"Soul kerfuffle" alycat's Profile


I have had some busy time with loads of crazy traveling the past few months, Im going to soak in the summer of DC for a few months, jog, work hard, and get ready for another vacation soon...iA
..

Be amazed



Excerpts from my fav author Paulo Coelho's 'Like the Flowing River'

A man asked Jamie Cohen: ‘What is the human being’s funniest characteristic?’

Cohen said: ‘Our contradictoriness. We are in such a hurry to grow up, and then we long for our lost childhood. We make ourselves ill earning money, and then spend all our money on getting well again. We think so much about the future that we neglect the present, and thus experience neither the present nor the future. We live as if we were never going to die and die as if we had never lived.’

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Happy Travels


The photos on my webpages are all taken by me, by my friends or relatives who have accompanied me on my trips. They are meant to be seen and enjoyed by all creatures on this planet, so you can use, abuse, copy or do whatever you want with them, but if you are selling them or making money out of them please remember to give me my share. Happy travels.

Life's a train

Ya isnt life's a train - sometimes your welcome, sometimes you aint, like a new job, you might wanna take the window seat, taking someone else's space, like the best cabin. We meet people, share a laugh, travel together, exchange glances, some wanted, some unwanted, stare that beautiful girl, like being stared at. Some people stay back with you even though they just got down at their station. Some still there bothering you, and all are fighting for thier own space...

In my journey on the VT train, I have met a few Vt'ers. Most of whom have come across as extremely sensitive, highly independent, and motivated individuals who I would love to meet again.

1. Abhuday c..He works for VT in CA. I caught up with him when he was in India.
2. lubna-s...hehee, my sister in CA.
3. onlinerep...My best friend on VT frm UK, very well travelled. I can talk to her bout anything. I last met her in Mumbai.
4. syed-arshad...my partner in crime on most of travel escapades. A cousin who shares the same school as me, it was only quite later in life that I came to know that there is a voracious traveller hidden inside of him!
5. kerryjayne...a whacky traveler frm the UK. I met her when she came down to Hyderabad with her mother. She is a shy and softspoken lady, but beware guys, she packs quite a punch. It has been a privilege knowing her.
6. vpas...again another well travelled and intelligent VT'er frm India. She does some great work for children with learning disabilities.
7. Travelmad578. The investement specialist who has so many free airmiles that she can travel free for another 5 to 6 years. Catch her in these tumultous financial times. I met her in Hyderabad.
8. mikkie50 aka Micheal Murphy, this Englishman has a funny bone and an even interesting travelmap. I met him in Hyderabad.

Who am I?

A person who is very intuitive and wise invariably because I have a very active imagination. I dream a lot, resulting in me getting carried away with my thoughts. I am an overgrown, adolescent, a kid maybe, who just wouldn't grow, though he now has grey hair. At times, I can be a bit too serious n put too much pressure on myself. There is always an ongoing battle in my mind bout the right-wrong, sinner-saint, good-evil, white-black logic, leading me to be always in a limbo between the devil and the deep blue sea.

I'm very intense, quite a handful, and likely to get in trouble. I don't stick with any one thing for very long. I have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. My biggest problem is making sure I finish the projects I start and as recently discovered by my wife, a short term memory loss.

A free spirit who resents anyone who tries to fence me in. Thankfully, I got recently married to a wonderful human being with a heart of gold, who is an amazingly adventurous traveler who doesn't like being fenced either.

So please don't consider this write up to be an accurate representation of who I am. If only it were as simple as reading a couple of web pages worth of content. The truth of the matter is, I am very much more than a quarter of a century old and I have yet to know who I am exactly. A dreamer with wishes that would make a child smile wryly. I'm beginning to develop a rough idea as my journey and development continue. Should you be interested in accompanying me on this journey, you'd get the chance to learn a little more about living. I'm almost sure that, were you to join me, you'd learn a little more
about yourself in the process. Go find yourself...

As always, finding a new place evokes curiosity, new culture, new people, strange food. Are these people going to be normal?? Are we going to be able to communicate? Have they got a sense of humour? Will I feel comfortable in their company?' Having known how a tourist feels, I know that the hosts themselves r nervous, and ask themselves the same questions. The learning that comes from interacting with different cultures can be so much greater than the learning that is derived from studying n reading. I have often travelled with own group of young friends and it has been remarkable to see them let loose and jus be themselves with confidence.

Travelling to new cultures and interacting with strangers teaches one as much about oneself as it does about other people. The challenge of new experiences will push one's personal limits back. Coping with situations that have not been previously encountered can show u that u are capable of achieving or succeeding at so much more than u had thought. Learning about different cultures can teach u things about ur own culture - things you had neither appreciated nor understood. Spending time with people from another culture will challenge fixed notions that may be held by both parties. Some of the greatest joys of travel are from knowing that ur preconceptions were wrong.

In this circumstance, being in a different country might well allow u to meet, learn and challenge ur preconceptions with people from a variety of backgrounds. When travelling, do not only look for the differences , do not expect to learn just about others - revel in the learning that u obtain about yourself.

  • Intro Updated May 24, 2013
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Comments (163)

  • vpas's Profile Photo
    Dec 13, 2012 at 3:01 AM

    Belated Happy birthday Ali! I was travelling and missed wishing you. Hope you had a great day and wish you many more,

    • alycat's Profile Photo
      Dec 17, 2012 at 6:23 AM

      Thanks a lot..it was fun. Yes its the holiday season and glad to hear that you are travelling !!

    • vpas's Profile Photo
      Dec 17, 2012 at 6:27 AM

      Hi Ali,How are you? I went on a holiday to Turkey and loved it. Any plans of coming to Hyderabad? How is your work? Where exactly are you now?

  • Homanded's Profile Photo
    Dec 5, 2012 at 4:43 AM

    Belated Happy Birthday! Hope you had a very special day.
    Homer

  • travelmad478's Profile Photo
    Dec 5, 2012 at 3:28 AM

    Happy birthday!! You are in CA now? How cool!

    • alycat's Profile Photo
      Dec 5, 2012 at 2:14 PM

      Thank you Julie! Hope you are doing good, any trips planned to India?

    • travelmad478's Profile Photo
      Dec 5, 2012 at 6:47 PM

      Probably in early March--BOM and maybe DEL, most likely.

  • VTGlobalMeeting2012's Profile Photo
    Jul 10, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    To those who are interested in coming to the VT Global Meeting in Seattle, please sign up at the Meet Members or go directly to the VTGlobalMeeting2012 or to my webpages!!!Make sure to sign up on individual meetings!!!

    To those who already registered but did not RSVP yet, please get in touch with Gracetrips (Grace). Make sure to give her your shirt size so we will be reserving a VT t-shirt for you! Ten early birds on the orientation will get VT bags and sunglasses! We will also include some nice VT giveaways!

    Here is also the link for your trip to attend the VT Seattle Meeting on August 11-15!!! This includes all the itirenaries!!!

    To those who wanted to be a Virtual Attendee, please let us know in advance!

  • travelgourmet's Profile Photo
    Jul 7, 2012 at 1:53 PM

    Carmel is one of the best towns for relaxation. The beach for walking the shore, the restaurants for savoring the foods. Enjoy! :-)

  • explorerboy's Profile Photo
    May 11, 2012 at 9:02 PM

    NICE PHOTOS GREAt PAGE :-)

  • liliana91's Profile Photo
    Mar 21, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    Thank you for birthday wishes.

  • Donna_in_India's Profile Photo
    Dec 3, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    Happy birthday Ali! Hope you are having a wonderful day.

  • travelmad478's Profile Photo
    Dec 3, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    Happy Birthday Ali!

  • Rabbityama's Profile Photo
    Dec 3, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    Happy Birthday!

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alycat

“Mama says always talk to strangers!”

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Top 1,000 Travel Writer
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Real Name
Mukarram Ali
Location
Rockville, Maryland
Member Since
Mar 12, 2002
Website
alihydro.blogspot.com/

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