I want those days back..!.

Have you been thinking?. That the change we have been witnessing over the past few years has distanced us extremely from those old days -  the days when mobile phones were new to us, the days when we tripped on to songs like 'Pehla Nasha' or enjoyed movies like 'Hum apke hein kaun' , the days when God meant belief and not skepticism, the days when parents were your role models and siblings your best friends, the days when break-ups were hard to take and not 'just-another-one'.

Today we need Sunny Leone and item dances to complete a movie. And there is "my choice". And " let's just have fun, and break up when the time comes to be happy for each other(now that is convenient!)". And of course "Facebook".

#My take on facebook.

We have friends aplenty on facebook or instagram. Friends who you barely know from college or work, friends who won't be there for you in a crisis. Yet you keep them why? Real friends don't keep in touch through facebook! You just know they are there, no matter how far. You are depressed and you call'em up. You need some money- you won't hesitate to ask them. They are just there and won't judge you. No matter at what length you try to sell your point that social networking sites let you 'keep in touch', don't you think it is not really so?. I will tell you why :

1. All you do is see the pics of your friends, know what they are doing and where they are. So how is it different from not keeping in touch? Does that let you be closer or the least maintain whatever you had before? Face it : if you are not talking to them for a while, they are gone -no matter you be in touch with them on fb or not. You are just not rekindling your friendship. It has faded. The ones you call up once in a while, they are the keepers. Not the fb walas.

2. To worsen the matter , you come to know how far your friends have changed. Their attire, lifestyle, thinking everything so different from what you knew about them. Now there is intimidation and comparison, and where is friendship growing here?. The joy of meeting your long-lost friend after so many years overwhelmed in old memories is being compromised here. Because you know the gap is huge already.Gina tripani explains this better here.


3. There is a lot of superficiality. I still remember people asking me why I put the same profile pic for almost 3 years. I mean how can a profile pic be something to be judged upon?. Social sites and activities on them the new resume builder?.
Truth be told- you post to show you are happy. Either ' I am as happy as you' Or ' I am happier than you.' I am sure my friends who keep deactivating and activating their accounts just to take a break and attach to reality can sure relate to this!.
Some funny lines I have seen :

 Husband on instagram 'Surprised my wife with these lovely flowers'. Wifey reposting. 'Aww I love you too honey. Thanks for surprising me with these exquisite flowers today'.

Again:

Did you know?

a.*'Aww thank you' is the latest ' I am so proud of myself, You are a loser and are sure intimidated by my success/beauty. That's why you just congratulated me'.* I only have a problem with the 'awww' that is so superficial.

b. Did you know 'bitch' meant your bestie?. And if you have a lot of  bitch words and 'f' words on your tweets/posts - you have got the SWAG?.

Wonder why I re-iterate this while still sitting in-front of one,writing a blog.?.
Well at least I'm  trying to make a change! 

Now when that question bothers you -'No instagram account? '. 'You are so out of touch. Don't know about the video that has just gone viral?'. 'The latest phones?'

My father always is confused about using his accounts or the latest video conferences that he is to attend in office. I see my uncles clicking the like-button on popular actresses' page unaware of publishing their post to a wider audience and their children complaining 'Stay out of fb. Don't embarrass us.' :D.

I just have one thing to say - It is not like this is our generation forever. In another 10 years, we could be struggling to keep up with our children. But then again , do we really need to?. Because it is always better to accept what we are and not worry to stay updated. Like don't we like our parents just the way they are. Do we want them to be 'modern' or rather like them modest and outdated?. Well I sure like them out of touch. What I don't like are the people who get bothered and don't let others live in peace. People who look down on others and giggle -'Look at her broken english'. Well if she speaks broken english, that sure means she knows another language!.(I read this phrase somewhere). 

So as a word of reassurance, can we try tell this instead? 

It is okay to be outdated.

It is okay to find your happiness your way. Stealing away that priceless expressions on your kids face all to yourself and not letting the world know how happy you are.

It is okay to plough your field and take a long burp after the lunch and be happy.
It is okay to want to go back in time to those old days with no phone/networking sites but you were still happy. 

Happiness, or for that matter anything, is relative. 

Spending luxurious holidays around the world is not the only thing that can earn you happiness.

So to conclude, social networking sites are sure a platform for trying out your entrepreneurship skills and letting your voice be heard. But has this gone too far to limiting your day to commenting and reacting to something that really doesn't grow you.

Am I the only one who wants the good old days, when your horizon was limited but you were happier and healthier?.

Thoughts?.

Vagamon and Kuttikanam - only a short drive from home..!!!!

I have seen people setting out to places of historical importance, places where there is a lot happening ,places where they can party all night. And there a few many like me who want to get away- get away from monotony, get away from stress, get away from reality.

But after you come back from a trip that is so relieving and unwinding , you understand that the getaway that you think that is- ironically brings you even closer to reality. But only to face it with more conviction , a different perspective altogether (at least for a while :P till you need another one). For such an awakening, you definitely need a quiet place - may be a hill station, may be the countryside, may be your favorite hideout where you can easily strike a chord with something or everything and introspect.

Memories are amazing!..As I write this, I have the postcard from Parunthumpara pinned up in front of me. Have you ever wondered how a souvenir can snap back your memories just like that ?

I usually like to trip/drive alone or may be with a close friend. Family trips for me are once in a while. Because it's difficult to have everyone available. But we still manage to have a few good trips together :). One of my cousins took the initiative this time and mentioned 'Vagamon and Kuttikanam'. The red t-shirt in the postcard. The one who has the 'rayban' and 'the note 5'. And who never missed a chance to flaunt them all through the trip...:P..

Whenever I hear someone mention 'trip', I go all pumped up and say 'I'm in' right away. There's no thinking twice. Thanks to my job that is sick-boring, offers much free time and thankfully pays well. Touch wood! (Like really?. A job that is not your passion, a job that you don't enjoy doing. Anyways, I'd rather not complain and be thankful instead.).

I immediately called up every one I know who'd be interested. Pity, we could manage to get only two families together from the long list that we are. I was so pissed off in the beginning when I got a 'no' from many. Then again, the less understanding and the selfish person I am, always fail to get the bigger picture. They were occupied and had other priorities. 

Vagamon and Kuttikanam!
The idea was to start off early in the morning. And the punctual kid Kitty is, got late by 15 mins...... :D. The plan was 6.30 am precisely. But we had been delayed by half-an-hour already. And now that everyone is ready by 7 , I'm not :/. I tell to myself -" Ok you guys are late by nearly an hour and I'm 15 min more late. What big deal.?..We don't have a flight to catch!. Don't just spoil the fun already!."

Now there is no excuse whatsoever for being late. Even as my ego gets bruised , and as I lay out my points before them one by one, back of my mind I take the feedback positively and take an oath (fingers crossed :P) not to be the last-minute rusher anymore.

Rest assured, I won't bore you with another 30 minutes in the car being a victim to my father's complaints and advice. Not to blame him, "but this is no time!. I just missed a rare-mountain flora. Let me give heed to the sounds of water, the chirp of birds !." 

A halt at eco park restaurant reverses the mood entirely for all of us. And the phone call that said ," don't rush we are running late too (family 2) " Like yaay!. The hammock and the tree house in the restaurant saved me , for otherwise the food sucked and the ambience sucked more from inside. How could some one possibly get dosa all wrong?. The restaurant had a decent look from outside and many tourists had dropped by there. As they say - looks can be deceptive.

Throughout the drive, you are looking at mountains covered in fog. Huge ones! And it's overwhelming to know that you are trailing long curls only to climb up one mountain then hopping on to another.

The gulmohar trees by the side - the red ones. The tea plantations. The brooks and waterfalls. The ponds and that amazing variety of flora you get to see only in places like this. I can go on!

We dipped our feet in the water and the

 chill just went up our spine!

The fence that was broken to our luck!!.

               
We covered Vagamon (Pine valley is a must visit here ,we stopped by there when we returned) and drove on to Parunthumpara via Kuttikanam. 

There are many good churches, amazing sights and intriguing small roads you pass by. Small roads you would want to walk along and find out where they lead to!. Since that was nowhere in the chart and sadly will never be on a family trip, did not really complain for missing them. I would definitely want to walk through those lost routes someday if I ever get a loving and daring company to trip with. 

We had lunch from Himarani, Kuttikanam.They have two or more restaurants around Kuttikanam.

 

The cows grazing on top of the mountains, fearless of losing 
their grip make you wonder! 

Parunthumpara (bird's eye) is sure a view !.

Blowing away appoopan thaadi !!!  See the rock that stood apart behind us , where you 
can spot a few daring adventurers sitting ?.That's the spot we missed - since we were under strict observation.
 Parents and their rules I tell you! 

Mountains meet here and you get to look around from the highest point and see only mountains. I could just stare into the distance, the wilderness. How I wish I had wings to fly. 

I decided to fly away a few bubbles instead - till they got lost in distance and I kept staring !!!..