Our member has vividly described his experience of a night when there was a blackout in his neighbourhood. It brought back fond memories of his childhood, turning the night into a blissful tapestry.
As dusk settled over our society, I returned from an outing only to find the entire community gathered around a majestic Deodar tree. Intrigued, I inquired and learned that the trees branches had tangled with electric wires, plunging us into darkness. The electricity board was summoned, but as we waited, the community transformed the situation into an unexpected bonding experience.
We engaged in lively conversations, fostering a sense of camaraderie. Returning home, I embraced the rare opportunity for a candlelit dinner, relishing the simplicity of the moment. I hardly remember the last time I had a candle light dinner, so I thoroughly enjoyed the situation. Venturing back downstairs, I witnessed CESC workers diligently clearing the obstructive branches. Then they worked on the damaged wires.
Retreating to my apartment, I opened the bedroom window, and lay down. It was then that I witnessed the moonbeams casting a gentle glow. Memories flooded back, reminiscent of childhood nights illuminated by moonlight, hurricanes, and the hum of mosquitoes. This blackout, a temporary disruption, became a gateway to rediscover the natural beauty often overlooked in our modern lives. Recollections of childhood visits to Jhargram, where local communities safeguarded us against any nocturnal being, added depth to the experience. The unexpected blackout, rather than a nuisance, became a canvas for reconnecting with the simplicity and beauty of our surroundings.
During my childhood, post my December exams, I often visited my relatives in Jhargram, close to a Rajbari. The house that we used to stay in had a big courtyard, and behind the house there was a jungle of Sal tree. The jungle used to create a creepy feeling in us. In that rustic setting, I witnessed locals dealing with tigers that occasionally emerged from the nearby jungles. On one occasion, a 3-feet tiger posed a threat, leading the community to take necessary measures to safeguard against potential danger. That day too while they were carrying the body of the tiger, I touched it, an experience very few nowadays would have.
The memories of that night, illuminated by the moonbeam, remain vivid and cherished in my recollections.

Our member Ms. M. Banerjee while visiting her daughter and son-in-law in Frankfurt had toured Germany, Switzerland and Austria. She shares her thoughts related to these places and marvels the discipline and beauty there.
In the month of August, 2023, I had gone to visit my daughter and her family and they took me to visit a few European countries. Since there wasn’t any direct flight to Frankfurt, I went from Kolkata to Dubai and from Dubai to Frankfurt. My experience of Germany was of mesmeric beauty, peace and cleanliness. Like various other cities this too had quite a few places to offer to tourists like me.
The most well-known there is the Black Forest in Germany. People often visit this to view the world’s largest cuckoo clock and sample the Black Forest cake which originates here. The castles found within the Black Forest look majestic. The Kingzig valley has a Museum of Traditional Costumes. The younger generations enjoy outdoor activities here, especially during the winters.
The St. Peter’s Cathedral in Cologne is beautiful. The façade itself catches attraction of all tourists. Cologne’s Cathedral was built in the medieval period. This is the oldest and also the most significant masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value. Its tall structure is mesmerizing.
The water of the Rhine river is soothing. People usually go on a cruise to Amsterdam, Switzerland and other places. It has a long history, during the Roman period it used to be used for commercial purposes.
The best thing I liked about Switzerland were the numerous cows. Maybe the presence of so many cows have some relationship with Swiss chocolates which are world famous. Switzerland is visited by most people for its beauty, the Alps etc. But frankly, since I had gone there from Germany, I didn’t find it strikingly different.
Germans I found are very disciplined and they keep their country very neat and clean. In fact, the European countries look beautiful as they are dust free. All places are beautiful, everything is green, the plants and trees, basically the scenic beauty is worth seeing. Moreover, population is less here so it feels good to walk on the neat and clean beautiful roads. People don’t honk horns, so there’s no disturbing sounds around. The views are picturesque. No animals are visible on the road publicly in Germany. But people who want to keep pets are aided by the government. Austria was another country that I visited with mesmerising landscapes, picture-like grasslands and meadows. The best are the villages that are serene and beautiful.
Overall, all the countries that I visited intoxicated my senses and made me feel I had been to an ideal vacation destination.