7th Vishwa Kannada Saamskrutika Sammelana 2010 - Day 1

ಏಳನೇ ವಿಶ್ವ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನ ಈ ವರ್ಷ ಸಿಂಗಪೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಭರ್ಜರಿಯಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯಿತು, ಸುಮಾರು ಮುನ್ನೂರಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಲಾವಿದರು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ವಿವಧ ಭಾಗಗಳಿಂದ ಬಂದು ಸಿನ್ಗನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕವನ್ನೇ ಚೊಕ್ಕದಾದ ಸಿಂಗಪೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದರು! ಹಲವಾರು ಪ್ರಾಯೋಜಕರು, ಸಿಂಗಪೂರ್ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಂಘ ಹಾಗು ಹೃದಯವಾಹಿನಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಹೃತ್ಪೂರ್ವಕ ಸಹಕಾರದಿಂದ ನಡೆದ ಈ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಹಬ್ಬ ವೀಕ್ಷಕರ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಬಹುರೂಪವನ್ನು ಮರೆಯಲಾರದಂತೆ ಅಚ್ಚಳಿಯುವ ಹಾಗೆ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿತು.

ಕೇವಲ ಎರಡೇ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ, ಇತಿಹಾಸಗಳನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿ ಹಿಡಿಯುವುದು ಅಸಾಧ್ಯ, ಆದರೂ ಈ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಶ್ಲಾಘನೀಯ. ಹಲವಾರು ಕನ್ನಡದ ದಿಗ್ಗಜರು ಅರಿವಿನ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನಾಡಿ ಇಂಥಹ ಒಂದು ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನ ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕಷ್ಟೇ ಸೀಮಿತವಾಗದೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ನಾಡಿನ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗೂ ಅತ್ಯಾವಶ್ಯಕ ಎಂಬ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪುನರುಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದರು. ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವು ಹಲವಾರು ಮುಖಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊತ್ತು ತಂದು ಆದಿಯಿಂದ ಅಂತ್ಯದವರೆಗೂ ಸಫಲತೆಯ ಫಲವನ್ನು ತನ್ನದಾಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿತು. ಅಂತ್ಯವಿರದಿರಲಿ ಎಂಬುದು ನನ್ನ ಆಸೆ ಹಾಗು ನಂಬಿಕೆ. 

ಪದ್ಮಶ್ರೀ ಕದ್ರಿ ಗೋಪಾಲ್ನಥರ ಶಃನಾಯಿಯಿಂದ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮಿದ ಜಯ ಭಾರತ ಜನನಿಯ ತನುಜಾತೆ ಇಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಗೊಂಡ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನ ಚಪ್ಪಾಳೆಯ ಸುರಿಮಳೆಯಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ ಜನರನ್ನು ಆಸನಗಳಿಂದ ಎದ್ದು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ಕನ್ನಡಮ್ಮನಿಗೆ ಗೌರವ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿತು, ಮೈನವಿರೀಳಿಸಿತು!

ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಡಾ|| ವಿಜಯ ಕುಮಾರರು ಸಭೆಯ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳಾದ ಬರಗೂರು ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರಪ್ಪನವರನ್ನು ಹಾಗು ಆಹ್ವಾನಿತರಾದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಚಂದ್ರು, ಮಂಜುನಾಥ ಸಾಗರರನ್ನು ಉದ್ಘಾಟನಾ ಸಮಾರಂಭಕ್ಕೆ ಬರಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡರು. ದೀಪವನ್ನು ಬೆಳಗಿದ ನಂತರ, ನಾಡಗೀತೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನ ಭರ್ಜರಿಯಾಗಿ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯಿತು. ಭಾಷಣಗಳು, ಲಘು ಉಪಹಾರ, ಬಣ್ಣ ಬಣ್ಣದ ಮಳಿಗೆಗಳು ಜನರನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟು ಹಿಡಿದಿದ್ದವು!

ಸನ್ಮಾನ ಸುಖ ಎಂಬ ಹಾಸ್ಯ ನಾಟಕ ಜನರಲ್ಲಿ ನಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸಿದರೆ, ಕವಿ ಗೋಶ್ಥಿಯು ಆಲೋಚನೆಯುಂಟು ಮಾಡಿತು. ಸಿಂಗಪೂರದ ಗಾನ ಕೊಗಿಲೆಯಾದ ಭಾಗ್ಯಾ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಹಾಗು ಅವರ ಸುಪುತ್ರ ಕಿಶನ್ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ವಿಶ್ವ ಕನ್ನಡ ಗೀತೆ ಎಂಬ ನೂತನ ಸಂಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ಸಿಂಗಪೂರದ ಹಾಡುಗಾರರು ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಪಡಿಸಿ ಪ್ರಶಂಸೆ ತಮ್ಮದಾಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡರು. 

ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಸಾಧನಾ ರಾಜಾರಾಮ್ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನದ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ನೃತ್ಯ ರೂಪಕವು ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿ ಮೂಡಿ ಬಂದಿತು. ಸಿಂಗಪೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ಉನ್ನತಿ ಪಡೆದ ಗಣ್ಯರನ್ನು ಆದರದಿಂದ ಸನ್ಮಾನಿಸಿ, ಮೊದಲನೇ ದಿನದ ಕಡೆಯ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವಾದ ಸಂಗೀತ ಸೌರಭವು ಸರಾಗವಾಗಿ ರಂಜಿಸಿದ ಬದರಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ಹಾಗು ಅನುರಾಧ ಭಟ್ ಅವರ ಸುಮಧುರ ಕಂಠಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಯಿತು.

My Nikon D7000…!

After a lot of RnD and a long wait (of more than an year), I finally decided to possess this newly released hot cake from Nikon. Though I wanted to replace my canon EOS with a canon SLR, Nikon’s pixel depth and a 39-point autofocus apart from dual slot for SDXC cards and an award winning nomination for it’s continuous auto-focus even during HD video recording were all way too irresistible to ignore. After equipping it with a Sigma 28:300 lens right away and still a few more accessories to add, I didn’t shy away from few clicks though an official manual isn’t yet released - I’m waiting to grab one!

First few shots, which aren’t really any near to what I really want to achieve… but nevertheless, they are here…

	Neither Priyanka Chopra or Kangana nor jerry had come home, but were on TV :) Most of the other shots are macro ones.

WANDERERS – VII

Many hours vanished and a hot sunny day was turning into a crimson red evening as incidents from the past played in slow motion! His sweat face was being cooled down by the trees around however the mind continuously thought and got heated up. Sunk in a disguised world, his body felt the pain sitting on hard rocks and he felt no mercy! 'You've to feel it, you need to feel this pain' he said to himself again.

The Sun who looked gorgeous last evening couldn't amaze him and fell silently behind the lake. Red and orange sky almost wore a black blanket and so did the lake, which also lacked waves or repulsions! A stone fell from somewhere and he saw the soft water-bed being stirred slowly. He smiled gently, for the first time that day! 'I'm stirred too, like you!' he thought and looked on.

Looking around he wondered how his thoughts changed from being impulse to subtle, being negative to a smile. 'If all that can happen within, with oneself, whats happening in the world is justified'. His world of people who ridiculed him, the loved one who separated, a new world which appeared deserted were making more sense to him as he waged the war with himself. But that didn't lead into any conclusion yet.

Night was falling and he went further deep into his own self not caring about food or shelter which he had anyways dejected before starting this journey. He had come to find peace, to understand everything, to answer every question that ever rose, to smile everyday and to see everyone around him smile too. But very early lost his sane mind and started feeling the same that he felt at his origin.

'No', he nodded and was coming into realization of the mistake that he feared of committing. 'I can't lose it, I've come to search and have wandered enough. I need to now sit back and create some space for it to sink in. What she said was right. I'm here to give, not receive'

Having said that loud and clear, he got up and stood on the rock feeling fresh cool air that had come from the other end mixed with the water from the lake and licked him gently all over his body. He felt a mild shiver, generous smile and a hug from the universe that looked exactly the way he had loved it last evening. 'Yes, it is the best scene indeed and I'm here to stay' he concluded and the winds blew with more love and the leaves fell on to decorate the route of their friend. 'We love you too' they all probably said!

Continues...

WANDERERS – VI

There he sat for quite a while thinking about his journey. Had he come to receive or give he didn’t really know! But her quote made him rethink over his intentions and instincts. She had not intervened between him and his thoughts for a long time but only watched him as though she read him until she got up and directed him to follow her.

He walked behind the girl who crawled into the cave and once again a strange wind generated inside which was calling him like a soft whirlwind. The fragrance resurfaced like it was created with a strange odor of mud n water n rock, purely natural and strong. She walked ahead of him and cleared some space for the both to be seated facing each other. The only light was that from a lamp which was too dim but made the dark cave look bright!

On a wet muddy floor they sat and she indicated him to close his eyes which he did. They took easy slow breaths like performing yoga and could hear one another breath. Thus she spoke –

tvam kah aham kah vidasta

vettr sah jaatr sah vayam nashta

Like a rhyme, with some melodious tune, she repeated many times and he was sinking into her recital slowly. She reiterated 50 times or 100 he lost count and quickly was lost in himself. She observed him carefully and saw that his closed eyeballs didn’t move, he was at ease, in her capture!

‘You’ve come from a city.’ she said.

There was no response.

‘You love your friends’

He nodded in acceptance and grumbled, ‘hmmm’

‘You love your family’

Same response!

‘You’ve come here leaving your life, leaving everything’

Another acceptance!

‘Do you like people in this town?’ she expected rejection.

‘No’ he said.

‘Do you still love her?’

There was no instant response but at once he opened his eyes in shock and gave her an unbelievable look. There were questions in his eyes but she had the same smiling face which further irked him. ‘She’s hypnotized me’ he thought and felt deceived, got up and breezed out of the cave to the outside world which he knew, which was normal. As she followed him and stood at the exit, he walked out of the broken compounds ignoring her and marched towards the lake.

The lake was shining brightly reflecting the Sun above and danced with more waves. He sat on one of the rocks very close to the lake and the water spill on him like mocking him, teasing his foolishness. Sitting there he asked thousand questions to himself losing self-belief and tears fled as the wanderer cried…

Continues…

WANDERERS – V

The town looked different the next day and may be it started seeming like home very quickly, he thought. There was no boy when he woke up and his mother was probably busy in one of the rooms which were not important to him. Inside the cave he heard a few voices conversing and didn’t feel apt to interrupt and left for exploration after a quick bath somewhere outside the broken compound.

Last night’s meal made him lot heavier to have even walked the entire town. Various people walked by but preferred not to talk to the stranger in him. If farm fields stretched to his left, rock structures and ancient monuments decorated his right. ‘How can such a beautiful place be so unknown’ he questioned. A single long road took him through the interiors up to a small market place where people bought all stuffs that were ever sold locally. A restaurant caught his attention as he ventured in. He was warmly greeted but was not offered any food since the only cook was off. He was shown a small house nearby where he could’ve gone for some food.

He was hesitant but knocked at the opened door. A brawny man emerged out of the house and showed an unfriendly face as he directed him in. He thanked the man and got no response. He was treated like someone who’d come purely in search of food and a lady who appeared to be the brawny man’s wife came out with a big plate with lot of dishes. Any attempt to converse was put off and the stranger didn’t feel comfortable at all. However he ate all he got and left quietly promising himself not to visit this house-restaurant again!

The breakfast made him feel much heavier than last night’s dinner. ‘When you’re given something without heart in it, it’s very difficult to gulp let alone digest’ he thought and continued walking along the streets. Like any other place, the town had a mixture of young and old, strong n disabled, but what made him ponder was there was none who appeared friendly! ‘May be I’m too strange for them, like an alien’ and there was not much of an interest left in him as the Sun rose further making the roads hotter than ever. He decided to get back to the cave-house hoping to play with the boy or talk to his mother. There was no public transport and the only carter who was free appeared too old to drive, and so he walked back.

A middle-aged lady walked out of the broken compounds as he was entering in. He observed that she had a few tears un-wiped and looked scared of being noticed. He walked in and saw the sanyasin seated at the entrance of the cave. He went and sat near her and said nothing as he was composing his thoughts. She looked at him and knew what he thought. Thus, she said –

‘You must be back from the market, did you see the places you wanted?’

‘I didn’t. I felt a sense of discomfort and hostility in your people and also tired of walking further.’

‘What else did you feel about this place?’

‘The place is good, beautiful, but the people are not!’

‘Don’t you think the entire world is like that? Do you find people in your city godly?’

‘No, but never did I feel this bad in a new place in just few hours!’

‘Yes, I told you yesterday that you won’t get any benefit here. If you’ve to come to give, you stay. If you’ve come to receive, you leave’ she said and their conversation paused.

He heard her carefully and wrote those words in air trying to read between the lines. She meant great meaning in what she said and let it sink in him as she waited…

Continues…

WANDERERS – IV

She left him there with something that always made him think when it came to sharing someone’s problems with others. A few laughed in the back and others were put off listening, both of which the victim never realized. As the waves from lake got stronger and the night darker, he went on and on thinking about the recent past where he had no peace of mind to the extent that he had come to a completely strange place he knew nothing about deciding to stay disconnected from the entire world he knew about!

He shared his problems with strangers and friends realizing none could really help because it was him who had to decide, who had to solve them. That didn’t bother him much, but as she said at such a young age ‘I can’t share my story with you because it’s not written by me’-had made an impact on how he looked at things. ‘Yes, I’m here for a revival and what happened with me should not be of any interest to anyone indeed’ he thought and for a while even he had stopped remembering his own problems and sunk in another trance. There were shooting stars in the clear sky, lot many stars than what he had seen in his entire life. No pollution, fresh air and various birds that were heading home formed the part of his evening and he admired himself for making that decision of coming here.

Slowly, but the night was running down and moon changed places which made him realize he needed to feed himself after almost a day full of starvation. He said goodbye to the lake for a while and started walking back on the leafy, muddy n thorny route back to the cave-temple-house that would be his habitat from now on. For the first time he was walking without any light anywhere in the dark night, without knowing where the steps fell, what lay ahead or what the direction was!

A brightly lit lantern hung far across which made him believe it was the cave-house. He remembered the slide and the dreaded dog and smiled at his innocence. He walked past the broken compound walls to enter and noticed that the boy and his mother were sitting on a mat chatting with the sanyasin. They smiled at him and greeted to be seated.

‘Can we have the food now ma?’ the boy pleaded. His mother got up to set the dishes up.

‘…we had to starve because of you!’ the boy complained at the stranger. He understood that they were waiting for him for the dinner and smiled at the gesture.

They all ate well without talking anything and prepared to sleep somewhere under the sky. 


‘She might have slept inside the cave’ he thought about the sanyasin and felt heavy with a simple yet tasty and healthy dinner that made him drowsy too.

After a long time in years, he slept to the fullest with no dreams or interruptions and even the night had become his friend for a change which he enjoyed. There was an absolute silence and peace for far across his new world…

Continues…

Tioman Island

And there was another long weekend this year and I sweared to utilize it and wanted a break from the routine badly. We went hunting for different places starting from Cameron Highlands to Port Dickson and what not but eventually got a package deal for Tioman Island, Malaysia with lots of difficulty since it was a long weekend and we were planning quite late (as always!) Even though people were ready to spend enough money there were no air tickets or even bus seats available which made me wonder how small the world has become to accommodate its people!

From Friday to Sunday when Indians around the world were celebrating Diwali, we went on a holiday as I believe celebrating a festival means being happy whatever way it was! We missed our friends who could not make it at the end :(

So here I post some memorable moments captured with a few clicks at the Paya Beach Resort…

Chow for now! I loved Tioman and would definitely recommend anyone including myself for another holiday!

WANDERERS – III

In the lamp lit darkness and an aroma around him, slowly a face was appearing and filling his vision. A bright face, a chanting voice, she looked like an emerging Sun in the dark cave! What she chanted, he didn't quite understand but was hooked onto. He waited as she slowly opened her eyes. She had a smile on her face that would never die and also a sigh of worry as he read her deep eyes. She might be just out of school or some college or was mocking a saint he thought none of which was true!

She looked straight at him and he smiled back. Throwing a gesture of acceptance she got onto her feet and walked out of the cave saying nothing to the stranger nor asking his whereabouts and name or purpose! He stayed unmoved for a while but felt the voidness of her absence and puzzled to see a young girl in an avatar that was meant for sanyasins. After a brief meditation which he failed at, he went crawling out of the cave. The world outside now looked normal and nothing as extra-ordinary as it was inside!

She was not seen outside anywhere in the surrounding while the boy again came running back to him.

'Do you want to come to the lake?' he asked.

He noticed that the Sun was sinking behind and followed the boy.

'Where have you come from?' the boy asked.

'From a city... can you take me around this town?' the boy was not really excited.

'There's nothing in this town. Where are you staying?'

'Can I stay with you? I just need a place to sleep and I don't know anyone in this town' he said to which the boy was happy and they were at the lake by then.

To the other end of the lake stood a big gang of trees aping a forest and the Sun was half eaten by them. Sky looked red and blue wearing the setting Sun's colors. Though there was no sea, he thought this was the most beautiful sunset he ever saw. The waves were strong from the lake and the boy was playing along with his friends enjoying the water splash while he sat on a small rock and exclaimed louder than intended.

'Yes, it is beautiful. All that's natural is!' said a voice from behind. It was the same girl in same avatar who also sat on one of the many rocks in the mini jungle behind the lake.

'Where do you come from?' she asked with the same blend of half smiling and half worried eyes. He stared again since he had not seen someone with this strange mixture.

'I come from a city and I don't know anyone here'

'Who told you about this place?'

'I had read about it somewhere and wanted to visit once. Do you stay at the cave-house?' he asked.

'Yes. You don't have anything in this town and if you've come in search of something you might just be disappointed. How long do you intend to stay? It doesn't matter because you can wish to stay at one of the rooms as long as you like it here' she said and started to leave while the Sun had also left for the day to serve another part of the world.

'Wait. You look very young to be a sanyasin, can you tell me your story?'

'I can't tell you because it’s not written by me and I don't have any rights to share it. I have to respect the author. See you later for the dinner' and she had gone.

'Strange place, strange people' he thought. But him coming to this town had also been a strange story which he wished to keep a secret and thought he shouldn’t have asked her anything about her past. But it still aroused curiosity in him about the girl who was younger than him but seemed to be on a mission which he was in...

Continues...

WANDERERS – II

And standing there, enjoying the view he was calculating his steps to descend. One step ahead, taken back, another a little further but aback. He thought sitting down and sliding could be easy and stood firm for once before venturing, when the silence was broken by a scary creature that came running towards him. It looked black and ran fast, displayed its canines as his legs shivered. At such times you should stand still he decided and the dog almost bit him when it was hit badly by a few big stones. He lost his balance with all this and fell in a way he had not planned and slid badly to fall at the entrance of the cave like a rugged ball!

It pained badly and had already started itching when someone was laughing almost uncontrollably making him embarrassed. It was a small boy who had thrown stones at the dog and saved him, but was laughing at his fall. He came running towards the stranger and helped him get on to his feet.

'Bhayya, you haven't learnt how to walk yet?' he teased.

He just smiled at the boy who looked quite naughty and strong for his age, who wore some old clothes and appeared to be back from school with a small bag on his back.

'Are you new to this place?' he asked.

'Yes, I've just come here and was looking for the cave'

'Oh! No wonder you've come from the wrong way. See there,' he pointed - 'this is the way you should come from next time or else I might not be there to help you when you fall' he laughed again.

'Thank you, can you get me some water?'

'No bhayya, you've to first finish your meditation else god will punish you!'

'If I don't drink water now I won't be alive to meditate' he watched what the boy would reply.

'Ok, there is the tap and you can drink as much water as you want' and he ran into one of the rooms.

At the other entrance where the half broken compounds survived, a tap was planted to facilitate for washing and drinking purposes. He walked up to the tap wanting to kill the thirst however no drop of water emerged from it. A lady walked out of another room with a vessel container out of which some water spilled. Without saying anything, she signaled him to join hands as she poured water for him to drink and he consumed all until the last drop. She smiled generously and looked puzzled at him.

He went on to explain,
'I'm new to this place and I've come to see the cave and a few other places in this town'

She didn't say anything and left with another smile.

'Mother, don't give him water. He has not yet meditated' the small boy again teased him.

She signaled him towards the entrance of the cave and said, 'Here's the idol which you should see first and then you can walk inside the cave. If you want to pray or meditate, don't remain for long. It's getting dark'

He thanked her and looked at the idol which didn't generate any interest in him. He looked at the lady again and observed that she was a widow with a son who stayed at the cave house as a care-taker and yet looked younger in her 20s.

He walked into the cave with slow steps, almost like crawling and half bent not to hurt his head. There was chilling wind generating inside and it looked like a dark habitat with pleasant fragrance and a small lamp being lit near the idol. There were chants of a voice that was strong and soothing and a trance was developing in him. He looked at who it was...

Continues...

WANDERERS – I

Hot summer in its peak, swearing to get sweat out of the beasts wandering anywhere under the Sun and none got spared, however few trees bent to show they cared! Red mud off the ground… none seen on the road to ask for a thing that would eat away the thirst. Some remote noises of heavy load vehicles to beat the silently laid route! En-route was the peacefully sleeping lake reflecting lush green trees that stood by its shores. Then a road that fell steep down to the destination…

A destination was thought about and eventually he was heading to his destiny knowing very well where he’ll land, what he’ll find! It was new, but he knew from his very own imaginary view of what stood ahead. Walking down for a mile under hot Sun carrying a bag that was packed to stay for days or years until the purpose was solved!

The town was unlike many of the other towns and had a long history for its existence which he was aware of and had seen pictures of a few places that didn’t really speak anything about being there – right there!

Walking on the road with Nike shoes and Lee jeans he looked more in his profession as a geek than one among the locals who gave obvious stares at the alien! He smiled and most didn’t smile back, he didn’t worry but kept walking even as he didn’t quite manage to get any help from anyone about the address of the cave. Google maps didn’t show the route to cave either as they or anyone was not really keen on a cave that was discovered in 12^th century in a remote town somewhere below the abdominal area of mother India.

The water bottles were exhausted and none sold one anywhere nearby and he was losing patience which he had promised not to. So much of sweat that can fill up a cup, but not to kill the thirst he thought and continued walking still trying hard to enjoy the sight that was deserted. He found a hoarding that showed up some direction to the cave and felt happy for not walking the wrong way.

Standing underneath a big tree, enjoying the breeze for a while he felt a sense of rejuvenation and looked below. There were no steps or escalators but a muddy slide of about 10 feet from where he stood to the entrance of the cave. There were half broken walls that served as compounds and about 3 or 4 rooms glued to each other on one side behind which a few glimpses of the famous lake reappeared. It was all muddy, leafy, untailored and untidy. But there were all smiles on his face looking at this scenic beauty and the tired mind was falling into peace…

Continues…

Bintan Island - Indonesia

So we headed to celebrate our 1 year of togetherness at one of the most beautiful beaches at the Bintan Lagoon Resort located in the Bintan Resorts Island, which is reachable by a 45-minute ferry ride from Singapore! We started off on Saturday around 12 and reached Bintan at around 12 as well :) that’s because of the 1 hour time difference between Singapore and Indonesia.

And that was the end of a holiday, heading to another very soon… so some more snaps to overload the Blogger! :-)

Chow!!!