tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36862132358933148292024-03-05T09:45:06.353+05:30If you believe...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-68500951789429676872012-01-17T21:29:00.000+05:302012-01-17T21:34:50.112+05:30The Immortals of Meluha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A title
that was rejected by plenty of publishing companies until one finally accepted
the story and published it. This book, within a week of its release, was the buzz
word you could hear everywhere around you if you are surrounded by book-lovers.
This book, released in February 2010, became an instant hit, selling over
125000 copies, and the demand for the book was so huge that it had to be
reprinted several times to keep up with the demand. It became one of the best
selling novels of 2010. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPSe_6A2uPwuTl0vyxKQokgwuE_muyL0kZGwuv8zRoEvFUrSSKY4l-I0kRCm537vt8wriJk4H5pl6ZoQvYwhyphenhyphena4CmX2jiEjCnfnfL5pHVfSpN6s2-AaWyK2zYyRVlaKeVPfbwcWbOmr8/s1600/The_Immortals_Of_Meluha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPSe_6A2uPwuTl0vyxKQokgwuE_muyL0kZGwuv8zRoEvFUrSSKY4l-I0kRCm537vt8wriJk4H5pl6ZoQvYwhyphenhyphena4CmX2jiEjCnfnfL5pHVfSpN6s2-AaWyK2zYyRVlaKeVPfbwcWbOmr8/s320/The_Immortals_Of_Meluha.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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I kept
away from this book, till a week ago, when I decided to read the book. I tend
to not read Hindu mythology in a language other than Tamil, and I was of the
opinion that this is a mythological book until I read a small piece of it at
Landmark. Misled by the cover picture, I thought it was some sort of religious
remake of existing Hindu mythology.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I order
this book online (Flipkart) along with its successor, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Secret of the Nagas.</i> I read the complete book in less than a
day. The book is about – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What if Lord Shiva was not a figment of rich
imagination, but a person of flesh and blood – a man who was raised to become
godlike because of his karma.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
These
lines attracted me further. An interesting plot. The novel revolves around the
protagonist Shiva, who is a Tibetan immigrant to the land of Meluha, a perfect
ancient India as Amish has described, how he pursues Sati (Parvati) with all
his deepest love, and how his karma recasts him as our Mahadev, God of Gods.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For those
who think this is only for Hindus, you are wrong. It has nothing to do with
Hinduism. It has all the perfect society that could be imagined to exist 4000
years ago, a period where this novel is set.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If this
book is plainly read, it is yet another novel, with a different plot, blending
myth and history, with volumes of fabulous imagination. Amish has blended all
the important characters of our Hindu mythology with vibrant imagination, and
has cast a beautiful narrative out of it. Plainly read, the narrative is quite
predictable. At least, I felt that way. I loved some of the explanations given
for the society that Amish has created. The Maika system, Somras, Vikarma etc.
are to be really appreciated. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you look
deeper into what this book tells us, a whole lot of philosophy is hidden within
a wonderful story line. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel2CxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify;">
a.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>We, as individuals should be judged only by our
karma, not by caste, religion, region, etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
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b.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>What is evil? – Something that is different from
your world of ideas<o:p></o:p><br />
are some of them.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Talking about the author, Amish
Tripathi is an MBA turned writer, and is now writing the third book in the
Shiva Trilogy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Oath of the
Vayuputras.</i> Though the story line is simple, his imagination and the
blending of characters into it, and infusing his philosophical ideas into it is
worth appreciating. Another aspect I loved when I checked out this book at
Flipkart was the video trailer for this book. It is definitely a cool way of
attracting even non-readers out there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have the second part of the Trilogy
in hand. Let's see what this creative author has to say about the Nagas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India13.060422 80.24958312.936679000000002 80.0916545 13.184165 80.4075115tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-35081864988367662992011-06-29T02:36:00.001+05:302011-06-29T02:36:19.208+05:30Walking down the memory lane!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><title></title> <style type="text/css">
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<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">Today, I am seated comfortably in the Chennai facility of Logica, quite comfortable with the environment and work life! As I think of what I was three years ago, this day, I was just-out-of-college, waiting to face the world with all delight. And I sat at the reception area in Bangalore office, not knowing what the world of IT has in store for me, waiting for my turn of interview.</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">Yes! It was this day, in the year 2008, that I took my interview with Logica, as a fresh graduate. Filled with a mind full of expectations and excitement, I saw many other eager faces waiting to clear interviews and be part of 'One Logica' who were 'Releasing their potential', like the old brand of Logica said. Now I am a proud member of the big team 'One Logica' and we are being 'brilliant together'.</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">And I am also happy to see that quite a good number of people who got selected along with me are still with Logica. People have come and gone. But the goodness I find with that specific team is something that is beyond expression. I started off as a silent employee, who broke off the cocoon to see the opportunities that lay in front of me.</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">All through my journey of three years, I have experienced everything that I came across, without turning back. Be it the internal project (guruLib), or Schenker, or CQ5, and not to forget Syntillations, it is a world full of fun and opportunity. Of all my experiences, I would rate Syntillations the best of all, for I got to know a variety of logibods from different departments, and taught me what really 'One Logica' is. This is a fantastic people club that exists purely for the benefit of logibods, to have fun @ workplace along with seriousness.</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">I did have my bad times, when I was unassigned to projects, and had to fight my best to get myself 'billable'. I did have my other bad times with unexpected rating all the time, but everything taught me how to handle situations. I have learnt lots in my life, in all these three years of my life @ logica.!</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to Logica! :) </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-11891403357899676452011-05-13T01:40:00.000+05:302011-05-14T01:53:33.449+05:30The Tipping Point - A Review (Part I )<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">We are all fascinated by changing trends. Something which was never famous a few ago, has become commonplace, and is being the trend today. A previously unwanted item will suddenly gain attention that is explicable.<br />
<br />
Take the rise of mobile phones. Just a decade ago, it was something very very expensive for a basic model, and incoming and outgoing calls were charged at sky high prices.. Over the last two years, we see a significant change in people using the mobile phone. Anyone from a daily wage laborer to big business magnets, we have a cell phone. And no ordinary features are actually left out while we go for a cheaper phone. This happened all of a sudden. I was doing my Class 11 when my dad got a mobile phone, which was considered a luxury at that point of time. And today, each person holds a mobile phone, and make use of it to the fullest.. <br />
<br />
We have seen same kinds of businesses grow up or decline. Here in this book, Malcolm discusses what / who brings change in the society, so that something that was unnoticed, suddenly became so recognized.<br />
<br />
This book is lively and engages the study of several ideas as above, wherein there was a tipping point for shooting up of that particular business or whatsoever. He suggests there are some people in the society capable of achieving this.. As I am writing this, I am only halfway through the book, but this has influenced me enough to start writing about this book.<br />
<br />
I will describe in short and crisp terms what this book is about in the future posts. Till then, let me get back to more of the 'tipping point'.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-8692155078476766102011-04-25T17:19:00.000+05:302011-04-25T17:19:23.454+05:30Think Green!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">We have been hearing and seeing quite a lot happening to make the world a greener and a happier place to live in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DALEkqcmnCmlJlFEhVFGNG3a9V-IUHZfUmlHOQS4CNGJA-AWbUCvBRa2tSn_rV-tJgW_OoCFWwzpiVkBdVIZdl9OcMtZwWb8VFJX-e1gcoJrGvOglkufqKnOIfI53QVViQ-a4aH8Pcs/s1600/Think-Green-2006-240x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DALEkqcmnCmlJlFEhVFGNG3a9V-IUHZfUmlHOQS4CNGJA-AWbUCvBRa2tSn_rV-tJgW_OoCFWwzpiVkBdVIZdl9OcMtZwWb8VFJX-e1gcoJrGvOglkufqKnOIfI53QVViQ-a4aH8Pcs/s200/Think-Green-2006-240x300.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Everyday, we see people campaigning some way or the other trying to spread the news that the green is precious. I was traveling to Adyar, a few days back. Have you ever noticed that the road in which CLRI, Anna University and IIT Madras, and Cancer Research Insitute, Guindy National Park are located is way cooler than the other roads ? Had you been into the 'greenery at its best' types campus of IIT Madras, where they have tried to preserve nature, you will realize what trees do to mankind, and the earth!<br />
<br />
You get into IIT Madras from the dusty and polluted roads, you are in to experience gentle breeze and fresh air, with the beautiful deers and blackbucks adding a treat to the eyes! The greenery at IIT Madras campus makes it a much better place to live in inside the city of Chennai than any other. To get to the point, we experience cool weather and gentle breeze amidst the hot and humid weather if we are surrounded by trees. So why destroy them!!! Its like destroying the natural goodness! <br />
<br />
Neyveli is another example! I am proud of living in this yet another green place. This place, where just the employees to NLC Ltd. get to live in their corporation allotted flats, is a serene and green place, neat and clean. The entire credit goes to the people and the administration that goes on in maintaining and developing the living area. Mining means deforestation! Ain't it!? Yes, but the administration makes sure they plant saplings in all the areas that has been mined post mining, to ensure that the greenery is intact. They have been growing more than 18 million trees in the township, mining and reclaimed areas to safeguard the ecological balance of the region. <br />
<br />
And there is something to add to this. The township is a place wherein at least 18000 employees (executives, non-executives and labors) working with NLC Ltd. And these people live in the township residences allotted to them by the corporation. Every shop at this township uses recyclable paper bags. Not one shop around here supplies plastic covers as is seen in the other places. And you want a food parcel to your house, take a lunch box and get it packed. Thats how it works here and the employees and their families have been so supportive of this cool idea because it concerns Green Earth. Besides, Neyveli has always been a greener and a cooler place to live in, with clean drinking water and clean air to breathe. I am posting a picture of the aerial view of the living area and the mining area, of NLC Ltd. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42NzzF7gwaHGsjXkZ5O5Wh7ZWkov0OateP0fN990rtZIHSlxuGmh0qZnmRalUdMFxeEQywgnCY0d_kGGBqWENi4jrF89sWOKPixmVyACy_FRE9rJsGLTt_KxcimI4Eqpi6NCD3iKO6FQ/s1600/17899514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42NzzF7gwaHGsjXkZ5O5Wh7ZWkov0OateP0fN990rtZIHSlxuGmh0qZnmRalUdMFxeEQywgnCY0d_kGGBqWENi4jrF89sWOKPixmVyACy_FRE9rJsGLTt_KxcimI4Eqpi6NCD3iKO6FQ/s400/17899514.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial View of the residential area at Neyveli! Green and blue! Yes! Buildings do exist! :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqc9PV4IW7eAwaiMXCneS-0gJlQX8KjgVf0jJjfKNs4gda_2ej6qT52pDnT08U2Y5-NFY4W4ShYca67L4R8ZHj1owG5h6Kxb3z2FppGnhK7PCrZYYLqDsJCKI-2uSay38fuzQHO6nLPc/s1600/18027362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqc9PV4IW7eAwaiMXCneS-0gJlQX8KjgVf0jJjfKNs4gda_2ej6qT52pDnT08U2Y5-NFY4W4ShYca67L4R8ZHj1owG5h6Kxb3z2FppGnhK7PCrZYYLqDsJCKI-2uSay38fuzQHO6nLPc/s400/18027362.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bucket wheel excavator at the Mining Area in NLC Ltd</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I was skimming through the newspaper today, where I read about Vikram and his idea of 'Pasumai Puratchi' (tamil - translates to 'Green Revolution'). To those who don't know this man, he is one of the top actors in the Tamil Film Industry and a heartthrob of plenty of girls out there. There is a huge fan following for this guy. He took an initiative of planting saplings at the YMCA facility at Kottivakkam. This is one example of an individual taking efforts to do something to the society thereby making it a greener place to live in. He took to his advantage, the fact that his fans follow him, and transformed this into something good for the environment. Does this strike a cord?! Read the article published today, in <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article1764836.ece">'The Hindu</a>'.<br />
<br />
And another detail that stuck me as I was walking through the ever-crowded streets of T.Nagar. While I always wonder, what is with people and all the shopping stuff at this place, what caught my attention yesterday were those saplings that were distributed for anything you buy from the shop 'Pothys'. An excellent initiative, to motivate the common man to plant more trees. Yesterday, I was there shopping and when my dad produced the bill at the counter, wow, we got two beautiful saplings. And it felt so happy to come back home with green saplings where you went buying clothes. T Nagar being a heavily crowded area, the amount of people who come to shop are huge and therefore the impact that this 'Gift Sapling' can do to individuals in huge. <br />
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Likewise last year, when we, Logica were the title sponsors of the event 'Stars of Chennai' conducted by Plus Dreammakers, they were environment-friendly enough to present each of the chief guests with a sapling as a memento. <br />
<br />
And my almamater, BITS Pilani Goa campus, made sure each of us planted a sapling in the fresh college, and took care of our plant, as they grew. It has our name boards beside the saplings were planted. This has been happening every year. Man! Something to be appreciated! <br />
<br />
Yes, we do see enormous efforts put in everywhere to bring awareness in the common man as well as make changes to move towards a greener environment. But I still see the use of plastics, and non-recyclable stuff being used by people around me so casually. If so many people take so much efforts to make the world a better place to live in, why does not every individual make some effort himself?! Are we not responsible for the society?! <br />
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A humble request to everyone reading this post patiently for this long a time: Please make sure you use our available natural resources carefully. Always at any moment, ensure that you are doing something to ensure a greener future. Keep in mind "Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money". Lets join hands to save the earth! Lets do our bit to make the world a better place to live in.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-10485424042317325122011-04-22T22:10:00.000+05:302011-04-22T22:10:55.592+05:30Life..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8WmWjqbEPcGiJJKYDohazhudPnsAssKxVDUt10xtqg_04Z8W6MBKsiwCDITF9B70ZiQIWM3VknW8F1Cp9OB0z644AB6a_nTvPDh9O2N8tftbwbTl1Gb4hCThj89jdveeNjPRUUKENKM/s640/217333_10150225184992053_599182052_8666356_2275964_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="476" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got it from a friend's album on facebook.. </td></tr>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-62762662534917585882011-04-19T19:39:00.001+05:302011-04-22T22:11:54.565+05:30The T.V Series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I type this post listening to one of my favorite compositions from the tamil movie 'Angadi Theru'. I have been filling my blog at <a href="http://thembaodyssey.blogspot.com/">The MBA Odyssey</a>, that I forgot to actually write a couple of posts on this blog. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is amazing how we get so involved in many activities so as to forget some other activities. And something that I have got addicted to these days is F.R.I.E.N.D.S. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">God knows how I am going to control my urge to watch this tv series nonstop. I wished they had more seasons.. It is so compelling to stop with just one episode. I have watched each episode so much that I remember the lines. I wonder what an amazing experience it would have been for the team to have been working on it for so long. I find it exciting when I see those young faces turn old with the seasons. Ten seasons would have been so much of their acting career, and I am sure these guys would have had awesome fun through the course of those ten years. Monica and Chandler and Phoebe (that's a funny noise, yes, as Rachel's sister exclaims!) and Ross and Rachel. Emma and Ben are other attractions in the episodes, not to miss Janicee (O...M...G..! ) and Mikee...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn6F2tyidlC1WEX2gW99TIGd-YoFpxmre2Pr_VHSbjqlw6XdSFIawjdQZlIemmSrDFt1x16GB8cDz1-bqL8s5l1rEl3dxQdPurWclXFaqDwYAG3Jo-BYGX5yfOZqkKOjESoxNUJIWAPk/s1600/Friends_titles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn6F2tyidlC1WEX2gW99TIGd-YoFpxmre2Pr_VHSbjqlw6XdSFIawjdQZlIemmSrDFt1x16GB8cDz1-bqL8s5l1rEl3dxQdPurWclXFaqDwYAG3Jo-BYGX5yfOZqkKOjESoxNUJIWAPk/s200/Friends_titles.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Lp6w3brvFB97VGbRBbr6R7HPYGz8t_yXfW0rvOAdZETmW3S1VInk8X3TL_WsgSsiLgPJuqOdfDsXnRj-xZ6Cv5ws7xUnaHqPIEMWhN04KFDc3l81mnRbQ7LOxi0pWITKpioQl9XjWx0/s1600/Prison-break-s1-intro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Lp6w3brvFB97VGbRBbr6R7HPYGz8t_yXfW0rvOAdZETmW3S1VInk8X3TL_WsgSsiLgPJuqOdfDsXnRj-xZ6Cv5ws7xUnaHqPIEMWhN04KFDc3l81mnRbQ7LOxi0pWITKpioQl9XjWx0/s1600/Prison-break-s1-intro.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I can keep going on and on this amazing series. Another interesting action filled series is Prison Break. Who can forget this wonder sitcom by Paul Scheuring, with Michael Scofield..! Michael and Lincoln are awesome siblings I should say. I learnt the importance of really applying engineering to practice, in this series, with the brilliance portrayed through Wentworth Miller. If Friends is a sitcom, where just 5 people can make it wonderful, Prison Break is something that has been made magnificent with every episode ending with a compelling note to watch the next. I missed Season 4 because I lost touch with the previous episodes. I am hunting for the full set of episodes, so I can watch them all over again.! </div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-68628443366471327292011-04-19T18:24:00.003+05:302011-04-19T18:25:45.964+05:30I wordle'd my blog..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkgXVXLOVhsiSTxSIPHccTllnK5vxPKr8OU6mzO6xGTcBME_3wW4RErYBvW9kMVZDrTEwUy61fcGZM8TGRJCTmTo0SdMhUbL1Nnt82IwheF-UMZ53XaQ9Vb_owBq74zKLcOSih0GaJCg/s1600/neww.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkgXVXLOVhsiSTxSIPHccTllnK5vxPKr8OU6mzO6xGTcBME_3wW4RErYBvW9kMVZDrTEwUy61fcGZM8TGRJCTmTo0SdMhUbL1Nnt82IwheF-UMZ53XaQ9Vb_owBq74zKLcOSih0GaJCg/s400/neww.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
These are the words that are most used in my blog.. Isnt that exciting???<br />
Thanks to <a href="http://www.wordle.net/create">Wordle</a>...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-52291363623867815202011-03-21T16:14:00.004+05:302011-04-22T22:24:35.633+05:30Anger..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">I was riding to the office today morning, and happened to wait at the signal. There was strange and harsh sound of a person shouting at another person. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a father with his daughter (around 2 years old) in his shoulders, shouting at an auto-driver. The issue was that the auto driver rebuked the father for some random reason at the signal. This is an everyday issue with the auto drivers, who think they know the best driving and traffic rules ( I assume it to be so..)..</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSZ2iuiIRX6kn4c3Aa7QL3FRrkCx2tiFzgQC5VEU_HG8bx-N1oM0VJubHeZt-TUREiwhG9gFHJg9VohcTg9xocERXbDTprF8-7-vMFn2VToD9TqhlJ0iffl7FGH9rzpB_Rhe-ZtzB5qY/s1600/noanger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSZ2iuiIRX6kn4c3Aa7QL3FRrkCx2tiFzgQC5VEU_HG8bx-N1oM0VJubHeZt-TUREiwhG9gFHJg9VohcTg9xocERXbDTprF8-7-vMFn2VToD9TqhlJ0iffl7FGH9rzpB_Rhe-ZtzB5qY/s200/noanger.JPG" width="191" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">What I was more concerned is the kind of reaction I saw from the father, who appeared to be a decent professional. He used rude words and went down to the level of an illiterate in uttering words. All offensive statements like 'I will put you in jail for talking to me like this.. I am driving slowly with my daughter.. And dare you shout at me..' , 'You are playing with me without knowing my power; I ll hand over you to the police.. I will convict all your family members and put them to jail..' </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was dumbstruck at the way the new father reacted to just one or two words that the autowala uttered maybe purely because of some kind of bad mood. It happens with most of us in life. When we are angry, we tend to show our anger on others. But there is a limit to everything. The way the father shouted at the autowala was totally meaningless. Why will a man get so angry and utter totally unecessary words?! Is he not literate enough to understand that he is educated and the prime purpose of education is to make you a man with sense, and throw away anything that is nonsense. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And what is the moral he is teaching to his young daughter who is just beginning to see the world?! He must have sure instilled this in the fresh mind of his daughter. Is this what the new generation is going to be taught? Is this what we want our future generations to learn and be like?!</div><br />
Lets think ! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-86915709274010438052011-03-15T16:09:00.005+05:302011-04-22T22:25:24.325+05:30Women 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>"A <a href="http://www.dailycelebrations.com/women.htm">woman</a> is the full circle. Within her is the <a href="http://www.dailycelebrations.com/power.htm">power</a> to <a href="http://www.dailycelebrations.com/creative.htm">create</a>, nurture, and transform. A woman knows that nothing can come to fruition without light. Let us call upon woman's voice and woman's heart to guide us in this age of planetary transformation." ~ Diane Mariechild</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuP3pwJnIr4IaraCegore_F2LVrw0sXzvGImHjQnwK9y-H88TqUDpt_fZnSMWpgGOxLxVrFYTzao-SovDSukn_7NxsGVJ3TXgAMP65cSfxyW8-tTbZqdWJHiQUx5NqhpfEZlOmNkUEXE/s1600/iStock_000003709871Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuP3pwJnIr4IaraCegore_F2LVrw0sXzvGImHjQnwK9y-H88TqUDpt_fZnSMWpgGOxLxVrFYTzao-SovDSukn_7NxsGVJ3TXgAMP65cSfxyW8-tTbZqdWJHiQUx5NqhpfEZlOmNkUEXE/s320/iStock_000003709871Large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, I just witnessed the celebration of the 100th year of International Women's day last week.! And this year, it was different from the norm. There was a small celebration arranged in office, with all the women being greeted with a rose, and a gift in the morning. As I was reflecting on the success of the event, after a big time failure of V-Day event in the office, I was also a little surprised, as to why this celebration happened at all. There is of course an International Men's day, but most of the men out there don't even know such a day exists. Why this hype for women?!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is obvious. After a baffling struggle to obtain our space in a male-dominated society, we can only feel satisfied at having succeeding in making men understand that we are no way less competent than they are, in ANY field. We have just crossed a major barrier; we still have a long way to go.! There is nothing to feel happy about for celebrating Women's day in such a strong sense, where end of the day, all that a woman gets is a pack of chocolates and gifts and fluffy dolls. Should women remain happy just feeling happy about what great women of the past achieved?! Dont we have the responsibility to succeed and prove our capacity until there is no necessity to encourage women to participate, but women are always part and parcel of everything that can happen in the world! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To be frank, I felt that women have achieved what they wanted in their life, seeing the celebration yesterday. But quickly did I also realize that the struggle that women took to reach this day, was longer than anyone could possibly imagine. This millenium has witnessed a significant change and an attitudinal shift in the thoughts of every woman and the society in itself, about women's equality with men and their emancipation. My point here is we have just started and we still have a long way to go. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Consider the women reservation percentage in India. This is primarily given for the reasons like:</div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Encouraging more women to participate in politics and society.</li>
<li>An attempt to bring down the rate of female foeticide, infanticide, and issues related to women' health. Sex ratio in India is an alarming 1.06 men for every woman. </li>
<li>Bringing those women who are still in the dark about emancipation to light and life..</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I bet most of us have listened to Ms.Sunitha Krishnan's speech at TedXClassroom Project. She is one example of hundreds and thousands of women out there who are fighting to establish the rights of women. She herself being a victim of rape in her teenage, has dedicated herself to rescuing those numerous children who are suffering because of the sex industry and she is keen on spreading awareness about the issue, and changing the mindset of people who treat women as slaves. The speech she gave was more than a motivation for many people around us. But still, we are bound by our family to keep away from people who have become victims. Such is the society today. This is one example enough to prove that women still have a long way to go in establishing their rights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We see women these days, working at their office, taking care of their household, taking care of the kids and family and still trying to maintain the same calm she always had. Isn't this proof enough to understand that women can make good resources in any field, in any walk of life!? There are regions in India, that ban women as witches and ill-treat them. It is disheartening to hear such news, when the world is educated enough to stop believing in something blindly. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today though we see a lot of change with respect to women emancipation, numerous issues still exist in all spheres of life - cultural, economical and political. There is till date, problems that could be rectified if only people understood that they are lives. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is still a long way to go, in order to establish the fact that women and men are equal in all walks of life.! That day, there will be no reservation for women, because, that will be day when women are ready and willing to participate in every activity across the world. That will be the day, when men understand that women are capable of doing everything. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-32658106941639822372010-10-08T15:54:00.000+05:302010-10-08T15:54:23.942+05:30Potato and Oyster Mushroom curry<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cooking doesn't appear interesting to me all the time.. So, once in a while, when I feel tempted to cook, I make sure it tastes good..</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And somehow, mushrooms have been my favourite experiment at cooking.. Of the two three varieties I tried, I felt todays' is the best.. So, here is the recipe for you.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-13yACEzI6nHjxqKmf5L4iHQfLjhSUtYW1pWNsteaHM9F6pAhMxscv-rDf82kdOtwyoMJG-mOfLgp66w-VwMfjE_wGlUPNv-Pz7uGv8BbDOGaR0PUzWMpS3L3a6BQTgEUNphO6zJdEV8/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-13yACEzI6nHjxqKmf5L4iHQfLjhSUtYW1pWNsteaHM9F6pAhMxscv-rDf82kdOtwyoMJG-mOfLgp66w-VwMfjE_wGlUPNv-Pz7uGv8BbDOGaR0PUzWMpS3L3a6BQTgEUNphO6zJdEV8/s320/DSC_0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Onion ( halved and sliced big)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Tomatoes ( big sized, sliced)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oyster Mushrooms ( 8 - 10 )</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cilantro leaves (½ cup finely chopped)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Potatoes (Cut into small dice)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt to taste</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garam masala</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chill Powder</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turmeric Powder</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cooking Oil</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQr1Tfb3-5WtTyaeV5YEoYkwn39jwrXI-QCvi2ozWVxlRoLkL7uuYL0WSHkuschPkbF_mYE7xhGfDYpWoWS9-doy95puS8PXdXx7RGGNAQ2FEk8t0oPy7KfRSPvTvLw-k8GEJMc3a970/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQr1Tfb3-5WtTyaeV5YEoYkwn39jwrXI-QCvi2ozWVxlRoLkL7uuYL0WSHkuschPkbF_mYE7xhGfDYpWoWS9-doy95puS8PXdXx7RGGNAQ2FEk8t0oPy7KfRSPvTvLw-k8GEJMc3a970/s320/DSC_0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Let's get started.</b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Heat oil in a pan, add onions and cilantro leaves and fry them till they become soft and translucent.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Add mushrooms, spices and salt and saute for 5 to 6 minutes till the mushroom splash water.. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Splash water if the spices seem to get dry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Now add tomatoes, potatoes and ½ cup water to it and cook under medium flame for around 7 minutes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Simmer the stove once bubbles are seen and allow it to cook under low flame for 20 minutes., so that the potatos and mushrooms get cooked.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fY5JwQNC06vAyyzSpPQFAVIwpCUSu-AlRWVBBhWzUpz2JAGcaiOWU_wP3fqJW6iA4l5DQ5SIRbr4sUkTIf2PWizH2zWc2F8okikmwoxbIo6Gx1sU3UCgCuQDgTtMhMxCFb09jJ5abGc/s1600/KK_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fY5JwQNC06vAyyzSpPQFAVIwpCUSu-AlRWVBBhWzUpz2JAGcaiOWU_wP3fqJW6iA4l5DQ5SIRbr4sUkTIf2PWizH2zWc2F8okikmwoxbIo6Gx1sU3UCgCuQDgTtMhMxCFb09jJ5abGc/s320/KK_FINAL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your potato and oyster mushroom curry is now ready to serve. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It tastes great with rotis, and rice. Try it.. I am sure you will love it.. ;)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQr1Tfb3-5WtTyaeV5YEoYkwn39jwrXI-QCvi2ozWVxlRoLkL7uuYL0WSHkuschPkbF_mYE7xhGfDYpWoWS9-doy95puS8PXdXx7RGGNAQ2FEk8t0oPy7KfRSPvTvLw-k8GEJMc3a970/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-13yACEzI6nHjxqKmf5L4iHQfLjhSUtYW1pWNsteaHM9F6pAhMxscv-rDf82kdOtwyoMJG-mOfLgp66w-VwMfjE_wGlUPNv-Pz7uGv8BbDOGaR0PUzWMpS3L3a6BQTgEUNphO6zJdEV8/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fY5JwQNC06vAyyzSpPQFAVIwpCUSu-AlRWVBBhWzUpz2JAGcaiOWU_wP3fqJW6iA4l5DQ5SIRbr4sUkTIf2PWizH2zWc2F8okikmwoxbIo6Gx1sU3UCgCuQDgTtMhMxCFb09jJ5abGc/s1600/KK_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-853294331570751532010-10-03T13:45:00.011+05:302011-04-22T22:26:12.303+05:30Recent episodes @ work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life has been pretty cool for the past one month.. I was crowned with the title 'Ms. Logica' at the Back2School event @ Logica. This got me in touch with a lot of Syntillations members and I got enthusiastic to work with such dedicated group of people.. Besides being total fun, it taught me a lot about organizing events, playing dedicated roles behind-the-scenes. When an event turns success, all of them backstage are at heights of excitement, and I understand the reason why! This experience is something totally worth it, of all the effort that was put in by the team. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBvHDXW4qaInioIMA9Ym415cyiDbHflqQc90VTGIhxpkrZHpjYD6Lt9hUa8KIKU83P92uY4Hvjh9lUKv7h1TH6FpaUWcCXAO8sLkQS-gSJWurnKp0YuW8-33Md_rpWbU4e68MP228PwE/s1600/62859_147728441930820_100000809957387_203912_6138539_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBvHDXW4qaInioIMA9Ym415cyiDbHflqQc90VTGIhxpkrZHpjYD6Lt9hUa8KIKU83P92uY4Hvjh9lUKv7h1TH6FpaUWcCXAO8sLkQS-gSJWurnKp0YuW8-33Md_rpWbU4e68MP228PwE/s320/62859_147728441930820_100000809957387_203912_6138539_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first event for which I volunteered to coordinate is 'Stars of Chennai'.. This is an event organized by Plus Dreammakers, an event management organization in association with Logica; Logica being the title sponsor. This is primarily a CSR event with the motive of entertaining the underprivileged children from various NGOs at Chennai. We were team of 4 nominated 'Core Team' members for 'Stars of Chennai'. What I learnt was managing activities to the minute detail..! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was heartwarming to see the event turn up a success live on stage. And the prime motive of the event was well experienced. Amidst celebrities who performed on stage, were the cute tots dancing to the tune of music, forgetting everything else in the world! What a pleasure and treat to the eyes and heart it was to see those little kids dance to joy! Needless to say, it was the most satisfying experience to be part of the team in making of the event. I have often wanted to be spending time with children who really need love and care. And this has been the first event which took me close to that wish of mine. :) I feel quite happy and excited about this, and I have pledged to myself to sponsor atleast one child for his/her education in future. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And next in line is the 'Annual Sports Day' at Logica Chennai held on October 2, 2010 at YMCA Grounds. Nandanam. Here, though I was not so involved with the coordination activities off-event, the experience on-event was truly awesome. It has been ages since I witnessed a fully energetic Sports' meet anywhere. It gave me a new sort of enthusiasm and energy. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY99nBdXVeTXPFBaxlX1B7eRy01z8qkeB4_Bc-xbz0wQtb42rosQyR83aZQ5sFWesL9QTRoJ9HyZ3wRA8e3b7dU3ptkrpDgO0yPr1ZfwYA_wbOYsGCoIPmSodvg2jTZR9suUgY7LAemLo/s1600/63835_438735519486_614104486_4823782_7092300_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY99nBdXVeTXPFBaxlX1B7eRy01z8qkeB4_Bc-xbz0wQtb42rosQyR83aZQ5sFWesL9QTRoJ9HyZ3wRA8e3b7dU3ptkrpDgO0yPr1ZfwYA_wbOYsGCoIPmSodvg2jTZR9suUgY7LAemLo/s320/63835_438735519486_614104486_4823782_7092300_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And the amount of energy I saw in each of the participants, needs no description. It was simply fantastic. I should definitely learn a lot from the organizing members of the event, for their efforts were seen live on ground yesterday. We rocked the grounds yesterday, with fun and when required, seriousness in the game. I feel so glad to be part of Logica and Syntillations (the employee social club at Logica). </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am waiting for more events in line.. Hope they make me more enlightened and enthusiastic to do more for entertaining the fellow community. </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-88228436726648089912010-08-06T12:41:00.002+05:302010-08-06T15:23:51.250+05:30Am I dreaming ?!<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhablMQ-B8iaZP2WwHWbLMQxRTuiofA9TKqqmJyKCOJBASq2TXQ5qjskb4vv7bBkY3x8HPIhEMxH_odzzdop9LnE6nCuPK9bII1AN4SoLfu4bWRNr5F6uZBIuIep7jHiDv9iXokNNveSdE/s1600/inception2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhablMQ-B8iaZP2WwHWbLMQxRTuiofA9TKqqmJyKCOJBASq2TXQ5qjskb4vv7bBkY3x8HPIhEMxH_odzzdop9LnE6nCuPK9bII1AN4SoLfu4bWRNr5F6uZBIuIep7jHiDv9iXokNNveSdE/s320/inception2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, you got me right! This is exactly the idea that Nolan planted in our minds in those amazing 148 minutes of dream-to-wake-up..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Little did I realize that my dreams also do similar things that Nolan projected! We consider our dreams as stupid the moment we wake up; for what we see are seemingly unrealistic objects linked together. But today, Nolan has planted a new form of idea in my mind! 'While we dream, our mind creates and perceives the dream world simultaneously. Our mind does it so well that we do not even realize it'. </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGcDaS4D3MpOpAPzvBWwsL5JFYqVi6PbH1sJqFAUuT72E1rnnPb2H9rqhZGZ5I7rjLQ9qZb0d9r-FtmiuBPb0BRKu6FM1l8XYcyBHDT4nCWy2MO8eJIT6RpGOV-bk_VFymOYV4IAM-TI/s1600/dream.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGcDaS4D3MpOpAPzvBWwsL5JFYqVi6PbH1sJqFAUuT72E1rnnPb2H9rqhZGZ5I7rjLQ9qZb0d9r-FtmiuBPb0BRKu6FM1l8XYcyBHDT4nCWy2MO8eJIT6RpGOV-bk_VFymOYV4IAM-TI/s200/dream.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Things that just didn't make any sense to me till sometime ago, make a real difference now. Human mind is an amazing tool whose creativity is used only to a meagre amount when awake! Thanks to Nolan for bringing to light this factor! Many aspects captured in the movie, are something that we naturally miss to comprehend in our dreams! The power of our subconscious!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jotting down the factors from the movie which I could relate to in my dreams:</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li>In a dream, time passes slowly. Just minutes in our real world and hours in our dreams. </li>
<li>Never realizing how we got to that spot in the dream.- Ahem! Are we really in the real world?! To think about it, do you exactly remember feeling when you came into the earth! Don't tell me, you know the day and time you were born, your parents told you that! <thinking hat!=""></thinking></li>
<li>Our mind can think beyond what we think it really can - I remember dreaming that my school auditorium is in the middle of a sea! :P</li>
<li>Realizing pain when we get hurt in dreams - 'pain is in the mind'. - If you have dreamt ever that you were shot with a gun in ur palm, you would wake up to realize that your palm hurts. Yes, it did in my case! </li>
<li>Something like music, a kick waking us up from our dreams! - </li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've never had the habit of trying to remember dreams unless I think the dream has some signifance. Just remembering dreams can make you feel the creative power in you - I feel after watching 'Inception'. Though I feel like writing more about dreams and dreaming, I will stick to wondering and trying to dig the mystery with 'Inception'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What started as a 80-page film treatment ten years ago, grew into what we know today as the mindblowing 'Inception' by Nolan. I am definitely not here to write a review about the movie, coz I have questions, increasing in number everytime I think about it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And with such an impressive cast, who can all deliver perfectly, no wonder the movie is a big hit. Di Caprio has certainly done his best and the enigmatic Mal is no way less. Unlike other movies where the characters vanish quickly from the audience' thoughts, this movie reminds us of every character in it, whenever we think about the movie. Di Caprio has proven his skills in his movies, like Shutter Island and this, where he plays someone who is emotionally broken down. </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He has made a perfect balance of characters and the right sequencing of the storyline, creating a whole fantastic screening for the audience. Had this script been made by other filmmakers, it is bound to be a disaster or atleast a mess. Nolan has definitely risked in trusting on the viewer's intelligence, which is partly the reason for some people not liking the plot. I would rather say they did not understand it enough to like it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People have several interpretations of the movie. Maybe this is a-movie-with-no-definitive-interpretation. None but Nolan can actually say on what basis the movie was built. One of the reviews I read said, this is Nolan's own life that was filmed metaphorically and it was the first most acceptable reading in my view so far about inception. I have now watched it twice, and still more doubts arising, I feel like watching it more, and I still feel I will never comprehend! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nolan is a genius to have left millions of audience thinking, even days after watching the movie. And it takes soo much imagination in real world to bring in something like dreams. The penrose stairs, a train right in the middle of the road coming from nowhere, a lift to reach the different parts of Cobb's memory, the gravity-defying fistfight, linking each level of dream via gravity shift (when the car moves and twists and turns, the Hotel where Fischer is in shifts in gravity), city folding on to itself, etc. </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It took almost 60 of the 148 minutes to explain the magnificient dream-world that Nolan takes us to, still making it a point to leave the audience with several questions in their mind. What is more beautiful is how he made a blend of emotional and intellectual sorts, with so much complexity! And those fantastic time-sequencing, with a few seconds for the van to plunge into water, the lift to explode and the slow-motion explosions; a whole city built by Cobb and Mal being broken down, and with all the complexity sequencing the scenes right for the audience to understand everytime where a person comes from and where he is now - all soo stupefying! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are quite a few plot holes, but I preferred ignoring them because of the other major areas in the movie I was trying to figure out! To mention a few of them - if gravity shift is felt in next level dreams, when the van falls, the effect should be experienced in the other levels as well. How does one wake up from limbo? If that is as simple as dying again to wake up from limbo, why was it projected as a complex deal where the person has to be trapped!? If Mal and Cobb entered Limbo for the first time where they were trapped for 50 years, did they die in a first level dream which took them to their world!? If the totem's very purpose goes null and void if a second person touches it, then Cobb's totem cannot work because it was originally Mal's!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nolan was not just talking about subconscious, memory and altering thoughts, he has been trying to deal with the very nature of art itself. Screenwriting is an art and he has given a completely new form of life to it. Truly an artist with the power to make millions think and keep thinking. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shall I say in conclusion - "True inspiration is impossible to fake!"</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Picture courtesy: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/rorschachsrants/news/?a=13101 </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-77184799211416251332010-05-10T17:56:00.001+05:302010-05-11T10:58:19.604+05:30A hot and sweet start...<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ahem.. This blog is basically to scribble whatever comes to my mind now and then.. But just to give a hot and sweet start, I have a recipe here for you. :) Read on...<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a favorite dish of mine from childhood. I remember eating two three cups of it everytime my mom cooked this at home.. And this time I was curious to try it myself.. And surprise! It came out well. I felt delighted.. Here I come posting the recipe for you to relish! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would call it the hot and sweet mango curry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Ingredients:</u><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raw mango (1 number)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Green chillies (4 numbers)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Turmeric powder (a pinch)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Salt to taste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jaggery ( 4 spoonfuls)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Water (1 cup)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mustard seeds (1 teaspoon)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Curry leaves ( 4 to 5 leaves)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cooking oil (2 teaspoons)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Preparation method: </u><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Slice the mangoes. Vertically slit the green chillies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take a frying pan. Transfer the water to it and bring it to boil. Add the sliced mangoes, green chillies, turmeric and salt. Leave it until the mangoes get cooked completely. Add the jaggery to it and mix them well till the jaggery melts and mixes well with the cooked mangoes. Your recipe is almost done. Remove the pan from the stove.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. Let them splutter. Now add curry leaves. Add the prepared mix of jaggery and mango to it. And you are all ready to taste the dish. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This can be an awesome combination for any south Indian lunch. It can also be eaten as a snack in the evening... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">P.S.: This is my first new post in this blog. All the other posts are imported from my old blog...<br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-1593839889460986822010-03-13T22:01:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:12:11.067+05:30Take a risk !<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unless you do, its not going to happen!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The dream, the plan, the vindication by triumph,the love that heals, the balmy climate where you can live languidly, the new body you want to build, the education, the career, the home, the travel, the gain, and all the glory.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All that you want, all that you cherish depends on you taking a risk.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everything involves a risk. Everthing!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nothing in this world is static, so you have to risk all the time.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your risk to grow. You grow to stay young, to have hope, to believe in the world as you create it.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Risking isn't easy. If it were, it wouldn't be a risk.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlIpIGQ5SRukpbYD-ajqRbsdMXNpQX3QpNccN96-icA5YzkhMH5LvtK8fT1o8KG-N1aHB3MkR6NSLJGsFK0jlSLPrchbr_77lngoQTJu4CtzFBur75bew9dMfoLjZp-HT7LR2aHpkPWVU/s1600-h/Risk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlIpIGQ5SRukpbYD-ajqRbsdMXNpQX3QpNccN96-icA5YzkhMH5LvtK8fT1o8KG-N1aHB3MkR6NSLJGsFK0jlSLPrchbr_77lngoQTJu4CtzFBur75bew9dMfoLjZp-HT7LR2aHpkPWVU/s320/Risk2.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What do you risk?</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You always risk losing something you care about when you risk, because a risk isn't a step. A risk is a leap.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What could you lose?</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your belief that you are safe?</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You're only safe if you keep on risking.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your belief that you are happy? You are only happy if you are growing.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your belief that your work is done? If you are alive, your work is always just beginning.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You need to risk to adapt, to discover, to know, to learn, to give up, to let go, to see fully, to accept the world and what it bestows.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You need to risk to find yourself.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You need to risk to live.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know I want to ...</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know I have to ...</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Taken from 'Finding your strength in difficult times'</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-76253889607276217262010-02-24T18:37:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:14:04.661+05:30...courage !<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I vividly remember these lines from my school diary.. While I was at school, once in a week this was sung at the school assembly.. </span></div><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to answer a call.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to give to all.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to risk your name.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to be true.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to dare- what no other will share.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To be standing alone with whom no one will.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To be ready to stake for another man's sake.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to be true.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to say what no other will pay.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To give each man his share.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Though there will be less to spare.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To be seeking no more than the neighbour next door.</i></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It takes courage to be true.</i></span></blockquote><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTmhak1aMogRmI6JafTDXkyWqDhZLEeSYW_qlIxIl7VBY7rc8r3Rzsw25qlX31pqltkiCFN7TXowjBAX4vWARD0vDrCTF5x1UYoJF87gh5NjEafqwq-hBpuAHE7s7PkhEJaQ9QM5j3J_6/s1600-h/courage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTmhak1aMogRmI6JafTDXkyWqDhZLEeSYW_qlIxIl7VBY7rc8r3Rzsw25qlX31pqltkiCFN7TXowjBAX4vWARD0vDrCTF5x1UYoJF87gh5NjEafqwq-hBpuAHE7s7PkhEJaQ9QM5j3J_6/s400/courage.jpg" width="317" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is surprising is that, is that it beguiled me even when I was a child.. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Courage - It can make anyone do wonders in his/her life! </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Be it anything that you feel like doing/achieving, the most basic thing you need to have is courage.. Believe that you can do it.. And say to yourself that it can definitely done as you put in efforts to achieve the same.. I am sure life can do wonders for you.. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-66712098914284183942009-11-14T14:53:00.001+05:302011-04-22T22:27:44.919+05:302 States - the story of my marriage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">We have probably read quite a number of novels by foreign authors. But something that is most appealing is when we can relate to our life the most. And Chetan Bhagat is a writer who gives novels that relates to our lives some way or the other. Of all the books he has written so far, this I would say will be more appealing to a specific group of Indians, the Punjabis', the Tamizhs' and IIM-A grads. I was excited to read the synopsis, and the umpteen number of comments that the author received for his latest book "2 States - The Story Of My Marriage". And the more surprising part is that he has dedicated this book to his in-laws himself having been in a situation similar to the storyline in the book.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Too much being already written about the book, I assume this is just yet another review. There are some notable areas of the book to which some of us can relate to:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">IIM-A</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Tamizh Brahmins (Non-brahmins can also equally relate to it, in my opinion)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Punjabis' ( I guess North Indians can generally relate to it; I am not sure though)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Citibank (Not sure what it is to be actually in Citibank, though)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The plot begins with life at IIM-A. Krish (Krish Malhotra) and Ananya (Ananya Swaminathan) begin their journey at IIM-A. Ananya is described as beautiful and attractive who has already received 10 proposals even at the start of her life at IIMA. Krish and Ananya meet up, become friends, and then fall in love with each other. Life at IIMA has the usual college sequence. Krish secures a job at Citibank(posted to Chennai) and Ananya at HLL (Chennai). </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> <br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">As Chetan has rightly portrayed in this novel, in India, marriage is not just a union of two hearts, but the union of two families. So here they are struggling a battle to win the hearts of both the parents. It is an interesting journey which the couple take to reach their goal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The author has rightly described the way a North Indian would feel about South India. And the mindset of a South Indian home is just perfect in its description. Krish was diplomatic in dealing with Ananya's family and winning each of their hearts. The Punjabi families' description was fun to read, but I could hardly acknowledge the description to the truth behind me being a Tamilian.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Something that made me think was the way the people think. India would become lot better if inter-religious marriages can happen. A change in the mindset of people is a definite necessity today. There is a lot of importance given to complexion and money in the north while I felt these are not just the only two elements that will decide happiness in a family. The South Indians are more worried about the culture and their community being modified. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> <br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">This book as many have already pointed out, is in a ready-to-be-made movie format. If only this could be made into a successful movie, people might end up learning what exactly is lacking in India that would make it a better country to live in. Living amidst numerous cultures and being tolerant towards each other is good; people should also realize that we are 'One India' and love is definitely above location/religion/appearance. True Love can win over any hard circumstances, if determined.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">'We are Indians first' and only then S.Indians/N.Indians and Hindus/Sikhs etc. When India wakes up to this truth and lives together as a nation readily accepting other religions/culture amongst the families themselves, India will rise up to the status of being a truly secular country. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> <br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The book brings in this point from Krish and Ananya's conversation every now and then. The novel ends on a positive note, saying the future will live in a state named 'India' and not Punjab or Tamil Nadu. This is the kind of attitude that every Indian should develop.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The book is for light entertaining reading. Grab a cup of coffee, sit on your favorite couch, relax with a bit of music and get ready for the latest youth entertainer that Chetan has given us.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Chetan has become one of my favorite writers now given the fact that he writes stuff that we can personally relate to our lives, be it college education, hostel life, or approaching parents seeking for acceptance of love and being 'Indian'.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-49432851098817363742009-10-13T22:51:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:17:00.574+05:30A Lifetime Experience....<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCSB5aL8iiKJ0aSqeCe2zHgUk8fb2GnAQM-Ydoaoy0zLjaaMZLXVO1uns-KVnNUJ76IsBUe-dx6gXeDomWNx8XQ8I3jO6EaQjx7H_WVNZAF-9OUJ-SNts8_XXDombgMJpC5phEiiPXxWY/s1600-h/A+R+Rahman+Jai+Ho+Live+in+Concert+stills+pics+images+photo+gallery+02.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392140671477134178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCSB5aL8iiKJ0aSqeCe2zHgUk8fb2GnAQM-Ydoaoy0zLjaaMZLXVO1uns-KVnNUJ76IsBUe-dx6gXeDomWNx8XQ8I3jO6EaQjx7H_WVNZAF-9OUJ-SNts8_XXDombgMJpC5phEiiPXxWY/s320/A+R+Rahman+Jai+Ho+Live+in+Concert+stills+pics+images+photo+gallery+02.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: justify; width: 266px;" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">It was the second Sunday of October, 2009; a sizzling afternoon. We had our ‘donor passes’ ready for the most awaited show of AR Rahman, in his own home land. This spectacular event was proposed to happen on the grounds of MARG Swarnabhoomi, which is close to a hundred kilometers from the place I reside in Chennai. Buses were arranged for pick up and drop at various points in the city and Cuddalore and Pondichery.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">I personally felt, had it not been for the transport arrangements, it would have been really tough to reach the location, for it took 2.5 hours nonstop.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ok! Let me tell you, this is the first ever live concert in Chennai after Rahman won the coveted Oscar award. This is a part of Rahman’s ‘Jai Ho World Concert’ tour. The proceeds of this event would be used by Shakthi Foundation and Rahman Trust to help the handicapped children.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">We were 8 in number, who gathered at Adyar to take the bus from there. It was fun fun all the way to Swarnabhoomi. Though the gang was full of strangers, we built a quick resonance that added to the fun. We started from Adyar at 2:30 pm and reached the spot at 5:00 pm. We then witnessed what I would call an awe-inspiring set up, seating for an approximate 80000 people. We took the 500/- donor pass and happened to sit at quite a distance from the stage. The stage had a baffling arrangement enough to attract every audience. Slowly the crowd gathered, and by 6:30 pm the grounds were full. I was dumbfounded to see</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> so many people from different parts of the country and even foreigners all waiting to see the ‘Mozart of Chennai’, AR Rahman. He is truly a ‘genius’. The estimated number was around 30000 but I believe the actual number was galactic.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The crowd was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the most celebrated genius in music. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392141923179663906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rnZbBYTbqkoBMW-eR1Q-5tHiz0rAUnN7bpddvAeGyhfXXW8L9WK0-zZTuK1_vpeTOvR25tVN12iowX7s3xgSmhshq6gwnBe0KuLgvkcnPqVw6dascfuVWM-IgC1l7qr6jIXd8e1BGPo3/s320/A+R+Rahman+Jai+Ho+Live+in+Concert+stills+pics+images+photo+gallery+09.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 181px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">People excited the energy levels of the crowd by shouting and dancing. We had a 2.5 hour wait before Rahman arrived. The team consisted of close to 80 performers, including Rahman, Sivamani, Hariharan, Sadhana Sargham, Tanvi Shah, Rashid Ali, Benny Dayal, Blaaze and others.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The concert commenced at 7:30 pm when the huge crowd applauded Rahman with all enthusiasm. I was almost tired by the time the concert began, but seeing Rahman on stage, my energy levels boosted up. I was there in the midst of the huge crowd listening to Rahman begin the concert singing Jaage Hain (Ore Kanna) from Guru. The excitement in the crowd stepped up on listening to Rahman and trying to get a glimpse of him. Rahman quickly gave the number Khalbali. This was followed by ‘Athiradee’ from the tamizh movie ‘Shivaji’, all these performed by Rahman himself.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rahman quickly got on a crane and moved up to make it easier for his fans to see him better, simultaneously singing. It gave a stupefying effect to the audience. Rahman reads the mind of his myriad fans. He gave a right mix of fast and slow numbers to excite the entire audience. The next number was the super hit ‘Kadhal Rojave’ rendered to the audience by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam. Next in line was Delhi6 rendered by Benny Dayal, Tanvi and others.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392142179406704754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9gWC_E4OheSSpPTa6e5MBJwn0V0A9IwXdMi-5220_BGw1v4BxR7lSUu9HwXPavsOoNhYxSdrvs-Nq-UZdT_Zfsmnf96BL-6z0JjMRdvcgrMlVIl7UEzrmHW-PKMegGKBQ0mLUMErhPiL/s320/A+R+Rahman+Jai+Ho+Live+in+Concert+stills+pics+images+photo+gallery+05.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 203px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Next in line was ‘style’ from Shivaji followed by one from Slumdog Millionaire. Next came the most stimulating number ‘Konjam Nilavu’ from the tamizh movie ‘Thiruda Thiruda’ which charged up the energy levels of every audience. This was followed by ‘Ringa ringa’ from Slumdog Millionaire, yet another energizing performance. This was followed by the latest ‘Fiqraana’ from the movie ‘Blue’ and ‘Dil Se Re’ from Bombay. As for me, music can make a person or break a person. My mood swings with music quickly. I was enraptured listening to all my favorites live in front of me. It is indeed true that music is miraculous. The atmosphere was turning more energetic and waiting to take in more. Now came ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ from Jodha Akbar. Drawn by the fascinating music, the audience was cheering up with high spirits.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392140872959371938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eAtq0HdLiT3kVRqdG5YFFwgIra-A5Asc_t5mlE7eYBPJ9RPJJwPSBDm-iH4QtrstsUVuZRaXHRyvlRPZDniDt9pZdBWsTyGkhhMKOOa6oIPvi7JL90NtkG_4tBrAjk09FKQ5PIeRrxYL/s320/A+R+Rahman+Jai+Ho+Live+in+Concert+stills+pics+images+photo+gallery+04.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 182px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Imagine the rise in enthusiasm, all ARR music lovers, when ‘Snegithane’(Chup Ke Se) is being performed live on stage! I was hypnotized listening to this song, one of my all time favourites. Next came the rendition of ‘Mausam and Escape’ by Rahman himself. Rahman made sure he satisfied each one of the umpteen number present then listening to his music. Next came in Rahman’s own voice, ‘tu bole main boloon’.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">We were all enchanted by what we were witnessing, for it is an experience of a lifetime.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">‘Tamizha Tamizha’ from Roja in Hariharan’s voice. Believe me, this song at a situation where thousands of Indians, have gathered together, is sure to bring in the patriotic spirits. The entire crowd stood up with a lot of audience waving the national flag to celebrate the moment to the fullest.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">This was followed by ‘Uyire uyire’ (tu he re) from Bombay by Hariharan. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392141352145772194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfKfl8zvP0s2lwGha1Q5kAhIHkn3jA8gRCrAEw7BlFv7x197S7W2L5ZhyqMjWwkaReqABzSKUXHJFNAxo3Aw88ptT1UGQvmO9m6e6Qf1vTZfROqgS-9KwmvKJYr-pr7v6t5kPUOHxzLag/s320/A+R+Rahman+Jai+Ho+Live+in+Concert+stills+pics+images+photo+gallery+07.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 170px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">I was expecting ‘Kabhi Kabhi aditi zindagi’ and was almost disappointed for it was not performed so far. And then Rahman, as he always reads people’s mind, gave this piece sung by Rashid Ali. I was overwhelmed with joy hearing it. Then followed ‘Rehna Tu’, which is one of his best, from the original performers. Guess what! Next came ‘Taxi Taxi’ the all time favorite among the youth today. This was followed by ‘Mayya Mayya’ from Guru.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">This was followed by a break for around 15 to 20 minutes when Rahman handed over a sum of 1 crore to Shakthi Foundation and Rahman Trust. I was so disappointed thinking that the show was over. And then said Rahman,”The best is yet to come”. The whole crowd felt so delighted and jumped with joy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rahman was at his best when he sung the number ‘Azeem O Shan Shahenshah’ from Jodha Akbar. The crowd was lured by the perfection in his moving from ‘Azeem O Shan’ to Rukumani theme from Roja and then gradually moved to Veerabaandi Kotayile from ‘Thiruda Thiruda’. Rahman is simply the best. It was such a beautiful transformation that was being performed. Rahman was all dressed in a white with green lighting on the stage as he rendered to the audience, ‘Khwaaja mere Khwaaja’. It was such a beautiful match of the stage décor and his way of singing. I personally felt, it was an amazing performance.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Any live concert, I feel is incomplete without Chithra on stage. I was thwarted not seeing her on stage, and that too, in a concert by Rahman. Then came the surprise. She was there, singing my favorite, ‘Kannalane’ from Bombay with Hariharan. The crowd was once again in high spirits when listening to the melody rendered by Chithra. She didn’t stop with just one, she performed ‘Jiya Jale’ as a follow up to Kannalane. I was doubly excited.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">This excitement was not let to fade away, when Hariharan and Rahman were there rendering ‘Ay Hairathe’ from Guru. This was followed by ‘Aye Bachchuu’ from Ghajini.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The concert came almost to a close with the third last of the performances being ‘Mustafa Mustafa’ from Kadhal Desam. It was astounding to see the huge crowd of delirious Rahman fans stand up and wave their hands respecting the worthiness of friendship. The song is surely a masterpiece which will remain the favorite of all people who respect friendship as one of the most important relationships in life. I was overwhelmed with joy to be a part of such a huge crowd giving an enthusiastic recognition for friendship.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">This was followed by ‘Humma Humma’ from Bombay which is a super hit even till today. It was made even more enjoyable with Blaaze moving around with his part of music in.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now came his masterpiece, and the concert was coming to a close.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Yes! You guessed it right, it is ‘Jai Ho’ which saw an all charged up crowd going high in spirits. The atmosphere was made astonishingly festive, with colorful fireworks filling the sky. Any Indian would have surely felt high levels of patriotism at that juncture.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">It was a feeling beyond explanation to be part of those moments with Rahman in the midst of us. I was let down because I didn’t see Rahman’s ‘Vande Mataram’ coming. I am sure a lot of people in the crowd would have felt that.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392139651697571986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jA5xEHE0MkAa-Acr_OI9bp4O3TFJYsDg9lG1cpDYPKtfyelluy3iXtKD6_jj0EfTxGamijezKXPOiebBXptKJz01ndl6488M8Wp97ozzlN_bxfRteRl8WI03YPQuH8P4O-xM5o4FZi08/s320/A+R+Rahman+Jai+Ho+Live+in+Concert+stills+pics+images+photo+gallery+01.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 270px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rahman knew that was what his fans were expecting, when he quickly changed from Jai Ho to ‘Vande Mataram’. Guys! I should tell you, it was an amazing feeling when all this happened. As I write, I can still feel and relish those last moments of the concert.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rahman gave a perfect finish to the awe-inspiring concert. Rahman is undoubtedly a ‘genius’ who will stay in the hearts of millions of people for the joy he brings in all our hearts.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">As for our gang, we enjoyed the whole show with a lot of energy, and had fun. One little issue which if rectified would have made the show perfect was the volume of the vocals. The volume of the music was so high or the volume of the vocals was low. As for the first half, we had a tough time unable to hear the singer properly.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Eliminating the little flaw which we felt was evened out by Rahman’s performance, the concert was one in a million. I was enthralled and still feel the same. Hats off to the ‘Maven’.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Picture Courtesy</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span">: rahmaniac.com ; moviegalleri.blogspot.com</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-34732478194071937212009-10-05T17:22:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:17:58.604+05:30After a long break....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeuVHJT0bfW6ldDNQIseMJ61vxs21MMBh1vR2ItKYFxdt_wJZDCaO0c0rgBZe7QfFp16OYRFQR5lRPXQW2kWnxhaKyoTqI06VNjLcLSUt9BiKcEcSJNvnTDNM_pGbfyqb3HwRi53FD2N4/s1600-h/DSC_0199.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389082624907885442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeuVHJT0bfW6ldDNQIseMJ61vxs21MMBh1vR2ItKYFxdt_wJZDCaO0c0rgBZe7QfFp16OYRFQR5lRPXQW2kWnxhaKyoTqI06VNjLcLSUt9BiKcEcSJNvnTDNM_pGbfyqb3HwRi53FD2N4/s320/DSC_0199.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Am back after a longggggggggggg breakkkk..... The above is the latest of my hands on colors...<br />
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span class="sqq" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">“<a class="sqq" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/painting_is_just_another_way_of_keeping_a_diary/217877.html">Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.</a>”</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-71064505165894619612009-02-03T22:11:00.001+05:302011-04-22T22:28:53.715+05:30Technology vs Relationship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The world is small! Technology has taken us to so much of comfort levels. Emails, messaging, voicemails, etc. etc. etc. There are really wonderful means that technology has given us this day to communicate. This era, we dont have to worry about keeping in touch with people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">18 years ago... I remember my parents writing long letters to their parents and friends thus communicating with each other. And I remember them reading the reply letters they get with all happiness and satisfaction. And I remember them making STD calls to connect to them through voice, once in a month. That was the time when the STD call rates were quite high for a normal salaried family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Today... I can see my parents communicating with their parents almost everyday over the phone. I can see them refreshed and happy once the conversation is over. What a tremendous change to be witnessed in 20 years!?!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Long phone conversations once in 2 months seems like a memory of the past. Today, we feel we don't have to worry about communication, for we have emails and messages to help us (Atleast the current generation!!! ) But is it true?! Do we really communicate? Do we really get to know each other's well being frequently?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">These days, messaging has replaced 'phone calls' which is not a really good sign of developing technology vs relationships. We consider ourselves really busy to spare time for a phone call. Sometimes, we key in text messages now and then, and yes, thats the end of it. And the frustrating part is, when we message people, some of us don't even care to reply back. Only when we sit back and think do we realize how much it hurts. It induces an feeling of unappreciated, unacknowledged hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">We do work/study for long hours and most of us understand that the other is busy. Truely, these days, I have stopped expecting calls from my dear ones only because, they might be busy. Having said this, I would have a fantastic feeling when my friends/relatives spare some time to talk to me. I too don't do it though. Today morning, I happened to talk to my schoolmate, who is my best friend, after a month's time. It was a great feeling to interact with her after a considerable interval. That is when I figured out that there is always a difference, between messaging and calling.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I still see some of my friends who constantly message us just to keep us informed. And some of it becomes chain messaging, chatting through messages. In the midst of our so called busy schedule, it is really nice to key in chain messages which will make us really happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">And when all this is still available, don't forget to give your friends a phone call when you have some time. Many of my friends have expressed their frustration about not talking to them. Text messaging is there for us, when we need to give some information and that should never become a substitute for voice communication (not voice mail though .. lol). Though technology has gifted us with lots of comfort means, let us remember to call our dear ones once in a while and talk to them which is an essential ingredient of any relationship. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-9864771453370797832009-01-29T21:24:00.001+05:302011-04-22T22:29:25.601+05:30Friendship with a Virtual Smile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I happened to read this article on Rediff.com.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is the link:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/25column-where-have-the-real-friends-gone.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/25column-where-have-the-real-friends-gone.htm</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I wonder if the world will ever recover from internet-sickness!!!!<br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This article immediately caught my eyes, the title being so sensitive. I too had been sick for quite a long time, say a year with internet. Internet overtook my senses, when the world seemed close to me. There was a period in my life when I used to gather new friends on social networks like Orkut for hours together. Somehow, this hunt for friends suddenly halted and now I know what is true and what isnt. I still have real good friends on the internet, whom I have not even met, but who come forward to help me at any point of time in my life.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now that I am out of college, where we gain new friendships, social networks have become a gateway for me to interact and keep in touch with my old friends. I know what they do, when they update their profile or send messages. Whatever be it, people kind of stick to social networks to keep in touch with friends. A lot of my school and college mates remain in touch not through phones, not through frequent visits but through these social networks. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These days, social networks are taking a new dimension with the coming of professional networks. Professional networks like LinkedIn are bringing people who want to make friends in their professional network, and I personally feel, it is nice to know people from various professional areas and understand the other side of business. They remain good friends too!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My opinion is, when we are left to interact with friends on the web for the first time through social networks, we fail to understand the dangers that come with it. There may be fake profiles out there trying to fool the others on the network, and there are cases, where it was too late when they realized and fell in deep trouble. I mean to say that there always is a difference between the people whom we meet personally and those whom we meet online. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Though we have a lot of interaction and new friends on the web, we should think fair enough to accept the reality of life. We should spare time to go out and meet our real or rather physical friends like we spend time to interact with the virtual friends or 'still not met' friends from the web.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The last line of the article was catchy. Quoting it, 'It is friendship without a smile -- or at best with a virtual smile -- and certainly without an embrace. Is it less real, then? As someone from a heritage which speaks of degrees of Reality in Vedanta or Change as the only permanent state in Buddhism, how can I say that the virtual is less real than the physical?' </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-54400010866277567882008-12-03T23:00:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:21:32.483+05:30Catty Corner !!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have something interesting to share this time! I was in the process of looking out for a house to stay at Kilpauk, Chennai. I was in a house and looking through a window from in there. I was amazed to see two endearing cats sleeping in a box-like thermo coal tightly cuddled. It appeared to me as if, they were sleeping with all romance at heart and I woke them up banging the window. I have a couple of photos of the catties. Do have a look.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275622104708053554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7a5pP8ZwoC2l0bnz18pPDIhZ2L99wivfiuh6V2D2eOrscQb6FZj_KncKjZ8gmZJd6MQi4xzajiTC8XYy8xu5z1KI7MS0aN17m4g8PaXIVzrJ9FTKJybqm4iBhcT9Lx54_FOtwk_v0eUo/s320/DSC00922.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 232px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275617858626349314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSoRlfNrsOA0xAwJlLDi1r6UAZNzF356gekNQYXaV7OQPSp0R9d_CWraiqH5WtKVBnhR6yq9gnSLLTM8IexChWQXTWcayntUidsuM4vQtu_zpnL0JpYkpfjw-j9YWHK3yVg6eG_PzLpAL/s320/DSC00921.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 81px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was surprised to see at least 5 cats in the same area all sleeping in individual thermo coal boxes, the couch for them. I was instantaneously taken by the cute catty couple and felt like taking the house for rent at any cost.</span></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I would like to share another picture of a cat that seemed to pose close to my house. The surrounding appeared appealing to me, that I clicked my camera to capture the cutie catty. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275618140852176402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJknFvnDQR51y1LQN-FU9puOHBx-QFvXQv4cfHS0z8Eag8Iqhyphenhyphenz3d29QIZtKnKmicW9ZE4qoaIfQxM8qaFXBlewPD3SweY1-GSZp-CcGNaCyJoesLFEMSeQpJBocYLEk2VHUMEU8nyemhv/s320/DSC00906.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-24484867778718475532008-11-26T19:37:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:22:05.925+05:30101 Things To Do Before I Die<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Find the reason for my birth</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Make a library of all my favorite collections.</span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Read the complete dictionary </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Write a best seller.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Create a fictional character that all kids would love.</span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Travel along to a city in a foreign land, where I have never been before.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Get to the tallest buildings and reach the highest point there.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Fall asleep on a bed in a furniture store.</span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Express my emotions with a song.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Write the story of my life </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Be a teacher for one day at the school I studied in.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Break a computer monitor to pieces.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Walk alone in a cemetery at midnight. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Be the best daughter to my parents.</span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Trek a mountain of my choice.</span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Spend a night by the waterfall with my love.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Stay in the costliest resort for one night.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Build my own organization.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Make a huge Barbie doll collection in my showcase. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Stay for a night in a really scary and haunted house. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Build my dream house.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Get wet in the rain on a hill top.</span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Compose a melodious piece of music.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Try and capture as many rainbows as possible on my camera. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Wake up late in the night, when everyone is asleep, and go out, ride my car.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Spend a month in a lone island.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Stay in an Igloo.</span></span><o:p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272969016948829522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAcsarZXcS1p3LxHwtnu1oDgUpWv0ZR2R-BSDdETEpLEtGHSsfvIwi1LX6ajeLHoK10SVgaQDXNK_PvPB829h4KeZi74ybLBR-n5f2RgEp7vjSoleeYJ_2x02C8pTAdPepho2_KIuCkB2/s400/Picture1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 281px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Learn a new language and put that to use.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Watch sunrise and sunset. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Smile at say, 100 strangers.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Maintain the diary for a whole year.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Write to my favorite novelist.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Donate one lunch of mine to the poor.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Stay in silence for a week.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Switch off my mobile for a week.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Sleep on the terrace watching the sky.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Build a tree house. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Wander around in a deep forest for a week.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Paint my dreams on canvas.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Go snow skiing.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Record my expenditure everyday.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Learn to play a piano.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Meet someone with a name which spells as my own.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Trip the world’s coldest areas (?)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See the aurora borealis. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See an erupting volcano.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Milk a cow.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Conquer my fears.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Build a temple.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Watch the top 100 films listed on IMDB.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Drive my car to the hill top.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Win a lottery (:D)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Land on the moon.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See a space shuttle launch.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Study astronomy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See the complete solar and lunar eclipse. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Own a useless collection of useless stuff.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Discover something that would help my growth.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Do my Masters in a university of my choice.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Clean my place and put things in order.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Stay overnight in a luxurious boat house.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Visit the fantasy 360 degree Leti, located in the heart of Uttaranchal, India. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Ride a camel.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Shelter at least one poor family.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Spend on educating an orphan.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Design my home interiors.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Live in a hut for at least 48 hours.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Conduct training sessions for my juniors at college.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Look into the close rooms of the Taj Mahal.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Cry out loud for silly reasons.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Present my soul mate with something unexpected on a special day!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Stay calm even when I am the most stressed out.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Learn a lot of patience.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Understand motherhood. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Make a to-do list for everyday.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Learn to say NO without saying ‘No!’</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Visit temples whenever I find time.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Understand stock market.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Consciously cut my skin (say, 2 cm long) and learn what pain it causes!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See the new 7 wonders of the world</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Jump with a parachute. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Help save one’s life.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Turn vegetarian for a month.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Make a hoax phone call.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Make a code language and use it to converse with my friends.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Become nocturnal for a month.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Learn to take control of my dreams.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Eat fruits from the tree I planted.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Throw tomatoes at the person you hate.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Experience getting struck in a traffic jam for more than 6 hours.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Visit </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Stonehenge</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See the Grand Canyon. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See my grandchildren.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Trace my family tree.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Visit the Pyramids of </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Giza</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">, </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Egypt</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Have enough financial strength to manage accomplishing stuff mentioned.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Visit the Twelve Apostles, Rock Formation. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">See a ghost.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Learn the psychology behind suicide.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Visit all famous temples in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">India</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Love my life and live it to the fullest! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-72077426766044200372008-10-14T11:13:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:23:14.677+05:30Spots we missed at Wayanad<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: arial;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though we saw all the important spots at Wayanad, we missed a few fantastic sights. ‘<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Edakkal</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Caves</st1:placetype></st1:place>’ was one of the most important spots to trek at Wayanad. We could not visit the caves because, the month we went, the place was closed for maintenance. We could not help it. One other spots, which my friends suggested as quite interesting, is the ‘<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Sunrise</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>’. ‘<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Chembra</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Peak</st1:placetype></st1:place>’ is another spot we missed. I am now giving a short description about those places here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b>Edakkal</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype st="on">Caves</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b>:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Edakkal literally translates into 'a stone in between' in Malayalam. The two Edakkal caves are not caves in strictest of sense since there is merely a 96 feet long and 22 feet wide split in the rock. The caves, that stand on Ambukutty mala (a mountain) at a height of 1000 m, were discovered quiet accidently by the F. Fawcett, the then superintendent of police. The caves preserves prehistoric rock engravings including a human figure with headgear, a human figure on wheeled cart, images of a tribal king & queen, a deer and an elephant. The caves are situated at a distance of 12 kms from Sultan Bathery and can be reached by bit of effort. You can take your own vehicle only for the first kilometre. From there, a jeep has to be hired and then a trek of one kilometre will take you to the caves. Apart from the engravings, the views from atop is also splendid.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTaAnukJUP2lgfwT4-IUDN7kjmf4OKRXRTmdWNZ2AtxVJzcxxpWfZ_4eeWVPUl1IQMQi93DdCUWIIHHWmF5vs9gmcH0qFdNpDs4sZpSmf4gzgdFrwDfYrb3SWhwqjF1s4iKF844MtdKWL/s1600-h/edakkal+caves.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256881242955204930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTaAnukJUP2lgfwT4-IUDN7kjmf4OKRXRTmdWNZ2AtxVJzcxxpWfZ_4eeWVPUl1IQMQi93DdCUWIIHHWmF5vs9gmcH0qFdNpDs4sZpSmf4gzgdFrwDfYrb3SWhwqjF1s4iKF844MtdKWL/s320/edakkal+caves.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Etchings found on the walls of these caves have drawn the serious attention of archeologists and historians worldwide. It is assumed that the Edakkal had been inhabited at various stages in history. A telescope installed a panoramic view of the surrounding country is another attraction.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b>Chembra</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype st="on">Peak</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b>:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">To reach Chembra peak, we need to first reach a place called Meppadi, that is around 17 kms from Kalpetta. From Meppadi we can see the Chembra estate direction board. Once we reach the Chembra Estate Entrance, we need to get the pass. To reach the peak's bottom we need to walk 7kms and from the bottom, the peak is around 3kms. If we walk through the estates, it takes around 2 hours to reach the bottom of the peak. Alternatively, a vehicle can be arranged. The walk is really energizing with the greenery around us.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhpFaLgp27PE5Jyf4Yqzj_w3SbeOJhLOiItQ0vFDUZEkFUTfy8YNBO8dWPFCRTWBaTCgddjbbOnHr2Ck9-WLgWgUuWaoceeSKtX0uEXg888bOGKpLnojO5Ttr9tEdeJqDJEbxNn_EiMwD/s1600-h/03_Chembra_peak.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256881427272578434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhpFaLgp27PE5Jyf4Yqzj_w3SbeOJhLOiItQ0vFDUZEkFUTfy8YNBO8dWPFCRTWBaTCgddjbbOnHr2Ck9-WLgWgUuWaoceeSKtX0uEXg888bOGKpLnojO5Ttr9tEdeJqDJEbxNn_EiMwD/s320/03_Chembra_peak.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">From there the trekking uphill begins. It will be a difficult climb, people say. It takes around forty five minutes to reach the top. There lies a small lake at the top of the mountain, which is the most beautiful at that spot. Again, more trekking is required to reach the top.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vIJU_uM8O08HRc-fGuiPa67jdss_N9IHmxftXnOWKacvEnMhm1KNOIFud5hrQxeq3q6twg8ECcg9eyWRr4JO1SmvgfgPNo4wf6ydCDLLgzW6bKV5rNWFtA37_4W3DRO2b8bEDst9EU8D/s1600-h/04_Heart_shaped_lake_Chembra.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256881597393190882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vIJU_uM8O08HRc-fGuiPa67jdss_N9IHmxftXnOWKacvEnMhm1KNOIFud5hrQxeq3q6twg8ECcg9eyWRr4JO1SmvgfgPNo4wf6ydCDLLgzW6bKV5rNWFtA37_4W3DRO2b8bEDst9EU8D/s320/04_Heart_shaped_lake_Chembra.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> The trek to this peak is told to be the most exhausting of all, as it takes a long time to reach the bottom of the peak and then start the trekking.<br />
<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b>Sunrise</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b>:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is located 20 km south of Sulthan Bathery at Kadasseri. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sunrise</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><a href="" name="Sunrise"></a><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> valley</span></b> is a great place to watch the rising and setting sun amidst dramatic mountain scenery. It also offers a panoramic view of the valley beneath. We need to reach the place early, climb up the hill. From the hill top, we can see the valley.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_frUG0KaRNGq7rMDMQqZPw7yobsRpElPCFJRwPPndckMbg5oW6CuMiw8xQVS_ZsM8rlLp9AtrEIoHcicuNtSAuS4moz8U0n3iCran1u13iFnWLb95sX8lWNTdWgMepRxdNaVuF3uvKTe/s1600-h/Sunrise.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256881817880738882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_frUG0KaRNGq7rMDMQqZPw7yobsRpElPCFJRwPPndckMbg5oW6CuMiw8xQVS_ZsM8rlLp9AtrEIoHcicuNtSAuS4moz8U0n3iCran1u13iFnWLb95sX8lWNTdWgMepRxdNaVuF3uvKTe/s320/Sunrise.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sun seems to rise from beneath the valley. That’s the whole point in visiting this place. We can see sun’s rays spread around the place distinctly. How beautiful it should be! We missed it terribly.<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I feel I ve missed some important places of interest at Wayanad, and one day in my life, I will make a trip back to the Green Paradise. :)<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hope you have developed some interest in visiting Wayanad now. So, What are you waiting for?! Gear up!!<br />
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</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-33658637817124927672008-10-14T11:04:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:24:14.982+05:30Trip to Wayanad, The Green Paradise - Day 4<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C06%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List" style="font-family: arial;"></link><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><o:smarttagtype downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/" name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype></span><style>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were so enthusiastic to reach the place intended for the day then. It was to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Soochipara</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Falls</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Tea Plantations:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">On our way to the falls, we visited the tea plantations, which was peculiar to most of the hilly regions (I presume). The tea plantation all our way through, was a splendid location to miss. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb_I4DBLnWY2IYM-Gd0ukcZypY21jM51jQzBudl_nWeKcQKKr1dtSuu0Z7PzS5fG1hb9KNKTNtcEMlzk9q7hI4dvrH9Tgh3jhVvYx9XfZvPii-jGebuK54o1tui7lZQydECPIRYqI906z/s1600-h/Trip+To+Wyanad+068.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256879118157450818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb_I4DBLnWY2IYM-Gd0ukcZypY21jM51jQzBudl_nWeKcQKKr1dtSuu0Z7PzS5fG1hb9KNKTNtcEMlzk9q7hI4dvrH9Tgh3jhVvYx9XfZvPii-jGebuK54o1tui7lZQydECPIRYqI906z/s320/Trip+To+Wyanad+068.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">They are most visually appealing; they sprawl over the hills in a thick green carpet, with thin silveroak trees scattered in between in an indifferent manner - and best of all the women at work in the plantations, carefully plucking the tea leaves, heads protected by plastic against any sudden downpours.<br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We stopped by the woods and tried getting a glimpse of the tea plantations. We moved in the midst of them, trying to experience the greenery of the region. How fresh and how green they were! How peaceful the place was! I just didn’t feel like walking out of the greenery there.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI8RPiRtSbWkl2YC5K6CSXtmlf8n-nPXjIiYjtOGILmIaFWzLzPOvonl_2-CZAxDx2-9KPpSz9z7un-oY3IrnXmeFa4G4FFGLUyByx0mo7YTyJSh9L3SS68-KemT9OhWv-oya6oikVOcd/s1600-h/Trip+To+Wyanad+066.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256879270171592434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI8RPiRtSbWkl2YC5K6CSXtmlf8n-nPXjIiYjtOGILmIaFWzLzPOvonl_2-CZAxDx2-9KPpSz9z7un-oY3IrnXmeFa4G4FFGLUyByx0mo7YTyJSh9L3SS68-KemT9OhWv-oya6oikVOcd/s320/Trip+To+Wyanad+066.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The whole place was so green and striking. Green is the most charismatic color ever </span><span style="font-size: small;">J</span><span style="font-size: small;"> -that was what ran through my mind then! We then resumed our journey towards the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Soochipara</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Falls</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Soochipara Falls:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We reached the spot, alighted from the drive, took a walk through the dense forests and reached the falls. Nature is at its thundering best at this place. The falls is 200-300 feet in height. It is pleasing to the eyes.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGfaMRZ7FUO9Emr0Sdu_NmjaZAZz5b8UDLa9jh8-rdaqlaK9JqqvY8GPWGKeg3CnAT4xbKOr85zK64NyBWC7OOiJeYmCOdnbSLCRtd89d5eOVESDYm09-3-0nY2YkCjk-b5M5aIyC5CmT/s1600-h/Trip+To+Wyanad+075.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256879540102815186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGfaMRZ7FUO9Emr0Sdu_NmjaZAZz5b8UDLa9jh8-rdaqlaK9JqqvY8GPWGKeg3CnAT4xbKOr85zK64NyBWC7OOiJeYmCOdnbSLCRtd89d5eOVESDYm09-3-0nY2YkCjk-b5M5aIyC5CmT/s320/Trip+To+Wyanad+075.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We planned to dip in the water. To reach the falls, and touch water there was a heroic task indeed. We were scared of the rocks and the water beneath it. We were warned that the rocks are quite slippery. We made our way to the falls and dipped in the falling water. Ah! What a pleasing moment it was! I just cannot forget! The water was so cold and we were the only people there. We had a relaxed shower and then walked back to the rocks. We were feeling thrilled at this momentous occasion. I had longed for a trip like this, and finally enjoyed one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3I5-HEmurAIk4Jyxo9ZeP7tHDXP9_VXnTt2lUL6GasQMdymzNYkv0nS5WG6kC5w9hIRmkcyA-eZN2D_l4TvFrA4tzsMXAAcyV3X7yx3sde4SQbLN79Cpgl4islgaRORHXdhPgIUZ9w7J/s1600-h/Trip+To+Wyanad+101.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256879754615374386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3I5-HEmurAIk4Jyxo9ZeP7tHDXP9_VXnTt2lUL6GasQMdymzNYkv0nS5WG6kC5w9hIRmkcyA-eZN2D_l4TvFrA4tzsMXAAcyV3X7yx3sde4SQbLN79Cpgl4islgaRORHXdhPgIUZ9w7J/s320/Trip+To+Wyanad+101.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">From there, we walked down to the 'Suicide Point' where it is said, depressed folks try and commit suicide. It was deep down and we had to walk a distance. We had a look at the spot and walked back, because of lack of time.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">And now, came the sad moment with all refreshing memories to preserve forever and some people to miss forever. We went back to our rooms, dressed up, packed our bags, returned the keys at the reception and made our way to catch a bus to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Calicut</st1:place></st1:city>. Our train to Goa from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Calicut</st1:place></st1:city> was scheduled at 7:00 pm. We started around 3:00 pm to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Calicut</st1:place></st1:city>, reached there by 6:00 pm, had some light snacks, and reached the railway station, boarded the train and sat there relaxed. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvtgEvsm5yBHqgKUOxLFfCTmu_r1-ZHyqLwXmKwg_7ZIv9yTM9vuRfA2ZHpHMh8Kddk2k7-b8s9x1lERODQ9iNxkwkHcE8KZrevRyV4ogC_fgKQAHMyc_aUiMMrArx4VL63jlkkMWDeEa/s1600-h/wyanad.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256880372787849426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvtgEvsm5yBHqgKUOxLFfCTmu_r1-ZHyqLwXmKwg_7ZIv9yTM9vuRfA2ZHpHMh8Kddk2k7-b8s9x1lERODQ9iNxkwkHcE8KZrevRyV4ogC_fgKQAHMyc_aUiMMrArx4VL63jlkkMWDeEa/s320/wyanad.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>While we just boarded the bus to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Calicut</st1:place></st1:city>, we called up Aunty and bid a ‘bye’ to her. She wished us a ‘Happy Journey’. ‘Cheta’ was filled with tears, as he had become one with us in these 4 days of trip. He took care of us like his own sisters. Hats off to ‘cheta’.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We reached <st1:place st="on">Goa</st1:place> the next morning fresh with all memories to preserve for our lifetime. It was an awesome trip, to be short! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686213235893314829.post-9223771883241481782008-10-14T10:47:00.000+05:302010-05-10T18:25:52.554+05:30Trip to Wayanad, The Green Paradise - Day 3<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRATHIN%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C05%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List" style="font-family: arial;"></link><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><o:smarttagtype downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/" name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype></span><style>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had our minds clear and set for the visit to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Tirunelly</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> in the morning. We started off by 6:00 am in the morning. We had to travel for 2 full hours to reach the temple. We had fun on our way playing songs and moving through the thick vegetation so peculiar to the place.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b>Jain</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b>:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">On our way to the temple, we happened to see another ancient remains of the Jain presence at Kerala. It is located at Puliyarmala, an old temple dedicated to Ananthanatha Swami, one of the most revered Jain Saint. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad1Sk-_M1vOQnBn_Zt6Jm01Okj2L-aph-3pZJEqVWjeDfovcXoe_lYgYhIi2ewANFgxpN0lpNFBjIudLwWCZP2tqEZrVFmTjkTuDkaYDeg2tWhNE-eErr-Ftxdcqi4OgFN7qzayYePV4x/s1600-h/Wyanad+Trip+137.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256874951594937346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad1Sk-_M1vOQnBn_Zt6Jm01Okj2L-aph-3pZJEqVWjeDfovcXoe_lYgYhIi2ewANFgxpN0lpNFBjIudLwWCZP2tqEZrVFmTjkTuDkaYDeg2tWhNE-eErr-Ftxdcqi4OgFN7qzayYePV4x/s320/Wyanad+Trip+137.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">The entrance doors of the temple are beautifully carved, which holds three panels. The outer entrance has a carved granite pillar in front of the gate. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQrRMIgtuzsvN0S4rWvea4wjOtFqVCmHFtE4CO_8sUpCAi8b5rs9dajo_LvvH75Q3YhHFDAFcuyBZL3NtU4OT8ywbiVU1SuvywL565HlnYAobZvk0UpzB08k-NsGxL3mTbmMXwyVXlt3V/s1600-h/Wyanad+Trip+139.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256875159918662546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQrRMIgtuzsvN0S4rWvea4wjOtFqVCmHFtE4CO_8sUpCAi8b5rs9dajo_LvvH75Q3YhHFDAFcuyBZL3NtU4OT8ywbiVU1SuvywL565HlnYAobZvk0UpzB08k-NsGxL3mTbmMXwyVXlt3V/s320/Wyanad+Trip+139.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>The stupa, constructed in the traditional Dravidian style of architecture, has colorfully painted ornate carvings going up in a pyramid shape and at the top, there is a carving of Mahavir.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrirl-ARz2654nrQif60y3ymifJsvRkKc_lmxZC_2jAJr3sSDbPrG-6E3Ydsa6ducec6Q9hd1UHfNKPZw4SRj21QfpvjWCFJAL7CpbyCvHo7Dt2lry7Rpubeoq1rct_iwWrXgbLitpJKjM/s1600-h/Wyanad+Trip+151.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256875333154699234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrirl-ARz2654nrQif60y3ymifJsvRkKc_lmxZC_2jAJr3sSDbPrG-6E3Ydsa6ducec6Q9hd1UHfNKPZw4SRj21QfpvjWCFJAL7CpbyCvHo7Dt2lry7Rpubeoq1rct_iwWrXgbLitpJKjM/s320/Wyanad+Trip+151.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were attracted by the enchanted remains of this age old temple. We spent about half an hour in this place, digesting the fact that the temple has become one with nature because of its age.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b>Thirunelly</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b> and Papanasini:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Thirunelly</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> also known as ‘ThekkanKashi/Dakshina Kashi’ (Kasi of the south) is located at 32 kms from Mananthavady and is 3000 years old. Nestled in the midst of mountains and rivers, this ancient temple is an excellent example of classical Kerala Temple Architecture. Legend says that the temple was dedicated by the Creator, Lord Brahma to the Preserver, Lord Vishnu. The clear water of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Papanasini</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place> adds to the enchantment of this place. There is an aqueduct from the Papanashini to the temple to have Papanashini water for the temple use right in its precincts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the southern side of the temple there is a pond called Panchatheertha where five rivers used to meet in the past. In the summer the pond is waterless. Usually the pond is covered by dense undergrowth. A mound is seen in the centre of the pond on which a stone slab with the imprint of Vishnu’s feet is also seen. The imprint is called Vishnupad.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsF8JvhRIg0di7DonOwPWkn20dbqIB9mnu9PmS_b5R1eQbIso4ZewacHAHAemfSKxDJNKQ_xxQUyOStYGh_h-2814vN35lvyNOhzJCxqKraisVkcp_QPJVQhfg44KPFZVyHaG8P4dTbM6/s1600-h/tirunelly.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256875773814279922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsF8JvhRIg0di7DonOwPWkn20dbqIB9mnu9PmS_b5R1eQbIso4ZewacHAHAemfSKxDJNKQ_xxQUyOStYGh_h-2814vN35lvyNOhzJCxqKraisVkcp_QPJVQhfg44KPFZVyHaG8P4dTbM6/s320/tirunelly.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">A short walk from the <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place> leads us to the clear mountain spring of the Papanasini. It is believed that a ritual dip in this river washes away all our worldly sins.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We reached the temple around 9:00 am. We were dressed appropriately for the temple. We visited the temple and waited for the ‘pooja’ to end, had the ‘swamy darshan’. The sounds of the drums and the typical Keralite music that was played captured our hearts. We had the opportunity to walk along the aqueduct that brought water from the Papanasini to the temple. The place was nature’s splendid decoration. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivelLIRxl0j2KFbdahzq9Iqj2s-w3JblfTYYfkZD2l28eyMFfBjQBnkbPF1pPCp27BDOTggvjPl2-ghhGQRwP9GG66lwlk1Dm4rpA7HnDPK_nnOVqGBrewD_CAwMMhWw-HFYIVNv3utjRQ/s1600-h/Wyanad+Trip+158.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256875604019658866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivelLIRxl0j2KFbdahzq9Iqj2s-w3JblfTYYfkZD2l28eyMFfBjQBnkbPF1pPCp27BDOTggvjPl2-ghhGQRwP9GG66lwlk1Dm4rpA7HnDPK_nnOVqGBrewD_CAwMMhWw-HFYIVNv3utjRQ/s320/Wyanad+Trip+158.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We moved through the dense undergrowth with rocks in between which added to the beauty of the place to reach Papanasini river. We took a dip in the river as per ritual and then moved to the place where there is the Vishupad. When we walked further south, we could see a small <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">temple</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Lord Shiva</st1:placename></st1:place> carved in the rock. We had to look into it through a small door, and it usually remains closed except for the times when ‘pooja’ is conducted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had a good time at this sacred place for about 2 hours and then started to move towards Karapuzha Dam.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Karapuzha Dam:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took our way towards Karapuzha Dam, the large irrigation based dam site. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">This is set amongst picturesque surroundings. A fine venue for picnics, we took a speed boat ride, six of us together. I happened to meet a couple (the guy working for Tejas Networks, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bangalore</st1:city></st1:place>) on the speed boat.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_1gJ7Ws0GZjAfuY_tfRiC0tlU5mPk90dTrojbLf_FkuycPp1LO34qbl1QowmxS4n7aV0ZZ_l9fHGLo-AH5lbHwd1mHt_n-mtlk3nBv7fN5uQFflepk895PCU_-pUROVRBdvreP4AlLsz/s1600-h/Wyanad+Trip+318+%282%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256876158033291410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_1gJ7Ws0GZjAfuY_tfRiC0tlU5mPk90dTrojbLf_FkuycPp1LO34qbl1QowmxS4n7aV0ZZ_l9fHGLo-AH5lbHwd1mHt_n-mtlk3nBv7fN5uQFflepk895PCU_-pUROVRBdvreP4AlLsz/s320/Wyanad+Trip+318+%282%29.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we just stepped into the boat, it started raining. So we had to wait till the rains stopped. We then started off again. And!! It once again started showering while we were riding.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3agKGm-PAWfhG1j0tYPZJu3fuyQj3tItp7zZ4-Jh0ElhM1gwOnftmk5UURI0qZQuFRlnAu2SSyElIPwEVLSpX8b2lSNOgphPN4hHMWX49KFdfwJYjYVEyWtyGfLJFYhb9ZVpdFX6a4uBc/s1600-h/Wyanad+Trip+265.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256876715586561810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3agKGm-PAWfhG1j0tYPZJu3fuyQj3tItp7zZ4-Jh0ElhM1gwOnftmk5UURI0qZQuFRlnAu2SSyElIPwEVLSpX8b2lSNOgphPN4hHMWX49KFdfwJYjYVEyWtyGfLJFYhb9ZVpdFX6a4uBc/s320/Wyanad+Trip+265.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The couple was so sweet; we had a nice chat with them. Took some snaps of the picturesque area and came back after 40 minutes. That was the most interesting speed boat ride ever in my life.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_d-LlX5azXzVI94v26IY8suuQo9umrIkYZxWA24hGD_f9oWpCds22BKasHr3PdAYaLKxtiz-d9AnuAf8NbJfnu5RViAFa0oJz2R3ROF_GtAoMDjbJjTRVkxzmu06a8ZYtNj09fdSj6V2/s1600-h/Wyanad+Trip+258.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256876401941891362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_d-LlX5azXzVI94v26IY8suuQo9umrIkYZxWA24hGD_f9oWpCds22BKasHr3PdAYaLKxtiz-d9AnuAf8NbJfnu5RViAFa0oJz2R3ROF_GtAoMDjbJjTRVkxzmu06a8ZYtNj09fdSj6V2/s320/Wyanad+Trip+258.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We then made our way to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Pookot</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place>, though it was late in the evening.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b>Pookot</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b>:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a natural fresh water lake surrounded by evergreen forests and rolling hills. A fresh water aquarium with large variety of fish is an added attraction to this beauty of nature. The lake I knew was fresh water, and was so eager to make a boat ride there. The climate was cold and we got something hot and spicy to manage the temperature. We then asked for tickets for the boat ride, thinking of the way we would move through as we boat there.<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, the timing was restricted and we had to skip boating then. If we had been to boating, I could imagine that we would have been in the midst of the evergreen forest, and we would have got a feeling that we are in a strange land where no way to the outside was possible. And now, we proceeded to the viewpoint, which was a marvelous tourist attraction. It had a stretch of hills with a deep pit beneath.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Lakkidi Viewpoint:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is amongst the tallest point in the Wayanad region and has a height of 700 m above the sea level. It is a perfect place where you can capture the beauty of Kerala in your camera. The towering mountain peaks, the rushing stream, verdant vegetation and a deep valley add to the attraction of this place. Lakkidi is just 5 km from Vythiri.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDj1PX-27n_s643bD3pMy1izGcmbmhjutBi1ERcrWAbaLodEJjFHoFdM3fddz5wthmrZSRAovNVjb9I0N4Gj45YrNCaRme2G-Po7mHwP5nru9Ie6Qy6Nv5PJdcrzZxhZwr5nnvWDtiu94/s1600-h/view-from-likkidi-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256877346938169378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDj1PX-27n_s643bD3pMy1izGcmbmhjutBi1ERcrWAbaLodEJjFHoFdM3fddz5wthmrZSRAovNVjb9I0N4Gj45YrNCaRme2G-Po7mHwP5nru9Ie6Qy6Nv5PJdcrzZxhZwr5nnvWDtiu94/s320/view-from-likkidi-2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We went to Lakkidi having a look at the Chain Tree on our way. We were amazed by the beauty of this spot. At first, I envisioned this place to be similar to the viewpoint at Kodaikanal. But this was something unimaginable. It was much more than what I presumed it to be. We walked along the road, that covered the viewpoint. We reached the spot at the right time, so we didn’t miss the view. Around fifteen minutes, the view was breathtaking. Only a short while later, we could see that the mist was jamming our view. Even that view of mist covering the huge area was awe-inspiring. We stood there dumbstruck for half an hour. We then had ice-creams and made our way back home.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">That evening, we had an invitation from Aunty to her place. So, we drove there and again, her house was located in a place which was silent, surrounded by all thick trees and hills. From very close to her place, we could see the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Edakkal</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Caves</st1:placetype></st1:place> (we missed it because, that month the place was under maintenance).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">At Aunty's House:</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aunty had made some sweets from fresh plantains and gave us a hot cup of coffee to get rid of the cold. Her house was situated in one magnificient location, we just failed to imagine. How happy and peaceful her life would be, staying at that kind of a location! I wish I had a house for myself at that location, all silent and peaceful. We started back to our place by 9:30 pm at night. That day, we had to shift from the Cottage we stayed in, and move to Isaac Regency.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had booked 2 rooms there, even before we reached Wayanad. The Isaac Regency was an interesting space to stay in the night. The people there were so caring and helpful, that we made friends with them quite easily. We had fun watching TV, playing games, and chit-chatting. We had to leave the next day from Wayanad back to <st1:place st="on">Goa</st1:place>. We had a fantastic feeling about the trip till that day. We were eagerly awaiting the next day to dawn.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rest in the next post !!<br />
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</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0