My pictures

Another Superbowl and Another loss to the Giants...

2012-02-06T00:52:00.001-05:00

... not much to write here. Its going to be tough to get over this..

Kentucky Derby Marathon by garmin_mayur at Garmin Connect - Details

2011-05-01T14:55:00.000-04:00

Kentucky Derby Marathon by garmin_mayur at Garmin Connect - Details

16 miles in Percy Warner Park- A Runners diary

2011-03-26T12:54:00.006-04:00

....its not a run, its a right of passage....

that's how everyone in Nashville views the Percy Warner Park 11.2 mile loop.

Let me make a feeble attempt to paint a picture for you. The loop has a net elevation gain of about 1300 ft. Two massive hills, the 9-mile-hill and the 3-mile-hill cover half of it. Both the hills have an insanely steep climb of approximately 250ft spread over a mile(or slightly under). The remaining 900ft elevation change is spread over constantly undulating mini-hills. Throughout the entire run one is constantly running either uphill or downhill, you have a better chance of finding life on mars than finding a meaningful flat section.

To get the extra distance you go outside the park and run through an absolutely flat and gorgeous golf course. This gets you the extra 3/5 miles depending on if you are running the 16 miler or 18 miler. Running a 8:15/8:30 pace on this flat 3/3.5 mile section feels like a walk in the park. Well to be fair the golf course, like any other suburban golf course, is strictly OK. But its all the endorphins and adrenaline pumping in you veins, that transport you into the realm of Lothlórien.

Most runners don't run Percy Warner, they endure it. Our trainer wisely places this run towards the flag end. You are either running to test how strong you have become since the last time you ran it. Or to test if you are fit enough to run the full marathon. Very few worry about the pace. The idea is to run at a slightly uncomfortable pace and then in the end compare your times with previous runs.

Like the rain in Forest Gump, here too there are different kind of runners.

There are the crazy ones - Who simply blast the uphills like it is '2-mins-to-Apocalypse' and Noah is waiting with a stop watch on the top of that hill; summoning the last call. For them its a slap if the face if slopes slow you down. They live in a pre-Newtonian era, where the concept of gravity has not yet been discovered. If you stick with the fastest group till the base of first hill, you can witness these mad-men flying up the steep slopes. It is both awe-inspiring and highly emasculating.

There there are smart ones - For whom the climb is simply too long and simply too steep. Hence they simply walk up the hill. For them the run is like a game of chess. They gauge their opponent for weaknesses, walking the steepest section, running the moderate ones and prodding along anything in between.

Then there are runners like me - who are speed demons on flats and think of the hills as a necessary inconvenience to go from one side of the park to the other. For us it is simply a battle of wills between you and the mountain. Its a all or nothing battle where there is only one victor. If you are able to make it to the top without stopping or walking then you've won else the mountain gets to keep the scalp. Your ego being the scalp. If you win, your victory gift then is a long winding downhill, which you can fly down feeling the cool breeze caress your face, drying out the sweat and leaving behind battle scars. And by battle scars I mean the white salt residue which unfortunately you can't keep intact for show-and-tell :)

PS: I will chronicle my run in a later blog post.

Chronicles of Conflict: the History of Adobe vs. Apple

2011-03-15T04:18:00.002-04:00

Just an interesting article I found whilst trolling the internet. Its a fun read if you are interested in the history of technology

Chronicles of Conflict: the History of Adobe vs. Apple

PS: Geek alert

Shipping up to...

2011-03-04T00:36:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted anything for the past six month. Every week I get a traffic report from sitemeter reminding me that I have a blog site and every week I am surprised to find about 25-30 visits to the blog. Every week I resolve to write a blog and every week ends with a failed promise...

.... except this week :)

To end the story on a happy note, and it was indeed very pleasant trip. I will mention the bad stuff first.

I think to maintain karmic balance my trip had to end on a bad note. Watched 'How to train your dragon', for all you dirty minded perverts its a kids animation film; grow up :B. Followed by the Oscars (or was it the reverse order). Anyways, Swati was sensible enough call it an early night. Me and Me2 sketched plans for the Zion camping trip and then went to bed earlyish too. I had a 7 o'clock flight the next day. All was fine and dandy till I woke up with stomach cramps, bloating and nausea; in the middle of the night; at 2 am. I will spare you the gruesome details but would like highlight Me2's compassion.

Awaked by my discomfort he came out to check on me. Actually to be blunt, my barfing would have woken up the neighbors as well. At 3am in 20F temp dude went out to find a store that would be open to get some meds. That, it was Providence did not help matters. With no shops open we were left with no choice but to find some home remedy. Whilst I was curling up in a fetal position on the sofa, he was looking up online. Finally his labours bore fruit and a hot pack subdued the pain and I was able to get some sleep. The next morning faced with a daunting task of flying 4 hours with an upset stomach. I armed myself with all the meds I could lay my hands on at the airport store.

As if the night's fiasco wasn't enough, my connecting flight was 2 hours late, it had to fly slow due to bad weather, went through a horrible turbulence and the pilot failed to land the plan in first two attempts. Never have I been happier to step off a plane.

The troubles aside I had a great time over the weekend. Every time I go there I get the feeling of going back home. I can see a few eye balls rolling on this comment. Let me tell you just because I haven't gone home in 5 years, does not mean that I have forgotten the feeling. OK! :p. Some highlights from the trip.

Bhabhiji and Jaini as always were the most gracious hosts. Enjoyed every minute and had lots of fun reminiscing about the past. Hoping that they move to Raleigh.
Nice to see Me2 and Swati staying as if they are in a 'live-in' relation even though they are married.
Nice to meet ole roomies.
Got a chance to lay my hands on the new 'PS3 Move' motion controller . Played on a home projection system and with audience :) sweet!!!!. It was interesting to get a glimpse into the psyche of ancient Romans. Archery, Tennis, Volleyball and Disc Golf were the least popular amongst the audience, Gladiator fights however were cheered the loudest.
Driving, with the country side covered in snow.
The 2 hundreds scored showed why the ODI format needs to be preserved. It gives true maestros enough time to showcase their art. Sachin scored his 47th ODI hundred and even though we snatched defeat from the jaw of victory after having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. India was lucky to walk away with a point.
Shopping @ Wrentham.
and keeping the best part for last playing with JD (and his toys, sorry JD forgot to get a gift for you this time).

Just your regular day by the pool

2010-09-05T19:33:00.004-04:00

I was a 100% sure the keys were in the car's trunk. Well where else could they be. We had searched the chairs by the pool, we searched around the tables, we had looked with squinted eyes at the bottom of the pool and we had searched mine and all of my friends bags. (After what ensued I am using the term friends very loosely). And it was a giant bunch of keys, very difficult to stay hidden. The last I remembered was opening the trunk to get my bag, so I've had to have left them in the trunk. Funny thing about memory it plays tricks on you and desserts you when you need it the most.

After our lame and futile attempts to wedge-in a long cane stick through the door, I had no choice but to bite the bullet and pay the auto mechanic 50$. Having gone through the ordeal before (read caused). I knew it was a 2 min drill. Wedge the door slightly, insert the inflatable air pillow, pump it up and create enough opening for a hook to go in and press the unlock key with the hook. The car goes bonkers with the safety alarms (as it rightfully should). But it is at times like this you feel the need for circuits with artificial intelligence. Circuits that can discern between an actual break-in and a much needed "authorized" break-in.

I however digress, coming back to the 2 min drill. Wedge the door.... yati yati yata... and unlock the car. Then you quickly get in the car, pop the trunk door, get you keys and stop the alarm. It is absolutely imperative that all the step after unlocking the car are done with surgical precision and lightning speed. If you fail the security alarm will, and I am not kidding, they will wake up the dead. And trust me you don't want to be dealing with the zombies and a bunch of angry friends at the same time. So the mechanic came and did his part, the piercing sound attracting attention even from the bats. I did my part with "surgical precision". Popped open the trunk and.......

I am trying to build up suspense, but by this time you would have guessed that the keys were not there in the trunk. I should probably have told you earlier that this was my friends car and he is an outdoors kind of person. He had so much stuff in his trunk that you can take the car in the middle of no where and not only survive, but also start you own civilization. With the sounds blaring at the background we were scurrying through the trunk to find the keys. One of my friend bravely decided to run by the pool and take a quick look again. Maybe she was looking for the crack that might have opened up in the ground and swallowed the keys. A potential homicide was averted when she got a "ohh my gwad, it's so comical" comment from a girl at the pool. Meanwhile back at the car I was trying to fidget with the locks to stop the alarms, but to no good. The auto mechanic was grumpy cause we were 12$ short so he had called the towing shop. My friend after being scorned at the pool took the call. The towing guys apparently inebriated thought it was a good idea and great timing to make a sales pitch for his 500$ Celebrity Chrysler. We had called a friend who live in the same apartment to loan us the 12$. He duly obliged (for which I am very thankful, and I you one), but was very happy to be a spectator.

It was amidst all the chaos I had my epiphany. I walked across the pool over to the trash bin and peered in. There it was cosily nestled in a pile of beer cans, cushioned in what I am desperately hoping to be ketchup.

PS: After reading the blog over I do realize that you have take your girlfriend with you in the middle of no where to have a outside chance of starting a civilization.

VEGAS BABY!!!!!!

2010-07-06T19:27:00.003-04:00

So many tales to tell, So many stories to write..... Sigh, cant do it because of the law of the land..

Rocking in the rockies.. part II

2010-06-09T00:57:00.022-04:00

...I try my best to stick to what I say, and I know I had promised to write part II of the Rockies trip but haven't done it. So, I should either learn to keep my promises, or shut my pie-H@*#...

But its better late then never, so here it is. Of all the great memories from the trip this is probably the one that's etched in forever...

...a single lane road meandering through a lush green valley flanked by ragged mountains on one side and rolling meadows on the other..... the black tar chugging along the footsteps of the mountains, marking a boundary between the Mountain kingdom and the Meadow kingdom....a peloton of bike riders lining the road's edge like spring flowers....driving alongside the bikers feels like being in one of the team cars in tour de france.

The only thing missing; crazy european spectators.....

..preparations

I had packed light for the Denver trip and was not carrying my hiking gear, so had to stop by REI. While deciding on a trail I would highly recommend talking with the local hikers (along with some online research). Most of them are very approachable and are more than happy to share their opinions and experiences something that is difficult to find online. I met with a few during the day and then after talking to the folks at REI narrowed my options to 3-4 trails. The folks at REI were really helpful, I do however have to give special thanks to Jenny. Jenny was awesome, not only did she give all the information about the trails, wildlife, local hazards etc. She also gave me a details about which routes are the most scenic to drive through and which ones to avoid for traffic. Armored with my gear and the information I needed I was all set for tomorrow.

* I am being very liberal in my use of the term gear, it was nothing fancy just a backpack, poles and crampons..

..the night before... or should I say the dawn off..

What was supposed to be a 2 hours trip to Red Rock Amphitheater turned out to be a late late night excursion. More details about the concert are in my previous blog. By the time we reached home it was 3-4 ish. I say 3-4ish because when you come home that late 3or4 its all the same. Having no energy to even stand, packing was not even and option. I just hit the sac with the hope of getting up on time to start early..

(hahaha early. I had initially planned to start the drive at around 6:30, what a fool..)

..the hike

Miraculously I woke up on time. Shawn, a friend of the guys I was staying with was going to join me. But, he too had late late Friday night out and bailed out on me. Having come this far I was determined not to let this opportunity pass by, so decided on doing the hike alone. Ticked off items on my hiking checklist, purchased food from Krogers and was on my way out, sharp 7:45. What I liked about Denver the most was; 30 mins of driving on the interstate and you are out in the country side. I had the GPS with me, but decided to take the route given by Jenny. And I thank her again for that. My whole drive was spent like a deer at a water pond, half my attention was on the road.and half on the landscape I was driving through. Stealing as many glimpses of the beautiful country side.

Though the snow clad peaks of the Rockies are visible even from the city, the first real glimpse from up close left me speechless and speechless is an attribute rarely associated with me, my friends will attest to that ;). While driving along the forest road the pine trees on the left suddenly cleared and there they were rising majestically across the valley, their peak still covered with pristine white snow. The COLORADO ROCKIES!!!!! I had read in one of the travel journals that the Himalayas and even more breathtaking. The first thought that came to my mind was, what a fool I have been to stay so close and still haven't see them, perhaps in the near future. From then on the peaks followed every where I went, all the way up to the trail head.

The hike, with and elevation gain of about 700 feet over 1.8 miles can honestly be rated as an easy-moderate. But luckily for me the trail was covered in snow which added to the difficulty :). On good thing about hiking is you can either choose to hike alone and no one with bother you. Or you always meet people to hike with. That's how I met Joel and Lucy. A very charming old couple maybe in their mid 60's. Our conversations ranged on a wide variety of topics. Their most fond memories were from their hikes to Mauna Kea, the highest summit in Hawaii. Having lived in the Rockies all his life Joel knew a lot about the regions geology and history. Needless to say the whole hike was very educational, I learnt a lot about the mountains, the region's native American history and also got some much needed pointers on snow hiking. Its not rocket science, but if you are not careful you can get into serious trouble. Now that I have completed a snow hike, the winters are open to hiking as well ;)

(Thank god my mom does not read my blogs)

..the Trail Ridge pass and the drive back

On my way down, lack of sleep for the past 3 days was finally catching up on me. Rather than risking driving into a ditch I decide to pull over and take a nap. Waking up refreshed I took a quick snack and was on my way to Trail Ridge pass. I was in no hurry so was pulling over every chance I got to soak in the scenic landscaped. Added elks to the list of wildlife I've seen in the wild. Trail ridge pass is the highest pass in US and crosses the continental divide. This comes with very high recommendations from Joel and is a must do, if you are in the rockies.

As you move up the pass the trees thin out and are non-existant at the top. Extremely hostile weather and high wind speeds make it almost impossible for anything but shrubs and grass to grow here. Years of wind erosion have given the mountain a bald look. A very narrow single lane road hugs the mountain slopes. With no trees to block your view you can see the road snaking up all the way to the top. No banking on the road make you feel exposed to the elements and you have to be really careful driving up the steep gradients and winding roads.

Certain sections have 20-30 feet tall snow walls flanking the road. Its a constant reminder of the amount of snow accumulation that happens over the winter. Its no surprise that the pass is closed all through winter and opens up only on memorial day. Huge show ploughs/cutters are employed to literally carve out the road.

I parked at the top and did a small 1 mile hike. It was a surreal feeling to have the almost hold you up when you lean into it. Spent some time taking pictures and admiring the beauty. Since it was getting late I decide against doing the complete loop. The drive back was uneventful and no matter how much time I spend in the mountains, I am always sad to leave them behind.

Instead of doing injustice to the picturesque mountains by describing it, I would do injustice to it by positing the photos I took. Its at time like these I wish I had half-way decent skills, either as a photographer or as a writer to capture the essence of the amazing places I get to visit.

(But then if I had a wish, I would really wish to be a billionaire)

A Rocking time.. part 1

2010-06-05T23:19:00.018-04:00

Rocking at the Academy....

This was one experience which is almost impossible to describe in words and any attempt would almost certainly paint the wrong picture. So if interested I will narrate it to you when we meet in person.

Rocking at the Red rock amphitheater...

Sadly and oddly enough this was my first concert in US. Sadly because since coming here I have passed up golden opportunities to watch some of my rock idols. And oddly because I know that a live concert never fails to give you your moneys worth.

With wide eyed bewilderment I can hear you asking.... "Tell us why, oh wise one".

Ok, if you insist on knowing the reasons, here are two that come to mind..

a. A good crowd can turn a half-decent band into legends of rock and historic venues always attract great crowds,

b. Not every Tom Dick and Harry gets a chance to play at these venues...

The Red Rock amphitheater has a 3rd thing to add to its list "Location". It is quiet literally carved into a red rock cliff and is flanked by two huge rocks providing perfect acoustics. A panoramic view of Morrison valley and the glittering lights of downtown Denver on the horizon create a surreal experience. Needless to say the concert was a memorable one. I will spare you the details but will leave each one of you to walk down memory lane and relive your memorable concert.

However, I would like to share a few lessons learned.

Lesson #1 - If a group of girls (with no guys with them) ask your help to chauffeur them to the ticket stands, to buy tickets for a friend who decided to join them last min. For that moment you are a hero, cash in on the moment and get tickets for yourself too...duh..

Lesson #2 - If 2 good-looking-bordering-on-hot girls (again with no guys) passionate about the venue, plead (well almost plead) you to attend the concert and sell you on the idea. Don't just get tickets; get their numbers too so that you can hook up with them during the concert... duh..

Rocking in the Rockies..

...coming soon... :)

The anecdotal value of your life

2010-05-01T15:27:00.009-04:00

I know its Saturday noon and before you start rolling you judgmental eyes , in my defense I would like to point out that its raining outside and my leg is hurt. So my macbook is my best friend, and while trolling across the internet saw this interesting clip.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Malinky2Stoatir#p/u/1/wTsZwN1hPAg

Now that, the perennial geek that I am, I had to put it in a stupid graph to explain this theory :)

As the graph shows (based on fundamentally sound and well researched data). The anecdotal value of any event is inversely proportional to the life itself. I know the term "successful life" is a cliche and is open to interpretation as one may deem fit. But, to me (more importantly for the sake of theory), living a successful life means amassing as much anecdotal wealth as you can whilst staying alive to encash it.

My thoughts going in to the race...

2010-04-24T04:33:00.005-04:00

just wanted to pen my thoughts before the big race.
Fact:

....I haven't done any serious long run for about 3 weeks now

....the leg is all taped up and even though its does not hurt while walking its still not a 100%

....at some point during the race I know the leg is going to start hurting.

......But......, the fact also is I don't know HOW MUCH (hehehehehe).. So the question really is how many miles am I willing to endure the discomfort ---- 1 mile or 26.2 miles.

Well, there is only one way to find out. :)

PS: Isn't it scary to be a rationally crazy person.

Choice - Both A problem & A Solution

2010-04-20T21:19:00.006-04:00

was talking with a friend of mine and got these choices from him... :)

A. under 4:10

B: under 4:30

C: just Finish

A few weeks back I was training for a sub 4 hrs time, now I would kill of choice C :)

Camping in the Smokey

2010-04-05T21:20:00.032-04:00

as it is with most of my last minute plans this too began with a simple phone call. Come to think of it, all my last minute trips are with Hobbes. I cannot help but sense an emotional undercurrent here :). But sorry Hobbes I draw my boundary at married men. This boat has sailed off. Well an apt metaphor would be, 'You have sailed off, on a yacht with silver sails and a golden mast, leaving me stranded on this desolate isle'. At least thats how he sees his marriage and me.. :)

I was going to miss my weekend training run so Hobbes floated the idea of us catching up and camping. I quickly called up Divya and Winny to see if they were interested. And just like that the plan was set. The logistics were ironed out soon and we were all set for camping in the Smokies. Divya had been warned by Abhilash about going on a camping trip with me. She still decided to throw caution to wind and join in, atta girl!!!. Winny not sure if anyone had warned you, but I am really glad you came. Hobbes knew what he was getting into, but by now he knows how to handle/manipulate me :).

So it was, in the year of twenty-ten the 2nd day of April. On a bright spring noon 4 members of fellowship set sail in opposite direction to meet for one quest 'Camping in the smokies'.

*(membership open for the remaining 5 spots, condition apply, please read the offer document very carefully)

Here are a few anecdotes from this trip. I am just listing a few of them right now, stay tuned to the comments section for more... from me... and others from the group

The Story.......

......of poker in a tent....

Now I know some of you would say whats poker got to do with camping. To them I say, good point :). But what better way to spend a warm beautiful spring day than play poker in the tent. Trust me as absurd as it may sound it really is a lot of fun. We set all the comforters inside the tent and made a nice sitting are. To make it interesting, we decided to play for money. $5 entry fee and winner takes all tournament. We played 2.

I won the first tournament by shear luck. Got pocket aces and did the mistake of going all in post-flop. I should have done that pre-flop to scare them away, with so much money already in the pot they had no choice but to go all-in and see the turn and river. Luckily my pair prevailed and I won. The second time Hobbes got sucked into a bad hand against me and later Winny put Divya out. Since me and Winny had a fairly similar stack so decided to split the winnings.

.....of the fox slaying knights

They went to the trash can and there saw a fox trying to steal the trash bag. They tried to scare away the fox by making a loud sound but that didn't work. Hobbes thinking quickly on his feet blinded the fox with his flash light. He outwitted the fox.

Now I have not the fortune to bear witness to this chivalrous act by the two sires, Sir Winny Wilson of Raleighshire and Sir Hobbes of Durhamshire. Me thinks they are just being modest.

Me thinks this is what really transpired. Imagine an evil fox, more evil than the Big Bad Fox who killed Red Riding Hood's grandma ( I know, I know; it was a wolf, but come-on grant me some creative liberty here). Our nobel sires were carrying a potion to save the prince. While crossing the dark forest the Big Bag Fox attacked them and tried to take the potion. A fierce battle ensued, Sir Hobbes drew his sword and blinded the Fox and Sir Winny leaped over (did a few flips mid-air) and landed on him and in one Legolaseaque motion dragged the sword through the beast's heart. The prince was saved and the princess was happy and they lived happily ever after...

....of tents, campfire, river-side rock, noodles and bisibelabath

having gained extensive expertise on his Grand Canyon trek, Hobbes allowed the novices (us) to try our hands at the subtle art of tent pitching :). It was difficult at first because of the darkness, but we improvised by using our car's parking lights. Once the tents were up we padded the floor with comforters and were ready to hit the sac. (Now I know what you are thinking, comforters and camping don't necessarily go together. Well, you have a point, BUT if you need a good nights sleep I suggest you break this cardinal rule of camping.)

We were not really in wilderness and even though the occasional flash from a car's headlight zooming by bore a constant reminder of our closeness to civilization, the campground was cosily nestled between two small hills. And a shallow river flowing in between the hills completed the scenery. After pitching our tents we located a nice flat rock not too far away from the river bank and made our way onto it. Soon conversations flowed over the soothing sound of the gushing river. A starlit sky providing just enough light to illuminate the white foam against the dark river. Hobbes checked in early followed by Winny and then after a while by Dviya and me. Winny couldn't sleep inside the tent, so he decided to spend the night in the back seat of the car.

The morning after Hobbes prepared crapy coffee :) and we hiked up to get some firewood. Hobbes demonstrated his skills in starting a campfire, he has now two scout merit badges one for campfire and other for tent pitching.

Another day, another campsite. We wanted to go kayaking but by the time we got to the campsite and pitched our tents(again Hobbes staying out of this) it was way past noon. So we decide to stay put and just relax. Went for a small hike. Later once the campfire was up...again.. :) Hobbes and Winny prepared the most delicious bisibelabath I've ever had. Eating by the campfire made it tastier. A bag of marshmallows would have been icing on the cake.

.....of Tiger Woods of mini golf

its was booze night, and this story has 4 lead characters. Well, alright alright, 3 main characters plus one designated driver.

Winny aka the man waiting for midnight.

Divya aka the margarita queen.

Hobbes aka the experienced drinker, barf free since 03.

Me aka the designated driver.

It was booze night but we couldn't goto a pub till midnight. Winny was waiting for the clock to strike midnight for the lent to get over. We were in Gatlinburg early so had some time to kill. And Hobbes wanted to win back some pride after getting trashed in Poker, he was the first one to be out both the time. So he took us to his domain; mini golf and boy did he win back some pride.

Now I can see people rolling their eyes and thinking mini golf is just kids play. To them let me tell you this, it has 18 holes. One cannot sustain purely on luck for that long. I am a living testament, I hit a hole in one on hole one, and was leading by 2 shots till hole 9. But luck could carry me just that far. Hobbes showing Tiger Woodesque abilities came back strongly from 3rd place to win comfortably by 9 shots.

.....of partying in Gatlinburg

I was told by some that Gatlinburg was a very happening town. Nothing could be further from truth, at least on that night. The pub that had the best reviews was a wine and beer only pub. The 2nd best rated pub 'The Ship Pub' was 15 mins outside the town but closes at 12:00. Another pub highly recommended by the guy who ran the mini golf place had such bad reviews that we didn't even dare check it out. To top it all we were told that all pubs close at 1:00 and last call is 12:45. So much for its reputation of being a party town.

We had already wasted 15 minutes of drinking time by going to The ShipPub. Bar hopping was not really an option so we had to pick one and stick to it. We chose this bar because it had a gallery and lots of lights :). However, even this couldn't dampen out spirits. The night began with a round of shots and was followed by pitcher(S) or margarita. Fearing that I would screw up the order Divya escorted me to get the first round of drinks. Hobbes got 2 Cuban cigars (really dude just 2, even though I don't smoke you should have gotten me one, at least for keeps sake, I am really pissed :).

We settled into a nice corner spot on the gallery. Divya and I both tried the Cubans, Hobbes however got the cool point for smoking the cigar in style and Winny almost got the smoke rings going. By 12:50 we had ordered our last pitcher, shared some with a localite, and were being pushed out so gulped down the rest. Rounded the night of drinking with shots. Everyone has their own account of what ensued :)

Some stories are good in print and then there are some stories that are good when told in person, better when the details are fuzzy/non existent and best when the yarn spinner is a bit intoxicated. The following stories fall under that category..

The story....

....of songs with deep meanings.....

....of camping in a coupe....

....of steady-hand photographers and swingy swings...

...of walking the white line.....

....of brotherhood with girls....

....of cuban cigars and smoke rings.....

....of 137 "visible" stars.....

Moral of these stories:

No matter where you are, not matter how badly you are prepared. When you are with your friends you always find a way to have a great time. And I for one had one of my best "camping" trips.

PS: Reading through the blog, I just noticed that there are a lot of grammatical mistakes. Please drop me a mail if you notice any.

2010-02-25T23:06:00.002-05:00

........I should have gone with the tattoo, at least the pain dies away.........

Hobbes's Thoughts....

2009-12-13T09:02:00.004-05:00

I stand here accused in the 'Trial of trail' and have been given a fair chance to defend myself; and I do plead guilty. Guilty under insanity - HIS! Evidence? He ran 10 miles in the Vegas desert the day before the hike.

The plot: Now It all started with a phone call. (This part, incidentally, is collaborated by the previous post.) And then everything went awry. The hike was initially planned to be on the first weekend of November. Due to non-availability of permit it was pushed to 3rd week. The "owner" of the blog was supposed to be Phoenix but conveniently moved to Tennessee. A third person was going to join us but could not. And to top this North rim was closed. So what started out as a 3 day rim-to-rim hike, turned out to be a 2.5 day rim-to-rim-to-rim in colder weather.

A 5 hour flight dropped me in Phoenix the day before the hike and I rented a car and drove to Flagstaff and stayed in a hostel on Route 66. The breakfast was a pleasant 2 hr affair due to the fact that Mayur's flight from Vegas was not going to land till 1 pm (and it finally did at 2.30) and I met some very nice folks from Boston and England who were travelling for the last 18 months. I had been reading travelogues but listening it directly from the travellers made it a lot more interesting.

I left Flagstaff at about 10 and reached Grand Canyon airport at 12 only to learn that the dude was still in Vegas giving me a laundry list of items to shop for the hike. For good or bad, his flight was further delayed so he was able to do the shopping himself while I spent about 45 minutes eating a wonderful pizza. (The next time you visit south rim, do stop by at the pizza place opposite the airport. Wonderful pizza). I spent another 45 min in the airport reading waiting for him and hearing stories from the guide who was going to take folks to the canyon. While we were talking someone from lobby dialled 911 so the airport folks came asking both of us if we did it. No, they were not profiling us. It just so happened that we were the only 2 people in the airport.

Anyway, by the time we registered at the canyon office, did final round of shopping and actually started the hike it was 4 pm. A daylight of about 1.5 hrs. Since we were climbing down fresh it wasn't a problem. Both of us did the 5.5 mile hike comfortably in about 3 hours. Pitched tent, had wine and dinner and called it a day. Next day started at 5 am. Breakfast at 5.45 and on the trail to cottonwood, a 7 mile hike. Right at the start of the hike we were told that water was not available in cottonwood campground, so at the last minute we filled a bottle of water for cooking and decided to hang it on my backpack. Not until quite later did I realize this added weight dangling across the backpack at an ackward angle was throwing off my balance making it an effort whenever there was a climb. This aggravated a lot more about the last mile to the ground. The awesome views were heavenly though. This with the unpleasant weight on the back tempted me to take it easy and not do the north rim. But hey, you never know when you are going come back.. and the sweet thought of dumping about 10 pounds.

So we started again and within 3 miles I knew it was going to be tough. I might have probably pushed myself but knowing the fact that I had about 11 mile hike the next day again with a 35 pound backpack and a time deadline of 6 pm to reach south rim (we had to reach Phoenix again by 10 pm for our 12 am flight) made me turn back. And after few minutes I realize that my jacket, gloves, flashlight was with him so it essentially meant that I had to reach back to campground, pitch tent, eat and crawl into the tent before sunset. The alternative was a pitch dark 25 F which wasn't a pleasant thought. And hence, the tent pitching!!! (Attn: Ashwini Tantry)

The third day, after a good night's rest started nicely and in good time both of us made back to Phantom ranch by 12 and after lunch when we were just about to leave got to know that the climb up was not 6 miles but 9. Take that!! That meant 9 miles, elevation gain of about 4700 and time left 5 hrs. So off we set again. Now, carrying a 35 pound backpack is a nice way of being introduced to lot of new bones and muscles. I can't say it was all pleasant. But it was good to know they were all there and working to take me to the top. By now both of us were on our own pace. He was definitely ahead of me (I would later find out that he reached the top about 45 min ahead)

This part of the hike was pure will power. Any climber/ hiker will attest this. There comes a phase were you are tired to think much and all you do is see one leg go in front of other. This is also about the time you decide you are not going to hike anymore for the next x number of days (Never happens). At about 4.45, with Mayur long gone I realize that I had about 45 min of daylight and I just keep walking. At about a mile from south rim, I meet 2 Indian guys who were hiking up from phantom ranch and they tell me that they had met Mayur some time back and he had said that if I don't reach the top by 6 he was going to start down again (Told you he was insane, but insane in a nice way). Normally, I would have liked to pulled out my flashlight but knowing that any delay would make me miss the 6 pm deadline I just kept walking and finally reached the trail head 3 minutes before 6. Finally.

Took a shuttle bus to the car parking area and found Mayur there waiting for me with a veggie wrap (100 bonus points). Drove 4 hrs, returned the rental car and barely had enough time to catch the flight. 3 days of no shower with all the sweat and dust ensured me a seat on the last row of the plane with no one next to me.

So there. A wonderful trip which would not have happened for a little nudge, a little insanity and whole lot of help from the dude. Where next?

Charlotte's Thunder Road Half Marathon

2009-12-12T15:25:00.025-05:00

.......I know, I know, the 2 blogs about Grand Canyon trek are still due..... and I have received complains from my readers(S)... yes, its plural :p (thank you all the 3 of you.. :). One of my reader, I am looking at you Ashwini Tantry (metaphorically ofcourse) commented that, my 2 blogs gave the impression that Hobbes didn't do much in the trek; other than pitch tent. I agree that my last blog does not cover much about Hobbes and I am partly to blame for that, but its only because, on that day Hobbes and I were not together for much of the day. I would categorically like to state that this WAS Hobbes trek, which I was lucky to be a part off... There you go Hobbes thank you again, and please take a bow.

...... this blog was able to slide up the queue because I am still high on the endorphins from the run. And like all other mistakes, they are to be blamed for all the mistakes we make.. :).

I just finished the Charlotte Thunder Bird Half Marathon. I ran with Parag my Blore rommie and his buddies Anand aka Coach and Gautam. Thanks a lot guys. Clock time was 1:52.xx I am still waiting for my official chip time. I hope its under 1:50.
I was on target for this till mile 11. The race clock was showing 1:28.xx on mile 11. So, I would have gone a at least 4-5min under. But I got an acute stitch(pain) in my upper abdomen and was not able to shake it off; no matter how much I tried. Sadly it stayed with me till the finish line. Also I wasn't even able to finish the last 0.25 mile with a sprint like I have been practicing :(.

But those were just the dark lining on an otherwise Silver cloud. I still met my target of finishing under 2:00 and I felt great doing an fast 8.25 pace till mile 11 and I felt great after the run with no post race pain.
:)

will update the photos and race time once I have them..

Beware regular readers - The following section is for runners only. For Non-runners this section might look like vanity :), but for runners its valuable information. :)

4 mistakes I made in the race.
1. Did not study the route - The 12th and 13th mile was all up hill. And I mean every inch of it, hell even the finishing 20 meters were at a incline. That cost me a lot.
2. I was too conservative at the start - I was not able to take advantage of the slopes and flats at the beginning of the race cause we ran a very conservative race. This is partly circles back to mistake 1.
3. A long run in the week of race - I hurt my back while doing a run on Tuesday, luckily that did not cause any problems in the race. But thats the very reason all training schedules ask you to cool-down in the week of race.
4. Breathing and improper posture - I think my upper abdomen stitches were caused by forgetting to concentrate on breathing while setting the pace after mile 6. Also I was slouching down, which I didn't realize until the pain kicked in.

Miles as they flew by...
Start: Shot of the gun and off you go. 7:50 AM 34F and no wind. Its so stupidly exciting. Stupidly because you know that pain awaits you, still you are excited. The only console, 3000 people feel share the feeling. :). A kaleidoscope of jerseys move on...............................mile 1 - 10.31

Mile 2 : Due to some confusion we loose track of Anand and Parag, Gautam sticks with me. We up the pace, But its a bit crowded to run fast................................mile 2 - 19.20

Mile 3: Feeling good so far. Not really running a high pace. The streets are still crowded with runners so we decide to run on the sidewalk. Few running enthusiasts braving the weather and cheering us on Thanks!!!!................................mile 3 - 28.20
Mile 4: quick drinks break, increase the pace a bit. But still doing the high 8s................................mile 4 - 37.xx

Mile 5: Bells ringing, whistles blowing, kids/supporters yelling. The trail weaves around the suburban neighborhood................................mile 5 - 45.xx

Mile 6: Almost half way there. Never felt this great after a 6 mile run. The pace was a tad slower than my training runs. But its OK, don't want to burn to fast. Also, I have 7 more miles to cover up the 3 mins loss. It looks good so far. My back is not showing any signs of the pain that was worrying me yesterday...............................mile 6 - 54:00

Mile 7: Feeling in good shape I tell Gautam that I will speed up and try to get the 1:50. I split with him at the 6 mile mark. Time for my GU pack. A good downhill is helping the pace. I cannot believe what the race clock is reading 1:01:23. Holy Cow!!!! I am running a 7.5 pace...............................mile 7 - 1:01:23

Mile 8: A BIG THANKS to the volunteers for serving us drinks and water. Still running....................................mile 8 - 1:09:05

Mile 9: People holding placards for their loved one. Hi 5s to people and kids who are cheering....................................mile 9 - 1:16:55

Mile 10: I have settled into a nice rhythm. 4 miles at under 8 and I don't feel the slightest strain. I cannot believe this is really happening.....................................mile 10 - 1:24:xx

Mile 11: The grove continues. But now I am feeling a slight strain to take long steps, so I slow down a bit. I am already set to go under 1:50. I am now dreaming of a 1:45.....................................mile 11 - 1:33:xx
Mile 12: Oh ohh!!! getting a stitch in my upper abdomen. I do everything I have learned to get rid of a stitch. But to no avail. The uphill run is not helping either. The bastard sneaked up on me.....................................mile 12 - 1:42:50
Mile 13: I am loosing time and fast. The upper abs stitch is now radiating through the entire right abs. Even a 5 sec break to stretch is not helping. Its bearable on flats, but is absolutely killing me on uphill. I am just hoping to I find a little flat stretch towards the end to accelerate and finish hard. I have been practicing finishing the last 1000 yards with under 5 mm pace. I am hoping to execute it today. The flat stretch that I seek continues to elude me. Who designed the fucking course. An 2 miles all up hill finish. Even the last 100 feets have an incline...Seriously!!!!!!... I see the finish line the clock reads 1:51:01. Arggh.....Daam you hills. Determined to finish on high, I grit my teeth and do a sprint for the final 10 or 15 steps. Victory salute - smile for the camera, punch the air and a mini leap.... its done................................... under the banner - 1:53:45

my personal time - 1:51.xx (we started about 2 mins after the gun shot)
Parag : 2:09:xx
Anand : 2:05:xx
Gautam 1:57:xx

The North Kaibab trail…and the race against time…

2009-11-29T13:04:00.029-05:00

Main blog - There and back again.... almost....

about the trail…..
The trail is a hiker dream come true. With an elevation gain of about 5000 ft from the Cottonwood Campground it is the most difficult of all the 3 trails. The trail passes through every ecosystem that can be found between Canada and Mexico. Trail head is crowned by a thick growth of Aspen, Fir and wildflowers. However as you descend into the valley the vegetation grows sparse and is mostly desert vegetation. But once you enter the valley you get the feeling of walking in a grassland or marshy land with grass taller than you. You also hike through a wide variety of terrains. The trail chugs along the mountain face all the while and you can see the different rock formations and layers up close as you climb up. With every change in layer the soil below you feet changes too. And walking on the trail gives you a surreal feeling of walking through billions of years of evolution.
had Forrest Gump hiked the Grand Canyons, he would have this to say...:)
We have been through every kind of rock there is…Red rock, Black rock, White rock, Green Rock, Purple rock, Yellow Rock. Rock that was as fine as sand and Rock that crumpled if you'd touch it..Smooth Rock and sharp rock..even Rock that shone if you held it in the sun.

our trek....
Carrying 30 pounds across 7 miles from Bright Angle campground had taken its toll on Hobbes and at first he was reluctant to do the North Rim. But urged him to at least give it a try. However it was not my persuasion that finally convinced him.
We met 2 hiker returning from the the North Rim. It had taken them about 3-3.5 hours to get down. Which surprised me a bit, 3.5 hours for a 7 miles descent seems pretty long time. Even with backpacks. I would later find out why it was so.
Anyways we asked them if there were a trash cans on the North Rim. They said yes. The idea of dumping an extra 10-12 pounds that we were hauling across the canyon seemed too good to resist for Hobbes. So we decided to give it a go but track our progress at each landmark point, and give-up the quest if we felt we were behind schedule. We were climbing light all we took were necessities and the extra items we wanted to get rid off. As a small incentive to Hobbes I offered to carry the daypack. We reached the Pump House (1.4 miles) and Roaring Springs (another 0.7 miles) on time. Till this point the trail was relatively easy and we were on time. But as the steepness increased I could see Hobbes struggling and after giving it a few more tires he finally told me he could go no more. I tried to egg him some more, but didn't push much as we still had the tomorrows climb to think off.

race against time..……..
For me it was decision time, whether to go solo or call it a day. It was 2:30 PM and we had another 4 hours of day-light. The rim was another 5 miles away but couldn't find the trail guide to check on the remaining climb. From yesterdays read I knew it was roughly 4000ft. Till that point I was feeling in pretty good shape. After much deliberation, knowing my climbing speed, and making some rough calculations with the available data. I told him I would give it a go. But to be safe I would continue on my climb only till 5:00 PM. That way even with conservative estimates I should be back by 8:00. I told him if I was not back by 8:00 to come looking for me. I wish I had the trail guide to make better judgment.
I would soon find out why it took the 2 men, 3.5 hours hours to descend a 7 mile stretch. After the Pump House residence the trail becomes very steep and is virtually going up all the while while very little flat section. Most of the trail is narrow, rocky and steep. Some of the section are literally half tunnels hewn on the cliff face. Barely 2-3 feet wide they have vertical drop of atlas a 1000 ft. Overall the difficulty of the trail does not make it conducive for a speedier descent. Looking at the terrain made me realize that it would be risky to do these sections in dark and I had to be back at the PumpHouse at around 6:00. The switch back time was now 4:15.

so close but yet so far...
An hour of climbing and still had no sight of the Supai Tunnel. With no landmarks to measure against hope was soon starting to dwindle. For about an hour no one had crossed me and I couldn't see anyone coming up either. Just then the sight of someone climbing down relieved me… yeah!!… Information!!!…I was elated when Steve told me that the tunnel was just around the bend…I reached Supai tunnel at 3:45. 2200 ft, 3 miles in about 80 minutes.. NICE!!…. (at that point I just knew the distance and not the elevation gain).
To Go or Not To Go, was the million dollar question. I had no knowledge of how difficult the terrain was. No idea of the elevation gain. And a 10 pounder bag to haul up the cliff. Also I was a bit tired after the 3 mile burst… But the RIM was just 1.5 miles away…arrrgghh!!!!…
Barely resisting the temptation to throw caution to the wind and much to the dismay of all the adrenaline rushing in me I decide against going the full distance. So close yet so far. Had Hobbes been there with me I would have gone that extra 1.5 mile in an heart beat..… but I guess I will have to live with that until next time.Took a short break to enjoy the breath taking view of the valley

on my was back….
decided to take a leisure stroll on my way back stopping ever so often to enjoy the breath taking view the valley had to offer. By the time I reached the Pump House residence it was already dark, Steve had just reached there, we exchanged some pleasantries. He was glad to hear campsite was just another mile away and that half the campsite was vacant. He could camp there without a permit. Also met a group doing the Rim-To-Rim-And-Back-In-A-Day-RUN . They had started from the North Rim at 4:00 AM and were on their last climb. They expected to get back up at around 9 - 10. That seemed to be pretty impressive. 44 miles and about 10,000 ft of climbing in about 18 hours.. WOW!!!!!. Took some water for tonights dinner and switched on my head lights. As tired as I was the thought that the trek was almost over made me happy.
Back at the campsite Hobbes had already pitched the tent. When we split he had forgotten to take his glasses and warm clothes, so poor guy had to pitch the tent before sunset and had to sitting inside it to avoid the cold. I felt bad for him cause he would have enjoyed a short trek around the campsite...Sorry Hobbes..
My legs were really tired from the exertion so I decided to put my pad outside keep my feet elevated. A niggling pain in my right upper back was worrying me. As hard as today was, they hardest part of the trek was yet to come, a climb UP the South Rim. Approx. 6000 ft of climb with a 30 pound backpack. Only the thought of a long night rest quelled some of the fears.

Sleeping on my pad and staring out in the vast emptiness of the star lit sky; one image from the hike painted itself into my memory..
"Sitting down on the edge of a path…. Chiseled on the face of the cliff in the form of a half tunnel….maybe 2 or 3 feet wide……with a 1000 feet or more of vertical drop :)…. feet dangling over the edge…soaking in the beauty of the cascading Roaring Spring falls and the dusky lit Grand Canyons…"

There and back again.... almost....

2009-11-24T21:04:00.014-05:00

It all began with a simple phone call from a friend. In the blog he will be referred to as Hobbes, from Calvin & Hobbes fame. That's because he took a sick leave from work and might get in trouble if his boss found that he was instead hiking the Grand Canyons.

After my move to Phoenix Hobbes called and took me up on our long made plans to hike the Grand Canyons. Without hesitation I said yes. We had no real information about hiking the Grand Canyons just some trivial information gathered from friends and web reads. First up, campsite reservation. Yeah, you heard me "reservation for the campsite". Even though its in the middle of a desert winter can get pretty chilly at both the Rims, with temperature falling in the low 20s. So hiking in winter can be a bit tricky. We still had had difficulty getting a spot in November and we thought we were the only crazy ones.

Made a few calls to the Grand Canyon National Park - Backcountry office, I made the reservations. And that is my sole contribution in organizing this trip and Hobbes would gladly and grumpily confirm that. :) The D-Day was set 18th Nov. woooohoooo Grand Canyons here we come........

I can go on an on about both the Grand Canyons and my hike. So I have decide to write short essays instead. I am hoping you will have as much fun reading it as I had trekking it. The blogs that would follow will be in no particular order. I will be placing hyperlinks at the bottom so that its easy to track them and they will have the same title. With the long weekend coming up I am hoping to write them all pretty soon.

Words fail to describe the beauty and resplendency of the Grand Canyons. As picturesque as they are from the rim, they are simply awe-inspiring and majestic from within the valley.

Had it not been for him; the Grand Canyons trek, like all others would've just remained a wish.
Thank you Hobbes for making it a memory.

Hobbes's Thoughts

The North Kaibab trail…and the race against time…

Thought for the day

2009-10-16T03:47:00.005-04:00

At this point I am thinking of doing something crazy and stupid.....

...like falling in love ........... or getting a tattoo

.......both of them are incredibly painful,

and both stay with you for life.....

Adieu

2009-05-21T19:30:00.007-04:00

I hate saying goodbyes. Yesterday I went to the airport to see off my uncle, aunt and my two cousins. The worst moment is the final hug.

Each time you hug someone and let them go, a piece of you chips off.

Leaving behind memories inlieu of a scar.

However small that piece be...

it hurts no less.

My ohnosecond

2009-05-08T22:42:00.008-04:00

On their visit to the states my mom had given me a coin from Vaishnav Devi temple which I kept in my wallet. Since then I avoided carrying change for fear of the coin getting mixed with other coins and accidently being traded..

Yesterday I was coming home from the airport on a Septa bus. Since we have to pay the exact fare I had a couple quarters with me. As soon as the coins rolled off my fingers I realized that I had dropped of my silver coin. My fingertip scratched the surface of the deposit box to stop it from going in, but I wasn't quick enough. I asked the drive if I could get it back. To my dismay the driver explained that there was not much he could do about it. He did not have access to the deposit box and at the end of shifts someone from septa collects all the deposit box. The box is then taken to the collection center along with other boxes where all the coins are deposited. He however gave the bus details, asked me to call Septa customer care number and wished me luck with my pursuit.

I came home and without much hope gave it a try. I narrated my story to the lady on phone. At first she didn't knew what to do about it. She noted down the details, gave me a complaint number and put me on hold... and then forwarded me to "Refunds" department. The lady on the line told me they don't handle such cases and asked me to remain online while she figure out what could be done. After a few minutes she redirected me to the Supervisor of "Collections" department. The supervisor pulled up my complaint number and assured me that she would look into it. She told me to wait for a day and if the coin was found someone from the collections department would give me a call.

And I sure did get a call today :) informing me that they had found my coin and I could come and collect it at the office or they could mail it me. I decide to go pick it up myself.

Throughout the whole process the thing that impressed me the most was this. At no point was I told hang up the phone and call someone else, even when my concern was not under their purview the person on the other end politely put me on hold and then figured out whom to redirect me too and then did so. I was fortunate enough to get my coin back, but even if I hadn't I still would have felt good about the way things were handled.

I would really like to express my gratitude to everyone from Septa who helped me.

THANKS!!!!

Craig Ferguson gives an eulogy to his father

2009-03-19T01:29:00.007-04:00

For those who read this blog and I am sorry you have to. (for sure, as a friend you read it out of sheer courtesy ;)

But the countless hours we WASTE (yes waste) surfing the internet. Every so often you stumble upon something that touches you. Be it a video, a movie, an article or a song you feel the need to share it with the people you know, with the hope that they enjoy it as much as you.

...this is a very touching tribute from a son to his father....

Jon Stewart taking on the CNBC

2009-03-13T00:07:00.008-04:00

Déjà vu!!! It was Crossfire all over again, only better. This time the producers of Daily Show had control on when to go on a break. Once again the journalistic integrity of the 24 hrs news channel was questioned with ruthless precision.

Normally even when confronting someone, Jon throws in a bit of comedy. But this time there was no holding back, no attempt made to throw in a slapstick comment. Cramer, who unfortunately has become a face of CNBS in this battle, did a very sensible thing of not making baseless argument. But then again, I dont think he was given much of a chance.

The best line of the show came when Cramer said he does it because there is a market/need for it to which Jon said "so is for Cocaine and Hookers"

I cannot wait to see the unedited interview on The Daily Show's website. http://www.thedailyshow.com

!!Kudos to you Jon!!

Poems

2009-02-09T12:23:00.008-05:00

haven't been on the blogosphere for a long time... not that there isn't much to write about, just not feeling like it....but I do however appreciate those who visit my site in search of something to read...(i guess even u must have gotten bored to death, and have nothing else to do..)

so as they say if you aren't creative, be friends with people who are....and without further adieu..I will leave you with the words of Ruturaj Devkar, a budding poet and dear friend...

Time!
Its not about the time,
winner is one who bits the time.
Time is never good or bad,
it gets the title we wish to pad.
Time is always right,
to do right why one should fright.
Its not the time which prove you fool,
how can you catch shark in swimming pool.
Its not the time which makes you bright,
hardwork will bring you to limelight.
Its not about the time,
why stare at Everest let us climb

Na yun...
Rootho na yun tum hamase,
dil ki baten na yun chupao hamase.
Aankhon se hi bayaan karado,
Nazaron ko na yun churao hamase.
Akele na yun baten karo khudse,
Ho shikawa to izahar karo hamase.
Muskurahat na yun bikheron aise.
Phoolon ko na yun sharmao aise.
Chehare pe na yun ghungat odho aise.
Didar ka huk na yun chhino hamase.
Chhup chhup ke na yun dekho aise.
Dhadkan hamari na yun badhao aise.

Some things never change.....

2008-12-02T22:04:00.024-05:00

The sunbathed school yard is filled with neatly arranged rows of students waiting for the national anthem to begin. Kids trickle in before the gates are closed and fill up their respective queues. At the very end of the Grade 1 queue a small boy is trying hard to maintain his last position. Pushing and trudging the kids coming after him to take his place. The national anthem starts blaring on the public address system. Everything suddenly comes to a standstill. In stark contrast to what will be an epitome of chaos during recess, the yard is very quiescent.
The kid glances at the gates ever so often. As the national anthem ends the queue inches towards the school entrance. He, successful in holding on to the coveted last position continues to look back over his shoulders towards the gates. But now with tear stained eyes. All efforts concentrated towards getting a glimpse of his mother waiting across the school gates

.. and now 22 years later, he still pushes on his toes to get one more glimpse across the security check-in barricades at the airport.... although standing on the other side of the gate this time.... nothing else has changed....

Looking in from outside

2008-11-28T15:04:00.002-05:00

A must read article..
make your own judgement, I for one could not agree more..

US daily finds fault with Indian leaders over terror attacks

Mumbai meri Jaan

2008-11-27T21:28:00.005-05:00

Not a very good time to return to blogging.

Its tough to see the city of dreams facing it worst nightmare. The city that I love the most has been hit in the past.. but nothing like this. I hope the city responds the only way it has know..with defiance and solidarity.

BUT, the way our nation responds HAS to change..
3 of the best police officers lost in encounter... its hard to believe its a coincidence...
and why did it take the permission of the Home Ministry to call Black cat commandos from NSG, and why did it take too long..

Its high time we need, sorry demand an anti-terrorism agency that's answerable only to the supreme court/prime minister, capable of taking decisions on their own.

MOM DAD HERE WITH ME :)

2008-08-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

Son of a Gun

2008-05-12T23:18:00.018-04:00

Anni and Shamit (NY boys) and Abhinav (recently NYorker) had come over to see the countryside, so we had gone to a Winery. Later in the day decided to try our hands at shooting. Set the address for French Creek in the GPS. It took us to a shopping mall. Yeah, the shooting range was inside a shopping mall, go figure. It was actually at the back of a mountaineering store.

Signed the consent forms and picked up guns that were on display. Murali had been to a shooting range before, so the instructor teamed me up with him. The instructor gave us 50 9mm bullets. I made the mistake of going inside without wearing my earmuffs. The moment I step inside the sound of gunshot scared the living hell out of me. Saying that I flinched would be grossly understating it. Almost jumped.

Loaded the magazine with 15 9mms, locked it in the stock, pressed the glide stop. Took my position. An now the moment of truth.....(drum rolls........slowly fading drum rolls...)

click......click,click....(more clicks)

I know what you are thinking, guns don't go click click... they go BANG!!! BANG!!! (or dishkaun!!! dishkaun!!! as in hindi movies). But it did click.. :( Your guess is as good as mine, the safety lock was on. Called in the instructor to fix it for me didn't want to fool around with a loaded gun.

Held the gun, aimed at the target..Drum rolls.... (again please) and
BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bullet shot through the barrel and pierced the target, the gun recolied, shooting a pulse of adrenalin originating at finger tips and radiating throughout the body. Stood there stationary enjoying the moment. I had fired my first shot. 14 more shots followed, some hit the target most didnt, but who cares. With each shot all the bullet metaphors made more sense.

A few rounds later got a hang of it. Hit the bullseye Thrice, the bullseye and I am not talking about hitting the edge of the bullseye or near the bullseye.. hit it dead center. Let me paint the picture for you, if I have a gun (and licenced to kill) and you really piss me off. I could shoot you in the head 18 times and 3 of those would be right between your eyes*.

On the last round hit 5/8 shots in and around the red mark. Lo and Behold! the Son of Gun has arrived.

Videos -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTFKwCBJQJA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLoqX8x1FM8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlnAYrmV8G0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KJyguBz2JY

Conditions apply - For this you have to stand/sit real steady for about an hour. Looking straight at me and no flinching please when the gun fires. ;)

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso

2008-04-01T02:34:00.011-04:00

It is not very often I suggest a movie to my friends, but will make an exception this time. I was not aware of this movie until I accidentally stumbled on it. Which does says something about my movie literacy; however that is not the point. It's more of a 'movie finding the viewer' kinda thing. I copied over a bunch movies from my friend. Yeah, yeah, i know its digital piracy and its not right.. and the whole nine yards. If there is a movie that I intent to watch, I do take the efforts to watch it legally. But, if not for piracy I (and many of us) would have been deprived of some many great movies...that is not to say it right.. but its one of those issues I am on the fence about. But, I will do my bit and buy a original DVD of this movie.

No words I say or write (or copy from other reviews) would ever come remotely close to capturing the essence of this movie. Its movies like this that make me love movies so much. The only thing I would like to say is set aside 155 minutes... dim the lights (you pervs, that's how you enjoy good movies), take you seat and the movie will do the rest. Take my word for it, it will be worth your while. Please leave a comment once you have seen it.

Living here day by day, you think it's the center of the world.
You believe nothing will ever change. Then you leave:
a year, two years.
When you come back, everything's changed.
The thread's broken. What you came to find isn't there. What was yours is gone.
You have to go away for a long time... many years... before you can come back and find your people. The land where you were born.
But now, no. It's not possible. Right now you're blinder than I am.

Seeing Nelson

2008-03-18T23:12:00.004-04:00

What started as an interesting observation is now becoming kinda annoying. 7/10 times I check the watch , i see a Nelson. Ok Ok, its an approximation, i've not really counted it, I have a Life!, jeez.... But, that is besides the point, the point being; about 70 % of the times I read time I pick up a Nelson. Some or the other form of it 1:11, 2:22, 3:33, 11:11...

I just did some googling, but was not able to find the average number of times people read time. I was planning to find the odds of this happening (I still stand by my statement, I do have a Life). If the cosmos is trying to send a message, a little more directness would help, please. I am not not good at taking hints, i have friends who can vouch for it. @ Cosmos, I really feel touched and honored for being picked up as a recipient, but i think yo've got the wrong Number :)

'Food' for thought.. lilterally

2008-03-14T23:49:00.002-04:00

Every time you'd pass a cake display window, haven't you always wondered. How great it would be to gorge on that piece of art all by yourself... Well, i no longer have to.. ;)

....just stating the obvious.... if heaven would feel half as good, i'd kill to get in...... :|

Journey is the Destination

2008-03-12T22:34:00.009-04:00

Drove to Chicago (from Boston) over the weekend. You read it right, DROVE. Well the intent was never to reach Chicago.. All we (me and 3 other driveoholic ) wanted to do was drive for 3 days... to those who think this is a crazy thing to do, i would say; I agree. The only condition was no red eye drive. So after lot of calculations, yes, calculations; its not always you get to use your brains, so when you do grab the opportunity by both hands. After a lot calculations we concluded that we should be able to cover 2000 miles in 3 days. Chicago just happened to fall in the circle. Plus, Atlantic occupying half of it, didn't really leave us with many options.

Things we saw en route..

mamu's diwali - in the rear view mirror, when i was not driving... ;) hehehe.
Road signs..
indicating switching of time zone - Yes there is actually a point. All it takes is 1 step to get 1 hour of your life back.
Welcome signs for the Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois.
farms, endless farms - There are farms on both side of the interstate.. for miles..... and then there are more farms when you take an exit....again for miles....maybe the concept of cities have not reached these palace, which is actually a good thing. However since it was winter all we could see was vast expanses... barren..still beautiful..at sunset, you could see the sun at eye level.
121 mph - the speedometer needle touching 121 mph,
125 mph - this time didn't see it, however the GPS recorded the exploits of someone. This was night time..crazy bugger..

A building about 20ft barbed wire fence.... just googled it, its the NY Fishkill Correctional facility.... that justifies the fence.... still so near to the interstate, all you have to clear the fence, your life the, will literally be on the highway.
Winny trying and failing miserably to finish up blueberry country pan cake at Ihop, think that's what it was called.
Chicago - Of course :)

.... that's all i can remember now, will keep on adding to the list.

The Road goes ever on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

Think about it.....

2007-12-27T16:11:00.001-05:00

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher. - Abdul Kalam

Taare Zameen Par

2007-12-23T01:46:00.000-05:00

Checked with my roomies, two had to prepare for certifications, one was out of town, and the other has a phobia for hindi movies (stupid). I had no choice but to go solo. I have never till this day watched a movie alone in cinema hall. Too soocha yeah bhi experience kar lete hai. Drove around 35 miles to get to the nearest theater playing hindi movies. On reaching the parking did it dawned upon me that I had left my wallet home (supid me). A few expletives flew around then I scoured the car for loose change. After looking under every possible crevice I was able to conjure 8.52$ (5 + 0.25*9 + 0.10*10 + 0.5*3 + 0.01*12). Took whatever I had to the ticket counter and asked the lady "How much does the ticket costs, including taxes". "8.25$ and no taxes on movies" she replied with a rye smile. YES!!!. The exhilaration was however short lived, the movie show was @ 9:50 and not @ 9:05. An hour alone in the lobby with 22 cents to spend. What a F@#$%d up day for watching a movie. Only the thought of watching Aamir Khan on the screen was somewhat of a solace. Then again there was the looming danger of it turning out to be another Fanna.

His foray into direction was a much awaited one. Direction is all about story telling to a willing audience, they already have invested 3 hours of their lives (and 8.25$) to listen to you. As a director it's your job to make sure that they don't regret their decision.

I would like write very little about the movie, for the fear that my lack of vocabulary would do injustice to the movies brilliance. From scene one your are riveted to the story. The 1st half belongs to the kid and the director. I am stunned by the kids acting. For him to portray the kind of emotions he has neither seen nor experienced with such élan is mind blowing. All along the 1st half there are subtle hints about Ishaan's problems. This is however missed by his parents and they send him to boarding school. Once he is pulled out of his protected shell, naughtiness gives way to seclusion. As he becomes more and more introvert, eventually thinking of suicide. Swoosh comes in out hero and saves the day... how.. watch the movie for it.

When you like a movie and think is a great one you end up try to find up flaws in it, however minor or obscure they might be. In TZP all the Teachers are portrayed in pure black. This might have been necessary to juxtapose Aamir's role. But then again 90% of the teachers I had, did belong to the greyer shade of black, if not absolute black. :)

The one area where the movie really triumphs is the acting at not stage becomes melodramatic. The dialogues are at not point heavy, all the melodrama is provided by the scenes themselves. The movie really is hard hitting and a few scenes strike a cord in you. Some of the scenes gave me goose bumps, while a few others left tear in my eye (oh yes, you will). There is one scene where the teacher tears up Ishaan's book in the classroom. How i wish "Another brick in the wall" was played in the background for this scene. but then that expecting too much.. :). All the songs are nice and integral to the movie. The background score is really very good and helps the scenes convey its intensity. Its 3:30 am now, and I am writing about a movie, its that good i couldn't wait till tomorrow to write about it.

The star of the movie is definitely Ishaan (Darsheel Safary).

Aamir Khan has proven once again that, not only is he a SuperStar, but also when it comes to movie making acumen he is out there with the best in the world. No one in Indian film industry even comes close.

As far as movies go, this month rocks. I had the pleasure of seeing 3 really good movies

Aaja Nachle, I am Legend and Taare Zameen Par. TZP is definitely an addition to my list of Credit Starers and probably the best work of art created by Aamir.

Think about this, its past midnight @ a theater in Massachusetts, the credits are rolling on the screen and a mini documentry plays along. There are still 15-20 people watching it. The last name rolls by.... the sound stops.... the screen goes blank.... only now that the remaining people trickle out.

Kimi Raikkonen

2007-12-13T01:13:00.000-05:00

Saw this vide on Dailymotion from Saima. what a great video this is.
To all the Kimi fans, this is a must watch.

KRS 2007 Brazil - Kimi World Champion Uploaded by EvenstarSaima

For more Kimi Raikkonen videos visit http://darkmaiden.spaces.live.com/

Love is

2007-12-08T00:25:00.001-05:00

Mia: That's when you know you've found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.

(no points for guessing which movie this is from)

Aaja Nachle

2007-12-02T01:35:00.000-05:00

Watched Aaja Nachle today, finally a very good hindi movie this year. This is not a hatke movie, it’s your standard underdogs fight and underdogs win theme. It’s about a small village NRI woman, who has returned back to her roots to fulfill the last wish of her guru. This is to save Ajanta Theater from being replaced by a shopping mall. Akshay Khanna (MP, Indian royalty, US educated) offers Madhuri a deal wherein if she is able to host a successful show using cast members compromising only of villagers, the theater would stay.

Credit must go to the director for keeping the movie light hearted, fast paced and real. There are no overbearing melodramatic scenes. Up until the musical finale the entire movie is full of lovely moments some funny some touching. There is not a single dull moment in this movie, and barring a few scenes the movie's integrity is not lost.

The film is blessed with a brilliant supporting cast. All the characters are very endearing, and the actors have done full justice to their roles. Their quirkiness leave a lot of room for comedy, which the director has exploited to the fullest. The selection process is a laugh riot, the best scene is when one of the aspirants does a Dhak-Dhak number.

This is an out an out Hindi movie, bright coloured clothes, people ready to dance and/or sing at the drop of a hat etc etc. And I was so happy to see the director embrace it, rather that shun it. All the songs are really good and in tune with the story line. Having Madhuri Dixit dance for your songs surely helps. The musical finale is Grand and very nicely choreographed.

The only place the film lacks is, unlike in Lagaan, you don’t really feel their pain and passion for the fight they are in, and though you root for their victory, you will not be heartbroken if the loose.

You are so engrossed in watching the movie that you really don’t question a few technicalities, like. How can Madhuri just run away to USA without a visa? (maybe she has a H1-B we don’t know off). Or Where do they get the money to finance such a Grand musical Finale. And this I think is where the movie succeeds in insulating you from the realities. After all this is not a documentary but a Hindi film ;)

Madhuri Dixit

For my generation of film buffs, there are only 3 SuperStars.

Shahruk Khan - and I hate to admit it.
Aamir Khan - just too good.
Madhuri Dixit - no other actress comes even close to her(well maybe Kajol, but she cant dance)
Will not include the Big B in this list, he is in a league of his own.

These 3 are the a cut above the rest, no one in my 15 years of watching movies even come close. I think their ease in front of the camera come from the knowledge that even with 10 people in the frame, all the eyes will be glued to them.

Coming back to Madhuri, I must agree that she looks a bit aged in few scenes (she is 40+ so cut her some slack will you). But you turn on the music , all you see is the teenager who rocked India with her "Eak Do Teen" number. Not only is her dancing sublime, but her grace coupled with her expression ignites magic on the silver screen. And who can forget her Million Dollar Smile. An acting power house she had proven herself time and again, however as I said this movie has very few melodramatic scenes. You watch the Laila-Majun finale and you will know what I am talking about.

Hail the undisputed queen of Indian cinema, and savor her comeback. On second thoughts did she ever leave.

Can you phrase Life any better

2007-11-24T00:54:00.000-05:00

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body all worn and used, screaming “Whoo hooo what a ride!" - Lynds

Conversations

2007-11-15T19:14:00.000-05:00

Almost a year since I’ve publish a blog.. not that i have been sitting idle or have nothing to share.. . just couldn’t get around to finish the "Unfinished Tales"

2007 has been a hell of a ride... many unpublished blogs (sitting in the Drafts list, awaiting finishing touches).. lots of anecdotes to write about.... but those have to wait...

Had to write this blog today.. cause If not today.... if not now... i would probably never write this blog, and I really want to write it.

Today began a 7:00AM (yeah 7:00 I can see a few eyes rolling over) and from then on it was a free fall into a bottom less abyss. Work kept on piling up, unresolved issue, new issue cropping up. The cherry on the cake was the discovery of a bug we had inserted in the build scheduled to go into tonight’s Production install. We the found the rootcause and concluded it was partly our mistake. That was it, I decided to close shop for sometime, take a break, and get back to the pile of pending work later from home.

Before leaving office had a chat with a friend. Love having conversation with her. Our conversations are mostly about nothing, taking shallow potshots, witty remarks (mostly mine, and thats been acknowledged today), and gossip.

I started the conversation with a casual, crude remark which had to potential of ruining the conversation and making an already worse day; well worstest. Fortunately that didn’t happen and the chat steered towards the jocular, quick witted conversation we normally have. To that Friend ... Thanks for bringing a smile to my face.

PS: In all honesty it really was a casual remark. On hindsight it was not a very smart thing to say, then again knowing know how such kind of remarks will be entertained. There definitely are more in store. ;)

"The Fall" of Friends

2006-12-05T22:02:00.000-05:00

To our generation Friends have become an integral part of our lives. We might have got independence 60 years ago as a nation, but I honestly feel that this generation is the most Liberated one in terms of thought process. We think of individuality, have the audacity to question age old traditions and not follow them in blind fate. For this, we have to be partly thankful to our parents aswell who provided us the financial independence. Cause i know for sure, at least in my case "Individuality" and "Rebelliousness" was not a luxury they could afford. They always had to take responsibility of others, first as children and then as parents. I dont have that restriction, I can spend my life as ME; not as my father's son or my son's father.

We have extended this right of choice and individuality in selecting the people whom we want in the 'Circle'. How close they are to our parents, or how close a relative they are, barely influences that decision. And, if we are perceived as being rude, in the process, so be it. We choose whom we want to be friends with. Its not that we nit pick our friends, but we do choose whom we want to spend our time with. These people with whom we enjoy spending time, become friends. With others we are just social.

When I left Mumbai for graduation 2 of my best friends were there with me. Then when I had to move to Bangalore for my job, I was very happy to know that one of them would be joining me. We somehow ended up not staying together, but it's still comforting to have your friend just a phone call away. Even after coming to US I was lucky enough to make a few new good friends.

But Today, I stand like a maple tree after Fall, just bare branches. Most leaves have fallen near the root, not with me but still close. But some, have been blown away to far off lands by the winds of change....

Today for the first time in my life I am feeling lonely... but not sad.....
I take heart in the knowledge that, like all winters this too shall pass and spring's just round the corner....

PS: On reading the blog I've realised that "WE" has been used a lot. It is entirely my opinion of "US", ‘our generation’ and you have the right to differ

Travel Blog cont... Day 3 - Golden Gate and SFO City

2006-12-02T05:19:00.000-05:00

..finally the 3rd Part…. yes finally, it has been almost 4 months to the visit and now i am able to get through with the Final Day's updates.

My Best Friend Suraj
8:30 Got a call from Suraj, said he was going to be late but promptly apologised :). He is one of my best friends and has been since we were 16. It had been 4 years since I have last met him in person. We had been in touch since then via mails, phone and chats..... ( due to advancement in technology keeping in touch has been a lot easier). He got down from his car, gave me a big hug. The conversation just took off from there, as if we had just met yesterday. We talked about almost everything from college mates, professors, cricket to comparing US and India. Old memories weaved in between the discussions. It seemed just yesterday, that he and Parag had dragged me out of my house to tell me that he had proposed the girl he loved and that she had said YES. That was however 7 years ago. And now he's getting married in December but sadly I won’t be able to attend his weeding. An hour had passed by and now it was time to say goodbye. We took a short trip in his car, a snap together, a big bug then Adieu. Strangely I was not feeling sad, it was just a casual 'Bye', as if, we would be meeting at work the next day........ cheers to Friendship

.. Muir woods. - huge redwood trees, nice quiet place to take a walk. The wooden boardwalk however looks very artificial. It's convenient, but i would rather prefer walk on the jungle floor.

GOLDEN GATE
This has to be THE highlight of the trip. During our travels in and out of SFO we did cross the bridge a few times. But its only when you stop to take a look, you are stunned by its enormity. Then the elegance and beauty of it, keeps your eyes glued to it. I love architecture, mainly because the inanimate object that you are looking at is a product of one person's dreams, hardwork and genius. (read Ayn Rand's The FountainHead, you'll totally get what i am driving at)
Some of the best photos taken of the bridge are during dusk. This is what i read on a site.
"As the fog spills over from the mountains into the bay, only the two towers are seen standing over a bed of cloud. The late afternoon light adds magic to the panorama.
I was looking forward to see this spectacle. But..., :( To get a good view one has to be on top of the nearby hill, above the fog. We had a flight to catch in the evening......
(so much for the blue pacific and the magical 'Golden fog at the Gate')...

...SFO downtown...
after spending a few hours around the bridge we went to SFO downtown. The plan to visit Alcatraz also had to be scrapped due to time constraint. We walked around the bay, went to pier 9. There were a whole bunch of seals one a stone nearby, this has made the pier a popular tourist spot. I had never seen a seal before so was curious. Seals are ugly.. and i mean downright disgusting. Its like a lump lying on the ground. From pier 9 we made our way to some garden... (at this point i am not even trying to stress my brain cells for the name of this place, i just want to rush to the part where i sit in the plane and zzzZZzzzzzZZZz... :) )

.. back home.....
dropped the rented car at the Airport...
bought a souvenir at the terminus....
boarded the flight, cursed myself for not taking a direct flight back...
switched flights at ( i think washington...again.. rushing)
back at boston parking lot, deb's cars batteries had died down cause we had left the lights on...asked the lady at security for assistance.... the service van pomptly arrived and jump started the car...
finally............HOME SWEET HOME...

I hereby solemnly vow not to write another Travel Blog.... its 5:14 AM now time to hit the sac...
Photo Link http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sfx_mayuresh/album

PS: I would take this opportunity to apologise to my dear friend and roomie Parag Garg. It totally slipped my mind that he too was in SFO and i was not able to meet him. But in all honesty i always thought that his onsite was in Charlotte (lame but true). So the thought never crossed my mind to call him.
Parag, "I really am sorry and felt equally bad to not meet you".. maaf kar de yaar :)

Credits Starers

2006-11-24T00:05:00.000-05:00

There are some movies that you remember for ever. Even after the movie ends and the credits start rolling, you remain in your seat staring at the screen till it goes black. I call such movies the "Credits Starers". . During the credits roll your brain is busy multitasking between reading the credits roll and playing back the scenes from the movie.

Here's my list of Credits Starers ..(not in any order)
a few of these I watched on TV and the others on screen..

.. LOTR
all the 3 movies were simply brilliant..... being a fan of LOTR (read die hard fan), I've read all the published works of Tolkien related to LOTR... and other related articles that I could lay my hands on. 've Read the book thrice, ( yes 3 times.. hey; don't look at me like that, you'll find plenty of LOTR fans who have read it more no. of times).
The only way a movie could be made on LOTR, was with "No Holds Barred" approach. I can just go on and on about how brilliantly picturised the movie is, and how Peter Jackson has given life to Tolkien's words, but this is not a movie review column. All the 3 movies fall in the list especially the 3rd one ..... aahhhh...

...Shawshanks Redemption
The 1st time I saw the movie was on StarMovies and had not heard of it till then. It was 4 AM when the credits started rolling, my eyes were glued to the screen from scene one. My mom came in to check if i was asleep, and even she could not resist switching the TV off.. ( just a FYI, mom allowing me to watch a movie that late, had never ever happened till that day....NEVER.. EVER)

...Million Dollar Baby
performances of Clint Eastwood, Hillary Swank and Morgan Freeman.....

...Cast Away
making people watch a single character on screen for 2.5 hours, 0nly Tom Hanks can do that

...Salaam Bombay
watched it when i was 13.... made me feel glad that i had a home and thanked God for that.

...Schindler's List
Oskar Schindler hysterical breakdown at the end of the movie, brought a tear to my eyes

...MATRIX

...Sarfarosh
fast paced, direct and hitting.. Aamir Khan as usual, gives a knockout performance.

...Gladiator
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next......what else can i say... :)

...Pulp Fiction
...Satya
...QSQT
...Andaz Apana Apana

...Life is Beautiful
Roberto Benigni choice of humor to potray the atrocities at ghettoes and concentration camps is touching.

i tried to restrict it to 10, but had to squeez in a few more. I am sure I 've have missed a lot of other good movies. Feel free to post your list of Credits Starers in the comments.

Travel Blog cont... Day 2 - Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley

2006-10-27T23:17:00.000-04:00

.......continuing the 2nd part of this travel blog...

enroute Lake Tahoe
The journey to Lake Tahoe was uneventful except for the pit stop at the Petrol Pump. Here we met a couple of Biker Dudes, we were checking out their bikes. Up until then I had never seen a Harley Davidson this close. The sheer size of these machines is HUGE. Upon seeing our excitement, they were generous enough to let us use their bikes for taking snaps. The California Sun had finally decided to bless us with its gracious presence, and we were thankful for that...

Beautiful Blue Lake Tahoe
Located on the border of California and Nevada this beautiful lake is nestled in mountains. It has the bluest water I have ever seen. The mountains surrounding it give it a majestic aura. During winter the mountain tips are covered in snow.
The bright sun leaves a silver shimmer on the water and the blue backdrop makes it a sight to behold. The city too is very laid back and not crowded, in spite of it being one of the most visited places in US. If you are planning to visit SFO, make sure you have this place marked in your trip planner.
Me and Harsha just could not resist the temptation of having a dip in it. ;)... Its a "Chair and Book" kinda place, where you spend 3-4 days just sitting by the shoreline and reading a nice book. Unfortunately... due to time constraints we had to move on…

Squaw Valley Ski Resort
The 1960 Winter Olympics were held here. On our way there we had to pass a bridge. Due to repair work only one lane was open. At a time traffic could move in one direction only ("Alternate Stop/GO"). It was a pleasant surprise to find no one tailgating. Couldn't imagine the chaos a similar instance would have caused in India.
At the resort a room sized lift (I am not kidding, this elevator was huge) took us to the cable car. The ride way up gave a nice view of the valley. Once on top you get a panoramic view of Lake Tahoe.
After having a chocolate frosted vanilla ice-cream we decided to be a bit more adventurous and try ice skating. The last time I had touched skates was way back in 6th grade (those were roller not even in-line). Though I was not able to skate smoothly I was actually able to circle the skating rink 4-5 times. And no, the skating rink was not the size of boxing ring... remember 1960 OLYMPICS.. duhh :)..After a few slips and lots of falls, I was able to get off the rink with all of my 350 bones intact. (stats courtesy munnabhai)...

.....Way back
.......Harsha over came his speeding ticket fear and broke the 65mph barrier :)
.. CALLED UP ONE OF MY BEST FRIEND SURAJ, made plans to meet the next day, the thought of seeing him after such a long time brought a smile to my face.... remembered the dialogue Sid says to Sameer in Dil Chahta Hai....
"Sid: Dekh raha hu wo jahaz, jo zara der baad dikhai nahi dega. Jante ho hum tino us jahaz ki tarah hai, jo aaj nahi to kal apni apni manzilon ko dhundte hue niklenge. Aur ho sakta hai, hamari manzilein alag alag ho Sameer: Tu ye sab kyun keh raha hai meri samaj me nahi aa raha. Hum dost hai, zindagi bhar ke liye.Sid : Sid: Ofcourse hai!! Lekin kiski zindagi kise kahan le jaati hai kya pata? Kabhi socha hai?? Har saal yahaan aana to ek taraf, 10 saalon me milna bhi mushkil ho jayega!!"...........maan in miss my College Days...

Photo Link http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sfx_mayuresh/album
PS: Harsha brought it to my notice, that i met my friend on the 3rd day and not the 2nd. On replaying the sequence of events if think its correct... For the sake of cronological scantity i have made correction to the 2 blogs :)

Day 3 to follow...

No Absolutes - Food for thought

2006-10-05T20:48:00.000-04:00

Saw a movie coupla days back - "Rabbit Proof Fence". It’s a poignant story of 2 Aboriginal girls and their escape from a detention center. The theme revolves around the Australian Govt. policy that has resulted in the so called "Stolen-Generation".
Approximately from the start of the 20th century to 1969 the Australian government agencies and church missions forcibly removed children of half-cast from the families. The policy’s motive was to train and educated these children so that they could be assimilated back in the society.
But the policy and the way it was implemented has left and entire generation alienated and in trauma.

In the end it however got me thinking......
Often in life there are no Absolute GOOD or BAD, just people/ideologies with a point of view.. and there are no absolutes here......each is correct form his point of view. The actions that follow are a direct consequence of this belief.

Only History/Consequences gives us the tool for pannning out and see the complete picture. At this moment all we have is a "point view". All we can do is, learn from the past mistakes and do what we believe is GOOD, and pray that History deems our action to be GOOD.

Travel Blog ---- To SFO.....Day 1

2006-10-02T23:47:00.000-04:00

This is just a travel blog, have tried to cram in as much as possible in this blog (the same way we crammed in so many places in 3 days of traveling)

Sept 01 2006
...had to get up at 3:00 to catch the 7:20 flight to SFO from Logan Int. (Boston),
(the only way that I was gonna to achieve it ,was by not sleeping at all)
US Airport Security was still on ORANGE level so we had to check in on time to avoid any disappointment later.....

7:00 Logan International: ....had a Latte at StarBucks, then for the entire flight duration ZzzzzzzZzzzZZZ :)..

10:30 at SFO airport My friend's baggage got lost in transit. Logged a complaint, the lady at help desk assured us that the baggage had been checked into SFO and they would have it delivered too our hotel. We considered ourselves lucky as another passenger’s luggage was accidentally shipped on a flight to NewZeland...

11:30 The AirTrain took us to the Hertz building where we took our car. I am really in awe of the infrastructure in US, CONVENIENCE I think is the best way to describe it.
.. You book a flight ticket and travel around 2000 miles,
.. a moving walkway takes you to the AirTrain terminus,
.. board this fully automated AirTrain(it has NO driver), it takes you to the building that houses all major car rentals,
.. pick up the car(almost brand new, fuelled up) drive it around and then just drop it back,
.. follow the same path back, and a plane will fly you back home...
add to that the air tickets and car is booked at a one stop shop on the net.....
If India wants to promote tourism industry, the key word which should be centrifugal to all investment is CONVENIENCE

12:00 (back to the SFO itinerary)... met a friend of my friend :), chalked out our plans for the day ahead, ate (hogged is a more appropriate word) at an Indian buffet, then checked into our Hotel...

Ride to Mystery Spot ...spent the ride lazing around in the back seat of the car, taking photos of the scenery on the way. The forest road was cool, dense canopy of trees banking both sides of the road.

Mystery Spot This spot still remains a mystery to us, cause we were not able to take a tour. The wait time was 1:30 hours, plus 45 minutes for the tour. We decided against it as we had to go the Pebble Beach to watch "SUNSET IN PACIFIC" (yippee.....)"
....another 2 hours drive to Pebble Beach and another back seat bumming session for me... ( for those who have not guessed it so far.... i don’t have a Driver's License :}, so I either sleep on the back seat, or Navigate (yeah.. navigation is fun in US.. sometimes you have to use a MAP, mapquest does not always located the desired destination:))

Pebble Beach
This place is where the Rich and Famous live, it’s a private stretch of road that looks over the Pacific Ocean. The view is awesome, unfortunately on that day it was overcast. I had read that the Pacific is Deep Blue in colour.... was really looking forward to see it.... but.....
........maybe next time...:(.. missed the "SUNSET IN PACIFIC" too... :((

..way back
.......the radio played "Welcome to the Hotel California".
........go lost on our way back, ate dinner at Wendy's, somehow managed to get back on track, hit the sack... zzzZZZZzzzZZzzzZZZZZZzzzzz..
........DAY 2 follow...

Photos : http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sfx_mayuresh/album/

Being tagged ( OnPublic Demand)

2006-09-25T15:59:00.000-04:00

A photo I took at Lake Tahoe. (California - Nevada border)

I

I am thinking about...
...boy, how did I ever get into writing this....

I said...
...yaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhooooooooooo......in Montreal Canadian F1 GP....

I want to...
...go Sky Diving one day

I 'wish You were here' (song by Pink Floyd)

I hear...
..."voices down the corridor" (at 2:00 AM, this the best that i can come up with)

I wonder...
...where i'll be 5 years from now...

I regret...
...things i've said when angry which, on hindsight i always know I shouldn't have.

I am...
...reading O Jerusalem.

I dance...
...not Bad.. not Bad. :) :) ;)

I sing...
...when the sun's shining bright.....
(hardly matters if others think i'm besura :) ......so what if they are right ;)

I cry...
...BOYS DON'T CRY...
...just kidding, being a boy you try to be tough...but does not work always.

I am not always...
...the first one to start a conversation.

I make with my hands...
...amazing chicken dishes..

I write...
...for World Peace...... (just kidding.. am glad people even read what i write)

I confuse..
...almost every one i talk too :)

I need...
...my family and/or friends to be around always.

And finally...
...they lived happily ever after

Thanks and Regards to Swati and Wini

People I want to put through this torture are...
Harsha

A City of Extremes

2006-08-31T12:17:00.000-04:00

.. NY continues.

NY is often referred to as the "City of Extremes". In my brief vist to the city I was able to experience both.

Incident 1: "Which way is the PATH station?"
If you have a basic idea of the NY city's layout (Street and Avenue), getting lost or loosing your sense of direction is something that’s very difficult.
Just finished our "Empire Estate" trip and we had to get to the PATH station that would take us back to NewJersy.
We knew the PATH terminus was nearby but did not know exactly where the entrance was. There was no one standing around so we decide to ask the people passing by. For 15 minutes no one even so much as slowed down to check what we wanted. People were just passing by totally oblivious to our existence. Later we spotted an NYPD officer who courteously guided us to our destination.

Incident 2: "Those are nice shoes"
I was sitting in the bus, on our way to the Liberty State Park where a Ferry would take us to the Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty Island).The lady sitting next to me was talking on the phone. This the conversation that I had with a total stranger

Lady: Excuse me, can I see your shoes.
Me: (a little awkwardly, not knowing how to respond pushed my foot out)
Lady: Those are nice shoes, I like them.
Me: (still unable to get hold of my bearings, blurted) What?
Lady: The shoes that you are wearing, those are nice sneakers.
Me: Thanks.
(she continued with her conversation on the phone, telling the person on phone about a pair of shoes she liked).
When I got down from the bus the raised brow on my face gave way to a smile...

It’s only in NY (and Mumbai :-) ) you'll find people who'll leave you totally bewildered by their absolute indifference, at same time a total stranger will pass a casual compliment and make your day......

(PS: I too think my shoes are cool .... the absurdly high price that I had paid for them when I got them in India, somehow now feels justified. :-). Next time when you feel like complimenting someone, throw caution to wind, go ahead and give them a compliment. Worst that you will get is a raised eyebrow, but it might also bring smile to a stranger’s face)

New York

2006-08-23T18:38:00.000-04:00

NY…….IT ROCKS.

The thing that hits you when you first visit it, is its shear size. Its HUGE.

Since the day I first visited this city, I always wanted to write about it, but always shyed away. So many people writers, poets, philosophers have already capture the essence of this city in their writing.

This was my 5^th visit to the city my 4^th month of stay in US. Today I garner up the courage to make a fool of myself and write about NY. I open up the laptop screen, rest my fingers on the keypad to start typing, they just lay there, not a word for 10 minutes. Its not because I cant think of anything to write, refreshing the memories of the city takes you on a Joy Ride. So I have decide to take "Baby Steps" :-). Will write about my experiences in the city without any inference.

Saturday at 5

2006-08-16T00:59:00.000-04:00

I was standing on my balcony, sipping a hot cup of tea. The horizon had a tinge of amber, beckoning the end of night sky’s realm. The atmosphere was heavy, there was a slight murmur in the trees, dew drops were hanging on to grass tip. At that moment I felt some tension in the atmosphere, like a coiled spring ready to explode, or like a sprinter ready to burst out of the starting blocks at the sound of the gunshot.

Just then sun rays trickle through the leaves and spread over the dew-lit grass, and the day exploded to life, the air was filled with warmth and the murmur was replaced by the sweet sound of birds chirping, saw a few squirrels scurrying around too. Though the dew drops were still there, their days(minutes) we numbered, soon the sun’s rays would reach out and vaporise them. The sun filled the sky with amazing colours.

It feels like each day GOD says “Let there be light” and then the sun rises, as if each day is blessed.

Some would say what’s so great about a dawn, it happens each day and has been happening for around 4.5 billion years (google jindabad). Though I am a dusk lover theres something about watching a dawn that make the whole experience so beautiful and enlivening. It might also be that, being a nocturnal myself, there are not many dawn that I have seen, add to it the probability of the day being a Saturday.

For a few moments I basked in the sun, too a deep breath, and started packing. After all the reason that I woke up this early was for the Toronto trip (normally on Saturdays, this time on the day is midnight for me).

PS: Would I wake up daily to enjoy this mesmerizing experience each day????.... HELL NO :)

My First Blog

2006-08-13T10:35:00.000-04:00

This bog was initially created with the sole purpose of sharing photos that I would take on my trips in US, with my family and friends. So I aptly titled it "My Pictures",
But then I read the blog of a friend of mine, ( Harsha Rao do read his blog if u have the time). They are amazing, so after a lot of deliberation, i have decide to take up this hobby, lets see how long its lasts.

I still have not garnered the courage to publish my personal writings. So to start with I will publish one of my favourite quotes.

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." -
-- Albert Einstein

Maid of the Mist Trip

2006-06-14T00:45:00.000-04:00

Niagara in Lights

2006-06-14T00:37:00.001-04:00

The Niagaras

2006-06-13T23:55:00.000-04:00

What can i say... had heard about them.
But after seeing the falls in person, i was just awestruck.........
so wont waste any space giving facts about the falls, that you can find at any website...
For the moment, just enjoy the pics...

Photos from my Boston trip

2006-06-04T01:57:00.000-04:00

Reflaction in John Hancock Tower

Fountain at the Copley Square

John Hancock Tower: Built in 1976 and standing tall at 760 ft, this is the tallest building in New England and 44th USA.

High winds cause the windows on the top floor to pop out. To solve this the engineers set a network of 10,000 sensors on each window, which detects its vibration.These are used to alarm the control room which one might be next to go

Swan Boats: These boats boasts of a history of 120 years. Started Robert Paget, the business even today is run by descendants of the family.
The Boat has a paddle wheel arrangement that is foot-propelled

Public Garden

Windsor Heights - Marlborough

2006-06-03T23:27:00.000-04:00

A birds eye view of the apartment that I stay in . Courtesy msn earth