Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The "Chappell" Effect - Just for laughs
Someone sent me this pic a day after I wrote about the state of Cricket in our counrty.......its nice and brings a smile to your face even if you are not a cricket fan ;)
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
We can't Play
Sorry as I feel for Md. Kaif beacuse of what people did to his house, I think the blame lies with us, The Audience in our country. We build up these huge expectations from our teams and expect them to Win everything where ever they go..
I don't think its the fault of our players that they can't Win.....may be the blame lies with the selectors who can't find 16 inform players in the entire country.
Why just blame and torture the cricketers, weren't we champions at Hockey once upon a time ? I remember staying up late at night during school days to watch India battle it out in a Hockey World Cup - doesn't even sound like a fact anymore.
I believe that the problem that needs fixing is in the basic administration of sports in the country and the sponsership models.
Why else would Sania still be strugling between the 50-100 rank, Narian working as a test driver in F1, Hockey - [do we still have a team ?], Leander & Bhupathi - don't want to play together [They were doing well together, weren't they ?], Anju Bobby George can't seem to get it right when it matters ??
I seriously doubt if we can be world beaters in Kho-Kho & Kabadi anymore.
Golf, they say, is the new high in Indian Sports - All I can say is - Wait till our sponsors & advertising guys find out :)
I don't think its the fault of our players that they can't Win.....may be the blame lies with the selectors who can't find 16 inform players in the entire country.
Why just blame and torture the cricketers, weren't we champions at Hockey once upon a time ? I remember staying up late at night during school days to watch India battle it out in a Hockey World Cup - doesn't even sound like a fact anymore.
I believe that the problem that needs fixing is in the basic administration of sports in the country and the sponsership models.
Why else would Sania still be strugling between the 50-100 rank, Narian working as a test driver in F1, Hockey - [do we still have a team ?], Leander & Bhupathi - don't want to play together [They were doing well together, weren't they ?], Anju Bobby George can't seem to get it right when it matters ??
I seriously doubt if we can be world beaters in Kho-Kho & Kabadi anymore.
Golf, they say, is the new high in Indian Sports - All I can say is - Wait till our sponsors & advertising guys find out :)
Friday, November 17, 2006
The Beginning
Before I start telling you about my successful vacation to Goa, let me tell you about the fiasco I almost created before going to Goa.
I personally blame the domestic Airline in our country for this....but then there are others who believe I messed up.....On second thoughts maybe I did....just a little bit...or a little more than that...:) Here's what happened:
We had received an SMS from the airline a few days before our departure stating the flight was rescheduled to 1350 hrs instead 1230 hrs. When we told some of our friends about it...they said - "ha ha - Low Cost Airline - No Frills : no Thrills - its gonna get further delayed".
So here we were on the day - All packed and ready to go.....i called an Auto - D & I got started on our trip to Goa. 500 meters to the Airport and my phone went - beep beep - You've got a Message. With a disgusting grunt I pulled out my phone and read -
"Your flight number ### from XXX-XXX has been delayed and will now depart at 1530 hrs".
I asked D to check with the Fat Fashion Freak [:)] where he was (he was coming with us on the same flight). I even asked the Auto chap to stop on the side.........the idea was - with 2 & a half hours to go - we might as well turn around and go to his house for an hour or so.
Our friend however was almost at the airport too.......so we thought we'll meet up there.
Once at the Airport, My darling D asked me to find out why the flight was delayed and I, in my usual disgusted tone responded - "what difference is that gonna make ?"
We were there for about 10 minutes when our friend arrived and we debated for a little while to what our options were - and then decided we might as well check in our bags and grab a bite.
We walked up to the check-in counter and asked, " is the flight gonna get delayed any further ??"
Prompt came the reply, " Your Flight is on time, Sir."
OOOPSSSS - I said and pulled out my phone to re check the message. The problem was i had read the message exactly like i wrote it above.
The ### read 644 & the XXX-XXX read - Goa - Blr.
I said Sorry to D & the Fashion Freak and we went on to Board the flight.
We landed in Goa at 1450 hrs, and I couldn't help but think - if these 2 had listened to me and we had gone back to his house......we'd be catching a cab for the Airport around the same time that we landed :0
I would never have heard the end of it --- I don't think I have have even now.
However, I would like to dedicate this write-up to the 2 wonderful people in my life who made my wonderful vacation a reality.....by making sure I went for it.
D - you are scary when u get excited - but I should still listen to you - Thanks for being there all the time.
Fashion Freak - I will no longer call you Fat :) You've been working hard to burn it off and have achieved much better results than I have.
What happened in Goa - will be written about soon - until then write in some comments about the ratio of fault between "yours truly" & "our domestic airlines" ;)
I personally blame the domestic Airline in our country for this....but then there are others who believe I messed up.....On second thoughts maybe I did....just a little bit...or a little more than that...:) Here's what happened:
We had received an SMS from the airline a few days before our departure stating the flight was rescheduled to 1350 hrs instead 1230 hrs. When we told some of our friends about it...they said - "ha ha - Low Cost Airline - No Frills : no Thrills - its gonna get further delayed".
So here we were on the day - All packed and ready to go.....i called an Auto - D & I got started on our trip to Goa. 500 meters to the Airport and my phone went - beep beep - You've got a Message. With a disgusting grunt I pulled out my phone and read -
"Your flight number ### from XXX-XXX has been delayed and will now depart at 1530 hrs".
I asked D to check with the Fat Fashion Freak [:)] where he was (he was coming with us on the same flight). I even asked the Auto chap to stop on the side.........the idea was - with 2 & a half hours to go - we might as well turn around and go to his house for an hour or so.
Our friend however was almost at the airport too.......so we thought we'll meet up there.
Once at the Airport, My darling D asked me to find out why the flight was delayed and I, in my usual disgusted tone responded - "what difference is that gonna make ?"
We were there for about 10 minutes when our friend arrived and we debated for a little while to what our options were - and then decided we might as well check in our bags and grab a bite.
We walked up to the check-in counter and asked, " is the flight gonna get delayed any further ??"
Prompt came the reply, " Your Flight is on time, Sir."
OOOPSSSS - I said and pulled out my phone to re check the message. The problem was i had read the message exactly like i wrote it above.
The ### read 644 & the XXX-XXX read - Goa - Blr.
I said Sorry to D & the Fashion Freak and we went on to Board the flight.
We landed in Goa at 1450 hrs, and I couldn't help but think - if these 2 had listened to me and we had gone back to his house......we'd be catching a cab for the Airport around the same time that we landed :0
I would never have heard the end of it --- I don't think I have have even now.
However, I would like to dedicate this write-up to the 2 wonderful people in my life who made my wonderful vacation a reality.....by making sure I went for it.
D - you are scary when u get excited - but I should still listen to you - Thanks for being there all the time.
Fashion Freak - I will no longer call you Fat :) You've been working hard to burn it off and have achieved much better results than I have.
What happened in Goa - will be written about soon - until then write in some comments about the ratio of fault between "yours truly" & "our domestic airlines" ;)
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
One hell of a vacation
I am back....Back into the same old grind.....the corporate rat race. Have loads to write about from my few days in paradise...but not enough time.
So here's what i plan to do.....I am gonna break down my trip to Goa into 2, 3 or 4 seperate entries starting from tomorrow.
In the meanwhile make do with Savvy and Deeply Dippy .
For those of you interested in pictures from out trip, please visit my new webpage -
Roots, Branches & Trees
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
GOA Calling
Deepti & I are heading to Goa tomorrow....will be hanging around Baga till Sunday :) We have been really looking forward to this Vacation for a long time...
Savvy's coming from Mumbai, Lata from Pune, Nealesh is going with us, Kishore and his wife will join us on friday. Even Vicky might come over on the weekend.
Lets hope this holiday lives up to what everyones been thinking.
My Agenda for the next few days is fixed....I am going to relax like never before. The whole idea is to do Absolutely NOTHING during this vacation.
Will write about the trip and put up some pictures once I get back.
Until then - Asta-la-vista - Baby.
Savvy's coming from Mumbai, Lata from Pune, Nealesh is going with us, Kishore and his wife will join us on friday. Even Vicky might come over on the weekend.
Lets hope this holiday lives up to what everyones been thinking.
My Agenda for the next few days is fixed....I am going to relax like never before. The whole idea is to do Absolutely NOTHING during this vacation.
Will write about the trip and put up some pictures once I get back.
Until then - Asta-la-vista - Baby.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Baby Tracker Updated
Have updated the tracker with some new pictures of Deepti. For those of you who would like to view the pictures one at a time, I have also uploaded these snaps on my yahoo album
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Festival of Lights
Diwali - Used to be my favourite festival. A reminder of the achievements through the year celebrated by pampering yourself with new clothes and lighting up candles and colourful lights. Also, kind of beginning of my Birthday season :)
This year however, I can't help but wonder if it still means the same to me....
This year, I found Diwali to be a Very Loud & Noisy affair. The Lane outside our house was full of paper the next morning. The Air was so full of polluted smoke that I didn't want to inhale.
For once in my life, I am glad my parents were very particular about what I did on Diwali. Have a quick shower in the evening, Put on your nice clothes, have a small Puja at home, have some 'mithai', light up all the candles & diyas around the house, about 30 to 40 minutes of bursting crackers and then spend time with family & friends. That's how I remember it to be....and how I wish it were still the same.
In contrast however, this year - It wasn't a day of Diwali - like most commercially promoted festivals worldwide [thanks to Archies, Hallmark & all those Jewellers], this year it felt like a Diwali week....to celebrate the Diwali week, you can do about 3 to 4 days of Gambling (Card) sessions, with an assorted array of alcohol brands and a good spread of food. Further more cracker bursting can go on 24/7 [there are laws around to avoid late nights & early mornings but who cares - its DIWALI.
Here is what I am majorly confused about - minus the irritable noise and air pollution - all I did last weekend was get together with friends over dinner and drinks, while some smoked & others gambled. Come to think of it, That's what most of my regular weekends are like.
So was the Diwali weekend all about the Noise & Air Pollution, that doesn't sound so good.........Let me put it this way, henceforth I promise to make my Diwali weekends more memorable and fruitful.
This year however, I can't help but wonder if it still means the same to me....
This year, I found Diwali to be a Very Loud & Noisy affair. The Lane outside our house was full of paper the next morning. The Air was so full of polluted smoke that I didn't want to inhale.
For once in my life, I am glad my parents were very particular about what I did on Diwali. Have a quick shower in the evening, Put on your nice clothes, have a small Puja at home, have some 'mithai', light up all the candles & diyas around the house, about 30 to 40 minutes of bursting crackers and then spend time with family & friends. That's how I remember it to be....and how I wish it were still the same.
In contrast however, this year - It wasn't a day of Diwali - like most commercially promoted festivals worldwide [thanks to Archies, Hallmark & all those Jewellers], this year it felt like a Diwali week....to celebrate the Diwali week, you can do about 3 to 4 days of Gambling (Card) sessions, with an assorted array of alcohol brands and a good spread of food. Further more cracker bursting can go on 24/7 [there are laws around to avoid late nights & early mornings but who cares - its DIWALI.
Here is what I am majorly confused about - minus the irritable noise and air pollution - all I did last weekend was get together with friends over dinner and drinks, while some smoked & others gambled. Come to think of it, That's what most of my regular weekends are like.
So was the Diwali weekend all about the Noise & Air Pollution, that doesn't sound so good.........Let me put it this way, henceforth I promise to make my Diwali weekends more memorable and fruitful.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Savita Aur Sushim
This is the tale of 2 people who came into Bangalore for a weekend. Savita (urf Savvy)- the 24 hour Non Stop Entertainment Channel & Sushim - The comparatively quiet guy with a level head and a good taste in whisky.
Unfortunately for Sushim, a financial wizz - his darling wife didn't come with remote or any other form of control mechanism. I can almost picture the packing that said - "Handle with care" & "Switch on at your own risk", cause once she gets started, theres no stopping her.
Jokes apart, They are a wonderful couple and compliment each other beautifully. Sushim is a good friend to have around & Savvy has a gift that ensures everyone around her is always smiling.
Fortunately for us, some political guys called a 'Bandh' on wednesday, which allowed Deepti & I to get some rest after the long weekend with our friends from Mumbai.
Thank you Savitha & Sushim for a wonderful time.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Seventeen Weeks
We are now in week 17, and according to the latest update, our baby is now the size of a Large Onion :) [about 5 inches long]. Not sure where you find such big onions.
I found this information from a website I recently subscribed to. BabyCenter.com . I love this site [No I have not been paid for giving them publicity]. A must 'subsribe to' for all those who are having or planning to have a child.
Every Monday they send in the weekly update on your baby - Starts your week off with a big smile. Plus some good stuff for expectant moms & dads to read about.
However, if your wife is even partially like mine.....avoid giving her the URL....She reads up all kinds of weird stuff and then drives me nuts.
I found this information from a website I recently subscribed to. BabyCenter.com . I love this site [No I have not been paid for giving them publicity]. A must 'subsribe to' for all those who are having or planning to have a child.
Every Monday they send in the weekly update on your baby - Starts your week off with a big smile. Plus some good stuff for expectant moms & dads to read about.
However, if your wife is even partially like mine.....avoid giving her the URL....She reads up all kinds of weird stuff and then drives me nuts.
The Difference
Everyone I met after I got married last year kept asking me the same old question -"How's married life treating you ?". Having known Deepti for 5 years before we finally got married, my answer was always the same - "haven't felt any difference yet :)".
I kept wondering why I never felt the difference, and if I was actually missing out on that 'different' feeling.
The last few months, I've been hoping.....waiting for someone to ask me that question again. This time my answer would be 'different'.
We are expecting our first baby.
Life is now - 'DIFFERENT'.
I have never felt so good & happy. Along with the happiness comes a very weird feeling. The fear of the unknown. Deepti & I discussed this for a few months before we decided to walk the line, but the big question keeps coming back into my head - Am I ready for this ? Am I capable of being responsible for a 'family'? Can I be a good father ?
Its scary to wake up one morning and realize that my life is no longer just about me or the woman I love......there's more. Over the last few months I have learnt that I now need to live like a responsible man [Don't Laugh - I am serious & a little scared].
The anxiety is driving me nuts. My heartbeat accelerates everytime I think about my baby. I am writting this blog with goosebumps right now. The excitment is more than anything I have ever felt. The confusion with her 'urges' & 'mood swings' keeps me on my toes and contrary to everything I had heard....I am loving every minute of it. I am not even going to try and describe how I felt when I sat next to Deepti through the scan, I don't believe my vocabulary will do justice to that feeling.
I am as ready for this new phase of life as I will ever be.
Look out FATHERHOOD - here I come.
I kept wondering why I never felt the difference, and if I was actually missing out on that 'different' feeling.
The last few months, I've been hoping.....waiting for someone to ask me that question again. This time my answer would be 'different'.
We are expecting our first baby.
Life is now - 'DIFFERENT'.
I have never felt so good & happy. Along with the happiness comes a very weird feeling. The fear of the unknown. Deepti & I discussed this for a few months before we decided to walk the line, but the big question keeps coming back into my head - Am I ready for this ? Am I capable of being responsible for a 'family'? Can I be a good father ?
Its scary to wake up one morning and realize that my life is no longer just about me or the woman I love......there's more. Over the last few months I have learnt that I now need to live like a responsible man [Don't Laugh - I am serious & a little scared].
The anxiety is driving me nuts. My heartbeat accelerates everytime I think about my baby. I am writting this blog with goosebumps right now. The excitment is more than anything I have ever felt. The confusion with her 'urges' & 'mood swings' keeps me on my toes and contrary to everything I had heard....I am loving every minute of it. I am not even going to try and describe how I felt when I sat next to Deepti through the scan, I don't believe my vocabulary will do justice to that feeling.
I am as ready for this new phase of life as I will ever be.
Look out FATHERHOOD - here I come.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
A History of Violence
A welcome change in terms of the storyline and the way the movie has been presented. Landed up watching the movie expecting it to be a movie my cousin had told me about....turned out that was a different movie :)
The Movie is worth a watch if you go in without high expectations.....though i found the ending a little predictable and abrupt.
The Movie is worth a watch if you go in without high expectations.....though i found the ending a little predictable and abrupt.
Aeroshow
I love photography. Therefore every now and then....I will put up my some of my work here...Hopefully get some good feedbackThe First Ever Indian Salsa Congress
About 3 weeks of Salsa workshops & parties, what a hangover. Felt good to be a part of the first ever International Salsa Congress to be held in India. Honestly, I wasn't expecting it to be as big and as well received as it finally turned out. My congratulations to everyone who was behind this successful event.
It was fun to meet so many salsa crazy people from all over the world. Some of the big guys from outside bangalore were - Kaytee & Ash from Delhi/Mumbai, Amelie from France, Anton from Shangai, Pablo & Dianafrom Spain. Also in town were Kevin & Shohan along with a great bunch of friends from Sri Lanka.
A lot of different dance schools in Bangalore put their differences aside and helped in making this show worth remembering. All I keep telling people at work, now that I am back, is that it was tiring (workshops during the day & Parties everynight) and painful (my backaches) but on an overall, I had a lot of fun and would be more than happy to do it again. This congress was one hell of an experience and I hope I get to attend a lot more of these in the future.
The Salsa Congress in the Media:
Deccan Herald:INTERNATIONAL SALSA CONGRESS
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug102006/metrothurs133353200689.asp
Deccan Herald:Fitting finale to Salsa congress
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug242006/metrothurs151092006823.asp
NDTV: Salsa Congress floors Bangaloreans
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Salsa+Congress+floors+Bangaloreans&id=91859
New Kerala.com: Bangalore plays host to International Salsa workshop
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=9751
It was fun to meet so many salsa crazy people from all over the world. Some of the big guys from outside bangalore were - Kaytee & Ash from Delhi/Mumbai, Amelie from France, Anton from Shangai, Pablo & Dianafrom Spain. Also in town were Kevin & Shohan along with a great bunch of friends from Sri Lanka.
A lot of different dance schools in Bangalore put their differences aside and helped in making this show worth remembering. All I keep telling people at work, now that I am back, is that it was tiring (workshops during the day & Parties everynight) and painful (my backaches) but on an overall, I had a lot of fun and would be more than happy to do it again. This congress was one hell of an experience and I hope I get to attend a lot more of these in the future.
The Salsa Congress in the Media:
Deccan Herald:INTERNATIONAL SALSA CONGRESS
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug102006/metrothurs133353200689.asp
Deccan Herald:Fitting finale to Salsa congress
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug242006/metrothurs151092006823.asp
NDTV: Salsa Congress floors Bangaloreans
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Salsa+Congress+floors+Bangaloreans&id=91859
New Kerala.com: Bangalore plays host to International Salsa workshop
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=9751
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