Alrite...I have completely stopped my chain of reporting on my day to day activities in Paris...for one...coz like all good things...it had to come to an end ( ha ha kidding!)..Life had become routine. with long nights at the office..so only weekends were spent doing anything..as far as exploring Paris goes...I have not done a very good job..sad but true..so much I would like to see in this amazing city..and now there is hardly any time left...
My last update stopped with the trip to Italy so shall continue from there. Went up the Eiffel..gorgeous view of Paris..nice time..did nothing else exceptional that week..
First weekend after mom left was very unremarkable...did not feel like going out much or seeing new places..guess too much of a good thing can also be bad..so I just rested the entire weekend...
Next weekend..met up with a friend from coll..saw Sacre Cour..saw the outside of Jardins Du Luxemborg..saw Tour MontParnasse..huge building..have a nice pic in front of it too..for the select few who I have sent links to my abum..you may see this..shall send the links to others as well..that Sunday..we saw Pont De Alexder..one of the prettiest bridges in Paris leading to Invalides..500m of manicured lawn, Palais Royal..and all this on one of those typical French mornings..cloudy with a promise of rain in the air. Then we walked upto Musee D'Orsay and then took the RER to St. Michel..walked in the by lanes of St. Michel and stumbled upon this amazing place that has every board game known to man in there..its just stocked with board games..really super!had a nice lunch of tomata feta cheese sandwich followed by yummy hot chocolate..then we headed inside the Notre Dame Cathedral..I find it strange that I still haven't had the chance to read Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame..thin I will do it as soon as I reach India..went inside the church..saw the famous stained glass paintings..wasn't the best day to visit the place coz the absence of sunlight outside meant I really could not appreciate the beauty of the windows..but I will be going back theer again so its fine I guess..
The past weekend..Friday..we were treated to a brilliant display of fireworks at Parc De Villette..just brilliant! Saturday was dedicated to shopping..spent the Saturday browsing through dozens of shops in the La Defense mall..did not buy to much though..checked out some Harley Davidson bikes..these pics are also in my album..Sunday we went to Chateàu De Versailles...nice place..would not mind getting married there (:-) )..guess noone would..saw the musical fountain show..sat in those quaint horse drawn carriages...big horses are very very smelly...eeeeew!! Pretend-rowed a boat...got some awesome pics taken of myself..God bless Sachin! and then returned..had dinner and tachi..
This week was murder at work..but its Friday today..and all my work is done..went and watched an amazing movie last night...The Devil Wears Prada..in a nutshell its abt a Boss from hell and an employee from heaven..and the people who watched the movie..an employee from hell and a boss from heaven..yeah..Sachin and moi (kidding! Im a jem to work with..no sniggers here!) Hence the inspiration to look nice..which is why yours truly is dressed to kill today in a lovely green indian dress with bindi et all..looking verrrrrry ladylike and fairly pretty...
ok thats it for the Paris updates...
Friday, September 29, 2006
Why aren't we proud to be Indians?
A fairly common feature among Indians you meet abroad. They are embarrassed to be Indians!! The India they see is full of corruption, bad politicians, over population, poverty and unemployment. These problems beset every country in the world!! Some more than the others..but no country is untouched by these scourges...But yet, we turn a blind eye to these when we are abroad and make a huge deal out of it in India!
As for me, yes I do think we are behind the rest of the world in almost everything..but I am still proud to be Indian..and no matter which corner of the globe I live in..Home as such would always be India...
The attitudes of Indians living in India...There are 3 specimens of Indians to be found anywhere in the world..
The first kind...has the attitude that being an Indian is a passport to being uncouth, uncivilized and is in general a public nuisance..This specimen has absolutely no regard for road rules..thinks nothing of littering public places..talks loudly..ugh!
The second kind...think when in India be an Indian..dirty public places..break every rule possible..but when abroad..these ppl consciously develop a pseudo-sense of Social and Civic responsibility..they just shrug it off along with their disembarkation pass at the Indian aiport...
The third kind..is the one that possesses a semblance of social and civic responsibility and chooses to maintain it irrespctive of which country they are in...
I believe that I am in the third category..and I wanna use this blog to address the other 2 categories..incidentally, it is the former 2 categories that are most embarassed to be Indians!!
When we go abroad..for various reasons..studies..work..vacation..most of us tend to forget that in our own small way we are cultural ambassadors of our country..and that if we ourselves hold no respect for India..then it is unlikely that the foreigners will..
Coming back to the subject of my blog...Why Indians have no respect for India?
1. Population...The days of having 7-10 children has almost faded..at least among the affluent and mid-income strata of society..a problem of this magnitude cannot be overcome in a day. It takes time, but we are seeing results..
2. UnEmployment...BPO hub, software centre...We are growing..albeit in small steps compared to China and other developing countries but steps nonetheless...
3. Poverty...There are beggars and there is poverty everywhere in the world...We choose not to see it here..but make a big deal out of poverty in India..yeah there may be more beggars...but nonetheless..its not a problem unique to India
4. Dirtiness..This is especially for Category 1 and 2 people...India can be a clean country too..use dustbins...stop spitting on the road..stop sticking posters where you're not allowed to..treat your country as an extension of your house and start keeping it clean..if each of us were to start making it our responsibility to keep a place clean..I fail to see how it could not work..
5. Traffic...yes, we are an over populated country with an under developed public transport system..but even in this aspect..every day I see a traffic jam on my way to the office here in Paris...what I don't see is irate drivers honking like there is no tomorrow...or abuses being hurled..people sit calmly and wait for the jam to pass..the key here is that they know the jam is inevitable so they don’t try and fight it...they patiently wait...this in a city with one of the most developed public transport systems..and with a population roughly equal to that of Jayanagar!! And yet we think of Paris as wonderland..
6. Corruption...Greed for money and power is rampant everywhere in the world. It's a matter of percentages as Sachin told me. Roughly the same percentage of people are corrupt everywhere. Since our population is a whole lot more, the amount of corruption may seem significantly more. But even here, with the Lok Ayukta coming into force etc. we are improving. And, we encourage corruption!! How many of us actually go and stand in queues at the RTO or the Passport Office? Instead we go to these middlemen, pay them a bribe and get the work done faster. We stop paying them bribes...in the long run, they stop asking for bribes!! Its a question of Supply and Demand..
7. Politics...False promises to win elections. In Budapest, people are demanding the resignation of their Prime Minister after a report that he won his office under false premises. That is being pro-active. What do we do? Instead of creating public forums to address our grievances, we grumble about how the government is not doing anything. Make the government sit up and hear you. You have a voice...use it!!
So, basically my point is don't be ashamed to be an Indian. Be proud of your country. We are a country rich in values, traditions and culture. We still possess a unique identity. We are the land of so many great people. I might sound like a patriotic song soon enough so I will stop here...but I hope you get the point...and more importantly I hope you learn to be a proud Indian!
Jai Hind!
As for me, yes I do think we are behind the rest of the world in almost everything..but I am still proud to be Indian..and no matter which corner of the globe I live in..Home as such would always be India...
The attitudes of Indians living in India...There are 3 specimens of Indians to be found anywhere in the world..
The first kind...has the attitude that being an Indian is a passport to being uncouth, uncivilized and is in general a public nuisance..This specimen has absolutely no regard for road rules..thinks nothing of littering public places..talks loudly..ugh!
The second kind...think when in India be an Indian..dirty public places..break every rule possible..but when abroad..these ppl consciously develop a pseudo-sense of Social and Civic responsibility..they just shrug it off along with their disembarkation pass at the Indian aiport...
The third kind..is the one that possesses a semblance of social and civic responsibility and chooses to maintain it irrespctive of which country they are in...
I believe that I am in the third category..and I wanna use this blog to address the other 2 categories..incidentally, it is the former 2 categories that are most embarassed to be Indians!!
When we go abroad..for various reasons..studies..work..vacation..most of us tend to forget that in our own small way we are cultural ambassadors of our country..and that if we ourselves hold no respect for India..then it is unlikely that the foreigners will..
Coming back to the subject of my blog...Why Indians have no respect for India?
1. Population...The days of having 7-10 children has almost faded..at least among the affluent and mid-income strata of society..a problem of this magnitude cannot be overcome in a day. It takes time, but we are seeing results..
2. UnEmployment...BPO hub, software centre...We are growing..albeit in small steps compared to China and other developing countries but steps nonetheless...
3. Poverty...There are beggars and there is poverty everywhere in the world...We choose not to see it here..but make a big deal out of poverty in India..yeah there may be more beggars...but nonetheless..its not a problem unique to India
4. Dirtiness..This is especially for Category 1 and 2 people...India can be a clean country too..use dustbins...stop spitting on the road..stop sticking posters where you're not allowed to..treat your country as an extension of your house and start keeping it clean..if each of us were to start making it our responsibility to keep a place clean..I fail to see how it could not work..
5. Traffic...yes, we are an over populated country with an under developed public transport system..but even in this aspect..every day I see a traffic jam on my way to the office here in Paris...what I don't see is irate drivers honking like there is no tomorrow...or abuses being hurled..people sit calmly and wait for the jam to pass..the key here is that they know the jam is inevitable so they don’t try and fight it...they patiently wait...this in a city with one of the most developed public transport systems..and with a population roughly equal to that of Jayanagar!! And yet we think of Paris as wonderland..
6. Corruption...Greed for money and power is rampant everywhere in the world. It's a matter of percentages as Sachin told me. Roughly the same percentage of people are corrupt everywhere. Since our population is a whole lot more, the amount of corruption may seem significantly more. But even here, with the Lok Ayukta coming into force etc. we are improving. And, we encourage corruption!! How many of us actually go and stand in queues at the RTO or the Passport Office? Instead we go to these middlemen, pay them a bribe and get the work done faster. We stop paying them bribes...in the long run, they stop asking for bribes!! Its a question of Supply and Demand..
7. Politics...False promises to win elections. In Budapest, people are demanding the resignation of their Prime Minister after a report that he won his office under false premises. That is being pro-active. What do we do? Instead of creating public forums to address our grievances, we grumble about how the government is not doing anything. Make the government sit up and hear you. You have a voice...use it!!
So, basically my point is don't be ashamed to be an Indian. Be proud of your country. We are a country rich in values, traditions and culture. We still possess a unique identity. We are the land of so many great people. I might sound like a patriotic song soon enough so I will stop here...but I hope you get the point...and more importantly I hope you learn to be a proud Indian!
Jai Hind!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Amu Gyaan
Alrite..its been a blissful 7 weeks in Europe...think i will list out things I like/dislike blah blah...
List of my fave places in the 4 countries I have been to
1. France --> Paris - * Champs Elysses/Arc De Triomph * Eiffel Tower * Louvre by Night * Grande Arch/La Defense * Tour MontParnasse * Invalides
2. Belgium --> Brussels * Grand Place * St. Michel's Cathedral
--> Antwerpen * Antwerpen Central..teh prettiest Railway station ever! * GroenPlaats Square * The banks of the Scheldes River
--> Brugge * Markt Square
3. Holland --> Amsterdam * Madam Tussaud's * Daam Straat * Schipol Airport
4. Italy --> Rome * The Vatican * the Colosseum * Piazza Navona * Pantheon
--> Pisa * Leaning Tower
--> Venice * The water taxi stand just opp the Venezia St. Lucia station
Best Walks I have had in Europe..rated from best to good!
1. With JP...from La Defense to Porte De St.Cloud...through Pont De Neuilly, Argentine, Arc De Triomph, Champs Elysses, Concorde, Royal Palais, Trocadero..and the bridges..
2. With JP...from our hotel to the Javel bridge at 12 in the night! saw the Eiffel twinkling for the first time..stunning sight..
3. With Mom...through St. Peter's Square on Via Vatican all teh way upto St. Peter's basilica..
4. With Sachin..Walk from Grand Place to Palace of Justice in Brussels
Things I loved most during my stay
1. French Women..the way they smell and the way they dress..Ooo la la...
2. Hot Chocolate...well..all Hot Chocolate is good Hot chocolate..but the Italians make it the best..second would be the Belgian ones..the Dutch and the French are on equal footing...
3. Walking back home after a long day at the office and seeing the Eiffel twinkle!
4. Shopping!! granted I am not doing much ( read any!) shopping...but still..window shoppnig is an activity even the most disinterested shopper will cultivate in Paris...
5. Walking along Champs Elysses..I will miss this the most, I guess
6. Watching the Eiffel twinkle...
7. Eating the yummiest breads and pizzas here...
8. Galleries Lafayette....aaaaaaaaah! paradise
Will update this list...I know I am missing out something..
Murphy is God!
1. Murphy's Law of Mc Donalds : You can never find one when you need one! Otherwise, they are everywhere..all over the place!
2. When you're at a metro station waiting for your train, the train at the opposite platform will always arrive before yours!
3. The best laid plans always go wrong!
4. The time required to wait for ur train/the distance to walk in a metro is directly proportional to how tired you actually are!!
5. You miss a bus by a whisker and dont care coz the next one will come along in 4 mins..well..the next one comes after 25 mins...
6. When you know how to ask a particular question in French, chances are you will stumble upon that rare specimen in France that speaks English..you pray for an English speaking person and you get a person who will look at you blankly and say non anglais!
General observations on people and places in Europe
1. Paris is one of the dirtiest places here..there is dog do all over the place!!
2. Frenchmen are extremely polite and courteous..Gallic chivalry runs in their veins I guess...
3. French are also very polite drivers..will stop for you even when the pedestrian light is red..and all they expect is a smile and a Merci
4. Italians are a lazy lot in general..never rely on Italian local bus/train schedules..
5. Italian men are super hot!and super flirts too...nice combo to have..
6. European languages (except maybe German) have a very endearing sing song way of pronouncement.
7. A photo of the Arc De Triomph...and Champs Elysses..can never go wrong..no matter how redundant your camera may be or how unskilled a photographer you are..
More to come in this list as well…
List of my fave places in the 4 countries I have been to
1. France --> Paris - * Champs Elysses/Arc De Triomph * Eiffel Tower * Louvre by Night * Grande Arch/La Defense * Tour MontParnasse * Invalides
2. Belgium --> Brussels * Grand Place * St. Michel's Cathedral
--> Antwerpen * Antwerpen Central..teh prettiest Railway station ever! * GroenPlaats Square * The banks of the Scheldes River
--> Brugge * Markt Square
3. Holland --> Amsterdam * Madam Tussaud's * Daam Straat * Schipol Airport
4. Italy --> Rome * The Vatican * the Colosseum * Piazza Navona * Pantheon
--> Pisa * Leaning Tower
--> Venice * The water taxi stand just opp the Venezia St. Lucia station
Best Walks I have had in Europe..rated from best to good!
1. With JP...from La Defense to Porte De St.Cloud...through Pont De Neuilly, Argentine, Arc De Triomph, Champs Elysses, Concorde, Royal Palais, Trocadero..and the bridges..
2. With JP...from our hotel to the Javel bridge at 12 in the night! saw the Eiffel twinkling for the first time..stunning sight..
3. With Mom...through St. Peter's Square on Via Vatican all teh way upto St. Peter's basilica..
4. With Sachin..Walk from Grand Place to Palace of Justice in Brussels
Things I loved most during my stay
1. French Women..the way they smell and the way they dress..Ooo la la...
2. Hot Chocolate...well..all Hot Chocolate is good Hot chocolate..but the Italians make it the best..second would be the Belgian ones..the Dutch and the French are on equal footing...
3. Walking back home after a long day at the office and seeing the Eiffel twinkle!
4. Shopping!! granted I am not doing much ( read any!) shopping...but still..window shoppnig is an activity even the most disinterested shopper will cultivate in Paris...
5. Walking along Champs Elysses..I will miss this the most, I guess
6. Watching the Eiffel twinkle...
7. Eating the yummiest breads and pizzas here...
8. Galleries Lafayette....aaaaaaaaah! paradise
Will update this list...I know I am missing out something..
Murphy is God!
1. Murphy's Law of Mc Donalds : You can never find one when you need one! Otherwise, they are everywhere..all over the place!
2. When you're at a metro station waiting for your train, the train at the opposite platform will always arrive before yours!
3. The best laid plans always go wrong!
4. The time required to wait for ur train/the distance to walk in a metro is directly proportional to how tired you actually are!!
5. You miss a bus by a whisker and dont care coz the next one will come along in 4 mins..well..the next one comes after 25 mins...
6. When you know how to ask a particular question in French, chances are you will stumble upon that rare specimen in France that speaks English..you pray for an English speaking person and you get a person who will look at you blankly and say non anglais!
General observations on people and places in Europe
1. Paris is one of the dirtiest places here..there is dog do all over the place!!
2. Frenchmen are extremely polite and courteous..Gallic chivalry runs in their veins I guess...
3. French are also very polite drivers..will stop for you even when the pedestrian light is red..and all they expect is a smile and a Merci
4. Italians are a lazy lot in general..never rely on Italian local bus/train schedules..
5. Italian men are super hot!and super flirts too...nice combo to have..
6. European languages (except maybe German) have a very endearing sing song way of pronouncement.
7. A photo of the Arc De Triomph...and Champs Elysses..can never go wrong..no matter how redundant your camera may be or how unskilled a photographer you are..
More to come in this list as well…
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Terrorism versus Islam
I have not done anything significant this past week, except may be go up the Eiffel Tower and enjoy a stunning view of Paris..so I shall use this week's post to speak about something else...the villification of Muslims across the world
Yes, I, a Hindu..a Brahmin..am going to dedicate a post extending my sympathy to the Muslim community...and No, I have not taken leave of my senses..
As the world celebrates the 5th Anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the WTC, various news channels have also covered the change in the way the world now perceives Muslims. They are all looked upon in askance..as if being a Muslim is a sure fire way of identifying a potential terrorist. All Muslims are not terrorists just like all Germans are not Hitler's...all Marathis are not Nathuram Godse's and all Lankans are not Ravanas...
So, everytime we have a terrorist attack, a new wave of scathing comments are thrown at Muslims across the world. No, I most certainly don't condone these acts of terrorism..but I don't think these attacks are a license to attack Muslims..
Terrorism has no religion...no God-fearing person can execute thousands of innocents for no fault of their own. Yes, the terrorists use their religion as their potent weapon…they use the name of God to claim innocent lives…their War on Jihad is part of their plan to destroy all non believers’ of Islam..
Jihad is an Islamic term, which connotes a wide range of meanings: anything from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith to a political or military struggle to further the Islamic cause. Muslim scholars explained there are five kinds of jihad fi sabilillah (struggle in the cause of God).
1. Jihad of the heart/soul (jihad bin nafs/qalb) is an inner struggle of good against evil in the mind.
2. Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lisan) is a struggle of good against evil waged by writing and speech, such as in the form of dawah (proselytizing), Khutbas (sermons), and political or military propaganda.
3. Jihad by the pen and knowledge (jihad bil qalam/ilm) is a struggle for good against evil through scholarly study of Islam, ijtihad (legal reasoning), and through sciences (such as military and medical sciences).
4. Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad) refers to a struggle of good against evil waged by actions or with one's wealth, such as going on the Hajj pilgrimage (seen as the best jihad for women), taking care of elderly parents, providing funding for jihad, political activity for furthering the cause of Islam, stopping evil by force, or espionage.
5. Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif) refers to qital fi sabilillah (armed fighting in the way of God, or holy war).
It is the last interpretation of Jihad that is the reason behind this holy war. But, even Islam or the Quran does not allow the murder of innocents in Jihad. Physical Jihad relates to the use of physical force in defence of Muslims against oppression and transgression by the enemies of Allah, Islam and Muslims. Allah commands that Muslims lead peaceful lives and not transgress against anyone. If they are persecuted and oppressed, the Qur'an recommends that they migrate to a more peaceful and tolerant land: "Lo! Those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape persecution) and strive (Jahadu) in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's mercy..." (2:218). If relocation is not possible, then Allah also requires Muslims to defend themselves against oppression by "fighting against those who fight against us." 2 The Qur'an states: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given [to defend themselves], because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them victory." (22:39) [4]
Jihad is a supposed to be a fight against those who wrong Muslims or Islam. Being a Christian or a Hindu or a Jew is not a crime against Muslims or Islam. The very base behind this War of Jihad is wrong. The Muslim Jihad has been the compared to the Christian crusade centuries ago, where people were made to convert to Christianity. A person should be allowed to choose his/her own faith. Holding someone at gunpoint and asking him to worship Allah is not a means of converting faith. This War on Jihad is not based on Islam or people who have wronged it. Terrorism and murder as opposed to religion or God are the rules that govern it.
So, basically, I am trying to make a point here, that acts of terrorism, for the most part have no bearing on god-fearing Muslims across the world who have also lost their kith and kin in these attacks. We should not use these attacks to victimize Muslims and possibly alienate them further.
If there are any Muslims reading this blog, then I urge you to ask your community to be more vocal and active in the War against terrorism. The Muslim community should condemn these acts with no if's and buts’. They should not use these acts of Terrorism as a means to ask for upliftment from poverty or better rights to education as is the case in Britain. Poverty and illiteracy are independent of a person's religious background and are not reasons for the Muslims to condone terrorism.
Countries like Lebanon are democracies. The people of these countries can go a long way in fighting the war against terrorism if they elect leaders who will show the world that they are also opposed to Terrorism as opposed to electing to power Terrorist outfits like the Hezbollah. The Muslim community could also go a long way in preaching religious tolerance. Not being Muslim does not make us any less human. This would be the right time to put in Shylock the Jew’s dialogue in Merchant of Venice..
"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that."
There it was said from a Jew to a Christian..here it is being said from a Hindu to a Muslim. The point remains the same. We are as human as you are. So help us put an end to this madness. Let the world finally become a safe place to live in.
Warning...I know this post will evoke some very strong feelings among my readers...but please remember...this post is only about Islam vis-a-vis terrorism..please dont expand this to other facets of Islam notably their treatment of women etc...
Yes, I, a Hindu..a Brahmin..am going to dedicate a post extending my sympathy to the Muslim community...and No, I have not taken leave of my senses..
As the world celebrates the 5th Anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the WTC, various news channels have also covered the change in the way the world now perceives Muslims. They are all looked upon in askance..as if being a Muslim is a sure fire way of identifying a potential terrorist. All Muslims are not terrorists just like all Germans are not Hitler's...all Marathis are not Nathuram Godse's and all Lankans are not Ravanas...
So, everytime we have a terrorist attack, a new wave of scathing comments are thrown at Muslims across the world. No, I most certainly don't condone these acts of terrorism..but I don't think these attacks are a license to attack Muslims..
Terrorism has no religion...no God-fearing person can execute thousands of innocents for no fault of their own. Yes, the terrorists use their religion as their potent weapon…they use the name of God to claim innocent lives…their War on Jihad is part of their plan to destroy all non believers’ of Islam..
Jihad is an Islamic term, which connotes a wide range of meanings: anything from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith to a political or military struggle to further the Islamic cause. Muslim scholars explained there are five kinds of jihad fi sabilillah (struggle in the cause of God).
1. Jihad of the heart/soul (jihad bin nafs/qalb) is an inner struggle of good against evil in the mind.
2. Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lisan) is a struggle of good against evil waged by writing and speech, such as in the form of dawah (proselytizing), Khutbas (sermons), and political or military propaganda.
3. Jihad by the pen and knowledge (jihad bil qalam/ilm) is a struggle for good against evil through scholarly study of Islam, ijtihad (legal reasoning), and through sciences (such as military and medical sciences).
4. Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad) refers to a struggle of good against evil waged by actions or with one's wealth, such as going on the Hajj pilgrimage (seen as the best jihad for women), taking care of elderly parents, providing funding for jihad, political activity for furthering the cause of Islam, stopping evil by force, or espionage.
5. Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif) refers to qital fi sabilillah (armed fighting in the way of God, or holy war).
It is the last interpretation of Jihad that is the reason behind this holy war. But, even Islam or the Quran does not allow the murder of innocents in Jihad. Physical Jihad relates to the use of physical force in defence of Muslims against oppression and transgression by the enemies of Allah, Islam and Muslims. Allah commands that Muslims lead peaceful lives and not transgress against anyone. If they are persecuted and oppressed, the Qur'an recommends that they migrate to a more peaceful and tolerant land: "Lo! Those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape persecution) and strive (Jahadu) in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's mercy..." (2:218). If relocation is not possible, then Allah also requires Muslims to defend themselves against oppression by "fighting against those who fight against us." 2 The Qur'an states: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given [to defend themselves], because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them victory." (22:39) [4]
Jihad is a supposed to be a fight against those who wrong Muslims or Islam. Being a Christian or a Hindu or a Jew is not a crime against Muslims or Islam. The very base behind this War of Jihad is wrong. The Muslim Jihad has been the compared to the Christian crusade centuries ago, where people were made to convert to Christianity. A person should be allowed to choose his/her own faith. Holding someone at gunpoint and asking him to worship Allah is not a means of converting faith. This War on Jihad is not based on Islam or people who have wronged it. Terrorism and murder as opposed to religion or God are the rules that govern it.
So, basically, I am trying to make a point here, that acts of terrorism, for the most part have no bearing on god-fearing Muslims across the world who have also lost their kith and kin in these attacks. We should not use these attacks to victimize Muslims and possibly alienate them further.
If there are any Muslims reading this blog, then I urge you to ask your community to be more vocal and active in the War against terrorism. The Muslim community should condemn these acts with no if's and buts’. They should not use these acts of Terrorism as a means to ask for upliftment from poverty or better rights to education as is the case in Britain. Poverty and illiteracy are independent of a person's religious background and are not reasons for the Muslims to condone terrorism.
Countries like Lebanon are democracies. The people of these countries can go a long way in fighting the war against terrorism if they elect leaders who will show the world that they are also opposed to Terrorism as opposed to electing to power Terrorist outfits like the Hezbollah. The Muslim community could also go a long way in preaching religious tolerance. Not being Muslim does not make us any less human. This would be the right time to put in Shylock the Jew’s dialogue in Merchant of Venice..
"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that."
There it was said from a Jew to a Christian..here it is being said from a Hindu to a Muslim. The point remains the same. We are as human as you are. So help us put an end to this madness. Let the world finally become a safe place to live in.
Warning...I know this post will evoke some very strong feelings among my readers...but please remember...this post is only about Islam vis-a-vis terrorism..please dont expand this to other facets of Islam notably their treatment of women etc...
Monday, September 11, 2006
Italy - brillianto..perfectto...magnificento..
Day 42 - 2nd September - Rome..the Eternal City
Reached Rome around 10.30..the train was late and they did not even apologize!!! A visitor's first impression of Rome as the train chugs from the Rome Tiburtina station to the Roma Termini station is that it is really old...The buildings are dilapidated...everything has an ancient look...its almost like you’re travelling back in time...
Checked in to the Alessandro DownTown hostel…all people reading this who are looking for a cheap way to explore Italy..I highly recommend this place..decent facilities..free breakfast..and they always have a free pasta/pizza party of sorts happening for dinner..besides there is huge kitchen so u could make Maggi etc and in general save on some expenses...and more imprtantly..its a stone's throw from Roma Termini..you will come to know why this is important a little later..
Went to see one of those city tour places...got a map of Rome there...and decided to do Rome myself on foot!!! Best decision ever! got a one day metro pass..Rome has 2 metro lins..and they both pass through Roma Termini..so u can reach home from anywhere in Rome easily..
First hit the Colosseum...interesting tip again for those planing to visit Rome..to buy tickets for the Colosseum, dont wait in the humongous queue there..instead walk across to the Roman Forum ( Fora Roman in local lingo) and in the Palantino you can get tickets at the same price sans the hassle of waiting 90 minutes for ur ticket! The Roman Form is what is left of the political and religious centre of the Roman Empire...it is said that Caesar himself walked through this Forum..gives you a major high knowing that you’re walking in the footsteps of Caesar...
Picked up tickets to the Colosseum..walked past the almost mile long queue smugly...and entered the Colosseum...spell bound...its just a ruined old building..but even a slight shred of imagination is enough to imagine the people cheering…we could see the cages where the hungry lions were kept...we could see the place from where the Gladiators would enter..I watched that movie after a year of having the CD :-)...and standing inside the Colosseum, I was thankful for having watched it...I could at least imagine the significance of the place..its a standing testimonial to the might of the Roman Empire…to still be standing...albeit in ruins for so many centuries...Humbling...
Then had a typical Italian lunch of hot margherita pizza followed by a pistachio gelato with the Colosseum leaning over us...very nice...then took a bus towards the Pantheon...got off at the nearest stop..and walked..saw a huge pillar at Piazza Colonna..not sure of its significance though..shall Google later..then saw the Temple Adrianno that is now a theatre of sorts..and then the Pantheon…every nook and corner you will have some remnant of ancient Rome..which is what makes it the perfect place to explore on foot..the Pantheon..pagan temple converted to Christian church..very pretty..
Then Piazza Navona..this is a beautifuul square full of sunshine and colour...A huge fountain dominates the centre of this square...and you have lots of artists making watercolours of the scene around them…Took a bus that dropped us off near the Vatican. Crossed the Tiburina River via the Ponte De Saint Angelo...Castel St. Angelo is this mammoth edifice. Now a museum..unsure of its earlier purpose..but you just look right and there you see Saint Peter's Basilica in the distance..I know the Vatican was one of the biggest churches etc..but nothing prepared me for the scale and grandeur in front of my eyes..only superlatives befit the Vatican...its just amazing..huge walkway leading up to St. Peter's Basilica..a bigger square and then the mammoth church..entered in to see the tombs of all the previous popes...Dan Brown's Angels and Demons coming alive in my head..saw all the tombs including that of the apostle Peter..the Sistine chapel was closed until Monday! a sign that I have to visit Rome again...:-)..returned from the Vatican…and headed towards the Spanish steps..
Spanish steps are just steps in front of Piazza Esapgna..apparently a cool place for the Romans to hang out...connects the Piazza with another building above whose name I cant remember..then headed to Fontana Del Trevi..the most highly rated tourist spot in Rome...we walked forever to get there..and the fatigue removed some of the joy in seeing the place..besides it was packed!!! got our pic taken..it is said that if you throw a coin over your right shoulder you will come back to Rome..so mom and me promptly threw a coin…and then left for home..
Reached in time for the Pasta..yummy penne in spicy Arrabiata sauce..nice end to our day in Rome...the Eternal City
Day 43 - Join the dots again...
The problem with trying to see as many places as possible in one short weekend..means that u spend most of Sunday travelling..it happened last Sunday…its happening again today...left for Pisa at 7.30 after a nice breakfast at Alessandros..reached Pisa at 10.30 and took the bus to Campo Mirablio where the Leaning Tower is...it actually leans!!I mean its obvious and all..but when u see the tower actually leaning, it takes u by surprise..at least it took me by complete surprise...enjoyed seeing the place...bought some souvenirs...and then…I realised the importance of 1 minute
We missed our bus back to the station by 1 minute..the next bus which was supposed to come 9 minutes later came a whopping 25 mins later..this meant that we missed our train to Florence...and in turn our connecting train from Florence to Venice..so by the time we reached Florence, we had just 10 mins before the EuroStar left and we obviously could not catch it since we did not have the tickets..the next Eurostar was already booked..so we ended up taking a train to Bologne..then Bologne to Venise!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaah...join the dots..the upside..we got to travel 1st Class inter city from Florence to Bologne and it was brilliant...ppl there are seriously pampered!!! enjoyed that..managed to get hold of an English magazine...the dowside was..I just got to spend 24 minute in Venice…the city of my Dreams...its ok..guess it was meant to be shared with someone else....saw a canal..saw a gondola..saw Murano glass..so I at least got a taste of Venice..
Back to Paris..travelled with an Italian family where the Dad looked just like Al Pacino...dead ringer I tell you...and in case I forgot to mention it in this post…. Italian men are hot!!! and they flirt with all things female..so watch out...
Photos..the one on the left..Inside the Colosseum..Centre with a Roman dressed as a Gladiator..Right..outside the Pantheon
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
Week 6
Day 37 - Monday - 28th August
Spent today just resting after our travels to Amsterdam...went to the Diana memorial at the Alma Marceau tunnel...this is where HRH, Princess Dianna of Wales died in a tragic road accident in 1997. Her car crashed into the 13th pillar in this tunnel. There is a huge golden flame outside dedicated to her...saw that...walked around the place and went to Gare Du Nord...booked tickets for Italy and returned...ate and tachi..
Day 38 - Tuesday - Sacre Couer, Mont Marte and Pigalle
Went to Anvers..did some shopping there..and moved on to see the awesome church called Sacre Cour...you get a brilliant view of Paris since this place is on a hill(Montmartre)..this view does not encompass the Eiffel, Notre Dame and Arc De Triomph..its the other end of Paris that we can see...
Went then to the Place De Terre which is this colourful square filled with artists...mom and I got portraits done of ourselves and mine ended up looking nothing like me...boo hoo..
We had seen the Red Light District in Amsterdam..wanted to see how the one in Paris compared to that..hence the trip to Pigalle..and this one was a whole lot more "colourful"..pun intended!! Saw the Moulin Rouge with its famous windmill sign..the prices for the "show" were bloody expensive..and yet there was no dearth of people queuing up for tickets...took a pic of the place and left...
Day 39 - Wednesday - The Louvre
I have spent 38 days in Paris and not yet seen the La Joconde or the Mona Lisa as we better know it...in order to rectify this grave error, mom and I set off for a nocturnal visit of the Louvre that is possible only on Wednesday and Friday...
First entered the Denon wing..this wing houses some jewels of Egyptian archaeology including a sarcophagus case( sarcophagus aka the egyptian Mummy!)..went to the next level and wow!! it was Greek Mythology coming alive in these sculptures..saw one of Venus, Eros - the primal god of Love, Diane - the goddess of chastity..and many more..some names were unfamiliar..maybe when I return I shall go armed with a copy of Greek mythology and check..there were
also 2 sculptures of the Egyptian goddess Isis and one of Osiris..saw one of Jupiter.;Zeus and Cronos were missing..maybe I missed an exhibit..
The next level contained the paintings..French and Italian..saw the Mona Lisa...yeah her smile is enigmatic..and yeah..its a beautiful painting..guess the portrait of La Gioconde just celebrates the fact that Da Vinci was well ahead of his time when he made that painting...coz it didn't make me swoon or go gaga or anything...then again..it takes a lot to impress me..and a kutty painting of a beautiful lady with an enigmatic smile doesn't quite cut it! saw a few more paintings...ended up in the American and African section of the Denon wing. Did a whirlwind tour of this and then headed to the Sully Wing...
Saw lot of Arabic and Iranian artwork here along with a few more sarcophagi...not Egyptian though...we did not have enough time to cover the Richelieu wing so I shall do that again some other time..
Walked out of the Glass Pyramid and admired the Louvre for the first time by night...now this is some sight to behold...just mind blowing...the lighted Glass pyramid...the still water lakes...it almost looks like glass till someone/wind creates a ripple on the surface...the palace on 3 sides...beautiful..I am going to do a Paris by Night photo shoot soon enough...am just working on the finer details...and then I shall attempt to present to you these magnificent sights...till then you just have to take my word for it!
Day 40 - Thursday - Nothing
Something abt the food we ate today did not agree with Sachin or me..went home..called in sick..got lotsa attention and love from my mom..Abhishek Nag..if you're reading this..then you were absolutely right! I do suffer from "SuperStar syndrome"....ate well..and slept real early for a change
Day 41 - Leaving for Rome
That is all I can think abt today..could barely contain my excitement...reached the station well in time and sat on the Trenitalia train to Roma....we had nice company..a trio of students who got off at Florence..and a good looking Italian lady..nothing much to write abt the train journey except that one of the students had an iBook and I was positively drooling...OMG!! I am actually turning into a gadget geek..occupational hazard I guess...Next on my wish list for the select few who know abt it..an iBook...please please please..il be ur slave for life I guess...
Ciao
Spent today just resting after our travels to Amsterdam...went to the Diana memorial at the Alma Marceau tunnel...this is where HRH, Princess Dianna of Wales died in a tragic road accident in 1997. Her car crashed into the 13th pillar in this tunnel. There is a huge golden flame outside dedicated to her...saw that...walked around the place and went to Gare Du Nord...booked tickets for Italy and returned...ate and tachi..
Day 38 - Tuesday - Sacre Couer, Mont Marte and Pigalle
Went to Anvers..did some shopping there..and moved on to see the awesome church called Sacre Cour...you get a brilliant view of Paris since this place is on a hill(Montmartre)..this view does not encompass the Eiffel, Notre Dame and Arc De Triomph..its the other end of Paris that we can see...
Went then to the Place De Terre which is this colourful square filled with artists...mom and I got portraits done of ourselves and mine ended up looking nothing like me...boo hoo..
We had seen the Red Light District in Amsterdam..wanted to see how the one in Paris compared to that..hence the trip to Pigalle..and this one was a whole lot more "colourful"..pun intended!! Saw the Moulin Rouge with its famous windmill sign..the prices for the "show" were bloody expensive..and yet there was no dearth of people queuing up for tickets...took a pic of the place and left...
Day 39 - Wednesday - The Louvre
I have spent 38 days in Paris and not yet seen the La Joconde or the Mona Lisa as we better know it...in order to rectify this grave error, mom and I set off for a nocturnal visit of the Louvre that is possible only on Wednesday and Friday...
First entered the Denon wing..this wing houses some jewels of Egyptian archaeology including a sarcophagus case( sarcophagus aka the egyptian Mummy!)..went to the next level and wow!! it was Greek Mythology coming alive in these sculptures..saw one of Venus, Eros - the primal god of Love, Diane - the goddess of chastity..and many more..some names were unfamiliar..maybe when I return I shall go armed with a copy of Greek mythology and check..there were
also 2 sculptures of the Egyptian goddess Isis and one of Osiris..saw one of Jupiter.;Zeus and Cronos were missing..maybe I missed an exhibit..
The next level contained the paintings..French and Italian..saw the Mona Lisa...yeah her smile is enigmatic..and yeah..its a beautiful painting..guess the portrait of La Gioconde just celebrates the fact that Da Vinci was well ahead of his time when he made that painting...coz it didn't make me swoon or go gaga or anything...then again..it takes a lot to impress me..and a kutty painting of a beautiful lady with an enigmatic smile doesn't quite cut it! saw a few more paintings...ended up in the American and African section of the Denon wing. Did a whirlwind tour of this and then headed to the Sully Wing...
Saw lot of Arabic and Iranian artwork here along with a few more sarcophagi...not Egyptian though...we did not have enough time to cover the Richelieu wing so I shall do that again some other time..
Walked out of the Glass Pyramid and admired the Louvre for the first time by night...now this is some sight to behold...just mind blowing...the lighted Glass pyramid...the still water lakes...it almost looks like glass till someone/wind creates a ripple on the surface...the palace on 3 sides...beautiful..I am going to do a Paris by Night photo shoot soon enough...am just working on the finer details...and then I shall attempt to present to you these magnificent sights...till then you just have to take my word for it!
Day 40 - Thursday - Nothing
Something abt the food we ate today did not agree with Sachin or me..went home..called in sick..got lotsa attention and love from my mom..Abhishek Nag..if you're reading this..then you were absolutely right! I do suffer from "SuperStar syndrome"....ate well..and slept real early for a change
Day 41 - Leaving for Rome
That is all I can think abt today..could barely contain my excitement...reached the station well in time and sat on the Trenitalia train to Roma....we had nice company..a trio of students who got off at Florence..and a good looking Italian lady..nothing much to write abt the train journey except that one of the students had an iBook and I was positively drooling...OMG!! I am actually turning into a gadget geek..occupational hazard I guess...Next on my wish list for the select few who know abt it..an iBook...please please please..il be ur slave for life I guess...
Ciao
Friday, September 01, 2006
Amsterdam...Belgium..
Day 34 - Saturday - 26th August - Amsterdam
Reached Amsterdam at 6 in the morning...Sachin and I have calculated that the best time to reach a city is at 9am in the morning..and we were both, absolutely correct. Having reached at 6, we took the metro from Amstel station to Amsterdam Central (the dutch pronounce it as Aaamsterddam)..did not like the metro here..the station names are poorly displayed..and they have metal seats..I am no princess..but at 6 in the morning it is unbelievably cold and the metal seat uncomfortably emphasizes that fact...Reached Amsterdam Central station..and the Information office opens only at 9 in the morning..so our theory stands proved..
Loitered around Daam Straat looking for a place to stay...found none! There is a festival of sorts happening in Amsterdam..just my luck..I always end up reachng a place when something major is happening..its good in a way..but the scarcity of cheap accomodation coupled with the constant jostling of ppl is something I am not too keen abt..anyways, killed time till 9 and managed to get accomodation near the airport!! Also booked ourselves on a city tour and had a nice glimpse of Amsterdam..the striking feature of this city as viewed from a moving bus is its unique architecture..the houses are all longitudinal and deep and stuck to each other..This was oen to avoid paying much taxes...each house had a hook on top to bring in furniture through the windows...coz the doors were too narrow..Went to a windmill..Why do they have windmills in Amsterdam? The city is build on the River Amstel, from which it gets its name and has 102 canals. The windmills help regulate the water level in these canals..or atleast this is what I understood from our guide on the bus..
Saw Rembrandts last house..also visited a Diamond Factory in the Jewish quarter of town..The Jews are good at anything they do!! My appreciation for them never tends to cease..anyways saw a lot about the diamond polishing process at the factory and returned to Central around noon.
Walked along Daam Straat again, this time checking out the shops along the way...Amsterdam advertises its Red Light District and drugs-are-legal-here bit a whole lot more than it advertises that it is the birthplace of Rembrandt and Van Gogh...that it was the scene of Anne Frank's Nazi experience...so did not like that too much abt the place..but then again..I guess they give the tourists what they want!!!
Went into Madame Tussaud's...Oooo la laa...I have hugged Pierce Brosnan...sat in Robbie Williams arms..had dinner with George Clooney..posed with the Dutch Royal family and what not!! Awesome fun!!! totally worth coming here...went then to the Anne Frank Huis..and then back to the hotel around 10..we were bone tired...and before I forget...today is my darling mom's birthday..hope my supermom had a memorable birthday...wishing her a year of happiness and joy..
Day 35 - Sunday - 27th August - Antwerpen, Brugge
After a well deserved good night's sleep, left for Central...our train to Antwerpen was cancelled..so we hung around Central a lil bit longer...finally got on to the train and reached Antwerpen around lunch time..showed my mom the beauty of Anwerpen central..it is one of the most beautiful stations I have seen..since we had 3/4ths of an hour before our train to Brugge, I showed her around the famous diamond district of Antwerpen..had lunch at Pizza Hut and boarded our train to Brugge.
Brugge rocks!! Its a place where you can actually relive Enid Blyton..remember the Famous Five series..how they would take off on these biking trips..and camp out in the wetlands..with heather for beds..and little rivers?? And the quaint little villages they would pass through for food?? It is all here in Brugge!! A pity I just got an hour in this wonderful place..went around to the central Markt Square and saw some brilliant architectural wonders..and returned to catch our train to Brussels..Yeah..we spent most of today connected between cities..much like a join-the-dots game..but we ended up seeing a lot too so I guess its fine..
Returned home by the Thalys from Brussels to Paris and we were home by 10...
End to a lovely weekend...
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