...my silver springs... playing in the background....
It's one of those days when random thoughts try to mar a perfect day....
I like this place - I didn't expect myself to and now it's leaving me a li'l disturbed (?). I miss home but I don't call - If I do, I'd run out of things to say in a few mins...I don't call friends each day - I miss them too!
There are things I do and things I don't - not every thing's right! That's the hardest part I guess - to accept that the crappy part belongs to me, to know that I could say mean things, to know that I could mess up someone for life... to know that 'sorry' has a limited reach....
:) Time for me to stop, lest I say something I shouldn't!
Note: Ya, am tempted to delete this post but then....I hit Publish!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
San Jose
[salbum=27,y,n,left] April 28-May 2
After the great time at Sentosa, we returned to the airport, walked around the huge Changi airport and boarded the plane close to 6 in the evening. We were so tired, we fell asleep as soon as the plane was taxiing. I had no clue when the plane took off or when dinner was served - I was fast asleep! I got up only when the air hostess woke me up saying "good morning!" I had slept a good 12 hours :) And, it was evening at San Francisco, not morning. After a wash and 'breakfast' on the place, we got off at 7:45pm local time.
We got out and waited for the bus to get us to San Jose Hilton, about an hour away. At 8 pm, it was windy and cold! And this was supposed to be summer!! Thankfully, we had been told about the chilly evenings, and had warm clothes with us.
After a bit of delay in getting the bus, we reached the hotel at 11pm, ordered dinner minutes before 12 and finished dinner at 1am. By the time we got to sleep, it was close to 3am. Thanks to a call to the wrong room, I got up at 630am. The rest of the week flew by - with days occupied by work and meetings, evenings spent by walks in the cold streets :) No wonder I got quite a few pictures of the San Jose neighbourhood.
Friday evening, I moved to Mountain View - to the apartment - where I'd be staying for the rest of my visit here.
After the great time at Sentosa, we returned to the airport, walked around the huge Changi airport and boarded the plane close to 6 in the evening. We were so tired, we fell asleep as soon as the plane was taxiing. I had no clue when the plane took off or when dinner was served - I was fast asleep! I got up only when the air hostess woke me up saying "good morning!" I had slept a good 12 hours :) And, it was evening at San Francisco, not morning. After a wash and 'breakfast' on the place, we got off at 7:45pm local time.
We got out and waited for the bus to get us to San Jose Hilton, about an hour away. At 8 pm, it was windy and cold! And this was supposed to be summer!! Thankfully, we had been told about the chilly evenings, and had warm clothes with us.
After a bit of delay in getting the bus, we reached the hotel at 11pm, ordered dinner minutes before 12 and finished dinner at 1am. By the time we got to sleep, it was close to 3am. Thanks to a call to the wrong room, I got up at 630am. The rest of the week flew by - with days occupied by work and meetings, evenings spent by walks in the cold streets :) No wonder I got quite a few pictures of the San Jose neighbourhood.
Friday evening, I moved to Mountain View - to the apartment - where I'd be staying for the rest of my visit here.
Singapore
[salbum=26,y,n,left]My first trip across the seas - I set off to US of A on a business trip. On our way to SFO, we stopped at Singapore for about 8 hours. A few of us went to Sentosa Island and here are the pics!
We got out of the airport, hired a cab, and off we were to Sentosa Island. We headed straight to Underwater World, my first visit to an oceanarium! If you are at Singapore, you should visit this place. It is simply amazing! You can touch fishes, watch soooo many fishes - large and small, pretty and creepy, slow and fast, ...
It was such a lovely experience - walking through the tunnel watching the fishes go by... wondering how big they are... and wondering if they were really that big! There was also a group of elderly women there - enjoying the place as much as we were. It was a good reminder to live life to the fullest - right to the very last breath. I can still hear them call out to each other excited about some fancy fish they've seen!
Now, am waiting to go to Monterrey Bay - waiting for another great experience!
We got out of the airport, hired a cab, and off we were to Sentosa Island. We headed straight to Underwater World, my first visit to an oceanarium! If you are at Singapore, you should visit this place. It is simply amazing! You can touch fishes, watch soooo many fishes - large and small, pretty and creepy, slow and fast, ...
It was such a lovely experience - walking through the tunnel watching the fishes go by... wondering how big they are... and wondering if they were really that big! There was also a group of elderly women there - enjoying the place as much as we were. It was a good reminder to live life to the fullest - right to the very last breath. I can still hear them call out to each other excited about some fancy fish they've seen!
Now, am waiting to go to Monterrey Bay - waiting for another great experience!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Gokarna - About the Trip and the Pictures
A much delayed post about my first trip this year – after mistakenly deleting my draft and having to reboot in the middle of the second unsaved version, here is my third attempt!
The first long weekend of the year was just two weeks into the year and I wanted to travel - the place was Gokarna. So, on Jan 11, we set off to Hubli from Hyderabad. The plan was Hyderabad – Hubli – Karwar – Gokarna. We reached Hubli and missed the bus to Gokarna! The bus to Ankola was ready to leave, and were told that we can reach Gokarna from there.
Soon, we were out of the concrete jungle and on to some nice roads. After a couple of stops, the bus halted for a break at Yeswantpur. We got to know that the Gokarna bus was the one right next to us and those who are traveling to Gokarna can get in, so we swapped buses midway!
Soon, we came to a long line of lorries and tankers hampered by work on the ghat roads, with passenger vehicles trying to get ahead of them. Before we were out of that, I had lost count of the number of tankers I’d seen. Finally, we reached Gokarna at 1pm!
After lunch, introductions, and a good wash at the hotel, we rested for a while and then set off
to the Om beach that evening. They (autos) charge 100 Rs to get to most of the beaches. The beaches are out of the town (except the main beach) and the approach roads are quite scenic. You travel on hilly roads and walk down to the beach :)
We walked around the beach and waited for the sun to go down for some sunset pictures. In the meantime, we went on a boat ride – saw the other beaches from the boat, trying to plan the next two days.
After the boat ride, the guys went for a swim and I had all the time to walk around the beach with my Olympus C770 and my friend’s Panasonic FZ50. Close to sunset, we climbed the rocks and watched the sun set over the ocean. After the sun went down, we got back, had an early dinner, and returned to the hotel.
Day 2: We decided to go to the Kudle Beach first. Another auto, another winding road, another beautiful beach. I’ve seen a clean beach before (think Pichavaram) and many dirty beaches (think Chennai). But, Gokarna is unbeatable for the amount of life on the beach – that is, life
other than human life. You can find fishes, seaweeds; we found whalebones (according to Abhijeet) and colorful rocks too. You can walk around the beach all day and not be bored, i.e., if you look at all the little things around you.
We had our lunch in one of the shanties that offered Mexican, Italian, Israeli cuisines – at a very reasonable price. After lunch, we had some yummy apple pie (?) After lunch, I went back to relaxing in the shade and my friend spent time watching fishes in a pool of water (it ended when he saw someone peeing into his warm pool!)
I sat there watching the waves, the rocks, the beach, the people – and after getting into the water, my friend didn’t want to go to any other beach. So, he spent the day in the water – swimming, searching for fishes, seaweeds, crabs I spent the day taking pictures of everything.
Soon enough, they found a seaweed – and Amir crowned Abhijeet with the seaweed. Right
away, we heard someone screaming “Thieves! Thieves!!” She came swimming, got her seaweed crown and swam back to her parents – much to our amusement! And when she got out of the water, she crowned one of the rocks as the prince and the guardian of the crown. Sweet! A few minutes later, the seaweed was back home in the seawater, thanks to Amir!
Another evening, another walk up the road, another day ends!
Day 3: It was time to return – but before our long journey back home, we had about half a day to spare. We decided to check out the Main Beach (aka Gokarna Beach) besides the temple as it was the closest and we didn’t have an entire day to spare. We’d also checked out – didn’t make sense to be carrying things around! We walked to the beach, and found a shady spot between two boats.
When I reached this beach behind the temple, I couldn’t but compare and contrast this beach with what I saw over the last two days. The Main Beach is something from which a traveler can stay away – it is the noisy, dirty, and polluted beach. The other beaches are equally calm, clean, and beautiful. The Main Beach is very much like one of the Chennai beaches.
The temple is surrounded by a lot of shops selling souvenirs, beads, bangles from camel bones, even tiger nails! I am not sure how aut
hentic they are – but, one thing that may put away local (ie, Indian) travelers is the price! Almost all shops seem to exist for the foreign traveler – I can easily find most of those beads/chains and bangles in Hyderabad/Chennai. Somehow, quite surprisingly, Gokarna still has the run-down, old town look – there aren’t many new, high-rise building. In fact, most of the buildings on the main street look as if they may fall apart anytime.
After walking around the town for a while, we decided to get back – had lunch on our way and reached the bus stand. We went to Ankola from Gokarna – which proved to be another crazy ride. From Ankola, it was another bus to Hubli. The new bus stand at Hubli was a disappointment – it was unused, dark, had very few shops, and was out of the town! If I go again, I will save myself the trouble and wait at the old bus stand. Another bus, another long journey, another day and we were back in Hyderabad. We rushed home to prepare for another day at work!
It is an amazing place for a relaxed weekend – the only thing that keeps me from going there every other weekend is the journey and the distance – It is a place worth visiting but not good for a weekend trip, at least not from Hyderabad.
The first long weekend of the year was just two weeks into the year and I wanted to travel - the place was Gokarna. So, on Jan 11, we set off to Hubli from Hyderabad. The plan was Hyderabad – Hubli – Karwar – Gokarna. We reached Hubli and missed the bus to Gokarna! The bus to Ankola was ready to leave, and were told that we can reach Gokarna from there.Soon, we were out of the concrete jungle and on to some nice roads. After a couple of stops, the bus halted for a break at Yeswantpur. We got to know that the Gokarna bus was the one right next to us and those who are traveling to Gokarna can get in, so we swapped buses midway!
Soon, we came to a long line of lorries and tankers hampered by work on the ghat roads, with passenger vehicles trying to get ahead of them. Before we were out of that, I had lost count of the number of tankers I’d seen. Finally, we reached Gokarna at 1pm!
After lunch, introductions, and a good wash at the hotel, we rested for a while and then set off
to the Om beach that evening. They (autos) charge 100 Rs to get to most of the beaches. The beaches are out of the town (except the main beach) and the approach roads are quite scenic. You travel on hilly roads and walk down to the beach :)We walked around the beach and waited for the sun to go down for some sunset pictures. In the meantime, we went on a boat ride – saw the other beaches from the boat, trying to plan the next two days.
After the boat ride, the guys went for a swim and I had all the time to walk around the beach with my Olympus C770 and my friend’s Panasonic FZ50. Close to sunset, we climbed the rocks and watched the sun set over the ocean. After the sun went down, we got back, had an early dinner, and returned to the hotel.Day 2: We decided to go to the Kudle Beach first. Another auto, another winding road, another beautiful beach. I’ve seen a clean beach before (think Pichavaram) and many dirty beaches (think Chennai). But, Gokarna is unbeatable for the amount of life on the beach – that is, life
other than human life. You can find fishes, seaweeds; we found whalebones (according to Abhijeet) and colorful rocks too. You can walk around the beach all day and not be bored, i.e., if you look at all the little things around you.We had our lunch in one of the shanties that offered Mexican, Italian, Israeli cuisines – at a very reasonable price. After lunch, we had some yummy apple pie (?) After lunch, I went back to relaxing in the shade and my friend spent time watching fishes in a pool of water (it ended when he saw someone peeing into his warm pool!)
I sat there watching the waves, the rocks, the beach, the people – and after getting into the water, my friend didn’t want to go to any other beach. So, he spent the day in the water – swimming, searching for fishes, seaweeds, crabs I spent the day taking pictures of everything.
Soon enough, they found a seaweed – and Amir crowned Abhijeet with the seaweed. Right
away, we heard someone screaming “Thieves! Thieves!!” She came swimming, got her seaweed crown and swam back to her parents – much to our amusement! And when she got out of the water, she crowned one of the rocks as the prince and the guardian of the crown. Sweet! A few minutes later, the seaweed was back home in the seawater, thanks to Amir! Another evening, another walk up the road, another day ends!Day 3: It was time to return – but before our long journey back home, we had about half a day to spare. We decided to check out the Main Beach (aka Gokarna Beach) besides the temple as it was the closest and we didn’t have an entire day to spare. We’d also checked out – didn’t make sense to be carrying things around! We walked to the beach, and found a shady spot between two boats.
When I reached this beach behind the temple, I couldn’t but compare and contrast this beach with what I saw over the last two days. The Main Beach is something from which a traveler can stay away – it is the noisy, dirty, and polluted beach. The other beaches are equally calm, clean, and beautiful. The Main Beach is very much like one of the Chennai beaches.The temple is surrounded by a lot of shops selling souvenirs, beads, bangles from camel bones, even tiger nails! I am not sure how aut
hentic they are – but, one thing that may put away local (ie, Indian) travelers is the price! Almost all shops seem to exist for the foreign traveler – I can easily find most of those beads/chains and bangles in Hyderabad/Chennai. Somehow, quite surprisingly, Gokarna still has the run-down, old town look – there aren’t many new, high-rise building. In fact, most of the buildings on the main street look as if they may fall apart anytime.After walking around the town for a while, we decided to get back – had lunch on our way and reached the bus stand. We went to Ankola from Gokarna – which proved to be another crazy ride. From Ankola, it was another bus to Hubli. The new bus stand at Hubli was a disappointment – it was unused, dark, had very few shops, and was out of the town! If I go again, I will save myself the trouble and wait at the old bus stand. Another bus, another long journey, another day and we were back in Hyderabad. We rushed home to prepare for another day at work!
It is an amazing place for a relaxed weekend – the only thing that keeps me from going there every other weekend is the journey and the distance – It is a place worth visiting but not good for a weekend trip, at least not from Hyderabad.
 |
| From Gokarna |
Thursday, April 3, 2008
A Prayer
I got this mail today from a friend - something about a fiery prayer; the prayer was something you won't hear every week at your church, and the mail said it was at the Senate! And, here's what Snopes says:
Back in January of 1996, the Rev. Joe Wright, senior pastor of the 2,500-member Central Christian Church in Wichita, was invited to offer the opening prayer at a session of the Kansas House of Representatives (not the Kansas Senate, as claimed in the text), and the prayer he offered was this one (which differs somewhat from the version cited in the text above):
Heavenly Father, we come before you to ask your forgiveness. We seek your direction and your guidance. We know your word says, "Woe to those who call evil good." But that's what we've done.
We've lost our spiritual equilibrium. We have inverted our values. We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word in the name of moral pluralism. We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We've exploited the poor and called it a lottery. We've neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. In the name of choice, we have killed our unborn. In the name of right to life, we have killed abortionists.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it taxes. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, oh, God, and know our hearts today. Try us. Show us any wickedness within us. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of the State of Kansas, and that they have been ordained by you to govern this great state.
Grant them your wisdom to rule. May their decisions direct us to the center of your will. And, as we continue our prayer and as we come in out of the fog, give us clear minds to accomplish our goals as we begin this Legislature. For we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Back in January of 1996, the Rev. Joe Wright, senior pastor of the 2,500-member Central Christian Church in Wichita, was invited to offer the opening prayer at a session of the Kansas House of Representatives (not the Kansas Senate, as claimed in the text), and the prayer he offered was this one (which differs somewhat from the version cited in the text above):
Heavenly Father, we come before you to ask your forgiveness. We seek your direction and your guidance. We know your word says, "Woe to those who call evil good." But that's what we've done.
We've lost our spiritual equilibrium. We have inverted our values. We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word in the name of moral pluralism. We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We've exploited the poor and called it a lottery. We've neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. In the name of choice, we have killed our unborn. In the name of right to life, we have killed abortionists.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it taxes. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, oh, God, and know our hearts today. Try us. Show us any wickedness within us. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of the State of Kansas, and that they have been ordained by you to govern this great state.
Grant them your wisdom to rule. May their decisions direct us to the center of your will. And, as we continue our prayer and as we come in out of the fog, give us clear minds to accomplish our goals as we begin this Legislature. For we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Why
The word that does not always get a response
The word that does not always get the right response
I wonder why, I wonder how, I wonder what made you think the way you did
I wish I knew, I wish I had the answer.
But, there are things beyond comprehension.
I wonder if I will ever know!
The word that does not always get the right response
I wonder why, I wonder how, I wonder what made you think the way you did
I wish I knew, I wish I had the answer.
But, there are things beyond comprehension.
I wonder if I will ever know!
Q&A
Are you angry?
No
Are you hurt?
Yes
Are you sad?
Yes
But then, you never go beyond the first question.
No
Are you hurt?
Yes
Are you sad?
Yes
But then, you never go beyond the first question.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
March 27 - It’s a beautiful day!
It's one of those days when I am walking around half asleep and the next moment, am running for my camera :)
I woke up early - lay in bed feeling the chill morning, listening to the sounds - and decided to get out of bed close to 6:30am. I opened my door to go outside and my next reaction was 'Wow! Where's my camera!!' A super-beautiful sunrise was happening - with the clouds around - it was such a pretty sight.
It's one of those days you begin your day with a heart filled with praise :)
I woke up early - lay in bed feeling the chill morning, listening to the sounds - and decided to get out of bed close to 6:30am. I opened my door to go outside and my next reaction was 'Wow! Where's my camera!!' A super-beautiful sunrise was happening - with the clouds around - it was such a pretty sight.
It's one of those days you begin your day with a heart filled with praise :)
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Each one of us today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing help, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding.
-- from A River Runs Through It.
How true is that in your life? How much do your closest know about you? And, how much do you know about your closest ones?
-- from A River Runs Through It.
How true is that in your life? How much do your closest know about you? And, how much do you know about your closest ones?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Random Musings!
Am sure you know Big Ben - standing tall - cloudy sky, bright sky, dark sky, grey sky, blue sky - it is there always tall and strong. People look up - ya, that's how it is - you got to look up if you wanna see the beauty.
Ever imagined what it is like if Big Ben walks away? Can you imagine people's reaction as he walks across the sea, across the oceans, to a land far far away - so far away you can't see Big Ben anymore...No more pretty pictures, no bells ringing, no landmark, nothing to see but a plain piece of land!
Ever imagined what it is like if Big Ben walks away? Can you imagine people's reaction as he walks across the sea, across the oceans, to a land far far away - so far away you can't see Big Ben anymore...No more pretty pictures, no bells ringing, no landmark, nothing to see but a plain piece of land!
And I Will….
I follow the night
Can't stand the light
When will I begin
To live again?
One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
What more could your Love do for me?
When will Love be through with me?
Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day when dreaming ends
One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day when dreaming ends
One day I'll fly away
Fly, fly away
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Daffodils
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upen that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
-- William Wordsworth
A well-known poem, The Daffodils, was one of the poems I read in class X. I found the poetry book among other things when I was clearing up my desk back home. For me, the daffodils are my travel adventures. I can be on my own on a quiet day, immersed in my memories and travelling on my own - once more.
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upen that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
-- William Wordsworth
A well-known poem, The Daffodils, was one of the poems I read in class X. I found the poetry book among other things when I was clearing up my desk back home. For me, the daffodils are my travel adventures. I can be on my own on a quiet day, immersed in my memories and travelling on my own - once more.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Year Gone By!
Yes, here's one more nostalgic post! The first milestone was 1 year in Hyd - yes, Jan 8, 2006 was the day I landed in Hyd wondering what I've gotten myself into, doubting my sanity, my ability to cope, and wishing I had stayed back in the great land of Chennai!
And then, days flew - as it can happen only when you work, work, and work - and then travel whenever you are free! It was the end of 2006 when I got to know quite an illustriuos friend... :) someone who made me walk around the biggest exhibition in Hyd before inviting me for his travel adventures. And there started our travelling spree - visiting just about every place around hyd!
Half way into the year, it was time to move to a new team, a new product - keeps you busy and learning for a while :) and, at the same time, makes you miss your buddies! It was a year of changes with friends across floors trying to stay in touch, catching up for lunch... and ended the year on a high note with my best friend's desk quite close to mine! What a joy!
And then came Hampi-Jog Falls-Hogenakkal - after much preparation, the trip was one of the most memorable! The trek to reach the bottom of the falls, to be surrounded by walls of rock and stand there in the midst of the mist and the rain - is something to be experienced!
As if I had been too happy all along, there came the lull and swept me away! Fell in love and fell out of love too... Don't wanna make the same mistake again! never ever....
Made new friends, got in touch with old friends and really, really old friends - thanks to social networking! I never thought I would get in touch with my classmates after 14 years of silence! Oh, the joy of getting in touch with old friends! ... and the sadness of losing friends... and the mystery of people who are friends one day, not so friendly the next, friends again a few days later... Why do I even put up with them? I don't know!!
Got a lot more online presence! A few blogs and, finally, a website! Though, not completely functional yet :(
All of this interspersed with visits to good 'ole Chennai ... the beach, Spencers, City Center, Coffee Day at Anna nagar... meeting friends, shopping till I dropped (quite literally!), fainting at a bus stop and getting hurt as if I fell from a bike!....
It's been a year of brands, electronics, and going online big time - right from purchases to payments - all without a credit card :P ... a year of delayed train arrivals, some crazy travelling, sleeping in a car, watching the sun rise over a dam... and some photography along the way!
Just as every other year, it was full of surprises that made me happy, and disappointments that drained me away! But then, the year ends on a happy note and let's me look forward to the next year - I've travelled far and wanna travel more... I've taken risks and will take more... I've learnt and will learn more...Wonder what 2008 holds for me!
And then, days flew - as it can happen only when you work, work, and work - and then travel whenever you are free! It was the end of 2006 when I got to know quite an illustriuos friend... :) someone who made me walk around the biggest exhibition in Hyd before inviting me for his travel adventures. And there started our travelling spree - visiting just about every place around hyd!
Half way into the year, it was time to move to a new team, a new product - keeps you busy and learning for a while :) and, at the same time, makes you miss your buddies! It was a year of changes with friends across floors trying to stay in touch, catching up for lunch... and ended the year on a high note with my best friend's desk quite close to mine! What a joy!
And then came Hampi-Jog Falls-Hogenakkal - after much preparation, the trip was one of the most memorable! The trek to reach the bottom of the falls, to be surrounded by walls of rock and stand there in the midst of the mist and the rain - is something to be experienced!
As if I had been too happy all along, there came the lull and swept me away! Fell in love and fell out of love too... Don't wanna make the same mistake again! never ever....
Made new friends, got in touch with old friends and really, really old friends - thanks to social networking! I never thought I would get in touch with my classmates after 14 years of silence! Oh, the joy of getting in touch with old friends! ... and the sadness of losing friends... and the mystery of people who are friends one day, not so friendly the next, friends again a few days later... Why do I even put up with them? I don't know!!
Got a lot more online presence! A few blogs and, finally, a website! Though, not completely functional yet :(
All of this interspersed with visits to good 'ole Chennai ... the beach, Spencers, City Center, Coffee Day at Anna nagar... meeting friends, shopping till I dropped (quite literally!), fainting at a bus stop and getting hurt as if I fell from a bike!....
It's been a year of brands, electronics, and going online big time - right from purchases to payments - all without a credit card :P ... a year of delayed train arrivals, some crazy travelling, sleeping in a car, watching the sun rise over a dam... and some photography along the way!
Just as every other year, it was full of surprises that made me happy, and disappointments that drained me away! But then, the year ends on a happy note and let's me look forward to the next year - I've travelled far and wanna travel more... I've taken risks and will take more... I've learnt and will learn more...Wonder what 2008 holds for me!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Oh Santa!
It was the day before Christmas – Chennai was decked up, carols and Santas everywhere…the bus stopped at a signal and I saw this Santa in front of a shop – complete with a mask and an obviously artificial bulging belly.
I couldn’t help but wonder what was running through the mind of the man dressed up as Santa. Dressed as Santa – standing in front of a shop, doing the dance quite monotonously, waving at the passers by, watching the world around on a shopping spree… what was on his mind? Did he celebrate Christmas? Does he have enough to shop for himself and his loved ones? Does he see the number of people coming to shop and wish he could too? Does he wish he was as happy as the mask he was wearing?
Doesn’t it hurt to do that monotonous dance and wave all evening? Doesn’t it hurt to stand there and have people ignore you? Does it hurt to stand there and watch the world go by?
I couldn’t help but wonder what was running through the mind of the man dressed up as Santa. Dressed as Santa – standing in front of a shop, doing the dance quite monotonously, waving at the passers by, watching the world around on a shopping spree… what was on his mind? Did he celebrate Christmas? Does he have enough to shop for himself and his loved ones? Does he see the number of people coming to shop and wish he could too? Does he wish he was as happy as the mask he was wearing?
Doesn’t it hurt to do that monotonous dance and wave all evening? Doesn’t it hurt to stand there and have people ignore you? Does it hurt to stand there and watch the world go by?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)