interesting Way to Appreciate – Love Both

Happiness is something you get for free and blogging is one area I discovered it is shared and enjoyed with others. Awards is one of the ways to do it. How beautiful this way of sharing is…

Michael, a father of two angels and a beautiful wife, has nominated me with an INTERESTING BLOG AWARD. It was really interesting to read more on his post about it as well. http://justmikemon.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/interesting-blog-award-for-me-woww/comment-page-1/#comment-508

Michael (http://justmikemon.wordpress.com) has a warm personality that will make you feel that you want to know what’s more there to explore in his blog. So share and smile.

 Here is some more information about me in pictures and small comments :

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/about/

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/what-keeps-me-alive-want-to-know-lets-have-a-look/

Also recently I am doing 50 items bucket-list for 2013 for the first time so have a look as you would have some fun on the way or at-least it will make you laugh on my funny ways to do stuff at times I am sure  ;)

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/category/life-2/bucket-list/

This is my recent way to show my love for life that I want to share with a smile.

Also here is a small chunk from my really big family of bloggers. This is my family and do trust me as I feel so much connected to people here. I am hoping to meet many people from here in real life and have a chat face to face in future. I am so much inspired from you all here. Thanks a lot for giving me all your love and this smile on my face everyday No rules so if you want share this otherwise more important is your smile for me and for all of us as you being the most important person. And when I say this I do mean it  If you want then you can share an interesting fact here with me and others about any person you like in your life or even a stranger. We love stories

http://dobetteralways.wordpress.com/

http://jilllondon.wordpress.com/

http://greetjehornstra.wordpress.com/

http://thewritofimagination.wordpress.com/

http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/

http://coderon.wordpress.com/

http://thegeekyg4mer.wordpress.com/

http://storieswithnobooks.com/

http://www.ajeethboaz.com/

http://twentyfourseveninfrance.com/

http://harrienijland.wordpress.com/

http://udaynarayanan.com/

http://thewhyaboutthis.com/

http://theencouragingscribe.wordpress.com

http://www.ajeethboaz.com/

God bless you all and have a wonderful day ahead!

Touching heart and warming souls these Moments – What’s your moment?

 

 

Awesome way to recognize other people – awards in blogging world. This time I wanted to do something different when I received few awards in last few days from some amazing bloggers. It’s amazing to see that people are so generous and sweet to share the love and appreciation. Even more so that this time I got to choose from 8 awards from Ajay( http://ajaytao2010.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/a-bouquet-of-awards-7-nominations). Not only he is a brave person but generous as well. I would recommend to connect to his blog and meet this beautiful personality. I choose the ‘Best Moment Award’ from the bouquet. you know why? Because these are moments of my life I am living throught this blog as I have got so much love from you my friends that I can’t explain how warm my soul feels. And my heart is touched by the words written from you all.

 Here is some more information about me in pictures and small comments :

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/about/

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/what-keeps-me-alive-want-to-know-lets-have-a-look/

Also recently I am doing 50 items bucket-list for 2013 for the first time so have a look as you would have some fun on the way or at-least it will make you laugh on my funny ways to do stuff at times I am sure  ;)

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/category/life-2/bucket-list/

This is my recent way to show my love for life that I want to share with a smile.

Now time to nominate, God this is the toughest thing to do to be honest as I have so many talented people here that I wish I can just nominate all of them. So no offence as I can’t do that although I want to

So I nominate you and

http://bluehyacinthoperetta.wordpress.com/

http://poeticparfait.com/

http://sanrafaelop.org/

http://jcmarckx.wordpress.com/

http://thewhyaboutthis.com/

http://furandsteel.wordpress.com/

http://mittsandmeasures.com/

http://thetypewriterpoet.com/

http://seekthesacred.wordpress.com/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/

http://geekslimbicramble.wordpress.com/

http://busymindthinking.com/

http://edmooneyphoto.wordpress.com/

http://bwbears.wordpress.com/

But I think you all deserve it so share some awesome moments here with me and rest to brink that smile on everyone’s face.

Tell us what was your special moment of life – it can be any that you think you would like to share!

What are my fears? People say I don’t have any…but let’s look at it

I just got a very good idea from the comment section of my last post : http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/my-promise-to-myself-for-5-years-to-live-life-fully-first-installment-is-here-already-bucket-list-2013/ from my amazing family of bloggers. specially when chandanimane mentioned it specifically after Jill London gave me a compliment by calling me fearless. I might have to think hard to name some good one but little ones can take more space here…lol…friends like them make you think harder about not only what you can do but also what you can’t and why and then turn these failures into success. Thanks to you my friends.

I know I can do sky diving but if I have to meet friends in a bar for instance then it’s hard for me to go there by myself and wait. I rather wait outside on the street somewhere till they actually turn up. There is a recent incidence regarding it where I was told the bar I was supposed to go and from location I knew the place well. I arrived a little early and my friends were a bit late so that made a gap of 30 minutes. I didn’t have any clue what to do now. I walked up and down the street few times and finally went to a shop for window shopping. I wanted to just go inside the bar at my own. But I couldn’t for some reason. May be because I have never done it before. But there is always a first for every thing. I thought about it in the shop and decided to go in no matter what. I saw the watch and still there were 10 minutes left. So I told myself – man up, its not a war zone you are entering girl. Then I finally walked in and I was so amazed at myself that I couldn’t even tell the bartender what I really wanted and was beating the bush for few minutes. But then I was able to finally get vodka with cranberry juice that too 2 PM in the afternoon. Very unusual of me…I know it was not a big deal, but to be honest sometimes I feel I can do things which people are scared of but at the same time I avoid doing simple things that takes not much effort.

So when we talk about fears, every one has some. I am thinking right now to come up with some as I am writing. I like trying new food at times but that’s another fear I am trying hard to overcome as I think I get used to of one good taste and I don’t like to experiment too much after that and can stick to one dish like pad Thai for a year. Insane right but I have done it…

1. Fear of loneliness - I hate being by myself on the weekend…I have been working on this as of now
2. Fear of boredom – I can’t stay alone and I figured it out because I get bored…although I have started working on this already from last weekend..Guys you know what I simply just can’t sit and do nothing…I am not one of those chick who can go to beach and just stay there for hours doing nothing although I wish sometime…either I have to keep swimming or just do something…Although it’s OK sometimes to be able to just relax and I am just learning to do this …after all I am in Australia so I need to be able to do that…..lol  I am just joking
3. Fear of being ignored – I think I like to be recognized and being seen and as I was a single child for long time before my brother came to the world and that makes it 7 years. Going to neighborhood was not really appreciated and I was good at studies so was always a teacher’s pet. Not anymore OK so please don’t think of making fun of me….lol
4. Fear of rejection – I have written a complete post – Treatment of rejection - http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/treatment-for-rejection/, about it and you know what after all that analysis I have done I am overcoming this to quiet an extent.
5. Loosing my freedom – If you know me friends then you would know my way of living. I have a post to show more about my life here - http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/what-keeps-me-alive-want-to-know-lets-have-a-look/. So now you can guess that it’s hard for me to lose this freedom and to this extent that I feel scared of being too close to people at times when they start to think that they have a say in my life and take my decision on my behalf or force their views on me. I don’t mind taking advice but I just don’t follow anyone blindly to be honest.
6. Fear of unknown – I am a very planned person so it’s hard for me to stay in a situation where I don’t know what’s coming. Although I guess I have started to adapt on this area. Example: Hawaii trip was a big example where I had no plan and I had the most fun of my life. Here are few post (some with only pictures for quick look and others with some funny stories to tell about my trip there). Although I am still planning a lot of things as you can say but also learning to lose myself into things to enjoy it the same time http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/hawaii-day-1-started-with-a-stranger-and-ended-up-with-bunch-of-friends/                                                                        http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/lanikai-beach-kailua-oahu-hawaii/        http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/hawaii-here-i-come-here-begins-the-adventure/ http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/sunset-at-sunset-beach-with-amazing-creatures-hawaii/
7. Fear of sickness – I think no one likes it and as we remember how bad it feels when we are sick so I am afraid of getting sick and try everything not to be sick
8. Fear of missing an early morning flight – Oh dear…here it comes…I am so not a morning person to be frank here and I have also missed a morning 6 AM flight to Brisbane not that I slept in but as planned I was about to take the train to the airport but there were some issues with train track and I missed my flight by 5 minutes. This is not the reason of my fear though, I always panic to catch a flight early in the morning to such an extent that I have slept in the airport to catch few flights, or I should say not actually sleep but more over just snoozed. And I am not sure what to do about it really. Some times I just can’t sleep all night if there is something planned for early in the morning.
9. Fear of dark and alone places in foreign places with guys in jacket with hood around – I have been in these situations few times and believe me it didn’t feel good. Although I get my extra senses quiet alert and I start thinking of all the possible ways to survive but it’s just the fear that makes me a bit uncomfortable.
10. Fear of financial crisis – I do not like to be in short of money ever and I make sure I always plan my things and accordingly and I think this is my strength in a way I am so good at managing my money and budget really. But also I would not know how to live if I have no money. One of the reason I postponed to quit job and just go travel for as long as I want. Although I did quit and left my old job to do it but when I got another one then I couldn’t say no to it. Although there are some more reasons as well why I am back in Australia, but still I avoid being in financial crisis by all means.
11. Fear  of public speaking – Oh yes, this is big on my list just like every one. If I have to give presentation I can do that but normally I am more like a one to one person really. So I become more quiet when in a group of new people. One of those shy ones…lol
12. Fear of insects crawling on me – Ew..that’s not something I have ever been comfortable but would like to understand these creatures and over come my fear of the same one day.
13. Fear to cook non vegetarian – I used to be vegetarian so I think I still can’t cook non-veg. I just started chicken on a flight where they just messed up with my meal and I had two choices – stay hungry or eat chicken, so there you go – I did it…I ate chicken so I am not vegetarian anymore but still prefer to eat vegetarian food only.
14. Harrowing Heights – I don’t know how will I stand on the edge of a platform on top of a very high building
15. Fear of blood – I usually lose my nerve a little when I see blood specially some one else’s
16. Fear of violence – I can’t stand people starting to shout each other and then starting a fight
17. Fear of confined space – Like a place where I can only crawl one way
18. Fear of interviews – I just lose my nerve thinking of an interview no matter how good I am at things still I can feel butterfly in my stomach before any interview

Now I have talked about the fears so balance it out I would like to mention few things I have no fear as well. It’s for me to soothe myself and to tell myself that you are not just a scary baby my dear….lol

No fear for:

1. Death
2. Pain
3. New adventure
4. Heights
5. Meeting strangers
6. Visiting new places
7. Doing some thing new
8. Talking my mind
9. Accepting advice and act upon it
10. Accepting my faults
11. Change
12. Moving to a new country
13. Doing what I like
14. Achieving what I want
15. Rejecting my own ideas
16. Fear of commitment
17. Fear of failure
18. Initiate a conversation to strangers – I do it usually only when I am travelling though so its subjective really

Wow that worked out well….18 for 18 ..awesome …now I have a lot of work to do on my fears..as at least one of these will be in my bucket list item ’49 - Overcome one fear’ from my list at http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/my-promise-to-myself-for-5-years-to-live-life-fully-first-installment-is-here-already-bucket-list-2013/.

Friends, here I am opening up more of who I am because of the warmth and awesome responses that you have given so far and this gives me that extra strength to be able to do that. Telling your weakness is not easy but it makes you stronger when you do. It makes you in-conquerable.

So I would love you to

• Share some of your fears here or
• Tell me how can I overcome mine or
• Tell your experience of overcoming some of your fears or
• Just anything really that you would like to tell us …may be just your thoughts about this post

Top 10 Astronomical Events in the World for 2013

Reblogged from Cloud Lounge:

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These are a list of Astronomical Events starting today for the world. Going on till the end of the year, so check out the list and see whats going on by you. As always better if you can get a hold of a strong telescope for the Meteor showers.

No. 10 Lyrids Meteor Shower
When: April 16th - 25th (peaks 21 & 22)

Read more… 162 more words

My promise to myself for 5 years to live life fully: First installment is here already – Bucket List 2013

Hi All,

No I didn’t hide myself after talking about my bucket-list. I am ready with few things as of now

I have an outline of 5 years plan to complete as many things in my wish list as possible – My promise to myself for 5 years to live life fully. And you know what I will be so used to of doing it that I would never stop after that. So sushh..its a smart plan right

First I want to make a quick year plan that I have thought from now to end of this year – as many things as I can try to do this year.

A lot of things in my wishlist require intense travelling and I want to get few other things done before I go for few years travelling. So why not explore Australia. I had two thoughts one for 5 years plan and another one for this year to get myself started as soon as possible.

Here is a table that I made at a very high level as it would need few iteration before reaching to a final list and more items in each category with more accurate tasks. All I am trying to do is balance it in a way that I am taking care of my complete well-being. Do tell me your idea about my planning and if there is something you like here or don’t like. I am open to all your thoughts here.

Mind Travel Peace Achievements Adventure Knowledge Learning Reading Writing Yoga Pursue hobbies Create new hobbies Doing new things	Body Exercise Dancing Food Rest Nourishment Healing
Soul Travel Learn new culture See new places Self Awareness Learn about various religions	Society Making friends Meeting new people Volunteer Making contact and change something in their life Blogging Government
Miscellaneous Get P driver licence Continue with blogging Make a plan to write a book Learn new skills

Now here is my list for this year. I have this rough draft and as I would like to keep around 50 items so I might need to cross some of these and add few new. Although I will try to come up with the final list in few weeks time.

1. Start learning Spanish
2. Go on a short road trip
3. Run a half-marathon
4. Visit at least 7 cities of Australia in next 7 months
5. Take in a concert in the vines: Hunter Valley
6. Learn to play golf
7. Learn to play squash
8. See my favourite sport live – F1
9. Read at least 5 famous books – Some of them from Indian writer
10. Try couch surfing in Australia
11. Plan for New Year and Christmas in Miami
12.  Cruise – Weekend may be at least
13. Try at least 10 different cuisines
14. Get P driver licence
15. Get more active with blogging – redesign the site
16. Make a plan to write a book
17. Learn about a country in Europe – culture, food etc
18. Sing Karaoke
19. Attend blogger’s event
20. D o at least 5 things living a high life
21. Eat in one of the best restaurant each month
22. Swim with Crocodile
23. Swim with White Sharks
24. Learn to ski
25. Participate in a swimming race
26. Learn martial arts
27. Get my weight back to 47 KG
28. Learn to say “Hello” in at least 20 language
29. Go paragliding
30. Practice Indoor Rock Climbing
31. Watch Opera in Sydney Opera house
32. Dive and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
33. Go on a multi-day hike
34. Volunteer
35. Go for Melbourne Cup
36. Visit Twin Falls at Kakadu National Park
37. Swim at a fake beach: Brisbane
38. Feed crazy schools of fish: DarwinHave an island cocktail at an old naval quarry: Sydney Harbour
39. Learn to sail in the world’s best harbor: Darling Harbour
40. Enjoy tacos and margaritas with a new friend: Sydney
41. Watch pajama cricket at night: Various cities
42. Sleep in luxury with animals at the zoo: Sydney
43. Sleep in a wartime bunker: Miles
44. Have a weekend barbie on grassy knoll with forthright locals: Bondi Beach
45. Take a ghost tour through The Rocks: Sydney
46. Have a schooner at Australia’s oldest pub: Fortune of War pub, Sydney
47.  Climb the coathanger, Sydney Harbour bridge
48. Send one article to get published
49. Overcome one fear
50. Do one thing new each week

Do write something even if some thing funny or serious as that way I would know where my list took your mind

Weekend Wisdom: You Are Confined Only by the Walls You Build Yourself

Reblogged from Life Out of the Box:

You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

Photo by: Quinn & Jon
Location: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

letting go

Reblogged from GrowingWildFarm:

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In spring, and really all year and every day, the to do list for the farm is hefty and long.  And the reality is, of course, that life's to do lists don't ever come to an end, so part of coming to peace with things both here on the farm and in life is realizing that it is the work that is 

Read more… 853 more words

The Debate Over the Ethics of Photo Restoration

Reblogged from Michael Tormey's "Legacy Blog":

At first glance, one might question how photography and genealogy are linked. The reality is, however, that a big part of genealogy and historical research is simply basic detective work.

To do a complete study of an ancestor's past, a genealogist or family historian needs to put on their detective's hat, turn over every stone and investigate every clue at their disposal.

Read more… 1,346 more words

Super Sweet Award

A very sweet gesture from my sweet blogger friend Vijay (http://halfeatenmind.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/super-sweet-award/) just after I posted another award from Jill. Vijay presents me with ‘Super Sweet Award’. He studied journalism & media  from UK and is a very talented blogger. Thanks a lot to Vijay to nominate me with this awesome award.

I wish I could present this to all the bloggers connected to me as none of them I could really put out of the bracket when you think who is sweet really. All these bloggers with big heart and amazing brain have been sharing the experiences with us and that it is so sweet and unique.

The Rules:

• Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you. – Done
• Answer five Super Sweet questions. – Dome
• Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post. – Done
• Nominate a baker’s dozen (12) other bloggers. – Done
• Notify your nominees on their blog. – Done

The 5 Super Sweet Questions:

1. Cookies or Cake?Cake, all sorts of cup cake as well but with coconut flavour specially
2. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate and Vanilla both really
3. Favourite Sweet Treat? Yogurt with blueberry and apples that I recently had
4. When do you crave sweet things the most? After dinner or when I am upset…lol
5. Sweet Nick Name? Sonya

And now here I present this award to a dozen more sweet and awesome bloggers.

1. http://theencouragingscribe.wordpress.com/
2. http://greenhornphotos.com/
3. http://notinindia2012.wordpress.com/
4. http://northwestphotos.wordpress.com/
5. http://everydaypowerblog.com/
6. http://julieriso.wordpress.com/
7. http://superduque777.wordpress.com/
8. http://mittsandmeasures.com/
9. http://bluehyacinthoperetta.wordpress.com
10. http://edmooneyphoto.wordpress.com/
11. http://exxtracts.wordpress.com/
12. http://imdbwords.com/

After this article is published today, I will be messaging all above nominees on their ‘About’ or home pages. If you choose to accept a nomination, please familiarize yourselves with these simple rules.  No win, no fee basis.  Just a smile will do.

Super Sweet Award

 

 

Such a sweet gesture from my sweet blogger friend Jill London (http://jilllondon.wordpress.com). As she presents me with ‘Super Sweet Award’. She is a children’s writer based in UK. She has got an amazing blog which you would love to read I am sure.

It’s the award time as I am getting quite a few these days again. And here comes Super Sweet Award! Thanks a lot Jill for making my day by giving this award.

I wish I could present this to all the bloggers connected to me as none of them I could really put out of the bracket when you think who is sweet really. All these bloggers with big heart and amazing brain have been sharing the experiences with us and that itself is so sweet and unique.

The Rules:

• Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you. – Done
• Answer five Super Sweet questions. – Dome
• Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post. – Done
• Nominate a baker’s dozen (12) other bloggers. – Done
• Notify your nominees on their blog. – Done

The 5 Super Sweet Questions:

1. Cookies or Cake?Cake, all sorts of cup cake as well but with coconut flavour specially
2. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate and Vanilla both really
3. Favourite Sweet Treat? Yogurt with blueberry and apples that I recently had
4. When do you crave sweet things the most? After dinner or when I am upset…lol
5. Sweet Nick Name? Sonya

And now here I present this award to a dozen more sweet and awesome bloggers.

1. http://kaligrafinusantaraonline.wordpress.com/
2. http://ourcloudlounge.com/
3. http://ajaytao2010.wordpress.com/
4. http://halfeatenmind.wordpress.com/
5. http://geekslimbicramble.wordpress.com/
6. http://cncfimoparadise.wordpress.com/
7. http://spatztoo.wordpress.com/
8. http://zarabu.wordpress.com/
9. http://cosytravels.wordpress.com/
10. http://storieswithnobooks.com/
11. http://imagemontage.wordpress.com/
12. http://traveltimetalk.com/

My thanks to all these sweet souls and great bloggers to make this place a better place to share.

Underwater Sculptures

Underwater Sculptures.

Sunshine Award

Thank you very much  Arianna Elise (http://traveltimetalk.com/) for nominating me for the Sunshine Award.It is great to have someone recognize your blog like this. It is very inspiring and motivating as its the second time I have got nominated for this award. Arianna Elise. brought sunshine in my WordPress life.For that and your support i want to thank you, my friend !

Arianna Elise is a well traveled and very inspiring blogger and you would love to explore her blog I am sure. I am going to follow the rules of the award now.

To accept the award, the rules are:
-Link back to the person who nominated you : Thank you again Cristi !! Also I would recommend to check out her awesome blog (http://traveltimetalk.com/)

-Post the award image to your page – Done

- Answer the questions.  This is designed to help people get to know you better. – here they are

1. Favorite color: well, I have a few! Blue, purple, red and depends what the color is for – dress, purse, house etc

2. Favorite animal: Dogs, Rhinos

3. Favorite number: 3

4. Favorite Non-Alcoholic drink: Fresh Coconut Juice

5. Favorite Alcoholic drink: Vodka all time fav

6. Favorite facebook or twitter: Facebook, I don’t have a twitter

7. My Passions: Travel, adventure, photography, blogging and a lot more

8. Giving or receiving gifts: both makes me smile

9. Favorite city: So far Melbourne, Singapore, many in Nepal, Ella in Sri Lanka

10. Favorite TV show: Tom & Jerry, Big Bang Theory

-Nominate 10 other blogs and let them know they are nominated : Although I would love to mention a lot more may be few hundred but as per the rules here are some of the blogs that are very interesting and lovely to read.

1. http://jilllondon.wordpress.com/
2. http://theencouragingscribe.wordpress.com/
3. http://betunada.wordpress.com
4. http://kaligrafinusantaraonline.wordpress.com/
5. teenfaith777.wordpress.com
6. http://mysuccessisyoursuccess.wordpress.com/
7. http://ashiakira.wordpress.com/
8. http://busymindthinking.com/
9. http://maggiethom.wordpress.com/
10. http://countingducks.wordpress.com/

Congrats and thank you for your support all as without you this would not have been possible!!

How can we predict future when things are changing every moment?

 

Many of us want to know what will happen in future? We are so curious at times that we even try to get some professional help to predict the future. But it made me think one day discussing it with a friend that every action in present leads us to our future and each action we take differently will change the direction to the future resulting into a unique future. I have not studied this subject very well so I would not question what people with vast knowledge might have to say. Although I would love to discuss it with the people reading here whether they agree with me or not.

I think it’s not possible to predict future as we every moment as we breathe creating it and working towards a unique future every moment. For example if we start our day with a bad or unfortunate incident and then depending upon our reaction to that even the whole day changes accordingly. Either we can choose to stay happy and try to smile considering what has happened can not be changed and try to make sure that rest of the day is better. Or we can feel bad about it and crib about it the whole day and then have an awful day. What I am saying is a very common thing and hopefully we all know it, but it is difficult to actually react in positive manner if we are not positive inside. So we not only have to think about the outside reaction but also need to think why we react in certain manner. Sometimes it might happen that we have something going on inside that might make our reaction go bad as well even if nothing big happens.

Lets close our eyes, now you would think how will we read this post then ..hehehe OK let me tell you then, this is an exercise you are supposed to do if you really want to know what’s going on inside you right now. And if any thing happens in next few minutes what will be your reaction. So what you need to do? Simple close your eyes for 30 seconds as it will be hard to do longer at first and then think how you are feeling – uneasy, frustrated,happy, sad,angry,bored or any other feeling. Then put it into the category of positive and negative. Now this will most probably drive the reaction force from you in case any thing happens. So make sure you try to change the inside as much as possible. It will change your reaction to things quickly and in a nice way. You will not regret why did you not do something differently to change the series of events in your day. What happens at times is not in our hand but what happens after that is definitely in our hands and there we can make a difference. Think about it and take one day at a time and observe the events and see how you made a difference.

Now you would think all this philosophy I am telling here, any one can  say these things. But the point is whether I practice this myself or not. Then I would tell you my experience and how it changed things. Just a simple example out of my many experiences – I was getting bored for many weekends. I talked to a very good friend regarding this that since I have come back from travelling I am facing some problem settling in normal life. And as I have just started fresh in Sydney so not much plans are made yet for the weekends and I am so bored. He said one line  - ‘Where is boredom? Is it here on the table, on the walls or on the floor? It is in your brain.” And I am so happy that I had that conversation with him as I did realize that I am always busy doing something or the other and in this race I have almost forgotten to sit back and relax sometime. Or not panic if there is nothing much happening on the weekend. This Saturday, I made sure that I am feeling good doing anything and I watched movies, went out to buy some washers for the tap, came back in windy weather and smiled looking at the cloudy sky. I then decided not to go to a party that was decided long back looking at the weather as it might have a really bad night to go out. But unlike other times I did not feel bad about any of my decisions taken during that day. Then before going to bed I decided to have a very good Sunday. I slept around 1:30 AM which was quiet late but nothing unusual  But it could have made me asleep all afternoon. But no, I had decided in my head that I want to be able to say that I had a wonderful Sunday. So I woke up around 9 AM and it was a beautiful sunny day. I had breakfast, watched a movie in a relaxed manner then painted my hands with Heena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehndi). Then went out with my friends and you know what now I am able to say that I did have an awesome Sunday. So, now you see – make that decision in your mind of having a good day and trust yourself that you are capable of having a good day and you deserve it. Then see the magic

Have an awesome week ahead dear readers! And this is your moment to make that decision that you will have a good Monday tomorrow. You know what, that smile suits you so make sure you smile at the end of this post as that will make my post worth a million if you do

A Day Without Tomorrow ! ! !

A Day Without Tomorrow ! ! !.

Amazing things just like this happen everyday

Amazing things just like this happen everyday.

Romanticism and Ruralism: Changing Nineteenth Century American Perceptions of the Natural World (Completed Graduate Research)

Romanticism and Ruralism: Changing Nineteenth Century American Perceptions of the Natural World (Completed Graduate Research).

Central Station, Sydney (witness of World War II to the electrifying excitement of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games)

We believe God is there then why we are still in the darkness – Time to wake up

Where the two worlds meet – Life and Death

Rediscovering the dictionary

Reblogged from Alec Nevala-Lee:

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I've never owned a dictionary. Well, that isn't precisely true. Looking around my bookshelves now, I can see all kinds of specialized dictionaries without leaving my chair, from Hobson-Jobson: The Anglo-Indian Dictionary to Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. About a year ago, moreover, I was lucky enough to acquire not just a dictionary, but…

Read more… 785 more words

Investing in the Surreal World

Reblogged from vanyieck's last stand:

Perry slipped into his seat across from Norm. They were relaxing in the lounge at their curling club. They’d been playing on the same rink for years. Behind them eager curlers were vigorously sweeping up and down the ice.

“It was something to see,” said Norm. He took a sip of his coffee.

“What was?”

“The downgrade of the US credit rating.”

Read more… 269 more words

Transparency to others we might not always consider but transparency to ourselves can save our soul!

Strength for life doesn’t lie in appearance…you can live a good life without looking perfect

Life as we know it – Learn the Truth (Part 4)

Links to the last few posts in this series -

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/unlearn-to-learn-the-truth-part-3-sky-high-angels-and-god/

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/unlearn-to-learn-the-truth-part-2/

http://talkingexperience.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/unlearn-to-learn-the-truth-part-1/

Note: No connection but you will find it interesting to have a look I am sure.

Days when you feel as if you have achieved nothing, moments that pass without registering your presence. Life as we know it has different phases and cycles everyday. All you can do is to accept. We all are humans, very prone to errors and mistakes – we all are social creatures bound to love and hate. Sometimes its love that gives us a lesson, the other times its the feeling of hatred that leaves the imprint on our heart. But we all are part of this infinite universe, playing different roles in life. Dreaming, when we can, moving forward when we can, complaining, procrastinating, cribbing over small or big things in life.

One day it all changes by some harsh and true words or fatal accident or illness or close encounters to death. We stop for a moment and realize its all for nothing. We try to cling onto things that will never matter in our life one day. We try to get attached to things that we wouldn’t exist in future. We all think that things will make us happy, but it will hardly last long. So what now when we have already lived our lives chasing things that never important. Things that didn’t last long in our life. What can we do now to undo what has already been done.

Change is what make us think this and change is the answer to this as well. We can not travel back in time, but we need to realize that time spent thinking about past is also not going to make a big difference. All you can do is focus in the present. Mind you, not even future is in our control as that is the place nobody can go to until unless it transform into present one day.

Remember we are born and given a life with a simple task – to live. Is that so difficult to do? We are basically designed to do that only. How to live? Is that what you are thinking? Or is that not what we are doing already? Either way you should do some retrospection really. And see how many of us are actually are sleeping properly or eating properly. Now I might start sounding a bit harsh when I say – All we are doing is being lazy and stuck in this cycle of daily routine and then our sub-conscious mind take over and we almost switch off our brain from time to time as there is nothing much to think about. We are prone to get accustomed to habits and in today world we get accustomed to not doing new things very often in life. We simply don’t like change.

Do you want to know what’s right and what’s wrong then? Get the basics right then. No point of reading a lot and get a lot of theory in your mind and keep yourself even more puzzled. Its like trying to remembering the complex formulas of mathematics whereas the basic formulas are not clear. When we start studying, the first thing we learn is fundamentals and when you are done with it, then you move to something more challenging. Till then you keep practicing the basics.

Do you want to know what’s happening with most of us today? We have forgotten the basics and we are stuck with those complex formulas and we are trying so hard to fit those into life and make some sense of it. Let’s take a simple example of eating habit. How many of us will say that their eating habits are perfectly good? Not many I believe. In today’s modern world we are so much dependent on fast food and preserved food. Even think of skipping a meal for working harder at times. Is it worth? Why are you working – I know not for food only its for your brain but how can you expect a car to perform the best with no fuel? Other than gym or some exercise, do you really listen to your body? We are pushing ourselves over the limits with things these days. And then what about soul.

We are not just body but soul as well. What are we doing for it then? We want to have the world to ourselves at time, we want money, success and a lot more. But we you think you can handle it all when we can’t even take care of the most precious gift that God has given us – body, mind and soul. Can you replace them ever – No. So what’s the rush to achieve everything whereas you have the most of the universe – yourself. Stop for a moment, think and try to take this all in and think about it. I might sound a but preachy here but truth is true words don’t taste good similarly as medicine is not always sweet but its important to heal from it. Similarly we need to work on ourselves to heal our broken heart, heal our bashed body and heal our mind for a healthy mind, body and soul. That’s when you need to think about other things when you are capable enough to take care of yourselves first.

Note: I was so sleepy writing this that I didn’t really care much about making it at a polite note so hope you take the crux and don’t mind the harsh tone. Although sometimes we need to be jolted to wake up from this sleepy way of living. Have a healthy mind, soul and body that will lead to a happy life!

 

The Atlantic Road in Norway

The Atlantic Road in Norway.

7 Things You Must Do in Melbourne

Reblogged from B&W Bears:

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Melbourne, Victoria, is beautiful, vibrant and clean. The city itself and its surrounding areas never fail to disappoint any traveller - from the bustling shopping district along Collins Street and Bourke Street, to the jaw-dropping natural wonders over the Great Ocean Road - you'll find yourself amazed and awed.

I hope this post helps you experience what Melbourne is!

1. Take public transport…

Read more… 606 more words

Eccentrics, Those Very Peculiar People

Eccentrics, Those Very Peculiar People.

Death – Deadline, Bucket-list – Collection of many milestones…Which way do you prefer living?

All I wanted to write was a list of things to have my own bucket-list, just like many other people out there. But it got me into very deep thought about the way we live our life and why we choose just one list and why there is a hurry to accomplish as many things as possible. Then I thought of giving it an analogy to understand it clearly myself. And as I am thinking the words are finding their own way to you in a form of post. I am still in process of thinking through this whole idea of bucket-list as I have been planning stuff in my life and try to do them as per the plan as the time goes by. But recently while travelling, I heard people talking about their bucket-list a lot. And to be honest I was not into it till few days ago. I think I will still mull over the idea of creating a bucket-list. The issue is not with choosing the things I want to do or would like to do   and not with commitment either, the main thing now looks like to me is that sit back and check what life is really about.

Yes, it does seem like a never ending topic if I do that but we all got to do that some time in our life. Specially when you are on this train ride with death as destination, you need to be very careful to choose what all stops you want to visit and experience. As the time for this ride is limited and stops are unlimited. So one way to do it is choose one path to get from starting point to end. Or try to cover as many areas as possible.

We all are different and have different choices and priorities. We all have our own way to see things and experience life. So most of us will choose accordingly. And doing that we will cross each others path on various stops. Some time we will travel together with some people and make friends and then the next moment we might have to go separate ways because we want to see different stops now. We can try to change our way to spend more times with the people we like and get along well. But the truth is this is a journey so no matter how tight you hold on, it is going to end one day anyways. And that time you would like to be happy with the journey you made. So many people around make different choices and then regret that. But it’s never wrong or right, its all about the different stops we choose and different paths we choose in life.

I think of a bucket-list as a way to collect a lot of things into prioritized manner in one list and set the milestone of our journey that way. As each milestone have some impact on our life, hence experiencing each of them will change the way we look at our life. Its like I feel a changed person every time I travel and see a new place. As the more I see, hear and feel, the more different perspective I have.

I am overwhelmed with so many thoughts in my brain at this moment.

Why do we want to make any list to live life? A question that occurred to me when I heard people talking about bucket-list. But then as always I tried to answer myself – because life is short and there are limitless things to do in the world, so it is important to make a list and pin then down to countable numbers to be able to do as much as possible.

How I am going to make one as there is so much I would like to do? I answer myself again.

My brain – “You need to understand that the list has to contain things that make you happy. And you feel alive again”.

Inner Voice – “Then why don’t I just go travelling as that makes me happy.”

Brain – “Life has got so much more to offer and you don’t have so much money to keep travelling for rest of your life anyways.”

Heart – “Stop talking you two as it hurts to think that you put money as limitations in-front of living the dream of your life.”

Brain – “Alright settle down my dear heart, we will not talk about that OK  But we need to understand that there are so many experiences in the world, and so many feeling to be felt. And in today’s life we all are so busy managing this daily life and keep this human healthy that we can’t focus on what makes us truly happy. Am I right?”

Inner Voice – ” I agree on this”.

Heart – “I need to feel alive again”.

Inner Voice – “I need to be heard again”.

Brain – “Then I need to start working again”. 

Lol, that last statement was just for fun. But yes we need to define various areas in our whole being. Even before starting to think about the various fields outside (sports, music etc), it is very important to keep in mind that we need balance in life. And too much exercise and no food for your brain would not give you the true happiness. Here I am not talking about the bucket-list of hundred odd things and get ready to execute them. Here I am talking about giving equal importance to your mind,body and soul. As then only you will be able to decide the things that you would like to do to make them all satisfied and content. And what if we die in the next moment or few days, weeks or months. We might feel as if we missed something. So better take a holistic approach and make sure we achieve a little bit in all areas as we move forward.  Now I think I will not be able to jot down my list in hurry as I feel this topic require lot more than I thought. The deeper I go I feel this might be the most important thing of my life. And if I hurry it then I might be set upon a totally different journey than I would want in real. Hmmm…sometimes I feel its easy not to think much and do things…see that’s exactly how we live these days – don’t want to think and procrastinate everything. And do the minimal that require no new learning each day as its easy to perform the task that we are familiar with. Any ways few more things I need to discuss before setting up a list.

What all things should be there in the list and in what order?  We need to note down some broader field in that case (example: sports,music, health, lifestyle,travel etc). And then once we are done with it then we can choose different items in each area. And then comes the priority of these things in the list. That we should ideally decide on few factors – how much we would love to do it, how much resources it require, how much time needed for its preparation (time,cost,feeling). As for example: running 5 KM marathon can’t be done overnight as it requires training, whereas going on a dinner cruise can be done on any weeknight or week-end night. Then there would be some really long terms things like be an expert in some subject or learning a new language or culture as you have a sea of knowledge to grasp in such cases, so its a part of ongoing learning. Wow this post is getting into shape now. I am thinking to make a very small and handy chart that might help while making your bucket-list if you ever feel like. Not that it require thorough process but just in case you like to think the reason behind things like me then it might be useful as I have done some thinking already. Why don’t I think more on this and get back to you in the next post. You never know as we might think of something big. Please share your thoughts as I might be thinking just in one direction and you might help me in looking at this in a different light altogether.

Wish you a smile, at least few moments of joy and love in your day!

Reflection of Inner Beauty (Thank you my friend)

 

Hello to all my friends here. This post is somewhat special to me as this is my 100th post here since I have started blogging. And I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you to make this journey so inspiring and beautiful for me. As its only because of all your support and motivation and readership that I was always inspired to share and write. And today when I see 7,690 views, 379 direct and 121 followers via facebook, then my heart melts with all this appreciation and support I have got from this amazing online family of mine.

I would love to share more of my experiences here in future. Also would love to hear about what you think of blogging overall in few lines if possible as I would love to hear about your experiences as to how you started here and what made you continue for such a long time. I am expecting to hear from you as it will inspire all of us and will help the people new to blogging in finding their way as well.

Keep blogging!