Joyful

After this post I am hoping to write more about travel than about life :D as I want to just stick to what I write today and follow. And I am happy to say that ever since I read about the quote I am going to mention now, I have been following the same :)

I have subscribed to getting daily mails from sadhguru called the "mystic quote" in my inbox. Around 2 weeks ago, one of the quote said the following:

When you are fundamentally joyous, when you do not have to do ANYTHING to be happy, then every dimension of your life - the way you perceive and express yourself and the world - will change.

Such simple and powerful words!

To be happy, one need not have to do ANYTHING. It is a state of bliss when one is in such a state. Everything in life comes down to being at peace with ourselves and being happy within. And honestly nothing can give us that kind of peace or happiness except our own mind. Isn't it? Just going with the flow of life, and not thinking about what we have to do and what not to do and not wondering if something is going to happen or not, - this nature will come naturally to us, if we consciously remind ourselves that we really do not have to do anything to be happy. Initially we need to be conscious of this thought, and eventually it will become a part of our nature.

Here's to Life and US :) Cheers!

Eighteen

This post might be a mix of many things. Since many days I have been thinking of writing about all the resolutions I have been making inside my head. Life throws so many things at us and for some of us on a daily basis. So everyday we need to motivate ourselves and everyday we tell ourselves that we are a changed person or going to change. But I really wonder, if it is possible to change, from within? Of course we can believe that we have changed. But our core nature, our core values that we believe in, does it ever change? May be we do change, but with a lot of battle against ourselves. Its worth the fight if we actually change, right?

Few things that I have been working on:

Embracing everything and everyone, no matter how they are or what the situation is. Just embrace with no questions being asked and without judging (who in the world are we to judge anyone or anything?!!!?)

Giving the benefit of doubt to others (every single person we interact with) - this mantra is like magic, it can change how we feel drastically.

Not doubting ourselves. We are the way we are, due to our experiences, and the values we believe in.

It is funny, as I am typing, the song - "18 till I die" by Bryan Adams starts playing. Life is so easy if we just follow that :p :p

Let's just sing along instead of thinking so much :D

Wanna be young the rest of my life
Never say no try anything twice 

Til the angels come and ask me to fly
Gonna be 18 til I die - 18 til I die

Can't live forever that's wishful thinkin'
Who ever said that must of bin' drinkin'
Don't wanna grow up I don't see why
I couldn't care less if time flies by

 

18 til I die - gonna be 18 til I die
Ya it sure feels good to be alive
Someday I'll be 18 goin' on 55, 18 til I die

 

Anyway I just wanna say
Why bother with what happened yesterday
It's not my style I live for the minute
If ya wanna stay young get both feet in it, 18 til I die

A little bit of this a little bit of that
Little bit of everything gotta get on track
It's not how ya look, it's what ya feel inside
I don't care when I don't need ta know why

 

18 til I die gonna be 18 til I die
Ya it sure feels good to be alive
Someday I'll be 18 goin' on 55, 18 til I die

 

Ya there's one thing for sure I'm sure gonna try

 

Don't worry 'bout the future
Forget about the past
Gonna have a ball, yeah we're gonna have a blast 

Gonna make it last

 

18 til I die gonna be 18 til I die
Ya it sure feels good to be alive
Someday I'll be 18 goin' on 55, 18 til I die

 

Gonna be 18 til I die
I'm gonna be 18 til I die

18 til I die

GOA

Goa, the most visited place in India. We have been to Goa twice, but it was our first with the kids. We wanted to go to a beach place and just relax on this holiday. So we decided on Goa. All of us were super excited about the trip as it had been a long time since we traveled. 

We headed to the airport on a Saturday morning. 

At the airport

Flew out from Bangalore and landed in Goa. We had booked rooms at the Goa Marriott Resort and Spa in Panaji, which was around 40 minutes away from the airport. The weather was great when we landed in Goa. The resort car picked us from the airport and it rained all the way to the resort.

Drive from the airport to the resort

 

Welcome to Marriott

View from the reception area

We checked in to our room and freshened up. We could see the ocean from our room, the beach was just a few feet away from the room. It was perfect! We all changed and went to explore the beach. 

View from our room

Pleasant weather

After playing in the sand and water, it was sun set time. 

 

Marriott Resort and Spa

So we headed back to the room. After hot baths, we went to one of the restaurants at the resort for a quick bite. After a nice dinner, we went back to the room where the kids hit the bed.

Dinner

We were in Goa for 6 days this time and our routine each day was as below :D

Wake up early in the morning to the sound of the waves

Walk on the beach

Collect sea shells

Back to the resort to have a heavy buffet breakfast

Jump into the swimming pool which had a bar ;)

Go out and have lunch at one of the many cute little local restaurants

Afternoon nap for kids and A, while I used to sit outside and read a book

Evening hang out on the beach till the sunset at 7pm.

Dinner at the resort

Watch the world cup football matches :)

IT WAS A PERFECT relaxing VACATION!!

Day - 2

Sea shells

Building sand castles :)

And caves and hills

 Lunch at a local restaurant where we had yummy Goan food

My first Goan Caju Feni

Afternoon rain

Book, tea and rain = perfect combo

Day 3 :)

Amazing Thai food for lunch

Afternoon tea + rain

The resort was great, right on the beach, had a infinity swimming pool, great food and a lovely spa.

Good morning Day-4

Bday lunch at Spices of India

Day 5

Morning coffee by the beach side

☺☺☺☺

Yummiest lunch we had in Goa

Starters

Day 6 morning cuppa

Infinity pool

Felt so peaceful to watch the waves. Ocean humbles a person. Any form of nature does that. Felt blessed :) Has been one of the best holidays for us. Loved every single moment of this trip :)

:)