Friday, December 29, 2006
The year that wasn’t …
Trying to put a dialog with me and my alter-ego!
I need a girlfriend …
Nah! You are too old for that … and then that wasn’t in the objectives even …
OK … I was to get married … at least get engaged!
Hmm… you didn’t try too hard! And it wasn’t ur responsibility either … remember you outsourced it to your parents!!!
I was to get a fat pay check ...
Think again … do you think you deserved it…
Ok … at least a good raise
Think again ... what have u done to earn that!!!
What about my onsite trip …
U did made a visit to UK… so what if it was hardly 2 days…
Having a better work-life balance …
Whoa! … you can’t have the cake and eat it too! You need a big pay check and a work life balance! … Get practical. Buddy … you need to get a life first …
OK OK … that’s it … the New Year resolution … (and before I could finish)
Repeat the old set!!!
I need a girlfriend …
Nah! You are too old for that … and then that wasn’t in the objectives even …
OK … I was to get married … at least get engaged!
Hmm… you didn’t try too hard! And it wasn’t ur responsibility either … remember you outsourced it to your parents!!!
I was to get a fat pay check ...
Think again … do you think you deserved it…
Ok … at least a good raise
Think again ... what have u done to earn that!!!
What about my onsite trip …
U did made a visit to UK… so what if it was hardly 2 days…
Having a better work-life balance …
Whoa! … you can’t have the cake and eat it too! You need a big pay check and a work life balance! … Get practical. Buddy … you need to get a life first …
OK OK … that’s it … the New Year resolution … (and before I could finish)
Repeat the old set!!!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The tale of two weddings ...
My home visit this vacation saw two of very close friends got married. I was able attend wedding of one and reception of another. Considering their wedding was separated by just a day, only one of them was possible to attend.
I came home and stayed over for two days. The third day I was off to Lucknow to attend Dr A’s wedding. He’s getting married to another Dr (college junior though) – but an arranged wedding (really surprise factor!). My entrance at his place started with me to take up responsibility of the grooming of the groom!!! Yes … I had to decide what he’s going to wear for his Jaimaal, Pheras and further ceremonies – added with Sr A’s selection too … after a long puja – the barat started – this gentleman was too scared to sit on horse – so Honda city was called for. Barat took its own sweet time to reach the destination … at the destination too – some puja and then jaimaal – and then photo sessions – and then dinner. Post dinner, only family members were remaining for the pheras. Pandits took their time to do the entire ceremony while I spent time chatting with A’s sis. By the time pheras ended and other related ceremonies from the bride side ended it was early morning 5am! … Post vidai we returned home with some more ceremonies waiting … Ah!!! Too many of them … (I am wondering what’ll happen to me when I’ll be the bakra!) … finally I said good bye to the newly wedded couple by 11 and headed back to home. It was almost close to 40 hr non-stop no-sleep which led me in a dizzy state by the end of it…
The next day I had to prepare for another trip … since the wedding was next day of Dr A’s, we (me and AN) decided to attend the reception instead. AN boarded his flight in Delhi on time … but got delayed due to ATC!!! (Imagine 12 planes queued up for take off)… finally AN landed in Lucknow where we just roamed around H’zrt Ganj and straight to my home. The next day we went to Allahabad to catch another train to PT’s home … PT is the guy who got married… the wait for the train at the Allahabad station was the one I am sure AN wouldn’t forget his life … though we started just 4 hrs late, by the time we reached the destination, the train was almost 7 hrs late … phew … the reception was uneventful (by our standards … it was good) … the next day PT came to us (our hotel) so that he can actually catch some sleep which he needed desperately … for the return journey the train which was to take us back arrived just short of 12 hrs late. Thankfully it started just a couple of hours late from the origin station … and reached our destination without more delay … though the woes was increased as there was no pantry car in the train … and the route was also dry in terms of food, drinks, and ... ahem ... The only good part of the over all journey was that we got free upgrades to AC2 from AC3 (which I got booked under tatkal scheme). It was late evening by the time we reached home after catching another train from Allahabad.
After seeing and hearing both the weeding woes … I am really scared!!!
I came home and stayed over for two days. The third day I was off to Lucknow to attend Dr A’s wedding. He’s getting married to another Dr (college junior though) – but an arranged wedding (really surprise factor!). My entrance at his place started with me to take up responsibility of the grooming of the groom!!! Yes … I had to decide what he’s going to wear for his Jaimaal, Pheras and further ceremonies – added with Sr A’s selection too … after a long puja – the barat started – this gentleman was too scared to sit on horse – so Honda city was called for. Barat took its own sweet time to reach the destination … at the destination too – some puja and then jaimaal – and then photo sessions – and then dinner. Post dinner, only family members were remaining for the pheras. Pandits took their time to do the entire ceremony while I spent time chatting with A’s sis. By the time pheras ended and other related ceremonies from the bride side ended it was early morning 5am! … Post vidai we returned home with some more ceremonies waiting … Ah!!! Too many of them … (I am wondering what’ll happen to me when I’ll be the bakra!) … finally I said good bye to the newly wedded couple by 11 and headed back to home. It was almost close to 40 hr non-stop no-sleep which led me in a dizzy state by the end of it…
The next day I had to prepare for another trip … since the wedding was next day of Dr A’s, we (me and AN) decided to attend the reception instead. AN boarded his flight in Delhi on time … but got delayed due to ATC!!! (Imagine 12 planes queued up for take off)… finally AN landed in Lucknow where we just roamed around H’zrt Ganj and straight to my home. The next day we went to Allahabad to catch another train to PT’s home … PT is the guy who got married… the wait for the train at the Allahabad station was the one I am sure AN wouldn’t forget his life … though we started just 4 hrs late, by the time we reached the destination, the train was almost 7 hrs late … phew … the reception was uneventful (by our standards … it was good) … the next day PT came to us (our hotel) so that he can actually catch some sleep which he needed desperately … for the return journey the train which was to take us back arrived just short of 12 hrs late. Thankfully it started just a couple of hours late from the origin station … and reached our destination without more delay … though the woes was increased as there was no pantry car in the train … and the route was also dry in terms of food, drinks, and ... ahem ... The only good part of the over all journey was that we got free upgrades to AC2 from AC3 (which I got booked under tatkal scheme). It was late evening by the time we reached home after catching another train from Allahabad.
After seeing and hearing both the weeding woes … I am really scared!!!
Delhi Metro…
En-route to my home, I made an overnight transit visit to Delhi and this time I took some time out to take a ride on Delhi Metro. It was little nostalgic – as about close to two decades ago I took a joy ride on Calcutta Metro – the first in India. Then I was kid and it was really fun to go underground levels and enter a totally different “clean” zone of Calcutta – a centrally air cooled and sparkling clean floors … trains having automatic doors for opening and closing with a radio welcoming and notifying of the stations coming forth and also the announcement of side of the platform and doors opening and closing.
A similar experience I revisited at Delhi Metro. The only difference was the route I took at Delhi was over the roads and in Cal it was totally underground. Today however, Cal Metro is crowded like anything – especially in the office hours. It being cheap (though relatively expensive), people are now using Cal Metro as an alternative mode of daily commutation. I think in Delhi is reaching that stage fast – though expensive (and relatively inexpensive) – public is rapidly taking it as an alternative safe transportation system. It also suits Delhi as a National Capital!!!
But I think there is still need for feeder services (of either auto-ricks or buses) from Metro Stations to smaller areas in Delhi – something like in Mumbai – may be its there – but I didn’t notice!
Whatever it is … I think it’s a good means of commutation and other state govts should use it as an example for their key cities … Bangalore – anyone listening!!!
A similar experience I revisited at Delhi Metro. The only difference was the route I took at Delhi was over the roads and in Cal it was totally underground. Today however, Cal Metro is crowded like anything – especially in the office hours. It being cheap (though relatively expensive), people are now using Cal Metro as an alternative mode of daily commutation. I think in Delhi is reaching that stage fast – though expensive (and relatively inexpensive) – public is rapidly taking it as an alternative safe transportation system. It also suits Delhi as a National Capital!!!
But I think there is still need for feeder services (of either auto-ricks or buses) from Metro Stations to smaller areas in Delhi – something like in Mumbai – may be its there – but I didn’t notice!
Whatever it is … I think it’s a good means of commutation and other state govts should use it as an example for their key cities … Bangalore – anyone listening!!!
Monday, December 04, 2006
OO7 … Bond … James Bond!
Have been trying to catch up the bond classics on star movies last few weeks … still - missed out few of them … and finally saw Casino Royale … the latest flick of Ian Flemings’ creations.
My review …
The new Bond – he’s good … Sean was Classy and Peirce was Charming … Craig is Tough! He’s different, but suits the “bond” profile. Great body and looks, and uses more brains (at least in his first movie) than the gadgets …
The Movie – the first few minutes were AWESOME! … The chase sequence on a construction site in middle of Africa (or wherever!) was simply superb … however, the movie loses pace with sudden end of story and dramatic (?!) ending with bond girl giving a negative touch and M justifying her negativism!
Damn! I missed Q!!!
My review …
The new Bond – he’s good … Sean was Classy and Peirce was Charming … Craig is Tough! He’s different, but suits the “bond” profile. Great body and looks, and uses more brains (at least in his first movie) than the gadgets …
The Movie – the first few minutes were AWESOME! … The chase sequence on a construction site in middle of Africa (or wherever!) was simply superb … however, the movie loses pace with sudden end of story and dramatic (?!) ending with bond girl giving a negative touch and M justifying her negativism!
Damn! I missed Q!!!
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