Around the World in 20 years (Part II: Europe)

After four years or so, I was prepared for the return trip to India, but not before making a halt at London and Paris. To me London seemed to have a mood of its own. It would rain one moment and the next it was as bright and sunny as an Indian summer. It was like one of those expensive dolls encased in glass boxes that you see in the mall but are forbidden to touch. The people and the streets had a sophistication that I had not seen before. What it is, I cannot explain. Maybe it was the realization that the queen lived there and everyone needed to be on their best behavior. As naive and innocent as I was at that time, I couldn't help but realize the city had a freshness to it like the freshness you feel in the air after the rain. All I remember about London other than the museums was spending hours by the Buckingham Palace hoping I would see a member of the Royal family. I also remember all the fun I had at Madame Tussauds wax museum- the ORIGINAL. The wax figurines there were just too good to be true and seemed larger than life. At least I got to take pictures with the Royal Family there :) I am sure there is a lot more to the city that I missed out on. I would love to travel to London once again and revisit the good times.

The last stop after London was Paris. If I had any interest in fashion at that age, I would have probably refused to leave. However, Paris at that time was all about museums. The most memorable was The Louvre Museum, host to Leonardo's most famous painting ever...the Mona Lisa. I remember reading about how people have been trying to figure out the reason behind Mona's smile for ages and the mystique behind the painting is what intrigued me. I also remember climbing to the top of the Eiffel tower and enjoying the view of Paris. I couldn't believe that what I had seen in movies until then was now a reality right under my feet! So many love stories probably had their beginning there and being on top of the Eiffel truly felt like being on top of the world.

Although I came home to India after this adventure, I always had a longing to return to those places....to take in the sights again, this time with a better understanding of the world around me, of the historical value these places have, of the culture and the beauty that these places possess that make you just stop and stare in your tracks. Who knows, maybe someday I will and write my next blog post from the top of the Eiffel tower again!

Around the world in 20 years (Part I: Asia & America)

One of the best things I loved to do was watch the Travel & Living Channel on TV. As a kid, I used to be in awe of the places that Samantha Brown visited and I used to watch her show religiously. Since then, my love has been to travel, explore the myriad of cuisines and traditions that every country has to offer and get to observe and appreciate the architecture that is unique to every town.

From the water-immersed streets of Venice to the romantic sidewalks of Paris to the tradition and heritage of India to the narrow streets of Italy to the night life of New York...my list of places to go and see is endless. I don't know what the future holds, but so far, I have been fortunate enough to travel to most places that people can only dream of.

I was born and raised mostly in India. This itself is a privilege to be growing up in a country that is full of traditional richness, the home to one of the most mouth-watering cuisines ever and houses the biggest movie production industries in the World. Though I have been traveling here and there, the culture, heritage and values I learned in India are at the core of my heart.

I believe India has so much to offer that no one can possibly experience it all in one lifetime. The temples of Southern India, the bustling streets of the Old City in Hyderabad, the shopping districts of Chandni Chowk(Delhi), the old palaces of Maharajas in Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love and sacrifice and also a Wonder of the World are all reasons why India is truly deserving of the title "Incredible India".

After spending a few years in India, I moved to New York with my family. I was still too young to realize where I was going. Upon reaching there, I felt like someone lifted me by my collar in my sleep and dropped me in the most random part of the Earth they could find. I felt no two places could be more different, but I was wrong. New York is a confluence of cultures just like India. From Asian to American to Hispanic and African, it seemed like a blown up version of the United Nations. As young as I was then, it was hard for me to appreciate the buildings and museums that told so many stories. To me, New York was all about the streets.

I remember walking down the road in Queens where all the stores were and taking in the smell of freshly roasted honey peanuts and hot dogs while braving the New York cold. I remember spending endless hours with friends at the Botanical Gardens in Queens building snowmen. The sight of watching the Big Apple light up during Christmas will always be etched in my mind. I remember walking along Times Square in the wee hours of the morning and sill seeing people on the roads just taking in the sights and sounds of the city. The city had a kind of electric spark that just made me come alive. It is something you don't write about...It's something you feel when you are in the center of that spark. New York is definitely the city that never sleeps.