fuck love

a blog on 'life' and other popular four letter words...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

I meet me


Destination Anywhere....


In Dubai, I met a person who had lost his touch with his roots.

All his life, he’s been travelling to new lands in search of life, love and livelihood and left behind his land, lore and legacy. But in Dubai, he met people who conversed in a language that he had long forgotten called Malayalam. In Dubai , he found tastes that he had tasted a long time back in his hometown. In Dubai, he uncovered a part in his heart that was always in love with his home Kerala. The most interesting person that I met in Dubai was a person who discovered that he still loved Kerala food, still loved Kerala people and that he still loved that little place called Kerala. And that too, amidst the visual spectacle that is Dubai. And interestingly, after Dubai, he decided to reconnect with his roots and today makes time to go back to his home town, every now and then.

In Dubai, I met a person who rediscovered a part of himself.

That person is me.



In Bangkok, I met a person who suddenly discovered that he had always loved bright blue beaches.

All his life, he thought that the sea would spoil his designer shoes, leather belt and expensive watch; and hence he never went to the beach. But in Bangkok, he remembered that he had once loved going to the beach as a child, with his dad. In Bangkok, he realized how much he missed it all and tried to make up for it by spending fabulous days in a shack on the beach, waking up to the sunrise, skinny dip in the bright blue waters all afternoon, and finally toast a bottle of chilled beer to the glorious sunset. The most interesting person that I met in Bangkok was a person who discovered that he still loved the sea, the sun and the sands. And interestingly, today, he goes to the beaches by Bangkok every year leaving behind his leather, his laptop and his limitations.

In Bangkok, I met a person who rediscovered a part of himself.

That person is me.



In Singapore, I met a person who found that he had always loved orderly structure.

Singapore keeps a tidy reputation of being obsessed with orderliness and cleanliness – it is a place where chewing gum was banned for several years, where high penalties exist for littering, with no beggars on the street, with strict rules against jaywalking and a popular people’s award even exists for keeping public restrooms sparkling clean – it’s a place where order prevails and is one of the most beautiful and cleanest places in the world. The most interesting person that I met in Singapore was a person who found that he loved such order and structure in life. And interestingly, today, he is trying to streamline his life by making a plan for it; and he now believes that one can appreciate spontaneity better, when one already has a plan.

In Singapore, I met a person who rediscovered a part of himself.

That person is me.



In Las Vegas, I met a person who realized that he had always loved to dress well.

In a place that is known as the world’s biggest party, Vegas has certain unwritten rules about dressing, dressing up and dressing well: while people in sneakers are usually never allowed inside the most happening clubs, the people who dress well are always shown the best table in the house; a simple black jacket over one’s attire is one’s passport to complimentary limousine rides, free drinks and the best of attention from the ladies. The most interesting person that I met in Vegas was a person who discovered that he had always loved to dress well, accessorize his wardrobe and to mix and match. And interestingly, today, he almost always wears a waistcoat, that he thinks adds an element of elegance to his attire and strives to be the most overdressed person in the room.

In Vegas, I met a person who rediscovered a part of himself.

That person is me.



In Chicago, I met a person who liked to travel the world.

He realized that the ingenuity of Man has historically been to build shapes and structures that daze, amaze and spell bound. Besides the seven wonders of the world, there are other wondrous marvels all around the world that defy logic, belief and reasoning. The good God’s good world is much more than what we see day-to-day and we need to truly “see” the world to have truly “lived”. The most interesting person that I met in Chicago was a person who found that there is a whole lot of difference between being a traveler and being a tourist. And interestingly, today, he tries to put aside a little money every year for an annual vacation to destination anywhere.

In Chicago, I met a person who rediscovered a part of himself.

That person is me.



The more I travel, the more unknown pieces I chip off from my persona and in the process, discover more about me and connect more to myself; I realized that layers of my personality, hidden deep inside me, come to surface in strange new lands and in strange new situations.

And the more I travel, the more I find. And the more I find, the more I discover…...

That I could probably be the most interesting person I know.

Taarif karun kya uski jisne humhe banaya hai…..

J






Do Follow my blog or Like it's fb page for me...

J

56 comments:

  1. Nice experiences raj

    we really get to meet great people while traveling

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    1. Hey Readitt, thnx fr dropping by guys.. loved ur post on blogging :)

      Yap, it is interesting to meet new ppl when travelling; but I think u meet a new part of u, when in foreign shores n in foreign circumstances :)

      Do drop by more often guys!!! :)

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  2. Nice post :) I like this idea of meeting myself too!

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    1. Hi Archana, welcome to my blog.. nice to have u on board :)

      Glad that u liked it.. me thinks travelling is a very humbling experience: it expands ur horizons n in the process, grounds u.. whaddaya think? :)

      Thanks fr coming over, Archana ... Do drop by more often :)

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  3. I hope you win a prize precisely so that you travel more and keep churning out such delightful posts. Happy Traveling brother!

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    1. V Dada!!!! Always a pleasure having u on board dude.. loved ur post "Die Another Day".. the depth still kinda haunts me :)

      Thnx so much fr ur kind words man :)

      always a pleasure to see you around.. thnx V Dada :)

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  4. Aha.. that's a nice way of looking at travel. :)

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    1. Spiff!!! Long time, yaar!!!

      Glad to see u after soooooooo... long..... hope all is well on ur side, DNB :)

      Thnx fr ur kind words, Spiff.. really mean a lot.. glad u liked it :)

      Do drop by more often, Spiff.. lovely to see u here :)

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    2. I was kinda on a self-imposed sabbatical. But that doesn't mean I wasn't reading any of your posts. I was silently stalking. Reading, but not commenting. :)

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    3. Aaah, nice to know that u're out of ur sabbatical, Captain Spiff :)

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  5. haha! me, myself and I and loving it! so do I! good work.

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    1. Hey Rulhsana.. welcome back to my blog.. long while , eh?? Congrats on ur prize for the prayer design, btw :)

      Glad u liked my post.. makes me happy tht u do :)

      Thnx fr dropping by,Rukhsana n do drop by more often..

      :)

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  6. Wow...you are a traveller in disguise as a blogger...great pics, great places, and obviously a great post..wish u luck...!

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    1. Hey Pooja, great to see u here!!!.. thanks for ur 'versatile or not' award.. really humbled that u think so :)

      To be very honest, I'm just in disguise - me still dont know what's under the disguise.. :D .. but thanks a lot for ur kind, kind words, Pooja ji :)

      Do drop by more often, Pooja.. lovely to have u around :)

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  7. You been travelling all around the world it seeems ..

    so when are you dropping by in UK, maybe meet up with us and teach us too a few things that you have picked up in your travels ...

    lovely pictures

    Bikram's

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    1. Hahaha, considering that I'm perpetually broke, just got lucky to hv gone to these places, I guess... :)

      Bikram!!!! Nice to see u here man.. :D

      Sure, ek din, lets do that in UK, man - khoob jamega rang jab mil betenge chaar yaar... aap, main aur hamara blogs :)

      Glad that u dropped by man.. do drop by more often Bikram :)

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    2. AMEN to that and God willing soon.. IT would be a pleasure to have you here .. anytime you are always welcome ..

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    3. Insha Allah, let do that buddy!! :) Hope we get the chance :)

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  8. come to Malaysia la !
    you've been to Singapore and Thailand but missed the interesting bit in between :p

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    1. Hey Jaya, glad u see u here!!! Wassaappp!!

      Oh yes, Malaysia has remained pretty elusive to me - last year, I was to come over to Malaysia but plan got cancelled at the last moment due to work.. hopefully, ek din, I'll be dropping by, Insha Allah.. the twin towers of KL r quite hard to resist :)

      Thnx fr droppin by Jaya.. always glad to see u here :)

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    2. make sure you do that k :p
      now come claim an award on my page :)

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    3. Wow Jaya, thank u so much!!!

      Yippee!! Doin the Chandler dance!! :D

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  9. Agree with Jaya! What about Malaysia?

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    1. Hey Bhadra, yup, Malaysia on my travel map soon :) To Petronas n beyond :)

      Thnx for droppin by Bhadra.. glad to knw u're back after ur exams.. hope they went well :)

      Do drop by more often, Bhadra :)

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  10. loved this one!! just loveddd itt..!!!
    there is nothing better than rediscovering something about yourself...and falling in love with your own person..all over again..:):):)
    and yes..i totally agree with you..the best way to do this is...to travel..:):)
    enjoy the wonderful ride called LIFE with a zillion destinations ahead..:):)

    cheers mate :)
    cheers!!

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    1. MEOWWW!!!! Welcum back!!!!! :)

      U mature, mature lady, you... :) Glad to see u back here..

      Thnx so much fr ur kind words, meoww.. glad u liked it... yap, I so agree tht travelling helps u discover u n the world around u much better.. yup, cheers back to a zillion more adventures on a riode called Life... :)

      Do drop by more, Meoww.. lovely to hv u back :)

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  11. LIke your take on the topic. And your travelling spirit :) The very best for the contest!

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    1. Welcome to my blog, Abha :)

      Thnx Abha fr ur kind words.. glad u liked it :) All the best 2 u 2, Abha :)

      do drop by more often, Abha :)

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Welcome to my blog, Revathy..:)

      thank u fr ur kind words: glad u found it so :)

      Hahaha.. nice observation, Revathy - maybe i hv a habit of unconsciously outstretching my hands in front of beaches n booze, I suppose.. :D

      do drop by more often Revathy.. glad tht u did :)

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  13. one does discovers a lot of things about oneself while traveling.. keep traveling and good luck with the contest..

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    1. Hey Bhargavi, wassaabbb!!! :)

      Totally, totally agree with u.. so many things to discover in a new place bout one's own person... :)

      thnx for ur wishes, Bhargavi.. do drop by more often.. lovely to hv u on board :)

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  14. I cant wait now! I am going to Bahrain this May and then a Mini-Europe trip this coming November!!!
    I want it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    And btw you look really cute in the second click.
    May you win the competition...
    P.S- Pls try to write more frequently. we miss your posts! I know you are hell busy, but just for us!

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    1. RED!!!! HOWZATTT!!! Sooper, sooper news, yaar!! :)

      Wow, u gonna hv a cool vacation - amazing Gelff n then the magnificient Europe.. lovely yaar.. hope u a gr8, gr8 one, Red :)

      Thnku for ur very kind words Red :)

      I'm not sure hw u gt the idea tht I'm super busy.. I'm like asking myself...."Busy? kaun main? Oh.... :)" but really, I do wish myself that i cud come up with more posts more often like stalwarts like u :)

      Thanks fr droppin by dear :)

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  15. I always love your take on a subject. You have the gift of looking it from the other perspective

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    1. Hey Sai, long, long time buddy!! :)

      Glad to see u back here, man :) Thnx so much fr ur kind words Sai.. I will say that u hv an amazing gift of creativity n humor - ur post for the Fiat contest even today gives me goose bumps - I simply can't believe how one cud come up with somethin so brilliant!! Hats off to u man!!

      Do drop by more often Sai.. always nice to see u here :)

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  16. discover yourself through travel is genuinely relieving, yeah.

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    1. Hi Sushma, welcome to my blog!! :)

      Totally agree Sushma.. it truly is pretty relieving.. n the feeling is awesome!! :)

      Do drop by more often Sushma :)

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  17. My god...that's a very well travelled person discovered there and a sensible traveller to boot for he picks up and polishes everything that he discovers from everywhere....

    and may I add a handsome looking traveller too;-)
    all the best for the contest:-)

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    1. My dear Suruchi, u always hv a habit of bring a smile onto my face whenever u drop by.. :)

      Thanks so much fr ur kind words, Suruchi.. honestly, think I just got lucky with the travelling bit.. n I must say, u're far too kind to say that :)

      Do drop by more often Suruchi.. always a pleasure hearing from u :)

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  18. You know Raj, I would have so labelled this post as narcissistic and flaunting. Yet, somewhere it missed that tag by a mile - perhaps due to the really amazing structure of thought it had - one both effortlessly creative and gripping; perhaps because it sounded sincere or perhaps because it held the imagery of a young hip man in good-looking places. I am really not able to say.

    This one will be a straight finalist. Good luck!

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    1. Wow, Sinduja, that's a lovely thing for u to say.. I'm actually grinning side to side :)

      Welcome to my blog, Sinduja.. thank u for ur very kind words... actually, I don't really want to say this - but a lot of people hv described me as "narcissistic" n "flaunting"... so u know, maybe u may not be too far away from ur initial judgement but honestly, I really like ur comment :)

      Do drop by more often, Sinduja :)

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  19. Nice post Raj. Its true, that when we are travelling, may be its the new ambience, or simply because we have more lesuire time in our hand, we get a chance to discover ourselves.

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    1. Hi Gautum, welcome back to my post.. been a long while, eh? Hope all is well on ur side. :)

      Well said Gautum - exactly, maybe its the mabience or the time or whatever, but travelling does help one to connect with themselves.. totally agree :)

      Do drop by more often, Gautum.. lovely to hv u back :)

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  20. Whoa! That is a list of very interesting places- and indeed, travelling helps you discover so much about yourself- I don't know why, but maybe for me, it was due to a feeling of sudden independence haha!
    Good luck for the contest! :)

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    1. Hey Sruthi, hope allz well on r side .. great to see u here :)

      hahaha.. ya, the independence does definitely help.. but would u describe urself as a traveler who likes to go about along or wud u like to go with company? :)

      Thanks a lot fr ur wishes, Sruthi.. do drop by more often :)

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  21. nice travel experience with out travelling... thanks to share.. http://www.rishvan.com

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    1. Hey Rishvan, welcome to my blog.. do drop by more often. :)

      hopefully, next time, I'll get what u mean here but I guess my vitamin deficiency is acting up again n am a lil confused as to what u mean here :D

      Do drop by more often, Rishvan :)

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  22. nice! loved that you brought out the character of the cities, and complimented them with yourself ... hope you win! have voted :-)

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    1. Hey Nirvana!!! Wassaabbb!!! Hope all is well with u :)

      Thnx fr ur very kind words n fr ur vote, Nirvana.. a very nice observation there.. Very kind of u to hv said that :)

      do drop by more often, Nirvana.. always a pleasure having u on board :)

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  23. Wow! What an wonderful writeup...Wish everybody can realize to meet his/herself while touring....remembered the Alchemist! :)

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    1. Hey Punit, welcome to my blog!!

      thank u fr ur kind words, Punit.. aah, Alchemist, u're right.. in a way that u finally end back to the place whr u started but with a better understanding of urself n ur surroundings.. thanks fr that, Punit.. its a brilliant observation :)

      Thnx fr droppin by, Punit.. Do drop by more often :)

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  24. That was a very creative approach to the topic. The idea of self discovery presented very well with apt photos. Best of luck for the contest.

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    1. Thanks buddy for droppin by n fr ur kind words..I'm glad u feel that way - thanks for your wishes.

      Do drop by more often n all the best to u too, friend :)

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  25. Wow that was a lovely post and a wonderful idea.. meeting your own self. Super read. Best luck for the contest.

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    1. Hey Obsessivemom, welcum to my blog!!

      Thnx so much fr droppin by n fr ur very kind words.. glad tht u liked it :)

      Thnx a lot n pls do drop by more often, Obsessivemom :)

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