Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Chocolaty and Christmasy 'Belgium'...

What comes to your mind when you read Belgium on the map? The immediate answer would be Belgian Chocolates! Indeed very famouus for wafles with various toppings, rich chocolates and again rich culture. I don't claim that I know Belgium but two cities that I saw are Ghent and Brussels, enough to give me an impression about the richness of this country. Very famous for its Gothic architecture apart from chocolates.

Recently I had an opportunity to visit University of Ghent with my research group. We couldn't thank enough to Rob for booking an accomodation in central Ghent. If it was not for this visit, I would have never realised that Christmas+Belgium are such a beautiful combination. Christmas lights, hot wafles, local markets and such lively ambience...I fell in love with Ghent! 

Belgium succumbed to mammoth Germany in the second world war and that is the reason why those beautiful Gothic structures were saved from destruction unlike London that was completely destroyed due to bombing. A war is never good for any country and never an penultimate solution for any problem! Not going into those details let's get some flavour of Belgium.

The language spoken is Flemish, which sounds like a mixture of French, German and Dutch. Only half an hour apart, it was surprising to see that Dutch is widely spoken in Ghent whereas French in Brussels - what a diversity! But I quite liked this diversity that adds so much to the richness of Belgium. 

 Famous Tower of Ghent and there is anew interesting torcher museum in this tower.
 In the midst of classic Gothic architecture there are modern shops and yes ready to welcome Santa!
 These two guys striked a cord of beautiful music amalgamating in crisp winter afternoon...
 A walk in the city, perfect lights and a perfect photo
 Christmas market with local shops and yes Tram runs through the city...very much a part of day to day life.

 Chilly night and a walk along the canal couldn't have been more beautiful...
 One more click along the canal, clear water and floating reflection of those buildings..aah lovely sight
 One more along the canal...No special settings on my camera, it naturally made an awesome pic
 Walking under these decorative chimes makes you feel royal :)
 Glitter everywhere declaring that Christmas is just round the corner!
 Another classic picture with perfect lights
 What a beautiful church!
 The same church but an early morning view from my Hotel room window
 Lovely woven carpets probably. I saw a lot of these in Ghent and Brussels
 Collection of stamps and coins and many little precious things
This is a Court in Ghent
 Jingle bells...Jingle Bells...
 Christmas is coming....
 A very beautiful piece of Gothic art!
 Local market with lots of woollen hats...which one do you like?
 It is winter...right? But this old man knows that winters+rain+wind= sturdy umbrella is required!
 Again a beautiful bright Christmasy decoration
 Wafle anyone? Well don't eat this, click a photo!
 Polar bears are getting ready to make a cozy cottage for winters
 Rudolf the red nose Reindeer...wait but this one is an illuminated Reindeer
 I suppose these are some Greek monuments...Greek gods..are they?
               Little precious things again
 This statue reminded me of my daughter...mother and her child, so precious

A day time click along the canal,day and night have their own importance and beauty.
Christmas tree...makes everything look perfect
So much of brightness, I couldn't adjust a contrast on my phone camera...this is all what Christmas is about...lights...
Hang on Mr Patel's shop is here...:)
White Christmas tree...whole city has donned white and red
               Onions...they look beautiful like pearls in your kitchen
Baby potatoes being cooked in sauce...Wait! this is not for Vegetarians
          Such a lovely gesture outside a Bar
      Do I want to go away from these lights?
It isn't any festival if Children don't have fun...they make everything special..what would you like to ride on?
         Awesome....

Christmas market with modern little shops set up in between these mammoth Gothic architecture...gives a different feel...Best of both era's
Ganapati Bappa Morya...he is waiting for Santa to arrive :)
I went mad clicking anything and everything but literally this anything and everything is what Christmas market was all about.

Signing out with a hope that you all will love these pics and a mini drive through this Christmas market. Enjoy and see you all in my next post...Dank U, Merci!!!


Friday, December 5, 2014

Friends Forever

A bright sunny Sunday is what everyone loves in England.

A cup of tea was what Stella Reynolds wanted to begin a lovely day. A hot steamy cup in her lovely garden made a perfect start of the day!

With water boiling in a kettle on her kitchen platform, Stella was ready with a tray of biscuits, milk, sugar and tea bag. Wrapped up nicely, Stella was gazing at her lovely garden from her kitchen window, beeped her smart phone - a Facebook friend request! Carefully pouring boiled water in the cup she carried her cell phone and tray, Stella strolled into the garden.
With a sip of refreshing tea, she checked FB invitation; it was Paula Baker, her beloved school friend. She quickly accepted her request which transported her 55 years back when she was 5 year old and it was the first time Stella and Paula had met! They were together for next 12 years of their school life, like soul mates.

Lost in her thoughts, Stella came back to senses with a ping on FB from Paula. 

Paula: Hey Hun, how have you been?

Stella with a gorgeous smile: Not too bad, thank you. What a pleasant surprise! Where are you? 

Paula: I was in Kenya for last 30 years. Now, in England for good

Stella: I am so happy to have you back in my life

Paula: Fancy meeting over lunch today at Boat Club? I am dying to meet you after ages.

Stella: Sure darling, I am in.

Paula: See you at 12'ish, Boat Club, City Centre - opposite to Primark…Xxx

Extremely happy about meeting her school friend, Stella finishes her cup of tea.
So far her Sunday has been exciting. 

Boat Club is euphoric on Sundays. These two friends needed no time to identify each other. In their 60's they looked fabulous, smartly dressed and so young at heart. They spoke about career, Paula's life in Kenya, Stella's life in England.
Paula was happily married to Matt for 35 years and had 2 daughters. She couldn’t have asked for more.

'What about you Stella, did you find your Man?' questioned Paula.

Paula had an idea of failures with regards to relations in Stella’s life and Stella always chose not to speak about it, nothing like she was ashamed or embarrassed but some matters are best when unspoken!

Paula said, ‘It is a lonely world outside. We are connected with these modern social networks but yet don’t you feel the need to be with someone whom you can disturb anytime, share your sorrows and laughs? That someone with whom you have a glass of wine but no compulsion to speak a word…silence speaks a thousand words!’

‘Stella, I am worried about you, care for you. I know you are a strong woman but everyone wants to be loved, pampered and spoiled by someone special’, said Paula.

There was silence…awkward silence, not that Paula spoke out of her limits but something that was never asked to Stella before. Who would ask her? She had no one who cared for her. In this journey of life we meet many but how many etch a place in our heart? Certainly not everyone…very few…very very few!

Stella knew she needed to elaborate on this and she spoke her heart for the first time with great composure.

She said, 'I never saw a perfect relationship. At the age of 18, my Dad left for work and never came back. My Mum received divorce papers later. My mum wept her heart out and begged him to come back for me and my brother but he never bothered. This made me realise how irresponsible a ‘Man’ can be! I always knew their marriage was a compromise. My Mum lost her interest in us and her life. Rob, my brother grew up insensitive and immature. He had no one to guide him ever. He too left us and I don't know where he is. Rob could have made his life worthwhile, made us proud but he chose a wrong way. While I was coping with these tragedies of my life due to men, I met David, love of my life and later found him cheating on me. He already had a family but was attracted to me. I always thought if I was unlucky with men or men were unlucky for me. While I was coping with this I never knew that my colleague James at work was planning his promotion by portraying me as inefficient, feeble and unfit for the post. Each time I knew I was right but I suffered because I was knowingly and unknowingly dealing with wrong men. A series of such incidents in my life made me think if I really needed a ‘Man’ to complete me and my life? An irresponsible father, a careless brother, a selfish lover and an opportunist friend – all Men, can’t be a coincidence!’

Stella then cheekily said, 'I don’t generalise that all Men are mean and imperfect but the more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!’

Paula laughed out with teary eyed and said, ‘I am glad that you are still open about this and may you find one soon’.

As they were busy sharing their emotional laugh, beeped Paula’s phone, a message from her younger daughter, Katie.

Very hurriedly she searches for the phone in her handbag and finds it, puts on her glasses and reads:

Katie: Mum, when are you coming home? I need your little help. It is my first date today evening, what should I wear?
Paula: I will be there in an hour
Keeping her phone back in her turquoise handbag, Paula with a sigh says, ‘Well, Katie needs me and I have to leave but it was really nice meeting you’.

Stella with a grin said, ‘Indeed. I am so proud of you on being such a doting mother’.

‘Life teaches you everything. It puts you in a situation and gives that courage to face it as well. It was never easy to live in Kenya with no family and friends around but we survived and eventually evolved as a strongly bonded family’, said Paula. She continued, ‘Different people, different culture and so many challenges! There were times when I wanted to come back but I took it as a challenge and when I look back, I feel proud for what I achieved. I have evolved as a wonderful person. Raising two daughters was emotionally challenging as well but how beautifully I and Matt did it, is what counts. I am lucky to have him in my life. We have had our differences but they sublimed'.

She gently placed her hand on Stella’s and said, ‘Not all Men are imperfect and I am sure you will find someone who would change your every perception’.

Stella knew that Paula cares for her. They both re-discovered a soul mate in each other.

They both enjoyed their salad lunch and it was indeed a perfect Sunday! It never felt that this was their lunch after ages.

Such is friendship - distance, age and relations never affect it. Friends are forever.

If this story of mine has made you miss a dear friend of yours then call her/him and say that you still care for them!