Ipsita Contemplates

It was almost twilight. The rains had slowed down a bit by then. I was jostled with apprehensions and was juggling myriads of thoughts and emotions until I reached the cottage hotel. On reaching the hotel, the host and his team welcomed us with the warmest of smiles, some amazing home-baked cookies, and a comforting cup of hot Kashmiri Qahwa . The warm reception by the team and the steaming cup of Qahwa melted all my apprehensions and worries. That was the first food that welcomed me to Kashmir. And what a beginning it was! Splendid, in every sense! In true way, it set the tone for the rest of my stay in the valley. After the quick snack, we retreated to our room. After an hour or so, one of the staff members came to ask for our choice for dinner. There was no menu to choose from, just like we do not have in our homes. We could request for anything as long as the requisite grocery is available in the kitchen pantry. On further discussions, we got to know that Kashmiri rajma (kidney...

Most often than not, I end up not clicking pictures. I would end up eating the food or spend hours together brooding over a scene and the thought of an "instagram worthy" picture would not even cross my mind. The same happens when I'm travelling or visiting a place of interest. I tend to experience the place or the moment more through my eyes than through the camera lens. Not that I never click pictures... I do and I have a fair share of those too... but there are not as much photos as there could have been.  That day I was visiting an aquatic museum. You know those kinds where you walk through the glass tunnels with the marine life swimming over your heads... yes, those ones.It was a surreal feeling. You very well know that you are not inside the sea, but that won't stop you from the feeling of being underwater. I feel, going alone to such places is a big perk because, that allows you to experience the place solely, while taking all its essence as it was meant to be....

Embracing the warmth of the infant sun, And holding on to the calm of the velvety night... Ethereal feelings some such and more, Defines life and experiences, that I live for. Copyright © 2018 Ipsita Contemplates. All Rights Reserved.

If I must classify the places I visited in my last trip, it would be two basic categories; one which was flocked by tourists, locals, and travelers alike, and the other which was not. In the first category places (the popular sightseeing places, shopping streets, malls, a few very famous museums (not many people visiting though), and the like), you could witness the visitors glued to their electronic gadgets. You would rarely find anybody who is “actually” there. It is such a situational irony. Why is it an irony, you may ask. That is because, most of these visitors might have planned their visit by probably looking it up in the net (virtual world). They probably found the place interesting enough to explore it in real. However, after getting to the “real place”, they got glued in to the virtual world. Let’s assume a situation, wherein a person gets interested in The Louvre by reading or listening about it. It might inspire the person to explore the place and see what it feels li...

I did not have a plan for that day. That is why I did not set up my morning alarm. However, I woke up a few minutes before 6 in the morning. That was strange, considering I was dead tired from the previous day and still I woke up refreshed. I was in Pondicherry and it was day 1! I sprang out of my bed and looked outside the window. Probably most would not call it a “perfect sunrise time”! Then again, perfection is just a state of mind. It was not late enough, and the view was still breathtaking. I moved out of my room to the beach (I just had to cross the road to reach the beach). The smell of the sea in the warmth of the infant sun can elevate anybody’s spirits. The serenity of the water dazzling in the golden sun was amazing! As the sun started its ascent on to the sky, I returned to my room, prepared myself for the day and moved out. It was around 7 in the morning. I decided to go to Baker’s street for breakfast and set on foot for that. The streets were calm and beau...

Ever since I could remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I have always loved sharing whatever knowledge I could possibly share. Having a sibling who was eager to learn, when we were young, made me dream more of this.  Reality is far more dramatic than dreams. I never truly realized how I would feel if I get to teach a “real class of students” someday. The day arrived sooner than I had imagined. It was a Monday. I was excited and anxious, but nothing beyond normal. I was prepared for my class, and I headed towards the classroom much ahead of schedule. The entire session went on smooth. While delivering the lecture, I realized I am learning more than ever. I am gaining new perspectives which I could have never imagined, perhaps. The session ended, and I moved out of the classroom. I could never do justice if I explain what exactly I was feeling. It was beyond exhilaration. That was altogether a different flavor of happiness, a very new and unique flavor indeed! ...