storybehindthesnap

[storybehindthesnap]

OF ALL THE THINGS YOU TOOK A PHOTO OF A FUCKING BUS: First day at Florence and we reached in the evening. The excitement to see the city, where renaissance was born and paucity of time made us an an impatient tourist and if you are unfamiliar too, then god help you. We wanted to catch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo, which we had heard so much about. With barely half an hour in our hands, still trying to make sense of public transport and the right bus, we were in a hurry more than the guy who missed his local and boss called enquiring about where did you reach for an important meeting. We reached a square with a bevy of people who all were going in different directions. Spotted an Indian couple, waiting at the stand, looking quite sure of themselves. They too were going to the Piazza but were not sure of the bus. Bloddy Indians! Always useless! We tried to read the chart at the bus station and figured out the bus number with as much surety as how long the world would take to get over the COVID19. We saw the bus arriving and tourists rushing to take a seat and just when we were about to make a run for it, this cute bus arrived. As Rashi rushed to the bus, shouting at me, I opened my camera, framed the shot, took my time to click the picture. Bus was about to leave and she was shouting and waving her hands calling me. Somehow I caught the bus and accepted the reprimand. We checked our watch. Reached well on time to catch the best sunset of the world. As we took our place and looked at the sky, it was filled with clouds, the sun nowhere to be seen. Not even a faint orange light. There was still some time before sun goes down and clouds seemed to be scattering. But we all know how it ends. In disappointment. I was glad that I took that picture. When everyone was busy taking pictures of grand buildings, what did I see in that little bus, you ask. For me, a city's vibrancy is not measured only in terms of night-life, pubs, people but also about how much art it is surrounded with. An insignificant, functional mini-bus meant for transportation can also be artful and exciting. That's the real genius of the city. For me clicking that shot was important, mo... (at Florence, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-BwKOoFphQ/?igshid=5tt6z8pj3owe

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HANDLE WITH CARE, LIFE IS FRAGILE : This baggage tag reminded me of that saying in Hindi - "jeevan kshan-bhangur hai". It means life is fleeting/fragile. And yet we take it for granted - postpone our dreams, tolerate our bad bosses, don't leave office on time and don't pursue a hobby. It's about time!

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DO YOU LIKE SUNSHINE? What an unnecessary question, you would say. Who doesn't like sunshine? And specially when you are off on holiday. Only thing missing here is a cup of tea ☕ or coffee ☕. What say? (at Goa, India)

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THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT NATURE, ISN'T IT? It gives you instant joy, which can't be replicated. A field full of grass is an invitation to play, a little lawn with warm grass is an invitation to have a hot cup of tea and a large grass land and cows 🐮 grazing in it is an invitation to immerse yourself in nature and drink the beauty from the naked eye. Green grass gives you high.

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THAT GIRL IN THE MIDDLE : is a machine. To access her expressions you need a password which you will get if you pass her six sigma test. When she is upset, she will pull up a chair and sit beside you, making you stop whatever you are doing, with the expression, that she is doing YOU a favour, by talking about it. Her highest form of appreciation of your joke is a broad smile or grin (she hasn't been spotted laughing yet). She can make a lie detector sweat with her uniform tone of voice. She appears exactly like a robot but if you know her well enough, you can see the cracks. That girl in the middle will call you when she gets chocolate fudge and tell you she ain't keeping it any if you don't show up, but then will save you a little. That girl in the middle will tell you she doesn't care about whether you dedicate a post to her or not but then expect something. ☺ That girl in the middle is adorable. ☺ (at Monkey Bar Mumbai)

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WE ARE SUCKERS FOR HOME : Even if we spend most of our time at office, we look forward to coming to a beautiful home. When we go out to travel we look for a cozy place to stay. That's why when we went to goa knowing fully well that we would spend very little time to the place we book, we still went ahead and booked a nice one. And what a good decision it was. This Airbnb place fed us, gave us free Wi-Fi and conversation till late night. It was as if this place participated in our conversation, sat with us at breakfast table, bid us goodbye and even came out to see us off. And then it walked a little with us. (at Bambolim)

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THIS PHOTO WON'T TELL YOU THE TRUTH : This was taken at the goafest. What this photo won't tell you that it was not as serene as it seems. There were hoards of people chit chatting around it. It was noisy, but then you don't go to award functions to attain Nirvana. (at Hotel Grand Hyatt,Bambolim,Goa)

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PEBBLES AND THE MIGHT SEA : I saw these little stones fighting each mighty above with the same gusto and spirit. The ocean might make them little smoother but they are going to hold onto their places like true heroes. (at Grand Hyatt Goa)

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SAY HI : When you wake up in the morning and a little white flower at your balcony waves its tiny hands at you and says hi, you spend some time with it and don't worry about getting late for the office.

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WHAT'S BEHIND THIS DOOR: A closed door has infinite possibilities. It is mysterious, scary, surprising all at the same time. It makes our imagination runs wild. It gives rise to stories like line, witch and wardrobe. It is a treasure full of opportunities. It is a curiosity machine. A closed door, no matter what the cost be, has to be opened up.

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KEEP THEM CLOSE : The first thing we sacrifice at the alter of growth and progress is trees and plants. We sacrifice our spring for a small parking place. We part way with our oxygen for a little wider road and we lose out on the happiness and beauty of flowers to make way for another luxury apartment. So whenever you find these little packets of joy, on your balcony, on the road divider or an unused land near by, keep them close to your heart. They are precious more than our development.

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NO TREE IS ORDINARY BUT THIS ONE IS 100 YEARS + : By late 1965, the time had come to define the centre of Auroville. Roger Anger, the French architect to whom the Mother had asked to design the future town, brought to her a map of the area north of Puducherry. She was in her room at the Ashram and had probably never set foot in that area, for at that time there was no motor able road leading to it. She concentrated and pointed to a particular area on the map. The architect took a jeep and drove to the area she had pointed at and found there a solitary banyan tree in an almost totally barren plateau overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The Mother was very happy about the presence of a banyan tree, a tree regarded as sacred in India, and decided to make it Auroville’s geographical centre. This Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis) belongs to the Ficus (fig tree) family and is now probably a little more than a hundred years old. Banyans have the peculiarity of producing aerial roots which grow down from the branches towards the ground and take root to become new trunks. (The diameter of this banyan is now kept at approximately fifty metres so that it remains in proportion with its surroundings.) (at Auroville, Pondicherry)

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THE LIGHT OF ART BURNS BRIGHT : This picture I clicked at gallery cafe which is an art gallery cum cafe. Each table and chair of this cafe is different and painted by artists. You can look at them sit at them and if you like buy them. You can sip coffee, see the paintings and if you feel artistic there is sketching board and pen, feel free to pour your heart on the canvas and leave this cafe a little souvenir. (at The Gallery Cafe)

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AND A FLOWER 🌸 WILL BLOOM : The dry leaves and parched branches are never enough to put the spirit of a flower down. Hope, just like this flower has the habit to grow at unlikeliest of places. Hope, sooner or later, finds the rain and the soil to bloom. Hope is always a lone warrior like this flower, holding fort against despair, negativity and discouragement. When everything dies, the smell of hope lingers on to find the green valleys. Hope is Darwin's theory. Hope survives. (at Hyderabad, India)

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HATE EVERY RELIGION EQUALLY, LOVE EVERY STRUCTURE EQUALLY : This 100 year old structure, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus situated on the south boulevard of Pondicherry in Puducherry, India, is an oriental specimen of Gothic architecture. It contains rare stained glass panels depicting events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church. In recent years it has become one of the famous pilgrimage spots for Christians. The biblical verse from 2 Chronicles 7:16 is written above the entrance door in Latin "sanctificavi locum istum, ut sit nomen meum ibi" which means "I have consecrated this house, that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there forever.". Inside the church there are glass pictures of 28 saints who were related to the devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus. This 100-year-old church has been led by twenty parish priests. The Grotto for Our Lady of Lourdes, Parish Hall, Adoration chapel and the new parish community hall were some of the development of this church since the 1960s. After the arrival of parish priest Thomas in 2005 the church was fully renovated inside and out. Statues of the four evangelists were erected, beneath which there are four lamp posts describing their lives and the inviting Jesus and the twelve apostles on the front facade. The Grotto for Sacred Heart of Jesus facing the City Railway Station were added and the church illuminated inside and out with chandeliers, focus and flood lights. (at Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pondicherry)

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WHEN YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH: Research has proven that experience values more and gives us more happiness than possessions. That's why we want our holidays to never end and start planning the next when it's nearing the end, saying to the beach - "sea you soon. "

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WHAT WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A SUNRISE? As we get busier, we get farther from the nature. We see a sunrise only when we do a night out in office. We have forgotten the art of waking up early, fresh and happy inhaling the oxygen filed cool breeze. Today was one such morning for me when I listened to the call of mother nature telling me, "son, rise." When did you last see the sunrise 🌅 and how did it feel?