Chaotic Reality Meets Twisted Logic !

2012 : The Mystery Deepens !

2009-11-23T15:45:00.004+09:00

Experts from around the world are predicting that five years from now, all life on Earth could well come to an end. Some are saying it’ll be humans that would set it off. Others believe that a natural phenomenon will be the cause. And the religious folks are saying it’ll be God himself who would press the stop button.

The following are some likely arguments as to why the world would end by the year 2012.

Reason One : Mayan Calendar

The first to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a bloodthirsty race that were good at two things - building highly accurate astrological equipment out of stone and sacrificing virgins. Thousands of years ago they managed to calculate the length of the lunar moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. The Mayan calendar predicts that the earth will end on December 21,2012. Given that they were pretty close to the mark with the lunar cycle, it’s likely they’ve got the end of the world right as well.

Reason Two: Sun Storms

Solar experts from around the world monitoring the sun have made a startling discovery. Our sun is in a bit of strife. The energy output of the sun is, like most things in nature, cyclic and it’s supposed to be in the middle of a period of relative stability. However, recent solar storms have been bombarding the earth with lot of radiation energy. It’s been knocking out power grids and destroying satellites. This activity is predicted to get worse and calculations suggest it’ll reach its deadly peak sometime in 2012.

Reason Three: The Atom Smasher

Scientists in Europe have been building the world’s largest particle accelerator. Basically, its a 27 km tunnel designed to smash atoms together to find out what makes the universe tick. However, the mega-gadget has caused serious concern, with some scientists suggesting that it’s probably even a bad idea to turn it on in the first place. They’re predicting all manner of deadly results, including mini black holes. So when this machine is fired up for its first serious experiment in 2012, the world could be crushed into a super-dense blob the size of a basketball.

Reason Four: The Bible Says It

If having scientists warning us about the end of the world isn’t bad enough, religious folks are getting in on the act as well. Interpretations of the Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle between good an evil, has been set for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the Chinese Book of Changes, says the same thing, as do various sections of the Hindu teachings.

Reason Five: Super Volcano

Yellowstone National Park in United States is famous for its thermal springs and old faithful geyser. The reason for this is simple - it’s sitting on top of the world’s biggest volcano and geological experts are beginning to get nervous sweats. The Yellowstone volcano has a pattern of erupting every 650,000 years or so, and we’re many years overdue for an explosion that will fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the earth into a frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years. The pressure under the Yellowstone is building steadily, and geologists have set 2012 as a likely date for the big bang.

Reason Six: The Physicists

This one’s case of bog - simple mathematics. Physicists at Berkely University have been crunching the numbers. They've determined that the earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event. Even worse, they’re claiming that their calculations prove that we’re all going to die, very soon. They are also saying that their prediction comes with a certainty of 99 per cent; and 2012 just happens to be the best guess as to when it occurs.

Reason Seven: Earth’s Magnetic Field

We all know the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that shields us from most of the sun’s radiation. What you might not know is that the magnetic poles we call North and South have a nasty habit of swapping places every 750,000 years or so - and right now we’re about 30,000 years overdue. Scientists have noted that the poles are drifting apart roughly 20-30 kms each year, much faster than ever before, which points to a pole-shift being right around the corner. While the pole shift is under way, the magnetic field is disrupted and will eventually disappear, sometimes for up to 100 years. The result is enough UV outdoors to crisp your skin in seconds, killing everything it touches.

Himalayan Retreat - The Indrahar Trek !

2009-10-25T01:08:00.048+09:00

Living in concrete jungles and toiling away day and night to make that extra buck has become a norm for most of us. Have you ever imagined breaking away from these shackles and exploring the true essence of life? Being highly passionate about travel, adventure and photography I sometimes feel the urge to explore the wild and wander around freely with nothing but pure bliss as companion. Well what's life without actually living it!

As an old 11th century saying goes "Traveler's will cross many rivers and climb many mountains. Plainsmen may always live within a valley. But only those seeking the truth will ever reach the summit". This is a vivid recount of my tryst with destiny.

A few weeks of planning and last minute leave approval meant I was frantically on my way to catch that evening flight to Delhi on a cloudy Friday afternoon in Bangalore. An overnight stay in Delhi and we start off early next morning to catch the Kalka bound Shatabdi Express. The excitement is palpable on reaching Kalka as we brace ourselves to board the "Himalayan Queen". The Kalka-Shimla Himalayan Queen is an architectural gem providing breathtaking panoramas of the Himalayan foothills as it meanders its way through 101 tunnels and 864 bridges on its slow accent to Shimla. An amazing experience as we stay rooted to the doors soaking in the lasting memories.

The next two days are spent wandering about in Shimla, the summer capital of India during British Raj. One can only admire this city for its immaculate planning and architectural beauty. After a brief detour to Kufri we visit the "Kali Baadi" (Kali Temple) and the "Jakhu Mandir" (Hanuman Temple). Legend has it that Hanuman rested here for sometime when he went to collect the mythical medicinal herb “Sanjivani” from the Himalayas to cure the mortally wounded Lakshman and in the process his footprints got embedded here. Soon the time came to bid goodbye to this historic city as we help ourselves to some goodies at the famous Mall Road and take the overnight bus to Dharamshala.

A 9km drive from Dharamshala takes you to Mcleodganj, abode of the Dalai Lama and the epicenter of Tibetan cry for Independence. Apart from being the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile this suburb is the base point for many a trek into the mighty Dhauladhar Range and hence is always bustling with trekking enthusiasts from all over the world. After a token visit to the Dalai Lama Temple we pack our sleeping bags, tents and hiking sticks to head for Dharamkot (a small town 2km from Mcleodganj) next morning. Here we meet our guide, Kuldeep, and he infuses enough confidence in us to be able to complete the trek within 4 days.

The ridges over the Dhauladhar do not lend themselves to easy trekking and the Indrahar Pass is no exception. This trail however is well defined as it is the traditional migratory and grazing route of the "Gaddis", the colorful, semi nomadic Hindu shepherds. Climbing uphill from Dharamkot along a rocky path, amongst the clouds, it took us about 5 hours to climb 800m and reach Triund (2850m). The 9km walk is steep but provides splendid views of the meadows below. Needless to say the vivid Himalayan flora en route caught everyone's eye. At the top, Triund painted a pretty picture with mountain goats and horses grazing on green pastures amidst a backdrop of the mighty Himalayas. We spent the night at the forest guest house here and woke up early next morning to catch the beautiful sunrise above the high mountains shrouded in layers of thick clouds. Words can never do justice to this mesmerizing experience!

The trail from Triund starts to climb gently through oak and conifer forests and after a point the green pastures seem to give way to huge rocks and boulders. We pass through a ridge of prayer flags and descending porters and after a 3 hour climb reach the campsite at Lakagot (3350m), 6km from Triund. The altitude is getting to us by now and our pace has drastically reduced. Snow Line Cafe provides a lifeline here as we fill ourselves to the brim with the basic food available and decide to camp out for the night at near zero temperatures, all the while gazing at the misty mountains right ahead of us and what it would feel like to be on top.

The day after Kuldeep dutifully wakes us all up at 5 am as we start for the final assault to Indrahar Pass, 6km from Lakagot, through dense fog and almost zero visibility. A rigorous trek for 2 hours and we reach Lahesh Cave (3600m), a huge rock overhang adjacent to a "Nullah" (Glacial stream). The legs have started paining badly by now as we rest here to catch a little breath. Kuldeep has words of encouragement and constantly eggs us on. The trek up to the pass involves climbing through rugged and slippery terrain, sometimes on all fours. Holy markings engraved on the rocks by shepherds all along the way help to keep a sense of direction amidst the maze of rocks. As I climb higher I can hear my heart pounding heavily and asking me to turn back with each forward step but the determination to reach the top keeps me going somehow. The last stretch to Indrahar Pass (4350m) is an almost vertical climb and the sun is unforgiving even at that altitude but once there the majestic view of the snow capped Pir Panjal Range and Mt. Mani Mahesh Kailash (5650m) to the north is simply spellbinding.

Standing there on top I had this strange feeling of belongingness and a sense of achievement that I had finally made it to the abode of Gods. Needless to say the pain endured during the last 7 hours was traded for every inch of ascent!

And as the popular Gaddi saying goes "Ye pathar bulate hain!”, I hope to make it back again sometime in the near future!

Orkut-ish...!

2009-03-13T06:02:00.003+09:00

* "Are u there on Orkut ??"...Yep whoz not ?..."Ok add kar lunga"...Arre bhai contact number to deta ja ??..."Yaar profile se pata kar lunga na"

* "Oye whatz this new Carnival theme?"...Kaunsa Carnival ?...Kahan pe ho raha hai ?..."Yaar em talking about this cool theme in Orkut...Mast hai yaar...Better than the Roadies theme !"

* "Gtalk on Orkut is irritating yaar !...Iski setting change kar sakte hain kya ??"...Honi to chahiye kahin na kahin..."Nahi mil raha hai dost ...Dhond ke bata na plz !"

* "What an awesome party dude...Kya crowd tha...!"...Kahan gaya tha ??..."Yaar there was this special invite only for people of 'Taika' community in Orkut ...Had a rocking time dude !"

* "Tujhe invite kiya tha khelne ke liye...Khela kyun nahi ??"...Kab yaar...Main to subah se yehin hun..."Arre Orkut pe 'Teen-Patti' khelna ka invite bheja tha yaar...U can chat with people as well there...Cool App...I just love Orkut !"

Welcome to the Orkut-age folks ! :)

150 Things To Do Before U Turn 30 ! :)

2009-03-13T04:28:00.005+09:00

Came across this list on one of my favorite blogs - Moments Today...Memories Tommorrow

Loved the list and as U would have guessed it ...Here I go !! :)

* The things that I have already done are in green.
* The things which I would love to do are in red.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with dolphins (Wow !)
03. Climbed a mountain (Twice !)
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive (Phew !)
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone (That would be something !)
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped (Want to do this at least before I die if not before I am 30 !)
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise (Nandi Hills !)
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg (That would be super cool !)
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower (Remember Hale-Bopp ?)
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (Yup !)
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can (U bet !)
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse (Wish I could capture the Diamond Ring !)
34. Ridden a roller coaster (Theme parks zindabad ! )
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day (Tried to impress my Language Trainer in office :P)
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment (Yup !)
39. Had two hard drives for your computer (Can't live with just one !)
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk (More than once ! )
42. Had amazing friends (Lots of them !)
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip (Love them !)
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach (Don't ask with whom :P)
50. Gone sky diving (Again at least before I die if not before I turn 30 !)
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day (Yup !)
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain (Awww !)
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theatre
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo (Goa Rocks !)
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on a television news program as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date (Wooo...!)
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
93. Been on a cruise ship (Bombay to Goa ...Though I hardly remember much of it !)
94. Spoken more than one language fluently (Still do !)
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking with the windows open
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived (Bike Trip - Ooty '07...Am lucky to be still alive !)
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show (No millionaire dreams...Just a li'l cash would do ! :P)
113. Broken a bone (More than once !)
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper (Not for the wrong reasons though ! :P )
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Para sailed
132. Touched a cockroach (Played with one ! :P)
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language (Was fun !)
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream (Once !)
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

26% completion rate!! Not bad eh considering the fact that I just turned 25 ! :)

Zodiacs n Booze !

2009-03-06T20:25:00.006+09:00

ARIES : Impulsive Aries like to party and sometimes don't know when to call it a night. Their competitive streak makes them prone to closing-time shot contests. They're sloppy, fun drunks, and they get mighty flirty after a couple tipples. Getting Aries people drunk is a good way to get what you want out of them, should other methods fail. Aries can become bellicose when blotto, but they will assume that whatever happened should be forgiven (if not forgotten) by sunrise. They can be counted on to do the same for you - so long as you haven't gone and done anything really horrible to them last night, you sneaky Gemini.

TAURUS : Taurus prefers to drink at a leisurely pace, aiming for a mellow glow rather than a full-on zonk. Since a truly intoxicated Taurus is a one-person stampede, the kind of bull-in-a-china- shop inebriate who spills red wine on white carpets and tells fart jokes to employers, the preference for wining and dining (or Bud and buddies) to body shots and barfing is quite fortunate for the rest of us. This is not to say that the Bull is by any means a teetotaler - god, no. A squiffy Taurus will get, er, gregarious (full of loud mouth soup, some would say) and is extremely amusing to drag to a karaoke bar when intoxicated.

GEMINI : Gemini's can drink without changing their behavior much - they're so naturally chatty and short-attention- spanned that it's just hard to tell sometimes. They can amaze you by conversing with finesse and allusion, then doing something to belie an extremely advanced state of intoxication, like puking in your shoe. Gemini's possess the magic ability to flirt successfully (and un-infuriatingly, which is very tricky) with several people at once. They like to order different cocktails every round - repetition is boring - and may create a theme (like yellow drinks: beer, sauvignon blanc and limoncello) for their own amusement.

CANCER : Cancer is a comfort drinker - and an extra wine with dinner or an after-work beer or six can be extra comforting, can't it, Cancer darling? Like fellow water signs Scorpio and Pisces, Crabs must guard against lushery. Cancers are brilliant at ferreting out secret parties and insinuating themselves on VIP lists - and, in true Hollywood style, Cancers are never really drunk; instead, they get "tired and emotional" (read: weepy when lubricated). But there's nothing better than swapping stories (and spit) over a few bottles of inky red wine with your favorite Cancer. Even your second-favorite Cancer will do. The sign also rules the flavor vanilla, and you'd be adored if you served up a vanilla vodka and soda.

LEO : Leo likes to drink and dance - they're often fabulous dancers, and usually pretty good drinkers as well, losing their commanding dignity and turning kittenish. Of course, they're quite aware they're darling -Leos will be Leos, after all. They generally know their limit, probably because they loathe losing self-control. When they get over-refreshed, expect flirting to ensue - and perhaps not with the one what rung them. But Leo's not the type to break rules even when drunk, so just try to ignore it (try harder, Cancer) and expects a sheepish (and hung over) Lion to make it up to you the next day.

VIRGO : Cerebral Virgos are compelled to impose order onto their bender. Their famously fussy quest for purity could lead to drinking less than other signs, sure - but it could also lead to drinking booze neat, to sucking down organic wine or just to brand loyalty. They rarely get fully shellacked -- but, oh, when they do! Virgo's controlled by the intellect, but there's an unbridled beast lurking within, and they let it loose when walloped. It's dead sexy (and surprisingly un-sloppy). As one Virgo friend used to declare, "I'm going to drink myself into a low-level of intelligence tonight." A toast to the sub genius IQ!

LIBRA : "I'm jusht a social drinker," slurs Libra, "it's jusht that I'm so damn social?" Libra loves nothing more than to party, mingle and relate to everyone. Whether dipped in favor of Good Libra (with Insta-Friend device set to "on") or heavier on the Evil Libra side (they are little instigators when bored), the Scales can really work a room. Charming as they are, Libras are notoriously lacking in self-control, however, which can get them into all sorts of trouble - including wearing their wobbly boots waay too early in the evening, flirting with every man/woman in the room or even blacking out the night's events entirely. Oops!

SCORPIO : Don't ever tell Scorpios they've had enough, for they'll smirk at you and quietly but intentionally keep tippling till they're hog-whimpering drunk, out of 100-proof spite. Scorpios like to drink, and screw you if you have a problem with that. Most of them seethe sauce as something to savor in itself, and not as a personality- altering tool - though if depressed, self-loathing Scorps seek total obliteration. But generally, they're fascinating drinking pals, brilliant conversationalists and dizzying flirts. They also remember everything - especially what you did when you were blitzed. Only drink with a Scorpio who likes you.

SAGITTARIUS : In vino veritas - and, for Sagittarius, in booze blurriness: When buttered, they'll spill all your secrets and many of their own. Tactlessness aside, Sagittarius is just plain fun to drink with. This is a sign of serious partying (what else would you expect from the sign of Sinatra, Keith Richards, the Bush twins and Anna Nicole Smith?). They're the people who chat up everyone in the room, then persuade the entire crowd to travel somewhere else - like a nightclub, or a playground, or Cancun. Good - natured hi jinks are sure to ensue (including a high possibility of loopy groping; spontaneous Sag is a brilliant booty call).

CAPRICORN : Capricorn is usually described as practical, steadfast, money-hungry and status-thirsty - no wonder they get left off the astrological cocktail-party list. But this is the sign of David Bowie and Annie Lennox, not to mention Elvis. Capricorn is the true rock star: independent, powerful and seriously charismatic, not too eager to please. And if they make money being themselves, who're you to quibble? But just like most rock stars, they're either totally on or totally off, and they generally need a little social lubricant to loosen up and enjoy the after party, especially if they can hookup with a cute groupie.

AQUARIUS : Aquarius and drinking don't go together that well (except for water, that is). They have an innate tendency toward know-it-allism, and if they get an idea while sizzled, they're more stubborn than a stain or a stone. If they're throwing a party or organizing an outing, however, they're too preoccupied with their duties to get combative - and they make perfectly charming drunks in that case. Fortunately, they're usually capital drink-nursers. They also make the best designated drivers (if you can get them before they start raising their wrist). Aquarius is fascinated by drunk people and capable of holding interesting conversations with soused strangers while sober.

PISCES : If you're a Pisces, you've probably already heard that you share a sign and an addictive personality - with Liz Taylor, Lisa Minnelli and Kurt Cobain. Not only do Pisces like to lose themselves in the dreamy, out-there feeling that only hooch can give, but they build up a mighty tolerance fast. Who needs an expensive date like that? On the other hand, they're fabulously enchanting partners, whether in conversation or in crime. With the right Pisces, you can start out sharing a pitcher of margaritas and windup in bed together for days. The phrase "addictive personality" can be read two ways, you know.

Source : Forwarded Article ...!

Orchestra or Rebellion ?

2009-03-04T01:55:00.008+09:00

This is not a write up on Pakistan bashing but about sinister minds still on the loose in a nation which has never been in control of itself since its inception...True foreign powers played a big role in creating these anti-social elements for their own benefits in the first place (read CIA)...But over the years Pakistan has done nothing to curb or sustain those elements...In fact they have appeased and nurtured them to prosper and now the Tiger is on the loose...As our Home Minister aptly put it ..."Pakistan is riding a Tiger which it doesn't know how to get rid of"...But come to think of it...In a country which has seen umpteen military coups and where the power centers are the Military and Intelligence agencies (read ISI) you would probably expect such a situation..."Pakistan is a failed Democracy"...They may not accept it and keep telling themselves that they will have a proper democratic government in place in time but those are just dreams...Any democratic government will be a puppet in the hands of the so called power centers like the current one is...!

The recent attacks are just a whitewash to divert world media attention from the Mumbai massacre and generate sympathy for Pakistan...The bait - "Its own people are also victims of terror"...With all due respect to the Sri Lankan cricketers I must say this was just a staged attack ...Prove me wrong but every detail about the incident seems to point towards the same conclusion ...

* The route to Gaddaffi was changed minutes before the Lankan team's departure from the Hotel yet the attackers were well prepared for the ambush...Strange unless there is a leak from the inside !

* The Lankans were provided high profile security cover yet there was no decoy vehicle before the Team bus...Beats any sane logic and security protocol !

* The so called terrorists came armed with Kalashnikovs, Rocket Launchers and Grenades yet they were never used...They could have blown up the entire bus into shreds...Any Rocket Launcher fires at least 2 rounds...None were fired directly at the bus...Was this just a show off of weaponry ?

* The 12 armed men drop their weapons after 25 minutes of shoot out in which they mercilessly kill 6 Pakistani policemen and then blend into the crowd as normal civilians...Not even a hint of Fida-yeen attack nor a possible hostage situation...This was just a way of mocking the world community that - We are also the targets of terror - Please show some sympathy for us as well !

* Everything is caught on camera...And the drama continues for 25 long minutes at the heart of Lahore !

Am I still missing something ...?

Flashback...

2009-03-03T00:36:00.008+09:00

* "25 bochor hote cholche...Koto kore bolchi MBA ta kore ne...Aar kokhun korbi ekhun na korle ??" (Almost 25 yrs on...If U don't do ur MBA now when will U do it ??)...Can never explain to her that I love my job however demanding it is ...It pays me really well and I have earned it...Wat else do U want in life ??...Doing an MBA has fetched better matrimonial prospects if not better jobs at times...Thatz about it and she drives me nuts every time I call home...Have found a way to keep her at bay though..."Will do my MBA in time Mom...Peace !"

* "Oye ghumakkar...Kitna ghumta rehta hai ??...Tu kaam kab karta hai ??"...The travel bug has bit me bad and I have probably taken every opportunity that has come my way to get away from the hectic life...Not to mention a varied friend circle which has given me company every time there has been a long weekend coming...Photography turned rapidly from hobby to passion and am seriously considering it as a backup job...And if it helps to prove my dedication to work..."Humne raatein bhi guzari hain office mein !"

* "If U are watching this footage then I made it back from Heaven alive"...These were the exact words I could utter before my hands froze...One of the most memorable trips of my life...Walked through crumbling snow with a stick...Climbed heights I have never been to before without proper trek shoes...Braved the gusty winds to take frantic shots of snow capped peaks...Ski-ied with the most heaviest and over sized ski-boots I have ever seen...Camped out on New Year's eve at freezing temperatures on a bottle of 'Desi' whiskey and what not...The bottomline - "I did make it back alive to live another day !"

* "Dev D release huyi hai aaj aur tickets mil rahe hain Fun Cinemas mein abhi bhi yaar...Chalna hai kya 10 pm show tonite ??"...Yaar kaafi kaam bacha hua hai...Monday ko demo hai...Kaisa ho payega..."Kaam aake kar lenge yaar kal subah ya fir Sunday ko...Chalo chalo..." (10 minutes into the movie)..."Oh Shit ...Oh Shit !!"...Yaar reviews to achche the rediff pe...Par never knew the rating was given for attempting such a bold movie in mainstream cinema... Hats off to Anurag Kashyap and kudos to Abhay Deol...This would never have been possible without U guyz coming together...But I do feel for all those Unclez and Auntiez who came to watch the modern Devdas..."Pura Emotional Atyachaar !"

* "Yaar tune itni achchi bike li...Have never seen u with ur gurl ??"...Jiske liye liya tha usi ne saath nahi diya...Aur ismein galti kisiki nahi hai...Itz probably destiny..."Destiny ??...Tu in sab cheezon mein kabse vishwas karne laga ??...And btw wat really happened ??"...I never used to but life has itz own way of unfolding facts which probably I can never understand...'A man makes his own destiny' they say...Sometimes I sit and laugh at it...Kya kya nahi socha tha yaar...Bike to kuch bhi nahi hai un sab cheezon ke samne...Itz probably how we are and what we r made up of...U cn never manufacture a relationship..."Itz all written !"

* "Treat Treat Treat...!!"...Kahan chalein ??..."Kahin bhi...We r damn hungry !!"...A few bumps and congratulations later everyone settles down in their respective cubicles and surprisingly forget about the B'day Treat after munching on the delicious Kaju Katlis...'6 Ballygunge Place'...'Gufa'...'Bayleaf'...Never had a more diverse cuisine over 3 days...And for all the gud reasons a grand one is still pending..."25 Not Out and em staring at Quarter Life Crisis !"

P.S - Live for Today and Dream for Tomorrow...Life hardly gives a second Chance !...Back to blogging after a while...Hope I still make sense ! :)

Confessions of A Terrorist - Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab ...

2008-12-23T04:12:00.007+09:00

Ajmal Kasab is the lone surviving terrorist in the custody of the Mumbai police. After days of interrogation by several agencies such as the Mumbai Crime branch, the Intelligence Bureau, RAW, Mumbai ATS and the FBI, the police have managed to piece together the entire confession of Kasab.

Kasab, who speaks in Urdu, told his interrogators about how the entire operation was planned and how he and his accomplices entered into Mumbai and carried out the attack.

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, 21, is a resident of Faridkot, Tehsil, Dipalpur Dist -Ukada, State -Suba Punjab, Pakistan, is a labour by occupation, according to his confession statement.

The confession verbatim:

I have studied up to the 4th standard from the government primary school. After leaving school, I went to Lahore. My brother Afzal stays at Galli No. 54, R.No. 12, Mohalla Tohit Abad, near Yadgar Minar, Lahore. I did labour jobs at different places till 2005. During that period I used to visit my native place. In the year 2005, I had a quarrel with my father. Therefore, I left my house and went to Ali Hajveri Darbar at Lahore.

At the said place, the boys who had run away from their houses are kept. From there, the boys are sent to different places for employment. One day when I was there, a person by name Shafiq came there and took me with him. He was in the catering business. He was from Zhelam. I started working with him on daily wages. I was given Rs 120 per day. After some days my salary was increased up to Rs 200 per day. I worked with him till 2007.

While I was working with Shafiq, I came in contact with one Muzaffar Lal Khan, aged 22 years, r/o Village -Romiya, Tehsil & Dist -Atak, State -Sarhad, Pakistan. As we were not getting enough money, we decided to carry out robbery / dacoity at some place so that we will get a large amount. As such we left the job.

Thereafter we went to Rawalpindi. We hired a flat at Bangash Colony, Rawalpindi, and started residing in it. Afzal had located a house where he thought we would get a large amount.

He had surveyed the said place and drawn a map of the said place. We required some fire-arms for our purpose. Afzal told me that he could get some fire-arms at his native place, but it was very risky, as there was frequent checking at his native place.

While we were in search of fire-arms we saw some LeT stalls at Raja bazaar, Rawalpindi, on the day of Bakri-id. We thought that, even if we procured fire-arms, we could not operate them. Therefore, we decided to join LeT for weapon training.

After making enquiries we reached LeT office. In the LeT office we met a person. We told him that we wanted to join LeT. He made some enquiry with us, noted our names and address and told us to come on next day. On the next day, we went to LeT office and met the same man. One more person was present with him.

He gave us Rs 200 and some receipt. Then he gave us the address of a place called Marqas Taiyyaaba, Muridke, and told us to go to the said place where LeT is having their training camp. As directed, we went to the said place by bus. We showed the receipt given to us at the gate of the camp. We were allowed inside. At the entry gate, our details were filled up on two forms. Then we were taken to the actual camp area. At the said place, initially we were selected for 21 days training called Daura-Sufa. From the next day, we started attending training. The daily programme was as mentioned below.

04.15: Wake up call and thereafter namaz

08.00: Breakfast

08.30-10.00: Lecture on Hadis and Quran by Mufti Sayyed

10.00-12.00: Rest

12.00-13.00: Lunch Break

13.00-14.00: Namaz

14.00-16.00: Rest

16.00-18.00: PT and Game Instructor Fadulla

18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work

20.00-21.00: Dinner

After completion of the above said training, we were selected for another training called Daura-Ama. The said training was also for 21 days. We were then taken in a vehicle to a place called Mansera, Buttal Village. At the said place, we were given training of all weapons for 21 days. The daily programme was as mentioned below.

04.15 - 05.00: Wake up call and thereafter namaaz

05.00-6.00: PT Instructor Abu Anas

08.00: Breakfast

08.30-11.30: Weapons training. Trainer Abdul Rehman, Weapons AK-47, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver

11.30-12.00: Rest

12.00-13.00: Lunch break

13.00-14.00: Namaaz

14.00-16.00: Rest

16.00-18.00: PT

18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work

20.00-21.00: Dinner

After completing the said training, we were told that, we will be given the next advance training, but for that purpose we have to do some Khidmat for two months (Khidmat is a sort of service in the said camp as per the trainees' liking). We agreed to do the Khidmat for two months.

After two months, I was allowed to go to meet my parents. I stayed with my parents for one month. Thereafter, I went to LeT camp situated at Shaiwainala, Muzzafarabad, for further advanced training. At that place, they took my photographs and filled up some forms. Then we were taken to Chelabandi pahadi area for training called Duara-khas. The said training was for 3 months. The training included PT, handling of all weapons and firing practice of the said weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars. The daily programme was as mentioned below.

04.15-05.00: Wake-up call and thereafter namaz

05.00-06.00: PT Instructor Abu Mawiya

08.00: Breakfast

08.30-11.30: Weapons training handling of all weapons and firing practices of the said weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver, Hand grenade, rocket launchers. Trainer Abu Mawiya

11.30-12.00: Rest

12.00-13.00: Lunch Break

13.00-14.00: Namaaz

14.00-16.00: Weapon training and firing practice. Lecture on Indian security agencies

16.00-18.00: PT

18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work

20.00-21.00: Dinner

At the said place 32 persons were present for training. Out of these 32 trainees, 16 were selected for some confidential operation by one Zaqi-ur-Rehman Chacha. Out of these 16 trainees 3 trainees ran away from the camp. The above said chacha then sent the remaining 13 of us along with a person called Kafa to the above said earlier camp at Muridke. At Muridke, we were taught swimming and getting acquainted with the environment experienced by a fisherman on a sea.

We did some experimental tours by launches on the sea. During the said training, we were given lectures on working of Indian security agencies. We were shown the clippings highlighting the atrocities on Muslims in India. After completing the said training, we were allowed to go to our native places. For seven days, I stayed with my family members. After seven days I went to the LeT camp at Muzzafarabad.

The above said 13 of us were present for training. Thereafter, as per the instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman, the above said Kafa took us to camp at Muridke. At the said camp again we underwent the training of swimming and getting acquainted with the environment and experience on sea. The training continued for one month.

During the said training, we were given lectures on India and its security agencies, including RAW. We were also given the training on how to evade the chase by security personnel. We were strictly instructed not to make phone calls to Pakistan after reaching India.

The names of the persons present for the said training are as mentioned below.

Mohd Azmal aka Abu Muzahid

Ismail aka Abu Umar

Abu Ali

Abu Aksha

Abu Umer

Abu Shoeb

Abdul Rehman (Bada)

Abdul Rehman (Chhota)

Afadulla

Abu Umar

After completion of training, Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha selected 10 of us and formed 5 teams each having two persons on 15 Sept 2008. My team included myself and Ismail. Our code name was VTS team. We were then shown the site 'Google Earth' on Internet. On the same site, we were shown the information about Azad Maidan, Mumbai, how and where to get down at Mumbai. We were shown the film on VT railway station and the film showing the commuters moving around at rush hours at VT railway station.

We were instructed to carry out the firing at rush hours in the morning between 7 to 11 hours and between 7 to 11 hours in the evening. Then kidnap some persons, take them to the roof of some nearby building. After reaching at the roof top, we were to contact chacha. After that, chacha would give the telephone or mobile no of electronic media. We were then to contact the media persons on the same phone. And as per the instructions received from chacha, we would make demands for releasing the hostages. This was the general strategy decided by our trainers.

The date fixed for the said operation was 27th Sept 2008. However, the operation was cancelled for some reason. We stayed at Karachi. Again we made practice of travelling by speed boats on the sea. We stayed there upto 23rd Nov 2008. The other teams were as mentioned below.

2nd Team

1) Abu Aksha

2) Abu Umar

3rd Team

1) Bada Abdul Rehman

2) Abu Ali

4th Team

1) Chhota Abdul Rehman

2) Afadulla

5th Team

1) Shoeb

2) Abu Umer

On 23rd Nov 2008, the above said teams including our team left from Azizabad, Karachi along with Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha and Kafa. We were taken to the nearby sea shore. At 04.15 hours we reached the sea shore. At the sea shore we boarded a launch. After traveling for 22 to 25 nautical miles we met a bigger launch in the sea. We boarded the said launch and after journey of 1 hour we boarded a bigger ship by name Al-Huseini in the deep sea. While boarding the said ship, each of us was given a sack containing 8 grenades, one AK-47 rifle, 200 cartridges, 2 magazines and one cell phone for communication.

Then we started towards Indian coast. When we reached Indian waters, the crew members of Al-Huseini ship hijacked one Indian launch. The seamen from the said launch were shifted to Al-Huseini ship. We were then boarded the hijacked Indian ship. One Indian seaman was kept along with us.

At the gun point, he took us towards the Indian coast. After journey of about 3 days, we reached near sea shore of Mumbai. While we were at some distance from the shore, Ismail and Afadulla killed the Indian seaman, (Tandel) at the basement of the said Indian launch. Then we boarded floatable dinghi and reached Budwar Park Jetty as per the instructions received earlier.

After getting down at Budwar Park, I went along with Ismail to VT railway Station by taxi.

After reaching the hall of VT railway station Ismail and myself, went to the common toilet, took out the weapons from our sacks, loaded them, came out of toilet and started firing indiscriminately towards the passengers.

Suddenly one police officer in uniform came towards us and opened fire. In retaliation, we threw hand grenades towards him and also opened fire towards him. Then we went inside the railway station threatening the commuters and randomly firing at them.

Then we came out of the railway station and started searching for a building with roof top. But we did not find a suitable building. Therefore, we entered a lane. Then we entered a building and went upstarts. On 3rd or 4th floor we searched for hostages but we found that the said building was a hospital and not a residential building. Therefore we started coming down.

At that time policemen started firing at us. As such we threw some grenades towards them. When we were coming out of the hospital premises, we suddenly saw one police vehicle passing in front of us. Therefore, we took shelter behind a bush.

Another vehicle passed in front of us and stopped at some distance. One police officer got down from the said vehicle and started firing at us. One bullet hit my hand and my AK-47 dropped down. I bent to pick it up when second bullet hit me on the same hand. I got injured. Ismail opened fire at the officers who were in said vehicle. They got injured and firing from their side stopped.

We waited for some time and then went towards the said vehicle. Three bodies lying there. Ismail removed the three bodies and drove the said vehicle. I sat next to him. While we were moving in the said vehicle, some police men tried to stop us. Ismail opened fire towards them while we were on the move; our vehicle got punctured near a big ground by the side of road. Ismail got down from the driver seat, stopped a car at the gun point and removed the three lady occupants from the said car. Then Ismail carried me to the car and sat me inside as I was injured. Then he drove the said car.

While we were moving in the said car, we were stopped on the road near sea shore. Ismail fired towards them. Some policemen got injured. Police also opened fire towards us. Due to the police firing Ismail got injured. Then police removed us to some hospital. In the hospital I came to know that Ismail succumbed to the injuries he has sustained.

Courtesy : Rediff.com

Itz Time We Stand Up And Say "Enough Is Enough" ...

2008-12-03T18:08:00.012+09:00

"We the people of India have had enough"

"Enough of terrorist attacks that threaten our lives and that of our loved ones and rip apart the fabric of our cities and our society"

"Enough of politicians of all parties who fiddle while terrorists burn, then seek to appease our anger with platitudes and pointless 'resignations' "

"Enough of excuses from prime ministers and accusations from wannabe prime ministers"

"Enough of the empty rhetoric of governments that promise action but give us only inquiry commissions"

"Enough of the callous unconcern of the political class that has resulted in this country we love being subjected to constant attacks from external forces"

"We have left this country in your hands for all these years, hoping that you will do what we elected you to do. You have failed us miserably, and on every front"

"We have had enough. And we are, from this moment on, taking the country back into our own hands."

Spread the word...

Impotent Govts can never authorize punitive action...India needs to be decisive and stringent in its defense as a sovereign nation and not bullied by pressure tactics...Till that day comes and we strongly believe in ourselves to defend our integrity all 'Wednesdays' will be days of 'National Shame' for us !!

Hogennakkal Falls - Unleashing the 'Beast' Within ...

2008-12-01T00:50:00.003+09:00

R15's first official road trip to a place of breathtaking beauty...Hogennakkal Falls captured through the lens ...
Picasa Link

Thatz the Way - 'Mahi' Way...India Under MSD ...

2008-11-13T04:24:00.025+09:00

Long time since I have shared my opinion on the current crop (or shud I say breed) of young cricketers under Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Brand 'MSD') or simply 'Mahi' to his teammates...!!

'Controlled Aggression' is what dey call it but I wud say itz the 'Fearless Attitude' and the scant respect for public outcry which makes him stand apart from the rest as Captain of India...He seems to have the rite ingredients to be a defiant and confident Captain in the frame of the 'Great Kapil Dev'...!!

No doubt that the killer instinct was instilled by 'Dada' and the current generation shud owe it to him for backing raw talent and youngsters alike but 'Mahi' too has the same strong regard for it and he sticks to his decision be it the Team selection to Australia or SriLanka...The nonchalant poise on the field and the ruthless aggression inspires one and all to perform and needless to say he gets the best out of everyone simply because he commands respect both from within the Team and from the Opposition...!!

Hardly perturbed by the situation he goes about the job at hand in the most uncomplicated manner which is what is the most striking and delightful attribute of his Captaincy...Neither have the burden of stardom (read Post T20 World Cup) nor the series of endorsements had any adverse effects on his performance on the field...I hope he doesnt prove me wrong...!! :)

But 'Mahi' does have an aura around him which inspires you to perform at your best...No doubt he has made his mark on foreign soil (CB Series Aus and Idea Cup SL) post T20...!!
Letz just hope that we can expect bigger achievements from this lot in future and someday they will bring back the tag of truly 'World Champions' under MSD...!! :)

Beast on the Tracks...'Yamaha R15'...

2008-11-09T18:07:00.007+09:00

Dedicated to the first 'SuperSport Bike' on Indian Roads and my first full fledged investment on a Bike of the future...!! :)

Whatz it all about ?
Toned down version of 'Yamaha YZF R1'. The best of Yamahaz Racing Technology is in there relatively toned down.

- Light Liquid Cooled Aluminium Engine.
- Multi Nozzle Fuel Injection.
- Mono Cross Suspension.
- DELTA BOX Frame.
- DiaSil Cylinder.

This is drool stuff...The handling is amazingly smooth and you won't feel a jerk even at top speeds...True to itz name it has got the DNA of the famous YZF R1 in it and is a beast on the tracks...A top whack of almost 145 km/h makes it the fastest bike in the premium segment...Moreover you can do the corners with atmost ease and can actually gear up while doing so such is the awesome grip on the road...!!

The tubeless tyres stick to the road like glue and both the front and rear disc brakes are amazingly fine-tuned...This in itself is a refined machine with 6 gears...I like to call it a machine because of so many firsts to its name in terms of technological advancement...No other Indian bike can boast of the state-of-the-art technologies that this bike has...Probably the reason why Yamaha could not keep the pricing down as it wanted it to be the best and the fastest and available only to the niche segment...!!

On the fuel economy front this bike doesnt disappoint as you would easily get around 35-40 km/l on city roads which is quite good...The liquid cooling allows it to run for longer stretches without burnout and adds to the fuel efficiency...4 valve fuel injection and Deltaboz frame is rite out of the top draw of racing bikes...The 150 cc engine generates 17 bhp of power and this coupled with the light weight (125 kg) makes it the fastest on Indian roads...!!

Ride it and you will feel the difference...The throttle response is just so smooth that you will forget driving other bikes...And add to it the drooling attention you will get on the road !! :)

Yamaha R15 Official Site

Yamaha R15 TV Ad

Festival of Lights ' 08 ...

2008-11-01T00:54:00.004+09:00

They say pictures speak a thousand words...Expressing the joy of 'Deepavali' captured through the lens...

Picasa Link

'Grips' - GoKarting...Off Mysore Road...

2008-10-29T01:40:00.004+09:00

Got up early on Sunday morning (26th Oct - 6:00 AM at that !!) thinking that we wud be heading on a Biking trip to Hogennakkal Falls (Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Hogennakkal) as the next day was off for Deepavali...But as our luck wud have it heard that the water levels were too high due to incessant rains and the coracle rides which take u upto to the base of the falls have been suspended till water levels drop to manageable proportions..!! :(

Decided to postpone the plan since the coracle rides and jacuzzi are the most enthraling experiences there...!!

What we did instead ?? :)

Made a dash for 'Adrenalin Rush' on 'GoKarting' Tracks ('Gripz Karting') off Mysore Road...The experience was thrilling and me for one kept asking for more but the heat was taking a toll and empty stomach was crying fowl...We had to head home for proper lunch and back to gud old lazy Sunday evenings...!!

More on the Diwali Bash coming up ...!! :)

As of now enjoy the racing experience at 'Gripz'...

Picasa Link

Exploring Paradise...

2008-10-15T01:09:00.011+09:00

A lone photography expedition to 'Maravanthe' off the coast of Karnataka sometime in mid-september ended up covering a lot of places on d way...!! :) Here is an account of my adventure captured through d lens...

Murudeshwar : The tall structure of 'Lord Shiva' will catch your attention from quite a distance...This is a beautiful sculpture rite next to the Murudeshwar Beach...A place of absolute bliss !!

Bhatkal - Jog Falls : India's Highest Waterfall...This is a gorgeous beauty and the route to it even more scenic...Some of the photographs taken here have come out amazingly beautiful although I had to clean my lens almost after every couple of shots...The steps which go down to the base of the waterfall are steep...Make sure you have enough fluids on you to make it back to the top and beware of the monkeys !! :)

St.Mary's Island : A 20 minute boat ride to St.Mary's Island off the coast of Karnataka - Malpe Beach ...Must say this is a place of pristine beauty...The ferry is operated by the Govt and they prohibit travel to the Island when the sea is turbulent...Make prior enquires before you reach there...And yes if possible catch the afternoon ferry as the sunset view from the Island is breathtaking...!!

Baindoor : Ottanene a.k.a 'Vattinene' Beach - Baindoor - A perfect place to watch the sun go down and lap up the soothing waves...Love the sunset pics I got here...!! :)

Turtle Bay : A private beach rite next to the Turtle Bay Beach Resort...The sea is calm and the atmosphere relaxed...During mating season you can sight 'Sea Turtles' nesting here although the sightings are rare...The Resort also arranges for adventure sports like Scuba-Diving and Snorkelling in clear waters off the coast...Book in advance to avoid disappointment !! :)

Sowparnika N Maravanthe : River meets the sea and the blend is scenic...The National Highway separates the Sea from the River and the sight is spellbinding...A place to laze around and relax...'Maravanthe Beach' provides that perfect afternoon dip and the 'Sowparnika' back waters the perfect evening boating experience...You will relish the experience here !! :)

'Goa-n Delight'...In Picturez...

2008-09-15T00:16:00.008+09:00

This is probably very late to be writing about my 'Goa' trip in August as lotz of stuff have happened after that...But the lazy bugger that I am probably have been very busy with my DigiCam to be writing gud stuff...So in way decided to give u guys a break from reading a lengthy post and instead savour the experience visually :)...Here are the much awaited Picasa Links :

Wayanad 'Blues'...Momentz to Cherish...

2008-07-23T19:22:00.011+09:00

The return journey on Sunday was as eventful as d onward journey...But all of us were pretty tired...Each one had jus a single thought in mind 'Yaar kal firse office' :(...Datz d reality of life folks...We had a rocking weekend !!!...And frm tommorrow everyone of us wll get busy wid der professional life...But yes memoriez wll stay on as dis was one of the most memorable trips we have been to for a long long time...!! :)

Leaving u wid some of dose memorable momentz ...

Picasa Album

Note : Last few posts were my first attempt at a new form of writing where I have tried to narrate a story through discrete instances of dialogue ...Dont knw hw well dis goes wid the reader which s why I wud love a few critics here nd der !!! :)
So do rope in ur commentz...!!

Coming Up ...Goan Delight !!!

Wayanad 'Blues' ...Chapter 3 - Eddakkal 'N' The Leopard Sighting..

2008-07-21T19:15:00.004+09:00

Saturday - 8:00 am (Breakfast Table - Wynberg)

Sid : 'Em luvin dis stuff...!!'
Mrs. Vanchy : 'Itz called Puttu...Typical Kerela dish !!' :)
Sam : 'Me too...And d concentrated grape juice as well !!' :)
Mrs. Vanchy : 'Glad dat u like d food ...How ws ur day yesterday ??...Wher all did u go ??'
Prutz : 'Soochipara, Kanthampara nd on our way back made a quick stop at Phantom Rock !!' :)
Mrs. Vanchy : 'Oh...U went to Phantom Rock as well...!!' :)
Sam : 'And hav taken some crazy pics der !!' :)
Mrs. Vanchy : 'Hmmm...Den wht abt today ??...Wher all are u plannin to go ??'
Sid : 'How far is Eddakkal from here ?'
Mrs. Vanchy : 'Datz very near...But if u want to go to d top of the hill den u wll need atleast half a day for d trek'
Sid : 'Ok...Den we shud get moving...We are planning to go to Muthanga in d evening if we hav time !!' :)
Mrs. Vanchy : 'D Open jeep safari at Muthanga starts at 3:30 in d evening and closes by 5 ...Make sure u reach der before 5:00 pm else u wont get entry !!'

Saturday - 11:30 am (Eddakkal Caves)
Sid : 'Man ...Dis s serious trekkin...!!'
Sam : 'Yup...R we goin up der for sure ??'
Prutz : ' Dude...We hav come so far...Bas aur thodi hi duur hai...Chal yaar !!'
Sam : 'Agree wid u dude but wht if it rains ??...Dese rocks have sand on dem nd dey wll get very slippery...We can't climb wid shoes on...And moreover agar fisal bhi gaye to kisiko pata bhi nahi chalega ki kahan gire ...Chaaron taraf gehri khayi hai !!'
Sid : 'Hmmm...Yes we will be in trouble gettin down too if it rains...D weather has been gud so far but jus cant trust our luck blindly...!!'
Debi : 'Guyz if a heavyweight like me cn make it...Y can't u ??'
Prutz : 'He has a point...Ek kaam karte hain ...We wll go till 100 mtrz frm d summit...Den we head back...Wat say ??'
Sid : 'Ok...'
Sam : 'Loved dat narrow opening on d way...The air was gushin thru d rocks :)...Fultoo chilled out place ...Shud hav stayed der a lil longer !!' :(
Prutz : 'Ya ...Dat place ws awesome...And refreshin too !!'
Sid : 'We will sit der fr a lil longer on our way back...D rope climb ws scary though !!'
Sam : 'Yep it ws...Btw we din't go to d caves...Shud make a stop der as well on our descend...'

Saturday - 1:15 pm (Base point - Eddakkal Caves)
Sid : 'Dis jeep ride s mindblowing...'
Sam : 'Ya I loved it on d way up...Y dont we switch places...U guyz take d back seats now...Dat s more fun !!' :P
Prutz : 'Ya rite...Der wll be a sudden spurt in ur metabolic activity !!'
Debi : 'Hehe..I wud luv dat after 2 glasses of chilled Lime Soda !!' :)

Saturday - 2:30 pm (Somewhere Near Sulthan Bathery)
Sid : 'Letz hav some fud guyz...Den we head for Muthanga...!!'
Debi : 'Same place...Same stuff...Aur kuch khane ko milta bhi nahi hai yahan...' :(
Prutz : ' Dude dis s Kerela...Most of d stuff s cooked in Cocunut Oil...It wll take time for ur palate to get adjusted !!' :P
Sam : 'Don't worry ...U will like it eventually !!' :P

Saturday - 4:30 pm (Inside Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary - Open Jeep Safari)
Guide (Shouting) : 'Leopard...Leopard...Leopard...!!!'
Sam : 'Where ??????????'
Guide : 'Dere sir...On dat branch...Take a photo sir ...Quick !!'
Sam (Standing on top of the jeep) : 'Let me get a clear sight first...'
Guide : 'Sir u ppl r really lucky...Ppl haven't sighted a Leopard fr years...Even d District Magistrate had come twice but gone back widout luck...!!'
Sid : 'Trust our luck now...No rains for d past few dayz...And now d rare sighting...Guyz we rock !!' :)
Guide : 'Sir I will give u a call when u reach Bangalore...We need dat pic for display...It wud be great if u cud send it across...!!'
Sam : 'Sure...No problemo...!!' :)

Saturday - 8:15 pm (Dinner - Wynberg Resorts)
Mr & Mrs.Vanchy : 'Heard u guyz had a leopard sighting ???'
Sid : 'Yes we did...At first we din't realize dat dis was such a rare event but ya itz beginning to sink in now !!' :)
Mr.Vanchy : 'Well show me d pic...Not a lot of ppl r fortunate like U !!'
Sam :' Here it is...Quitely perched on top of dat branch...Was very far though !!'
Prutz : 'On our way back frm Muthanga I guess we wud hav shown dis pic to more dan a dozen ppl !!'
Mr. Vanchy (Smiling) : 'Yes...Datz how rare d sightings are ...Send dis pic to my mail Id...I wll update it in d website...Wynberg needs more nature enthusiasts like U !!'
Sam : 'Sure sir...Wud luv to...Even d forest department wants d pic !!' :)
Mr.Vanchy : 'Yes itz a big thing for dem as well...As dis wll boost up der dwindling revenues as well...I guess U ppl r leaving tmrw afternoon rite ??'
Sid : 'Ya...We don't want to go anywhere tmrw...Spend some time at d resort in d morning and den head back to Bangalore at around 12 noon !!'
Mr. Vanchy : 'Ok...Gud luck guyz...God Bless U !!'

Coming Up ... Picasa Link

Wayanad 'Blues'...Chapter 2 - Off Rocks 'N' WaterFalls..

2008-07-19T19:08:00.002+09:00

Friday - 12:45 am (Coffee Plantations - Near Wynberg Resorts)

Following the Resort Guy - 'Suresh'
Sid : 'God...What kinda roads r dese ??'
Sam : 'Inside dense forest...Amidst a coffee plantation...Wht did u expect ??'
Sid : 'Hmmm...Hope dis place s not vry far...Dese roads r not meant for small cars dude' :(
Prutz : 'Guyz ...Derz lightin dere...Datz our resort I guess...!!'
Debi : 'Finally ...!!!'

Friday - 8:30 am (Breakfast Table - Wynberg Resorts)
Mrs. Vanchy (Resort Owner's Wife) : 'Good Morning Guyz :)...How ws ur travel ?...Had any problems finding dis place ?'
Sid : 'We actually took a longer route and miscalculated d time...Shud hav reached here much earlier...Nywayz reached finally !!!' :)
Mrs. Vanchy : 'Yes datz wht I was thinkin too...What took u so long to reach here...It takes around 5 nd a half hours from Bangalore...U ppl shud hav been here before 10 pm...Nywayz hav u decided on which places to visit ??
Sam : 'We do hav certain places in mind but nothing fixed as such...Probably u can tell us which are d best places to check out...!!'
Mrs. Vanchy : 'Itz monsoon time nd unfortunately some of d places like Kuruva Dweep Islands r closed...If you hav time den u can go to Meenmutty Falls and Chembra Peak...Dese two places require quite a bit of trekking and u will need one full day for each of dem...!!'
Sid : 'We only hav 2 dayz...So probably would like to visit places which r nearby nd which cn be covered quickly !!'
Mrs. Vanchy : 'In dat case u cn visit Soochipara and Kanthampara Falls today...And tommorrow u cn go to Eddakkal Caves and Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary...If u hav time on Sunday morning den u cn go to Meenmutty Falls...I will give u d route maps to dese places'
Sid : 'Hmmm...Dat shud b fine !!:)'

Friday - 12:30 pm (On d way to 'Soochipara' Falls)
Debi : 'Awesome view guyz...Check dis out ...'
Prutz : 'Yep...Tea carpets all around...Abe ek foto session karte hain na yahan pe ??' :)
Sid : 'Hmmm...Not a bad idea...!!' :)
(After a few clickz...)
Sid : 'I guess we reached...'
Debi : 'Can u hear d sound of water gushin ??...Itz vry faint though !!'
Sam : 'Yep...Datz d falls fr sure...!!'
Sid : 'Ok..D parkin s here...I guess we need to trek a km or so to get to d falls !!'

Friday - 1:15 pm ('Soochipara' Falls)
Sam : 'D last time I came here...Water ws scarce...So we had gone till d foot nd took bath...I guess early monsoons call for a different story...D mist s gettin inside my lens !!'
Sid : 'D rocks r slippery too...Watch ur step guyz...Dis place s a beauty !!' :)
Debi : 'Absolutely fantastic...Heaven on earth !!' (Looking Up N Widening Arms)
Sam : 'Meenmutty s supposed to b d best of d lot...But reachin der wud require a lot of time...Den comes Soochipara...Der s one more on d way to Nagarhole called Irupu Falls...Datz also a gud one I hav heard !!'
Prutz : 'Oye baad mein decide karna best kaunsa hai...Abhi foto khincho meri Titanic pose wali' :)
Sid : 'Ruk ruk...Main bhi aata hun...!!'
Sam : 'Waah kya jodi hai...!!' :)

Friday - 2:30 pm (On d way to 'Kanthampara' Falls)
Sid : 'Guyz ...Em starvin...Do we need to go to dis place or shud we head back to Sulthan Bathery and hav some food ??'
Sam : 'We hav come dis far...Letz chk it out na...Don't wry dat Lime Soda u had at Soochipara wll keep u goin !!'
Debi : 'Haan yaar...Itni duur aa gaye hain...Letz chk it out...But d road doesnt seem to get better' :(

Friday - 3:15 pm ('Kanthampara' Falls)
Sid : 'Dis isnt much gr8...Soochipara was far better !!'
Sam : 'Dis s d younger sister of Soochipara...Nd d elder sister is much more scenic...!!' :)
Prutz : 'U cant get to d water here...Jus d view !!' :)
Sam : 'Wait lemme try nd get a better view frm down dere...' (Rushes down 50 meters)
Sam (Shouting) : 'Guyz...Dis view s awesome...Cm nd chk it out...!!'

Friday - 4:15 pm (Lunch Table - Jubilee Restaurant - Sulthan Bathery)
Sid : 'Thak gaya yaar drive karke...Der s lot of mud cover on both front nd rear wheels...D road to Kanthampara ws a real bender...Need to wash d car badly'
Sam : 'To fir aaj aur kahin nahi ja payenge ??' :(
Sid : 'Yaar datz a compromise we got to take...Need d car in gud condition for d return journey as well rite ??'
Sam : 'Ok...Letz c if we can get dis done somewhere nearby...Btw saw a signboard for Phantom Rock somewhere on d way...Shud b nearby...If we hav time we can go der before it getz dark !!'
Sid : 'Hmm...Thik hai...!!'

Friday - 6:00 pm ('Phantom Rock')
Phantom Rock - A huge Rock delicately hanging from d top of a Hill...
Debi : 'Dis place demands creative photography ...Wht do u say guyz ??'
Sam : 'Hmm...Nice place though...!!'
Sid : 'And vry quiet...Gr8 place fr real mushy mushy stuff !!!' :)
Prutz : 'Guyz...Howz my 'Jai Veer Hanuman' pose ???' :)
Sam : 'Ok...Freeze rite der...Let me get dat shot !!' :)
Debi : 'I want d Smokey Dokey shot too !!'
Sam : ' Yup ...Got dat too !!' :)
Sid : 'Are you takin a video...?? '
Sam : 'Yup...And dis s 'Sid'...And introducin Mr.Hanuman aka 'Prutz'...Abe koi to gana gao yaar !!'
(Prutz starts singing d trip anthem 'Dhinka Marina' and even dances to d tune) :)

Friday - 8:30 pm (On d Way back to Resort)
Sid : 'Shud we pack some food or ask Mrs.Vanchy to prepare dinner for us ??'
Debi : 'Letz pack something yaar...!!'
Sam : 'Yep...Nywayz itz late to inform her now...So letz pack food from d same place we had our lunch ...Wht do u say Prutz ??'
Prutz : 'Yep...No issues...Em starting to like d Kerela cuisine a lil bit !!' :)

To Be Continued ...

Wayanad 'Blues'...Chapter 1 - The Bumpy Ride..

2008-07-17T21:15:00.002+09:00

Thursday - 3:20 pm (Sidz Place)

Sam : 'Sorry guyz...Got caught up !!...Chalo letz move...We r already running late'
Sid : 'Hmmm...Called up Debi...Hez takin a cert xam of sorts...Wll b free by 4 pm...We r gonna b late nywayz...!!' :(
Prutz : 'Yaar...Letz go to Debiz ofc...Wll wait fr him der....Derz no oder option !!'
Sid : 'K..Letz move den !!'

Thursday - 3:45 pm (Accenture - Bang 4)
Sid (On Call) : 'Dude...We r waitin outside ur ofc...Aur kitna late karega ??'
Debi (On Call) : 'Bas yaar...Nikal raha hun...Almost done wid d xam...Giv me 5 min !!' (Hang Up)

Thursday - 6:15 pm (Somewhere on Mysore Road)
('Du Hast' playin ...)
Sid : 'Phew...Hell of a ride guyz...Hav been drivin at 120kz/h ...Em lovin it !!' :)
Prutz : 'Yeah ...Wanted a break badly...Em lovin it too !!...Btw Debi seems to b lost somewher ??'
Debi : 'Dudez...I thnk I flunkd d test !!'
Sam : 'Whaaaat ??'
Debi : 'Yep...A frnd hd called...I dint make it...Nywayz big deal...Dey wont kick me out...!!':)
Sid : 'Guyz...Datz Debi...Yo dude...Lov dat attitude !!

Thursday - 7:45 pm (Cafe Coffee Day - Near Gundulpet)
Sid : 'Yaar aur kitni duur hai...??'
Sam : 'Shudnt be much far frm here...But shud b fun frm here on...Bandipur s rite next !!' :)
Sid : 'Whoaa...Hav never driven thru a jungle at nite...Saala bhagwaan bachaaye'
Sam : 'Yep...Jus dont forget to switch off ur engine nd lights whn u c some wild beast on d road...Nd ya dont honk too !!...Dey kinda take it personally' :)
Sid : 'Ya rite ...Wll remember dat...Of all ppl I was d one pushin to leave early...Aab tak pahunch gaye hote !'
Prutz : 'Hmmm...Datz true !!...Chalo no point wandering around here...D road ahead doesnt seem much convincin either...Letz move !!'

Thursday - 9:30 pm (Somewhere inside Bandipur forest)
Sid (Turns off d lite music playin) : 'Dis s scary boss...Guyz dint bargain fr dis...Itz pitch dark, visibility almost zero and thick forest on both sides...And itz chilly outside too...!!'
Sam : 'Ohhh Shit...Ws dat a leopard...???'
Prutz : 'OMG...I saw it too...Shit man...Jus crossed d road...Cud clearly c d spots !!'
Debi : 'By d luks of it...Seemed like a kiddo...!'
Sid : 'Kiddo may b...But a leaopard alrite...Letz get d hell outta here man...!!'

Thursday - 10:15 pm (Bandipur - Mudumalai Near Karnataka/TN Border)
(After a few more sightings of Bison/Elephants)
Sid : 'R we thru wid d forest ??'
Sam : 'Bas thoda aur...Fir we hit d Calicut road enroute to Sultan Bathery !!' :)
Sid (In conversation with the forest official) : 'How far s Sultan Bathery frm here??'
(Forest Ranger seems unfazed and murmurs something in Tamil)
Sam : 'I guess he says itz nt far off...We shud c some sign board on d Calicut road !!'
Sid : 'Ya rite...Hope we make it to our resort today !!'

Thursday - 10:45 pm (Calicut road - Near Sultan Bathery)
Prutz : 'I guess we took a wrong turn and came via d road to Ooty...Shud hav taken a diversion at Gundulpet I guess...Messed it up !!' :(
Sid : 'U mean we cud have skipped d forest ??'
Prutz : 'Nope...Bandipur - Mudumalai - Muthanga ...All r parts of the same forest area spread across 3 states...We took d longer route via Bandipur...Shud hav taken d by-pass via Muthanga...!!'
Sid : 'Ya rite...Datz y d resort owner was sayin dat we wll make it in 5 nd half hours frm Bang...Ofcourse we took d wrong turn...!!' :(
Sam : 'Leopard sighting already nd we havent reached yet...Luk at d brighter picture guyz...Shudnt be far frm here...!!' :)

Thursday - 11:30 pm (Sultan Bathery)
Sid (Asking a passer by) : 'How far s Meenangudi frm here ?'
Passerby : 'Straaaiit road...(in typical Mallu accent)'
Sam : 'We r in Kerela alrite!!' :)
Sid : 'Ok...Shud c some signboard somewhere...Seems to b a big town !!'
Sam : 'It is...Call up Vanchy (resort owner) and tell him dat we r on our way to Meenangudi.. Will call again once we reach Vazzavetta...!!'
Sid : 'Yup...Em doing dat!!.. The route map says we take a left at Golden Bakery in Meenangudi for Vazzavetta'
Sam : 'Yep...D resortz 3 kms frm Vazzavetta'

Friday - 12:15 am (Vazzavetta - Near Wynberg Resort)
Sid : 'D resort guy asked to wait here...Itz inside a coffee plantation..he wll guide us to d place !!'
Sam : 'Itz late...Shud hav been lazin away at d resort by now!' :(
Prutz : 'Guyz em dead tired !'
Sid : 'Ya..U temme...I em d one drivin here !!' :(
Debi : 'Chill Guyz...We r all gonna hit d sack once we reach d resort...Atleast we made it till here !!' :)

To Be Continued ...

Wayanad 'Blues' ...Prelude..

2008-07-15T22:10:00.013+09:00

Sidz Place (2 weeks before d trip)

Sid : 'Hey guyz been a long time since we went for a trip together. Aur waise bhi I want to take my car for a long drive. Kya kehte ho letz plan something ? :)'
Sam : 'This is early monsoon dude. Kahan jayega abhi ?...Sab jagah baarish hi baarish. :('
Prutz : 'Yaar me too need a break...Pak gaya yaar deployment issues se !! :(...Kahin chalte hain ...Kahin bhi ??'
Sid : 'How abt Ooty den ?'
Sam : 'Naah...Dat place s too far...Moreover we wud risk drivin through the Ghati roads during rains...Nt advisable'
Sid : 'Arrey yaar kahin to ja sakte hain...Kahin bhi...Some place wher we can chill out..No wrk pressures...No timelines...'
Sam : 'Hmmm...Coorg ya Wayanad chal sakte hain...Kya kehta hai ?...Both of them are almost equidistant frm Bang.'
Prutz : 'Letz go to Wayanad den...I heard itz a gr8 place...Some of my team mates have been there...!! :)'
Sam : 'Yaar I too have been there once on an ofc trip in Jan...Kuch khas mazaa nahi aaya...May b becoz we dint go to lot of d places..Jus spent time in our resort !...But since it was winter, campfire was organised and dat was fun aur upar se drinkz on d house !! :)'
Debi : (Mute spectator till now) ...'Kahin bhi jao...I m in !! :)'
Sam : 'Thik hai fir letz c if we can get some decent resort in Wayanad...Aur haan we shud b able to wrk out a gud deal wid d resort since dis s off-season...To kya bolte ho Wayanad pakka ?? '
Sid n Prutz : 'We r in !! :)'

Mail Conversations (1 week before d trip)
Sid : 'Hey guyz...Talked to a few of the resorts...Zeroed in on one of them...Sounds like an Australian University :)..."Wynberg"...Reviews r gud and d prices r decent too !!...Moreover itz in d midst of a coffee plantation deep in d jungle ...Check out d pics on d site - Wynberg Resorts !'
Sam : 'Yeah....Looks gud nd lot of foreign tourists...More of an adventure camp dan a resort probably...Book karein kya ? :)'
Debi : 'Yaar if d reviews r gud den book it...Prices aren't a concern...We need a gud place to hang out...Proper adventure trip hona chahiye...No hassles...!!'
Sid : 'Hmmm...Den letz ask if we can get any special packages nd whether we can get hold of a tree house der !! :)'
Sam : 'Yup...Tree house shud b fun...!! :)'
(Prutz lost somehwere all d while)

Mail Conversations contd...
Sid : 'Guyz...Enquired abt d tree house....Datz already booked :(...Wht we cn get s an "Eco-Cottage" for d 4 of us...D resort owner sayz itz gr8...Tree house accomodates only 2...Agar milta bhi to 2 book karna padta...Dis s a better option I feel too ?'
Sam : 'Ok letz ask d oder 2 before we book...Wht do u say guyz ?'
(No response frm Debi or Prutz)
Sid : 'Hey I spoke to Debi on phone...He said to go ahead....I guess Prutz shudnt hav ny issues too'
Sam : 'Thik hai fir ...But y rnt dey replyin in d mailing grp ?'
Sid : 'Prutz in trainin...No access to mails :(...Nd Debi s a bit lazy in cleanin up his mailbox :)...But both r fine wid d booking...Kar de book !! :)'
Sam : 'Okie..!! :)'

Thursday (D day of d trip)
Sid (on call) : 'Hey where r u ?...Prutz s already at my place...We r supposed to start by 3 pm dude n pick up Debi on our way...Itz gettin late...Jaldi kar !!'
Sam (on call) : 'Thoda kaam aa gaya tha yaar :(...Em leavin in a short while...will be ther by 3:15 pm pakka'
Sid (on call) : 'Ok...Dont mess it up dude !!'
Sam (on call) : 'Haan yaar...Aa jaunga...Dont wry...U guyz hav a headstart...Check if we hav everything we need...Nd everyone s carryin enuf cash !!' (Hang up)

To Be Continued ...

'Dandeli'-oned...!! :)

2008-05-06T16:09:00.019+09:00

'Awesome'...'Awwesomee'...'Awwweesommeee' :)...datz all I can muster up to describe one of my most memorable trips last weekend to the picturesque 'Dandeli' located in mesmerizing surroundings in North Karnataka bordering the states of Maharashtra and Goa.

Itz a visual treat to the eyes located along the banks of River Kali with the Western Ghats as itz backdrop and lush greenary and thick forest cover all around.

Statutory Warning - Loooooooooooonnnnng Post Ahead...LOL !!!!

- Legend has it that the town 'Dandeli' is named after Dandelappa, a loyal servant of the Mirashi landlords who lost his life because of his loyalty. Even today, he is worshipped in a temple built for him.

History apart 'Dandeli' is more known for 'White Water Rafting' on River Kali and the Wildlife Sanctuary which houses more than 300 species of Birds and is also home to the rare 'Black Panther'.

Late planning never helps and as our fate would have it we had to book whatever was available as the best Resorts were full by the time we enquired. We were targeting Tree house stay in Hornbill Resort but could get only a 2 nights 3 day package Room stay at Jungle Camp Resort, Pradhani...:(

Left for 'Dandeli' from Bangalore on Wednesday nite (KSRTC Rajahamsa) and the fresh morning breeze woke us all up to a sleepy little town. Our pick up for the Resort was waiting at the Bus Stand and surprise surprise it was the Manager of the Resort 'Dharmesh' himself :)...A great guy I must say and his humbleness and resourcefulness made sure that we had a pleasant stay all along. The early morning drive to the Resort was a fair indication of what was to follow...We couldnt help ourselves but click a few initial shots...And more so as I had bought a brand new 'Sony DSCH10' days before the trip but then again it always was a yard short infront of DSCH9s and SLRs on display all through the trip.

Again needless to say whenever you plan a trip to 'Dandeli' carry a gud camera with high optical zoom and ability to take multiple shots at a time (SLRs are the best)... :) You will need such a camera if you are a bird enthusiast and an aspiring wildlife photographer (like me)...LOL !!

Reached our Jungle Resort (10 kms from 'Dandeli' town) and inside thick forest area. My eyes went straight to the Tree house and I asked 'Dharmesh' whether I can make a short visit. He oblidged and believe me the experience of staying up there and the view from there is breathtaking...:)

Time to freshen up and gear up for the only activity of the day ...'White Water Rafting' :) All adventure activities around the sanctuary and the Kali river in Dandeli is managed by the 'Kali-O2' group, an affiliate of Jungle Lodges. Rafting being the most popular of them and a welcome option even for non-swimmers. Other activities include canoeing, coracling, kayaking, rappelling, bicycle rides in the jungles and trekking.

'GaneshGudi', 20 km from Dandeli is the starting point for the River Rafting rendezvous. After a bumpy ride to the place we were made to wear the Life Jackets and Helmets. Wear clothes which you are comfortable getting fully drenched in (shorts are preferable) and slippers are the prefered footwear. We were introduced to our guide 'Dev' from Nepal and he mentioned there was nothing to fear as Kali only has 'Class 2/3' rapids.

The rapids are categorized in 6 classes. 'Class 6' is the most dangerous and the one where you could die. Even most experts wouldn't dare to go into a 'Class 6' rapid!! And there are only 6-7 rivers in the world which offer 'Class 5/6' rapids. Ganges in India offers 'Class 4' rapids.

With all our gear on and a few shots clicked we jumped on the Raft..:) Cameras are not allowed on the Raft so you wont be able to record your treasured experience...:(...datz the sad part but itz justified too as safety of valuables on the Raft cant be guaranteed by the management. On the raft, for first 20-30 minutes, 'Dev' gave us basic training of commands and actions, modus operandi, safety precautions and what to do if you fall in the rapids.

Two gloden rules, as per him, of white-water rafting:
- Stay Calm.
- Be with the boat.

There was something called as a throwbag to rescue a person fallen in the rapid. Itz a '15' meter rope contained in a small bag. That bag is thrown on the head/face of the person in the water so that it hits him/her as ppl kinda get paralyzed in water, esp. non-swimmers.

Once 'Dev' was satisfied with our paddling capabilties and ability to understand his commands he asked us all to jump into the water. At first we were taken aback but this he said is neccessary to remove any cobwebs from our mind and so one after other reluctantly we had to jump-in believing that we would not drown with the life jackets on...

Then started the adventure and soon we were onto the first rapid 'Adi's Beard'. A 'Class2/3' rapid depending on water level and the name comes from the shape of the rapid. We were quite violently shaken by the water and were ordered a get-down (inside raft) for non-swimmers by 'Dev' while in the rapid. Enough to get your adrenalin goin...!!

Just after the rapid, we paddled a bit upstream and crossed a violent stream just at the bottom of the rapid. And then it was time to celebrate...:) We put the blades of our paddles on top of each other's and then in a quick move lifted them above our heads and splashed into the water behind our back. Then everybody jumped into the water !!..Therz a swimming zone just after the first rapid where the water is relatively calm...You can get down and have a swim here !!

Then came the second rapid, 'The Stitch'. It derives its name from the fact that its a wide intermittent formation of rocks over which water flows across the width of the river. By now we were confident enough to splash water on other rafts when they came near us and 'Dev' had already initiated it !! :)

Then came other rapids like the 'Smugglers' Trove', the 'Stanley's Squeeze', etc. Each one had a peculiar feature of its own and hence giving a new experience all d time.... :)..It seemed that the whole rafting ride got over in a jiffy !! :(

White Water Rafting is pure fun and the adrenalin rush is palpable and datz what keeps you going n eggin for more... :) The best part of the whole rafting experience is the point of 'Full Body Servicing' as they call it :) and am sure you will remember it for your whole life :)....Itz when you row upstream against the river just before the endpoint. The splash of water and the spine chilling experience is something you would never forget..!! :)

The experts are very professional and they make you feel confident and itz the first time that you will have all d nerves. You would enjoy it more second time around !! :)
We were picked up by Jungle Lodges jeeps at the end point and reached our resort and relaxed for the later part of the evening as our hands had started paining by then (rowing takes a lot outta you and you actually realise it later)...The Campfire organised by the Resort was a soothing experience although it s required more during the chilling Winters...:)

Next day early morning was the Jungle safari in an open jeep. I would rate this as a dampner for the whole trip as we hardly spotted any mammals apart from a few birds. 'Dandeli' is home to the 'Giant Indian Hornbill' and you will atleast spot one of them but they are somehow pretty elusive to cameras as we hardly ever got a clear shot ...:( ..We also spotted a few 'Malabar Giant Squirrels'. The thick forests and undergrowth in 'Dandeli' make it difficult to sight mammals though they are in good numbers here. Again needless to say we never spotted a 'Panther'...:(
But our driver kept telling us that a 'Black Panther' and a 'Leopard' were sighted a month back by a couple of French tourists and dat it all depends on your luck !!

There is a one day bird trek for bird watchers especially and if you are interested then you need to book a guide early on and follow a different route through the jungle to get better sightings...I would suggest you go for that rather than the Jungle Safari...!!

We went for a 'Croc Trail' downstream (Kali) straight after the safari and spotted a few Crocs. Seemed like most of dem were very shy of humans..:( ...Transport on Kali is by means of 'Coracles' (A small boat made of bamboos and covered with thick buffalo hide)...would have probably sighted more Crocs had we taken the Coracle ride. Locals said there were some 200 Crocs in Kali.

After noon we decided to go to 'Synthery Rocks', a 300-metre tall monolithic granite rock formation on the bank of 'Kalindi', a small river that eventually merges into 'Kali'. Itz a beautiful place where you have a small waterfall that falls into a deep rocky ravine. The rocks are slippery and are a great place to die so be careful on the rocks. The place is dotted with pigeons and bee hives and you can get up close and personal with them if you have a high zoom camera.. :)

Next morning we went to 'Kavala Caves' and it is advised to take lotz of water and a torch with you when you visit this place. Itz a 6 km trek (up/down) and some 400 odd steps to the Caves inside the wildlife sanctuary and once inside the Caves you will have to crawl on all fours to explore dem...:) ..Moreover the cave-surface is filled with bat droppings and it stinks !!
A naturally formed 'shiv-ling' awaits you inside and you will have to leave your footwear outside.

Time to leave and bid farewell to a breathtaking place (although a bit hot in summer)...The best time to visit 'Dandeli' is during Winter. I personally want to make a second trip during winter and this time around I would book the Tree house well in advance !! :)

All in all 'Dandeli/Ganeshgudi' is a thousand times better than Coorg, Ooty ...and at the same time thousand times painful/dangerous if you are not careful. Leeches and insects will bite you, so learn to live with these parasites. You will have a few scratches and you mite as well slip and fall. Carry adequate first aid wid you and mosquito repellants. They will come in handy !! :)

To reach Dandeli from Bangalore, you can take direct KSRTC buses, but book in advance. To reach Dandeli, you can also drive to Dharwad (via Tumkur) and then take a diversion to Dandeli. You can also choose an alternate route that goes via Shimoga, it is longer but is more pleasant and scenic. You can deviate a bit on this route and visit Jog falls on the way if you take this road. Jog falls is a short deviation between Sagar and Siddapur. Expect bad roads in the later part of this journey, but it takes you through forests and great landscapes unlike the Dharwad road.

Things we missed ...

- 'Sykes Point' : Named after the person who discovered this place. This is a vista point where river Kali flows throws a narrow valley. The vista point suddenly drops into the river, and hence offers amazing view of the river for a long distance.This is the best view of the river and being here at the time of sunset is a premium.

- 'Shiroli Peak' : This is the highest point in Uttara Kannada, the district where Dandeli is. Offers great vista of the peaks of the 'Sahyadri' ranges and is not to be missed. This is inside Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and you may need permissions from the forest department. Check once you reach 'Dandeli'.

Meanwhile anyone in for a 'Goa-N Monsoon' ??...Lemme know ...we mite have something cooking during the Independence day long weekend !!!...Ciao !! :)

Picasa Album

Musings of A Wandering Mind...

2008-03-05T23:28:00.005+09:00

Hey ppl...Honest apologies for being out of d blogging scene for quite some time now...I take all d blame for keeping d regular visitors waiting for so long...Wont make ny excuses but I hope ppl understand d hectic schedules of an IT guy at times (honestly) :)...Hav been busy off late wid a lot of professional n personal engagements...But itz better writing late dan never...Well dis post s all abt things happening at my end n going by my mood rite nw plz bear wid me if I get a lil cranky ;)...D last few months have been more taxin on d personal front...Starting wid hectic but nevertheless great trips to Pondicherry 'n' Wayanad 'n' den 'Raipur' ending wid Bhaiyya's marriage...Ppl following me on Orkut wud vie for dat...Nw dat we r all settled for d time being nd I hav recovered a lil bit frm d hangovr, felt like penning down something :)...D trips were wonderful to say d least ...Check out d picasa links at d end...Bhaiyya's marriage ws hectic but on d whole pretty well managed...N bhabhi s stll settlin into d hip-hop city called 'Bengaluru' evn as I write :)...Em starting to njoy d delicious recipes n I guess d time wll soon come whn I need to give dieting 'n' gym a serious thought (jus kidding) :)...On a more personal note I wud say itz a bit early to say nw but a quite mention abt someone I found who shares my way of life to say d least...She s all I cn ever ask of 'n' I jus hope dat we stay dat way together for d rest of our lives...More posts on my feelings on dis subject wud follow once I get a lil more comfortable on d rel front 'n' more importantly she approves of my writing...Hope u understand :)...Meanwhile em flying to Mumbai dis weekend for a small college reunion...Wid ppl flying down frm various parts of d country itz gonna b a rocking party...

For d die hard Atif fans (like me)... I hope u guys r also hooked onto his latest number 'Pehli Nazar Mein'...dont knw y but d more I listen to dis song I kinda relate to it more...well u cn judge my mood rite nw...datz all I cn blabber out fr now :)...My posts on my trips to Pondicherry 'n' Wayanad will follow soon... For d time being dont forget to check out d picasa links...

A Blogger's Insight !!

2007-11-22T05:14:00.000+09:00

Der comes a point in evryone's life whn u tend to thnk "Agar aisa hota to kya hota??" ...D enormous possibilities hd somethin or d other worked fr u...bt den again I guess neither does life give u a second chance nor does time wait fr u...so people generally move on bt memories linger on nd later on dese images in ur mind tend to hurt nd haunt u at times whn d goin getz tough...I dont knw hw many of u hav felt dis wy but it used to happen to me too...Bt I ws fortunate to hav a friend who used to defy logic at times (ekdum 'bindas' type attitude...happy-go-lucky kinda person...evn in d most tryin conditions...jaise maano life mein koi tension hai hi nahi)...so one fine day I asked him ki hw he cud keep himself dry evn in drownin pressure...his answer ws simple "What u do tday is history tmrw nd I want to live in d present...U cannot change wht u hav already done...so y waste time thinkin abt it...der r probably a dozen more things I want to do in life...And if I let myself tied down by pressure probably I wont justify myself...So I focus on d job at hand nd try nd giv it my best shot...I become oblivious of d rest of d world den !!"

Wont say I completely agree wid wht he said but it did hav an influence nd I did learn somethin dat day...Read on to find dem somewer out der in d maze... :)

Life is too short if u come to compare it wid d existence of human race...And if u start thinkin of ur past u r actually wastin ur time out der...I am not exactly sayin "Forget abt ur past"...bt take all d gud things in life...things which hav atleast brought a smile to someone...Keep dem ...dey wll bail u out in tryin situations...nd dey r memories to cherish...Although learn frm ur mistakes nd try nt to brood ovr dem...Mistakes in life r sometimes encouraged becoz dey refine u as an individual...And ya since ur stay in paradise is limited make d most of it...Live it Up!!:)

People contribute to dis world in various wayz...Some in pain nd some in glory...bt den again u probably dont hav a job if u r not enjoyin it...Some try to find solace in wht dey r doin nd try hard to convince others dat dey like it...bt d stark reality s sometimes awful...So dont get caught up in somethin u never liked jus to win ur daily bread...Evryone s special in one way or d other nd der hs to b somethin which u luv doin nd which cn earn u a livin...Do It!!:)

In matters of love listen to ur heart...If at any point u feel d vibes r nt der den probably u hav lost ur love to someone somewer...Bt sometimes we take each other fr granted...Datz actually d breakin point in ny relationship...Great relationships r dose wer d love quotient s d same all throughout...And yes never love someone who doesnt love u as much..In dat case one of u s making a compromise fr some reason!!...But if u do love someone dearly and u knw itz d same d other way round den never hold back...Giv it all...U are Made for Each Other!!:)

Ur family and close frndz r d only ones who will stand by u durin hard times...And itz hard to find true frndz in a materialistic world...So respect nd cherish their company...Ur family s ur backbone...U r no-one without dem ...Support ur parents whn u r able to do so...Dey hav raised u to depend on u...Make dem Proud !!:)

All dis mite sound a bit philosophical bt dey do make a lot of sense whn u come to think of it in practical terms nd to me dey to an extent do resemble who nd wht we r tday. A very personal post after a long time...Just felt like writin abt it !!...Hope I did make some sense !!:)

Note: Can somone justify d image selected fr d post??...I actually gav it a lot of thought !!

A Software Engineer's Feelings...

2007-11-20T04:12:00.000+09:00

It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds gathered in the sky and nature was in its ominous best. I took a break from my work and went to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. I had a sip and went near the window to see the rain pouring down heavily outside the glass structure. I was inside our huge office building, unruffled by even the fierceness of the nature.

Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her. I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a software engineer.

I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status, respect, you name it I have it . I always wanted to be software professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past, basked in the warmth of the sun shine.

My childhood was so much of fun. I vividly remember those rainy days, when I hugged my mother tightly during sleeping listening to all the stories told by her. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I have a cell phone to talk to them everyday, but then I really miss those dinners which I had with my family everyday. I could easily afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food prepared by my mother.

I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on my face . The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these days.

The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Everyday I meet new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend.

It's true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The latest designer clothes, but a worn out body . Quite a few to flirt, but no one to love. Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest distance.

Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a long time back.

I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I ignored the mail and went to the rest room. After a couple of minutes, the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing,

Hi XYZ,

I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD.

Regards,

Software Engineer...

Weekend Blues ...

2007-11-18T03:10:00.000+09:00

D buzz of d city s lost somwer amidst d 'CAT' fever...Dont knw hw som ppl suddenly feel d urge to try their luck to becom respectable managers...No offence to d more serious aspirants who hav put in a lot of effort but my concerns r for d 'yet-another-exm' (YAE) folks...Nyway guess d xam itself seems an event d whole country awaits eagerly !! :-)

Bck to d business end...stll dont knw y I wasted 200 bucks on 'Saawariya' last weekend ...seriously 'Sanjay Leela Bhansali' (SJB as he clls himself) hs gone mad !!...I mean cudnt expect a disaster frm him after d critically acclaimed 'Black'...Dont try to watch it...listen to itz songs instead (a far better option) ...d setz r dreamy...d movie a fantasy...nd d plot ridiculous fr a modern film maker...u wud pray fr d movie to get over...nd ya nt to mention abt d much talked abt publicity nd d infamous 'towel-song' !!

'Om-Shanti-Om' on d other hand s a once watchable entertainer although we cud hav done away wid d revamped 'bare-body' Shahrukh in d 'Dard-e-Disco' number...he s a much more matured actor nw to try dat kinda stuff...probably John Abraham wud suit better der...
Nyway d movie does keep u entertained wid a somewhat shaky but interestin storyline...New comer Deepika Padukone s gorgeous (although cudnt make out much abt her actin skills) nd u wud find shades of naughtiness in d narration as well (expected frm Farah Khan) ...especially d 'Filmfare Awards' section nd d 'Mind It' section :-)

Saw Transformers nd Die Hard 4.0 again on d big screen (aka Projector) at Bhaiyya's frndz place ...Itz a great way to watch a movie at home and am seriously thinkin of gettin one fr myself ...wud actually go well wid my existin Home Theatre system...but d damn thing costs a lot !! :-( ...pln to catch 'A Mighty Heart' sometime tmrw !!

And last but nt d least der ws a survey in ofc on d most popular Social Networking sites...
The nominees wer Orkut, MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn, Fropper, BigAdda, MingleBox, Yaari, Jhoom, Twitter, Ryze nd ApnaCircle...datz nt an exhaustive list mind u...nd me havent used some of dem...difficult to comment but I guess Orkut beats MySpace hands down on popularity in India nd Brazil atleast...rest of dem r pretty young barring FaceBook nd Ryze (shud b part of Business Networkin actually)

And yes New Yr plns r already On...Guess we r goin to GOA !! ...Letc ZZZZZZZZZZZZ :-)

Google's 'Android' - A Leader in the Making ??

2007-11-08T05:24:00.000+09:00

Google Inc said on Monday it would offer a software system to make the Internet work as smoothly on mobile phones as it does on computers, seeking to spur change in a tightly controlled industry.

In its long-rumored entry into the mobile phone market, the world's leading Internet company said it would start next week by allowing independent designers to tinker with its software, known as "Android." Google-based phones are due to appear in the latter half of next year.

Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile will start selling Google software-based phones next year. China Mobile Ltd, the world's largest mobile carrier, Japan's NTT DoCoMo and KDDI and European and Latin American operator Telefonica also said they were working with handset makers to develop Google-based phones.

Google, which has no immediate plans to make phones of its own, said it forged an alliance with 33 companies, including phone makers Motorola Inc Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and High Tech Computer Corp.

"We're hoping thousands of different mobile phones will be powered by Android," Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt told reporters on a conference call following the announcement.

Google said it is in no rush to see operators alter the way they charge for service, but new ways of making money such as advertising-subsidized offerings would eventually be possible.

"Let's put the technology enablers in place and figure out how to monetize it later," Andy Rubin, the official in charge of Google's mobile phone push, told Reuters in an interview. "You won't see a completely ad-driven cell phone on this system for some time," he said during a company news conference.

Since Google is offering the software for free, Rubin said operators may pass along something like 10 percent savings to customers through phone subsidies or lower monthly fees.

Google is looking to strike revenue-sharing deals with carriers who agree to lower monthly data charges, expanding the potential audience for use of the Web on phones, Rubin said.

Challenging mobile conventions

Google said it aims to expand the range of Web services it now offers for computer browsers to the far-larger mobile phone market, where Internet use is hobbled by hundreds of conflicting handset designs and software standards.

The move pits Google against mobile operating systems backed by Nokia, Microsoft Corp and Google partner Apple Inc, maker of the iPhone. A number of Google partners said they would still work with rival systems.

Traditionally, network operators tightly control the software and services customers can use on their phones and often get a hefty cut of resulting revenue from third parties.

By contrast, Google said Android does not differentiate between a phone's core functions -- typically pre-installed by handset makers or network operators -- and any independently created applications added by customers later.

Research firm Strategy Analytics estimated Android would be in 2 percent of smartphones in 2008. Smartphones are expected to be only 6 percent of the total U.S. phone market this year, according to Yankee Group.

"The potential is there for this to be a game-changing development, but it remains to be seen," said Greg Sterling, an Internet industry analyst with Opus Research. "This is a set of tools that have to be turned into something."

What's in store

Google and its backers say they aim to bring the innovation made possible on computers online to phones, allowing millions of programmers to mix and match products with other software. Online auction leader eBay Inc said it hoped to make it easier to buy or sell goods and services on such phones.

Rubin, a veteran Silicon Valley gadget designer, said Android would also work offline, allowing air travelers to, say, check address books mid-flight. He created the innovative Sidekick mobile Internet device at start-up Danger Inc.

Google has long been rumored to be working on a new class of free or low-cost ad-supported phone of its own, known as the "Gphone." CEO Schmidt would not rule out Google developing its own devices, but said it had no immediate plans to do so.

The company said its alliance, known as the Open Handset Alliance, will be like an "open source" software project, with no central leadership.

Android is based on Linux technology that allows hardware or software makers to adapt it freely. Asked whether such free licensing could allow carriers to control everything on such phones, Schmidt said "it's both possible and highly unlikely" because such devices would lose out on rapid new innovations.

Source : CIOL

'Jab We Met'...Ahem Ahem !! :-)

2007-11-03T16:35:00.000+09:00

Before u read this post a small piece of advice...I know some of u can't handle 'Bebo'...For the time being shed that awful image of hers that u have and give her a second chance. She deserves it !! :-)

Imtiaz Ali's cute love story actually moved me a bit. The kinda stuff u can relate to probably in 'real' (not exactly 'reel') life !! :-)

The typically 'Hinglish' title gives a headstart to the movie. A dead giveaway to a chance meeting between two complete strangers on a train and how their lives get unknowingly entangled. Loved the narration where the sheer focus has been on the chemistry between Shahid and Kareena which is the way it should be although some critics might disagree as it tends to slightly shift away from the plot. Interestingly, after their real life break-up both pull it off quite refreshingly here.

But the real essence of the movie lies in the time the two characters spend with each other and in the process gradually discover each other. U will enjoy every frame of it !! :-)

Both of dem have loved before and aren't really on a journey to find true love again but as dey say and which I strongly believe in "Love just happens"...U may never find it when u r seeking it desperately...U will just know it when u find it !!
Sounds poetic but am afraid datz how strong bonds in life are made.

'Geet' (Kareena) is the more childish and 'Chulbuli' types at first but U do discover the deep emotional side to her with time. Kudos to Kareena for carrying it off well. Meanwhile 'Aditya' (Shahid) is the sort of cute guy some gurls wud die for :-) but he has already loved once and lost and the pain is unbearable for him. He doesn't believe he can fall in love again as he calls himself a "One Man Woman". Part of his thinking is based on the troubled marriage of his parents. All this until he meets 'Geet' whose sheer vibrance and 'happy-go-lucky' nature brings him back from oblivion and nurtures a bond between the two which can only be felt and can never be described.

Later in the movie 'Aditya' too comes back for her when he comes to know of her being dumped by her boyfriend. Both know it dat dey share something very unique, something very strong and something very special but yet both are unwilling to accept it in front of each other because of other compulsions. 'Aditya' tries his best to make it work between 'Geet' and 'Anshuman' (her boyfriend) but things somehow take a different turn and instead both of dem feel dat dey are an integral part of each other and can't live being separate which calls for a happy ending to a cute li'l love story.

Donno why but somehow I deeply relate to the nature of the character played by Shahid. Shades of his character reflect in me. Won't elaborate much on the resemblence in real life happenings but dis is a movie for 'All dose in love', 'All dose who have loved and lost' and 'All dose who r seekin love again' . Go watch It !! :-)

Btw did I forget to mention the peppy music which comes as a bonus package :-)...Nice beats on the "Yeh Ishq Hai..." number... kinda stuff u can keep listening to all day long..."Nagada Nagada" and "Mauja Hi Mauja" are the other dance numbers to watch out for.

'Laaga Chunari Se Bhaag' is what I would recommend to viewers and yes we are all eagerly waiting for the next big release 'Om Shanti Om' !!

Have a Great Weekend and "Happy Deepavali" in advance !! :-)

A small update on my blog posts : I am neither a critic nor a professional writer. I write when I have a feel for it and on any subject dat interests me. I enjoy the freedom I have on my writing and probably dat has an effect on the flow. I just cant write on anythin anytime. It has got to come to me and most of my write-ups are never complete and which is precisely why lot of dem never make it past the editing table !! :-)...Donno how long I will continue writing but for all dose who enjoy visiting dis page I would probably say dat I have absolutely no intentions of generatin revenue out of dis sometime and as long as I write I do it for the sole reason of sharing somethin wid u (no other reason intended)...Probably I mite make more attempts to advertise my posts in future but dat would merely be a personal objective.
To the subscribers to dis page - thnx for ur genuine interest. Keep Rocking !! :-)

Home Calling...

2007-10-29T19:51:00.000+09:00

The excitement is palpable and the joy overwhelming whenever I make a trip home...This time around it was no different judging by the occassion and the duration of stay...One week is precisely what I had got and that seemed to be an eternity given that I hardly get that many dayz off...part and parcel of every IT guy's miserable life I guess...!!

A trip which we (Me and Bro) had planned sometime back and since we had only a weeks time, had to forego most part of 'Durga Pujo' to be able to make it for the more grand 'Lakkhi Pujo' at home. Lotz of friends and relatives visiting during that time and Mom would not have spared me had I not stayed back for that although she was ok with me for delaying my visit at the expense of skipping 'Durga Pujo' at Kaku's place.

Reached Bhubaneswar in the early hours of 'Dashami'. As usual Dad had come to receive us and I got an opportunity to drive the very car I had learnt my driving...Got a flashback of my early driving dayz ...We reached home pretty soon and Mom was waiting at the gate...She was ecstatic and had already prepared food for us since we wanted to have food at home...'Luchi aar Aloo Kopi Bhaja' is what we had agreed for and which is precisely what she had prepared...Mouth watering stuff especially if itz cooked by Mom...!!

Itz only on rare occassions that all four of us are at home and so the whole family reunion was something everyone was looking forward to...We ate and then talked for a while but then I was too tired and slept off...!!

Woke up in the morning late and it was 'Bijoya Dashami'...time to convey ur 'Pranam' to elders and give your blessings to younger ones but since I had very few people around me who were younger...so it was mostly Take and less of Give !! :-)

The most important part of 'Bijoya' apart from visiting relatives is the food that you get...All kinds of sweets and delicacies to gorge on and we had a grand time...!!
Spent part of the evening in 'Thakur Dekha' as well...although we cudn't cover all the places as it was already too late but i did enjoy the late night drive around the city...

People out here enjoy every bit of life and everything they do doesn't always have a 'Purpose' tag attached to it which in other words means that they are very forthcoming and helpful by nature...so different from the cosmo life in Bangalore...Maybe my upbringing in a non-metro has something to do with it but I do cherish the simple way of living here.

The next 2 days went in catching up wid school friends and general preparation for 'Lakkhi Pujo' at home.Itz quite strange how some bonds never change and you always feel as if it was only yesterday that you had met up.That is exactly the feeling you get when you meet wid ur school friendz ('Chaddi Buddies' as we call them) even after a long time...Cudn't catch up wid many though as most of them were either busy wid their jobs elsewhere or were pursuing higher studies abroad...and only a few had made it home for 'Dusshera' and considering the fact dat I was meeting some of them after a gap of almost 4 yrs it seemed much like gud old school dayz again.

Topics for discussion were aplomb wid the most important subject being 'Whoz getting married and to whom?'...Just cudn't imagine how time flew and we had to part...Professional life has itz own demands and though we wanted to spend more time together it just wasn't possible although we did make a resolution to meet up again sometime in the near future...But all of us knew how difficult it would be...We were just hoping against hope...

Had mixed feelings when I came back home but it did give me a sense of belongingness I had for this place...A feeling which can never be described...

Back home though Mom was a li'l worried about our attachment to laptops and the fact that we were puttin in quality office time even when we were on a holiday...Although Dad has a slight craze for gadgets, Mom never fancied such stuff and was annoyed by this small 'creature' distancing her from spending quality time with her sons.

"Ei jodi shob shomoye dujone boshe laptop-e office-er kaaj korbe tahole chhutti keno niyecho" [If both of you are going to do official work from home on ur laptops then why have u taken holidays]...is wht she would blabber all along.
And we cudn't help but feel guilty at times for not listening to her...!!

The Pujo at home went well and now I had started counting my dayz ..."Do I really have to get back to that fast-track life where my job takes centerstage and everything else takes a backseat?"...thatz just one question among several others which crossed my mind. But you can't just shy away from the realities of life can u and although my heart din't want to go, my mind had already started shifting gears fuel-ed by the hope that I will be back soon for my Bro's marriage in Jan.

Time to pack up and I had to fill my luggage with lotz of sweets among others because you just can't return from home without them and this time I was catering to special requests...Cudn't imagine life again without 'Parota - Kasha Mangsho' and 'Payesh' and the 'Macher Jhaal' ofcourse.

Wish I could take you everywhere I go Mom...!!

Lotz of nostalgia too attached with this trip and probably my
tryst with them will soon reflect in my albums in Orkut and Picasa soon...Check out for those !!!

Similar Posts :
Nostalgic Moments

Bhool Bhulaiyya...Crazy and Uncanny Stuff !!

2007-10-13T07:31:00.000+09:00

Bear with me guyz for am writing a review after perhaps quite a long time...Actually ventured out to watch a bollywood movie in theatre after a while and that too when people around convinced me that it wont be as bad as the recent Priyadarshan releases as it is supposedly a remake of a critically acclaimed Malayalam movie...so we could bank upon the plot a bit.

Guyz the movie basically bores you for most of the first half with some light-hearted moments thrown in here and there...but they are seemingly common Priyadarshan gimmicks which you mite have come to expect from his style of movie-making...The scenario livens up though with the entry of Akshay Kumar towards the end of first half and it is his performance and the late surge of Vidya Balan which holds the movie together and tightens the loosely held plot a bit.

Barring the intial hiccups the movie presents a great combo of suspense, thrill and humour which makes it atleast a once-watchable. It explores a topic which hasnt been touched by most bollywood movie makers...the sub-conscious mind and split-personality disorders...although you can find a lot of hollywood stuff on the same subject. But it is quite unique the way a subject as serious as this is handled and the movie-maker has successfully blended it with humour.

The "Vidya Balan" factor definitely counts and her acting towards the climax at times will give you a hair-raising and chilling experience. The comic ensemble of Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and Akshay Kumar blend well but I guess much was left wanting from Shiny Ahuja. One thing this movie does is give you a deep insight into the psyche of the "Possessed Indian Woman".

It also brings forth a common myth that the personality representing the sub-conscious is sometimes mistaken to be the spirit possessing the person. Comparable to other Priyadarshan hitz "Hera Pheri", "Hungama" and "Malamaal Weekly". And maybe it will make you start humming to the haunting tune of "Aami Je Tomar...." !!

Go watch it for a different experience altogether...Although if you find the subject interesting enough check out a movie called "Identity" starring John Cusack. Itz a jem of a movie on multiple personality disorder. Another movie of note on the same subject would be "Secret Window" starring Johny Depp.

On the animation front "Ratatouille" and "Surf's Up" both score well enough. And for a breath-taking gizmo act check out "Transformers".

Heard a lot about "Johny Gaddar" and "Manorama Six Feet Under" too...Will have to check it out soon...!!!

T20 ...Game of the Future ??

2007-10-13T06:31:00.000+09:00

I guess the T20 World Cup euphoria must have died down by now and people have started realising that the 1983 win and the 2007 T20 win are worlds apart and comparing them would be foolhardy and a sheer waste of time.

Agreed that T20 is a game of the future and given the football like adrenalin rush it gives, this version of the game is here to stay...Not only is money in there for the business houses but it also to an extent popularises the game in lesser known orbits where folks wont waste an entire day watching the game or for that matter playing. But have we ever pondered over the larger threat it holds to the longer verison (the 50-50 one)....Going by the makings of it I wouldnt rule out a stage when we have more T20 matches than ODIs...Yes it kills the sport (read makes it more presentable to the masses) but isnt everyone really interested in the money and sheer entertainment rather than quality. We will have players tailor-made for this format in future. We will have separate teams for T20, ODI and Tests...the most popular being the T20 one.

But imagine a career wasted playing just T20 and never ever being given an opportunity to play a Test or an ODI. What you are trying to do is branding players and ruining their careers. A career in T20 will last as long as you fire and can die a sudden death and going by how cruel the sport can be you can be rest assured that you wont get many lifelines.

If Kerry Packer revolutionised One-day cricket with his D/N matches and coloured clothing I guess T20 will do much more than that...Come to think of it - Coloured clothing is a neccessity for D/N matches but since they became so popular we now see them being used for the Day matches as well (defies logic but makes it attractive and enhances viewership which is what finally matters) . Rules were bent to accomodate uncertainity and excitement which will happen again with the advent of T20...One of them being the famous "Free Hit". I guess we are some distance away from a "Bowl Out" in an ODI...that would be outrageous though.

I am not patronising nor criticising T20 ...my only concern is the threat it holds for the future and what it can do to change the face of One-Day cricket. Test Cricket I guess will be limited to routine tours and we may never ever see a World Test Championship again.

Quoting Shahid Afridi - "You can expect a T20 World Cup every 2 years though !!"

Any Aquarians Listening...??

2007-10-13T05:58:00.000+09:00

Donno why am I writing this...May be someone somewhere influenced me to do some research on Zodiacs and Compatibility Scores and I found it interesting enough...Although I don't believe much in the Compatibility one but the Zodiac traits are intriguing...Have a look Aquarians...

Aquarians basically possess strong and attractive personalities. They fall into two principle types: one shy, sensitive, gentle and patient; the other exuberant, lively and exhibitionist, sometimes hiding the considerable depths of their character under a cloak of frivolity.

Both types are strong willed and forceful in their different ways and have strong convictions, though as they seek truth above all things, they are usually honest enough to change their opinions, however firmly held, if evidence comes to light which persuades them that they have been mistaken. They have a breadth of vision that brings diverse factors into a whole, and can see both sides of an argument without shilly-shallying as to which side to take. Consequently they are unprejudiced and tolerant of other points of view. This is because they can see the validity of the argument, even if they do not accept it themselves.

Keywords : Unique, humanitarian, independent, idealistic, inventive
Most Likeable traits : Friendly, People-oriented, Outgoing
Lucky Numbers : 1 and 7 (Wow that makes my birthdate)

Compatibility Scores :
Most compatible with : Aquarius, Libra, Gemini
Can be good with : Aries, Sagittarius, Leo
A 50-50 chance with : Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer
Doubtful with : Taurus,Virgo,Capricorn

Aquarians form their own opinions, disregarding and perhaps even disdaining the orthodox. They stand by what they believe with almost Taurean stubbornness, the one unchangeable aspect of this sign. They are open-minded but once they make a decision, their mind (at least on that subject) closes.
People born under this sign are always looking for something new and exciting. They avoid routine and anything else that may lead to boredom. Aquarians are outgoing and find friends to share their adventures easily.
An Aquarius will always follow his or her dreams. They don't like to feel they're in limiting situations and will avoid people (and jobs) that make them feel that way. Aquarians tend to avoid hard work and will fulfill their potential best working with ideas (and teams of people to implement them).

Fun Fact : The Man behind the "Thoery of Evolution" was an Aquarian !!

Similar Posts :
Buckle Up Aquarians
Facts About being an Aquarius Man

What If ...??

2007-08-27T21:52:00.000+09:00

People always say life is all about making the right choices but tend to forget that some of the most important decisions in life are taken accidentally. Decisions that may have been taken from the heart and in a moment of passion but yes the ones that would suffocate you for the rest of your life with a simple question "WHAT IF...??"

I guess that sounds as a great prelude to the interesting little write-up that follows...

I have sometimes been accused of being a very restrained person to start a conversation especially with strangers when I meet them in person. But the same people do testify to the fact that I am a completely different person when I get to know them better.Probably there is a hint of introvertness to it but I really don't admit to that fact as my conversations are very candid when I am not talking to a stranger face-to-face.

I believe I am a bit sceptical about being very frank and am afraid that some people might not respond to it in kind at the first instance. Probably that is one of the reasons I take time to open up fast.

Don't know how many of you have seen the movie 'Before Sunrise'...starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Had heard a lot about it, some of the views being very critical and in the negetive sense. So badly wanted to check out what it was all about and last night I happened to grab a copy of it and finally when I couldnt go out because of the rain decided to watch it.
Needless to say that I was inspired to write this article because I felt there was something in the movie that conveyed the true essence of a relationship...They are not made, they just happen and by the time you realise it ...either itz too late or itz a wait till eternity.

Well the movie is all about a chance encounter between two complete strangers on a train in a country alien to both of them and how this chance meet-up starts with a candid conversation and turns into a whole day they spend together and finally when itz time to say good-bye they realise that they should be together for the rest of their lives which is when it is too late and may be as an afterthought they decide to meet-up again knowing the fact the it would be very difficult on their part to keep the promise.

Not much of a storyline one would imagine and some people might even argue that it hinges on the borders of the impracticable but the movie does explore the intricacies of a delicate relationship. It kicks of in a light hearted manner and embodies itself into a strong and impeccable bond that the characters share towards the end. What I loved about the movie was the fact that as it draws to an end it asks you a question "WHAT IF ....??" which indicates a superb narration of a simple yet palpable storyline.

May be it is a personal opinion but I would recommend you to watch it if you believe in destiny and agree to the fact that life is full of surprises...!!!
This might seem a very personal post and I sincerely hope that it doesn't spend much time at the editing table as I do not often write them. But yes by the time you read this and I am probably in my complete senses I might have actually striked out the best parts considering them as too much information and the relevance the movie holds to the personal feedback. If it doesn't get past the editing knife then it would probably be upto the readers to draw their own conclusion about the connection but yes the movie did raise a few personal questions ...Most of them being "WHAT IF ...??"

60 years Young...Are We ??

2007-08-26T21:53:00.000+09:00

Chak De...Chak De...Chak De INDIA...!!! No matter whatever you say but in a nation of such immense diversity it is sport that binds us together and makes us feel proud to be united against the oppsition.

If Cricket is believed to be a Religion then I guess Hockey can be termed as a bright spark which can fuel a revolution and galvanise people of this frenzied nation. An Ind vs Pak Hockey encounter can generate as much passion as Cricket if not more. Players in this country believe that their lives are on the line if it is an Ind vs Pak final. Why is it that the fear of defeat so intense and unacceptable when we play our arch rivals and not any other team. The reason lies in our not so glorious past but it is hard to believe that we cannot till today generate the same level of passion on field against a different opposition.

Consistency is something we lack in various fields and sport is not any different especially the Team games. One of the major drawbacks of our upbringing has been the glorification of individual brilliance and the lack of team effort which explains why we have exceptional talent but poor Teams comprising them.

Right from our childhood we have been inspired to excel individually but we have never realised that as a nation to progress in any field we need to have a collective contribution otherwise it will always be about individualism and India will always be talked about as a third world country. Team work as a key aspect is now being taught at the grass root levels which is a good sign for the days ahead.

It is said 'Better late than never' ...but the saying doesnt aptly aply to our youngsters when you ask them about their active role in democracy and politics. Present day is a bit different from yesterday when none of the younger generation would have liked to take politics as a career option. The reason being the inherent assumption that nothing can be done to clean up the corruption and that we dont want to get our hands dirty. But when you choose not to play then how do you expect to win and here we are talking about a whole corrupt system as the opposition. Yes it would require a lot of courage and mental strength to stand up against lawlessness and deceit but sometimes you will need to bend the law (not break it) to make acceptable choices.

My obvious reference is to the Times of India organised Lead India campaign with the message "DO" as their tagline. The last time we said "Do or Die" there was gruesome bloodshed and sacrifices had to be made to achieve a common goal. Somewhere down the line we have lost that sense of belongingness and thereby faith in our system. But are we prepared against a more potent opposition (our own elected leaders) this time around ? All said and done it again boils down to collective effort and that is where I am not sure how big a success this venture can be but judging by the interest levels I wish the participants all the very best. But it remains to be seen as to how much energy can a single winner imbibe into a rotten machine.

As we celebrate the 60th year of our independence, my thought goes back to the three words Dr.Kalam said in an interview some time back ..."Strength, Respect and Strength"...As India prepares to announce its arrival in the big league it is high time we realised our Strengths...learn to Respect them and build on that respect to gain more Strength and Respect.

Note : The views expressed in this article are personal and extremely subjective in nature. They were never meant to be for public broadcast and so I would ask readers to refrain from making such requests. Writing to me comes when I have the time and feel for it and it cannot be hastened. At the same time a request to the other contributors to this space to end their hibernation and start contributing effectively. :-)

Coming up soon - Life In an 'IT' Industry !!!

Murky Waters of Social Networking...

2007-08-21T21:44:00.000+09:00

Phew...Itz been a long time since I last posted in this wonderful space better known to the outside world as 'Blogosphere' - A world of itz own...And maybe a manifestation of all those around the world frantically trying to find a place where they can melt down their emotions and reactions to issues pertaining from mundane everyday life to wide-ranged public news. Whatever it is we are in the age of the 'www' and 'e-commerce' and itz not hard to imagine and needless to say that I too was drawn into such a place some time back. But it has never been looking back since then and the fever had spread to social networking as well.

The most widespread and dangerous being Orkut. I know I am being harsh by making it sound like an epidemic but thatz what it has become. It has spread itz tentacles with such venom and speed that innocents are falling prey to criminals with a deceptively sane disguise (public profiles I mean). People are being asked to withdraw their profiles as the fear of being targeted by the mafia is on the high. Governments across the globe are still coming to terms with this menace and how it can affect national security, leave aside providing a safe medium for plotting and implementing rampant crimes...Guyz for all the good it brings with it there is always a rider (darker side) attached.

One very important aspect that goes against Orkut is itz popularity over other networking sites - MySpace, FaceBook, Gazzag, Hi5 and Ryze being the prominent ones among others and we do have lesser known mortals in MingleBox, Yaari and the more recent BigAdda.

But people often confuse public forums with social networking. Thatz where a Fropper is different than an Orkut.

Some of my friends have already withdrawn their profiles from Orkut...Some who want to be on the safer side but still cant get rid of the bug have atleast made an attempt by removing all their shared personal pictures and videos.

If u ask me I would probably suggest u to tread cautiously as I myself being an avid Orkut-er know the joy and addiction it brings but I guess when lives are at risk the excitement be better short-lived. This post may be a bit radical in nature going by the tone of it but I am not making a statement here nor are my views meant to be influential. They just express the state of affairs and the dangers of social networking. For the more inquisitive it means that all said and done I will still maintain my Orkut Profile but with a lot more caution.

Some suggestions on keeping urself clean :

- Dont accept friend requests from unknown faces. Yes u are here to meet people ...but a golden rule would be to get to know them better or studying their profile before accepting them and making ur sensitive information open to them. Exchanging scraps till that point are a safer bet ...If u are still not able to judge someone as genuine itz always safer not to accept !!

- Dont get lured by indecent profile pictures and video/album postings. U r here for friends and not for voyeuristic pleasures. There are other locations for the same !!

- As far as possible keep ur album clean...Profile pictures can be and should be genuine as they identify u as someone genuine and recognizable but be careful while sharing other personal pictures and videos. A gud way would be to classify them as sensitive and non-sensitive....Again if u r not sure donot share them !!

Letz try our best to 'Keep Orkut Clean And Beautiful'

Lotz of 'gyaan' as of now...But yes I do try my best to follow dese golden rules. I donot know how much of an impact this post is going to make at a time when this whole topic is under the scanner but I do wish that it makes a difference. And yes comments are always welcome !!

The delay in this post was brought in probably becoz of two reasons...One of them being my preoccupation with some work or the other and not being able to make a final edit. And the other being my own self admitted laziness. There are two draft versions which were supposed to be posted long back. I think they mite be outdated but will try my best to factor them in as I do believe people mite be interested in it...-:)

Puzzle Lovers - Some food for thought links :

For the movie buffs...Would give decent ratings to 'Chak De INDIA' and 'Gandhi, My Father' amongst recent releases...Check out for more reviews in the next post !!!

Till then Cheers !!!

Related Post : Flip Side of Social Networking

Cup of Woes ...Or Is It ???

2007-03-25T00:00:00.000+09:00

Was wondering about the title to this post for quite some time until I settled for the current one...Well as most of you would have guessed it is about the 'Game' we love so much and which is so much an alternative religion for us...Yes India were "shocked" by minnows 'Bangladesh'..."rocked" against first timers 'Bermuda'...and "choked" against competitive SriLanka.

I know it hurts but that is how our World Cup dream went down the drain with fanatic fans
criticising the players for their other sources of income (endorsements to be precise) which has led to their performance levels go down...

But has it ??...If you ask me we never really had a chance even if we had qualified for the semis because we would have anyways got slaughtered by either Australia or South Africa or for that matter New Zealand somewhere down the line...And you would actually agree with me if you have seen the level of Cricket that these teams play and the level we are at...They are simply a different breed...Higher fitness levels, higher fielding standards and even higher improvisation and mental strength...I mean however passionate you are about the game but the fact remains that we are a few years behind what teams like Australia and South Africa are today...

The justification comes from facts and figures...The current South African team believes that they can chase down whatever Australia score and no doubt they have reason to believe that...When you have chased down a mammoth 430 odd against the top team in the world and that too in a final you can actually chase down anything...This post comes at a time when another similar runchase of 377 against Australia is on !!

Similar justification goes for New Zealand whose recent performances against Australia in chasing down 350+ totals is awesome...So that is the level at which Cricket is being played between the top teams in the World and now you might also wonder that we could have actually chased down that 359 against Australia in 2003 final because it was the same Wanderers (Johanesburg) pitch where 430 odd was succesfully chased against the same opposition by a far superior and mentally stronger team than India...Yes I still think 2003 was our best shot at the Cup after 1983.

The bar has been raised and we have remained stagnant...Cricket today is a more mentally and physically demanding game than it used to be ...and sometimes mere talent doesnt matter...If you think logically we may have the talent but we still are mentally weak and our fitness levels are pathetic...And this comes primarily from the fact that we are not natural athletes to compete at such high levels.

If you ask me I would say we need to go back to the grass roots ...Nurture and build a team that is able to compete at the highest level without meekly surrendering to pressure situations...And yes mental strength comes from confidence and belief in yourself and that requires you to be extremly talented as well...So that essentially makes up the ingredients for a highly competitive and ruthless team which we need to become if we want to be still counted as one of the top teams...And that would also require us to be primarily superior to rest of the Asian teams which means the future Indian team should be confident of beating either SriLanka or Pakistan any given day and play more matches against the top teams if we are to look up to being world leaders...

I gave up being an fanatic Indian supporter once we lost the final in 2003 because somewhere down I still beleive we should have won that Cup ...It was our best chance and it has been downhill since then for Indian Cricket with minor success in between against Asian teams...

Coming to the repurcussions of this early exit I would say they are very much obvious
- Rahul Dravid steps down as captain which he should as he is better off it.
- Greg Chappel might lose his job but I hope he doesnt for the good.
- Indian Team to be totally revamped and this might have been the last World Cup for most of the senior players some of whom may well be sacked.
- More importantly huge losses to ICC and West Indian Cricket Board as both the Asian giants (India and Pakistan) are out.

My bet - Try and build a young Team and have Greg Chappel and Co. nurture it from the start...This doesnt mean radical changes in the current composition but yes retain the younger talented legs and build on a good talent pool...The ultimate goal should be to be competitive at the highest level and play more against the top teams rather than celebrating our supremacy in the subcontinent as we falter miserably when faced with real competition.

This may be one of my very crude posts but it reflects some of the stark realities facing Indian Cricket and if we are to survive and ever dream of winning a World Cup again we need to think and act fast.

Adieu...

2007-02-22T04:56:00.000+09:00

The past few dayz have been literally a turmoil for me...
Well finally I am happy that I have made a decision at last and stuck to it...

I would be giving up a 'Brand' many feel proud to be associated with and a possible overseas travel to move on to something I have always wanted to do and always felt I belonged there...Several thoughts crossed my mind and I weighed each and every factor but then mind was simply stronger than the heart...And I had to listen to the stronger feeling...

Guyz, I would be bidding farewell to one of the 'Giants of the Indian IT Industry' in early March and moving on to a new journey of professional life ...As it turned out the thought itself is easier than reality...

Lotz of Emotions...Lotz of Drama...But every chapter has an end...I have learnt a lot in my short stint here and hope to use that knowledge and experience in my new sojourn...And I really do hope that the exciting new opportunity brings with it as much challenges and joy as much I have expected it to be !!

This post is dedicated to all my colleagues and Team mates with whom I have shared every moment of my stay here and I am really grateful to some of them for shaping up my early days with their wealth of experience...Thanks a lot Guyz ...Will always be in touch !!

My Tryst With Google !!

2007-02-05T15:33:00.000+09:00

This post was long overdue as I always wanted to write about it sometime or the later...They say 'The hunt for the right catch continues...' but I guess when somethings are jinxed against you no matter what you do they dont work out...!!

All this may sound crazy but my jinx with the "G" companies continues ...It all started with GE...then midway I was puzzled by GoldMan Sachs..And now got googled by Google !!

Yup I had a 40 min long gruellin session with a guy from Google sometime back which was for a position based in Google Hyderabad...Things dint work out as they should have because I spent 2 nights reading as much about Data Structures and Algos as possible on a diet of pesticides (Pepsi to be precise) and Chips but the discussion went in a completely diff direction as they were seekin someone to work for their internal applications and not for their products...Nyway at the end of it I was happy that atleast my profile was worth a call frm one of the top notch companies and the fact that I can apply again in six months time..:-)

But yes the jinx does bring in a diff flavour to it...It all started with GE Healthcare sometime back in college days where again I was grilled for an hour...but yes I do admit that I screwed up that interview as it was early days...Next it was midway through that I got a call from Goldman..which to be very frank I went just for the sake of it and as I had thought things dint work out...!!

Now you must be wondering what is dis guy upto ? and what is he doin ?...Very valid question given the fact that I am still employed with one of the giants in the Indian software Industry and am happy that my career started here...But I guess I felt the need somewhere to move on in life and I believe that if ever there is a time to experiment it is now...

So friends to put it more simply come Feb end I will be bidding adieu to my first company and moving onto to unexplored and exciting territory...I hope it doesnt screw up my social life completely because that means less of Orkuttin and less of Bloggin and it also means less movies and music which complicates things more for me...

Sorry about not writing the reviews but all of these movies are worth watchin so do go and see them if you can...
Departed, Blood Diamond - De Caprio is clinical in both (mind the language in Departed)
Babel, Parzania, BlackFriday - Meaningful and realistic cinema at itz best
Rocky Balboa and Pan's Labyrinth - Havent seen them as yet but heard they are good
Eklavya - Hopefully should watch it this week...!!

And since Valentines Day is fast approachin couldnt help but mention a thought for the love birds who want to go for a movie with their loved ones...Check out "Music and Lyrics" starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore ...I hope itz a gud suggestion !!

"Salaaaaaaaaam-E-Ishq"

2007-01-26T06:23:00.000+09:00

Pheew...Evr imagined watching a 3 hr 45 minute marathon of a movie for a 10 pm show at Innovative Multiplex and returning home to write a review...Sounds crazy rite ??...Well in a way I am...Nyway u mite have already got the reason behind the extra 'a' s in the otherwise "Salaam-E-Ishq"...Yup it indicates the length of the movie which supercedes KANK...So if u thought KANK was a torture then be prepared for this one (just for the length)...The movie as such is not as boring as KANK but it could have done away with some of the song sequences just to reduce the length although the music is gud !!

I really liked the way Nikhil Advani has interlinked 5 + 1 different love stories into a single co-incidence better known as "Salaam-E-Ishq"...Itz actually 5 stories with an additional comic one thrown in between which makes it 5 + 1.

The movie is gud despite the fact that it is lengthy since it keeps u interested for the maximum part...The only places where I was feeling sleepy (...read yawning) was during the dance sequences and some relatively sad moments baring which it really did keep me interested (quite strange)...!!

As per the chemistry goes John and Vidya, Govinda and Shannon Esrechowitz ('The Firang' aka 'Su' in "Rang De..."), Akshaye and Ayesha, Anil and Juhi, Priyanka and Sallu AND "Sohail and Isha"...all hit it off pretty well baring a bit of overacting at times by Sallu and Akshaye !!

Coming to the movie - The title is pretty much suggestive as this is a 'Tribute to True Love'...And if u already know that 'Love is Blind'...'Love Hurts'...and 'Love Unites'...thn u probably know the concept and base of this movie...But these concepts alone dont make the movie watchable as these are tried and tested typical Bollywood masala stuff...There is something else about this movie which will keep u interested...One is the interlinking of the stories and the second is the comic angle to the whole plot despite emotional moments which will keep u glued...!!

Acting wise John, Vidya, Juhi, Govinda (surprised) , 'The Firang', Ayesha and Anil give sound performances although Priyanka and Akshaye could have been better...Wont reveal much about the plot since u will get to know most of it in the morning newspaper reviews...!!

All in all a decent movie and my suggestion (am not a perfect critic as yet) is 'Go and Watch It if u can sustain It' and better avoid the late night show...!!

Coming up - Reviews for Departed, The Black Dahlia, A Good Year, Babel, Blood Diamond...Till then "Salaam-E-Ishq" :-)

Guru Bhai Guru Bhai...Mast Che !!

2007-01-13T18:23:00.000+09:00

Dhirubhai Ambani himself would have been proud of Mani Ratnam's vivid take on his life as a small town boy named Guru who knew the intricacies of business and within a short span rebelled against the system and the powers that be to create an image of his own and generate hope amongst the common man. He inspired people to Dream Big and made them realise it too !!

Guru essentially narrates the journey of a boy who with his determination and vision becomes one of the greatest Industrialist of modern India better known as GURUKANT DESAI and how he handles his empire from falling prey to a myopic government.

Riveting and Gripping...This movie is full of substance and will keep you glued for the entire
length.I found glimpses of Sarkar somewhere in it but then again it is purely from an abstract viewpoint not related in any way to the story or the narration...Itz just that the scenic settings and village backdrops seemed so familiar very much Mani Ratnam style.

Abhishek Bachchan has given a performance of a lifetime and 'Brand Aishwarya' is on an image makeover mission after the not so great appearance in Dhoom II...Again the cast and the roles fit perfectly and you would feel a lot of research has been done to find the right people and to get them in shape to deliver a power packed performance.

Not to forget Mithun da, Madhavan and ofcourse Vidya Balan for great supporting roles.And I would be crazy enough if I dont mention the foot-tapping music of AR Rahman...Trust me if you havent heard all of the songs then you would definitely sway to numbers like Maiyya Maiyya, Yemma Yemma Yemma Le and Nannare Nannare....!!

All in all a great movie...Cudnt have missed the First Day Last Show as usual...Mani Ratnam at his very best...This movie is a must watch !!

Quest for Glory !!

2007-01-01T17:47:00.000+09:00

Ever Imagined being part of an Organization having :

8 billion $ annual revenues
Business spread across 220 countries under 66 umbrella companies
Authorized and Patronized by United Nations
Touching hundreds of lives everyday
Helping thousands of people worldwide

Sounds too gud to be true right...

Welcome to the wonderful world of Quest Intl - A company changing lives across boundaries. Gold Quest is a part of Quest Intl dealing in Numismatic Medallions across the Globe over e-commerce. It is one of the best and most promising opportunities that exists on present day !!

This company headquartered in HongKong has been there for almost 8 years now since its inception in 1998 and it can be the stepping stone for a bright future if you have the will to do it. It has been part of many International Events like All Badminton Championship 2003,Official distributor of commemorative coin in several continents for Athens Olympic 2004, Among Official distributor of 100 years FIFA, Among sponsors for GP F1 Monaco 2004 and many more. Gold Quest also works closely with Coin Issuing Authority in several countries.

"Read between the lines and take special interest in the potential and financial figures...Stop for a moment , Block out the rest of the world , Pour your favourite drink, Relax and Simply read to understand , you will find a pure success formula in ur hands"

Chairman of the board - Aulis Johanna Makitalo - Project manager and Advisor for the United Nations.
Managing Director - Vijay Eshwaran - six years in IBM
Financial Advisor - Mrs. Nalini Chidambaram - wife of finance minister Mr. P Chidambaram

Coin Minting by Mayer Mint GMBH Germany - Europe's largest privately owned mint located in Germany. 131 years of renowned mint masters and one of the oldest minting company.
Appointed as the royal court mint of germany circa 1900.

Business of the company - 18 wholely owned subsidairies ranging from :
Luxury and collectible products - Gold Quest international, JR mayer collecions ltd.
Financial services and corporate investment - Q Asset investment ltd., Q Financials, Quest Paynet
Resorts and holidays - Quest leisure, Quest vacation international ltd., Quest resorts, Quest travel
Media works - Quest productions international, Quest entertainment, Image quest ltd.
Business consultancy and strategic planning - Quest strategies ltd.
Technology - Quest technologies global pvt ltd., QI comm ltd
Training and education - vteam limited, GITA international
E-commerce and interactive marketing - QuestNet ltd

Strategic Partners in India :

Siddivinayak temple trust, mumbai
Manasa kalyan trust , hyderabad
Shivaji prabhu charitable trust, chennai
Ahimsa foundation, delhi
Kanchimutt
Narayan guru trust
Titan
Kinetic

Product Ranges ... Unique and Exciting...

Numismatics
Holiday packages
Technology
Lifestyle

Big Question - What you have to do ?
- Once in a LifeTime Investment
- Refer just two people in any part of the world and with that get an opportunity to earn a residual income of Rs 11,500 to 6,90,000 / week. Yes itz per week !!

Hmmm...sounds impractical but it is true and I have seen it happen ....!!
The income is paid out after 5.6% TDS and the company provides FORM 16 at the end of the Financial year for Income Tax filing.

3 Generation Nomination Facility to secure 3 generations of your Lifeline !!

With that you have a Residual Income source for life with a one time investment and develop excellent interpersonal skills interacting with people from all walks of life. A busines plan that provides you to earn a considerable income even when you are working for major IT giants. The business Package is a complimentary package along with a one time purchase given by QI ltd- a fast growing industry leader in e-commerce and interactive marketing. Has more than 17 lac IRs across the world till date and is growing at an exponential pace. The business plan is executed by 2 subsdiary companies of QI ltd - GoldQuest and QuestNet. QuestNet - The ecommerce division harnesses the power of the internet to conduct business for QI ltd.

QuestNet delivers proactive and highly responsive customer service with exchange server 2003 built by Microsoft - Check out the other microsoft connection

The Indian subsidiary is QuestNet enterprises headquartered in Mumbai and offices in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The company is ISO 9001 : 2000 Certified. Part of RYTHM charity foundation - "Raise Yourself to Help Mankind" to reach out and touch as many lives as possible by supporting worthy individuals and causes around the world - Corporate Social Responsibilty

Gold Quest Products cover famous personalities like Lady Diana, Nelson Mandela, Don Bradman, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, Shirdi Sai Baba, Places of Worship, Fifa and Olympics. They are minted under exclusive licenses from various official issuing authoruties and governments of concerned countries and carry a very high appreciation value. They can be purchased by QuestNet IRs.

Siddhivinayak Temple coins , which were available at Quest Net rose by 45% in an year. Mother Teresa coin was auctioned at $6,000 at ebay ( multiple times of its original cost price). You need to register yourself at QuestNet and you need to buy a numismatic product once in lifetime.
But for that you will need someone to refer you and once you are done with this, you are an IR of Quest Net and eligible for the powerful reward plan of the Quest Net.

No legal complication - you are a representative of the company and not an employee.
You are provided with a Virtual Office once you login with your unique ID and you can keep track of your progress from here.

You will be part of OCEAN group which has anchors in all major cities in India comprising of mostly software professionals.

Disclaimer - This post is not intended if your beliefs fall in one of these categories :

• You are happy and satisfied with your salary and you are against earning any extra bucks.
• You are happy with working day and nights and on weekends for your organization and satisfied that the salary you get is for your 9 hours work on working days only.
• You work for your satisfaction and not at all for money.
• You think the only way to make money is to be an employee of an organization and work for the same organization.
• You are against improving your lifestyle.

The Objective of this post is to make you aware of such a smart opportunity which is
creating waves among a large number of software professionals in various metro cities.
The opportunity which provides you to develop inter-personal skills, leadership quality,
to socialize with highly successful persons and above all makes you richer.

Benefits of the Plan :
a) Passive income
Multiple times more than your active income (min.11.5k to max 6.9 lacs per week).
b) Financial freedom
The company is in existence for long time and has very sound future too. Tomorrow, if IT slowdown happens as in 2001, you won’t have to worry.
c) Nomination facility
You secure the future of your children or anyone (your father/mother) whom you nominate. The income will be always growing.
d) Personality Development
You gradually improvise your inter-personal skills by interacting to various people.
e) Virtually no Investment
You purchase the product through credit card. Within payment date, you can sell the product on e-bay & can get minimum 2 times more than what you spent. In addition, you are entitiled to a life long reward plan.
f) Online monitoring of your business - Virtual Office
You don’t have to run after everyone to know how much rewards you are entitled. You just have to login into the application and can view your downlines.
g) Socializing
You socialize yourself in a community of smart & rich people.
h) Team work
You develop the capability to work in a team.

Disturbing Facts - Are they Really ?

Q. I am too busy with my project and I’m preparing for exams too. I have no time...

A. This is not a full time engagement. The business plan is most famous among software professionals who remain in the office for most of the time. The plan is executed by just speaking to your friends when you are at leisure. We all work hard & get money. Just spending (speaking to your friends) few hours a week makes you eligible for weekly income of 11.5 k to 6.9 lacs.

Q. This is just a bubble. Some people will make money and company will run away

A. Where will the company go. The company has business in over 220 countries, recognized internationally by UNO and by laws of respective countries, and above all company is making profit and growing at very high rate.

Q. Everything is fine...But right now I dont have Money ??

A. You need not invest money from your pocket. You purchase the product through credit card. Within payment date, you can sell the product on e-bay & can get minimum 2 times more than what you spent. In addition, you are entitiled to a life long reward plan. If you are a bit more energetic at the start you might repay back the Credit Card with your initial earnings.
But if you dont have a card apply for one if you dont want to miss out on such a wonderful opportunity.

Q. I have doubt on the authenticity of whatever is given above.

A. Please go through the sites. Company’s address is given. Make a personal enquiry.
Please verify the authenticity of the cheques from the people who refer you and get details from the bank as well.

Other related Links :

In The Sphere Of Silence
Million Dollar Plan
Mayer Mint

Wanna Know More...Post A Comment...!!

Reviewz Back Online and The Profile Name Mystery...

2006-12-25T20:44:00.000+09:00

Guyz n Gurlz...Hope everyone is busy with Christmas Celebrations and eagerly awaiting the New Year...Wishing You All a Fun-Filled and Adventurous New Year 2007...-:)

At this point some of you might wonder why my profile name in Orkut reads 'Michael'...and why was it 'Garret' in the first place...Since I have had lot of queries regarding the same I thought I would answer a part of it right now and may be leave the later part for further introspection ...Well lately I have been amused by the personalities we emulate at different phases in our life and 'Garret' was one of them ...'Garret' is the name of the character in a famous game called 'Thief' which I had been hooked onto for quite sometime...So much so that you infact get a feel of the character...And hence the name in Orkut !!

Now 'Michael' emulates something similar although not the same...And itz open to speculations...

Coming back to the purpose of the post...

Kabul Express - As always first day last show ...And trust me the movie is worth it...I mean after a long time a no-bullshit Bollywood movie ...John and Arshad are gud and you wud love the comic moments in the movie although the movie itself deals with a serious topic ...And ya there are no traditional song and dance sequences which is gr8 (saves time) but the backgroud score is awesome especially the "Kabul Fiza" track ...Go watch it if you havent seen it already...!!

Pyaar Ke Side Effects - Aheem ...was seriously eager to watch this movie ...not because of the storyline but because of the cast ...I mean Rahul Bose and Mallika Sherawat (two extremes in contemporary Bollywood) ...Getting them together in a movie has to have itz own curiosity...Well the movie is gud since it deals with obviously 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects'...Great comedy ...Gud acting and a terribly mis-matched pair getting it quite right onscreen ...A Must Watch ...You will start hummin - 'Pappe Pyaar Karke'...!!

Woh Lamhe - Mahesh Bhatt has emotional attachment with this movie ...And the movie is on the same lines as 'Gangster'...Lot of emotion and gud acting but less substance...Shiney Ahuja is terriffic as always and Kangana Ranawat (Bewdi) is starting to come to terms with some serious acting which is gud ...The songs are cool as is with all Mahesh Bhatt movies ...Average movie but not a must watch !!

Coming Up - Aapna Sapna (Money) ^2 ...and Bhagam Bhag ...And some much awaited Hollywood Blockbusters ...

For the time being enjoy the last week of 2006...Sit back and cherish those moments that made this year special for you and imagine what joy 2007 may hold for you...Make some serious resolutions and try to achieve them wholeheartedly...Cheers !!

Facts about being an Aquarius Man !

2006-12-20T23:31:00.002+09:00

Guyz this came to me as a forward ...Some really interesting facts about being an Aquarian Man - January 20 to February 18 ...Dont know how far this explains my nature but I did find some interesting facts...Check it out !

AQUARIUS MAN

Hot-hearted man who likes to do things his way. He can suddenly decide to do something without thinking of it's outcome. He is the type of guy with an inside energizer, so if you fall in love with this type of guy be "patient", even if you have to follow him a bit. His creative mind could create fantastic idea any time. If you do not understand or can not follow him, you won't be with him for long. A man in this Zodiac will less likely to have a pale skin, and if he has a scar, it would be on his face or on his head. He moves very fast and very energetic, and he has a very self confident in himself. He is not the type to sit down and feel sorry or regret anything for long, especially with "Love". He loves justice. He dares to show his opinion or even argue about certain subject even he knows it might bring him problems. A straight forward type of guy. He hardly lies except if he think it is necessary and he is not a good liar anyway. He will not lie to you about serious matter, but if he lies he will i.e. only a small little thing. He is gifted with the ability to be a very social person. He could talk even about subject that he has no knowledge of. His interests are only at the present time and he looks at the world positively. Many times he feels hurt because of reality, but he will not run away and he will overcome that difficulty. Even he is a high and self confident type and center his own thought as a main focus, but at the same time he is a kind, cute and polite guy. He certainly is not a mean person. He likes to help people who are in trouble even if he is not asked to. He is the type who feels sorry if you remember bad things he said to you that he had already forgotten, but you did not. Believe him that he is very sorry and give him another chance. Once he decides to do something, he will put all his mind and energy in it either in his "Work" or "Love". He is the type who will gamble anything in the casino, so do not even take him there. He does not like pessimistic, low energy, and depressed person, especially no brainers. Strangely he likes to overpower this type of people to ensure that he is more superior. He likes to be the first person to do something. You can see sparkling in his eyes, once he meets a new target or new lover. Once he is in love, he will act as if he never has loved like this before. This minute he could be real sugar sweet, and later he could also be icy cold, but do not blame him for that will only chase him away. He could fall in love again with another girl and act again like he never has this kind of love before. He could really love someone, but not a heart broken type for he thinks love is "excitement" and "Love goes on". If you date this kind of guy, do not or avoid showing your face to him with face pack, face mask, always be presentable, nice and cute. If he is quiet not because he is shy, but he is only quietly thinking. If you have a chance to ask his X-girlfriend, she will tell you that he is not a shy or quiet type. If he is really and truly in love with you, he will never lie to you at all. How do you know if he loves you, bet on your faith! Love him and treat him steadily and do not try to find anything to argue with him, he will be with you for sure. If you are his lover or girlfriend and need to tell him something, go and say it out loud and straight forward because he hates long boring story. He hates to play games, chasing for love or being chased, so let him call you first. He likes a confident woman who is also a good follower. If he gets mad at you, let him be for only a short time he will be normal again. You have to like and be able to get along with his friends, but he does not have to do so with all your friends. Don't ever think you could make him jealous by flirting with other man, he will just leave instead of making a scene because he is a confident man and has to be the first in everything.

Wow that was really something about me...anyway if anyone wants to know more about your nature depending on your sun-sign and gender do reply to this post !

Buckle Up Aquarians - Time to Rock n Roll !!

2006-12-19T23:39:00.000+09:00

This year, idealistic Aquarius shines brightly. You truly are a visionary with a high sense of purpose and an advanced way of thinking. It will be very easy for you to express your individuality and altruistic ideals. New opportunities will arise to express your true feelings and perceptions in ways that increase your confidence.

You will find that you have unique ways of earning money this year. You will be able to bring your visionary ideals to a personal level and attract tangible rewards that benefit your value system. Take on a more imaginative way of expressing yourself. You may choose to experiment with different lifestyles this year. You have a tremendous drive for independence and don't like to work for other people as much as having your own business, so you may be motivated to think about how to manifest a new business. Your career may take on more of a passionate way of using your intuitive abilities to get to the inner meaning of things. Your efforts will allow new resources to evolve in your life and lead to the greater good.

You will also likely be concerned with changing your physical environment. In love relationships this year, you will be very energetic and may very well attract a flamboyant and energetic significant other. Your magnetic personality will bring you a good match who will be equally giving and excited to have a whirlwind of passion, love and joy in life.

CAREER: You have an inventive, logical mind and are full of positive energy for starting new projects this year. You would do well investigating methods of bringing potentialities to the forefront. You are easy to get along with and excel in areas of partnerships and business relationships. You have good judgment, diplomacy and tact, and are outwardly directed while at the same time being very self-reliant.

Your financial integrity is deepened in 2007, and benefits will be easily attained through influential friendships that help you accomplish your dreams. You are socially conscious and work well with high-minded groups with strong humanitarian ideals. You love working with others and do well when you have lots of people around you. You are a natural conduit for receiving the resources you need to help you in your career; you learn more from experience than from school. Ideas are not important to you if they don't have a practical application.
Marketing would be a great avenue for you to utilize your talent in finding areas that need creativity. You are good at analyzing situations and have a practical mentality with great powers of reason. Others find you dependable and know they can rely on your thought process. You focus mentally through speaking and writing. There's a strong connection between your inner awareness and your professional ambitions in the world. Toward the end of the year, your energies may be needed in compassionate services. You have a big heart and would do well in the capacity of caregiving or working with those with special needs.

LOVE: You love going out on the town, and you need to be seen in order to feel connected with others. You have a very demonstrative and affectionate nature, and this year you will need to be where people go to escape the more serious realms of critical thinking. You may overwhelm others who aren't inclined toward enjoying the theatrical expression of their emotions. You need to be surrounded by people who value your playfulness and self-expression. You are at your best when you drop your concern for others' opinions and relax into being yourself.
You will experience a need to express yourself clearly and energetically to make sure your needs are met this year. You are very loyal in your one-on-one partnership and expect the same in return. You enjoy all the enthusiasm in your love life and find that you can't live without this special person who brings you so much excitement and wonder. You may be somewhat of a dreamer and romanticize emotions, yet your dreams may reflect truths when you are in tune to your higher awareness.

You love travel and are likely to take many journeys. Around autumn, you are excited by a harmonious relationship and find that what's nice on your own is especially nice with another. In marriage, you will have the chance to balance your energy. You easily share your sensitive and caring nature, which is very devoted and loyal. You value kindness above all else, based on the foundation you likely had growing up in a calm and beneficial home environment. You have a strong need to share your philosophy of life with someone who has emotional sensitivity in the subconscious realms. Buckle your seatbelt, Aquarius!

The Show Must Go On...

2006-12-08T03:58:00.000+09:00

Well guyz got a li'l busy with prior engagements for the past few weeks ...so havent been able to actually pen down my thoughts on some of the movies I have been able to catch up with in this short span of hibernation...

Well here goes the list and the recommendations follow suit ...

Casino Royale : Must watch for a more macho Bond with attitude rather than the clinical perfection and elegance we have come to expect from Pierce Brosnan...
This time itz Craig...Daniel Craig !!

Dhoom II : Average...If you did like Dhoom I then this one is a pure Bollywood Masala movie again...And you will love Hrithik as Mr.A ..."The Smart Thief" ...But dont expect too much from Ash...You will be dissapointed !!

Khosla Ka Ghosla : Must Watch ...Simply becoz of the storyline and some really great acting...Wont reveal much here...But this is a comic take on the very much existing land disputes in Urban India...!!

Zindaggi Rocks : Again Must Watch ...I just love Sushmita Sen as an actor for her versatile nature...And Shiney Ahuja is also damn gud...Check out this movie for a very different kinda story ...quite a far cry from normal Bollywood Masala...
* Warning - Some people may not like this movie !!

Dor : Another Masterpiece from Nagesh K...And Shreyas is simply superb...Watch it !!

Havent been able to get my hands on the DVD of "Pyaar Ke Side Effects" ...Would love to see that one coz I have a lot of respect for Rahul Bose as an actor...!!

Woh Lamhe and Bas Ek Pal are the other two which I wanna check out...

Comin Up : Really want to see "Departed", "The Prestige", "The Guardian" and "A Good Year"...heard a lot about all of them...letz see whether they live upto the expectations...Also awaited is "Salaam-E-Ishq", "Kabul Express" and "The Guru"...

Ciao till next time !!

Don Ko Jhelna Mushkil Hi Nahi Namumkin Hai !

2006-10-23T14:49:00.000+09:00

Well guys sorry for the delay in the post, was really in the festive spirit and frankly didnt want to ruin the atmosphere for anyone.

Anyway this post is for all those who havent seen the movie as yet...

"Don ko Pakadna Mushkil hi nahi Namumkin hai"...I guess we can do away with this dialogue now since it doesnt fit the bill anymore...Well to all SRK fans...the movie sucks big time !!

I hope he switches to more meaningful cinema soon...There is nothing wrong with the making of the movie...The only missing factor being the storyline...Too much action ...Wastage of talent I wud say at times (especially Boman Irani)

Although there is a twist in the storyline (bit different from the original DON)...The only reason I see this movie making any profit is becoz of SRK and Diwali-ID release...!!

As for Farhan Akhtar...I really liked Lakshya...Dont know why it didnt work out...But this movie is spineless...!!

The only thing I liked in the movie was the 'Khaike Pan Banaras Wala' song (revisited) and SRK's wardrobe...Although most of the songs seem unwanted and out of place (the script doesnt demand a song)...But thn cant help it...SRK movies got to have lots of song and dance sequences and peppy numbers (example being the 'Yeh Mera Dil' song where Kareena seduces SRK as the vamp)

All in all not worth watching in theatre I wud say..If u really want to see the movie as it is an SRK starrer...My suggestion wud be wait for the DVD (although this is not an absolute bakwaas like KANK)

Note : Sorry ladies if I have hurt your sentiments in some way...but I do really feel tht SRK can do much better movies than this...!!

Hidden Anti-Semitic and 9/11 Referential Messages in Microsoft Wingdings !

2006-10-21T14:38:00.000+09:00

Sorry guys, there was NO flight of number Q33NY on 9/11. Just another internet hoax. Those flights have become famous, and infamous, American Airlines Flight number 11 and number 175.

The Hoax...
1. open MS word
2. type "NYC" in uppercase letters
3. change the font size to 72
4. change the font to webdings
5. change the font to wingdings

Apparently "q33ny" — supposed to be the flight number of one of the crashed planes - gives an aeroplane, two buildings, a skull and crossbones and the star of david. Again, no comment, although whether this is in fact the number of one of the planes seems unlikely.

People have suggested that this is a sign that Microsoft were involved in the terrorist attack.

For More Info Check Out Wingdings

Is It Really Kentucky Fried Chicken ?

2006-10-20T14:37:00.000+09:00

KFC has been a part of American traditions for many years. Many people, day in and day out, eat at KFC religiously. Do they really know what they are eating? During a study of KFC done at the University of New Hampshire, they found some very upsetting facts. First of all, has anybody noticed that the company has changed their name ?

Kentucky Fried Chicken has become KFC. Does anybody know why ? We thought the real reason was because of the "FRIED" food issue.

IT'S NOT ! !

The reason why they call it KFC is because they can not use the word chicken anymore. Why ? KFC does not use real chickens. They actually use genetically manipulated organisms. These so called "chickens" are kept alive by tubes inserted into their bodies to pump blood and nutrients throughout their structure. They have no beaks, no feathers, and no feet. Their bone structure is dramatically shrunk to get more meat out of them. This is great for KFC.

Because they do not have to pay so much for their production costs. There is no more plucking of the feathers or the removal of the beaks and feet. The government has told them to change all of their menus so they do not say chicken anywhere. If you look closely you will notice this. Listen
to their commercials, I guarantee you will not see or hear the word chicken.

It is upto you to either believe this or pass it as a rumour...!!

Check out Tastes Like Chicken

The Flip Side of Social Networking !

2006-10-01T13:05:00.000+09:00

The craze may be catching on across the country, but for three girls, 'orkutting' turned out to be a nightmare.

The Kolkata city police have probed at least three complaints — the last of them from Bilaspur (Madhya Pradesh) — where jilted lovers and spurned friends had turned to Orkut with vengeance, creating obscene profiles and lewd albums , making life living hell for the victims.

The three complaints, two of which were made by Kolkata-based girls and one from Madhya Pradesh, were received in the last three months. In each, detective found out later, the girls knew their tormentors.

However, no case was lodged, as officers felt the three ‘offending’ youth had a bright future ahead of them. If slapped with cases, either their careers will be ruined or they might land up in jail. They are young people who claimed to have done this in momentary madness.

For the victims, however, this hasn’t been easy. Take for example the latest complaint. This 23-year-old Bengali girl now doing her MA in Bilaspur (Madhya Pradesh) was quite depressed after her long relationship with a youth fell apart.

They’d called off their engagement . While the girl was trying her best to come to terms with reality, this youth was plotting revenge.

So what did he do? He turned to Orkut. He created a completely new profile of the girl — replete with her name and address (even her mail ID’s and cell-number ). Introducing the girl, he left nothing to imagination and in a bid to buttress the point; he even put up obscene photographs in her album and wrote lewd innuendoes in her testimonials.

The result was obvious. Within days the girl was flooded with calls. When she enquired , she realised what had happened but did not know who was responsible. Her next stop had been Bilaspur police. But they told her they could do nothing about it.

So she shot off a mail to Kolkata Police’s cyber crime cell. Pleading them to take action .
‘‘Though this didn’t come within our jurisdiction, we were moved by her letter and probed the matter,’’ said a senior officer.

The DC said, ‘‘ Most people don’t realise from the point they log on to net, to the time they enter data and send it, it’s being logged. “If only one cared to look in the address bar in the top, would they realise they are leaving behind a trail of everything they do. All we had to do is ask the service provider (in this case Google) for the details. They responded (in all these three cases) very fast.’’

The offender, in this case, was tracked down. A team of officers brought him to Kolkata. He was told of the consequences and let off. A senior officer said, ‘‘ In all these cases, we’d successfully managed to delete these profiles.The service provider is also very particular about such misuse. Now if you log in to Orkut, these cautionary notes flash constantly at the top of your screen. One can even report its misuse to the service provider directly.’’

Courtesy - Economic Times

'Da Times Code' - Crack the code if you dare...

2006-09-30T13:06:00.000+09:00

It's exciting times ahead for sleuths and code crackers. The hunt for the secret code hidden in the wrap outside the The Times of India building on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg is on, full throttle.Hidden in the design on The Times of India building at New Delhi is a seven-word sentence which tells you something about the newspaper. If you think that you’re a sleuth or a great de-coder, here is one puzzle you can’t miss. To top it all, your cracking the code successfully could even win you attractive prizes from The Times of India.

Da Times Code

Here you will find cryptic clues on how to solve the puzzle apart from being able to take a closer look at the text and images of the design itself.So what are you waiting for? Get cracking!

Crack the code, if you dare…

Sorry for the late post as this contest was launched on 19th September. But there is still enough time to rush in your entries if you want the prizes...Hurry !!

'Mona Lisa' or 'Mama Lisa' ?

2006-09-28T13:08:00.000+09:00

Researchers using three-dimensional technology to study the "Mona Lisa" say the woman depicted in Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece was either pregnant or had recently given birth when she sat for the painting.

That was one of many discoveries found by French and Canadian researchers during one of the most extensive physical examinations ever carried out on the artwork.

"Thanks to laser scanning, we were able to uncover the very fine gauze veil Mona Lisa was wearing on her dress. This was something typical for either soon-to-be or new mothers at the time," Michel Menu, research director of the French Museums' Center for Research and Restoration.

Menu said a number of art historians had suggested that she was pregnant or had just given birth.

Researchers have established that the picture was of Lisa Gherardini, wife of obscure Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocond, and that Leonardo started painting it in 1503.

The name "Mona Lisa" is the equivalent of "Madame Lisa." La Joconde, as the painting is referred to in many countries, is the French version of her married name.

The scan revealed depth resolution so detailed it was possible to see differences in the height around the paint surface cracks and in the thickness of the varnish.

"We now have very precise information about the thickness of the layers," Bruno Mottin, of the French restoration center, told reporters in Ottawa, Canada. "We know how the painting is painted, with very thin layers of painting. That's one of the things we couldn't see by the naked eye, and that Canadian technology brought us."

John Taylor of Canada's National Research Council said there were no signs of any brush stroke. "That includes the very fine details of the embroidery on the dress, the hair," he said. "This is the 'je ne sais quoi' of Leonardo. The genius. We don't know how he applied it."

The scan even revealed Leonardo's first conception of Mona Lisa.

"The 3-D imaging was able to detect the incised drawing to provide us with da Vinci's general conception for the composition," said Christian Lahanier, head of the documentation department of the French research center.

The artist brought the painting to France in 1517. It has been in the Louvre Museum since 1804.

The data collected in 16 hours of scanning, starting in 2004, took a year to analyze. It shows warping in the poplar panel Leonardo used as his canvas, but the Mona Lisa smile is not threatened.

"We didn't see any sign of paint lifting," Taylor said. "So for a 500-year-old painting, it's very good news. And if they continue to keep it the way they have in an environment-controlled chamber, it could remain like that for a very long time."

Menu said all the secrets behind the enigmatic painting have yet to be revealed, including Leonardo's techniques.

"We particularly want to understand how he painted his shadows, the famous 'fumato' effect," Menu said.

Click here for more info

Rising Star Amidst Gunfire !

2006-09-28T03:45:00.000+09:00

Read an article "Batting for Peace" (India Today - September 25th) during my travel back home and was somewhat touched by it...It had a sneak peek on the profile of a rising star in Indian Cricket...

If possible do read the full article...

His name is now uttered across J&K with hope in its echo.Visitors are asked if he will ever play for India.His coach Mansoor Ahmed, knows what will happen, "If Abid goes through, many, many more will follow." Only two seasons into the game and 40 first class wickets, Nabi 20, is the first player from J&K to make it to the North Zone Deodhar Trophy team and the first to play a first-class game against a touring side. He was called up to give India's finest a workout in the nets before the Test against England.
Nabi grew up in Srinagar. Spotted in school by Ahmed. Nabi was given two instructions. Just bowl. And just bowl fast. The ACC took him on and everything else was kept simple.Nabi is one of a joint family whose livelihoods depend on learning trades, not sport. Three ACC coaches assured his father, a mason, that the club would look after all the expenses and this game would help the young bowler find a job.And play for India
"I didnt have to worry about a thing." Abid says, "I was told just perform." From the time he played juniors, Nabi was told, " You are the only one from Kashmir who can make it."
The lean, 6 ft 2 inch baby-face wears weighty expectation like a medal. He is proud to represent his state, his surroundings, even if the State's ranji team does not get a proper set of kit and plays matches in a series of assorted white shirts.
If things go well, he could wear a shirt given to only the few. Bowling to the Indians in Mohali and then unwinding in the dressing room has left its trace. "You cannot understand what it meant to be there," he says. "I had dreamt of just seeing players of the calibre of Tendulkar, Dravid. There I was, bowling at Laxman, sitting with them, talking to them-me, a boy from Kashmir, imagine that..."

Courtesy - India Today

Nostalgic Moments...

2006-09-23T21:02:00.000+09:00

The call of the green pastures, the rustic charm of wet earth and the stark contrast from the hectic metro life is just too gud to resist...you wud agree with me if you have been born and brought up in the country side...

This was the feeling that filled my heart when I took a glance out of the AS2 coach of the Howrah bound Yesvantpur-Howrah express...Finally I was going home after a year and the thought itself is so tempting...!!

Random thoughts come into your mind...You get to meet your near and dear ones but then again there is a flipside to it as well...The excitement of meeting old friends doesnt last too long ...most of them are posted at different corners of the country and it is difficult for everyone to converge at the same time...Corporate life sucks in that sense...This is where I think you should be in college for as long as possible (best part of your life) ...but that is highly improbable given the fact that you cant expect your parents to sustain you for long...Got to earn some day...!!

Coming back to the topic...and thinking on Chetan Bhagat's lines you do expect gud company during your journey especially when you are travelling alone and
for a long distance...and you know what I mean by "Gud Company"...makes life a lot easier ...!!

But as my luck would have it...I rarely have that luxury and always end up with a happy family with a lot of kids ...who eventually find some sort of amusement in me...!!

But then what the heck when the only thing on your mind is to reach home safely and emotions are too strong to let other worldly attractions distract you...
Anyways hope to have a hell of a time at home with my 'Bro' joining in a weeks time and a whole family reunion on the cards after a long long time...

The mouth watering prospect of home made delicacies is too gud to resist...and I just love my 'Mom' for that (the best Cook in the World)

Note : This is my second post on travelling experiences (given the travel freak that I am and the rare opportunities that I get to travel)...and escapes the normal sarcasm that you would have come to expect from me...On the contrary there are a lot of emotions attached to it...!!

I would like to take a break from the usual interesting stuff and post a few articles in retrospect for a few days ...Please do bear with me (you may actually like them)...!!

In Retrospect - Imperfect Chemistry !

2006-09-23T20:00:00.000+09:00

The title of the post seemed a little odd but cudnt help it as it perfectly describes what has been happening with Indian Cricket in the recent past.

From being once a die-hard fan to a stage where I hardly catch up with any live action where our national team is involved speaks volumes of my
patience running out and can only be justified by one reason :

"This Team is Too Gud To Perform"

And add to that the eccentric nature and lack of consistency that is on display...
It is a star-studded team no doubt ...and yet fails to deliver in crunch situations
when it matters most against world class oppositions like Australia...Why ??
The Reason : When the batting delivers the bowling lets you down and vice-versa.You can get away with that at this point of time maybe with teams like West Indies but with better teams you got to be gud in both departments...

People might have got carried away (I too was to an extent) with the initial success of the team under Greg Chappel and Rahul Dravid but then again
we do forget that most of those successes came against Pakistan and SriLanka...Both these teams can beat the best team in the World on their day
and yet be ordinary on other occasions... "eccentric".

I have no objections to the rotation policy followed by Chappel since I believe all selected in the squad are gud enough to perform and the team should
be flexible (epitomized by World Champions Australia) but whoever is in the team should be able to perform to his potential... not on his day but on any given day...

Unless they have confidence and belief in themselves to perform under pressure and against better oppositions when it matters I find it difficult
as to how they are going to be World-Beaters one day...

We have a tendency to pray for them to come gud in important matches no matter who the opposition is ...Zimbabwe or Australia...doesnt matter
because you can expect anything from this team...

I do hope for a day when we wouldnt have to pray for them but have faith in their abilities and know that atleast 8/10 times they would deliver.
Until that time dont have much high expectations...

And ya I had expected Chappel to deliver by now. Apart from the controversies that he has been unnecessarily caught up in (expected in Indian Cricket
and Politics) he should have made them perform consistently. Agreed that he has worked on building a great team spirit (part of the Ganguly legacy) ,
removing weaknesses and improving technique of certain players but the greatest weakness of this team is lack of confidence...

"They dont believe in themselves"

The day they start doing that we wouldnt require a Greg Chappel to win matches for us...

I do feel sorry for Sachin as I do believe that this would be his last World Cup and the only thing missing in his glittering career is to be part of a World Cup winning team...but then again cant put all the blame on him because he has over the years seen the side through single handedly not on one but on several occasions...it is a different story that the team sometimes never manages to capitalize on his contribution to the cause...

Looking forward to the Champions Trophy and World Cup ...

Note : Lot of criticism expected for this post...Do write in your comments...Bring it On !!

Escape from the Crimson Room !

2006-09-18T00:44:00.000+09:00

If u did like the previous 'Hacker Puzzle' then I bet u will love this one too...!!

This one is a bit different though...Kind of an Adventure Puzzle with nice graphics and involves simple deductive logic...!!

Objective : To Escape from the Crimson Room...!!

How : Click, click, think, click. Find stuff to put together...!!

Hint : An eerie sound plays whenever the screen you are viewing reveals something of value to you. It may be hard to see, so listen for the alert sound.This game has also become a craze all over and u get added to a list called "The Crimson Room Escapers List" once u finish the game...!!

I got myself added yesterday...So what are u waiting for...Unravel the mystery and find ur way out from the Crimson Room

Note : Hints only on request !!

If u have successfully escaped from the Crimson Room then u can try ur hand at the other adventures...Currently I am in the Viridian Room !!

Other similar adventure puzzles :

White Chamber

Escape from the Blue Chamber

Do you Have the Mindset of a Hacker ?

2006-09-16T05:20:00.000+09:00

Have you ever solved a Hacker Puzzle before !!
Well you will need the mindset of a Hacker to solve this one and believe me this is the best puzzle I have come across in a long long time...It took me a little over an hour to solve this one !!

Hacker Puzzle

The Rules are simple :
There are 23 html pages to be navigated by slightly modifying the URL of the existing page...
And each page you navigate to contains some hint on how to go to the next page...
You will need all of your Maths, Science and History fundas to get to the root of it...
The initial stages are easy and I dont think anyone should have trouble reaching page 13 and it is after that the real fun starts ...!!
You will need a lot of Google and Wikipedia to navigate after that...!!

Warning :
A lot of people may get stuck on page 13 (Kind of Spooky) but dont give up...!!
If you cant proceed at all then I will help you out ...!!

And if you cant reach page 23 and you have tried a lot to proceed then I will give you the answers but only on request by mail...!!

So what are you waiting for...Start Hacking and unfold the mystery on page 23 !!!

You can start here : Hacker Puzzle
There are instructions on the page too on how to proceed !!

Note : If you really enjoyed this post then I can assure you that henceforth there will be a lot of articles and posts on puzzles and hacking tips ...So if you dont want to miss out on any of the fun then do subscribe to the blog !!

Take the Personality Test !

2006-09-15T06:40:00.000+09:00

1. If given 3 wishes by a genie, what would they be and in what order ?

2. The one word in the oxford’s dictionary that describes you the best ?

3. Consider this scenario (for males only), you are on stage to conduct/host an event, after getting on stage you realize your zip is undone. What immediate action will you take ?

4. Complete the following (add 2 more lines) however you want to…

Oh let the sun beat down upon my face,
Stars to fill my dream,
I am a traveler of both time and space,
To be where I have been…

5. The motto/punch line of your life in a sentence (in less than 7 words).

6. If you were to acquire supernatural powers of God, what will be the 1st thing you will do ?

7. Rearrange these letters in such a way that to make one word.
E, D, O, R, N, O, W, -

8. Read the story below and give your conclusions.
There are two sisters. One unfortunate day their mother dies. During the funeral there is a handsome man who attends the funeral and one or maybe both the sisters fall in love with this man. Very soon one of the sisters dies a strange death. How and why ?

9. A question on lateral thinking.
When Clara clatter was purchasing her new parrot, the salesman assured her that it would repeat any word it heard. About a week later, Clara returned the parrot complaining it hadn't uttered a single word. Given that the salesman had spoken the truth about the parrot's abilities, why wouldn't the bird talk ?

10. If the entire world is a stage and men and women are mere actors then what is god ?

11. If given an option to travel back in time just once, which era/date/year would it be and why ?
12. Which of these two would you believe and try to follow and why? (You cannot pick both).(a) Serving mankind is serving god.
(b) Serving god is serving mankind.

13. You are alone in a dark street and someone/something (hint) is following you in the dark. What are your thoughts at this juncture ?

14. If for one day you could step into the shoes of somebody else (swap lives), who would that be? And why.

15. Your ThinkPad comes under a truck and nothing remains. How would you convince your manager/head about your innocence ?

16. A man walked into a take-away pizza parlor. He ordered one deep-pan pizza with cheese, tomatoes, and double anchovies, one crispy pizza with asparagus, cheese and tuna, one house special with extra cheese, two portions of onion rings, a diet cola with ice, a diet cola without ice, water, and an orange juice. The woman behind the counter served him and then said, "You are a plainclothes police officer, aren't you?" The man was indeed a plainclothes officer. He had never been in the pizza parlor before, and the woman didn't know him and had never seen him before, so how did she know what he did ?

17. Don’t drink and drive just smoke and fly. Justify this.

18. Define GOD. (Hint: abbreviate it)

19. Where according to you is Osama bin laden hiding ?

Send in your funky entries or write down your answers in the comments section for more fundoo questions and links !!

FUN-with-WORDS !

2006-09-14T07:09:00.000+09:00

You know what is an Anagram rite !!
Anagrams are words or phrases made by mixing up the letters of other words or phrases !!
e.g. THE EYES is an anagram of THEY SEE.

You also know what is a Palindrome !!
Palindromes are words or phrases that read the same in both directions !!
e.g. EYE,or RACECAR, or MADAM I'M ADAM.

Tongue Twisters are great fun. Try saying these three times fast :
"The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick".
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers".
"She sells seashells by the sea shore".
"Freshly-fried flying fish".

But do you know what do these mean ??

Spoonerisms are words or phrases in which letters or syllables get swapped. This often happens accidentally in slips of the tongue (or tips of the slung as Spoonerisms are often affectionately called !
Tease my ears (Ease my tears)
A lack of pies (A pack of lies)
It's roaring with pain (It's pouring with rain)
Wave the sails (Save the whales)

Ever noticed that it's simply impossible to find seriously funny oxymorons online? The only choice is to ask one of those paid volunteers at the library – the ones in the long-sleeved T-shirts – for an original copy of some obviously obscure documents that were found missing amongst some paperwork almost exactly one hundred years ago.Notice anything strange about the paragraph above? It makes some sort of sense, yet it's riddled with contradictions (in red). These are Oxymorons.

Everybody knows one or two Pangrams (sentences that use every letter of the alphabet). You've probably seen some of these before:
The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog.
Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.
How quickly daft jumping zebras vex.

Rebus Puzzles (My personal favourites !!)
These are popular word picture puzzles with hidden meanings to solve from the pictogram.

The hilarious world of Malapropisms, verbal slips and gaffes, Bushisms, Colemanballs, and, of course, Mrs. Malaprop.
We all know that when someone misuses a word, the result can induce hysterics, unless of course it is we who have made the blunder, in which case embarrassment it the more likely effect. When an incorrect word is used like this, a malapropism is born. Here is a handful of genuine malapropisms gathered from across the Internet:
He had to use a fire distinguisher.
Dad says the monster is just a pigment of my imagination.
Isn't that an expensive pendulum round that man's neck?
Good punctuation means not to be late.
He's a wolf in cheap clothing.
Michelangelo painted the Sixteenth Chapel.
My sister has extra-century perception. "Don't" is a contraption.

Mnemonics are devices to help us remember (aide memoire or memory aide). They come in many varieties and flavours, and can aid memorisation of many types of information.

Tom Swifties are a special kind of pun :
"I need a pencil sharpener," said Tom bluntly.
"Oops! There goes my hat!" said Tom off the top of his head.
"I can no longer hear anything," said Tom deftly.
"I have a split personality," said Tom, being frank.
"This must be an aerobics class," Tom worked out.

Where do words come from? How and when were they invented? Why are there so many different languages? Why do many languages share the same or similar words for the same things?The answers to all these questions lie in the study of Etymology. This concerns the roots of words and how the sounds and spellings, as well as the meanings, have evolved over time.

Want to solve more Word puzzles,Anagrams and Rebus puzzles...!!
Check out FUN-with-WORDS !!

Are You Bored of Orkut ?

2006-09-14T04:51:00.000+09:00

Are u guys getting bored of orkut or probably bored becoz u donot have access to Orkut at ur workplace ??

Need something special to happen or probably meet someone special ??

Well if u fall in either of the above categories then herez a solution...Try the new social community in town aptly called Minglebox...It is an Indian Centric Social Community which lets u create funky profiles and upload albums as well as write blogs...All at the same place !!
Now thats cool isnt it ??

You can even add colours to ur profile...Create groups...and do all that u can do on orkut
and for those of u who do not have access to orkut in office...this should work !!

And there are lot many features which I havent checked out..so what are u waiting for

Go get 'Mingling' out there !!

Note : This community is not as big as Orkut...so do invite friendz and increase ur social

circle but letz not make it dirty !!

Ash - Image Makeover ?

2006-09-14T02:15:00.000+09:00

Just saw two Ash movies "Bride and Prejudice" and "Mistress of Spices"...

Well guys "Aishwarya Rai" has come a long way from being a glamorous lady onscreen to a girl next door that she portrays in both these crossover (so called Hinglish) movies...

And I guess a lot of the credit goes to her that she has made a choice between commercial cinema and meaningful cinema (basically going for an image makeover) ...much like fellow actors Rahul Bose and Konkona Sen.
But then how can the script be so loose and yet fit in enough punch so as to hold ur attention for most part...Is it just the changed looks or am I being illogical...!!

As far as the movies go...I found 'Bride and Prejudice' much similar in nature to 'Bend It Like Beckham' (typical Gurinder Chaddha style with some added 'nach gana' thrown in) and 'Mistress of Spices' is an "Out of ur Senses" kind of movie which leaves much to imagination...Frankly I couldnt get a clue as to what the movie was supposed to convey...!!

Better watch 'Bride and Prejudice' which makes more sense rather than wasting ur time on 'Mistress of Spices'...!!

And by the way we all are looking forward to her Hollywood venture 'Provoked' ...