Smile.....It costs you nothing :)

Am Moving....

2010-12-25T17:17:00.000+09:00

Dear all,

Thank you all for your unconditional support and love. This blog has been my lifeline for quite sometime now. Though I hate to do this but I am moving to another place... Do update your readers with my new blog site .....
See you soon over there....... http://shonawrites.wordpress.com

Regards,
Shilpa

Mishti Doi

2010-12-12T02:54:00.000+09:00

"Mishti Doi" (hope I got the name correct) is something probably every lover of bengali sweets must have savoured. My image of it goes to that small matka tied with strings with the yummiest and the sweetest of sweets/ sweetened curd which my favourite uncle R uncle got for me during one of our visits to Calcutta. R uncle's pampering with sweets and chocolates and M aunty's yummy chicken biryani is something I looked forward to on each of our trips to their house. It's not only that but also that they are the warmest people I have ever come across. M aunty even preserved a kerchief I had left at their house for almost 4 years and had given it to my dad when he visited them. How sweet na! I truly miss her.

Now coming back to the original subject. I had gone to the outlet of a famous sweet manufacturer of Calcutta at Bangalore and when I saw the same "Mishti Doi" there you can't imagine my happiness. My taste buds were kindled and images of my childhood came alive before me. I could visualize myself devouring it with a child like glee. I happily got it packed and rushed towards home. I couldn't resist the temptation to have it once again. And so with all possible enthusiasm, I opened it and took the first heavenly scoop and rest is history ...

One moment I was in ecstasy and the next moment there was a huge disappointment written large on my face. It was nowhere like the mishti doi I had at R uncle's place. It was just curd mixed with sugar which I can also make with Nandini Curd (That's the Curd packet we get at Bangalore). I really cursed that sweet manufacturer for back stabbing my happiness. And adding further fuel to the fact was that for this small cup of sweet curd, I paid Rs.12 (the cup size was the same as that of vanilla ice cream small size cups). A huge disappointment indeed. I have resolved not to visit that sweet shop again. So, people in Bangalore please check if it is really "Mishti Doi" before you fall for it.

I wish I could have the original, unaltered "Mishti doi" again and relive those magic moments of my childhood. I really wish ...

Memories...

2010-10-03T12:01:00.000+09:00

A smile
A touch
An expression of love
Memories are what I will always carry

Sadness
Fight
Anger
Memories are what I will always carry

Laughter
Fun
Frolic
Memories are what I will always carry

Friends
Foes
Family
Memories are what I will always carry

Endless talk
Endless gossip
Endless chatter
Memories are what I will always carry

Parties
Games
Late night dinners
Memories are what I will always carry

Kids
Joy
Reason to smile
Memories are what I will always carry

To say am officially back to India after 3.5 years in Fukuoka but there are many fond memories of Fukuoka which I will always carry with me. Although an alien country, it was my home for some part of my life. A place which made me independent and strong in many ways. But then nothing is stationary.

So, its a "Bye bye Fukuoka"

And a "Namaste India"

Sorry guys this was the reason for my long absence from the blogging world. Now am officially back to blogging also, have a lot to read..... and comment will do so soon.....

Sulphuric Acid

2010-07-14T00:21:00.000+09:00

"What happened to him? He looks so lost?"

"Don't know... maybe dreaming about his Dream girl"

"Uff.... you guys na... can't think of anything else"

"Ya we can't ... Any problem... as though you girls don't do such things"

"Hey hey... what girls and all..."

"Shanti Shanti... both of you"

"Shanti... who is Shanti.... your ex????"

"Uff.. Shut up... Hey did you see the new movie Milenge Milenge"

"Ya... I did.... movie was ok... but Shahid was cho chweet na....."

"Oh you girls.... can you please stop that... Shahid is this... Shahid is that...... Plzzzzzz"

"Why should we ... your mobile has Katrina's pic... do we say anything... everything you buy and everything around has to have a Katrina stamp on it...do we say anything. No right. So, if you can't hear about Shahid, then close your ears and get lost "

"Oh... So much of anger... ok ok....cool down, I was just pulling your legs"

"Thats better"

"Hey guys, what happened to him. He is so lost from morning"

"Don't know, I was also asking him the same and then the Shahid Vs Katrina fight started and we forgot about him"

"Ha, Ha, Shahid and Katrina..... you guys should see Vikram. Man, what an acting. Truly awesome"

"Na na, Prosenjit Sabcheye Bhalo"

"Ledu Ledu Sidharth chala manchi"

"Guys stop stop.... this is not a National Integration talk"

"Ha ha, by the way did you guys notice... he has still not budged from his place. Wonder what has happened to him otherwise he will be the first one to poke his nose in such topics. I am going to ask him"

"Hey man, what happened?"

"Nothing yaar, just a little bit lost in thoughts"

"Oh so much lost, you didn't even hear us discussing about the actors"

"Oh is it?"

"Ok, out with it... what is it?"

"Well, err... well... I found the love of my life"

"Hey congrats man... and who is the lucky one?"

"Uh...She ... hmmm ... Vidya.... Vidya Balan"

"You must be joking...You mean actress Vidya Balan.... She told you so?"

"Not just me... She told in an awards ceremony, so everyone knows"

"Uh... which one... "

"Filmfare awards.."

"I saw that too but I didn't see her mention you"

"She said ... She said"

" When"

"You know in the filmfare awards.... she was asked questions and when she replied.... she told my name"

"Oh my god, this is madness, just because she said "Sulphuric Acid" doesn't mean she likes you"

"She doesn't like me but I have fallen in love with her from that moment. From that moment, I have realized, she is the love of my life. I know no one will appreciate this kind of one-sided love but I am prepared for it. Even it take 7 life times to get to her, I am prepared"

Sulphuric Acid walks away clutching a photograph of Vidya Balan.

Copper Sulphate looks at Sulphuric acid ... Stumped.

Location: Chemistry lab of ALMAT School.

If there is a quarter of us which doesn't believe in movies, there is a bigger quarter of us who live and breathe movies and idolize the actors and actresses. No wonder, girls can't stop going "Ooooh.... aaahhh" when the hero flexes his muscles and guys getting lost in their dreamworld when the heroine flutters her eyes. Well acids can't be humans but then what if they come alive will they also go "Ooooh... aahh" on actors?

Phir bhi dil hai hindustani...

2010-07-06T00:28:00.000+09:00

Sujatha's eyes races around to find that familiar face in the myriad of faces. Will she able to recognize her? She catches her laughing excitedly in a group of ladies. She walks towards her and taps on her shoulder. Manju turns and lets out a cry of joy.

"Suja, after so so many years. So good to see you. And couldn't you inform me you were coming. I would have come to the airport to pick you up"

"Knowing me you shouldn't be telling this!"

"Ya, the great lady of surprises. But still...."

Manju hugs her and realizes a cute girl standing beside them and looking at them in amusement.

"Hey, is she Sumi"

Sujatha nods.

"Oh my god, she looks so much like you when you were college"
Manju hugs Sumi also. Sumi doesn't know what to do and tries to put on a smile.

"Mama, won't you introduce me to your friend."

"Sure, dear. Hey Suja, she is sweetie my daughter"

"Hello Aunty, mom always talks about you. Glad you could make it for Anil anna's wedding."

"I couldn't miss it dear and especially since I would get a chance to meet my college buddies and my dearest friend"

"Sweetie, why don't you introduce Sumi to your friends"

"Go along Sumi"

Sumi forces a smile at her mother and goes along with Sweetie. Sumi is all confused. She didn't want to come to India especially when all her friends had gone to Hawaii for holidays. She had wanted to join them. But her mom wouldn't hear anything of it. She couldn't allow her girl to go all alone with a bunch of crazy girls and boys to Hawaii all by herself. Her father had tried to convince her mom but...

"Suja, she is grown up. And this is not India, this is Japan. Here kids are independent after an age. You have to also allow her to grow up independently"

"I am an Indian and you are also an Indian. Just for the sake that we live in Japan, I can't forget my roots nor can I allow my daughter to do that. For me my daughter's safety is my utmost priority and I know what I am doing"

The topic was closed. And so here she was, tugging along with her mother to India. Her mother visited India every two years and Sumi had to always accompany her. Not that she hated India but somehow she didn't feel at home in India. Relatives crowded her grandparent's home the moment they landed. So many aunties asking so many questions about Japan. Why are they so inquisitive after all its just another country. They would leave after they got their box of chocolates and one or two other gifts. Did they come to see mama only for the gifts, but then who bothered. She missed Sushi but she also loved the food her grandma cooked for her. She especially liked her grandpa. He was a retired professor and used to tell her many funny anecdotes.

She is brought to reality by Sweetie shaking her hand.

"Hey where are you lost. Ok, this is Reema and Sunita"

She looks at the girls and smiles meekly

"Hey Sumi, nice to meet ya. Hey, tell us about Japan. Do you have a Japanese boyfriend?... Do you eat Sushi and all..Do you smoke and drink... I heard its very common there." The girls spoke on and on....

Sumi gets irritated. Same questions and guys do you think every girl has to have a boyfriend. How sick. She feels like throwing the glass of juice in her hand on both the girls....

"No, I don't have a Japanese boyfriend and yes I eat sushi and love it but I also love Indian food"

She abruptly turns to Sweetie and says, "Hey, I will hang around. I have never been to an Indian wedding before. Do you mind?"

"No, I won't. Why will I?"

She leaves behind three pairs of eyes gapping at her in disbelief. Sweetie breaks the silence with "Attitude girls, attitude".

Sumi wanders about, sees some sitting space under a tree and sits down. Her eyes search for her mother and spot her giggling away to glory with her bunch of friends. She sighs and continues to watch the people around.

"Hey sitting alone? Care if I join you"

She turns to see a girl in Jeans and t-shirt calling out to her. Certainly inappropriate for the occasion.

"Am Ruby"

"Hi, Am Sumi"

"You certainly don't seem to be liking the people around"

"Nothing like that. Its just that I don't know anyone particularly well. You are a relative of Sweetie"

"Ya... She is my cousin. How about you"

"My mom and her mom are college friends"

"Oh, ok. So, you are studying"

"Yep"

"Where"

"In Japan"

"Cool"

Sumi forces a smile. Not again.

"For starters, I too studied in Japan"

"Oh really. Thats nice"

"And what brought you to India"

"One my love for architecture and two, my parents decided to settle down in India"

Sumi stifles a smile.

"So, you like this place"

"Ya at times I do... at times I want to go back to Japan"

"Why so?"

"I can't understand the system around here. So much of pollution, corruption and things like that. Why I can't even wear those shorts which I am so much used to wearing in Japan as guys glare at you. I have to hold my bag more dearer than my life, least somebody snatch it away. The buses are always crowded to the core especially in the evenings and I have to take an auto back which is quite costly. They never seem to use the meter even though they have one fixed in the auto as though it were some kind of adornment for their auto. Every office asks for an extra 10 to 100 rs to get your file moved through and it takes ages for government offices to pass on the files from one desk to another. I don't understand what are they paid for? And yet life goes on here. It doesn't stop."

Sumi giggles. So much of what used to go in her mind was being told to her. She nods in agreement.

"Well, its just that I have got used or rather I would say adjusted to this system and I am carrying on"
"So what do you do here?"
"Well, primarily am an architect and I travel a lot around India discovering the rich architectural variety that India has to offer. In fact, I will be going to Thanjavur to see the temple there. If you are here for sometime, you can come along with me"
"Oh is it, I would love to. Let me ask my mom ... will you be here for sometime"
"Yup, sure ... Take your time"

Sumi hurries towards to her mom and whispers in her ears. A long discussion follows. They both move towards Ruby.
"Mom, she is Ruby"
Sujatha starts interrogating Ruby (the usual motherly questions) - where will you stay, who are going with and so on.
Manju who is watching the scene from far comes and calms down Sujatha. "Hey you stay in Japan and still you get so much pepped up. Its perfectly fine for Sumi to go with Ruby and by the way guys, Ruby is my to-be-daughter-in-law too. Ruby, Sumi will be your responsibility during the tour."
"Sure mama, she will be perfectly fine"
Sujatha looks confused at Ruby and wonders why she is not in a sari for her cocktail party but doesn't say anything.

2 days later
"Ok bye mom, I am leaving now".
"Ok bye Sumi and take care and please don't drink water from the road side stalls. You will get sick"
When will Mom stop worrying ... "Ok mom"
She gets into the van waiting for her. Ruby is already there. She introduces Sumi to all her colleagues. Sumi gets chit chatting with them and sits back to enjoy the trip.

After sometime
They reach Thanjavur temple and start getting off from the van. A lot of beggars immediately surround them begging for money. Ruby holds Sumi's hand and pulls her away towards the entrance but Sumi keeps on turning and looking out. Sanjay, who had so far been observing Sumi silently comes up from behind and says,

"What happened. Some problem"
"Uh no... these beggars"
"Oh.. thats a common sight in India"
"I know but why are they not given shelter or job by the government"
"Good question, we will write a letter to the PM tomorrow and ask him. Ok?"
"Oh come on Sanjay, don't be so cynical"
"Sumi, even I don't know the answer so this is what I can say"
"My mom also says the same thing and puts me off but can't we do anything for them"
"If your heart goes out to them, then maybe you can join our group"
"What group"
"Me and some of my college friends work in a village school"
"Really. Can I join your group?"
"Ya, of course. Its open to everyone. And maybe you can join us this weekend before you actually decide whether you want to join us or not"
"Okay. Will it take more than a day else I have to ask my mom permission"
"No, we can go in the morning and come back the same day"
"Cool thats perfectly fine"
Sumi remains excited through the trip and Sanjay can't help smiling at her. Ruby is amused by her enthusiasm for a trip to the village school but doesn't say anything.

D-Day arrives ...
"Ok mom, am leaving"
"Ok but are you sure you want to go that Village School. I mean its good but still"
"Don't worry mom. Its just a visit, okay"
"Ok, take care"
Sujatha looks as her daughter happily hops onto the bike. Sanjay doesn't look bad, not a bad choice by my daughter after all.
After an hour of driving, they reach the village school. Its abuzz with the chanter of kids running here and there. Sumi looks at them. They are kids from very poor families, some with torn pants, some with torn shirts but still running about with a huge smile. Sanjay goes and rings the bell and all the kids rush inside the community hall which also serves as the classroom. Sanjay looks at Sumi and tells,

"Would you like to take today's class?"
"Uh... but I didn't prepare anything"
"I guess you must be knowing English alphabets ... the kids won't understand Japanese ones"
"Ha ha.... Ok Will try my best. You will be there to help right?"
"Yup. Sure. My other friends will be here in sometime. They will handle the other classes."
"Ok cool"

The class gets over and the kids rise to wish their teacher. Sumi feels something tugging at her heart. She can't understand what it is. Sanjay knocks on her head and says
"Madam where do you get lost every now and then"
"Nothing. I don't know I am feeling something for the first time"
"Does the something have a name"
"Sanjay, thats why I said its something"
"Ok, you ponder on your something. Want to see the village?"
Sanjay starts walking. Sumi asks
"Not on the bike"
"This is rural India Mam and to know them, you should be at their level, not zooming past them"
"Ok"

She starts following Sanjay. Everywhere its the same thing. No proper brick houses, thatched roofs, ladies blowing through some earthen ware and trying to make fire for cooking food, people in tattered clothes, smell of cow dung, people looking more than a layer of skeletons. Her heart fills with remorse. She clutches Sanjay's hand hard and he pats her back.
"Don't worry, its ok. This is the life here"
"Can we go back. I can't take this any more"
"Hmmm"

2 days pass by ...
"What has happened to you? Why do you look like Paro who has lost her devdas?"
Sujatha is not able to understand the transformation in her daughter. She is quiet as though she has been taken by thunderstorm. Maybe Sanjay said something to her.
"Ok, have your coffee and pack your bags. We are to leave tomorrow night"
"Mom, can I stay back for some more days with Grandpa"
Sujatha is happy that her daughter is probably liking India after all and maybe Sanjay. She smiles back at her and nods her approval. Sumi is taken aback. Her mom never agrees to such things so easily and anyways who cares as long as she can stay for some more time in India and think over Sanjay's Idea.

The other day on their way back, Sanjay and Sumi had stopped at a coffee shop.
"So, did you like it"
"Ya I did but its heart wrenching. All these scenes are unthinkable. I want to do something for them"
"Aah the good samaritan. Probably you can join an organization which works for such people"
"Do you know any?"
"Ya I have a few friends and probably they can arrange it for you. But mind you girl, this is not a reality show where it will end after some time. These are thankless tasks which you will have to do umpteen number of times. Why even your family may not approve of it. So be prepared for the worst. Social work is not so easy as it seems. It requires a lot of patience"
"Ya I know"

A week later ...
"Tring Tring" Sujatha's husband picks up the phone.
"Hey darling, whats up. hows life and hows grandpa and grandma. When are you coming back?"
"Everyone is fine dad and I called up to say something"
"Ya go on"

He puts down the phone with a smile on his face.
"Sujatha, there is some good news. You daughter has decided to become a social worker"
"Whatttttttttt"
"And she has also decided to stay back in India"
Sujatha is shocked ...
"I wish I had allowed her to the Hawaii holiday... This would not have happened then"

"Sujatha all this while you have only imposed your wishes on her. Allow her to do something of her choice at least now. She is no more a kid. I am an Indian and you are an Indian. Allow her also to be an Indian and do her bit for our motherland"

Sujatha is taken aback and looks at her husband while he sits down to watch FIFA...

It takes days and at times years to decide our goal in life. At times, a single incident changes the purpose of our life and we move ahead in pursuit of it. But a majority of us don't even try to know what our goal in life is. We accept life as it is and as it comes. A goal in life is a must. For a mother, it may the upbringing of her kids, for a teacher it maybe the future of her students. A goal however small defines the purpose of our life. To all those people, who have defined their goals in life and are in pursuit of it... "Try, try and you will succeed" and to those who haven't yet discovered it, I hope you will soon.

3 Generations or is it 4?

2010-07-01T01:15:00.000+09:00

The house wore a festive look but Rajadurai looked pensive. He calls out,

"Rajamma, Please see if Rajlakshmi is ready. They will be here soon".

Rajamma moves to Rajlakshmi's room as per her husband's order. Rajlakshmi is still playing with her friends.

"Rajlakshmi Dear, you should get ready else Appa will be angry".

"Please Amma, Can I play for some more time."

Rajamma looks at the 14 year old and smiles to herself. She was just 2 years old when Akka laid her in my arms and went to heavenly abode. And today is her nichayathartham. I have kept the promise I gave to Akka. Her father has chosen the best groom. Akka must be watching from above and admiring her lovely daughter.

"No dear, you should start getting ready, Appa looks really angry".

"Ok, if you say so".

Rajamma starts to lovingly drape her step daughter with the traditional Kanjeevaram saree.

"Amma, this is so heavy. How will I carry this?"

"Dont worry ma, you will learn to carry this very well as there will many more occasions on which you will be wearing such sarees".

She smiles and starts to adorn Rajlakshmi.

"Amma,why do girls have to go to another house when they get married?"

"That is because after marriage, husband's house is their own house".

"Amma, Then does that mean I can never come here".

"Of course dear, you can come but your first and foremost priority should be to look after the needs of your husband's house and make me a proud grandmother soon".

Rajlakshmi blushes.

After 25 years...

Rajlakshmi is talking animatedly to her daughter Sumati. The boy's parents were coming to see her daughter. If they agree then she can soon start the preparations for her daughter's marriage. Her husband calls out to her,

"Rajlakshmi, they have come".

She hurries out to welcome them. After the usual formalities, Rajlakshmi goes inside and escorts her daughter to the living room where everyone is seated. She makes her sit next to the boy's mother. The boy's mother asks her the usual questions. Rajlakshmi looks lovingly at her daughter as she meekly answers them all. The boy's mother and father discuss something and then the boy's father clears his throat. Rajlakshmi silently says a prayer. Her husband looks fervently at the boy's father.

"Sir, we like your daughter. If we have your approval, we can proceed with the other things"

Sumathi's father replies, "Sir, we have no objection. "

The boy's father and Rajlakshmi's husband start discussing about the marriage date. Rajlakshmi silently says a prayer again and exchanges pleasantries with the boy's mother. Sumathi sits transfixed through the entire proceedings. One part of her wants to run away from all this and get back to studying for her B.A. 2nd year exams and the other part of her yearns for the new life which is yet to begin.

After 30 years...

Sumathi is talking to her daughter Sree. She is doing her MBA 2nd year. Sumathi is telling her about a good proposal. Sree replies

"Not now ma, my exams are going on and I am yet to start my career also. I can't even think about marriage now. Please ma, don't disturb me about this marriage stuff now".

Sumathi puts down the phone and looks at her husband and says "Girls these days!!! I didn't even utter a word when my parents fixed my marriage right in front of me. They didn't even ask me"

"Times have changed Sumathi. She is the modern age girl. Let her be. When she wants, we will get her married. You don't worry so much"

After a year..
"But Sree, its a year since you joined the company. What more career do you want to establish"

"Ma, its like a rat race. Its hard to explain to you. Give me some more time I will surely tell you when am ready. As of now, Marriage is a sure no"

After 2 years...
"Sree, you need to decide about your future ma. You should get married. We are also getting old. If we wait for some more time, we wont get a good proposal ma. Already, everyone has started talking ill about you. No ma, you should decide this time"

"Ok, if you say so. Can I talk to Daddy?"

"Ok"

The conversation goes on for a long time as Sumathi watches her husband's face change from astonishment to understanding and a multitude of other expressions in between. Finally he places the phone and says,

"Sumathi, you future son-in-law is coming to meet you in two days"

3 generations with only one common factor, "When will my daughter get married?". With time, naturally the perspective of the mother has changed from informing her wishes to her daughter to asking her opinion and then coming to a decision. Globalization has brought a remarkable change and the woman has grown from being just a housewife and mother to a strong, independent individual with a mind set of her own. She perfectly understands what is right and what is wrong. She understands what she seeks in life. At times though, she is still confused and still looks about for advice. At heart, she still remains the soft and meek person barring whatever facade she may show to the outside world to protect herself from the vagaries of the outside world.

It is time that the society and the world at large understand her and allow her to grow as an individual. Let the world look beyond her marital qualifications and revel in the glory of her academic and personal qualifications. In hope for a better tomorrow for the woman in me...

After 20 years ...

Si packs her bags. She needs to catch the flight to Bombay where she will be setting up her new world. She will be working part-time at McKinFish and studying her art course too. Its time to move out of her protected cocoon into the open world with no support.

"Ok Mom, Its time for me. Am moving and don't worry I will take care of myself. Dad doesn't need to send me money every month now on"

"Ok Honey"

Sree looks on as her daughter races towards her new world.

Times...

2010-06-27T16:07:00.000+09:00

Times are good
Times are bad
Times of happiness
Times of sorrow
Times spent in laughter
Times spent in grumble
Times dipped in love
Times dipped in hatred
Times meant to cling to
Times meant to let free
Times of harmony
Times of unrest

But....
Times written cannot be rewritten

Times gone wrong cannot be made right
Times spent cannot be gained back
Times bygone are bygone

Realize the time at hand

Time doesn't give a second chance, does it?

P.S. Do you remember my artsy craftsy entry for June? Its up for voting now. Please vote for me if you like my entries (Nos.26 -29).Voting closes by 29th June Midnight.

50!!!!!!

2010-06-21T23:47:00.000+09:00

Blogging was never a passion to me. My only indulgence in the world of blogging used to be the blogs of my college friends Sravan and KP. But at no point of time, it struck me that I could also start blogging. Maybe the reason was that I was so much preoccupied with my work that I never thought about anything else other than PL/SQL, Forms and Oracle in general. This year probably God decided to show some mercy on me and decided to bless me with very little work. So, it meant more boredom (because obviously you cannot roam all the time nor watch movies 24X7 or the K-Serials 24X7) and a more grumpy nature. In the midst of all this, Sravan did a post on soul search in 24A. Well, this got me into some sort of a soul search. I was never grumpy in my life, I always knew to smile in the toughest of times (although am short tempered and the temper doesn't last beyond 10 minutes) and certainly I was not one person to sit idle.

So, instigated by all these thoughts, I thought why not start blogging? I setup my blogger account and my very first post came up. Not a very good start but yes I tried to better myself along the way. I started to take part in Blog-a-ton, was dumbstruck by the Blogadda Pick, awards which flowed in from blog friends, never-ending chain of comments, tags and blog contests. A big Thank You to Blog World which accepted me so open heartedly. And today shonawrites proudly celebrates her 50th post.

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

What more could express a blogger's thoughts more beautifully than this poem by Rabindranath Tagore. Truly, Blogging has given me that platform to express my thoughts and opinions in the way I want. My blog is a reflection of me, my thoughts and my actions. It has become that perfect gateway of bliss which I look forward to every day. Is this an addiction or not, I don't know but it has certainly helped me to fight my loneliness and be happy all the time. It has helped me to discover a "New Me". In fact, my colleagues now joke that Shilpa sits in a cloud surrounded by her blogs and remains unaffected by all official matters.

Very true, in fact I found out one of my colleague wants to blog too and we have a really good discussion on blogs, politics, books and everything under the sun. I guess its always easier for like minded people to talk. The same holds good for my blog friends. People whom I have never met but leave their love and warmth on my every post, People who have encouraged me all through these 49 posts and People whom I will remember all through my life. So, here is presenting my Toonbook of all these lovely people who have left their imprint on my blog life as well as my real life.

I would especially like to thank Anu, Uma and Swaram who have been really very sweet and encouraging right from my very early posts. It was through their blogs that I started to connect with the rest of the blog world. Thanks a lot ladies :)

There have been a lot of people whose blogs I love to read:
1. Mohan : Blogs on a plethora of topics
2. Shruti : Holds the amazing Artsy-Craftsy contest month after month
3. Pree : Her blog is a pandora's box of house decor and truly yummy delicious recipes.
4. Pixie, Smitha, Pal : All of them write straight from the heart - simple and sweet posts
5. Tavish : Read his fiction and know him better.

Also presenting to you two important people who are the pillars for this blog. Goondi No.1. What would I do without you girl! K has been my right, left, center and all possible directions hand. Low times she is there, High times she is there, Every time she is there. :D Poor thing gets tortured by me all the time. She has to read my posts (whether she likes it or not), review it, make corrections and tell her opinion. Sometimes she sincerely does it but mostly she always has a clever way to tell no to me :D. However, she is my PRO and she is doing a good job of advertising my blog in her circle :D.

Make way, Make way for Goonda No.1. Big B has been a very dear friend for the past 10 years who sincerely makes a con call for every festival/birthday to all our classmates and we have a ball of time giggling away to glory. Even though he is a really really very very sincere sincere student, he always finds time to read my posts and comment (According to him in a recent con call he told he doesn't comment unless and until the post inspires him to). So, I consider myself lucky if I get a comment from him in my posts.

So, Goondi No.1 and Goonda No.1, heres to our friendship.

"Ye dosti hum nahi todenge, Chodenge dam magar tera saath na chodenge" :D :D. Ye fevicol ka jod hai thootega nahi!!!!

Last but not the least, Daddy this is for you:

Words of wisdom, you taught me

Good and Bad, you guided me

Strength, I imbibed from you

Independence, I gained from you

Tough times, you held my hand

Good times, you let me enjoy it

Bad health, you looked upon me every hour

Good health, you made me gorge like a demon

Education, you gave me all

Life Partner, you left it to my choice

You look upon me for advice

But I am still the small kid who may stumble and fall!!

Be always by my side Daddy!!!

Now, moving away from the sentimental things, to some lovely awards that my blog friends have passed on:

Thanks Priya

Thanks LEB

These awards are duly passed on to every single person mentioned in this post.

And do you remember the "Cool couple contest". I finally decided to announce the winners. And the winners are:

1. Comfy says

"The song I would sing: Kuch is tarah teri palkein.. because well the song says it allhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQDv25a8i7Y

He would probably sing: She is always a women to me.. because women confound him because how quickly and often we change and I am all of that..but through it all I am his woman to him and he loves me just like that..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkfkJCyqCBc"

2. Priya says

For me... there are a lot of favorites but 2 songs that immediately come to mind are
Aisa sama from Zameen Aasmaan
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFilS1RHBZQ]
Kishore Kumar's Aise na mujhe tum dekho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7uD2BKOcIU

Comfy and Priya heres your "Cool Couple" award.

P.S. I have already mailed you all the toon picture. So, please go ahead and display them in your blog. A token of love and appreciation from me to you.

Block me!

2010-06-20T22:15:00.000+09:00

Artsy-Craftsy is again round the corner and I cannot be far behind right!!!So, here we go, this month's theme being block printing.

I had some ready made blocks at disposal which look something like below:

Source: www.stampinred.com/stampinred/gifts/

This picture was made 2 years back with the help of ready made blocks and maroon stamp inks on white craft paper. I did have this framed and it does make a great wall hanging.

Basically, these ready made blocks can be used to stamp onto anything of your choice. So, I made this bookmark with the same block used in above painting and some satin ribbons to adorn the corners. Simple isn't it?

Since, I was on a stamping spree, I didn't stop there. I stamped these on the thin cloth covers usually used to cover handbags. And these came out as good candidates for table covers.

And the final ones in the stamping arena. A card and a bookmark and if you are wondering you have seen that dove somewhere. Yes, you have. Its the dove on the "Dove" soap and don't worry the black stamp ink can be easily washed off the soap. So, I stamped and smudged the whole paper with a tissue paper.

Play time over ... lets get back to work :D

Aplish - 2

2010-06-19T17:27:00.000+09:00

Forgive me Lord for I am ignorant!

2010-06-15T23:32:00.000+09:00

Dear Lord,

Forgive me Lord for I am ignorant

Forgive me Lord for

I don't understand the craze behind cricket

I don't understand how people can watch the same ball being bowled again and again and the only excitement is when there are 4's and 6's

I don't understand why people bite their nails when their favorite team needs 4 runs from the last ball in the last over to win the match. I would do that only when watching a horror movie

Forgive me Lord for

I don't understand why people refresh their browsers and exchange cricket scores more frequently than replies to official mails

I don't understand why my friends get up at 5 in the morning to watch a match and seeing my ping only reply "Watching match"

I don't even know what is that which keeps up my colleagues at 3am in the night to watch cricket

I don't understand the huge crowds outside TV showrooms with people in a frenzy when an important player has been bowled out

Forgive me Lord for

I don't understand the difference between a test series, a one day match and all other series. For me, they are just various names of cricket matches

I don't even know what is off side, clean bowl, spin bowler and all the other phrases which sound greek and latin to me

Forgive me Lord for

The FIFA fever has not caught unto me

I don't know the thrill or happiness you get on seeing a 1.5 hour match with people crazily running around a ball knocking people down and injuring some in the process too

I don't know even know a football player except for Maradona and thats because he is a legend in himself

Forgive me Lord for

I feel like an alien from Zoombie land

I am so very ignorant and may continue to be so

But I have only one wish, Please don't make me so much ignorant in my next birth :).

Regards,

Your faithful follower.

I ...

2010-06-13T01:57:00.000+09:00

I am an individual.
I am the way I am.

They say I denotes egoism.
They don't realize that I is also for individuality.

They say I am always happy.
They don't see my stifled tears.

They say I should watch my step.
They don't see that life has taught its lessons to me.

They say I should be mature.
They don't see the kid in me wanting to break free.

They glorify amusement parks.
They turn blind to my love for nature.

They say I don't understand the present.
They fail to understand that my actions are an outcome of my far sight.

They say I am peculiar.
They fail to see that they are peculiar somewhere else.

They say a lot, They fail to understand more.
Times may come, Times may go.
Its I standing testimony to time.
Its I against whom the tides of time lash at and erode me slowly.
Its I who will withstand the onslaughts and move from strength to strength.
Its I who is responsible for my actions and they can never replace I.

Sing - a - long

2010-06-11T00:49:00.001+09:00

While everyone has been busy with the "Na Blo Po Mo", the "Red Marker Marathon" and many of the blog world contests.... I too have been busy.... Not with blogging or work but rather with parties. Now if you are wondering why so many parties, then here it goes:

Reason No. 1: New member in the team and so we had a welcome party
Reason No. 2: We had a team lunch courtesy the Business Manager
Reason No. 3: We had a project party also

Reason No. 4: Our team seems to be hooked onto the month of June with the maximum number of birthdays in this month (This includes 2 small kids and 4 big kids). We have already had two parties in a row. This is not to forget the cake cutting party at 0:00 hours.

Reason No. 5: I went shopping and had a party for myself.

Reason No. 6: I have been hopping around my colleague's home and have been having a ball of time with my colleague's daughter. Well, thats a party of sorts as the smile and happiness on her face is priceless :).

In short, in 11 days, I have had 5 parties, 1 midnight cake cutting session, 1 lunch outside home, 1 party by myself and I expect a lot more in the coming days... :D :D .. Phew!!!!!

So, it was party time yesterday also and the birthday boy/man who is also the best singer amongst us was asked to sing a song for his wife. Even after 10 years of knowing each other, wife dear always blushes to the core :D. This was the song sung by the birthday boy for his wife.

And the wife sung this in return (all blushing and smiling again :D)

And we didn't stop at that, we made all the couples sing for each other :). This is what the only Tamil couple sung for each other.

By the husband (At the end, wife was so happy as this was the first time that he had sung a song for her):

By the wife:

So, I thought why not make my blog friends also do the same. So, let the emotions in you flow. Which song you would sing for your better half and which song do you think your better half would sing for you? If you are single, imaginary better half's are accepted :D. Let loose your imagination and the coolest pair of songs will receive this sweet cartoon from me :)

Aplish - Release 1

2010-06-08T00:29:00.000+09:00

Aplish

P.S. Aplish will be a weekly cartoon comics which will give you an insight of the funny/stupid incidents in my day-to-day life. In general, it will be a potpourri of many things. I hope you will enjoy it :)

The "Baap" of IV's - Bhongir (Part - 3) - Last and Final Part

2010-06-05T18:09:00.000+09:00

Walk down the memory aisle with Bhongir part 1 and part 2. Thank you all for your lovely comments. My friends have been reading them and have been overjoyed at the response from the blog world :) :)

And so, we all set out from Bhongir to Hyderabad, carrying along some sweet memories (I guess you must have got the proof by now). We were cramped into a jeep along with our professors, instruments and luggage. Now, this prof of ours to keep us entertained was telling us jokes which only the guys could laugh at and girls had to look east, west, south and north with a sheepish smile and think "When will this journey end!!!". Added to his, KP had a bad back ache which the cramped jeep was not helping in any way. We were also not able to do anything and were watching her with sad eyes. The only thing we could do was to wait until we reached Hyderabad and pounce on T, our class rep. You cant expect 19 people cramped up with no movement space along with luggage and other stuff to be quiet also right?

Anyways, T got left and right from me and KP and then we let him go with a warning. Then, we all started towards the rooms allocated to us in the hostel at Uppal. Definitely much better than the tents, but somehow we had started to miss the tent life. It was almost evening by that time, so we refreshed and spent the rest of the evening playing shuttle. Initially when K had carried the shuttle rackets, Captain and many of the guys had kept on her scolding her for bringing additional luggage. Later on, with nothing to do in the evenings in the camp as well as at Uppal, we all ended up playing shuttle almost everyday. So, that extra luggage had been a blessing in disguise. So, when we traveled to Hyderabad and then to Chennai also, the shuttle rackets were treated with utmost reverence.

The initial two days went off with some training programs and visits to some survey institutes. We looked like a bunch of information hungry kids trying to gobble up as much information as possible. We also got to see some live satellite data recording although the data and the process was greek and latin to us. The only exceptionally intelligent geeks like Y, V, B, Sab and T were asking questions while the rest of us tried or atleast showed that we were trying to understand every word told by the instructor in those institutes.

One particular institute we visited was quite far away from the main road from where we could get a share auto to Uppal. Not knowing how to reach the main road, all of us started to walk. After sometime a tractor came along, and all the guys asked the tractorwala for a hike to the main road. The guy readily agreed and so as you can see below, a bunch of smiling faces riding away to glory in our brand new Mercedes.

The last two days of the trip, we were left to ourselves. The professors relaxed in their rooms, while we went about roaming. It was Birla temple, Hussain Sagar Lake, Koti and of course, Charminar. Now, B has always the weirdest of ideas (Some things can be really weird). So, this time his weird idea was to dress similarly. Although skeptical at first, we all agreed to it and went about shopping for it. As you very well know, guys cannot shop much so the very first dress shop which had some nice jibbas on display was attacked. We entered, we selected, we bargained and finalized on 12 pieces of a particular Jibba. The guy went to his godown and nearby shops to gather exactly similar 12 pieces of the "Jibba". We did get the 12 jibbas but with a slight color variation. So, the next day was decided to be the inaugural day of our lovely and pretty "Jibbas". Every filmy family has a family song or a tattoo to identify their kid if the kid had got lost in "Khumb ka Mela" but we had the "Jibba" to identify the entire batch :). What a family!

I know I know, you must be all laughing on seeing the above pics but thats what we looked like - A bunch of crazy people. Wherever we went we got stares, giggles, funny smiles but nonetheless we wore them through the day. Now, for the scoop, our professor on seeing the jibbas, went to the same shop, told the guy that he had sent the 12 people the previous day to buy the Jibbas and got a cool 20% discount. Really smart uh!

After all this circus, it was time to catch the train to Chennai. We came back well in advance, packed our things, cleaned up the room and were about to leave (or so we thought). The guys brought in some share autos to take us to the Secunderabad station. We had almost reached the gate, when the guard locked the door and didn't allow the autos to proceed further. We all were confused. The guys and professors got down and tried to reason with the staff. Their claim was that one of us had broken one of the buckets in the hostel. We knew that this was just a means to take some money from us as we all had buckets with us and certainly, it needed a lot of extra effort to break one of those iron buckets. We argued, tried to reason but to no avail. Moreover, it was getting late and we had just an hour to reach the station. Finally the professors and guys got frustrated and gave the guy/staff Rs.100 after which he let us go (So much drama for money!!). More than the money, what we felt bad was this staff belonged to an institute which we all idolized as students and we had certainly never expected such a thing to happen over there.

With 45 minutes left, the share autos started towards the destination. Well by now as you will also be knowing the autowalas also had to be appeased with promise for extra money for the waiting time. 5 minutes, the autos were moving smoothly, 10 minutes, the autos had to slow down a bit and 15 minutes later, there lay ahead of us a huge traffic jam. Another 10 minutes went by and we were left with only 20 minutes to reach the station to catch the train. The station was a good 15 minutes walk from there and that too if we walked fast. All of us took one bag each and started to run. The guys formed a queue for as long as they could form and went on passing the other things. Gasping, panting and numb on the legs (at least me), we reached the station. 5 more minutes were left but all the boys had not come yet and then came Indian Railways to our rescue. "Hamesha Aapke Saath!!!" should be their slogan. The train was another 10 minutes late (Big Relief!!!). The missing guys had come by that time and we heaved a sigh of relief :D. Thereafter it was a smooth affair, no more such incidents (Thankfully!!!)

Well, if you are admiring the guys of my class, yes they are really praise worthy. Our IT career teaches us about team work, but these guys are really a team without even having to tell them. Emotions and friendship is what has really bound us all and kept us together over the years. But then boys will be boys and are not without their quota of hilarious stories.

"Sight Adhichifying" would be a degrading term. The guys of my class call it "Admiring beauty" and thats what they did on the train to Chennai too. Mr. 3 Clap M and Mr. Tall R (who thought of himself as Mr.Chennai) first took a survey of the train. First towards the right from where they returned empty handed and then to the left. Left side they hit the jackpot as there were two sweet girls in the next few seats itself. They talked to them, made friends and those girls even came and played cards with us and our guys were on "Cloud No.9"/* Click on the picture below to listen to it */. The goody goody faces of the guys at that moment was a sight to see. I never understood what pleasure guys got in talking to girls. Realized it very much later.

One of them Su was even more bolder. This was while we were roaming around in Hyderabad maybe around Charminar or Koti in the evening. This was a typical Muslim area with girls in burkha roaming around with their kid brothers. Su stopped each kid coming in our way and asked "Do you have a sister?". After 5-6 kids, we literally dragged him away from that place least we all got beaten up :). But besides these basic "guy" qualities, they are all GEMS :).

This brings us to an end of this three series nostalgic post on our trip to Bhongir. It was fun reminiscing those 10 wonderful days. I couldn't post many incidents least this series became boring. Maybe I will post a cartoon series on those incidents in the near future :). And as I always say, "Friends are the best, Nothing to beat them!!!". This trip and many more which we had during our college times brought us all together and bound us all. "Ye Fevicol ka mazbood jodh hai... Tutega nahi!!!" :) . Would love to go back to college and re-live that time.

P.S. "Sight Adhichifying" is "Line Maarna" in Hindi.

GEM is Ginger Eating Monkey and not the real GEM :P

Travel with me...

2010-06-01T00:53:00.001+09:00

Travelling to me in India was no more than the Industrial visits/tours that I got to attend in college covering a few parts of South India. Japan brought out that traveler in me who enjoys nature in its purest form. Traveling around I realized some of these were places I had read about in my History and Geography classes. The emotions that open up when you actually see those places in reality cannot be described. My travel tales around Japan show casing some well known and some not-so-known places.

I also thought what you thought, "What is so special about this building in ruins that onlookers were so curious about?". Little did I realize, that the Nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima had exploded almost over this building. This is the A-Dome/Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan. Although, the city has technologically advanced to great heights but that single incident of 1945 nearly wiped out humanity from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The museum beyond this building houses many artifacts related to the explosion including videos which are quite depressing. It also makes you feel as though "Man is his own enemy".

A smile came on my face when I saw this natural structure at Udo Shrine, Miyazaki. This is probably a shape which just cannot escape your eyes. It looked as though it was telling me "Come on, Hop onto me and we shall go on a long drive". In actual, this place is famous for the shrine but more than the shrine, this was what held my fascination for long.

What would you do if you ever had to stand on an active volcano and it erupted right at that moment. Thank God that nothing like that happened but standing on Sakurajima (An active volcano in Japan) on that day, the only thought which crossed my mind was "When will we leave this place, I am scared!!!"

A very serene place, isn't it? There is nothing marvelous about this building, most of the Japanese buildings have the same structure but what struck me was the serenity this place eluded. This is the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. A golden beauty surrounded by lush greenery. The top two stories of this Buddhist temple are covered by pure gold leaf and this temple houses the relics of Buddha (Buddha's Ashes). A perfect resting place for the preacher of peace.

Last but not the least, who would not smile on receiving a bunch of flowers/bouquet or even a single rose. This colorful beauty can make any day of yours more livelier and more cheerful. This is what compels me to visit this beautiful garden (Nokonoshima Island) year after year in Fukuoka.

This is my entry for BlogAdda's Travel Photo Contest and something from Pringoo which I can use in my blog would be the below one.

The "Baap" of IV's - Bhongir (Part - 2)

2010-05-29T17:44:00.049+09:00

If you haven't read Part-1, you can read it here: The "Baap" of IV's - Bhongir (Part - 1)

Day2 started as usual, getting up early with a bath in the cold water in an even more cold morning in January and a rush to have some hot hot coffee. This was bliss. A hurried up breakfast, and we were ready to move off to our respective survey points again, ours being Bhongir Fort. This is a really huge stone hill and the fort at the top which is in ruins.

Bhongir Fort: Source Wikipedia

I was really gasping by the time we reached the top although I was not even carrying any of the instrument boxes, courtesy the boys again. Anyways, we set up the survey instruments. Our instructor gave us instructions and we did the work in turns. Well, we took readings only once and the rest was done by B. B was the sincere learner of our batch. Each and every topic was diagnosed and analyzed to the core. Each and every book in BCL (British Council Library) was turned inside out to empower his knowledge. So, for exams, we didn't have to bother much. Just one hour before exam, B would give his discourse on the subject and that was good enough for us to write the exam.

So, when we were done, we left B and the instructor to discuss and write a virtual book on surveying. We went about discovering the ruins and the moat behind. When we came back, B and the instructor were finished with writing the first chapter of the book on surveying. The instructor seeing that we were not as much enlightened people as B, started to tell some interesting stories about the Bhongir Fort, like it was built by the Chalukya ruler Vikram-Aditya and how it served as a formidable fortress in those days. What particularly interested us and especially the guys was the "hidden treasure" still believed to be hidden in the fort.

Surveying and readings were forgotten, including by B, and the boys started to search for hollow places. They went on banging on each and every stone and were very excited whenever they encountered a hollow one. They even started engraving their names on those places so that it can be reserved in their name if ever the treasure was unearthed. So, much for a treasure. Sigh!

Finally, after a lot of treasure hunting, the guys realized that they were not going to find it, and it was time to return back to the camp. Had a yummy lunch and waited for the rest of the group to join us and lazed around in the camp. We had another class by the surveyor-in-charge and it was decided to have night observation that day.

Now, post dinner there was a discussion, as to who would carry the target to the hill top nearby so that the rest of the group could do the night observation. As such, many were not willing to go there, as we would have to be awake till 11 for the night observation, as well as an extra half an hour to come down. The guys didn't want to lose that 1/2 an hour of blissful sleep and maybe they were scared too:). Anyways, after a heated discussion, three brave people volunteered to go to the hill top. A torch was to be used as the signalling mechanism. If the torch was put on and off 1 time, then it meant that we were observing. If the torch was put on and off 3 times, then it meant that they could come back and so on.

So, R, K and Captain went to the hill top to set up the target while the rest of the group waited for them. While waiting for the three musketeers to set up the target, we got talking with the instructor again and he was again on his spree to tell us stories. When he had gone to survey in a forest, it seems the group he was in had lost its way in the night. They suddenly spotted somebody with a lantern moving in a particular direction and decided to follow it. After a few mins, the person vanished right in front of them. They all didn't know what to do and stood transfixed. No one slept that day and they kept awake till the morning.

By the time, the story was completed some of us were perspiring and looking at each. The place from where we were observing was right opposite to a burial ground (eeks!!!). Our instructor was continuing his ghostly encounters. It seems at many times, our instructor (T sir) had heard anklet sounds and seen some moving figures on a full moon day. Fear filled us. Our gaze went up to the white round thing which was looking in all its glory at us, yes today was also a full moon day. I was getting uneasy. My subconscious mind wanted to dispel the fear but I couldn't. Through the corner of my eye, I saw something wavy, something moving. I caught K's hand and stood grounded. We started looking at each other to see if the person next to us was our friend or Mr/Ms Ghost.

All this while, B and V oblivious to the ghost stories surrounding them, were sincerely setting up the instrument for the observation. We were more than happy when the observations were done and we signaled to the guys to come back. We waited for 1/2 an hour for them to come back but there was no sign of them. It was time to sleep and we girls went to our tent. Somehow the chillness outside and added to it the eerie silence of the camp was making me restless. I lay down and tried to sleep but couldn't. I kept hearing some tinkling sounds like those of anklets. I closed my ears and tried to sleep. I must have drifted off to sleep when something fell on me. I got up sweating and heart beating aloud. I wanted to shout but it looked as though I had suddenly become dumb. I fumbled for the torch in the dark and finding it, put it on. Holy gosh, it was only V's leg on me. V had the habit of putting her legs on whoever slept near to her. Least did she know that she gave me a mild heart attack that day. God, bless my weak heart, I can be so scared at times for stupid things.

So, next day got up with a severe head ache having lost my sleep to Ghostji. And if you are wondering, if those guys came back or not the previous night, they did. They had dozed off in the hill top for a good 2-3 hours after having gulped down many bananas while we were taking the observations. Finally, when they did get up, they realized it was late and came back by themselves. Some people can sleep anywhere and everywhere, good for them. I just can't, not even in a bus, train or for that matter a flight also.

Day 3 happened to be Sunday and a special menu was decided for the lunch. So, a group of 5 went to the local vegetable market to get the stuff. Most of the vegetables were on display and did not require them to unleash their Telugu skills. However, onions were not on display anywhere. This group of five people searched the entire market for onions but couldn't find any. V kept asking for "Vengaiyalu" at each shop but the shopkeepers couldn't understand. It was later on we came to know, there was no word as "Vengaiyalu". She had added Vengaiyam in Tamil + lu to form this word claiming this was how Telugu words were formed. Captain was in the most foul mood and was giving all the "so-called" "well versed" Telugu speakers, the choicest of words left and right. Luckily for them, K spotted a hand cart with onions. in the nick of time and saved them all from Captain's wrath.

Day 4, we got up refreshed. T Sir decided to move us to different locations and the survey points of all the groups was changed. This time we went to a nearby hill top. This was the most scary climb of all, at least for me. The rest of the climb is ok but when we reach the survey point, it is a single stone with a 90 degree inclination and you need to be a Spiderwoman with a web to climb that. Anyways, I was literally pushed up the stone and the survey started. While B and T Sir went about writing the second chapter of Surveying, the rest of the group played cards.

Day 5 was the final day of our survey and we were given the entire day to make our charts and complete the calculations. B, Me, V, K and some of us were very sincerely doing the work while some slept and the rest went for a walk. It seemed to be a never ending process. We calculated, re-calculated and by dinner, we were done. We showed this to T Sir who said the the calculation was wrong and have to re-do it. We felt a bit sad but still sat down again not knowing if we could sleep that night. 11pm turned to 3 am but we were still doing the calculations. It was shivering cold outside but that did not deter us. We went on and on trying to match the calculations. Around 5 am, Captain woke up the cook and got some black coffee made for us. That totally washed down our sleep and we continued. It must have been around 9 am when we finally completed the calculations. It took us 24 hours to do this entire task and we had not once slept in between. Anyways, after that we caught a few winks of sleep while the rest of the group copied the results (as always).

It was also our last day at Bhongir and we were to bid farewell to this place where we had some awesome time for the past 5 days. It is 8 years since this camp took place but the memories are still afresh. We all now reside on various points on the globe but these are memories which will we carry all through our life. No wonder, when K suggested this topic, I just couldn't resist.

Now K from hamara bharat desh and B from Germany are putting in their brains to work too for this post. It may seem am exaggerating but I can't help but saying "I have the best friends in the world". They are friends with whom I may not talk for months together but will be the first ones to be by my side in my most troubled moments, friends with whom I can giggle and just be myself and not the matured person I pretend to be, friends to whom I don't have to say "Please come" but rather "Are you going to come or not... else am going to send my goons to parcel you to India", friends with whom I can talk and talk for hours together and when the conference call ends, its just "Why did the call end?". Three unknown people, brought up in different environments met each other and there blossomed a lifelong friendship. K and B have been an integral part of my life since college and my best buddies till date. I have met many people, have made a lot of friends but no one can take the place of K and B in my life. Thank you guys for everything :).

Final part to be continued in next post showcasing our Jibba story and the final run to catch the train.

The "Baap" of IV's - Bhongir (Part - 1)

2010-05-27T00:30:00.000+09:00

IV's or Industrial Visits during college times were more for fun and less for education. Our curriculum required us to take a survey camp compulsorily in our 3rd year of study. Whether forced or enforced, this was truly a time for us to rejoice as it was 10 days of real fun away from the confines of our college and classroom. Not that we didn't like our classrooms or college. You won't rather when professors hardly come to take class and you are on own most of the time. No wonder our branch was known in college as the most cool branch and had the maximum number of IV's to its credit (Atleast we did something useful other than studying :)).

So, it was a group of 19 students and a couple of professors who were bid goodbye by a small group of parents on a rather sultry day in January from Chennai Central.

The train moved on, we sang, pulled each other's legs and had the usual fun college going students have. We had the dinner we had brought along. I started to feign sleep by 11 pm and told everyone that I wanted to sleep. Well I didn't want to sleep actually because it was my birthday the next day and I knew a cake was eagerly waiting for me to cut it. But I didn't want to spoil the surprise my friends had planned. So, with my eyes tightly shut, I tried to show off that I was in a deep sleep least no one suspect.

Just a few minutes before 12, people tried to wake me up but I didn't budge. K moved me, B called out my name in my ears but to no avail. Slowly after many efforts, I got up, I yawned, stretched out my hands as though woken up from a deep slumber and then seemed pleasantly pleased and surprised at the cake in front of me. My dear classmates till date don't know that I was awake all the while... Don't you think I could be a good actor???. For the first time in my life, I cut my birthday cake in a moving train.

Cakes and sweets done, we all went off to sleep finally (this time in reality) unaware of what lay ahead of us at the camp. Morning we were woken up by the captain. Let me introduce Captain before I proceed. Captain comes from a family wherein the entire family is dedicated to serving the nation (Police/Army). No wonder now he is in the Navy himself. So before I say anything about him, I have to say the customary salute to him as we always do in our friends circle. So, with full reverence, I say aloud "Salute Captain".

Now, Captain in college time was the taskmaster. He was the one who managed each and every IV beautifully. Every single detail from booking the bus, booking tickets, accommodation to food, sightseeing, used to be taken care by him. So, while we coolly boarded the bus/train to the destination, he did all the running around. Mind you, he enjoyed every bit of it. However, if we ever happened to get in his way/do something that we shouldn't have done we got to hear the choicest of words, otherwise known as gaali in Hindi. Girls were spared up to 40% while guys were spared 0%. This tour too without exception, Captain managed everything along with T (T being the class rep at that time). A cook from the college mess was arranged to cook for the 6 days of the camp (the remaining four days were to be spent in Secunderabad). Groceries and all other supplies, including cooking also was successfully managed by the Captain without a glitch.

Coming back to the present, we woke up and by the time we could come to our senses, one of our rather "high profile" professor announced we should get down at the coming station and catch the local train to Bhongir (the destination for the Survey Camp) and then, there was mayhem. We had brought along many types of survey equipment for the 19 of us to be used in the camp and these equipment weighed a tonne literally. Have you seen these queer looking instruments by the roadside with people looking into them trying to detect a target.

We had similar ones. Captain took charge, all the instruments were brought near the door. Girls were advised to carry their bags and leave the rest, the guys would take care as the stop was short at this particular station. So, out jumped the girls followed by the guys forming a chain to pass on the stuff. (At that time, I really thanked God that I didn't have to pass/carry those heavy stuff around).

Now, our same great professor told that we would have to go to another platform to catch the local train to Bhongir. This prof came year after year to the Camp and was well acquainted with the place and the route. So, with all bag and baggage and of course the instruments we moved to the one as directed by our Prof. We waited for another 1/2 an hour there. Finally, they announced the platform number and yes, you guessed it right "We were at the wrong platform". You can't trust Indian Railways to allow the train to arrive at the same platform year after year right. So, it was run, run again.

I was literally dragged to the other platform in spite of my legs not helping me in anyway and was almost out of breath by the time I reached the train door. I sat down in the train and came to normal while the guys were again loading the instruments into the train.

Finally after an hour of travel, we reached Bhongir. We got down, flagged down some share autos and reached the survey camp without much ado. The survey camp is set over a large area with no buildings and has only tents as the living quarters. The guys (13 of them) were showed one big tent and the girls (6 of us) were showed another smaller version.

We were told the bathroom was on the backside of the tent and the toilets were outside. The toilets were one big piece of cloth wrapped around 4 poles in rectangular shape and with a khula aasmaan on the top and khula gadda on the vertically opposite side. This is the girls toilet, for guys, I hope you will understand. They don't need one right. With a lot of skepticism and not being used to such a environment, we tried to settle down. There was only one bulb in the tent and the floor had been layered with clay to even up the space. We chose our corners and put away our stuff and got ready for the day. The water had to be fetched from the tap a little away from the tent. So, we got our buckets and started to get ready for the day one-by-one. However, the guys had to take bath under the tap itself (no special treatment for them :)).

The cook had by then setup the kitchen and vegetables and other things had been procured from the nearby market. So, we got to have our lunch too. Post lunch, we were given a short briefing by the surveyor-in-charge about the plans for the rest of the 5 days. We were then divided into four groups and dispatched along with four instructors/surveyors to start our tasks. So, we marched to the surrounding hill tops (including the bhongir fort) to start the survey work.

Day 1 passed off without much problems. We called up our parents in the evening from the local STD booth (those were times when we didn't have cellphones). The surveyor-in-charge. also took a class for us (Night time post dinner and class.... yawn!!!). We had some fun around the bonfire and winded up soon as it got chilly. Sleeping on the clay layered floor and added to it the chilly weather inside and outside of the tent, sleep eluded most of us :( but maybe the tiredness got the better of us and finally all of us drifted off to sleep unaware that we would be meeting a ghost the next day ...
To be continued ...

P.S. "Nee illai endral vaazhkaiyil illai vaanavillay.. Un mugam parthu sooriyan sirithu ezhunthathinggay…." This was a popular tamil song at that time from the movie Dheena.

The Indian Touch to Fukuoka

2010-05-24T18:28:00.001+09:00

On a lazy Sunday morning, I got up wishing I could get some bed coffee/tea/breakfast/lunch without moving my lazy bones. Well, if it was home I would have got it almost but then when you stay alone you can't have the luxury of such things. So, how would my reactions be if I was granted this particular wish. Excited, elated and contended. Thats what exactly happened. We had a barbecue party yesterday and there was chicken still remaining. Not intending to waste it, the bachelors had requested R to make some chicken curry for them. And so all of us got to eat yummy chicken curry without moving an inch of our lazy bones all courtesy our super chef R.

R is not only a superb chef, she is an artist too, the "chupa rustum" type because even two months back, we didn't know she could paint so well. And one fine day, I see this beautiful painting, rather a mithila artwork on her orkut album. It was really a shock as well as a sweet surprise. Believe it or not, not just me all the guys were also dumbfounded by this. Her culinary skills were well known among us but this was something we had never expected.

In the below picture, she has captured the spirit of the traditional Butter churning process. So much of intricate details and colors. She takes about 18 hours to complete each painting.When you put so much of effort, the outcome is naturally beautiful :)

These are a set of six table mats made on green paper on which she has painted motifs of ladies depicting various emotions. These are complimented by a mehendi design below each of them.

Now comes the icing on the cake. She also teaches Indian traditions, painting, basics of Hindi and cooking to the Japanese over here. Japanese people love Indian curry which speaks for the abundance of Indian restaurants. Of course, except for a few which offer authentic Indian food, the rest are Indo-Nepali restaurants which have made Indian food look as though there is nothing beyond naan, palak curry and chicken curry. A look at one of her classes which she conducts 2-3 times in a month. Its sure is a lovely way to tell about our country.

We grow up intending to be doctors, engineers, business analysts, and so on. Sometimes, its also the circumstances which decides our profession. However, its inherent talent which prevails over all this and brings out the best in us. It also gives us that immense sense of satisfaction and pleasure which a high profile and high paying job can never give us. R has found this love and satisfaction in her paintings. So, heres wishing her a lot of luck. May she make more and more lovely mithila paintings and bring more talents of her to the fore.

Do you still watch Cartoons?

2010-05-23T16:22:00.001+09:00

"Do you still watch cartoons?" Go Ahead and let me know.... :)

My answer would be a definite "YES". An age can never be defined to watch a cartoon. Any time of the day and irrespective of whether am in a good or a bad mood.... I could always watch one. Can you ever forget "Jungle book.... Jungle Jungle baat chali hai pata chala hai......." ? Now that you are grown up, have seen the world around you but still if this music plays won't it attract you to the TV/Computer wherever it might be playing. I made this small video combining some of the youtube videos to relive our childhood memories. Hope you enjoy it.

All of us have an inherent kid in us. As time goes by and with age, we do tend to act or be mature. But once in a while, don't you want to leave all that grown up stuff behind and behave like a kid. Let your hair down, jump about crazy, watch all those old-time cartoons and the more recent animation movies like "Kung - Fu Panda" and "Ice Age". Can you forget Uncle scrooge and Donald duck, Mickey mouse and Goofy, Glo friends, He Man (I have the power), My little pony and all those cute cartoons which made your childhood so very colourful. I enjoy watching a cartoon as much as I enjoy watching a good Hindi/English movie. It uplifts my spirits when I am down and yes of course, keeps the kid in me alive. I never want that kid in me to die.

P.S. You may be wondering why all of a sudden I am telling all this. This stems from an argument/discussion that I had with my colleague A that Colleague B likes watching cartoons all the time and its not correct or rather a wrong thing to do at this age. Considering all of us are 25+, this might sound absurd to some but is there anything wrong. I couldn't find anything wrong as I am myself a cartoon lover but not an addict. If colleague B likes to watch cartoons only... so be it.... he is following his heart... which most of us forget to do as we grow older.

Christmas Party

2010-05-21T00:45:00.001+09:00

December 14, 2009 - December 19, 2009

Let me start planning for the Christmas party. I have hardly any time left. Let me first list down all names. 22 people in total + 5 kids. Mostly vegetarian and some are non-vegetarian also. So, have to keep both the dishes. (After some googling, some of the dishes are decided. A list is made of the things required.) And all these days, I think of nothing else but the party (Am under deep pressure) :(

December 20, 2009

I am trying to unwrap the Christmas tree and set it up but it refuses to transform into a tree. I call for help but to no use. I am snipping here and there thinking that the branches are tied to the trunk of the tree and only the leaves of the tree are coming in my hand. Hmmm, this thing should be having a simpler way to setup. I will try bending the branches to make it look like a tree for the time being and lo and behold, thats all I needed to do.Tree is decorated fully .... the serial lights are laid over it and doesn't she look a beauty :).

Ain't I cute ?

So, now since the tree is done, I will go and get the groceries. R has promised to accompany me. Good, else I will be buried under the weight of all the stuff. :D

So, R and I leave for grocery shopping. First attack is on the 100 yen shop for disposable plates, cups, bowls etc etc and I also pick up some home decoration stuff to decorate the home. R is the best person to do shopping with ... doesn't mumble/grumble and helps you in picking up stuff you need. He has patience to the core and the girl who marries him.... Wow... wont she have a superb time... a husband who doesn't complain while shopping. :D. And yes, we got Santa's dress too.

Next attack is on the vegetable market in the same building but in the ground floor. All vegetables are picked up as per the list. A final look at the list. Everything has been bought except for puree and some minor stuff. Anyways, we have 8 covers already in hand. I have 3 and R is holding 5 more. So, its a taxi and we are back to home. Things are sorted out and neatly arranged.

Now, time for home decoration. The blue steamers are put up with help from M. The wall is hard and the pins are breaking. After many trials, finally they are put up to some shape. M leaves, I look at the room and am not satisfied. The room needs more decoration.

December 21, 2009

Office is over. Time to get some more decoration for the home and the other stuff remaining. So, off I go to hawk's town for the puree and decoration stuff. I find some bells only. So, having no other choice, I dash off to dankies to get the decoration. All along the way, I am worried if I will get stuff there too. Finally reach there and thank god, there is a lot of it. I pick up some shining silver streamers, some plastic ones, more balloons and am done for the day. I walk back home and start the remaining decoration. God, why didn't you make me a little taller. See for putting up each and everything, I have to use a table and a chair. Finally, after multiple trips up and and down the table and chair, everything is done. The silver streamer is in place, the bells have been stuck, the large Christmas wreath is also done. Now, balloons are only left to be put on the D-Day.

Couldn't get a better pic :(

December 22, 2009

Need to get home fast to make the rava laddoos. I leave office by 6:30 pm. Quickly freshen up and start roasting the rava. All the while am crunching on the chips packet. I also start clearing the things on the floor so that the entire room is empty tomorrow except for the lonely rack else it will be difficult to accommodate 22 people + kids in that small room. The rava roast is also ready. Need to be rolled into laddoo shape. R also comes down to help. He doesn't want to give the round shape and starts making apple shaped laddoos. Whatever, it has to go down the food pipe. If people find it tasty, am not worried about the shape :D. Laddoo is done. Chole (Chick Peas) and Chana daal are put to soak. Badam milk is also prepared all thanks to MTR's Badam mix. Time now to go to sleep. I have a long day ahead.

December 23, 2009

D-Day Dawns...

7 am

The rooster has woken me up and after some tea and refreshments, I get to work. Its the day to show my culinary skills and I am damn tensed. With great determination, the chole, the batura dough, chicken curry are prepared in that order. First of all, I put the chole to cook and side by side start preparing the chole masala.

8 am

Chole are done cooking and in they go into the masala. I am really liking the smell of the masala. Hope, the end product is also ok. The potatoes are next to go on boil. Meanwhile, chicken is marinated and kept aside.

9:30 am

Potatoes are boiled and have been peeled. Now, I need to knead the dough for the batura (Ya, I made chole batura). The cooks who make rotis for dozens of people everyday, Hats off to them. How do they even knead the dough. I am going crazy kneading it for 22 people. With lot of muscle power and determination, that is also conquered. I am already half-tired and energy is going out. By now, the second round of chole is up for cooking.

10:30 am

R offers me some tea and I happily gulp it down. So refreshed after drinking it, am ready for my second round of cooking. So, chicky dear goes next now. But oh, I don't have puree for the second round of chicken curry. So, off I run to get them. I meet a client at the store there. He introduces me to his cute kids and wife and after some pleasantries, I come back home with the puree.

3pm

Finally, chicken curry is done and ready. R is also preparing black chana masala and says he will be soon done with it.

4pm

R comes home and starts to grind the chana daal for wada. I meanwhile start preparing the stuff for cutlets and clear the remaining mess in my home.

5:30pm

Sk troops in with the flowers for the pictures of Jesus. Its now his task to beautify the room further. Lots of roses and chrysanthemums decorate the place. I am busy making the cutlets. D is called in, and both of them blow the ballons. After 10 breaks for blowing 20 balloons, they finally tie it and the room for sure looks gorgeous. R in between goes and gets red sack and red shoes (from M) to complete Santa's costume.

7pm

Sh comes with the Gajar ka Halwa (yummy!!!) but no one else is in sight.

7:30 pm

Official time for the party to start and yes me and Sh are the only souls in the house. So, its tring tring time. "Haan kahan pe ho S san?" "Abhi aa rahe hain 10 mins main". So, with all these responses, we wait.

Coming to the present

Finally, everyone had assembled and badam milk was served. Santa Claus was called to give his special appearance. (Santa couldn't lift himself up after getting into the costume and needed J's help to reach my house).

Santa is ready for some action

Santa in masti

That was one hell of time. All the kids and parents got excited on seeing Santa and it was Camera time. R said "Yaar meri shaadi main bhi itni photo nahi kheechenge, jitna aap log kheech rahe ho" but anyways he happily smiled and posed for the pics. The kids then got their gifts and balloons from Santa uncle.

We then had the cake cutting ceremony by the youngest members A and Sr. And what a lovely cake L had made. It was amazing. After starters which included 2 types of wada, cutlet, chana masala, apple shaped laddoo and cake, we played some games. One was to pick chick peas with the straw and the other game was a memory game. By the time all this was over, it was late and time to serve the dinner.

Santa with the cake

Santa is always hungry :P

The ladies quickly started rolling out the baturas. Ladies of Fukuoka what could I have done without you people. Thanks a tonne Ladies. RC and U had also made Aloo Gobi and Veg Pulao respectively. So, people were happily fed, over-fed and double over-fed to chole batura, chicken curry, aloo gobi, veg pulao and raita. People didn't even have the energy to budge after the meal. R did the task of making sure that no one's plate went empty. Result, when his turn came to eat, everyone made sure he was double and triple over-fed. :D. I tell you these guys are a whole lot of funny guys.

Finally, when people thought we were done for the day, the gajar ka halwa was brought out. Sadly, not many people had it but the next day, it was wiped out clean in the office.

That was the end to a fun-filled, tiring, and yet happy Christmas party. Some people helped to clear things and put back my only pieces of furniture. After, they had left, I dropped off to such a deep sleep that even an earthquake couldn't have woken me up. It was really a Christmas party I will remember all my life. A special thanks to R. Without him, I couldn't have managed or done many of the things. Thanks to all my other colleagues too who lend a helping hand whenever required. :D

P.S. This is a long post. I hope you enjoyed reading it and didn't feel like hitting me :D. For two years, I went home to India for every Christmas. Last year, since I had gone on an early vacation, I spent my first Christmas in Fukuoka with a great rocking party.

Swaram, This post has been put up especially for you since you had once commented so in one of my other posts. (http://shonawrites.blogspot.com/2010/03/nostalgia.html)

R: yes yes, he is the same person with whom I shopped for 8 hours to buy clothes for his teenager sister and the biggest news and relief to me... She liked it yippie.... http://shonawrites.blogspot.com/2010/04/teen-fashion.html

Floods...

2010-05-17T18:31:00.000+09:00

It was a Sunday. The day we went every week without fail to Church. Mummy didn't however wake me up at the usual time. I got up a little later, brushed my teeth and mama gave me coffee. I looked around for Daddy and realized he had gone with his students to Nagaland to hand over the body of one of his students who had been drowned during a picnic. Since, it was a Sunday, I looked at the clock and saw that we were way beyond the time for Sunday mass. I was confused and asked mummy, 'Aren't we going to Church today?'. Mummy said,'No Ma, there is water all around the house. So lets wait for the water to go away before we can go out'.

I didn't understand because water around the house was a common thing in Manipur. A badly maintained drainage system and water clogging aggravated the situation and it was common to see water around the houses during the rainy season. Mummy took me to the window in drawing hall (my favorite spot in the house) and showed me outside. There was water upto the first step leading upto the house. Another 2 steps and there would be water inside the house. I didn't think anything was wrong but Mummy looked worried. Mummy meanwhile made breakfast and gave to me and my sister. She kept on repeatedly looking outside while I was enjoying my cartoons and serials in Doordorshan.

Water was not receding, it was slowly increasing. By now, water had crossed a step more. She started to block the gaps below the doors with carpets and other thick stuff least water came inside. This was a really big house with as many as 4-5 doors. My mom was going berserk trying to find rugs to close all the gaps. She managed to fill most of them. I was looking at my mother in amusement. She started to move clothes from the lower racks in the cupboard to the higher ones. First the one in my bedroom was attended to and then she moved to the one in the master bedroom.

Water level was increasing, it had covered half of the final step. My mom switched off the TV and started to remove all the wiring.First the TV was moved to the cupboard with some help from my sister, slowly followed by the VCR and tape recorder. I got angry.... She had switched off the TV when my cartoon time was going on (Especially, if Dad is not in town... there is a lot more freedom to watch cartoons ... Else it will be Shilpa do you homework... Shilpa get the tool from the toolbox... Shilpa call Rudy ... Shilpa this Shilpa that...phew.... how much work will a small kid do?). She went and looked at the window. Water had now reached it - the final step.

Slowly the water covered the verandah and moved up to the front door. My mom started clearing things still lying on the ground. I was put on a bed and told not to step down. My mom and sister started to furiously move things to higher locations. I just kept on watching them. Our dog Rudy had started howling and barking. It was also put on the bed along with me and both of us were playing. The water now started to enter the house through the gaps and the rugs. In an hour or so, water filled up to 1/4th of the wall. I got a notebook and was happily sailing paper boats in the water and running here and there like a duck. My mom had a tough time keeping me on the bed. My sister also joined me in sailing the boats. My mom was getting all the more worried.

Mom started to say prayers that someone should come to our help. We didn't have a phone also in our house at that time. Help did come in sometime. Daddy's students from the college came to check on us. They informed us that the water was due to the floods as the local dam wall had broken down and our entire colony had been flooded. They helped us shift all the heavy things to the top of the cupboards. After clearing these, they asked mummy to pack some necessary things and move to the girls hostel. The girls hostel was across the road and had not been flooded as it was at a higher ground level. So, off we went, me on one of the students shoulders (I was very small so if I went out, I would be fully submerged in water), my sister, my mom, and two other students with our things and Rudy in tow. There was water up to the waist level outside.

The girls vacated a room for us where we stayed for about 3-4 days when finally my Dad returned. There had been a landslide in Nagaland (Very common thing in that part of India) and all the roads had been blocked. So, camping here and there finally they reached Manipur after the roads had been cleared. On Friday of that week, the nuns from the school where my mother worked and me and my sister studied, came to meet us. They asked us to move to the dormitory in the school there. Yes, we had to move as we couldn't inconvenience the girls more. So, again we packed and went off to stay at the school. There we stayed for around a month. Every week my parents and my dad's students went to our house and cleaned and scrubbed it. The water had receded but had left behind moss all over the house. The house literally stank. It took nearly four weeks of cleaning, scrubbing, phenyl and all those stuff to bring back things to normal. Daddy stayed at the boys hostel all this while. I felt awkward. Although we were in comfort but the comfort of your home is something else.

When I went to the house after about a month, there was still a line all over the house indicating till where the water level had gone up to. The mark covered almost half of the wall. The last two racks in all the cupboards had been spoiled and along with it many things which lay there. Comics, some toys, some clothes, old stuff everything had been spoiled. All the furniture bore the mark of the floods too as we hadn't moved them to a higher place. The kitchen garden and the flower garden in front too had been spoiled. The water tank had also been cleaned out fully and was waiting to be refilled.

The irony during all this was that our neighbours knew about the flood the previous night itself. They had all evacuated along with their families to their ancestral homes. All of them knew my father was not at home but still they didn't care to inform us. When we returned back to our home, none of them could face us. They all ran away on seeing us. It took them months to talk to us and feel sorry about it.

Years later whenever I remember this incident, I sometimes laugh and sometimes feel sad. They say help comes in every form and it did. On that day, if those students hadn't come, we don't know where we would have gone. Maybe we might have gone to the school directly. Its just a maybe. We don't know what would have been the story otherwise but "All is well that ends well".

P.S. Yes this is a true story about the floods we went through in 1989 in Manipur.I was around 8-9 years old when this happened. Some details I don't remember. I have brought out the events to the best of my memory.

Doll House

2010-05-16T17:55:00.001+09:00

The Artsy Craftsy Challenge has been going on for sometime now and I have been always tempted to try it atleast once. So, today down with a bad cold and cough, it did push me to take this challenge :) and boy, it felt so good. Its a really long, long time after which I am making these things. As a kid, I ended up doing anything and everything that came on TV. My dad and mom always bought me everything they could manage to find in that small town for my expeditions like this. I remember one time I used white paper to try out some oregami flower, and since the outcome looked cute, my dad got me a lot of green colored craft paper(since the local stationery shop had only green color) so that I could make a similar larger one. It was hung for a long time in my old house... Don't know where it is now though :(

So, showcasing meri gudia ka ghar/Doll house.

Things I used besides the usual craft things are

1. Some lovely block arts which I picked at some fair (My battery went out at the last moment.. So will upload pics later ... as of now, you can get a fair idea from the below pic)

2. The color stamps for these block arts

Owner:http://www.stampinred.com/stampinred/gifts/

3. Different colored craft papers

4. Some decorations which I got for Christmas and came handy now.

5. Thermocol sheets (Thick ones and Thin ones - which are normally used for packing glass and other such fragile material)

Of course, you can unleash your creativity and decorate this doll house as you like.

So, here it goes,

1. Cut out three long slabs (The length as you may desire) and two small ones for the walls

2. I then pasted colored paper (light red color) on the ones meant for the wall. On the paper, I made some designs as you can see below. The other side, I left the thermocol as it is and painted them with red color paint.

3. For the floor, I pasted a thick white cardboard onto the thermocol sheet and then used the block pieces to make those designs. Then I stuck the walls to the floor. You can use fevicol to stick them together but since I didn't have any I made use of board pins to hold them together.

4. For the back wall, I covered the thermocol with a thin variety of thermocol sheet and stuck those leaves and bells on them.

5. For the roof, covered it with black craft paper and then used the stamp color to make those golden imprints.

So, how do you like it.... I don't have many dolls, only these small ones... wish I could keep more in them :P.

So, what are you waiting for. Why don't you also take up the Artsy Craftsy challenge.... I had so much of fun :)

Old is Gold

2010-05-15T16:57:00.001+09:00

Well, can we ever forget those wonderful ads of the 80's and 90's. The ones which formed the song of our life, the ones which we laughed at, enjoyed and yes, till date we remember the entire jingle till the dot. So, lets go down memory lane today too... Some of the Indian ads which held our fascination and do continue to do so ...

Bajaj Scooter - "Hamara Bajaj... Hamara Bajaj"- Past

The current one

Surf ki lalitaji yaad hai???

And this is just so cute

Liril had always models in scanty clothes and continues to do so :)

"Jab main chota ladka tha... meri chori pakdi jaati... roshan hai...????" - Does that ring a bell

Lime and Lemoni "Limca"
And the current one which is equally so so very sweet
And the current one which is equally so so very cute

"Vicks ki goli lo... khich khich door karo"

And the current one...no comparison to the old one

"Chai Coffee kesan bhai... karam kurram"

I was taken aback and felt proud of the achievement made by the ladies behind Lijjat Papad

Cinthol (Though I don't remember this one much)

Digjam - The music was deadly

Fevicol Ad (That's Rajkumar Hirani ... The now all famous director of 3 idiots)

And the recent one which I don't want to understand

Gold Spot (Wonder where it went?)

I love you Rasna

Asian Paints

I am a complan girl, I am a complan boy

And the Nescafe one - really refreshing music

And the mesmerizing music of Garden Vareli ... Can you forget that?

:) Do I need to tell about the below one... I bet you all will sing with it....

And can you forget this titan ad???? - Just great show of sentiments

And these all so so cute cute ads which we drooled over :). Well I did as I was in my teens when these ads came.

And one of my fav from tamil ads :)

Well I could go and on, but then my page wont load itself :). There are so many ads which we grew up seeing. They were like part of our life. Remember these ones, "Raju aapke daanth toh motiyon jaise chamak rahe hain?" or "Kya hua, bacchi ro rahi thi.... Woodwards de de, wahi toh main tumhein deti thi jab tum choti thi" or the Onida Ad. God I was so much afraid of the Onida Ad. Used to hide behind the curtains whenever it came on TV. Such sweet memories of childhood and Doordarshan times, can we ever forget. The ads may have changed their format over the years, but isn't it the old ones which still linger in our minds? There was a simplicity to which we were attracted and we identified with. Those times may never come but we can enjoy those ads thanks to Youtube and all such media sources.

So, do you remember any other old Indian ads ?

If I were

2010-05-13T22:33:00.000+09:00

Well, being tagged by Uma or rather got myself tagged :P, here it goes

If I were a month, I’d be - All the 12 months

If I were a day of the week, I’d be Friday - Weekend starts after this buddy :P

If I were a time of day, I’d be - Anytime other than 8 am as I have to get up for office then :(

If I were a season, I’d be Spring - The flowers are in full bloom.

If I were a planet, I’d be - Err... Scratching my head.... Difficult to answer

If I were a sea animal, I’d be a Dolphin - Ain't I cute ?

If I were a direction, I’d be - Uh, could be any direction. No restrictions.

If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be Sofa - Its so cosy :)

If I were a liquid, I’d be Water - Quenching everyone's thirst.

If I were a tree, I’d be Banyan tree - Giving shade to everyone

If I were a tool, I’d be Screwdriver (Not the cocktail one :P) - I can fix things up....

If I were an element, I’d be - :(

If I were a gemstone, I’d beDiamond - A girl's best friend

If I were a musical instrument, I’d be - Well all instruments are good, so I don't want to choose one.

If I were a color, I’d be Blue - Such a serene colour

If I were an emotion, I’d be - All emotions combined into one :)

If I were a fruit, I’d be Mango- Delicious (Slurp! Slurp!)

If I were a sound, I’d be the music from aSaxophone. Heavenly when you get to hear it on the beach side.

If I were a car, I’d be a uh well... Not a lover of cars, so I drop this

If I were food, I’d beChicken biryani - Yummy Yummy

If I were a taste, I’d be Sweet - Can eat any number, any time and anywhere :P

If I were a scent, I’d be Gucci - just because the fragrance lasts for a long long time :)

If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be High heeled slippers ... Sigh stopped wearing after I had a tissue tear in my leg... but really yearn for these high heels :(

And if I were a bird, I’d be a Sparrow - Only bird am not scared of

And If I were to tag people I will tag - Hmmm, well I don't want to burden you guys so please do take up this tag if you want to :)

P.S. All pictures are courtesy google and with due copyright to their rightful owners.

Kagoshima $ Kirishima - Beauty personified.

2010-05-12T22:56:00.000+09:00

Beautiful and serene are the words that conjure up in my mind when I think about Kagoshima and Kirishima. Although, I visited these two places 2 years back, the memories are still afresh in my mind. It was a 2 days visit to these places by car and it was a whole fun trip. Travelling by car in Japan is just so smooth. Great highways, a clear navigation system and smooth traffic all makes it a pleasure. People don't bend rules here because if you are caught doing so (You can't escape the cameras that are lined up all the highway), then it will be a trip to the Police Station. So, if you have an international license, please do make a trip by car too. This path has also a huge number of tunnels and we had so much of fun counting the number of tunnels also. In the end, we lost count and left it at that. So, enjoy this travel to Kagoshima and Kirishima with Travel Chachi :)

The endless mountain ranges en route

The view from the park. It was breathtakingly scenic.

One of my colleagues start to grass ski from the top

And jack fell down the hill :)

Another colleague let the kid in him and took to this smaller version of grass ski

The nearby port

Sakurajima - An active volcano

Believed to be the entrance of a shrine. This was buried by the volcanic eruptions of 1914.

P.S. You can find more information about these places here - Sakurajima, Lake Onami, Shinwa-no-Sato Park. The pics are from a time when I wasn't blogging so I don't many good pictures but the beauty of these two places attracted me so much that I couldn't stop writing about them. Some of my colleagues attempted the trek to Lake Onami in Winter (at peak snow time) with snow all through that path. So, imagine the trek through that :P

Where did they all go?

2010-05-10T00:16:00.001+09:00

"They came, They performed, They enthralled us, We applauded, They went back "

Where did they all go? Wondering who? Read Ahead ...

It all probably started with "Meri Awaz Suno" aired by DD. Then it was Sa Re Ga Ma hosted by Zee Tv and the more classy Channel [V] Popstars.

Sunidhi Chauhan, winner of Meri Awaz Suno rocks with her offbeat and different genre of singing.

Sa Re Ga Ma put forth "Shreya Goshal". Well, who can match this lady's sweet voice and probably she has been the one to gain maximum popularity and stardom. Jaadu hai, Nasha hai....

Channel [V] Popstars did create a real media hype and I followed it every single day. The band Viva! which formed after that was amazing. One of their songs "Jaago zara" still lingers in my mind all the time. I simply loved this song. Its a pity that they split and no albums were released after that.

Still wondering what I am talking about. Yes, you are correct, I am talking about the winners from the various music and dance shows and all sorts of such competitions. Why music and dance alone because I really love music and dancing (to watch/hear only) and reality shows are not my cup of tea. I still can't understand the craze around them though I did "TRY" to watch them and did "TRY" to like them. I can't understand people back biting against each other or doing those creepy things just to win the show. Anyways thats another topic and I certainly don't want to step on it.

So, slowly down the line, it hit people, talent lies in your home and you don't have to go seeking it elsewhere. So, there was a flurry of shows and competitions. Each Channel vying with each other for hosting competitions at the same time. People becoming SMS maniacs and Channels having TRP wars etc etc. Believe it or not. For a recent talent show, my colleague sent more than 10 SMS's (as he told me) for a particular group just because they were from the same hometown as him. In fact, even his friends also followed suit.

Just a question which crossed my mind at this point. So, what actually wins, talent, voting system or the participants show on the final days. One fault I find with the voting system is the bias. A general tendency of people to vote for participants from their region/state, a general frenzy among girls to vote for cute/macho looking guys and vice versa also - Does this really bring up talent? I would certainly say a definite NO. Being biased towards region, race or for that matter anything else does not bring out talent and rather buries it deep under the ground.

When, these competitions started I don't remember SMS's and votes being used to decide the winner. The participants gave their best and the judges adjudged the best. Now, the voting system seems to gain precedence over judges to move a participant to the safe zone or the danger zone and even for a wildcard entry!!! Semi-Finals to Finals, its only votes, votes and votes which seem to matter. So much in the name of votes. Why not start SMS/online vote system for elections too, I guess everyone will exercise their voting rights then and we can cut down on the election budget too :)

So, ultimately even though you have talent, you must also know to canvas yourself in the best possible way. Reaching to the finals and to the final cream, certainly requires Junta's graciousness to cast the "Oh-So-Critical-Vote" and then you will be crowned with the crowning glory. Fame, Money, Status and Albums will be showered on you. Big time Celebrities will present you the award. So, what after that ?

A few shows, an album as part of the prize and then its back to square one. Its then left to the participant to carve his/her own niche in the world which is already full of best of the class musicians and dancers. At the alarming rate at which these shows are increasing, I wonder how many more talents will come to limelight and then be again submerged in darkness. Certainly a question which time can only answer.

So, Who's Next on Junta's VoteRoll????????

Ma.....

2010-05-08T23:34:00.003+09:00

Was it the thought that I would go away again that made you cry every time you saw me?

Was it your love for me that you would refuse to eat before I had my food?

Was it the trust on me that you held my hand when climbing stairs even though there was a siderail?

Was it your motherly cover that always protected me from dad's reprimands?

Was it your perseverance that you would get up umpteen number of times to make coffee for me during exams although your health didn't allow you to?

I remember the lovely pencil box you gifted me when I came 9th rank in UKG. There was no turning back after that.

I remember the lovely roses and sarees you wore. Perhaps that can be a reason for my love for clothes too.

I remember your determination to give your best to your work in the toughest of times. Perhaps thats why no one can come between me and my work too.

I remember your joyful clapping whenever I went to the stage to collect my prizes. There can be no cheerleader like you.

I hope I can always make you proud of me

I hope I can always be like you

A time has come now when

I can't understand why you mistake me for my sister

I can't see the pain you go through every day to eat your food

I can't hold your hand and make you walk

I can't understand what you are talking

I can't see the lively person that you were once now confined to your bed

I Wish once more for that liveliness in you which is very much you...

I Wish you could once again listen to all my batter...

I Wish you could scold me again ...

I Wish you could fuss over me again ...

I Wish that you remain with me always ...

I Wish...

With Love,

Your dear daughter

This is my entry for blogadda's "Write a Tribute to your Mom!" contest and the gift I would like to gift to my mom.

Best mom
Of the world

Fall season

2010-05-04T02:01:00.000+09:00

I really don't know why this golden week I seem to be visiting falls only. So, today was also falls day and this time we visited 3 falls in Ukiha. Some impromtu planning, a run to catch the bus to Hakata station, missing the train by 3 mins (Ye hai Jaapaan meri jaan), an hour long wait for the next train, switching of trains at Kurume and finally a taxi drive. Yes, we did finally manage to reach the falls. Well I guess we took all the means of transport. Now the only one left was walking and don't worry we did that too as it was a 35 mins trek to each of the two falls we went to. The other two were too far and we didn't have the energy (certainly not me after 4 days of roaming about :P) . I can never compare this to Hogenakkal but this was different, the trek, the water gushing by, the chillness of the water, the pure silence except for water flowing and the sheer pleasure of walking in wilderness was total bliss. So, here we go more falls pics to fall for. If they all look the same, please don't blame me :P.

Read me please :)

Chouon-no-taki

We the great trekkers :)

Uogaeri-no-taki

Onobichi-no-taki

Escape

2010-05-02T03:08:00.000+09:00

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 10; the tenth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Nemu sat gazing with blank eyes at the sky above. Everyday the sky looked beautiful and the stars shined with all their brightness on him. He loved gazing at them. His father had told him that his mother had also become a star and came every night to meet him. He would sit every night in the open ground and look lovingly at the stars, talk to them and share his deepest thoughts and secrets. He felt his mom had never left him. She was always there hovering over him with that motherly blanket which keeps every child so warm.

Today, he was looking at the same stars but he couldn't spot his mother. He was feeling lonely and sad. Tutu whistled to him. Tutu was a new friend he had made today. Tutu asked, "Hey Nemu, Not eating? Not feeling hungry?". Nemu didn't respond. He didn't feel like talking to anyone except his mom today. Tutu saw the sad look on Nemu's face but he knew he couldn't do anything to cheer him up. Tutu had got used to this way of life but Nemu was new. It would take him sometime but he would come around, Tutu thought and left Nemu to himself.

Nemu was feeling hungry but didn't feel like eating. The entire day had been so tiresome and sleep hung heavily on his eyes. Before he knew it, he was soon in a deep slumber. Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light. He woke up startled. He saw his mom coming towards him. The smile was back on his face. She came running towards him, and placed her hands on his face. Tears welled up in his eyes. He kept on licking her hand. She unlocked the door of his cage and he ran into her arms. They hugged each other and cried their hearts out. Tutu looked out from his cage and cried as he saw the mother-son duo. They finally wiped each other's tears and sat down to talk. Nemu's mother however said, "I don't have much time Nemu. I must finish the work I have come for". Saying so, she moved to the other cages and started to open each cage one by one. Out flew tutu, the green parrot. The leopard cat followed next, then the bear, then the elephant. Each ran towards the safety of the forest. They didn't want to lose this golden chance of freedom. It was commotion all through.

Nemu stood waiting for his mother. After everyone had been released, she came to Nemu and told him fondly "Nemu darling, I must go now. Promise you will be a good boy and look after your papa and listen to his words. If you had listened to him today, you wouldn't have landed up in the trap in the forest today. Animal Poachers are everywhere and you have to be careful else you will again end up as a captive like this again. Promise you will behave henceforth. Promise me Nemu". Nemu said, "I promise you Mama. I will be good boy". They went hand in hand till the forest and then his mom bade farewell to him. He stood looking at her vanishing silhouette for a long long time and then made his way to the forest, back to the place where he belonged.

The cold water thrown on him woke him up. He looked around. The cage was still there all around him. Tutu was sleeping still in the cage next to him. What had happened, was it all a dream? Had his mom really come? Had he really escaped from his captors? He lay down thinking how nice a dream it had all been. He knew he couldn't escape from all this and had to accept this new life thrust upon him.

Poaching is illegal but some people do it for monetary gains. This has put a lot of our endangered species to risk. Going forward, we may not be even able to see some of the common animals and birds if poaching continues at this rate. Just a thought to ponder on...

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Shiraito Falls

2010-05-02T00:39:00.000+09:00

Well I wasn't exactly planning to go out today but ended up going to Shiraito Falls. It was a subway ride upto Chikuzen Maebaru and then by taxi (you also have a bus option but as we reached late we had to leave that option out) for about 30 mins to Shiraito Falls. (Please note if you are planning to take a taxi back, please do take note of the taxi driver's phone number. The last bus from the place leaves by 4:30pm and after that you need to arrange your own means of transport).

Shiraito falls lies in the countryside of Fukuoka and is breathtakingly scenic. The view from the top, the waterfalls and well the option to do fishing certainly made the trip interesting. So, without further words and ado, enjoy the visual treat again :) ....

On the route to Shiraito Falls

From the top of Shiraito Falls

Shiraito Falls

Some of my colleagues in the distant clicking away to glory

Arita

2010-04-30T23:29:00.000+09:00

What happens when you pack 50 ladies on board a bus and that too without their kids..... :P

Its commotion confounded and thats what exactly happened today. 50 of us headed towards Arita, the Porcelain town. This is an annual Porcelain fair which happens during the golden week from 29th April - 5th May at Arita. More than 600 shops sell porcelain wares. They are certainly a beauty to set your eyes on but the more interesting aspect here is you can bargain :P. Funny as it might sound, but Japan doesn't have much of bargaining places and this is one of them. So, feast your eyes to the rich stuff all along the way and bargain too. (Wow I felt so happy I could bargain after a long long time :P). I was slightly taken aback with the prices with some vases priced upto 2-3 lakh yen :) and so I went looking for some cheap and pretty stuff.

So, here you go feast yourself as they are a real beauty (Forgive me for my photography am not that good at it :P)

On route to Arita

At a Private Museum

Tea Time

Majestic

Funny isn't it?

Kings and Queens

On sale

Porcelain street (Here starts the journey to cover the 600+ shops)

One of the shopkeepers allowed me to click inside.

The cheapest I could find

Lovely vases on display

I couldn't help admiring this :)

See those huge vases :) Like those from Aladin's time :)

Cute Owls

And finally what I bought. Aren't they pretty :)

The bus ride...

2010-04-28T10:26:00.003+09:00

The mail from him read "Am in India on vacation (Call me @.....)" .... her mind raced 2 years back when it all started....

A chain of mails had triggered her friendship with him..... She felt so complete with him. Mails and Calls flowed until they met. Their eyes locked the moment they met.... they talked unaware of their surroundings..... They knew they had fallen in Love.... They walked hand in hand on the beach....and felt they were in Paradise.....

Everyday she had the same dream...... He was leaving her for good......

(She boards the bus ....... 2 hours to home......)

And then, he had to go to Malaysia for his new job.... She cried for fear of losing him in an alien country .... She felt her dream was coming true.... He reassured her and left and nothing changed......

He came down for his brother's marriage and introduced her to his family.... She started to dream of a lovely new family.....

(1.5 hours to home)

He went back.... His calls and mails grew lesser and lesser.... She didnt know why..... Her dream was coming true..... She confronted him .... He denied.... Mails and Calls stopped......... She felt helpless...felt like ending her life..... Her life was meaningless without him but her life was also attached to another person.... Her mom.... She stopped....

(1 hour to home)

And then he called... He had found someone.... the true love of his life as he called.... She was devastated.... the promises, love, affection all looked like sand washed away by the water of the beaches.....

She poured her feelings to her friend Susan, in Malaysia........

She cried and cried..... but the tears could not bring him back..... She cut herself from everyone and withdrew into a cocoon.... She had lost the colors in her life.............

(0.5 hour to home)

The bus driver put on the brake suddenly and she was jolted to the present.... She looked at her mobile.....and dialed..... The familiar voice which sent butterflies in her stomach answered ....

He: "Hello....".....

Se: "Uh.... hello, its me?".....

He(Pause) : "I knew you would call"

She: "I need to arrive at a decision...." (Pause).. "Do you love me still?"

He(Pause) : "No..... but if you insist I will talk to my parents about you....."

She: "Do you love Susan?"

He: "Yes...."

She (Taking in a deep breath swallowing the tears that brimmed in her eyes): "Ok, bye forever... All the very best in your life...."

She cut the call ..... tears rolled down her eyes.... She felt she had loved a stranger...... A stranger who had turned her life upside down and now denied recognizing her.... A friend she had trusted had broken her trust ....

"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep "

She had reached her destination.... Her mom greeted her at the door and they did the bear dance as usual.....

Appraisal Time!!!

2010-04-25T14:04:00.001+09:00

I am just a coffee bean

2010-04-24T18:53:00.001+09:00

I am just a coffee bean.

Born Alone and will go back alone.

I am just a coffee bean

Green and Oval in Shape

Engulfed by the pulp of the Cherry

I am just a coffee bean

Waiting to be processed and roasted

To brew that aromatic smell

That kindles your senses

I am just a coffee bean

Tully's calls me French Roast

Coffee Day calls me Fresh n Blend

Starbucks calls me Cafe Estima

Caribou calls me Lakeshore Blend

I am just a coffee bean

Caffe Mocha at times

Expresso at times

Caffe Latte at times

Americano at times

I am just a coffee bean

Together with milk and sugar

I will form that foamy froth

That lingers on your lips

I am just a coffee bean

And I will always remain a coffee bean

P.S. A lot of work goes into making the perfect coffee for us. Read more here.

The images are from various sites with due copyrights to their rightful owners.

I appreciate you..

2010-04-22T23:16:00.002+09:00

Anu loved my post on the tag she passed onto me so much
that she gave me WOW.... my first blog award :) :)
Am totally honored... (Please add all the adjectives you can think of .... Am all smiles)

Thanks a ton Anu.... Now like she skipped the tag and passed on the award only... I will also follow suit. :)

Uma - I just love her posts which strikes a chord somewhere within you.
Mahesh - His posts are so touching and so this award to him....
Leo - Mind blogging Work
Anwesa - Sad poems but yet so true :)
Vibhuti - Her stories are simply so sweet and nice :)

And deary deary Uma was so sweet... she passed on to me my 2nd blog award...... am totally floored............. :) ... She says my blog has that little bit extra... oh my my... Don't you people like the Cherry :)

This is what I am supposed to do on receiving this award: Write 3 things which I like about myself, post a picture I like most and pass on the award to 5 more people !!!!

3 things about myself (uh... oh.... now .... what shall I write.... am bored of writing so am going to sing..... anybody hearing me ??? )

1. To be sung in the tune of "Oonchi hai building... lift teri band hai....." remember the Anu Malik song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz8ZTQ6UyT8)

Kahe tu sincere.... life toh short hai.....

Jee le sweet life ko.... jab right time hai...

2. To be sung in the tune of "Der se aana... jaldi jaana... ae saahib ye theek nahi" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4AuBFq7Bg)

Time se aana... Time se jaana..... Ye punctuality ab theek nahi....

3. To be sung in the original sound track (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8uIy88kII0)

Ye dosti hum nahi todenge..... chodenge dam magar tera saath naa chodenge......

So that's it about me (Sincere, Punctual and Friendly)

Now my favorite pic time. This is a recent one taken at Mt.Aso in peak winter.... Isn't it amazing... all the snow and all.... (Well this was the first time I was seeing snow so was pretty excited)

Now whom shall I pass this onto .... ..... Hey hey kitte jaa rahe ho ...mujhse bachke kahan jaoge Kaalia..... just kidding :P

Anu - Am loving her travelogues on Binsar
GNSD - To keep you motivated for your fitness plan ... I know you can do it
Aryan's Mom - You are super duper cool Aryan and this is for you
Swaram - Love your posts
Titaxy - Loved her photoblog :)

And the icing on the cake..... I just couldn't believe this............My post "360 Degree Fukuoka - Travel Special" is up on Blogadda's Tangy Tuesday Picks...... Wow am super duper excited......