If you travel wearing a kurta, they will talk to you in Hindi, else English.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Monday, December 03, 2012
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Name is Bond, James Bond!!!
Have been thinking about this for some time now. Who is the best Bond and whobis the best Bond girl? While I like Bond movies for Bond, the women also play an important role in these movies. And of course the cars. :).
I have googled on thoughts from people and found that a lot of people go with popularistic approach.
Most of the men have named Sean Connery as the best Bond and Ursula Andress as the best Bond girl.
I disagree with this. I am not sure if Bond is about handsomeness or Bond girl about being sexy and good looking. I think Bond is about preciseness and coldness. The feeling of detachment is Bond for me. Sean Connerry fails as he is not detached but holier than thou. He is the smart guy in the room who has it all figured out. And that's stupid.
The beauty of Bond is not about having it figured out but about making mistakes and learning from them. Its about being unemotional. Bond is stoic and cold. Bond is not Sherlock Holmes. He makes mistakes but has this innate ability to bounce back. He loses control and then with great effort, gains it back. Sean Connery on the other hand always seems to be in control.
I think the best Bond so far is Daniel Craig. Undoubtedly. For all the reasons above. He fits the bill perfectly.
Similarly, the best Bond girl is not Ursula Andress. Ursula Andress is undoubtedly very beautiful. But a Bond girl is someone who is confident and intelligent and not only beautiful. Ursula Andress fails to impress in intelligence department. A Bond girl is opinionated, understands what she is doing and sharp. Razor sharp.
I think the best Bond girl till now is Eva Green in Casino Royale. She is tough, has a air of intelligence about her. In the "I am the money" scene, she is an equal of Bond. And even in the rest of the movie for that matter.
I think she is the best Bond girl till date. She is mentally strong, intelligent, opinionated and beautiful. If I make a Bond movie in the future, this type of cast it will have.
Here's to Bond. And his Omega :).
Monday, October 22, 2012
Intelligent people of Mandya
We pass through Mandya on the way to Mysore. Now Mandya happens to be the largest town on the way to Mysore. It's claim to fame is sugarcane produce and so rich sugar lobby people.
While you cross Mandya, there is this 5 km stretch which goes through the city - SH17. This place has put around 4 signals on the road. Each of the signals is above 150 secs. So one, you keep waiting and then 1 signal is next to bus stand. So irrespective of state of signal, bus drivers feel they have the born right of way and so keep pushing their buses in the middle. This just makes the signal stop of 150 secs even worse. As some times when signal is on, buses are all blocking the way and you can't go.
May be its worth investing all that money you earn in some intelligence and planning, people of Mandya.
While you cross Mandya, there is this 5 km stretch which goes through the city - SH17. This place has put around 4 signals on the road. Each of the signals is above 150 secs. So one, you keep waiting and then 1 signal is next to bus stand. So irrespective of state of signal, bus drivers feel they have the born right of way and so keep pushing their buses in the middle. This just makes the signal stop of 150 secs even worse. As some times when signal is on, buses are all blocking the way and you can't go.
May be its worth investing all that money you earn in some intelligence and planning, people of Mandya.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Vivanta by Taj @ Madikeri, Coorg
So we left from bamgalore around 2 pm. And realized that of all the times we have driven to Mysore from Bangalore, which is quite a few in past 2 years we have been in Bangalore, this time is the best time to leave from Bangalore to Mysore. May be rains on the way played a part because the roads were pretty clear.
We reached Mysore in 3.5 hours. Which is a record till now. We stayed at Brindavan gardens. Nice place to stay for a night. The Queen bed room is small. But serves the purpose for a night. It has good views of the garden. So all in all, good place.
Next day left for Coorg. The roads are surprisingly good. Four lane till Hassan and then two lane. But well built, no potholes. It still took us around 3 hours to cover around 95 km because of ghats.
At the Taj, they sprinkled holy Kaveri river water and opened the gates to a grand opening. It's a high lobby on top of a mountain. Nothing marking the boundary so gives a feeling of infinite stage extending till horizon. Extremely beautiful. If you don't see it, you are missing something in life. It's a work of art. They have made this 7 storey building to have the large infinite deck. The temperature controlled infinite pool underneath and entertainment /activity area. All in all pretty good.
The cottages are huge. I mean huge. The cottage we stayed in was bigger than our Mumbai house. One living room with fireplace. One large, and I mean large bedroom area. Then 2-3 steps down to study and viewing deck. Large windows overlooking the valley. Huge bath area, wardrobes, walk in closets and what not. It was pretty good.
Issues, no issues? Well, not really. There were issues. The restaurant processes were not figured out. The food was exorbitantly priced. There used to be a good half an hour of delay once you order the meal. So eat and then go to restaurant so that you can wait there for the food to arrive. Options were limited and they were not sure what to do if you need customization. Any, even the smallest of customization.
We witnessed the first ever buffet served during dinner in the hotel on 20th Oct. Was served an hour late from the time it should have started.
The place is new. Soft launch happened on 15th oct. Fully functional by 15th dec they say.
The place is nice. Coorg is about coffee plantations. And this place is about rain forest. The resort is on 250 acre of land. Mountains, valleys and ponds. All in the resort. Belongs to a private investor and Taj has leased it I think. 6 acres has cottages and pathways and all the stuff. Rest is jungle. Nature trails, cycling trails and what not.
It's a mixed bag review only because we have seen very high standard of service from Taj before. This still has to cover a lot of ground before it reaches say Holiday village in Goa. Or Coonoor Taj.
Overall. Extremely beautiful place. Very relaxing. Very pricy in everything. Needs improvement in service quality in restaurant. I think I will visit again. May be after Dec 2012 once it's fully launched.
We reached Mysore in 3.5 hours. Which is a record till now. We stayed at Brindavan gardens. Nice place to stay for a night. The Queen bed room is small. But serves the purpose for a night. It has good views of the garden. So all in all, good place.
Next day left for Coorg. The roads are surprisingly good. Four lane till Hassan and then two lane. But well built, no potholes. It still took us around 3 hours to cover around 95 km because of ghats.
At the Taj, they sprinkled holy Kaveri river water and opened the gates to a grand opening. It's a high lobby on top of a mountain. Nothing marking the boundary so gives a feeling of infinite stage extending till horizon. Extremely beautiful. If you don't see it, you are missing something in life. It's a work of art. They have made this 7 storey building to have the large infinite deck. The temperature controlled infinite pool underneath and entertainment /activity area. All in all pretty good.
The cottages are huge. I mean huge. The cottage we stayed in was bigger than our Mumbai house. One living room with fireplace. One large, and I mean large bedroom area. Then 2-3 steps down to study and viewing deck. Large windows overlooking the valley. Huge bath area, wardrobes, walk in closets and what not. It was pretty good.
Issues, no issues? Well, not really. There were issues. The restaurant processes were not figured out. The food was exorbitantly priced. There used to be a good half an hour of delay once you order the meal. So eat and then go to restaurant so that you can wait there for the food to arrive. Options were limited and they were not sure what to do if you need customization. Any, even the smallest of customization.
We witnessed the first ever buffet served during dinner in the hotel on 20th Oct. Was served an hour late from the time it should have started.
The place is new. Soft launch happened on 15th oct. Fully functional by 15th dec they say.
The place is nice. Coorg is about coffee plantations. And this place is about rain forest. The resort is on 250 acre of land. Mountains, valleys and ponds. All in the resort. Belongs to a private investor and Taj has leased it I think. 6 acres has cottages and pathways and all the stuff. Rest is jungle. Nature trails, cycling trails and what not.
It's a mixed bag review only because we have seen very high standard of service from Taj before. This still has to cover a lot of ground before it reaches say Holiday village in Goa. Or Coonoor Taj.
Overall. Extremely beautiful place. Very relaxing. Very pricy in everything. Needs improvement in service quality in restaurant. I think I will visit again. May be after Dec 2012 once it's fully launched.
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Some life...
Was watching rains this morning and thinking of mountains.
If I could, would just go to mountains. Somewhere in himachal or Kashmir. Build a hut near a small mountain river.
May be just open a tea stall next to river on the side of a road. Serve hot tea with buns. Drink lots of tea. :).
Talk to people of the village. Read local news-papers. Sit on bench next to the tea stall.
Keep looking at river flowing by and mountains. Read lots of books in the night. Go on walk in mountains and forests in morning and evening.
That would be some life. :).
If I could, would just go to mountains. Somewhere in himachal or Kashmir. Build a hut near a small mountain river.
May be just open a tea stall next to river on the side of a road. Serve hot tea with buns. Drink lots of tea. :).
Talk to people of the village. Read local news-papers. Sit on bench next to the tea stall.
Keep looking at river flowing by and mountains. Read lots of books in the night. Go on walk in mountains and forests in morning and evening.
That would be some life. :).
It's beautiful today
It's very rainy and very wet. The road to Arjun's school is quite scenic. Lots is grasslands, fields and trees.
It's fantastic when it rains in the fields. I can just stand there and keep watching the rain in fields.
I have always believed that water has a property which drains all tiredness, sorrows and what not. I still remember, in Mumbai, in struggling days desperately trying to get a better job, I used to go and sit at Marine lines looking at the sea. And in like an hour or so, I used to feel refreshed and ready to try again.
It's beautiful when it rains on the sea also. And I am missing Mumbai again. For the rains, for the sea.
Don't feel like going to office today. Feel like getting wet in rains, sit in puddles and splash water. Just like older days. Wilder days :).
I like rains. It changes the perspective of how you see a place. It's beautiful and it makes even the traffic stuck roads look great.
I never had issues puddles on road. And the drain pipes. So many times have I just stood under a drain pipe splashing water full force.
I like everything about the rains. The good, the bad and I think both good and bad is great.
In my scheme of things, rains is as spiritual as mountains. Nothing else even comes close. Except of course when it rains in mountains. It's amazing then. And it's the most beautiful sight in the world.
Superlative in every sense.
Here's to the rains. :)
It's fantastic when it rains in the fields. I can just stand there and keep watching the rain in fields.
I have always believed that water has a property which drains all tiredness, sorrows and what not. I still remember, in Mumbai, in struggling days desperately trying to get a better job, I used to go and sit at Marine lines looking at the sea. And in like an hour or so, I used to feel refreshed and ready to try again.
It's beautiful when it rains on the sea also. And I am missing Mumbai again. For the rains, for the sea.
Don't feel like going to office today. Feel like getting wet in rains, sit in puddles and splash water. Just like older days. Wilder days :).
I like rains. It changes the perspective of how you see a place. It's beautiful and it makes even the traffic stuck roads look great.
I never had issues puddles on road. And the drain pipes. So many times have I just stood under a drain pipe splashing water full force.
I like everything about the rains. The good, the bad and I think both good and bad is great.
In my scheme of things, rains is as spiritual as mountains. Nothing else even comes close. Except of course when it rains in mountains. It's amazing then. And it's the most beautiful sight in the world.
Superlative in every sense.
Here's to the rains. :)
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Mumbai
Nitya and I were talking about this yesterday. There are times I still miss Mumbai so much. May be just for the heck of it.
It's difficult to get the city our of your system. I still will put my money on Mumbai long term than Bangalore.
It's difficult to get the city our of your system. I still will put my money on Mumbai long term than Bangalore.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
I realized
That some movies my mood and the books affect my mood as well.
Self discovery. A lot of it happening.
Self discovery. A lot of it happening.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Great Men
Read this somewhere:
Great men die twice, once as greats and once as men.
Haha, so true :).
Great men die twice, once as greats and once as men.
Haha, so true :).
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Kachori!!!
I have always loved kachoris. I really thinnk making Kachori is an art and not everyone can make it well.
This post of mine on Adarsh Kachori Bhandar says a lot about the respect I have for someone who can make spectacular kachoris.
In Bangalore, yes, in Bangalore. Here in Bangalore, I found someone called "Saraswati Mishthan Bhandar". He is almost there in making kachoris as Adarsh, if not fully there. His is the best dal ki kachori I had in years. I have not been to Bhopal for almost 2 years now and already miss Adarsh. But this guy is just soo good.
You have to eat it to believe it. The other kachori he makes is "pyaaz ki kachori". Now that one again is splendid.
I still remember the "aloo ki kachori" of Cafe centre, Indore and Mayur shop at ghanta ghar, Ujjain. I dont think anything comes even close to the aloo ki kachori which Cafe centre makes and the way he serves it with 2-3 chatnis and finely chopped pyaaz. That guy is a champion.
Also, can you believe it, I have found in Bangalore of all the places in the world a shop which sells milk at night. Not close to home but still its there. I love all sorts of food (except for Chinese) but dont think any place in the world comes even closer to Malwa and the food there.
Bangalore definitely is surprising me in some cases where I am mostly shocked by it :).
This post of mine on Adarsh Kachori Bhandar says a lot about the respect I have for someone who can make spectacular kachoris.
In Bangalore, yes, in Bangalore. Here in Bangalore, I found someone called "Saraswati Mishthan Bhandar". He is almost there in making kachoris as Adarsh, if not fully there. His is the best dal ki kachori I had in years. I have not been to Bhopal for almost 2 years now and already miss Adarsh. But this guy is just soo good.
You have to eat it to believe it. The other kachori he makes is "pyaaz ki kachori". Now that one again is splendid.
I still remember the "aloo ki kachori" of Cafe centre, Indore and Mayur shop at ghanta ghar, Ujjain. I dont think anything comes even close to the aloo ki kachori which Cafe centre makes and the way he serves it with 2-3 chatnis and finely chopped pyaaz. That guy is a champion.
Also, can you believe it, I have found in Bangalore of all the places in the world a shop which sells milk at night. Not close to home but still its there. I love all sorts of food (except for Chinese) but dont think any place in the world comes even closer to Malwa and the food there.
Bangalore definitely is surprising me in some cases where I am mostly shocked by it :).
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Dont think I need this
Not sure if I really want my children so impossible to ignore that they become in your face.
I would like my children to have an option that they can be ignored when they want it that way :).
I would like my children to have an option that they can be ignored when they want it that way :).
Friday, March 09, 2012
Bombay!!!
I was explaining Mumbai and Bombay to a videsi in office. We were discussing recruitment at some senior level and I was telling him that I am looking to see if some of the people I know can move from Mumbai to Bangalore. And that it is very difficult.
And he said but Bangalore is green and nice. I said well so might be Tulsa in Oklahoma, but you wouldnt want to leave NY, would you? :).
Then he asked, what happened to Bombay? Bombay stood for everything which is quality in India. I said yeah, it still does, it's just called Mumbai now.
Bombay has now more become an adjective rather than a noun. Bombay symbolizes things, a way of life. It symbolizes a cosmopolitan forward looking culture which resides in and explains this place called 'Mumbai'.
It's so true actually. Am not into this political debate or anything. And I like Mumbai as name. It's just that Bombay represents an era, a time, a philosophy for me which is so unique compared to the way people live in other places, it's amazing. It's amazing that similar people bahaving more unemotionally and in a balanced manner that it's just a lot more mature. That similar kind of people are more open to others and think about overall effectiveness from a long term perspective.
This is unheard of and unseen in most parts of the world. That's the spirit of Mumbai. That's Bombay.
And he said but Bangalore is green and nice. I said well so might be Tulsa in Oklahoma, but you wouldnt want to leave NY, would you? :).
Then he asked, what happened to Bombay? Bombay stood for everything which is quality in India. I said yeah, it still does, it's just called Mumbai now.
Bombay has now more become an adjective rather than a noun. Bombay symbolizes things, a way of life. It symbolizes a cosmopolitan forward looking culture which resides in and explains this place called 'Mumbai'.
It's so true actually. Am not into this political debate or anything. And I like Mumbai as name. It's just that Bombay represents an era, a time, a philosophy for me which is so unique compared to the way people live in other places, it's amazing. It's amazing that similar people bahaving more unemotionally and in a balanced manner that it's just a lot more mature. That similar kind of people are more open to others and think about overall effectiveness from a long term perspective.
This is unheard of and unseen in most parts of the world. That's the spirit of Mumbai. That's Bombay.
Advika
Is here. It's been a long wait. She arrived on 7th Mar - anniversary of Aai and Baba.
We are all very excited :). Finally we will plan a Oz trip to meet her and I course Pradnya and Ritesh as well :).
Welcome aboard.
We are all very excited :). Finally we will plan a Oz trip to meet her and I course Pradnya and Ritesh as well :).
Welcome aboard.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Inception - movie review
Watching Inception. It's one amazing movie. May be I am not understanding it or may be I am, it is based on weird thing like dreaming.
I have thought a lot on dreams and thr weird dreams I get sometimes that I am a gangster and running from other chaps in similar profession and of course winning against them.
Very odd people coming for help, the ones I haven't seen, met or spoken to in years. Almost a Don movie running through. These dreams have come quite a few times.
So I have always been intrigued by dreams as such. Some of my friends think that dreams are B&W. I dont think so as I can remember the colours in my dream. My violet car with black windows when I was playing Michael Corleone. The steel of guns, robbers in one of my childhood dreams wearing a weird blue trousers and pink t-shirts. No hair, or may be they were masked.
Anyways, the concept of the movie is very good, dream within a dream and then again another one and how it affects the subconscious.
Controlling the dream is again a very simple scenario, you can actually script your dream to move in a direction, sometimes you can control it to nth degree.
They have taken this to the next level, pretty well done. Leonardo de Caprio is an actor who has changed completely. Compared to Titanic where he was ok to now in the Departed, Catch me if you can, Blood Diamond, the Aviator and now Inception. The guy is fantastic.
Would want to watch it once more, may be in Hindi this time to ensure that I didn't miss anything :).
And I finished the the review without reveling the story :).
I have thought a lot on dreams and thr weird dreams I get sometimes that I am a gangster and running from other chaps in similar profession and of course winning against them.
Very odd people coming for help, the ones I haven't seen, met or spoken to in years. Almost a Don movie running through. These dreams have come quite a few times.
So I have always been intrigued by dreams as such. Some of my friends think that dreams are B&W. I dont think so as I can remember the colours in my dream. My violet car with black windows when I was playing Michael Corleone. The steel of guns, robbers in one of my childhood dreams wearing a weird blue trousers and pink t-shirts. No hair, or may be they were masked.
Anyways, the concept of the movie is very good, dream within a dream and then again another one and how it affects the subconscious.
Controlling the dream is again a very simple scenario, you can actually script your dream to move in a direction, sometimes you can control it to nth degree.
They have taken this to the next level, pretty well done. Leonardo de Caprio is an actor who has changed completely. Compared to Titanic where he was ok to now in the Departed, Catch me if you can, Blood Diamond, the Aviator and now Inception. The guy is fantastic.
Would want to watch it once more, may be in Hindi this time to ensure that I didn't miss anything :).
And I finished the the review without reveling the story :).
Friday, January 20, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Choosing 'the' camera
Has to be a d700. That's the one.
And lenses?
Nikon 50mm 1.4d
Nikon 35 70 2.8d - push pull ( used )
Nikon 80 200 2.8d ( new ) - the 'new' is in the name. Does not mean new.
Lets see.
And lenses?
Nikon 50mm 1.4d
Nikon 35 70 2.8d - push pull ( used )
Nikon 80 200 2.8d ( new ) - the 'new' is in the name. Does not mean new.
Lets see.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Rajni.
Rajnikant knows the two people............
Who shakes there hands on NOKIA phones at start-up.
Who shakes there hands on NOKIA phones at start-up.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
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