Ring in the New - Wishes from India

Happy holidays, Safe journeys, wonderful reconnection with friends and families and enjoy making new resolutions to all the readers of our blog!

I am grateful for the opportunities that knocked our doors this year and interesting people we met along the way. Do look forward to many more exciting adventures the coming year. While 2007 has been a year of leisure, travel, settling down and reflection, hope that 2008 begins with action, direction and goal for the future. Also hope that the coming year rings in clarity, peace, happiness and love for all my near and dear ones.

More to pen down as I write from my land of birth and growth, a very Happy New Year from Ashit and me in languages of different lands:

Afghani: Saale Nao Mubbarak
African: Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar
Arabic: Kul'am wa Antum Bikhair!
Bengali: Shuvo Noboborsho!
Chinese: Sun Nien Fai Lok!
Czech: Stastny Novy Rok!
Danish: Godt Nytar!
Dutch: Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Farsi: Aide Shoma Mobarak!
French: Bonne Annee!
German: Ein Gluckliches Neues Jahr!
Gaelic: Aith Bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit
Greek: Rutychismenos O Kainourgios Chronos!
Hawaiian: Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hebrew: Shannah Tovah!
Hindi: Naye Varsh Ki Shubhkamnayen
Hungarian: Boldog Uj Evet!
Indonesian: Selamat Tahun Baru!
Italian: Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon Anno!
Japanese: Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
Korean: Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo!
Norwegian: Godt Nyttar!
Pilipino: Maligayang Bagong Taon!
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo!
Romanian: La Multi Ani!
Russian: S Novym Godom!
Spanish: Feliz Ano Nuevo!
Sudanese: Wilujeng Tahun Baru!
Swedish: Gott Nytt Ar!
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun!
Welsh: Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Shear Madness!

On December 16, A and I went to see the play ‘Shear Madness’, running at the American theater for nearly 30 years. Set in a hair-cutting salon named ‘Shear Madness’, the play starts off with the owner of the shop and his assistant doing their daily chores while loud music plays in the background. This goes on for nearly ten minutes. The play then begins as each of the performers is introduced; total six:
- Owner of the salon Tony Whitcomb with homosexual traits (star performer of the play)
- His flirty assistant Barbara DeMarco
- A sleazy antique dealer Eddie
- Mrs. Shubert, a socialite and a frequent visitor to the salon
- Two unknown men (whose identity is later known) who visit the salon for ‘business’

Initially, the characters move around the salon with frequent story-telling just about anything and everything. Interspersed with gossip, there is a lot of slapstick comedy that comes in, such as referring to someone as being so old that she could have been the ‘waitress at the last supper’. Another instance is that of DeMarco talking about travels and states ‘Italy, France and Europe!!’ Considering it is such an old play, the dialogues incorporate reference to latest media issues and news items too. It is then revealed that the land-lady of the building (where Shear Madness is located), Isabel, is a former top-most pianist who has left the stardom and keeps creating havoc to those around her, with her piano renditions. While she is heard to be playing her instrument and annoying Whitcomb, action begins at the salon where every character begins to enter and leave the room, except for Mrs. Shubert being the only one at the salon. There is continuous laughter and funny moments making it hardly a thriller but more of a comedy mystery. Finally, DeMarco flares into the room announcing that Isabey is dead, with blood around and she faints. It is here that the two unknown men enter the room revealing to be detectives investigating the death which is actually a murder committed by one of the four characters at the salon. The audience is then told that since they have witnessed the events thus far, they would actually be involved in investigating and solving the murder.

Thus begins our participation wherein several of us interrogated the characters and provided a scene-by-scene description of what we had viewed so far. It was fun going through each step of the play from the beginning including where the characters entered from and where they exited into. Also, certain minor details were shared such as how DeMarco had thrown away a pair of shears into the bin and that Lawrence had re-entered the salon with a bleeding finger.

There is no point in revealing what happens next since the show never remains constant, including who the murderer is. The best part is that the ending changes all the time, so each viewing becomes a different experience. They play around whom the audience vote as the murderer and this itself makes it enjoyable. Whether you see it once or ten times, I am sure it would still hold you to it.

Magic Jack Indeed!

Set up this device onto your computer, get a phone number and connect it to a phone line! Voila! You have an unlimited access to phone numbers across the globe*.

To a phone-buff like me, this is quite a gadget to seek. Nothing magical about it, really, just a device, like a USB, that lets you make and/or receive calls for free*. The first-time purchase is $39.99 for the device plus $ 20.00 for the service annually. Thereafter, there is no limit to making calls, locally and nationally.

Of course, the flip-side is that you need to have the computer connected while using Magic Jack so it may consume unnecessary amount of electricity. Plus, the internet connection has to be pretty good too. Nevertheless, it is a decent buy considering other VOIP instruments like Vonage charge a lot more. Only hope that this does not turn into another SunRocket.

*Conditions Apply :)

First Snow of the Season

Nothing unusual about waking up this morning except for that first glance outside the window! That was the prettiest site ever! It seemed as if the world outside was covered in a blanket of purity. Seems strange that just few days ago, I was taking pictures of the fall colors and in a light sweatshirt with temperatures in mid-60s. All of a sudden, there is a different feeling coming in. The air is cold and crisp. The bare trees suddenly appear elegant.
A totally new season in a matter of hours – more like a semi-transition. Summer clothes are put under wraps and out come the winter coats. Perfect time to drink ungodly amounts of hot chocolate with marshmallows. I love watching the snowfall, especially sitting indoors, warm and cozy and knowing that it is cold outside.

Yet to build a snowman, catch snowflakes on the tongue and capture moments on my camera; so watch out for more, this season!

Green Tower?

The pics below are doing the rounds via email lately and I received it through one of those forwards. And while these images are virtual right now (including the taxi shown in the pic!), this is supposedly under construction to be the so-called INDIA TOWER, located around the Princess Necklace in South Mumbai. Apparently, the TOWER - 301 meter tall/60 storey - is expected to be the 'greenest skyscraper' of the country, with plans of rainwater harvesting and the works. The box-design of this Tower reflects a changing pattern, in that, one for a hotel (Park Hyatt), residential unit, retail and so on.

While I am totally for 'eco-friendly', I wonder to what extent would this reach its purpose of 'going green'. The first impression of it is that of a good feat of architecture but on second thoughts, it hardly looks like a good one. Located in South Mumbai that is already a concrete Forest fighting for the basic amenities, how on earth would they manage to provide that - water, sanitation, sewage, electricity? Then again, considering it would cater to a certain class of people, they would not have a problem with that! Further, it would come up near the Princess Necklace, the heritage of our city. Would this not totally destroy the pride of our city? Even if such a height is approved, if it fits within the damage control of flora and fauna surrounding it and has all precautionary measures against any minor-to-major calamity, it does not justify the kind of resources that would be required to not only construct it but also maintain it!! God, save our city of dreams.

Blood Diamond

Saw the movie 'Blood Diamond' and was inspired by a thought-provoking dialogue:

"Sometimes I wonder, will God ever forgive us for what we have done to each other. I look around and realize that God left us a long time ago".

The Big 'B' Fight

This is not about the show on CNN IBN or the fight on ESPN Sports but really about that which 'Bollywood' experiences during its 'festival' releases! This year, it seems crazier, with two biggies (strictly an opinion of this blogger) of the directorial cinema - Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Farah Khan - releasing their magnum opus of the year, on the sparkling eve of Diwali!

Both movies seem to have -
promising stars of the future;
fresh faces coupled with top stars too;
grand visual delight from the first look promos;
theme of love stories attached (been a while since Veer Zaara);
music humming to the ears.

While one has Bollywood's Star Family clan supporting the release (Kappor clan for Saawariya), the other has a star-encompassing song with 31 actors, promoting the movie (needless to say, a typical Khan-way of showcasing its songs).

Almost every radio channel has been playing their songs and TV channels screening their promos. Cell phones ring to their tunes and caller-ringtones galore, it is indeed the Diwali for Bollywood to celebrate!

Needless to say I would watch both the movies, the issue is which one would I view first! :)

pic taken from google images

Weekend in NYC

New York – the City that never sleeps, that which is considered the Big Apple, city of the Yankeess and many more terms associated with it. Most of my impressions of this city are based on what I had seen on television and what I had heard from friends. Hence it was quite exciting to finally visit it. We took off from Washington D.C. by road and after five hours, we knew we were nearing the city, when we passed, as Ashit introduced me to, the ‘Armpit’ of the country – New Jersey. However, entering New York City is a different experience. It seemed like its skyline had a gravitational pull since our heads constantly went upwards. When driving past the tall-structured streets, we had this vague imagination of Spiderman swinging along those narrow traffic lanes. Our hotel was perfectly located, just minutes from the Times Square. Hence there was no trouble of tagging the car along – that’d infact have been a terrible mistake.

Broadway: We did our first introduction to the City by taking thehop-on-hop-off bus, starting from the Broadway. This name is justifiably famous, but its geographic demarcation can be misunderstood. This road cuts across, totally irregularly, the graffiti-streets of the city and creates distinctive intersections all along i.e. Times Square, Madison Square, Herald Square and so on.. Our first halt was at the Greenwich Village, not only the NYU Hub but also located on its Bleecker street is the famous Indian Katti Roll. We then took the bus and drove past the Empire State Building that stands imposing on the streets. We ended up not going to the top; decided to save that for our next trip, in case we are in the city in winter and choose an enclosed view of the city. We also drove past Chinatown and Little Italy where apparently all the history of the City is; this is where it all started. Also, seen were - Flatiron building, Cannon Street, Madison Square.

Ground Zero: We then visited Ground Zero. On our way we crossed the St. Paul’s Chapel. This is considered the oldest church in Manhattan and literally across from the Ground Zero (formerly, World Trade Center). Apparently, when the towers fell, this chapel did not face any damage, not a single window broke. The surrounding view of the chapel is quite pleasant and unique, considering such an old church around the skyscrapers. We then walked towards ground zero. The site was a somber but at the same time the rebuilding that was going on. There were several posters on a new construction that’s underway and hence all we got to see was a huge trench. Somehow I was not sure whether I went to this place to show respect to those who lost their lives or really just visit it as a touristy spot. However, when I saw the pictures of drawings that some people had made, it did make me sad of such disaster. I only read one that said, “You are in our Prayers”.

Towards the last half hour of the ride, we just did not bother hopping off. This leg of the tour just drove us around the nondescript apartment buildings and tress. We instead began taking random photographs, which was fun. Overall the tour was good but most of it towards the end was about, “In the distance you would normally see…” By the end, even the guide was bored out of his mind, who was mainly working for tips that he explained at each stop, would be shared with the driver.

Times Square: We got off at Times Square, where we started from. This place totally amazed me. Like our bus guide told us, “Here you see the world far far away from reality”, and that was one of the few things I agreed with him! All over this place, you see big name stores, factories and other attractions. We could sample some of the finest chocolates at the Hershey’s factory, check out the latest movie flicks at one of the few theaters around, the Virgin store flaunting newest tunes and much more. Vendors around were happy to draw our portraits, some offering play tickets (genuine ones incase you thought, we get mugged by them) and some selling great variety of paintings at decent rates (Ashit thought these were not as good). After a nice dinner at the Italian restaurant, Osteria del Circo, we walked towards the Rockefeller Center. I have always wanted to visit this and I was glad it exceeded my expectations. This place incites feelings of care, kindness and love for near and dear ones. People were just sitting there, enjoying the warmth of this center. The rink was filled with kids skating around, some doing the balancing act well, some falling off. The various nations’ flags added color to the place.

Our day two began walking along Fifth Avenue. We were surrounded by the rich and the famous, the typically busy New Yorkers. This is where the fashion diva was born! Stores galore, it was a shopper’s juxtaposition and the people here love their lives around Gucci, Dolce and Prada.

Central Park: We then made our way away from the tall structures into the largest open space the city offers. Walking from 54^th towards 59^th Street is when you hit the 843 acres of greenery, in the heart of this concrete village – that is Central Park stretching from 59^th to 110^th. Since we had walked enough, when we reached the Park we realized we had to again walk. Hence that plus the time constraint led us to take the horse carriage ride. While the ride was a rip-off, we did get a glimpse of the park – where one could do just about any sort of activity imaginable. That includes walking, jogging, biking, skating, bird-watching, tanning, sports events, concerts, plays, animal viewing at its Zoo, grassy landscapes to relax! Sad we could not do much here but then it is said, you always leave something behind for the next trip.The last sites of the city were visiting the BULL and the Statue of Liberty. Some call it the ‘charging bull’ and some the ‘wall street bull’. This is almost a 7,000 pound bronze statue, quite popular not only among tourists but also for the natives. I wonder if it symbolizes the financial district or the financial power this city (the borough) has over the country/globe!

We noticed few things about walking around the streets of this city. First, the city is less of a walker’s city unlike a few of the famous cities around the globe, particularly in Europe. The streets here change their neighborhoods along the blocks. Another thing when walking is that people completely ignore the ‘Do not Walk’ signs. The drivers here ignore all pedestrians and rightly so.

Considering that New York is indeed that never sleeps, this city of cabbies, chic trends and super stars, it would be difficult to find peace and quiet. It is alive with round-the-clock action. And what one views in Manhattan is a feast of senses with the heart and soul. Trend-setting fashion, culinary delights, shopping renowned world over for both, luxury and bargain, theater, art and most important of all, the financial power. There is so much to see, much more than our typical fleeting visit and of course, a lot more to experience from this city that never sleeps! And hence a Big Apple - “Because everyone wants to take a bite off it”, says the local out there!

M&M Ads from Times Square

Taken during our recent visit to New York
Times Square - Saturday, October 6, 2007
(the sound comes straight from the street)

Video 1


Video 2

Twenty20: Here to Stay

A totally novel and exciting way of watching Cricket, it reminds you of the Gulli cricket that one may be used to in India. Fast paced and a total pressure-builder for both, the players and the viewers, it applies similar rules as that of the One Day. However, notably different, some varied rules apply such as two runs being awarded for a ‘no ball’ instead of one, 75 minute limit for bowling time and so on. More details could be explored in the site below:

http: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty20

Several countries are not too pleased to participate in this format - Australia for instance did not take this series too seriously - and am sure those who invented Cricket, would already be moaning in their graves! However, this new dawn matters the most currently to the Indian Junta, having won the so-called Twenty20 Cricket World Cup and against our friendly neighbours - Pakistan! Kudos to the Indian team for splendid performance inspite of a good fight by the opposing team!

Twenty20 is meant to revolutionize the way cricket is viewed over the world! Its rules, and the teams too, have already begun to capture attention of those who thought cricket boring (my Mom to begin with).
While this game may threaten to make the 50-over per side or even the test match, redundant, I think the Twenty20 is here to stay and the best thing to happen to cricket in a long time!!

Pic taken from Google Images

Lets Own it and NOT RECEIVE IT!!!!

This was published in the digital edition of the Newspaper - Daily News and Analysis (DNA) - dated August 27, 2007. Double click on the picture to enlarge and read the text clearly.

Chocolates, Suman and My Nani

Chocolates, my Nani and Suman are my favourites!

I cannot specifically give a name to my relationship with Suman. Some may call her a maid, while others a governess. But I would probably, and always do, say that she is more than a mother to my sister, brother and me and all those who come home. And my nani, well do not for a minute take her for a modern, hip lady wearing a bun on top of her head. No, she is as traditional and old-fashioned as can be.

I find that these two ladies have shaped me in my thinking, the way I am today. In many ways, if not all, I do find myself being drawn towards their approach to things that I would involve in. Of course, in no way can I compare myself with them, as I would be far from being like them at this stage.

Suman, in nine-yard saris (which, even at the age of 57, she washes herself) and my nani in a typical Gujarati sari that is neatly starched, knot their hair - grey and golden respectively - at the back of their necks with a net and tend to celebrate all the festivals and functions that come their way. Somehow, I find that they both have a way with news and current affairs. Not that well aware, but their eyes drink in everything they see. They both could watch soap after soap on TV without confusing the characters in two different programmes.

In their lives, they have both seen a lot - some happiness and at the same time, a lot of hardships. Suman bore a son – who ran away during his childhood – and a daughter who is now a widow. She also lost her husband at a very young age. Despite her meagre resources, she tends to make sure to give her daughter all she can. On the other hand, my nani got married at an early age (typically in those days) and bore three children. She used to live in a joint family with a total of 14 people with a lot of socializing and hosting dinners and lunches. I guess till date, she can never forget those days when she’d be making more than 80 chappattis a day for everyone at home!

A typical behaviour that they both seem to convey is that wherever they go (nani at the park or a social function while Suman usually in the market area), they would have come out having made some good contacts and if we ran into those people after some time, they would usually remember them and ask about them. One of the things I just love about both of them is how neatly organised their wardrobe would be. Suman has a habit of putting together photographs of all of us and her cupboard would be covered with a collage of such collectibles. My nani has an amazing ability of tailoring and mending things, large and small. I only hope this is a genetic component I carry! She has a way of tracing relationships with almost anybody. If she was introduced to anyone from some suburb in Mumbai or even say, any of my friends, chances are she knew some relative of theirs! Some of my close friends would love to chat with her because she has a tendency to make them feel great.

Although I have not been able to spend as much time with my nani, I thank God for those months when she stayed with me as a typical grand-mother while my parents were away. I can never forget those days when she’d take out seeds from watermelon just so that I could eat them conveniently. While Suman, who has lived with us for almost 30 years, has now become an integral part of the family. The house can completely go haywire if she is not around. I remember when as kids we would get a limited amount of pocket-money and she would be our banker who would lend without expecting the amount back! Quite a funny thing I cannot forget about her is she tends to preserve smallest of things from food items to used wrappers to new gifts sent by guests. She thinks we might just empty out the chocolates or use them unnecessarily or give them away. I think it’s the possessive nature of hers than she cannot part with. During the last few years, they have both had a generous share of old-age illnesses that have made them weaker than usual. Despite that, they both can chatter away for hours and inquire about every single of our relatives and friends.

One of the qualities I see myself respecting in both of them is the unconditional giving that they engage in, in thought and deed. To this day, although my temperament can irritably get rude – especially to Suman who invariably makes hot milk for me in the afternoon after several warnings against it – I do wish that I could take my nani to the temple when she comes home to stay, or buy new glasses for Suman and take her out on drives at night to her brother’s home, or just give them both a tight hug for indirectly making me the person I am today. In short, they are both amazing women in their own right and share a legacy of their own!

Atlanta: August 22-25, 2007

Many would get confused between Atlanta and Atlantic City! For once I was and wondered if I would get to visit any casinos in ‘Atlanta’! While that did not happen, we did get to see quite a few interesting sites in this city!

First visit was to the Georgia Aquarium.

While my previous visits to aquariums have been either to (a) the one in Mumbai or (b) the sea world in Singapore. But this one, considered the largest in the world, was unique in its own way! While a lot of websites (wanting to sell a City Pass) quoted the entrance fee as $ 35.99, it was in reality, $ 24.00. Although a bit steep, I personally thought it was worth it, considering the variety of aquatic species that one could view out here.

The place is well organized with five main viewing areas: (1) Ocean Voyager that takes you on a sidewalk through a glass tunnel with all sorts of fishes swimming overhead, including whale sharks. We also got to view these divers who were cleaning the debris off the glass. Sad could not take any pictures due to the glass covering. (2) Tropical Diver had varied colourful fishes including Nemo and Dori!! (3) Georgia Explorer which has a touch pool – yes, we could actually touch the fishes with strict instruction to use only index and middle fingers! This was fun but the pool was a bit low and was funny how parents had to dangle their kids so they could reach the fishes. (4) Coldwater Quest which was my favourite site, seeing these Beluga Whales swimming in perfect synchrony. They seemed to prefer some sort of new age music because that was the only area in the aquarium that played a soothing instrumental. (5) River Scout was more interactive, in the sense that it had a lot of creative aquarium windows around as you walk through. There is also a 3-D movie that I skipped but overall, it was an enjoyable visit.

Next visit was to the World of Coca-Cola, Aquarium’s next-door neighbour! Unlike what I expected it to be, this is not the actual Cola factory, instead a permanent exhibit of the history of the Coca Cola Company. The visit begins in the Lobby area where large bottle of Coca Cola are made of different materials from across the world. Thereafter, we enter into a brightly lit ‘red’ room that features advertising artefacts dating back in history. Our famous Thanda Matlab was there too! We then went into a theatre to view a 3-D movie, rather an animated documentary called Happiness Factory. This is supposedly Coca-Cola’s key advertising campaign – Coke Side of Life. Post that, we are pretty much left to walk around the museum, with various attractions: (1) Take pictures with the Mascot – Cola Bear. (2) Bottle Works to view how the bottling line functions. They produce the Cola here that is given to each visitor at the end of the tour, with current date on it. (3) Milestones area that has all the advertising artefacts of the company. (4) Connections, which was a funny area with visitors listing ‘stories’ of their experience with Coca-Cola! It was quite intriguing to read them and at some point, I gave up! Did not realize how a drink as this can really influence your life however, it is indeed a reality (sad?) to see the impact it has on the culture of the country and around as well. (5) Theatre, an informal one, showcasing short films on memorable advertisements and animations of Coca-Cola across the ages. (6) Taste it where we can actually taste literally 50 odd products offered by the Coca-Cola Company worldwide. This also included the recent favourite – Coca Cola zero and from India, Sprite Ice!! This was the best part of the tour because visitors flocked to choose drinks from the fountains. Averse to aerated drinks, I tasted the awful one, Beverly and my favourite – Sprite. It was interesting to note how different the same product may taste in different countries. (7) Cola Store that features attractive products we could purchase. Funny, how coca-cola was advertised in unbelievable products like lingerie, curtains, earrings, et al!!!

Considered the Mecca of journalism, CNN Center, headquartered in this city, was one of our priority visits. We took the 50-minute tour on behind-the-scenes of the functioning of this 24-hour news network. Like the Cola tour, there is quite a bit of marketing and self-promotion in this tour, including the so-called ride on the nation’s largest indoor free-standing escalator, however we thoroughly enjoyed it. We got to see how the news reports know their lines while looking straight into the camera, how the weather maps appear behind the meteorologist, and the graphics of how the weather reports are projected on the ‘green screen’. We also got a bird’s view of the control room. Like in all attractions, this one ended into the gift shop – Turner Store – to buy memorabilia, etc.

While there are other sites to visit too, we could cover these during our trip. Most of our local travel was through the MARTA – Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. This was super-convenient and we had no trouble accessing the local sites through this. While considered a pretty decent city, typically an American one, I personally did not think too highly of this place. Overall, I am glad I got to visit this city for what it has to offer, I am not sure I would like to live here. If I do get to visit Atlanta again, it would indeed be for a good reason.

Ode to ISL

'I know a man, a common man,
just like someone you meet and greet
Except he cannot hear or see.
He eats and sleeps and dreams some dreams,
the same as us, both you and me.
He cannot see TV, nor hear it
unlike you and me.
But there is something he CAN do,
far better than you or me.
He can enjoy any tale,
by fingers deftly touching Braille
and sieze the day with broad smile
quite unlike you and me.
He needs some friends and loved ones too
the same as both you and me
Although this man cannot hear or see,
he is almost quite like you and me.

To India and Back

The moment you step inside the building, you are in the Republic of India! That is where I went today to get a new passport booklet - the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C.

I took a cab from the metro due to a heavy downpour and the drive was quite a pleasant one. Massachusetts Avenue (the location of the embassy) has the most embassies located in D.C. It was a pretty site identifying the nationalities based on their flags (I could not guess many of them, especially those broken from the USSR). We also drove past the statue of Mahatma Gandhi which was unique and I felt quite proud considering no other statue occupied such a spot around the area. When I reached 2536 (plot location of the embassy), you see two elephants (made of stone, I think) welcoming you.

Also on the building exterior wall are symbols of Ashoka Chakra and the Lotus. The building as such is not that grand compared to its neighbours (the building pic), yet you get a welcoming feeling. The visa/passport section was at the basement and when I entered, there were already way too many people in there. Since most of the instructions for the passport are available online, there was nothing to worry. At the embassy, it would have taken some time to figure out the process, though.

It seemed that the system was not quite clear today. On the flashing screen up the wall showed token number 4 was being served. However, there were no tokens given and we had to stand in this curvy queue to get to the counter. The wait was decent, considering a 15” TV showed the latest songs from forthcoming Bollywood movies – That’s B4U for you! It was neat to see that the embassy has installed a photo vending machine out there – something quite handy for the US consulate to adopt considering how picky they are about their requirements for photos. Strangely, there were no Indian artefacts or posters adorning the walls, except on one that had a beautiful (although quite old) painting of Mother Teresa. It felt like I was home – not only the music from TV but also typically the latest filmy tones that rang through people’s cell phones. Further, spotted were Indian ladies in their ‘patiala’ salwars at the counter. Must say, they did a good job out there. They were assertive and quite effective since the line would move pretty fast. Talking about the line, one thing that was striking is that even here, people would queue close to one another. So when you are next in line for the counter, you are never really standing ‘behind’ the person at the counter. You are supposed to stand ‘next’ ‘to him/her so the moment it is your turn, you have only one step to move forward. Again, when it was indeed my turn, people behind made me feel I was taking too much time at the counter. Guess these are the ‘Indian’ rules of standing in line. My work was done in precisely 2 minutes and pleasantly surprised by this speed.

Whatever is said about Indian embassies not being appreciated and so on, my visit here was completely easy-going and am glad I got a chance to visit my 'little' India!

Reflections of a Comic Freak

Most of us like to read books of one sort or another; but very few are really able to resist the lure of a good comic! Comics require no understanding of the story. They can be taken up and left off whenever one pleases. After a long day, not many of us can digest ‘Types of Ethical Theory’ or ‘Zen and the art of the motorcycle maintenance’. Hence for cool dudes who want to have a good time and just keep on laughing helplessly, I recommend my all-time favourite: CALVIN and HOBBES!

Written by a genius named BILL WATTERSON, it is about a six year old boy CALVIN and his stuffed tiger (you guessed it right!) HOBBES, who comes to life only where there is no one else around. Calvin’s parents are average middle class Americans though his dad has a special streak of weird humour in him which gives the reader an idea of how Calvin will be if he ever grows up. Calvin himself an over smart precocious brat has an amazing vocabulary and an outsized imagination in which he takes on roles like fearless inter-planetary explorer or a masked super-hero. Hobbes, for his part, is a tiger who constantly ogles at the tigresses in the National Geographic, spouts stupid one- liners and claims that tigers are the epitome of creation.

Bill Watterson, through his amazing comic strip, manages to portray childhood as it really is. Unusual titles to the Calvin comics like “ Scientific Progress goes Boink”, “Attack of Deranged mutant killer”, etc. only add to the aim of sheer idiocy that surrounds the Calvin persona. One can go on and on about the myriad of unusual phenomenon which lie inside the Calvin comic books. Perhaps the one that illustrates it the best is the one where Hobbes doing Calvin’s Maths homework,puts down Alabama as the answer to the subtraction question or the one where Hobbes is all worried about tigers being endangered species and this being the reason for he is not meeting the babes.

The true way to enjoy Calvin and Hobbes is to experience the sheer magic of good humour your self. So go out, read it and have a good time!

(Pic taken from Google Images)

MSN Way of Life

It is 8.30 am – time for Ashit to leave for work and for me to0, well, do the first of the morning rituals. The Messenger, a harbinger of joy, resides in my computer and commands my ultimate faith. Never did I imagine that a piece of software, and one that was downloaded 'free', would become so indispensable. My life has been taken over by this Messenger. I dread the day when someone comes up with the theory that the Messenger is harmful to mankind. A typical day starts off with an Internet login. The prime motive is to get the Messenger running. In an instant, I get to know the status, as in online or offline, of the many dear ones spread across the world. And we all connect with each other in this one realm of existence – chatting. I randomly met my aunt online and she questioned me why I was online in the morning when I ought to be doing some productive household work! Needless to say where my priorities lie!

I also use this time to access my mails which take form of hideous advertisements, some random forwards from friends, information on services and products that are of no significance to me and so on. Almost everybody I know has a Messenger, sometimes more than just one. I use the Messenger and also the automatic yahoo messenger on my mail. Not yet used to the Google talk but guess that too would become a ritual.

Moving away from close ones can have its own cons and now that I have moved country, I have acquired a newfound quiescence. I have this Dell laptop, a wide screen which is the best part, considering I also use it as the Indian means of entertainment – from IBN news, Set Max, to all the Hindi Movies I get to watch through the various websites.

Having left college ages ago and then moving to another place, I have become habituated to losing friends and making new ones. But this time around, I was able to put it all back together, with just as much ease as unpacking my clothes. A computer and an Internet connection are all it took me to get my network in place. I was soon saying my ritualistic 'hi' and 'bye' to the same people who had constituted my existence. Email would, in a way, accomplish this feat. But it is no comparison to real-time chat.

Review: Five People You Meet in Heaven

Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven weaves together three stories, all told about the same man: 83-year-old Eddie, the head maintenance person at Ruby Point Amusement Park.

As the novel opens, readers are told that Eddie is only minutes away from death as he goes about his typical business at the park. At the time of his death, Eddie was an “old man with a barrel chest and a torso as squat as a soup can,” writes Albom. Wearing a work shirt with a patch on the chest that reads “Eddie” over “Maintenance,” limps around with a cane thanks to an old war injury. He spent most of his life maintaining the rides at Ruby Pier, greasing tracks and tightening bolts and listening for strange sounds. The children who visited the pier were drawn to Eddie. Yet Eddie believed that he lived a “nothing” life doing work that “required no more brains than washing a dish”.

On his 83rd birthday, however, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. Albom then traces Eddie's world through his tragic final moments, his funeral, and the ensuing days as friends clean out his apartment and adjust to life without him. In alternating sections, Albom flashes back to Eddie's birthdays, telling his life story as a kind of progress report over candles and cake each year.

Thereafter, Albom Traces Eddie when he wakes up in heaven, where a succession of five people are waiting to show him the true meaning and value of his life. These sequential encounters are five pivotal figures from his life. He is informed, “there are five people you meet in heaven. Each . . . was in your life for a reason. You may not have known the reason at the time, and that is what heaven is for. For understanding your life on earth.” One by one, these mostly unexpected characters remind him that we all live in a vast web of interconnection with other lives; that all our stories overlap; and that loyalty and love matter to a degree we can never fathom. Each of these souls has a story to tell, a secret to reveal, and a lesson to share. He learns here that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where his life is explained by five people, some of whom he knew, others who were strangers. One by one, from childhood to being a soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his “meaningless” life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: “Why was I there?” Through these people, Eddie understands the meaning of his own life.

Simply told, sentimental and profoundly true, this is a fable that will be cherished by a vast readership. Bringing into the spotlight the anonymous Eddies of the world, the men and women who get lost in our cultural obsession with fame and fortune, this slim tale reminds us of what really matters here on earth, of what our lives are given to us for.

Albom takes a big risk with the novel; such a story can easily turn sugary, and this one does in moments. But, for the most part, Albom's telling remains poignant and is occasionally profound. Even with its falws, The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a small, pure and simple book.

Review: The Alchemist

I recently finished with reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – the third time that I had a go at it. This, I must say, is by far my favourite book – A fable about the wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens along life’s path and above all, following our dreams. Cannot go wrong there! It was two years ago when I had bought a copy of this book and finished it in a jiffy. As one can tell, I’ve been reading it again too. The book details the journey and realization of a shepherd boy’s dreams. Santiago, from Spain, dreams of finding a treasure in the pyramids of Egypt. A gypsy woman and an old man claiming to be a king advise him to pursue it. To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation is what the old man tells him. The book is written in such a lucid manner that I felt that I was on the journey myself. The Alchemist remains my favourite as I can relate to the series of fundamental truths in life that Santiago learnt while going through his share of experiences. Perhaps the best part of the wisdom gained is how one needs to live the experiences, happy or sad. Living out one’s life is not difficult. Similarly, we all talk about dreams, but how many of us actually believe in them? Dreams do happen. You need to believe in them and follow a certain course of action. I have underlined certain lines in the book that I refer to now and then. For example: You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it is better to listen to what it has to say. There are times when I have not quite done what my heart might have warned me. I’m not sure whether I’d get a second chance to compensate for what is lost but I would surely be more cautious now. It is a belief I now carry that when you undertake your heart’s desire – not sure if I can answer whether that is conventionally right or wrong – it will become right for you because you will make it right for you. There is also another quote: God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens he left for you. There are insights that I mull over after each reading of the book. Each day in itself brings with is an eternity. Someone once told me – God has created you to do the things for which he has already prepared you. The Alchemist prompts you to thrive on every moment of your life.