Tripping to Floyd

Feast for Dp

2011-02-19T23:07:00.000-08:00

So there was 5 types of rice
- Besi-bele bath
- puliyogare
- Mango rice (Manga Sadam)
- Coconut rice (Thenga Sadam)
- Curd rice (Thaire Sadam)

English Breakfast

2011-01-31T20:08:00.000-08:00

Random Shots with my D90

2010-12-30T00:23:00.001-08:00

I'm back - After a vacation.

2010-11-03T05:55:00.000-07:00

Yes. Good to be back after a couple of vacations to Pondicherry and Chennai, two weddings, one good book (Steig Larsson) down and plenty of beers in between.
Before the year ends looking forward to
- Finish the Steig Larsson series (2 more to go)
- 1 more wedding (all my cousins are getting hitched)
- Less beers (naaah... don't think thats working)
- Running (getting fit for the 5 km run - Midnight marathon in Blore)

Right for now, its my nephew & me with my beer :)

Happy Vinayaka Chathurthi

2010-09-12T02:58:00.001-07:00

I am back

2010-08-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am back after my week long vacation to Pondicherry and Chennai. A good break, relaxing, time spent mulling over a lot of things.
Highlight of the trip was that I did not eat meat (except for one meal) during the entire vacation. That is quite an achievement ocnsidering that I love fish and I was along the sea.
What I liked about the trip
I loved the "Rue's" of Pondy, the gravel paths, the yellow coloured houses all reminded me of Europe (UK is the only country I have visited, so my knowledge of Europe is from books I've read and movies I've watched).
Enjoyed the 1 hour that I spent at the Kapaleshwari Temple (Mylapore) for my cousin's wedding. Met a lot of relatives after ages. All uncles and aunts looked aged and many of them looked frail. Cousin's seems to have grown up.
Loved the damp smell in the sanctum of the temple. The smells of agarbathi, vibuthi, camphor (karpuram), the smells of fresh flowers outside the temple all reminded me of Kumbakonam. Just realised that its been a while since I've visited any temple. Hmph ..

Good Morning ...

2010-08-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

To all the folks who read my blog ...... A Very Good Morning and just to let you know I still have my wits about me. :) Don't worry :))

Breaky today courtesy me was idli (batter from mom), sambhar and chutney (not photographed). I am becoming a bit of an expert on this.

Yawn ...

2010-08-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

Having a lousy day at work.
-- > No sleep ..
--> Did not go for my jog
-- > Wifey had to wear a saree, luckily I had to little to do with it this time around. What would I without Bhavani (who incidently is our maid)
-- > Heard my friend's wife is carrying. ( damn more pressure .....)

Just hoping that my trip comes through. Bay of Bengal awaits me ..... Pondicherry needs my footprint.

Wuss...

2010-08-17T08:03:00.001-07:00

My friend calls me a wuss and I think that's quite apt :)

Nice ... my underground blog.... nobody reads it. I will read it when I'm 60 and laugh at this. (If I survive). Too bad my blog will not be fossilized. Just imagine that somebody comes upon this by chance a zillion years from now. He'll be super rich.

Some stupid post on Freedom which I think I will delete tomorrow

2010-08-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

It was Independence Day on Sunday. The day India was liberated from British rule. Now was that a well deserved freedom? yes / no. There are 2 sides of everything. The Brits did go a long way to get India to where it was, they gave us a huge railway network, built roads and set up telegraph poles across the country. Essential set the framework for a modernized India. In many ways they did help in uniting India which was otherwise just independent kingdoms ruled by the Maharajas.
As much as they did unite the country, they were large involved in the breakup and creation of Pakistan. Well not directly but the manner in which they ruled ensured that Hindu and Muslims were dealt with separately. There were apparently whole regiments in the former Indian army that was predominantly Hindu and Muslim. Also there was the oppression, ill-treatment etc etc..
Now my reason for writing this blog was not to give a discourse in history but to draw parallels to what freedom means to individuals. So in all likelihood this individual would be yours truly. I was just asking myself.. what would freedom actually mean to me ? At times I really think that freedom to me is about actually breaking unnecessary social barriers set up society to follow a norm.

Now why are these social barriers set? This is essentially to bring order in society and follow a certain set of rules and regulations. This is not necessarily bad; imagine what freedom might mean to serial killer who will simply go around bumping of people as he wishes. But I seriously think that a lot of aspects in life should be left to individuals to decide and not let society influence these decisions. Here society could mean parents, siblings, friends, colleagues anyone around your vicinity that have a deep influence on your decisions.

Here is something I wished I had done but did not do, reason could be that society forbade me or I had built this notion that what I was doing is wrong...

- I wish I had been a more mischievous kid in school and got into a lot of trouble. (I know this might sound stupid ... but yeah) I was so much of the serious kind that I hardly used to get beaten up by the teachers. I was scared of making mistakes so I really don’t think I learnt anything the hard way. It was either all in a platter or I just did not give it an honest shot. Why ? because I was told by teaches and parents that I was always supposed to be a good boy and never to talk in class, always do my homework and always polish my shoes. The quite me; never wanting to experiment me; seemed to have a taken a hit in my confidence somewhere. I am not blaming my parents or teachers, both of whom have been fantastic and have been a huge influence to what I am today. But a little experimentation would have helped me build tremendous confidence and I believe I would have been a different person altogether.

I am not done editing with this blog. I need to write more. Go to go home…. And live with my society. This is will be fun reading tomorrow. I think I will delete it tomorrow. I think I’ve lost it … 

Old Friends

2010-08-11T11:06:00.001-07:00

I suddenly feel that I am living on a another planet. Where are all my old friends?
Miss my bachelor days. Need a holiday with the boys.

Hoping that my trip to Chennai and Pondy works out on 21st to 27th. Looking forward to The Dune.

Silence vs Ego

2010-08-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

Silence kills and chills. I think I'm finally getting an ego and an attitude.

My muse for the day

2010-08-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

I think that secret to a good marriage is good and tasty food cooked at home.

Why do you think you keep hearing the phrase "Spice up your marriage" ...

A Poem from 6th Std : Gulmohar text book

2010-07-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

This poem I clearly remember since I had to recite it for the my 6th Std final exam. It's a wonderful poem and I am glad that I re-discovered this one.

The Solitary Reaper - William Wordsworth

Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings?--
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?

Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending;--
I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

Inflation for dummines like me

2010-07-14T01:47:00.000-07:00

I am a novice when it comes to economics. I am intruiged by the subject and wonder if I should have studied economics rather than engineering.

These days I have been reading a lot of business related articles. Though I have subcribing to Mint for the last couple of years, its only now that I am trying to make sense to financial terms and acronyms.

To get started, started reading a bit on inflation and here is a good article on the basics.

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2008/apr/15inflation.htm

New pair of running feet but a rotten tummy

2010-05-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

Got Dp to buy me a swany new pair of running Nike's , sweats and socks. She paid a bomb and now feeling I'm feeling guilty about it.

So all set for the 23rd but have been laid low with the stomach infection. So no training for the last 3 days. Need to be back in action soon, 23rd is only 12 days away and I am badly out of form. Aches and creaky bones have started acting up as well. Ipod is also with sister dear.

GO GO GO !!!!!

Another Poem that's been haunting me : Leisure - William Henry Davies

2010-05-03T01:18:00.000-07:00

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

In today's age and times living in a concrete jungle, this poem makes perfect sense.

Chennai with the boys - Part 2

2010-04-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

What's with Park not having a health faucet in the baths. I know this is a star hotel but then they need to keep some Indian sentiment in mind. Also water is way hygenic than paper and environmentally friendly as well. I wonder if this has anything to do with the water problem in Chennai.

OK done with the hotel review. Now to move on to Amethyst, a cafe / coffee house in upmarket Chennai. This is a old colonial bungalow converted into a cafe. Very plush, green, outdoor place with a shop attached to it that sells stuff that women wouldn't mind spending hours and also a lot of cash. Managed to pick up a nice pair of silver earrings for Deepali and she liked it a lot.
I had the sugar juice which was excellent, just the perfect drink to have on a hot and muggy evening. The crowd is mix of the intellectual looking to the young who just want to hang out and spend time.

Evening was at the Leather Bar, great clubbing place in Chennai. Get to the see the other side of Chennai that you will never see in shopping malls and streets. Night life (read Clubbing) in Chennai is restricted to a very places and LB is one of them. So here is where apparently you run shoulders with the who's who of Chennai. Looks like the hep and hip were all at LB. Men in leather, spiked hair, expensive watches. Women in hot pants (yeah unbeliveable in Chennai), stilletos was good eye pie. But thats that, like one of u mentioned our parents put in values that would not allow us to ever approach and speak to any of these women. Even with or without the band around our fingers I'm sure we would be just content in sitting there by ourselves and would never have have the gall to ask a woman out.
As mentioned, the three of us were just content hanging out by ourselves catching up with each others lives. Yours truly had a nice buzz after 5 pints of beer. Given how hot it was outside that was the ideal drink to cool the system down.

I think I like Chennai, found the place to be friendly. I always get flack for not marrying a South Indian. My trip to Chennai just gets me wondering !!!!!

Chennai with the boys

2010-04-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

Spontaneous decision to travel to Chennai for sunrise at the Marina Beach. So the boys packed up, downed 2 shots of bitter espresso and started driving at 12:30 AM on Saturday morning.
The coffee kept us awake all throughout the drive, the truck traffic on the highway plus early morning Chennai traffic ensured that we lost the race against the elements. We however made it to Marina at about 6:15 AM, just in time to see the Sun emerging out of the clouds. An awesome feeling it was. I love the sea, I didn't even mind the Chennai heat and ensured that we hung out till eventually we were bathed in sweat.

Obervation: Chennaities are early risers. Marina was crowded amd an amazing assortments of people uncles taking morning walks, aunties gossiping, laughter groups, school kids and all sorts clubs (karate club, basketball club, marathon club). I had a good mind to start running along the beach :)

Next on the agenda was Murugan Idli's for breakfast but they do not open till 7:30 so we dashed off to Sarvana Bhavan. The best breakfast in a very long time. My favourites
- Pongal vada sambhar
- Ghee Roast
- 2 cups of chennai filter coffee.

The Iphone 3Gs was amazing, the maps app helped us track down everything in Chennai. Very accurate to extent that not once did we have to ask anyone for direction. I have a good mind to pick up an iphone myself now.

The Park was gracious enough to check us in early. The hotel is tastefully done up with the entire place adorned with movie stills on the walls. So our room had the movie pic of Nagin (Snake) staring at us.

Rest later ...

Week 2: Tuesday

2010-04-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

After that exhausting Sunday evening run, back on the road. Did 10 rounds at the stretch and feeling kicked about it. Now its approximately 3.5 kms

Majja Run here I come.

- Ennavale adi Ennavale

Week 2: I`m back

2010-04-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm back and running hard. After Thursday's debacle, I bounced back on Friday to do 7 continuous rounds around the park which is approximately 2.5 Kms. Yeaiii..

Weekend was a lot of beer drinking, eating late and IPL action at UB City with friends and family. Made up for it by running hard late Sunday evening. Did 11 rounds with a break in between after 5 rounds. Flip side is that I think I'm going through a bit of dehydration.

Hoping that I've finally found something that I can really look forward to everyday.

Wifey is off next weekend to Delhi by herself (evil grin). The boys are planning for a sojourn to Chennai :) . I could do with a running on Marina.

I've downloaded music on my Nano so there is plenty of new music for company.

- Rock on - Firestarter -

Day 4: Need a kick in the b***

2010-04-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

I just rolled in bed and felt terrible later that I could not get myself to move my rear end to run.

Day 3: Blisters and Shoes Bites

2010-04-07T05:36:00.000-07:00

Right, now i`m surprising myself. This piece of lard has been able to wake 3 days in a stretch and better himself everyday :)

Day 3, did 5 rounds around the park at a stretch with PF - Division Bell for company. Then cooled off by walking 1 round and did another 3 rounds. By the end of the run I had shoes bites and blisters on my feet. My tennis shoes are kind off complaining. Dp has agreed to buy me a pair running shoes, I could may be pick up some running gear along with it as well. She's got a nice fat bonus so might as well use it :)

- High Hopes (Yeah now I am wondering if I register for 10K)

Day 2: Achy bones

2010-04-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

A rusty bag of bones, when asked to exercise - screams. An achy pair of legs and a back that is not liking me wake up at 6:30 and run around Richards Park. For once my brain is getting the better of the rest of my body.

Three rounds today in 2 sets which also included a cool off by walking one round in between. Oh, I drove my car around the park and realised that it measures about 400 M which means that I did approximately 2200 - 2400 M today. Hmmm ... encouraging.

Matrix OST for company did help me go the extra mile (400 M = 1 Mile conversion that I will be following for the next 2 months).

Du hast

One-Tenth of a Marathon.

2010-04-05T04:55:00.000-07:00

The lazy me is planning to run 5.7 kms for the Sunfeast Marathon in Bangalore.

http://sunfeastworld10k.indiatimes.com/registrations/Important-Dates-Race-Categories/articleshow/5670835.cms

Started training today and did 6 rounds around Richards Park, 2 rounds continously in 3 sets. That must be approximately 1200 m in total, 400 m at a time.

I have quite a mountain to climb if I have to run 5.7 kms continously.

Day 1: took it easy. Hopefully I can wake up tomorrow at 6. Target for day 2 is to do atleast 3 rounds (600m)

Will I be able to do it ?

Some time to myself at last

2010-02-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

Finally I get sometime to myself. Just as I think I could post something, get this call from wifey..arrrgh.

Back at 30 ...

2009-01-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

15/10/2008

Well, I`ve decided to returning to my blogging ways. Why ? Because I've realised that I find it extremely difficult to pen (type) a few a sentences. At least by 'garbing' once in a while electronically, I hope to improve on my writing skills. My job requires me to write tons of technical matter in a comprehensible manner and I've realised that I am no good at it. By blogging I hope to ignite some of my creative cells, the neurons seem to have slumbered.
This reminds me that I was fairly decent creative writer during my teens, credited with awards at various creative writing competitions ( .... sigh those were the good old days). After which I had a brief experience as a blogger. Did get tons of encouragement, but then other priorities (which I will not elaborate) diverted me from the world of blogging. Now with remediation in place I hope be a lot active on this space.

29/01/2009

I did not post the above. Finally getting around to .......

Lets see achievements since I last blogged....

For one, I've turned 30..... yikes ......... and I'm 3 months into my 31st year. In my head though I think I've still not grown up.

We've (my better half and me) have moved into a place of our own and we struggle to keep it clean. Man, its literally 24 x 7 work.

I can cook ...... sambhar, chutney, idli and dosas. Pretty good at it as well. Ask my in-laws :) ... they'll vouch for it.

I joined Satyam 3 months ago and as of this day I have a job and will be getting my January salary. What the future holds I have no idea. But I at least have work these days.

Hope to be off for a short holiday next weekend to celebrate a year. Yes its a year already. In short ... its been a huge roller coaster ride at 100 mph. Its fun, scary, screams, laughs, tears. Hope that it stays that way.

Its after ages that I'm listening to Learning to Fly ( a favourite) ..... makes a lot sense given the situation.

Into the distance, a ribbon of black
Stretched to the point of no turning back
A flight of fancy on a windswept field
Standing alone my senses reeled
A fatal attraction holding me fast, how
Can I escape this irresistible grasp?
Can't keep my mind from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I

Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything
No navigator to find my way home
Unladened, empty and turned to stone
A soul in tension that's learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try

Can't keep my mind from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I
Above the planet on a wing and a prayer,
My grubby halo, a vapour trail in the empty air,
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly
Out of the corner of my watering eye
A dream unthreatened by the morning light
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night

There's no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, A state of bliss
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

Adios Amigos .. till next time (Hope that its not too long)

Sign of Old Age ???

2007-07-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I noticed the first white sprout on my chin. Hmmm... its been over 10 years since I passed out of school. Six years since I graduated..
Scary .. but yeah, think I'm reaching the hill. In another few months will be over it and then its a ride without any control.
So here is another one of my favourite's - COMING BACK TO LIFE - acoustic version. Gives me the goose pimples.

SAP-Tennis-Books-floyd.... thats where I stand ..

2007-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

I am back, not by popular demand but simply because my life seemed to be revolving around my work (trust me, nobody wants to hear about it ..) and I thought it would be a good idea to write about what’s been occupying my existence lately. Not that it matters to most what I'm up to .. but I like to believe that I have this secret fan club that keep visiting my blog waiting in earnest for my next post. (Yeah ... high hopes I know!!!)....
As you may have guessed the title very aptly indicates what I've pretty much been doing with myself. SAP ... ewww .. Sorry I get an overdose of it at work, be it presentations or performance improvement measures .. Stop!!!!

Tennis: Now here is a game I was always fascinated by as a kid. I still remember watching my first Wimbledon final on Doordarshan Pat Cash vs. Ivan Lendle. If I remember right Pat Cash won that match. Always wanted to play it as kid but never got an opportunity as racquets were way out of my league. So now 19 years after my tryst with tennis I go and get myself a brand new Yonex tennis racquet. If there is anything I look forward to these days, it has to be my Saturday / Sunday evening's at the courts. Ajay and me slam the ball around and for someone who has picked up the game just about 4-5 months back; think I do a fairly decent job. The last 5 weeks I've just a few points away from beating my buddy... but he always seems to be one up. Last week was depressing, the score line read 6-0, 3-3 before we had to pack up. It’s got to be my serve, have to work on it before I can get it going. Hmm.. think it’s all about getting the rhythm right. Will keep you all updated on the scores for this weekend.

Books: Latest one that keeps me company on the bus is "The House of Blue Mangoes" by David Davidar. Set in South India in late 1800's it seems to be a book largely revolving around the Dorai's. Just done about 30 odd pages and I already the style of writing, very descriptive, he articulately draws a picture of a typical South Indian landscape in your head. Nice fat novel as well,have enough company on the bus for the next couple of weeks.

Floyd: Latest to my collection is the original Pulse DVD. A 2 pack cover that’s a must for any Pink Floyd buff. Got a lot of extra stuff... like tour videos, some cool wallpapers and excerpts of their induction into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.
Ohh yeah, also went for the Aerosmith concert. Amazing guy that Steve Tyler, for a man in his 60's, he's got tremendous energy to go on and smart us, we managed to work our way through right to the front of the stage. So here we were almost face to face with the men themselves Steve Tyler and Joe Perry. Honestly haven't heard too many of their songs, but the concert was mind blowing. The crowd was a mix of the old and the yuppie. Plenty of weed doing the rounds, women in stiletto heels and hot pants (I wasn't complaining....). But couldn't understand why anyone would dress as if they were at a lounge party or something.

Well I've written enough to bore the world off my blog. ADIOS AMIGOS !!!!

P.S: French Open Finals on Sunday. Dream Game: I’m backing Federer.

This one is for anonymous :

2007-05-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

Well .. this one is for anonymous who seems to be the only one visting my blog..... also for anyone else who drops in here .......
WISH YOU WERE HERE

Some Pigeon Facts !!!

2007-03-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Ok pulled this from google.
Pigeons mate for life and rear their broods together, although if one dies the other will take a new mate. Once the simple nest is built, the female lays an egg and then another a day or so later. The incubation period for common pigeons is 17 to 19 days. The female sits on the egg from late afternoon through the night until about 10AM. The male then takes over and does the day shift. Once the eggs hatch, both parents feed the young squabs. The first food is pigeon milk or crop milk, a cheesy substance that appears in the crops of the parents at hatching time and is fed for a week or so. Then the adults start regurgitating partially digested grains for the young. By the time the squabs are ready to fly, about 4 weeks, the father is doing most of the feeding. The squabs are fed for another week to 10 days after they are free-flying.

I think my balcony is going to be out of bounds for some time, and I thought this summer will be spent on my new hammock reading a book.

Day 5: There is two of `em now !!!!!

2007-03-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

Surprise surprise !!!!! we have 2 of them now. Now the 2nd one was laid on Day 3. Due to my crazy work schedule I haven't had the time to take pics. Finally got the duo ....

As I approached to take the snap the pigeon flew away. Look out for more updates !!!!

Day 2 : All very calm

2007-03-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

A Visitor to my Balcony

2007-03-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Woke up on a lazy Saurday morning to find a little visitor in my balcony. Whats more, the visitor decided to use a flower pot its home. Left its to-be offspring there. Now I`m going track it ......
Day 1.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND

2007-02-12T20:46:00.000-08:00

Was chatting with a good friend yesterday and she mentioned the term "A Beautiful Mind", think its an amazing term. After that I was trying to define it. Here is mine definition.
A person with a "A Beautiful Mind" is one who is crystal clear in thought, has well defined goals to pursue and has set his/her mind to achieve his/her target.

How would you define a "A Beautiful Mind" ??

The Fox's Wedding

2006-12-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

This poem I recited in my 4th standard. I just remember a part of this wonderful poem. Its been ringing in my ears since this evening. I tried to search for this poem on the internet… but no avail. I'll have to get hold of a 4th std kid, I wonder if they still use the Gulmohar English Text book.

Ok I think this is how it starts...

...... there is rain in the sun,
the fox's wedding has just begun.

From forest and plain and mountain side,
Guests bring gifts for the fox and his bride

Here comes the first a grinning hyena,
Who brings a charming bowl from China

Here comes the second a Lion bold,
Who brings a mirror of African Gold.

............... and then my memory fails me !!

Need to find this whole poem, even if it means going to a book store and unearthing all the Gulmohar Text books.

Tic Tic Tic .....

2006-12-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

The most amazing song .... and the most amazing video as well. If this doesn't put a smile on your face nothing will.I almost fell of my chair when I listened to it for the 1st time.

My Cuppa

2006-12-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

I’m having this splitting headache since this morning and my way of countering this is by having a strong cup of coffee. So what better time to post than whilst sipping on a cup of brew from Cafe Coffee Day. We have one their franchises inside the office campus. Filtered coffee is available in the pantry but the milk is never heated properly and invariably contains cream (something I detest in my coffee), and the filtered coffee is no where in the same league that Ajay's (my buddy) mom makes. Auntie’s traditional filter coffee is always served in a steel tumbler with the cup holder. Her coffee always reminds of a famous Tamil ad of yester years, “Coffee na Narsu’s coffee thaan. Besh besh romba nana irrukkai”

Of late I've realized that I am becoming a bit of a coffee addict. On an average I indulge in about three cups day which according to research is very good for the heart. The day I miss the usually dose I can become very irritable, itchy all over and even get a bit of a headache.

Here’s the pattern every day, mornings are tea time without brushing my teeth (for those who find this disgusting, let me tell you that this help me clean my stomach instantly). My body seems to have adjusted to this routine quite nicely, so much so that when I have coffee instead of tea it results in constipation. (Yeah.. like the whole world is really interested in knowing this fact. But then again this is my space…. )

My first dose of caffeine is immediately after breakfast in office. My friend at "Coffee Day" brews the perfect concoction of freshly ground coffee beans and frothy steamy hot milk. I would prefer to have coffee during breakfast, but the problem is that the office cafeteria that serves breakfast does not serve coffee. Nothing like a hot steaming cup of coffee with idli-vadai or dosai. Essential as much as this is, it wakes up the sleepy cells of my under developed pia-mater (OK this term I remembered from my high school days thanks to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night). I tend to be a lot sharper after this cuppa, and 80% of my work for the day gets done between 9 and 12.30.

My next cup is usually black consumed just after lunch at about 3 pm. Black, to keep me from dozing off and also to keep the contents light. Milk tends to make me feel heavier on the stomach especially right after lunch. Prepared by yours truly, recipe is simple. Mix a tenth of a potion of hot decoction with hot water and stir with 2 cubes of sugar. The combination looks and taste lethal to the average Indian not used to black coffee, but it is extremely effective to keep you awake after a heavy lunch. Trust me; this keeps you going for the next 3 hours at least. The last one is usually late evening, after I get home, refreshing after the bus ride back home from Electronic City.

Every cup seems to have some significance isn’t it?

Here are some little known facts about coffee that I googled on
1. Goats actually discovered the coffee plant. Their shepherd noticed that they were getting very hyper; therefore, one day, he followed their every move, and found out that they were eating a strange berry that was keeping them awake all day and night.
2. Monks used coffee to stay awake and concentrate on what they were doing. (.... had tons of coffee while practicing for GMAT, it did help then ... but not in eventuality)
3. Coffee cherries usually contain two “beans”, except for the single bean peaberry anomaly. Cherries with three beans are deemed to be a sign of good luck.
4. The average person who buys coffee outside the office to consume at work will spend the equivalent value of a round trip plane ticket to Florida every year. (... on an average I spend about 30 rupees a week on coffee.... getting to Florida .. will need me to sacrifice 4 years of coffee... whew .. not worth it )

Marathon Read - A Suitable Boy

2006-10-17T04:06:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished all of 1472 pages of "A Suitable Boy". It was definitely the biggest book I’ve read so far. As far as I remember "Atlas Shrugged" came a close second among big books that I have read.

I really have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Somehow in spite of being bit like a soap opera, there never was a dull moment. It’s another matter that I took close to 5 months complete this book, primarily because I took a break in between to prepare for my exams. Thanks to the book an hour on Hosur Road didn't seem too bad. I used to look forward to my bus rides to work every morning so that I could read. Just hope that my eye sight hasn't deteriorated over this period.

Ok now getting back to the back to the book and mainly to the author Vikram Seth, really enjoyed his style of writing. The English in the book is very "Rich" and it’s a pleasure to pick up new words as you read along. He manages to choose his words perfectly that it blends in with the story line and at the same time these words don’t sound alien to a novice like me. The book is scattered with small snippets of Seth's poetry as well. I'm not much of a poetry person but still most of the poems were simple and easy to understand. Overall I liked the entire flow of his book, its got everything, a bit of love, humor, sadness and also violence, all set against a back drop of the post independence era in India.

A must read for someone with a bit of patience without being overawed by the size of the book.

The year that was...

2006-10-10T01:41:00.000-07:00

OK.. Not that I’ve gone missing or have been kidnapped. It’s just that there have been too many things happening around me that I really haven't had the time to add more to this now defunct blog. Before cobwebs start invading my own little space on the world wide web, I've decided to be a lot more active. With a little time I hope to put in a few snaps as well.
Last night I was talking a friend and we were already discussing plans for New Year’s this time around and suddenly I realized how quickly this year has simply flown past. It just seems a few months ago I was in Goa for New years having possibly what could have been my best New Year's Eve. But looking back this has been one of my most forgetful years. It’s been one year which has had more "downs" than "ups". But more importantly I guess I've learnt a lot more.
So I thought it would be a good idea to list the best moments the last 9 months had on offer, in chronological order.
1. New Year’s at Goa was simply incredible, had the time of my life there. Breakfast in a shack on Benaulim Beach followed by a long walk in the afternoon sun. Can never get enough of that place.
2. Watching my first kannada movie in the theatre “Rama Shama Bhama”
3. Trip to Coorg with family, it was Arya’s (my little nephew) first venture outdoors. Great coffee estate along the Cauvery. It was THE perfect place to unwind.
4. The trip to Goa again, again with family. Highlight of the trip was watching the opening match of the football World Cup at a restaurant in Taj Aguada.
5. Spending time with the guys at Pub World during the World Cup. Will not forget the England / Portugal match. Not to forget the beer drinking that resulted in me sporting a "New Look" beer belly, something I’m still working on ... to reduce obviously.
6. Tequila night at Jayan’s. The first time I was totally blown out of my wits. Realised that it’s good to do it once a year, because after that you swear never to touch tequila in a long time.
7. Jayan’s and Smitha’s engagement… wow that’s the first among the gang. Unbelievable but true. I think we are finally growing up.
8. Trip to Chennai with the boys, that crazy night where we hit about six nightspots, think we soaked in whatever the place had on offer. Not to forget the drive back to Bangalore where we made it in less than 5 hours.

So this is it, we’re still less than 3 months away for the year to end, so I’m hoping that I will be able to add on a lot more to this list.

Pain is a Wonderful Sensation

2006-08-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

This I wrote sometime back. Looking for an auspicious moment, well here it is.

Pain is often associated with unhappiness or something that is undesirable. Essentially pain inflicted can be broadly classified into two categories, one where it is unforeseen like in the case of an accident or untimely death of a near or dear one. But on the other people undergo pain knowing that there is the ultimate goal to be achieved which would bear fruit.
Generally in the former case the pain caused can be both emotional as well as physical. It could drain the individual but could increase his/her resolve to fight pain. In the latter case the individual has a target that he has set out achieve and is aware of the desirable outcome. Again he may come across hurdles that he may not be prepared for but the entire experience always has something new in store for him to learn. In both cases pain brings on a facet of a human that remains unexplored. The joy at being able to revel in mastering the unknown is what makes the entire journey of pain worthwhile.
There is always light at the end of a dark tunnel. Journey through this dark tunnel needs “time” and it is of the most important dimension that plays a major role in the whole purview of pain. It is often while you grope in this long dark tunnel that you will stumble upon the unknown, overcome it and reach the light that brings happiness and joy.

If..........

2006-03-31T04:12:00.000-08:00

Got to be the most inspirational poem ever.

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Money for Nothing ???

2005-12-05T05:08:00.000-08:00

It’s been a long long time since I’ve posted anything, reason being that I was deputed off ONSITE to the UK and having a first hand experience of being a techie in the UK. To sum up my "experience" very shortly, well I’m packing my bags and heading back homeland. Colleagues here are still recovering from the shock when I told then that I’m getting back for good. A barrage of questions followed from "Are you getting married ??" to "Are you quitting ??" to "Are you not paid enough in the UK Pound ?? ".

I just had one answer, “When I’m on my deathbed (though not described so dramatically) and look back I don't want any regrets on the fact that I did not have time to spend with family and friends. I don't want to look back to think that I spent my time earning money in Pounds, when I could have spent that time watching my little nephew grow up, and not to forget the loneliness, boredom and pangs of homesickness that comes along coupled with long hours of gruelling work.”
Most of them had diametrically opposite views, coming from the fact that the prime of your life must be spent earning enough mullah, so that you can sit on a pile of stash by the time you are 45-50.
It actually got me thinking and wondered whether I was making a wise move, because I know for a fact that if one does stick around for two to three years, he/she can make enough money to have a comfortable life back home. But then I realised that there is no point in raking in the bucks if one doesn’t have anyone to share it with. There a lot of aspects to this and very debatable.

Well I’ve started off the debate “Given a chance would you be away from family and friends to earn that extra buck for a period of 2-3 years, or would you rather go abroad for a short visit for a period of 6 months (6 months is short ??) giving you a chance to work abroad and experience cultures.”

Post me your comments !!!!

Shine on you crazy diamond ........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-03-24T22:18:00.000-08:00

Haven’t posted in a while, just that I’ve been way too busy providing technical solutions at a tenth of the price to a client who sits on the other end of globe. Will not dwell into it any further, because I can just go on and on.

Trying to think of what to post is sometimes quite difficult as there is so much I would like to write about but need that bulb to light up at the right time. Funny that these ideas strike at the oddest of places. Here I was all alone at a table in my sparsely filled cafeteria at Wipro one late afternoon, and there was this line from a Pink Floyd number that kept ringing in my ears. The devout follower that I am of the psychedelic group... decided that I should dedicate a post and do justice to the title of my blog. This one is to the genre of music that was seeded about half a decade ago but now has its roots deeply within me, to Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Rick Wright and off course Syd Barrett

Looking back I was actually a late entrant to Pink Floyd, always knew that the band existed, heard a couple of songs but never really got hooked onto their style. If there were one person who introduced me to the band it would be my brother-in-law. During the times he was courting my sister he recorded their numbers on a tape and she would play the tape quite often, though it would bore her, the music started rubbing off slowly on me. Before I realized it the songs started growing onto me. I always tell people that that the more you listen to Floyd the more it haunts.

Was privileged to be in Bangalore during the Roger Waters gig, a long unfulfilled dream to be at a Pink Floyd concert. Those were early days on my first job, didn’t have the stash to afford the tickets ….... so much so I did go down on my knees to a colleague so that I could have her complimentary pass for the show. Well, eventually I did make to the show, actually paid the huge amount…. was worth every penny and every moment of that show.

Well here’s my list I would trip to anytime ....
1. Shine on you Crazy Diamond - still gives me the goose pimples whenever I listen.
2. Wish you were Here.
3. Comfortably Numb
4. Coming back to life
5. Learning to Fly
6. Hey You
7. Time
8. High Hopes
9. See Emily play
10.Another Brick in the Wall

Some of my favourite lines:

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year,
running over the same old ground. What have we found?
The same old fears, wish you were here" - Wish you were Here.

"While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime
I took a heavenly ride through our silence
I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life - Coming Back to Life

"a soul in tension that's learning to fly
condition grounded but determined to try
can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
tongue-tied & twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I" - Learning to Fly

"At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world
Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Though down this road we've been so many times" - High Hopes

"There is no pain, you are receding
the distant ship smoking in the horizon
...
The child is grown, the dream is gone
And I have become in a comfortably numb" - Comfortable Numb

"No dark Sarcasm in the Classroom
Teachers leave the Kids alone
All in all just another brick in the wall" - Another Brick in the Wall

Hail us Commoners !!!!!!

2005-03-03T03:23:00.000-08:00

OK... so people have been a wee bit critical that I’m going after the geeks. So its peace time, no more techie bashing atleast till my next post. Thought I’d dwell upon the books I read. I dunno about others but whenever I read a book, I get thoroughly engrossed, usually end up making a mental picture of the situation before me and also get completely involved with the characters. Currently reading the Hitcher's Guide to the Galaxy, this is one book where you let your imagination go wild. Zipping across galaxies in interplanetary space crafts with two headed aliens with names such as Zaphod Beeblebrox and Ford Prefect is food for grey matter.
I like reading books that have a good flow and stimulates my imagination. Lately, tried reading a couple of new age authors (Nikos Kazantzakis / Jhumpa Lahiri / Arundhati Roy etc..), never liked them for the simple reason that language used was way too abstract. Hate it, especially when I have to constantly look up a dictionary for words I’ve never heard of before and which I find difficult to comprehend given the context. More important it disturbs the nice mental picture that I like to create, subsequently dwindling my interest in reading that book. What is it about these authors, do they write books/articles only for the literary superior, what about commoners like me??? Is it absolutely necessary that in order to make an impact one has to be expansively rhetoric?
Its just not about authors but even at work, at meetings the know-it-all techie (sorry but can’t keep them out of my blogs) will rant on in technical jargons just to intimidate his peer or manager and make believe as if he were working on some complex algorithm involving rocket science. When one gets into reality, things are far simpler than what was actually projected.
I have a theory about this, people in general use highly ornamented terms or words when they want to mask the simplicity that actually lies beneath it. Not sure that most of you agree with my theory, but hey what the hell it’s a free world...

Techie Bashing ...... again ??

2005-02-21T04:47:00.000-08:00

OK the blogging thingy has hit me, and I’m constantly looking for ideas to pen down, type rather. Since recently I’ve been constantly trying to escape work.... tired of the wretched routine of attending team meetings where we sit for hours together just to realize that the outcome of these sittings are altogether different from where we first started.

The peculiarities of this industry and its workforce are very interesting from an outsider’s point of view. For some reason I will always consider myself as an outsider...... don’t like to be associated with the techie, sigh ..... But I guess I’ve been sucked into the SYSTEM....

They call this one of the highest paying service industries, somehow it never reflects on the dressing sense of the techie. It is common for large companies to have foreign clients visiting the campus, those are the rare days that one may spot a Manager squirming in his most ill-fitting business suit, and possibly the last time he wore it was for his wedding some ten years ago. On other days he’s quite happy to adorn his pristinely white branded sneakers with nicely pressed dark formal trousers, a combination that ....... is left to your imagination.

Oh!!!!! a fact, the average techie has enormous amounts of energy all bottled up. Come that office party at the Taj/Oberoi`s, our intelligent, rather placid workhorse explodes....... will be found initially at the bar, downing a large Jack Daniels. (What the hell, the office is paying anyway!!!!!!). Just when you think he’s going to pass out, in that inebriated state our not so tranquil techie gathers ten of his like minded friends to set the dance floor on fire. Enough to scare away every other human being in a ten meter radius and send all the ladies scurrying for cover. Finally he is carried out by his manager and shoved into a cab and told that he doesn’t have to show up the next day until 11 am.

But behold, our techie reports to work at 8.30 sharp the next morning, all neatly groomed and ash smeared on his forehead he showing no recognition of the previous nights revelry. He is happy to stare at his monitor all day pretending to be deeply engrossed in solving some complex algorithmic code. Back to where he belongs, the saintly software Engineer.

Visas - What it means to a techie

2005-02-14T23:43:00.000-08:00

This is my 1st real attempt to write a blog. The brainwave to write this actually hit me one Thursday morning, when my boss called me to ask whether I have my Visa stamped. I was`nt sure which Visa he was asking about, he smirked as if I was an outsider and said "The US Visa offcourse" So here it goes ... my 1st blog.....

Working in a large typical techie company, brings you face to face with some very typical people and their perceptions.
One gets to meet people from all over the country, from the shy and somewhat unassuming Kashmiri to the rather brash and crude Gult ("Gult" is a slang used among IT circles to describe a native of Andhra Pradesh).
But a common thread that bonds them all is the VISA. Visa to the far off land, across 7 seas to set foot in the U S of A.
Please note I did not mention the US Visa but simply Visa, becos a techie knows that if anyone had to ask if he had a visa, it means the H1/L1.... passport to world’s "Land of the Free". What I find really weird is that each one has his own motive of going to the US (Work actually becomes a second priority in such cases).
When I was new at Wipro, I never really understood why people were so keen to leave their spouses and family to be in the US for years together. Stories of loneliness and boredom were quite common among the "States Returned".

Hmm.... then I realised it was the Dollar factor, or was it....
Typically a gult (telugite) needs that trip to the US to UP his profile. No not his work resume but his viability in the marriage market. Dowry earned for a US returned Gult Boy could be as much Rs. 1 Crore. I am not joking beocs I personally know such people. A two month stint is enough for this guy to start rolling his R`s, sometimes he sounds more American than a native of the US.

As for a TAM (Tamilian), he would starve to death on curd rice in the US to save up on cash. The only money spent once a week is on the sleazy strip bars, where the bikini clad girls know him personally that greets him with a "Namaste Murugesan". All money earned is spent back home in buying a plot of land in Mylapore to build a massive house, own a brand new Santro and write his entire family name behind his car. After all the entire
neighbourhood should know he is US returned.

A mal (Malyalee) in the US will not acknowledge the fact that he belongs to India. Arun Kutty will only respond unless you call him Aaaron, he plays only "Racquet Ball" and vocabulary is
restricted to phrases like "Sweet Sweet".

A Guju (Gujarati) on the other hand, uses this opportunity to makes sure he gets his wife and kid to the US, gets in touch with Patil saheb who owns a neighbourhood supermarket, schemes up with him and before you know it his wife has started a small store selling Kaju ki Barfi and Bakarwadi. In a year, he quits his high profile IT job to start Chandelwal Chain of restuarants. The opportunist.

The Mumbai"kar" waits for the weekend. Why one might ask, so that he can adorn his favorite
khaki half pants, wield his bamboo lathi to listen to a RSS leader talk about banning cow slaughter in India. He collects "dakshina" in such community meetings, so that this RSS guy can go all over the world.

So this is power of the Visa, you are the most envied guy if you endured the hot sun outside the US consulate and have got your passport stamped to work in the US.