Twilight Fever….

I was down with the twilight fever for over three weeks… I’m talking about the twilight saga by Stephanie Meyer. I heard so much about it that I just had to know, what was the fuss all about? A close friend mailed the whole series (e-books) to me and suggested to try them. I had hardly read the first chapter and I loved it so much that I went straight to crosswords to buy one. Then, it made me so addicted that I had to read the whole series.

As I child, I used to love reading ghost stories, watch scary movies and definitely loved scaring my brother. After reading about ghosts then I loved reading about the vampires, but it faded out as I grew up. These stories always fascinated me just by the thought that “how do they even come up with such themes?” It’s amazing to see how these authors create such exquisite fantasies, with an entirely new concept; exploring new heights with their ideas and making the whole world get lost in this new world of fantasies. This series has everything, some people might call it a teenager’s book, but it’s really nice. It makes you feel like a kid again. With million fans all over the globe, this series is surely a reader’s delight with a different understanding of the vampire world. It’s not only about vampires; it also has were-wolves and their co-existence in the human world.

I loved this series for its content, different species from were-wolves or vampires or normal human beings… everyone having qualities of their own. The best thing was it sets up a new trend in reading, after a long time. Vampires were out for some time now, but with this book they are back again with a new ‘avatar’ i.e. a good vampire as they are called “vegetarian vampires”. It was a different perspective with their desire to control themselves even if they knew they were weak than their human blood sucking counterparts. The author has tried to cover all the popular myths about the vampire world and justified them well with the content in the books. You will want to believe it, no matter how stupid it looks. It’s nice to get carried away for once and let the fantasy take you with it to those meadows where a new world of mysteries is waiting for you. This series offers you an insight in the supernatural world with their strengths and yet their weaknesses; and their survival in the human world.

The selection of the characters and their portrayal was just too good to believe. The characters made up by the author are so true to their character. The character sketch is just brilliant. The way story moves from one book to the next one, it just too captivating. I couldn’t keep my mind off, till I finished the whole series. But now that I am done with this series, I miss it big time.

Here are some highlights from the Twilight series:

Book 1:”Twilight” – this is where you will get too addicted to know more…. A silly little girl named Bella beginning a new life with her dad in a new place away from her mother. It includes all the aspirations, dreams and fears of a little girl going to high school. Her school, friends, and some mysterious people (Cullens)she gets attracted to. Her falling in love with a “vampire”, the mystery about him just keep her getting more and more closer to him. Her worst fears come true, when he leaves her. The narration is just wonderful.

Book 2:”New Moon” – It’s all about Bella dealing with the heartbreak and the beginning of her new friendship with Jacob. The story unfolds the secret of Jacob’s new identity – a “were-wolf”. During the whole book I was desperate for Edward to come back….. I rushed through the book as soon as I could because I wanted Edward to come back. I missed him so much in this one. And finally towards the end he comes back. Hence, make you more addicted to know what next?

Book 3:”Eclipse” – With Edward back, I had nothing to worry about. But things were different now. Bella gets torn between the love of her life (Edward) and her best friend (Jacob).The description of Victoria’s revenge for her soul mate’s death was brilliant. She attacks with an army of vampire newborns just to kill Bella. The best part was the companionship of the two deadliest enemies ‘were-wolves’ and ‘vampires’ to save Bella. It was just astounding to see how two enemies had joined hands to save someone fo their common interest. (I wish humans could do that).

Book 4:”Breaking Dawn” – This book has all the perfect shades of everything – it starts with all the happy things Bella could ask for - her marriage with Edward and the lovely honeymoon. Things go ugly when she realizes she is expecting as carrying a vampire child wouldn’t be easy or even possible for her human body. But her agonies to keep the child, and Edward wanting to destroy the child only because it would destroy Bella. The love of a mother for her unborn child even if she knows it’s a threat to her life is well described. Her bearing a half-human, half vampire child that could kill her was dangerously beautiful. And once the child is born, Bella is reborn as a vampire and a mother. Her life as a vampire is a journey in itself. She is thrilled with her new role of a mother and dotes on her daughter. The highest authority in the vampire world “Volturi” decides death sentence for the Cullens, for creating an immortal child. So Bella’s combat to save her daughter and her family from the Volturi’s is really commendable. The unknown power of a woman to save her child and her family, and the extend up to which she can go to save them is just brilliant.

Oops!!! It’s a long blog already. I hope you all will enjoy it.

Konkan…….. An Eloquent Experience…

I have been waiting to write about this for a very long time but things kept me so busy that I just couldn’t. Today finally I managed to finish it….read along and enjoy :)

It was early november last year, when we decided to go to explore the maharashtrian coastline known as Konkan. Driving force for this place was the love for traveling, great sea food and some quality time. So we decided to go to a place called “Sawantwadi” , a small village on the way to Goa. Planning the trip and end moment decisions just made it more exciting as we didn’t know what was waiting for us there. Was it worth it or not? So many questions and we had no answers just hope. We took an overnight bus from pune and reached Sawantwadi early morning. We had arranged for a home stay (popular concept by an organization known as Culture Aangan). When we reached we were received with a warm welcome by our hosts. I was spellbound, what a beautiful place! The cottage was naturally beautiful surrounded by a huge plantation. It felt exactly like I had taken some kind of “saniyas” hence, living in the middle of a jungle. It was exactly like a place I wanted to go for a very long time…..

I mean natural beauty, simplicity of the place and welcoming hosts….. I don’t think you need more than this for a memorable holiday. We had no idea it would be so good (I guess the less you expect and plan the more awesome it gets :P). You would just fall in love with the place if you want to spend some time in disguise and actually live for a while.

Everything in this place was just the basic requirement that you need, and life was so easy and simple. Once you enter the cottage, the ambience makes you feel at home. Everything organized, clean and well placed. Everything was in moderation, just sufficient, no over loading of the place, hence you will definitely find it gripping, you will definitely not want go back to the city crap (believe me I never wanted to). If you really want to feel good, just shutdown your laptop, switch off your phone and just enjoy the beauty of the place. It will cure you of all the poisons that the city is giving you.

Our trip was small but we made full use of it. We went to Amboli, Sindhudurg, Tarkarli and other near-by places. The beaches are clean with clear water (unlike other places I have been to), and no one bothers to bug you. Hence, making you feel comfortable at all levels. I will any day prefer such a location for a holiday that is secluded, quiet and peaceful, a place where you actually feel peaceful in your head. Where you don’t have to worry about the emails to reply or send or phone calls, or read newspapers, watch tv…. You will get some quality time, and believe me if you have a good company to go out with then there is nothing like this place to go out and explore. Plantation all over the place was a look to die for, with the sunrise in the morning and wood burning in the backyard to heat water, this early morning site will just leave you mesmerized.

Now the most important thing- “FOOD” – it was awesome. It was a pleasure to have a great cook as our host. She was awesome with whatever she made. Im a foodie, and an avid sea-food lover. I loved the types of fish and prawns I had there. All varieties (veg. as well as non veg.) and the malwani preparations of food and bakaris, wow…………… we used to have one meal and used to look forward for another one. You will be stuffed but you won’t want to stop and definitely would want more. It was after a long time I was hogging on food, it was so overwhelming. I have always loved travelling and exploring places, but I guess this has been an experience in itself.

After the trip I just realized that we should do this more often, as there cant be anything more de-toxifying, distressing and relaxing than this and the cozy home stay just made our stay superb hence making it one of the best memories I have ever had. I don’t want to stop writing about it but I guess it’s already a long blog.

Sometimes I wonder…..How life would have been, if things weren’t too complicated…. simple like the older times. When people were happy to be together, no one had to travel over the seas to get education or money. No one had a rat race to join and keep running throughout their life……..