If the Jagriti Yatra is any indication of the kind of experience that I will be having during my next 3 months of travelling, I am more than ready!
Between the Yatra and the Jyotirlinga trip, I had close to 15 days on my hand. Bored sitting at home as usual, I was browsing lazily when I suddenly hit upon a workshop on story telling. And it was in Bangalore! my favorite city! Packed my bags and I was off in a jiffy!
And now, I started to get jittery. What if the course was not as good as they said it would be? What am I doing in the middle of nowhere when all the people I know are going to offices and working? Why am I taking up a course on Story telling? I had no idea what to expect from it and what I would take away.
All my inhibitions were shattered right from Day 1 !
We were a right sized group of 20 members, some of them really wonderful from a professional story teller from Germany to a very energetic grandmother who wanted to learn so she could tell stories to her grandchildren.
The whole session of 5 hours was like your favorite teacher's class where you just don't know how time passes away and don't want it to end. Stories to drawings, exercises to breathing techniques, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves while learning how to perfect the art of story telling. We had to present our own stories on the final day and that will be something that will stay with me for a long time to come. May be it is these experiences that change us and inspire us to push ourselves further.
Nupur, a visually challenged participant, told the story of the tiger, using picture cards that she got prepared by her husband. (It was hard to believe that she could not see the pictures which she was showing us. The synchronization was so perfect!). Ameen Haque's perfect depiction of the story on 'Why the wind blows' made sure I remember the giant Garuda flapping his wings looking for the chocolate whenever I feel the wind in my face. Yamini's story of the jelly fish was totally theatre like and I can still visualize the father calling out to her daughter on the wild seas.
All I can say is, thanks to all the wonderful people who participated. I learnt a lot from you. Hopefully, I will be able to interest my kids to come back to school and ignite the passion towards education in them.
And, this trip to bangalore was special in more ways. Here is why!
Rukmini Vijaykumar, is someone I admire in the true spirit of the word. Her dances are truly mesmerizing and she brings in a freshness and vigor in her performance strictly, in the realms of classical dance. Ever since 2008, I have been waiting to see her perform live, and got the opportunity after 4 long years. Not wasting a chance, I ran up and asked for an autograph. (I never do these things. In fact this was my first time!). And boy! the 4 long years of wait for the performance was definitely worth it. Those expressions, those dances, the vigour and the confidence. No match at all! (Atleast among her contemporary females)
Chicken biryani and Death by Chocolate later, I was on my bus back to Hyderabad. Happy heart and full belly! :)
Special Credits: Pavan Kumar Reddy for the wonderful host that he is! :)
Between the Yatra and the Jyotirlinga trip, I had close to 15 days on my hand. Bored sitting at home as usual, I was browsing lazily when I suddenly hit upon a workshop on story telling. And it was in Bangalore! my favorite city! Packed my bags and I was off in a jiffy!
And now, I started to get jittery. What if the course was not as good as they said it would be? What am I doing in the middle of nowhere when all the people I know are going to offices and working? Why am I taking up a course on Story telling? I had no idea what to expect from it and what I would take away.
All my inhibitions were shattered right from Day 1 !
We were a right sized group of 20 members, some of them really wonderful from a professional story teller from Germany to a very energetic grandmother who wanted to learn so she could tell stories to her grandchildren.
The whole session of 5 hours was like your favorite teacher's class where you just don't know how time passes away and don't want it to end. Stories to drawings, exercises to breathing techniques, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves while learning how to perfect the art of story telling. We had to present our own stories on the final day and that will be something that will stay with me for a long time to come. May be it is these experiences that change us and inspire us to push ourselves further.
Nupur, a visually challenged participant, told the story of the tiger, using picture cards that she got prepared by her husband. (It was hard to believe that she could not see the pictures which she was showing us. The synchronization was so perfect!). Ameen Haque's perfect depiction of the story on 'Why the wind blows' made sure I remember the giant Garuda flapping his wings looking for the chocolate whenever I feel the wind in my face. Yamini's story of the jelly fish was totally theatre like and I can still visualize the father calling out to her daughter on the wild seas.
All I can say is, thanks to all the wonderful people who participated. I learnt a lot from you. Hopefully, I will be able to interest my kids to come back to school and ignite the passion towards education in them.
And, this trip to bangalore was special in more ways. Here is why!
Rukmini Vijaykumar, is someone I admire in the true spirit of the word. Her dances are truly mesmerizing and she brings in a freshness and vigor in her performance strictly, in the realms of classical dance. Ever since 2008, I have been waiting to see her perform live, and got the opportunity after 4 long years. Not wasting a chance, I ran up and asked for an autograph. (I never do these things. In fact this was my first time!). And boy! the 4 long years of wait for the performance was definitely worth it. Those expressions, those dances, the vigour and the confidence. No match at all! (Atleast among her contemporary females)
Chicken biryani and Death by Chocolate later, I was on my bus back to Hyderabad. Happy heart and full belly! :)
Special Credits: Pavan Kumar Reddy for the wonderful host that he is! :)
