Review: Secret Notes From Iran by Nadim Siraj

This could not be possible to know Iran’s geopolitics, culture, war without reading the “Secret Notes From Iran”. The book I picked up randomly for review from LeadStart. I wanted to understand like a few things, what will be the difference between Iran and my neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan.

I traveled many of these countries and was curious to divulge the same about Iran. I found many known facts like the headscarf for women, solo performance is banned in public by woman, but I wasn’t aware of group performance is allowed by women. Interesting, to know the anti-American slogans posters in Teheran. I am worried about reading the notes on the high tension circumstances people living in, which deeply moved my utter sympathy for the peace and prosperity for the localities.

Book Cover: Secret Notes From Iran

I would like to thank lionhearted journalist, Mr. Nadim Siraj, for his brave storytelling. I would like to visit the historic Azadi Tower in Tehran. I would also like to thank Platinum Press for their honest approach of publishing the confidential notes. Great inventiveness and I would look forward to reading more geopolitical books in the future.

 

With Love,

Vikram Roy

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Perfect Love by Shubha Vilas: A Review

I am glad to get an opportunity to write this review for the book, ‘Perfect Love: 5.5 Ways to a Lasting Relationship’ written by our respective good friend, devotee, TEDx speaker Shubha Vilas.

Vilas has a gifted talent to write stories from Indian Mythology. I am surprised everytime I read a book written by him. His use of language and narrative is very fluent and rich. I never felt bored of reading ‘Perfect Love: 5.5 Ways to a Lasting Relationship’. This book is a treasure for the people who wish to understand the meaning of ‘True Love‘. Traditional Vedic Indian culture is purely based on human experience. Vilas picked some of those beautiful experiences and cultivated the complicated meaning of love in his own methodical way to depict the true love’s consequences. More you read ‘Perfect Love’, more you understand the hidden signs of love and its true nature.

Paperback Cover Page: Perfect Love by Shubha Vilas

I am reading books of Shuba Vilas from the beginning of his ‘Ramayana: The Game of Life’ series. His talent of the writing is unconditional. ‘Perfect Love’ is one of the jewels. I would suggest all the readers, please collect the book and read the hidden treasure from Indian Myth. Love has no boundaries and love is equally stronger to fight the evil. Love is a gift. Love is pure. God loves us all, and the only sacrifice can lead us into the enlightenment of love for Him.

‘Perfect Love’ is about six omnibuses published in a single volume for the first time. Here you can read all the beloved stories of Nala and Damayanti, Lord Krishna and Devi Rukmini, Shakuntala and Dushyanta, Udayana and Vasavadatta, Satyavan and Savitri, Draupadi and the Five Pandavas.

I have a suggestion to Mr. Shubha Vilas. Please inclued some interesting illustraions in the next edition of ‘Perfect Love’.

 

With love,

Vikram Roy

 

Sweden: Walked on Water with Storsjöodjuret, the Lake Monster.

It was 30th March, Good Friday. The city of Östersund was celebrating a holiday. All shops and public transportation communication were closed. We had no other option but calling our friend in the city, Mr. C. Martin. Martin is one of our good family friends, an old man, aged 61. We do not disturb him without his own interest in roaming. But today he has somehow seemed energetic. It was Good Friday we do not want him to be alone either. We stepped together out with him in search of the Storsjöodjuret, the Lake Monster.

Me Standing on Storsjön Lake

We were five people. First, we traveled to the Ski Resort snow hill. Had warming hot coffee over the hill. There were snow cannons and ropeway. But due to the holiday, all were closed. We found the Östersund Zoo but closed as well.

Aayushi playing with Lockless Monster at Östersunds kommun.

We traveled back to Storsjön, the fifth largest lake in Sweden. Also, popular for the myth of Storsjöodjuret, the Lockless monster. The lake was frozen solid and it became the Vinter Parken or Winter Park during the winter season. People surrounded by the city gathered in the evening to see the sunset and say hi to the Lockless Monster.

We run on the lake, one corner to the other. Played with ducks. Finally, crossed the lake and met the mythical Storsjöodjuret. Some folks say its real. Some say its just a myth. Some claims they saw Storsjöodjuret. He lives under the deep blue water of Storsjön.

 

Storsjöodjuret, the Lake Monster, Shekhar Roy, Mr. C. Martin and Me.

 

Imagine, there perhaps a Lockless monster living under the frozen lake, maybe hibernating. Will wake up in the summer, and swim across the lake, unobserved, keeping a great secret of its existence.

We had evening meditation, by the lake and set goodbye to the Lockless monster.

 

With love,

Vikram Roy

Sweden: One Day at Åre Ski Resort.

The day three in Sweden, my brother in law took us to the Åre Ski Resort. This is the one of the world’s top Ski Resort. This mountain resort has been selected for the 2019 WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS. Here, every second is getting counted by a Longines’s countdown clock.

The day we woke up 7 am in the morning, had breakfast and took the bus to Östersund Station. Our train was on 9:00 am from the Snowcity to Station Åre, Jämtland County. The distance between Åre and Östersund is 98 km or 61 miles. It was 1 hrs. 30 mins. journey by train.

Standing Outside Station Åre.

During the journey both the side, it was a nice and scenic view, full of icy hills, river, lakes and pine trees. Truly paradise. Though I am not sure of the local folks, how they deal with this place in their daily life. But I saw the small villages and towns side by the railway line, the people out there were looking bright and healthy.

The train reached the station around 10: 25 am. We found the Tourism office and took a local guidebook. Outside the station, our destination is to find out the big cable car which is taking the passengers to the top of the Ski Resort. After getting some help from the local’s we finally found the way to reach the snow covered mountain top.

Inside the cable car to reach Åre Ski Resort

When we reached the top, it was completely frozen, a heavy cold wind and snow storm were heating us. We like the cold but it was reminding me of the ice dragon was breathing on my face and whenever I removed my gloves to take few photos, I was unable to feel my hands. They were burned in the cold and senseless as well.

We stay there on top of the mountain for a little more than one hour and then came down to the city market around 2:30 pm.

We found the people were enjoying the winter sports at the Ski Resort.

We reached back to the Snow City at night 10:20 pm. The day went well.

 

With love,

Vikram Roy