Top 10 places I want to visit

The other day, I was watching this video on youtube, about a person called Matt who quit his job to go see the world. You can find him at

www.wherethehellismatt.com

Its 10 places that I want to go. I have not mentioned some outstanding places like Aanamalai and Rhotang Pass as I have already been there...

1. Kailash Manasarovar and Kashmir
I am eagerly awaiting bliss. The journey towards the abode of Lord Shiva will be the most unique experience I will undertake. Kashmir not only for its sheer beauty but also to learn about its strategic locations and settings that so many people die for....

2. Austria: I fall for renaissance architecture and old history. What better place than Vienna and Austria...a place where all the artistic and musical greats went, to become what they are known now.

3.Angkor wat and Borobudur: The most underrated engineering feats in human history along with the Brihadeeshwara temple and Dilwara Temple. After the Taj was built, the hands of all those people involved in making it were cut so that they will not be able to reproduce the same work anywhere else. When the dilwara temple was being built, after the day's work was over the entire dust (which had fallen down during the carving jobs in marble, wood and rocks) were weighed and equal wt of gold was gifted to the mason/carpenter. So whenever I see the Taj though I am amazed by its magnificence, i am also reminded of the cruel treatment meted to the ones who built it. What a sea of difference between two different kings!!

4.Spain: especially Granada and Seville for exquisite Moorish architecture and the Greek god temples in Athenian Lands...and also Babylon...one of the greatest cities to have existed. Listen to Authentic Flamenco music by Romani people, my people if I rewind 800 something years.

5.A few exotic islands in Micronesia like Kiribati or Nauru or even non-tourist islands like Azores or Tristan da Cunha
The lesser the population on the island and the more far away from mainland, the better the journey is.

6. Dakshin Gangotri, NZ and Aus: Indian territory in Antarctica,the great barrier reef in Australia or the lost New Zealand wilderness (and their all famous Maori hakka (war) dance)

7. East India and Lakshdweep: See the untouched flora and fauna of Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Meghaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

8. Africa:
Wildlife Safari in Kenya!! Pitch a tent on the banks of the great Lake Victoria! Abu Simbel and the Nile!! The hypnotic streets of Casablanca in Morroco!! The great Sahara desert!! The Lighthouse at Alexandria!

9. The Caribbean (and/or Fiji)
Bob Marley-Indian Ex pats- Laid Back attitude- Chutney Music - Cricket- Old Colonial Sugar Plantations. Enough said.

10. Machu Picu, Easter Islands and the Inner Amazon:
Mayan, Aztec civilizations, step pyramids in Guatemala, the sands of Belize, the soccer of Brasil and the land of that soccer god - Maradonna!! .. Do a motorcycle diaries like Che'!!

I defined a limit of 10. I therefore have to stop with this. I can go another 30-40 easily.

If reading this makes me feel good, I just cant imagine how it would be if I set foot in each of these places...... I shall definitely levitate in Bliss!!!!

A conversation between two friends

There were two good souls. The best of friends. Lets name them A and B.They perceived to have the same passion. To be successful in life, wealthy with a happy family and life. They did their schooling together and pursued engineering in college despite realizing that was not their passion. B realized that he is not doing what he feels he should do. A felt the same but was not courageous enough to step outside his self defined boundaries. His passion was pregnant with fear of failure. B left a lucrative career to follow his passion. Their paths separated and they met after 50 years.

They start talking about the past and about their good old days together as the thickest of friends. A keeps talking about his successful business, his newly amassed wealth and his happy and loving family and friends, B was able to see a slight repent in his face. The "he did not do what he would have loved but ultimately loved what he did" expression on his face. B goes on to tell A that he did not become wealthy or renowned, had very many "cosmetic" failures, had a small and content family with no shortage of love and understanding. At this junction, A asks B, 'My friend, did we do what we should have in life?". For that B replies," My dear old friend, You have become what others envy, you have become what others yearn, but have you become what you wanted to be? You are happy but are you content? I am content. You will die happy because of what you have achieved, but you will have a void. I will have the same feelings but without the void that I did not do something I wanted to. That I would say is the fine line between peace of mind and harmony of mind!! Then they wish each other the best of luck, give a big hug and walk away from each other for one last time. A walks away with all the happiness of meeting his dear friend. His mind constantly thinking about "what if?" B walks away singing his favorite song not thinking about anything else.

Are you A or B??


-A