Ankle let down

Sprained my left ankle last evening while playing badminton. Nevertheless, called a good reason for a sick-leave.

It indeed gave me sometime to find out where the Hospital in Swindon was. Also tried making Channa Masala and Brinjal curry. Surprisingly both turned out well.

Iron Man - Impressive OST

Praises for "The Pianist"

"The Pianist" is a brilliant movie. Simple, meaningful, and just apt.

I haven't been a fan of World War movies, especially those with gruesome killing and disparity against Jews, but this one is certainly done well.

Summer Joy begins!

The well-awaited summer has finally arrived. After all those cold nights and short days, the change is now so very much appreciated.
The first weekend of May is generally a long weekend in Britain, and weekend plans while the summer is on is grand!

We, Abhi, Venki, Hari, and I took off to Wales, supposedly another country. A 3-day trip it was, covering close to 450 miles. There were a few places we wanted to visit, we headed out

Destination One - Bristol, Abhi lives in Bristol, so squeezed into his apartment for the night. Friday nights aren't generally called off too quickly. Strolled the water front pub gazing!

Rose and departed early, Destination Carmarthen. A good samaritan had suggested the temple visit - Skanda Vale. It took us around 2 hours to get there, apart from which, there wasn't any road during the last bit of the drive. The temple in itself was very holy, and energetic. The rituals performed were very homely, as in resembled those as would have been done in Southern India. It was very surprising to see the Welsh/British takeupon themselves such kind of rituals, perhaps, they did find sanctity in their deeds. Extremely delicious food was served as offerings. We did a short climb to the top of the hill to another of the series of temples. The Maha Shakthi temple at the top of the hill also contained a small number of animals to enhance the place's beauty. There were a couple of peacocks, geese, and there was an elephant as well.

Before we left for our journey, I had called up a few places to enquire for accomodation. Fortunately, I happened to call this lady who said she had a two-bedder acco on the beach front. We wanted to position ourselves close to Swansea, but then this offer was very irresistable.
So, we drove ourselves to find this huge colony of new flats right in front of the beach. Destination LLanelli, (pronounced as Thla nethli). The flat was simply gorgeous, big, spacious, well furnished, and right in front of the beach. We thought no more and considered to make this holiday- Very Relaxed! To home it all, we played a lot of monopoly, and enjoyed the beach front. The beach, though, was quite weird. The water always drew back during the morning and night, but was up in front during the noons, and early mornings

The next day we did the Kidwelli castle, the castle was very nice, and not lavish, and opulent like the Windsor castle. It had resemblences to the Golconda Fort back in Hyderabad.

We left the apartment Monday morning, and headed to Caswell Bay, a much more happening beach than that we lived in front. Frisked a frisbee around for a while, rugbied a rugby ball and dared to get into the water. The water, though, was freezing. It was as if, i was forced to fold my legs when i stepped into the water. Not wanting bad cold week ahead, we kept away and shortly then headed to Mumbles for lunch. Lunch was good at CJ's, some random Italian place in Mumbles.

Drove 200 miles back after a heavy sumptous meal, and that was dangerously difficult. Nevertheless, a coffee did the trick, and we were back in Swindon after dropping Abhi back in Bristol, just in time for Venki and Hari to catch their bus to London.

Good trip it was indeed... Pics linked

Homely Holiday

Was desperate for a holiday, more from the place than work!! Destination Dubai it was.

The plan was to stay at home with my folks as i hadn't done so for a very long time. My leaves were planned well in advance and I had two good weeks of vacation. My mom had insisted that I visit them in Dubai rather than in India, for her own good reasons.

This was a place where I had spent 10 years of my childhood. UAE was then itself a rapidly growing country with evident development all around. Since i left, the place has grown to riches!! Though capitalism flows through the dictators of the Arab world, the intention of projecting Dubai as a spot icon on the global map seems indeed a success story.

Currently, the major attractions I wouldn't want to miss mentioning are the Dubai Metro, Hot-Property-real-estates, tall-taller-tallest buildings, extravagant-6-laner-roads!!

However, that is no reason what i went there for! Intentions clear, I wanted to spend time with my Mom and Dad! The love and food my Mom fed me on and the warmth I fleeced on my Dad was simply priceless!
I was on a holiday, putting my feet up. My usual holiday-day started at late morning 11, with a dozen of idlis or dosas - I totally love iddlies and dosas;relish them wholy - laze around till lunch time watching crappy movies. Hog a glorious lunch when dad arrived from work and then doze of to deadly siestas!! This part of the day was generally in trance, I used to be intoxicated just with food, and each moment I glorified very much!
Evenings were generally times where we'd roam around, meet up with old folks, catch up for parties, go back into memorablia and rejoice times spent...
Well, for having said all that, this holiday was really joyful, and thats not all, my mom even packed food sufficient for 10 days for a full-appetite-glutton(that covered most of my check-in luggage)...

Thanks amma and appa - I had a wonderful time!!

More pictures linked

Living Cold in the Cold

The chill in the air does get to you, and your continual tempestuous attitude is frozen.

Does it happen to all around the world? but it certainly does to me.

I've been numb for a while, contemplating within, about the things i intend to do.

I shall blog something interesting soon... Procrastination continued...

The common man target - I'm Lovin It!

The common man is THE target for all marketing strategies these days.

First there was McDonalds 20 Rs. burger, that reached the common man, with glossy ads and umpteen faces. Well, you might end up spending more after reaching an outlet but then again, you have an option to constrict your wallet. Though not very healthy, it is certainly very appealing.

Then there was Deccan airways with RK. Laxman's common man mascot dragging crowds from all over the ruralest of India. The service was well appreciated by the masses until King [Fisher] Mallya decided its not very good for itself. But then again, the common man appeal.

And then, there is the Tata Rs. 1 Lakh car, that has caught quite a worldwide eye. Yet to be released but certainly well awaited. The common man appeal yet again.

And now it's laptops, that are being driven towards the common man. Recently Allied Computers idea-stormed to come up with a Rs. 15,000 laptop.

The common man must be very happy for things are very well in reach for him, but what does categorise this common man is a step-back thought. The common man classification would consider that most part of the population would fall under that category. Now this maybe a vague ideology but may stand out to say that these are the most dynamic part of the population. Allegedly, if this sect does consider participating in economic and social reforms it wouldn't help really much to the economic stand of the country as a whole.

Issue apart, for products marketing officials this group is certainly the main target. From, burgers, to laptops, to air tickets, they do have the purchasing power and they are interested.

Humble Descent

The tiff between India and Australia off the field seems to have caught much an eye than the sultry test matches! Perhaps, for a reason other than the unperceptive, witless umpire decisions!

A descent that has been considered disgraceful, and for even more with a stronger familiarity. Symmonds who anyone at a first glance would have been staunched as one perhaps has had more occassions being called so.

This Australian strategy will certainly drive them to succumb to their animal races very soon!

Benazir, the debacle

Its been close to 2 weeks since the assasination of Benazir Bhutto, and thus far, there has been no concrete statement of the leader's death.

The assasination certainly needs condemnation but alongside she has gloriously announed as one the greatest leaders. She was indeed a voice of democracy, but was she a democrat for the people is a question that would always remain.

This article published by a known columnist William Dalrymple points out the political unjust arose during Benazir's rule. Allegations involve being sacked as Prime Minister twice on grounds of corruption, involvement in the assasination of kin Murtaza, and several other money-laundering activities. Weirdly, on an ethically economic perspective, the Bhutto's hailed from sounds backgrounds and were inclined towards the welfare of the country, but to news as that, it seems quite insane to loot the treasure of an economy which is barely trying to breathe. The paradoxical ingenuinity seems to call for pity. Further, even satirically, she was invited by Prez. Mush to get into a coalition so as to hang in with power. An attempt of one offender hiding another's stinking arse!

On the flip side, it was surprising to notice that Pakistani economy had been doing quite well, despite all these mishaps and uneven ruling. Yes, they are known to be a nuclear weapon armed nation and religiously well stood but to mark a growth of 7% for the last 6 years is indeed outstanding, that too without complete democracy!

Gravely, I do mourn for the death of a person as any other, and do hope that Pakistan will come out of its miseries and bring stability in its economy at the earliest!

- Friendly neighbour!

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!