Sikkim Tourism Nomenclature

The border area has a challenging terrain and climate. Army limits the number of vehicles that could ply to a certain place. Of course, there are restricted areas too. If you are lucky enough, your vehicle/ travel agent could get the permit to get to the places you intend to visit. Photography is also prohibited at few places that have army activity. Plan to include the expense\ time for getting the permits. The routes are often through forests with many many water streams and falls. Water falls never fail to fascinate me but yes had too much of it that I didn’t mind dozing off for a while. It is amazing to see pockets of lively communities at higher altitudes. They have small colorful shops that serve the tourists food and sell woolen caps, refreshments, toys …..

They have a simple lifestyle and limited good food (vegetarian)! Not something that would make you to crave for Sikkim but served hot and friendly. They have different languages with the influence of Tibet and Nepalese on Hindi and a tribal language too. However, they manage to speak a little Hindi and English to accommodate tourists. 

Warm up! Sikkim ahead

Early winter, touring Sikkim was on the cards with the adventure side shining. Sikkim as of now does not have an airport or a railway station. The only way to get there is by road or heli (this is just what I heard. Not sure on the helicopter services). We choose to reach by road from the near by railway station New Jalpaiguri. This is the place where the Himalayan railways run their narrow gauge too.   

A pleasant morning at New Jalpaiguri railway station, we were rushing with excitement to reach Gangtok. Lets go go go ….. was the motto when the friendly taxis at the station greeted us with a No .. No .. No J Well it was the start day of the friction between West Bengal and Sikkim for the vehicle permits. A little knowledge, West Bengal allows Sikkim taxis to run around but Sikkim does not allow the ply of West Bengal vehicles and hence West Bengal was on a strike for getting permits to Sikkim. With no clue on the friction as we arrived it was not pleasing to hear a "No way to go to Sikkim". Some of the tour operators suggested we alter our trip to visit Darjeling instead. We headed to Siliguri, a small place away from New Jalpaiguri to try our luck. Fainted luck with cab, we were in a snail paced long long queue at the at the bus station. Quite a few tourists like us were there who just wanted to get a way to go to Sikkim. The long wait paid off as we managed to get the tickets in the last row of the bus. The route was mostly uphill in the dense forests. Finally we reached Gangtok! A sense of achievement for the start of the trip. A warmup to make a good memory!

Gangtok to me seems to be thriving on a mountain. Roads with heavy inclinations and basic living is the Gangtok signature. There are several narrow, sometimes shabby public staircases between 2 roads at different altitudes. This is the pattern all over this place. There is a lot of exercise for people there. We were in a hotel close to the main market but at a different altitude. Not easy on the calf muscles. We went to MG Marg the reputed market place to be astonished at the organized world class look. A broad tiled road with plantation divider and seating benches. Shops lined up on both sides. It is a very cool hangout place as there are no vehicles here.  

 Sikkim is not low on charm. A state of art to line the sides of the roads with trees, trees from the below deco up the roads above. Kudos Sikkim!

Adi Shankaracharya Temple Srinagar

This is something we have been sighting since day 1 up the hill but managed to be there just before leaving Srinagar. Few blossoms just blooming and flowing freshness was that hill. Could feel loads of positive energy as we went up and then the cab stopped. We had to take 250 steps to get to the temple. We wished we had enough time to actually climb up the hill on foot too. They do not allow phone or cameras beyond this point. Hence you can keep leave your minds free to just soak in the present. The stairs were not very tiring but yes, people do take small breaks and smile at each other. To add to the beauty, there were 3 schools having their day excursion there. They come up the hill by foot and then are at the stairs. Those innocent beautiful Kasmiri girls and boys added more vibrant energy as they quickly run up and then gasp yet again race with each other. They bump into strangers as they run and throw an innocent child smile to them before they continue to rush. No doubt innocent children always have the power to make you smile.

As we get higher and higher, the altitude was uncovering a glorious view of the city. WOW! Was just not enough….  A few deep breathes before our minds could sink in the beauty seen and give us words!  Populous city around a cheerful lake with colorful boats and house boats. River Jhelum made an excellent twist and turn in the city to add to the picturesque view.   This habitat is encompassed with green hills and those green ones in turn encompassed by seemingly dark hills with white icing. We stood there under a maple tree with hue green leaves. For sure the maple trees envy the beauty and change color to attract attention towards them at least for few months an year. None the less, the huge maple (Chinar as called by Kashmiris) trees are definitely a pride to this place. It looked like a challenge nature was giving itself. With hills all around, there are different views one can get. All the elements, Lake, hills, greenery, blossoms, snow covered hills, river Jhelum and beautiful people with colorful boats (shikaras)  were racing against each other to stand out and high in the enthralling view of the city.

The temple is a simple small and robust stone structure. This is reputed to be the place where Shankaracharya meditated. As the clock rushed, it pushed us back to the cab to head to the airport. 

Nature Retreat

I have always heard of the Nature and beauty of Kashmir since I was a child and it was a dream for me to be there. As I set out to realize the dream all excited, I was specific to get a window seat in the flight to get a glimpse of the snow clad hills and mountains. It is not the first time I was to see and feel snow. But it is going to be the first time in India. I am sure this is going to be splendid than what I can imagine as that is what I heard.  A birds view of from the flight was the start of my delight. The airport view of grey tidy runway, greenery and iced hill far off was a teaser from Kashmir to me as we proceeded towards local sightseeing. We were in the city at the time of morning bells. Our hotel check-in was by noon. Hmmm… so go around places and then go for the check-in was the way for us.

A little too early to start the day as we reached Shalimar Garden. We reached an hour before the garden opens and hence were just walking down the street. We played the morning birds to the stalls nearby as they still are getting ready for the day. With an eye on the ticket counter and finally, a gardener came out. He was not to open the counter but was kind enough to allow us inside after we assured him we would pay for the entry ticket before we leave the premise. 

Once inside, it was a visual retreat. Lush green and blooms around. Well maintained with the snow covered mountains in the far side. With no visitors in, it seemed like my own kingdom. We walked at leisure and enjoyed very much in the moment. Breathed freshness, ran around the hue green trees that were springing life after winter.  Very much swept in the moment as our souls got feather lite we moved around the garden gazing at each flower and tree. There was a small structure that a hall with idling fountains around. As we were done with the place and decided to move on, our heads turned again as the fountains were coming alive.  A little more time and then we moved on to visit other gardens in Srinagar. We visited Nishat garden and chasmeshahi  gardens that that had different views but yes! Along with a little more audience who were as mused with the beauty of the gardens as we were.

 

Childhood ambition

Astronomy! My childhood ambition was to be an astronomer. More than the practical love of the subject, there was an imaginary quotient.

At an age when what ever mom tells means the world, I was very close to family and grandparents. They were very religious and followed most of the customs and I grew up hearing to stories from the legendary epics of India. I was told and believed there are worlds like heaven up in the sky and that we are not so blessed to see them all. Penance could empower one to be able to see them and also see angels. But people performing penance would mostly be reincarnations of holy beings. Hence penance was preached to be out of reach. When I used to ask the most innocent childhood questions like can I bring down the moon or the stars or what does it take for me to reach them, I once got an answer that a rocket can take me near to them. And then I got to know that astronomers are the people who get to outer space without penance J and they are very much humans and need not be reincarnations of angles or gods. Well that sparked the thought I believed astronomers are more blessed than us as they get to see more then earth in the vast creation of god. There started my love for the subject.

I grew with lot of fascination for astronomy. Wanted to be a scientist ….. until one day I had a encounter. At a tender age that I could correlate things, I was exposed to the pain of people, the hungry and the poor. In a debate, one questioned me, there are quite a few problems on earth that are not answered why does one want to spend huge money on probing the space. God made us to live on earth and we better stick to it. I lost the debate. The bottom line remained that research is something that exhausts resources but we cannot gauge them. Was in a state of confusion. But could not kill the love for the subject or pay a def ear to the sufferings on earth.

I am not in the field close to astronomy. Not into social service.  Living on tangent for now… reading on scientific articles and sometimes helping people in need. 

Akshardham

Believe me the detailed artistic majestic marvel swept me off my feet. I was with a group of people when I entered Akshardham. I already had high expectations on that place. Initially we went through a security check and we were asked to get rid of all the gadgets we had and also hanging purse but were allowed in with footwear. So by the time we comfortably walked in, we just had a jacket (as it was winter), money if any in our pockets. I had no money or any valuables with me that I had to be bothered about. But we had very little time in hand to get back!

As we walked in we were seeing great craftsmanship. It is not just a mechanical thing but I am sure people put in their heart and soul to it. We were appreciating each detail we came across. Firstly I noticed the 10 doors indicating welcoming and harnessing energy from 10 directions. Very well crafted! Each door had a perfect curtain formed by flowing threads of water. Then we came across the marble feet on to which water was pouring from four conch shells. It looked adorable. We came across well maintained gardens and beautiful sculptures in the temple exterior. The detailing looked very realistic. We were appreciating all that we saw and we were also finding time to discuss it with our group every now and then calling out each other. At the entrance of the main temple we had to leave our footwear. We entered the temple as a group and then ………..

Everyone had their jaws dropped and dwell in a state of trance. What a beauty, what an intricate design, sharpness, grace and accuracy in crafting. Every inch of the temple was crafted as it is the only square on earth. Designs not repeated much. We moved across and all around. Our eyes could not move across as there was so much to see in every inch. It took us long to realize that we are in a group and need to stay in a group. We went around and got a glimpse of the main deity and yet again were swept off. Every step ahead only gave us only one question, “What do you call this if you called the other marvelous?” no words, nothing can really define the beauty of the place. I am not a person who goes head over heels for human made things. I am more of a nature lover. But this time it was different. I was pampering myself taking the pride of being an Indian.

As we walked out we got a glimpse of the water surrounding the temple. Water was pouring in from cow faces made of bronze. When they turned the lights on, Oh! Wow!! It was as if the golden cows were pouring gold in.

No pictures can ever to justice to showcase the beauty of Akshardham. I would recommend everyone to see this place and it pays it all. 

Life always finds new avenues to stay motivated, stay thrilled and have some bliss.

Sleep Direction

This is a post totally out of my understanding based on information gathered from reading several articles. I could be wrong so please use your best judgement to infer things. I would love to see your ideas and also refine mine for the good. This is an amateur post!

Every thought in our brain is a form of energy that originated in our brain, propagated in our neurocircuits, encoded, decoded, and transformed in our body. A flow of energy is what we are merely. While active, the senses we have feed inputs to our brain and our brain dictates the reactions. Seems so effortless but isn’t so. During sleep, physical activity is minimal leaving the brain to its mechanical capacity to rejuvenate our body. Sleep is better when the pressure on the brain is relieved. Our senses are at minimal functioning.

A small current may shake you up but enough to shake your transformer.  A minute current may just tickle you but if in water, it can make you tumble. The same energy has a different impact at different times. We are constantly subjected to the gravitational forces of the earth. Aligning with these energies may aid our relaxation. And hence, we have a theory that tells us the best direction to sleep. Definitely stress and strain superimposes this. Please do not extra miles in finding the right direction to sleep when your body is yearning for sleep. Also when you are loaded with thoughts! I am sorry none of this works and your brain gets time to refresh you. In due course you are at loss.

So, under normal circumstances, is there a right direction to sleep?

Yes.

Head towards South feet towards North is the best.

Head towards East feet towards west is also a good choice.

Here is my fav! WHY?

Knowing earth has a magnetic positive North Pole and negative south; health scientists tell us that we too have a similar magnetic stretch with the positive pole at the head and the negative one at the feet. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract. When we lay our heads on the north side, the two positive sides repel each other and there is a struggle between the two. There may be unnecessary drain of energies. When we lay our heads in the southern direction, there is mutual attraction and we are better relaxed.

We also know that our planet revolves itself from west to east, and sun's magnetic field enters earth from east side. This magnetic force enters our head if we lie with head on the east and exits through feet, promoting cool heads and warm feet as per the laws of magnetism and electricity. With head towards the west, cool feet and hot head that is a perfect aid to blast someoneJ.

More Info:

Scientists have long suspected that humans like many other animal species have an innate magnetic compass, but have been unsure as to how this affects us. The new research shows that some mammal species always graze and sleep facing north or south and that the earth's magnetic field is probably polarizing and causing this.

Following this, further studies have suggested that humans who sleep in an East-West position have far shorter rapid eye movement or REM sleep cycles, in which dreams occur, compared with North-South sleepers who got more REM sleep.

REM sleep is the final phase in our deep sleep cycle and it usually takes up 20-25% of the total sleep time. There are various theories about what REM is from neural pathway development to memory consolidation, but science is agreed that it is a vital function and so maximizing your amounts could help promote greater health and wellbeing.

Our sleep positions may have some beneficial effects, from increased REM sleep and energy flows to improved and regular patterns. As more research is carried out more will be known. But for now science and Eastern medicine- both agree that getting into a good, regular sleep pattern that suits you is important for everyone

Reference links:

http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/41579/earths-magnetic-field-human-brain-and-sleep
http://bodyecology.com/articles/could-direction-you-sleep-improve-health.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetoception