sea

Small Bags. Big Wishes

Small bags, bright with turmeric, jingling with bangles, dance in the morning breeze. Tied to a tree, they catch the first rays of the sun—fluttering, whispering, waiting.

Each knot holds a wish. Each thread, a quiet prayer. A mother’s hope, a daughter’s dream, a whispered plea for health, love, or a future yet unseen.

In rural Tamil Nadu, faith isn’t just spoken—it is tied, woven, and left to sway with the wind. And as the sun rises, the colours shimmer, as if the universe itself is listening.

 (at Thiruchendur, India)

The Sea, The Mosque, and Lessons in Resilience

The Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, seen here as the waters recede. Soon, the restless sea will return—its waves crashing, its energy relentless. And yet, the mosque will remain, untouched in its resplendent silence and peace.

There’s a lesson in this.

To be humble in moments of glory.
To be calm when times are tough.
To ride the waves when they threaten.
To give in when no other choice remains.

Like the sea, life will ebb and surge. And like the Dargah, we find strength in stillness.

Before You Sail, Build the Boat and the Vision

Boats at shore always seem out of place. They aren’t built to sit still—they belong to the waves, the winds, the unknown.

Watching them, ready and restless, just beside the sea, you can almost feel it—the pull of adventure, the promise of distance.

But every long voyage is actually two voyages. The first happens in the mind—where dreams set sail long before the hull touches water. The second, on land—where boats are built strong, crafted well, ready to endure what lies ahead.

Because when the mind doesn’t imagine wide enough, or the boat isn’t built strong enough, voyages don’t happen the way they should.

So, what voyages are you on?
How far have you traveled in your mind?
And most importantly—how strong is your boat?

The Waves Rush, Only to Dissolve: A Reflection from Pattaya

Watching the sea is strangely soothing. Maybe it’s the rhythm, the constant motion, or the way each wave races forward, trying to outdo the other—only to dissolve into nothingness at the shore.

For all their frenzy, for all their rushing, the waves end the same way—spent, quiet, forgotten.

Maybe that’s why we stand by the shore, staring at the water. To remind ourselves.

That the daily rush, the endless chasing, the competition to rise above—often leads nowhere.

That it’s okay to move, but also okay to pause.

That holding on to life lightly, but tightly is what truly matters.

And maybe, just maybe, the sea has been whispering this to us all along.

(at Pattaya, Thailand)

“Enjoy It While You Have Time”—A Profound Lesson from the Beach

He is all bone and muscle, sun-worn skin, a pronounced jaw, and a stubble for a head. But what stands out most? That smile. A smile that stretches wide, giving his broken, uneven teeth even more mileage.

He’s the man of the waves, guiding our water scooter with the ease of someone who knows the sea like the back of his hand. The waves bend to him, the machine moves at his command.

From the shore, he waves us on.
“Have fun. You have time,” he calls out.

And as we bounce over another wave, he settles into the sand, watching, waiting. When we return, exhilarated, he grins—a full, gap-toothed smile.

“Enjoy it while you have the time,” he says.

He may not know how profound those words are. Or maybe he does.

Because wisdom often lives in the ordinary. In the men who wrestle with waves, in those who know that time isn’t something to save—it’s something to use.

(at Pattaya, Thailand)

Between Shore and Open Water: The Feeling of Readiness

When the waters kiss the boat, not with tenderness but with stern energy, you feel it—the pull of the unknown.

The shore, once a quiet safety net, now feels distant. The boat wobbles, unbothered by its passengers. And deep within, a thousand butterflies take flight.

Yet, there’s something else—a rush, a charge in your veins. It’s the feeling of being young, alive, and on the edge of something new. It’s the moment when life shifts.

Your hands grip the oars, the water pushes back. You take the first stroke—and the lake seems to gird its loins in response.

A thin smile escapes furrowed brows. Because this moment? You’ve worked for it.

You’re ready for the ride.

The Courage to Leave Shores and Find Yourself

When you leave sight of a shore, new adventures unfold. Yet, adventure comes at a cost—the courage to override fear.

The fear of loss. The fear of pain. Some fears are unfounded, others practical. But neither should anchor us in place.

Life finds its renewal in the courage to seek new shores. The willingness to step into the unknown—to let curiositylead, even when familiarity begs us to stay.

In this seeking, new journeys emerge. With new journeys, new insights arrive. And somewhere along the way, we find new eyes, a new mind, a new way of being.

So, go travel. Beyond places. Beyond comfort. Beyond what you know.

Because the real journey isn’t to a new place. It’s to a new you.

(at Diveagar, Maharashtra, India)

To lean in isn’t giving in.
To give way isn’t giving up

Sometimes falling back is needed to move forward.

It’s not always about growing tall. It’s always about living on. And finding ways of finding your Sun!

#startup #entreprenuership #mentoring #Goa #travel #beach #trees #Bambolim #sea #travelblogging #travelblogger #joy #metaphor #insights #travelinsights (at Bambolim Beach Resort)

When you stick your neck out, your neck will show.
When it does show, it has a good chance of it being a poor spectacle or holding a spectacular result.

But isn’t the very act of sticking your neck out, sectacular? Add a dose of courage, empathy and sprinkle it with some grace
You will bring smiles all around. Promise.

#promise #courage #creativity #evening #isleofwight #stickingneckout #empathy #grace #travel #UK #sea #evening #mountains #travelblogging #blogging #friends (at Isle of Wight)

The waterfront arrived unannounced.
We walked through pathways and roads that were remarkably well maintained given that there was practically no one there. We descended a flight of stairs and the sea was upon us.
Holding a lingering crimson of a setting Sun for just a minute longer. Like lovers hugging and saying goodbye in a train station.

A lady and her brisk dog walked by. Each anticipating the others move. With space, joy and untethered happiness.

It was a moment that the Sun would have rued missing.

#isleofwight #travel #travelblogging #Sun #sea #dog #dogs #UK #joy #love #colour #happy (at Isle of Wight)