Birthday Celebrations

I've never fully grasped as to why people celebrate getting old. I'd much rather celebrate the days I feel younger or resemble my childhood self more than the adult I am. I know that growing up is essential and unavoidable, but keeping the child inside you alive is equally important and necessary. I've had some amazing and some not-so-amazing birthdays. From house parties, to private members club celebrations, school friends to university and now birthday getaways; every and each one has been special but the ones I celebrate in a new city are the ones I remember the most. At 23 I promised myself that I would always celebrate my future birthday's in a different/new city every year. It started with London, Northern Ireland and the latest - Isle of Wight.
This year, my friends surprised me with the location and although it was a week before my actual birthday, I couldn't have asked for more this year. Here are some snippets from our little Island weekend celebrations :)

The little town of Leminghton

We arrive at the Yarmouth Harbour - Isle of Wight

Toby, me and Craig post erecting our tents

The beautiful scenery en-route our hike to The Needles 

Our campsite

Goodbye Isle of Wight!

Berliner Kindl

So it's been more than a week since I got back from my awesome sauce trip to Berlin and the taste of my first Berliner Kindl Weisse still lingers on my lips. The memories of that lovely sunny day spent on  the cruise over Tiefer See (See = lake in German) never fail to bring a smile to my face. Infact, any memory from that trip instantly lightens up my mood. From the crazy first night at Gretchen, the coolest German wedding over the weekend (which was held at the planetarium), the amazing German countryside, some sunny days spent in the summer house at Riewend to swimming in the lakes from a private island, the Turkish market in Kreuzberg and partying till 7am in Chausseestraße. It would be impossible to list down each and every details but I hope the following pictures map out my journey and inspire you to visit Berlin as your next holiday destination.

Gretchen, Meringdam

The Wedding venue

After party venue

Riewend lake

Enroute Berlin from Riewend, Natures Symmetry

Me and my bff on the Tiefersee cruise

Scharfenberg, our private island on Lake Tegel

Turkish Market, Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg Hill, best view of Berlin

'My Life' story for Holstee

The Holstee Manifesto has inspired me so much that it forms the headline of my blog. So you can imagine my excitement when they featured my story in their blog! Here's the story:

My Life

I’m a strong believer in dreams and the power of universe, and I’m positive that it’s precisely the latter that drew me to the Holstee Manifesto.

I was going through one of those frustrating stages in life, where everything seems to be falling apart. I had moved to London from Mumbai 3 years ago, finished my Masters and had a great job, but I’d also racked up a massive student loan which was giving me nightmares. Over the course of years, I let the the loan loom over my head, sucking away any joys or beautiful experiences out of my life, and made me a very bitter and regretful person. I’ve always loved reading and whilst surfing the internet once upon a lunch break, I came face-to-face with these words that completely shook me up.

It just took me 5 minutes to read and transform my life, take hold of it and not let anything else get in the way of my happiness. I started painting and dancing again, singing to myself, changing habits that I hated, stopped watching too much TV, stopped over analysing and started enjoying life one breath at a time. Before I knew it, I was smiling more often, had made a dozen new friends, learning new languages, and sharing my dream with the world. 

Thanks to my lifestyle and job, I’m lucky enough to travel more often than others. And while I’ve always loved travelling, it means so much more to me now. I see things differently, I connect with people and nature in a way I’ve never done before. I’ve started keeping my travel diaries (something I’ve wanted to do since I was 10) and every time I read an old entry, it brings a smile to my face.

I believe that each one of us is capable of something much bigger, stronger and higher than we can imagine and sometimes, all you need is a push in the right direction. For me, that was the Holstee Manifesto and I shall be eternally grateful to Mike, Fabian and Dan for writing and sharing it with us. Now, I share and spread the love with every interesting person I meet, and as you would expect, they all have their Manifesto posters glued to their walls!

Click here to read more: http://mylife.holstee.com/post/28907105288/im-a-strong-believer-in-dreams-and-the-power-of

Top 5 highlights of my weekend:

1. Caught up with my beauty sleep

2. Ordered watercolour painting kit 

3. Celebrated Bastille day with friends at Borough Market 

4. Danced at the open air disco opposite National Theatre on the southbank

5. Enjoyed a sunny Sunday shopping and then squatting on the rooftop of One New Change, enjoying stunning views of the Southbank.

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT – YOU

Just came across this really interesting and inspiring story on Inc.com by Jeff Haden. Check it out here: http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/your-most-important-business-investment.html

1. Build strong connections.

Take a couple minutes a day and reach out--by phone or email, not by social media--to a customer or colleague or just a person you want to compliment or thank. Good karma is reason enough, but you'll be surprised by the real, not virtual, connections you will build.

2. Do something crazy.

      Challenge yourself. Humble yourself. Get over yourself. Get a part-time job, one that is "beneath" you. Be the only overweight person you know training for a marathon. Take a class you'll struggle to even pass. Volunteer. Whatever you do, make sure it's well outside your comfort zone. You'll learn and grow and become better, stronger, and a lot more self-assured. Learning to not care what others think about you--in a healthy way--is incredibly empowering.

      3. Build a side business.

      Pick something you enjoy doing and think of ways to make money from it. The point isn't to get rich; the point is to open up to new ideas and new challenges. The business aspect will help spark creativity--since necessity is the mother of creativity--and help keep you focused.

      4. Create a morning ritual.

      Choose things you want to accomplish and create a morning plan that gets you there. Maybe you want to exercise. Maybe you want to work on a presentation, work on your book, read things you need to read but never seem to find the time or energy to get to after work... you know what you've been wanting to do but haven't done. Start doing it.

      

      5. Take a few minutes and think.

      Force inactivity. Turn off the radio when you drive to work. When you're stuck in a line, don't look for something to do--just stand there. Sit outside without a phone or book. Take a walk. Create situations where you're stuck with only yourself.

      6. Call your folks.

      They always want to hear from you. And you always feel better after you do.

Travel diaries

Devils Punchbowl - 10 June 2012

The scent of fresh wet earth still lingers on,

As the beautiful sights fade gently away.

Long in the distance, I remember the tower,

Shifting place whilst we make our way, 

As though taunting and mocking us from its high perch.

A maze of entangled roots amongst buzzing bees,

Wet leaves on the forest floor forming nature’s rug,

Softer and more creative than any other,

Cushioning our tired knees.

Horses trot and the Lamas stare back,

'Have you forgotten your way human?'

'Just passing by sir', we march away.

As the sun sets in the west,

Some weary folks walk into a pub.

Washing away the fatigue with a pint.

They sit around tables, some chatting away;

Some glancing around the room.

Observing, content, happy faces; not an inch of gloom.

It's been a long, tiresome journey, but we are here now

Alive, cheerful and enjoying together, the natures beautiful song.

I walked along the punchbowl with this wonderful group: http://www.meetup.com/Outdooraholics/

Photo credits: Daily post: http://bit.ly/M0VGJg