In search

International Mountain Day is being celebrated the world over today especially by the Darjeeling Himalayan Initiative (DHI) and The Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI). This year's theme is 'Biodiversity of Sikkim Himalaya' and a broad range of issues was discussed by the expert panelists.  The major question or questions were "How do we mainstream/ bring discussion on Biodiversity in our day to day lives? Where and when did our disconnect with nature happen?" The panelists provided really great insights on the role of education, media, and social media in bringing back this connection. I think there is no easy and quick answers to these really difficult questions. Maybe there is a greater need for reflection and analysis. That wedge of disconnect with nature is growing into a gorge. Who is to be blamed? What is to be blamed? Or is blaming enough? Are there any solutions and would they work? The disconnect is there in how we live, what we eat and what we grow...

2020 has been a harsh year even for my flowers. It rained so much this year. It's not just me, everybody feels that it rained more than any other year.  The blooms of my Lilliums and Begonias did not last because of the continuous rain. The dianthus died of a fungus attach and even my jade plants have fungus all over them.  I don't use any chemical sprays and only use my home made vermi compost. My marigolds also did not survive the rain and we had to buy Marigolds this year for Dusshera or Dasai as we call it. But, I have saved the seeds from those flowers so I am expecting a great bloom next year.  The chrysanthemums also bloomed late but they have lasted throughout November. They did bloom in their full glory and brought cheer in my heart. My wife is not very fond of Chrysanthemums though.    Geraniums are perennial hardy plants and can survive humid or dry conditions which makes them easy to grow. The geraniums are good flower for beginners-their success rate is high which

Dzuluk-Sikkim The Covid 19 pandemic had us locked down in our homes for most of the year. Most of us are raring to travel and so whether you are a biker, a mountain person, a religious or just a regular traveller looking for breathtaking beautiful landscapes then this road trip is a must. This trip has everything for everyone. From the glorious mountain ranges, mystical lakes or the winding roads of Dzuluk to the famed Baba Mandir and the Nathang Valley itself. There are many sunrise points in between and Dzuluk is one of them, so plan your travel wisely if you want to catch the sunrise from these points. To start with, foreigners are not allowed and Indian Nationals need to take permits either from Gangtok or from Ronglee depending on where you are starting your journey from. The permits need to be taken both for J.N. Road and R.N. Road so that's two entry permits. If you are taking your own vehicle then you would need separate permits for that. If you are using a local taxi or tr

The Head of the Buddha My mom told me something that I will never forget. One day, as I was getting ready to go to the monastery she told me "Son, I am happy that you are visiting all the monasteries and temples but only good Dharma won't get you there. Trust your good Karma to get you there always". I think about this quite often. What and where is  this ' there'   that she speaks about ? Is it salvation what the Buddhist's call 'freedom from the cycle of birth or rebirth' or is it a mere journey of bettering ourselves? I love this striking quote from Richard Bach- " Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you. ” The spiritual path, the path of awakening, is full of insights and meanings but they do not belong to one religion or sect. In fact they are universal. Meaning is what changes us and thus changes our lives. Meanings change as our life changes. Static