Sunday, December 23, 2007

Shantaram's Mumbai

It's quiet fun to read through foreigners view on India, Either Gregory roberts description of Mumbai in Shantaram or Holy Cow-Delhi, both were written by Australians, one is Ex BBC, and another is a convicted criminal, escaped from Victoria Jail!!!.


Shantaram is bit in line on the common men's view on Bombay with lot of street truths, which still not changed, while I was reading It's very difficult to put the book down, wondering about the Slum poverty and Discipline, The story is narrated with such a passion and affection that Greogory robberts must have enjoyed each and every moment of his stay in India that is evidence from his repeated visits to Mumbai and Its slums along with famous celebrities like Madonna, J Depp.
If I like some writing or Movies It's my habit to read it or see it later again and again, Shantaram is one more addition to that list.

Success Mantra - Quotes from Winners

In a day when u don’t come across any problems, you can be sure that you are traveling in a wrong path.
Swami Vivekanandha

Three Sentences for getting success

Know more than other
Work more than other
Expect less than other
William Shakesphere

If you win you need not explain… but if you lose you should not be there to explain.
Adolph Hitler

Don’t compare anyone with yourself, If you do so you are insulting yourself
Allen strike

I will not say I failed 1000 times, I will say that I discovered there are thousand ways that can cause failure
Thomas Edison

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Be Mine Dear

Be Mine, Dear
Be Mine, Dear
Me won’t let you shed a tear.

Me the warrior
Me the warrior
Fighting for a good career

So never make me get any arrear.

Thought of getting you a “Teddy-Bear”,
But no money here.

Never ever fear
That your pop will put a barrier.

Bring back my cheer
Telling me I’m U’r dear.

Or get me a “knock Out” Beer.

Anymore, If you don’t wanna hear
Better pass this to a dame who is near.
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Note:
Don’t pinch my heart
U will feel the ‘Pain’.

It was wriiten during 1999 during my First year-MBA in SRM, written under the title 'Flirt' Dedicated to a beauty called Kinera but I remember never shown it to her.

This Flirting was done by a MCA Guy called Satish, He was totally creative but Allergic to compu topics, Who used to fall in love at first sight with any number of girls, In pursuit of materialistic life all the friendlier connections were lost but the sweet memories of Dormitory life of SRM still exist in a corner of the heart.

Louvre-France


On a sunny saturday morning, It was quiet a surprise to see lot of crowd outside a museum, they were all waiting to go inside louvre, Plenty of Indians too. It's a fun how we ended up in Louvre, a friend of mine lost himself in paris while he was trying to reach our hotel in the early morning, dont know where to go, or where he is, called us for help, Casually we told him "walk a bit, find some prominant place so that we can catch you", he called again and told I think I am in front of a beautiful palace, lot of crowd, we, 'ask some body what is it', vijay it's a museum.
Till we were reaching there he not at all realised that he was standing in front of a world famous destination, yeah morning started in Beautiful, Historical Louvre.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Beautiful Praha

"Praha" people calling her with a pride, for us it's Prague, a city of unusual beauty, a architect's dream destination, full of beautiful buidings, structures with soul, a wonderful place for nightlife.

I never seen a live ramp show before I was coming to Prague but on a eventful nite in front of Wenceslas Square, there was AR Rahman's Dil se on air, a bit surprising too, how a chaiya, chaiyan here!, Wow there is a ramp show with beautiful models tip toeing under the scorching lights, visitors enjoying the night, the cat walk, the music with cheer, music does it have borders, Rahman Rocks where ever he (His music) goes, Salaam Boss.

My first night experience was little different, the night we reached praha central station we were welcomed by queens outside the station, the first shop I have seen outside station is sex service and toy shop, We were just enquiring how to reach our hotel, the reply came I will take you there from some beauties!!! very next day morning at 7 am few youngsters with beer in there hand were enjoying there morning fun in the middle of the road, Czech republic per capita consumption of beer is highest in the world, Skin and lot of drinks I thought of Bangkok, hell it is different, It's Praha with lot of History and it's a civilised society.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Sweet Sandviken- Sweden

The moment we entered Stockholm- Sweden airport at noon, I felt there may be a curfew? A huge airport compared to Indian airports, but no where people on sight, outside the airport inside the city also the same, I just enquired about it to my companion who is a regular here, Sweden is a big country with only 5 million population!!! My mind was imaging about mumbai scenario "WoW surely I am going to face lot of surprises".

We travelled to a small town may be a village called Sandviken, only a 25000 popuated "clean air" place, the entire locale was looking like Ooty garden, what a lovelier life no.. Its not a lovelier it's healthier lazy life, cool climate temp around 5 to 10 Deg C, morning starts at 8.30 and the day ends at evening 6.30, all the shops were closed by 6.30 but day light was present still 8.30 evening.

Surprise 1 no children in visible sight reason they are all in day care center
Surprise 2 No gender difference everybody goes to work (Its a surprise bcos I am a Indian)
Surprise 3 We went to a manufacturing plant there was no security gate, not enough population for theft, gate crashing...
Surprise 4 Even you become a vice president of a company but u can not afford to hire a personal car driver

People are working on day time sincerely, ending the day probably in a pub, going to bed very early compared to my standard bed time of mid nite 12.

Initially I felt our Indian lives are cursed, later realised our life is more eventful than a European.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Airdeccan-Manisha-Shock

Hi, Yes may I help you (with a smile)!
I came in Air deccan Chennai -Mumbai, my trolley bag lock is broken, things are shuffled, shot back immedite reply with alert any valuables lost? Luckily apart from clothes nothing kept inside (A hand luggage of lap top, digital camera and Ipod got escaped).Ok sir I will book a oral complaint Mr Vijayakumar (Serious tone), Air line people will contact you later. What is the meaning of Oral complaint? Sir you have not lost anything (Good reply).

What is your name? Manisha, if u want to complain still pls meet duty manager, I cant give any written acknowledement for your complaint. Ms Manisha what is your surname your approach is very suspicious are you Manisha show me your ID card, shown something in Marathi, show me the backside so that I can read (May be printed in English), Sir you can not touch me I will call airport security (My first encounter with Sick uglier women like this, felt nauseasting).later she slipped away without any proper reply.

(Walked near her) Where is your duty manager? He is in Departure gate, call him here, Mr Gaurav Can not come here sir , Pls go to departure gate. Any other responsible person available here to attend? for any help pls go to departure gate sir.

was walking towards departure gate, still My mind was wandering about what to complain either about broken lock or irresponsible employee or both. Sir I am the incharge of baggage handling Give me your complaint in writing, If any valuable lost what whould have happened, I enquired politely while I was doing the application, simple reply "we are not responsible if you kept any valuables inside your luggage" More shocks about Manisha now I understood madam's initial question and purpose. This is the acknowledgement for your complaint, air line people will contact you sir.

It happened a week back, till today no response.

I cursed myself for travelling with a good looking luggage case.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Dreaming Optimist

We are still running to catch a window Seat.
We don’t know What Time the carrier may depart,
What time we may reach destination.
Air pockets compensate road bumpies.
People accustomed to eat and drink even at 2.30 am.
On board divided couple and crying child on show.
Sweaty take offs.
Advertisements free!
Free morning darshan – Mumbai city slum view!

Announcement: Good morning Gentle man, This is XX and Blaw Blaws, This is to inform you that Our flight is in Queue position 18, and will depart a 40 min delay, as it is under ATC control, we cant do anything we have to bear this, have a good journey ha, ha, ha (Frustrated smile or Sarcastic) !!!

Announcement: Good Evening (at night 10.30) Gentle man, This is YY and Blaw Blaws, This is to inform you that as we are not getting clearance from ATC due to heavy traffic, as we have single run way they have to accommodate outgoing flights too, we are travelling towards nasik for a short span, you can see that in the tele screen and we will reach Mumbai in another 35 min, as it is under ATC control, we cant do anything Please bear with us , have a good journey. How to have a good journey while flying in low altitude with all the bumpy ride.

The above condition is persisting permanently for a long while, I don’t know when I had last time a morning or evening flight landed or departed on time, but no any solution on sight. We need an aviation ministry? It’s a Babu’s method of showing How to waste money, fuel, pass the time and finally how to damage the growing economy.

Once I was travelling in Indian flight to Delhi, I felt very happy the way grandma’s (Hostess) served the veg break fast with total care (No NV available, I was sitting with in first three rows), little bit broken hand rest on a side and no hand rest on window side, Lot of leg room, no need to disturb the co-passenger, flight was on time as usual dreaming that now onwards I have to travel by Indian though the perception that Indian is always late but only later I realised that due to poor occupancy they changed few rows of business class in to economy class without rearranging the seats. One time lucky!

I remember two year back the best service I used to get from Air sahara with
I am quiet happy the middle class become the high flyer on low cost airlines with Indian discipline, May be new airport in Thane or Kayan will solve this probably by year 2020; I am an Indian middle class Dreaming Optimist.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Rajini The Boss

As usual Rajini's Sivaji ruling the screens not only in Tamilnadu but all over the world where ever screened, Its running second houseful week in Mumbai, Its good for the Producer, Director, hero, heroine but what about the regular movie buffs, fans.

Unable to control my frustration and anger while thinking about Movie Sivaji, shankar, Shreya. Movie making is a creative process, Director has to shoulder the movie along with the others but in sivaji Its reverse Hero Is shouldering entire responsibility of making it successful single handedly by his persona, result read the first 3 lines again.

Due to the presence of so many industry heavy weights like Rajini, Raguwaran, AVM Banner, AR Rahman, KV Ananth, Sujatha, and Shankar there is no coordination between scenes, the crew felt what ever they make will work but it's not true, during the first half people along with there howling exasperation trying to figure out something out of nothing from the story line, Luckily Sujatha Name got escaped, Initial shreya scenes are nothing but cinema romance people should be careful while watching this with there family, may be we can tag it as adult only nothing sexual but for the mental agony it creates, a kind of dry death creativity of Shankar.

Movie simply running on the Rajini Face value and as usual great music of ARR till the end without any twist or turns. There is a request to Rajini earlier with Baba suresh krishna frustrated us now it's the turn of shankar, why can't u try with some new directors who belive in healthier storyline than make up and buig budget

People be aware of Shankars dried up creativity, some more movie from him may come soon on the same line of Protagonist fighting against corruption with
Heavy budjet for make up, costumes, settings. Music by ARR, Dialogue by Sujatha, Some great cinematographers, technicians but without any proper story.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Goa - Beach, Boose and Beauty

Last three days, I had been to Goa and stayed at the calm and crowdless sinquerim beach Marquis beach resort, The place famous for the serene beauty of beach and the architectural marvel churches, India's most favorite tourist spot was under scorching heat - 'May effect' with dry days due to Local body elections.

Inscription In the Church Basilica of Bom Jesus Goa


Basilica of Bom Jesus Goa Outside view
Understand yourself
Goa Beach

My Friends Suresh, Sachin, Nagesh, Bharat and Me- Face not in Picture, in Blue Tee!

In the backdrop of my Resort I found this Trapped Lonely Soul
Climate is very Hot but the scenary in the Resort made us felt just opposite

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Secret of happiness

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.

Do not pray for task equal to your power. Pray for power equal to your tasks.

Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle. But you shall be a miracle.

Every day you shall wonder at yourself at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.

Not in doing what you like but in liking what you do is the secret of happiness.

James M. Barrie

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

India and It's non existent Culture

Series 1 Team India lost in league stage

Reaction all over india, statewise what I have seen in News channels is bad to worse, early media hype about the could be cup winning team and later the same media burying the game (I dont think they are concerned about players)with the footages of people in roads burning and stoning the posters of heroes who were worshipped like god till a few days back.

A bit shocked about the people reaction and media attention, may be the effect of our so called .... hmmm culture.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Indian Rave party

We found them all on the front pages of newspapers this week. One, cop Patil from Pune’s rural police, had busted a party on private premises the night before Holi. He took along news reporters to shoot images of the said raid: “Nashakhoron par chhapa”. I hope the police hand-picked the international drug-traffickers, other serious social deviants at the place. Most others were probably at the suburban bash, instead of drinking at a local pub the weekend after college or work. They’ve spent days in the infamous Yerawada jail since: They were all destructive drug addicts, it seems; some apparently prostitutes (the way you view women or men is also a judgment on your eyes).

You mix the grey with black, as in this case, you either push a minor sub-culture to a notorious under-belly, or give it all the semblance of rebellious “cool” when none exist. Over 1 out of 3 viewers polled on NDTV India, I noticed, saw the incident as a valiant attempt by the police to preserve our culture.

The same Holi, there was a nation-wide rave organised in the name of a religious festival. The streets sold cannabis. Everyone drank them mixed with sweet milk. The traffic moved sleepily, people danced and grinned with their shirts off. Nobody was arrested. But I guess, that was our culture. So it’s all right.

A bit tired so Just used Mayank-MM article to express my Views

Bangkok Trip 2

As usual I landed in Bangkok in Soi 11, Ambassador- Pain in the Ass always hotel (What to do unfortunately it's in the middle of the happening place), There a thought about Bangkok and Thailand, what is the name meant for? later I understood It as Thai (Thigh)- Land and Bang- cok.

There is a strange similarity between Thai and Indian names, few of the names start with Rama, People are named aishwarya, kanchana, etc...

Bangkok is full of Indian tourists with there full family in toes, may be due to it's a cheap place, but if we really observe whites from Europe and other countries they are mosstly singles, aged atleast 50, having a Thai girl company on fulltime, utilising the full advantage of the free Thai spirit.

I just thought about culture and people, simple, what is the value system followed in India not having any relevance or importance in Thaialnd, what is there customs will make my papa frown at it in the first glance itself.

But I enjoyed Thai cuisine,Sea foods particularly Shrimps, squids and so many unknown but tastier sausages. People are really innocent compared to indian standard, enjoying the life playfully and a bit lazily, most of the women are working, gender difference is few.

After spending too much of my life in over crowded Mumbai-Dombivili and Chennai- Vadapalani, Outside bangkok city towards pattaya road entire four hour stretch the places and roads are looking like heavens as there is not much people and pollution.

People are leading a simple life, doing the daily chores (Job) in the morning and in the evening It starts with a cup of beer and friends in the road corner departmental stores, here also again I have to mention the gender equality, every where I found fairer sex indulged in smoking and drinking nonchalantly with the occational roars, totally friendlier in nature, I started shooting photos, they were ready to pose to a stranger, just surprising.

We do boast about Indian culture, now I am trying to work it out what is this?

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Christmas in Singapore Cond

I forgot to mention in my previous post about Christmas, I returned to India to celebrate. What else to say That's all about Singapore.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Christmas in Singapore

Singapore, As a tamilian, ex Tanjore district person I heard about it very much, I thought of it as a dream destination, during my school days, so many of my friend's, neighbour's target is reaching Singapore for a job some how, Still I remember a Saravanan worked in my Father's factory, gone to singapore and over stayed there as a illegal immigrant, later returned with some minor punishment (returned with shaved head but he himself is a bald man) but with loads of Soap, shampoos, body sprays.

After a day stay in Orchid road, I started feeling being in a rat trap, entire city can be travelled in a matter of 1 hour travel by Cab, rules and regulations are worse than Tamilnadu,(India)I feel over all Indian rules and regulations are better than Tamilnadu moral policing cultures. every where tamil faces, sari clad house maids, sari clad sales girls in malls.

I was trying to discover something special in singapore finally I end up in Komadhi vilas for my morning brake fast, Pongal with Filter coffee, felt a bit better, than gone to Mustafa, every body ranting about it, but Ok it's 24 hour mall. I neither got the feeling of India nor got the feeling of firang land, It's mixture of very small bit of land, run with rules, regulations.

Finally I felt singapore is not a place for People like me, a bachelor, It's the place suitable only for family theme park tours. Probably I wont Go to singapore again.