Time Flies..

Hey everyone, long time! (How many readers do I have left now? 5? 4? Sigh..) August got over and September dawned (As if you didn't know that). Usain Bolt remains the fastest human on Earth and Force India got a podium finish for the first time in F1 championship (Do I think you live in a different world?). Okay am just rambling before I can think what to write about. It's been long and I been lazy. Procrastination is my blood group. Sigh..

My school friend Asim came down to Bangalore last month to visit us from New Delhi. 'Us' consists of other school friends from IISR in the city, namely Rizwan, Aftab, me etc. To nobody's surprise, he found the city totally awesome (we took him to all the right places.. *wink wink*). A road trip to Mysore, south Indian food, visit to National park etc all made sure he wasn't bored here. It's nice to have friends meeting up after ages. Nostalgic all the way..

Rains have started finally the way they were supposed to start and it's nice Bangalore vintage weather. But sadly this year the good weather has been hampered with everyone around falling ill to a result of assorted flus, fevers and diseases! Rizwan my neighbor (and school friend) contracted typhoid and is going through misery. Two of my co-workers (but from different departments) have been diagnosed with swine flu and handed indefinite leave of absence. Anyone without a fever or an illness at least once is unheard of. It's the season of the sick. We need your prayers.

Dad came to Bangalore for his annual vacation. We bought a new car. For me that means more of driver duty. Last week of August saw the arrival of Ramadan. Fasting started, schedules turned tighter and we had as usual a lot of get togethers and endless parties around familyville. This month I'm scheduled to fly to Riyadh for my annual visa renewal. Can't really take the fact that I came back from my vacation just 11 months back. Time sure does fly. I hope between my next post and this one it doesn't. Untill next time, Cheers..

It's Cool Out There.

July comes. Monsoon was supposed to begin. It hasn't. Why? They call it the 'El Nino' effect. Sounds cool though! The rain is coming down in patches but not the usual monsoon blasts. Sad..

A post after a long time from me. Been busy as a honey bee! Okay am trying to be pompous and show off how important I am. But honestly been busy. My brother came down here for his further studies. Civil Engineering. Mom is here too to overlook the admissions and have her annual vacation. Dad's coming this week. Full family time like after ages.

Roger Federer took the Wimbledon. India crashed out of the T20 Cricket World Cup and Christiano Ronaldo beat Zinedine Zidane as the world's highest paid footballer of all times. Michael Jackson in death reminded everyone why he will always be the king. Interesting times these.. Sigh.

Work is good but tiring. I still love the weekends like a mule who loves it when bags are not loaded on it. Okay I'm losing my touch here. I really don't know what to write about so I might as well wrap it up. Untill next time for a better post, Ciao.

A Bit Of This & That

A lot has happened in the past couple of months. The good, the bad and ugly. The worse is yet to show up! Let's start with the sporting setbacks. With cricket, I'm an ardent IPL follower. My favorite team, the defending champions Rajasthan Royals crashed out after almost sniffing a semi-final berth. Bangalore Royal Challengers was my next favorite team (me being a Bangalorean, supporting RCB comes naturally) and they put up a brilliant show till the 15th over of the final, after which they simply disintegrated. It was heart-breaking. Sigh. So close and yet so far.

Three days later after the IPL final, Rome hosted the UEFA Champion's League final. This time again my team Manchester United was in the final against Spanish football giants, Barcelona. ManU finished second best as they went down 2-0. I was depressed for the second time in 3 days. It takes a lot of courage to withstand your favorite team's defeat. ManU were literally flawless and invincible the entire season and in the final they didn't come close in displaying their usual brilliance. I was hurt, broken, bruised, battered and all the fancy words used to describe the pain of losing.

I hope the French Open provides some solace in the coming days as my favorite, the world no. 1, Rafael Nadal is currently breezing away! Federer will be the avenger this time around. But Rafa hopefully can keep him at no. 2 and rule the roost. Bangalore, on the last day of this month will be gearing up for 10km marathon across the city. Yours truly has signed up but will be too lazy to make it to the 6 am start time. After all, the noble thought to do something good matters! Maybe next time. My doc says I need rest so adhering. That's all.

Rain keeps pouring down every other day and as usual it feels great. Maybe sometimes it leaves the city flooded but heat at bay is good any day! My mom came down this month to stay with me and my brother. Oh btw, he came too but before her. After wrecking the kitchen for 6 months and home deliveries, it feels good to eat what your mom makes. The beauty (and obviously the yum taste) of a mom-made meal is second to none. Blissful. Thank you Almighty, all-high.

I've not been blogging for a while primarily because I was busy and not keeping well (the old age.. Sigh). Also with all those IPL and Champion's League matches my Internet time got killed. Hopefully with mom around to start my healthy revival I'll be more active. That's all for now. Cheers!

Ps-Buy an umbrella but mind you without one it's actually nice out there in the city.

Clouds, Drizzle, Storm and Hailstones.

Sometimes you can't help but just wonder what is all the fuss regarding global warming. I mean if you have rain pouring down hard enough to make the trees snap, during supposedly peak summer, what's so bad? Experts say summer showers are not uncommon and it has happened over the years, but hailstones? In the month of May? Wow! Go global warming! I saw people on the road remove their getting drenched. Most of us didn't want to take refuge from it but simply cool ourselves in the cold gift in the heat from the heavens. It does feel like July/August.

Many areas in Bangalore experienced fierce winds and a heavy downpour. Hailstones followed and what was left behind was a havoc aftermath. Okay, I'm making it sound like a tropical forest but really, it was a havoc. In my area trees went down and electric poles had to be fixed today. There was no power supply for nearly 7 hours after 4 pm. The drainage systems were brimming and it was tough out there. After the showdown yesterday by the Rain gods, the Sun decided to show off today. It touched 35 degrees and there wasn't a cloud in sight. After 5 pm, that changed and now the clouds are warming up with drizzle out there. It's cool and nice.

The weather is perfect to watch the ongoing IPL matches with microwave popcorn bags in your pantry. But then, the electricity will hardly stay once it comes down hard. Sigh and yeay. It's thundering out there and we're in with a wet evening. The Bangaloreans love it. So, Mr. Global Warming, it's nice and we don't mind the showers in summer. Keep 'em coming, we need it. Feels like monsoon spirit. We're not complaining.

PS: I'm not ignorant about global warming and it's effects. Post is in a lighter vein. Cheers!

IPL: A Quarter Up, More To Go..

We had a few good games in the T20 IPL2. Close finishes, decent crowds but the rain Gods played their part too. Expectations from the top teams of IPL 2008 had been great. And they failed to keep up. Under performers of last year, the Deccan Chargers have begun their campaign with full throttle. The Rajasthan Royals have buckled under their own high expectations. So far. They promise to deliver. Royal Challengers came out with a new unit and a lot was expected. But now they're facing the same problems as last year. Under-performance. Team Chennai and Punjab are trying to catch their old touch. Punjab seem to be on track but Chennai are still lost. MS Dhoni inspires amazing comebacks and the same is expected this time around.

Mumbai Indians have probably the best opening batsmen any team in the world can only dream of having. Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. And both of them were at their destructive best wrecking the bowling attacks of many a teams. Both look and bat like 25 year olds when they're at the crease rather than 36. The team with good hitters in their side and looking to go nowhere are the Kolkata Knight Riders. They been in the limelight this season for all the wrong reasons including the cult blog figure, 'Fake IPL Player'. Fans spend more time reading his blog than watching KKR matches. One hopes they rise soon make a mark on the tournament which is 25% over. Delhi Daredevils meanwhile continue to move from strength to strength. They have a balanced unit and look like securing a semi-final berth for sure.

The South African crowds are enthusiastic about cricket. And with their stars in most of the teams they're out to cheer in good numbers. The Indian crowds are probably the best in the world for their love of cricket. The Protean grounds do have a few empty seats and that is disappointing but something that needs to be taken in the outsourcing stride. Lalit Modi has promised to be back next year to the IPL's birthplace.

With the tournament entering into the next stage where the teams can't afford losses to secure a place in the final four, the heat is on. Let the games continue.

Super Pathan Does It For The Royals

Hollywood could had saved this for the final. What a game. The IPL carnival is truly alive and kicking. Well, on the field this time. The Knight Riders needing 151 to win collapsed after the Gayle (41) innings to 94 for 5. It required the old war horse Saurav Ganguly to step in and improvise the chase. and improvise he did. Playing like his younger self Ganguly got them 6 runs short of the target off the penultimate over. Then Kamran Khan happened.

Shane Warne is like a war general marshaling his troops around every now and then. All players including another brilliant captainin the form of Graeme Smith adhere to him. He kept the conversations going all over and made sure every man on the field was pumped up enough. He gave a pep talk to the young 18 year old Kamran Khan who grinned back and promised to deliver. He bowled a tight over and snapped Ganguly and equation left for the Knights was 2 off 2. Ishant Sharma could keep it only to a single and that meant the super over with the scores tied.

Now the Super Over rules: Each team gets one over to bat and the team which scores the most wins. If it's a tie then the team which scores the most sixes in the match wins. 3 batsmen and 1 bowler to be used in case a wicket goes down. Fielding rules are the same.

Kamran Khan once again started good and limited the first 2 balls to singles amidst a wide delivery. The next 3 balls however were dispatched all around the ground for boundaries by Chris Gayle's brute power. One delivery to go and the Knights were 15/0 and Gayle hit one on the off side where the sweeper took a sharp catch. Target: 16 to win

Yusuf Pathan walked in, cool as ice. He has the reputation of not taking other reputations seriously. Mystery bowler Ajantha Mendis bowled the first one and it was dispatched it high over long off. None of the fielders were required to move and the equation read 10 from 2. A carrom ball up next and Pathan mistimed it over the bowler's head. Brad Hodge couldn't get a finger on the ball and I'm sure he couldn't get some sleep as well later in the night. The third delivery, Pathan decided enough was enough and smashed it rows back over mid-wicket. 3 to go, 2 required. All the fielders by now were in no doubt to whom the points would be allotted.

Super Pathan on strike and everyone just knew it was over. 4th delivery of the over became a formality and Pathan decided enough of the aeriel hits and simply sweeped the ball wide of square leg for a boundary. The stadium erupted and Yusuf Pathan charged to celebrate with his team-mates. It felt like a final. KKR must have been thinking they made the wrong choice with the bowler but Mendis was the one who got Pathan earlier in the game. Full credit to Pathan and his brute force.

Election Day In Bangalore

Bangalore with the rest of India votes today. Phase 1 has begun in Bangalore and it's not only the rain gods that are merciful. A lot of companies have given their employees the day off to go out and vote. So many campaigns from the media, NGOs, blogs are all galore with messages to the public to go out and vote. The city has seem many stalwarts and celebs all giving out messages promoting the exercise to vote. It's all good.

But, the million dollar question. Who do we vote for? It's hard to find a politician with no goon connections or corruption or a criminal background! But the silver lining: Independent candidates stepping in with reliable credentials and promises of no affiliation to any of the political parties. The messages keep coming asking for votes. In Bangalore it's primarily 3 parties in the fray in the form of Congress, Janta Dal(S) and the BJP. One hopes the independents also make their mark.

The turn-out for the elections has been quite good. The voters are in large hordes waiting patiently for their turn to caste their precious vote. Civic problems, unemployment and communal harmony are a few key issues being addressed at least across the city by most of the veterans as well as the politicians from the young brigade. Till noon, no tensions or unrest has been reported and the police is on vigil nevertheless. Let's hope the whole process is peaceful and more importantly results in a change we all so desire.

Fake IPL (Indian Premier League) Player

The IPL Season 2 has begun as promised. It lacks the cricket carnival atmosphere of India but nevertheless it's okay. We eat, sleep and breathe cricket and will take in everything that comes our way. Amidst all this, an anonymous blogger has landed in the IPL circuit claiming to be a player from the Kolkata Knight Riders. Now that is quite intriguing. On his blog (fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com) he posts regularly the on goings inside the dressing room and his take as a bench warmer on the whole scenario. A loser you would say. But the entertainment quotient provided is priceless. Now with all the cricketing circles abuzz about this mystery blogger, no one seems to be able to resist his blog and posts. Yours truly couldn't either. But strictly, adult discretion advised. I would say PG 18. I know it's useless in today's age as kids would probably tell me what is right and what is not.

His posts furnish information that is strictly limited to the players and support staff. Things about Shahrukh, Ganguly, Buchanan, McCullum etc add quite a fan following. News channels, websites, newspapers etc are on the voyage to unmask him but with no success. A press release from the KKR stated that they would flush out the culprit within 24 hours and reprimand him severely. It's been 72 hours and our cheeky fellow is still chuckling to himself. The KKR have apparently banned laptops and Internet to all players but he's smart enough to find other ways. Like texting from his phone and posting his entries. The management is understandably embarrassed. Other players, targeted by this blogger-cum-cricketer's funny nicknames and descriptions have been the victims of ridicule by their own mates. "Fake IPL Player" as he calls himself, appears to be anything but fake.

NDTV ran a special on him on their sports show and I'm sure by now Aaj Tak/Star News and other hindi news channels would be doing 'Breaking News' segments on him as his posts come out. The common vibe shared among bloggers suggest this is a journalist with a mole planted inside in the form of a player carrying the bottles of the team. His posts are losing their taste and it gets more and more on offensive language lines. But everyone is still hooked!

But amidst some lacklustre matches and wash-outs of key clashes, this comes as twisted humor for the cricket buffs. Modi secretly would be thanking this guy and so would Shahrukh. The attention is on the Kolkata Knight Riders at the moment and the meat of it is off the field. As it's said, any publicity is good publicity. I would love to meet his fellow who right now must be on cloud nine thinking about the accolades being heaped on him, good or bad. Cult figure you would say. The people involved with the tournament are feeling so exposed right now with this apparent secret reporter that am sure they'll think twice before making their moves! One hopes he lasts till the end of the tournament and provides us with more anecdotes.

Long live the mystery blogger.

The Hitch-hiker

A few weeks back I was riding after 10 pm on a weekday back home. On my way, a boy aged around 10 or 12 asked for a lift. I usually refrain from stopping my bike for anyone after a bad experience couple of years back when I was almost mugged and managed to escape. But the kid was with a school bag and since it was late, I decided to give him a ride. "How come you out so late after school?" I asked him. He wanted to be dropped at the end of the ring road, a 6-7 kms ahead. "After school, I got tuitions and work before I go home.." he replied. Our conversation carried on. I learned he was in his 6th grade and paid for his own tuition fees by working as a delivery boy for a bakery on daily wages. His dad couldn't afford his tuitions so he had to work. I was silent for a while thinking how easy it is for us. Thanks to the Almighty we never have to go through what this poor kid faces everyday.

I stopped the bike where he wanted to get off. I felt like giving him some money and was rummaging through my pockets for some cash. As soon as he got down he removed a 10 rupee note and gave me. "A bus would had costed me the same. Thanks for the ride". I returned his money and gave him a 50 rupee note. He declined saying he didn't do any work for me. I told him take it as a gift and not charity or wages. He smiled and returned it. "If I take this home, my father will buy alcohol. If I keep it, my elder brother will eventually find it from me and use it for himself. Thanks but I can't take it. I have to go now". Summing up things for me, he walked away. I stood there for a little while thinking again before I rode back home..

Wake Me Up When Summer Ends..

At times the summer heat can do funny things to you. Bangalore's temperatures are at their sweltering best and we're all wondering, whatever happened to the famed Garden City and it's air conditioner type climate. And yeah, I hear it's raining cats and dogs in Riyadh and Dubai. Funny. Oh c'mon, pollute a little more. We'll have Antarctica as the favorite summer destination in the next few decades. Maybe the Sahara in Africa will have many popular skiing resorts. North Pole will have beaches around it. Sigh. Now that's what the heat is doing to me. Depleting my already low power of thinking and reasoning. I guess imagination can be included too.

Elections in India are round the corner and the hustle-bustle is too much. Everyday campaigning through phones calls (recorded messages), processions called "Show of strength", rallies in every place they can find etc these political parties can do anything to woo your precious vote. My inbox is flooded with spam asking for my vote. And the funny thing? I can't vote as I hold the Saudi Resident Permit. Elections apart, this summer also brings our new cricket heart-stopper series. The IPL. Too bad it ain't happening here in India. I was sure of attending a few matches. IPL got it's immigration for South Africa. What's next? The Republic Day parade to be held in England? Security concerns, you see..

This summer also brings an important phase in my life. Lots of new things, new avenues, boulevards, streets, roads, highways, expressways, runways etc etc I've to take. And yeah, I'm yet to have a map/GPS to go through these roads! It'll be a funny but a tiring summer. I can promise myself that for sure.

A few funny and strange things have been happening over the last few months. Some of it good and some of it well.. Not exactly happening. My head is infested with a lot of things happening very simultaneously. Sounds fun. But not in the summer, please! Life should be warm, cosy and comfortable like snuggled inside a quilt. Just like the winters.

Amidst the heat, a few good things happen too. Like I got real close to people who probably were always there but I never noticed. It's good to differentiate between the black and the white. Ah, I sound like a 60 year old talking about life who's seen it all! Well, the downside when you're in the 20s. We know everything and a little too much. What we don't know is, 30s are probably the same.. I was talking about summer. Where did age come? I told you. Heat can make you go all vague and funny..

I'm happy with the pace I've set for myself. Let's see how good of a map or GPS I'll find for myself. Btw, it's 6:11 am as I type this on a Tuesday morning. Did I get up early? No! I was awake throughout. India are battling it out there in New Zealand. Cricket is important, you know..

And finally, I think I'm a little feverish now. It's hot in here and am wearing a pull over and wrapped up in my blanket. Feels like winter. But I'm shivering a little though. Summer's first fever. Yay! Until next time, keep rolling and don't forget to wake me. Leave your comments I would like that. I get emails, messages on Facebook etc telling me how bad (or rarely, how good) I write. Feels good. Cheers!

An Article I Liked..

What will happen to Dubai's concrete jungle?

By Simon Jenkins, The Guardian

Hovering over Dubai is a cloud called nemesis. The first time I saw the place two years ago through a plane window, its towers were hovering in the heat over the desert, gulping up water and energy and fussed round by reputedly a quarter of the world’s construction cranes. Even then the vision was unmistakable, of Ozymandias and his “vast and trunkless legs of stone”.When prices go up, buildings go up. When prices come down, buildings tend to stay up. Until recently visitors to Dubai returned gasping. This was truly a city designed from start to finish by autocrats and architects. It was the last word in iconic overkill, a festival of egotism with humanity denied. It was an architectural chorus line of towers, each shouting louder and kicking higher. People were ants.Even as the property market turned sour last autumn, the vast Atlantis hotel, built for $1.5bn with a whale shark in its swimming pool, was spending $20m on its launch party. Yet still the newspaper supplements and television contra-deals spluttered their superlatives. Every time the builder of the tallest tower in the world, the monster of Burj Dubai, sees the local ruler, Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, he is told to add more storeys for fear someone else may build an even taller one.

The stockmarket is down 70 per cent 2005’s level, and construction has ceased on half the unfinished towers that stretch out into the desert. Eighty per cent of the population of Dubai are passing migrants who are there, like gold-diggers of old, only for the cash. The cash is going and so are they, leaving expensive cars in the street and at the airport, many fleeing possible imprisonment for debt. Consider, meanwhile, the city of Detroit. Here was another that rose on the shore of an inland sea, fuelled by the cult of hypermobility. With the implosion of the motor industry it has gone to seed. Houses are pictured boarded-up or selling for a dollar. Dogs roam empty streets.Vacant shopsWind howls through vacant shops. The unbelievable has come to pass. The love child of America’s greatest postwar passion is preparing to die.Detroit is part of a great country that has shown itself capable of rescuing even its rustbelt municipalities. But this depends on finding people who will live in a place from which most have fled. Luckily, much of Detroit is of low-rise plot housing that could be transformed at least into Bohemian neighbourhoods, like ruined New Orleans. No such option is available to Dubai.

It is the ultimate Corbusian city, rigid in format and old-fashioned in conception, based on the grids and set squares of super-planners, and on grand symbolic buildings rather than intimate streets. It cannot respond to demand and supply for land and property; let alone to the wishes of free citizens. Human scale is confined to the Las-Vegas style replicas of Florence and Venice adopted by hotels that realise guests will not come if slapped constantly in the face by modern architecture.

One business that cannot afford inhumanity is a hotel.Such cities are like the planned science settlements of Soviet Russia or the instant downtowns of American ‘metroplexes’, in which people do as planners ordain. There are no visual surprises, no corners of privacy away from big brother or at least big car. Buildings are exclusive and architecturally defensive, like London’s Barbican.This off-the-shelf city state has been built on laundering the profits of oil, drugs, arms and western aid. Its sheikh was not a complete fool, like comparable African and Latin American autocrats. He realised that city states cannot live on one product alone, unless it is money. Since he had no oil, he would drill for money. Mohammed al-Maktoum’s failing has been his belief that megalomania is best when done big. He built a giant port and a giant airport, a giant stock exchange, giant finance sector and giant shopping mall. Dubai is a monument to big-must-be-beautiful. During the gold rush the prospectors came. But as the rush wanes, Dubai is believed to be nursing the world’s biggest per-capita debt. It may have to be bailed out by its neighbouring Gulf states, whose more prudent attractions Dubai tried to outshine; indeed, the process has already begun. Nothing can bail out a tower if there is nobody to live in it. It cannot be pulled down and quaint English country villages replicated on the spot. The same goes for thousands of villas and apartment blocks along the Gulf shore and on the artificial islands in the world’s most boring sea. They will stand empty in the heat. The decay starts. Most were bought as investments. The value of those investments has fallen an estimated 60 per cent in just six months. If their emptiness reaches a tipping point where there are no neighbours, no shops, no services and no social life, they will decay, like downtown Detroit.Smart money says Dubai could survive as the playground of India, even if the oil money of West Asia moves back to more salubrious Europe. This depends on India failing to supply its own playground and, critically, on Dubai surviving what could be a Muslim backlash against its hesitantly hedonistic western lifestyle.Dubai will become casualties not of human greed but of architectun folly. Their lifts and services, expensive to maintain, will collapse. Their colossal facades will shed glass. Sand will drift round their trunkless legs. Animals will inhabit their basements.Thousands of residential properties, if occupied at all, will be squatted by a migratory poor, like the hotel towers of the Spanish littoral or Corbusier’s block-houses of Chandigarh in India. Refugees will colonise the camps where Indian workers have lived as they built Dubai. Gangs will seize the gated estates and random anarchy will rule the soulless boulevards.If it is lucky Dubai will at least be a refuge from the political cataclysms that could engulf countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. But mostly the dunes will reclaim the place.

A series of trips- Munnar

Munnar - breathtakingly beautiful - a haven of peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Kerala, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Unending expanse of tea plantations - pristine valleys and mountains- exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests - aroma of spice scented cool air - yes! The word beautiful is an understatement..

We left Bangalore on friday night and took pit stops along the way to complete our 500-odd km journey one way. We stopped for breakfast in Tamil Nadu. Pongal and coffee was good. We were given a government guest house by the local tourist offices. The view from the cottage which was set on top of the hill over-looking Munnar city was simply fabulous. We checked in at 2 after lunch which consisted of Kerala style Mutton biryani. After picking up cold sodas and snacks we headed to the cottage. There was no Air Con or fan in any of the rooms but the breeze was terrific. The sun was shining and the winds were cold. All I wanted to do was sit, relax and inhale nature. We all felt so high on nature. Intoxicated by the beauty of the place. It was so simple. Just sit and take in the calm, the peace. The evening was even more brilliant. A bonfire was burning in the clearing and we were sipping cold Red Bull and munching homemade chocolates. Lying down under the warm blanket looking up at the full moon it was probably one of the best moments I had wit myself in a long time. It was so romantic to the core. I was high on life. Slow tracks playing from our laptops set up the whole thing for a riot of the peaceful kinds. The last time I probably got this feeling was at Niagara Falls, Buffalo, NY couple of years back. That night I had a very peaceful sleep in ages. My bedroom wall was complete glass overlooking the valley. It was breathtaking especially in the night..

Sunrise was beautiful as anything else till now in that enchanting place. The sun creeping up from the moor lands all orange and hot. But the cold breeze was on as ever. We in the highlands around in pursuit of elephants and snakes. We wanted to see the former more than the latter ones. We eventually saw the big animal on one of the rides up the valley. Sunday, we reached a dam where the water was crease less. Horse-riding and boating ruled the place. Everyone around was honeymooning or trying to escape heat from their respective places. My agenda was none. I was in pursuit of happiness, peace and some serenity..

We entered Top Station which is 41 kms away from Munnar city and offers the best panoramic view of the whole area. The whole hilly region lies between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was like standing and watching the Swiss Alps.. Only the snow-caps were missing. A few deep ravines and trenches across the hillside gave a spectacular view. We negotiated hundreds of steps to the lookout point and the climb back was too much of an exercise. But the landscape was amazing to say the least. I felt I attained Nirvana! Lunch was local fish and Appam. Makes you want to go back again. And again.

We ran in to a few monkeys at the check post. One small one in particular stole one of the bags of food and run off. So much for animal hospitality. We drove on wiser now. Many wildlife parks exist in the area. The whole region is heavily monitored to prevent any mishaps or forest fires. Littering is a strict no and smoking is banned as well. But then this is India end of the day and as long as you don't get caught it's okay. Everyone bends the rules. Birds are very diverse. From Sparrows, Hummingbirds etc to Crows they all exist. I'm bad at birds so can't name many. After Top Station we descended back towards Munnar where we picked up more pics and some snacks for our last leg of the journey to Bangalore. It was a sleepy ride back with dreams proclaiming, Life is Beautiful.. Until we go tripping again, Cheers!

A series of trips- Mysore

Last week starting of this month, me and my friends went to Mysore by car. The road trip was amazing as usual. I was behind the wheel for the whole day driving around 400 kms in a single day. It sounds less but then when it comes to Indian highways, that is a lot! I love driving, one of the few things in life left to give me adrenaline anytime I want it. We planned to leave in the wee hours of the morning to beat the traffic. At least that was the plan.

Summer is knocking, I've a flu & I'm tired.

I've hit a roadblock. It's not the first time but yeah this one refuses to budge. Or it's like a wall where you have to drive around to go on to the other side. Last couple of months went in a blur. I've never been so happy, depressed and psyched at the same time! It's a strange feeling. This will probably be my most pouring it all out kind of entry. I can't talk to anyone so talking to myself on this blog feels good. I did get a few emails and messages on facebook pointing out my last entry was ages ago. And I think writing would be the best right now for me. So here I am..

There are a lot of things happening around. I turned 22 around 3 months ago and find myself still stuck to things that probably only 18 year olds do. It's all too confusing. I can't help myself. But the best part is I know something is wrong. I realize that for a start. But the problems and the issues are like a playlist on an iPod. After one gets over or I think I've a solution for something another problem props up. And the playlist seems long. I don't have the patience. People around me whom I love, like my family and friends are there but I'm afraid to approach them. Anyways I know they can't help as well. I need to sort myself out. Nobody can help but myself. I'm so psyched and I feel am not making sense right now. But I'll get out of it I know. When and how is the question. Little things too many of them become a lot and the water gets above the head. Above all there is something inside me for a long time which I've failed to get it off my chest resulting in this psy state now. Sad. And bad. Pity me. Sigh. Hell no! I know I'll get out of it. This something is eating me slowly and surely. There are a few things I can't help doing and end up not exactly regretting but yeah thinking I would be probably better off not doing them. Oh yeah, that's regretting in itself! I'm down but not out. I'm losing the battle but the war is mine. Big nice philosophical words to prep yourself up. It's all a face behind which people like me hide. For the time being at least.

I felt good writing this short nonsense piece of an entry. It was like letting it out a little than deprive myself some much needed sleep. I'm fine, I'll be fine. Until next time, Cheers & hopefully no more tears!

Rewind 2008

The change is merely in the calendars and not in anything else. End of yet another year which was no doubt a good one for reasons plenty. Amidst all the good times we had a year full of dark times too. Too many deaths, too many attacks, too many grudges. 15th century was probably more peaceful than this in spite of all those colony making happening around the world. Turbulent times..

Looking back purely on retrospect, for me personally 2008 was a good year which brought me rubbing shoulders with the who's who of the corporate world. Learning is a continuity and a job brought me just that. I feel more responsible, confident and an urge to succeed after my stint with L. J. Hooker. Having a bad boss helps as you learn the ropes the hard way but then you learn surely. There was this big wedding in the family middle of the year which made all of us have a great time and more importantly blend together. It was nice with cousins and relatives arriving from all over for the occasion. My parents came down too and we shifted into our new apartments. Mom had a nice time furnishing the apartment. My brother Khalid missed the wedding and the furnishings and came a month later just when the dust was settling. Nevertheless he had a good time irritating me as usual. I visited UAE on my way to Riyadh and it felt good to be at home for a couple of months. Overall a nice year blended beautifully with it's highs and lows. I wouldn't want to mention the lows but then maybe it was good I had them, Smiling all the time is not good as well!

The Chinese made the Olympics a memorable event with their sheer display of professionalism both on and off the field. India had a good time too with bagging medals unlike ever before. Cricket saw Australia being rattled to almost breaking point. Nadal showed everyone why he's Federer's worst nightmare. Sports is always good. Better than watching any depressing news on TV. Because that's all there is to watch these days.

We saw the change of guard in the American administration with Bush making way to the Obama regiment. The world seems more interested in what's happening in the US of A than in their own countries. But then when USA decides to play the big uncle in matters which ultimately affect all of us in one way or the other, the interest cannot be curbed. World peace seems to be a thing of the past. Terrorists still make sure no place is too safe. Bangalore wasn't spared too. A live bomb was defused at one of my regular places for lunch. It makes you go weak on your knees. Mumbai was shocked and hit in the last week of November and India had it's own 9/11. The cloud of fear just got more dense. Whatever be the reasons whether political, religion or regional, end of the day the common man who's bothered about his family and feeding them on time is affected. Normality seems to be a thing of the past.