Smudged Reflections

My Participation in the 'What Does Real Beauty Mean to You'? Do Vote!

2011-06-05T20:07:00.000+05:30

Do visit my latest post on 'Beauty, As I See It..' at Rivera's Flame and Ice ; my poetry blog and vote for me.

This post has been written unceremoniously for Yahoo! India and Dove "I Believe in Real Beauty" under the topic "What does real beauty mean to me?"

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Edge of Experience, During Recession

2011-05-24T17:20:00.002+05:30

I am currently on a sabbatical and when thinking about what to write about, for my blog on reflections; one point strikes me. Now that am not working and for the fact that this is just temporary, I thought what if I had lost my job and not actually left it. What about those who unexpectedly have to face the terror of losing jobs with least experience, and then battle on for sometime until they reach a point of saturation in job hunting. Here are my thoughts about this scenario.

Jobs are lost during recession and even the most seasoned workers find themselves waiting in queues to compete for temporary assignments. Existing skills and experience can, however, offer a considerable advantage, if leveraged properly. Not all work sectors are hit by recession and some might be in search of these professionals. Banking for instance, is a fairly stable field and can source them high pay and abundant managerial or technical experience.

So, how would the experienced tap jobs during recession?

Use their core abilities in language, numeracy, and communication, as it translates well across varied fields, allowing them to make immediate shifts.

Demonstrate their strong foundational, primary skills and the hiring company may provide hands-on training to acquire more specific job skills, as required.

Undertake apprenticeships, from where they can gain special skills. They need to think beyond their defined field of specialization and acquire additional domain knowledge for a better profile.

Use their communication skills, project and sales management skills, and knowledge of basic technical packages, to source better opportunities.

Showcase their capabilities using social media networks like LinkedIn, for employers to have a review of their candidature. They must exhibit their attitude to tackle challenges, promote team spirit, manage resources and projects, and ensure consistency in quality through these profiles.

Work at start-ups, fast growing midsized companies, or governmental agencies where they might be of demand. Employers prefer these resources working as consultants or freelancers, due to low training cost, ready made skills and expertise, consistency in quality, and immediate solutions to problems.

Experienced people can focus their efforts on companies that foresee fast growth and where their skills can escalate the business growth. No matter how bad the economy is, these kinds of companies will definitely reach for the experienced resources.

Quote for the day:

"Hunger is not the worst feature of unemployment; idleness is. ~William E. Barrett"

Youth in Politics Today

2011-05-14T16:10:00.006+05:30

I know it’s been a while since I penned on this blog. I have now realized the need for a comeback and here is my first post after a yearlong rejuvenation phase. I pondered what to write about and was lost in thoughts. A simple status post on my Facebook page triggered my thought on what to write. ‘Politics’ or ‘an easy way to make big’ has been in talk for a while now.

In my state of India, a small country in the Asian continent, politics always has for the last 60 or so years, and will continue to play a major diplomatic role in the running of the country routines. Here, democracy is not run by the will of the public but by the rewards that political parties present to them. Whichever party provides the majority of freebies to the democratic clan, they are in play to be chosen for running the Government the next year. India has around 26 states and each have around 5-6 political parties competing within them.

The party I favored the most, lost in my state area elections and so a bit of frustration showed up on my Tweets and Facebook statuses. The response I got for this status message is what made me pen this post. Hope this post makes you ponder too and even probably change your plans of your current career options.

In India (where young people form the largest voting bloc), issues that the youth consider relevant seems to be raised only during elections when older politicians want their ballots filled. Unfortunately, none of the country's younger leaders come from a non-political background, so they are essentially the children of "politics as usual.

Those young people who are "outsiders" who do try to become involved in government tend to become disillusioned quickly. The bulk of India's youth simply do not participate in the political process because they are preoccupied with their jobs and lives, and are satisfied with, or willing to put up with, the status quo.

For their part, the elders already in office assume the youth are not equipped to participate in the nation's governance and thus do not create adequate opportunities for them to enter politics and to gain experience. There could be an Obama in our midst today who might, in the future, if given the chance, bring about dramatic changes in our country.

A more youthful presence in our government would serve as an important counterbalance to the politics embraced and practiced by more seasoned politicians. Young leaders with vision and drive to accomplish their goals could help to reduce poverty and counter illiteracy in India, as well as to provide broader opportunities for social and individual improvement, while combating corruption.

Without the fresh ideas and perspective of leaders with a more contemporary, growth-oriented outlook, however, a real face lift for India won't be possible. This means that the youth of our country must be willing to learn about the issues relevant to national growth, to exercise their right to vote, and to stand for office and participate in the business of government. Only when they do so, will real, forward-thinking change and improvement occur.

Quote for the day:

“Any 20 year-old who isn't a liberal doesn't have a heart, and any 40 year-old who isn't a conservative doesn't have a brain.”

Dubai - a paradise or a paradox?

2009-07-09T04:17:00.001+05:30

Any place on Earth that’s close to heart is a home to thyself! Such a place in my heart was the land that prospered before time, maintained its reign of monarchical rule and flourished in the hearts of those who dwelled in this region of peace – Dubai... I was born in India and before I could even wake to see my land of God’s own country, I was snoozing off in a flight off to Dubai. My life began in this paradise, my memories resided here and my experiences rose like a phoenix, over here.

I used to open my world in the sounds of Allah that echoed from behind our apartment. From childhood to adolescence, from teens to being an adult, my life revolved around the costs of this Gulf territory. My adorable school, my favorite hang-outs, my decent friends, my timeline of experiences, my dormant memories, my knowledge, my wisdom, my infatuations, my ache of love, that fun, those moments, that life, those snapshot, all evolved and faded in this land. Even before I realized the fact that what is being is not forever, I shifted my base of residence to India. But Dubai has always been in the core of my heart, my home!

As a kid, my trips from India to Dubai is when I have enjoyed its’ view from the heavens so peacefully. “As the flight yearns to touch its toes on land, what we see is amazing. The hospitality of the stewardess is heartwarming and the little snooze breaks a cry as the flight touches the land of fortune. I carry my cheer and walk out the door sill of the flight in smiles. The air of my always meant to be, hometown caresses me in love and I wait to reach home, strolling through those ever happening paths of light and life.“

Why these reminiscences never leave us apart? Why do these moments prick our lives forever? It was truly a paradise of peace and people. From the lifestyle of dwellers to those who had come here for survival, all knew what luxury is all about and how does it feel about being a land so divine. Now that was paradise!

Times have changed now! The fact of a paradise has in fact turned into being a concrete paradox. Skyscrapers hugging the skies of success, lights crowning the nerves of the city, money playing the game of life and luxury donning the faces of people! Life is no longer the same here. I miss Dubai but the fact that DSF has commercialized its sanity will definitely stain my thoughts of going back there. Recession, unemployment, survival is all that matters here now! It could have always been the place that appeared in my dreams, the peace that I breathed while being back there is now engulfed with uncertainty and terror.

I believe that being prosperous while keeping your people in custody of success and smiles is one key element for being reigned as the best location on planet to survive. But all and everything has its limits and so does this one! I love Dubai but the scene back there now is no close to me wanting to go back, just if not for my pals who still lingered in this once paradise. Guys, all these palm islands will be swallowed in no time, flights may attack the poles that pierce the skies and tremors may hit the happiness if you keep torturing it with commercial manholes. STOP!!!! This is simply irony that now it is more glamor than goodness... I wish it all remained the same as it used to be once…!

Quote for the day:
“The heart is great which shows moderation in the midst of prosperity.”

Looking for some Deluxe Luxury properties in France????

2009-06-28T20:50:00.034+05:30

Yeah… one of those days when the clouds overshadow the sun outside and minds dread to be active on the run. So I simply got glued to my computer (.. as always!) and decided that I will check out some good picturesque photographs online today. I randomly entered the world of flickr and owing to my latest stint in photographs, I navigated to the world of intense, natural and still photography and therefore continued checking out some ruins, chateaus, landscapes, real-life portraits and neatly built random villas in Europe (.. they have the most quaint landscapes down there. How peaceful to capture that beauty!)

And as I kept surfing from one portal to another, I came across some rich architecture in the form of town houses and villas, European haunts to get envied of and so I set my hand to move from one spacious hub to another. You guys need to check these out. If you are interested in buying a mansion down town somewhere within the region of France, then please check this portal. It will entice your needs and provide you with the dream house, maybe the one you were wanting to gift your beloved soon! I wish I had that kind of money and needs to own such colossal mansions… ** Sigh!** Just beautiful!!!

Anyways, from the bunch of these ecstatic homes, there were too many of my favorites to mention. However, by researching more about these beautiful town houses, I eventually landed up at the origin, the mind, the reason behind these awesome structures - Sothebys Realtors reigning the regions of France and Monaco. If you are a recipient of the French language and culture and always have wanted to reside by the gardens of France within the ethnicity of rich heritage that donned the beauty of European culture, well, please check out this one! It is just amazing folks, especially the one am going elaborate about.

Have you been planning to gift your beloved a peaceful home? Have you planned a surprise for someone? Do you think it’s time you shifted your realm of life and thought? Well, then this is the place, my friend, it definitely is!

In spite of having so many favorites from this group of amazing mansions, one of the best home town villas that I would have loved to buy is the Townhouse in Paris which I suppose would range up to 12912 square feet, (approximately 1199 square per meter) with a count of 5 bedrooms minimum. Sounds interesting? Wait for more! This charming town villa in France is silent within the core of flourishing flora, a secret garden dwelling at the very elusive XVIth arrondissement of Paris and it is truly a contemporary masterpiece enriched with historic experiences. This town villa, in other words, a residence palace has been amalgamated using the facets of an actual ocean liner, an out-of the-world experience to be felt! It is an asset for the domain of luxury real estates in Paris.

Every corner of this mansion comprises a suite spreading almost to 1200 sq. mts in size; all assembled using the finest, exotic materials ever. You should definitely check the bathrooms and terraces in this mansion, once again all encompassed with the décor of Carrera marble and terracotta. There are so many additional add-INS to this paradise like the pool, the garden just like Eden, the terrace that overlooks the best sceneries and CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? a personal elevator available absolutely at your discretion! Like said, the Townhouse is definitely a palace adorned with fountains and ponds reflecting the historic era of Indian heritages. This is the place you wanna own for a life time or to have it addressed as your vacation home!

To know more about this European haven and similar luxury real estate masterpieces (Courtesy: Sothebys France and Monaco), try browsing through this website. I have become so addicted with their properties and am just dreaming about buying one of their best. Don't you think so? Take a look and you would dream too buddy! There are many other luxury properties I would like to detail about but, lemme make my post short! Anyways, if you do plan to step down to Sothebys to find about more properties, don't forget to check out the Mountain cabin, the Chalet located at Megeve. Not speaking much about it, you can check it out at the above mentioned website. Let me make my post short! **winks…)

Don’t forget to check out Antoine Nicholas collection of wonderful French properties at http://www.flickr.com/photos/france-sothebys-international-realty/sets/72157614111721931/ And who knows??? You might just come across many others as exciting as this one…! If you do buy one, lemme know so that I can plan my vacation accordingly! Juz’ kidding… !

Quote for the day:
"Good homes are still the best source of good humans."

So, the King has summoned farewell to ALL….

2009-06-27T13:49:00.014+05:30

"Heal The World... Make It A Better Place...
For You and For Me and the Entire Human Race...
There Are People Dying... If You Care Enough For The Living...
Make A Better Place... For You and For Me..."

My childhood icon, my favorite pop idol, a legendary singer and a person not worth to be forgotten! Just like how kids all over the world favor the flavor of a single role model, I too followed in tune with M.J. (Let him rest in peace...) He was my loner pal, my music in dreams and my confidante as a kid! I basically grew up on his music, ONLY his music. I used to spend hours gathering his masterpieces and listening back to back, all during my childhood. As a kid, I was an introvert who kept friends at a distance and dreams by her side. I was a kid with no siblings or pals. I could spend hours just writing something, drawing or basically listening to MJ music. There was a time, when my parents were irritated coz’ of my addiction to his music. I would always lock the doors and dance to his rhythm, try to moonwalk like the chap and by heart his lyrics. Today when I turn back, it all seems like a dream, a phase when life was so full of music. Now, it has all faded in sense, his music lives on, his aura shines but a life to own this, has slept forever.

My inclination towards English music has been minimal and to 'POP' rare, but thanks to MJ, he taught me how different can music be heard, how creatively can you blend pop with lyrics and dance and how popular can a small town boy rise to be when he becomes the ‘King of Pop’. I respect his work from my soul, his dedication to music, his determination to learn and experiment various genres of music, (...be it, even the Arabic verses that he has voiced in one of his songs!), his charming smile to win music lovers and his patience to hurdle through difficulties that have mostly been a part of his life. He has etched words of hope, faith and love through his music, in the history of POP and dance.

His personal life has been through dingy tunnels of troubles, he was accused for something, who knows, maybe never happened at all, he still stood through everything, his family, his kids, siblings and mostly he stood for his fans. I respect his life for he has achieved what none other could in a short time, an young age and be still at the top until now. MJ, YOU ARE A LEGEND. No one can replace you!!! Media scrapped his happiness but his music spoke it all. He is a gem, a genius who knew what he lived for, MUSIC. If you have a negative opinion against this bugger, then you seriously can’t identify his expertise of music. MJ, Thanks for the great music. We will all miss you, TODAY but your music will never make us feel that absence.

We have lost you, TODAY before we could yield it all but legacy lives on, your MUSIC takes on fans even now. There will be none other as YOU and your music will help your legacy for music live on. We will remember the cries in ‘Heal the World’ for the children, we will remember the moves, the act in ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Beat It’, we will remember the theory in ‘Black or White’, we will remember the unity in ‘Bad’, we will remember the love in ‘The Lady in my Life’, we will remember the sorrow in ‘Leave me alone’, we will remember the voice in ‘They don’t really care about us’ …. And so on we will remember your songs, lyrics, music and contribution to POP. Live on MJ!

Don't forget to check out http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/song-lyrics.html to brush through the legends' works... Also Don't forget to check his videos on YOUTUBE!!!

Quote for the day!
"Years, following years, steal something every day; At last they steal us from ourselves away.”

Adoption for a gain or what?

2009-06-24T23:51:00.001+05:30

So, this weekend while catching up with an old pal, she spilled the beans that she’s gonna adopt a boy child in the coming days. To my amazement of her already having a girl child, she added to my shock by confessing the fact that she had no troubles genetically conceiving for a boy child but she and her hubby felt that by performing this noble act of love, they may be in for a bundle full of joy and a basket full of blessings for a lifetime. I introspectively analyzed the act to believe why she was doing this - to held out a life for the little boy in the name of adoption or simply gain some sympathy on behalf of the noble act she just dutifully performed or in fact for some advanced blessings on her and her hubby’s part. This whole conversation put me into wonder! So why do we really decide to adopt??

There can be two categories of people who wanna adopt kids, per say (Human kids!) – one category comprise those who do it for style, sympathy or simply fame, or they would have got addicted to adopting kids, to make it a foster home for different genres of kids and then brag about it! (No offence to anyone to whom I may have related this description to.) And the other being the ones who simply do not consider their fates locking a blessing called ‘kids’, those who are least fortunate to conceive souls, those who yearn for the little feet and hands and the little voice that goes ‘Ma’ and ‘Pa’. Let us analyze the case of a birth mom who still yearns for a kid through adoption. During our age of innocence, we girls, even before thinking about weddings, simply gawk at the tiny feet of little souls who come our way and eventually, we would virtually fly into our futures foreseeing us taking care of such angels. I am sure most of us would have gone to the extent of pondering the thought of just adopting babies and not getting married at all. I did once!

That way, we have no commitments, no fear and yet would have the world of joy, innocence and happiness, all to ourselves. Of course, over time and life, these desires vanish, our reality hits us hard and we simply go with the flow of living our purpose in this world; grow up, do what we desired to do, get married, work, and have kids and so on. But isn’t there still that ball of regret that lingers in your mind of not being able to make an abandoned soul yours' own? Well, then what’s stopping you to own that desire once again - Family, friends, society or your conscience? If what’s stopping you is the awareness of not knowing where to begin, then blog about it, write about it in forums, speak out and probably, there are many waiting to assist you in this process.

Just because the procedure or the formality of adoption is tough, don’t decide to back out. Think about those kids who might have a great home and family but were deprived of it because the system of adoption was expensive. Money has always been a problem for everything! But there was a way, right? Even this will have a way.

Probably, these kids can be collectively communed by Churches, NGOs and other such organizations, but every team has a limitation and so does these places. But just think back and see if each well-to-do family adopted one kid, then how many souls would escape the torture of being neglected, having illnesses, death, exploitation and being cleared of sight from all of us. Why is that people think about adoption but don’t eventually get to doing it? Adoption and caring for the abandoned, innocent souls is just like serving God himself. Once again, not for just blessings, but to be at his feet, to do what is best for him and to be simply next to him is a feeling least experienced. To an extent, it is not fair to say why God cannot take care of these souls, but it is right to state that this is God’s plan for us to realize how he looks, through our willingness to help those in need.

At times, there are even spinsters, single moms or birth moms who consider the decision of adoption, because of their frozen circumstances, and looks forward to bringing a little soul to their world of happiness. They might have no reason to not conceive naturally, but by fate may not be able to, and such a feeling of deprivation sometimes makes you take decisions like these too. I personally empathize with such humans as I also belong to their category in one sense. But at the same time, don’t turn to adoption, just because it is an amalgamation of these aspects.

Adoption of an infant should not be the ultimatum for your society status, style symbol, mandatory obligation or public fame. Please think otherwise! These souls do not yearn for your money but care, not cars but a simple touch, not a name but to say they are just yours, not a house but a home of peace. So think and take the right decision folks! I simply had a conversation with my old time pal and so many thoughts have crossed my heart. In case you do read this post, I hope such thoughts and eventually certain decisions also cross your mind triggering you to take some active, noble steps in life. These kids need a life, a home, their own people and a lot of love and care. I know that you might be thinking who am I to speak so much about this?

If I am so interested to do so, then why don’t I adopt? Well, not that this thought hasn’t crossed my mind and am not thinking about it, instead have already started making arrangements for the same. That small ray of happiness soon to be shining in my world stands a little behind, around the corner! P.S. Today I also read an article about adopting, (..and not buying!) pets like dogs. Well, I do not want to discuss or debate on this topic, but if your mind says so, you may also give a life to such animals, if you can physically, mentally, emotionally and practically support them. (Please don’t swear me for my post on adopting kids and pets! I am just trying to bring a small change in the world. Making it a better place for us to live in, for us to know nobleness and kindness still exists. I know it is not going to help, but minds may beg to differ!)

Quote for the day!
"Adoption is not about finding children for families, it's about finding families for children”.

Orkut vs. Facebook

2009-06-19T14:26:00.019+05:30

So the war is on! Days back I just pondered about how social networking sites such as Orkut and Facebook have had their TRPs raising up so high, especially within us, the Indians. Not that Facebook is both, famous in the West as in the East and Orkut isn’t, but Orkut has its own regions of conquer, territories of users and wonderful elements to exhibit.

Orki and Facbi, they are just like two buddies from convent school or probably college, popular in their own way with their unique facets that attract all. Started off as plain, simple average students who were liked by all but then eventually had their own groups, neutral acquaintances and plus points. Times have changed. These students are no longer those plain, average pupils who were same in many ways and different in some. They now have their territories, groups have grown, popular in their own way, regions to conquer along with hearts and all set to capture the world’s attention using strategies from every possible vertical.

These friends are no longer buddies but competitors. Today, if you young, (as we call it, ‘the teens’...), add to that - you are tech-savvy (oh! C’mon, who aren’t these days? If not, maybe you need to move on!), and is an IT professional, student, housewife, grandpa, wife, mother, advertising professional, doctor, actor, teacher, chef or even idle at home, it’s so definite that you do run an account on social networking websites. (Hey, you do have a blog and do read blogs but don’t have a social networking account, buddy c’mon; buckle up and move on… create an account today!) Now, it can be MySpace.com, Twitter, Orkut, Facebook and so on. If a blogger, then definitely, you should be having an account with 20 something bloggers, Blogger.com, Blogadda, Technorati, Indiblogger and so on.

And if you an ethnic, patriotic Indian, a techie especially, you will see him or her bound to have an account with Orkut or Facebook and a blog with Indiblogger kind of blog networks. Let’s now walk back a little. Who are these top horns? Speaking from an Indian perspective, as for us, Orkut and Facebook are considered to be top horns in the world of social networking, here in India, apart from the blogging websites that are available for us to meet and discuss about global affairs. Orkut, handled by Google was triggered into action on January 2004, all thanks to Orkut Büyükkökten, a US based Turkish employee who proved to be a reason for the evolution of social networking by employing fun or game based applications. So what is Orkut for those who don’t know? It is a platform, a website that allows you to meet new pals, keep in touch with old pals, share photos or videos with your friends amidst high secured connections, enabling the creation of community forums of which users can be a part of. Not that popular on an international level, but tries to entice users at every opportunity that they have in hand. Orkut had a problem in the beginning, being that it was not secured to a level where people could share their personal tidbits, but later on owing to many critical and serious reasons (..which I refuse to mention here, coz’ I care for my security too!!!), it got bounded with high-end security features. Hmm… for instance initially you could visit anyone’s profile, view anyone’s photos or even right-click and store/save some strangers’ snaps. All this has been undone now! Good for you, Orki…

Let’s now move over to Facbi, (whom I lovably call…), my personal favorite social networking site (not that, I don’t hold an Orkut account but….), FACEBOOK! Its origin is in fact quite exciting. A few years back the line, somewhere in February 2004, a website strictly dedicated for the students of Harvard University, slowly began expanding its database of users to students from other global universities. Not that Orkut has any specifications on the kind of users joining them, but Facebook has a simpler process to sign up and that’s cool! It’s got all the features that Orkut has and even more. But the best part about Facebook is its feature of photo-sharing with real good tactics of security, (which by the way has been adapted by Orkut as of now…), commenting on snaps, tagging pals on snaps and so on. Orkut, till recent times did not have the kind of security that Facbi exhibited. Of course, change happens over time! I have pals who ask me on Orkut, “Why are you not seen around these days on Orki? Why no snaps?” (I had to take them all off, a couple of months back owing to the insecurity features available on Orkut. I guess things have changed now but perhaps I find it easier to upload my snaps on Facebook, nowadays!) And I have pals on Facebook also asking me “Hey, why so active on Facebook? Why not Orkut? I know why, Facebook is fun right, but it's so confusing to use buddy, Orkut is simpler."

I guess people are more comfortable or at least, have been most comfortable with Orkut, as the GUI (Graphic User Interface), basically, the look and feel is user-friendly, its' easy to navigate, applications are minimal and it focuses more on simply scrapping friends, making friends and maybe to an extent, sharing photos/videos. But there are groups of people who find Facebook more innovative to use than Orkut coz’ it employs numerous applications, fun quizzes to play with, commenting on statuses and stuff, (which by the way, does not happen in Orkut...) and majorly also keeping track of what other people have got to say for you or your friends. It allows you to keep in touch with friends forever and also keep a track of what your pals are up to each moment. Man, it is awesome and you can juz’ spend hours fiddling with the various elements that exist there. Orkut, on the other hand (at least for me...), can be used just to check what your pals are trying to tell or inform you and probably check some of their snaps. But of course, Facbi does not necessarily have an edge over Orkut, especially because unlike Orkut, it employs a little too many sections, applications, ads, elements, features and so on.

Some people might underline Facbi as not being user-friendly whereas Orkut being really easy to use. This may vary from a user to user perspective. Orkut and Facebook have their own strengths and weaknesses. What makes each one unique, simply is bound by how a user likes the space. So these debates all zero down to what I or you like being frequently on, Orki or Facbi! You addicted to anyone of these. Well, I am! So which one of these is your favorite? You may post your comment and we may always discuss... is there some other network that is as popular as these two? Hmm, like Twitter!

Quote for the day:
"The value of a social network is defined not only by who's on it, but by who's excluded."

House Hunting!!! The marathon begins…

2009-06-15T23:37:00.001+05:30

I always enjoyed watching the sitcoms of the 80s and 90s, especially the ones where we have a tenant either being pestered by his or her house lord or where the tenants themselves act as menace to others, either way. These sitcoms, like ‘Three’s Company’ used to interest our conscious, making us regularly watch them in order. Those days, I used to wonder how fun would it be to have your own space, that too if it’s being shared by someone who is…. (Can’t find an adjective for that word!) Watching these sitcoms were fun, especially coz’ I thought being independent was the best of what one could have. Freedom is any day priceless! There was so much of adventure involved, excitement, unexpected events, and yet a lot of love and care from people you live with.

What if it is with your beloved, soul mate, hubby or wife you gonna live with? Amazing! You know what, most of these guys did have their own place, where they stayed with their parents but to be on their own, they employed the thought of renting out a place. Now, back to reality! I put myself in the shoes of these protagonists and venture into the world of renting an apartment. Now that am married, I acknowledge the need to be on our own, away from parents, from relatives, from anything that binds our lives to theirs. Let’s analyze how to go about it! I first give an AD on various mediums that are accessed by millions, wait for a day or two, await calls from whom I should do, and then begins the race and chase of hunting down apartments.

Two ways to see this! Via an agent or an owner; both have their own perceptions and tactics on how to entice us into renting an apartment. It is so ironic that in spite of having our own spaces at times, we venture to look out in the city so wild with a set of impossible criteria check points thereby hauling the process of finding a better home. Never knew finding an apartment to rent, could have been one of the most tedious acts of all times. These guys make us stroll to houses belonging to various regions, with change in numbers and rates that never satisfy us to what we are hoping for. Nevertheless, we see a few houses that complement our satisfactions, but plates turn when it comes to talking about the rates. The marathon is on for days, the calls for houses is on the chase, funds and family we may lose, but being on our own is definitely news! Yeah! The thought of renting the place with your loved one, being independent with your decisions, buying and decorating the place you want it the way to be and finally inviting your pals and folks home to see what and where have you reached after all hard work. Feels great, isn't it? Thanks to the agents/brokers who kept us on the run and owners who were quite helpful with all this fun. The fun part here are the tag-lines people use to allure us into selecting their house or apartment.

Things like, “You will have a spacious hall, it is semi-furnished, covered car parking available, vaastu (feng-shui) compliant, rain water harvesting available, 2 bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a single balcony that opens to a park, and so on….But the rent is xxxx INR/DHS/DOLLARS which is negotiable if you can talk to my wife, my son, my mother and so on…. We are very particular about the maintenance rate and please try to keep the place clean and blah, blah ahhhh blah……” Crazy it all may seem! If you observe closely, most of these guys, be it the agent or the owner, are not an inch sure whether they are pitching for the right person, right price or the right moment. There seems to be so much of uncertainty involved in finding the right tenant for them and the right house for us. I guess these guys need to streamline some sort of a strategy wherein they can handle numerous customers/clients by filtering the choice, criteria and requirements of the customers using innovative techniques.

Possibly, they could act as a mediator between the owner and customer and use technological elements from the latest arena of gadgets and track the availability of houses thereby catering to the customers easily and effectively. Well, this is what brokers/agents could do to simplify our lives of finding homes whereas, owners need to choose the right medium to advertise their house to get the dream tenant. It shouldn’t be the case like mine where I once rented out my old apartment to a smart, eligible, educated bachelor falling for his high command of language and knowledge, his degree of education and his professional domain. It so happened that, he eventually declined our request to vacate the house and paid us cheques that bounced the very day of deposit. Feeling cheated by such a fraud, a conman who was foiling our plans to get the apartment vacated and sold, it became so difficult for me, my family to sleep, breathe and survive in peace.

Definitely, I wouldn't be exhibiting such an act with any owner but I know the torture, my family and many other owners went through coz' of guys like these and it's quite easy for me to judge the psychological instinct of a house owner by now! So guys, if you all out there are planning to rent out an apartment or a house, do a perfect planning, prepare for the unknown outside and get the right person to find you the right home! Bless me that I do find my paradise soon....

Quote for the day:
"To change one's life: Start immediately, do it flamboyantly, no exceptions, no excuses."

Why late???

2009-06-13T20:01:00.001+05:30

To begin with, yeah! I know how late I have been in entering my posts on my favorite blog. That’s right! It’s been long but not late. I have been quite busy off late. I mean there has been too much happening with and around me and that had kind of life routine kept me away from the pleasure of online expressions. But now onwards I promise you will get to see posts on this cute blog almost everyday. Yeah, one of my resolutions, you see! Let’s see how far I get with this one. LOL! :)

So like said, yeah been busy. The New Year start wasn’t so right. Thanks to the buzz word ‘Recession’ and the ‘Satyam fiasco’, lay-offs were in the tunnel (Thank God! Wasn’t one among them then, but who knows what lie ahead??), finances gobbled up and down a while and some departed us while others rejoined. In short, life wasn’t as cool as it seems now, except for the happiness that I got from my family and hubby (which is one of the most important things in life, but not the entire bit...)

So I decided that before it gets too late, I need to buckle up with life, do stuff that I missed or messed out on and get things done the way I want to (than crib over something that can’t be worked out..) so here I am once again… !! Tune into my blog everyday to find something interesting that I have got to talk about. It could just be me or my life, the way I perceive it, or something just out of the box! So wait for the best and prepare for the unknown!

Quote for the day!!
“If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.”

Prelude to the end of 2008 – All set to begin 2009

2009-02-08T00:14:00.001+05:30

Hi folks! A huge ‘Welcome’ to me, a pat on the back and am here with whole load of tidbits! To start with, a prosperous New Year Wish to all who do and do not follow or read my blog. Yeah, was on a long break, a rejuvenating period, though! Had some wonderful, peaceful moments, accomplished some pending tasks that was overdue for so long and met up with some old pals, like I had promised them.

Well , to be frank, year 2008 was a jolly ride for me. It went up and down the life graph budging over parameters like love, finance, career, health and so on. However, there was my chunk of some amazing moments that were captured in a frame by frame setting within my mind. Hmm...! Like my trip to Thailand, felicitation as a recognition for my qualitative work, the ‘Learning Excellence Award’ for the best Instructional Designer, some great times with pals during lunches, get together(s), movies, fights and so on, days when I used to blog regularly, some bitter moments up and down the career and finance graph, festival feasts, ideas, celebrations, citations and so much more which I can cherish for a life time. And with that I leave the old behind and am here once again to embrace the new within.

Welcome 2009! I have missed so much to express on this platform in these two months time. There is so much that I want to share to and for all. I just read somewhere that “Right generosity towards the future consists in giving to what is present.” Exactly! As one my latest resolutions or you could say decision, I am planning to give as much as I can, what I have, to others be it my friends, loved ones, family or even strangers. Lots of love, care, hope, prayers, happiness and even elixirs!

Work takes most of my time during the day and worries and plans take my time during the night. But there is a lot that I see, feel, talk and experience from moment to moment which I want to spill on this arena of expressions, soon enough in this year. To begin with, I will definitely complete my pending travelogue on my ‘Trip to Thailand’ that happened (I know!) at the start of last year, followed by current affairs and my take on the same which will flow in and out of my blog, what I got to say about certain movies, music; musings of any kinds will also slip in now and then, down here.

Not so far from the start of 2009, I celebrated my 27th year on this planet, (WOW! That was a long one...), and am all set for the next one. It has been celebration time for me from then till now, with a little steep and slope at work. What’s even better is some of my pals’ entered wedlock in smiles and style. What wasn’t so colorful was some of my buddies joined the ‘I have been laid-off’ club. There is a lot that is happening around me and I want to pen it intermittently from truth to perspective. From Satyam havoc to the hype for Slumdog Millionaire, the recession to movies, from life to love and from then to now, all about which I plan to write is what you will see and enjoy in this year, from me on ‘Smudged Reflections’.

P.S. My poetry ‘WITHIN MY GRIP’ has entered the Finals for the international online poetry competition on voicesnet.org. Wish me the best, guys! http://www.voicesnet.org/poetrydisplay.aspx?poemid=141461

Paradise Now, here and ever (in every sense)!!!

2008-12-13T20:48:00.001+05:30

Weekends are some of my favorite times. Times when I pick up a nice flick to spend time with my hubby! I have already detailed some of these rare moments from my book of life, through blogs and not and so to carry forward the tradition, the last weekend was spend with no difference from this routine. My love kept drilling through his rack of DVD collection to pick a nice, sensible flick which we both would enjoy watching over a drink of Cosmopolitan or Irish Bailey. Meanwhile, I simply used the latest Tata Sky PVR (for those who are not familiar with this facility, log to http://tataskyplus.com/index.html - it is a TV cable service provider in India (Good to know, for all expatriates) that offers user-friendly options to enrich the experience of watching TV. It provides options like pausing the live TV, (OMG!), rewinding the live TV (Awesome, isn’t it?) or even live recording of one channel while the viewing of another channel is on! (That is Technology, my friend!), to scan through our set of movie channels like HBO, Star Movies, World Movies and… hey, Zee studio! These guys really know to pick up the best flicks from the history of world cinema and showcase it for us who might know the least of existence of such masterpieces.

Anyways, as I looked at the time, I realized it was the moment for the commencement of ‘After 10’ movies. So without haste in time, I continued watching this flick and called on my hubby to check out what this movie has to offer. We realized it was a Palestinian flick. Hesitated for a moment did we, but took the challenge and continued watching the movie. Fortunately, the subtitles were displayed in English, thanks to Zee Studio.Now, back to the movie! This was quite an unusual screenplay with a portrayal of excellent and minimal characters, reeled on to speak the story of million such similar young boys in the corners of Israel or Bosnia who undergo traumatic déjà vu experiences of fighting for their country or preserving their rights as locals and not settlers. The war is still on! But this movie picks two rare characters from the stream and then percolates into their lives and those things that revolve around them. The movie basically tries to exhibit the fact that even today many people in different hits of the world, irrespective of age or sex is dragged into this world of terror and trauma where the objective of each of these soldiers may differ according to their missions stated by their troops.

Eventually, what I understand is that this movie makes one introspect about perspectives, about how one can take for granted things that begin or end, in their own sense. The movie employs a slow start as you try to acknowledge the happenings, one by one, logically as it builds on. Released in 2005 on Valentine’s day, this flick was directed by Hany Abu-Assad, a Dutch based Palestinian director who has been acclaimed for movies like The Fourteenth Chick, Nazareth 2000, Rana's Wedding, Ford Transit and so on to name a few. These included short films, documentaries and even movies that triggered controversies, for his films always speak the truth in the most atrocious manner. Truly a director at heights, in the genre of his movies! Oh! Haven’t I yet named the movie?

Well, the details of this movie go, just like this.. Movie in talk: Paradise Now (…would have been something else, in Israel!) Screenplay brains: Bero Beyer, Pierre Hodgson Cast in act: Kais Nashef, Ali Sulaiman, Lubna Afzal and Hiam Abbas Success check points: Won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign language film and received an Oscar nomination in the same category! Also, it won the Golden Calf for best Dutch film.

Also, in many categories, geniuses from behind the camera for this movie were awarded for the renowned piece of work in such sensible cinema. I think the above speaks the story behind the class that this movie spreads strokes of, in volumes. In simple words, the movie is the marathon of moments spend by and between two childhood pals in the narrowed streets of Palestine before they enact their duties as suicide bombers in the town of Tel Aviv. You definitely need to pick this flick for a one time watch. It is worth the time. The movie simply begins in awe of the happy times between two friends, during their childhood and then in adulthood. They have their own families, just like any other normal person. They have friends with whom they hang out and share laughs. They need and give love to those special ones, like all of us do. But what dark secret remains is that, they live for a purpose, a rebellious mission. In the movie, over time, these two pals are instructed that they are going to be the lucky ones who, after a gap of two years, are going to achieve the first step of their mission.

According to them, they are already dead, but their soul awakens to serve a cult of missionaries, missionaries who fight to and for terror against the nation, against settlers.

Said and Khaled, the active protagonists or the awaited suicide bombers, in the movie are told by their leaders that in 36 hours, they will be reaching heaven in the name of Allah and achieving their goal as humans, to serve their purpose of life and their rights to banish the settlers.

The movie unfolds these 36 hours showing the domestic responsibilities of these so-called normal people and then mapping it with their duties as suicide bombers. They act normal, sleep well and bid silent farewell to their loved ones with a heavy heart as they approach the moment of truth. For the mission, Said and Khaled are made to look like Israeli settlers who are attending a wedding, their cover story for the act, across the border.

They both are directed to blow themselves at an interval of fifteen minutes each. Amidst the chaos before the act, Said is doubtful about his decision whereas Khaled is quite excited about it. Khaled flees from the site, as guards approach them next to the border but Said absconds the scene. His lady love, the terrorist group, his best childhood pal and his family lay a network of enquiries to trace him. During an encounter, with his love, Suha, Said reveal his intentions for this terrorising act. His father, a Palestanian used to work for the Israelis and during one such mission, was executed due to his origin. This had made Said weak and vulnerable for such decisions and dimensions. Said initially agrees with Khaled on withdrawing from the mission but instead yields into his own interests of intending to blow up a bus filled with Israeli soldiers. The movie ends without a say! Did Said blow up the bus or did he not defuse the bomb that was clinging onto his torso like a baby? The screen spreads a stroke of white and the credits appear. Amazing!

Not many people might inhale the truth in this story the way I was able to accept it. Not many people would even enjoy watching such a movie that is so silent and yet so deep. Even my hubby had his own perceptions and misconceptions about the movie. We even ended up having various verticals of debates over the story and ending of the movie. Not all five fingers are like, as all knows it best!

However, no matter what others think, coz’ I know that there are many out there like me who would enjoy and accept these kind of movies too. And what I did like about this movie was:

Said and Khaled’s friendship · Suha’s perception about her dad, the rebel leader · Conversations between Suha and Said · Terror, at its peak in mind, hearts and lives · Said’s relation and bonding with his mom and siblings · Said’s hatred towards how Israelis had cheated his dad · Technology and terror mapping each other in awe · Flow of the movie from the day of instructions given to the suicide bombers to the day of the actual attack · Moments of self-realization and introspection · Judgement of the right and the wrong · and so on.

An ending that puts the audience to judge between perspectives · Photography and camera, the angle placement is absolutely perfect in every shot · Khaled’s moment of withdrawing from the terror act · Terrorists logically planning the act, as in real life · Wonderful screenplay which was initially written for a friend in search of a suicide bomber who was his pal to two friends engaging within the activity of bombing cities.

To end with, I request you all to take a pick on this flick at least once when you have time to spare in life. These kind of movies make one think about many incidents that happen in our daily life, including the Mumbai terror and also moments that make us think deep enough. So wouldn’t you wanna catch up with this flick?

Prayers, not yet heard for Marielle

2008-12-11T22:23:00.001+05:30

I hope most of you remember about the girl Marielle, about whom I had blogged about a couple of days back. Now to begin with, am sorry about stating her mom’s name incorrectly. It is not Jeannie, it is Lisa. Secondly, this is for all who read and follow my blog regularly, I have an announcement that might make the lives of these people a little simpler. Marielle’s condition is still worsening and Lisa’s pal who offered to do the kidney donation has been ruled out during the final marathon of blood and tissue tests. One moment of appreciation surely goes to her, Lisa's E-Bay pal who offered to help. However, in days, when I had such a condition, there were no networks to inform people and get help. Now, things have changed and so has our chance to change things. If you are a self-less blogger, please visit Lisa’s blog on http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/ and read through her struggles with her kin and the grievances that follow her life. Use your network to get her good advice, blessings and prayers and if God wills, even a good donor. This is not for any sympathy but just to help a life, which is more like my reflection from ten years back. This girl, this angel is one among millions, I agree! But if one life makes a difference, the impact can be that of many. If you ever come across such people in your life, blog about them so that many of us can come forth to offer help for them, in forms maybe which are lesser known to man. So hoping many out there would help this soul, in Lord’s name...

What did I ponder today?

2008-12-09T20:17:00.001+05:30

Why did the Great creator make sweethearts: "Love's a special feeling that only can begin when you open up your heart and let somebody in. It's a warm and tender smile that's meant for only you. That adds a special touch of joy to everything you do. It's the look in someone's eyes that says "I understand". The quiet pleasure given by the touch of someone's hand. It's sharing hopes and dreams, it's taking and giving.. Love adds warmth and happiness to everyday of living." ... just a something that I read somewhere today. Something that made me think about love. The love I had for my parents, the love I had for my siblings, the love I thought was the best with my crush, the love I thought filled my gaps with my friends, the love I have as my life, my husband. Wow! Love does, hold a great place in my arena of space, called life. Hmmm... How often, on a day to day basis do we come across someone whom we love so much that life seems small in front of their presence???

Art Musings

2008-12-09T10:15:00.001+05:30

Today, I took out some of my old artworks to reminiscence some of the best stress buster moments that I have ever had in my life.. Each of these Oil paintings speak a story from my page of life... They may not be sophisticated or polished, thanks to me being an amateur but I take pride in saying that I did this all by myself...

There was a phase in my life when I was so free that I could just sleep the whole day instead of being awake to be bored.. I had just completed my high school and was looking forward to college.. but there was a long break in between.. Days I spent, reading, surfing, singing to myself and travelling, my very polite neighbour, Rituka aunty (I just hope she and her kids are doing fine, coz' I sincerely don't have any idea as to where are they now..) saw some of my works and recommended me to her Art teacher, Seemita Roy!! Now this was a 'trip' phase.. I decided to kill time the best possible way ever.. So I joined for some classes where my observations, the house dog 'Biscuit', the art class in the kitchen and the wonderful house decors, were expressed through my exhaustive writings those days.. !! At the classes, my art teacher, Anjali Ela Menon's disciple, used to be always busy in doing her own masterpieces of those humongous portraits that conveyed no meanings at all, except for the sole reason they looked 'BIG'.. this work was done by me all alone within the chatter of other art buddies, colours and limited time of an hour.. I took 4 days to do the background, dress, and other stuff in the picture and owing to me being so bad with portraits, I took exactly 2 weeks to simply do the face.. Well that, according to me is the speciality of this work!!

Well, the story behind this one goes quite simple.. I wanted to do something different, something on my own and something which none has done.. This was not done in my class, though.. Had my easel and paints, that is all! But the story is that I never got the face right.. Am always good with landscapes and still art, but never with portraits.. So I called this to be the portrait of the most ugliest princess of all times.. Yeah, yeah.. I know it isn't so good.. but after all, it is mine!

Just an Oil painting of an old man with not so appropriate proportions but with a lot of meaning.. This was majorly worked upon by my fingers.. Natural art!!

Very simple story! I had an oval canvas and wanted to make use of it and voila.. This is what I did with it! However, now when I look at it, the flowers below could have been avoided and so could have been the case for the base of the tree.. Anyways, it is mine!

Oh! This one is my favorite coz' it is done from a photograph. On my way, I saw this Persian, historic villa. I just wanted to capture it in my paints. That is all! The painting is actually nice but I haven't been able to photograph it properly. These have been chosen from the attic front. I basically enjoy doing black and white sketches than Oil paintings. So soon I will be posting some of my work from the world of black and white.

Plight of those on the road, all thanks to their load!!

2008-12-05T21:47:00.001+05:30

Time: 10 a.m Place: My house Scene: Leaving for work

Me: Hon, make it soon! We need to reach there in time.
Hon: Just looking for the car keys. Oh! Here it is. (Back in the car)
Me: I just hope I reach there in time for the meeting.
Hon: Chill baby! I will take you there in no time.

And suddenly at the signal, near the sub-way, as my eyes constantly kept peaking onto the two ballet dancers dancing around the ballroom on my recently gifted fictitious fantasy based watch, my eyes, as usual, as everyday, also peaks to see those red uniforms torturing themselves while employing their strength in every breath to pull up a fish-cart of Gas (LPG) cylinders, just like Jack who went up the hill, so steep.

Centuries have moved along, times have changed, so long, but the destiny for many still remain the same, no matter how technology changes our lives and how we change ourselves. This scene, that I see everyday, triggers a conversation with my hubby where we discuss the way India has changed. India still has apartments that run from four to five floors where these guys have to shove the cylinders over their back for some dweller to feast on their food peacefully.

We all keep cribbing moment to moment, stating ‘Why does this happen to me?’ and yet most of us live in apartments with the latest technologies and gizmos serving as our elixir of today’s life, we have everything at our ease including the delivery of groceries to food, medicines to tailors, carpenters to the DVD fellow. Something that I noticed a couple of days back when the rains had engulfed our vicinity in vain, I and my hubby kept calling the DVD fellow to come by and lent us some movies so that the days that we are stuck at home, we can kill time by watching some crap. But least did me or my hubby think was that even he had a family of his own and thanks to his job; the kind of place where he stays might be one of those water-logged areas.

For a second, I had become selfish and I agree and admit it. But you know what? Most of them out there are selfish, and yet do not barge to the front to accept their denial of this fact. This fact, this truth goes out to those people too who, in everyday life, go up and down, to and fro to get things done and delivered for us so that our lives swing on without a hitch. I just thought for a while amidst all that noise of hard rock in the car, the dreams of these people who bring Gas cylinders to our door step or swim by flood waters to reach out to solve our plight, in some sense. Won’t they be cursing and cribbing about their life and the way they have to fight survival itself to life? That scene stayed and lingered for sometime within my thoughts, which drifted away as soon as I reached work.

But I guess why I brought out this point to light is that we must all try to talk out things to the bosses who rule these poor labor and drive them to do the most exercising exhaustive job through the day, (Thank God! They are spared during the night hours) about how facilities, perks, privileges must be offered for these people. Who knows, maybe these latest human elixir bearing lives are those educated, unfortunate ones who could not make it to the floors of an IT park but had to stay at the shop level to stabilize sustenance. It is not just them. There are million other daily jobs that suck and people, educated ones abide by these jobs.

The sight of them struggling, just like how I had to struggle some years back posing as a Marketing Executive for school books, makes me worry about the future our country has laid ahead of us. And yeah! A lot more thanks to the current economic crisis, terror invitations and of course, not to miss, here comes the end of the world! Things that can make their life easier is, usage of external elevator like trolleys which can bear the cylinder’s weight and can be simply elevated to the respective house floors (as most of the kitchens do have balconies), providing them with better commuting facilities, laying for them more perks and hikes, and so much more for these guys that stay to be behind, loyal and liberal.

Maybe, one or many among us can bring a change to lives that are so different and delayed from our lives and life styles. Ponder for a minute and maybe you will know….

Spirit of Celebrations in the Air!

2008-12-01T22:33:00.001+05:30

Today at work, as I entered the arena of stress, deadlines, meetings and projects, I encountered a presence of positive vibe, smiles, decorations, confetti all around and a lot of faces that were at ease. Yeah! That time of the year has arrived.. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year..” I simply wish I was back in New York or Dubai where the spirit is a little high when it comes to fun towards the end of the year. Miss those times, the snow, the fun, the surprises and the celebrations! Every year at our work place, we play a game called Chris-Ma/Pa and Chris-Child. It’s a great game. We are given names of our colleagues at secrecy which has to be served till Christmas Eve. It is not just fun but the suspense is tremendous, of trying to know who is our Chris-Ma/Pa who is bathing us with gifts and it is humorous to keep our Chris-Child guessing about us too. I opened up my heart and sent all an invite for this game today. Check it out!

I can’t wait till the last day. At home, it is no different. I have taken out the little Christmas tree decorations which I am going to use to decorate my work station as well my home den. I just love those little things. They bring so much of happiness to me, though tiny in nature. I bought a heap of cards to be sent to family and friends who are scattered around the globe. This is the season you ought to remember and respect them.

Christmas is just around the corner and New Year is right behind, so end up being the crooner… I have even set forth my list of resolutions which I wish to accomplish next year..
1. Complete my driving classes
2. Keep in regular touch with my old and new pals
3. Holiday with my hubby every six months
4. Blog regularly
5. Rejuvenate my artwork and my passion for art
6. Lose a couple of pounds
7. Have indigenous investments
8. Take off stress from work
9. Buy an attire every month
10. Indulge into gardening
11. Read more books
12. Spend more time with my niece and nephew
13. Try out more cocktails
14. Restyle my hair
15. Collect more key chains and photo frames
16. Write more and share knowledge even more

Ok, the list just goes on….. Let me first complete the first ten in sequence. Then I guess I would be ready for the next set. Whatever it is, I am enjoying these days and I always have loved these times. A season for loving and caring, giving and taking, sharing and compromising and enjoying and celebrating! A season for all, a reason to ball…. So aren’t you waiting for these days to come soon???

Angels = Friends, for health, wealth and life…

2008-11-29T19:46:00.001+05:30

Hi Folks! Today I am a let depressed... :( Take a look at this photo! Yesterday, I came across this blog, ‘The Domestic Diva’. This blog belongs to a concerned mother; a mother who sews amazingly, has a beautiful daughter with a great set of friends, all dwelling in a small town, at some corner of Philadelphia in the US.

The girl, Marielle whom you see in the above snap goes to school, is brilliant, talented and loves her mom a lot. She has two kidneys like the most of us but the depressing fact is that her kidneys are not functioning normally as it is supposed to.

Yeah, she is victimized by Chronic Renal failure.

Now why am I so concerned?? If I look back 13-14 years in my life biography, (Yeah, have come a long way!), I see myself in Marielle. That is right! I too was once in a condition of Chronic Renal failure.

As a word of faith, I posted a comment on her mom's blog for her daughter. She mailed me today morning, voicing her happiness over what she read. A tear or two slipped by my cheek as the reminiscence of my past flashed in front of my eyes. I know exactly how she would have felt. My mom is what I saw in her, Jeannie.

10 years up the line, as I look back, I remember my doc letting me know that such cases for young girls happen once, one in a million. Today I look around and I see the number just being swapped. It is more like a thousand in a million, regardless of age or sex, life style or education even if you are rich or poor. And not just Marielle, but there are so many out there who need help. Just that only some of these people and their conditions come to our knowledge, at times.

Two days back she was rushed to emergency as her condition was deteriorating. She happily flips through the pages of a favorite book not aware of the darkness laid in front of her. Days back, her mom had blogged to let the world know, that an easy pal has volunteered to donate her kidney and so far so good, the tests have been matching. Amen!! Marielle looks forward for a heavy feast during Thanksgiving and Christmas, as her surgery is scheduled the next day of Christmas, the transplant operation. Her blood pressure is rising and her blood counts are dropping, day by day. My heart goes out for her completely because I lost on my best years of teenage and childhood, thanks to this disease.

Being the only child for my parent, I was always pampered and loved by all. Even an injury of petite importance would take them by shock, if it happened to me. That is when I encountered a breathing difficulty while preparing for my 8th standard exams which shocked my parents completely. I was never a healthy child, always anemic, but my folks never realized that their daughter was sinking into something from where she could never opt out. I thought I was going to stop breathing eventually as the pressure rose and I couldn’t take it anymore. Hospital to hospital, bed to bed, finally the doctors addressed my folks and let them know that their daughter has kidneys that have shrunk completely and are dysfunctional. Heart broken, for the first time, I saw my dad shed a tear and burst into complete sorrow. The doctors put me onto peritoneal dialysis, unlike Marielle who is on haemo-dialysis, and so my next 4 years passed in having a tube from the inside of my tummy swung around my hip, all for the dialysis purpose. This tube had become a part of my life. I studied like the normal, played and even won accolades in various domains. Finally after my high school, we found the perfect donor (with whom I have no connections as of now, and that makes me feel low and guilty!) who like an angel bowed down and placed his blessings on my life. After a lot of struggle and another couple of surgeries, I have now arrived here.

Well, may my stories lie behind and let us focus on Marielle. Quite contradicting to what you saw above, below shown is a snap of Marielle in the hospital now. All in smiles, as she lay on this white bed of daisies, I pray that strength and courage bind her and be happy for life, may she. The story of Marielle has really disturbed me as it brings back my memories. Most of my friends and family never knew about my condition and so I assume that blessings for me were scarce. Prayers really help and we all need it. Marielle at this point needs it a lot.

Numerous lives were taken in and out of terror dens in Mumbai and now we have left no chance to save them or even pray for them apart from the fact that we can wish that their souls rest in peace. Marielle still has a chance! I request all of you to go through her mom’s blog and give wisdom of advices, blessings of thoughts and a bouquet of prayers.

I wish to hear from Jeannie, her mom soon that Marielle has finally succeeded in fighting her destiny and is staying happy in smiles with her friends and well wishers. Let us pray that this day comes to us in news, soon!

Hours of Terror

2008-11-28T17:27:00.002+05:30

40 Hours back, as I switched on the TV to watch my daily marathon of reality shows; a marquee began flashing beneath the TV channel logo. To my shock and surprise, and thanks to my instincts, I swapped to some News channel that would spill clarity on the BREAKING NEWS that I just saw, ‘MUMBAI ATTACKED’.

And there was the horror that I dreaded of! Away from the strategies and tactics that the IB, Police force and the Government was trying to implement, my heart immediately sank for those people who would have never woken up that day, imagining the end they would see.

Two luxury hotel sieges by unknown terrorists – the TAJ and TRIDENT! Well, how many times have I stayed in these hotels.. What would have been of me, if today I was there in one of those rooms as a hostage, fighting terror?

Young boys, by whatever name you call them, the Lashkars or the Mujahedeens or whomsoever, donning uniform black attires and clinching onto the professional, freshly imported AK-47s, had stormed into the simple lives of these innocent people to conceal the consequences and reveal the facts of their destiny. How the heck did they even enter this land amidst all that tight security? (Oh! Who am I kidding?) We all are known for the ‘being hit’ syndrome.

Only when terror strikes in some part of the country, the states wake up and secure themselves, just in case they get hit. But this goes on for a short while, until all cools and calms down. Else, how could have these wrath filled individuals entered our land crossing the eagle eyes of our forces and guards?

Be it the Europeans who were just in town to attend a conference, or the local Cyprus origin chef who had to encounter death with his family, to the people who simply had to fall a prey to the attacks, as a result of just being in that spot, that day. What was their fault? If the attackers had a grudge towards those of foreign origin, then why did they attack those innocent Indians?

And what is their problem with people of British or American origin visiting our country for their personal or official purposes? Should India always be termed as a third world country? What was their ultimate motive? What was their success plan? If it was simply to keep us alerted on what they can do, whenever they wanted to, then why did they play fate with those innocents? They could have simply made a point through some emotionless announcement.

After the whole assault drama that has been continuing for hours now, sans the food, sleep and peace, Mumbai now remains dead in its daylight too. Nothing seems alive in the city that once never used to sleep. From films to fun, schools to sensex, everything mourns in the darkness of this incident, this horror. After fate sacrificing the life of hundreds in places, from the railway station to luxury hotels to those brave Indian officers who stood in front to lead and leave and on the other hand destiny forgiving the life of another hundreds who gets to live a traumatic future after this day, thanks to the NSG forces who have thrown light to our hopes in terms of the survival of hostages and the capturing of those mask blinded, selfless inhumanly beings.

So where does all this zero down to? Wake up politicians, Wake up the government! Yeah, Yeah, you all are doing a lot for us. But not where you have to. Stop fighting for power and prejudice within yourselves and instead get on to the streets to peek into the lives, that pay you votes. You want to bring India to the front? Well, use the brains and brawns in the right way for the right thing. Strengthen our forces, get them the best equipment, give them the best training so that any time anywhere for situations like this, we know we have a battalion that cares and have the guts to go up front and fight for those in panic and pain. We have all learned a lot. First it all began with Kashmir and now all the way till Bangalore. Blasts, murders, assassinations.. We, Indians are tired. It is time we want to be on the streets, free and fearless. Over every blast, the authorities meet up to take a decision. Two days, we all mourn a minute and then carry on with our lives and so does the authorities. But in a month or so, another set of terror incidents strike and once again we are all in panic and shock. This is what has been happening. Now, is this, what will go on, in India? Will people from all around fear to enter the boundaries of this once, sacred land? We all are economically hit and now we will be hit, in terms of everything, from tourism to education. Maybe even ‘Chandrayan’ may not help. Hope this rings a bell????

The drama still continues. Some of the masked teenagers dead and some still lingering. Hostages, some saved and the rest not. And something even more humorous that occurred to me, even during such a stressed situation was the non-availability of a copter, as part of the air unit, quite similar to the S.W.A.T team in US. Yeah, I know, that is US, and this is India man! But as my hubby rightly stated, the scarcity of such systems within our defense forces is what lacks the credibility of the nation, in terms of fighting terror worldwide. Now finally where does all this bring us to? Are we less capable of fighting terror in our very own nation or is there a blocker that is ceasing our ability to fight terror? If you had to answer this, do you have one?

Lashing cats and dogs

2008-11-26T22:38:00.001+05:30

This is the scene that has been going on in my town for the past couple of days.. I had to literally skip work today coz' the roads were totally flooded.. For us guys here, rains are actually a blessing in disguise as if we do not get enough rains, then the summers would welcome the water shortage crisis much advance in time.. But thanks to the poor storm drain water systems in the city we, the people have to sacrifice and suffer a lot of hiccups during these times.. especially when it comes to our commutation, even to the nearest destination...
All these talks and just no action by the authorities, makes me think and blink, eventually what are their priorities??? Anyways, I blogged a little, watched TV, had some good food, spoke to some of my old pals (who were also stuck up at their dens, not being able to do anything during these heavy rains, apart from eating and sleeping..), read a book, jogged a little on the treadmill, mended some pending work and finally made myself some great sandwiches (Oh! By the way, I do really make good sandwiches, innovative and tasty ones; Those are one of the dishes that I really am good at, both cooking and eating!) and hot tea and sat by the window to enjoy the drops fall in a rush to kiss the sands of time.... Well, it is secondary that I got some time today to ponder about many things like reminiscing one of my old poems like this one, where I connect the nature of the rain to my decision of looking ahead amidst and apart all that pain....

I hope tomorrow is a pretty bright sunny day out there! So that I can get back to work or else, I might have to collect and reinforce some other weird stuff from my diary of thoughts...

Philadelphia to Phir Milenge

2008-11-26T20:12:00.001+05:30

Yesterday, after a pretty long time, much after a hectic week at the office, I managed to pick a favorite movie to watch on Sony Pix, ‘Philadelphia’. This is definitely my choice of flick when it comes to sensible cinema.

A movie that was out in times when filmmakers were dreading to find a good meaningful story, no offence to other such films, but ‘Philadelphia’ released in early 90s, seriously seeped the hearts of millions to empathize with those who were living a life similar to that of ‘Andrew Beckett’, a character flawlessly portrayed by Hanks.

A myth follows that if a movie is inspired from a true life story, then the movie would gain weightage based on the depth of screenplay and showcasing of characters. This movie too proved a point.

For those who did not know, ‘Philadelphia’ was directly taken from a page of Geoffrey Bowers’ biography who was an established attorney in the late 80s and had rose to fame when he sued the law firm with whom he was associated for a concrete period. Bowers was affected by HIV and in spite of being an intellectual attorney in those days; his associates fired him on the basis of unfair discrimination.

For those who have not picked up this flick for a watch and want to get a synopsis on the same, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_(film). It is basically a movie that deals with issues such as AIDS, homosexuality, and common mindsets of people with regard to gays and even homophobia, a fear of homosexuality.

Written by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Jonathan Demme, ‘Philadelphia’ captured my attention absolutely with its many aspects of touching screenplay and strong portrayal of characters and the relationships between them.

Some of my favorite pointers from the movie:
1. The relationship between the two most handsome gays in ‘Philadelphia’ – Andrew and Miguel

2. How Andrew takes the news of him getting fired from the law firm
3. The tiff between Miller and Andrew in the beginning of the movie, as lawyers

4. Miller’s homophobic reaction when Andrew states that he has AIDS
5. Andrew’s fight against AIDS and homosexual discrimination

6. Hidden affection of the law associates for Andrew
7. The revelation of the fact that homosexuality does not always lead to transmitted diseases
8. Andrew taking up of off-color homophobic jokes when he is silently being hurt
9. Andrew’s dedication as an attorney
10. The documentary of Andrew as a child being watched by loved ones during his funeral
11. The support that Andrew gets from his pals and folks during such touch times
…. the list just moves on, to name many!

What I like, a lot more about this movie is that when the film ends, for a minute you actually introspect the happenings in this story. You take Andrew to be your friend who had to struggle his walk over stumbling rocks in a dark tunnel. You wonder what if the same happened to you or to your dear ones.

So many questions remain unanswered when you actually think about all that but ‘Philadelphia’ till date remains as one of my favorite flicks. Everything connected to this movie was awe-inspiring including Tom Hanks’s speech at the Oscars where he clinched the beautiful lady in his arms with tears in his eyes, love for all associated with the film and not, the tribute to Denzel Washington and parting the credit with his pal, his attorney from the movie and finally the end that he gave to his speech. No words, but just speechless.

Road trip to Phir Milenge “Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It's all about timing” -- Stacey Charter

Ron was inspired by Geoffery and Revathy was flabbergasted by Ron’s masterpiece. A perfect timing is what I would say, for Revathy who milestones away from us had once captured the filmmaker’s glory in South and North Indian movies. Already known to be a great actress proved her maturity with the lens too.

Exactly 11 years down the line, she bagged a script with so much of depth, gave it the right shades with indigenous styles, chose characters that touched our hearts and finally contributed a gem to Indian cinema. Not within the clan of commercial Indian masalas, but a favored one rightly by critics who thought the movie spilled the beans of a social message in the most humanitarian pattern.

The movie was, in double words, copied? Yeah, it was an Indian sequel to ‘Philadelphia’. But the director beautifully strikes out the comparisons so that the latter is more original in its way and how??

From an attorney of a law firm to a creative director of an AD agency.
A gay living along with his partner to a spinster enjoying her times with her little sister, an RJ.
The attorney gets his best case and the CD gets her third best AD award, a hat trick in a row.
From having an anonymous relationship at a pornographic theatre to having a physical relation with the old college crush during a re-union.
Lesions to donating blood during the sister’s car accident.

And not to end the entertaining tidbits, in the Indian version there were many twists too!

The protagonist gets her job back but declines the offer and decides to begin her own AD firm. She does not die in the end to leave us with a heavy heart unlike Hanks’ heart warming dialogue in the end when he admits he wants to finally die and not the take the pain anymore. She, her sister and her friendly relation with her attorney and his wife continues. The unheard hero of the movie, her boyfriend who had already been a prey to the virus but had not informed her, returns during a court scene and dies eventually in her arms.

If the Hollywood director took a step, our masters leaped a bit.

Anyway movies are to entertain and for us to be entertained. I write short stories too and while I was writing this post, was keenly wondering if there would be any takers for my kind of stories too. If Ron and Revathy can do it, why can’t I? And as always the saying goes, ‘There is do or do not, but nothing to try.’

Fashion unleashed

2008-11-23T22:04:00.001+05:30

One of my favorite bags, a Mr. Handbag product!! I am sure not many would know about this brand as it is from a local mall in Bangkok... Things I like about this bag: -- Handy and spacious -- Creates a fashion statement - Attention grabber -- Two-In-One 1. Can carry Stuff 2. Also read the magazine cover -- Inspires me to feature on a famous fashion magazine.. -- It is my bag, folks! -- Absolutely a Haute 'Couture' product.. Have you ever liked a bag of your possession that you carry every place you go, even to the vegetable vendor????

Dedications from my buddies...;)

2008-11-23T21:04:00.001+05:30

My buddies @ work are all good poetess and writers.. there was a phase when each of us got into this groove of dedicating verses to our dear buddies... that's when two of my close buddies dedicated these for me...! ;) luv ya gurlz..!!

This one was from my writing inspiration Deepti a.k.a 'Kotapi'...
Simi a.k.a Cotton Candy!

Softness in her smile, warm and cute,
Sweetness defined, of high repute,
Stroke of imagination, a gifted mind,
She is simply creative, one of a kind,
A bundle of mischief, a bouncing ball,
She is a dainty delight, a joy to all!

This one was from my another buddy, the bubbly gal @ work...'Sari'!

She is small and she is petite,
With fun and frolic she’s replete,
She’s full of oomph and zest for life,
She wouldn’t know the meaning of strife.
She loves to wear stylish trinkets,
Chic dresses and trendy jackets,
She comes up with some sound advice,
Never feels the need to be concise.
Her SBs are of unearthly combination,
She’s gifted with a flighty imagination,
She always manages to make a saga,
Makes everyone feel totally gaga.
She walks with an impish smile,
Delicate like the lily of the Nile,
In her fiber, there’s a single kink,
Her obsession with the color pink .

I really miss you guys!!! :(

Spiritual and Clueless

2008-11-23T19:45:00.001+05:30

Saturday blues have just arrived! I am basically not a party animal though I don’t hate attending some of them. To be frank, though I like to drink and mix cocktails in a while or have a say with a pal or two, I would rather prefer the company of solitude to that entire hoop. Wonder how many out there are like me? Today evening, however things changed. Things came by me that put me to wonder. I saw what my imagination carried off to a second world. I don’t know whether any of you have come across such thoughts, but anyways, let me hit it.

After a lot of forced persuasion from my mom today, I planned to visit one of the oldest, well-known temples (at least in Chennai) built in the name of Lord Maheshwara, The Destroyer, the Kaapaleshwara temple. This temple was known to be engulfed by the waters, way centuries back. There is a lot of awe in terms of this temple, the place where it is located, the gala crowd hugging the area, the basic pit stop for religious stuff, the holy stories that keep the legend of the temple high and many more.

If you are not from India or from Chennai basically, I would purely recommend you to visit Chennai and this temple especially to know a lot about Indian mythology. I really enjoy going there, especially with my parents as it keeps the old times alive. But like we all do, during the last week of the month, so low, so broke, I was just sitting back and pondering on this week’s happenings, today. That is when, though I initially hesitated but then yielded into the thought of going to the temple. I am religious within, for those who didn’t know. But I pretend not to be superstitious at times when within, I actually would be. (This is for those who know me! LOL!) Anyways, at the temple, after the offerings ceremony, there were a lot of scenes that made me think about the person whom I just saw and about how his or her existence was making a difference to my thoughts!

A girl was gazing at the idol of Lord Shiva with a Coke bottle in her hand.(How far has globalization reached, man?)
A guy kept staring at his mobile while praying. (Can’t do without technology even at the altar huh?)
A guy was wooing his GF while receiving the offering from the priest. (Being religious doesn’t help buddy!)
A minister and his buddies were doing a donation of thousands for the temple. (Here we have job-cuts. I think the government has still not got the point.)

To my surprise, I don’t remember the rest. But there were many such scenes that made me think about what was happening around me. For a second, I thought being religious or spiritual doesn’t change the way we live or the way we think. I just felt peaceful today. But I realized that we were going too fast in times and life, without a perfect destination. So where are we all leading too? Amidst all the problems in the world like the ones we all are currently facing; the recession is killing employment and economics all around the globe and we turn our minds for religious backup. Spirituality is no longer an issue of staying alive in minds and for good fate to solve problems but a necessity or a luxury.

I don’t know how far this thought has percolated people’s minds but it has dissolved within my decisions, though. In the coming days, I am going to take my decisions, well about everything with regard to how is it going to change the lives of people around me and that of mine too.

Creativity

2008-11-22T17:04:00.000+05:30

When a set of ideas, wacky and wise are detoured to reality, the word 'creativity' falls into place.

Think, then produce is what the great say! If you have ideas, then implement them, else it is mere imagination which would have already pierced somebody else's head and will no longer be a unique innovation from your end.

So if you have ideas, then act upon it, show the world that you have stuff that, you can bring about a change, a change in their lives, in their world, in their work. Allow them to re-think, re-act, re-work and finally relax. Let this change, let your imagination run wild..

Create an innovative creative idea, concept or solution. Let people imbibe from what you say and inspire from what you do.

You will see how this brings a difference in the way you think, we think!!

By the way, some other people believe being creative is a totally different genre.. like who?.. read this one! http://www.creativityatwork.com/articlesContent/whatis.htm

Strangers, All the way..

2008-11-22T12:38:00.001+05:30

“Hop, Hop, Hop, they ride in shining white, Savior of all, calls themselves the reigning knights…”

Has it ever occurred to any that these lines, not in the literary sense, but play a part from day to day in front of our eyes? Maybe they are not known as ‘reigning knights’ or aren’t ‘shining in white’, but thanks to some selfless souls out there who still act that way, many of us reach our dens for the end of the day safely. My shifts, 10 out of 20, are late shifts. Thanks to the diminishing pay power and increasing cost of living, it is not certain how long can we survive on fuel and two-four wheels. So to escape this terrorizing thought, most of the days, I pick an auto, the Indian, three-wheel yellow regime, for my commutation to and fro for work.

Just two days back I realized that, unlike the ways these fellows, I meant the auto drivers, are portrayed in Indian commercial movies, they are actually friendlier in say and proactive in thought. Like every battalion has a set of its own black sheep, even among these fellows, there are some selfish, evil eyes lingering and so the bad name. But later, or never, I apprehended the fact that these men behind three wheels in their pride bind khakis are actually the chauffeurs or the charioteers who safeguard our lives as darkness falls. They acknowledge the stress and pain that we go through, especially if we belong to the IT clan, and cooperate with us in terms of a less tiresome en-route to our hubs at a pocket friendly price, at least at times. I don’t know why am I writing about the auto fellows all of a sudden! But I believe we ought to give a little more respect to these guys as the saying goes, ‘Give respect and then take respect!’. So my post comes to an end.. A small one with a big message! LOL :) So for all those knights in khaki, here’s a toast for being alive around the clock for passengers like me and many others… Just keep up your name guys!

Those dreaded days...

2008-11-17T22:02:00.001+05:30

Something that I wrote when I was a free resource in my previous organization...Just reminiscing those dreaded days... "I have been a free resource at my work place for the past few weeks with the most least amount of work allocated to me...it feels terrible to be at ease...seriously!.. working hard for a phase and then being free for days.. sounds so sober...! But then I realised, why not utilize this time for something more productive... And thereby I started writing.. I wrote poems, phrases, captions, stories and so on...finally got the prime chance of creating my blog.. yes! I did it what I wanted to do long back... I always thought why people wanted to create blogs...? could have been for the simple reason of expressing their world in terms of words or to just be creative enough to let others know they are capable enough of creating wonders..

But just creating a blog makes me wonder ..is this it? Or is there more to it? So I thought of writing how I feel when I feel wasted?..seriously.. I wanna do this ID course which I have been thinking about for so long and now finally I have taken the decision of joining for this course from a well known university… yesterday, my ID manager complimented me on the kind of ID skills I have and the minor areas that I have to improve upon…so I have taken the stern decision of joining for this course….next I always wanted to learn either of the two things.. Swimming or driving!..since I have always been around with a chauffeur, I never thought that it is important to have a license to drive.. but now I feel its needed!!..

Next I am planning to join a home science class to improve on my cooking skills and more importantly some kind of home making skills… my gyming skills seem to never proceed more than a week… ;) juz kidding! I have decided to rejoin for my gyming class and beat the heat with a lose of sufficient calories.. I wanna become trim and slim so that I can fit into any dresses ever made…and of course please my honey day after day! ;)

I am a graduate.. well off (at least to an extent).. Technically qualified…married.. Happy with my hubby.. Working with a regular job and good pay…but I still feel wasted.. Rusted and seriously doing no good in life… Is this natural or is this just me??? All the above said things that I plan to do..will it take away this feeling of being wasted?. Hope so and let’s wait…I am prepared to face all pains to receive all gains..but all I want is to relive from the thought of being wasted not just at work but in life too!!!" Now thinking back, it all so seems funny, as I am loaded with work! Duh.. Anyways, just wanted to spill some of my old personal expressions on my blog as am *Y.A.W.N* bored folks!!!

Creativity - no more in the ‘WANTED’ list of users

2008-11-15T18:10:00.002+05:30

A couple of years back, at least, until then, people used to crave for products that exhibited massive lengths of creative approaches and instincts. From advertisements to assignments, from movies to mehendi, from food to fashion, creativity is what caught the beholder’s eye in every direction. (Oh! That, a little rhymed there, LOL!)

Anyways, back to reality - But just like how everything else has to reach its saturation level at some point during its steady race, I guess even ‘Creativity’ has had its list of hits, pretty much these recent times. Nowadays, the tag that creativity pulls along is pure lameness. You do anything with your stuff and voice it out, ‘I came out to do something creative, something contemporary...’ and the world believes it.

Just last year, I remember seeing my friend sporting a CREATIVE tattoo as she says it was, which looked no lesser than the capital alphabet S written in three different directions. Now from the visual perspective, unfortunately it also seemed to look like a Scorpio. So there you go, creativity has its chunk so what, even the artist can brag about his or her creative angle.

I stood in pride when I decided to owe one of my blogs to Creativity. Why I wanted to do that was because I considered that my respect to creativity was sequentially been portrayed via a poetic essence. But now as I write here, am apprehensive that I did that. Creativity is misinterpreted in today’s times in many ways, in terms of money, effort, resources, thinking, time and so much more that this space would be less to write of.

I soon will be taking that ‘creativity’ tag off, but I truly believe that good Creativity (I know that creativity in its right sense is always wild and wacky and that is exactly what I meant by ‘good creativity’!) still exists within each one of us but we are just not sure how to put it in the right way and more importantly, where it put it guys. And even more seriously, how the heck are we going to convince these takers about the ongoing value of thinking wild, thinking new, thinking exactly ‘critical’ in place and thinking for the good of all.

Being an Instructional Designer myself, I have been experiencing this dearth in the plains of varied thinking and high engagement for learners – the siblings of creativity, in the courses that I have been developing over the past few months. All thanks to the vicious cycles of project management and client requirements.

This is a case from my workplace a few months back. A client had recommended a world class gambling game to be the backdrop of an environmental social awareness based E-Learning program. The kind of analysis that goes into such courses is vast. It involves time, research extremes, and effort on understanding the game as well as the political hitches within the social awareness program for which the courses were being done.

After a few curves up and down, the clients were impressed with what we had proposed and done and the way it had been put together, as their needs were being served for the sophisticated, toughest genre of audiences like the CEOs, established entrepreneurs, MDs, founders and so on.

But after a long gap of silence from their end, we understood what held them back before they yielded in to being our eventual clients. COST…EFFORT…TIME - the C.E.T paradigm! So what would they have done to demolish this hurdle? Well, let’s compromise on creativity, that anyway had no value for money, it was simply value addition! So be it, we get back the project but the deal is just KEEP it Linear guys, as we don’t have much money to shed for what was that ‘out of the box’ stuff??? Oh Yeah! ‘Creativity’…

Well, the story doesn’t end here. What I simply don’t understand is why people have to apartheid creativity for the sake of business. Take the PR industry for example, I know firms that outdo their work when it comes to assignments in terms of thinking new but their profits go for a toss if the products or projects are enriched with creativity. Because as the one-liner goes, ‘A little too much of anything kills the originality in the good’. And you know what? All this has sprung by in the past few months.

Not desperate, not deprived but disappointed that people have stopped caring for what ‘Creativity’ was once for all of us. Don’t know how many out there are into doing business and don’t give a damn for those who think so fresh, so new, so creatively.

I know am creative enough and the people around me know that too, but my creativity has been getting rusted and ripped off over the past few months. Even the freelancers loathe projects that have too much of interactive signs and prefer the much old traditional approach of Linear learning. The only way I try to keep it alive is by writing poems.

The kind of creativity that I had for E-Learning courses is all buried momentarily, because nowadays clients look for projects that would reach them beholding lesser efforts, lesser thinking, straight-forward approaches, no scenarios, no critical thinking for learners, no engagement learning, no interactivity but more outputs at a quicker turnaround time with few or no interaction points and just plain text and graphics. (Oh Yeah, some don't even want animations..)

Times have changed! And I still look for those heart-warming, creativity yearning projects that come our way once a while, as I know that creative minds are still on a rage to do something new, something fresh and something totally out of the blue. Any one who has an anti-opinion on this perspective is free to voice theirs and guess what? I would love to hear it too! Because I always feel it is much brighter on the other side, but who really knows unless someone doesn’t say so?

Day 1 ends in the faded lights of the city that never sleeps..

2008-11-01T21:42:00.001+05:30

Venue: Bangkok Date: 19.01.2008 Time: 04:30 p.m. Feeling: Tired

On our way through the city roads, we managed to barge into many governmental buildings, sky-scraper facing roads, and the enormously stretching flyover from the city till the airport, each prolonging a length of 200-300 kms. And not to forget to mention, everywhere around in Thailand, am sure the census would be surprised to find that the human population is much lesser than the canine population. Man, I sure was bugged by that. From the temples to the stalls, from the hotel to the markets! They were all there filling the picture with pride. Anyways, after a long drive and my small siesta (in between I did eavesdrop to listen to my hubby voicing some opinions about the country, to the driver), we finally reached the base of the golden mountain or the Golden Mount or Phu Kao Thong.

The Phu Kao Thong is supposedly built on an artificial hill and it is even better known as the guard who makes the beauty of the city rise up levels high. For a minute or two, I hesitated and asked my hubby whether to tour this temple due to the amazing height that it dwelled upon. But like some kind of a hypnotic reversion, I pulled myself out of the Camry and followed my hubby to climb to the peak of this temple, ascending all the 300 steps. The peak is known as the Chedi (something like a ‘Gopuram’) and it contains that idol of Buddha brought all the way back in the 18th century, from India (the birthplace of the original Buddha!) There are two alternative ways to reach the top. One of which is quite challenging and not that concrete, a path nature built just for people who’d like to trek even small distances . If you are a person with a knee-knock, I would advise you to take the steps to head towards the temple.

The cuddled path to the temple will premiere a set of small Buddha idols along the path where, if interested, you can pray and light a scented stick. Donations are also welcome. If a master of photography, this path will really provide you a plethora of awesome landscapes, city views, different angles of the temple and other exciting tidbits. Taking the neater route would not provide you much entertainment, except for the various stopovers that allow you to click a picture or two and the amazingly spread city view of Bangkok from various heights of the mountain. You can also entertain yourself by sweeping your hands through the holy bells that fence the stairs right from the bottom of the temple till the top. The sounds that these bells create an ambience of a holy angelic or a spiritual being around us. After all the hopscotch acts and panting up the 300 rectangular blocks, when you reach the temple, you will feel that this exercise was worth the effort.

First, what you will see in awe is the wonderful view of the city from up above the temple. Then, your concentration will be drawn towards the entrance of the temple, which would be buzzing with slippers from all around the globe. Yeah! Kind of trippy right? Inside the sacred building, Buddha idols of different sizes, colours, make and importance will be arranged in front of your eyes.

The highlight, as talked about before, of this temple is the oblong hall that shelters the Buddha idol that was brought from India. The offering in this temple is a gold cover with a piece of camphor and the scented stick that can be used to light within the dark pool of ashes in front of the Buddha idols. All this is a heavenly experience. My hubby was quite excited about clicking snaps than actually being a part of the religious ritual.

While I was amazed at the beauty all these idols, the city view and the story that the young guide within the temple was entertaining me with, my hubby absconded to the next floor of the temple (which was equally challenging as the stairs to this floor was steep and dangerous) to capture some breath-taking pictures.

Down below, I was still with the guide who was taking me through the history of the main idol and the temple. He first instructed me to place the camphor (that was covered in the gold paper!) in front of the idol. The paper was then to be placed on the idol. Surprisingly, it got glued onto the idol as soon as I pasted it. This idol is placed in between a hollow circular hall with a narrowed cone-shaped ceiling, which opens up to the sky. It is believed that during some auspicious nights, this opening showcases the full moon so clearly that its reflection hits the peak of the idol and gives away a feel that mirrors an expression of rays radiating from the idol itself. The guide exclaimed that it is truly a breath-taking sight and if ever I got a chance to view it, there can be no other sight to match it. Quite reluctant to leave this scene, I stayed back a while to pray and register this experience for a lifetime. He even guided me to see a picture of Buddha’s tooth, which was brought all the way from India.

Then after a stroll through the shops and stalls inside the temple, I and my hubby started to leave the temple. I believe that this would be a momentous day that I would cherish all my life. After we both raced to the end of the temple, for a moment, we both turned to capture and absorb this feel. Then we headed back to our dear cabbie, Suntong. Really tired and exhausted, we headed back to the hotel. Well, we have more to see and experience tomorrow. So after a long drive through the highway and the city lanes, we finally reached the hotel after 6 p.m. Then we freshened up, took a small break, had a sandwich or two, and surfed the local channels over there to trip for an hour or two, apart from the regular HBOs and Star Movies. Then we headed to a nearby Shopping Mall, taking the local transport, the Tuk-tuk(Very similar to the ‘Auto’ in our country!) We actually wanted to go to a departmental store where we could get some amenities for the next 2 days and also some eateries. Our dear driver got us to this mall, which was at the edge of the Rama road (Name??? Do not remember!).

Oh! Talking about the Rama road, I have to mention that in Thailand, most roads go by the name of Lords, and though seas apart, both in Thailand and India, the same religion is followed, including the Gods. So, the roads are named mostly after Gods. Now back to the mall, we strolled through the entire mall which was in the heart of the city, bought a few attires and other souvenirs and also stopped to buy pizzas with a particular topping which was not quite known to me or to any Indian. Finally, back at the hotel, I went for a quick pedicure massage, had a nice shower after a tiring day, enjoyed the pizza (not quite!) with my hubby and wound up my day reading the book of Lord Buddha that was kept in the bottom draw of the side table.

Reminiscing all the wonderful moments I experienced in the day, in a random sequence, analyzing an event or two from the day and with a good night kiss from my hubby, I slowly dreamt my way off into those heavenly abodes of mysteries and missions. Who knows I might have been a Thai princess in my previous birth or something? So what is this, re-incarnation or a moment of relaxation???? The Lord knows right. Anyways, I can’t wait to wake up on yet another bright day. A day to explore another spectrum of this wonderland! ZZZZZ………………

DAY 1 @ Bangkok continues....

2008-10-31T22:43:00.001+05:30

Venue: Bangkok Date: 19.01.2008 Time: 02:30 p.m. Feeling: Inquisitive

Amidst all that chitter-chatter with the cabbie and clicking off to the tunes of those realistic landscapes, city lights, smiling faces and other pictures that gave a natural geographic feel, we lost track of time, and much to our dismay we realized that we had travelled much away from our hotel to the Wat Traimit or the Temple of the Golden Buddha (An idol 3mts high and weighs 5.5 tons..) which is located next door to the palatial grounds, in the heart of Bangkok near china town.

'Wat’ means ‘temple’ in Thai. Unfortunately, the royals chose to grace the place with a visit on the same day, which meant that it was close to the public for the day. The only saving grace was that we could click away to our heart’s content, which meant some fantabulous pictures of the dazzling palace.

Suntong dropped us right in front of the gates and moved forth to find an impressive spot in the parking lot so that he could play the role of a guide inside the temple. Till he arrived, we strolled through the road side stalls and eatery joints, trying to figure out the kind of food they sold. My eyes also caught the mini souvenirs section but I wasn’t smart enough to get hold of my hubby’s wallet accountable! ;) But money? That was not going to stop me from shopping. So without much of a delay, I got my very own first memoir from the grounds of Wat Traimit. A small little Buddha and a bottle of water! LOL :) As soon as I entered the temple I had an eerie feeling, something which reminded (The ‘déjà vu’ feel of already visiting this place) me of my hometown. One of the most famous temples at our place is the Guruvayoor temple where before we enter the temple, we are routed to a shack that stows our slippers.

The same thing happened here and not just that but every bit of the flow of people entering the temple, stacking the slippers with a token base, the continuous addressing of people to take care of their belongings, the shops, the silence, the idols all reminded me of my hometown. That was so nostalgic! (Even the entrance fee to the temple, which gave the feel of a museum!!) This place was filled with idols of Buddha. Quite surprising, that a young prince, who had attained the path to salvation in the Northern regions of India had his messiahs to spread his teachings to the most parts of the eastern world. My hubby was on a spree of taking photographs. He basically enjoys pictures that speak a thousand words and those which emit a certain aura of realism than mundane pictures. I on the other hand enjoy when people smile as I click.

So I entered this sacred place, and as I bowed, I could see the tourists clicking away to glory. I mean, I totally understand all this could be a lifetime experience for many, so joining them I and my hubby too enjoyed the marathon of clicking pictures. In between, I took a little while to pray and touch the feet of the Golden Buddha. The official name of this idol is ‘Phra Buddha Mahasuwan Patimakorn or Phra Sukhothai Traimitr’. I even got the chance to light a fragrant ‘agarbathi’ next to the feet of the idol. It was such a nice feeling. Apart from the main Buddha, there were also other miniature idols of Buddha in this temple.

Though they all look the same, as far as myth goes, it seems that each of these idols actually played a part and have a different role in the epics of mythological tales. There is a hidden story behind this temple. This idol was completely covered in stucco during the 18th century just to protect it from the Burmese. But during a transfer, it slipped and broke to reveal that it was actually made in gold.

This place was an accurate impression of perfect beauty met with standstill time and experience. It was less of a place for worship and more, a place for faith. In this country, male religious followers are believed to spend a particular phase in their life as a monk. But the fact remains that Thai temples are more than any holy monastery, a paradise to enjoy silence. Such a way of life actually controls the manner in which a person lives, his culture, education or his very own lifestyle. After strolling in front of the temple gates for a while, without wasting a minute, we drove to yet another sacred ground. This time, it was the Wat Pho or Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Rajaworamahavihara which is Bangkok's largest temple. Being a Keralite myself, this time, the Buddha’s idol reminded me of the Anandha Padmnabhan temple in Trivandrum.

The only difference is that there I could see Lord Vishnu and here it was another avatar of the same Lord. This, 45 mts long, statue was basically a giant reclining Buddha. It seems this is where Buddha entered attained Nirvana. Clicking a snap that covers the entire statue is next to impossible. So we toured around the statue to get a feel of this amazing structure. The statue’s feet alone can reflect 108 images of Buddha’s impressions. The slanting look of Buddha brings you to serenity. It is just amazing. A great spot for a good photograph!

Apart from this statue, this campus was engulfed with a legendary stretch of high and low tombs sculptured in different artistic gauges. We had fun simply touring these tombs as this entire ground was some sort of a crystal maze for us aliens. My hubby was busy peaking into other cameras that went on clicking around where as I was more interested to find out a bit more about this place.

Till date, numerous monks dwell there is what our guide said. This museum-cum-temple-cum-touring peak shelters around 394 statues of Buddha, a Bodhi tree and many other deity idols within its well-fenced compound. We even got a good look of the various tombs shining exotically in the spread of the dusk strokes. Before we walked our way to the parking lot, we loitered by the small time souvenir shop available within the vicinity of this temple where the salesgirl lured us to the best of buying something. But we simply surfed through the showcases of this shop and rushed to where our cabbie was waiting for us, trusted and tired. Much tired, gulping down all the water I had and sweating it all out along these toiling treks, we headed to the next destination. Once again, another temple! :)

Day I - The most sought after places in the Far East

2008-10-22T16:04:00.001+05:30

In continuation of my travel epic, the story goes on somewhat like this... In Bangkok, within the deep siesta scene, I slowly evoked that I am not here to slumber, but wander… I pulled off the sheets that sheltered me through this amazing journey of relaxation and rejuvenation (after all that commotion and chaos, the night before) and with a mood so high, I moved my way towards a refreshing shower…

As soon as I recovered from the stoned world of dreams and trips, (thanks to the hot water tub!), I changed to my casuals, on my sweetheart’s orders and before it was too late, we rushed out for a quick lunch with the free coupons that were given to us.

The lunch, to be frank, was awful. I mean, who in the world would eat anything like that? There was no presentation style, everything was clustered in one plate and no one ever knew what the smelly stuff they were eating was and even worse, to add to all these existing woes, mostly the food was non-veg and being a veggie, I wholeheartedly empathized with those veggie souls who would encounter this kind of a situation in an unknown land.

But later, thanks to the recent concept of globalization and the monopoly of corporate giants, back in the city, I was able to find everything from a Veg. Club sandwich to a Tofu Pizza (As those guys have no clue, as to what is ‘Paneer’!) So after this quick, not-so-impressive lunch, we hired a cabbie for the rest of the day for the 2-day trip in Bangkok, to not go waste. In a Camry, groomed up just like a taxi, we set off to our first destination in Thailand.

Venue: Bangkok Date: 19.01.2008 Time: 02:00 p.m. Feeling: Excited

Now here we had our very own cabby ‘Suntong’, or however it was pronounced (as all names out there sounded the same to me), who became a close buddy of my hubby in these, two days’ time. During our travel to various places, Suntong also served as the local bi-lingual translator teaching us a little bit of Thai (proper Thai that he knew!) taking minimal assistance from his half-baked knowledge of broken English.

Further, without hurting the ego of our cabbie, we left to him the decision of detailing the noon and night itinerary. Though I had my own list of places to visit, the number of which was humongous and the task practically not that feasible, I kept mum and let my sweetie and the cabbie do all the talking. Instead of blabbering, I simply pitched in whenever Suntong would jump up with enthusiasm and teach us a word or two in Thai. For example, ‘Sawatdee’ stands for Hello, Goodbye, Good morning, and Good evening. ‘Sawatdee’ is basically used for wishing someone a good fortune or blessing. However, like in many other languages, the suffix of this word differs based on the genders for which it is used.

For gentlemen, it is ‘Sawatdeekha’ and for ladies, ‘Sawatdeekhrap’. It is a pretty confusing language. If the same thing is said at the end of the conversation or for saying ‘Thanks’ or something, then it is pronounced as ‘Sabaaydeekhrap’. ‘Khapumkhaa’ is for Thank You. Once again, based on the gender, this word may change. Hmm. Now check this out! In their language, at times, the same word is used throughout a sentence, but of course in varying frequencies—ranging from low to high. If you want to ask someone ‘Is it new?’, then in Thai you need to ask ‘mai (in low frequency) mai (in high poetic frequency)? LOL!!

I can just go on talking about their language. But my personal travelogue isn’t just about that. So, in between all these language classes, I and my hubby were also seriously clicking some exotic, ethereal real-life shots of the narrow city lanes in Bangkok. Bangkok, as it goes by its name and fame, is a city which never sleeps and which never wakes up either. Why I say this is because the Thai people, how much ever broad-minded and heart-warming they are by personality and no matter how far they lead many other nations in terms of technology, lifestyle and branding, as an outsider, you will always sense a standstill way of life.

People are not very keen or do not take an effort to expose themselves to new things and lines of thought. That, at times, can be a bit surprising and also annoying. If a nation wants to extend its horizons of tourism and globalization, it is imperative that initiatives to enhance the general public’s awareness about the customs and practices of people from various regions should be definitely on. (Well, for the money part, they all are quite well-equipped!) So all things apart, our trip was on! And it continues...

Arrived at last!!

2008-10-22T14:16:00.000+05:30

Hi! To all my dear planetarians and else.... I understand that Iam two posts late, of my introduction... But better late than never!!! :)

Blogging is not alien to me and I have always liked the concept of expressing one's opinion on an online platform.. I already have a blog on 'Creativity' (which I believe is one of my precious assets) and now I am here, to begin a blog which would simply contribute to be my board of self expressions... In this blog, I will begin to note down each incident that leaves an impact on me, my reason of worries or merries, my surprises, my thoughts, my past, present or future, my reflections, my assumptions, my life and world as I see from my eyes... So if you are an avid reader of blogs, no promises that this is going to be an interesting diary to read, but it might make you think, talk and tell, at times... it may trigger you to speak out your words, in your tone to the world.. So let us share, let us care....:) Hoping to see more from you all, in my future posts... Till then, Happy Blogging!!!

Destination, long awaited!!!

2008-10-21T21:01:00.001+05:30

From here onwards, I will be jotting down experiences from the Thailand trip that I took earlier this year, in my blog. There will not be any consistent sequence, as my creativity might trigger some other exciting stuff too. However, 10 days from this trip will be detailed slowly, one by one, for my loved ones to read and enjoy. So without wasting much time, here I begin my own travelogue, in my own words......

Venue: Chennai to Bangkok

Date: 18.01.2008 – 19.01.2008

Time: 02: 00 am – 06:00 am

Feeling: Sick

Childhood, then adolescence and now my present! All this while, I have been taken to various ends of the world, I have seen which many haven't, I have met people of unique ethnicity, I have eaten what I dare not say on this public platform, I have seen and captured some awesome images either with my little gizmo or my soggy eyes (as my eyes keep watering, if exposed for long in the sun, which apparently means that I do most of these things during the day :)), I have got the chance to enjoy some very rare moments in unknown lands and I take pride when I say I have been half round the globe.

Far East especially has always been one of my favorite regions of visit. Till date, I guess I have visited just, all of the lands that bear the well-known crazy foods, charming people, monumental richness, historical achievements, tai-chi, kung-fu, judo, chopsticks and what not, in the Far East. Right from Hong Kong to Bali. But there was this one place, that I always wanted to visit. In dreams, I saw this paradise, I did not get its name... But when I knew where it was, it was never the same...

For ages, my loved ones have been promising to take me to lands where nature begins and ends. I am not an adventurous person but the excitement of discovering something so ancient and oriental always gave me the thrills. When in 2005, this thrill did not face reality, thanks to my overdue passport renewal, I lost hope just like how a soldier loses hope when his ammo gets jammed and there isn’t a single soul to help him out amidst that entire fire raid….wow! Now why in the world, did I take up that analogy? Guess, I am still not over the mini-series mania ‘BOB’...

So, back to my real story, I simply thought how can I substitute a trip to the never ending scenic surprise filled experience with a cabby ridden trip to the Northern terrains of India? Thrilled, was not the feeling or the word I was looking for, when I heard this… But life is unfair, it has always been. So, then back in 05’ November, I said ‘Yes’ and I ended up enjoying a pretty decent trip to the plains of ‘goris’ and ‘choris’. A place filled with colors, palaces, great spicy food, good looking hunks, nice weather (only during the end of the year) and lots of leg pain (as you have to walk and trek all your way out, in these places)! But all this while, even while messaging my fiancee, or while nodding to the funny English lecture which our guide was trying to install in us, my head was dangling with thoughts, that filled pictures of nature, elephants, drinks, fun, colors, festivals, dances, beaches, smiling people and lots of shopping.

A slight amusement reflected in my grin and I knew I had to just go there, at least once.. Where? No prizes for guessing this one... but it was truly Thailand!

Years passed, I got married to my sweetheart, got a peaceful job and life was never so much better. I and my soul mate keep traveling to unknown destinations to explore regions of interest or to reveal something, which for many others is extraordinary. My days of courting with my sweetheart began when I was averagely enjoying my trip in Rajasthan.

How I wished then that I would travel the ends of the world with him. But of course, later we went places, we enjoyed places, we looked for new places and eventually we decided a great place to go for my next birthday! Any guesses? Yeah finally, we had decided to hit the coasts of Thailand. A dream that was becoming so true, that it was kind of hard for me to believe.SO, I started planning for this lovely trip to Thailand which was planned for around 15 days or so. So, I bid farewell to my dear colleagues, whom I would miss and would empathize with as they have no clue where I am off too.

I knew that these people were envying me, in their minds for the very fact that I was going to have a blast in the best exotic place, ever. For starters, the packing began and i was not even able to think what I need on this trip. I mean, the excitement was carrying me off from my presence of mind. The countdown began and the next I remember is, the final day, the night of our flight when me and my hubby rushed our ways to the airport (as always we rush at the last moment) to catch our much delayed, queue sticking, leg aching, roller coaster flight.

Apparently, it was the holiday season and all the flights were jam-packed. So we waited and waited, from one line to another, catching a bite or two, taking snaps, cit-chatting, observing and commenting about the people around us and the constant peek towards our watches. Finally, we got past the checking and security and the flight eventually kicked off at 2:00 am (it was initially scheduled for 12:00 am), thanks to all the commotion due to the enormous groups of passengers waiting to board various flights that day.

Finally, we squeezed our way into the flight and after the ‘welcomes’ and the ‘here’s your seat, Mam' session, I took a breath of relief for just a minute, after tucking my seat belt. Phew! But the marathon of disasters wasn’t the end for me, that day. More to come is what I say! I slept for a while which was quite tough, as the seats were cramped and my tummy wasn’t doing so good. I might have even thrown up if it wasn’t for my willpower of bearing and tolerating stuff.

So even before, I could blink an eye amidst all that noisy music, stuffed air and a hell a lot of humans around me not shutting their mouths, 'breakfast' was the biz word for the attendants. C’mon, give me a break! So, I skipped the smelly breakfast and just waited until that huge ton of fuselage reaches my most awaited destination.

And like an angel carrying away the weight of so many souls, our flight, sharp at dot time, ultimately reached Bangkok, the heart of the Thais, the city that never sleeps. The time was perfect, the weather couldn’t have been better, the process of immigration and other airport formalities were peaceful. But amidst all this, I had a head going nuts and a tummy going growls.

So strolling through the women only sections and peeking on my back now and then to ensure that my man is still behind, I reach for the conveyor belt so that we can just grab our baggage and get out to inhale some fresh air. Frankly speaking, I was tired of those artificial fragrances seeping through my nasals from the time we started from Chennai. It was high time that I really got some air, so fresh. Inside the airport corridors and lounges, we found some interesting tidbits to be shot at. So we reached for our cameras and shot some amazing masterpieces.

At the airport entrance, our hearts skipped a beat when we saw that there was no one to load our asses. After a minute's session of bargaining just like one of those common tourists that you see in an unheard land, we managed to yield in for their rates and was just desperate to reach our hub so that we can slosh off to sleep for the rest of the day (That is at least what I thought!) But back at the Bangkok Centre Hotel, we spend some time in exploring the arena of this new land, its people, trying out the food and so on. The camera shots had however become the routine for the day.

So after the initial check-in formalities and the exploration of our new hub for the next few hours, we raved into our new room – 412. Yeah, how could I forget that number? This hotel was exactly located a walk away from the local railway station, the Hua Lampong for which we had the subway right in front of our hotel. The best part of the day was we got to hear that China town was just 10 minutes away from the hotel. I hate Chinese food, so that is not why I am so excited but it is the fact that China is known for its great antiques and other weirdo stuff. And I was just waiting with my camera, to take a click of these out-of-the-world stuffs.

However, I sloshed off as soon as I saw the beds, all thanks to the freaking jet lag, that I had. It was so bad that after a long time, I had a sleep without any dreams, not even of holidaying in Thailand and I had no clue what time it was when I woke up. But all I knew was I was ever ready for an awesome, fun-filled Thai trip! :)

Hmmm.....Miss them!

2008-10-21T20:04:00.001+05:30

I was sitting today at office without much work to do and I just began to think about what do I enjoy doing the most.. I mean of course things that bring a curve on my face.. lighten my soul and makes me feel peaceful...things I rarely do but when done I gain a million dollar happiness....some things that make me feel lucky.. some of them are:

1) Stay in solitude
2) Write short verses about something that hit or inspired me
3) Spent hours doing something with my computer
4) Long drives on a rainy day
5) Dance to some filmy music assuming a real life scenario
6) Read a good book and then talk about it
7) Hang out with friends 'till we die laughing
8) Go out on a dinner to a romantic place
9) Mushy moments with my baby
10) Sing during a shower
11) Try to look pretty
12) Meet up really old friends
13) Receive a card/gift on a special day from anyone
14) Teddies all around me
15) Collect key chains, photo frames and bags
16) Watch a nice movie at a theatre with popcorn by my side
17) Make good friends and keep them
18) Travel to unknown places
19) Take innovative snaps
20) Fight with my mom
21) Someone praising me for something
22) Keep smiling in all times
23) Love all and hate none
24) Go out with my beloved for a drink
25) Have mysterious fans and well wishers
26) Make my dad proud and happy of me
27) Decorate my work station
28) Clean my room and keep it always tidy
29) Shop things that I love
30) Smell of earth after the first rain
31) A walk by the beach side all alone gazing at the sunset
32) Long drives with nature on either sides
33) Innocence on the face of a kid
34) Mischief done by a cute brat
35) Smell of weirdos like petrol and oil paint
36) Sleep with a long dream
37) Make great sandwiches
38) Spent hours with babies around me
39) Call people I love, with lovable nicknames
40) My sweetie's dimples
41) Set up various wallpapers on my desktop
42) Trip on something very funny
43) To do all the things written above

WOW!! Only if I could always do these.... hmm.. the only thing I don't' enjoy much is cooking.. but I am good at eating though.....! ;) Any similar takers on that...?