That's the question rolling in my head right now. After a very different trip to Kolad, now am wondering where to go for the long weekends in October. Having trouble making up my mind and finding company :( Too bad!
<end of rant>
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
10 years ago...
... CMC, Vellore was a part of life
...I sat watch over someone dear - I got to know what it's like when you just can't do anything to make things better :(
...I finished school - got out with 84%
... It was my first month in college
... I travelled long distance alone, for the first time!
... I didn't have an email address :O [crazy, but true!]
...I don't remember spending time online at all!
That's the year of 1998!
Two things prompted this post - one, I found the Visitor card used in CMC and, two, I'd written Aug 22, 98 in my Bible [most probably, the day I got it!]
So, what were you doing?
...I sat watch over someone dear - I got to know what it's like when you just can't do anything to make things better :(
...I finished school - got out with 84%
... It was my first month in college
... I travelled long distance alone, for the first time!
... I didn't have an email address :O [crazy, but true!]
...I don't remember spending time online at all!
That's the year of 1998!
Two things prompted this post - one, I found the Visitor card used in CMC and, two, I'd written Aug 22, 98 in my Bible [most probably, the day I got it!]
So, what were you doing?
Complicated water!
The other day, we decided to go out for a team lunch. Three of us left ahead of the others (another three!) - and were supposed to have ordered started before they came in. We enter the restaurant, and I found myself walking oh-so-carefully - the place was so dark, you couldn't see your feet! We dutifully follow the guy leading us, get to our table and...
The guy: Ma'm, would you like to have some water?
My friend: Yes, please!
The guy: Normal water or mineral water?
My friend: Mineral water
The guy: ... ... ... ... Aquafina
My friend: ...hmm...
[Me was busy listening to this conversation and reading the menu. Turns out neither of us got the first 3 brands!]
Me: Sorry, can you please repeat that?
The guy: ... ... ... Aquafina
Me: Aquafina, please
[Am never gonna get those other names! Later, I got to know, one of the missing three was Avian]
The guy: Sure ma'm [disappears into the darkness]
Two minutes later... he comes with two bottles of Aquafina - one normal temp. and the other chilled water!
The guy: Is this ok? [points to the cold bottle - wants my friend to check the temp!]
My friend: We don't want cold water...
Another 5 minutes go by before we have water in our fancy glasses! Can you imagine someone really thirsty walking into a place like that! Maybe, just maybe, next time I should learn to say 'Normal room temp. water' or 'cold Aquafina' - all for a glass of water!
A minute later, the other three walk in and the first question was 'have you ordered starters?' We'd ordered, but not starters!!
The guy: Ma'm, would you like to have some water?
My friend: Yes, please!
The guy: Normal water or mineral water?
My friend: Mineral water
The guy: ... ... ... ... Aquafina
My friend: ...hmm...
[Me was busy listening to this conversation and reading the menu. Turns out neither of us got the first 3 brands!]
Me: Sorry, can you please repeat that?
The guy: ... ... ... Aquafina
Me: Aquafina, please
[Am never gonna get those other names! Later, I got to know, one of the missing three was Avian]
The guy: Sure ma'm [disappears into the darkness]
Two minutes later... he comes with two bottles of Aquafina - one normal temp. and the other chilled water!
The guy: Is this ok? [points to the cold bottle - wants my friend to check the temp!]
My friend: We don't want cold water...
Another 5 minutes go by before we have water in our fancy glasses! Can you imagine someone really thirsty walking into a place like that! Maybe, just maybe, next time I should learn to say 'Normal room temp. water' or 'cold Aquafina' - all for a glass of water!
A minute later, the other three walk in and the first question was 'have you ordered starters?' We'd ordered, but not starters!!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tabs!
Am I glad they have tabs in browsers? With my vertical Taskbar close to getting full with all the open browsers/documents etc., I was clearing up the open windows - closing the ones not needed right away... and realised I should count how many tabs I've got open in my browser - somewhere between 20 and 30 - after closing a bunch of 'em!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Kolad - River Rafting
Two lazy weekends and I wanted to get out! I knew a group of colleagues were going to Kolad - a place known for river rafting on the Kundalika River. But then, I hadn't signed up for it because I tend to travel in smaller groups - it's pretty much been a group of two to four over the last 2 years. And as the week wore on, I was getting restless and my friend, who was going along convinced me to try when I said some people are dropping out! A mail and a ping later, I was on!!!
The train gave a lot of opportunity to get some slow shutter photos. The next morning, we got in to the bus and headed towards Kolad. We headed straight to the rafting spot - and soon we were listening to the safety instructions. I'd say that was the scariest part of it all! Example: If you get under the boat, kick with all your might! Ouch! It looked quite precarious to sit on the side and not in the raft - but once we were in, I realised it was a lot bigger than the average bench you'd find at a roadside tea shop!
A practice session and a splashing match was going on while we waited for all the rafts to get in to the water! The guides were definitely better at throwing water - and our guide threw water on us as much as he threw on the others. Soon, we were out in the river - it was sunny and someone wanted rain. Soon, it didn't just rain - it poured cats and dogs. Got to say, being on a raft in the middle of a river, next to rapids - is one of the best places to enjoy the rain. The only thing I missed was my camera - couldn't risk taking it along :(
Once we were on the much calmer side of the river, they encouraged us to get off the raft and into the river! Not exactly something you’d want to do if you didn’t know to swim. But then, they pretty much dumped you off the boat – so, yes, for the first time in my life, I was in the water – floating, thanks to the life jacket. I’ve got to thank Pranav, the helping hand, who went out of his way to help me feel comfortable in the water – nice to have such people around you.
Soon we were out and were heading towards our resort – our bus stopped at the end of a road and we had to travel the rest of the distance in a jeep. It was indeed one of the most memorable transport (not the most comfortable, mind you!). A rusty, rickety jeep with seats coming apart – and, on top of it you go racing on a bumpy mud path with another jeep in equally bad shape! Weren’t we happy to be out of it!
A quick wash, lunch – and I wanted to get out. So, off we went – me, Sandeep, and Kiran – walking down a path to the river. Kiran was the one spotting all those little things – me dutifully following him to the subjects :) That reminds me of another – Satish – the ever helpful friend of Ram & Sandeep. He’d always find subjects for our cameras!
We were back soon and it was tea-time. While we were waiting for the rest of the group to gather for another walk, we had tea and took more pictures. I got one of my favorites from the trip – a macro of a flower.
Soon, we set off for another walk – a much larger group this time.
Other than the river and the rafting – nothing much out there. On the whole, a good place for a relaxed weekend. This trip was more about people than about photography :)
Quick notes:
Walk around the place – you can get close to the river too. A word of caution there – always one foot at a time! The river looks much shallower on the surface.
Be prepared to get drenched – quick-dry clothes, footwear that dry easily, and a dry bag for your electronics.
Get your directions before you leave – the places aren’t marked really well and mobile networks aren’t perfect out there. You’ll have to rely on the directions you have and the locals
The train gave a lot of opportunity to get some slow shutter photos. The next morning, we got in to the bus and headed towards Kolad. We headed straight to the rafting spot - and soon we were listening to the safety instructions. I'd say that was the scariest part of it all! Example: If you get under the boat, kick with all your might! Ouch! It looked quite precarious to sit on the side and not in the raft - but once we were in, I realised it was a lot bigger than the average bench you'd find at a roadside tea shop!
A practice session and a splashing match was going on while we waited for all the rafts to get in to the water! The guides were definitely better at throwing water - and our guide threw water on us as much as he threw on the others. Soon, we were out in the river - it was sunny and someone wanted rain. Soon, it didn't just rain - it poured cats and dogs. Got to say, being on a raft in the middle of a river, next to rapids - is one of the best places to enjoy the rain. The only thing I missed was my camera - couldn't risk taking it along :(
Once we were on the much calmer side of the river, they encouraged us to get off the raft and into the river! Not exactly something you’d want to do if you didn’t know to swim. But then, they pretty much dumped you off the boat – so, yes, for the first time in my life, I was in the water – floating, thanks to the life jacket. I’ve got to thank Pranav, the helping hand, who went out of his way to help me feel comfortable in the water – nice to have such people around you.
Soon we were out and were heading towards our resort – our bus stopped at the end of a road and we had to travel the rest of the distance in a jeep. It was indeed one of the most memorable transport (not the most comfortable, mind you!). A rusty, rickety jeep with seats coming apart – and, on top of it you go racing on a bumpy mud path with another jeep in equally bad shape! Weren’t we happy to be out of it!
A quick wash, lunch – and I wanted to get out. So, off we went – me, Sandeep, and Kiran – walking down a path to the river. Kiran was the one spotting all those little things – me dutifully following him to the subjects :) That reminds me of another – Satish – the ever helpful friend of Ram & Sandeep. He’d always find subjects for our cameras!
We were back soon and it was tea-time. While we were waiting for the rest of the group to gather for another walk, we had tea and took more pictures. I got one of my favorites from the trip – a macro of a flower.
Soon, we set off for another walk – a much larger group this time.
Other than the river and the rafting – nothing much out there. On the whole, a good place for a relaxed weekend. This trip was more about people than about photography :)
Quick notes:
Walk around the place – you can get close to the river too. A word of caution there – always one foot at a time! The river looks much shallower on the surface.
Be prepared to get drenched – quick-dry clothes, footwear that dry easily, and a dry bag for your electronics.
Get your directions before you leave – the places aren’t marked really well and mobile networks aren’t perfect out there. You’ll have to rely on the directions you have and the locals
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Thank you for stopping by!
What's it like when you check your Analytics report just as every other day and .... find that you've got 500+ visits for the first time :)
Yup! Thanks to the recent interests, this site is at 1000+ pageviews, 500+ visits, and 400+ visitors! Woohoo!
Oh ya! I check my Analytics account countless times each day!
Thank you for stopping by! You just made my day! :)
Yup! Thanks to the recent interests, this site is at 1000+ pageviews, 500+ visits, and 400+ visitors! Woohoo!
Oh ya! I check my Analytics account countless times each day!
Thank you for stopping by! You just made my day! :)
Rain, tea, and flowers
It was a last-minute decision - to join the river rafting trip. This picture is one of my favorites of the lot. You know why?
It reminds me a lot of things... the little things of the trip. It was a place where you could never predict the rain - it pours, it stops, its quiet... and it starts all over again! In spite of it, we sat there outside sipping tea, watching people play volley ball and shoot at the lone basket. There was this brown doggie around the place - nuzzling everyone in hope of some food. Chit chat. Chase the dog. Watch the sky. Observe.
Me, my camera - "what's your camera?" they ask. Wow for the SLR. I walk around with my jacket over my camera bag - I'd rather get wet and keep my camera dry! It is a crazy world!
The sky darkens. The terrace beckons - we leave the drops on the flower and go to the river. We didn't really leave them behind, did we?
It reminds me a lot of things... the little things of the trip. It was a place where you could never predict the rain - it pours, it stops, its quiet... and it starts all over again! In spite of it, we sat there outside sipping tea, watching people play volley ball and shoot at the lone basket. There was this brown doggie around the place - nuzzling everyone in hope of some food. Chit chat. Chase the dog. Watch the sky. Observe.
Me, my camera - "what's your camera?" they ask. Wow for the SLR. I walk around with my jacket over my camera bag - I'd rather get wet and keep my camera dry! It is a crazy world!
The sky darkens. The terrace beckons - we leave the drops on the flower and go to the river. We didn't really leave them behind, did we?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
When it rains...
I cross a river each day...Yup! There's gushing waters :P on the way to work!
It takes an hour to get to the other side of the HiTech(!) Railway Station underpass - no, there's nothing hitech about the underpass - it's just the name!
Thankfully, I don't drive to work - watching the cab make it's way through is like a thriller movie -will that guy sneaking up on you get ahead of you.... without bumping into you, the car ahead of you, or the one on the right...
The earth seems to move so much - there are gaping holes all over the place! And, I used to think Hyd has fantastic roads... duh!
It takes an hour to get to the other side of the HiTech(!) Railway Station underpass - no, there's nothing hitech about the underpass - it's just the name!
Thankfully, I don't drive to work - watching the cab make it's way through is like a thriller movie -will that guy sneaking up on you get ahead of you.... without bumping into you, the car ahead of you, or the one on the right...
The earth seems to move so much - there are gaping holes all over the place! And, I used to think Hyd has fantastic roads... duh!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)