Two days, Two parties.... Same but different...

It is that week of the year where two big and special parties have combined. One was the big Diwali celebrations at Pavilions in UL . The other was the night party at Costellos Tavern in Limerick courtesy the ISBT(International Student Badminton Tournament). One was a party of Indians with a touch of foreign touche. The other an Irish party with similarities to the Indian college mischief bonanza....
The first of the parties was an all out Indian community affair (with few people from international community who were interested to know more about the Indian festival of Diwali). Albeit forced under deception to wear the traditional clothes to the party(few in my neighborhood followed), it was a fun thing to do. The party did start a bit late following the traditions of the Irish Stretchable time zone. Yet the surprise of the day was the availability of Diwali sparkles (fulzhadi - fireworks). The component of interest was the safety concerning the use of them. They had a bucket of water arranged as a place of disposal instead of throwing them in the bins or the mud to cool down.

The fun time was followed by a very formal dinner, similar to the ones you see in IIFA or oscar awards. People sitting in groups in round tables, where food was served in buffet style. I still have memories of Diwali in US which was an all out DJ party and sweets sharing affair. So a sophisticated and calm party was a welcoming one.

The second party was more interesting as it was a learning experience as well as a enjoying experience. We started by the tradition of pre-party. Strange as it may sound there is a party before the start of every party. The most satisfactory explanation for such party was that the booze(alcohol) is cheaper at home. So drink at home and then go to the party in the bar. Well I don't drink alcohol so it never mattered where I had watch others drink.

The Irish do not just drink, they make a sport out of the whole thing. I enjoyed a card game with drinking attached to it. Just a small explanation for the game as only Irish people can give you intricate details about it. A card is pulled out for each person. Who drinks and how much depends on the card. Like if it is a 4 then all guys in the party drink, if it is 6 then it is all girls. If an 8 comes then you decide a buddy who will be drinking every time you drink in the whole party. There was another card which when pulled you get to set a rule for the whole night. Anybody breaking that rule would be drinking each time he/she broke it. The time was usually 5 seconds for each time drinking.

After the whole drinking came the singing. There were a few musicians in the party who showed us their skills while all joined in the singing. There were also some mischievous or funny songs sung as a group.

Next we moved and rode a bus on our way to the city. The time in the bus reminded me of the college tours in India. Singing, screaming, taking pics madly and even teasing each other. In the city,  the first thing that happened broke all my doubts that apart from some extreme differences Ireland is very similar to India. The thing was public peeing by the Irish and the Europeans in the blind alley. Out of the bus and a few feet from the bar, yet the prospect of doing it like the lion of the jungle, openly was too good to be denied.

The final part of the day was the time spend in Costellos which is a very nice place. Especially the dancing on the floor and the beer pong on the tables. In all both parties went amazingly well and I cant wait for the others to happen.

Gaelic sports time

I finally tried my hands at hurling and Gaelic football, the all famous Irish games. FYI have not yet found single Irish who does not enthusiastically discuss them.

I started my time with hurling. For those who do not know this sport. The goal posts are a combination of soccer and american football goals. You get more points if you get a goal in the soccer goal net and one point if it goes between the two very high parallel bars.

The game is a mix of cricket hitting and in over the ground field hockey. I really had to forget cricket style hitting as the stick is held in exact opposite way (left hand up and right hand down the handle). Overall it was a fun to play as the cricket training hit in and I made some wonderful shots in. Running with ball and stick on the other hand was not my forte. Balancing the ball on stick while running and avoiding people takes lot of concentration. Sometimes I would even forget where goals and other players are located.

Gaelic football had similar goals and scoring. Yet it was a combination of volleyball style passing, basketball style traveling and soccer style kicking. There were lot of other small and complicated rules but I can tell you about them when we play. Yes and I got two goals in the match which we won 9-4 .

Overall the experience was awesome. The one fact I really liked was the passion that Irish have for their traditional games. There is no money in playing these games and they are not even played internationally. Yet people love to play and support them.

Traveling the unknown path

Being new to the city and low on cash I decided to walk the distance(Total 14 kms... yes it is my own version of Harshal vs. The machines and I won) from my place near UL (University of Limerick) to the Limerick City Centre for some specific shopping(badminton racket) and finding Garda office for immigration appointment next day. 

I planned to take the pictures of anything interesting I find on the road. The first picture was the beautiful grass and trees in UL. For person like me who calls himself environmental and always loves green. This place is heaven there greenery and grass everywhere. I can just fall asleep on the grass in the shadow of a tree for hours.

Limerick Garden

Once I had started my walk on the road I saw these Tall flagpoles and I was curious about the flags flying up there. I had seen lot of thin metallic flagpoles in India and USA and they all had one thing in common. There was a rope that allowed the flags to be raised and taken down. I could not find any rope and I would definitely try to find out and share how or if they do it. 

Limerick flagpoles

As this was the first time going towards the city and with a paper map which was drawn by a friend, I was looking for a sign that I was going the right way. One such sign that helped a lot was this one telling me I was entering into a cultural city. Yet when I got into Limerick I found huge signs posted on pillars about Limerick the city of sports. 

I was a lone wolf (UL wolves) and so I spent most time looking in the map so that I was following the road (which was stupid as it turns out the road I followed was straight). I finally reached the city centre and took the pictures of a city map and my new bucket list in Limerick for my next travel. 

It took me a look into 10-12 sports shops before I found my badminton(Yonex Nanoray) in Gleesons sports shop....FYI do not ask for route to Gleesons as you may end up in a bakery or a market or even a shoe store before you get to the sports store. Best is to ask them where the biggest sports store is located and if it is called Gleesons. Garda office on the other hand was very easy to find. 

On my way back I was looking at the cultural clues but what I did find was the wall art I liked a lot in USA. 

Maybe on my next trip I will find a lot of more interesting things to show you all. Keeping fingers crossed for the next journey as the temperature is dropping.  

Ireland - the land of pubs and parties

If you been to Ireland before ipso facto you already know everything in the blog below. If you have not been here yet you have good things to hope for. I have been to a lot of universities in India and in USA but this was the first campus that I found bars inside the university campus. Most places here are always full of activity and parties almost every night.

If it is drinking you want, or maybe just socializing or even use of your dancing shoes. You just need to walk towards the campus and you can have them all. If you are an Indian then Irish pubs are no different from their India counterparts. You will find the odd drunk guy dancing comically in the center, and maybe the couples on the sides making their own steps as they go. You will also find the loners contemplating their decision to join the crowd or mingle in the background with other loners.

College tales

College ki vo saari baatein, ban chuki hai ab yaadien.
Class jab chalu ho pati, kitab hamari band ho jati.
Assignments ho ya drawing, dost karte plotting ploying.
Karte the bas thodi shararat, aur phir patakte koi harkat.

Naadani thi aankon mein, shaitani tha sabka dimaag,
Jaane chahte padhne par, phirte the hum behisaab.
Canteen mein ho khana, Class mein jaake phir sona. 
Ghar jaate hai khehne ko, humne nikalna tha gumne ko.

Highway par hoti thi chai, aur dhabe par sasta khana.
Pani mein khelne jaate the, raet par kuch likh aate the.
Cricket humne bohot khela, aate the sab jaise ho mela.
College se pehle ki sab baat, chalti rehti thi puri raat.

Din vo ab sab kho jayenge, Raat ab tanha ho jayengi.
Shaam akele bita karengi, dophar ghar mein bitengi.
Dost ko dhundne lagenge, par unse na phir milenge.
Mauka hai ab ye masti ka, padhne ka aur hasne ka.

Yaar ki shaadi

Baarish thi vo bemausam ki,
Raat andheri hoti rahi.
Pal pal na gujra mera,
Aahat dil me hoti gayi.

Baadal ki oad suraj nikla,
Dhoop ne apni shuruvat ki.
Intezaar ka aant hua jab,
Baarat ne sab tayaari ki.

Din apni charam par tha,
Hawa ka rukh naram sa raha.
Jaise jaise sab sanskaar hue,
Mann vyakul sa hota raha.

Shaam andhera phir le ayi,
Mand mand thand phelti jaye.
Shuruvat jo ki hui thi akele,
Saath saath mein ant ho jaye.

Baarish gir aab tham gayi,
Raat ka andhera chala gaya.
Vo mere jeevan mein aai,
Aur mein pura ho gaya. 

My song

NA paise ki fikar, NA koi mujhe darr...
Kya chahta hai mann..
Kyu dil deewana mera..

Ye ankhen gayi bhar..
Hai shaam gayi dhal..

Kya chahta hai Mann..
Kyu dil bekabu mera...

Kyu hai vo bekarar...
Hu mein bhi bekhabar..

Kya chahta hai Mann..
Kyu dil bekabu mera...

Ajeeb

Khamoshi mein bhi ajeeb si awaz hai
Bin bataye tumne sab kuch keh diya
Bin sune hi vo sab kuch samajh gaye

Tyaag mein bhi ek ajeeb sa rasta hai
Jisne kiya tha usse sab kuch mil gaya
Jisne na kiya usne apna sab kho diya

Tanhai mein bhi ajeeb sa ehsas hai
Jab milti hai to akela sa kar jati hai
Jab na ho to bheed me ghum karti hai

Aaj ka inqalaab

Aag hai mere seene mein jo inqalaab ki aawaz kahe...
Josh hai meri sasso mein jo Jaikaar ka shor Kare...
Pani mein bhi aag laga de vindhwans  aisa ayega...
Prani mangega jeevan par jungle na Bach payega....

Inqalabe hind ki ek bulaand awaz mein bhi hu...
Badalte zamane ki ek nayi pehchaan mein hu....
Rastoon mein aayengi kayi mushkil to bhi kya...
Itne dosto ke bich mein ek dushman aaye to kya....

Kabhi na sone waale zamaane mein kayi bane the....
Phir bhi jaagte hue sote insaan yahan bahut the....
Waqt hai takaat apni har kadam aajmane ka ....
Yahi to tarika hai in rah ke Pathar todne ka ...

Bejuban kayi milenge humme bahar nikalne par...
Kasht dekhenge jeevan ke diye unki aankhon par....
Kaafil mein nikale the Jo ghar se kuch badalne...
Aaj bhi vo roj phirte hai bas ek safalta se Milne...

Kaaton se bhare iss zamane ki ye pehchan hai...
Dard bhi yahan sabke liye bas ek parchayi hai....
Khushi ke chotte se pal tu yahan jarur payega....
Aaj ka inqalaab hi tujhe uske karib leke ayega....

My precious sister.....

Today is the best time to let you know my dear sister, how much you mean to me. All your caring ways and little pieces of advice are appreciated deep down by my heart. I always respected your opinion because I know it has always been for my benefit. You always had the qualities of being loving, caring, supportive and protective which makes you the best person to be around with. I love to spend time with you as it feels nice to have someone with you, who guides you, helps you and even opposes you when needed. The best part is that we do that for each other.

It always leaves a smile at my face and laughter in my mind when I think about the little things we fight about and how you suddenly used to make up after a brief moment of anger. That may be one of the reasons I love to fight with you so much. For I know no matter how stupid I am and the huge mistakes I make. You will always understand me and never stop trusting in me. Each fight reminds me how stronger our bond has become and also how you trust me so much and that you rightly believe I would never say, think and do anything to hurt you in any way.

Our memories together will keep fading away as time passes yet the love of a brother and sister that we share will only grow manifold. We may have a lot of fun times together being children but at the end of the day we are both mature enough to understand the strongly woven web that interconnects us. We understand the relation that keeps a brother and sister so close as to share everything and yet sometimes far apart to be forgotten.

I am so glad you are my sister. Always be in touch and never say goodbye. 

Identity

If I were born a dog,
I would have rolled and jumped.
I would have played in the sun and the sand.
I would have ran when I want and where.

If I were born a fish,
I would have floated and dived.
I would have dived in the rivers and the oceans.
I would have done what I want and where.

If I were born a bird,
I would have flown and ripped.
I would have climbed the hills and the clouds.
I would have seen what I want and where.

But I was a born a man,
I can just talk and scream aloud.
I can just live in the house and the office.
I can only do what people want and how.

BAck COver

The markings were very clear. There seemed to be no doubt in his mind. He had finally found the truth about Gods. It had opened his eyes, he never felt so powerful.

The family has always protected the earth from demonic and angelic involvements. They have prevented the immortal forces from getting in human lives. Yet the most humanly affair (a bomb in a mall) has just killed the last human defender. No one is present in the wall and treaty is now void. 

Prelude - The immortal shield

It was a Saturday evening, I was reporting on the new section at the jewelry shop in the mall. It was an everyday affair for me. The shopkeeper believed his rotating panel would change the shopping experience. He did not realize that customers would find it hard to choose without a clear view. Yet it was important to cover the news due to strict orders from my editor. The owner was a close friend of my editor.

So in the next half hour, I interviewed the owner by giving lot of importance to him and took bare minimum photographs. I was nearly at the door and was planning to leave. That is when I my eyes saw those two men, standing about 2 feet apart from each other. They had a strange look in their eyes. I made an assumption that they a physical confrontation was about to happen. So I waited there itself to mediate if necessary. I moved closer to eavesdrop on them and was soon able to hear them talk.

Man 1: You made the decision. Now, you are not supposed to be in these lands.
Man 2: You can no longer stop me. I have become very powerful and cannot be defeated in a fight.

Being so close, I noticed a faint yellow glow emanating from the second man and he seemed to be holding something sharp in his hand. It was like a small knife but unlike them as it was sharp on all 4 sides.

Meanwhile the first man was speaking gibberish for a few seconds. I could not make them out as he was whispering them out. The second man just collapsed on the floor. Two more men came out of no where. One of them had a dark red glow while the other had bluish glow. These two men did not come near the scene but still seemed to be part of it.

The 2nd man was coming back to consciousness and getting on his feet. He seemed to have lost his glow and his knife. He looked weaker than before. The 1st man had changed his focus on the new arrivals.

Man 1: You were warned not to interfere in the human affairs, that was the treaty. Human lands were also no longer battlegrounds for the immortals.

Red glow man: It is not long before they will be. There are not many defenders left. When you people are gone the treaty among our three factions will no longer hold. A void treaty will not hold back the immortals.

Blue glow man: It may be true that the defenders are the only people protecting the humans from immortals. Yet humans are capable of defeating them. Still this man did not belong to our faction. So we need not be summoned. He just disappeared.

I could hardly control my astonishment. Before I could register anything the red man also had disappeared. So had the first two men.

AAWAZ

Barish ke us shor mein, waqt pe nigah nahi.
Barfile dher ke bhitar, bhaitha veer sipahi.

Goliyon ki awaaz mein, karm vo nibhaiyga.
Patharo ke bich phir, hulchul na kar payega.

Raat andheri ho jaye, pag rukhna na chahiye.
Registani dhoop mein, hosla kabhi na hariye.

Kaantil banne hai ki, Jaan humme bachani hai.
Dhamako mein jiye, lekin maut se na darna hai.

Dur us sannate mein, hamari hifazat karte vo.
Haste rahe hum sada, isliye rote sehte hai vo.

Humari awaaz sune sab, unki chikh na sunai degi.
Prachar to dete hai log, par kya unse qurbani hogi.

Khoon ki keemat to ki, magar vo laho bahate gaye.
Hum gharon mein the, tab vo rann me jag chod gaye.

Aaj hum awaaz karenge, un veer bahadur ke naam.
Jinko zindagi me kar akela, jaan lagayi bharat ke kam.