All time twinkle

Taare Zameen Par, simply awesome. Best movie ever! Very impressed, inspired, thoughtfullated!

Impressive movies this autumn

Ran into some really interesting pieces of acting and story lines.
Parzania A flick frightfully depicting the riots in Gujarat, a deeply intriguing movie. Thoroughly shakes you! [Suggestion: Don't watch if you're about to get into a crisis or are weak hearted]. Naseerudin Shah and Sarika had put up a brilliant performance.

Apna Aasman Never heard of just before i ran into a rediff review accidentally. No promos, no ads, no publicity! This movie is probably made for some award ceremony. Though there is a certain amount of fantasy injected, the idea running through is quite natural. Its a must watch for any over-ambitious parent.

My Mom's new blog

My mom's newly started blogging... Do visit and comment... cheers

Hungry and Drooling me...

I jus realized it isn't the starving hunger alone that makes me feel hungry... Reading this recipe blog made me feel even more hungrier.

For two specific reasons
1. Most of the recipes published belong to a region where I had always belonged to.
2. The recipes published are quite easy to make and since i'm not all that bad at cooking i would definitely try all of them...

like I said

"You wouldn't dance because you had two left feet, so wouldn't you cook if you had two left hands

Incidentally this blog is written by Sharath's Mom

Updated one of my older posts

... after a real long hiatus. This was perhaps a lifetime experience.

When is a Good Question a Good Question??

Which direction does the sun rise in??

Now that's a good question!!

One of the many subtle observations is that the rhetoric use of the phrase

"That's a good question"

Is a good question one that for which the respondent doesn't know the answer or is it one which is actually ambiguous, perhaps this could be a topic in a course in MIT, Massachusetts

The greener side???

There has been a lot of footage on poverty in India, and the developed nations being depicted as godly, wished-to-be-there, greener pastures kinds.

Perhaps, is it another revolution after the industrial one. India-growing is lovely subject but there have been debates that it should materializing products on its own, rather than banking itself as an outsourcing-end.

It is natural for there to be poverty in a developed nation as well, but what i hadn't noticed earlier was any coverage of those. Took me by surprise, I guess if the UN throws a serious eye, India wont be at the receiving end for the fund they cash in for rural development and poverty eradication.

Location: South West England

Weekends have been more of travel and fun off late!

This time it was the south west of England - Torquay, Torbay, Exeter

Torbay is very picturesque and pleasing, the weather needs to be right and you could be staring at the sea from dawn to dusk!

Met up with an old friend, the meet-gap had been more than 10 years. Good fun, good food and was very glad for the trip. Deepak and Shuchi's house was just by the quay side, and the walk all along was ever-refreshing!

Apparently, Exeter has a 2000 year old history which now just boils down to being stylish. Co-incidently, landed there at a time when the most awaited "Renovated" Princess Hayes was open to the public. The cathedral was very impressive and so were swans.

Link to the album

More flyovers/bridges collapse

After listening to the collapse of the flyover in Hyderabad, a cause of poor engineering and planning, there is another one to go hand in hand, perhaps the causes were oceans apart.

Critics and other corporals conveniently blamed the construction companies for poor planning and engineering failures, but if asked for an opinion, the construction was going well planned with as less traffic congestions as could be controlled. The planning was efficient, and it was backed by big names! Perhaps, there could be insider news with the Quality of materials.

An appreciated piece of construction would be that of the Big Dig! Some news channel once aired a documentary which showed glimpses of the ordeals, planning, construction and much more during the Big Dig contruction times!

Drive through the wild

The weekend of the September 22nd was a very exciting one. Snippets... Driving for the first time in the UK... driving 420 miles... Visiting friends... planning a trip to Longleat... Zipping back on the Motorway.

Driving in the UK was alien till last week, it still enervates me for some reasons. I generally adore driving but there are so many rules adhering to which gives me initial shivers. Perhaps, time healers apply!

The Longleat Safari park, a well approved lunch time suggestion, is a wonderful place to visit. Short of a complete zoo, you could see wild animals in the natural habitats. The place in itself is amazingly huge and serene. Wouldn't say it's a jungle in a whole, but it cool! The pictures you'd see will give you a closer idea. Zoom on the camera was 4x(that was to assist in imagining distance). The rhino, tigers, lions and the foxes were my personal favorites. Caring just about for nobody, and quite cool, wouldn't have been cooler had they started pouncing around.
The Longleat house was another attraction, something that was well graphed in the hindi movie Mohabattein! Serenity again well maintained.

Drove to Bristol to walk the Clifton suspension bridge, a site of unchallenged engineering. Weather just gave up our side, and so quickened it quicklier(I know that's not dictionaried, yhikes!!).

Gave the weekend an end, driving the motorway, home dropping pals!

Wasn't very adventurous, but joyful indeed! Pleasing and Refreshing as well.

Trivial: Hired a Skoda Octavia. That's a car considered rich in India! Initial WOOW kinds.

Photos albums here

Another walk past Thames

Thames, the bridge London lives on! Walked another talk by one of its subsidaries - Avon... Railed to Reading. On the upcommance of converting nouns to verbs based on convenience, railed is not bad after all!

Nice and calm, slightly more conjusted than Swindon! but its gifted with the Avon. The riverlock was a sumptous scene with people sporting a rowing session! Good fun, good food, good weekend!

Jus read - The Prince of Fire

A thriller indeed, more for the facts! But I'm gonna impatient until I verify at least a couple of them!

They're definitely an eye-opener to the continuous melee between Palestine and Israel, the amount of hatred and misery! Gabriel was brilliant indeed...

Still slumberous!!

Untrue! Logistics fatalities... Wakin up in a short while... snoozing at the moment!

Waiting for a laptop, net connection, cell phone, bank balance, car, girl friend, and an MBA degree! Perhaps the order might be important, but they're time sliced!

Changed Location

To the place where English is not only a language but also addressed to the majority of the people around!!

psss: pinned to blog more frequently when convenience permits! Cheers and welfare

Gizmo--viral-techno story!

Die-Hard 4.0
Sounds more like my software version. Perhaps, that was the idea behind it! A lot of techno hacking identity, gizmo play, and virtual terrorism. Pretty gripping for 2 hours but then it sinks down as though its been too much!

Trivia found funny(Couldn't be a spoiler though) : Hackers were being assassinated by downloading viruses on their systems.

Was that an awareness cult that folks downloading stuff could potentially be downloading a bomb that could blow them up!

Freak! Asking for a break!

Awes of a pathetic service

BangaloreOnlineFlorists.com, evidently has a pathetic website! Lot of idiosyncrasies.

Problems:

1. The name says Bangalore Florists but the number published on their website is a phone which is answered by a Bengali who hadn't a clue of Bangalore's geography.
2. Their website(picture attached) says "Still taking delivery for 10th of July when the date is far passed it"
3. The website is ugly and the products are erratically priced.
4. Its been more than 24 hours since I placed an order and the order hasn't been placed as yet!


It is understood in this era of outsourcing, franchising and cost cutting, it does make sense to diversify and integrate businesses, but customers shouldn't be as misguided as this.

On calling the customer support, the response was they aren't responsible for such mishaps, since they can't keep changing it!

Is this a taste crisis

I remember having this fetish to watch Sivaji. Gosh! that was such a big showdown!

Mood: Dejected...

Reason: Can such a costly movie be soo pathetic!

Remedy: Need another day off to recover from my distress!

..ps... Colors signify more of an expression!

A joyous walk - Saar- Pass

The Himalayas, getting closer to was always a longing. Trekking i consider a long walk and have always wanted to do two treks each year, so that I wouldn't consciously need to put in efforts to cut down a few chubs.
One of the first adventures, that I must have taken to take my brother along to something I hadn't seen earlier, but then adventures need to happen at its best.

Sujay introduced me to this idea of going for this trek. The information published wasn't completely sufficient and since it was the first time with YHAI, I was pretty anxious!

11 days of trek, 14,000 ft(or at least close to), the Himalayas

Before the entire saga began, there had to be some commotion of not being confirmed with place on the trek, and so did it happen! Couldn't blame India with not being rapid and failing to understand that a bank can be instructed to send a recipient a DD... perhaps, the first time could always help! I had sent the trek authorities a snail-mail saying my bank had already sent them a DD and that they should confirm our(My brother's and mine) subscription for the trek!

And then, after all the initial obstacles of finding how to get to Kullu from Delhi, a few small tiffs with rick speedsters and private bus drivers we finally managed to sleep through to Kullu. Kullu itself was amazing with regards to the climate and the landscape! We had to report to this place called Kasol, and so we did at around mid-noon!

To my surprise, there were more than expected people from all over India, emphatically from Maharashtra. I wouldn't want to debate over the subject whether they're more on for treks and the likes but they were in bigger numbers! The base camp was very picturesque, the river Parbati flowing beside, a the ranges high above with a aura of ecstasy! Picturesque they were and so they were!

Having had to gear up for some initial warm up and an introduction to Rappelling and Rock Climbing it was Day 3 that we all took off to the first camp.

Resuming after a real long hiatus! Let's test some memory

Day 3 - we started off with a rooftop bus journey to the spot where we'd start trekking. Observationally, Himachal is a beautiful picturesque place, with roads rope narrow!! The buses need more experienced drivers than do pilots who land planes on runways like that of Mangalore. Trekked up to Gunna paani, wasn't too tiring as we were very enthusiastic to walk and do the trek. The camp site was being taken care of an amateur astronomer, a resource person who told us quite a lot about galaxies and star gazing. Intersting, but could continue inculcating that as a hobby... I'm probably better counting stars which i never see!

Day 4 and 5 were similar, reaching altitudes of 10000 feet was something very lung fillingly memorable. The camps were again well organized, and the food though mostly of potatoes was still very edible.

Day 6 was perhaps THE most memorable day. Every body fine and calm and still enthusiastic, till the storm struck. A life time experience, i wouldn't suggest everyone should undergo. Chronologically, the visibility reduced to 1 foot, and then suddenly everyone's rain sheeters were all flying helter-skelter. The weaker-sex, were mostly in tears and due to their emotional binding and comfort climbing they were more than shocked. All men, i must promote the category of boys to men, because they at least acted like men, took responsibility very maturely, catering to assist women by carrying their rucksacks, and dragging them through the climb. The terrain was totally icy, and snow fall hadn't stopped. People were slipping and falling but nevertheless everyone was walking towards reaching the camp, hoping that it was always just round the corner. Tilla Lottni was where we were heading.

Reached the camp to find out two out of 4 tents had been pulled down by the rains. 11,500 feet and there were organizers and cooks waiting to cater. This must all go to the credit towards the Youth Hostels Association organizers. We were served with tea and soup to keep the fluid flowing, and when the storm subsided one of the tents were pulled up. Though it was still wet, people weren't complaining too much, because nature had shown them what its colors were. Food served was hot and tasty, I am out of words in appreciation for the efforts that went in!!

The next moring was expected to be the last of the inclines, to reach the glorious 13,800 feet, cross Sar-pass and slide over the other side. There were incidences of "Can't do anymore!", "Can i walk back the way i came", "I can't walk anymore, can i be airlifted"! But then the group leader spoke everyone into completing the trek , and the pep-talks did work!

Next morning, we rose at 3, for a reason that we needed to cross Sar-pass before the sun rose, or else, the snow would melt and it would be even more slippery. It wasn't as dark as you would think, and the air was ammazzingly pure. It was a lovely morning and folks started inclining leaving behind memories of the tortorous previous day. After having achieved the pinnacle climb and altitude, klicking snaps in all angles, the decline hadn't yet begun!

Walking in the snow wasn't easy at all. Good boots saved my foot and grip, and so did a good pair of sunglasses to avoid being sun-blind! Biskeri top was the tallest cliff we had to climb and while doing that i thought i'd almost fainted, its was hard to breathe because of the altitude, and we were short of water, so everyone was desperate for rest and water.

Right in time, we were in for the most entertaining part of the trek, the sliders, we were to slide down a kilometer and a half on our bottoms on ice. Chilly, frozen and numb was what my arse said when i rose after the slide!

The rest of the two tents were cool too, very picturesque and a lot of fun indeed, Bhandak-thatch was a very beautiful camping site, and we did a lot of talking after having done the trek closing to success.

Day 10 - we were on our way back to the base camp, before a hot spring bath at the sikh temples in Manikaran!

Overall, the trek was very joyous though painstaking, very well organized and guided, and the landscape was simply amazzing. A few selected photos linked

Sar-pass is a must-go trek.

Using Windows Live Writer!

Interesting! The usage of the Web2.0 paradigm seems to be really happening!

Windows Live Writer seems to be bridging the Web and Desktop realities! Another one like Dekoh

Wondering whether my posts get uploaded properly

Waiting to Watch Sivaji - The Boss

Not because I'm a huge fan of Superstar Rajnikanth, and not because my name also ends with -kanth. Curious to see why he's charged Rs. 20 crores! And why people are gung-ho about this new flick!
Mood: Weekend! Looking for a girl friend!

Movie: The Holiday

Claimed to be a a good date movie, but for good ol stags, its still goes will some good Sula Wine and Pizza! Not a very interesting story, quite a blend of English and American lingo's and backdrops, pretty women, and quite some dragged weeping! Overall some good time pass.

courtesy@imdb

Recent Addictions

Two recent addictions!
1. Playing Chess on Zapak!
This has been Sandeep's influence ;) Though it has caught up big time on me, I've no regrets. Life has seen quite some change, and I'm assuming for the better!

2. Troubling Rishi, day in day out! Its become an observed pattern. But then, younger brothers do suffer these traumas yeah! Every elder sibling would second my thought. Then again! I did show him the Taj Mahal

Sugarred...

The new flick Cheeni Kum is an sumptuous flow of comedy and wit. Amitabh Bachchan would give the very young a flare of his charm. Good entertainment, and certainly a movie to watch for a light hearted wishful laughter!

Dekoh... wishful sharing!

Touring till my limbs ache

Many places and short durations... Wondering at times... after hearing stories from Ashith after his worldwide tour in an attempt to reach India safely and legally, amusing though painstaking!

Many places and short durations...longer durations... amusements... excitements... people never spoken to in college and end being the only other person in that town you know... trip to the barber shop... acclimatising to the circumstances of not having made an appointment for a haircut... being directed to destinations which hold sumptuous history and worth watching... trying to get into the gentleman's club... not being allowed to get in for not displaying an identity on demand... first time kinds with snow and wind and adversely low temperatures... running out of cigarettes and not wanting to shell out a half days wage for a pack of one... Tasting variety foods... closing in variety to cod and chips... Being entertained by the cabbie who was excited that he was going to holiday in Goa... Helluva time... 30 days... Swindon...


Thanks to the itch of not having traveled in a plane for quite some time a looking for a timeout... Indian cheapest flight... Air Deccan... destination Delhi... budgetting... place to stay... good friends place... nice place... Red Fort... Qutub Minar... Safdarjung tomb... South and North Block... Raj Bhavan... Lok Sabha... hep Metro... not so hep as those in London though :P... awesome monumental structures... with a sense of belonging... Hilton and Martini... not too good as that of James Bond... faffing and banter... nostalgic old times... good times and bad... stoned and drunk... nice and short... 2 days... Delhi...

Another itch, attending a Bengali wedding, and of course a thirst to see the land of the so called intellectuals, communists, politically superior, whore land of South east Asia... didn't get a chance to get close to that though... Kolkatta... dismayingly filthy... scary looking haunted houses... multiple means of transportation... drag ricks, metros, trams, Yellow Ambi cabs... in more than abundance... Victoria memorial... Howrah Bridge... Ramakrishna Math, Belur... hallucinatingly serene... Vivekananda temples... boat rides to Dakshineshwar... bargain and fights with taxi drivers... Marriage of course, traveled 2200 kms and didn't attend the marriage because it was they got married too late in the night... and I'm not too happy with the Yellow cabs... Another friend... college mate... good fun... afternoon beer and fish... nostalgic times again... whoz getting married... who's screwing whom... opinions... no imaginations please... Sahara pranam... 3 days... Kolkatta...

After having shuttled between Hyderabad and Bangalore for 3 years and once across the border this must have the busiest and enjoyable month, counts in for 3 weekends of travel... leaving for bangalore this weekend... waiting for boss to sanction more leaves...

Glorifying begging as a profession

A usual complaint by many concerned about the social welfare about a state is that there are too many beggars, homeless, destitute whichever adjective describes better! A non-versatile profession but there are surprisingly some who've made their way through it as well.
Interestingly, this article from the ET which marks the trend of another very old profession, the article also throws some light on aspects of lifestyle and attitude.
I sure don't want to make a generalization that beggars are getting richer which wouldn't otherwise change your mind of not dropping a buck at the traffic signal the next time.

Media Transformation - Blog-woe-sphere

With the not-so-pleasant experiences with shopkeepers for they dont treat you with the expected consideration, with economists for leveraging exorbitant taxes on what you meagerly earn, with bus services for the presumptuous attitude for not providing you seats they promised, with unworthy traffic policemen for catching you and making a quick buck out of no mistake of yours along with surmounted harassment... The list of woes is a never-ending one.
Each time this happens, I've always wanted to go back home and write to the media, and make aware people, but countered it with the easy going nature of indian editors who manage the editorials column for biased political issues!

Sharath, apparently has kicked out the misconception by being acknowledged by Shashi Tharoor! I'm inspired to put in all my woes and issues out here, and punch in a few well-known names for them to get recognized!
Peek in here for the most published article for this day on reddit