Bloggers Vs. NDTV

You must have come across it by now. A blog post criticizing NDTV and Burkha Dutt, highhandedness by NDTV and now the blogshphere up in arms.

Follow it at Blogbharti.

Follow it at Desipundit.

Fog on the Road, Cobwebs in the Mind

Fog on the Roads

Last week, I got quite thick fog twice in the morning when I was driving to work. I used to be quite terrified of driving through it when I was new with my car. Now I somehow manage without my face turning chalk white.

Now I can't show you a picture of cobwebs in the mind! But I saw them quite clearly today when I watched the women's singles final of the Australian Open Tennis. There is no other way to describe Dianara Safina's game in the final against Serena Williams. And it was quite painful to watch, because self-doubt is something I am no stranger to!

I plan to watch more fog on the road, rather than cobwebs of my mind in 2009. It has been very busy January and quite satisfying too.

Painting the City Palace (Jaipur) Pink

Painting the Palace Pink, in the Pink City Jaipur

Footprints on the Sands!

Footprints on the Sand, Surathkal Beach

I wonder what do you think when you see your own footprints on the sand? I know the thought process might go in so many directions! Some of it I must have read somewhere, like the fragility of my efforts. After all, for the waves, it hardly takes any time or effort to wipe them out!

Then there used to be this very famous poster (in other people's rooms) when I was at IITK (Ph.D days) where in the most troubled times there are only one set of footprints visible on the sands of time! Heck even in this picture only one set of footprints are visible but those are very well mine and these are sands of Surathkal beach and not sands of time! And I guess it is better that way (I wonder how will I feel if I look at this picture say even 5 years from now) :D

By now you must have realized that I am a miserable flop when I try to philosophize! So what were my real thoughts when I tried to compose the shot above? That I thoroughly enjoy walking, footprints be damned, but they sure do look good in a picture! I only wish I was a better photographer and the picture was a little sharper.

So, what are your thoughts about the sands of time?

What do We do with the Time we 'Save'

Picture taken from the Manglore Express, as it was entering Mangalore Station

When we were planning our journey to Bangalore by train in December 2008, a frequent consideration was to 'save' time. I think it is a common tendency of almost everyone to try and 'save' time. I wonder what do we all do with the saved time! This occurred to me for the first time when I was writing a short post on the Bangalore train journey for CLAY.

The biggest advantage of traveling by the Rajdhani Express to Bangalore, is the time saved (though I wonder what we do with the amount of time we try to keep saving, sometimes it feels it is better to spend that time on rain, rather than in my mundane activities).

So what do you do with the time you save?

Lazy Sunday Photos- ITM Gwalior

I was at Gwalior on Friday and Saturday taking a few sessions at ITM Gwalior.

ITM Gwalior, SOM (School of Management) Building

When I crossed the area (see picture above) I was reminded of my IIT Kanpur (Ph.D.) days. Bee Hives were quite a common site around the Faculty Building (or Fac B as it was called). The only thing that puzzled me was that this hive was quite close to people. Whereas if I understood bees from IITK correctly they do not like such close proximity nor do we humans feel too comfortable, after all they sting! Anyway I went inside to take a session which was in a class room quite close to this area. It was only later when I came out of the class that I realized what it was.

The Ghungroos (metallic bells used in some forms of Indian dances) from Which this Hive was Built

I knew I could be quite oblivious of my surroundings but never thought I was this bad! But then a lot of credit to the artist who made this bee-hive.

Another Art Installation at ITM Gwalior

This was another curious thing I saw! Some use of a discarded car, motorbike petrol tank and you have something like above!

The Open Air Amphitheater at ITM Gwalior

This was an impressive open air amphitheater with a lot of art work on the outside and Bose speakers inside!

Taking a Train Tomorrow Again!

Sunset near Bhusawal, Karnatka Express Train

I am taking a Shatabdi again tomorrow, but this time for work. I am wondering if should even carry my SLR or not? But better to have more cameras than less. What do you say!

Can You Draw or Paint?

Flowers against the Sky at Bangalore

I got into a conversation a few months back that was about painting. I was declared a bad painter, I was actully painting future scenarios! I have no objections to that. I was remembering the incident today and I thought I would talk about another related stuff.

When I was in school, drawing was a compulsory subject. I almost always stood second in the class! The girl who stood first would score around 76 in drawing and I would score 36 to 40 (33 were passing marks). That too because the drawing teacher knew I was good at other subjects and probably she had a kind heart and was disinclined to fail me. The final difference between the two of us would be 2-15 marks, but then how much could reasonably I cover from that 30+ handicap in just one subject?

When drawing was out of the syllabus I was so, so happy. But it dawned on me suddenly today that my situation is not so hopeless. I can take pictures and I actually enjoy taking pictures a lot! I mean like the picture above, I can never paint like that, but hey taking pictures is also quite exciting!

PS. I know for sure that Bindu can draw. And take pictures too!

Indian Chinese Food at Chung Wah!

When people ask me (they rarely do, I wonder why?) what kind of food I like my answer is Chinese and then I add Indian Chinese and not Chinese Chinese! I have had Chinese Chinese (in the real sense) only once at Singapore and it was so bland for my Indian taste buds that I decided it is not for me.

Not so with Indian Chinese, it is sufficiently spicy and I really enjoy it.

Chung Wah at Jayanagar, Bangalore

So, when I was in Bangalore and met Lakshmi for lunch she did ask me what would I like to eat. After taking a lot of time I finally stated my wish, Chinese and Chinese it was. Her friends had recommended Chung Wah and that is where we headed.

Now when I am sitting in the January chill of Gurgaon, I remember all the more clearly how beautiful the weather was and the terrace of the restaurant is actually nice!

Mushroom Soup

Another thing that I like is Mushroom, mushroom and more mushrooms! And I started with Mushroom Soup and Lakshmi had ordered Hot and Sour soup. After the first spoon both of us readily concurred that the soups tasted really good! So far so good.

Schezwan Rice

Both us shared the rice and the vegetables and the portions (for us) were quite generous, the food worth writing a post about! I can heartily recommend Chung Wah, it is in Jayanagar 3rd block.

Cauliflower in Sauce

And now it is somewhat late at night in India and I am craving for Maggi (some more Chinese noodles made by Nestle) but there is none in stock! I think I will have to do with some bread and eggs. What a let down.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Sea at Surathkal

Sea at Surathkal Beach, Mangalore, South India

You know things are hectic when I am unable to reply to the comments that I love to get. I wonder when do I get to walk by the sea again!For the past 15 days it was quite hectic, I was often missing on sleep. I thought I would not do much this week but then the way things turned out, it is going to be more of missing on sleep at least for the coming week too!

Knife on the Beach!

Knife at Surathkal Beach

If you ask me what was this knife doing at the Surathkal Beach, your guess is as good as mine. I do have a theory about it but it would be fun to read your views first!

While I am Slogging ...

While I am slogging for a day or two more, I would leave you with this crazy idea that was floated at Indiamike by Downjim, he wants to hire an auto rickshaw to go to Ladakh-

A group of friends and I are considering getting hold of the some auto rickshaws and driving from Delhi to Manali-Leh-Srinagar-Delhi this summer. We are expecting people to say it is a ridiculous idea. We are all pretty clued up on the scene in India and in particular Kashmir and are not easily put off however- as have just come back from driving an ambulance across the Sahara and clearly the Rickshaw Run has several races across India each year all of which are 3000kms+.

How what do we say to that?

Pani Puri Anyone?

Pani Puri at a Mall in Noida, India

You know what? When you have lot of work to do, meet some deadline, you want the most irrational things. I have a deadline of 15th Jan and here I am craving for some Pani Puri. If you have never tried it before, you have to try it once. I had gone there in December with my sis and would head there again at the first opportunity. There is a road side version of this too but because of the suspect water quality, I can now stomach the stuff only at the mall, where they use bottled water. What a pity.

Lazy Sunday Video from Youtube- Hotel Kerelafonia

There is only one way to describe Hotel Kerelafonia, hilaroious! I just stumbled upon it while I was on Youtube. Maybe one needs to know a little bit about Kerela but even without that you are going to like it. Give it a try.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Flower Shop Owner with an Attitude!

Flower Shop, Bangalore

I am very hesitant to photograph people for the fear of giving them offense. So I was clicking pictures of the flowers at the shop (Gandhi Bazaar, Bangalore) when we noticed that the gentleman had taken out a 1000 rupee note and was pointing it to my camera. I, of course, was very happy to oblige!

Yet More Images from Gandhi Bazaar, Bangalore

I think I got the most colorful pictures in Bangalore while strolling through the Gandhi Bazaar. It also helped that I went there twice. And we always went to buy something, it was not a long stroll or one meant for photography and yet I could capture so many images that I still enjoy looking at.

Bean Seeds for Sale

These bean seeds (I don't know what they are called in the local language) are used for making Sambar (a hot spicy curry) and December is the season. So the pavements were full of people selling them.

Wild Red Berries

Not sure what these are but they for sure caught my eye. Thet resembled a small football from a distance and there was a green version too.

Sugar Canes for Sale

We actually bought two and the next day I chewed one of them. Pure bliss. Sugarcane juice was also on sale but I am quite careful about the water I consume (caught jaundice, typhoid and what not as a child). And the canes were so soft that it was quite easy to take the skin out with teeth and just chew on the juice. If you have not done it till now, you have to try it once.

Indian Gooseberry or Amla as we call it

The Amlas were lying in a heap and looked quite photo worthy. It is supposed to be full of vitamin C and tastes a little bitter. At home there always used to be Amla chutney in the season and instructions to eat it. This time, I just took the picture.

One More Train Video

Bhusawal Station, Indian Railway Platform

I was in the Karnataka Express train at the Bhusawal Platform right across the scene, traveling back from Bangalore to New Delhi. I had the camera in my hand and I was standing at the door of the AC III coach but this was not the platform side. From the movement that I could see on the next platform I knew soon there would be a train coming. We after all have this peculiar habit of peering out and then everyone would start when someone has spotted the train. And for sure soon the train came in!

Video of a Lassi Shop from Amritsar by Hobo

I was looking at a video by Hobo and thought I would share it at my blog too. He takes a video at a more than 70 year old Lassi (an Indian cold drink made of curd) shop at Amritsar and I quite enjoyed it. To see the video head to Hobo's blog now called India.

One of the oldest halwai in the city. Kalu, the autodriver (hope you remember) showed us the shop as we were moving towards Ramtirth. Estd. 1937, opposite Regent Cinema, Katra-Shersingh, Amritsar, Punjab.

A must visit place. I love the malaie put on top of lassi. It was awesome. (italics mine).

What a Day it Was!

Surathkal Beach

The first week of the semester is the most difficult one but today was just so tiring. It is so difficult to believe that just a week before I was on a vacation and sometime last week I was also on a sea beach! Sometimes it is better not to relive a tiring day, so I would not crib about it anymore.

I was also just asking my nephew if we should go somewhere in the long weekend that is coming along January 26th but he refused, saying he does not want to miss his gym sessions!

Enron Comes Home through Satyam

Just came back from a class the read that in the Satyam Computer's balance sheet of 5361 crore , 5040 crore is fictitious money and and accrued interest of 376 crore is non-existent! Some accounting I must say. I hear you say something about having auditors? Well PricewaterhouseCoopers are said to be the auditors of this Satyam Fraud.

Here is what I read at the Economic Times-

Raju’s letter to the company board revealed a fraud of unprecedented proportions. He states that Satyam’s balance sheet as on Sep 30, 2008, carries an inflated (non-existent)cash and bank balances of Rs 5,040 crore (as against Rs 5,361 reflected in the books).

Further, it carries an accrued interest of Rs 376 crore which is non-existent. The books carry an understated liability of Rs 1,230 crore on account of funds arranged by Raju, and an over stated debtors position of Rs 490 crore (as against Rs 2,651 crore in the books).

Different Ways They Torture You 0n the Rajdhani Express Train

Announcement and Music on the Bangalore Rajdhani Express Train

We traveled by the Rajdhani Express recently from New Delhi to Bangalore (and came back by the Karnataka Express Train, both AC III coaches. So the journey must be comparable, Right? Well, hear me out and then decide for yourself.

There is a big advantage of traveling by the Rajdhani Express to Bangalore, it is a faster train than Karnataka Express. It takes 36 hours to reach Bangalore by Rajdhani and 42 by Karnataka Express.

The tickets of the Rajdhani Express are a bit more expensive but assume that the difference really does not matter to you.

Now listen to the sound track in the video above (after two minutes you can listen to a small sample of the tunes they keep playing on the public address system of the train).

• How do you find the welcome after boarding the Rajdhani Express train? That cacophony continues for a good ten minutes when you board the train and it can send small children into a crying frenzy!
• They wake you up between 6.00 and 7.00 am in the morning to drink tea! Don't get me wrong, I live on tea but at 6.00 am I like only one thing and that is sleep!
• The sample song that you listened to (what you did not listen to the soundtrack of the video? Do that first before you read any further). They play it at all the hours of day and night. One of the things I am looking forward on a 36 hour journey is to catch up on sleep! It is impossible with the music blaring at all hours at a volume over which I have no control.
• It might have made sense to play music (for a limited period) in an era when music players were not in every device you could think of! Now if I wish to listen to a song I can with my mobile phone and so can almost everyone that is the target market of the Rajdhani Express!
• They have been playing the same songs since last 20 years or so it feels.
• We realized this time that there is a person in the pantry whose job is to play the songs. You can request him to play it down but whether he will comply and for how long is any body's guess.
• The sound system is pathetic. It just drives you nuts with the repetitive music in screeching tones at all hours. I wonder if there is someone who likes to listen to it, but then I am sure the Indian Railway is not going to conduct a customer satisfaction survey anytime soon.

Now would you blame me if I wish to avoid the Rajdhani Express train the next time around even though if it means sitting for longer in the Karnataka Express but mercifully without a public address system?

More on Traveling on the Footboard of the Karnataka Express Train

A Video from the Moving Karnataka Express Train

If you have traveled in the Indian trains you know people follow a pattern. Sesha and I were in one of the AC III coaches in the Karnataka Express train with 6 other people for close company. There are six berths (out of which we occupied two) facing each-other and two on the side (sometimes 3 on the side but that is another sotry). A kid if 6 years and his grandfather occupied the other two seats out of remaining four. Then there were two more couples to make the number complete.

When we boarded the train at Bangalore, there were so many people inside the coach but that is common. There would be two people to see off one or two who are traveling and they will remain inside the coach till the train is just about to move.

Then as the train started all the co-passengers try to gauge each-other. I thought my lot was quite reasonable. I was a little worried about the 6 year old, after all the journey was 42 hours long and even adults find it difficult to pass time. Bu he turned out to be a remarkably non fussy kid, he would only ask like a stuck record, "When will the food come?" "When will the train move?" "When will our station come?" and the like. But that was really not much.

As everyone was coming from a 'home' destination the dinner meant opening food brought from home. Only someone traveling for business would be usually an exception for it! Dinner from home over, people in my 8 seats set went to sleep quickly.

I am usually one of the last person to wake up in the mornings and that is what I did. It is a difficult task to use the by now dirty loo and brush my teeth. Breakfast follows it. If the lot is amiable chit-chat would start among book-reading passengers. In this manner somehow the lunchtime arrives. After lunch most of the people go for an afternoon nap.

That is when I decided that I would go and stand at the doors of the AC coach (my nephews tell me that it would be much more crowded in a Sleeper Coach and I may not like it) with my small point and shoot camera. Men do this all the time, women have also started doing it a little bit but it attracts attention.

However, most of the people at the open doors of the moving train were college kids and as I teach students of the same age, they very well left me alone. It must be my frown that warns people not to try and start a conversation with me (even then a school lad borrowed my mobile looking for songs and took one picture of the countryside for me with my camera). I requested a gentleman to take a picture of mine sitting at the door and later I was advised by him not to stand too close to the door when the train is coming to a halt or someone may snatch my camera in quite a patronising manner. One has to take such comments in stride.

Clicking pictures from a moving train can be a frustrating experience. That is when I decided to make a video instead and clicked pictures when the train would slow down!

PS. I am in way encouraging anyone to travel on the footboard and near an oen door. I did it just for a lark and even though quite common, you will find warnings all over the train advising against it.

Fishermen Launching a Boat at the Sea- A Video from Surathkal

Fishermen Launching a Boat at the Sea, Surathkal Beach

I was walking along the Sutarhkal Beach when I saw the fishermen launching a boat at the sea. It took some 20 men and a lot of waves to get the boat finally moving at the sea. Saw this for the first time and was really thrilled!

There are a lot of the houses along the Surathkal Beach and you can see people coming out of their houses to casually take an evening stroll. The problem is that they also treat it as their dumping yard (if you walk to your left, when facing the sea), still it is relatively clean.

I did not meet a single tourist on my walk for one hour in one direction and then back. But I did see a lot of fishermen, children, women and school kids playing in their backyard, that is the beach! I really enjoyed my day.

Hope you like the video.

Lazy Sunday Photo- At the Footboard of the Karnataka Express Train

At the Footboard of the Karnataka Express Train

All these years I wonder how come I never traveled near the door of a train. It is a very common practice in India, however no one is thrilled at my adventure at home! And before you think it is not a common practice, have a look below.

A Young Lad at the Other Door of Karnataka Express Train

What did you do on January 1, 2009?

Surathkal Beach

What did you do on 1st January? It became 12.00 midnight for me in a train, somewhere between Mangalore to Bangalore. Woke up once at 12.45, smiled to myself that it is 2009 and went back to sleep again. We were in a sleeper coach (no AC) and it was a little cold.

Then we changed two buses to reach home. After breakfast, I sat down and wrote the entire Surathkal Beach trip account. Now that is a good way to begin a new year for me! But as I cannot upload the pictures from the SLR and the point and shoot camera, the posting of the trip account has to wait. Did many more things (like eating out with friends and reading an academic paper in the evening) but the best memoray of the day is about walking.

I was walking around the area where we are staying and for a while I thought I could feel the waves lapping at my feet again. Of course this lasted only for a couple of seconds but it was such a wonderful feeling.

And while you read this I would be on a train heading North!

So what did you on 1st January?

Bye Bye Bangalore- Some More Images from the Vegetable Mart and Market

I would be leaving for Gurgaon today later in the evening. It was quite a pleasant stay at Bangalore and a fabulous trip to Surathkal Beach.

I am so glad I managed to meet Lakshmi and Nilesh. I have many more friends from college days in Bangalore and next time I will surely try to catch up with them too.

Red dried Chillies at the Corner Shop

Bottle Gourds, All Stacked at 'Smart' Departmental Store


Musk Mellon and Mellon at the Departmental Store

Chillies and Parwal at the Departmental Store

I am quite amazed at the pictures I have clicked at Bangalore. I see the same things at Gurgaon too but I am so caught up in my day to day life that they just do not seem to attract any attention!

I think I would be heading out in January itself again! Now that is another pleasant thought.

Surathkal Beach- The Last Day of 2008

I cribbed throughout the year in 2008 that I hardly got to travel. Well, at least 31 December 2008 was well spent at the Surathkal Beach near Mangalore. The last time I was near sea was in 2003. Never again I will let five years pass without visiting a beach.

Their Backyard- Children at Surathkal Beach

There are many house quite close to the beach and towards the evening these kids started running towards the sea. After a while their mothers dragged them away.

Boats at Surathkal Beach

I love walking on the beach. The advantage of Surathkal Beach is that there was hardly anyone around during the day. The locals start coming only towards the evening and it makes sense too, the sun was quite hot even in December. I walked for two hours before lunch and for two more hours after the lunch. Pure bliss and the best way to end a year.

Wish You all a Very Happy 2009!

Wish you All a Very Happy 2009

May we all travel and blog more!

I specially need to travel more than what I did in 2008!

On the new year eve of 2007 I was in a train, in 2008 I was not. For 2009 eve, I am going to be in a train again. In 2007 I traveled a lot, in 2008, I did not, so I hope in 2009 I will travel a lot again.