Magnolia Fragrance: My gift from Thailand

Wake up like this! 

Travelling is a never ending affair that leaves behind its trace long after we bid goodbye! The affair with the city does not end and we end up bringing a part of that city with us. One such strong moment that has stayed with me is the fragrance of Magnolia in Thailand. I fell in love with the exotic, sweet, earthly and pleasant fragrance of magnolia that enamoured my senses. The first time I was introduced to the fragrance I felt magically enthralled by it like I was kissed by my first love on a rainy day. The fragrance is so sensual and earthly that I could not stop myself from picking everything related to magnolia. I found a small shop in Bangkok at the main street market that sold small bottles of authentic magnolia oil for 35 baht. There were other fragrant oils too but my interest was in the enchanting magnolia. My friend Joy who I knew for a long time at the University in England made was from Thailand and she made sure that I am only taken to the  best places in Thailand. Little did she know that my obsession with this fragrance would drive her nuts! She took me to this amazingly cute place called Omoi Zakka shop which is in the center of Bangkok. It is a warm and cozy place that has insanely attractive products from souveniers, fragrances to special products. I found a really interesting Diary, Magnolia candles and oil. There was so much to explore!

Contemporary set up
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/266345765438253813/

We entered a local store after our long car drive as we were out of wipes. My friend picked a packet of chips and some biscuits and while she was busy picking random food items my eyes caught the attention of Magnolia shampoo. I was drawn to the beauty section and ended up shopping for magnolia shampoo and conditioner. Incense sticks have never excited me so much as my Indian mother has always stocked quite a few in her house. However this time I was drawn to them only because the incense sticks had my favourite fragrance. We quietly got into the car after I picked all the products possible and my friend took me to visit her grandmother; upon our arrival at their house the grandmother said "Oh so we have a thai girl here!" She could see how much I adored the thai culture and my first day was a truly memorable one indeed. Oriental culture has always intrigued me and it already feels like home when you address your friend's parents as Mumma and Papa because the culture is so close knit. 

Even today I keep the small bottle of Magnolia Oil in my bag and it reminds me of my sweet affair with my enchanting land of Thailand.  

Omoi Zakka Shop

Finding Home!

Traveling makes me ponder over so many questions and as I watch these bags lying in front of me in the train, I think about what makes me want to belong somewhere or if I really want to belong! I have not found my home yet and the familiar feeling of being lost engulfs me yet again! The music beat pumps and leaves its loud trace behind while it speaks every little thought I painted in the mirror this morning. The morning glitter came with its own share of joy packed in sun basked glory and whispered something.

It said that, "One fine day I will find that one place which looks back to me where I mysteriously scatter my dreams.

 All the baggage will then disappear in that single moment of self harmony. Maybe the place is around me and I just need to knock"

While I am traveling with these thoughts, a stranger smiles at me who is now sitting next to me with his camera held close to him like his precious stone! He has grey hair and wrinkled smile on his firm skin  that now seems to draw me close to his delicate fingers that caress the camera. I awkwardly smile at him and this paves way for words to fill the space. These words then bring me closer to this wanderer who like me wants to be lost in this world! 

 I think to myself if happiness is actually finding the main road or to be lost in the woods! I realise how finding home in little moments when I travel with stories to tell makes me find myself. Perhaps getting lost makes me want to celebrate more because there is more to life and this adventure keeps all of us going. Maybe all of us only need to reach out for that part which lies somewhere in the corner of the dust filled box of enormous dreams, hopes and stories which is covered in empty fears waiting to be broken!

We look back!

Some journeys we take in life remain with us forever! They are like the wish jars that we keep close to our hearts and never let go. I have always written these tiny notes to myself and protected them in a wish jar from the fierce eyes of the world, I took these jars always with me everywhere I wanted to belong and the cities sometimes made me feel secure. I was in love last Summer and went for my first holiday with him in Bournemouth. The city made me feel comfortable and awkward at the same time as I was struggling to come to terms with this special holiday that perhaps meant something for our 'togetherness'. I walked with him in the sandy beaches and struggled with the strong winds that made my hair messy and my thoughts cluttered with something he said! I kept thinking to myself if I was really sure about the way I felt when I saw him enter my class.

  My mind wandered back to the first day of my Masters class in England when I decided to ditch my jacket after a hot water bath and entered the class feeling cold after few minutes. I looked around in the class and saw a pretty Caucasian girl with sharp features and bright personality that caught my eyes. She was with the red haired fierce girl who had a striking piercing on her lip that caught my attention. I walked towards the coffee and cookie table where few students were busy chatting away. I stood there and held the piping cup of coffee and changed my mind to tea within a minute, I reached for the cookie and as I was about to bite into it, somebody entered the class. I saw the light brown eyed coy boy enter the room wearing an awkward smile with an intoxicating yet so flawed look. The generous layers of clothes that he wore seemed to convincingly hide his damaged soul. I reminded myself that I have been creepily staring at him for a while when I saw him approaching me, as his lips moved to introduce himself I couldn't hear anything, yet his name screamed aloud in every corner of my mind! I saw myself running away from this guy but inviting myself through my eyes to his never ending stories about traveling and cities. I never realised how we got together even before the official lectures started in the University. He held my hand and told our inquisitive friends that we are officially dating while I stopped myself from thinking it was all too fast or just a rebound.

  The generous tap on my shoulders for another serving of ice cream at the cafe near the beach in Bournemouth broke my flash back zone and I was again with him, wanting to go back to our hotel room where we decided to skip city tour and have 'wine and movie time'. I was half way through the movie and I saw him sleep so peacefully that I knew I wanted to be with him. I wanted to be with this damaged person not to heal but to live with him, to make him write tiny notes and protect these picturesque dreams in my wish jar. I saw myself want to live his dreams and make his journey worthwhile as I drench myself in his love! The city of Bournemouth gave me my moment that I penned down in my diary and framed it with a letter I wrote for him. Some journeys are indeed special when we look back because they give us our first moment of selfless love!