Wedding Tunes!- Aaj Mere Yaar ki Shaadi Hai

Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shadi Hai- Quintessential Song Played Tunelessly at Most North Indian Weddings

I shot this video from quite some distance at night, so had to swap the video images with a still image. The image in the video is of a small temple near Auli, Uttrakhand.

On Twitter

I recently started using Twitter. I got interested after I read Max repeatedly talking about it on his blog. Given my fascination for all things online how long could I resist it?

Then I got a Tweet about Methodspace, a research methods community space (in Beta) by SAGE and at a conceptual I just love the idea.

How Not to make a Video

Flowers at Jamia Millia Islamia University Campus- How Not to Make a Video!

I have done quite a few posts on the flowers that I saw at the Jamia Millia Islamia University Campus. On a whim I also made a video, uploaded it on Youtube, changed the voiceover of the video and forgot about it. I managed to see it again today and I know a little about how not to make a video.

I mean I know I used to do a lot of competitive middle distance running in a bygone era but there was no reason to run from flower to flower as if there was a prize for it! Then I was so monotonous, zooming in on every rose in the very same way as if there was another prize for consistency!

And whatever little you could have seen, Youtube managed to mess it up. On my realplayer, the quality is not that bad. I wonder why Youtube made it so grainy!

Not Today

Suffering from Bad Cold.

Dosa Sambar at a Canteen near Mangalore Railway Station

Canteen Near Mangalore Railway Station

Dosa Sambar at a Canteen near Mangalore Railway Station

The orange Sambar (a type of curry) you see is not what we ate, as it has fish pieces in it. For us vegetarians they had another less colorful curry to have with the doasa.

I was browsing through the old photos and these two caught my eye.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Sunny Spring Day

Park Bench on a Sunny Spring Day

I was interested in taking this picture because of the blue bird sitting in the right hand corner of the bench. Once again I am reminded of the fact that the zoom of my cameras is pretty poor. And I have yet to manage to buy a good zoom lens.

This picture was also taken at the Jamia Millia Islamia University campus.

A Dozen Roses

I could have posted all the 12 roses one by one but then it would have taken 12 days! So here I go, a dozen roses all from the Jamia Millia Islamia University campus in New Delhi.

Red Rose

Yellow Rose

White Rose with Colored Dots

Orange and Red Roses

Red Rose with a Shade of Yellow

Pink Rose

White and Pink Rose

Yellow Rose

Pink Rose

A Bunch of Roses

Red with a shade of yellow again

A Bunch of Red Roses

Roses- One of the Unforseen Benefits of Attending Conferences

Rose in Bloom

Since Monday, I have been staying at my sister's place and attending a training program at the Jamia Milla Islamia University.

Multicolored Rose

Apart from the main benefit of attending the conference, I was able to capture at least 20 beautiful images of roses. Jamia is just full of them.

Burning Bright- Another Rose from the Jamia Millia Islamia Gardens

But for me to be able to process more variety and some of the really good pictures, I have to reach Gurgaon first. So I would be blogging from the home base from tomorrow.

Jamia Millia Islamia University and the Surroundings in Pictures

Jamia Milla Islamia Campus

If you stand in front of the Vice Chancellors gate, this beautiful structure is visible from outside. But I have been so busy at the workshop that I can hardly find anytime to visit other parts of the campus.

Muslimshousing.com

I saw this interesting sign Muslimshousing.com near a Jamia bus stop. I have no political interest in the issue, I just found the signboard interesting, as I found BPOshaadi.com interesting.

Another part of the Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi

I have to admit that the Jamia has beautiful gardens within its premises and outside the workshop sessions I have been found meticulously clicking images of roses and Dahalias among other flowers. Pictures would be posted soon.

Meeting Naina Kapur

Naina Kapur, Supreme Court Lawyer, One of the Key Person responsible for Vishaka Judgment

It had to happen today when I did not had my point and shoot and the picture taken on the mobile has only this kind of clarity. Naina is one of the key persons responsible for the Vishaka Judgement that deals with prevent of sexual harassment at workplace. And I saw it first hand how difficult it is to talk about sexual harassment in India even in a roomful of women only where almost 35 out of 40 had a doctorate degree too!

I asked Naina if I could take a picture. She consented. Then I asked her if I could use it on my blog, she thought for a moment and said only if I say nice things or she would sue! On the more serious note she said yes I may use it and no, I could write anything I wanted to write about her, she would not sue me.

I have to say she is a very impressive speaker and she is quite accessible to her audience. She narrated a call center story that remained with me. She said a young girl in her cab put her feet in the laps of a guy sitting opposite and the guy started rubbing her feet. The girl filed a sexual harassment case. Naina said even though she wanted to say what an idiot you are to the girl and what a moron you are to the boy, she just asked them one question, "Do you think your behavior was professional?" The girl went back agreeing with her that her behavior was not professional, taking back her complaint. And that traning helps in behaving in a non-judgemental way in such situations.

Busy as a Bee!

Till Friday, it is going to be raining photos at Travel Tales from India. I really liked the results I got with the photo of the yellow rose with a bee. I have taken it with my Nikon point and shoot with absolutely zero expectations. And what a beautiful shot it turned out to be (at least in my eyes).

Yellow Rose with a Bee

Siesta Time

No, there was no siesta time for me and I am not on a holiday. I am managing to take these pictures during the course of my day spent at another university in Delhi.

Too Busy for Words!

I am too busy for words but definitely not for pictures. Never knew the Jamia Millia Islamia University had a FM radio station of its own! Have to tune in one of these days.

It Started with Henna Leaves

I went to my backyard to pick henna leaves (I use them as a conditioner for my hair more than on my hands). The sun is getting hotter day by day and I was standing still for a while, soaking it in. Then I ran for my camera (the smaller one, as I thought it would be faster to operate).

Henna Shrub

I was running for the camera because there were a lot of black bees real big ones and I had to take a picture! Sounds simple, isn't it? They were sitting quite low till I didn't had the camera.

Flowering Beans

And when I got back with the camera, first the 'battery exhausted' sign came. So, had to run inside to change the batteries. In the meanwhile all the black bees decided to hang on the top of the branches and remain there till eternity.

Now both my cameras don't have good zoom. So there I was standing in the sun waiting patiently for the bees to climb down, so I could take a could picture. At first, I did this patiently.

Then I started to fret and fume. Then I decided to try the zoom anyway and I managed to click at least 10 pictures where the bee managed to vanish out of the frame just at the moment I decided to press the click button. One such picture is shown at the top of this section.

Beans from the Backyard

Then I decided that there were a lot of beans hanging low and I would pick them first. Then I decided that I will forget about a good picture and try to get a black bee in the frame anyway. They kept buzzing loudly all the while on the top branches out of the range of my camera's zoom.

Black Bea on Flowering Beans

So after half an hour I managed to get on black bee in the frame. Moral of the story is to buy a good zoom lens for my SLR and click those bees sitting on the top branches from distance by zooming in within five minutes. Or so I hope.

It Felt Like Flying

Sea Bird at Surathkal

As promised yesterday, I played TT today and it felt wonderful (as if I had got wings) . In reality I was actually not able to move much (let alone fly). And in a doubles game (that is what we play mostly) not being able to move well is a huge liability.

I have said before and I repeat, long time back I have played TT competitively and represented my state. So I give people on the other side of the table a tough time. And usually all of us give our 200% while playing. But today people did consider my injured ankle and played in a relaxed manner and that was quite surprising.

One of the strategies my colleagues used was to hit on the extreme opposite from where I was standing and so many times I could just stand see the ball whizzing by! Another of their strategies was that if my partner is to pick up the ball hit it close to me, as I would be unable to move out of the way! That too was successful to an extent. But all in all it was good fun, and as I am writing this there is a huge grin on my face!

And when of my colleagues got a phone call, two of us (and let me grant it my opponent is just slightly ahead of being a beginner) quickly played a singles. Now in singles (quite unlike doubles) I can cover a lot of table by standing in the middle squarely. So whatever fond hopes he had of taking advantages of my injury, actually the outcome was not very different. I won 21-7 (yes we still play games of 21 and have not switched to games of 11 with two serves each).

But then all that is besides the point. All of us just had a good time.

Sea Shells and Pizza

Pizza and Sea Shells, is there a link? Very minor, they were part of my extremely hectic and tiring day today.

I had a long class, one where students interact a lot on their own in the seminar (with me as the mediator) and they went on for half an hour more than the scheduled time. Yes, they sometimes do that.

Then I managed to go for lunch.

No, the pizza was not for lunch.

Next I faced a table at office that is so chaotic as of now that there was not a space to put my tea cup even. The day also felt the same.

Sea Shells

Then I was looking for something in my shoulder bag (the same I was carrying on the Surathkal Beach) and two coins fell out. Irritated I went down to pick it up and then saw that the shells I had picked up at the beach, one of them had fallen out too! That was one soothing incident incident in an almost out of control day.

Then it came to dinner and I had promised my nephew that we will have pizza today and pizza it was.

Domino's Pizza

We had pizza after a very long time and it was fresh and tasted nice. Looked colorful too, so I clicked a picture as well. Brat 2 was asking why are you taking a picture of a pizza, it is not even lazy Sunday! Wonder when does he takes a peak at this blog.

But I have left the best part for the last. My ankle is almost normal now. So, I am going to play mild TT tomorrow! Yes, I am going to do it, in spite of any sensible advice that would come my way.

If I can teach standing, I can as well play TT. And it is only today I realized (again) how much I rely on TT for releasing my stress.

PS. What a ghastly background I chose to take a snap of the sea shells!

Mall Ratting!

We went to one of the numerous Gurgaon Malls to watch Slumdog Millionaire (quite a watchable movie), so what else can I share but Mall pictures! These are taken with my camera phones. This is one of the less crowded Gurgaon Malls on the weekdays hence I could easily click pictures without people in it!

Lines and Shpes, Gurgaon Mall

While I was growing up, malls were not at all a significant phenomenon in India. The first time I saw a mall of any significant size was in 1999 when I went to Singapore. And I have to admit I rarely go to a mall and do not really like visiting them. And in Gurgaon, some of them get jam packed on a weekend. We try to avoid them like anything.

Lines on the Ground- Gurgaon Mall

When my two young nephews started living with us I was a little worried if they would become mall rats, after all they were in their teens and that is where they might have decided to hang out. I am very happy to report that they spend more time on Football and Basketball fields rather than at any mall!

So why am I talking about it here? Well, what else do I talk about if all I can manage is a visit to the mall? I know there is another alternative but let some of you suggest it :D

Off To A movie Today!

Probably Slumdog Millionaire.

People at work are taking pot-shots at my ankle, asking if I would play TT in the evening even after my pronounced limp and crape bandage in evidence.

The students are happy, thinking I may actually cancel a class. But they are in for a surprise, I would not cancel any!

Bits and Pieces

Block Printing Pieces at Jaipur

Sprained ankle

Classes to take

A change in schedule for next week

Plans for a movie tomorrow

Still no TT, tried walking for a small stretch and realized that no TT actually!

NO TRAVEL in FEB, it looks like!

So lots of cribbing.

When Forced to Sit Still!

Railway Tracks at Sunset

When forced to sit still (ankle sprain right now) I miss walking and traveling with a vengeance! And I am as cheerful as a bear with a toothache.

I have had sprained my ankle on numerous occasions so it is not a new occurrence for me. This one is also minor compared to two sprains I had in the past. The second time around I was in college and staying at a hostel so there was not too much scope to sulk. The first time around I was at home and studying in school. I wonder how my family would have coped with my foul mood, that one was a prolonged injury.

At present Brat 2 (my younger nephew) manages to keep me entertained. He stands near me and always behaves as if he would jump on my ankle or smash his fist on it and I keep shouting at him and release some of my pent up energy. Right now he has gone to play football and I am feeling quite irritated.

OK, he just walked in and is now fighting with me unnecessarily, that tennis (that I like to watch on TV) is a useless game and football rules the world!

I was so agitated a while ago that I looked at my blog to see what I was writing last year about same time. In 2008 aournd this time I wrote about food in Spiti and plans to head out.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Fishermen Mending Fishing Net at Surathkal

Fishermen Mending Fishing Net at Surathkal Beach

This picture was taken on the post lunch walk at the Surathkal Beach. I was turning back towards the lighthouse and saw these men. I am quite hesitant to click people. But they asked me if I would like to take their picture! What more could I ask for? I miss not having a zoom lens in my camera. I am still taking all the pictures with the wide angle lens.

And with ankle sprain looks like February will remain travel free. What a pity.

Surathkal Trip Report at Gonomad Now

Boats at the Beach, Surathkal

My trip report about Surathkal is now up at the main Gonomad site.

I kept walking just next to the waves soaking my jeans up to my knees. There is hardly any beach wear concept for women in India. ... but I have to remind myself to wear a Capri and a material that dries soon, instead of a heavy jeans that weigh a ton when you get wet.

However, the sun was so bright (even in the winter month of December) that I got wet at least ten times and dried within half an hour or so every time.

The funny part was that my cell phone had full connection (I don’t consider a holiday complete till I lose my cell connection) so I called home (Dad and younger nephew and my sister) and put the phone away from the ear so that they could hear the waves. Hardly anyone could guess what they were listening to!

...

The price to pay for seclusion is maggi (Instant Noodles made by Nestle and very popular in India) and omelet for lunch sold from a small shop quite near the lighthouse, but that is something I would gladly live with.

...

Taking a Tumble!

Restoration at the City Palace, Jaipur

I have to admit the title of my post and the picture above are partially misleading. The painter on the platform did not take a tumble.

It is me who took a tumble today. And got it in my left ankle. A minor sprain but probably enough to make me miss a few of my evening TT sessions and I dread that. TT is the best stress buster I know of.

But I guess I was asking for this. Off late, I was really pushing my-self hard and unnecessarily maybe at that! So, while I was walking outside in the lanes where I live, with the merest bend in the road my body weight went on my left ankle, and here I am!

And then I realize my younger nephew (Brat 2) is also limping and he is quite sure he can play tomorrow! Gives me some hope, though I have to remember that he is just 18 where as I am not!

Them Doggies Again and a Few Cows as a Bonus

Cow with Big Horns

Today evening when I was coming home, I stopped on the way to pay my phone bill (I still don't pay it online but that is another story). It took me a while to pay it in person. Still, I decided to buy some Sweets (Jalebi, there goes my watching weight again) and Samosa to take home.

It is a typical corner street sweet shop with a lot of people standing there and eating stuff. Suddenly I heard a girl shrieking at the top of her voice. I turned around and saw a dog with collar around that girl, she was eating a rasmalai along with a young lad. Both of them came near where I was standing.

That got me a little worried. If the dog would have followed them, it would have been my turn to skriek as I am equally scared of them doggies. Luckly the dog decided to sit exactly at the same spot and I started to hurry along. Suddenly two stray dogs moved in our directions and the young girl started running ahead and shrieking at the top of her voice once again.

Then the unthinkable happened. The girl was so miserable (and the guy not to be seen around amid this chaos) that I held her hand and told her nothing would happen, and that she should clam down. I added, "I understand, I am equally afraid of the dogs." That caught her attention and she stood still. Then I asked, "where is your friend?" She was still incoherent. So, I asked her if I could drop her somewhere. That is when she regained her senses and said she was fine and smiled.

I moved on. And then nearby I saw the cow (see the picture above) with the big horns! I often meet such cows when I am driving. But today I was on foot and had the Nikon Coolpix in my handbag (it was too dark to take a decent picture with my mobile). So as a bonus, I clicked the cows and came back home quite happy. I mean it has never happened before that I consoled someone because she was scared of dogs!

Incredible India!

I have set up a Google news alert for India tourism and that is how I came across this article at a website called domain-b.com. It talks about the Ministry of Tourism plans to spend Rs 20 Crores on online advertising. So far so good.
The article on domain-b also talks about the Incredible India Website. I have always been curious to know what kind of traffic does Incredible India gets. Quoting from the article-

The ministry's Incredible India website, incredibleindia.org, has a daily average traffic of around 10 lakh visitors a day, with the ministry continuously innovating the tools on the site.

Have you ever tried searching for information on the Incredible India website? I have tried many times (I academically also try to write on tourism, hence this fascination with Incredible India) always using firefox. I almost always type Taj Mahal as my key words for search. And I do vaguely remember sometimes getting a result but most of the time the search function doesn't work. Below is the screen shot of the result I got this time if I press the arrow near the search key (enlarge the picture to see the exact error).

Search Result on Incredibleindia.org (3/02/2009) for Taj Mahal when you press the 'arrow' sign near the search box on the front page in Firefox

Search Result on Incredibleindia.org (3/02/2009) for Taj Mahal when you press the 'enter' key in Firefox

I get a different page if I just press 'enter' key (screen shot above) but that too gives no results. I mean we are software outsourcing hub to the world. Why can't we have a decent search engine on the Incredible India website that gets more than 10 lakh hits per day!

Dahlias in Bloom

I was taking stroll on Sunday and took my camera specifically to click these Dahlias. The days are becoming warmer an flowers are already in bloom. Though the nights are still cold and I don't like it one bit! Looks like I may go down with cold due to this weather change.

So I will leave you just with the Dahlias today. Occasionally even I am speechless!

Indian Railways- Always Fascinating

I was taking a stroll nearby with Sesha this Sunday afternoon. I had the Nikon Coolpix in my pocket because I had seen some beautiful and colorful Dahlias outside a house (those flowers would find a place on the blog soon). But then I spotted a goods train parked at a little distance. A colorful small car was peeking out of one of the carriages. I had to go closer to take pictures and Sesha had to drag his feet! Of course I prevailed.

Then I also remembered that Kalyan is holding the 'Train Event of the Month' and I will dedicate this post to the event. He actually class it TEM Feb - The Great Indian Train Journey.

That is Indian Railways in Hindi

This was written on the wagons of the parked goods train. There were kids crossing the railway tracks and they were quite facsinated with my camera and the idea of taking pictures. I asked if they want me to take their pictures too, but they shyly said no, and I honored their request.

The Goods Train, Indian Railways

My original plan was to walk up to the engine. But then Sesha decided to sit and wait for me to come back. Also the track next to the carriages was quite narrow and the drivers at the engine were tooting the horn. I stepped aside and took this long shot and had to be content with it.

The Coils of the Wheels

Anyone having an idea what these coils are called? Shock absorbers maybe? I wish I had framed the picture better and taken more of the coils in the shot. I wonder why am I in such a tearing hurry when I frame my shots.

The Car (strain your eyes to the left hand corner of the picture) on the Carriage

This is the best I could capture of the colorful car, the stationary train and the engine of another stationary train. I wonder why it is so fascinating to watch trains even now!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Digging up from Old London Photos

The Red Sightseeing Bus- London

I have taken a tour on the Red Bus in Oxford but not in London. I must say it is a nice concept but why take a bus when you can walk? I have walked a lot around Oxford and a little around London. And if I was ever to do it again, I would like to walk even more.

I have slogged and slogged in January, and went to Gwalior for work. Let us see how I fare in February, I have no complaints with slogging but I wish I will be able to pull of a weekend trip this month.