Y or Z??

I am talking about my kezboards. Ooops! Keyboards.

It was the first day of my visiting UCSF. I had to type in my name. And wow, I made spelling mistakes!! Z-s had replaced the y-s of my surname. Confused I looked at the keyboard. Welcome back to QWERTY keyboard. I had typed in like always without much looking at the keyboard, and failed to notice that the Y and Z kezs have interchanged positions. Oh there, it will be 'keys' not 'kezs' in the previous line. If I am not careful, I just continue making several mistypes.

It instantly reminded me of my first days with computer in Slovenia. The keyboards there have QWERTZ layout with additional special characters. The first days at work, I would just search around for a particular character for minutes. I interchanged y and z the thousandth time, and was searching for simple punctuation marks. I would simply forget the existence of the 'Alt Gr' key and try to figure out how to type in the curly braces while writing small scripts! I slowly started to get used to the new layout. But that would bring another problem. I still had my old laptop from India with the y and z in their old positions. New layout at work, old layout at home, it was such a confusion! I would mistype, and look at the keyboard and type again. Writing took like forever.
Anyway, after sometime, I got used to the new layout. I got a new laptop with QWERTZ keyboard. And life was again back to normal with one layout.

When I was visiting India last year, it was a bit funny using the home computer. However, I was not using computers much there, and that was rather amusing instead of being annoying.

But now I am back to square one.

I type z in place of y and y in place of z. And same thing happens when I am on my laptop. Each ';' of my scripts get replaced with a ':'. I do not know where to find the curly and square brackets. A few of the special characters are missing from work keyboard, and hence the keys are spaced differently. I am just slow and searching each character, making mistakes all the time. Often I search for the 'Alt Gr' key to type the '@' but do not find it on my keyboard. And then I forget about its existence and try to type '@' with a 'Shift'. It is a complete mess. I am working and concentrating on writing some commands and scripts, and then I have to shift all my concentration to the search of keys. Back in my room while going with the flow of my thoughts and writing, I again make mistakes. The keyboards are simply driving me crazy. Who will not be annoyed!?

So, if there are some exchanged y and z here, and spelling mistakes, you know who to blame..

Animal Planet

Animal planet is one of my favorite TV channels. When I was in high school, I was completely addicted to it. Now I am out of my 'addiction', but still love watching the channel. Discovering the wild secrets and peeking inside the world of animals is both fascinating and adorable. Wild, adorable, and magnificent, is the definition of animal world for me. So how much I am scared of dogs and do not really like to be in close proximity with animals, I do love them and like to know about them. Therefore, I like going to well-maintained zoos, or watch birds, and butterflies, frogs, insects and deer during some walks in the nature.

When I was planning this San Francisco visit for work, I was also happy to get a chance to explore a new city besides being busy with work. I always love traveling. And guess what my main attraction or interest was? No, it is not the famous Golden Gate Bridge. The Pier 39 sea lions were what I longed to see. Of course, I was also excited about the Golden Gate Bridge and planned to enjoy all other sites this colorful city has to offer. However, Pier 39 sea lions were on the top of my list. I wished to visit them before anything else. The first weekend after reaching San Francisco was rainy. As the sun shone the next weekend, I ventured out with all excitement to make friends with the sea lions.

Maybe some changing climate (? 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake) forced the sea lions to make the west Marina of Pier 39 their home. And then, the abundance of food and protected environment helped in their flourish until soon there were hundreds in the docks attracting tourists. However, in 2009-2010 the number of sea lions dropped down drastically for unknown reasons. Now, even though they have started returning, their community is not as big as before.

It was a bright sunny crisp Sunday and tourists filled the streets. Pier 39 was a cheerful assortment of all sorts of colors, sounds and activities. Shops were inviting and busy, people were busy walking around or sitting down lazily enjoying some fast food, live performances were going on. Finding my way through the colorful maze, I reached by the sea. White yachts and private boat lined the bay, Alcatraz island was in front of me. Sea gulls were flying and floating around making sharp calls. It was time for pictures and to admire the blue sea. Suddenly I noticed a sea lion in the sea. Away from others, it came out in the bay to explore and play around. Then soon it disappeared in the waves as a cruise boat passed by. Some animal sound was becoming distinct among all the noises, and as I walked ahead, the noise grew louder, like almost a barking sound. Cheering of people now joined in the sound. It is coming from the sea lions, I happily realized.

Crowds gathered at the edge to look at these adorable pinnipeds. There were around a hundred or so of them spreading over several empty docks. Most of them were lying and enjoying the nice sun. They were lazying around on top of each other oblivious of their surroundings. Some were busy swimming around, and going from one plank to another exploring them. Some were engaged in playful banter.

One was lying by the edge of the plank with its front flipper just touching the water. Gently playing with the water, it was lost in its own thoughts. Often they sat up, slowly scratched their chin, changed position, and then went back to sleep. Their lazy mood perfectly suited the lazy Sunday atmosphere.

Suddenly one started making sound, and others joined him one by one. Stirring the quiet air their loud 'unk unk' sound echoed around. And then, like it had started abruptly, their calls soon faded. It was such fun to watch these sloths walk over each other and go to the other side of the plank. Some liked to slide down in the water to enjoy a cool swim and then moved on to another plank for a rest. Or, it just went to a plank and put its front flippers and head up, observed for a while and then continued swimming.

One of the sea lions maybe wished some time alone and moved to an empty plank. It just got ready to enjoy a lonely rest, when another one joined in. Instantly the first one was annoyed. It wished the whole plank for himself; after all, he had got there first. So, he started to push this newcomer, frightening him with loud cries. The newcomer of course also did not give up so easily. And there started a fight. The timid newcomer however could not keep on holding to its position for long, and was soon pushed into the water. Instantly, the entertained crowd burst into a loud clap. The victorious sea lion turned around with an air of pride. However, now there was a sea gull to bother him. Amused by the previous fight this sea gull had come to enjoy the fight from close, and was sitting on the further edge of the plank. The sea lion barked long and loud enough until the sea gull was forced to fly on top of a nearby pole. Finally alone, this sea lion now laid down for its solitary rest.

I captured the sloth yet playful creatures in their several moods and poses. I also took a few short videos, as still pictures cannot do proper justice to these adorable characters. Slowly, I moved behind from the edge of the pier and gathered myself on one of the elevated platforms. I just sat there and looked ahead, relaxed and happy. In front of me was live Animal Planet. The sea lions continued their idle playful day....

Blooming spring

What I love most about spring? The earth blooming into a lovely assortment of colors..
Which is my favorite flower? I love all wild spring flowers, specially daisy and dandelion.

The snow melts into spring, the earth blooms into life, the birds start to chipper, and everything turns bright. This is one of my favorite times of the year.

In primary school, we often had to write essay on different seasons, specially spring. We call spring 'rituraj', the 'king of all seasons'. And all our essays would invariably contain some line saying how leaving behind the gray winter, the earth adorns itself in different colors of spring. However, in the busy city of tropical Kolkata, this change is not so evident. Except the foggy gray winter mornings and chill of the northern wind, winter in Kolkata is beautiful. The blue sky, beautiful flowers in all colors, many outdoor activities, warm woolens, it all made my childhood winters. With the onset of spring, native flowers of Bengal would start blooming filling the air with their captivating fragrance, cuckoos would coo, and it would start getting hotter. The non-native flowers blooming throughout the winter made the blooming of native flowers with the onset of spring less apparent and exciting. And now the changing climatic patterns have sadly made spring almost disappear.

Therefore, after coming to Slovenia, for the first time in true sense I experienced how earth emerges into life. Snowy and rainy Slovene winter is all white and different shades of gray. The only hint of color is the bright blue sky on those rare sunny days. As I enjoy the snow sparkling in its beauty, I do also miss the colors and sounds. All winter I wish more and more snow. However, towards the end of February, I already start anticipating the spring.

As the snow starts melting, the first hints of green appear from beneath. And then one day, as I walk towards work in the morning, I notice a couple of snow drops peeping out and preparing to open petals. Snowdrop is the first flower of spring, a small, simple and elegant flower. It is a pristine white flower with gentle touch of green hanging delicately from the stalk. Soon, the green fields get dotted white with these pretty snowdrops. After a few more days, I notice this little patch of lemon yellow. The primroses are starting to bloom. Trobentica in Slovene, meaning trumpets, these little flowers have a fun side to it. True to its name, this flower can really be blown as a whistle. The sound is very sharp and high-pitched. Often times I pick a few from the slope of the hill and try to blow the whistle.

Soon it will be the time for tiny daises to wake up and fields will become a bright shade of yellow with the sunny dandelion, two of my most favorite flowers. Around this time, I love to go for a walk in Barje. Little dots of colors here and there make everything so cherry and bright. On Mali Plac hill, there are stretches where telohes or Christmas roses grow. They are in these lovely shades of white, delicate pinks, and bright greens. The nature as if suddenly bursts into celebration of colors. There bloom liverworts, hellebores, Clot's foot, blue-eyed Mary, spring crocus, red-dead nettle, star-of-Betlehem, snowpake, wood anemone, butterbur, squill, and so many more for which I do not know the name. Anyway, that does not matter. I love to admire the beauty of those tiny dots in all shades of pink, yellow, blue and so on. The fine painting of yellow, black and white in the heart of bright purple irises is so exquisite. I love those little hanging blue and violet flowers from which I often see bees coming out after a good meal of sweet nectar. Wild daffodils bloom and make poets wander around. Gentle red poppies wave in the wind. A fresh fragrance fills the crisp air.

Those lines I used to write in my essay of spring now make more sense to me. I love how the spring blooms slowly, one after another in a synchronized orchestra of colors. As the gray earth turns bright, it is beautiful to watch the nature unfold into its glorious beauty. I like this gradual yet tangible change. The gardens and balconies also get beautifully adorned. But the free spirit of the wild flowers are more charming and graceful to me than the ornate blooms. These wild flowers to me are a celebration of colors, beauty, and life. I just simply love wild spring flowers.

Crunchy chocolates

“Okay, now you go somewhere else, I will prepare some sweets”, said Blaž, completely surprising and perplexing me.

It was a week before my 3 months visit to San Francisco. Nervous and worried and annoyed and excited, I was exhibiting my usual emotions before a long trip. I was staying at Blaž's place, to spend time with him and the family, and also to be less nervous. We had finished dinner sometime ago. However, like many evenings, I was still at the dinner table talking with his mom, and spooning delicious bits of the cheesecake. Then suddenly there was this unexpected comment from Blaž!!

It even took me a few moments to understand, such sudden and surprising it was. My initial thought was that maybe he got something sweet, maybe a chocolate or something to surprise me; and wishes to prepare that, like take it out from the box and so on. And my reaction was, “Now!?” “Do I go to the utility room for a few minutes and you prepare it?” I was not at all ready to go up and leave my chatting. I was also not prepared for something sweet at that moment, already full from the cheesecake. Well, I actually did not realize he is asking me to go up in the room for the evening so that he can prepare something sweet for me. Therefore, he had to explain how he was planning this sweet surprise for me, but did not get any time for preparation as we were always together. Now with little free time left before my travel, he had no choice than to 'spoil' his surprise and tell me to leave. His mama suggested that I could be at the table talking to her, and Blaž could cook in the kitchen. This way, he could prepare, and I could continue talking.

I was so very pleasantly surprised and happy. Excited and eager for the sweets he would prepare, I could barely keep my patience and seat at the table when he was just cooking there a few hands away. From time to time, he was asking mama what to do, or she was helping him. Slowly everything was falling into places, little puzzles that I had chosen to overlook that evening.

At the grocery, Blaž bought some unusual vegetable fat along with other ingredients. When I asked about it, he had promptly declared it to be as something mama wanted to get. Being a cooking enthusiast, soon after reaching home I had to ask mama what she was planning to cook with it. I knew that she was planning a lunch for the weekend and assumed her planning to try some new recipe. But, instead of telling me about a new recipe, she hurriedly replied that she had no plan; that maybe she would use it sometime later! It was a very strange answer to me. One does not ask someone to get a particular ingredient from the store in a whim, without a definite plan. However, I just did not pay enough attention to the strangeness. Later in the evening, I found Blaž over the phone talking to his grandma. While often he gives me the phone in such occasions to say hi and talk to grandma, this time he had just avoided it. I had thought that maybe I was wrong; and it was not grandma with whom he was talking but someone else. Then of course, I did not bother much.

Now it was revealed that the vegetable fat was for the sweets he was about to prepare for me. And in the evening he was confirming the recipe with his grandma. Of course he could not tell me all those when it was supposed to be a surprise! We had such a hearty laugh over it. His mama said how she was confused when I asked her about the butter. Not knowing what to reply and trying to preserve Blaž's secret, she just answered something. And after the answer she was herself thinking how weird and strange it sounded.

My whole attention and excitement was then centered on the chocolates he was making with the mystery ingredients. I had no clue how it would be like, what ingredients he was using. And I just could not withhold my patience. It was a new situation for us. Blaž having a cooking surprise for me! I was just super happy.

Blaž's surprise for me were crunchy chocolates!! Crunchy cornflakes folded in coco. It was so simple that “even I can make it”, he said..

Seeing my excitement, his mama suggested maybe I should join him in the kitchen. I would enjoy it much more if I am there watching him cook. And poor Blaž had to agree. The cat was already out of the bag, and it would make little difference if I was there 'allowed' in the kitchen. Eagerly I joined him, and started blabbering about my excitement and all the subtle hints I was getting all the evening. How come he planned it? Did he cook the recipe before? How will these viscous chocolate solidify outside a fridge, is it not too liquidy? I was bombarding him with all sorts of questions.

The chocolate was ready. I helped him spoon it into dollops. Then it had to rest overnight and go to the fridge in the morning. Blaž said they taste best when cold like all chocolates. I would get to taste them in the morning for breakfast. They looked too inviting and yummy, resting on the kitchen counter. Oh, when would morning come?!?

My breakfast next morning was chocolates. The crunchy bites of the cornflakes complemented perfectly the rich creamy smoothness of the coco and fat. The coffee gave a lovely bitter dimension to the sweet flavor of it, and at the same time added to its rich tempting aroma. I loved loved loved them. Each was quite big, but soo yummy that one cannot stop after having two. Now, two is too few! Closing the box and putting it away was the only way to stop eating. But then, the box can be reopened easily any time ;) It was simply so delicious.

Blaž is not a cook. He does not know much or have the feeling. When he cooks sometimes, he meticulously follows recipes or instructions and the dishes turn out very good. It was therefore something very special when he decided to make some handmade simple and crunchy chocolates for me. It was exciting, delicious, and more than everything, precious. I was not at all expecting something like that. It was indeed a priceless surprise. I do not know a word perfect enough to express all my feelings. It was so loving and thoughtful of him. The subtle and sweet way of him showing his love touched my heart, and I treasure the experience as one of my best memories. Aww, he does make me feel so much loved, his only one…

That batch finished quickly! He had to make another one and put a box in my suitcase!

I just cannot stop smiling and feeling special when I think of it…

Croaking chorus

One of my favorite songs from childhood is the Hindi song 'Awara bhavre'. This song echoes the melody in every sound, and whenever I enjoy music in the sounds of nature, I remember this particular song.

Clouds covered the sky and mid-March became rainy. The thunder and wet weather called the frogs out from under the mud of fields and woods. It was time for them to wake up from their hibernating sleep, pair up, and go in search of water grounds for breeding. And like the past few years, volunteers around Slovenia gathered up to help the frogs in crossing the roads. Blaž and I also joined our hands in the little effort to save the frogs and other amphibians. This time we were more informed and joined the campaign at the beginning of the breeding season. We picked up and helped more forggies and toads than last year, and got a closer insight of the green world of frogs.

Armed with buckets, gloves, lights and jackets, we reached one of the locations (Harše) soon after we finished work. It was a bit early, but we could not wait for the evening to set in and simply started the frog search in one of the fenced fields.

We were just about to step in the field when we noticed by the edge of the road, close to the fence, a pair of toads hiding in the mud and peeking through the hole. It was still day light and we had to take a few pictures before pulling it out. The male one of course gave little kicks as we touched it, and with an ‘ark ark’ sound the pair was finally safe in our bucket. And behold, another pair was hiding behind it with their face hidden in the mud. They too landed in the bucket. This made us a bit conscious. We had to look more carefully for hidden frogs in mud. I was afraid of stepping on them, hiding and camouflaging in the mud and grass. We proceeded keeping a careful watch and with light steps. The first ones we found were all paired toads somehow buried in mud. We had to be careful to not hurt them or pull them too hard from their hiding hole. One was a bit more inside the mud. As we tried to dig it out, the scared little toad buried itself inside and inside. We left that poor scared thing alone. Never did we know frogs could push such deep down in the soil to hide. With the soil being just wet and not too soft, I was amazed at their ability. One does not realize how animal behaviors have the element to surprise unless one experiences them.

The evening was setting in, and now more frogs and toads were slowly coming out from beneath the soil. Soon the timid marsh frogs and active common frogs joined in our bucket. A bit scared and wanting to escape, all were trying to gather and stand on top of each other. A couple of naughty common brown frogs even jumped out of the bucket to be instantly caught back in.

All along there was this beautiful composition of different croaking sounds from our bucket and from other buckets around us. The most common sounds were the ‘ark ark’ (okay I do not know how to make frog sounds in writing) from the male toads. And even when it was sound of one particular species of toads, there were variations in pitch and loudness creating a melody. Common frogs would join them with their ‘uk uk ukk kk’ calls in a rhythmic and repetitive fashion. The timid green marsh frogs has a distinct ‘rrrkkkk rrrrkkkkk’ call with characteristic pitch that could be identified as an infrequent part of the natural symphony.

It was time to take our bucket across the road and release the frogs in the wet field there. We went a bit further in the field than where other volunteers, and released our little scared frogs. Some were desperate to jump into freedom; some were too scared to venture out. All stopped for a few moments and then started croaking and hopping their way towards the water grounds.

Standing there in silence, we could only hear the chorus of the frogs. The characteristic calls of the male frogs formed a beautiful symphony. It was amazing to listen to all the different calls of different frog species tuned into a perfect harmony. Listening carefully, one could also recognize the voice of crickets and other night bugs along with the loud croaks. It was like a grand orchestra by nature. It was hard to believe that the main road was only a couple of meters away lit under the streetlights and cars were passing from time to time. It felt there on the field like an island of seclusion, where only the darkness of night and sounds of nature enveloped us. Feeling the croaking music gave a sense of bliss, the bliss of returning to nature. It was beautiful and simple. One of the best music I have ever heard.

Last weekend I was in California Academy of Science museum, where they were celebrating Earth day weekend. Amongst other events there was a 'Save the frogs' presentation talking about how several species of frogs are getting extinct and most are endangered due to human activities and climate change. The lecturer was an amphibian biologist. He was telling stories from his studies in Australia along with mimicking different frog calls. It reminded me of the beautiful frog symphony experience from that night. Then, as a side comment he mentioned: the frogs and other amphibians evolving millions of years ago survived major extinction events; but in the last million years we humans have done the work, and have managed to push them on the verge of extinction.

It will be unfortunate to not be able to experience and listen to the croaking chorus on the fields, in the woods, by the ditch on some wet day. Music will be lost if these sounds of nature fade away. I wish to continue enjoying the sights and sounds of nature, beautiful and awe-inspiring in their simplicity.

Maya bee and silly Willy

I love the snowy winter, and then I love it to bloom in spring. Spring is all about budding greens, gentle colorful flowers, and new life. It is about the color, fun, freshness, curiosity, and admiration of something new. Spring is all elements that resonates life.

Slovenia traditionally celebrates Pust festival 40 days before the Easter. Pust is a mask ritual celebrating spring and fertility. And the ‘Kurenti’ from the oldest Slovene town Ptuj is the center of attraction in this ethnological carnival. Kurent is a monstrous bear like animal mask, which is so adorable instead of being scary. I love its colorful towering ‘hat’ festooned with ribbons and feathers. The long red tongue and red leg warmers are bright and fun. They collect handkerchiefs as they go around, which tied to their wooden clubs, give it a bit of vibe. And the best part for me are the large bells tied on a string around the waist. The loud sounds echo with the rhythm of the dance setting in the perfect festive mood for spring.

While the carnival exhibits and celebrates traditional masks, children and people go for an ‘as you like’ trip of cute and fun costumes. Dressed in popular Disney and animation characters or cute animals, children are for days excited planning about it. And adults are not left far behind. Stores get full with all sorts of costumes. Competitions and dances are planned for the day.

After last Pust, Blaž was convincing me that I should dress up in something cute. And I agreed in jest, provided he also dresses up. We decided to be bees, I would be Maya and he Willy. However, it was only a couple of weeks before Pust, when we started to take the plan seriously. The difficult task of finding the costume was ahead of us with no time really to spend on preparation.

There are hundreds of these costumes for adults in stores that I do not really find so interesting. They are costumes of Dracula, and witches, some strange colored wigs, or maybe a clown. Why would I ever like to dress up in that anyway? I think I still have this girl in me.. I am shy to dress up, but when I did plan, I wished something cute and silly. Something sweet and childish. Something that echoes my heart and spirit. Therefore, I decided to be Maya bee from this adorable cartoon. Maya is such cute, naughty and thoughtful. She just makes me smile. And I love her naughty smile. I decided to be Maya, and celebrate the free naughty spirit in me. Blaž gladly agreed to be my silly Willy. With all plans set, it was time for costume shopping.

The shops had these cute Maya costumes. Alas, nothing cute matched the size of 'grown-up' children. We found cute bee caps, and got some face paints. And then I did find something for us. There was this costume, still for children, but in a kind of apron style. It was not a dress, but had elastics and with possibility of modifications. The costume was bright in gold and black and had those pretty net-wings. We decided to get it. I also got a large pair of antennas. Back at home, the elastics were of course too short for us, and needed some fixing to fit our size.

It was finally the carnival day. We were going to Ptuj. Early in morning, I woke up with excitement and started dressing. My black jeans and yellow sweater were perfectly complementing the shiny stripes of the costume. I had put on yellow bands on my two ponytails. The big antenna balls at the end of the springs were bouncing, and I was in a childish glee. Blaž had his black National Geographic fleece to go with the costume. But, he forgot the black winter jacket and brought his usual grey one. Well, after all he was silly Willy. Our cheeks were bright in yellow, and brighter with our smile.

Initially I was a bit hesitant to venture out as a buzzing bee. Stepping out in the fresh welcoming air of budding spring, however, made me shed away all my inhibitions.

Reaching there, we put on the wings, and then started walking towards the town center. Shining in bright yellow and smiling gleefully, I buzzed around. I was happy happy happy to be a bee. I did not have to look in any mirror to know my face was radiant. My heart was beaming and eyes shone in mirth. I skipped a step and ran around. Well, when I get to be child for a day, I utilize my opportunity fully. The same vibrant smile, a bit shy and dimpled, adorned Blaž’s face too. It is so much fun to hold hands and run down the streets. And giggling without reason. Children dressed as bees looked at us, like – oh look, they are also bees like us. Adults did so too, thinking us a bit strange and silly maybe. Well, not everyone. A grandma stopped us to say how cute we look and that was sweet. Whatever the world thought, we were genuinely happy and beaming.

People gathered all over drinking and eating. We walked around in the crowd taking care of our wings! Then we met Blaž’s cousin with their little son. Dressed as the cute sheep Jon, Filip looked at us bees with a bit of surprise and confusion. It was the time for the kurent show, and both me and Filip were impatient to leave all those hi-hello talking and go to the square to enjoy the loud kurents!! It is thrilling to watch them make those loud sounds with their bells as they dance in a rhythm. Then soon, you find your feet tapping.

Time and often we should let the child inside us wander around. And so did we that day. Passing the days in mundane routine, we fail to recognize the child in us. It was therefore a precious feeling when I could meet the carefree girl inside my heart and act her. The wings were those of happiness that made me soar free. I skipped and hopped while making my steps, and roamed around in childish delight. It was not simply the smile of a happy heart. It was the silly giggle and the cherry laughter with the innocence and amusement of a child. That is indeed a treasure worth holding on to.

Smiling and shining as Maya bee with my silly Willy Blaž, I was one happy soul. I was a girl again.

Train tales

We eyed the railroad while driving by it. We walked on the rail bridge one holiday afternoon. We always wished to take the train on it. But somehow, there was never the right opportunity. After work, it was too late to get the train that would let us enjoy our ride and the view outside. Once we even attempted it, but missed the train by few minutes. On weekends, there is no train! And then came winter. So, we were just waiting for the spring when days would start getting longer and we would maybe finish work early enough to get the train. The train from Ljubljana to Kamnik.

With the sun shining longer, that Wednesday we decided to take the much-planned train ride of ours to Kamnik. However, we were still not sure. Lately Blaž was very busy at work, and did not know if he would manage to finish early. He said he would give me a call. Now, when he did call me, I was at a late lunch with my colleagues, and did not know if we would finish before its 4. Sadly I thought, ‘Ah, we would not be able to go today also'!

But then, we did finish just in time, and at 3:55 I called Blaž saying ‘Let’s go’. A beautiful sunny afternoon it was outside and the earth bloomed in the first spring flowers. Happily and excitedly, we looked forward to our trip. As we bought the tickets and entered the platform, we had enough time to look around. A green train with slanted front was standing in the platform, the last one remaining in old color. It is one of Blaž’s favorite trains from childhood, which he loved to watch from his grandma’s window. And even though the doors were yellow and not his favorite old green, he definitely took a picture. A very good start for the afternoon dedicated to trains. A cargo train passed…

Finally our train came. We were glad that it was the one painted in old colors and not the shiny red ones full of ugly graffiti.. We were glad that it was not wrapped in some advertisement hindering the best possible view out. The train was supposed to be crowded. I was almost worrying if we would get nice window seats. Enjoying the ride and having a great view, this was the whole purpose. Therefore, when I found the train not so crowded, and we could even choose between ‘better’ window seats (the one without sun shining on my face), I relaxed and settled down. (Later though I came to know that the train was crowded!! Well it was not according to my standards!).

The signal turned green and the train started rolling. We crossed the bridge under which I pass everyday to work. Then came the interesting industrial part. It always intrigues me, the warehouses, factories, crates, loading vehicles. Looking at them from the train gives a different perspective. I waved to my old apartment building as we passed by. And soon we were crossing over the bridge. Looking down to river Sava below, I remembered our walk. It brought us to the more open parts outside the city. The setting sun gave a nice reddish hue to the fields. The fields that I always wished to look out at from a train window. Few crows were exploring the fields. We spotted a few magpies. We crossed several level crossings as the train passed by tiny villages. People were taking leisurely walks by the fields. We stopped at a small station. Two magpies were sitting on the electric wire. And we moved again. Far beyond, Blaž spotted a few deer, their white behind glowing in the sun. We reached a bigger station. Some interesting cargo train was standing. We moved on. Glorious mountains lined the horizon. And there far, we could see the Kamnik castle. We came out of a small tunnel, and there we were at Kamnik Graben, the last station in Kamnik town.

It was a tiny station and soon the track ended. The old track had bent to some unknown direction and we decided to follow it. As we took the turn, unexpectedly we came to the end. The track used to go inside some factory. Trucks carry the goods now, and the door for the train is closed. We peeped through the gate into the deserted end, and then followed back the rusty rail tracks.

With 45 minutes before our train back to Ljubljana, we decided to walk through the city to two stations ahead. From the train we could only see the churches and few old villas; however, those were left for some other day to be explored. In the center of the town, on a rock is the old ‘mali grad’ (little caslte) with a guard tower and chapels. We decided to go to it quickly for a view. In the lights of the setting sun, the orange tiled roofs looked charming. Old houses lined the narrow streets creating an interesting maze. Promising to ourselves that soon we should return to the city and explore its old history, we hurried back to the train station.

Interesting cargo train cars engaged our attention as we waited for the train. And then came our red train (this time unfortunately covered with graffiti). I was not expecting the journey back to be too eventful. It was already dark allowing little to be visible outside. Yet, I pressed my nose against the window glass to get a last glimpse of the fading outline of Triglav. As I was watching the passing lights of isolated houses, the ticket checker came. Blaž had heard that sometimes in passenger trains one can get in the engine. There began the excitement as we heard a yes to our request!

Can we just knock and go inside the engine? We were not sure. Soon came a station. We knocked and went in. And there opened this new world in front of our eyes. Despite the surprised driver asking how come a girl be also interested in technicalities of a train engine, I was genuinely happy, excited and interested. I had never been before in a train engine/control room. It was just so interesting and intriguing. Those several knobs and handles of different sizes and shapes slowly made sense as he explained them. The gear, the gas, what should be the starting gear, how it is increased, what is pressed every few seconds to let know that the driver is alert, what button must be pressed to confirm that a signal was noticed.. I was impressed. It is definitely a hard job to follow the rulebook. And it must be followed. He noticed the sign informing an approaching crossing. The horn blew before the crossing. The train passed another sign notifying a coming station. He stopped the train. Some people departed, a few boarded. The buttons were pressed and levers were moved according to the regulation. Off again the train rolled. And all the while we were looking intently to the control and ahead.

The train moved into Ljubljana station bringing an end to our eventful journey. However, the excitement was not yet over. Even it almost took a leap. There on the platform was standing the Alpine Convention locomotive (class 541 locomotive, SZ 541-001 )!! It is hard to see a locomotive standing like that, and that too the rare Alpine Convention. We barely got time to thank the driver for his friendly explanations and allowing us to have the ride in the engine. We hurried down to the locomotive. It was already dark, but gladly the locomotive stood close to some lights. And of course Blaž had to take pictures. I have rarely seen this locomotive, and mostly could get a glimpse as it hurried by. So, I was simply so happy to see it like that from close. Excited I was to observe it for some time as Blaž was busy with his camera. I find this locomotive really beautiful and interesting. And we were there satisfying our curiosity and excitement until it left the platform again.. Wow! Alpine Convention! For several of minutes! And just in front of us!!

Taking a few pictures of another train in old paints, and most importantly without graffiti, we headed back to home..

A beautiful train ride.. A ride back in the train engine, watching its control.. Alpine Convention.. A day of train it was... An exciting and interesting day of trains… A rare and happy day of trains..

A letter from Nisha

It was a mentally exhaustive day yesterday. There are reasons that have kept me tensed and nervous recently. Although, I really do not need reasons to be tensed about. Anyway, it was one of those days when I feel like just running away somewhere from everything and get some peace. And then I just come back home at the end of the day.

When I reached home after work and grocery, I was not in mood of doing anything. Nothing interested and excited me; I just wished the time to pass. Like every day, I checked the postbox out of habit and not really expecting any mail. Therefore, what a pleasant surprise it was when I found a mail waiting for me! And it was not some boring statement, it was a letter. A letter from Nisha!

I love handwritten letters. And saying that a real letter in my postbox makes me really happy says about my adoration for snail mails. I dropped my bag on the chair. And before I even took of the winter coat or the shoes, I had to open the envelope and enjoy its contents. It was a small letter from my little girl Nisha.

In a childish hand, she wrote her first letter for me. She will be promoted to fifth standard soon. Quite a big girl she is! Her favorite color she says is pink and she loves playing kitchen. Girls will be girls always. I remember playing with my dolls and my play-kitchen when I was her age. The whole afternoon after school would find me busy handing my little ‘home’. I remember how I love, okay I still love, every shades of pinks, reds and other similar bright hues. Her favorite season is rainy season. As I read her words, it also echoed my laughter while getting drenched in rain. She loves chocolates and ice-cream like everyone. She loves studying Bengali in school. I wonder which books she reads. I read, she likes to watch cartoons, I wonder which ones. Her small likings and little dreams. As the letter was talking to me, I could imagine her bright eyes and smile. I imagined her as the little girls fluttering around, chirping along. It was such a delight.

I looked at the little picture she had drawn for me. A little hut with a tree on the field, a lake with a boat tied on the edge, a rising sun. The picture reminded me of the hundreds of the same picture I had drawn in my notebooks. The same curve of the earth as the lake starts. The same haphazard movements of the color pencil to fill the shapes.

It is not only getting a letter from my girl, it is also going back to my childhood. It is realizing how every child whispers the same wishes. Nisha is not much different than I was 15 years ago. She loves eating everything sweet. She loves to play, to be carefree and get wet in rain. Everything little and bright attracts her. Her role model is people she sees around her, and she wishes to be like them, a teacher. Reading the letter left me with such a sense of happiness, fulfillment, bliss…

I was entering my home with a not so perfect mood. And the letter just made me smile…
A little letter can with it bring such great and pure delight, contentment..

The letter was also about a dream..


I read the letter already tens of times. It was even in my bag to work today!

Instrument?

So many instruments and machines surround us that more than often we fail to even realize this fact or recognize the things as a ‘machines’ or ‘instruments’. They are an important and inseparable part of our life. We think of the instruments similarly as maybe about limbs or sense organs. Rather, we never consciously think of it anymore. Instruments have so well incorporated in our lifestyle that now they almost define life. Well, I am myself surrounded by them always, and cannot imagine my life before the instruments and machines. They are an essential part of me. Of us. Debating about its influence is one side of the coin, enjoying it is the other. And we just love dealing with the luxury side of the coin. But sometimes it is funny to realize that the thing I am using every day, that is such an essential part of my life, is a machine, just another non-living instrument!!

We had a group meeting in the lab yesterday. Besides things, we also discussed about the yearly lab report that has to be written for the annual book. The institute this time made some minor changes in the format and we talked about those. It was required that each lab submits 3-4 pictures beside the group photo. Now ‘picture’ was the word mentioned which is clearly different from ‘figures’. Generally, some figures and schemes representative of the work published by the lab are given along with these kinds of reports. However, picture is something completely different. Maybe it was a mistake or the institute meant to have pictures of the lab instruments, people working with the instruments etc.. We just decided to clear it with the office.

And then we were having a little laugh about what pictures we can give if the lab really needs to give some ‘pictures’. We do not have fancy (or not fancy) instruments. We are a Chemometrics lab. We work on computers and have only programs and softwares. But nothing is as such tangible besides the computers. And computers are not instruments! And pictures working on the computers are not ‘cool’ enough. Without any instrument in lab, we had no picture that will show us doing some high-end research!

And it is then amidst all the fun I realized that the computer I use every day is not an instrument to me. It is a machine in all sense of the term. And yet, I do not really realize it to be so. Spending almost all my waking hours in front of my computer or laptop, they are a part of me. However unattached this part is from the physical me; it is still a part that I care about. And we human beings are not yet accustomed with the idea of having any fond association with something that is just a non-living machine. Therefore, we subconsciously just cease to think it to be one. It is a machine, true, but just in the book. For me it has a name. It is my computer!

They are.. a computer, a laptop, a mobile phone, a pen, a light, a bus, a oven, a …. I use them every day. Yes, a surgical instrument, a NMR system, a robot, a rocket, a screwdriver and things with which I cannot really associate myself, these are all instruments and fancy machines. However, my computer definitely is not one. This is what my mind says.

If I have to casually list all the machines around me, I will definitely not count my computer, or my mobile phone, or my ……. Unless I really think and go with the definition.

Cricket and India

I never thought cricket would ever have any place in my fond memories. I am one of those rare Indian youths for whom cricket is not so important. Okay, I do know enough to understand a match. When I was little, I used to follow cricket like all other cricket fans of our age. And then I grew older and grew out of it. I rarely enjoy a match and never care to watch one unless maybe India is playing World Cup final. I do not know the name of half of our players. I do not keep track of important tournaments going on. Maybe it is too long a game for me to watch and enjoy. But then, I also do not take any interest in that fast 20-20 format. Well I guess I am just not interested, that is simply it.

So, why now did I feel the urge to write about it? Well, I just happened to watch half of the latest India-England World Cup match and realized something. I may not care about cricket much and always wonder how a whole nation can be so crazy over a game, but I enjoy the crowd, the craziness, and the ‘cricket fever’. And now that I am far from it, I do miss it. Oh, on the side-note, the match was fun and interesting.

My earliest memory of cricket. A crowded drawing room when we used to live in a joint family, couches full and people sitting on small stools or on a mat on the floor. All eyes glued on the television. ‘Six’, ‘Yaaa’, ‘Out’, ‘What a shot’, ‘Arey yaar, get a spinner’ were few of the words that would fill the room in loud screams, and often would also come as screams from the neighbors. Excitement and tension filled the air. During any important game, people would leave work early to go home and catch the match. Those who would stay would crowd around the TV in the recreation room of the office. Even the display televisions in showrooms would have cricket on and a crowd of passersby outside who stopped to catch a glimpse of the score. Those were the days of pocket transistors held close to the ears to listen to the live commentary on the way home. Mobile phones replaced the transistors. Nonetheless, the question one asks his stranger co-traveler remains same until date, ‘Dada, score kato holo?’ (Brother, what is the score?). And you go to anywhere in India now, you will find the exact same picture..

For these days, strangers become friends and engage themselves in heated discussions. The newspaper is flooded with cricket news and expert comments. Common public give their ‘expert comments’ in a way that makes me think that given a bat or ball, they would make India win for sure! Everywhere it is then just cricket and cricket. The only program on TV is then cricket. When the match is over, it is time for highlights, replays, expert opinions. And of course mothers always had the complain that the important tournaments were always around the school exam times. Well, I guess they do not have this complain anymore. Now cricket is all around the year. And when it is not, the children are playing it with the aspiration to be the next Sachin Tendulkar.

I do not exactly know how or why, but this cricket fever worn off me as I grew up. I stopped watching it and taking any interest in it. However, I enjoyed my brother’s loud live commentaries, cheers, and annoyance during every match of importance (or not). It somehow brought a life and excitement in the home. It was fun. It was the ‘cricket festival’! Maybe I would drop in the room to ask the score sometimes or watch an over. But then, that would be it. In college also it was the same. The girls would get permission to watch matches late in night in the ground floor hall. Their screams would reach up in the rooms. The college inter-departmental cricket match would be one of the most important events of the year. But among all these, I just always failed to understand the craze.

And now I have escaped all of it and am here in a non-cricket country. Even Blaz often keeps track of the IPL when it is going on, but not me. The only time I read anything about cricket is when it manages to grab the headline of the newspaper. I know that the World Cup is going on now, that too in the Sub-continent. But, that is about all the knowledge I have in cricket current affairs.

Last Sunday I called my brother in the afternoon. He was in the hostel common room watching TV and came out to receive the call. All the screaming and excited exclamations that formed the background noise told me that some important India match is going on. India-England, my brother informed, Sachin did an awesome century and now the second innings just started. So, we were talking and cricket was in the background. Only from time to time bhai would say ‘Oh no, another four, what are the bowlers and fielders doing!!!’. India was playing badly and the background enthusiasm was slowly diminishing. And then suddenly there was a loud scream of excitement. Bhai exclained, ‘It must be an OUT, or why would anyone scream!!?’, ‘Who was it??’, ‘At last one wicket’.. All these comments somehow intrigued me. I searched for a website that was live streaming the match and started watching.

Then long after we finished talking, I found myself still watching the match. Even Blaž joined me towards the end. I watched the rest of the match (with quite a few interruptions in the streaming)!! Oh, it made me excited. The crowd in the stadium, the screams, the cheers, the flags, the painted faces, the crazy waving and dancing when India played good, or when one realized that he was the target of the TV camera, the complete atmosphere, and tension of the match. It was all so awesome!!

I may not care about cricket, but I love the ‘cricket fever’ in India. I miss India during World Cup cricket! I miss bhai screaming at the TV in our drawing room and banging the table. I miss all the excitement people show. I miss all the heated discussion around me, and expert comments. How much I get tired of it being the ‘only event’, I do miss all the craziness.

I do not much care who wins the tournament. Of course, India winning it would be best, and the debate if that is possible I leave to others. But I do miss the cricket-crazy Indian crowd. I do miss the Indian cricket fever. I do miss being among the madness of celebrating one of the biggest Indian festival....‘Cricket’...


Indiaaaa.. Indiaa