When you’re home trying to figure out what to do next in life, or in my case waiting to do what’s been told to me, a lot of things run in your mind! And if you’re a fickle minded like moi, there’s no end to this thinking! Eight months & running .. planning & plotting, going anywhere & everywhere .. its amazing what runs in this tiny lil mind!
From creating a photography page on Facebook just for some time pass to this date, when I just spent 4 days 3 nights in an entirely new city exploring the places, wandering vaguely around, sometimes mindlessly and all this to click some pictures & to know how capable I am ! Some would sum this up saying ‘SILLY’ but for me this is an Never-Forgettable Experience!
For a girl who is so comfortable in her tiny lil life, happy family, few good friends, Finished with studying, Work life starting from next month, happy social life, surrounded by music (ME) .. this Tripping alone was the best thing so far! No guilt, no regrets, not looking back for anything, ‘go-anywhere-do-anything-no One-to-ask-you-anything' kind of freedom!
Few months back ( Aug 17th,2011), I was going through some flower pictures I took in lal bagh & I decided to show it to everyone via a Facebook Page! There begins an EPIC journey of my life! Little did I know, I would be tripping & exploring cities & clicking pictures for that page ! Now when I look back,all those comments,suggestions, people telling me u’re doing nothing but wasting time.. I BEG TO DIFFER. I have made something out of my life when I thought I would be just sitting & watching TV like any other Graduate-Waiting-to-Join-Work !
It may not be something that an engineer would do when they have free time on hand! They wud probably join course & do Java .Net certified courses & try for jobs Or do internship at some fancy company & probably start working there, but all I knew was I have a job to join in few months & I had to make those ‘few months’ count ! But again,little did I know, that ‘few months’ would be 8 months :D I dint lose heart ! I was more happy than ever.
Usually,there are two conversations that happen simultaneously, my world voice & little voice in my head with an opinion on everything I say!
Little Voice (LV): Anyways I will be working in few months,so its no big deal if the page doesn’t work out after I get busy with work. Its not like I will be clicking pictures that will change the history of this world,let it be just Part-Time ! J
Came up with this name called “ Part-Time-Clicks” ! Spent a day or two just thinking the name. Then I had my page up & running. Then did the next step required. Promotion!!
People : Hey,what’s this page invite you’ve sent. What is part time clicks? U click ?
LV : No,fool ! I don’t click. I’m just copying pictures from google & I copy right it with my name & upload & get all nice comments & appreciations from people like you!
ME : Yes, I click J . Do check the page!
So after months of promotion & still promoting everytime I get chance too, now I am proud to say I click what I like & sometimes what I see & be all happy about it. I don’t always know the ABC of photography. But the equipment that I own, I experiment with it, in every way possible! Nothing like satisfaction you get when people appreciate your work & even I feel happy. Very ! After that lalbagh trip,my dad got home a brand new camera, I wasn’t even aware of it! He consulted my sister on which one to take, they did the R&D..they got themselves a new camera. I wasn’t least interested !
LV : Its not like I will get to click with new camera & get to take it out all the time for all occasions so why bother at all. LalBagh was a one time thing. It aint gonna happen ALWAYS!!
I did sneak out with camera most of times! I met my peeps who were ready to be clicked & get Famous ;) I went out within Bangalore to areas I never went & started exploring. I got this habit of taking camera everywhere I went & just clicked everything & nothing ! I had the most memorable experience with camera,everytime I went out !
I won this lunch for two on Radio Indigo once, & it was for buffet at a very fancy place! I was happy to take my dad out for a fancy lunch for once J
LV : Look dad, even though I am not earning as fancy as sis is..I’m taking you out on this yummy buffet even before I started earning J
Instead of stuffin myself with sumptuous food spread across the buffet, I was out there clicking salads, appetizers, main course,desserts. And ofcourse my dad wasn’t happy with my behavior! It was a 5 start hotel,for Christ sake! I bet my dad was lil embarrassed with me.
His Little Voice : Oh no, why did I agree for this buffet in the first place ? This girl is making it more than worse! She’s acting as if she’s seeing this kind of food spread for first time!
My Little Voice : YES,Ofcourse!
So,like this I went on clicking everything I liked ! From food, to people, to animals ! Recently I was told of a function away from Bangalore. Cousin marriage.
LV : Wheeeeee, I’m a food photographer, & now going to be a wedding photographer too J
It ain’t easy! Well, Nothing is ! But I figured, if I am going to try, I am going to try harder & know my capabilities ! I just gave attendance at wedding & instead I went to Safari/ zoo near by !
That was one of the happy moments. I clicked one of my most fav picture of lifetime. I knew then & there, if I try harder, I can atleast get me some nice memories! Now, when I look at those pics, I get a good laugh & some good pictures too!
I tried my best to be with the camera,most of times. but sometimes the review people give can give a set back ! That’s what happened with me. Some say LOL & comments like “ really, U clicked” .. which I know are sarcastic but now I don’t let them get to me. There ‘s a huge difference now, in what I do. After I finished graduation, I had nothing to do. I decided it was time, I did something different. But I never knew I would actually take it up, seriously ! After clicking pictures & creating page & keeping it alive .. I decided it was time to take up more things ! I joined 10 day mehandi learning course near by home & I LOVED IT J kept me busy, kept me happy,kept me going everywhere. There was no end to what I did ! I started applying mehandi to people I know & made THEM happy J ! I started cooking at home,baking !
ME : Yay, I am cooking & baking & clicking pictures of cakes & cupcakes !
LV: wow,I have a photographer residing inside me,from always ;)
I did a lil bit of this & that but nothing went fr a long time,except photography J Now, I take things seriously.. which brings me to this BLOG J
Months of clicking people, places, food, abstract, random – whatever they call it, I had it :D Everyone dreams of independence .. Freedom ! Not always,everyone gets. I did,too.. I wanted to live alone..the happiness of being alone, being able to do what you want, being able to learn new things on your own & be proud of it ! I too wanted all of it J
One fine day…...
Mum : Sin, Go outside, live alone for a while & know the difficulties you will face & get solutions fr urself!
LV : OHMYGOD !!!! God has finally listened to my prayer ???
Me : WHAT?????????????
A day later, I see myself sitting in a Train at early morning with a bag & my jhola ( People who have seen me,know the bag that I always have, hanging around me like its full of diamonds) !
I WAS ON MY WAY TO MYSORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its not that big deal for everyone,cz its not far from Bangalore..but a beautiful one J It is exactly 160km from where I stay & I was on my way there, Alone J I can’t stop but mention GOING ALONE often cz it is a big deal for me J
LV: if you feel bored with Going alone being mentioned 100 times in this blog, I say U start ignoring now, cz I be mentioning it everytime I get excited & think of my trip J Going alone Going alone Going alone Going alone Going alone Going alone Going alone Going alone Going alone!
I was on a train full of people, who were prolly wondering what’s with this girl :D ‘cause I had my CAMERA with me ;)
LV : I bet people would give me a red-carpet entry to the train & ticket-less journey if I had a D-SLR camera with me ;)
I started clicking picture rite from the start. Of TC ( Ticked checker ) for starters cz he asked extra cash as I went there without reservation!
LV : What did he think ? I would be told months before that I will be sent on a trip,alone cz I started taking pics & that I wished to go alone ???
I was happy & high & I couldn’t stop smiling all thro the journey! I put on the best music that I could have (OnDaHouse2012 Mashed up - http://ondahouse.blogspot.in/2012/03/ondahouse-mashed-up-march-2012.html ) Put it on loop & I was Smiling away to glory ! & then started reading a novel, cz I like to ! Especially when on train! There’s something about train,listenin to best music while reading novel that gives me much happiness. Plus this time, I was Going ALONE J
People sitting next to me Must have been thinking : Nutcase with headset on!
So,after completing successfully 3 best hours :D , I was on a train station unknown to me ! I started my journey then & there. Along with my luggage, went to the nearest bus station ,caught the bus to the city bus stand & I was on MY WAY to being the best company I could ask for, on a trip ! Took the daily pass,cz I knew I would be roaming whole day ..so lot of getting down here n there J
Ah, I totally loved it J
Started off by visiting my most fav place as a kid – Mysore zoo :D But one worse thing – The Sun, the heat .. could easily get the tan & upon that I am wearing jacket..cz mUm told : ‘new place, u don’t want to be giving ppl any signal :D ‘ *not exactly those words,but yes*!! It was a good start.. Kept the luggage in luggage counter & I see giraffe,monkey’s, Birds that I have never ever seen before, & everything ! 3hours,6km radius..it was a fun way ! By the time I came back to luggage counter, poor thing battery is OUT ! Both mine & camera’s ;)
So I start charging camera at the luggage counter, & within 2hrs .. We were fully charged ! Next stop – Chamundi hills ! I get into this local bus from Zoo to hills & Funny –weird thing happened ! The driver, the conductor..think I am someone ELSE ! Thy start saying ‘Madam..Neevu illi ?? ( Madam.. you here??) & it was not a good feeling ! Being told that you look like someone else is usually a good feeling for some people. NOT FOR ME. That too..being told that I look like someone whom I HATE Much..definitely put me down!
Witnessed anger first time on the trip ! Then After 30min shocking stare from conductor & driver,I was on the Hills ! Sadly the temple was closed by the time I went ..so I just roamed around clicking pictures.. & to my bad luck, the return bus that I sat in,has the same conductor,driver !
LV: why god,whyyy..whyyyy..whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy did u make me look familiar to someone I don’t like one bit also, Just tell me Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
But the best part is..thy were good people. They asked me if I had seen a temple that’s rite across that road.. while going back! He had to take a diversion as their route doesn’t include that temple. I said no & then driver just takes the diversion route & stops near the temple & tells me “ goo madam, go click a pic soon & come back” after seein the camera in my hand ! And we’re talking about LOCAL BUS. Not private bus ! I didn’t know what to do,at the moment ! Can people be really that good to someone whom they don’t knw ?
LV: I bet he’s stopping only cz he thinks I am someone else
Its amazing, how people we don’t know treat us nice & some whom we know so well..dont even bother sometimes ! *yes, I am givin Gyaan / lecture too,now *
There I was,visiting places alone & people being nice to me cz they think I look like someone else & my next stop was the beautiful Mysore Palace ! I was getting down from that bus when driver says “ Your parents must b very lucky to have you “ I had no clue why he said that..but in some way ..some different way it felt nice J
Mysore palace is famous for many reasons. The buildings, the palace, the history. As a kid I have always loved it, often used to visit with my family but this was different ! yes, cz I was GOING ALONE J ! I look around there are people from everywhere. Foreigners, localites, school trip people,couples, but alone people are very rare sight ! J I was one of them ! people clicking buildings,families asking some stranger if he can take the family pic,school kids telling Hi/bye to foreigners , & to people who are alone ! Like ME ! ! I found a bunch of crazy kids..doin the foreign accent sayin helloww, what is your name? ? ? I wont deny, but I felt nice J someone talking to me. Just the gesture made me feel happy ! :D someone asking me to click thr picture! Its all these things that made the trip an EPIC ONE !
I probably wouldn’t have experienced all of this if I went with family, or with friends..or maybe I would have. I never know!
There I was, from 10am till 6pm.. I survived in a city strange to me,without knowing any people,without worrying about anything ! *Ofcourse there were ppl getting worried for me – My mom dad,sister* J I was in contact..Saying I am here there..EVERYWHERE: ) So good it felt!
I knew a friend who was doing medical in Mysore. Got to know about her thro my bestie..& I planned on crashin at her place J After much travelling & no food cz I liked travelling so much I forgot I had to stuff myself with something … I call up my friend – Aishwarya (Ash/aishu – she has many names :D ). Her roomie – Priyanka came to the stop to pick me up & we went out for dinner ! I was soo tired with the jacket on, the heat on, & bag on… I had no energy left in me even to say the food is good ,after eating ! So tired, so wasted I looked J
The next day was a hectic one..cz I wanted to go everywhere but had no clue wr to start with ! The girls I stayed with were busy with thr work/study so I really cudn’t disturb them with anything J Thy were so kind to let me in to stay at thr place,& provide me good food J & the awesome company ! I had nothing to complaint about J Must say, Mysore has some rrrreally nice people J .
Without a clue, I got ready,went to city bus stand & I decided going to a place ! I took the appropriate bus & had the headset one but the last day’s tiredness was so much I felt so sleepy & was feeling dizzy too.
These were the places that I had to visit that day.
-Bird sanctuary
-Srirangpattna
-Some other temple
At the Sanctuary stop,when the conductor yelled “ SANCTUARY”
LV : I am feelin so sleepy Oh I have to get up,I will get down at next stp..I think ! I will visit the other two places & come back
ME : *Listening to music, eyes half closed *
At the Srirangpattna stop,when the conductor yelled “Srirangpattna”
LV : I am feelin so sleepy Oh I have to get up,I will get down at next stp..I think ! I will visit that other temple & come back & visit the other two places.
ME : *Listening to music, eyes half closed *
Finally, it was the last stop when conductor yelled “ TEMPLE STOP/LAST STOP”
Me: Uh, I have to get down !
The temple was not so famous one,either & the sun was BURNING ! I got up anyway & walked 2km fr that temple cz I had come so far & I would regret not goin there ! temple was good, but then its located in such dessserted place, I dint get a bus back to WHERE-EVER I had to go ! I just din’t ! Walkin wasn’t a option ..so I took auto to look around some places..by the time he dropped me off at bird sanctuary which I was supposed to go in first place .. Auto meter was running High . Way HIGH ! ! way wayyyy HIGH !
Heck, that’s what happens whn I don’t plan properly & just go crazy.
Bird sanctuary was another place I loved. But not anymore. Cz there weren’t any birds to see only !! Going to bird sanctuary in an OFF SEASON is a bad idea which my girls told whn I told them I had plans of visiting ! I shd have listend :P I Witnessed regret first time on the trip ! Then after going to the boating place where there were birds, just here n there on the trees..I was quite happy ! ! Finally camera came into the charge ! ! I met this foreign couple with the cutest baby! I have this thing fr babies,I like ‘em, I love ‘em ! I can spend my days with them..without getting annoyed with thr crying,irritating ! That baby was playing with my camera !
LV : dad says I think of this camera as an Expensive Toy he has ever got me.. I play like this too..by clickin pics
I start talkin to the couple & they have been visitin Mysore since 12yrs ! ! They LOVE Mysore! The baby’s name is Murgan, they say !
LV :wow, talk about being Indian !
After 5 min of silence,
Me : WHAT??Murgan ? Like M U R G A N Murgan ???? I spell it out like it’s a spelling contest !
Couple : Murgan when he’s in Mysore & Morgan when he’s at home (England)
LV : WOW..like WOW ! Talk about being creative ! :D
Me : Cool J
He’s a funny boy & he loves Indian people! The whole family loves Indian people… I was so involved with the baby that I forgt to click thr picture ! Witnessed regret again !
That was the end of that day.. cz I was upset the way the day went, no bus, so sleepy in bus that I went till the last stop..& then bird sanctuary with less birds,the heat definitely killed me !
Went to the main road only to get the bus after 45 min & went directly to home where I flaunted my happy day to the girls like I saw beautiful birds everywr ! ! & they had this look “ We told you so” all thro the day !!
These are doctors that I was living with ! ! Crazy awesome people, the no. of medical books were EVERYWHERE. I was fainting everytime I see them . they were everywhere. On the couch. On the table. Wardrobes ! *Sigh* Hats off to those who study medical & to the doctors who save lives ! J
Mysore is small but a lovely city! I felt like, within 20km radius,U can cover entire Mysore :) Mysore Palace was just 4kms from where I stayed! So I decided to visit palace again, 'cz there's lighting at nite & the palace looks such beautiful! U can totally fall in love with this place. I did :) The lighting is only for an hour. 7pm- 8pm ! So Priyanka decided to drop me off to the palace! It was at this place I felt wish I came with someone :) seeing parents show their kids the lighting & the people going 'aww' was definately worth the watch !
While I was away, Priyanka cooked awesome dinner for us & it was a happy end to the day,over all! I was happy I cud survive another day,but felt a lil sad !Called up mom & told “I think I wanna come bk home” she was laughin like she wanted me to say that. Like it was some competition that she won ! in her own ..she’d be saying “ I told you so” ! !
But I dint give up ! Like some war , I said BRING IT ON ! Next day I was high & happy again ! Woke up with no plan & went to visit this relative of mine who stayed in other part of mysore ! Whole day spent at home .. late in evening, when I got back home..the girls were having thr “ WHAT TO DO NOW” look !
So we decided to get all dressed & went to the restaurant across house ! It was literally a step away from home! We truly did enjoy each others company ! I had my camera. Thy were dressed to be clicked J Ate.clicked.came back home only to find that the key was still at restaurant :D Thank god it was just a step away :P
Late night, started the modeling shoot ! ! Us posing, auto-clicking,posing mad ! It was the best trip of my life ! J Next day, we all knew it was time fr me to bid adieu to the beautiful Mysore & the girls ! But I dint regret much ! I was still smiling away to glory whn I was on train back home ! Sometimes its good to get some time for one-self..& fr me..I wud say..A trip like this is definitely a much-needed break ! Break from not doing anything ;)
I would like to take a moment & thank EVERYONE who hav been a part of my life & my page on Facebook , supporting,making comments,giving me suggestions,telling me try something new,there’s nothing in this page that needs to be LIKED .. Cz I wud have NOT thought of mysore if it wasn’t fr those comments & everything ! I did learn a lot .. its not easy living alone. In a city you don’t know..you have to be so responsible, so sure of what you’re doing & not doing something just cz there’s no one to control you ! This is just my 3 days experience.. Looking fwd to lot more of this J
