tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-153547072024-03-08T02:52:02.787+05:30Dilip's Train Of Thoughtsdiliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-50824607929349679272012-04-05T20:14:00.001+05:302012-04-05T22:57:17.027+05:30Day 1 @ IIMA!<div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Well, finally I am here @ IIMA Campus.. Its been quite a journey (Nope,<br />not the getting admission here part but the actual travel from Bangalore to<br />Ahmedabad…J travelled about 34 hours by train from Bangalore and what a<br />journey it was!). I cant remember when was the last time I took a long distance<br />train but in retrospect this seemed like a pretty good decision. It gave me all<br />the time in the world to read a book, ponder over things and wonder over how<br />Indians live/behave…I tell you, no place better than a train to have that<br />analysis done..:)</div><div align="justify"><br />First impression of the city was actually pretty sober..:) Nothing<br />great or nothing spectacular (but what can I say? I travelled at 8AM and that<br />too for what looked like few kms)… It looked like any other city to me except<br />that its going to be my home for the next 1 year (atleast?!?)<br />After heavy negotiations with my porter and then with my Auto<br />driver I ended up in IIMA. Reaching the campus was kind of an overwhelming<br />feeling. The journey was indeed long, eventful, exciting with many twists and turns<br />(nope this time not the train journey, but the actual journey of getting<br />admitted here..:D). And I hope the future will be few notches above of what it<br />was before. There are so possibilities and so many opportunities (or so I presume!)<br />that right now I have no clue where I would be 1 year down the line.<br /></div><div align="justify">At the reception, I got the keys to my dorm room. The room<br />unfortunately happens to be on the top most floor! As soon as I enter the room,<br />I could feel hot air blowing on my face and had to just run out to the safety<br />of the outside cool air. At 8 in the morning if the situation is going to be<br />like this, I can imagine how it would be the rest of the day. Also, imagine the<br />next three months when the peak summer hits Ahmedabad! The only solace was the<br />AC in the room but then I think I will have to start borrowing money from<br />friends and relatives to pay its bill…:)<br /></div><div align="justify">Apart from the heat, today has been great so far - meeting my<br />batch mates and getting to know them. Quite a few of the people I met today are<br />already Entrepreneurs or are kind of stalwarts from different industries. So<br />the interaction has been great and it kind of makes me feel excited to be here,<br />to be part of this group and to hopefully survive together for the next year.:P<br />My registration eventually happened around 5:15 PM without much hassles.<br />After getting my internet setup I went for a jog and got lost in the main<br />campus. Couldn’t believe the faculty quarters was that huge or for that matter<br />had so many twists and turns..(maybe they have tried to simulate the life in this<br />campus :))<br /></div><div align="justify">After a good dinner with some of newly formed friends we went on a<br />long walk again. Exploring the place took its times as we were more talking<br />than walking.:) Found the gym, sports complex and the jogging tracks. Most of<br />us showed interest but lets see how many actually find time for these things.<br />Because when it comes to sacrificing something to manage time, these are the activities<br />first in the list to be scratched..:)<br />Anyway for now some of us plan to run at 6:30 in the morning, lets<br />see how it goes..:)<br /></div><div align="justify">There is an unofficial kick-off party on Saturday evening (day<br />after tomorrow) arranged by my enthusiastic batch mates, but the official one<br />is on Sunday evening (arranged by PGPX - was supposed to be on Monday but maybe<br />they thought why waste a day, so they pulled it to Sunday..:)). Looking<br />forward to both these events..<br /></div><div align="justify">I am happy so far and I hope I remain so for the next year..<br /></div><div align="justify">Cheers,<br />Dilip<br /><br />PS: I thought my blog has been dead for the last few months and<br />would be so for the next year. Though there have been quite a few<br />trips/activities/events there has been not much time/mood to update the blog.<br />So thought was losing my interest in blogging. But after coming here I hope to<br />keep it alive throughout the coming year. Hopefully it will become a small<br />chronicle of my journey here. I am not sure how many posts (it will be more<br />like twitter updates I think) will actually come out of this resolution, but<br />then one never knows..:)</div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-79679422610028817422012-02-14T08:46:00.002+05:302012-02-14T08:53:48.317+05:30Relief? Or Ecstasy?<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There are certain things that are best learnt during childhood and swimming is one of them. Most people who know swimming say it’s so easy, all you have to do is just float! But that’s easier said than done when you have lived most part of your life fearing deep waters and avoided them like its been shark infected. Suddenly you are told to deep dive into it and tame it, love it, float on it, and relax like there is no worry in this world. How do you undergo this transformation? Again the same ‘people’ ask you get into the water, get wet and start learning.. There is no other way… As I found out its easier said than done..</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For almost three weeks while trying to learn I have taken in enough chlorine water to fill an overhead tank, my confidence has been beaten to the core, and it felt that somehow the forces around me were making sure I drown even with a learning board.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Believe me! Learning swimming does take a toll.. You see toddlers swimming in the pool and you cant even float it takes a toll. You cant breathe-in air and suddenly start looking at finding the ground/floor beneath you, it takes a toll. You start regretting so much that you start cursing yourself, for having taken this step, it takes a toll… Finally a time comes when you think of quitting and saying “Is it really important for me to learn this? Cant I live without it?” Its just a matter of time before one comes to such a state. In fact it took me about three weeks to reach there and was almost at the verge of quitting.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But I finally swam today.. :) More than anything else, it was relief…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I had thought of giving up so many times especially last week when I couldn’t even swim properly with a board. There was actually not much of progress and the motivation levels really dropped off. After a lot of thought of giving up I asked my trainer to come today morning.. The day started in a usual manner. Struggled with my techniques. Drank enough chlorine water and was getting tired very easily (which shouldn’t happen ideally if you breathe properly).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">However, today for whatever reason we kept pushing and trying various things. Finally, I was able to manage my first proper swimming lap. I am far away from proclaiming that I know swimming but now the ‘belief’ is back and I know I can do this. I might not want to swim in the sea but swimming in a pool is a must have according to me (as of now..:)) and I see that I can reach that stage before the end of the month.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Maybe my case was a bit extreme or maybe people do learn it very easily but let me tell you, for me running the ultra-marathon was easier than learning to swim! The ‘belief’ was just wasn’t there.. And that ‘belief’ goes for a nose dive everytime there was a failed attempt. So it takes a herculean task to get into the swimming pool the next time. It’s all interconnected you see..</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Like most things in life that makes you happy or the things that you actually want, this too is going through its cycle of ups and downs, and there were times when giving up was the easier option but finally I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it makes be relieved, happy and ecstatic at the same time..</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Here’s to hoping my love affair continues with the wonderful water..</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Happy Valentine’s day everyone!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-27382237731340074822012-01-12T00:04:00.000+05:302012-01-12T09:34:06.735+05:30Target!<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">During my first 10K run I was feeling exhausted by the time I finished 6K. At my first Half Marathon, I was feeling exhausted and tired by the time I reached 16K, during my first Full Marathon I was down and out by the time I reached 34Km and was not able to put one step forward after 42Km! The irony was when I tried my first Ultra marathon of 75Km, I hadn’t run beyond a Full Marathon until then, and was really not sure whether I could complete it. But when I ran the Ultra, I could easily make it until 60Km and then struggled to finish the rest of the 75KM! What does it tell us? </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">A lot of things in life is psychological and what one thinks is achievable or doable is mostly in the minds. Really, the importance of accessing and placing a target is of utmost importance. Since we all are prone to procrastination its very much necessary to have targets that push us to achieve more. Being safe, is no longer an option if we want to achieve anything beyond the norm. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Its even more important for people like me who cant work without a target and most often than not things anyway get done at the last moment. I have come to realize that the best way to overcome this is to divide the bigger goal into smaller goals with shorter durations. That way its not only continuously calibrated but also accessed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Like a marathon, unless we try to do something more than the norm one will never know whether that’s even a possibility. Our realm of possibilities to a major extent is a figment of our imagination. And that’s what I have learned.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><br /></p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-43861689209436473812012-01-05T22:21:00.000+05:302012-01-05T22:25:28.425+05:30What if?<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">There are times when we ask ourselves the ever-lasting and unanswerable questions that start with ‘what if’? Times in life when you are in that contemplating mode and wonder how you would be and what you would be ‘if only ...’.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">But is there any point to these questions? Should one be even entertaining such thoughts? The only positive/good thing that ‘can’ come out of it is to make sure the present and the future is not filled with instances that will rise to more ‘What if’ questions.. Though not many such instances in the past, I still have a few - enough to be vary of the next two months..</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="text-align: left; ">Every second we make a choice and that’s what makes our life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="text-align: left; ">The next couple of months will be a testament of things to come. Excitingly and happily looking forward to it like a child with a new toy everyday! And here I come..</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="text-align: left; "><br /></span></p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-35470251990264674592011-12-20T23:37:00.000+05:302011-12-21T10:11:38.172+05:30Bring it on!<div><br /></div><div>Traveling through the years,</div><div>Overcoming doomsdays and naysayers,</div><div>Clinging onto hope,</div><div>Like an addict on dope,</div><div>Looking across space,</div><div>Finally, the gate in my gaze.</div><div><br /></div><div>Too bright and decorated façade,</div><div>To really see through the maze,</div><div>But does it really matter?</div><div>When you know you can wade through the clutter,</div><div>Muddled in my thoughts,</div><div>Planning the next path.</div><div><br /></div><div>A course set, that might take me years or decades,</div><div>Testing my tenacity, overcoming impuissance, </div><div>Patience and uncertainties my shortcomings,</div><div>But, first things to be conquered for this undertaking,</div><div>I know I will be there,</div><div>And one day a blog post it will make!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-18679362770554348592011-10-05T23:05:00.000+05:302011-10-05T23:08:44.994+05:30Happy B'day!Sands on the beach side<br />Rocks chiseled by the tides<br />Running as fast as a deer<br />Gaining an extra inch over your peer<br />Splattering sand leaving a foot mark<br />It was never a walk in the park<br />Watching friends in various combo<br />An unimaginable portrait not so long ago<br />Suddenly the realization dawns<br />You are just a pawn<br />Half a marathon gone<br />Her paranoia blaming the scheming faun<br />Another half to go<br />To complete the panoramadiliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-30108501349613730722011-08-30T00:04:00.000+05:302011-08-30T01:03:46.032+05:30The secret of the Nagas<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>ZH-CN</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> 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mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I have never written book reviews as far as I can remember. But, there is always a first time and no better book than the “Secret of Nagas”. Amish the author of “Shiva Triology” has a unique gift of imagination, the art of storytelling and an amazing ability to blend mythology with fiction. How many authors you have read, can boast of such talents?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">"The Secret of the Nagas" is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The way Amish has brought in the innumerable aspects of our mythology to bring one of the most amazingly written gripping story speaks volumes of his artistry in writing. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Growing up I had always been fascinated with Lord Ganesha. The combination of a human and Elephant made him my favorite Gods. His deformity, if you can call that, was what actually made him the most attractive. And I still remember how I used to listen to stories from my parents about his life, how he was born and how he managed to get an elephant head for himself. It always intrigued me, mesmerized me and captivated my imagination. Over time my curiosity, my thought process et al got the better of me and that’s when questioning all these concepts and stories started. It led to what I now understand about the great ‘Hindu’ culture, its practices and its way of life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">But what has that got to do with Amish’s “Shiva Triology”? It has everything to do with that. The whole assumption of Gods and their supernatural powers is thrown out and he starts with the simple concepts of how these characters were plain humans with extraordinary thought process, determination, ability to fight against all odds, but still make mistakes and correct them along the way. It talks about how Shiva is born in a remote Himalayan Mountain (Mt. Kailash) as a son of a tribal chief and had to fight mortal enemies (other tribal chiefs) just to survive and live. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">The flow of events makes him to choose a path that will ultimately led him to a land called “Meluha” – a perfect society following the rules formed by Lord Rama. These people were the Suryavanshi’s and the their enemies were the Chandravanshi’s. And, they believed the only way peace can be restored in “India” was to force the people of Chandravanshi’s to follow their way of life. The whole crux of the book is that ultimately “Evil needs to be destroyed”. But the fun part is that the definition of Evil is something that changes among various people based on their perceptions. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">And these perceptions within an individual change too. This is seen even in the great Shiva as he tries to find and destroy evil. The ‘Nagas’ add a third element in the entire story bringing in all facets of our community and inturn our various Gods into the story. What makes the book simply beautiful is the way Sati, Shiva, Ganesh, Kali and other Gods, are introduced in the story and how they behave, their characters and their perceptions of good and evil. And all this is brought together by a great story.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">According to the author its all fiction. But who said mythology is not? But by bringing the gods to the level of humans and then making them extraordinary through their actions, thoughts and sometimes mistakes makes it much more believable than the actual/original stories of God. This story epitomizes the philosophy of a way of life. It brings in philosophy and morals in a way that no story does. It makes you believe on why there is a God in each one of us. Makes you question why we can’t be Gods and makes you ponder on your decisions and the way you lead your life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">It also shows that first one needs to believe in oneself before one can even try to succeed (Even Shiva faces this problem). One needs to learn from ones mistakes and have the humility to accept the mistakes. One needs to work hard for everything one does and nothing comes easy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">So in short, the characters in the book are all from actual mythology but the story isnt. At the end of the day it’s the aspects of philosophy, human behavior and its contradictions that makes you think. All this he does by making the story a page-turner for even a layman. And that’s the best part according to me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">It goes without saying that I highly recommend this book but would recommend that you read the first book "The Immortals of Meluha" before reading this one. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">I am eagerly awaiting ‘The Oath of the Vayuputras’ - the final book in the series.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"> </p> diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-45509210798698354432011-08-17T04:50:00.001+05:302011-08-17T08:05:49.484+05:30Supporting Anna Hazare..? 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<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I have been following posts/opinions on Anna Hazare at FB, Blogs and other places. After reading a post from a friend of mine I thought it’s better to put my thoughts in place and come up with reasons why anyone should support Anna..:)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Before I <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>go to my points, I want you to read this..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">http://in.news.yahoo.com/blogs/opinions/where-anna-hazare-gets-wrong-20110413-224657-743.html</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This was a post written by Amit Verma (whom I greatly admire for his opinions/articles) back in April and he had made very good points. Do i disagree with him on the points raised? Nope, they are perfectly valid and correct.. However, do i completely agree with him? Nope again..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">There are certain aspects I beg to differ..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">We are at a point where corruption is so deep rooted that something needs to be done.. Whatever that is.. Until a few months back, there was no avenue for anyone to fight back and now people have found it in Anna Hazare.. And that’s the difference..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Even though I wholeheartedly agree with "reforms" as a way to go, i have no freaking way to ensure that happens.. Now you tell me what a common man is supposed to do? Wait for next 30 years to see if anyone will start a fast on reforms and then support him? I believe inaction/no-action is worse than not trying at all..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">So until there is someone out there who can take up the mantle of reforms, there is no way that will become the strategy to fight against corruption (My reasons on why i support him later).. And do you think people like Dr. Manmohan Singh doesn’t know about it? Sorry, he deserves more credit than that.. He knows but the lust for power (or whatever that makes him to continue to be PM) has made him to keep quiet.. If he had any semblance of Integrity left he would have resigned long time back..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Anyway coming back to the point, so where do 'I' go from here? Since i dont have anyone to support the right method, and since I don’t want to give up my 'lifestyle' and dedicate my life to fight corruption (this is why Sathyaghraha works – it’s a easier method than violent movement and one need not need too much capital for this kind of protest. People can relate, understand and support it without losing much) i will go ahead and support Anna on his fast, whom I credit for atleast shaking the system. This would definitely bring another powerhouse in place but then most regulatory bodies in this world can be considered as an "alternative powerhouse'. The question would then come whether it will be misused, now that I do not have an answer to... But unlike people who oppose Anna, I am optimistic about it and want to give it a try.. If it doesn’t work maybe 20 years (just an approx number) down the line people would do another Sathyaghraha to abolish it and bring in reforms..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">But i am willing to give it a shot mainly because I don’t have any other option and i want to break the current shackles..What do you say to that? As an informed supporter i wish to give it a try..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Either way, i don’t want the bill to get passed in its current form.. It really doesn’t make any sense.. One more layer of bill which is not applicable to people at the top..?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">You know how a organizations culture/character is built? Its ridiculous to say its just the employees who build the character...Because that’s totally wrong.. Its the character of the CEO/Leader who builds the culture in an organization... If he is lethargic and corrupt the rest will be the same.. If he is thinking out of the box and encourages entrepreneurial activity, then the organization will pick up that culture over a period of time.. Look around for any company and you will see what I mean.. So now that I have a bill that can potentially reduce the corruption at highest places then I think it might actually work.. Lets give it a shot, its better than not doing anything..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Lastly, people talk too lightly on him going fast or they take offense when this is compared to the next freedom struggle.. Please bear in mind that fasts have been a method of protest in India for many years and a lot of people go on fast on many issues (Telangana, Ganga cleansing etc).. But why is that in this case it has caused so much of a stir?!? That’s because people are fed up with what they are seeing and they want a change.. And Anna is giving them an avenue.. Without the support of the people this wouldn’t have become such a big issue (and of course not to discount our so call ‘media’)..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">When Barrack Obama made all those speeches about 'Change' people thought another Jesus was born, but most see what he has done now apart from talking.. But you know what? they atleast tried and gave him a chance.. They are better because of that.. An inaction is worse than a wrong action is what i feel..</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This bill may not lead us anywhere and it might even worsen it, but atleast we would have tried it rather than just ranting.. It’s a path/risk I am willing to take.. </p> diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-10413341813272919422011-08-14T21:26:00.002+05:302011-08-14T21:29:08.909+05:30The Pains<div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>ZH-CN</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I can feel the pressure building, and can sense the steam charting its escape route, the heat creating a painful degree of smolder and the temperature is soaring. Sometimes you feel its just the beginning while other times you wish it had all ended. You are hungry for more and at the same time you really don’t want the same thing day and night. Life could have been more simpler but then it wouldn’t have been this fun, isn’t it? You ask yourself why does it take so damn long and it whistles right back at you asking you to have patience. Patience and graceful handling of uncertainties are virtues that I am yet to master and life has a tendency to always test you on things that you are yet to master on!!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Ohh, my dear pressure cooker, please finish cooking that rice. I am starving!</p> diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-59296903780407749062011-08-04T22:47:00.001+05:302011-08-04T22:49:18.881+05:30Days!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>ZH-CN</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> 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mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Some days a lot gets done and yet at the end of the day instead of feeling tired, you are refreshed and you want do more. It’s not that everything goes like clockwork, it’s not that the net result is perfect (infact it will far from it!), it’s not that you have achieved success at the end of it, but still you are happier and life seems simpler. Those are the days you have tried the hardest, slept the least, worked towards a goal and made that day count!<br />Those are the days you wonder why can’t every day be like this? Some days are just like this.. And lately most days are becoming like this...Sign of good and hard times to come?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /> <br /> </p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-52977334216527745062011-07-29T00:57:00.000+05:302011-07-29T09:04:48.133+05:30Path ahead?Running fever<br />Sweltering room<br />Churning stomach<br />Aching intestine<br /><br />Spurting everything out<br />Washing off its existence<br />Yet, that fear and twinge<br />Falling off that crevice<br /><br />Procrastinating the action<br />Forced to believe the thoughts<br />Reducing the achievement<br />Nullifying the impact<br /><br />Clearing the throat<br />Serving the words<br />Cutting the spleen<br />Pushing the thoughts<br /><br />Defending once stance<br />Trying to move the pang<br />Nothing is easy<br />But it can be done <br /><br />And it will be.diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-4709781377365351652011-05-25T22:03:00.000+05:302011-05-25T22:04:29.598+05:30The Unknown CallerRunning along the sea shore<br />Walking through the green boulevard in the fore <br />Sleeping on the cozy bed<br />And while eating my daily bread<br />A ‘smart’ phone held in my hand<br />Waiting for it to vibrate and sing a song<br />Always giving a chintzy thrill<br />While some times dreading it’s shrill<br />Curious of who it might be<br />Cautious of what it could mean<br />Hoping for the best<br />But fearing the worst<br />Emotions bundled in a core<br />‘The distance’ causing it to manifest multifold<br />Ingenious and smart is what they say<br />But nothing could tell what the call exemplify<br />However smart it might be<br />It cannot beat the uncertainty.diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-72310797110650990062011-05-10T20:55:00.003+05:302011-05-10T20:58:55.112+05:30Tiger Tiger burning bright, In the temple of Thailand!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of the good things about reading or researching on a country/place that you plan to visit is that you don’t miss on the best things that the place has to offer. My research on Thailand led me to what eventually turned out to be once in a lifetime experience - a visit to the ‘Tiger Temple’ at Kanchanaburi near Bangkok, Thailand, and playing with Tigers there.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The entire Thailand trip was built around this event. I had almost four and half days there to spend and the only thing I was really looking forward to was touching a tiger. I had spent so much of time and money back in India going on treks, wild-life camps and nature resorts to catch a glimpse a tiger in full flow that I had almost given up on seeing one. So when this opportunity was available I grabbed it and booked a day trip to the ‘Tiger Temple’.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This temple is located about 2.5 hours drive from Bangkok and I had a booked a Taxi and a guide for the whole trip. The guide was about 3 years younger to me and was once a volunteer to this temple too. It was very nice to hear her life’s journey, which was quite interesting and was an excellent way to spend those hours on the road. She herself was quite a traveler having spent few months in and around Europe. She had also travelled around Thailand a lot and that helped me get a good perspective of the country, its history and its current state of affairs. She had come back to her hometown to be with her ailing mother and thus completing a full circle in her life.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As we neared our destination she gave me a brief introduction on the temple. She also gave me a list of things that I am not supposed to do when I was in the company of the tigers. All set and done these animals were ‘wild animals’ and one can never be able to predict their behavior. So it was imperative to follow all the instructions bombarded on you. But the more I listened to her the more scared I was getting. From things like not standing or walking directly in front of the tiger to not showing one’s back to any tiger around I was asked to follow many instructions. Also, I was told it was considered sacred by the monks if you get hurt and blood is spilled by a tiger and in such a scenario you would have to stay in the temple for few days. That scared me even more as I saw it as a mechanism to make sure you don’t go out of the temple until you are recovered completely.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The temple in itself was never started as a Tiger temple. It was more of an abode to the Buddhists monks. But one day some villagers not knowing what to do with an injured tiger (after getting caught in a poachers trap) asked these monks to take care of it and they agreed. And so a journey began from 1 to 91 tigers now. Tigers were sent to this place from various places and soon the tigers started breeding there (which shows that the tigers must be quite happy as they apparently don’t breed unless they are happy!). I would term their facility to be better than any of the breeding program as I myself saw about 20 cubs. And this was without any effort in the direction of making these tigers breed…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On the way we (myself and my guide) stopped at a supermarket to buy some food for giving alms to the monks and that’s how my day started at the temple. I had left my hostel at around 5 AM and had reached the temple around 7.30AM. There were already a group of 10 people waiting for the monks. Once the formality of giving alms was done all of us were ushered in to the temple were we met the cubs. It was feeding time and all of us got a chance to feed the cubs, played with them and cuddled them. The whole experience was too exciting to be described in words. The first half an hour with these cubs were the scariest. Imagine someone who is scared of dogs playing with Tiger cubs! But things started improving once I gained more confidence in the volunteers there..:) (Because I had no confidence in the behavior of the tigers there..:))<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">By this time the monks had finished their prayers, we had breakfast with them. We were then led to a Tiger shelter where we bathed and washed few full grown tigers. I even fed one of them with Chicken. I was dead scared that the tiger would eat my hand but thankfully the hand is intact and I am typing my experience here..:)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We then moved inside a huge den that had a pond. Either the tigers should be outside the enclosed territory and we inside or the tigers inside and we outside…But in this case both we and the tigers were inside. Again, we were all asked to strictly follow the rules that were stated earlier else we were told we would be either thrown out by the volunteers or be eaten by the tigers. It was not funny in the beginning but later found the experience to be really awesome. It was great to play with them in the pool and the presence of volunteers there really helped, as they knew how to take care of these tigers when situation went out of hand. It was not just the tigers (which like all animals the play sometimes slowly turned into fights) but the people there who sometime in their over zeal didn’t follow the instructions endangering not only themselves but others around.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the trip we walked two fully grown tigers back to their den and had photographs taken with them. All along the way we were asked to never show our back to them and never go in front of them. Both the tigers marked their territory along the way and they apparently do that daily!<span style=""></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style=""></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span>After a heavy lunch my guide took me to the “Bridge on the river kwai”. The bridge in itself was not too big or long but the circumstances under which it was built made it special and once again I got a very good history lesson from her. By the time I landed back at my hostel it was late evening. The rest of the trip comprised of visiting The Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho - The oldest and largest temple (housing the reclining Buddha), Wat Arun - Temple of Dawn, the famous floating markets of Bangkok and of-course the beaches of Pattaya.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I had never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would play with tigers, feed them, pet them and walk them and be alive at the end of it to tell the tale. But here I am doing exactly that and it makes me feel really good and special that I could do all this. Overall it was such a great experience that the rest of my trip became a mere footnote in my post.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Some snaps can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150174936569385.304521.759844384&l=98206dd3ad">be found here...</a><br /></p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-63210090361776902872011-05-04T20:05:00.001+05:302011-05-04T20:45:05.595+05:30In Vietnam!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As a kid the first time I had heard about Vietnam was when I saw a movie on how American soldiers had fought a ‘brave and moral’ war at Vietnam. Though physically and technologically superior, they couldn’t defeat the peasants for more than 10 years. Later on, I read so many articles and stories on the war that Vietnam as a country always intrigued me. There was always this desire to visit the country and compare my ‘so called imagination of Vietnam’ to what in reality it is. So last weekend I took a trip to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City or HCM (as it’s now known)…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The day before I was to leave for Saigon I converted 100 SGD (Singapore Dollar) to Vietnamese currency and I got in return 1.4 Million VND (Vietnamese Dong). I had become a millionaire in an instant. Holding couple of 500,000 notes made it a unique experience. But the feeling was nothing compared to the experience I would later have in Vietnam. Four days in this beautiful country was really revealing. The best part of the experience had been the people there. I haven’t met more hospitable and friendly people anywhere in my travels till now. I was even invited by the youth hostel owner to have dinner at home on April 30<sup>th</sup>, which happened to be their reunification or Independence Day. I found people to be really sweet and friendly. Their hospitality made me decide to come back here again very soon.</p><br />Saigon as a city is the centre of the economic growth for Vietnam. So you can see a lot of immigrants there. The city houses about 9 million people and most of them are immigrants from southern parts of Vietnam migrating for work and better prospects. A motorbike is the most common means of transport for them and there are about 3.5 Million of them in the city. Most often than not buying a motorbike is a huge investment for the people there (the cheapest one being about $1000), but still you can see thousands of them on the street every second zipping by and chocking the roads. One can see that most of the so called economic growth is happening in the city and the countryside is still mostly underdeveloped. Agriculture is the occupation of most people in Vietnam, but slowly quite a few people are trying to migrate to the cities.<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Majority of people, as expected, are unhappy with the way things are run there. Complaints range from lack of education, poverty, corruption to lack of employment opportunities. I met this gentleman who happens to be a marketing agent and apparently earns 7.5 Million VND but can barely survive in the city. The next generation is highly dissatisfied as most want to go abroad for work but their lack of fluency in English language is a big hindrance. So you can see loads of English teaching institutes trying to make the dreams of these youngsters come true. But they have a long way to go. I took part in one of the communication seminars held at the hostel I was staying and the eagerness with which they were listening to me was just too much to bear. All they wanted to was talk and converse as much as possible in those couple of hours to get a hang of Oral English. And at the end of it I had this sinking feeling of not being able to help them in the way I perhaps could have. So I again conducted another session the next day. But it was still disheartening because in the end many will definitely find it difficult to go to the next stage in their career/education, but I hope this perseverance of theirs will help the future generations. Also all this interest, hopefully will soon translate into the changes required in their education system.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I also found the people staying in the hostel there to be more friendly than others and made quite a few friends (maybe because of the general prevailing friendly atmosphere in Vietnam..:)). It was quite interesting to learn about their lives and how they had spent the last few months traveling. Some had taken a career break while others were managing to survive by working at a new country every few months that they traveled to…Hope we keep in touch.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Coming back to the city - the Ho Chi Minh City in itself had been at the centre of Vietnam War, mainly because the Americans had made it their base fighting the guerrilla fighters few kilometers from there. It was also housing the President of Southern Vietnam that the Americans were supporting (apparently more of a puppet). So, one can easily see the significance of this city in the war and the best place to get the complete history of the war and its effects is the ‘War Memorial Museum’. Though almost completely one sided and mainly bashes the US, it gives quite a picture of the war and is definitely worth a visit. One can also visit the Independence/Reunification Palace and take the English tour to give you another leap into the history books. One can see the multi-level war bunkers and the Presidents war rooms even now.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The best tour though would be the Cu Chi Tunnels about 60Km from HCM City. A tour to this place is a must to understand the life of the guerrilla fighters. The way they used to live in those three level tunnels is mindboggling. The way these tunnels were dug, the designs behind them, the strategy of war etc is something no book/article can explain better than the experience of being there. A 100meter of that Tunnel took me 15 minutes to navigate and I was completely drenched in sweat at the end of it. The experience gave me cramps for 2 days. I wonder how they used to do it every night (day time they used to stay put inside the tunnels as there was continuous American bombardment of bombs). The whole journey through the tunnels gives you a good experience of what life would have been to those people at that time and makes you think of all the things that had happened there in the area just 35 years back.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of the unforgettable experiences for me at the tunnels was me firing an AK47 for the first time. It was really something. The force of the bullet and its corresponding counter reaction on the gun makes you almost fall back the first time. Holding it correctly on your shoulders really helps you balance. But still I kept wondering how those malnourished and under-weight people managed to use these weapons against the marching Americans.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A Vietnam trip isn’t complete without going to the countryside. Visiting the Mekong Delta gives one somewhat a realistic picture of the real Vietnam (or the majority of it). A bus ride and then a boat ride from HCM city will take you there. From traditional honey and toffee making to canal rides and folk music, each one was more exciting than the other.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At the end of four days at Vietnam all I could think of was when I would be back to this country. It didn’t help that my experience of teaching English to some of them left more of a hole or void than the satisfaction of helping them out. Will definitely want to meet these sweet people again very soon and maybe stay for longer to give something in return for their hospitality.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Some snaps can be <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150180775439385.306513.759844384&l=7ecea20430">found here...</a><br /></p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-27302116630635491162011-04-16T18:43:00.001+05:302011-04-16T18:45:44.852+05:30The tracksThere was no beginning,<br />Nor there seem to be an ending,<br />Parallel as they go,<br />Analogous is what they seem.<br /><br />Born to weather the storms,<br />Smelted to carry the weight,<br />Bolted to follow a definite path,<br />Chiseled to reduce the frictions wrath.<br /><br />Destined to never meet,<br />Designed to never quiver,<br />But, fate has its own free spirit,<br />And never follows a script.<br /><br />At the first junction,<br />Their paths crisscross,<br />A few seconds is what they got,<br />Hitting them like a dart.<br /><br />Bringing a new face to the fore<br />Changing lives evermore<br />Miles they go for the next intersection,<br />Eagerly waiting for new perceptions.diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-33370130027641389282011-04-06T21:32:00.002+05:302011-04-06T21:35:27.293+05:30Singapora: The second edition – The highs and lows…<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Now that I have officially completed one month in Singapore I feel I have enough experience to comment on the highs and lows of this place (my perspective, of course.:)).</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It has been a totally absorbing and interesting experience so far. I am still not able to completely come to terms with the fact that I am staying somewhere other than my hometown (Bangalore) and that I am here permanently (atleast for the time being..:) what an oxymoron! :)). Though that didn’t stop me from buying an iPhone, a Broadband connection and a TV connection all with 2 year contracts..:)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But the fact of the matter is I am still feeling like I am on a vacation rather than staying at a place called ‘home’. Maybe it requires some more time getting used to.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The best part of Singapore has been the Infrastructure and the way people lead their lives. It has been just amazing to experience the quality of life here. The opportunities to do new things, learn and experience them are just too much. The metro/bus can take you to any part of Singapore in an hour. The drives here are amazing mainly because the roads are excellent, the infrastructure is awesome and the surroundings are just beautiful. Despite having a space crunch there are lots of open spaces, parks etc providing enough breathing space for all. The amount of planning that went to building a city like this is immense and one would feel it’s too good to believe it’s even possible.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The people are very athletic, health conscious and spend a lot of time exercising. Makes one feel good to see so many healthy people around. One can hardly find any obese people. You are an odd man out if you go to gym in Bangalore, but here you are an odd man out if you don’t have any physical activity. And that says it all. The sheer number of activities that’s available to choose from has been heartening. I have started gymming and playing squash here. Next on my list is badminton (with my colleagues) and swimming. Its not that we don’t have these activities in Bangalore (infact I was playing badminton and also gymming regularly there too) but because of the bad infrastructure a single extra activity would tend to fill your day, which makes everything else difficult.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The work ethics here is really good. People are highly professional. I see that a lot more work gets done here in the same amount of time than in Bangalore. Though I still miss the tea sessions I used to have with my colleagues there, I sometimes feel this is for the better. Makes you utilize your time better at office and ultimately outside of it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Singapore as a location is very ideal to travel to any South East Asian country or even to Australia and NewZeland. That’s another thing I like about being here. People travel a lot and it’s really good if you are a kind who loves traveling. I have booked my tickets to Thailand (Bangkok and Pattaya) for the Good Friday weekend and planning to go to Vietnam during the May 1<sup>st</sup> weekend. This kind of frequent travel to other countries wouldn’t have been possible if I were in India.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Also, since Singapore is like the epicenter of South East Asia and also since it’s a major financial hub you get to meet people from various ethnicity and backgrounds. The rich diversity here is another attraction for people looking for a truly global experience.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Having said all this, there are quite a few not so good things about Singapore too. Many of the reasons I might divulge here might not be because we are talking about Singapore as a city but they might be true of any city that is not your ‘hometown’.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, the weather here is pretty fickle minded. It might rain at sunrise, bright sunshine later in the morning, heavy downpour in the noon, back to sunshine in the evening and might become cloudy and cold in the night. Irrespective of how the day goes, one thing that’s common is the humidity. It’s pretty humid all through and you end up sweating like a pig. I know one cannot get the famous Bangalore weather everywhere, though the people here try to beat the weather (or nature) by having air-conditioners everywhere.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Another thing you might miss is your own social circle. I understand that at any new place it becomes difficult to have a big social circle but I feel it might take me years to build one here. It’s never like your home country or your home town. This feeling becomes especially true if you are the type who doesn’t venture out, take part in activities like sports or even have the simple habit of going out and making new friends. So if one is not busy here with some kind of activity it can actually get quite boring or depressing especially considering your beloved family is also not there.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The other day when I left for gym early in the morning I felt severe stomach cramps. It was as if my life was being sucked out and I was in terrible pain. I had to travel about 45min in the bus to reach my Gym and the whole of the journey I just wanted to shout for help. Ultimately I landed in the gym and I puked for the first half an hour. I was in severe pain. My analysis was that it was mostly due to food poisoning and hence was more than happy to throw up. Most people in the gym that day saw that I was in severe discomfort but not one asked me whether I needed any help and these guys had seen me in the gym for 2 weeks. It was pretty bad. Ultimately with a friend of mine I went to the in resident doctor at office and he was not ready to treat me without signing all the documents and agreeing on the payment. Back in India it’s the same for surgery and accidents, but for stomach upset? And especially when the patient was visibly suffering? My first feeling was ‘a foreign country is always foreign especially when things start going bad’..:)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The other problem is the real-estate. For a crammed room and a so called kitchen and bathroom you end up paying exorbitant amount of money. Hence most people stay in shared accommodations but that has its own disadvantages. Also, unlike my earlier perceptions/assumptions sometimes I felt that the people here are racist too, though the behavior of people from India/Bangladesh/Pakistan here might have added substance to their belief/behavior. Also to be honest racism is prevalent in most countries in some form or another. So one shouldn’t be complaining too much about it..</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">That’s all for now…:) More on my thoughts in later posts…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Some snaps so far: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=286628&id=759844384&l=dab2d60c43">Around Singapore…</a></p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-4978654517041390412011-03-18T21:23:00.001+05:302011-03-18T21:25:38.458+05:30Singapora – My First Impression!<div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Bangalore was like ‘home’ and staying there I had setup a nice routine for myself. There was that perfect blend of work and play, an ideal mix of friends and relatives, and a wonderful combination of relaxed days and days that were studded with activities. Apart from the so called ‘work’, there were badminton outings combined with weekly parties with my colleagues, parties and get-togethers with my other friends, daily gymming, numerous marathons, biking, trekking and music concerts…I mean you get the flow right? It was never boring. In fact I really don’t know how the last few years flew by…Didn’t even have the time to think about it and I was not complaining!</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">But then here I am today at Singapore, which is in many ways poles apart compared to Bangalore. And combine that with my non-existent social circle here and living like an alien in a foreign place. ‘Why’ - is a standard question that many have asked and which infact I too have brooded over.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This was not something that happened because of my initiation. But when the opportunity presented itself and when I was asked whether I would like to move to Singapore it got me thinking. After some digging, the next question that kept cropping up was as to ‘Why’ I hadn’t thought of this myself and given it a shot before? There are so many reasons as to why this seemed perfect and it somehow felt the right step forward given all my aspirations and ambitions. The whole process of resigning at Bangalore and joining here hardly took anytime. I got my first taste of Singaporean efficiency at Bangalore when I got my work entry/visa done within 3 days and that too without even submitting my passport in original! These guys are so efficient, methodical and automated that they know you can’t do anything wrong coming here and if you do you cannot get away with it!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">As my <a href="http://dilipadiga.blogspot.com/2011/03/february-weekends.html">last post </a>elaborately explained, February was a very hectic month and I hardly had time to think about anything. Thankfully I had couple of good friends here who said they will help me out with everything. Generally before landing at any new place I read up on a city and do some basic research, but because of the lack of time and also because my friends being here I didn’t go through the usual motions for Singapore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I landed at Singapore around 8AM Sunday 6<sup>th</sup> of March. There was no problem with the immigration. It went very smooth. I was not quizzed about anything. All they asked was for my passport and the IPA letter (In Principal Approval letter – A letter with which you can enter Singapore to work and then get the actual work permit later). Everything went fine. My first thoughts were on the infrastructure. It is so good that it talks volumes on the amount of planning and hardwork the government puts in here. They are continuing to build and improve and it’s done so neatly that you wouldn’t even notice if there was a huge construction project underway right next to you. Stark contrast to the way the Metro construction is happening all around Bangalore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I hired a cab to go to my place. The cab gave me a peek of things to come. Some of the busiest streets, but hardly any haphazard traffic, such disciplined driving! Huge buildings but lots of free space everywhere, with trees and greenery all around. Just loved the surroundings!</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The first shock came in the form of my apartment...It really didn’t look one bit like a 'home'..:( After all these years of being at Bangalore it was quite a fright..:) The amount of rent that I am paying is insane for this place. But that’s Singapore for you. There was one room, a small kitchen and a so called bathroom (luxury only for ultra thin people). There was of course a living room with a sofa and a glass table (which I broke when I kept my laptop bag on it. The entire thing shattered to pieces and the post-mortem revealed that the legs on which the table stood had completely rusted). My friend who was staying there had just shifted to a new house the previous night and so the entire house was quite dirty. Had to so some initial cleaning, but it still is quite dirty and i dont think i can clean it any further. But it atleast looks livable now. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">After couple of days, nothing looks as bad as it had seemed…Life is like that, isn’t it? :)</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Went around Singapore in the afternoon with my friends. Had a nice lunch treat in one of the Indian restaurants. Shopped at Mustafa (supposed to be a famous outlet in Singapore located at Little India. Its almost like an infamous landmark here) for groceries, fruits etc..Was back at home in the evening. Without the laptop I was extremely bored and had all the time in the world to feel homesick!</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Landed at office the next day. Travelling in the MRT and public busses is quite an experience. It’s kind of very amusing and never boring. Will talk about it in my next few posts. The HP office felt like home and as soon as I entered I felt its going to be good out here :). It’s a different office atmosphere compared to Bangalore. But definitely nothing to complain about. More on office in another post.:)</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Later in the day I got my broadband, landline, TV connection and the best of all my brand new iPhone 4. All this put together took like 1.5 hours. Ridiculous isn’t it? I mean it would have taken me atleast a month to setup all of this back home. I also got my Employment Pass done the same week and it was issued with the same level of efficiency (that I now expected of them..:) ).</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">First impression had been pretty even. Mixed feelings actually. Missed many things - my family, friends, my various activities, my colleagues, the work atmosphere, and the rest of the things that I was comfortable with back home..:)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">But after that, the journey has been pretty great. Feels right to be here and more importantly I feel good. Have now setup a routine for myself here. Joined the health club at office. So I getup at 5.30 and go all the way to office for the gym, have a nice workout, freshen up and go to work directly. Reach office by 9. Have found good company here for lunch and there are quite a few food courts with an Indian outlet (which serves pretty good food). By evening I am all set to take the MRT and explore Singapore. Just waiting for my first salary here to make it a bigger exploration. Singapore is like a door to entire south-east Asia. And its waiting to be explored. I am sure this will be a very good experience for me and that I would love the time that I spend in Singapore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Will keep my blog updated on all my experiences here, both good and not so good ones..:)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"> </p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-9836049985641025612011-03-17T18:57:00.002+05:302011-03-17T19:02:44.590+05:30February weekends!<div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This February has been one of the busiest months…All the weekends were booked and the weekdays were filled. Spent the first weekend at Hyderabad with <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/dilipadiga82/Disha_Feb_2011#">my dearest niece</a> (and ofcourse my sis and bil..:)), attended Bryan Adam show, followed it up with ‘Fireflies’ and concluded with a 650Km bike ride on a 500cc Bullet!.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">How much of a music buff are you? Irrespective of the degree to which you love music, you would have loved the experience of the musical concerts that happened in those couple of weekends at Bangalore. An absolute blast!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Firstly, the much awaited Bryan Adam’s show happening after 5 years. I had been to his last show here and was really looking forward to having a great time once again. Had booked the tickets for this concert almost three months in advance. Boy! Didn’t it live upto its hype and expectation! Hearing all his songs live and simultaneously singing with thousands of people was worth it!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And then the next weekend <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/anand.josyula/Fireflies2011#">Fireflies happened</a>! What more can I say? It was even better than <a href="http://dilipadiga.blogspot.com/2010/03/fireflies.html">last year</a> with some amazing new bands playing some incredible music. My favorites this time were ‘Yodhakaa’ (A fusion of Sanskrit slokas with different musical instruments), ‘Thermal and Quarter’ (An excellent no-nonsense band), and ‘Something Relevant’ (They rocked the place at 5.30 in the morning). If you can get hold of an album from any of these groups it’s worth a buy. As far as the venue goes, it was under the same banyan tree as last time which made the event even more rocking (hopefully they wont change the venue). We were a lot better prepared this time as we had made sure we had all the necessary material (including mattress!!) to sustain us through the night. The venue, the ambience and the quality of music was so good that I vowed I will be there next year too.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The last weekend of Feburary was one of the best. Went on an <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/anand.josyula/BikeRideBelurMullayangiriKemmangundiAndChikmaglur#">awesome ride with some of my best buddies</a> on a 500cc Battle Green Bullet! Rode around 650Km covering Belur, Mullayangiri, Kemmangundi and Chikmaglur. Had hired a bullet especially for this purpose and it was worth every penny. The only sad thing was I suffered from a stomach upset on Saturday afternoon during which time we covered the best section of the ride (full bumpy roads laden with stones). Would have loved to be in good health to do such mountain kind of biking on a bullet. But unfortunately I was so down with fever and stomach pains that I couldn’t really enjoy it much. Apart from the riding, the visit to Belur temple and the stay at Chikmaglur resort were the highlights of the trip.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">With that it was the end of Feburary and my stay in Bangalore for the near future. I was gearing up for another exciting month ahead. March 1<sup>st</sup> was my official joining date at Singapore. Yep! Have joined HP Singapore and have had a fun and unique experience here so far…More on it in my next post soon!</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-92053976738500487852011-02-18T15:40:00.000+05:302011-02-18T15:42:07.224+05:30Sach is Life!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Twitter - the micro-blogging sensation has been my source of some of the most interesting material/reads for a long time now. I don’t tweet at all but I am quite an avid reader, actively reading all the tweets of people I follow. Following people who are funny, witty and who tweets articles/links that are quite interesting/resourceful has become a hobby. Like most things, twitter can be very useful if one knows how to use it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But the topic I wanted to dwell into was not on Twitter but on icons/role-models on Twitter. In particular I wanted to talk about my experience in following the great Sachin Tendulkar on Twitter. Being in a generation where I have vividly followed, idolized, and prayed for Sachin, I had built a larger than life image of him. Like for most others, to me he is the ‘God’ - because of whom I religiously followed cricket. Apart from his cricketing skills, his down to earth conduct and the manner in which he has handled himself despite the tremendous successes made him a true role-model, a perfect ambassador to a sport and a ‘God’ worthy to follow.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After watching him play for more than 2 decades and reading thousands of articles on him I had imagined and depicted him in the most positive way. Placed him on a pedestal high enough where no one could touch him, no one could shake him or change my perception about him. What I had not envisioned was that one day the ‘God’ himself would be on Twitter talking directly (even though its pseudo!) to each of us. When I first heard about it I was one of the first few thousands who had followed him in the initial few hours. How could I have missed such an opportunity? The initial few days were as if he was talking to me directly. I was ecstatic. It’s not everyday that you get a peek into your idol’s life.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But the joy didn’t last long. Its not that he said/did anything wrong but its just that I had imagined him to be a very different, compared to the person I was seeing on twitter. Maybe I was expecting his tweets to be as good as his cricketing skills or maybe I was expecting him to discuss issues on twitter that otherwise he wouldn’t delve into or maybe tweet anything that’s as interesting or as exciting as his antics on the cricket field. I am not sure of the reasoning but I really felt let down. And after a few weeks I un-followed him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Again, its not that he did anything wrong, infact he was actually being his normal down-to-earth self, but it just somehow didn’t fit my image of him. It’s interesting how we imagine and hypothesize on the lives of people whom we have hardly met or known. And when we start actually get to know them a little better we react in different ways. This incident is just one such example.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-83485316162291992452011-02-16T14:14:00.000+05:302011-02-16T14:15:17.940+05:30Mistakes and experiments!<div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">It was very funny. My friend had gifted me an iPod Shuffle about 4 years back and after all these years of consistently using it I just found a new feature on it! Obviously by mistake! If you are an iPod user you would know that there is no need to read up on any documentation as it’s all intuitive (as is the case with most Apple products) and so you tend to use the product straightaway after some initial exploration. But today, by mistake I found out something that I had not known was possible on a shuffle. Because after all these years, does one really go out of routine to try anything different?<span style=""> </span>But there it was a new thing observed and learned.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">It made me smile. How aptly this experience could be applied to ‘life’. Imagine a life with no mistakes, how pathetic and routine could that be? Most things we learn, <span style=""> </span>experience, and become wiser are because of the mistakes that we make and not because of the successes. Maybe that’s why in corporate world ‘mistakes’ are always termed as ‘learnings’…</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">But sometimes we reach a stage where one stops making mistakes, one starts to follow a routine that one is comfortable with. This might fetch rich dividends, but in the long term he/she is the loser. So continuing to experiment is the key, as that would mean breaking the shackles. I have had my share of mistakes in the past, which I like to believe were because of my experiments, and I have not regretted them one bit. Hope the future is as dynamic and would lead me to unexplored territories and unchartered waters!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-82217613511967313992011-01-18T01:44:00.000+05:302011-01-18T01:45:37.181+05:30The year that was and that wasn’t!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A whole year has passed and we are in the start of a brand new year. January is the month in which one generally contemplates on the year that passed by, pass judgements on it and then call for new resolutions. Here I am, definitely not trying to do that but only briefly touching on the subject so that I have a new post to publish..:)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Well it had been one of the most topsy-turvy years that I have ever been in. Had some of the greatest moments, but by far it has also been one of the most disappointing years. There are some outstanding things that I am really happy about - One is my new travel/backpacking venture <a href="http://backpackingtoeurope.com/">http://backpackingtoeurope.com/</a><span style=""> </span>that really took off right from the day it was launched. I still remember how happy I was when I logged into my Citibank account to see the payment that was made by my first customer! Since then there has been a constant stream of customers, thanks mainly to my friends who have spread the word and popularized it. I can’t express in words what this venture means to me!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The other thing I am extremely happy or proud about was my completion of the <a href="http://dilipadiga.blogspot.com/2010/11/mind-over-matter-finishing-bangalore.html">75Kilometer Bangalore Ultra Marathon</a>. A feat that I never thought I would even attempt let alone finish one. It was one of those amazing moments that give you the confidence that anything can be achievable in this world. There are moments in life when one feels whether the thing one aspires for is really achievable? There are moments when one feels whether even trying or pursuing a goal is even worth the attempt? Goals that you somehow thought were beyond your reach…During those moments I think of this experience and I smile, I smile thinking what if I had given up half way? What if I had not crossed <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 50%; -moz-background-size: auto auto; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" leohighlights_keywords="the%20finish%20line" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520finish%2520line%26domain%3Dwww.blogger.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520finish%2520line%26domain%3Dwww.blogger.com" leohighlights_underline="true">the finish line</leo_highlight>? What if I hadn’t even registered for it or even attempted it? ‘There’, I get my answer and I continue…It is these experiences that really makes life worth living and I just hope this year and the coming years I will have more such stories to tell..</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Apart from these there have been several others exceptional moments and phases that I don’t want to dwell into here. I have also lost the count of the number of trips, treks etc that I have taken this year. Each one has a story to tell and an experience to live. A phenomenal year on several counts!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">However that’s not even half the story. As fate has it I feel the year 2010 will be remembered not for these things but for some of the greatest disappointments I have had to face in my life. A very heavy setback in the first quarter of the year to start with, ultimately finishing off with one of the biggest ever disappointment towards the end of the year. And this when I don’t even consider me missing the <a href="http://dilipadiga.blogspot.com/2010/11/dream-vaporized.html">Athens Marathon</a> and the subsequent backpacking trip to Europe as a disappointment! 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</script> </span>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-27813742671161855692010-12-09T14:34:00.001+05:302010-12-10T20:22:46.993+05:30The dawnWinds churning at great speed,<br />Lightening adding to the aura of creed,<br />The rain camouflaging the tears,<br />The cold freezing the fears.<br /><br />One thought to just let go,<br />Guzzle salty water in full flow,<br />Sinking to the bottom of the ocean,<br />Troubles evanesce through the motion.<br /><br />The ambitious future flashing in a trice,<br />Hope brightening up the eyes,<br />But ends up descrying the vast ocean near and beyond,<br />Making current location an obvious end point.<br /><br />Spots of life boats now and then,<br />Obvious to thee but not to them,<br />The latest one few meters at best,<br />But no one on board to throw the Mae West.<br /><br />The rise of the new day,<br />Should have brought new sanguinity and gay,<br />But reminiscence of past unfair days,<br />Leading to nothing but despair to face.<br /><br />The last of the options gone long ago,<br />Forcing you to finally let go,<br />Spiraling down the epicenter in a rapid plummet,<br />No time to regret, nothing to lament.<br /><br />Suddenly a hand bends down offering help,<br />No life left to grab, due to vanishing pep,<br />Series of splashes heard at a distant,<br />The noises waking me up in an instant.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-82572685756865553002010-12-06T22:08:00.001+05:302010-12-06T22:27:52.314+05:30Jazz my day!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz">Jazz</a> - A genre of popular music that originated in New Orleans around 1900 and developed through increasingly complex styles. Jazz, as we know, has been evolving over the last century and continues to mesmerize people.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">‘<a href="http://dilipadiga.blogspot.com/2010/03/fireflies.html">Fireflies</a>’ introduced me to my first live Jazz music and that was the night when I got totally engrossed in its music style. HFT, a jazz trio from Delhi performed live on that day and left the crowd spell bound. So when I heard about the <a href="http://www.jazzutsavfestival.com/">Jazz Utsav festival</a>, I was all ready to go!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The event at Bangalore was held at the Chowdiah Memorial hall. The expectations were sky high. The build up and anticipation was at its peak. It was a three hour event and the first one and a half hour was one of the most boring music I had ever heard. Not that it was completely bad, but just that the expectations were high and the music was too monotonous for comfort.<span style=""> </span><span class="orangehead">Murcof, Talvin & Truffaz were the performers and Talvin behind tubla atleast made the performance bearable.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="orangehead">After the break it was the turn of <a href="http://www.jazzutsavfestival.com/Headlining_Bands.asp?Headlining_Bands_Code=1003">Larry Carlton</a> to take the centre stage. </span><span class="greytxt">Eighteen-time Grammy nominee, three-time Grammy winner, Larry Carlton played wonderfully. It compensated for the first half of the concert. Added to his great guitar skills, the co-guitarist were too good while the drummer was just plain awesome. Overall the team delivered a beautiful performance and made sure people don’t go back home disappointed.</span><span class="orangehead"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="orangehead"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="orangehead">The concert has made me gear up for two of the most eagerly awaited events – Bryan Adams Concert and Fireflies-2011, both of which is happening on consecutive weekends in February! Now that week would be really something!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="orangehead"><br /></span></p><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-9031464501241861232010-12-04T02:43:00.001+05:302010-12-04T09:13:50.780+05:30Demanding Gratification!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After dropping my friend back home, I saw this person tapping the window of my car begging for money. I am not the kind who donates money, especially to people who begs at junctions, but that day was different. I removed a 10 rupee note and gave it to his extended hand.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I don’t know what I was expecting from the gesture but to be honest I didn’t feel anything. Why is ‘no feeling’ disappointing?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Why do people give alms? Isn’t it some kind of a trade or a transaction between two people? The person giving alms expects gratitude, expects happiness in helping someone, or expects that smile/reaction from the other person, while the person receiving alms expects money for showing that reaction, for making the giver feel happy about it. But why was it that I felt indifferent to the entire process?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Why is it that we do what we do? What do our actions speak about us? Where does it all lead us? What is the end goal? - Gratification! The actions, reactions, non-actions all in one way or other searching in its own unique way for ‘gratification’.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At what point of time do we expect gratification? Do we indulge in short-term ones or long-term ones? One which involves a short cut or a longer definite path? Should one expect gratification when one initiates a task or an action, or while executing it or when one completes it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Completion? When does one decide a task is completed or not?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It’s the intention that matters? It’s the participation that matters? It’s the journey that matters? Whom are we fooling?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15354707.post-26644623407388330342010-11-26T12:06:00.001+05:302010-11-26T12:14:51.046+05:30Wilderness…In the middle of the grasslands,<br />The bench stands,<br />Providing a wonderful sight,<br />To those who want to sit day and night,<br />Sitting alone, the sights gave her glee,<br />But most times all she wanted to do was flee.<br /><br />To discover new lands and seas,<br />She was ever ready to discard the tranquility and peace,<br />After years of attempts,<br />All she managed was trails of discontent,<br />Breaking new grounds,<br />A profound truth she found,<br />‘Jumping boundaries and overcoming situations in crunch,<br />Unfortunately, always led her back to the same bench’.<br /><br />Opening both its arms,<br />The ‘wilderness’ cast its charms,<br />Enticing her with more dreams and delusions,<br />Working on her fantasies and illusions,<br />She threw her watch, preparing for a long haul,<br />Shattering chimera, she felt the time crawl.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>diliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204543222861590660noreply@blogger.com8