The Fading Skies: Light Pollution vs The Most Magnificent Sight Known to Humankind.

Look up at the sky. What do you see? Definitely not even half of what our ancestors saw. That sight has been long lost.

Not many notice. Even less care. But how horrifying it is, to look up at the night sky and not see the billions of stars in this vast universe that we are a part of...

We say human race has come far. We explored space and touched other worlds. But what good is any of that if our skies are so polluted, that we cannot even receive the tiniest glimpse of our little corner of the universe? How low have we sunk, that the same stars that our ancestors saw are now hidden from us by a veil? What will our children see? What will our grandchildren see? How will you look up and tell them stories about the Hunter and the Scorpion, if you can't see them anymore?

In our mad quest to bring light to the darkest corners of the world, we have turned ourselves away from the magnificence of the Cosmos. From the stars are we born. We are all made of star-stuff. Now, we have turned away from the very thing that created and nurtured us, and the sights of the heavens have become lost.

"It makes sense to revere the Sun and the stars, for we are their children." ~ Carl Sagan.

We have let light pollution snatch away from us the most brilliant sight we could ever hope to see, and our little speck of dust in the immense emptiness of space has become more isolated than ever. By the lights of our little world, we have lost the beauty of light beyond.

Turn off the lights, put out the lamps, and gaze up in unison at the brilliance of this incredible Cosmos that we are all a part of.

Young Pups Arrested for Drug-related Felony, Sentenced to Rehab, Gets Clean.

Arrow Kombowski (l) and Max Labowski were arrested on charges of drug possession and abuse

FRONT YARD: Two young pups, Max Labowski (4m) and Arrow Kombowski (4m) were arrested here on Saturday morning after they were found covered in a green substance, suspected to be drugs. Eye-witnesses saw the young pups acting suspiciously, and informed the police, which led to their quick arrest.

The young pups were initially aggressive and resisted arrest. An officer lost a nail in the line of duty, but the pups were apprehended. "Losing a nail isn't new to me. I'm just glad to have caught the perps," she said. The pups soon resorted to whining and pleading to be released.

Max Labowski, begging the officers to let him go.

Labowski and Kombowski immediately confessed to their crimes and led the police to the crime scene, where a carpet, covered in the same green substance, was discovered. It is assumed that the crime scene is where the young pups often got together for their enjoyment. "Max was found practically covered in the substance, while Arrow only had small amounts on his body," said the officer who made the arrest.

Max Labowski at the crime scene.

Forensics are on scene, trying to establish the nature of this substance. Narcotics officers speculate that this is a new drug out on the street, targeted at vulnerable youngsters. Labowski and Kombowski are the latest victims of the drug epidemic that is sweeping the nation. "I've been on the force for 2 years... I've never seen anything like this before," said the detective in charge.

At the trial, a three-member jury found them guilty of drug possession and abuse. The young pups were sent to the Back Yard Rehabilitation Center where they are to remain until they got clean. Known to be violent and unpredictable at times, Labowski and Kombowski were escorted to the Rehabilitation Center under maximum security.

Arrow Kombowski at Back Yard Rehabilitation Center

Max Labowski attempts to escape from Back Yard Rehabilitation Center.

While at the center, several futile attempts were made by the pups to escape, which only served to extend their stay. After a grueling procedure that lasted more than half an hour, they were declared clean by the doctors.

Labowski and Kombowski were moved out of the center to The Rooftop, a minimum security facility where doctors kept a close watch on them for fear of a relapse. Most of the reports stated that they were coping well with the rehabilitation and would soon be fit to re-enter society. However, sources say that the young pups could be heard quarreling from time to time, mostly about who's fault it was that got them caught.

Fresh out of the BYRC, the young pups at The Rooftop, a minimum security facility.

Max Labowski and Arrow Kombowski have now been released and they are trying to adjust to normal life. They have been clean for two hours and authorities hope that they will make attempts to stay clean.

Clean for two hours, the pups have a joyful reunion with the officer who helped them leave their life of addiction behind.

Their story has a happy ending. Make sure that yours do to. Don't do drugs.

The Painter - A Short Story

The Painter tiptoed into the living room, carefully avoiding the mahogany coffee table and yet another china vase. He was as quiet as a church mouse as he moved over the carpeted floor, searching for the painting in the dim light of a handheld flashlight.

The baseball bat swung at him out of nowhere, and missed him by a hairline. He grabbed the bat and forced it off the wielder - the middle-aged owner of the house. The two men struggled, delivering punches while knocking off framed photographs from the mantelpiece. The heavier, bulkier house owner got the better of the Painter and shoved him to the floor. He got him in a choke-hold and the Painter struggled to get free.

The Painter strained his head and looked up. The painting he was looking for was hanging right there on the wall - an original painting of a dinner table from 1659, oil on canvas. The Painter was starting to feel light-headed.

He reached out his hand towards the painting, and immediately, a knife in the painting started to twitch. It flew out of the painting, materialized and came to a stop within his palm, just as he gripped tight the strong, steel cutlery. He jabbed the knife backwards into the house-owner's torso, and immediately felt the grip around his neck loosening. He forced his hand over the owner's mouth and slit his throat.

Fresh, warm blood spilled all over the Painter as the man spluttered violently. Soon, he was dead. The dark pool of blood around him grew quietly. The Painter stood up, wiped the blood off the knife using the nearest table cloth and pressed it back into the painting, where it resumed its former position as a part of it, without showing any signs of ever having been removed.

The Painter was about to take the painting off the wall when he heard noises upstairs. "Walter? Walter, are you all right? You told me to call the police, I - " The woman walked into the living room and found her husband's bloodied corpse. She let out a horrifying scream as she fell to the floor, right beside him.

The Painter watched this from outside, through the window. His object of interest was still hanging there on the wall. He could hear the sirens in the distance now. He will just have to try another night.

The investigators were clueless. There were no witnesses, no fingerprints, no DNA evidence and no murder weapon that they could find. The murder seemed almost... supernatural.

In the midst of the search for the killer, hardly anyone noticed the small specks of blood that had been newly added to the 1659 original painting.

Whose great idea was it to compare a woman to a flower?

"A woman is precious and delicate, like a flower. But once you pluck the petals, the flower is worthless."

I am sure that we've all heard some variation of this comparison more times than we'd like to admit. As revolting as it is, it took me too long to understand why this is one of the most sexist and idiotic comparisons out there.

Biologically, a flower is the reproductive organ of the plant.

Let me repeat that louder for  the people in the back.

A flower is the freaking Reproductive Organ of the plant!

So when you compare a woman to a flower, you are reducing her to merely her reproductive organs. That is probably the most moronic thing I've ever heard.

A woman is so much more than that. She is an entire person. She is the whole package. Why is that such a hard concept for society to grasp? She is her own person, with her own dreams, desires and ambitions. She is a human being.

Ladies, you are not an object. You are not a flower or a piece of tape that becomes worthless when someone touches you. You are so much more than that. You are a beautiful individual and you should be proud of that. Lady, you are not a flower, you're the whole damn plant. You are a human being. Don't let anyone treat you any less. Let us end this silence now. Let us stand up and fight - against sexism, misogyny and assholery. Let us fight for our human rights.

Dogs of Sikkim: Travellogue Part 7

As an avid animal lover, I feel the uncontrollable urge to pet any animal that passes even remotely close to me. Such was the case at Tashi View Point.

While everyone else was busy shopping and taking photographs, I had my eyes set on the little brown puppy walking around the place. He was simple adorable. And when I got close enough to him, I crouched down and beckoned him to me. The energetic little puppy came running to me and I was overjoyed. It came to me like I was his long lost owner. He started licking my hand as I tried to pet him, and was jumping around, wagging his tail. Getting this reaction from an animal has to be one of the happiest things in the world.

Our embrace was broken up when my parents told me off for touching a dirty street dog. I stood around for a while, watching the puppy. He seated himself in front of a bench, where two men were eating popcorn. It was quite obvious that he was hungry. But he made no noise. He just sat there, hoping to get a bite to eat. I desperately wished I had kept some food with me.

When the men left the bench, so did the puppy. I noticed a piece of popcorn lying on the seat. I discreetly grabbed it and took it to the puppy a few feet away. He started jumping when he saw me, and when I offered the popcorn, he immediately took it and started playing with it, while trying to eat it.

I was enjoying watching this adorable ball of fur before me when I saw him approach. He was a big dog with yellow fur, and he was coming straight at me. For a second I was scared. I didn't have any food to give the new comer. I was crouching on the floor and so this dog was as tall as me. What if he attacks me? It was too late to get away.

But he just stood there benignly. He motioned with his head that he wanted me to pet him, and so I did. And he looked extremely satisfied. I was relieved. He didn't want food; he just wanted someone to pet him.

That's the thing about cats and dogs. Just like humans have three basic needs (food, shelter and clothing), they too have their own basic needs - food, shelter and petting.

I rubbed the dogs head, and I felt there was bond forming between us -  like we've known each other all our lives and we were now being reunited. I wanted nothing more than to take him home with me.

Just then, they called me; to leave the stray dog alone and to come take some pictures with them. I reluctantly left the dog behind and approached them, only for them to look behind me and let out gasps. The big dog was following me around. Apparently, he was not having enough of me petting him.

Even as I sat down on the bench to take a photo, he wouldn't leave me alone. While everyone else saw this as a menace, it warmed my heart to see him following me around. So we ended up taking the pictures together - me with the dog that refused to go away.

All this makes me think, how much the dogs would have been craving attention to follow me around like this. How much they crave to be loved.

Saying goodbye was the hard part. It was like leaving behind a long lost lover, never to see him again. He watched me descend the steps after I kissed him goodbye. I swear, if he had followed me down the steps, I would have cried.

One think I noticed about the dogs of Sikkim was that every single one of them was incredibly handsome. They all had thick fur (I suppose they would need to, considering the climate) and looked well fed. I assume people took care of them, despite them being street dogs. Just like the people, even the dogs here are decent and friendly (unlike the hostile dogs in my hometown). Man, I love this place!

I think I'll move to Gangtok and adopt a couple of dogs. Yep, seems like a good idea.

Then again, why stop at a couple?

Sightseeing in Gangtok: Travellogue Part 6

Day 3 (1-5-17/ Monday)
Gangtok

We arrived in the city of Gangtok by around 6 pm and we went straight to the hotel. It was almost dusk when we reached our rooms, which was on the top-most floor.

Just one more step, I kept telling myself as I staggered up the seemingly never-ending flight of stairs. And with one massive surge of will, I reached the summit. And what I saw amazed me.

We saw the city below us, touched by the orange rays of the setting sun, and the mountains beyond it, in shades of blue and green. We felt like we were on top of the world, with the valley far beneath us.

We went into our rooms and settled in, only to come out a few minutes later, when it was dark outside.  It did not matter that we had spend half the night at a railway station and the other half on a slow, freezing train compartment. It did not matter that we had spend the better part of the day on a long and tiring car journey. It did not matter that we had just climbed, or rather, crawled, 10 floors to reach our rooms. It did not matter how exhausted we were, because the view made it all worth while.

The hillside was alight with numerous flickering lights in gold and silver. It looked like someone carelessly scattered glitter over a black canvas; like stars over an inky black sky. And we were watching all of this from up above. If only you could have been where I was, seen what I had seen - for what I saw was beyond mere words and pictures.

Gangtok: night view

Day 4 (2-5-17/ Tuesday)

Our ride arrived early in the morning. Our plans for the day ahead included visiting seven different tourist points in and around Gangtok.

The first stop was a handicrafts museum quite near to our hotel, where we saw the arts of weaving, painting and sculpting. With plenty of other locations on our itinerary, we did not linger around much longer.

The second stop was a flower show. In the warm and humid room, there were numerous different types of flowers and  plants, all in full bloom. It was the perfect place for photo shoots, and we didn't hold back. Outside, we stumbled upon some people who lent out traditional Sikkimese dresses - long silk gowns with fancy hats and loud jewelry - at a low price, just to take photographs. Needless to say, one look at the pretty clothes and we spend almost an hour taking photos in different poses. Looking back, the fun we had was one of the major highlights of the entire trip.


Stop #3 was Hanuman tok, a temple on top of a mountain dedicated to The Monkey God. We spend time taking photographs and enjoying the view.

We skipped a couple of stops in between and head for the next point where we could get a decent lunch. Tashi View Point was a nice little place, and we went straight into a restaurant as "some of us" were more than a little hungry.

The restaurant we got into was little more than a crowded, noisy, cramped up room. But we had to make do with what we had. We pulled together a couple of tables and feasted like there was no tomorrow.

Despite the clamorous and restricted ambience of the restaurant, the food was excellent. We ordered thali meals (rice with accompaniments), chowmein (a type of noodles), thukpa (soupy noodles), rotis with curry and a couple of plates of momos (a type of dumpling). The dishes had a strong Chinese and Tibetan influence. The little hotel gave delicious food at reasonable prices and fine service. If you're in Gangtok someday, I suggest you check this place out.




We went up to the view point where did some more shopping and took some photographs. Our next stop was a Buddhist monastery. It was a very calm and peaceful place, and the inside of the temple was adorned with exquisite designs.

By late afternoon, we reached the last spot on the list. The rope way ran between two points in the city. We had to wait a while to get tickets, but the ride was totally worth it.

Gangtok is an incredible city, nothing like anything I'd seen before. The people are friendly, the drivers are decent and the city is beautiful. In just a day, I was in love. The places I grew up in was nothing compared to Sikkim.

It' s decided then. First chance I get, I'm moving to Gangtok.

Local Delicacies: West Bengal: Travelogue Part 5

I did say that the food in West Bengal deserves its own blog post and so here it is...

Perhaps nothing in this entire journey contradicted our expectations like the food. I must admit, we went in there having very wrong assumptions about what their food tastes like. And what we experienced truly left us in awe.

Right from the first cup of tea (the milk came from the cow in the shed behind the house), we knew we were in for a treat (literally). We ate lunch with other family members in the house in Debipur. They served us rice, followed by dal curry. There were many vegetable accompaniments, each one tastier than the last. But the one dish that stood out was the fish. Two large pieces per person was hardly enough. It's soft, white, juicy flesh was simply delicious.

The main course had us stuffed, and when they came to us with desert, how could we turn them away? Our mouths said yes while our stomachs pleaded no. Slowly we had the mango chutney they poured into our plate. It was the perfect combination of sweet and sour. Desert #2 was rice pudding with sugar balls. My mother attempted to say no, owing to lack of space in our tummies but they would have none of it. With the first taste of the pudding, we realized that we had just avoided a big mistake. It was truly scrumptious.

Dinner at the reception was a grand feast. A few snacks like pani puris and a dish of chicken were available before the main course. I tried to count the number of items that were served but, honestly, I lost count. Roti and rice items were accompanied by many vegetable and meat side dishes. Dessert included gulab jamuns and rasagullas, among others.

It was with these tastes lingering in our mouths that we boarded the train to Sikkim, the next part of our journey, where another adventure awaited us.