Travelling with your Soulmate - Quotes.

When travelling with your soulmate, your heart beats faster, your eyes are brighter and everything seems to gain a new dimension. I hope the below travel quotes about travelling with your soulmate will inspire you to travel together a great deal, value more your moments together and make new memories!

Before I present the Soulmate Quotes, may I present my favourite definition of soulmate – it is a relationship that exists on a deeper, more spiritual level than most of our other relationships. Thomas Moore described a soulmate as ’someone to whom we feel profoundly connected, as though the communication and communing that take place between us were not the product of intentional efforts, but rather a divine grace.’

Quotations:

“I would not wish any companion in the world but you.” – William Shakespeare

“It doesn’t matter where you are going; it’s who you have beside you.” — Anonymous

“Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures.” – John Steinbeck

“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with.” — Robert Brault

“As soon as I saw you I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” – A. A. Milne

“As soon as I saw you, I knew you would be an adventure of a lifetime.” – Winnie the Pooh

“Will you give me yourself? Will you come; travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?” – Walt Whitman

“I’ve fallen in love with adventures, so I begin to wonder if that’s why I’ve fallen for you.” – E. Grin

 “Love is the food of life, travel is dessert.” — Anonymous

“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.” — Anonymous

“In life, it’s not where you go; it’s who you travel with.” – Charles Schulz

“Be careful who you make memories with. Those things can last a lifetime.” – Ugo Eze

 “A good friend listens to your adventures. A best friend makes them with you.” – Anonymous

“Let’s find some beautiful places to get lost together.” – Anonymous

“I want to travel the world with you, go to every country, every city, take pictures and be happy.” – Anonymous

“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.” – Anonymous

“Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” – Izaak Walton

“It doesn’t matter where you are going; it’s who you have beside you.” – Anonymous

“Friends that travel together, stay together.” – Anonymous

“Why should a relationship mean settling down? Wait for someone who won’t let life escape you, who’ll challenge you and drive you towards your dreams. Someone spontaneous, who you can get lost in the world with, a relationship, with the right person, is a release, not a restriction.” – Beau Taplin

“Here’s to all the places we went to. And here’s to all the places we’ll go. And here’s to me, whispering again and again and again and again: I love you.” – John Green

“And the purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

“That is why the best trips like best love affairs, never really end.” – Pico Iyer

“Though we travel the world over to find the beauty we must carry it with us or we find it not.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“There’s no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this.” — Anonymous

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – Jack Kerouac

“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment.” – Hilaire Belloc

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

“Life is short and the world is wide.” – Anonymous

“The goal is to die with memories not dreams.” – Anonymous

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream.” — CS Lewis

“Investment in travel is an investment in yourself.” – Matthew Karsten

“Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.” –  Jamie Lyn Beatty

“Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.” – Lovelle Drachman

“I’m in love with cities I have never been to and people I have never met.” — Anonymous

 “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” — Henry Miller

“It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves – in finding themselves.” – Andre Gide

“Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers.” – Anonymous

“I’ll look back on this and smile because it was life and I decided to live it.” – Anonymous

I hope that you’ve enjoyed my list of soulmate travel quotes…  about travelling together with your wife/ husband/best friend. Travelling with your loved one can be an amazing experience full of valuable lessons.

May the travel bug bite you!

Manikarnika Ghat – The most desired place for cremation.

The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all: “Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”. Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. The Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.

The city of Varanasi is famous for an array of things – from being the museum of Temples to its elegant saris to its culinary delights. But the one thing that particularly stands out about this city is its Ghats, especially Manikarnika Ghat. Here’s what makes this destination stand out:

Manikarnika Ghat is considered to be one of the holiest Ghats in India. It is believed that if the dead body of a person is cremated here, then the dead human’s soul finds salvation/Moksha. So, it is actually a place where the elderly across the world visit and spend their last days while enjoying the charisma of the Ghat. It is believed that death is even painless at this Ghat. At the borders of Manikarnika Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat and the Scindia Ghat are located.

Talking about history, it is one of the oldest Ghats present in this city. In fact, the Manikarnika Ghat is also stated in a Gupta inscription of the 5th century. It is respected in Hindu religion since ages.

This place is of historical value too. When Sati Devi, consort of Lord Shiva gave up her life and set her body on fire after Raja Daksh Prajapati (the son of Lord Brahma) tried to disgrace Lord Shiva in a Yagya performed by Daksh, Lord Shiva took her burning body to the Himalayas. On seeing the painful sorrow of Lord Shiva, Vishnu sent the Divine Chakra, which cut Sati Devi’s body into 51 parts that fell on earth. They are known as “Ekannya Shaktipeeth”. Lord Shiva established Shakti Peeth wherever Sati Devi’s body parts had fallen. Mata Sati's Earring had fallen at this Ghat and it was named as Manikarnika Ghat. Manikarnika means… Mani: Jewel, Karnam: Ear, Angad: Ornament.

According to another legend, Lord Vishnu dug a pond near this Ghat for Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati. While taking bath here, Goddess Parvati lost her earring and then Lord Shiva told the Brahmins of the Ghat to search for it. They found it but kept it to themselves. Lord Shiva became angry and cursed them to be untouchables forever and when they pleaded for forgiveness they were given the sacred fire which every human would require for attaining salvation. And Manikarnika Ghat became a prominent place for cremations. These Brahmins now called to be of the Dom caste are the ones who add the first five logs to the pyre and then hand over the fire from the sacred Kund to set the pyre ablaze.

“Asatoma sat gamaya, Tamasoma Jyotir gamaya, Mruthyoma amrutham gamaya” This shloka from Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad states the truth of life and request the supreme to take him from falsehood towards the truth, from darkness guide me to light, from death impart me eternal life (Moksha). Manikarnika Ghat is one such gateway through which one can break the vicious circle and achieve moksha.

Thus Manikarnika Ghat also known as Mahasmasana Ghat is a great place of religious importance in the Hindu religion.

MANIKARNIKA GHAT VIDEO

Towards the end of this video on Manikarnika Ghat you can see Harishchandra Ghat. It is also one of the oldest Ghats of Varanasi. Harishchandra Ghat is named after King Harishchandra, who once worked at this cremation ground for the perseverance of truth and charity. It is believed that the Gods rewarded him for his resolve, charity and truthfulness and restored to him his lost throne and his dead son, who was to be cremated here.

Just like cremations at Manikarnika Ghat, Hindus from distant places bring the dead bodies of their near and dear ones to the Harishchandra Ghat for cremation, though on a smaller scale. Here too it is believed that if a person is cremated, that person gets salvation or "Moksha". 

All about Bai Sri.

Thai people use banana leaves to fold and make colourful decorations for festivals.  The leaves are folded in delicate, triangular and intricate patterns before being presented to Lord Buddha at the temple or at various ceremonies and to the spirits that protect people. These religious offerings made from banana leaves and flower and flower petals are called “Bai Sri”.

Banana leaves are considered auspicious in our country too, especially in South India and are mostly used for decoration (along with the trunk) at houses and temples and for serving food during festivities and special occasions and on a daily basis at traditional restaurants, but banana leaf folding art as a form of worship as you can see in the attached pictures has its roots in Thailand and is widespread.

The art of banana leaf folding is handed down from generation to generation.  A number of universities and colleges in Thailand offer courses in banana leaf art, as this art form is of academic interest, to young and old alike.

The Bai Sri is a blessing ceremony performed to bestow happiness and prosperity to a person or place. The ceremony features a beautifully-shaped ornament made of elaborately-folded banana leaves. A container is beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and banana leaves, It is often used during auspicious ceremonies.

And for various occasions, there is different Bai Sri… Bai Sri Luang is the largest type, a tray made with banana leaves on a pedestal. The banana leaves are made in nine tiers representing a gift to the King and Queen, or seven tiers made for a viceroy, five tiers made for the royalty, and three tiers for noblemen and other people. Bai Sri Pak Cham - It is made as a gift to teachers and angels, when setting up a shrine to a household god or spirits, for a newborn child, and on auspicious occasions, and there are many more Bai Sri for different rituals. There are Bai Sri Lak with nine, seven, five or three tiers, Bai Sri Tor or Stem Bai Sri, Bai Sri Su Kwan which has from one up to nine tiers, Bai Sri Dhammachak, Bai Sri Ballang which is the Throne Bai Sri, Bai Sri Nakharatch also called the Naga Bai Sri, Bai Sri Pan Ta or thousand-eye Bai Sri, and Bai Sri Brahma and Bai Sri Deva, which are offered to Brahma and angels. Each type of Bai Sri has a meaning and difference, including the process of construction.  Each item used in the making of Bai Sri has a significance: The banana leaf is most auspicious and sacred for offerings, the cone of rice means fertility, yellow Cassia flower means longevity, Calotropis flowers means long-lasting love, boiled eggs sometimes means intelligence, money means good luck and auspicious thread represent the bonds of friendship.

In brief, all Bai Sri are meant for worship and bringing health, happiness, peace and prosperity to the individuals and their families making these offerings.

You may see the attached pictures of beautiful and different Bai Sri.

I Love this Coconut (Maphrao)!

Coconuts are great refreshers,

And great nourish-ers,

Any time of the year…

When you are weary,

And you feel thirsty,

Or when you are hungry,

If there are coconuts nearby,

Your needs they would satisfy,

And make you extremely happy.

The coconuts that you see here,

Are the best I have seen ever,

They are blemish-less outside,

And delicious inside!

They came straight from the fridge,

With the top cut like a door,

A perfect hexagonal door,

With one side acting as a hinge,

And with a lovely flower,

And a colourful straw,

Beautifully peeping out,

From the almost shut door,

And the Coconut resting on a plate,

With a spoon by its side.

We lifted the door,

To relish first,

The most delicious,

And copious,

Cool Coconut water,

And then scoop out,

And eat,

The tender…est,

Sweetest,

And tastiest,

Malai!

Of these coconuts called Maphrao!

We repeated this experience,

Until we returned home,

To our land,

Of Kobbari (Coconut) Bondam.

MAPHRAO: WHITE HUSKED TENDER COCONUT OF THAILAND

Tigers eat meat and a lot of it, but not this beautiful wildcat!

VIDEO:

Tigers eat meat and a lot of it,

But not this beautiful wildcat,

He loves milk and lots of it,

So we instantly fell in love with it,

And proposed to keep it as a pet,

But the owner would not part with it,

Not because he really loves it,

But because he earns money on it,

And lots and lots of it,

By letting people pose with it,

For memorable pictures as in this post!

About the Festival of Bakrid and Bakrid Greetings.

Today is the festival of Bakrid. The festival is also known as Eid-ul-Zuha or Eid-al-Adha which means the Eid (festival) of sacrifice. The festival is celebrated with great joy and fervour at Hyderabad as of course all over the world. So, Happy Bakrid! To all my friends celebrating the festival.

And here is the information about the festival:

Bakrid is celebrated by the Muslim community on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Zul-Hijja. On this auspicious day, Muslims are supposed to sacrifice a male goat or sheep and offer prayers at the mosque. There is an interesting story behind the celebration of this festival. It marks the spirit of sacrifice. This festival is in commemoration of Hazrat Ibrahim's great test of obedience to Allah. Once Hazrat Ibrahim saw a dream in which Allah ordered him to sacrifice his most precious thing. He kept seeing the dream for many days. Then he described the dream to his wife that Allah wants him to sacrifice his most precious thing. After much discussion, Hazrat Ibrahim and his wife decided to sacrifice their only son, Ismail for the sake of Allah because their son was most precious for both of them. Then he asked his son for his consent. Ismail readily agreed to be sacrificed for the sake of Allah. Hazrat Ibrahim was all set to sacrifice his son at the gallows. As he put the sword at his son's throat, Hazrat Ismail vanished and he was replaced by a sheep. Then there was a prophecy that Allah was only testing Hazrat Ibrahim's faith. He need not sacrifice his son and he could sacrifice a ram or a sheep instead. Hence, the festival of Bakrid or Eid-al-Adha came to be celebrated. There are a few guidelines regarding the sacrificed meat in Islam. According to the rules, the sacrificed meat is to be divided into three parts. The larger part of the meat is to be shared with all the poor and needy who cannot afford to have meat or a meal of the day. The two smaller parts are to be shared with friends, relatives and family. Eid-ul-Zuha is a time of celebration. People offer prayers at the mosque. The prayers can only be offered when the sun has completely risen. Women are also encouraged to attend the prayers however it is not compulsory. The distribution of the sacrificed meat among the poor is the most important part of the festival. This distribution is done to make sure that no impoverished person is left without an opportunity to partake the meat. Thus, Muslims celebrate Bakrid or Eid-al-Adha to mark the spirit of sacrifice. It is a time of great joy and lavish feasts and celebration of unity and brotherhood.