Yet Another Travel Blog

It is great to be going back home and this is yet another blog from the airport. I am going home after a period of six months and looking forward for my stay there. These six months were quite good. I just got into groove into my first job and it has been a great experience till now. Having good fun other than work too with lots of sports like Tennis, Badminton, Bowling, Pool etc.
Planning to get a bit more serious with life after I get back as a New Year Resolution :))

Have fun and TIG

DNR - Do Not Resuscitate

Prolonging life artificially through Life Support and Euthanasia (Mercy Killing) have always been a subject of debate. From the patient's point of view Euthanasia seems valid, but from a general perspective saving a person's life even so be it for a small duration is still worth the effort.

Just came across this terminology called DNR - Do Not Resuscitate. If a patient at the time he is admitted has a DNR order it means that he wishes that his life not be prolonged artificially or he wishes that his life not be revived artificially in case he suffers from any attack.

Came across this interesting article where a retired nurse has tatooed a DNR on herself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2819149.stm

SFO in a Different Light

Some interesting snaps clicked in San Francisco.

Bushwhacked!!














Smoke Pots of different shapes














Pile of crabs Fisheman's Wharf















American Heroes on Harley Davidsons














The Modern Day beggar














Marilyn Monroe and Mickey Mouse

Java Rocks

This is a name of a cafe in Haight Street in San Francisco. I totally agree with what it says. Java Rox and it earns me my bread now :)

Sindhubhairavi

Simple yet touching:

Poomalai Vangi vandhan pookal illaye
He got a garland but alas it had no flowers!

Sevi Illai ingoru Isai Edharku
Without the ears what is the use of music

Vizhi Illai Ingoru villaku Edharku
Without the eyes what use is a lamp

Naalum Naalum Aval Ninaivil Ivan Azhudhu!!
Day by day he is pining in her memory

Poo malai vangi vandhan pookal illaye!

In Rememberance of the Almighty

I am really indebted to GOD for whatever he has given me. I am ever grateful to HIM.


I have always felt that chanting mantras and slokas helped me concentrate and gain focus.

Came across this wonderful site with all important Sthothrams and Slokas:

http://mailerindia.com/slokas/mantras/index.php?mantrahow

Orchard Photographs Lee Hsien Loong

Wow man!! Amazed at the Christmas decorations at the Orchard Road Singapore. Really lovely and gives a nice happy feeling. To add to the joy was a photography exhibition on the Road pavements. Mind blowing pictures clicked all over the world. Anyone in Singapore at this time should definitely visit Orchard as soon as possible to catch the Photo Exhibition as well the festive lightings and decorations. Also by chance spotted the Prime Minister of Singapore Mr Lee Hsien Loong on the roads looking at the photo exhibition. He was just another person among the busy Orchard Road crowd and though he had security, one could not really notice them unless anyone observed carefully.

I Walk a Lonely Road

Really touching song ....

Loved the song as well the the lyrics... song by a band called GreenDay

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleepsand
I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk aloneI walk alone
I walk aloneI walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border lineOf the edge and where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's **ed up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk aloneI walk alone
I walk aloneI walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside meMy shallow heart's the only thing that's beatingSometimes I wish someone out there will find me'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ahAh-ah, Ah-ah
I walk aloneI walk a...

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Call It Conservative Call it Chennai

Being born and brought up in Chennai, I have experienced the conservative way of living in the City. I would say that this conservativeness is in a way necessary and good to inculcate moral values and ethics into the people (especially for children and adoloscents). But this recent case on Khushboo, Suhasini etc. has really crossed limits and so much hullaballoo on this is totally unnecessary and nonsensical.

Read this Article from Times of India on this Issue:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1298218,curpg-1.cms

What is the most ironical about this Khushboo issue is that the people who are raising their voice
against her (White-Dhoti Politicians and as much black on the inside) constitute the least moral and unethical people who are known for their polygamy, affairs, and various other shady businesses and have no business talking about Tamizh Panpadu (Tamil Ethics and Culture).

I Love My Job

Found this poem recently: was really funny. Has a sarcastic note to it. Sure does not reflect my opinion though: I love my job in the right sense!!

The Lost Dr Seuss Poem

I love my job, I love the pay! I
love it more and more each day.
I love my boss, she is the best!
I love her boss and all the rest.

I love my office and its location,
I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and gray,
And piles of paper that grow each day!

I think my job is really swell,
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers,
I love their leers, and jeers, and sneers.

I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it won't care.
I love each program and every file.
I'd love them more if they worked a while.

I'm happy to be here. I am. I am.
I'm the happiest slave of the Firm, I am.
I love this work, I love these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.

I love my job - I'll say it again -
I even love those friendly men.
Those friendly men who've come today,
In clean white coats to take me away!

In Transit

Taipei September 10 2005

This is probably the first time I am going on such a long distance journey alone and probably that is the reason I feel quite bored. I have to kill ten hours of my time in this place ... man one instance where idling away makes you feel tired.

What do people generally do while travelling alone:

Read books
Listen to music
Blog :)
Work
Watch movies
Pick up a conversation with co-passengers

All this while I have been kind of doing a mixture of all the above things, and currently due to lack of sleep I am too bugged to do anything but blog.

Met this guy called Jeff from Denver in the transit lounge. He was travelling with his three year old kid from Manila to Denver. His kid's name was Kimberley. She was really cute, and had the combined looks of her filipino mother and a caucasian father. We hit upon almost all the topics in the world, like politics, oil exploration, Katrina, linguistics and world langugages, travel experiences, Linux vs Microsoft, Apple and Steve Jobbs etc etc. Overall it was a really good conversation. Jeff was of swedish origin and he told me how immigrants in US after one or two generations forget their native language and that he hardly knew swedish. He was born in Boston, educated in Colorado and now works for an organization called SWCA (www.swca.com) as an Environment Consultant. His specialization was Archaeology and survey. Aged around 40 he is still looking forward to taking up a Phd. One thing I am really amazed by the educational system in US is that most people pursue a career in their own interest area, however commercially inviable it may be and also that the country does offer employment opportunities in all areas. Recently I believe in India too the focus is moving away from engineering and IT and more and more students and willing to explore the arts and science field.

While in India I was under this impression that IT is the THE THING and is really cool. Only after a bit of experience and exposure to others viewpoints have I come to realize that IT is just a tool or means by which one can improve the process and make business processes faster and efficient. An IT company can never match a Brick and Mortar kind of organization and this is also reflected in fact that the world's top two companies are Exxon Mobil (Oil Giant) and GE (almost all possible sectors). Even the IT and Services Giant like IBM cannot compare to these organizations in terms of their huge presence in the world, and market value.

Flightellogue

This is my second blog from the Airport. Blogging is really a good way to kill time in the airport, especially if you are travelling alone. Had a nice hot cup of coffee from Deli France. I am surprised that you get much better coffee from Deli France rather from exclusive coffee outlets like Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Have 20 min more before boarding, and I am quite paranoid about how I am going to kill 10 hrs in Taipei airport. Shall try and get a transit visa there and would like to see the current tallest building in the world, before it is overtaken by the Dubai tower which is under construction and also the Memorial Building over ground zero in New York. Even if I cant get a transit visa I guess it should be fine, cos' I have more than 500 pages of design specifications to read before I reach "Silicon Valley". :)

Talk of the week:

Katrina and its devastation - Emergency in New Orleans

Iflex majority shares bought over by Oracle

Now Reading: LION BOY THE CHASE - Zizou Corder

Have a long journey to make

signing off

SPAM DELIGHT

Having the privelege of a very common name as my gmail account, I have received umpteen e-mails that were not meant for me. I once even got a marriage proposal asking when to schedule a marriage and conveying that all in the bride's family were happy with the alliance!

The following is an e-mail that I received today and I felt quite happy after reading it, thought it was not meant for me ;)

Dear Rajesh,
It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted into the
doctoral program in Biophysical Sciences and that Dr. Sachs has agreed to
be your mentor and to provide both stipend and tuition support for you
while you pursue your doctoral studies in his laboratory.

Malcolm Slaughter
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
124 Sherman Hall
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14214

Suttum Vizhi Chudare : Ghajni

Code Meets Verse

This is supposedly the theme song of our previous product release:
Really cool, lyrics!!

Why do birds suddenly appear
every time you are near?
We've only just begun to live.
White lace and promises,
a kiss for luck and we're on our way.
We've only begun.
Before the risin' sun we fly.
So many roads to choose,
we start out walking and learn to run.
And yes, we've just begun.
Sharing horizons that are new to us,
watching the signs along the way.
Talking it over just the two of us,
working together day to day, together.
And when the evenin' comes we smile.
So much of life ahead,
we'll find a place where there's room to grow.
And yes, we've just begun.
Sharing horizons that are new to us,
watching the signs along the way.
Talking it over just the two of us,
working together day to day, together, together.
And when the evenin' comes we smile.
So much of life ahead,
we'll find a place where there's room to grow.
And yes, we've just begun.

Thought Constellations

Lakshya
Independence Day
Tri-color
Embassy
Late
Office
CrimsonLogic
Pressure
SMA
Awesome
Fun
Canadian Pizza
Movies
Chupke Chupke
Amitabh Bachchan
Kajra-re
Aish
Kuch na Kaho
Home
Palm Gardens
Computer
Forgot Mac-Power PC lugs
Linux
Caldera
Pilani
Ak 248
Common Room
Cooler
Water ...
Thatz enuff...

Bye to RedHill Close

It has been almost a year in Redhill now. The name does sound exotic right, like Beverly Hills, or Malabar Hills (Mumbai). I have now moved from this quite nice locality and it has been quite a memorable stay here. I just finished seeing the last season of Friends ( Season X). It was quite a touching episode. In this episode too Monica and Chandler move away from the In-City-apartment. I also found myself in such a situation. But change is an inseperable part of life. Just a day since I have shifted and already so many changes.

Change Number 1 : Got up quite early at 8 and reached office by 9:15 or so... Wow!! I am quite pleased with that.
Change Number 2: Came back from office and jogged on the treadmill for 3 Km. :))
Change Number 3: Cooked (or rather watched my flatmates) and ate home cooked food (Parathas and a nice subzi) and this is supposedly the regular plan. I surely plan to be a part of this cooking and revive my culinary skills.

Now playing... Khali Hai Tere Bina Dono Akhiyaan Tum Gaye Kahan
(Both my eyes are empty without you... where art thou have you gone...)

Card Games

Card games are awesome fun and a nice timepass especially if you have a big group. In my childhood I used to primarily play Ass and Joker. Then during the numerous train journeys to College we used to play quite a number of card games and I learnt games like Rummy, trump, Bid etc. Yesterday I learnt a new game called TeenPathi (Flush/Flash). Really nice game. The problem with card games is that I tend to forget the exact rules if I have not played the game for a long time. I found a nice link that lists most card games with their rules.

http://www.pagat.com/alpha.html

http://www.pagat.com/

Happy - Happy Deepavali

"Happy-Happy Deepavali maa" - This is the phrase that an old man tells his grandchildren, son and daughter-in-law who live elsewhere(foreign land) in some telephone advertisement that used to come long time back on television. This ad caught my attention because that old man used to say these with so much of emotion and love which I could not understand at that point and had brushed it aside as overaction.
Little did I know when I saw this ad that I would be exactly doing the same thing for many more years to come. There is a bright side to staying away from home in the sense that you become very independent and responsible (supposedly) and worldly wise. But on the flip side it is quite sad that you miss out on all the love and affection from parents,siblings, grandparents and other relatives. This I feel all the more when any special occassion comes by. During every Diwali at college we did have fun, but it was never quite the same as it was at home. I used to call home and other relatives every Diwali, and each time I used to have this kind of weird feeling of "OutOfContext Exception". I used to ask myself whether was it really worth staying away from home missing so much. I still do ask myself this question, now occassionally though as I have learnt to live with the reality. The reality is that I am in a Hot Pursuit (a euphemism for Rat Race) now, in pursuit of career growth and achievement, money and social recognition and this pursuit has brought me so far away from home But I do live with the hope that soon in the near future the race will end soon or I will voluntarily opt out of the race. Whichever happens the good thing is that "The good old days look much more nearer now"!!!

Nature Retreat - MacRitchie Reservoir

For all Nature freaks in Singapore, the MacRitchie reservoir park walking trails are one of the best you can get in Singapore. It is a picturesque location with walking trails all along the perimeter of the MacRitichie lake. I think morning time is the best time to visit the reservoir park as it is very cool and the morning dew on the rich foliage is breathtaking.



There are various attractions also in this Reservoir, the best one being the Tree Top Walk. This is a strech of the trail where one can
walk over a Suspension bridge amidst the tree tops and it is really a worthwhile experience. You feel like you are over a jungle and we also get a very good view of the reservoir area.

My personal favorite attraction in the reservoir is feeding the turtles. These turtles are really bold and hungry and even take food directly from the hand. The turtles seem to eat whatever humans eat like Biscuits, Water Melon, Murruku etc. etc. Other attractions in the reserve include the Jelutong Tower which is a great view point. Adjoining one edge of the reservoir is the Singapore Island Country Club Golf Course and we can see the golfers teeing off there.

Located in Upper Thomson Road region, the best way to get here is to to get down at Thomson or Novena and take a cab to Upper Thomson Road (Venus Drive) or ask for Singapore Island Country Club.

Golf Club View ..















Can you Spot the Web?















The Tree Top View

The Beginning!!

I noticed her due to her tinkling anklets,
That first glance was enough to make a mark of a lifetime.
Her long plaited hair was adorned by the sweet smelling Jasmine flowers,
Or was it the Jasmine flowers adorned by her wonderful wisps of hair
Her broad forehead dotted with vermilion and kumkum
Reminded me of the morning horizon and the radiant rising sun
Dressed in crisp Kanchipuram silk here she was the girl of my dreams!!

I had become quite oblivious of our surroundings

Just then I realized that we were in a temple and I was supposed to pray!!
She had started making small steps around the sanctum
Quickly I began following her with my hands folded in piety
My heart skipped a beat when she turned around to look at me
In reflex my hands folded and my lips started uttering something...
She must have thought I was praying in devotion
Yes I was praying in devotion, that I could speak to her.

It was the full moon day and the temple was getting crowded
Soon I lost sight of her in all the chaos
Disappointed I completed two more rounds of pradakshina,
Made a deal with HIM that all be good,
And with a heavy heart walked back home .



As I was opening the gate of my house
I heard a sweet and soothing voice
Surprised I was when I looked around
Here she was the Jhaangri* of my eyes!
Slowly she walked up to me!!
I was too dazed by the situation to see!



While all the time I was looking down,
She spoke to me without a frown
She had just moved into the neighbourhood with her mom and dad,
And thought she would get to know her neighbours well, wasnt I too glad :)
She too had noticed me in temple, and in friendship she extended her hand
I too reciprocated while I was floating away into FairyLand...
And that was the Beginning, a really nice Beginning!!


*Jhaangri: A Really delicious awesome South Indian Sweet!!