Updated on June 2nd, 2023
In the abyss of her soul,
Lies a contented child
who is longing to transpire
To discern the imminent daylight
In the abyss of her soul,
She is love, passion, and fire
Who has the mastery
To bring even the kings of the world
down on their knees
In the abyss of her soul,
She is yet to be freed
Also, read DREAM MAN OF HERS
Contributed by: Tania
Updated on June 2nd, 2023
A night with a man who made her feel like a Queen
It was drizzling outside, and the chilly breeze was flowing
She was dressed in a red gown with danglers in her ears and an anklet on her feet
The sound of her entry into the hall was very sensational
The man was standing at the entrance of the hall,
Holding a candle in his hand, he was dressed like a gentleman with a bow and a hat
He was a little nervous holding her hand, as she was the most beautiful girl of his dreams
His hands were shaking and trembling
But she was excited and happy about this special moment
So the gravitational forces were so powerful at her end
that she surpassed his level of energy and let him welcome her
He welcomed her to the Paradise of their life. She was all happy and cherishing her dearly beloved.
She saw candles all over and with water flowing in jar and the music of a flute playing in the background making the moment more romantic and memorable
In the center of the table was champagne with two glasses
There was love everywhere around the room
They held each other tightly throughout the night as they ran out of breath just by looking in each other’s deep orbs of eyes
And… it was never-ending
A night with a man who made her feel like a Queen
Updated on September 9th, 2024
The IT job market in Australia is expanding rapidly because of the ongoing digital transformation across multiple sectors. High demand exists for roles such as cybersecurity specialists, software developers, cloud engineers, and data scientists. Cybersecurity, in particular, is a priority, with the sector projected to reach AUD 7.6 billion by 2024, and professionals in this field earning substantial salaries. Software developers and cloud engineers also enjoy strong demand, driven by the need for custom applications and remote work infrastructure. Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are seeing increased adoption, further fueling job growth. Cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane offer competitive salaries, with roles in areas like AI and data science commanding up to AUD 190,000 annually.
Cybersecurity remains a top priority for Australian companies, particularly as digital threats continue to rise. By 2024, Australia’s cybersecurity market is projected to be worth AUD 7.6 billion. As a result, positions like cybersecurity architects and managers are in high demand, with annual salaries reaching as high as AUD 190,000 in cities like Brisbane
The need for software developers continues to grow, especially in custom software and mobile app development. These professionals rank among the top 20 most in-demand jobs in Australia, with solution architects and technical leads earning up to AUD 190,000 per year in IT Industry in Australia & Tech Trends 2024.
Cloud computing is another booming sector, driven by the shift to remote work and digital-first operations. Cloud engineers, particularly those working with platforms like AWS and Azure, are earning an average of AUD 112,000, while specialists such as DevOps engineers can earn up to AUD 170,000
Data scientists and business analysts are playing a crucial role in helping businesses leverage data-driven insights. In Perth and Melbourne, salaries for these roles range between AUD 170,000 and AUD 190,000. They also rank high in the top IT job trends
Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are gaining momentum in Australia. AI, in particular, is now present in about 40% of industries. And IoT is being adopted in fields like healthcare, education, and agriculture. Blockchain is slowly becoming more prominent, especially in sectors like finance
Note: Figures used here are just based on random research, so must not be taken as exact figures
Updated on June 5th, 2023
Running through 103 tunnels and 969 bridges, and 919 stunning curves, the Kalka Shimla train track is one of the world’s unique and most scenic railway tracks. Having a total distance of 96 Km from Kalka to Shimla, this track has 18 railway stations and 5 level crossings. The rail track rises from Kalka at 640 m to the cool climes of Shimla at 2.060 m. Compared with the Australian oldest railway of puffing Billy, I named this article, Kalka- Shimla railway, as Indian Puffing Billy.
Both railway tracks were built almost simultaneously in the early twentieth century. Though the Kalka Shimla train route was completed on November 2, 1903, they opened it to the public only on January 1, 1906. It is said that this railway line was first drawn in November 1847, almost 50 years before they actually constructed it. Lord Curzon, the then British Viceroy to India, inaugurated this magnificent train in November 1903. The Kalka-Shimla Railway was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during British rule, with the Indian rail system. The five-hour journey is one of the best train journeys for tourists operated by the Indian railway.
Natural beauty and pleasant weather greet you whole the way. A cool breeze sweeps across faces as the train crosses one station after another, like Taksal, Gumman, Dharampur, before reaching Barog, which is the almost mid-point of Journey. This journey encompasses a vast display of awe-inspiring landscapes. Barog is a colonial showpiece with bougainvillaea clusters tumbling down the walls. This station is one of the most beautiful and well-maintained on this track. From here, you can see the towering mountains. At Barog, we pass through the biggest tunnel.
A tragic story is associated with the construction of this railway track. The longest tunnel at Barog is named after engineer Barog, who sacrificed his life when he attempted to construct the tunnel but failed resulting in the wastage of government funds. Barog committed the mistake of digging the tunnel from both ends of the hill. The ends of the tunnels could not meet because of a mistake in alignment.
It is said that the British authorities lay a fine of Rs 1 on him for wasting government money in the tunnel. The British engineer could not digest this humiliation and shot himself in sheer desperation while walking with his pet dog. He killed himself near what now is the state government-run Barog Pine Wood Hotel. After his death, tunnel work done by Barog has left aside, and a new tunnel was constructed a little farther from the old one. After Barog comes other beautiful destinations like Solan, Shogai, and Koti, all these have wonderful scenery with towering mountains with green and deep forests. You feel like being amid nature throughout the entire journey.
It is a heritage train, a journey with breathtaking views and stunning scenery throughout the entire journey. Track passing through beautiful surrounding takes you near to nature and is a wonderful experience. Its speed slows down as the train ascends through steep mountains and curves. This journey runs on a narrow gauge, taking passengers with breathtaking views of rugged mountains. On the way, there are lush pine forests and waterfalls. And picture-perfect hill stations along the way that will definitely tempt you to disembark and bask in their beauty. The entire journey takes about five and a half hours.
Earlier the train used to run by a steam engine, but now a diesel engine is used. It runs at the speed of 40 to 45 km per hour as against the earlier speed of 22 km per hour. To preserve the heritage roots of the railway, it is suggested that steam engines be preferred, like the Puffing Billy train of Australia.
In July 2008, UNESCO’s world heritage committee added the Kalka Shimla train track to the world heritage list. On 9th Nov 2008, UNESCO officially declared this railway line a world heritage site. Also, the Guinness Book on Rail Facts included this track as the greatest narrow gauge engineering achievement in India.
They equipped this train service with standard car seats and have nine halts. Passengers can get off at the stations along the way and nourish their eyes and soul with beautiful scenery. There are also two heritage carriages operating on this route: Shivalik Queen and Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach. Both are luxury services, with ultra-modern facilities, including an onboard kitchen, refrigerator, dining table, and folding cushion beds. These trains usually operate once a week, from March until September. During the high season (May-July, September-October, and December-January), several special holiday trains also run on this route because of a heavy tourist influx.
Another such heritage train in Melbourne Puffing Billy train, a blend of history, heritage, and winery lunch
Updated on June 5th, 2023
Culture and heritage always attract human minds, and their roots give blood to our growth. No doubt life moves every moment in the future, but still past plays its role to shape our present and future. Many things of the past can be the reason for making our life more beautiful and worth living.
Puffing Billy’s steam train is one of those things of the past that are worth being preserved forever. I visited this dreamland during my visit to Melbourne in June 2010. As I feel on every travel, you see beautiful things; it was really a wonderful and memorable experience to see the rail preserved in its original look.
It is a railway track of 24 km running through dense and beautiful forest. Volunteers of Puffing Billy Preservation Society are putting their efforts to ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow-gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook.
Built in 1900, Puffing Billy is Australia’s oldest steam railway. On the 18th of December 1900, this narrow-gauge railway was opened to serve the farmers in the area to transport their goods to the markets in Melbourne.
Belgrave, the gateway to Dandenong Ranges, is situated 35 km east of Melbourne. You can plan your way to get there. If you are not going in your own car, there is a second option to use public transport. Metro train service is available from Melbourne City to Belgrave via Ringwood. Belgrave is the primary starting point of this railway. It would take approx. One hour to get there. When I visited this place the first time, I used public transport, which is quite easy and cost-effective. After reaching Belgrave Station, take a short walk to puffing billy station.
Open-sided carriages add more fascination to the travel experience as you feel closer to the forest and nature. The whole track passes through many curves, where you can easily get the train’s view captured in your cameras. You can’t ever forget the thrilling sensation when you pass over an iconic wooden bridge. On the train, there are also several enclosed carriages, both saloon and compartment cars.
Menzies Creek, Clematis, Emerald, Nobelius, Lakeside, Wright, Cockatoo, and Fielder are the main railway stations between Belgrave and Gembrook. Neal Menzies Creek station, there is a narrow-gauge railway museum.
Emerald is a good place to stop off and eat and Lakeside to have a walk. Emerald is also the destination as well departure point of many trains of Puffing Billy.
At Lakeside, there are many café refreshing points, lawns, supervised swimming pools, playgrounds, barbecues, and other picnic facilities, so passengers can alight here for a few pleasant hours and enjoy bushwalking, swimming, or just relaxing in peaceful surroundings. This station is 13.2 Km from Belgrave.
The operations and administration center, main refreshment room (also selling souvenirs), and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station.
Most trains start from Belgrave and travel to Lakeside and return. Except for Christmas Day, the railway operates every day of the year. One service each day has the option of first-class carriages and lunch.
This railway track was blocked in 1953 after a heavy landslide but again reopened in 1962 to Menzies Creek and in 1988 at Gembrook Station. A plan was made to close the line and a farewell day was organized. However, when people gathered to say goodbye, a dedicated group of train enthusiasts came together to save the Puffing Billy.
Before you plan your trip, there are a few important things that you need to take care of. You must know the timetable of daily trains that starts from Belgrave. There were four trains daily when I last visited. You must check it while planning to go there. Trains have tickets that you also need to book well in time to avoid any issues later.
Traveling on the Puffing Billy train is like recapturing the romance and charm of the bygone days of the steam engine era. Puffing Billy steam train takes you through the dense and beautiful forest of the Dandenong hill ranges, and you feel like moving in some dreamland. It’s really worth visiting again and again.
If you are thinking that the puffing train is all about kids, families, picnics, and fast food, you are not very right. Sometimes on some occasions, special carriages are set out for parties with special cuisines, delicious foods, drinks, chocolates, soups, baked chicken, and different desserts. If you are looking for a unique and lifelong experience, you must plan to join special event trains. Puffing Billy is great for families and children, but it is also fantastic for couples, singles, and groups.
A minibus driver crashed the iconic pugging Billy train in March 2018. One passenger on the bus was injured, but no one was injured on the puffing Billy. The court ended the century-old tradition of children hanging their legs outside the train. Many people protested the court’s decision, but it ended what was a long tradition practice. Safety is more important than anything despite that, people love it as a kid, so they bring their kids, then they bring their grandchildren. Generations of families have done it for years. It would just be so sad to see that tradition disappear forever. Court’s decision is also taken as a complete overreaction by a group of masses.
Heritage Train in India: Indian Puffing Billy- Kalka Shimla Train
I will end my article by saying that traveling always helps us understand the meaning of life, become better people, keep traveling, and keep exploring and never forget to visit once in a lifetime, this beautiful adventure of puffing billy train in Melbourne. Read about more Beautiful Places around Melbourne
Updated on September 8th, 2024
Years ago, I had my first encounter with Osho books. I used to read books on different subjects in my college days, including literature, politics, and philosophy. One day my younger brother brought me a few books on Osho. Those were on different topics, and I started reading first, and that was related to Sikh thoughts. In fact, it was a commentary on Japuji Sahib titled Ik Onkar Satnam. I read it from page one to last, and I was so impressed with the way of explanation. I felt really close to Sikh Philosophy after reading that book.
But my experience thereafter was not the same when I started another book. I started, read a few pages and threw it aside. I started another book and felt the same. Ultimately, I got disturbed by all books and thoughts given in those books. I pushed aside all books, considering them meaningless and full of illogical thoughts. Why, can’t say but a few months later, I again picked the same books one by one and read all of them. I tried to absorb the ideas given in them. I read all books thoroughly. My impressions got changed about the ‘great thinker’ and his thoughts.
As I am from a Sikh family, my mind swallowed the first book on Sikh philosophy. Today I see nothing but ‘conditioning of mind’ behind my accepting one book while rejecting others. I started reading Osho’s thoughts regularly, like fiction books. Today I have an extensive collection of Osho in my personal library.
I am putting here that our thinking is mostly the result of our conditioned ‘mindset’. What we conclude every moment is what we already had collected in our minds. Our mind is the experience of our collective past. Based on our experience, we see things as good and bad. ‘Things familiar and known’ attract our mind, whereas ‘new and unknown’ is not easily welcomed. When some new situation or new idea is given, the mind doubts, and starts analyzing it, again based on the old mindset. Rationalizing is simply finding logical reasons from old experiences.
Today Osho Philosophy and thoughts are available in enormous volumes of books, perhaps over 600 books, but here I am sharing a single point that we have to drop the old one to receive new in life. To fill fresh raindrops, you need an empty vessel in your hands. Mind is always in the past as it lives with definitions, principles, beliefs, laws, and disciplines. Existence is always fresh, and we can touch it with pure hearts only. The reality and potential of here and now can only be experienced and appreciated if we dare to drop our tinted glasses. We need to see life as it is, without analysing and jumping to our normal conclusions. Read another write-up On Osho in Punjabi.
Over the years, I read so many books on different topics. Osho has written no book, he has only spoken the whole of his life and his discourses are transcribed into books. A brief excerpt from sutras or scripture selected from the world’s religions triggered most of his talks, with each book focussing on one set of religious texts. Mentioning some of his transcriptions that I have gone through.
Discourses on Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, a book that will make you see reality upside down. “Good and evil are not separate. They are one, two sides of the same coin. Without one, the other will disappear.” Osho’s 127 discourses in Hindi on the Tao Teh Ching were given in the early ’70s over a period of several years and published in Hindi as a series of 6 volumes. Only the first two volumes have been translated into English as of August 2017.
A Book to make you understand that repression of sex does not make you free of sex but turns it into sexuality. You neither get free of sex by repression nor by indulgence but by understanding. “Become the witness of your sexual desires, too. Witnessing transforms sex into love.” With complete frankness, Osho (a disgraced cult leader) discusses the three stages of sex – physical, psychological and spiritual – and provides guidance on how this raw energy can be transformed into the realization of ultimate consciousness.
Krishna: The man and his philosophy
Discourses on the colourful dancing god celebrating life in all its dimensions play with the entire universe. “Total surrender is the way to godliness, total acceptance is the key to wholeness.” The crux of this book says White contains all the colours of the spectrum, yet it seems to be colourless; it contains all these colours in a such synthesis that they all disappear
Awareness: The Key to Living in Balance
This book is an amazing compilation of Osho’s different talks and his answers to questions from seekers related to different aspects of awareness or consciousness. Once we can identify and understand what this quality of awareness is, we have the key to self-mastery in virtually every area of our lives. Awareness, says Osho, is the key to being self-directed, centred, and free in every aspect of our lives. In this book, Osho teaches how to live life more attentively, mindfully, and meditatively, with love, caring, and consciousness.
…… I will add a few more books here that I always refer to. Keep visiting again.
Updated on September 8th, 2024
The storyline of ‘Revolution 2020’, a recent novel by Chetan Bhagat, revolves around a love triangle. Gopal, the narrator of the story, Raghav and Aarti, are friends from their school time. All three are moving together but still carrying different ambitions and dreams. Since their school days, they were best friends, but “Love, Corruption, and Ambition” combine to bring differences between them.
There are twists in the tale as Gopal and Raghav both loved the same girl. Gopal comes from a middle-class family. He is the son of a retired teacher who sees ‘richness’ as his aim, whereas Raghav, who comes from a well-to-do family, sees ‘revolution’ as his dream. Parents of both want them to become engineers, but they are moving to fulfill their own dreams. Aarti, the bureaucrat’s daughter, wants to be an air hostess, but Varanasi, the city in north India where they all live, is too small for such ambition. She is beautiful and has all in her personality to be ‘a dream lady’ in anyone’s dreams. She seems always confused about whom to accept as a partner or a friend.
The entrance exam for engineering makes the initial twist in the story. Gopal and Raghav prepared for exams. Raghav cleared it with his first attempt, whereas Gopal failed. His father sent him for preparation to Kota classes, taking even loans, but luck did not favor him. While his one-year stay away from his hometown, Aarti and Raghav fell in love. He feels like nowhere, no admission in engineering lost his love and ultimately his father.
The first half of the story is ‘no story’ as in the Indian context; everybody already knows what the author is telling. Lacs of students appear in entrance exams like JEE or AIEEE, and few get their targets fulfilled. Teaching classes are part of a big industry, selling dreams and making money. These coaching classes are mushrooming everywhere, in big as well as small cities.
In the second phase, the story enters where all three childhood friends move further in their lives. Gopal got the opportunity, and with the help of a corrupt system, he became the director of the engineering college. Raghav passed out an engineering degree, but his dream is in journalism, so he preferred to be a journalist. He thinks somewhere in his mind that he will unearth scams, and corruption in society, to start a revolution. Aarti is struggling to be an air hostess. Revolution 2020 shows a few glimpses of a corrupt system in the education sector. Mushrooming of private colleges by corporate houses, politicians, and non-professional rich people. After failing to get admission to an engineering college, Gopal, with the help of a corrupt MLA, starts his own engineering college. Throughout the entire story, the author has described corruption in our education system.
The whole story is loaded with scandals; sex, corruption, and a love triangle are there to make it a tale. Both friends are in love with the same girl. It adds rivalries between them. A famous quote from the novel that describes many things is, “Life is a bitch when the only woman you can think of belongs to someone else”.
Most of the story took place in Varanasi, except for some parts in Kota. No doubt storyline is straightforward and depicts known facts of Indian society, but the book is still worth reading. Chetan Bhagat is a wonderful storyteller. The language has a good flow and is easy to read. The author has been very successful in using current social/political situations in the novel to affect the overall progress of the story.
The novel’s end is totally unpredictable and leaves the reader in a state of shock for few moments. You may disagree with such an ending like me as it is vague and overdramatic, perhaps inspired by Bollywood drama movies. It certainly has many weak points, but Revolution 2020 is ‘A must read‘.
Updated on September 8th, 2024
Marketing is not only selling the product or service. It is creating a demand for the product or service you are selling or marketing. Need and supply logic work here. It is a requirement in business these days as it helps in increasing sales. It is a vast topic that has wide boundaries, but as a writer, I am trying to highlight a few points which can be helpful to a few. Selling skills are very important. if you are in this profession.
If I say selling is an art, there will be no overstatement. One must develop a few qualities to be a successful salesperson. And finally, you must have a few words in your mind and those words are that you can sell it.
Who can sell?
Here are a few things that are helpful for any successful sales agent. A good salesperson can be men or a woman and can also sell the products of a weak organization. It is very difficult to give a list of the traits or qualities or selling skills of a good sales agent. Below is the list, though there can be no last list.
As a salesperson, you don’t sell the product as you sell yourself to the customer, as you are the face of the product. I have tried to highlight a few things which are really important in a Marketing Representative as that helps them to sell. Hope this write will help readers to develop the art of selling. Here I am sharing links to a few good reads on the art of selling, and selling skills.
Updated on September 6th, 2021
Sharing this blog on Teacher’s Day…A young man saw his primary school teacher at a wedding. He went to greet him with all the respect and admiration. He said to him “Do you remember me, Teacher?” The teacher said: “No, please introduce yourself.” The student said: “I was your student in the 3rd grade. I am the one who stole the watch of a child in the classroom. I will remind you, but I am sure you remember the story.”
One boy in my class had a beautiful watch, so I decided to steal it. He came to you crying that someone had stolen his watch. You asked us to stand to search our pockets. I realized it would expose my action in front of the students and teachers. I will be called a thief, a liar and my character will be shattered forever.
You asked us to stand and face the wall and close our eyes completely. You went searching from pocket to pocket, and when you reached my pocket, you pulled the watch out of my pocket, and you continued until you searched for the last student.
After you finished, you asked us to open our eyes and to sit on our chairs. I was afraid you will expose me in front of the students. You showed the watch to the class and gave it back to the boy, and you never mentioned the name of the one who stole the watch. You never said a word to me, and you never mentioned the story to anyone.
Throughout my school life, none of the teachers nor the students talked about me stealing the watch. I thought to myself, you saved my dignity that day.
The teacher said: “I can’t remember who stole the watch that day because I searched the pockets of all of you while my eyes were also closed.”
Education needs wisdom. As teachers, parents, leaders, we should be able to understand the consequences of our actions. Let’s do something logical to celebrate teacher’s day.
Protecting and reforming is tougher than exposing and expelling… #Teacher’s Day
Updated on September 8th, 2024
I am beautiful. That’s why he loves me, or I am beautiful because he loves me. I am writing this article titled ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ thinking of a girl who is very sweet, simple and soft-hearted. She loves everything that comes her way. Never complaining and is always very social. She loves to make friends and pass time with her friends. She can’t even recall a day where she is alone, as she hates being alone. Her life is simple going and without stress, she is vivacious and enthusiastic. She adds charm to the party and is an eye-catcher and always spreads positive fragrance where she is present. She is so motivated that I can’t express it in words.
One day I walked close to her and asked her a question about how do you remain so motivated, lively and smiling all the time. She turned back and hugged me and said, darling when you will fall in love you will understand this yourself. I was too young to understand what she meant by saying this. But then I was waiting for the time when I fell in love and feel like her on top of the world.
One day, after waiting for a long time, I came across my love. And then somewhere I was thinking of her words. Life was going well, and I was so happy and fully motivated, but something was still missing. One day I asked myself, looking in the mirror, that I am looking different from my usual personality. I could not find the reason behind my change in personality or in outlook. But then I was all time busy finding an answer to my question.
One night I was sleeping, and I got the answer to my question in a dream. I woke up and thanked God for everything he has given me in life as I was not aware of what I got after having my love in my life as my beauty lies in his eyes.
Then again, one day I think, is it he loves me because I am beautiful or because he loves me so I am beautiful? Then I looked into his eyes and realized that every girl is beautiful if she has a beholder to praise, her beauty is worthless without a beholder.
Beauty is God’s gift but still to complete it need an admirer.
