Russian Winter, Snow Paradise

PART ONE :- Moscow,

आँखों में सपने लिए घर से चल तो दिए, मंजिल नयी है अनजाना है कारवां. तनहा दिल तनहा सफर ढूंढे किसे ये फिर नजर।

Above line summarize the feelings of my short trip in Russia. "I had never witnessed snow until now. During encounters with Russian pilgrims, their invitations to visit Russia always intrigued me, especially for the chance to experience snow. Months passed, filled with plans and postponements. Then, insights from friends revealed the prime holiday period in Russia, spanning from December 25th to January 8th, with Christmas on January 7th. Serendipitously, my trip coincided with New Year's, Christmas, and my friend Aksinia's birthday. Flights, surprisingly, were more economical than usual, prompting a swift decision – 'Poshli Poshli, Paijom.'

 For those interested in flight and visa information, I booked Aeroflot Russian Airline from Delhi to Moscow for 34K return. Only Russian cards were accepted, so I couldn't book with my credit card. Thanks to a Russian friend who helped me pay with his card. Then, for the visa, Russia introduced an online 30-day visa and 15-day stay, which cost approximately 4500 Rupees and could be paid with any card but accepted only in Chinese Yuan. The visa arrived within 5 days.

Mumbai Airport

Moscow Airport

Moscow

Finally, the day arrived to go to Russia. Even though there was constant fear about the immigration process, because whenever I checked YouTube videos about immigration or visa requirements and people's experiences, I only came across bad and scary videos of how immigration officers stopped them at the airport and denied entry, returning them to India. But now it seems some of them were just unlucky or 'chapri.' Another fear was my airline cabin baggage policy about sizes and weight. But everything was settled with the baggage, no problems at all. After arriving in Moscow, at immigration, my biggest fear became a piece of cake. I went to the immigration office with a confident face, gave him my passport, he said to remove my glasses, looked at the camera, took a picture, gave me an immigration form to sign, and said, 'Welcome to Russia.' That’s it.

After arriving at the airport, I was excited and scared for immigration, but it got done as explained above. Then, I checked to change money, but the rate was expensive. So, I thought to change in the city, but almost forgot how the situation would be to go out in the cold. (Also, there are few places where you can exchange in the city, mostly in banks, so it's better to change at the airport or in India). Also, I didn't want to waste time and make my Fairy Godmother Tatiana wait, who had come all the way from Saint Petersburg just to welcome and pick me up, and we had a train to catch to go to Saint Petersburg in the afternoon." 

"After emerging from the airport, I was elated to spot my Fairy Godmother, Tatiana, after an extended absence.

Fairy GodMother Tatiana and Me

Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, situated on the city's outskirts, served as my point of entry. An efficient train system connects the airport to the metro hub, facilitating seamless transit to central Moscow via various metro lines. Fairy Godmother Tatiana adeptly handled all ticketing matters, streamlining the process with electronic transactions. Navigating the local transport network independently, particularly in the frigid temperatures, would have posed a formidable challenge.       We changed some metros to get to Red Square to 'meet' Mr. Putin ;), but sadly, I had no time to actually meet him.

                                                                                               

From Train 

At Airport Train Station

                    

Decoration in city

Decoration

Inside Metro Station

City Decoration

  

One impressive thing in Russia is that metro or train stations don't look like train stations; they look like some kind of heritage buildings. I couldn't recognize the station even after five minutes once I got out of it. A few steps from Ploshad Revolutsii metro station, there is a big statue of Karl Marx. At first glance, I couldn't recognize him and said to myself, 'Who's that big mountain-like statue? (an old, fat man with weird hair ;) )' Tatiana said, 'It's Karl Marx.' (Oops, the man whose philosophy applies in some countries in a distorted form, including the superpower Russia).

 The Red Square, Kremlin, and Cathedral of St. Basil (the one that looks like the palace in the Aladdin movie) are all on the same premises. All roads are beautifully decorated with lighting, electronic lights, and many more things. On New Year's and Christmas, they usually decorate the whole city, which is amazing. People from all over the country come to visit Red Square on these holidays. I think I was the only Indian on those streets. 

There was a security check at the entrance; usually, there isn't, but due to the holidays, many people come, and it was crowded. In the freezing cold, I had to open my bag to show them I am not dangerous ;). On that Red Square, on one side, is the Kremlin where Mr. Putin sits. There is the Cemetery Museum of Lenin and Stalin, which is only open till 1 pm. Next to it, there is the Cathedral. I took an iconic picture in front of the Cathedral (proof that I visited Russia ;) ).

Everywhere Beautiful decoration

Red Square building

Stallin , 

Lenin etc Leaders of Russia

 

Red Square

National Clock

Royal Guard at Freezing Cold

I was enjoying the beauty of Russia in +2 degrees. After so much walking, we went to the Eternal Fire. On both sides of the fire, there are royal guards who stand like statues. At first, I thought they were statues, but Tatiana said they were real soldiers. I looked carefully, and they did look real, but I was still not sure because they weren't moving even a millimeter. It was 1:45, and we wanted to see the Royal Guard changing parade. For 15 minutes, I was just standing in a shower of rain/snowfall. My jacket was okay for the upper part, but for the lower part, only trousers, which were not sufficient, and my legs were shivering. In the cold, one has to move, as there aren't many layers of warm clothes on the legs. The Royal Guard changing parade is impressive; one must see it. After Red Square, we went to the shopping buildings. Inside the shopping center, there were Christmas trees decorated everywhere. One impressive thing I noticed is that underground metros in Moscow are deeper than in other countries I've visited. We ate something and headed to the main train station, Leningradsky Moscow, to go to Saint Petersburg by bullet train. In Russia, bullet trains are called 'Sapsan.' Traveling with Sapsan is awesome, with nice food, stewards to serve food and drinks, and it takes less time, only a 4-hour journey."

In middle Eternal fire and Royal Guard both side

Inside Shopping center at Red Square

Beautiful Metro Station 

Inside Sapsan Bullet Train

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Buckwheat Noodles and pumpkin Soup served in Sapsan

Together, We embarked on train bound for Saint Petersburg, Leaving behind Moscow's enchanting charm. 

Lets GO To Saint Petersburge 

Covid Pandemic Lesson for Life and Death.

 Hello Guy's 

I Almost forgot or got lazy to write my life pages since 2015, but lets start again dont know how long i will continue. 

So Lets start with worst calamity of 21st century. Nobody ever imagine this kind of pandemic would human history would witness at least not me. In my lifetime this was first time. 

In Jan and Feb 2020  there were news that Covid virus spread in China and kills many Chinese but like all we thought, chinese eat anything thats why its there and it would never comes to india or any other country or at least its not that disastrous  becuase before that bird flue and swine flue comes and goes and nothing happened in India. only 1 week holiday and everything will be alright..

Farewell Part - 2

#This Blog I had Written long back but dident publish due to pictures not available#

(Before writing anything please consider this my english is not so good ok.)
Hello Friends,
finally the day come to say goodbye to my college n this beautiful campus. the last 3days after exam over was funny, sad and memorable. our (all B.E student) farewell was on 30April and that day also taught us how the engg life is.!!!!! our farewell was on evening at 6pm and we all (B.E mechanical class) were busy in submission work of DMS from morning to evening.


S.P.C.E farewell as usual not an emotional drama and yet i don’t get it why? (becoz its farewell not celebration) on that evening we friends danced, ate, most important photo shoot :). from that day i got feeling of loosing something but as my exam were from 13may. that feeling hidden somewhere in my heart. on 23may which was last day of our exam we gathered near lake for sweat shirt photo shoot and that was last day we all were there. from that day i felt very sad but i did not express. one by one all friends were left hostel and due to that clouds of sadness, got dark in my heart. on 24th we were only 4-5 friends in hostel from mechanical, we spent each n every moment together, by saying each other “Ye Din Kabhi Nahi Ayenge”. “Tu Jee Be” etc.
25th is very funny n emotional day for me becoz for Satya’s ticket reservation me n him woke up at 4am(i dont woke up at 4am even for my ticket reservation) went to station thought we will be first to stand in front of counter but the situation was different before us there were 60people on Q. and that was funny. that 4 hours was very funny, finally satya got reservation n i revealed. In the evening i went to see off Krissi on Airport, during travel from andheri to airport by Auto i was sad n tears were in my eyes, something/thoughts/moments came in my mind i dont remember but sure that made me cry but i controlled myself to see off her with smiley face.
on 26 Suraj left in morning, the same feeling with me. In afternoon when i went to Mech Department to gave Card to Eassow Mam, mam was not there but while writing masg on card i was so emotional that i could not stop my tears to came out. the sadness of dark cloud start raining heavily. i came to room locked myself to hide my tears. when i looked at mirror i found five years back sudarshan who came to mumbai with tears n dream in eyes n going with same. even that rain did not stop during lunch. Thank god this rain stop after lunch. After saying Good Bye to all in hostel i left hostel. Thanks to Amey, Satya, Omkar who was with me upto Dadar to see off n to made me feel better.
What i get in my engg life 140friends from college, all hostel friends, Spiritual touch and Dhamma friend from Igatpuri, somehow Bollywood touch.
What i will miss most, more fun. happy moment, hostel life, Bhavans college. Kadambari Samosa,dhokla, Awesome Coffee from tea stall. And most important Bhavans Campus n hostel life n friends. I cant write more there r endless things!

Guys wish u have wonderful life ahead :)

Brazzzzzzzilllllllllllllllll

Hello folks

It took three years to come with most wonderful trip of my life ,, yesssssssss I went to BRAZILLLL.  In many ways this trip was awesome & memorable. Well it was gift & wish of my dhammamother Paulete which make it possible

Visa :- the most difficult task I have gone through to get Brazilian visa. I started applying 3 months back, 5 times I was being returned to fulfill document & at last at the day of my flight I got visa in my hand. Through this phase I realize Indians cannot visit European & American countries unless you have good paid job or business or lot of money in account. Also the phrase "Anything can possible in India", experienced while getting Yellow Fever vaccination.

Travel :- the day before journey I was in hometown with parents. My father asked, there must be some stopover in the sky?. I ask; why?. Dad “Oh off course for toilet”. “Oh there is toilet available in flight, I said”. “Mom, OMG then pee & shit fall down from the sky”  continuous laugh….. What I can say for my parent’s innocence they never been out of state & traveled by flight.

During travelled at immigration, I was in doubt whether I should carry Bodhi tree or not then I decided lets see what happened if it allowed good for Dhammasarana if not then it may grow near airport. Luckily it was allowed and I was taking care of Bodhi tree during 24hrs flight by feeding drop by drop water & sun-rays. Finally I arrived in Brazil -the land of party. After checking & immigration I was ready to collect my bags but oops I didn't found my 1 bag; it was lost & phone is dead so unable to inform Paulete(mae) who was waiting outside. after some procedure I got ensured by authority that I will get it back in week luckily my cloth bag was with me but one who has utensil for dhammasarana was lost, & I couldn’t stop laughing. OMG on arrival itself, I lost my bag & I was waiting to happen next memory. Paulete & vipassana AT Valeria was waiting for me for long time. 

FIRST RIDE IN BRAZIL WITH MAE AFTER ARRIVAL

                            

After greeting we headed to Dhammasarana (only center in Sao Paulo) which is in forest surrounded by river the rhythm of river in night is like listening bed stories. It was very nice to see friend Fabio who was alone at center serving, gardening. The climate in Brazil is like in india but cold during night. After landing in Brazilian land I got gift from 2 friends Mauro & Silvio at different time but the gift was same pickle of chilies from Bahia & you won’t believe it’s so strong that I never had that before. Even if u taste oil of pickle it burn mouth. At the center they/we prepared a food with no chilies just boiled veggi & butter with rice, but it was good Healthy . Earlier I decided I will only have Brazilian food so I dident picked up any kind of indian food. Next morning Fabio prepared special Breakfast dish named Tapioca it was so good I loved it so much & never had before, not in India. There was one day vipassana course on that day, it was nice course with some people. later Fabio showed us a land for proposed long course. The center is really beautiful in nature, forest, river, sunrise.

FABIO SHOWING US CENTRE AND EXPLAINING FUTURE PLANS

RESIDENTIAL AREA

FRONT OF OLD DHAMMA HALL

After the course mae & me headed to some beach Camburi but in the middle of journey we returned to police patrolling station to help Kauan (paulete son) At the police station I realized Brazilian police are very nice & helpful compared to indian police. There was conflict between police n kauan. Kauan ego not allowed him to take any help from police & police were abide of duties to help needy. After I told kauan how BAD is Indian police, he relaxed. At the end we have reached kauan house at sao jose dos campos. The city was nice & beautiful. Next day I hang out with kauan in the city. He showed me some places, he tried to introduce me to some stranger girls at cafe but I was so scared & I immediately said to girls “Eu Falla nao portugese & apologize”, they said “ok no problem”. So nice Brazilian girl otherwise indian girls OMG .

NOT A BEGGER, BUT A PERFORMER

One day early morning mae took me to yoga classes (she teach yoga). First time in my life I did indian yoga on foreign land & I felt very week from inside. It feels nice when everyone said Namaste at the end of session. mae took me to her working place, space research center INPE, she explained me something about space & showed me satellite & related to space instrument. Going to market, Hanging out with kaun in city was nice

DR. PAULETE HANGING ENJOYING SON

Dr. PAULET EXPLAINING ABOUT SPCE ;)

WISH I WAS ASTRONAUT 

WEEKLY LOCAL MARKET

The next day I headed to Vipassana Center Dhamma Santi at Rio De Janerio WITH Dalva. Dalva served course just for me to take to DhammaSanti. I am so grateful to her. On the way to dhamma santi we came across with some wonderful places like “APARECIDA”. Its one of the main Catholic pilgrimage place, It feels like I am in Vatican city. So Big so beautiful, After visiting this place I realize every religion has the big managers and people simply forgot the founder of the religion/moral principles what he taught, his life teaching etc. and followers started believing managers. After aprecida on the way to dhammasanti. I saw small statue of liberty I felt like I visited USA, while searching on map to dhammasanti we lost somewhere and dalva’s car stuck at path hole and it couldn’t moved, she was upset & I just prayed & pushed, somehow car took out. so like superhero I tried to lift car n that’s it I made it, sometimes my supernatural power worked :). Finally at night We reached dhammasanti, one dhammaserver showed me my room. My short term room mate dident understand English, & he was surprised/curious to know me as Indian, in addition I met Goenkaji etc and started talking many things, I understand his feeling, talk with him by some gesture some portugese  .

APRECIDA

DEVOTEES OFFERING CANDLES

LIKE VATICAN CITY

The Center is nice surrounded in mountains, At first I thought there would be servers who also serve like patrolling ringing bell etc same as in India & I wanted to serve in kitchen, cooking so I said center manager gilberto, he shook his head like indian ;) at last I figured out all servers serve in kitchen. only 2servers in dhammahall. In center everything is organize what to cook, how to cook, specific recipes. Once I got chance to cook lentes/dal but I wanted to cook in indian style & not to follow recipe so I have to ask kitchen maneger Camila and she nodded very softly “I THINK SO” which means YES. and happily I made lentos with the help of IAN to add Italian flavor . Cooking for 80 peoples was wonderful experience, I had cooked some vegetables, chapatis, it was awesome experience to cook indian food without chilies . And also to learn Portuguese food. 

Dhamma Santi Vipassana Center

Lunch

KITCHEN

PRESENTING CHEF SUD

CHAI-MAN = SUD

DINING HALL

Serving at DhammaSanti was good,fun experience. Everyday we had meetings after lunch. What to cook next day, who will cook, what will cook. Sometimes camila read parmitas during this meeting which inspire us in serving. I never washed apples so carefully in my lifetime which i washed in DhammaSanti. Someone told me wash it with brush, & I used cloth scrabbling brush. Later someone said to kill germs and toxin in apple put in big basket with charcoal, and most of the time I was like "Nossa, what I am doing" :)
I had job to serve Assistant Teachers. At first day, I dident know anything. Camila taught me, how to put plates,where to puts spoons. this spoon there, that bowl there, with this serving i felt like i am waiter of five star hotel, In one way good to know dining etiquette. Sometimes i felt like cook indian dish so prepared for AT's and female teacher loved it. once i cooked fried rice and next day she said surprised me.
Day by Day passes and 10days in dhammasanti over with joy in serving, making chai, sleeping during discourses was played. I have to admit I got tired after cooking job in kitchen. It felt nice on metta day, some guyes approached me and thanked me for lentes (Dal), I asked how you know that I cooked that, they replied “it has Indian taste, & we Brazilian dont know how to cook this way, so delicious. Usually we took only one bowl of lentes but that day we took 2-3 bowls ;) . I was happy to knew this that I can cook ;)

DHAMM HALL

ROOM MATES. PROF IAN LEE, DR. PAULO BEHAR, ENGINEER SUD ;)

WITH MEDITATORS STUDENTS

DHAMMA SERVERS

After DhammaSanti I went to hug Jesus who was waiting for me with open arms in Rio De Janerio. Robson and Inge(also server at DhammaSanti) accompanied me to hostel in Ipanema. Ipanema is really nice locality to stay, might be expensive too. With Robson & Inge we went some places like Lapa steps etc. the day was good, went out nicely. It was first time for me to stay in dormitory with females/male mixed but it was nice. Next Morning Inge & me went to one day tour of Rio de Janerio, It was nice to know from tour guide about places & where our hostel on the next corner “Garota De Ipanema” written. Interestingly, tour guide abuse politician & big businessmen (capitalism) same everywhere. If there is old steps or building, guide said “it’s made by Slaves, Slaves lived here”.

Lapa Steps

First B/F in Rio

Chilling Gang

Hard Job

With little Model

Finally I met Jesus on mountain, and some indian, its difficult to recognize indian in brazil, those guyes recognize me by looking Rakhi in my hand & they to show me their Rakhi, Even they are NRI traditional festival still they follow. After took many pictures I figured out there is small prayer hall inside jesus statue on bottom. I went inside, it was empty, when I closed my eyes for short meditation; I was alone, when I open my eyes it was full of people and some people doing standing meditation & I was “Nossa Senhora Do Perpetuo Socorro/OH MY GOD”. Our Day was like visiting places, relax on beach and on night hunt for parties, one night went to street party where everybody dance samba. Another night in forro (foho) dance party, both dances are amazing and famous in Brazil. One amazing thing which fortunately/unfortunately happened to me is unknowingly I drunk Caipirinha. I thought its lemon juice and I asked for one, once I suspect how could lemon juice be expensive, after 30 min when my head got shaken then I ask someone what’s this & she said its higher version of Vodka, famous in brazil. I can say, if you are in brazil and don’t visit Rio then You miss brazil, its natural beauty, parties & everything, One lady at street party said you look like us, Stay her as much as you want, No visa for you. We will have daily parties ;).

WAITING FOR HUG

IPANEMA

LOOKS STUPID WITH THIS GENTLEMAN

STREET PARTY WITH BRAZILIAN BEAUTIES

COPACABAN/IPANEMA BEACH

FORRO DE DANCE

After so much fun in Rio, I travelled to Belo Horizonte, at Belo Horizonte my Portuguese got tasted, I reached before time, Robson supposed to come to pick me up, but didn’t know whether he actually come or not, I supposed he live in small town, not big city so feel like I will find him. I only knew his town name. So I made my move to find bus for caete, but I fails to pronounce some words n after many hassle someone understand my feeling and drop me to stop where I got bus for caete. after an hour Robson come like angel looking for me. Caete was nice town, the town culture is same everywhere wakeup/eat/sleep early. During night walk we came across an English coaching class and the teacher asked me to give lecture on Indian culture for her students, which could be new experience for them “A Indian guy on their small town”. I did explain the india with slightly rough map and everyone was surprise to know that every state has different language,cloth,food,culture etc. Robson had Biryani masala bought from India and asking what to do with this and I got idea to prepare Egg Biryani, So I prepared Egg Biryani and Dalton (a friend from Pilgrimage) come to taste indian food after so long time. Later Robson showed me a place where 1^st course in brazil organized in (Catholic church). And the place of gypsy course is actually an one hotel. Caete is interesting place, the state Minas Gerais itself is famous for iron, one can easily see presence of iron on rocks of mountain. We went to one of the highest mountain, it was nice to see many villages from peak of the mountain, there is church also. Religious songs made it spiritual. Robson family is nice, his father first time met a someone who speak English, and his mother is sweet.

Another day we went to check out Belo Horizonte city (Belo-Beautiful, Horizonte-Horizon). There is one garden from there, city look beautiful like horizon. City is beautiful, I had prepared CHAI in one famous Café. Owner was nice and invite me to prepare chai after he got to know, I am Indian. Everyone enjoys the chai in café. Later we went to one of meditators house for group sit, her name is Jan, she is nice soul, after dinner she played sanfona for me. She gifted me a nice electric shower, when I took hot shower I thanked her. After sweet memories in Belo Horizonte I headed to Sao Paulo again with Robson. Dalva was again waiting for us to receive. She is wonderful, even after she was in pain, she enthusiastically showed me best places, took me to live concert, best restaurant in town. She was my angel in Sao Paulo. One day we went to DhammaSarana again to visit Silvia, there I met my friend from dhammasanti, Ian. he crashed there in evening. In Evening Silvia took us to river waterfall near to center. Fresh & Healthy climate. I preferred to stay one night in Dhamma Sarana, experiencing the place. Next day Silvia drive me to Dalva’s place, I cooked Egg Curry and rice, in meantime Dalva & Silvia taught me Forro, two step forward two step backward ;).

After so much fun in sao Paulo, I travelled to Sao Jose dos compos saying final goodbye to Dalva & Silvia. In Sao Jose; mae & me travelled to her mountain house in Montero Lobato. It was dark, we changed car for terrain road. It was going up & up at mountain, I thought where I am going, a Heaven . One KM before dogs came barking, they were mae security guards came to receive their master . When I woke up next morning, the view from house is like range of mountains & mountains no house nearby no people, Like in a Movie . Sometimes I wished to live such places & here I am. in afternoon mae took me to show caves, natural waterfall in her property with our Security guards Asoka th dog & other dogs. The Air is so fresh in mountains, its hard to get this nature. “Mae did you scared sometimes here in mountain?, I asked.” “Why? She replied”. “ in moutains, wild animals, snakes, anaconda’s, I said ”. She laughed and said; “sometimes there are snake, they go there way; we go our way”. I was like “Nossa, OH My God”. One day we went to metta day at vipassana course in montero lobato. There I again met Fabio who was sitting the course, it was last course and after that the all courses shift to Dhammasarana. In sao Paulo. The place is wonderful. Peoples are crazy, one who sat first time scream like he got something, free from something . Oh Amazing. Another day we were traveling and stop over at small village, village was nice. Villagers gathered in square; played drum, other musical instrument. sing,dance,drink enjoying life. I was so amazed to see this villages life of happiness. Finally after Montero lobato my journey came to and end. We came to Sao Jose spent some days with kauan. Enjoyed my last moment there with so much gratitude. So much memories. Flashback of whole month came in front of my eyes. Finally mae dropped me and I couldn’t stop crying like baby. Peoples were surprise to see me crying but what to do, thats life. Anicca