Blog@GraceJunction

I can never describe the feeling and the ecstasy I felt as I flew over the cool icy blue waters of Maldives (well cant describe the color by words, nor I can compare it to something we’ve seen). What a scene!!

Like a small child, whose eyes glow up with wonder each time he sees the magic trick performed – I was held “gasp-less” as I was unveiled to the wonders of the Grand Designer. Every thing I put my eyes on, captured me. I saw splendid true colors that I had observed marketing companies so poorly trying to match. I saw ideas that we so beggarly try to copy. To a much-wearied traveler like me, in my lifetime of travels so far, nothing caught me in this frame – “Wonder with jaws hanging”. (more…)

Who or what is Jebar?

TOI today reports of stampedes in villages (in Thorad and Vav talukas) in northern Gujarat. No, it is not a stampede of devotees rushing down a hill, but a stampede of people rushing to ‘fresh water’ tankers that come into their village.

In fact what starts as aggressive jostling often leads to fights and sometimes to stampedes! Not that there are thousands of people at the epicentre of the event! A few dozens, or perhaps a few scores, and yet in the past few years at least four girls have been killed in stampedes!

Now this doesn’t happen only when tankers come, but also when some water starts flowing through their taps installed in the villages by the government. And this supply is irregular, infrequent and unpredictable. (more…)