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I wasn’t ready for it. Neither was I expecting anything, that too yesterday out of all the days. It was like any other day in my life. Stale, dull, uninspiring, unnecessary, unendurable day. And the fact that mana Hyderabad weather these days is seeing the wrong side of the 10*c wasn’t helping it either. I just hate chilly winter days. Don’t feel like doing anything that’s creative or memorable or stimulating. I was trying to do a lot of planning/thinking for the Christmas weekend, new year’s eve [Thyag is going to be here]. I was/am inconclusive of the itinerary for my next holiday even though my flights are all booked.
And to top it all, as soon as she came home we had a silly irritating argument which almost ended up in a tiff. I kissed for the sake of it and made up and after a boring dinner there was this movie Intolerable Cruelty on in HBO. She insisted to see the finals week episode of Master Chef Australia instead. We were swapping through both the channels, bickering each other for the remote all through until they were on. Once the V8 cake episode of Master Chef ended, I got hooked to the movie. Not because it was great and all but for the lack of a better thing to do. The movie plot was ridiculously apt and was about pre-nuptial marital agreements, full of mean and selfish people suing each other in expensive law suits. I didn’t see when she settled down. Soon the movie ended as the both the protagonists find true love in each other [isn’t it always the same?]. I got up from the couch and was almost switching off the idiot box.
Then at that moment S gets up; May be she liked the little peppy zingy lilting soundtrack that was playing as the end credits of the movie rolled. Breaks into an impromptu jig oblivious of my presence and continues her little jig with the oh-so-cute-pick-me-up new teddy bear, which is like the first thing you will find right in front of the door if you visit my place now-a-days. We weren’t dressed for it. She was in her night tracks with a sweater on and I was in my shorts. The place where I stay dead sleeps long before the 9pm movie ends. So there it was in that pin drop silent nippy night, I got my most romantic seconds. Just that music bit and S dancing away to glory in my memory.
And I was like WOW! I walk up to her, plant a kiss on her cheeks and she was blushing. That was the moment that lasted for around 90 seconds but was worth the wait for months.
Pure platonic lovable memorable Kodak moment of the year!
D
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Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
What a Day!
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What a Day! Crazy day it has been! Crazy Crazy day!
First thing in the morning, I go to office to pass time and realize (thru Twitter) that the Inception DVD is out. Voila, have got something to do today methinks. I try browsing in local crosswords, odyssey et al but in vain. I even try looking into Amazon and was contemplating on getting it shipped. In the meantime S calls me and wants a sudden 3 day holiday. So there I am, browsing for hotels, flights, and my regular weekend movie tickets when suddenly I see a re-tweet saying this:
WE ARE GLAD TO TELL YOU THAT http://www.mastercard.com/ is DOWN AND IT'S CONFIRMED! #ddos #wikileaks #PAYBACK"
#BBCbreakingnews confirms this and #Bookmyshow advises caution for payments being done through MasterCard.
Even though it's unethical, the effort should be appreciated just for the sheer brilliance that would have gone behind it.
One tweet says it all in their own style:
Seeing MasterCard site down : priceless
And what do they call it? Operation Payback.
Nice. Mighty Nice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What a Day! Crazy day it has been! Crazy Crazy day!
First thing in the morning, I go to office to pass time and realize (thru Twitter) that the Inception DVD is out. Voila, have got something to do today methinks. I try browsing in local crosswords, odyssey et al but in vain. I even try looking into Amazon and was contemplating on getting it shipped. In the meantime S calls me and wants a sudden 3 day holiday. So there I am, browsing for hotels, flights, and my regular weekend movie tickets when suddenly I see a re-tweet saying this:
WE ARE GLAD TO TELL YOU THAT http://www.mastercard.com/ is DOWN AND IT'S CONFIRMED! #ddos #wikileaks #PAYBACK"
#BBCbreakingnews confirms this and #Bookmyshow advises caution for payments being done through MasterCard.
Even though it's unethical, the effort should be appreciated just for the sheer brilliance that would have gone behind it.
One tweet says it all in their own style:
Seeing MasterCard site down : priceless
And what do they call it? Operation Payback.
Nice. Mighty Nice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, November 29, 2010
Orange
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Yesterday, I happened to see Orange, which simply put in one word is awe-inspiring. The movie marks the dawn of the new era in TFI, what with (I felt) RCT himself articulating the fact that the formula is cliché, passé. This, after giving the biggest money spinner ever in TFI shows that the man means business and is levelheaded to an extent we can’t imagine. In my last blog I remember saying that Orange songs are interesting. The songs in fact grew on me as the days neared the release. Like any movie buff would do, I too watched it the first day first show. It was kind of a jolt to me the first time and I made up my mind to watch it again. So I did take a second viewing to pen down this.
The movie is topical without being preachy, it’s layered without confusing (You have to watch it a couple of times to get this!), it’s subtle yet hard-hitting, it has fine little chunks of philosophy peppered in but it’s not in your face, mind you. All the characters around RCT symbolize diverse kinds of people we see day in day out and the ways they love. If you observe, everyone can find a bit of themselves in all of the characters, whether it’s the hero or his friends or his sis & bro-in-law and so on. The director deftly tries to epitomize the ideal love from RCT’s angle and in contrast, he shows us how we prototypes actually love each other.
With the beauty and the beast both within his character, RCT balances it so well that, being the viewer you will long for his feelings. You will end up seconding his thoughts in the flashback episode from which point the movie tries to connect all the dots at a frantic pace. From here on the movie is extremely conversational and if you aren’t the one who follow, you might miss the bus. This is good cinema and gripping one at that.
Even though love just, is a part of life and life is nothing but a compromise, the movie skillfully sells the ideal love concept in the most ideal way movies ever did. And who better than RCT to do this, the one who bears the beacon of hope for good cinema in the days to come. The truth is that RCT dared(s) to be different and comes up with flying colors.
I just love the texture of the tone in the way he sums it all up:
“O samudranni chudali boss”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday, I happened to see Orange, which simply put in one word is awe-inspiring. The movie marks the dawn of the new era in TFI, what with (I felt) RCT himself articulating the fact that the formula is cliché, passé. This, after giving the biggest money spinner ever in TFI shows that the man means business and is levelheaded to an extent we can’t imagine. In my last blog I remember saying that Orange songs are interesting. The songs in fact grew on me as the days neared the release. Like any movie buff would do, I too watched it the first day first show. It was kind of a jolt to me the first time and I made up my mind to watch it again. So I did take a second viewing to pen down this.
The movie is topical without being preachy, it’s layered without confusing (You have to watch it a couple of times to get this!), it’s subtle yet hard-hitting, it has fine little chunks of philosophy peppered in but it’s not in your face, mind you. All the characters around RCT symbolize diverse kinds of people we see day in day out and the ways they love. If you observe, everyone can find a bit of themselves in all of the characters, whether it’s the hero or his friends or his sis & bro-in-law and so on. The director deftly tries to epitomize the ideal love from RCT’s angle and in contrast, he shows us how we prototypes actually love each other.
With the beauty and the beast both within his character, RCT balances it so well that, being the viewer you will long for his feelings. You will end up seconding his thoughts in the flashback episode from which point the movie tries to connect all the dots at a frantic pace. From here on the movie is extremely conversational and if you aren’t the one who follow, you might miss the bus. This is good cinema and gripping one at that.
Even though love just, is a part of life and life is nothing but a compromise, the movie skillfully sells the ideal love concept in the most ideal way movies ever did. And who better than RCT to do this, the one who bears the beacon of hope for good cinema in the days to come. The truth is that RCT dared(s) to be different and comes up with flying colors.
I just love the texture of the tone in the way he sums it all up:
“O samudranni chudali boss”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Go.
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I have never been to goa. Even though I had a couple of genuine chances in my life, I didn’t do it. We tried doing it 9 yrs back. We tried atleast a couple of times till last year. We were all set to do this trip last year, but we cancelled it at the last minute. Because whenever I envisioned Goa, I always filled up photos of Goa with me and only my best friends, no less. Even though I can’t take all of them, four of us are ready and raring to do this Hangover kind of trip.
Most probably this might be the last trip with T still being a bachelor. We are treating this as his bachelorette sendoff. In the coming weekend, i'll do Lots of Ayn Rand objectivism, beer and beach shacks, Single Malts, best pubs, casinos, unending music, and most importantly all on my own [without S].
I call it a BB trip. Booze & Binge. Rock on!!!
PS: Rgv gets a perfect 10 for RC-1. Orange songs are interesting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have never been to goa. Even though I had a couple of genuine chances in my life, I didn’t do it. We tried doing it 9 yrs back. We tried atleast a couple of times till last year. We were all set to do this trip last year, but we cancelled it at the last minute. Because whenever I envisioned Goa, I always filled up photos of Goa with me and only my best friends, no less. Even though I can’t take all of them, four of us are ready and raring to do this Hangover kind of trip.
Most probably this might be the last trip with T still being a bachelor. We are treating this as his bachelorette sendoff. In the coming weekend, i'll do Lots of Ayn Rand objectivism, beer and beach shacks, Single Malts, best pubs, casinos, unending music, and most importantly all on my own [without S].
I call it a BB trip. Booze & Binge. Rock on!!!
PS: Rgv gets a perfect 10 for RC-1. Orange songs are interesting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Deuce
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As in Even Stevens. As in crisscross roads like my life. I fail to accept the fact that denial is a gift, only few people tend to handle. For me it’s an asset, appreciating most of the times, depreciating at its own will in between, there by messing up whatever I intended. Nothing inspires me these days. I change my thoughts and actions out of desperation , instead of inspiration. I have uncountable things to do, atleast some of them, I intend to do.
If I was supposed to experience heart-felt feelings, I didn’t. There were atleast a dozen of those instances with you name them, they were all there. Every one of them I ever cared or loved or mattered to me, they all played a part. Nothing excited me in the last 100 days. This CP closedown isn’t helping it a bit. I know things which are easy to do will be toughest if done with reluctance. Hence I am not even making an effort to do the to-do things also, atleast not yet.
This too shall pass, doesn’t it?
D
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As in Even Stevens. As in crisscross roads like my life. I fail to accept the fact that denial is a gift, only few people tend to handle. For me it’s an asset, appreciating most of the times, depreciating at its own will in between, there by messing up whatever I intended. Nothing inspires me these days. I change my thoughts and actions out of desperation , instead of inspiration. I have uncountable things to do, atleast some of them, I intend to do.
If I was supposed to experience heart-felt feelings, I didn’t. There were atleast a dozen of those instances with you name them, they were all there. Every one of them I ever cared or loved or mattered to me, they all played a part. Nothing excited me in the last 100 days. This CP closedown isn’t helping it a bit. I know things which are easy to do will be toughest if done with reluctance. Hence I am not even making an effort to do the to-do things also, atleast not yet.
This too shall pass, doesn’t it?
D
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The post I ........... II
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The greatest of the journeys lie in the distance between two people.
I heard that everyone lends a hand when something crumbles. Well don’t ask for a testimony for that, it’s not that I don’t have, just that I don’t give a damn on giving you one. The toughest thing to do is let go, which I am great at as I have been there and done that. I have seen people who are paranoid, who can’t come into terms with the life they have and with the life they get. If you are doing a thing intentionally, no one including you can save you from what I call “doing the honors”.
Pretention is an art in itself, but you can’t go to a war with yourself. You can fight the whole world, but you will always be at the losing end if your fight is within. Geographically we might not be challenged, but emotionally yes. I don’t have the gift of ignoring you since I have been in the know for all of my life, all of these 28 years [almost 28]. Let’s play this the cold blooded gentleman way. Let’s not play as if nothing happened. When we bump into each other the next time, let’s acknowledge each other. May be I shall smile or smirk at you and I won’t give you the pain to revert as I shall move on.
Moving on, that is what I shall try and do. It should be fun and I already see myself [moved on and all] sitting pretty with mere zero or no thoughts of you meandering in my mind hopefully by the time I holiday next time.
As far as the intangible things go, this new window seating at the workplace is irritating. I feel as if the whole world is peeping into my lappie toppie.
Shit happens. Life goes on..
And I only play lead roles.
D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The greatest of the journeys lie in the distance between two people.
I heard that everyone lends a hand when something crumbles. Well don’t ask for a testimony for that, it’s not that I don’t have, just that I don’t give a damn on giving you one. The toughest thing to do is let go, which I am great at as I have been there and done that. I have seen people who are paranoid, who can’t come into terms with the life they have and with the life they get. If you are doing a thing intentionally, no one including you can save you from what I call “doing the honors”.
Pretention is an art in itself, but you can’t go to a war with yourself. You can fight the whole world, but you will always be at the losing end if your fight is within. Geographically we might not be challenged, but emotionally yes. I don’t have the gift of ignoring you since I have been in the know for all of my life, all of these 28 years [almost 28]. Let’s play this the cold blooded gentleman way. Let’s not play as if nothing happened. When we bump into each other the next time, let’s acknowledge each other. May be I shall smile or smirk at you and I won’t give you the pain to revert as I shall move on.
Moving on, that is what I shall try and do. It should be fun and I already see myself [moved on and all] sitting pretty with mere zero or no thoughts of you meandering in my mind hopefully by the time I holiday next time.
As far as the intangible things go, this new window seating at the workplace is irritating. I feel as if the whole world is peeping into my lappie toppie.
Shit happens. Life goes on..
And I only play lead roles.
D
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Monday, August 9, 2010
The post I never wished to publish
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I live in a world beyond your world. And you were a part of it sometime back. When reading this post, you might think “I thought so, that you will end up writing about this”. See I knew this about you, may be the day I knew it, I should have written this post. When I think back or see things that remind you, I feel nothing and I think of the feeling I would have had, earlier.
I longed for that one magical moment I would have with you, by sticking around hell lot of time with you. I think I was being arrogant to myself when I thought of your ignorance as your arrogance. From a speed dial contact to the one I search for in my phonebook, you have come a long way or should I say I have finally evolved. For the most part of it, I felt it was a foregone conclusion. But for the fact that, it concluded. And as always, I was a bit late to wake up and smell the coffee.
Many-a-time when you come in my stories I tell these days, I still dignify and glamorize you. Not for the fact that you have been around for long enough, Not for what you did to me and what you didn’t , Not also for what you are these days, but for the life I had, had with you and for me, for the way I used to be. Also for the thoughts that worked, for the actions that never. I don’t seriously expect you to think of me much these days, but as they say you can’t be friends in any which way with anyone all the time, So I think like the way it appeals to me and so forth.
Sometimes I might have you, might have had you, but never there was a doubt in my mind that it was “I” making it happen all the way. In a couple of years, I end my twenties and hence my mind pesters me these days to start forgiving people and says you are a good start. I always was a bad dreamer and in a way my dreams always hinted me at what’s in the store ahead for me. And I swear I foresaw this, you being around all through but for one thing.
To be continued...
D
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I live in a world beyond your world. And you were a part of it sometime back. When reading this post, you might think “I thought so, that you will end up writing about this”. See I knew this about you, may be the day I knew it, I should have written this post. When I think back or see things that remind you, I feel nothing and I think of the feeling I would have had, earlier.
I longed for that one magical moment I would have with you, by sticking around hell lot of time with you. I think I was being arrogant to myself when I thought of your ignorance as your arrogance. From a speed dial contact to the one I search for in my phonebook, you have come a long way or should I say I have finally evolved. For the most part of it, I felt it was a foregone conclusion. But for the fact that, it concluded. And as always, I was a bit late to wake up and smell the coffee.
Many-a-time when you come in my stories I tell these days, I still dignify and glamorize you. Not for the fact that you have been around for long enough, Not for what you did to me and what you didn’t , Not also for what you are these days, but for the life I had, had with you and for me, for the way I used to be. Also for the thoughts that worked, for the actions that never. I don’t seriously expect you to think of me much these days, but as they say you can’t be friends in any which way with anyone all the time, So I think like the way it appeals to me and so forth.
Sometimes I might have you, might have had you, but never there was a doubt in my mind that it was “I” making it happen all the way. In a couple of years, I end my twenties and hence my mind pesters me these days to start forgiving people and says you are a good start. I always was a bad dreamer and in a way my dreams always hinted me at what’s in the store ahead for me. And I swear I foresaw this, you being around all through but for one thing.
To be continued...
D
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Inception
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Waiting with bated breath to watch Inception by Christopher Nolan starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Going by the tweets from the reviewer fraternity, this one looks like a brainy blockbuster. Ala Matrix first part.
In the other things for the first time in India, Harley Davidson is here in Hyderabad.
Inception opens on 16th July as does the Paradise at Hitech city.
An Imdb statistic reads like this on this movie:
D
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Waiting with bated breath to watch Inception by Christopher Nolan starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Going by the tweets from the reviewer fraternity, this one looks like a brainy blockbuster. Ala Matrix first part.
In the other things for the first time in India, Harley Davidson is here in Hyderabad.
Inception opens on 16th July as does the Paradise at Hitech city.
An Imdb statistic reads like this on this movie:
D
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Saturday, June 26, 2010
June 25, 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had been to Delhi before. But I think I was naive then, not to notice the shortcomings of this city. Today we went on the customary one day trip of Delhi.
Delhi is fucking hot and boring. Other than the wonderful Delhi metro [which is easily the best metro in India as of today], I liked nothing here.The whole city looks like being repaired for the upcoming Commonwealth games what with many of the monuments closed or being renovated [India gate, Akshardham ...]. And the rest half of the roads have blockades courtesy Delhi Metro.
- I observed seperate lanes for public transport buses and cars on some busy roads, which is appreciable.
- And only the roads leading to and around the Rashtrpati Bhavan seemed good to me.
- Every second road was named [either after or before] Nehru, Rajiv or Indira.
A great snap at Indira Gandhi Memorial
An interesting signboard at TeenMurthi Bhavan
India Gate
Another signboard that indicates the seperate lanes for buses, I was talking about
D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had been to Delhi before. But I think I was naive then, not to notice the shortcomings of this city. Today we went on the customary one day trip of Delhi.
Delhi is fucking hot and boring. Other than the wonderful Delhi metro [which is easily the best metro in India as of today], I liked nothing here.The whole city looks like being repaired for the upcoming Commonwealth games what with many of the monuments closed or being renovated [India gate, Akshardham ...]. And the rest half of the roads have blockades courtesy Delhi Metro.
- I observed seperate lanes for public transport buses and cars on some busy roads, which is appreciable.
- And only the roads leading to and around the Rashtrpati Bhavan seemed good to me.
- Every second road was named [either after or before] Nehru, Rajiv or Indira.
A great snap at Indira Gandhi Memorial
An interesting signboard at TeenMurthi Bhavan
India Gate
Another signboard that indicates the seperate lanes for buses, I was talking about
D
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June 24, 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We had our last breakfast at the Wildflower hall and headed back [by road this time] to Kalka. We vouched we would go back there may be after a decade just to relive the magical time we had, once again in restrospect.
The lunch at a small dhabha enroute felt was good. It was proper desi style food and we enjoyed it after some serious tablecloth type food in the Wildflower Hall.
Once we were in the train from Kalka to Delhi, we were welcomed back to the real world. Lots of kids doing lots of noise and jumping around you always is irritating and this time was no different.
And Delhi sucks bigtime. It started at the airport, then the railway station [even today] and the autowallahs/taxiwalas are the same all over India. A pestering lot, they are.
Me in the morning
S enjoys her 'chai'
Two empty glasses told a tale
One of the local fruit vendors seen on our way down to Kalka
D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We had our last breakfast at the Wildflower hall and headed back [by road this time] to Kalka. We vouched we would go back there may be after a decade just to relive the magical time we had, once again in restrospect.
The lunch at a small dhabha enroute felt was good. It was proper desi style food and we enjoyed it after some serious tablecloth type food in the Wildflower Hall.
Once we were in the train from Kalka to Delhi, we were welcomed back to the real world. Lots of kids doing lots of noise and jumping around you always is irritating and this time was no different.
And Delhi sucks bigtime. It started at the airport, then the railway station [even today] and the autowallahs/taxiwalas are the same all over India. A pestering lot, they are.
Me in the morning
S enjoys her 'chai'
Two empty glasses told a tale
One of the local fruit vendors seen on our way down to Kalka
D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 23, 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The day started lazily for us. After all of that walking the day before, we were a bit tired and we had a lazy breakfast just soaking in the clear skies and the far off views the nature could offer. We took a stroll on the perfectly manicured lawns, the drip irrigated flower gardens and calm serene walkways the property had to offer. Since it was quite sunny unlike the day before, at about halfpast noon we felt ourselves thriving for some more fun and frolic.
We headed back to the activities desk and could quickly plan a three tour mountain-biking trip. It was called “The Water sanctuary trail” in the sanctuary that surrounded the property on three sides. We swiftly reached the sanctuary and were biking in the pristine pine cedar forests. The views of the surrounding forest and the mountains that the trail offered were awesome and probably the second best out of the whole trip, only next to the Himalayan views.
The biking was much more tiring than anything else on the trip, but we felt good [since we hardly do anything so much physical here] and biked our way up with small breaks in between to the sanctuary reservoir. We could see the source of water [for Shimla town] flowing past us and we relaxed a bit and sipped some Tetrapak’s there. [Even though I worked on their project, only at this moment I understood where Tetrapak’s fitted in, in one’s life] Our guide Sanjay was friendly had much to say about his experiences and the locals there.
The trip back to the entrance was much easier since our bodies had warmed up by that time and I could even try and succeed to click a couple of Raavan inspired shots with stones freefalling into the valley. We could also spot some locals who were there to collect some veggies they used for local pickles. I heard from our guide that the locals walk or cycle their way daily through this 16km to and fro stretch, which was quite normal in their day to day routine.
For the first time any such physical activity was in fact making me feel good since it was so outdoor and can be termed really as adventurous. I say this because the gear bikes weren’t easy on us and the path was quite narrow with one side always inviting us into a 200 meter deep valley. All we had to do was skip once on the skiddy track.
We headed back to the hotel almost half dead and after a light snack crashed off for a good three hours. Late in the evening S pampered herself for an Earth Spa therapy. I went back to my usual ways of twitter verse [It was the first time in my twitter life where I didn’t login for 4 days] and then I headed to the Jacuzzi and we settled for an in-room dining service, followed by a hard earned and a long night’s sleep.
Tomorrow we leave for Kalka from Shimla by road and proceed to Delhi from thereon by train for a 4 day stay before flying back home.
PS: The hotel guys had some varied events planned for the guests, but it’s a pity we couldn’t make ourselves available for any of them. They had an exclusive afternoon Sunday high tea on their sprawling gardens the day we arrived. Then a couple of days later, they had a talk on the flora and fauna [that surrounds the property] by a renowned naturalist. Today they had arranged for a Khawwali & Ghazal night for the resident guests. The only thing I didn’t like was the food that was served to us. Except like for a couple of dishes, [which I requested chef on my own] the menu offered food was quite boring, the breakfast buffets being the exception.
I could see that around 90% of the guests were aged around 60. I wonder why.
Loved these walkways all over the resort
That's me
S bikes through her way down
That's me again biking
A Raavan inspired shot
D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The day started lazily for us. After all of that walking the day before, we were a bit tired and we had a lazy breakfast just soaking in the clear skies and the far off views the nature could offer. We took a stroll on the perfectly manicured lawns, the drip irrigated flower gardens and calm serene walkways the property had to offer. Since it was quite sunny unlike the day before, at about halfpast noon we felt ourselves thriving for some more fun and frolic.
We headed back to the activities desk and could quickly plan a three tour mountain-biking trip. It was called “The Water sanctuary trail” in the sanctuary that surrounded the property on three sides. We swiftly reached the sanctuary and were biking in the pristine pine cedar forests. The views of the surrounding forest and the mountains that the trail offered were awesome and probably the second best out of the whole trip, only next to the Himalayan views.
The biking was much more tiring than anything else on the trip, but we felt good [since we hardly do anything so much physical here] and biked our way up with small breaks in between to the sanctuary reservoir. We could see the source of water [for Shimla town] flowing past us and we relaxed a bit and sipped some Tetrapak’s there. [Even though I worked on their project, only at this moment I understood where Tetrapak’s fitted in, in one’s life] Our guide Sanjay was friendly had much to say about his experiences and the locals there.
The trip back to the entrance was much easier since our bodies had warmed up by that time and I could even try and succeed to click a couple of Raavan inspired shots with stones freefalling into the valley. We could also spot some locals who were there to collect some veggies they used for local pickles. I heard from our guide that the locals walk or cycle their way daily through this 16km to and fro stretch, which was quite normal in their day to day routine.
For the first time any such physical activity was in fact making me feel good since it was so outdoor and can be termed really as adventurous. I say this because the gear bikes weren’t easy on us and the path was quite narrow with one side always inviting us into a 200 meter deep valley. All we had to do was skip once on the skiddy track.
We headed back to the hotel almost half dead and after a light snack crashed off for a good three hours. Late in the evening S pampered herself for an Earth Spa therapy. I went back to my usual ways of twitter verse [It was the first time in my twitter life where I didn’t login for 4 days] and then I headed to the Jacuzzi and we settled for an in-room dining service, followed by a hard earned and a long night’s sleep.
Tomorrow we leave for Kalka from Shimla by road and proceed to Delhi from thereon by train for a 4 day stay before flying back home.
PS: The hotel guys had some varied events planned for the guests, but it’s a pity we couldn’t make ourselves available for any of them. They had an exclusive afternoon Sunday high tea on their sprawling gardens the day we arrived. Then a couple of days later, they had a talk on the flora and fauna [that surrounds the property] by a renowned naturalist. Today they had arranged for a Khawwali & Ghazal night for the resident guests. The only thing I didn’t like was the food that was served to us. Except like for a couple of dishes, [which I requested chef on my own] the menu offered food was quite boring, the breakfast buffets being the exception.
I could see that around 90% of the guests were aged around 60. I wonder why.
Loved these walkways all over the resort
That's me
S bikes through her way down
That's me again biking
A Raavan inspired shot
D
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June 22, 2010
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Today was the easily the best day of the whole trip. The day started with a bang. While we were having our breakfast it rained. Once it stopped, the whole forest and the surrounding mountains looked like they just had a cleansing bath. The clouds moved past below us, beneath us as we had our morning coffee with mist.
We had a busy day. We started off by visiting the state run horticultural gardens which had around 100 different kinds of flora and fauna. S was again excited like a kid clicking snaps, asking the local guys about the plants and observing all the different flowers and fruits they had there. We could see bunches of apples hanging around trees, some even had fallen along the path. It was a nice sight for a change than what we see [apples neatly displayed and all] in our air conditioned super market chains.
We then proceeded to Shimla, the summer capital of the British raj. The drive was picturesque, but the town was shoddy to say the least. People were all over the place and the cars were parked left, right and centre. It resembled our very own old city. We headed to the Jaku temple there where people carry police lathi look-alike sticks to keep off the monkeys. The steepest road up there was worth the traffic jams we faced whilst on our way. The temple was of Lord Hanuman’s and they were building a new huge murthi of around 250 feet of Lord Hanuman which could be seen even from the Mall road in Shimla.
Once in the temple, I could see one of the best sights of my life. It rained. It wasn’t just normal rain but was a hailstone rain. For the very first time I saw pebbles of ice pelted down heavily along within the downpour which was a sight in itself. At that very moment I felt even if given a chance, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in this world other than where I was.
We then headed to the town where I could literally see the town being covered by the clouds slowly. It looked like one of those scenes straight out of one of those Roland Emmerich movies. Even though it wasn’t destructive in any way, I loved the way the whole town was masked off by the white clouds in a couple of minutes. We had a bad lunch in Shimla and headed to some shopping. We picked up some shawls and did all the touristy stuff for the rest of the day: Took the road to the Ridge, Snacked at the Indian Coffee House and were amazed to see a Barista and a Nike showroom there.
We were tired and since it was a No-vehicle zone, we headed back downhill walking to The Cecil where our car was waiting to take us back. It was probably the best decision by us to head towards the Cecil instead of the way we reached The Mall through a shoddy lift.
I remember it as it happened. S was having her Bhutti and I was gazing aimlessly. Suddenly I could spot it. There it was, the sight that lured me to do this trip. The sun was shining bright and the whole of the Mighty Himalayas was there to see. I was stunned. We were lucky. We just stood there staring for a good five minutes to just soak it in and frame it in our minds. Since two days I was waiting for this view and there it was in all its glory. I was in awe of it and all through our way back to the resort from Shimla, the great Himalayan view braced upon us. After such a hailstone rainy day, it was just about impossible and implausible to even dream of the Himalayan views. But that’s nature for you. From where we were till the whole way up to Himalayas, the sun was shining bright offering unbelievable views of the snow clad mountain range.
By the time we reached the resort it was well half past seven, but the sun wasn’t retired for the day. We rushed to the restaurant view point and we could see the snow clad Himalayas before us. We even managed to click a couple of great snaps. The icing on the cake was when we reached our room, opened the windows, we had an even better view.
I felt only one thing then: Life is good
The sun finally set and we went back to the better things money could buy you and enjoyed a relaxing Jacuzzi steam bath. I opted for the usual suspects: A single malt and S settled for a Mango mint drink which was quite minty. We winded up the day with an in-room dinner.
PS : All through the day it rained cats and dogs and the same day I experienced hailstone rain two more times.
Breakfast with rain
Naldehra golf course seen on our way
A bunch of apples
A local policewoman helps clear the traffic on our way upto Jaku temple
Clouds covering Shimla
A dog whizzes past my camera lens in the hailstone rain
The Mighty Himalayas
D
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Today was the easily the best day of the whole trip. The day started with a bang. While we were having our breakfast it rained. Once it stopped, the whole forest and the surrounding mountains looked like they just had a cleansing bath. The clouds moved past below us, beneath us as we had our morning coffee with mist.
We had a busy day. We started off by visiting the state run horticultural gardens which had around 100 different kinds of flora and fauna. S was again excited like a kid clicking snaps, asking the local guys about the plants and observing all the different flowers and fruits they had there. We could see bunches of apples hanging around trees, some even had fallen along the path. It was a nice sight for a change than what we see [apples neatly displayed and all] in our air conditioned super market chains.
We then proceeded to Shimla, the summer capital of the British raj. The drive was picturesque, but the town was shoddy to say the least. People were all over the place and the cars were parked left, right and centre. It resembled our very own old city. We headed to the Jaku temple there where people carry police lathi look-alike sticks to keep off the monkeys. The steepest road up there was worth the traffic jams we faced whilst on our way. The temple was of Lord Hanuman’s and they were building a new huge murthi of around 250 feet of Lord Hanuman which could be seen even from the Mall road in Shimla.
Once in the temple, I could see one of the best sights of my life. It rained. It wasn’t just normal rain but was a hailstone rain. For the very first time I saw pebbles of ice pelted down heavily along within the downpour which was a sight in itself. At that very moment I felt even if given a chance, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in this world other than where I was.
We then headed to the town where I could literally see the town being covered by the clouds slowly. It looked like one of those scenes straight out of one of those Roland Emmerich movies. Even though it wasn’t destructive in any way, I loved the way the whole town was masked off by the white clouds in a couple of minutes. We had a bad lunch in Shimla and headed to some shopping. We picked up some shawls and did all the touristy stuff for the rest of the day: Took the road to the Ridge, Snacked at the Indian Coffee House and were amazed to see a Barista and a Nike showroom there.
We were tired and since it was a No-vehicle zone, we headed back downhill walking to The Cecil where our car was waiting to take us back. It was probably the best decision by us to head towards the Cecil instead of the way we reached The Mall through a shoddy lift.
I remember it as it happened. S was having her Bhutti and I was gazing aimlessly. Suddenly I could spot it. There it was, the sight that lured me to do this trip. The sun was shining bright and the whole of the Mighty Himalayas was there to see. I was stunned. We were lucky. We just stood there staring for a good five minutes to just soak it in and frame it in our minds. Since two days I was waiting for this view and there it was in all its glory. I was in awe of it and all through our way back to the resort from Shimla, the great Himalayan view braced upon us. After such a hailstone rainy day, it was just about impossible and implausible to even dream of the Himalayan views. But that’s nature for you. From where we were till the whole way up to Himalayas, the sun was shining bright offering unbelievable views of the snow clad mountain range.
By the time we reached the resort it was well half past seven, but the sun wasn’t retired for the day. We rushed to the restaurant view point and we could see the snow clad Himalayas before us. We even managed to click a couple of great snaps. The icing on the cake was when we reached our room, opened the windows, we had an even better view.
I felt only one thing then: Life is good
The sun finally set and we went back to the better things money could buy you and enjoyed a relaxing Jacuzzi steam bath. I opted for the usual suspects: A single malt and S settled for a Mango mint drink which was quite minty. We winded up the day with an in-room dinner.
PS : All through the day it rained cats and dogs and the same day I experienced hailstone rain two more times.
Breakfast with rain
Naldehra golf course seen on our way
A bunch of apples
A local policewoman helps clear the traffic on our way upto Jaku temple
Clouds covering Shimla
A dog whizzes past my camera lens in the hailstone rain
The Mighty Himalayas
D
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June 21, 2010
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The day started with a good breakfast and since the sky was clear, we could have a better view than the day before. Then we headed to the white river rafting which was overall a different experience. We drove for a good 150 minutes to reach the starting point of the rafting stretch. The rafting guide was cool and helped us to dress up for the activity. Once done, in that rafting gear we both looked kid like and funny. There was a small bridge which we crossed and did silly 10 minute training before we got into serious rafting. The rafting in itself was a bit tame I thought. May be because the river flow was calm and the stretch was exclusive to the resident guests of only the Wildflower hall.
We were accompanied by a one man rescue team who was on his own raft and was the only guy having fun. Where ever he went, he caught all the tides and it was fun to see him. At least we could experience a couple of level 3 tides which were thrilling and gave that adrenaline rush until they lasted. At the end of the rafting trip [which was a place called Tattapani] we could even spot a couple of hot sulphur springs.
The best part was the picnic lunch which was arranged on a secluded river shore in between the rafting trip. It was all so well planned and within minutes they set us up a great dining table with a packed lunch. I had a chilled beer there and it felt so good under the hot sun. Since it was exclusive, even the packed lunch tasted good though it was a bit stale. Like they say, it’s the idea that works and not the content.
We went back to the hotel room and had some lunch in the room [which by the way had a great view] and in the evening we headed to a 4 km nature walk in the woods. It was called “The Wild Strawberry Trail”. The serene plush protected area of the forest was so good. The air was so fresh and pure it was worth the tiring walk.
There was a lot of flora and fauna which S loved. She went on clicking snaps happily of whatever she could figure out. On our way back we could also see spot a deer running around the forest, a first in my life [of course, outside of zoos]. Since the trail starts from the backyard of the property and there wasn’t any guide, there was no one to disturb us other than the chirping of the birds. S could manage around 200 snaps of different wild flowers, strawberries, Himalayan raspberries and many more. No wonder they named the resort as it sounds now.
We couldn’t do the Jacuzzi today but did the customary: A great dinner followed by a great dessert.
Breakfast
A great view of river Sutlej on our way down to the rafting stretch
You can see the one-man rescue fellow far ahead from our raft
The rafting guys set up the picnic lunch for us on the rivershore
The Wild Strawberry Trail
D
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The day started with a good breakfast and since the sky was clear, we could have a better view than the day before. Then we headed to the white river rafting which was overall a different experience. We drove for a good 150 minutes to reach the starting point of the rafting stretch. The rafting guide was cool and helped us to dress up for the activity. Once done, in that rafting gear we both looked kid like and funny. There was a small bridge which we crossed and did silly 10 minute training before we got into serious rafting. The rafting in itself was a bit tame I thought. May be because the river flow was calm and the stretch was exclusive to the resident guests of only the Wildflower hall.
We were accompanied by a one man rescue team who was on his own raft and was the only guy having fun. Where ever he went, he caught all the tides and it was fun to see him. At least we could experience a couple of level 3 tides which were thrilling and gave that adrenaline rush until they lasted. At the end of the rafting trip [which was a place called Tattapani] we could even spot a couple of hot sulphur springs.
The best part was the picnic lunch which was arranged on a secluded river shore in between the rafting trip. It was all so well planned and within minutes they set us up a great dining table with a packed lunch. I had a chilled beer there and it felt so good under the hot sun. Since it was exclusive, even the packed lunch tasted good though it was a bit stale. Like they say, it’s the idea that works and not the content.
We went back to the hotel room and had some lunch in the room [which by the way had a great view] and in the evening we headed to a 4 km nature walk in the woods. It was called “The Wild Strawberry Trail”. The serene plush protected area of the forest was so good. The air was so fresh and pure it was worth the tiring walk.
There was a lot of flora and fauna which S loved. She went on clicking snaps happily of whatever she could figure out. On our way back we could also see spot a deer running around the forest, a first in my life [of course, outside of zoos]. Since the trail starts from the backyard of the property and there wasn’t any guide, there was no one to disturb us other than the chirping of the birds. S could manage around 200 snaps of different wild flowers, strawberries, Himalayan raspberries and many more. No wonder they named the resort as it sounds now.
We couldn’t do the Jacuzzi today but did the customary: A great dinner followed by a great dessert.
Breakfast
A great view of river Sutlej on our way down to the rafting stretch
You can see the one-man rescue fellow far ahead from our raft
The rafting guys set up the picnic lunch for us on the rivershore
The Wild Strawberry Trail
D
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June 20, 2010
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We could just about manage to catch the meter gauge toy train to Shimla. With all that travelling and horrors of the New Delhi railway station, we were so tired and were in no mood to enjoy the picturesque train ride. The bedbugs in the room at Kalka didn’t help our cause either.
But soon things changed, and we were really enjoying the scenery around. The views were so breathtaking that whatever little doubts we had about this train journey being overrated, they all were wiped off. The route, the train and the tunnels they were all so good and this journey is very much enjoyable at the very least. I can say this safely now. We could click some great snaps all thorough our journey and after Barog station settled down for a nice conversation with a couple of Gujju chartered accountants [No wonder there, aren’t they all CA’s?] who seemed to know just about everything under the sun.
Time passed by and we found ourselves in a chauffeur driven car on our way to the Wildflower Hall. As it was written widely and described/projected, the place really looked cool even at the first view. They had a cute little traffic clearing system to facilitate the moving vehicles as it was a quite steep way in to the resort from the entrance. The check in formalities were quick and we found ourselves in the mountain facing king sized bed equipped room within 10 minutes.
We had a great lunch at their restaurant which offered great views [USP of their property]. The view was good but wasn’t breathtaking as the reviews said [May be because of the clouds?]. But there was one more thing which was in fact unbelievable. The Jacuzzi that is, which we experienced later in the evening. The weather was freezing cold. There was a chill in the air, but the Jacuzzi was very well maintained and had to offer undoubtedly the best view of the property. The water in the Jacuzzi was set to 40 degrees which was just right to soak in.
So there I was sipping choicest single malt with the view of beautiful sunset and all this in a great Jacuzzi.We followed it up with what else?
Yes, a great candle lit romantic dinner with another view to die for.
The Jacuzzi
A view from our room in the afternoon
The Kalka-Shimla toy train
One of such great views on our toy train ride
D
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We could just about manage to catch the meter gauge toy train to Shimla. With all that travelling and horrors of the New Delhi railway station, we were so tired and were in no mood to enjoy the picturesque train ride. The bedbugs in the room at Kalka didn’t help our cause either.
But soon things changed, and we were really enjoying the scenery around. The views were so breathtaking that whatever little doubts we had about this train journey being overrated, they all were wiped off. The route, the train and the tunnels they were all so good and this journey is very much enjoyable at the very least. I can say this safely now. We could click some great snaps all thorough our journey and after Barog station settled down for a nice conversation with a couple of Gujju chartered accountants [No wonder there, aren’t they all CA’s?] who seemed to know just about everything under the sun.
Time passed by and we found ourselves in a chauffeur driven car on our way to the Wildflower Hall. As it was written widely and described/projected, the place really looked cool even at the first view. They had a cute little traffic clearing system to facilitate the moving vehicles as it was a quite steep way in to the resort from the entrance. The check in formalities were quick and we found ourselves in the mountain facing king sized bed equipped room within 10 minutes.
We had a great lunch at their restaurant which offered great views [USP of their property]. The view was good but wasn’t breathtaking as the reviews said [May be because of the clouds?]. But there was one more thing which was in fact unbelievable. The Jacuzzi that is, which we experienced later in the evening. The weather was freezing cold. There was a chill in the air, but the Jacuzzi was very well maintained and had to offer undoubtedly the best view of the property. The water in the Jacuzzi was set to 40 degrees which was just right to soak in.
So there I was sipping choicest single malt with the view of beautiful sunset and all this in a great Jacuzzi.We followed it up with what else?
Yes, a great candle lit romantic dinner with another view to die for.
The Jacuzzi
A view from our room in the afternoon
The Kalka-Shimla toy train
One of such great views on our toy train ride
D
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June 19, 2010
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So, we were off finally. The flight was on time and the Hyderabad airport felt so good. Surely the best domestic airport we have in India without any doubt. I could even browse for an hour free of cost courtesy free WIFI connectivity hamper from Tata guys.
Once we reached Delhi airport the horrors started. We were en route to Kalka from Delhi on Kalka Shatabdhi express where the next day we had to catch the early morning Kalka-Shimla toy train. Since we had more than a couple of hours to kill, we had some decent enough food at the domestic airport. After that when I coolly walk to the Meru & Easy cabs counters located in the airport, they say they don’t have any cabs. And the government run prepaid taxi counter line was like a kilometer long. There we were in the India’s capital city’s domestic airport waiting for a taxi for almost 2 hours. Finally, we could get one and hopped into it only to revisit the horrors of traffic jams we experience now-a-days only in Bangalore. Finally after sobbing a lot, we reached the railway station a good one hour earlier to the scheduled departure.
The railway station of New Delhi is easily the worst one I have seen in my whole life. I hate to say this, but after seeing the pathetic condition of New Delhi railway station I understood why we are still called a third world country. I could see a couple of foreigners feeling so uptight seeing the surroundings. I felt like collecting some money from all of those likeminded travelers [including me] who were bearing that station and donating the money to the local authorities so that they can do something about it. At the very least, they could clean the platform once in a week.
Finally the train came which was a relief and we reached Kalka at around 10 pm. I could manage a just about manageable room to rest for the night and we grabbed a quick bite before crashing off.
Here is the stuff I was packing up yesterday.
D
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So, we were off finally. The flight was on time and the Hyderabad airport felt so good. Surely the best domestic airport we have in India without any doubt. I could even browse for an hour free of cost courtesy free WIFI connectivity hamper from Tata guys.
Once we reached Delhi airport the horrors started. We were en route to Kalka from Delhi on Kalka Shatabdhi express where the next day we had to catch the early morning Kalka-Shimla toy train. Since we had more than a couple of hours to kill, we had some decent enough food at the domestic airport. After that when I coolly walk to the Meru & Easy cabs counters located in the airport, they say they don’t have any cabs. And the government run prepaid taxi counter line was like a kilometer long. There we were in the India’s capital city’s domestic airport waiting for a taxi for almost 2 hours. Finally, we could get one and hopped into it only to revisit the horrors of traffic jams we experience now-a-days only in Bangalore. Finally after sobbing a lot, we reached the railway station a good one hour earlier to the scheduled departure.
The railway station of New Delhi is easily the worst one I have seen in my whole life. I hate to say this, but after seeing the pathetic condition of New Delhi railway station I understood why we are still called a third world country. I could see a couple of foreigners feeling so uptight seeing the surroundings. I felt like collecting some money from all of those likeminded travelers [including me] who were bearing that station and donating the money to the local authorities so that they can do something about it. At the very least, they could clean the platform once in a week.
Finally the train came which was a relief and we reached Kalka at around 10 pm. I could manage a just about manageable room to rest for the night and we grabbed a quick bite before crashing off.
Here is the stuff I was packing up yesterday.
D
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Friday, June 18, 2010
Yay
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Yay!
Managed myself yet again to survive the office these many days. I wonder how I can do a job day in day out without getting amused.
Work is something which I do between weekends. And life is something which goes on between these beautiful holidays with S. So am off to another blissful 10 day holiday starting tomorrow.
Dad retires on 30th of this month. Will write a peice on this soon. Coming back to my life after this holiday, we have both of our birthdays to celebrate spaced out evenly in August. Also looking forward to attending one of my good friend’s marriage in early September. Will be catching up with old pals there.
I don’t know what else is on raise in my life but the holiday count surely is, not that I am complaining!!!
I am repeating what I said on the verge of my last official annual holiday. [not including short 3-4 day breaks] I have never taken a 14 day break ever in my life. Yes! I am off to a looong vacation.
I feel like in the coming years, I might/must end up taking two of such holidays a year!!!
PS: We are headed to The Wildflower Hall...
D
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Yay!
Managed myself yet again to survive the office these many days. I wonder how I can do a job day in day out without getting amused.
Work is something which I do between weekends. And life is something which goes on between these beautiful holidays with S. So am off to another blissful 10 day holiday starting tomorrow.
Dad retires on 30th of this month. Will write a peice on this soon. Coming back to my life after this holiday, we have both of our birthdays to celebrate spaced out evenly in August. Also looking forward to attending one of my good friend’s marriage in early September. Will be catching up with old pals there.
I don’t know what else is on raise in my life but the holiday count surely is, not that I am complaining!!!
I am repeating what I said on the verge of my last official annual holiday. [not including short 3-4 day breaks] I have never taken a 14 day break ever in my life. Yes! I am off to a looong vacation.
I feel like in the coming years, I might/must end up taking two of such holidays a year!!!
PS: We are headed to The Wildflower Hall...
D
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Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Love.Actually...
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Loving S since I knew I could.
Loving Mom. Hey come on, she is mom!! Loving Dad, the best man I know in my life. Loved Sis. Loving someone since Mom said so. Tried loving someone since Dad said so. Loving D and V, unconditionally. Acting like I love someone since S said so. Loving my friends. Not true, incase of their friends. Loving people who aren’t worth it. Loving someone to see if I can. Loving someone to see if they can. Loving many times just to be loved. Loved knowingly sometimes and unknowingly many times. Loved people going good, sometimes. Loved many more times, seeing them take a fall.
Loved sometimes people who were right next to me, knowing I cannot have them. Loved doing the same to some of them, too. Loved the fact that life goes on. Loved it more when my mind controlled my heart. Loving someone and being said that I was a friend. However, doing the same felt never so good. Loving sometimes just to recall those as my favorite mistakes. Loving sometimes, just for a day. Loving sometimes for years silently. Loving sometimes just to end up as biggest regrets in my life. Loving sometimes and failing. Loved the pain because nobody heard it. Loving someone unnecessarily just to complicate things. Loving sometimes not for what they are, but for what I thought they are.
Loving sometimes for these: SEXY. Friends who were sexy. Friends of friends who were sexy.Sings well.Dances well.Agony aunt types. Engaged. Married. Mysterious. Arrogant. Teachers. Sis friends. Loved realizing the fact that second love was more interesting than the first.The third even better. And it goes on.[The list is endless]
Loving sometimes thinking I am falling in love, realizing real quick that I am falling apart. Loved letting it go sometimes because I want to, sometimes I had to. Hated when I got to watch someone I love, loving someone else. Loved it when I loved them, still. Loving someone as much as they hate me. Loving someone since I know them, without saying. Loving someone just to make love. Loving someone today knowing I won’t love them tomorrow, but for the fact that I loved them yesterday. Loved leaving a relationship, to save my pride. Forgetting people, after falling in love because I want to. Loving someone even though they aren’t worthy enough for me, just to make them feel special.
Loving and being loved almost all the times, snubbing and being snubbed rarely.
PS:
Loving it while I am writing this:
S, I love you because you are the best part of me!!!
D
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Loving S since I knew I could.
Loving Mom. Hey come on, she is mom!! Loving Dad, the best man I know in my life. Loved Sis. Loving someone since Mom said so. Tried loving someone since Dad said so. Loving D and V, unconditionally. Acting like I love someone since S said so. Loving my friends. Not true, incase of their friends. Loving people who aren’t worth it. Loving someone to see if I can. Loving someone to see if they can. Loving many times just to be loved. Loved knowingly sometimes and unknowingly many times. Loved people going good, sometimes. Loved many more times, seeing them take a fall.
Loved sometimes people who were right next to me, knowing I cannot have them. Loved doing the same to some of them, too. Loved the fact that life goes on. Loved it more when my mind controlled my heart. Loving someone and being said that I was a friend. However, doing the same felt never so good. Loving sometimes just to recall those as my favorite mistakes. Loving sometimes, just for a day. Loving sometimes for years silently. Loving sometimes just to end up as biggest regrets in my life. Loving sometimes and failing. Loved the pain because nobody heard it. Loving someone unnecessarily just to complicate things. Loving sometimes not for what they are, but for what I thought they are.
Loving sometimes for these: SEXY. Friends who were sexy. Friends of friends who were sexy.Sings well.Dances well.Agony aunt types. Engaged. Married. Mysterious. Arrogant. Teachers. Sis friends. Loved realizing the fact that second love was more interesting than the first.The third even better. And it goes on.[The list is endless]
Loving sometimes thinking I am falling in love, realizing real quick that I am falling apart. Loved letting it go sometimes because I want to, sometimes I had to. Hated when I got to watch someone I love, loving someone else. Loved it when I loved them, still. Loving someone as much as they hate me. Loving someone since I know them, without saying. Loving someone just to make love. Loving someone today knowing I won’t love them tomorrow, but for the fact that I loved them yesterday. Loved leaving a relationship, to save my pride. Forgetting people, after falling in love because I want to. Loving someone even though they aren’t worthy enough for me, just to make them feel special.
Loving and being loved almost all the times, snubbing and being snubbed rarely.
PS:
Loving it while I am writing this:
S, I love you because you are the best part of me!!!
D
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Wednesday, April 7, 2010
An Ipod and an Ice-cream
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By the time I was in 8th grade, I had travelled nowhere other than Bangalore [yearly summer vacations since Dad’s brothers were settled there] apart from odd family trips to innumerable temple towns. Then suddenly everything changed. It all started with me being adjudged with top honors at the district level Science Fair. Then for the state level competition I travelled to Kakinada. Those days I quite very well knew the song “Ma Telugu Thalliki”. In fact one of the teams there performed for this song, while I did a skit of the great late NTR. As a part of the trip, we roamed a lot in the East and West Godavari districts for sight-seeing. For the first time when I saw Godavari and Krishna rivers, I understood the lyrical strength of this song.
Even though our school was a Christian missionary and I was good at English, my first love was Telugu. I was fascinated by the Telugu fiction writing and i used to read a lot of novels. There was a lot of ‘Teluguthanam’ in me those days. Since my parents were voracious readers, it kind of spilled over me too, I believe. Those were the days of Yandamoori Veerendranath and Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani and I adored their work a lot. Then I gradually moved onto English literature, to Matin Amis (Money is my favorite), the great Ayn Rand and many more and never looked back.
By the time I was in 9th grade, I travelled to Delhi and represented state for the national level Science Fair which was held at Teen Murti Bhavan for a good 2 weeks. It was an awesome experience. One of those days, when I was interacting with DPS students I was clapped upon for reciting the very same song and letting them know the importance of Telugu’s and that song. Sometime in between those days, I also got recognized at the state level for reciting the Sanskrit poems with Telugu translation and vied for the top spot where there was no age limit. Even though I couldn’t win there what with all pundits around, it was great I could finish the recitation.
Why I am blabbering all of this, now? Because I was in Bangalore the last weekend and was listening to that beautiful song (From Leader in my IPod) at the Lido Mall. Even though I used to visit the city thrice a year all through these years, saw changing itself and all, I never felt so bad. Why did it hit me like a ton of bricks now? Because when I listened to that song, I somewhere realized that not only Bangalore but one more thing waned off in the past decade. The Telugu literature that is, and the feeling for my mother tongue in me. The irony is to get reminded of those days, I had to rely upon a remixed version of that beautiful song and that too in an IPod in the Ista hotel which was built upon that good old Lido theatre. Now-a-days, all we get is that occasional brilliance in lyrics of some good song in Telugu and that’s it.
Coming to Bangalore, those days four of my five uncles used to stay in Milkman Street. One of their houses shared a common compound wall with the old beautiful Lido theatre. With all these personal accomplishments and the summer holidays around, we used to frequent Bangalore a lot then to celebrate. Each time we were there, the idea of fun was to watch that occasional Hindi movie in one of the best theatres (Lido) in the city and have an ice cream in the interval. I just loved Bangalore from those days. I tasted my first Baskin Robbins ice cream there. Years later when I got some of my best friends and my girl there, I knew this city was special. I still love the city a lot. There is something in Bangalore which makes me go back and visit the city whenever there is a chance to do so. I just love the way the air smells there.
Many things have changed though: I no more talk to any of those relatives who stay there. In my recent visit, I realized many a few things about how Bangalore has moved on. How I have moved on:
- The café coffee days are no more happening, but the new Electronic city flyover is. I took a bike trip with my best friends on this new flyover, which was awesome.
- The good old food joints, hangout zones, innumerable cinemas which have been done with, to host swanky malls/multiplexes are really not so happening.
Yes, I was one of those first generation youth who saw this coming. I was one of those who lapped up the new malls/multiplexes when they started off. I frequented the Café coffee days (Koramangala is my favorite) even before people realized they existed. But now looking back I feel they somewhere lost the plot. Vying for global attention, they lost the charm/greenery the city was once famous for. Was it all worth it? Certainly not I would say. For when I saw what they have done with MG road [that bloody sexy MG Road] for the so called excuse of a Metro, you will understand the agony of my mindset. Hence I am venting out my anger now.
Like Bangalore, I have also moved on from that odd Baskin Robbins ice cream and a Hindi movie outing thrice in a year, to a retail junkie. I have seen Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Mumbai in the past decade. The sad thing is, they all boast of the same sorry state of things, I believe.
One thought is haunting me from then:
Where are all the Telugu fiction writers gone? Can a real new age/decent Telugu fiction writer (Atleast a wannabe) and the good old charming Bangalore please stand up?
PS: Those were the days when Delhi Public School was confined only to Delhi, not to every nook and corner of every possible city. Those days, we were looked down upon and were bullied by CBSE guys. Go and tell this to any of this age kids, they say ‘Oh yeah! Is it so? Just down the street I stay I have two CBSE schools!’
And yes, The Baskin Robbins in the Lido theatre was the first and the only one for a long time in Bangalore. If you were from Banashankari or BasavanaGudi, to eat a Baskin Robbins ice cream, you had to come all the way to the Lido. The irony is if I try saying this to any of those (‘and we settled down in the Silicon Valley of India’) types, they laugh at me.
The IPod is singing: “Nee Hrudhayam Thapana Thelisi, Naa Hrudhayam Kanulu Thadise Velalo“.
Bring it on!!!
D
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By the time I was in 8th grade, I had travelled nowhere other than Bangalore [yearly summer vacations since Dad’s brothers were settled there] apart from odd family trips to innumerable temple towns. Then suddenly everything changed. It all started with me being adjudged with top honors at the district level Science Fair. Then for the state level competition I travelled to Kakinada. Those days I quite very well knew the song “Ma Telugu Thalliki”. In fact one of the teams there performed for this song, while I did a skit of the great late NTR. As a part of the trip, we roamed a lot in the East and West Godavari districts for sight-seeing. For the first time when I saw Godavari and Krishna rivers, I understood the lyrical strength of this song.
Even though our school was a Christian missionary and I was good at English, my first love was Telugu. I was fascinated by the Telugu fiction writing and i used to read a lot of novels. There was a lot of ‘Teluguthanam’ in me those days. Since my parents were voracious readers, it kind of spilled over me too, I believe. Those were the days of Yandamoori Veerendranath and Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani and I adored their work a lot. Then I gradually moved onto English literature, to Matin Amis (Money is my favorite), the great Ayn Rand and many more and never looked back.
By the time I was in 9th grade, I travelled to Delhi and represented state for the national level Science Fair which was held at Teen Murti Bhavan for a good 2 weeks. It was an awesome experience. One of those days, when I was interacting with DPS students I was clapped upon for reciting the very same song and letting them know the importance of Telugu’s and that song. Sometime in between those days, I also got recognized at the state level for reciting the Sanskrit poems with Telugu translation and vied for the top spot where there was no age limit. Even though I couldn’t win there what with all pundits around, it was great I could finish the recitation.
Why I am blabbering all of this, now? Because I was in Bangalore the last weekend and was listening to that beautiful song (From Leader in my IPod) at the Lido Mall. Even though I used to visit the city thrice a year all through these years, saw changing itself and all, I never felt so bad. Why did it hit me like a ton of bricks now? Because when I listened to that song, I somewhere realized that not only Bangalore but one more thing waned off in the past decade. The Telugu literature that is, and the feeling for my mother tongue in me. The irony is to get reminded of those days, I had to rely upon a remixed version of that beautiful song and that too in an IPod in the Ista hotel which was built upon that good old Lido theatre. Now-a-days, all we get is that occasional brilliance in lyrics of some good song in Telugu and that’s it.
Coming to Bangalore, those days four of my five uncles used to stay in Milkman Street. One of their houses shared a common compound wall with the old beautiful Lido theatre. With all these personal accomplishments and the summer holidays around, we used to frequent Bangalore a lot then to celebrate. Each time we were there, the idea of fun was to watch that occasional Hindi movie in one of the best theatres (Lido) in the city and have an ice cream in the interval. I just loved Bangalore from those days. I tasted my first Baskin Robbins ice cream there. Years later when I got some of my best friends and my girl there, I knew this city was special. I still love the city a lot. There is something in Bangalore which makes me go back and visit the city whenever there is a chance to do so. I just love the way the air smells there.
Many things have changed though: I no more talk to any of those relatives who stay there. In my recent visit, I realized many a few things about how Bangalore has moved on. How I have moved on:
- The café coffee days are no more happening, but the new Electronic city flyover is. I took a bike trip with my best friends on this new flyover, which was awesome.
- The good old food joints, hangout zones, innumerable cinemas which have been done with, to host swanky malls/multiplexes are really not so happening.
Yes, I was one of those first generation youth who saw this coming. I was one of those who lapped up the new malls/multiplexes when they started off. I frequented the Café coffee days (Koramangala is my favorite) even before people realized they existed. But now looking back I feel they somewhere lost the plot. Vying for global attention, they lost the charm/greenery the city was once famous for. Was it all worth it? Certainly not I would say. For when I saw what they have done with MG road [that bloody sexy MG Road] for the so called excuse of a Metro, you will understand the agony of my mindset. Hence I am venting out my anger now.
Like Bangalore, I have also moved on from that odd Baskin Robbins ice cream and a Hindi movie outing thrice in a year, to a retail junkie. I have seen Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Mumbai in the past decade. The sad thing is, they all boast of the same sorry state of things, I believe.
One thought is haunting me from then:
Where are all the Telugu fiction writers gone? Can a real new age/decent Telugu fiction writer (Atleast a wannabe) and the good old charming Bangalore please stand up?
PS: Those were the days when Delhi Public School was confined only to Delhi, not to every nook and corner of every possible city. Those days, we were looked down upon and were bullied by CBSE guys. Go and tell this to any of this age kids, they say ‘Oh yeah! Is it so? Just down the street I stay I have two CBSE schools!’
And yes, The Baskin Robbins in the Lido theatre was the first and the only one for a long time in Bangalore. If you were from Banashankari or BasavanaGudi, to eat a Baskin Robbins ice cream, you had to come all the way to the Lido. The irony is if I try saying this to any of those (‘and we settled down in the Silicon Valley of India’) types, they laugh at me.
The IPod is singing: “Nee Hrudhayam Thapana Thelisi, Naa Hrudhayam Kanulu Thadise Velalo“.
Bring it on!!!
D
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
This and That
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On our second anniversary, we went on a private joyride of Hyderabad in a flight which had just two of us. Even though I rate the overall experience strictly okay unlike Wow, the exclusivity and the views from just 1300 feet above the ground were still worth it, I can say. The flight was kind of cringy I would say, but its the idea that worked. For us, atleast.
Here are some of the snaps I liked the most, the IMAX paranormal view being the pick of the lot. The IT district, the new flyover, the stadium they all looked awesome.
Oh, btw the first snap is a testimony to adorable S; She is the best in leaving these love notes all over the home, when i am not around or snoring away to glory.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On our second anniversary, we went on a private joyride of Hyderabad in a flight which had just two of us. Even though I rate the overall experience strictly okay unlike Wow, the exclusivity and the views from just 1300 feet above the ground were still worth it, I can say. The flight was kind of cringy I would say, but its the idea that worked. For us, atleast.
Here are some of the snaps I liked the most, the IMAX paranormal view being the pick of the lot. The IT district, the new flyover, the stadium they all looked awesome.
Oh, btw the first snap is a testimony to adorable S; She is the best in leaving these love notes all over the home, when i am not around or snoring away to glory.
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
9 and counting
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Its been 9 years and a bit more. Since I saw you, I have been in love with you. With time, it has only grown a bit day by day and drastically at times. You are the one that i always care to think about and think to care about. The warmth you carry off, is soothing at its best and the confidence you flaunt, awesome. That's something that keeps me going.
Your love lends colors to my creativity, and an allure to my words. Untill you happened in my life, I used to be a closet writer. I wrote for you on the very first date we had, and here I am 9 years down the line, still mincing my words as to what more I am left with to write to you. I still watch love stories and yearn for happy endings because of you. Every morning waking up next to you, my hair all tangled with a stinky breath and me cuddling up to you, that is when i know I am loved a lot.
I feel I am that one fish you picked when you had all of the ocean for yourself to choose from. And you are that one person that I cant get over, no matter how long it's been and how long it will be. Alike a vintage wine, you better yourself each time, everytime, for I saw a new facet of your personality the last time too, as far as I remember.
If longetivity is a virtue in a relationship, then I think it's safe to say that we connect damn good. And we have the numbers to back us up. For you I get up, get ready and goto work daily. Isn't that a testimony to say safely that your love overpowers all my hate towards this whole so-called society norms we have to carry on our sleeves and are expected to flash it off to live an acceptable life? I choose my words carefully here, for I cant say its a respectable life. Will be a big joke, isn't it?
To say to you how hard I try, I always fall short of words. Unlike other worldly things for which I always romanticise my words and be liberal.
Girl, I tell you I will never get tired of seeing you day in and day out, Be my valentine all over this year again. Bangalore would have never been so good without you. What more can I say? On the verge of our 2nd anniversary I am humbled to say this:
'I love you, for you complete me.'
Be my wife tomorrow until Saturday, for on 14th, You are my valentine all over again!!!
Love,
D
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Perception or Prejudice?
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There lies a skeletal margin between perception and prejudice as is between arrogance and confidence. I never wanted to give this difficult a topic my blog space, but finally I think time has come. I have my reasons to write this, and as usual I won’t give you the reasons here.
I know this: Whoever you are, right after reading my last line you might have thought ‘Oh! This guy is so arrogant’. That’s what I call a prejudice. Only someone who knows me completely will understand why I wrote what I wrote at the very first place. If someone whom you just know vaguely assumes something, its prejudice. A prejudice is always a conclusion in hurry, sometimes confusion in hurry. If one of my friends assumes something about me, it’s a perception. But they all can be wrong, at times that is.
Say if at work, if your work dominates naturally above all others, it’s pleasant. Anything else done by intent to dominate is explicit. It actually overshadows your ‘self’ and that’s when you start pretending trying to be someone else whom you aren’t. When you start pretending, you might as well end up missing the things that are really important.
I don’t talk much. This is what others know. That doesn’t mean I am an introvert. I talk a lot. I talk to people whom I want to, because I talk sense. Even when I talk nonsense, I make sense to them. This, some souls can never understand. Sadly, they still try hard.
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There lies a skeletal margin between perception and prejudice as is between arrogance and confidence. I never wanted to give this difficult a topic my blog space, but finally I think time has come. I have my reasons to write this, and as usual I won’t give you the reasons here.
I know this: Whoever you are, right after reading my last line you might have thought ‘Oh! This guy is so arrogant’. That’s what I call a prejudice. Only someone who knows me completely will understand why I wrote what I wrote at the very first place. If someone whom you just know vaguely assumes something, its prejudice. A prejudice is always a conclusion in hurry, sometimes confusion in hurry. If one of my friends assumes something about me, it’s a perception. But they all can be wrong, at times that is.
Say if at work, if your work dominates naturally above all others, it’s pleasant. Anything else done by intent to dominate is explicit. It actually overshadows your ‘self’ and that’s when you start pretending trying to be someone else whom you aren’t. When you start pretending, you might as well end up missing the things that are really important.
I don’t talk much. This is what others know. That doesn’t mean I am an introvert. I talk a lot. I talk to people whom I want to, because I talk sense. Even when I talk nonsense, I make sense to them. This, some souls can never understand. Sadly, they still try hard.
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