tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43579461252850815732024-03-08T22:52:31.881+05:30Snippets from LifeTrying to capture life as it passes us by....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-60903661909957922732012-03-10T23:09:00.000+05:302012-03-10T23:09:21.710+05:30You Know You are a Reader When....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My friend <a href="http://kirti-cestlavie.blogspot.in/">Kirti</a> and I were walking past a second hand/ pirated book vendor today when we both slowed down as if on auto-mode and lost track of our conversation. My statement to her about this after that gave me the idea for this one...<br />
<br />
So you know you are a reader when:<br />
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1. You'd rather buy the book than the new pair of shoes/ clothes<br />
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2. You make plans to hang out at bookshops with friends <br />
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3. Non-book lover friends have to pry you out of the said bookshop to continue with the rest of those plans<br />
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4. You always have a pile of books in your bookshelf still to be read<br />
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5. You always have a list of books to read!<br />
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6. You always have a book in your bag (and hence always need a big bag and wallets just won't do!)<br />
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7. The order of priority of your basic needs is:good book, mediocre book, any book!........food, sleep, sex etc......<br />
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8. Your facebook wall pictures look like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=267097106703133&id=658566600&notif_t=like">this</a><br />
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9. You want your world to be a little bit like that of your favourite book.<br />
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10. You relate to lists like this one!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-90402443920700684202012-03-08T10:49:00.000+05:302012-03-08T10:49:36.052+05:30Musically Yours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yes! I played all of these in one evening...no training, no guidance....created my own music and let it flow....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CWXv3jfoTxQ/T1hApllIHpI/AAAAAAAAAng/nxWS6jk333E/s1600/DSCN1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CWXv3jfoTxQ/T1hApllIHpI/AAAAAAAAAng/nxWS6jk333E/s320/DSCN1200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-13219498489897554242012-02-25T12:10:00.000+05:302012-02-25T12:10:21.900+05:30The Great Baking Afternoon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This post comes almost 3 months after the actual event but hey..I got my pending birthday cake late too so it seems to fit!! I won't share the recipe here..its Star's and not mine....but I will share the yummy results and the happiness we felt....</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">First and foremost..kudos to our wonderful chef</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rXtMrh9VQso/T0h-FToqonI/AAAAAAAAAl4/Zg_LH3dLDuI/s1600/DSCN0615.jpg" /></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She was moving around so efficiently and gracefully in the kitchen while baking...was totally in her element!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ah... the cake baking.....there is nothing in the world that compares to the smell of something being baked... yep I am an over the top totally insane foodie... </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9JumT0C5Bac/T0h-GpLeakI/AAAAAAAAAmA/ShvAdXhCawM/s1600/DSCN0616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9JumT0C5Bac/T0h-GpLeakI/AAAAAAAAAmA/ShvAdXhCawM/s320/DSCN0616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The just-out-of-the-oven base </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LagwWRbCmS4/T0h-H8g903I/AAAAAAAAAmI/Tqi4gYvxYeQ/s1600/DSCN0618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LagwWRbCmS4/T0h-H8g903I/AAAAAAAAAmI/Tqi4gYvxYeQ/s320/DSCN0618.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: left;">And the final touches that will be added</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-TYITrjUi8/T0h-KFWvzoI/AAAAAAAAAmY/oVp0Acozb94/s1600/DSCN0627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-TYITrjUi8/T0h-KFWvzoI/AAAAAAAAAmY/oVp0Acozb94/s320/DSCN0627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The whipped cream first....I could already hear my tastebuds going Hallelujah!</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGeE4sstOeI/T0h-L_nLyOI/AAAAAAAAAmg/bvRxGvMpV-U/s1600/DSCN0631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGeE4sstOeI/T0h-L_nLyOI/AAAAAAAAAmg/bvRxGvMpV-U/s320/DSCN0631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: left;"> And then the kiwis....</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GYtZkizxS8/T0h-NEkpopI/AAAAAAAAAmo/vLKcDfQTRec/s1600/DSCN0636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GYtZkizxS8/T0h-NEkpopI/AAAAAAAAAmo/vLKcDfQTRec/s320/DSCN0636.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And some more kiwis....</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2aDoCA7T_8/T0h-OXphJqI/AAAAAAAAAmw/rhcZFc041UI/s1600/DSCN0637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2aDoCA7T_8/T0h-OXphJqI/AAAAAAAAAmw/rhcZFc041UI/s320/DSCN0637.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And the final mouth-watereringly superoawesomeosomely tempting....</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2R35QT3wFK0/T0h-PTbE6bI/AAAAAAAAAm4/WRdOqDz9rYU/s1600/DSCN0638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2R35QT3wFK0/T0h-PTbE6bI/AAAAAAAAAm4/WRdOqDz9rYU/s320/DSCN0638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irh4Av3QeB4/T0h-RM3ccQI/AAAAAAAAAnA/2QlMYvFufFc/s1600/DSCN0642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irh4Av3QeB4/T0h-RM3ccQI/AAAAAAAAAnA/2QlMYvFufFc/s320/DSCN0642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Happy birthday to me (finally!)</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xc1vOuUStBc/T0h-SnmHTgI/AAAAAAAAAnI/IIc4nsmqsV4/s1600/DSCN0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xc1vOuUStBc/T0h-SnmHTgI/AAAAAAAAAnI/IIc4nsmqsV4/s320/DSCN0645.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The devoured cake in all its tasty grace</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMjXyrjTCC8/T0h-T05QDwI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/YFp8KnRlnPc/s1600/DSCN0646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMjXyrjTCC8/T0h-T05QDwI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/YFp8KnRlnPc/s320/DSCN0646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Thank you Star once again for my long-awaited birthday cake...was totally worth the wait! I hope I don't have to wait for the next one sooooo long! It's criminal!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-5300781656129619772012-02-10T07:37:00.001+05:302012-02-10T07:38:58.828+05:30If Wishes Were Horses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A fun post, originally posted by Star on her <a href="http://carpediemscorner.blogspot.in/2011/11/if-i-could-be.html">Bookshelf:</a> the idea was too good to resist! So here's what I would be:<br />
<br />
<br />
If I could be a Greek Goddess, I would be <strong>Selene </strong> <br />
<br />
<br />
If I could be a Disney Princess, I would be <strong>Snow White</strong><br />
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<br />
If I could be an X-men, I would be <strong>Wolverine</strong>: he's just too good!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
If I could be a superhero, I would be <strong>Spiderman </strong>(zhoop! zhoop!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If I could be a cartoon character, I would be <strong>Jerry</strong><br />
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If I could be an Avatar, I would be <strong>Grace Augustine </strong>(too!)<br />
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<br />
<br />
If I could be a person in my real life, I would be <strong>Sanaya/ her dad/ Bhavik </strong>(can't choose here at all!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If I were...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If I were a Harry Potter character, I would be <strong>Hermione</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If I were a Pride and Prejudice character, I would be <strong>Jane Bennett</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
If I were a F.R.I.E.N.D.S. character, I would be <strong>Rachel</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
If I were a Sex and the City character, I would be <strong>Charlotte York</strong>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If I were a character from the Shakespearean plays, I would be <strong>One of the three witches in Macbeth</strong><br />
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<br />
<br />
If I could be a colour, I would be a <strong>purple</strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-10703089475344789702011-12-06T21:35:00.000+05:302011-12-06T21:35:45.887+05:30My New Camera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yes I got a new camera (though its been almost 3 months, its still new to me!) and today I will share some of my favourite clicks of it.....<br />
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Archie's Gang: I got this comic book from the comic con I attended and fiddled around with the selective colour filter on my camera to click this awesome one! I plan to make this one into a small hang me up for my desk! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUPfye0Gihg/Tt47VrBG-1I/AAAAAAAAAkY/HpZdq47cP8o/s1600/DSCN0209+%2528480x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUPfye0Gihg/Tt47VrBG-1I/AAAAAAAAAkY/HpZdq47cP8o/s320/DSCN0209+%2528480x640%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Me and My Chhota Shaitaan: We were at a family function (Diwali time and all) when my brother clicked this one of me and my younger niece</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38KKk0R71fk/Tt475CrsZPI/AAAAAAAAAkg/qtYE99bjOFM/s1600/DSCN0308+%2528480x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38KKk0R71fk/Tt475CrsZPI/AAAAAAAAAkg/qtYE99bjOFM/s320/DSCN0308+%2528480x640%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Me and My Bada Bachcha: A rare good picture of me and my elder niece (where both of us are smiling, looking at the camera, not sneezing, not making faces etc etc) . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7ZsmFr2Oyw/Tt48lZGyJ-I/AAAAAAAAAko/xbe8huTjuyc/s1600/DSCN0343+%2528480x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7ZsmFr2Oyw/Tt48lZGyJ-I/AAAAAAAAAko/xbe8huTjuyc/s320/DSCN0343+%2528480x640%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The perfect Saturday morning: Good food, good tea and a good book! Sigh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2jAAGOlhgME/Tt49KPIvk_I/AAAAAAAAAkw/SFV-F3tgFOc/s1600/DSCN0431+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2jAAGOlhgME/Tt49KPIvk_I/AAAAAAAAAkw/SFV-F3tgFOc/s320/DSCN0431+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-41838476238601923882011-10-06T10:42:00.000+05:302011-10-06T10:42:36.381+05:30Travel Itch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have a travel itch. A longing that occupies my mind day and night. My heart takes me to Calcutta, my feet take me to Delhi, my wishes take me to Bangalore and my prayers (at least!) to Goa.<br />
<br />
I want to experience new sights, new sounds, new cultures, new food. I love Mumbai and I love my home, but I want to deepen this love by missing it once in a while too! ;-)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-61128292297906497182011-10-05T17:03:00.000+05:302011-10-05T17:03:42.299+05:30What ish!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"What ish?" is my most favourite phrase off late!<br />
<br />
My 3 year old niece is in this very cute “What is?” phase and very enthusiastic about it of course. What she does is every time she is at a new place, she goes ahead and explores things there and screams “What is?” for every new thing. <br />
<br />
<br />
For example, we were at a school for a weekend program and there was this display board where students’ drawings were displayed. She pulled me to that board because she was enthused by the colours and the simplicity of the drawings, made me lift her into my arms and pointed at everything one by one and asked “What is?”<br />
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And when I told her, she had to repeat it in that oh-so-cute voice that has not lost its baby lisp. So “butterfly” becomes “butterthy”, flower pot becomes “thower pot”, boat becomes “boath” and so on. More than anything else, it’s the sheer enthusiasm to learn something new!<br />
<br />
Every time she showed that repeated something in this voice, I just felt like hugging and kissing her (and of course I gave into the impulse about 99% of the times). <br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-73655022189623436782011-08-19T23:56:00.000+05:302011-08-19T23:56:24.732+05:30Fear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_vw2iww="169">Fear! Mind boggling.....heart stopping....breath hitching....all consuming fear....fear that makes you want to cry.....gnash you teeth...rip your heart out....anything that will stop it.....fear that has no faith behind it to control it...watch over it.....fear.....that fears nothing...such fear...such weakness....</div><div closure_uid_vw2iww="169"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vw2iww="169">Fear..such fear...on a day when you should be rejoicing...when everyone around you expects it to be the happiest day of your life....where everyone around you is celebrating and expects you to be at the fore and do so too.....such fear and you are dancing and smiling when all you want to do is cry....cry till it pours out of you...but can't. Fear where you have no one else to listen to you....when you are afraid to be judged....and mistaken and so you have to hide it..... fear...and no faith....</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-80857497688197412952011-07-25T16:25:00.000+05:302011-07-25T16:25:56.221+05:30All in a Day's Work: Lost in Translation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So I am working on a project on employee benefits in a certain country....in South East Asia and I am trying to translate the content on one of the websites to understand the health cover offered by the Statutory benefits. <br />
<br />
Now I come across the maternity benefits offered and the literal translation of one of the lines is labour action.....I stare at that for 5 minutes and then I realise its actually delivery!<br />
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Blame me if you can for laughing because ironically thats a better translation than the word deliver....yeah it can get pretty violent! :-)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-66489153078026477942011-06-27T02:19:00.000+05:302011-06-27T02:19:01.525+05:302 A.M. Flash!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">You know how in life there are some things you are absolutely sure you should do, and there are some things you are absolutely sure you shouldn't do.<br />
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Then there are some, which you can't be sure whether to indulge in them or not. Though they add some stress to life, the day you stop having those things in life that fall in this category, is the day your life probably ends as there is no edge, no mystery, no uncertainty that adds the spice to living!<br />
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So keep stumbling along, all your decisions are half chances anyways. So are everyone else's!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-63744810745331277272011-06-27T01:52:00.000+05:302011-06-27T01:52:42.467+05:30Delhi Diaries 3: Of Old Friendships<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This post has been ebbing and wanting to see the day light (or more like my desktop) for long. But ah time! Wish there were 48 hours in a day....but I digress. So the third post on my experiences in Delhi is to a lovely one hour that I was able to steal with a really lovely friend of mine, who was kind enough to travel an hour and a half one way, to come meet me because I was a stranger to the city.<br />
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I clearly remember the last day of college, almost three years back, when we had gone to collect our marksheets, photos, certificates and other paraphelenia which were to become the longest lasting bonds probably with Xavier's (ahhhh Xavier's). That was the last time I had seen Radhika, someone I had shared some classes, some common thoughts and a lot of great memories with. We've been in touch with each other over the past three years via email and occassionally over the phone, but being in different cities, it had been quite some time that we had actually seen each other. <br />
<br />
Meeting Radhika was like being engulfed into a warm memory like the one that comes you on a rainy day when you are curled under your blanket and can smell the wet mud. It helped me go back to a time, a phase of my life that I really cherish and in a way miss like hell. There were memories and there was catching up, but most of all there was the comfort of a friendship and common "heritage"...a fresh breath of air.<br />
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Thanks Radhika for that wonderful hour, I really really appreciate your gesture!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-34720638477974358122011-06-04T17:25:00.000+05:302011-06-04T17:25:06.202+05:30Delhi Diaries: The Story of My Induction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> DAY ONE:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> DAY TWO:<br />
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</div> DAY 3 ONWARDS: TILL DAY 7<br />
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Survived through most of this due to great company!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-48475566204063812342011-05-28T13:17:00.000+05:302011-05-28T13:17:01.810+05:30Delhi Diary: Day One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Its one country, but two different worlds in two different cities. Delhi and Mumbai are starkly different, and these differences start to emerge even from the air, before you've landed. But I digress..... I should talk of my experience from morning to evening, and not at some random point.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Let me first talk about my first ever experience of air travel. Planes are beautiful! The speed they catch when they're taking off, the way it just throws you back on your seat! Wow! And how surreal is it when clouds are below you and..its like some weirdly animated fantasy scene from a hindi movie come alive! I want to now learn how to fly one. And I learnt today I am not a nervous flier! I am soooo proud of me! Yay! And I must give a mention to Indigo for the beauty of their service....its a no frills airline totally, but in my books, it totally rocked where it should've...the timeliness....it managed to reach Delhi aiport just a little before schedule though it had left Mumbai airport later than scheduled. Good job guys!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Oh and when I saw the ground crew and pilots roaming about at the airport in general, I found the answer to a long time grumble me and my friends have always had: "Where are all the cute men in India???!!!" And my greatest luck? My neighbouring seat co-passenger was a pilot! What a great first flight ever to have! With a knowledgeable person telling me all about it! :-) :-) And another thing I realised is that running an aeroplane takes a lot of team work, and what better than to have a great team backing you up? There was something about the way in which the ground crew said goodbye to the pilot with a thumbs up that we have you covered and a have a safe trip wave! It was touching...<br />
<br />
</div><div>Then Delhi...first impression? Wallop of hot dry air @ 45 degrees Celsius!! I tried not to make any impressions based on what I've heard...good or bad about Delhi...and was I right! Touchwood, no men stared at me like I'd heard they would. Or grab their crotches on seeing me, for that matter (a blog I had recently read forwarded to me by a Delhite friend. However there were a few things drastically different than Mumbai: Chillar, Chutta (a term for monetary change) is khulla here. People are not as helpful, or glad to help as they are in Mumbai. Cabbies are not helpful here either as they are in Mumbai....funnily enough, they hadn't even heard of my hotel (and I thought Courtyard Marriott with the Mariott name would be famous enough!). And there were no warm smiles, no may I help you.....no happy to show you in the right direction...people just stare at you like you're an alien even if you say a warm thank you. Phew! I prefer Mumbai people!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Coming to Courtyard Marriott: my first experience of a five star hotel. Wo-ow! I can't believe people actually live like this. And get to travel around like this. Professional staff, luxurious rooms and beds, interesting bath, great food. And great service. I am happy I am getting to experience all this. I mean wo-ow! Its like a chapter from a dream diary come true today for me! :-) :-)<br />
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Thats all for my first day. Keep tuned for further updates of me enjoying the capital!!! :-)</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-86160946266920237582011-05-15T14:03:00.000+05:302011-05-15T14:03:49.940+05:30I Am A Girl!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am a girl!<br />
<br />
I don't need reasons to be complicated!<br />
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I am my dad's princess<br />
<br />
I can spend hours in the bathroom with no one to judge<br />
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I always smell good<br />
<br />
I always look good too.<br />
<br />
I am multi talented<br />
<br />
Chocolate is my birthright.<br />
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I can hug my best friends in public without people questioning...umm... things or tendencies!<br />
<br />
I don't need reasons to dress up....I do just because I can!<br />
<br />
I am a girl! And enjoying it...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-43044722132794034072011-05-08T21:11:00.002+05:302011-05-08T21:11:24.917+05:30I. Just. Want.To<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I. Just. Want. To. Snuggle. Under. My. Blanket. And. Not. Come. Out. For. An. Entire. Day.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-73610462494146430352011-05-05T10:50:00.000+05:302011-05-05T10:50:52.121+05:30Indian Truck and Their Drivers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Truck drivers in India have a very very special relationship with their trucks, and why shouldn't they? They spend more hours with their trucks than any other living soul! Here's a collection of tributes truck drivers to their truck:<br />
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"Main gaddi nahi rani hun, driver mera aashiq hai, main driver ki deewani hun" (seen by yours truly early today morning, leading to this post)<br />
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Roughly translated: I am not a vehicle, I am a queen. My driver is my lover, I'm crazy about him.'<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
"Nazar lavaga, jutti khavega"<br />
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Roughly translated: If you look at my truck with bad intents, I will hit you with my shoes!<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
"Jatt di Mercedez"<br />
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Roughly translated: Mercedes of the Jatt (referring to the Sikhs who generally drive the trucks).<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
"Jaan tu pyaari, Jatt di laari"<br />
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Roughly translated: You are my love, my lorry.<br />
<br />
***<br />
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They really do love them, don't they?!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-65004495554466406422011-04-19T10:42:00.000+05:302011-04-19T10:42:21.058+05:30My First Experience of Mumbai Local First Class Compartment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Unnatural silence...it is the first thing that strikes you when you enter the first class after 7 years of travelling by the second class....no rush to get a seat, no one squashing you for a fourth seat, no one screaming at one another. "Can you move please?" "Ma'am would you be getting off at Kurla?" <div><br />
</div><div>Arrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh........so unnatural to us Indians...such politeness!</div><div><br />
</div><div>The only thing which made me thank buying a first class pass was the fact that I got a seat on my way back hom after a long tiring day, despite it being rush hours....</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-41434663753819711852011-04-16T19:41:00.001+05:302011-04-16T19:41:23.465+05:30Regret<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Regret does not always come from what has been said or done....<br />
<br />
sometimes one regrets more those unsaid words and undone actions...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-82927077726471448792011-04-14T21:40:00.000+05:302011-04-14T21:40:14.082+05:30Fly Away Butterfly?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A butterfly stifled in its cocoon, struggling to get free and fly away.<br />
<br />
The butterfly finds the struggle too hard to bear and starts 'losing it'.<br />
<br />
So the butterfly gives up, compromises and is fine with being just a moth in the cocoon for the rest of its life.<br />
<br />
Is it really fair to the cocoon??</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-86572130395566232972011-04-12T19:24:00.000+05:302011-04-12T19:24:19.542+05:30Unprofessionalism!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Ok I know that is not a word! But then again, I am allowed some poetic license to vent my frustrations!!! SO I go to town (that is South Bombay, for the uninitiated) for a project interview with a lets just say a financial services firm and the woman who was supposed to conduct my interview completely forgot that she had a holiday today! I mean how about just turning the pages of that appointment book woman and seeing the pages and you know kind of figuring out whether you have any other appointments for the day and if not why?!<br />
<br />
Or actually buying yourself an appointment book in the first place?<br />
<br />
And on top of that when I called her, she unabashedly said she was in bed today and not even a sorry! I spent an hour and a half travelling, and she knew where I would be travelling from, but not even a sorry! And then when I ask her when would she meet me next, "Oh I will call!"<br />
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So I am now going to tell her, "No thank you for the project, I have others coming up!" Aah feels so good to be able to say that!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-83304513215221742732011-04-06T20:30:00.000+05:302011-04-06T20:30:53.391+05:30Education System: Learning or Rote Learning?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My friend has just started blogging and one of his latest posts is about what is visibly an important topic to him: <a href="http://ravakshay.blogspot.com/2011/04/independent-learning.html">Independent Learning</a>.<br />
<br />
To me it brings a lot of unexpressed thoughts to the fore: The education system and its obvious lacks!<br />
<br />
The education system in India primarily focuses on rote learning and doesn't teach children how to learn! Whats the outcome? Lack of motivation in students and high dropout rates. For those of us who were lucky to be in good schools and receive the best of education, it might not be apparent, but you know, we are a minority, those of us lucky enough to get quality education.<br />
<br />
A obvious cause underlying this problem is lack of well educated motivated teachers. If you've had even one teacher like some transformational ones I've had, you'll know hte impact a great teacher can have on the lives of students (Ok! Now I am really really thankful to Allis miss, Lily miss, Tauro miss, Lathika Nair miss, Ruby Ma'am, Shefali ma'am, Asha ma'am, Sawant miss....wow! I have been really lucky man!).<br />
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You can't really blame these teachers also. Part of the fault lies in the system: see what they pay teachers? What are their chances of advancements? And what kind of training do they provide to teacher to update their knowledge or skills? And their workload in terms of class size and exam?? My mom has been a teacher for 17 years now and this is from first hand experience! No wonder the government is losing its teaching talent to the private sector like tuition and coaching classes; where teachers do feel valued. In India, getting into a teaching profession at primary and secondary school level is considered a really bad career choice.<br />
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Of course there are improvements like Teach India and Teach for India or making primary education a right; but we need to think of strategies to sustain these on a long term basis.<br />
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So hoping for more awareness leading to a better educational future for the next generation! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-75053075670556587692011-04-05T21:34:00.000+05:302011-04-05T21:34:20.928+05:30Breathed Deep<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One long deep breath..............innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.............and outttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt............<br />
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Cleansing and relaxing.....or at least being what I need!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-84937572028616000142011-04-02T21:00:00.000+05:302011-04-02T21:00:33.103+05:30Perfect Moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I was at a friend's place and just seeing his wedding album, and laughing at all the funny stories behind the pictures....however it seemed my friend's bride was not too comfortable with the funny stories and was focusing on the perfection of the pictures, which actually is like a national obssession: the silk saree will give a sheen in the pictures and look better, close your mouth while smiling for a picture..your teeth don't look good in pictures, dad stand with a perfect smile (I'm sure someone must be measuring the inches)....<br />
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That got me thinking....<br />
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What are these "picture perfect" moments? Why is it so important for pictures to always be perfect? We are human after all...aren't we? I'd rather capture the normal moments, human ones than have them picture perfect...because when I share memories, I want to have normal human stories, even if they are embarrassing, they are laughable, I don't want perfect photos that are just silent.....that don't have stories behind them to share!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-33943021513905258732011-03-24T18:56:00.000+05:302011-03-24T18:56:43.406+05:30Not Fitting In<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Rat Race. Politics. Only work towards winning. Networking and tapping. Blocking someone's chances. Underhanded tricks. Bitching. Gossiping. Cliques. Negotiating. Power games. Free riding.<br />
<br />
Just another day in an MBA college<br />
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Proud to be a misfit in this world!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357946125285081573.post-34491686498262224022011-03-20T10:45:00.001+05:302011-03-20T10:46:19.910+05:30Delhi Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">D-d-d-d-d-dilli dilli dilli.... d-d-d-d-d-dilli dilli dilli... This song has been playing continuously in loop in my head for the past three four days since I got the confirmation that my induction is definitely going to be in Delhi in May second week.....<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>"Delhi in May! It's going to be SOOOO hot! You'll hate even going out of the room! Don't make much sight seeing plans" Thanks for the heads up everyone! As if I didn't already know that! I mean seriously people..go on state the obvious one more time....as if evenings are going to be as hot as mornings or afternoons..and thats when I plan to do all my sightseeing....because hell I am going to a new place, for the first time on my own and I am NOT going to miss seeing it because of well...some people's irrational comments... </div><div><br />
</div><div>So for the past two days I have been making lists of places I want to see in Delhi.....the "city of kings" and the seat of power of my country. Here are the sites I plan to see...or at least a longer wishlist which I may reduce in the days to come depending on how much time I actually have:</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. ISKCON temple: I have this thing....whichever city I have visited (which are not too many seriously) I have seen the ISKCON temple there if there is one, so I have seen Ahmedabad's. one of the very few sites I have seen in the city that is kinda like my native place..... Mumbai's (very recently...shameful considering I have lived 22 years here), Bangalore's....and I find quite some peace in these temples and I want to visit as may of them as possible. Delhi has one! And I will be there! So this tops my list!</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate: I would really be a fool to go to Delhi and not see these classics!</div><div><br />
</div><div>3. Humayun's tomb: When I was about 11years old, I saw Aurangzeb's tomb.....and was in awe of the grandeur with which Muslim rulers were treated in their rests....so want to visit this one too!</div><div><br />
</div><div>4. Raj Ghat</div><div><br />
</div><div>5. Chandni Chowk: for seeing the purani dilli </div><div><br />
</div><div>6. Pranthwaali galli, Hotel Sarvana Bhavan, etc etc: I plan to meet my foodie friend <a href="http://desizaika.blogspot.com/">Radhika</a> in Delhi, if she has no travel plans, and explore Delhi gastronomically! More on that will be on my food blog if I manage it!</div><div><br />
</div><div>So here's to the city which beckons me soon! </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5