I saw Evan Almighty last night on HBO. I was quite keen in watching this movie, because of its promotions and I was impressed by Bruce Almighty. In addition, I recently saw Arai En305-il Kadavul. I liked the Indian version of this movie.

Evan Almighty is rather a boring movie. I was captured by Morgan Freeman's dialogues. If you ask for something to God, you get an opportunity to get it and you have to work towards it. I am not too good at remembering the dialogues. Nonetheless, the essence still lingers inside me.

How true is it? If we pray to God for something, we get several opportunities to get it. All we to do is identify the signs and work towards them. The grace of God lies in our capability to identify opportunities and moving in the right direction.

In such a boring movie, I got this wonderful message.

 

The power of thoughts: Believing non-existents as existents and existents as non-existents. They can make heaven out of a hellish mind and hell out of a peaceful mind. Where do you come from and how do you manifest yourself?

I travel by train daily to work. Well, I see this as journey by itself changing more than two trains.

I see different people. Some engrossed in their work, some talking and mostly reading. I suppose to be with oneself is all about the British culture.

This week I saw this lady who boarded the train just before my junction to reach home. The lady was emotionally upset, crying, and aggressive. A fellow passenger asked her whether she was okay. The train started to chug out of the platform and the situation became worse. This gentleman sought the help of the train guards but it was futile. In the meantime, the other passengers were wondering what was wrong. A big fat man in a florescent coat walked up and down and stood close to the door.

Suddenly, the train stopped and there was an announcement that the train is returning to the previous station. Oh my god! The selfish one in me said I will miss my connecting train to reach home and cursed the South Eastern Railways for delaying my journey.

The train stopped and when the door opened entered two policemen who spoke to the depressed lady and escorted her out of the train.

This incident has left an impact in me. The lady was never in her brightest of her mood and was upset of something that has happened. Due to her behavior, the train stopped and returned to the previous station. This delay would have affected several of them in the train and I personally missed my connecting train and reached home late.

If one negative situation can cause delays to people with whom we are not connected with, I wondered how much it will impact our loved ones.  Today is the day when I retrospect my life. My negative attitude would have affected my family hurt them and would have slowed down their machines. If a 15 minute delay can make me miss a train, my xx years of life how many delays I would have caused to others!

Today I apologize to all those to whom I have caused delays in life.

Fear runs through my spine when I think about tomorrow; the unknown and  yesterday the known and as I am thinking now the present. I wonder why I am attracted to all the poles, which takes me through the dizzy lanes of life not knowing what is real and unreal. What I think is real is not real. What is Maya and what is Yaama.  Maya is today Yaama is yesterday when I am dragged in allies of life Maya and Yaama interchange rapidly.  I believed that I was perfect which was Maya when I travelled to another world I understood what is perfect in my world is unknown here. So my world has become Maya and this world is Yaama. My cells alternate between the real and the unreal, which leaves me baffled most of the time.

It is better to have loved and lost than to live with a psycho for the rest of your life.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a different world in this planet. I used to visit KSA on short trips as my husband was working there. The general notion to the outside world is KSA is a very notorious place. In reality KSA is not a notorious place but a very rigid place. It is an Islamic country strictly practicing Shariate law. Everything happens in the name of god.  

KSA thrives by exporting oil. There are several American and European companies and Asians work in these companies. The country is developed and maintained by Americans and British. The western world has given KSA the necessary infrastructure. In their own selfish interest, the westerners have developed this country, which suits their needs. Therefore, the road rules and transportation are Americanized. You will find all brands of cars that run in the US. Similarly, voltage suits the needs of both the British and the American. Due to mixed groups, you can use both 110 and 220 watts of power in KSA. In all the apartments, provision is given for both these systems. You get electrical appliances which adhere to both the units.   It is also worth mentioning that US has a base in Riyadh.

In KSA, there is a distinct segregation of genders. Women have restrictions. They are allowed to work only in exclusive women's only banks, schools and hospitals. They are not allowed to move out freely. A woman must be accompanied by her husband, father, brother or son when she wants to go out. A woman cannot go out alone. Otherwise, she can go with a group of women and can travel by taxi. She cannot walk alone on the streets. There are several Indian nurses. The hospital provides them accommodation. A bus takes these nurses during weekends to the malls for shopping. They must travel only by that bus for their own safety.  Men are not spared as well. Men without families face difficulties in finding accommodation. Malls are open to them only during weekends. During other days only families are allowed.
KSA's work culture is very different. All the business units must be closed five times a day for     prayer. This is called as Salah. On Fridays they have extended prayer timings. Most of the shopping centres are open till midnight. It is a common sight to see people shopping after the last Salah, which occurs after 7 PM.   KSA is a much secured place with very less crime rate. There are two different police in the country: - 1. General police. 2. Religious police (Mutawa). The duty of the religious police is to ensure that all the business units are closed during salah, and women are dressed in Abaya the black veil. If there is any deviation in this, people are seriously dealt with. If you are non Muslim, you get a brown colour work permit book. This is just to identify that you are a non Muslim. Non Muslims are not allowed to enter Mecca or Medina. I am told that there is hoarding on the way to Mecca, which points to two different routes. One route says it is the way to heaven and the other says it is a route for infidels and dogs. Not to forget, Islam does not recognize dogs. Contrarily, I have seen several stray cats.

During Ramaadan, it is compulsory for all Muslims to fast during the day.  Restaurants are closed during the day and are opened after they break their fast in the evening. The religious police are very alert during Ramaadan and Haj. If they find, somebody eating or drinking in public, they will be severely dealt.

KSA does not have any entertainment because it is against the policies of Islam. However, in the recent times they have opened photography in public places. The only entertainment for people is spending money on food. Due to the multicultural population, you  get varieties of food. Food is excellent and you will not miss home.  You get excellent Indian food in KSA.   I would go ahead and say it is superior to what we get in the west. The only entertainment is eating out. I was told that there is a zoo in Riyadh. I was surprised to hear that men and women are not allowed to visit the zoo together. Entry is allowed for them on different days. Children may go with either parent. Women are allowed to go only on Thursdays and Fridays and men can go on the rest of the days.
KSA is a great place for shopping. You can get anything and goods from all over the world. Electrical items are cheap in KSA. Carpets and other house hold items are cheap as well. You can buy electrical items in stores like Geant, Carrefour etc. and you can buy carpets in Kuwaiti market. KSA gold is famous all over the world.   Batha is famous for gold and wholesale retailers.

Except for the social and cultural differences living in KSA is like living in any of the developed countries. The infrastructure is superior and utilities like water, gas, oil and electricity are cheap. KSA is an ideal place to make money. Your saving potential is very high, because there are no taxes and there is no entertainment.

This is an ideal place for people who have just started a career or in the verge of retiring. You can live in KSA for a maximum of 5 years. This is not an ideal place for people who are amidst of their career; unless they are deputed by a large organization. It is a nice place for professionals, but very pathetic for unskilled workers. Unskilled people work for very long hours and are not treated properly. It is widely believed that if you have an American or a European work experience your salary increases three folds and it is easier to get better designations. Nevertheless, you must always remember that you are not on par with an Arab as you are a secondary citizen. The treatment meted out to westerners is superior when compared to Asians. Westerners are typically pardoned for the crime or mistake they do but Asians are never spared.    I reiterate that you could live there for a maimum of 3-5 years. Job market is very much infrastructure oriented and revolves around Oil.  

Extra activities for children are not good as well.   I hear that there are some dance classes and music classes for children. I am not convinced by the quality and the exposure for children. As women are confined to home, children are also confined to home after school.

Compounds are free from social hazzards. Typically, the westerners live in these compounds. They are highly secured and the local Arabs are not allowed here. There are several  other  religious and cultural events happening within the closed doors.  I believe that in the westerner's compounds they live as liberally like elsewhere. These compounds have busses for women.
 
It is not easy to enter KSA. It is advisable to be on a family visa or work permit or business trip. When you apply for a   VISA, you must undergo a medical test in the GCC authorized medical centres. Only with the results, you can apply for a VISA. The KSA travel agents   are hawkers. When I applied for my VISA, I had to pay "extra charges" for him get my VISA stamped. It is not a practice  for   personal interviews in the embassay. The "extra charges" were paid, because  I visited US. I tried convincing the agent that I am not a part of the CIA.

I was amazed to see what oil can do to a country and such vulgar exhibition of wealth. Visit KSA and see for yourself what oil can do!

Are marriages negotiated or are they agreed? Hmmm this is a tough question. Negotiation is not an emotional nomenclature. Agreeing is very humane. When I ponder over certain events, any person who wants to marry must ask few questions to the prospective partner.

1. What are your likes and dislikes?
2. How do you relate to your immediate family members?
3. What are your personal and professional goal?
4. Do you have milestones set for your goals?
5. How long do you think it will take you to achieve them?
6. How do you relate to your extended relationships?
7. As a partner in your life, what do you expect from me?
8. Which are the specific areas where you will look upon me?
9. How do you want to manage our finances?
10. Do you have any financial commitments for short term or long term?
11. How do you plan to balance them?
12. Do you have any long term or short-term investment plans?
13. Do you think my plans and ambitions will complement your aspirations?
14. Do you like children?
15. As a parent, do you think you can own responsibility of raising them?
16. What are your hobbies?
17. How frequently do you take a break from your routine?
18. How religious are you?
19. Do my religious sentiments hamper you in anyway?
20. How inclined are you emotionally on your family and vice versa?
21. Whom do you consider as your mentor?
22. Are you used to open conversations?
23. What are your hobbies?
24. If you have had any bad experiences in the past how much does it still affect you

Well.... the list of questions can be endless. However, one must get honest answers for these! Marriage is negotiated on terms and conditions later on agreed on adjustments which requires a great deal of patience and understanding. At the end of the day, it boils down to PEACE OF MIND.