Guilt?

         Do you ever feel the guilt of owning a expensive handbag when you pass with it around the road and find few homeless people sitting? That guilt you see a helpless beggar on the street.The gut reaction is a little fear mixed with some guilt.Maybe its not something everyone feels.But as you are human with emotions you are expected to feel something.But why guilt and just not pity? And funnily when we are not real rich of the world like Ambanis and tatas and the Birlas! You worked for it and you spent it.So, why bother about some homeless man who is hungry.But, i always go on instant recall mode and see the huge restaurant bill of thousands where that man could have funded his whole months grocery supply.Or that really expensive branded shirt which could have clothed his whole family.
       I am a nobody who cannot really bring poverty to end.But a conscious choice to help someone in need is something all of have in common.Some of us volunteer their time and some their money.Which leads to a rich mans philanthropic deed which becomes a front page news.But , getting back to the topic of guilt of having unnecessary things and useless baggage of guilt is something maybe we have as its also part of Indian legacy to be compassionate.Its not everyone who feels this,but certainly a majority of people feel it.That is why we have so many blogs and articles about poverty.So, i know these people who genuinely work towards the betterment of society.But, the question here is not about if you invest time and money just out of guilt?
     I would make controversial statement that many do gooders do it for the fame or to suppress the  guilt they are feeling.But i don't know what made me type out this today.Well, living in Delhi i come across many homeless people  and it kinda suppresses my weekend shopping binge.Life is to live , i agree, but won't it be sweeter if you give a bit?

Hampi ~ a visual ode of glory of past

         I had been having Hampi in my travel list from couple of years.While we plan and think about Europe and its glory.We forget our own heritage. Hampi actually means champion according to wikipedia.The ruins there are a UNESCO world heritage site.It is also one of the most popular destinations in Karnataka.Some interesting facts can be read here
         I had only the weekend to visit Hampi.I had heard that a 2 day trip was quite enough to explore Hampi.I went through all the blogs and lonelyplanet etc..before planning it.I decided that taking a cab or bus was too tedious a journey.So, Hampi express train was the best option to travel there.We started friday night at 10 PM from Majestic railway station and reached Hospet about 7:10AM next morning. Hampi is about 14Km from Hospet.We couldn't spot many taxis.So took an auto to Hampi, he charged us Rs.200 and we didnot haggle much as its their only source of income.I had not booked any hotels online as most big hotels were far away from actual Hampi town and were remote and would actually feel too similar to other travels if we just stayed in a nice hotel.The auto guy took us to Gopi guest house which was full, they had another building of Gopi's which was too small and had no AC.We then moved to look for a better one.We found Manasa guest house very good, it had a swing on the porch and the rooftop had a direct view of Virupaksha temple! Also it was spacious and very clean and had  an AC.Also it was 2 mins away from the river! So, staying in Hampi is far more exciting and gives you the feel of place than all those luxury hotels or resorts across the Tungabhadra river (across the river was not option as boats stop by 6pm ).Then you are stuck and cant enjoy the walk on the ruins in the evening.Across the river was frankly not so great.Also the auto guy who dropped us said if we need him to show the city.Since,it was too hot i decided the original walk plan was out and we will call him back.We called him back at 10AM.
     We had breakfast at Sagar hotel a roadside joint which is absolute delight in making south Indian pottu  .The planned Mango tree restuarant was under renovation and i had heard good things about it, but Sagar was a good substitute(we only wanted Indian breakfast, most restaurants served sandwiches etc..catering foreign tourists) .Then auto started and we went to nearby Monolithic Kadalekalu and Sasivekalu Ganesha at hemakunta Hill.This was like very close from where we were staying! After that was Nandi bull statue at main market Hampi.After that was Krishna temple.This had amazing carving which depicted Krishna in various stages of life.The actual statute of Krishna is in some museum in Chennai.Then we went to a large Narasimha Vigraha.Then Veerabhadra and pataleshwar temples.Then hazara Rama temple which had various scenes from Ramayan as carvings.Then we went to lotus temple and elephant stables.Then we Rani's bathing area.Then we had lunch at KSTDC's Mayura Bhuwaneshwari.The food here was quite good, though the service was very slow.
           Now post lunch we were ready for the main attraction in Hampi i.e. the Vittala temple .This was amazing place, very peaceful and amazing architecture. We spent sometime and them walked to the river bank behind the temple .It was too hot and all tourists were flocking the sole ice cream vendor there.Vittala temple can be reached by walk or by govt bus or battery rickshaw only.No private vehicle is allowed similar to all UNESCO sites. We then were back to the guest house by 5:30 PM and spent quite sometime on the bank of river tungabhadra which was 2 mins walk.After that we had some dinner and rested .We had no clear plan for day 2.We still had the Virupaksha temple which we visited before breakfast on the day 2.
     Next day after breakfast we asked the guest house guy what else can we explore, he told that we can go across the river and take a rickshaw to go to the Hanuman temple which was the birth place of lord Hanuman.It was on anjanadri hill.It was a huge climb of 575 steps but worth the trip.The view of Hampi from top is really amazing!Then there were few more temples like Durga temple and Pampa Sarovar and a Satyanarayan temple.We then came back to the river shore by auto and had to wait for the boat to cross the river.We then rested at our hotel and packed for the journey back to Bangalore.We again took a auto to Hospet and were there by 7PM for a 9PM train!Thankfully the AC waiting room was very good and we sat there.There ended a glorious trip.

Switching off

           Sometimes we need to just switch off from everyday life.For some its an escape by reading a book and for some its to travel far away places.For some its religious retreats.But, how often we truly switch off.We are constantly connected to the world and hardly ever truly switched off.Some of us even carry mobiles to wash rooms ;)
            For me books had been a real escape and i just can't get enough of them.I am one of those high imagination people who just submerge in the story and imagine it all.Also sometimes travelling to far away places is a good break and switches you all from everyday worries.I think the amount of stress and tension people have these days ,its mandatory to take a break sometimes.It could in the form of doing nothing for a day.And i think its ok to acknowledge stress ,its not a sign of weakness.Also, cribbing about stress and problems won't solve them.Just take a break!I remember once i was so stressed in some past project that i had no time to take lunch breaks.Also, had some other things going on.I just breezed in my then managers cabin and declared that i am stressed and just need a break and i taking next two days off.He asked if i was sick or going on vacation.I said neither, that i will just sit at home and relax! And i think i got some added respect by stating the fact and it also reinforced that few people needed to be hired ;)
          I think its sad to see some highly talented people committing suicide due to work related stress or some personal issues.I read about an Indian living abroad a dream life and just ended his life.Would a small switch off break helped him? Yes, it would have given him time to rethink his decision and get over the insane urge to kill himself! So, that brings in when do we know that its switch off time.Well, when we are stressed, cribbing about everything, totally negative and generally fed up.Working professional make weekends work of art and plan every minute detail of just not plan and just sleep or bum around.An ideal switch off time should be on weekend.But do we ever switch off nowadays? So, someday on a weekday take a planned leave and do something you love.