tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69037262024-03-14T12:13:24.101+05:30The Faraway TreeWhat lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson .
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This blog attempts to glorify and record the smaller yet enjoyable nuances of life!subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-87465818063946661382014-02-02T04:51:00.001+05:302014-02-02T04:51:07.220+05:30Sweet Memories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Blogging from Changi Terminal and the last I was blogging from this airport was 4 years ago in December 2009. So much has changed in this country and city since then. A number of new high-rises dot the Singapore skyline with additional man-made wonders like Gardens by the Bay. Had a fabulous 1 week here and thanks to family and friends for making this special. <br />
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Hope to be back where it all started for me sooner or later, only time will tell!!!<br />
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subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-90596113918493808832012-10-28T01:38:00.001+05:302012-10-28T01:38:41.337+05:30Sandy <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>There is hardly any stir in the air,</i><br />
<i>The yellow trees stand still, </i><br />
<i>Even the leaves are afraid to fall now.</i><br />
<i>The Jack-o'-Lanterns have all gone back inside the houses,</i><br />
<i>The play-ground lays barren and not a soul to see,</i><br />
<i>The shelves in the super-markets looks like they have been raided</i><br />
<i>The sky looks mostly gray, a few black clouds dot the sky</i><br />
<i>Helicopters buzzing all around probably monitoring the waters...</i><br />
<i>The Dockyard is brimming with yachts and boats all tied securely</i><br />
<i>Lady Liberty stands alone with hardly anyone visiting her today</i><br />
<i>The phones are ringing, anxious friends and relatives wishing safety</i><br />
<i>And insurance companies too, reminding their presence and that it is never too late!</i><br />
<i>In the distant horizon the city that never sleeps patiently awaits...</i><br />
<i>The arrival of our beloved SANDY!</i></div>
subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-34720223829569154912010-01-24T20:03:00.006+05:302010-01-24T20:29:49.404+05:30Joy Time<div>The poem collector in me at work again... Came across two really good poems which I liked. Thought will post them here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Joy : by Rabindranath Tagore</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>And Joy is Everywhere;</i></div><div><i>It is in the Earth's green covering of grass;</i></div><div><i>In the blue serenity of the Sky;</i></div><div><i>In the reckless exuberance of Spring;</i></div><div><i>In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;</i></div><div><i>In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;</i></div><div><i>In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;</i></div><div><i>In Living;</i></div><div><i>In the exercise of all our powers;</i></div><div><i>In the acquisition of Knowledge;</i></div><div><i>in fighting evils...</i></div><div><i>Joy is there Everywhere.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Time is too slow for those who wait</b></div><div><b>by Henry Van Dyke</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Time is too slow for those who wait,</i></div><div><i>too swift for those who fear,</i></div><div><i>too long for those who grieve,</i></div><div><i>too short for those who rejoice,</i></div><div><i>but for those who love,</i></div><div><i>time is eternity</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Now Playing: Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya (Karthik) - Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya</div><div><br /></div>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-83498421376446359532009-12-25T05:12:00.004+05:302009-12-25T05:35:39.646+05:30Merry Christmas from Terminal 2Yay!!! India bound again!! Really looking forward to it. This is and will be my longest continuous stay in India. The year 2009 has been a year of patience, perseverence and decent amount of fun and has brought about new opportunities. Year 2010 am hopeful is a year of positive changes and hope to have greater amount of fun!!<br /><br />A quick snapshot before I sign-off.<br /><strong>Recent Books I have read</strong><br />The Appeal- John Grisham - Gripping and full of strategy. Decent read.<br />Two States - Chetan Bhagat - Hilarious. Must read.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Recent Movies</strong><br />Bef0re Sunrise , Before Sunset - Two Brilliant Romantic comedies. Very conversational. (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy).<br />Vettaikaaran - Good laugh and a decent masala movie. Good to watch with friends.<br />Anushka is smokin hot!! (Loved the songs Kairgalan and En Ucchi mandai la gir!!! )<br /><br /><strong>Recent Sports</strong><br />Resumed tennis for the past 3-4 weeks. Game still not to the level as before. Need to improve!!<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Highlights of the Month</strong><br />Really glad that I completed the Standard Chartered Half Marathon (21 Km) on December 6th. This is my second half-marathon and I completed it in around 2hrs 58 min (about the same time as last year).<br />Signing off now to board AI 447. Until then Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!<br /><br />Now playing : Sol Sol avalidam sol (Paiyaa)subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-1369492536650776742009-10-16T16:01:00.005+05:302009-10-16T16:12:43.030+05:30Happy Deepavali 2009Standard Fireworks, Peacock Brand, 100 Wala Lar Grand, Snake, Stone, Sparklers, Vishnu Chakram, Thara Chakram, Buswanam, Aerial color-out, Morning Idlis, Patti-Mandram, Deepavali Release.<br /><br />These are the only faint memories that I have of celebrating Deepavali at home. It has been around 10 years, since I set forth out of home for college and work thereafter. In these 10 years I have been at home for Deepavali only a couple of times. I know for a fact that in the coming few years, there are very less chances of me being at home for Diwali. So here I am at the airport on the Diwali eve, taking a flight to Chennai. This was a very impulsive booking on my part, and a last minute decision. But I dont repent it. I am sure I will cherish this weekend for ever!!<br /><br />So all you guys out there spending your Diwali with your loved ones and family, you should feel very special and lucky!! And those who are far away from their loved ones, gather with your friends and have fun, for this is a season of lights and you should brighten your lives with this light, wherever you are in this world!!!subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-59273328946512379522009-09-24T19:08:00.006+05:302009-09-24T20:01:25.101+05:30Snapshot<strong>Quote of the Month</strong><br />மூச்சு விட்டு கொண்டிருப்பவன் எல்லாம் மனிதனல்ல.<br />கிடைசி மூச்சு வரை முயற்சி செய்து கொண்டிருப்பவனே மனிதன்!<br />A man is not defined by the fact that he is constantly breathing. One who persistently keeps trying until his last breath maketh a MAN!<br />(Heard this on Vijay TV rendered by a Tamil Poet and lyricist called Pa. Vijay).<br />----------------<br /><strong>Book Recommendations: </strong><br />1. Unaccustomed earth - Jhumpa Lahiri<br />Very moving stories, but most of the stories have a sad undertone.<br /><br />2. My Days - A Memoir - RK Narayan<br />My Guru, My role model, my God, my constant companion. His life is as interesting as his books.<br />--------------------------------------<br /><strong>Recent Good Movies : </strong><br />1. Unnai Pol Oruvan - Kamal Haasan - Need I say more.<br />2. Kaminey<br />---------------------------------------<br /><strong>Recent Board Game discovery:</strong><br />Discovered an awesome game called RISK. The objective of this game is to conquer the world. A board game with skills similar to Age of Empires.<br />----------------------------------------<br /><strong>Restaurants :</strong><br />Chutney Mary (East Coast Road)<br />---------------------------------------<br /><strong>NEWS of the Month </strong><br />* Sensex kicking some ass now.<br />* 1 year anniversary of Lehman brothers collapse and world economies showing some signs that the recession is coming to an end (touch wood, in fact touch an entire forest ).<br />* Signs of water on the moon discovered as part of the Chandraayan moon mission.<br />----------------------------------------<br /><strong>Highlights of the Month</strong><br />Looking forward to the Singapore F1 night race this weekend!!!subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-91712030203194778222009-07-30T18:55:00.002+05:302009-07-30T18:56:25.103+05:30The Writer's Block<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; "><i>My fingers are dancing over the qwerty<br />I really want write something from the bottom of my heart<br />I want to get my hands dirty<br />And make yet another start!<br /><br />There is either a famine or a flood of ideas in my cerebrum<br />There are times I cannot write a single word<br />And times where I disgorge incoherent ideas in cryptic conundrum<br />That are worth only to be interred!<br /><br />My fingers flop down on the keyboard due to lack of work in shame<br />They do what they usually do in such times without fail<br />I end up googling my own name, how lame,<br />And set forth on my usual meaningless web trail.</i></span>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-49600272576494296602009-06-09T18:50:00.003+05:302009-06-09T21:06:39.544+05:30Dead-ends - Where New life begins<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I was on the highway sooner than I had realized<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">You are part of the race whether or not you want to be</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I set forth at full gear with</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The wind on my face</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The music on my lips</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The feel of absolute power in my hands</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I knew know fear</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">There were no strings attached.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I braved many distractions</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It was important to keep driving on</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I ignored the exits and short-cuts</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">They were only for quitters and losers</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I ignored the warnings and the signals</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">They were only for the faint-hearted and weaklings</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">There were many obstructions</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">But it was important to keep driving on!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I started this journey with a dream</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">A dream that when I reach the end of my journey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Where there are no more roads</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Where no man has driven to before</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I shall erect my flag of success on virgin grounds</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">And bask in the glory of my achievements</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">But the roads never come to an end</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Roads will never come to an end</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It is for you to find that happy nook that others call the "Dead-end"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Where you need to carve a niche for yourself</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">That happy place where only your car can go through the gates</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Where other cars can come, but they have to leave.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Life is funny in that sense</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The journey does not come to an end</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Because your destination has arrived</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Rather it comes because you can no longer drive</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Or make a conscious choice to end the journey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I am still driving</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">But wisely so now</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">For I am aware that I need to find my dead-end</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Where a happy new life awaits!</span></div><div><br /></div>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-67414548304089075282009-05-09T08:15:00.002+05:302009-05-09T08:19:26.756+05:30Mi Primer Poema Espanol<p><em>La señora es mucho bonita.<br /></em><em>A mi me gusta la señora. </em><br /><em>Algún día voy a hablar con ella<br />ese día voy a cantar la la la</em></p><p>That girl she is really beautiful<br />I like that girl a lot<br />Some day I will talk to that girl<br />That day I will sing la la la</p>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-26984169034009684992009-05-09T07:40:00.000+05:302009-05-09T07:43:10.067+05:30My Day in BrandsColgate<br />Listrine<br />Garnier<br />Pears<br />Nivea<br />Johnson & Johnson<br />Kenneth Cole<br />Alain Delon<br />Woodlands<br />Seven Eleven<br />Magnolia<br />HP<br />NEC<br />MS Windows<br />Redoxon<br />Google<br />Java<br />Samsung<br />Starhub<br />Akira<br />Acer<br />Ikea<br />Listrine<br />Himalaya<br />LGsubuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-44751569679158446052009-04-03T16:35:00.010+05:302009-04-03T17:08:19.225+05:30The Tiger AwaitsKeeping with the tradition of my airport blogging, this is yet another 1-hour-before-flight blog. (first time from the Budget terminal @ Singapore though).<br /><br /><br />I expected something really bad at the Budget terminal. I should say that it is not that bad, except that I really miss the free leg-massagers in terminal 1 and 2.<br /><br /><br />Enough banter. Let us talk about something intellectual. How about the third-law of thermodynamics: that the entropy in the universe is ever increasing. (hopefully I still remember it correct from Thermo-D 101)<br /><br />If I am part of the universe (or maybe the universe is part of me :D ) then I am certainly a good contributor to the increase in entropy.<br />Some of my actions recently definitely fall into the distribution of entropy contributing activities from the set : {weird, abnormal, eccentric , crazy)<br /><br />Some of the really "entropic" things that I did recently:<br /><br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Last night at 2 AM I had a strong craving for hot spicy noodles and a keen desire to watch Michael Madana Kamarajan. Thanks to the Gracious God and Myself I had both accessible at home. And BOY I did really enjoy both at that Ghastly, ghostly hour!!! <li>I suffer from a chronic disease called "IMPATIENCE" and the doctors have given up on me. Recently at the LRT Station (light rail transit) I really got impatient waiting for the lrt and I started walking round and round the platform ("the Pentathol" scene from Gunaa). A concerned SMRT Railway employee stopped me and asked if all was OK. I retorted saying that this is my way of exercising since I don't get time to exercise after work. (which was partly true btw.) He went away chuckling to himself.</li><li>I actually made a "Check-list" before this trip for my packing and the list of items I had to do before departing. Now is that a sign of AGEING or really a <em>Curious Case</em> of my extraordinary Project management skills applied to daily living. Weird!!!</li></ul><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Now playing: Confusion confusion (Kotha Bangaru Lokam)subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-44493802048361719132009-02-01T07:38:00.004+05:302009-02-01T07:48:29.142+05:30Snapshot<div align="justify">The following two books are my recent good reads. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>The Gifted - Nikita Lalwani</strong><br />The story is about an Indian immigrant family in Cardiff (Wales). The head of the family is an Indian mathematics professor and the main character in the story is his "gifted" daughter who is a maths prodigee. The family's aspirations are centred around the girl and the whole plot is about how this affects the normal living of the girl. I really enjoyed reading this book,especially understanding the psyche of the girl. For example there is an instance where the girl prays to God to get her out of a problem by counting to 30th digit of "Pi", the transcendental number.<br /></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><br /><p><br /><strong>Show Business - Shashi Tharoor<br /></strong>Excellent parody of the Bollywood industry and closely resembles the life of Amitabh Bachchan. Shashi Tharoor has devised an intelligent structure to the book, with chapters resembling film-shooting takes. I really enjoyed the monologues of each character.<br /></p></div><br /><p></p><br /><div align="justify"><strong><u>Other reads</u></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong>Introduction to Freud - comic series</strong></div><div align="justify">This was quite an eye-opening read. Came across some shocking theories like the <strong>Oedipus complex. </strong>Overall the book was a good introduction to Sigmund Freud's theories some of which are quite relevant. Freud says that <strong>reason</strong> is not an obvious outcome of the mind but an outcome of a struggle between the ideal and raw-inconscious mind and the practical conscious mind. </div><div align="justify"><p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Now playing:</div><div align="justify"><strong>Kangal Irandal</strong> - Subramaniyapuram</div><div align="justify"><strong>Dreams on Fire</strong> - Slumdog Millionare</div><div align="justify"><p></p></div>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-78034964410747736022009-01-28T19:02:00.007+05:302009-01-28T19:15:26.309+05:30X-Ray of a Confused Mind<div align="center">The scariest place in the world at times is within your head! </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SYBg7c-7aMI/AAAAAAAAAm8/F7CS8RVk1UU/s1600-h/black_dots_clipped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296339736296384706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SYBg7c-7aMI/AAAAAAAAAm8/F7CS8RVk1UU/s320/black_dots_clipped.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SYBftBXG_NI/AAAAAAAAAm0/gHVj961mzrM/s1600-h/black_dots.jpg"></a><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SYBfdSt416I/AAAAAAAAAms/YvmocDk6kvg/s1600-h/black_dots.jpg"></a>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-6519546719466252732009-01-16T22:11:00.001+05:302009-01-16T22:18:56.642+05:30The Climb Resumes...<em>For years I have been climbing steep mountains<br />I have never feared hanging off steep ledges<br />The sharp rocks have seldom hurt me<br />I was undeterred by the pain my arms<br />And the ache in my legs<br />I was steady in my resolve<br />To keep climbing higher and higher<br />Until I reached the ultimate summit!<br /><br />Everything was fine until my recent fall<br />The fear of failure has crept into me like poison ivy<br />Self infliction is nothing but an easy solution<br />I seek pleasure in pain<br />I seek solace in my solitude<br />I seek refuge in my goblet<br />Hoping to drown in the rednesss of the wine<br />That liberates my inner spirit!<br /><br />A faint voice within me frantically calls out<br />Begging me to just hang in there<br />And that the tide will turn<br />I hear the voice of reason calling out loudly to<br />Pull myself out of this abyss<br />For I have been at greater heights<br />The climb now should be faster and easier<br />The perils are not strangers anymore.<br /><br />I may now hold on to my rope tighter<br />Every step of mine might take longer<br />I may rest after each exertion and my breath may be heavier<br />But at least I have resumed my climb!<br />And I vow that I shall keep climbing<br />As after every fall the only way is UP!<br /><br /> </em>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-70412132854066063172009-01-04T21:43:00.006+05:302009-01-04T21:47:04.227+05:30Contentment<em> I stare out of my window at the grey night sky</em><br /><em>And see a lone faint star in the distance.</em><br /><em>The clouds annoy me for this reason.</em><br /><em>Why do they want to deny me the simple pleasure</em><br /><em>Of gazing at the bright stars and counting them? </em><br /><em>A finite entity attempting to grasp the infinite.</em><br /><em>It is not that I want the stars all for myself.</em><br /><em>I do not wish to roll up the sky </em><br /><em>And hang it in my living room to adorn my wall.</em><br /><em><br />But this is just a momentary lapse</em><br /><em>For I am filled with brimming gratitude</em><br /><em>For it is the clouds that bear the rain</em><br /><em>that paints the earth in hues of green</em><br /><em>that ensures my thirst is quenched.<br />I quietly close the window making a vow to myself</em><br /><em>That I shall consciously try to be content with what I have!</em>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-73726083203662790192008-12-10T17:00:00.004+05:302008-12-10T17:12:12.705+05:30The Long Awaited JourneyBlogging from the airport has now become a tradition for me :).<br /><br />This has been a year of very few trips or journeys.<br /><ul><li>Jakarta in January</li><li>India in Jan / Feb </li><li>Malacca and Mt Ophir (Malaysia) in September</li><li>India again now in December. </li></ul>I am now going to India(chennai) after almost 10 months, my longest strech away from home. Hopefully the next year brings a lot of good change !!<br />Till then Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!<br /><br />As usual a verse to end it all, based on a real experience today.<br /><br /><em>I shook my hands with an old neglected gentleman and he felt happy.<br />I wished him good luck and seasons greetings and he felt elated.<br />He came towards me and embraced me and I was almost in tears!</em>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-36183553322482921792008-11-09T20:09:00.005+05:302008-11-09T20:50:38.219+05:30Forgotten Face - Aasai Mugam MarandhuExcerpts from one of the many gems of Bharathiyar. I heard this song recently in a concert and was totally moved by it. Apparently Bharathi had written this song when he lost his mother's photograph (the only photograph and memory he had of her).<br /><br />ஆசைமுகம் மறந்து போச்சே - இதை யாரிடம் சொல்வேனடி தோழி?<br /><em>I have forgotten that lovely face, whom shall I share this grief with ?</em><br />நேசம் மறக்கவில்லை நெஞ்சம் - எனில் நினைவு முகம் மறக்கலாமோ?<br /><em>The heart has still not forgotten the love, alas how can I forget that memorable face?</em><br /><br /><br />தேனை மறந்திருக்கும் வண்டும் - ஒளிச் சிறப்பை மறந்துவிட்ட பூவும்<br />வானை மறந்திருக்கும் பயிறும் - இந்த வையம் முழுதுமில்லை தோழி<br /><em>One cannot find in this whole world :<br />Bees that have forgotten honey<br />Flowers that forgotten the splendor of light<br />Crops that have forgotten the sky</em><br /><br /><br />கண்ணன் முகம் மறந்துபோனால் - இந்த கண்களிருந்து பயனுண்டோ?<br /><em>If I forget the face of krishna, then what is the use of my eyes?</em> (Krishna is a placeholder for his mother here).<br />வண்ணப் படமுமில்லை கண்டாய் - இனி வாழும் வழியென்னடி தோழி?<br /><em>I no longer have your photograph, now what is left in life,tell me my dear friend ?<br /></em>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-23200997635170216992008-11-01T10:13:00.003+05:302008-11-01T10:25:54.391+05:30Con-Verse-sation17:28 VK: arz kiya hai.....<br />17:28 VK: <strong>Tairna hai to samundar Mein tairo, </strong><br />17:28 VK: <strong>Nadi naalo Mein kya rakha hai,<br /></strong>17:28 VK: <strong>Mohabbat karni hai to apne watan se karo,<br /></strong>17:28 VK: <strong>In bewafa hASino Mein kya rakha hai......</strong><br /><em>(If you want to swim, do so in the ocean. What is there in the ponds and rivers. If you want to Love someone, find someone from your own country. What do you see or what is there in these disloyal damsels?). </em><br /><br />17:32 Me: wah wah...may i kindly ASk you to qualify these bewafa hASinAS..<br />17:33 AS: this shair is for the NRI<br />17:33 VK: indeed<br /><br />17:37 Me: in continuation with VK's effort with my rusty hindi :<br />17:38 AS: best of luck to us<br />17:38 Me: here you go..<br />17:38 Me: <strong>tairna aata to samundar kya aASman Mein tairunga<br /></strong>17:38 Me: <strong>pyar karna aata to ek nahi hazaaron hASinon se karunga<br /></strong><em>(If I could swim then i would do so in the skies. And if I was capable of love, I would love not one but a thousand damsels.)</em><br />17:38 AS: aaage?<br />17:39 Me: this is like kabir ke dohe...2 liners<br />17:39 AS: dohe still follow a format<br />17:39 AS: a reply to a shair should be a shair<br />17:39 AS: 4 liner on 4 liner<br /><br />17:41 Pak Poet: <strong>Gul hui jaati hai afsurda sulagti hui shaam<br /></strong>17:41 Pak Poet: <strong>Dhul ke niklay gi abhi chAShma-e-mahtab se raat</strong><br />17:41 Pak Poet: <strong>Aur mushtaaq nigaahon ki suni jaaye gi<br /></strong>17:41 Pak Poet: <strong>Aur un hathon se mAS: hongay yeh tarse huay haath</strong><br /><br />17:42 Me: translate plz<br />17:42 Pak Poet: Translation<br /><br />17:42 Pak Poet: <em>The morose evening is lost in the silhouette of a fading sun<br /></em>17:42 Pak Poet: <em>But soon, it will coMe out bathed in the moonlit night<br /></em>17:43 Pak Poet: <em>And those eager eyes will be heard to, one more tiMe<br /></em>17:43 Pak Poet: <em>and these longing fingers will be entwined with those fingers again<br /></em><br />17:43 Me: whoa ur verse is it?<br />17:43 Me: awesoMe<br />17:43 Pak Poet: no... faiz ahmed faiz<br />17:43 Pak Poet: Pak Poet:<br />17:43 Pak Poet: winner of Lenin prize, 1985<br />17:43 Me: nice<br />17:45 Pak Poet: correction: Lenin Peace Prize, awarded in<br />1962...subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-43312109004687814692008-10-23T23:09:00.002+05:302008-10-23T23:27:44.472+05:30TimestampAmazed at how some things that never bore you, such as<br /><br />1. Midnight maggi (from the old ANC times)<br />2. Godavari (still to figure out my fixation with this movie)<br />3. Sunday morning Top 10 movies (with dosa substituted by bread-omlette and coffee)<br />4. RK Narayan and PG Wodehouse (doing a revisit now)<br />5. Friends<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pudhu Kavidhai - Mini Verse</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The markets may be bearish</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">But never lose the bull within you</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Feed him with some positive thinking</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">And reap profits lifelong! </span>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-84786784980740475652008-09-04T21:52:00.010+05:302008-09-04T22:34:43.510+05:30Oxygenic Verse<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Lines from Tamizh MA<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SMAM9u9xm5I/AAAAAAAAAYo/z_0qzdAAQ9E/s1600-h/Clipboard01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SMAM9u9xm5I/AAAAAAAAAYo/z_0qzdAAQ9E/s200/Clipboard01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242204220977945490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Exchanging our stories</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We blended into the air</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Even if our conversations end</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I am content and happy in the shadows of your silence<br /><br /></span><span>P.S. : Tried my hand at tamizh after a long long time. I still enjoy writing in Tamizh.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SMAQmPR9QbI/AAAAAAAAAYw/bUKijwaTXaI/s1600-h/DSC04283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SMAQmPR9QbI/AAAAAAAAAYw/bUKijwaTXaI/s200/DSC04283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242208215382180274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LEISURE - Excerpts from the famous poem Leisure by W.H. Davies<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> <p style="font-style: italic;"> No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,<br />And watch her feet, how they can dance.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;"> No time to wait till her mouth can<br />Enrich that smile her eyes began.</p>P.S. : Shot that sunset picture from the house, on one pleasant evening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SMAUAfllWaI/AAAAAAAAAY4/JZ6aPqXxYvo/s1600-h/colors_capsq.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdiJBVtnHqE/SMAUAfllWaI/AAAAAAAAAY4/JZ6aPqXxYvo/s200/colors_capsq.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242211964970949026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lines from A Song in Jab We Met<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ham Jo Chalne Lage Yeh Raasthe</span><br />The route that we have treaded<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kho Jaye Hum Kho Jaye Hum yun la pata<br /></span>We are lost and are clueless where we are<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Janaa Kahaan Na ho pata<br /></span>Neither do we know where we are heading to<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Par Manzil Se Behether Lagne Lage yeh raasthe<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">But yet this journey seems to better than the final destinations themselves!</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span>P.S. : Lights outside Capital Tower Tanjong Pagar, Singapore</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-27603244981415022008-06-03T21:09:00.005+05:302008-06-03T22:35:42.346+05:30Bullet Points<p><strong>Health Survey </strong></p><p align="justify">A recent health survey in India by Nielsen Company consisting of 20,000 respondents revealed that among various conditions:<br /></p><ul><li>54.4% (~11000) of the respondents had a household member affected by <strong><em>High BP.</em></strong></li><li>45.7% (~9000) of the respondents had a household member affected by <strong><em>Diabetes</em></strong>. </li><li>12.2% (~2400) of the respondents had a household member affected by <strong><em>Depression</em></strong>. </li></ul><p align="justify">I believe that among the various conditions, depression is the most sinister, as it has a significant impact on the home ecology. It is the combined responsibility of the entire family to rescue the affected person out of the condition.<br /><em>Source : Reader's Digest<br /></p></em><hr /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Mittal Trivia</strong> </p><ul><li>Richest man in UK and 4th richest in the world</li><li>Vanisha Mittal (Mittal's daughter) had the world's most expensive wedding in France. </li><li>Mittal built his first plant outside India in Surabaya Indonesia at the age of 26. </li></ul><p><em>Source : Wikipedia </em><br /><hr /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Spirit-ed Women </strong><br />A recent article I read in a magazine (Outlook) states the following about women and drinking:<br /></p><ul><li>Women are more likely to get addicted to alchohol even with casual drinking. </li><li>Women get intoxicated with even lesser amounts of alchohol. </li><li>Women account for the annual 25% increase in alchohol consumption in India. (this does shadow the fact that Males are causing the rest 75% )</li></ul><p>Did you also know that:</p><ul><li>Alchohol dehydrogenase is the enzyme that digests (metabolises) alchohol and this is secreted <strong><em>(by the liver which is the largest human internal organ)</em></strong> in lesser quantities in Women. </li><li>1 gm of Protein or Carbohydrate contains 1 Calorie. Whereas 1gm of Alchohol contains 7 Calories. (1 gm Fat contains 9 Calories)</li></ul><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> I am not being judgemental nor in advisory mode here. It is just a reminder to all us spirited individuals that we are one hell of a live-r (deliberate malaproprism) and while living life to the fullest we should use our judgement while revelling in high spirits. </p><p><br /></p>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-16418653438058330782008-05-31T10:03:00.004+05:302008-05-31T10:40:27.023+05:30Life is Like That<p><strong>Scene 1 : Nationality<br /></strong></p><p>A guy talking to a girl.<br /><strong>Guy:</strong> Are you Indian ?<br /><em>The girl replied back. </em><br /><strong>Girl:</strong> Yes of course I am Indian.<br /><em>I was flabbergasted. It was like they show in the movies. The trees stopped swaying, the birds stopped in mid air, the waves in the sea froze for a second and the whole world came to a stand still</em>.<br />Do you ask why?<br />This whole scene took place in the Indian High commission in Singapore.<br /><hr /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Scene 2 : SMS Eavesdrop Monday Morning</strong> </p><p><em>( I happened to eavesdrop (of course accidentally) on a lady messaging her boy friend on the train.)</em><br /><strong>Janice:</strong> Oh am so sleepy this morning. It was a tiring night yesterday and it got pretty late ;)<br /><strong>Peter:</strong> Yes it was tiring but good fun.<br /><strong>Janice:</strong> Thanks for organizing the friday gathering.<br /><strong>Peter:</strong> Hope you enjoyed my friends on friday.<br /><strong>Janice:</strong> I did. But I enjoyed you better yesterday!<br />Sometimes Singlish is too short to convey the meaning. Just remember to change "you" to "your company" in the above conversation to get the right meaning. :D</p><p><hr /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Scene 3 : S-Team Boat</strong></p><p><strong>(Conversation in a office meeting to organize an event. Of course the names have been changed but are indicative of their place of origin.)</strong></p><p><strong></strong><br /><strong>Irodov Vadapava:</strong> Let us think of some idea to organize the company yearly event for team building<br /><strong>Pierre Fries :</strong> I had thought about it. How about a cruise on a ship and a boat party?<br /><strong>Jollygood Steak:</strong> That seems to be a nice idea,<br /><strong>Akram Kebab:</strong> Company Compliancy Policy IPC Section 666A does not allow this stating this as Employee Loss risk. What if the ship sinks drowning more than half our employees!<br /><strong>Jollygood Steak:</strong> Is that bad after all ;)<br /></p>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-31140068436000163582008-05-25T00:33:00.002+05:302008-05-25T00:36:58.723+05:30Life, A Riddle and Ten Questions<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">"I asked of life what have you to give me?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">Life answered back : What you have to offer!"</span><br /><br />(This was a poster in our bedroom which has always been there since as far as I can remember)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Riddle</span><br /><br />When you utter my name I disappear. Who am I or What am I?<br />This riddle was from the movie "Life is Beautiful" (Italian movie).<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Two alternative answers</span><br />1. Gratitude<br />2. Silence<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Questions</span><br /><br />1. Why are we selfish at times (or most times)?<br />2. Why can't we put others' needs before ours?<br />3. Why do seek recognition from others? (for e.g. why do I feel happy when others leave comments on my blog)?<br />4. Is there a purpose to life and if so are we doing our duty?<br />5. Why is money so important inspite of not being important?<br />6 Why can't we speak our minds?<br />7. Why is the mind so devious at times?<br />8. Is there a good and bad side to our brain/thinking?<br />9. How do I know that I am intelligent? Is it by proving that I can solve a difficult mathematical<br />problem or by cracking difficult exams or scoring high on an IQ Test?<br />10 It is 3 AM in the morning and am I crazy to be blogging at this hour?subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-66249905503407305262008-05-17T16:36:00.003+05:302008-05-17T16:44:27.988+05:30Pollen Moments<div align="justify"><span style="color:#000066;">The school bell rang at exactly 3 PM. Raghu came rushing out of his biology class. Raghu belonged to class 5 in Wesley High School. He was a very bright and inquisitive student. He located his red "BSA StreetCat" cycle in the stands and enthusiastically cycled back home. He parked the cycle by the window and locked. He inspected the reflector at the rear of the cycle. It looked a bit dusty. He kneeled down and started polishing itwith his saliva. It was now gleaming in the evening sun. Beaming and satisfied with his effort,he rushed to find his grandmother in the kitchen.</span><br /><br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> What is up Laddu(sweetums)? Why are you brimming with so much excitement?<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> Grandma, we had a very interesting lesson today in Biology. It was about osmosis. I am going to do some experiments at home with raisins and grapes. Can you give me some?<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> Sure you can take it, but tell me what you are going to do with them?<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> I am going to put the raisins in water. The raisins should absorb the water due to osmosis and bloat in size. When ripe full grapes are kept in water they lose water due to reverse osmosis. When grapes are preserved in sugar water they will retain shape and water.<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> For this you need to experiment? I know this more from my kitchen experience than from my Class II education. Do you see those big array of jars there. Those are all different fruits and vegetables preserved in Salt and sugar water for pickling later. I don't know anything about "aash-maashish" though.<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> Hmm. Not bad, Grandma, I think I can put your practical experience to some use later. I am off to do my homework now.<br /><br />Some days later, Raghu is just back from school and finds his grandmother in the garden behind the house, planting some saplings.<br /><br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> Excellent grandma I found you at the right place.<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> Little Rascal! What weird question do you have for me today?<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> Let me put you test. Can you tell me how trees come to existence and grow?<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> How else, but from seeds sown in the soil?<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> But tell me where seeds come from?<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> Seeds come from the trees themselves my dear!<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> Aiyoh! Patti(Grandma)! You don't know anything. Dont you know anything about pollination? Flowers are pollinated with pollen grains and they become fruits. Seeds come from the fruits which grow into trees later. </div><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Raghu goes near the hibiscus shrub, carefully picks the stamens from the flower and crushes them so that he has a thin layer of pollen in his hand and carefully blows air over his hand so that the pollen fly above the flowers.</span><br /><br /><strong>Grandma (amused at his antics) </strong>: Little Doctor, what are you upto?<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> (Indicating at the two Guava fruits hanging from the guava tree with great pride and his head high up)Grandma do you know who created those fruits? It is me!<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> What are you blabbering? What do you mean you created those fruits?<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> Did you not see what I just did? I pollinated the flowers myself by blowing the pollens. In a weeks' time you should see some kind of fruit in the hibiscus tree too!<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> This is all going way above my head now. And don't try any more of your artificial stuff in my garden. I will preserve it in my own natural way.<br /><strong>Raghu:</strong> Don't worry patti I know everything! Next week they are starting Human Physiology and I will learn how babies are born at school. I shall put you to test on subject quite soon!<br /><strong>Grandma:</strong> WHAAAT!subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6903726.post-57183080007985413562008-05-04T20:35:00.003+05:302008-05-04T20:41:26.226+05:30Have You ... ?<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>Have you tried blowing whistles with the petals of a flower<br />Have you ever tasted sweet nectar from the flower's nectary<br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>Have you streched yourself flat on dew filled grass and tried rolling down a slope<br />Have you tried climbing trees and swinging on its branches<br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>Have you dug the soft earth with your hands and planted any saplings<br />Have you drawn water out of a well using a pulley and pail and watered the plants<br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>Have you tasted fresh honey drops from a beehive<br />Have you quenched your thirst with the cold water from an earthen pot?<br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>Have you inscribed or etched some insignia on the barks of trees<br />Have you tried cooing back at Mynahs and Cuckoos and listened for their response<br /><br />Have you been to the terrace on a dark starry night and wondered about the universe beyond<br />Have you stared at your reflection in ponds and tried making faces at yourself<br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>Have you opened your mouth to the rainy skies to taste pure rain drops<br />And cycled in knee deep water and observed the wonderful patterns that the tyres leave on the water surface<br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>Have you spent hours on the beach bathing and collecting sea shells<br />And building Sand castles, only to jump on them in the end and destroy them. </em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>For If you haven't till now it is never too late<br />And You are never too old!</em></span></p>subuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931589788709385400noreply@blogger.com3