Magical Night in Jaipur

To complete my journey to India's golden triangle, I was lucky to visit the lost Kingdom of Jaipur in Rajasthan.

Jaipur, the Pink City, is a unique and intriguing destination whose name derives from the pink hue of its many palaces and structures. This tradition dates back to the days of its monarchy.

It took us five hours from Delhi to reach Jaipur for a grand MDP talk about 'Harmonizing Power, love, and Light among Women. ' This talk, held at the Marriott Hotel, was a unique opportunity to learn about the empowerment of women in Indian society and the role of love and light in fostering harmony.

That was a well-organized event and an inspirational talk of Master Del Pe, as he empowered women about their societal role and awakened their inherent power.

Jaipur stands out among India's cities for its warm and welcoming nature. The hospitality of the Rajasthani people is not just a gesture but a heartfelt expression that makes every visitor feel appreciated and at home, even on a short visit.

Our visit to a Rajasthani specialty restaurant was a journey into enchantment. The cultural night, a celebration of their dance and music, was a mesmerizing experience. The vibrant colors of the traditional attire, the rhythmic beats of the music, and the graceful movements of the dancers left us captivated by the grace and beauty of their performances, offering a unique and unforgettable cultural experience.

It was time for dinner after the cultural presentation and the welcome drinks. We entered their indoor dining area and waited for the food to be served fresh and hot. 

It was a unique ambiance with a Rajasthani backdrop and a painting with dim lighting. We were seated on the floor in a typical Indian seating position. The servers carefully poured over the food on the plate for every meal course, including dessert. 

The Rajasthani cuisine was not just good; it was delicious. The light mood continued until we finished our meal, a delightful journey of flavors. The rich and diverse flavors of the cuisine left us craving for more, a perfect end to a satisfying meal. 

That was a fiery, hot night, from the cultural presentation to the sumptuous meal. I was enthralled by the performances and the delicious food. It was a night of fun and delight that I will never forget.

Magic happens when we see something unimaginable, and Jaipur showed us it's the best offering.

I finally completed the Golden Triangle from Delhi to Agra and Jaipur. Those were the best moments worth reminiscing about. The sense of accomplishment and the memories created along the journey inspire us to create more such memorable journeys.

© 2021 Del Cusay

Getting a Vaccine Against Covid-19

If there's one thing I would regret not doing during this pandemic, it's not being vaccinated against Covid-19.

When thousands of people are dying every day, and millions of people are infected, I couldn't care less about non-participation in mass vaccination.

We've all been waiting for this. Finally, the world will have its solution to protect humanity against deadly diseases. The world has produced highly effective vaccines to help us achieve herd immunity. The next move is on us. 

If I don't get vaccinated, I'll have a chance of getting infected. Also, I can infect many people, including my loved ones. I may have strong immunity, but there's also a chance I'll die if it's severe. When the people I've infected also infect others, the cycle continues, and more people are at risk for their health.

So, getting vaccinated isn't just a choice—it's an obligation. I care about my family, friends, and humanity because we all suffer from this pandemic.

We've suffered a lot already, and our way of living has changed tremendously. Several countries' economies were affected, and many companies closed. More people lost their jobs. Individual and family income has decreased, and more people are getting mental health issues.

We've learned a lesson from this pandemic. It tests our resilience, tolerance, and character in times of crisis.

This pandemic should teach us to be stronger. It shouldn't lead to misunderstandings, fights, and blame games. It shouldn't destroy relationships and humanity.

This pandemic is about our commitment to a new start. It's time to be more health-conscious because good health is valuable. We may have neglected our health, but we can't afford to get sick this time. Hence, we have to be in excellent health.

We may never know when we'll finally remove our masks and face shields or when we can get closer to hug and kiss our loved ones. But with proper health protocols and vaccination, we're on the way to reaching our goal. Finally, the day will come when everything returns to normal, and we'll no longer suffer daily.

Be brave. Be bold. Keep on fighting, and keep on living. Once this pandemic is gone, it'll be a battle we've fought so hard, but we've survived and will thrive.

©️ Del Cusay

Pashupatinath Temple: Of Life and Death

All life comes to an end. That's a reality that most of us are scared of or in denial of the fate of human existence. In short, we'll all die. But what happens when we depart on our earthly journey? And so, one day, I was brought to a place to see the dead bodies for cremation rites on the holiest Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

My tourist guide brought me to one of the holiest Hindu temples in Kathmandu. He thought my visit would only be complete with it since it's declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a highly revered place among Hindus.

It was a unique place since the temples and ashrams were on the riverside. The Bagmati River is holy among Hindus, where they bring the dead bodies of their love for cremation rites.

I can't believe I have witnessed cremation rites open to the public. More than five dead bodies were cremated in the first hour since I arrived.

I was on the hill portion of the riverside, where other locals also came to witness. You can see the greyish-white smoke emitted from the dead bodies as they burn. You can imagine the smoky air in the cremation area from afar. I initially felt uncomfortable, but I must respect and learn from their religious beliefs.

Hindus believe our physical body is irrelevant as we die, so they cremate it instead of burying it. In Pashupatinath, families bring the dead body of their loved ones. It's to perform the last rites before they bid farewell to their dearly departed.

As the dead body arrives on the Bagmati riverside, they wash their feet with water from the river. They sprinkle some rice and shower some marigolds on the face before it gets burned. Then the ashes are scattered in the river. The family members would also walk three times clockwise around a wooden funeral pyre before placing the dead body on top.

That was an unforgettable experience back in 2013. Suddenly, it flashed back to when I watched the mass cremation rites on television on open grounds in New Delhi. This time, families cremate their loved ones who died due to Covid-19.

Pashupatinath temple is a holy site in honor of Lord Shiva, the destroyer in Hinduism.

When I stepped out of the Pashupatinath complex, I had mixed emotions. The place and the cremation rites may not be for the faint-hearted, but I survived.

I may not have enjoyed visiting Pashupatinath much, but I'm glad for the learnings. It was like reliving a lesson from my world history class. 

I've learned that when we die, our families will be there until the end to care for us. Our bodies may have vanished, but great memories remain in their hearts. Like Hindus, we may believe in the concept of karma and reincarnation. That may be that we don't only live once, but we're just waiting on our rebirth when our time ends.

©️2021 Del Cusay

Mother's Day Special: Endless Love

What happens when we're no longer on our Mother's side? What happens when we have separate lives away from her Motherly touch and care?

Now that we're grown up and living challenging lives, our Mothers' love remains a constant, always there to check on us and make us feel loved and cared for from a distance.

Mother's loving instinct, guided by her wisdom, is always right. She checks on our well-being, our whereabouts, and our achievements, making us proud and uplifting us in our challenging battles. 

Mothers are known to be superwomen. They can sense struggles and can heal our emotions to keep us whole. They can communicate with us when we're at a crossroads and don't know what to do. A telepathic Mother who'll guide us wherever we are and whatever we do. Just call her name, and she'll surely be there to rescue you.

Mothers know best, and that is true. Sometimes, we think we are on the right track, but she'll be there to redirect us so we can find our direction. The path she knows is safer and for our good.

Mothers are great fighters. They will sacrifice everything to raise us well. And so we can stand on our own. Their sacrifices, often unknown to us, are the foundation of our success. Let's strive to be as selfless and caring as they are, not just on Mother's Day but every day.

Today, as we celebrate Mother's Day, we also think about all the Mothers in our lives. To our sisters who are great Mothers to their kids and families. To our relatives and friends who are mothers, who never give up and continue in their motherly roles. And to those women who may not be our biological mothers but have shown us the same love and care, we celebrate you, too.

Mother's Day special is about showing our gratitude and endless love to our Mother. She's the greatest love of our life, and her Endless presence will always be our guiding light.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay