Tuesday, January 01, 2008

The year that was 07

Calender year 2007 had been very significant to me.

This was the year when I crossed the sea and spent almost half the year in another continent. This was the year I got Promoted. An year which gave me new ideas in cooking. A year in which I traveled the most in life from Brighton to Vynad and Glasgow to Dharmasthala.
A year when I used my Laptop for Vishukani.An year when Mark called me the 'black sheep’. A year when I got fed up of Chocolates. A year when I was nominated for the comedy hat.A year in which I used PowerPoint more than Excel. A year my parents pressurized most for marriage. Significantly this was the year I saw many topless ladies. A year I saw snow for the first time in my life. A year when I missed the mighty monsoon and the sweetie mangoes of 'thodi'..This was the year I felt most lonely in life.....


I am going back to some of the drafts in my posts which i really missed to publish in 2007 but was remaning as a draft.


1

22,june,o7

Yesterday was my leaving do.

Initial gathering was at Lord Raglan pub in Wokingham at around 6.People started coming in .My Manager CH and all others had some hidden Agenda which I didn’t make out at all. Special thanks to Chris who turned up with his GF.

Round two, the dinner was planned at Prezzo, an Italian.CH took out a big bad. The first thing was a card, two bottles of wine. A big photo album, A load of Chocolates from Mars, a pen and finally a packet of plums.

I felt overwhelmed with joy. All the gifted things were what they knew I liked.

After that Mark told me that there was a function. Who ever leaves will need to have a drink called Sambuca. In the excitement, I said yes. A lady with sambuca, in a small glass, a white liquid with some coffee beans in it, it was lit and it was glowing came. Now I had to put out the fire with my licked hands and take it at one shot. I did so. My lips burned and all clapped. After some time everyone asked whether I was fine. I was ok.

Again they ordered for one more. I had. I was ok.


We had dinner and everyone compelled me for a disco. It was my leaving do and I was told not to say a ‘no’. So I said yes for everything

At the disco everyone started offering me water of different colour.I never said no to anyone. I remember Desa, the American offering me a Blue one. It was also cool.

It was really fun. I really don’t remember the rest.
Today morning I got up and stood in the shower for hours. Still the world was revolving around me.

Now they say Sambuca was the worst drink ever discovered on earth and they had planned it well for me.

2

3 of us took a bus form London to Edinburgh in the night. It was exactly like going from Bangalore to Kerala. Start in the evening, reach early morning.

It was dark all night but I didn’t sleep. I was seeing the glorious lightings and wondering in which world I was. I fell asleep towards the morning.

Suddenly I opened my eyes and saw though the window, a place, full of green, folks of sheep and mist. I felt as if I was in a wonderland.

Ramu had planned the trip. To make it cost effective, accommodation was planned in a hostel. Bed and Breakfast.

In the hostel, we were welcomed to a dormitory of 16 people. Fabulous. I remembered my MBA hostel and my bed. But, here together with girls-and beautiful, ‘shameless’ girls. Truly entertaining.
Food was awesome and internet was free.
I read in the hostel visitors book a quote from Maria, Paris who wrote “I saw a cow in the hills, but when I returned it had disappeared. Only those who have visited Scotland will understand what I wrote”

That was true. The hills were picturesque. So were the lakes and the Portobello.



We could hear the brave men singing:

Can you see the Saltire flying?
Can you hear the Lion roar
St .Andrew’s cross will proudly stand
Upon our Scottish shore.

Scotland! Home of the Brave
Where the Saltire’s flying high
And our hopes will never die.
Here in Scotland Home of the free,
Where our proud and loyal hearts
Will always be.

The people hate the British and they are proud of their heritage. Edinburgh castle remains as a remain of their claim.

Glasgow is more posh. Perth is a beautiful city as well.

At the posh(strip) clubs ladies turn up with their boyfriends. Men throw pounds like paper. Girls woo rich customers. Most girls speak English the wrong way and use extravagant perfumes and dance exuberantly. It is a feel of the culture of the rich and the way of making money.

Scotland reminded me of my home. It looked somewhere like my Motherland.

3

Rocking life had once rocked me with the Surname tag.
I am redrafting it with my New Year resolutions.

BAKSHI ( Surname of Byomkesh-the great detective who really used to motivate during childhood through Doordarshan)

B-Bathroom singing. I have always been good at it. Once I was even nominated for a family award once, but Ammu proved to be better that year. So this year will be dedicated for improvising

A-Aathmaksharangal is the name of my Malayalam blog starting this year for which I will be spending more time.

K- Kannada. This year I will learn to read Kannada

S- South Bangalorean. Yes, I will remain a south Bangalorean this year too.

H-Himalaya. Visit Himalaya this year.

I-Innovation, will definitely innovate some product this year. “entrepreneur in me is calling, where are you?”

Thats it!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

That is you


Day 1

5.30 Am
Erumeli
To destination: 46 kms
Small town 50 kms away from home. Starting place.
There are 2 ways to go from here. Either by walk or by bus. As usual we take the less traveled.
Significance: The place is popular for its history linked to Ayyappa, where he killed the Buffalo who was making trouble to the prople




Breakfast
Kalagetti
9.30 Am
To destination: 32 kms
Significance: A place where it is believed that Shiva and Parvathi came to bless Ayyappa and Shiva tied his bull on a tree near by. .



Lunch
Azhutha
To destination: 31 kms
Significance: Very beautiful forest river. Need to pick a stone from the river and drop it on the next hill top




Kallidamkunnu
3.30pm
To destination: 27kms
Significance: Need to drop the stone here. Believed that all

gods came and blessed Ayyappa here by pouring flowers from the sky




Enjaparakotta
4.00pm
To destination: 26kms
Significance:Ayyappa got thirsty and dug a well here. The well gives you pure water and it’s unbelievable that there is such a thing at such altitude. Beautiful place where you get to see many parts of Idukki district which is miles away

Mukkuzhi
6.00pm
To Destination:24kms
Significance: A vanavasi colony. Nice place to stay and the wind is nasty here(too freezing!!!).
Night stay here

Day 2

Mukkuzhi
6.00am
Breakfast
Start off the next phase





Kariyilam thoodu
11.30 am
To destination: 14kms
Significance: Nice stream where you can take bath and get prepared for the task of climbing Karimala(the dark hill)

Karimala Hill top
3.00pm
To destination:10 kms
Significance: You complete a huge task of climbing 7 mountain ranges which together is called the Karimala.This place is popular for its history way back to Ramayana.Sita had taken bath here and there is a pond still there and also a foot print believed to be that of Sita.You get pure water here too. These hills are too dense and find lot of wild animals like Bear, Elephants, Tiger etc

Now you need to be really careful getting down the hill as it is too steep and rocky, until you reach:

Valiyanavattam/Cheriyana vattam
4.30 pm
To destination:6kms
Significance:Plain land with lot of Elephants coming down to take water from river Pamba

Pamba
500 pm
To destination: 4 kms
Significance: Holy River Pampa originates here with three streams coming together called the Triveni Sangam.
Looks like we have reached some Kumbha mela.All dressed up either in saffron or black and call each other Ayyappa.Even police are called Police Ayyappa



Sannidhanam
6.30 pm
To destination:0kms
Significance:The Temple of Lord Ayyappa.Only place in the whole world where worshipper and the worshipped is known by the same name-Ayyappa. As it is written on the Entrance-

Thathvamasi-“That” is you

Day 3


6.30 am
A bath at the Urukkuzhi falls 0.5 kms from Sannidhanam and return home
Significance: a forest stream. Can sit inside the rock and take bath.Superb!



4.00 pm
Back home in Bus










3 days every year to introspect and know myself !!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

The folly of being a human being.

It’s great to be God. I am God since the last many days.

I am dressed up like God.

NOW, I am not stunned by a bill summary after an auto rickshaw travel. At times they don’t fight for coins and push me pay less than the meter. Nowadays I am not bewildered by a phony bill after a fruit purchase. In fact they put more fruits to my basket. I am treated fair everywhere. I am pleased.

And later when I become man, I know, the case is going to be no different from before. The same auto drivers and fruit vendors will turn ugly.

And therefore, it’s great to be God and be God always!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Guilt


TRUTH
The Crown of thorns
On the king
Who’ll cry for him?
Good ends; false begins
It is the guilt of wealth

SCIENCE
‘Man has nothing,
The whole world begs
Before me, my grace
For everything
I’m such a superb guy’
Effort ends, power begins
It is the guilt of the machine

BEAUTY
The marble palace
Her chanting eyes
The passionate affair
Euphoria!
Wine sparkles, cheers!
Love ends; romance begins
It is the guilt of time

ME
The stoppage time
Last breath
Still eyes thirsty...
Not enough-O' -I’m young
Life ends; darkness begins
It is the guilt of birth

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

About the holiday

I was off sick yesterday. Working from (for:) home. Things are almost under my control (esp stomach) now!
I was really tired after a hectic travel.
Made Diwali a memorable one, with my home maker, roomie .It was a plan made in no time. There was no other choice for such a long weekend. Home has now become a petty Bourgeoisie concept. Pilgrimage was the only way out

Started off to Hassan, then to Belur ,then to Halebedu to Chikkamangalur to Sringeri to Bajagoli to Putangadi to Dharmasthala to Kuke Subramanya to Sulliya and back to Bangaluru.

“Majestic” was not the station from which we started the journey but the fabulous architectural works in Belur and Halebedu

Remarkable was the dip in river Thunga (see photo).Those yummy yummy dosas,Idlies,vadas @Uduppi hotels(not to forget those coffees and sambars)

Hope you understood 'why yesterday, I was sick off'?

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Do Women need equal status??

Before those Women splash themselves in Toronto and Cannes, in a small Cinema house Asha, in Kottayam, I saw them.

Before the English, the French and many others embrace those characters, I met them live on release.

One a Prostitute, one Virgin, an awaiting Mother and a Spinster.

Rarely do we see people clapping their hands after a movie.

Fabulous weekend went by, with great discussions on the well being of women.There were many arguments and many questions.One was 'do Women need equal status as men?'

and my answer for the question was:

Women shouldn’t ask for equal rights as men. Women stands higher than men and if they ask for an equal status, the literally are coming down.