Some time back we were at a beach resort, near Mumbai. As we sat in the balcony of our hotel room, listening to the sounds of waves crashing on the shore, my son looked up; there were million and millions of stars in the  sky. It was a beautiful sight and we admired it for a long time.
     I made a mental note, "I'll go and look up the stars once we reach back home".
    One night, I remembered my promise.... I looked up only to discover haze.
    What startled me was not the haze, but the realization that I wasn't even aware how Mumbai sky looked! "Do I never look up when I am  at home??"
      Shimla had been my home for 17 or more years. It was only after I moved away, that I felt nostalgic about the town.When I was there, I use to look at hordes of tourists and wonder, "What exactly do they come to see,and why do they shop so much." Now when I go to other hill stations, I feel "Ooh! so beautiful, just like Shimla." Why didn't Shimla inspire the same feelings as these places do, its as if I have a different pair of eyes now, guess that's why its called 'sight seeing', you actually have to want to see the sights.

Some reasons why you can't view your place with honey toned glasses! 


1) You are rushing through: Your life's commitments..... getting up , getting the kids ready, making tiffins,rushing to office, rushing back , cooking dinner, teaching the kids.....well exactly when do you look out of the window! So overwhelmed are you by life, that you just can't stop and wonder!

2)You see it every day: Since you are looking at the sights, day in and day out, they cease to awe you, they are mere fixtures in your life....taken for granted, maybe if they disappeared one night you'd be shaken, maybe not...maybe a tourist will have to remind you that they were there, once upon a time.

3) You are not wearing the right clothes ....attitude: More than the bermudas, the backpack and the hiking shoes, its the right attitude that makes all the difference.When you go for a holiday, enjoying to the fullest is your motto.Thus even ordinary becomes extraordinaire!

4) You haven't spent the money: Well if you haven't gone through the hassles of  booking, packing , planning, travelling.....you missed half the fun ALREADY. Going through all the trouble of reaching your destination, is what makes it worth while. It also gives you ample time to switch off.

5)You are too proud to admit its pretty: "Well alright! I admit this place is beautiful , but can I really make a fool of myself and behave like a tourist. What will people say?" Anonymity, actually gives you a licence to simply let yourself go.

6) The daily chores rob the poet out of You. So okay somebody is cooking my meals! I don't have to do any laundry, kids don't have to sleep on time..............no deadlines to meet, of course I can now appreciate the finer things in life.

7) If you had time, you'd rather watch T.V.  "Should I show you the list of to be done jobs! "Every minute counts."To think I  can actually spend time doing nothing, anyway I've got better ways to relax at home."

8) Life's worries take the fun out of it: When you are on holiday, you tell yourself, "I'll come back and deal with this."So you push back all your worries and are geared up to enjoy yourself. In you own home, your own setting, there is simply no escape. Its only on holiday that your mind is at its receptive best to take in all the treats the place can offer.

9)You feel you have all the time to do this:Since you live there, you seriously believe that you can discover your city any time you want. Its another matter that the time may never come.
10) Don't be fooled............I know the real under belly of this town: You know that the town actually sucks!What with water problems, garbage problems, sky rocketing expenses.......you just aren't left with any heart to enjoy your own place. Also maybe you live far away from the places that really matter and are too lazy to track them down.

 So if you really want to get the best out of you city, be like a tourist,
               Soak in the best,
               And filter the rest!