Sand Castles on a Sunny Beach..

The secret behind the South Beach diet

2012-01-12T15:06:00.003-05:00

The Glycemic index or GI is the secret behind the south beach diet. It is not a low carb diet but a low GI diet. Quoting from Wikipedia:

GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release sugar rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing sugar more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI.

When sugar enters the bloodstream, the pancreas secretes insulin which triggers cells to absorb it. Many years of introducing quick bursts of sugar would eventually result in cells becoming resistant to insulin. This resistance would leave sugar in the bloodstream longer which would then cause the pancreas to release even more insulin. This excess insulin would eventually drive blood sugar below normal levels. This in addition to potentially causing diabetes, is what makes people hungry!

excess sugar consumption ------> excess insulin -------> low blood sugar --------> hunger pangs ----------> consumption of more sugar.

This is why we feel hungry very quickly when we eat a donut and not when we eat an egg for breakfast.

Cutting down the sugar intake by reducing direct sugars eaten as well as by blocking the bad carb pathways you can reduce the hunger pangs, thus consuming lesser calories. You don't crave foods so you eat less and this leads to weight loss.

Another way the diet helps is by causing Ketosis. If there is not enough glucose (from carbohydrates) in the bloodstream the body draws on fat stores for fuel, causing the appearance of ketones in the blood. Ketones are produced by the liver from fatty acids. They are small carbon fragments that are the fuel created by the breakdown of fat stores.

When the body is in ketosis the individual tends to feel less hungry, and will probably eat less than he/she might otherwise do. The body switches from being a carbohydrate-burning organism into a fat-burning one. The fat stores become a primary energy source, and the person loses weight. This must be done in moderation (max 2 weeks) since it is not a sustainable healthy thing to do.

So to sustain & keep healthy, it is good to eat a healthy mix of protein, vegetables and "good" whole grain carbs that the body takes longer to digest. Think about it, and you may do your body a favor!

Sydney Day 2

2011-10-08T10:57:00.000-04:00

Continuing the 72 hours in Sydney..

Day 2:

8:00 AM:
Wake up nice and early today to catch a train to the Blue Mountains. They lie 3 hours away from Sydney. The Blue mountains line runs from Central station to the mountains, but you can buy tickets anywhere in the central loop. Buy yourself a lunch at the station, as there are not many places for a sit down lunch, mainly if you want to see & hike a lot.

11:00 AM:
Get off at Katoomba. Right outside the train station is the Explorer bus booth. Buy tickets to the scenic world and the bus tour. Here's a tour map.

12:00 noon:
Finish the scenic world attractions first. It takes 2-3 hours depending on how much of the Scenic walkway you decide to take. 40 minutes was good for us, but you can choose here. Eat your picnic lunch here as well.

3:00 PM:
Ride the bus now to the Echo point for beautiful views of the Three sisters. After a half hour here, you can head to either Leura cascades or Gordon falls for a quick hike (or bushwalk as they are known locally).

4:30 PM:
Now head to Leura village. Get off at stop 21 and make a right to a bright yellow teahouse called "Bygone Beautys". They usually have a two for one Devonshire tea coupon in your booklet. Use it and enjoy a heavenly English tea complete with amazing scones, jam & cream.

5:00 PM:
Head back to Sydney to enjoy some great dinner and the amazing nightlife the city has to offer.
http://www.theargylerocks.com/ is a great bar to visit.

Sydney

2011-10-05T21:54:00.007-04:00

I had a chance to visit Australia a little while ago for work, and have been meaning to share an itinerary and tips for a while now. Here are a few lists, tips and recommandations for things to see and do in this beautiful city.

72 hours in Sydney:

Day 1:

12:00 noon:

Start your day with a nice lunch in Sydney's Chinatown. Lots of choices here including Mamak, Din Tai Fung, Chat Thai etc. Grab your fork has a solid list.

2:00 PM:

Walk up to Hyde park, to gaze at the Anzac memorial and the beautiful fig canopy. At the end of the park is the beautiful St. Mary's cathedral. Cross over to Hyde park barracks and peer into some old colonial houses along McQuaire St. You will pass the Old Sydney hospital to the entrance of the Royal botanical gardens on Bent St.

3:00 PM:

Entrance to the gardens is free! Make your way in to see very different vegetation. The highlight of the park has to be the 300 or more fruit bats that live here. You'll here them soon enough after you enter. They are harmless to humans, but don't stand under their trees if you can help it! After bat watching, make your way out to the waterfront to Ms. Mcquarie's seat for amazing views of the bridge & opera house.

4:00 PM:

Walk along the water to the opera house, admire the curves of the building and the seagulls. There are also guided tours of the house if you want to take one, or come back later for a show.

Make your way to Circular Quay (pronounced Key) on the right of the opera house to the ticket booths.

5:00 PM:

Get a round trip ferry ticket to Manly. The ride is the main attraction here and equals any cruise you might take across the harbor. It takes a half hour and the vistas are amazing.

Get off at Manly and walk up the promenade to the beach. The promenade is like Santa Monica. Don't be tempted by the cheap but mediocre and expensive seafood at the beach. Watch surfers in action all year round. Then catch the ferry back to Sydney, in time for Sunset.

6:30 PM:

Walk along the right to enter the Rocks historic district. Don't spend time here now, you can come back later another day. Head to Pylon Lookout atop the Harbor bridge to see bridge climbers and amazing sunset views of the Harbor.

8:00 PM:

Right below the lookout is the Australian Heritage hotel. Head here to have a very Aussie dinner including Kangaroo, Emu and Crocodile on the menu! Also featured are the famous Aussie pies. Pair it with your favorite Australian wine (mostly Shiraz) or beer.

At this point, you should likely call it a day, to make it up nice and early the next day.

Day 2 to follow..

NYC's best falafel

2011-04-16T19:56:00.010-04:00

Okay, this has been quite a quest for a while, and I finally have my votes! Hopefully it will make it worth your while, next time you wonder where to eat! I've ordered them by preference and added points of appeal/dislike. If you favor the hot sauce over the pita or falafel over the toppings, this will help you pick!

1. Azuri cafe:

Hands down, this has to be #1 for the most authentic, yet delicious falafel experience.

The yum:

Crispy and tasty falafel
A plethora of amazing toppings that go into the sandwich
Fluffy and authentic pita

The meh:

Well, the owner is kinda like a soup nazi. If you are persnickety and want more hot sauce, just don't request it here. You may get kicked out.
You only get about 3 falafel in your sandwich. The toppings more than make up for it though.

2. Taim:

The yum:

3 varieties of falafel. All are yum, but i'm partial to the red pepper ones.
Great hot sauce, fluffy pita
The flavor layers are pretty nice.
Also reccommend: The Sabich sandwich, not a falafel sandwich, but extremely tasty!

The meh:

Not exactly authentic food
There is no place to sit and eat. You have to take it to go.

3. Mamouns:

The yum:

Very authentic, green crispy falafel
Face it, you are not going to find a cheaper sandwich. $2.50 is an awesome deal, even if you have 2!
Their hot sauce means business. Its super hot. They also sell it it bottles, though i've never tried that!
If you don't like bells & whistles, this is your simple & clean falafel!

The meh:

Only lettuce & tomato in my falafel?!
One sandwich may still leave you hungry.

4. Alfanoose:

The yum:

Pretty authentic, crispy & tasty falafel
Pickled turnips!
You can ask for fried cauliflower in your sandwich, and it is definitely yummy!
Nice hot sauce with harissa flavors.

The meh:

A tad pricier than the others on this list, additives cost more.
Downtown, and closed during weekends.

5. Maoz:

The yum:

You can stuff anything from the salad bar onto your falafel, and it is yum.
Not one but like 10 sauces.
Yummy sweet potato fries with garlic sauce!

The meh:

I feel too full after I eat here.
Falafel are nothing extraordinary

6. Baba Ghanouge:

The yum:

They add anything you want from the salad bar to your sandwich. I love pickles, carrots & beets in mine
The hot sauce here has a very different flavor profile.
They have a fresh smoothie bar as well.

The meh:

The falafel is quite standard, nothing too impressive.

I didn't care much for university pita. I felt the toppings, though unlimited were stale. Nor did I like chickpea, the baked falafel were mediocre. I'm yet to try crisp, which I hear is good.

A few others I like:

Pita joe, for their unlimited tahini,hot sauce & amba tubes, The cart outside 200 west st on west side highway for bad for you but so yum falafel over spicy rice with white & hot sauce. Ok now that is just so New York :)

Chipotle at home!

2011-02-26T12:03:00.002-05:00

I guess I am a weekend cook. Last Monday was a holiday, hence the effort to try something new. We love Chipotle and its burritos. So I decided to give the burrito bowl a whirl. It was a hit, recipe below. The nicest thing is this is a low/no oil recipe, so its very healthy. However, it is meant to be eaten fresh. Note that you can find all the spices mentioned here in the mexican section of the supermarket.

Salsa Verde (Medium heat)

Ingredients (Makes 2 cups)

10 tomatillos

1/2 chopped white onion

10 sprigs of cilantro

1 Tbsp lime juice

2 Serrano peppers, chopped

2 Cloves of Garlic

Salt to taste

METHOD

1. Remove papery husks from tomatillos and rinse well.

2. Cut them in half and place cut side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place under a broiler along with the garlic for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skin.

3. Blend tomatillos, lime juice, onions, cilantro, chili peppers and garlic in a blender to a semi smooth consistency. Season to taste with salt.

Corn Salsa (Mild)

Ingredients (Makes 1 cup)

1 Cup frozen sweet yellow corn

1 Jalapeno or log hot pepper

1/2 Red Onion

1/3 Cup Chopped Cilantro

1 Tablespoon Lime Juice

Salt to taste

METHOD

1. Microwave the corn for 3 mins with a splash of water.

2. Dice the Onion, and jalapeno finely.

3. Combine all the ingredients and season to taste.

Red Hot Salsa (Hot)

Ingredients (Makes 1 small cup)

10 Chillies De Arbol

1 tablespoon of sesame seeds

2 cloves

2 allspice berries

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon Mexican oregano

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon oil

1 red tomato

salt

METHOD

1. Toast the sesame seeds, cumin, cloves and allspice to a golden color

2. Grind all the ingredients together to a fine paste

3. cook on a stove for about 5 minutes.

Cilantro Lime Rice:

Ingredients

1 teaspoon vegetable oil or butter

10 sprigs cilantro

1 cup white basmati rice

2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Lime

METHOD

1. In a 2-quart heavy saucepan, heat oil or butter over low heat, stirring occasionally until melted.

2. Add rice and lime juice, stir for 1 minute.

3. Add water and salt, bring to a full boil.

4. At boiling, cover, turn down to simmer over low heat until rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 25 minutes.

5. Fluff rice with a fork.

6. Add Cilantro and mix well.

Black Beans:

Ingredients

1 can black beans

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

1 spoon taco seasoning

1 spoon of the hot salsa made previously.

Method:

1. Wash canned beans thoroughly in cold water, drain, add water and salt.

2. Add the sauce and taco seasoning.

3. Cook gently in a deep pot for about 10 mins or until the beans create a gravy.

Pico de Gallo:

Just follow http://www.food.com/recipe/pico-de-gallo-83371

Now combine everything, add dollops of sour cream and enjoy!

Vegetable Kuruma

2011-02-13T21:26:00.002-05:00

I am and have always been such a stickler for this recipe, ever since childhood. Since my teens, this was one of my crazy food craves, with the layered bread, parotta. I must have brought this home about twice a week, under the eyes of a disapproving mom, for getting takeout. Needless to say, she tried to reproduce the recipe several times to satisfy her homegrown food critic. Every one of her versions were stellar, but not quite the same. I therefore decided to give this one more try, marrying recipes from 2-3 food blogs and viola! Success! The way it tastes in the hotels of India. This is too good to be true, hence duly noted here!

Ingredients (feeds 4):

Diced onion: 1

Ginger: 1 inch piece

Diced vegetables (carrot,peas,corn,cauliflower) : 1.5 cups

Boiled potatoes: 2 small

Javenthri: 1 flower

Curry leaves: 5

Green chillies: 6

Ginger garlic paste: 1 tbsp.

Vine ripe tomatoes: 2

Bay leaf - 1

Corriander powder: 3 tsp.

Garam masala: 2 tsp.

Turmeric powder: 2 tsp.

Salt to taste

Oil - 5 tbsp.

To Grind to a fine paste:

Shredded Coconut : 1 cup

Cashews/blanched peeled almonds: 10

Poppy seeds: 2 tbsp.

Cloves: 2

Cinnamon: 1 small stick

Cardamom: 1 pod

Green chillies: 2

Fennel seeds: 1 tbsp.

Method:

Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pan. Add the bay leaf and saute.

After it starts to brown add curry leaves, chillies, ginger, javenthri, and onions. Cook till golden brown.

Add the ginger garlic paste, and saute till it cooks.

Add half of the corriander powder and all of the garam masala and cook for a minute.

Add the veggies except the potatoes and cook till they are well cooked.

Add tomatoes and cook for a few minutes.

At this point, add the ground paste, the potatoes, the turmeric and corriander powder.

Add water based on the consistency you want. Cook for 5 minutes.

Add salt and the remaining oil. Cook on a low flame until the kuruma is not watery.

Ready! Enjoy with parotta/chapathi.

For kothu parotta, Make the above gravy with onions, but without any veggies or tomatoes. Saute curry leaves, shredded carrots, peas and cauliflower till cooked.

Add an egg if you like and scramble well.

Then add a little of the gravy, followed by pieces of kerala parotta. Add salt to taste and saute.

Venice

2010-12-19T17:53:00.001-05:00

Revisiting the travelogue..

Aah travel. It is indeed fun to visit places old and new. I find that upon returning, the most vivid memories are not those of the most visited places, but rather the little things we did on our visit. I have been meaning to write about our Italy trip for ages, so I will do it now, or rather a tiny two day part of it. We visited Italy for a whole dozen days, but there is so much to tell about the lovely country that I will keep it down to one place per entry. I will mention the restaurants we are at and the things we loved to see, which will hopefully make this entry useful for future visitors.

To start right at the beginning, we landed in Rome and took a regional flight to Venice. It was about 9AM in the morning when we reached Venice. The aerial view of mainland Venice was very enticing indeed. We had booked rooms at Ca Bragdin Carabba, link here. It was a very charming inn, and the innkeeper was very hospitable. We found it very interesting that the lower floor of this former palace was completely unoccupied as it floods during acqua alta. This inn is a stones throw from the Rialto and a very short walk to Piazza San Marco, so it is very centrally located. The rooms were very nice, bigger than the average venetian room, with a nice terrace as well. Breakfast is not included, but you can get it at an additional price, though I would advise you to not eat here, when options abound on the streets.

We rode the Alilaguna water boat to Rialto, and while the boat was fast, it was quite low and did'nt offer a spectacular view. I recommend taking the #1 water boat to the train station from San Marco once. Don't waste money on a daily pass though.

I was immediately taken in and mesmerized by the magic that seemed to be in the air on the streets. Venice is breathtakingly beautiful and very romanic, with the water & gondolas and the pastel colored houses. Once we checked in, we couldn't wait to get out and explore.

We were quite hungry though, so we went straight for the food. Being in Italy, something in me craved pizza (a bad idea in Venice, I know). So our inkeeper recommended this place. This was very close to San Marco, so we decided to eat and then check out the Doge's palace. Once there, S ordered pizza and I ordered Gnocchi (another mistake). Both were decent, but didn't blow our socks off and were quite expensive.

Afterwards we headed out to visit the Palazzo Ducale. The bridge of sighs was sadly covered in scaffolding, and while it was a sight in itself, it wasn't the same. Piazza St. Marco however, was a different story. We were both enthralled by the beautiful square, and gawked awhile at the basilica. Then we decided to visit the palace. It was a wonderful sight indeed, especially if you have a thing for huge chambers and meeting halls. There were some amazing paintings of the renaissance era as well. S was more interested in the prisons however. It was interesting to see prions connected to the palace by a bridge instead of being tucked underground as in most European castles.

The two hour long tour got us all sleepy, so we decided to head back and get a little nap. We stopped at Segafredo for a cappuccino at the bar, and then went to the best gelateria in town as recommended by Rick Steves. It was amazingly good and at 1 Euro a scoop, a great bargain too. We then headed to the one supermarket that we saw and got some stuff for breakfast.. some yogurt cups which turned out to be real good, cookies, almonds etc.

Then jetlag had the better of us and we slept till dinnertime. And what better way to spend a vacation, but eat again! This time we headed out to this place. The dinner was amazingly good. I highly recommend the Sphagetti with onions, a deceptively simple dish. S liked the fish very much as well.

Then back to bed to nap!

Day 2 to be continued..

Clearing up the Clutter..

2010-11-14T22:25:00.001-05:00

For those who know me, you probably recognize that I love a sense of order, the list of tasks with checkboxes to mark off. My mind cannot function under clutter and chaos. This is probably why I took such a long break from blogging, in fact expressing my thoughts in any more than 140 words (the twitter word limit). There was simply a lot going on and my attention was diverted. It always takes time to put the shelves back in order.

I have been wanting to write down my reviews of books and food for a little while now even if I didn't really think about penning my thoughts. I revisited my blog today after perhaps 6-7 months. Like a person stumbling upon a lost house, I wandered through the pages, looking at my own thought progression from five years ago to now, and it pleased me to see what I had been thinking about. It felt like regaining a lost part of myself. I guess it motivated me enough to write again. Maybe I will look back at this someday, who knows!

I am a big dreamer. I live in a world of my own and think about it as I walk down the street. The people on the street probably think i'm nuts, but I do love my own company. I wonder if people dream this way as well...It would be nice to see if anyone does, though I wouldn't be too surprised if no one does.

I think I've identified my genre of books and movies. It is usually the biography. Exotic cultures add more pizzaz of course, which is probably why I'm curious about oriental stories and eastern tales. I am not much of a novel reader anymore though I grew up on several. I enjoy people's thoughts a lot. To be human is intriguing in itself, and that is what is driving my reading habit these days. Recommendations are always welcome!

Cheap Eats- Rickshaw Dumpling Bar

2010-11-14T19:16:00.001-05:00

http://www.rickshawdumplings.com/

23rd St. at 6th Ave, New York, NY

My love affair with this place began about a year ago, when their dumpling truck made its way down wall street. I would brave the cold to buy dumplings at this mini red truck despite loong lines. If you are looking for cheap chinatown dumplings at 6 for $1, this will not be your cup of tea. They are not cheap. ($6 for 6 dumplings to be precise). But boy are they delicious!

I have never had better whole wheat edamame dumplings before. These dumplings come with a zesty lemon dip that is the perfect balance of acid. They also have lovely warm soups to go with the dumplings. The asian salad is pretty good. Last but not least, the chocolate soup dumplings are a must try! Melt in your mouth chocolatey goodness! mmm!

Cheap Eats - Maoz Falafel

2010-11-14T19:02:00.001-05:00

http://www.maozusa.com

Various locations in the city, as well as in other states/countries

Strictly speaking, this is not a NYC only joint. But it is so tasty, that it deserves a post. This place is vegetarian only. For about $7, you get a sandwich pita with falafels inside, a side of sweet potato or plain fries and a drink. This is enough food for two people, trust me, but if you want more, pay a little extra and get some friend eggplant in your sandwich as well.

The falafel is not the best in town but the more interesting part is that you get to pick what goes in your falafel from the unlimited salad bar. They have carrots, beets, picked eggplant (yum), the yummiest broccoli florets and a multitude of others. Load up your sandwich and come back for refills! There are also around nine sauce toppings to add to the falafels. The Cilantro & tomato chutneys are wonderful and you can't go wrong with tahini on Falafel.

Another thing to try is the Sweet potato fries with the garlic sauce from the salad bar. This is my personal favorite. They have tea lemonade, but I found this to be too sour. Still the food is what counts!!

Kobenhavn

2009-10-25T10:51:00.001-04:00

As we look forward to planning our vacation for the springtime, I cant help but reminisce about our travel a few years ago to beautiful Kobenhavn. Last night, as I lay in bed, I tried to piece back the memories of the vacation past, but was a little saddened to discover that try as I may, the chronology was lost to remote corners of my memory.
This morning, I went to take a closer look at the pictures from the trip, and then it all came back in bits and pieces, as I put it down here, more so to reread when I feel like it, I guess.

I remember the lovely flight from Reykjavik to Kobenhavn. Even more lovely, we had people to welcome us at Kobenhavn. Scotts parents, Mones and Elsabeth were at the airport. I should say that their family did make our vacation all the more special and personal, right down to the amazing lunch they made for us, which we tried to repay with a homemade dinner later in the week. It was such a complete vacation in that sense, to meet and spend time with friends and family, even if it was your first trip.

Wonderful Kobenhavn.. we arrived tired and jetlagged, the crisp winter wind not being too friendly, but we had little time to sit or sleep. A quick trip to our rooms to dump luggage, then off we went from Radhusplassen on our magical journey through a fairy tale land.

We walked through the pedestrian walking street Strojkt, gazing and marveling at the open piazzas. A quick dinner of falafel & hotdogs on the street, and then back our rooms we went, to prep for an early morning.

With the morning came a wonderful breakfast, then a walk through the wintry streets. We crossed the orange roofs, coated with snow, the parliament house, and on until we got to NyHavn, the harbor to see the brightly colored houses and the trademark anchor coated with snow, again.

It was freezing, and we deserved a treat. And what other one better than Marzipan chocolates? Marzipan is like our very own Kaju Katli, only made with Almonds. We feasted on a few, then went on to see the Malmokierke, the marble church. We had picked to a little Danish vocabulary by then, Kierke - Church, Gede - Street etc.

Then on we went towards the harbor to see Amalienborg castle, the queens residence. We passed the geiphon, the imitation statue of David, then reached Amelienborg, in time for the royal changing of the guard, A tradition like at Buckingham. As luck would have it, we got a glimpse of the queen herself, as she drove though the castle gates.

Then off again we went to the harbor to get a glimpse of "Den Lille Haffrue", the little mermaid on a solitary rock. We were not even able to spend fifteen minutes with the diminutive statue, as the wind bit us from all sides and pushed us to move on. And so we did to get tea and snacks at a little place with Henrik, Mones's first son before heading out to get dinner at Mones's place.

More in the next post..

Fall..

2008-10-18T18:28:00.001-04:00

It is indeed surprising and incomprehensible how four years have gone by in the wink of an eye.. I still vividly remember that crisp afternoon in August when I set foot in this country that I have grown to love. So many seasons, so many memories. Time goes by slowly as the minutes slip past and gallops through the days and weeks.

It has been an interesting few months, with weekends bringing new news and headlines, lots of joy and cheer and a few very sobering moments as well. Through all of it, i feel a renewed sense of faith, a sense of hope and love in the world that surrounds me, the people i know and the forces that i believe in. Human life thrives on hope, and it is the same hope I live by as well.

I have been listening to Bhaja Govindam, one of my favorite religious songs of all time composed by Adi Shankara and sung by M.Subbulakshmi. I do not know if it is her divine voice or the touching meaning of the song, which almost anybody can relate to, but it always calms me and gives me inner peace.

Some of the profoundly deep things that the song suggests are truly beyond religion. They touch on the true nature and meaning of life. I bet every one has felt in some way or the other.

The song suggests that the world we live in is an illusion, and that we have to look harder to understand the true meaning of live. When are people remembered? when do they live on? The people we remember the most are the ones that influence us in some way or the other. The Hindu concept of a chain of rebirth is based on the same idea. To break the chain, one has to attain true knowledge of "Brahman". I can certainly not give proof of rebirth, but I can say for sure that to attain permanence in this life, we have to do something that touches people in one way or more. A writer or a movie maker makes the future generations think. A political reformer paves way for a different way of life. A mother imparts to her children not just her love, but also a sense of morality she lives by.

We knowingly or unknowingly touch so many peoples lives as we go through the course of our own. We can only think about how we can make all those contacts positive, even though they may not always be. We also need to learn to be content with what comes through actions already performed in the past, they cannot be altered, much as we would like them to be.

The song tells us that the life of man is as uncertain as rain drops on a lotus leaf. The whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief. We do not know who our wife or son really is. Strange is this samsara. Who are we? Where have we come from?

We are born again, we die again, and are born again to stay in the mother's womb. It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Through this endless cycle, we just need to guide ourselves with our inner consciousness or god, to make all our influences positive and all memories happy. It is not an ordinary effort, but it is definitely one we should try to make..

Random thoughts

2008-04-11T21:08:00.001-04:00

It's tax season yet again, and I can't believe I'm filling my fourth years' tax return.. where did the days go? It seems like just yesterday, my first delighted look at Boston, the first few Malden days, tiny apartment rooms, student life littered with studies, outings and new friendships. A handful of people to call friends after the two and a half wonderful years. At which point did we all really connect? Was it over the cups of coffee, the walks through the alleys on the way to work shifts? weekends? over assignments in the library? Somewhere along the way to the riverbank watching the sailboats? It is tough to say. Life is delightful in the twists and turns that it abundantly supplies, there is little time to wonder about the road not taken and likewise.

Busy days at work, nights before the TV, visits to the gym time permitting, an evening walk with a friend.. it what life looks like these days; the slow change of the cold winter to a crisp spring.. dewdrops on grass blades and the first cherry blossoms and tulips catch my eye on my morning walk.. I wish I had more time to take it all in, and I resolve to wake up early over the weekend to get a closer glimpse, but somehow sleep invades, and the sun is pretty high up in the sky before I take a step outside. I am like Mark Twain's Tom however, and Saturday morning is always pure delight, be it early or late.

New york, New york, my home away from home, is also readily accessible, and I love the walks down the streets, especially the busy crossings where the road seems to extend to the horizon.

I plan meticulously on fridays, for a busy weekend with several options for self entertainment; and then end up executing exactly half of the plan. Yet the best weekends are the ones that spring surprises on you with no warning whatsoever. Will this be one of those weekends? I wonder..

Vacation in India

2008-02-27T22:58:00.001-05:00

It was a long pending trip, and I had looked forward to it months ahead, starting with all the shopping, the tickets and the packing. On that bright winter evening, as I drove to the airport, I felt the usual paranoia kick in; thoughts about forgotten keys and passports abound. A long flight later I landed at the Chennai airport past midnight, and then made the surreal walk to the domestic airport alone.

The domestic airport was deserted, save for a few sleeping families and a few people intently watching Sania Mirza play on the overhead television. I took my seat near the gate after an early security check and watched several flights take off before my flight was announced.

A shuttle ride to the tarmac and then an early morning flight over a lush green landscape littered with coconut trees; before I realized it I had landed in the town of Madurai, filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing my mom and dad at the gates and witnessing my best friends' wedding (Hence the domestic flight).

Hugs, laughter and a few exited conversations later, we rushed to the hotel room so expressly arranged by my friends parents, to change. A small search for the "Theppakulam" ensued, and I found myself waving to Sathish outside the wedding hall.

Meeting my friend, the bride, their families, waving to the bridegroom (also my friend) as he smiled nervously back, trying to make sense of the Tamil conversation and speeches over the omnipresent din & commotion so typical of Indian marriages, I saw my friends getting married. Even as a spectator nervousness claimed me, so I guess it must have been the same for them. The true beauty of an Indian wedding can only be felt, it is simply too hard to explain the myriad emotions, the sheer love and support provided by a family that bonds even closer as it unites in these joyous times. I was only too happy to have made it and to watch with my parents.

Jet lag finally took its toll right after, and I simply wanted to go home. And so we did, after a gruelling car ride over the pothole filled highways. I slept blissfully and dreamlessly after a long long time.

The week that ensued was the most tranquil and idyllic times after several years of my life, reminiscent of annual holidays over sunny summers. I had nothing to do, save for "conferences" with mom and grandma, read two books a day, or simply lie back and watch the fan spin as i thought about days past. The parrots were still around the coconut trees behind the gopurams, the river had a trickle of water, and the street looked the same except for the extra storeys in peoples homes.

Another week, two more weddings, my parents' 60th birthday wedding, myriad sarees, hopping sprees, a trip to Salem for a cousins wedding, a couple of days squeezed in between to meet Ambu; so many things to do, so little time. My cousins were able to make it to my grandparents place this time when I was around. We were able to get some quality time together, reminisce about our joyful childhood days and chat late into the night the way only granddaughters could with a grandmother. Me and my cousin slept like children again, next to each other. Somehow to our grandparents, no matter how old we are, we are always, and will always remain the children of the house.

Time flew by, and it was time to come back. Usually with the ones closest to us, we hardly realize what a difference their presence makes until it is time for a separation. It was tough, saying goodbye to a mom and dad who had marked their calendars to watch for my arrival months ago, and were upset, net never shed a tear for fear of upsetting me at the last minute. In that one second at the airport, I saw true love. And for that one minute, I did not want to come back. Maybe separation is the greatest gift god can give us, it is when we are apart do we realize the true importance of things we overlook when we are together.

I'm back to the usual hustle and flow of life now, yet keep looking back to those three blissful weeks when time stood still, yet inexplicably sped by before we could notice...I relive the time in my thoughts alone.

Ruminating

2007-11-23T23:11:00.001-05:00

It's almost midnight, and here I am back again, typing at my little PC that I have grown to love. I shopped as did a million others here, on black Friday, taking advantage of the sales that retailers put out to prevent a gloomy year end forecast. This year, I did something intrinsically different, I went towards the Christmas aisle, shopping for a tree. Call it the living alone crisis. I have become bored not celebrating festivals at all, doing the same thing over and over, that I felt this time I needed my Navarathri or Karthigai (which by the way seems to be tomorrow, coincidence?) fix for myself. Hence the tree, complete with tinsel, lights and glass ornaments. The last time we had a tree was about ten years ago or more, me and my cousins being whimsical as ever, making a makeshift tree out of tropical evergreens (as they all are) and homemade ornaments. I still remember our presents under the tree (towels with Huey, Dewey and Louie on them).

I have always loved Christmas trees, and I am still pretty proud, and keep looking up at the shimmering lights. Strangely, the tree makes me feel more at home, keeping me company, as a puppy might be.

These days I feel lonely, content, depressed yet satisfied all at the same time. I can't help but wonder why is it so difficult for people to give others a chance at their own life. Everyone has their own two pence of ideas, given any topic, whether the other person needs it or not. This is so connected to our culture, which is why I love to hate it at times. I sometimes love my disconnect and revel in it as often as I do feel it and get that invariable urge to pick up the phone and call somebody or keep my T.V. on for company's sake and remain sleepless until early into the next day.

Culture, society, rules.. why do they matter? why do we care? I can keep up with anything, as long as it does not interfere my lifestyle. The moment it does, I do not like it anymore. I am happy with not knowing who my neighbors are, yet smiling and wishing them good morning, or holding the door open for them. I love hanging out with friends, as they don't tell me what to do with my life. It is my own to live. I just hope and wish that we (including me) learn to accept things as they are, and not want things to change for us, unless it involves us and only us. Then I guess it is a different story.

San Deigo

2007-11-01T21:33:00.001-04:00

Last week I made yet another journey to the west coast, which I am falling in love with. California has a sweet charm of its own, so different from whats out here in the East; Laid back people, the palm trees, great weather, scenic vistas & pretty Spanish names, whats not to love? It really feels like vacationland, so much that it makes me wonder, how do people ever get work done?

This time the trip was preceded by moments of anxiety as I made my way into sunny Mexico, across the bridge to get that visa stamp on my passport. What if they needed more documentation, I kept thinking. But all was well, and a glimpse of Tijuana later, I was back in the mainland. We visited the Sea world and the other usual tourist spots spread all around the city map. I loved Old Town as well, as it reminded me of the village houses back home & I adored the mesmerizing display of craft work. The seaport village was nice too, with its paved roads and boardwalk offering a nice view of the bay bridge (not the big red one) and Coronado island. The lunches and dinners were great too, thanks to the culinary expertise of the Gaslamp's many restaurants. In short, it was great fun. It made me think about how fast time flies. To think I was in San Diego this time last week.

Diwali is coming up, and it makes me wonder what lies in store for the day. It has been four years since the last one I enjoyed with family. Why is it that we Hindus celebrate Lord Krishna killing Narakasura as our best festival of the year? Shouldn't Pongal, the harvest festival account for more? but it never did, somehow. Diwalis in India would mean a bountiful feast, lots of 'bakshanams' (ghee filled sweets and savories) , a time when you could consume the sweets before they were ceremoniously offered to Gods unlike the other festivals, firecrackers galore, TV shows, new movies, meeting friends, grandmas house in the evening with cousins... Diwali was always a happy time.

Last year's Diwali was memorable. It was Diwali, the American way. Potluck lunch, lots of variety, a day to wear traditional costumes, poker and a movie. In short, a good weekend with added surprises. Will we have half a good time this year, with all of us staying so far apart? I wonder.. and I hope and pray..

October

2007-10-07T20:27:00.001-04:00

So here you are, probably bemused by the color change, or you must have guessed by now.. This is October, the month of Halloween, the hallmark of a fall harvest, the time to make the trip to the mountains to view the lovely colors of fall in resplendent display, go pick apples as I have done time and again in the crisp New England air. October is also National Breast cancer awareness month, a month to take a few minutes to visit your physician for an examination if you are a woman like me, or to encourage someone you know to do it instead of being lazy.

Time magazine had its cover story dedicated to Breast cancer awareness this week, and it took me by surprise that one in every eight women will be diagnosed with Breast cancer this year. The full story can be viewed
here. It also stunned me to see that the highest incidence of cases was here in the US and the highest number of deaths due to breast cancer were in my home country. Yet, upon reflection, over the last few years, we have seen it happening several times to someone near and dear.

Cancer, unlike many other diseases cannot be totally prevented. Genetics do play an important factor, but its likelihood of occurrence or its potency can be reduced with a few simple measures:

1. Learning how to do a good examination, is very important. With the ubiquitousness of you tube and Google video that brings home several funny clips on demand, also comes the added advantage of seeing and leaning how to do an exam decently. If you haven't' already, do take the time check out the videos.

2. Get yourself an ashtray; a nice expensive crystal one. and extinguish that cigarette once and for all. Smoking is a known carcinogen. But well, if you are a smoker, heart disease is more likely to come and claim you in a New York Minute.

3. Lifestyle changes. A good balanced diet and a moderate amount of exercise will not only keep your arteries unclogged , but also help with other bonuses. Thirty extra minutes of walking five days a week can help in ways unimaginable.

A few simple steps can one day save you or a loved one. So do remember to schedule time in your calendar to make the trip to your doctor's office. Visit the official site for more information.

Birthdays

2007-08-25T14:42:00.001-04:00

Another year, and yet another birthday.. This time, I had almost forgotten that it was coming up, before being reminded my the ones most dear. Somehow, they manage to reach out to you well in advance; to call you and feel happy for your presence, which somehow validates your existence.

I remember the birthdays of long ago, looming with the anticipation of wearing a colorful dress to school . A couple of days before the birthday, I would go shopping with my mom to choose a box and fill it with the candy that everyone loved. (In India, you had to treat your friends on your birthday, not the other way around. It still puzzles me.). Compliments accepted graciously, I would distribute the candy to eager classmates after they sang the most popular song in the whole world. Closest ones would get two pieces, of course. Then there would be the birthday party, with the homemade egg less cake and favors.

As school days mutated into college days, the scene changed a bit. No more candy boxes. Surprise parties hosted by friends who somehow felt that the birthday cake was not a thing to eat, but rather a buttery face cream for the birthday girl. Sweet presents and good times. You had to treat your fiends to a birthday feast at a good restaurant though.

Birthdays here were not very different, except that the "treats" dwindled but the celebrations persisted. Wishes flew across the internet, doubling the total messages on my scrapbook or wall in a day. A myriad of wishes, sometimes a simple "happy birthday", sometimes a personal email, or a call from a close one at midnight, they made me feel happy, loved & wanted, especially when I was not too exited (it's not the twenty first one, you know)

I was also able to catch a Broadway show this time with a good friend. "Les Miserables". We were both taken in & mesmerized by the beautiful art direction which cleverly reflected the Paris of the Nineteenth century.

Overall, it was a wonderful day, making me feel nostalgic, happy and loved all at once. Thanks to all the wishes from everyone near and dear.

Book reviews

2007-08-06T23:01:00.001-04:00

So here I am back again, with perhaps a ton of things to say after my long hiatus. I have done so many things over the past few weekends, read quite a few good books, watched my share of movies and worked hard as well, that this would promise to be a loong entry if I do not filter through what I have to say.. so here goes.

Let me go over the few books I read; the one similarity between most of them being their Asian origins. I thank the five hour long journeys across three states over the course of two weekends for introducing me to them; The first was "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri.

I do not need to introduce this Pulitzer prizewinning artiste, but for some reason the plight of Gogol and his unfortunate name made for a much more pleasant and intriguing read than her "the Interpreter of Maladies". I loved the shattering of the stereotypes, the longing for a loved home back in a familiar country, tacitly expressed over chaat made from rice puffs. I could relate to the Gangulis in more ways than one, Ashokes' happiness over new opportunities, the start of a new life in a new home so far from home, Ashimas' initial apprehension which ebbs so much over the course of time that her old home becomes a stranger, all the ones she knew being gone a long time ago. She cries over the home she loves in a land that was once alien but is no more. Certainly the things we miss the most over the course of life are usually the ones we take for granted. Gogol resonated with me long after I put the book down. Of all the characters in the book, the protagonist was the least expressive, but managed to convey the most.

The second book was a comic strip novel called Persepolis; the author Marjane Satrapi had described Iran and the revolution so beautifully through her childhood eyes. What was it like to be at war, lose loved ones & live through it? What was it like to live in a country that did not support a free mind?

Iam now reading "The House of Blue Mangoes" by David Davidar, A book I have fallen in love with even over the first hundred pages, for it describes to my the very villages I grew up in, the very same traditions & customs, long tucked back in a corner of my mind, slowly emerging through the magnificent Imagery. I recollect the festivals of my youth, the temple fairs & my anxiety to get there before they sold out, Chitra pournamis (full moon day celebration) on the river banks, swimming against the current & ex foliating with the soft river sand, drining fizzy rosewater and sweet coconut water, running through the irrigated rice fields in a shiny silk skirt and so many such little memories, smells, tastes made during times I faintly recall. My mind wanders so much that I pause for a whole fifteen minutes between chapters sometimes; slowly churning up those childhood days and perhaps unique experiences. It makes me quietly wish for a pensieve to store all our most cherished memories to revisit when we wanted to, but then I realize not too soon that the pensieve does already exist in our minds & hearts, and it's what brings back the small bits of joy into our minds to ruminate over..Memories do sweeten as we revisit them...

The Grand Canyon

2007-07-13T23:28:00.001-04:00

Las Vegas

2007-07-10T19:59:00.001-04:00

Last week, around this time, I was sitting abroad a nonstop flight to Vegas. The start of a vacation is always happy, with all the anticipation and joy of meeting people and seeing new places. As I keep buying tabloids at the airport, I took along three Time magazines, strictly warning myself not to pick up another $2 trashy tabloid. But alas, what caught my eye this time was "A thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Housseini. It was so poignant and touching that I did not put it down until I saw the greenish glow of MGM grand through my cabin window. The man in the next seat was actually willing to take a bet that I would finish before we landed!

It was the first time that I experienced such scorching dry heat. The air was hot, seeming to arise straight from the desert dunes. It baffled me how in the middle of such a barren desert, an incomparably wealthy oasis had sprung up. Vegas has every pleasure man could possibly want, all at a price.

Each casino had its own decor and ubiquitous smoke. My favorite was the Venetian, with its gondola rides, to be seconded only by the Bellagio for its conservatory and fountains. I don't know if it was the place or the fabulous company, but I was in the best of spirits in a long time.

We took a ride out to one of nature's most beautiful creations, the grand canyon, the next day. The drive was breathtaking in itself, with the highway winding over the humongous Hoover dam and then through the strange Joshua (cactus) forests. One could actually picture the Indian hunter, abroad his faithful steed, galloping through the lands that he knew and loved. Eagles loomed high above, in the skies.

The sky walk was perhaps the highlight of our trip. Built by the Hualapai tribe in March, it was still pristine and not yet the tourist junction that it would soon become. Walking on the thin layers of glass over a four thousand feet deep canyon can give you the jitters initially, but soon you feel like you are flying. The sky walk also offers a great view of the nearby Eagle point; it is quite a pity that you cant' click your own pictures.

A OK lunch, followed my a bumpy fourteen mile mud ride (there are no roads for this stretch, yet) and we were on our way back to fabulous Las Vegas for our last night there, and on to Los Angleles the next day.

LA did nothing but increase my liking of California, with its scenic pathways and mountain terrain. We spent the first day at Universal studios, having the most fun at the House of horrors and on the Mummy ride, which I was petrified of until I boarded it; Day two was probably the best with a visit to the Hollywood Boulevard and Beautiful Santa Monica. We had a lot of fun battling the rough waves, and I must have swallowed at least a litre of sea water.

By the time we headed out for dinner at the Persian restaurant, the vacation was already over, and before I knew it, I was back at my desk at work. If only life had a rewind switch..

Tagged

2007-06-29T22:06:00.001-04:00

Rules (aka Divya, kinda modified by me..)

1. Players start with 5 random facts about themselves.
2. Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 5 random facts.
3. Players should tag 5(I say 3) other people and notify them they have been tagged.

I have a serious ADD (attention deficit disorder) when I'm watching a movie on my laptop. I simply have to look up the facts related to the movie in Wikipedia halfway through the movie. Actually, I'm at my blog in between a movie watching session, yet again..

I love to clean, first thing in the morning. Even before I brush my teeth, I HAVE to sort out my shoe closet or sweep the floor (OK, I see you rolling your eyes!)

I mute people out when 'I'm studying. In fact, I mute people out whenever I'm concentrating. I know they hate me for it, but I can't help it.

My favorite snacks & foods include sun dried tomatoes, cheesy ravioli, more gourmet cheese, multi grain bread, bananas, mangoes, pasta, anything with lentils and microwaved cauliflower. Almost exactly half the list is good; and the other half to high in calorie content. sigh.

I simply love shopping. Even when 'I'm not buying anything. Even at a grocery store. Even at a pharmacy. It's quite becoming the bane of my life.

I tag -

Girish, Iblog, Zero..

Just a simple weekend

2007-06-24T23:08:00.001-04:00

Was what I enjoyed (albeit the occasional boredom) for the past two days. The last weekend was quite a whirlwind, with the fun & frolic at six flags hurricane harbor followed by something that every Tamilian around the world must have done, the inevitable trip to the theatres to see the unmissable Shivaji. The movie was decent, probably its only fault being that it stuck to expectations to the T. Definitely over hyped, yet it was not a bad three hours. The "Thalaivar" did, as always do a good job. I found the sets very extravagant, and would have preferred a simple and sweet "Sahana.." on location. But the words captivated me far more than the surroundings. Say what you may, but a blonde & fair Rajnikanth is so not hot!!

Hurricane harbor ruined my carefully straightened hair, but it did bring back memories of a few amazing times in the pool. I was not one of those students who was good at sports, thanks to my klutzy ways and clumsiness on land. Swimming was the first sport that I felt (and still feel) graceful at; and I had some very happy moments in the water, with a few waves thrown in for our benefit. It did give us a great workout as well; we all felt it in our hamstrings that night.

I spent most of yesterday doing something that I like doing solo: shopping. Perhaps because of my complete patience at this activity, or due to the lack of it with my frustrated counterparts, I have always shopped alone. The several semi annual sales thrown in for good measure by the shops did but help burn a bigger hole in my wallet, forcing me to stay at home for most of the day today.

I picked up "The Queen" to watch before bedtime, as a bookend to a silent weekend. Based on the time of Mr. Blair's ascent to presidency and Princess Diana's' unfortunate death, the queen has intrigued me for the past fifteen minutes. A temporary hiatus, and I resume my movie watching...

Quality time

2007-06-14T20:04:00.001-04:00

It has been quite a while since I had the former with close family. The past two weeks just breezed by thanks to the company of my brother and Sister in Law. This was the first time I saw them after a timely two years since their wedding. As I was working at my co-op assignment during their wedding, I could but make a hassled week-long trip encompassing two days in an aeroplane; numerous events and parties which made it quite impossible to share but a few words with either of them.

I guess we were all satisfied at the end of two weeks of fun, tours, food and laughter. Normally known as a "quiet" person, I was surprised at the easy flow of conversation.

I think this is actually the first time that I got to spend time alone with my brother. When I was at school and he in Med school, we would meet a few weekends, yet we couldn't talk much thanks to the wide differences between us. We were quite the typical brother and sister, who had different kinds of friends and did very different things. Now that the gap has narrowed, it is easy to communicate.

The weather has been pretty good for this time of the year. Summer has officially begun. I do love the summertime for its icy frappes, cotton skirts and crowded streets. New York City somehow becomes a different place in the summertime. Suddenly there are more smiles. The subway station scorches and the relief on boarding the air conditioned trains is simply unbelievable. Then there's Sunday brunch and the cool museums.

I also love the beaches and the heat. Some of our most memorable vacations were at Cape cod and Maine. You can taste the salt in the crisp sea air, and hear the waves hit the beach as you walk down the sweet roads lined with beautiful cottages. You tend to enjoy something more only when you get very little of it. If anything, I always complained about the heat in India. The monsoon season is the best in the tropics, when you can smell the musty scent of the sand as the first rains hit the dry soil. On such days I would watch the rain from the veranda upstairs as I munched hot potato chips, freshly made by a loving mom. Oh those were simply the days.

Random

2007-05-29T22:36:00.001-04:00

When we age, it does happen quite fast. The days fly by so quickly and before you realize it, another year has gone by and another birthday approaches. It is quite hard to digest the fact that a sweet sixteen was a long time ago, more so because of the responsibilities that people expect you to take over automatically, once you reach a certain age. These days, I can sense the pauses in conversation, as I don't want to talk about certain things. They are better left unsaid.

The city is becoming hotter. I remember this time last year, when I walked down Newbury steet with my friends, as we tried some of the fabulous culinary choices around the area. It was a carefree time, a life that I still yearn for. Somehow, things dont' feel the same anymore. New York, once so fascinating has now become routine. There are like, exactly seven places that I visit day and again. Yet, it does not have the same tranquil vibe as the Christian science center in Boston. A walk around the reflection pool was enough to pick up my spirits, any day.

The weekend was so much fun. My friends helped bring New York to life, and I struggled at one AM to keep my eyes open to enjoy the poker game that I kept cribbing about (well, thats' just me). Time flies so fast when you have company. I wish I could accumulate my days off and just enjoy them together with friends, rather than have restless weekend after weekend. I guess that it is not in my hands, like so many other things. Had they been, would it make things better? Or is the grass greener by the muddy bank? I wonder..

Another weekend

2007-05-20T20:40:00.001-04:00

Has arrived and is almost over. I remember a time when Sunday nights would make me gloomy at the prospect of a long week ahead, after all those movie nights and game-filled days. These days the gloom is gone. So is the thrill on a Friday morning, over a highly anticipated weekend.

Of Course, Saturday mornings are always good, meaning that I can roll out of bed as late as possible and quietly sip a cup of coffee for a good half hour. But after that, is when I get restless. It is a new feeling, alien to me, something that I knew not when I was surrounded by friends.Somehow, in Boston, even a trip to the pharmacy or the grocer was fun. I loved my solo walk and back to the whole foods around the corner, now it seems rather like a mundane chore. I wonder why?

This Saturday was a lot of fun, as I spent it with my friends & their parents.. An otherwise long day became short thanks to the delightful company and interesting conversation...

I have gone back to my books, thanks to the graduation present I got from my friends. "Rebbecca" by Daphne Du Maurier.. This book was reminiscent of Jane Eyre, yet there was a mystique added to the well told story, a very English feel. Manderley remains in your mind long after you turn the last page. You are also left wondering about the elusive Rebbecca..

I am now reading "The Memory Keepers Daughter". It is extremely poignant and touching, bringing to your attention the joy and agony of parenting. To each of us, our offspring is simply the most precious.. Will you not want your precious child if she is not perfect? What if you were giving her up to protect another loved one? The book brings to life the truest of human feelings, loss, pain, regret, love... and redemption.

Graduation

2007-05-08T21:54:00.001-04:00

It was the perfect weekend for a happy graduation cermony. Boston, welcoming as always, was crisp & cold. I did shiver, but I loved it. Starting from the trip to the temple on saturday morning in Santosh's new car, a rushed run to to Matthews arena after a long search for unavailable parking, I and Sudan finally made it to the stands, where Natesh, Prabhu and Vikram were already all set. We made it to the stadium, filled with happy friends, proud parents & relatives. A very elating ceremony, one school song and the star spangled banner later, we were the proud graduates.

Holding the diploma (that I received two months ago in the post, by the way), I felt happy, yet a small corner of my heart was feeling the sadness at the change that had set into our lives. Our sights of Boston this time were filled with the certain knowledge that we were not going to be hading back there anytime soon, living that tranquil life, chatting over coffee at the local starbucks, with trips to the local Blockbuster. I have never been as attached to any place.. this kind of reminds me of what my friend Preetha wrote; Somehow I do not think it is the people alone that make a place so dear.. there may be a variety of factors. Of course, good company is very important but there is something about certain places.. the magic aura is infectious.

We had the best two nights of poker, movie nights (Spiderman, which did suck), long holiday-esque lunches, great company and laughter, lots and lots of it..

I have had my share of good times and bad times in Boston, but my mind recollects the good times much better..I hope I can say the same of future days to come..

The world around me

2007-05-01T21:31:00.001-04:00

Graduation day is fast approaching, and so is my enthusiasm rising.. I am looking forward to see dear Boston again, along with all of my friends; a chance to play yet another round of poker and giggle with friends..

Last weekend I saw a movie, "In the land of Women". My friend Jayshree was convinced that the movie basically sucked, but somehow I found that I enjoyed it. It was a simple but moving portrayal of a perfect looking family, good enough to put in a J. Crew catalogue, but still so dysfunctional. A stranger moves into the neighborhood, as he gets over a relationship that didn't quite make the name and to bond with his Grandma. Somehow, as we all know, it is a lot easier to talk about your deepest fears and insecurity with a relative stranger. Is it because you know it cannot hurt you or is it the other way around? You do not always say what you think to your loved ones, for fear of hurting their feelings.

Somehow all of us need that friend, someone to talk to, someone to confide with, someone who listens as we speak.. and for a mom of two stuck in a suburb, the stranger is of course the best companion. It was a very nice portrayal of a good friendship, not too many words, yet a lot said..

The weather is great these days.. the earliest shades of green are out, after the blossoms. It looks almost like a spray of green.. dandelions are everywhere and so are the tulips & hyacinth blossoms.. Spring is one of the prettiest seasons.. it does make the mind sing on your way to work..

Fitness freak..

2007-04-11T19:56:00.001-04:00

Or at least something I have been aspiring to become, over my lunch breaks at work. Ever since I joined the Wellness exchange at work, the group classes encompassing Yoga, Pilates, boot camps, steps & cardio kickboxing have been lots of fun! The exercise does make me pretty hungry as I head back home in the evening, but it is totally worth it.

We are all obsessed with health & fitness in some way or other, be it the diet coke we substitute for our regular fizzy soda, or the extra spoon of oil that we avoid while cooking. We have our own reasons, that range from losing weight(duh) to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Of course, like everyone else, I have tried the fad diets and the green teas. But now I am increasingly beginning to see that what matters is a healthy nutritious diet. So here are some of my tried & true observations:

* It's all about the calories. Eat what you like, but keep it under your daily requirement.

* Anything that is natural is good for you, even if it is not low fat. (Think milk, avocados, Bananas)

* Don't snack on an energy bar before hitting the Gym, that stuff is for the serious athletes. You will do just fine with a banana.

* Cut out the multiple servings of fluid calories (the second coffee with cream, soda,juice). If you must drink, go for herbal teas and diet soda(not regularly). Skip the fruit juice & opt for the fruit instead.

* Do not replace your favorite foods (potato chips etc.) with low calorie substitutes. It will not make you lose your cravings. Have a smaller portion instead.

* Lots of veggies, low on the carbs.

* Try different exercise routines everyday. If you are not a gym rat, try walking around your apartment for an hour.

The above pieces of advice are from me to my own self, as I struggle along with my fitness regime, just like you all do!

Nilaa Sadham..

2007-03-30T22:42:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I had my all time favourite dinner.. thair sadham and urugai (for the uninitiated, yogurt on rice with spicy Indian pickle). It made me think of those happy childhood days long gone..

Me, Anuj and Vats would be vacationing at our grandparents place during yet another summer holiday. A summer with my cousins always meant tons of fun! Starting from the long walk early in the morning to see the new railroad, to the castles we built on the pile of construction sand from the beach and whole cities with roads and rail tracks meticulously drawn by us with chalk, we were always on the out look for the most creative thing to do. Our grandparents encouraged us so much that we even had drawing classes, dance classes and music classes every day! Of course the tomboyish me and Anuj used to smuggle out instead of singing, while Vats was always the model student!

Thatha would take us to the stationery store, to buy the crayons and pencils we needed to create our artwork. I remember him urging us to try hard. He got us all the things we wanted, even as much as getting a carpenter to make us our very own set of wooden toy trains!

I can never recall calling my grandma "patti". To me she was always "Ambu" (a short form of her name), a name that I innocently gave her, and it stuck on, so that every one of my cousins and my brother would call her that.

Evenings meant dinner in the moonlight. Ambu would get a large bowlful of delectable thair sadham, and we would pick our favorite pickles. Lemon, Mango, Tomato, Neem leaf, Raw mango.. the list was endless. One variety was never good enough. Ambu would bring a plateful of all the pickles and would dole out small mouthfuls into each of our outstretched little hands..

Then it would be bedtime, which meant us cuddling together in the hand stitched quilts, and whispering conversations as Ambu urged us to sleep.

Even today, as I sit in my apartment eating my plateful of rice and pickle ( alas, I am old enough to be happy with one variety), my mind goes back to those wonderful days of infinite joy and not a care in the world. I realize that it was the infinite love that our grandparents showered on us that made those summer days even more sunny and beautiful..adding to our kaleidoscope of happy memories for years to come.

A cup of Java, or hot chocolate maybe?

2007-03-20T20:29:00.001-04:00

I am one of the several million coffee lovers in the world; the kind that takes great pain to buy an espresso machine and brew that perfect cup of coffee. And yes, I am one of the several Starbucks lovers who loves the smell of perfectly roasted coffee beans wafting up as you walk into the shop, the extremely pleasant ambiance where its' always great to chit chat over coffee with friends. Sometimes I just crave the caffeine, like many others do; but even then no bad coffee please!

The other Java is something I work with a lot, and get engrossed in :)

Today, I went to a sweet little chocolate shop called Leonidas, in the heart of the financial district. My colleague got a cup of coffee there on our way to an investment seminar. I love Belgian pralines (Cream filled delights), and I decided to come back to get some. On our way out, however I saw a sign advertising hot chocolate. I was intrigued. What better place to try hot chocolate than a chocolate shop?

On my way back home I decided to make a little stop. At $4, the drink was pricey, but it did come with a Belgian praline! and the store claimed that the hot chocolate was made from melted chocolate!

I walked out of the store, cup in hand, eager to taste that first sip, though it burnt my tongue. It was probably the best cup of chocolate I had ever had; a creamy delight straight from heaven! As I made my way back home, I contemplated several future visits....to my new found culinary crush!

Women

2007-03-13T22:19:00.001-04:00

I was reading a very interesting post written by my friend Divya. You can find it here. The post reminded me of something Carrie said in Sex and the city..

"Are women just waiting to be rescued? If prince charming had never come by to kiss her, would snow white still be lying there? Or would she have eventually woken up, got a job, a baby with the help of her local sperm bank and moved on

Power and Glory

2007-03-13T21:46:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, I did something that several of my friends did as well.. I watched the movie 300. Despite the terrible New York times review, the movie was not "gorier than Apocalypto". I did enjoy it very much, along with a very enthused crowd, who applauded several times.

We are not even sure if the battle of Thermopylae happened as it was screened, and definitely there were no giant rhino like creatures involved, nor did King Xerxes have so many piercings, but the quest for power has been a true rage, right from those times.

We all long for power and recognition. Right from school where we compete for grades, or when we compete for that promotion, that chance to lead a project or make that acquisition. In days B.C. the quest for power was perhaps too straightforward.. it was decided on battlefields and courts of counsel and law. These days, it is anything but.

To be known, to be a someone for generations to come; to make use of this chance called life bestowed upon us.. is what would be wonderful. Sadly, not everyone of us can make it.. only when there are several stars, do we name one the brightest.. but to try we must, all we can.. in whatever ways we can..

Code, Party, Cold and the like

2007-03-08T21:56:00.001-05:00

I guess the title kinda sums it up. I have been doing a lot of the first, attended the second today and have been tolerating the third (if not yelling back at it) for a week. I went to Ikea last weekend with my friend Jayshree. It could only be described as a perfect day.. Shopping with a friend.. We spent five (yes five) hours at the store! It was chilly that day, but I have learned to like chilly thanks to Boston. But what came later; to say the least, was not pleasant stuff.

Later on Sunday, me and my friends went to this very good Indian restaurant (If they have masala dosa and mango ice cream on the buffet, then hell yeah, it's good). Then we wanted to check out Zodiac, but we went to Wild Hogs instead. It was silly, but funny.

Back to the work week, I guess the cold has given me the flu.. The illness sucks, but at least you eat less ;-)

Looking back to this time last year, in Amsterdam.. It was cold but we were too exited to notice. The canal tours, The Anne Frank house that I wanted to see since I was a little girl, and tours to places known and unknown..

Have you ever noticed that a perfect day is more perfect when you rethink it? It may have been but a run of the mill ordinary day, but the people that enriched it and the lights and the sounds make you want to hold on to it forever? If we only chose to rethink every day as a tranquil one, does it just require a strong mind and nothing else? Sure a day with friends beats everything, but sitting on sateen sheets and thinking of life and everything about it is not too bad either!

Company of course rocks, but spending time with your own self is not too bad either! As you are with someone whom you understand the most :)

Corporate life

2007-03-01T21:49:00.001-05:00

It is so tough to digest that you are not a student anymore, getting up when you please and working late into the night and watching the crack of dawn beckon to you from your windowsill. These days my alarm is set to early morn, and yet I always get up before it rings. Then comes the obsession to clean everything in the apartment before I jump in the shower; a few minutes checking messages and then setting off to work.. a crowded PATH train, where it has never been possible to read the book that I carry.. unlike the typical New Yorker who balances his paper so perfectly as he checks the headlines. Ten minutes and the train sails into the World trade center, and up the flights of stairs along with a thousand others, who are in such a hurry that they push past you. Then comes the ten minute walk to work.. and then a busy day that goes on until six for me, mostly later for the rest.

The sun has set when I step out in the evening. As I pass the church and the Borders store, it is so tempting to just step into a blissful world of books and silent readers, but I hurry on, back to the PATH and then home. Then it's a quickly made meal, which just suits my taste, unlike the ones I made in Boston, according to my friends preferences.

I switch on the DVD player & TV and get into bed with F.R.I.E.N.D.S, until I get my comcast connection. Then sleep takes over, until tomorrow.

Life is so fast, and the days are short. A month has gone by before I realize it. Time moved faster in Boston as well, but over there it was measured by company and never ending trips and laughter over Poker.

I have been visiting Boston for the past two weekends, to catch up with my friends and Gala night at the ISSI. It always feels great to be back there, as the city is filled with the most wonderful memories of beautiful days and happy faces.

Boston Beautiful

2007-02-05T17:54:00.001-05:00

Someone said that change is the only constant thing in our lives. When it comes, it does not come by as a breeze, but rather as a whirlwind, a vortex that sucks up everything in its path and replaces them differently.

My move to New York has been one of very mixed feelings. While the job ahead and the thrill of having your own apartment delight me immensely, it is also tough to let go of the safe school environment. Life at Northeastern University has been phenomenal, to say the least, be it the wonderful friends I made or the lovely times I had with the ones

I already knew and the countless intercultural experiences thanks to what is probably the best International Student organization in the whole of the United States.

Working in an environment of intellectuals has been a blessing too. I loved every assignment, lecture and test, through all that cribbing.

And Boston, it has been a home away from home. Even after two and a half years, the beauty of the city continues to mesmerize me. The slow winding subway, the cobbled, ah so European footpaths, the busy yet peaceful downtown, Harvard square, the Charles bridge, the Cambrideside galleria, the Fanueil hall marketplace, the hay market, the public garden, the common, the fen way & the AMC theaters across it, Newbury street, the Prudential center, the Church of Christ the scientist and Copley square; every one of these places have been visited and revisited by me and my friends. Boston is a city of feelings, very much like its European counterparts. The buildings speak poetry and so do the people. It will always be one of my loves.

The rooms at Snell library and ell hall will be revisited by many more students, like us. They will likewise laugh, cry or otherwise live life as they tread those steps to the buildings over & over again. I bet the school remembers all those footsteps as it silently stands watching a new incoming class every year and a class bidding fond farewell, and she always welcomes the new kids as her very own.

Of Couture and more

2006-12-06T13:44:00.001-05:00

Last weeked I dragged my friend to the Fashion show exhibit at the MFA. It showcased ten designers' looks for the season, the likes of Valentino,Chanel and Dior. I was mesmerized by what I saw. Most of my life, I have viewed poetry, painting and writing as art. The exhibit showcased a new dimension to high art. Most of the outfits took between 800 to 900 hours of work. It was beauty and more. Fashion is something that holds some appeal to all of us. It is a way of expression, like all art is. But It was really nice to see what goes into creating the perfect outfit. I was watching project runway, the reality show on DVD and quite frankly, I was taken in by what I saw.

These weeks I have become quite a movie buff, averaging 2-3 movies a week! There were the ones I loved (Deja-Vu, Babel), Liked (You, me and Dupree, Casino Royale) and hated (Rendu (Tamil)). It was fun to watch Casino.. as we have been playing a lot of poker recently and the game made total sense.

Two weeks ago, we had gone camping in RV's (or Caravans, as I knew them before) in the Rangeley lake region in western Maine. The barbeque and the bonfire were really fun and the campsite with the frozen lake did appeal to our inner serenity, but boy, was it cold! A part of the lake was frozen, but the ice was not thick enough to skate. But the Ice did not crack as we threw pebbles on it, and we had a lot of fun.

As the night dawned, we checked in to our two RVs'. I woke up at midnight, shivering. Then we realized the power was out in our RV. we lay there shivering, and at daybreak we went to get the ranger. It seemed that we had tripped the power, so he fixed it and got us coffee and doughnuts as a surprise! That did improve the scene a bit. So we had the coffee, and then I went back to blissful sleep, till we had to check out :-)

Day to day

2006-10-25T13:35:00.002-04:00

The days just gallop by, with speeding weekends and work filled weekdays. Diwali came & went. But this time it was more satisfying as I got to speak to a lot of family members. We had a really good potluck, and played poker. Then we went over to the Virgin megastore & bought some stuff to make us all happy.

I am watching a lot of F.R.I.E.N.D.S these days and Joey has me laughing out loud. It sometimes saddens me to think that my so far academic life is coming to a bend in the road. Maybe I will return (which I seriously hope to). Maybe I will not. A new career beckons, along with the delightful thought of making money & acting responsibly, yet I do not know If i want to accept them right away. Given a choice, backpacking around the world would be a fine option, but I guess I will have to put that on hold.

Boston is turning colder. Winter beckons. I took myself on a stroll alongside the Pru yesterday. The wind chilled my cheeks, and the hazel leaves danced around my feet. I felt happy and at home. It would be nice to feel that way always. Here's hoping.

Iceland day 2

2006-10-01T10:37:00.001-04:00

We arrived at the lagoon. As the bus came to a halt, we could see bluish side waters, and steam in a distance. The sign looked very much like a spa sign.

The side waters were blue.. a chalky blue. Kind of like the water in a swimming pool, except that there were no tiles underneath.

We went into the dressing rooms, and ran shivering into the pool area. The water felt gorgeous. It was warm, hot in places. None of us wanted to get out. We reached under water to look at the sand. It was grainy and white. You could use it as an exfoliant. It is against the law to take it with you outside the pool, however.

Finally, reluctantly, we got out of the water and went to take a shower. My hair was ruined by the minerals, and I had to shower three times to defrizz it.

We were a bunch of sleepyheads, as we went back, but no, we did not go to sleep at once. We walked to the church instead.

Hallgrimskirkja church stands at the heart of Reykjavik. It is a classical example of Viking arhitecture. There is an imposing statue of Ericur the Red, who discovered Greenland at the front. Down there you feel nothing, but yourself, the spire and the skies.

Then we were all sleepy, and we went back to the room to catch a nap. We woke up and went to get an early dinner at a Icelandic restaurant in the city center.

The portions were small, yet extremely satisfying. I feasted on bean cake with a vegetable sauce. We engaged in quality conversation. It was intercultural and peaceful.

Then we took the walk back to the hotel, marking the end of a wonderful day at Iceland.

We would head to Keflavik airport the next day to go over to wonderful Kobenhavn.

The Scandinavian adventure continues..

Iceland day1

2006-10-01T09:19:00.001-04:00

Reykjavik.is

As the plane glided into the barren airport, in the not so wee hours of morning, we gazed in ave at the scenery.. or rather the lack of it. Minutes later we were on the highway, speeding towards Reykjavik.

Miles and miles of land.. not a tree in sight.. the sky glimmering in a bluish grey.

We looked up to see if we could catch a glimpse of the promised famous aurora, but it disappointed us.

The speeding bus approached the city. We caught a glimpse of a few trees. Slowly, the bus made its way up the main city road, to hotels.
At every hotel, a couple of passengers would get off. The roads were paved with stones, making them fairy taleish.

The bus soon came to a halt outside our hotel, the hotel Scaljbreid. We checked in. Our breakfast package was for tomorrow. We decided to take a walk and get breakfast. Later we would head to the lagoon, as was advised by our hosts.

First view of Reykjavik city. So compact, yet so peaceful and pretty. European. You could feel the vikings. This was Nordurland, quite the heart of it. We went down the road, to the "downtown area". Downtown had like three people walking around.

We found a cafe. The coffee and pesto sandwich were delicious but pricey. We would soon figure out that everything in Reykjavik was.

We then found a tourism center. We gazed at the magazines, gathered some postcards and then decided to head to the harbour.

If you could picture an icy cold morning, with a dim light, motionless water and blue snow capped peaks in the horizon, that was the harbour. We stood on the volcanic rock, and looked at the water, had some interesting conversation, clicked some pictures. We were the "tourists".

Then back to the hotel, but not to rest. We took the bus to the lagoon. We had to transfer inbetween to another coach. The view was other-worldly.
Indeed the route to the lagoon is one of the most photographed.

Lagoon tales to follow..

Writing about travel

2006-10-01T09:13:00.001-04:00

My travel diary...

It has been quite a long while since Ive blogged.. you could say that I was waiting for that spurt of creativity.. the origin of ideas .. but the truth is (As is usually) laziness, school work and the like.. But this is something that I have been wanting to put in place.. atlease for me to recollect on a later date, those amazing journeys and the scenic vistas once availed. It would be great, trust me to get a second opportunity to visit these pieces of paradise, and I hope for that. But atleast My experiences can live here, for me to revisit whenever I like.

So here goes..

New York

2006-06-14T21:28:00.001-04:00

It's been a fabulous two weeks here.. in the city that never sleeps. I continue to be fascinated by its speed and style even now. The skyscrapers are awe inspiring (I love gazing upwards to the tops); The shops on 5th avenue even more so; Like for every other tourist, the neon glow of the Times square appears like a seventh heaven of sorts; Broadway seems like mecca.. A place to make weekly pilgrimages to..

I have seen Chicago & Tarzan already and I loved both the shows. Chicago, like the movie was scandalous, sexy and sultry. Tarzan on the other hand was sweet and soft. Disney excelled in the light effects, and the artists certianly did a wonderful job, managing to dangle upside down on their ropes while singing the songs of Phil Collins in the best tones. The lead actor & the actess were decidely cute; I bet every kid in the room loved the show. The lightning & storm scenes were realistic enough to make them scream.

Lower Manhattan has its own charm, with a business inspiring everything in the area including fashion; Takeout stalls for bagels & coffee & newsstands abound, streets get crowded during lunchtime.. every one looks perky and polished in the sharp clothing. The water taxi ride to Jersey can be choppy and enjoyable, offering scenic vistas over to Liberty & Ellis.

I can rant on & on.. but let me keep the rest for future sessions of blogging!

In short, I heart New York, as do countless others. Boston will always be home, but New York rocks !

Broadway

2006-06-03T20:16:00.001-04:00

Saw my first Broadway show ( At Broadway I mean, don't count the Lion king at Boston).. Chicago... Enjoyed it more than the movie. The performers were enticing, seductive and wonderful singers. I loved the person who played Amos Hart. Billy was too good, and so was Welma & Rosie.. I was razzle dazzled; to say the least!

There are the other shows that I definitely want to see, Tarzan, Mamma mia , Beauty & the Beast , Three days of rain starring Julia Robers to name a few.. Lets see how many I make..

Two Quotes that I love, from the show I love

2006-05-23T18:42:00.001-04:00

"After all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away”

“But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous.”

Change

2006-05-11T00:33:00.001-04:00

The one factor that governs our lives, be it a new lifestyle, new job or just the new clothes you got yesterday. While some changes are preferable, nice & good, some can be quite unintended, fast or unexpected. They can leave you wondering if life's moving too fast for you to catch up with it.

Now that it's vacation time, I have been kinda relaxed, before I start work again next month. Watching 2 movies per day with my newly purchased Blockbuster rental ticket( Stepmom, Mona Lisa smile(loved it!), Brokeback mountain, Anne Frank, Mission Impossible, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Guess who, the wedding crashers, to name a few) has become a daily routine, along with my part time jobs. But in the middle of the night, there are those days when you get a sudden jerk as like speeds past you & you wonder if you missed something.

Insomnia has become a good companion now, coupled with sleeping sessions till 11 AM as a result, and cynicism is what comes naturally to you at the end of the day. But optimism blooms again, early in the morning & it's what keeps you going till the night.

Graduation day & fork bombs!

2006-05-07T11:32:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was commencement day. I was at the stands, as three of my friends were graduating. The music was wonderful, and after the ceremony we had a fun lunch at the Pizzeria Uno. Then we went to watch MI3. Pretty good, pretty unbelieveable. But if you are
the kind that likes the 007 kind of flicks, and if you like Cruise, don't miss this one.

Just a couple of days ago I had watched United 93 and left the theatre with that heavy feeling. That was a well made movie. It read like a documentary but did bring out every one's feelings. Though we will never know what Really happened during those last moments, this movie did bring us scary close to the stark reality. That they did not show the crash was something I liked.

Speaking of fork bombs, I did mange to set one off on my department's very important server during our Netsec competition. I ran the code at the wrong SSH shell. Here's the link to what I did. They were kinda pissed, of course :-(.

Semester end

2006-04-11T16:35:00.001-04:00

As the end of the semester approaches, I find myself caught admist zillions of lines of code; those 200 things to do, and the annoying
tax forms which i hate filling (as they seem to take almost all my money anyways). But there are those blissful moments in the middle
of a not so quiet night (as my roomies find this time bliss too!) when you just prop up cushions on your bed in your apartment watching
a nice movie or reading a book.
I have been watching a couple of movies, taking as much as a week to watch one.
I saw the fourty year old virgin, which was just a lower grade crass comedy flick with ten thousand four letter words thrown in for effect.
People find sex and the city vulgar, but I feel it is one of the best expressions of a woman's feelings in any kind of relationship. All four
of the girls are so different but yet so similar. You feel that you have a bit of each one of them in you, Carrries independance, Miranda's
practicality, Charlottes' romanticisms and Sams' brazen outside with the soft inside. Yes, it does have some of the scenes that give the show its name, but mostly it is simply as Samantha puts it, "a valentine to being single".
The second one is an arabic movie, "Weddinng in Gaillee, which is so far, so good.
For books, i have been "Goodwill hunting". The Goodwill stores sell used books for 75 cents per book. I usually pick up ten of these
paperbacks & then circulate it with my friends collection of books.
I read Bridget Jones diary, which was hilarious, and I have got one of Rohald Dahls books to follow. I love his illustrations.
These days, there is more of the "me time" and It is one of the things I love this country for: Your total freedom when it comes to anything you:-)

Belgium

2006-03-23T15:41:00.001-05:00

Of French fries and the French!

I did not know that these thingies, the best vegetarian choice in any Burger King/ Mac D came from Belgium, and not France! The fries with 40 types of sauce on top made my day in Belgium, as well aas those lovely waffles with whipped cream & strawberries over the syrup. MMM.. It was a wonder that I didn't pack on the pounds, probably the walking took care of it.

We wandered on the streets of Brusells tasting Belgian chocolate, looking at the imposing parliament buildings, visiting the European Union Headquarters and searching the streets for the comic walls. Belgium is where Tintin was born, so its no wonder there are so many comic book shops & streets all around. I am an ardent fan, hence put my money down on a few of the glossy books.

It was rainy, but the European paved streets were always welcoming. The people were akin to those in any big city though, fast paced, sometimes rude, belonging to different social classes. The European fashion sense was kinda missing though. Not many people spoke English, and thanks to my Spanish speaking friends, we found our way around.

We saw the stained glass windows, and moroccan beggars on the streets. We saw small cars & Byzantine looking buildings. We saw a small shard of the stained glass collage of Europe, and most of us liked it; even if we liked the peaceful canals of Amsterdam better!

Au Revoir!

Amsterdam and Brussels

2006-03-15T20:20:00.001-05:00

Some pictures from Spring Break..Now that I'm back to civilization

One night near ground zero

2006-02-27T13:21:00.001-05:00

The day before yesterday, I had gone to New York City for a second round interview. The
company graciously put me up at the millenium Hilton. The hotel is on church street, right
opposite ground zero.
I felt quite like a celebrity walking in to the hotel and having a valet carry up my weightless
bag (It just had a blazer inside), but quite lost that feeling after I had to give him a very
hefty tip for something I could have very easily done myself.
The room was gorgeous. The bath even more so; I did fill up the tub with several ingredients
and had a nice luxury bath.

The windows revealed a view of ground zero. It has been 4 years, but the spot is still vacant
and gaping, a free area in Downtown Manhattan. The view does not tell much; It looks like any
other plot with some basic foundation work going on; But the place has several stories to tell;
none of them happy. The fence surrounding the plot has a few pictures, there are flags inside, the
whole area looks dismal and lonely. Even the buildings around which were built up from the remains
show the carnage;

It made me wonder why people love power so much over peace. It simply does not make sense, all
that reckless killing, no matter who tries to justify it. I was quite restless all night, maybe
because the souls over there were restless too. The Hilton must have had one of Lower Manhattan's
best views once upon a time, but then time alters all... even views.

Northeastern

2006-02-23T16:17:00.001-05:00

Some nice pictures of my school, courtesy of my friend Sandy

Memoirs of a geisha

2005-11-30T15:04:00.001-05:00

I just completed reading the book. Quite an interesting read; The movie comes out on the 9th of Dec; Hope I can see it before I fly to India on the 10th. I loved the imagery. Zhang Ziyi looks really nice. I like "Mameha" too.

I saw the GoF a couple of weeks ago. It WAS the best Harry Potter movie shot so far, without doubt.

7 more days of co-op, and then off to India for a nice winter break!

Friendship!

2005-10-27T09:42:00.001-04:00

I dedicate this post to this universal relation. Yesterday I was wondering about the exact definition of this term, which we use so commonly in our everyday lives.

So what exactly is this friendship? Are all the people whom we know our “friends? Or is it bounded by some special limitations like “You can only refer to a person as a friend, if you have at least had two or more conversations with him/her? “

I multitask a lot, and I do different sets of activities with different set of friends. The person whom I shop with is not the person whom I see a movie with, or the person to whom I grumble to at the end of a bad day or the person with whom I fight for no reason at all.

Of course, I have friends with whom I do all of the above. I call them “best friends” – An elevated status of friendship.

But most often, we use the term friend to represent a person with whom we have shared one or more conversations. We may not anything more about the person except his name (say) and his apartment number, or the route he takes to work (If it coincides with yours), or the place where his dad works (It may be the same place where your dad works ;-) ). i.e. We just know the one/more details that makes us call them “friend”.

Should me have a more intimate term for people we know better (best friend, bestest friend) ; or do we find our relationships too complicated to categorize neatly into labeled boxes?

What do you people think?

Fantasy worlds

2005-10-18T10:57:00.001-04:00

Watched the full trilogy .. LOTR. I read the book about two years ago, and I must say that the movies were not a let - down. They were as interesting as the books themselves, if not more so. The imagery was wonderful, it seemed to have been created straight from one's mind.
I had gone to see the Lord of the Rings exhibit at the Museum of Science last year, but sadly I was not able to connect it to the movies back then. I wish it would run for a second time. It would be interesting to see Narsil, or Galadriel's flowing gown :-), or catch a glimpse of boromir in the boat (I remember that quite well).
Orlando bloom looked great as Legolas, much better than the sorry figure he cut as Paris in Troy.

I'm reading prince Caspian now, the fourth book of 'Narnia'. Narnia is not as dark as our other wizarding world. I noted some striking similarities to HP.

Striking Similarity between HP & Narnia

1. The last name of the Narnian kings/queens was "Pevensie". They go to the inbeween world, which has pools to enter different lands.... Reminding me of the "Pensieve" which is an anagram of Pevensie!!!!

Similarities between LOTR & Harry Potter (This is a long list.. with spoilers)

1. In HP, Voldemort splits his soul into 7(likely) horcruxes.. In LOTR Sauron puts his soul into the One ring.

2. Character similarities:

1. Harry ====> Frodo. Frodo has to destroy the ring, Harry the horcruxes.

2. Ron =====> Sam.

3. Dumbledore =====> Gandalf. (Gandalf appears to have died but returns.. can we hope the same for dumbledore??). They are similar in appearance as well.

4. Dementors =====> Nazgul.

5. Wormtail =====> Wormtongue.

6. Both Harry's parents & frodo's parents are dead. Both of them are brought up by their uncles.

more to follow....................

Books & Movies

2005-10-04T13:48:00.001-04:00

Read the first book of 'Narnia'. A good read, but was more for the children. I saw flight plan this sunday. It was good. Jodie foster however bored us to the point of irritation in the first half, with her olympic sprints through the flight. One of the trailers was interesting - "Memoirs of a Geisha". Came to know that it was based on a novel. I looked it up on Wikipedia (My dictionary of sorts). Hope i'll get to read the book first.

30th September

2005-09-30T15:35:00.001-04:00

More than a month past. Time I started to pen (or keyboard) something down. It's a friday and I had gone out for lunch, as per the customary practice. I had a good buffet lunch at Chennai Woodlands, with Bisibela bath and Kovakai. Reminded me of amma's great cooking back in India.
Our topic of discussion was the Indian gods, and I was saying that I like lord Krishna better than Rama. Rama was too Idealistic for my taste. And I can never get around to forgiving him for his "so called duty" of testing/ Banishng his wife when he felt like it. It sounded too chauvinistic, and was therefore (I Guess) cherished by our Junta. Obviously, none of the desis there shared my feelings on the topic.
Then our conversation moved on to Harry potter; and there came the inevitable comment; "It's a children's book!"
As always, this kind of comment comes from someone who has not read one book of Harry Potter in his entirity. People always express their opinions very strongly when they have no idea about the subject. I challenge one of those "children's book" opinion holders to read the 6 books and then give me the same verdict!!
Another thing to note, some of the best works in Literature have been children's books. To date my favourite books like Heidi, Alice in Wonderland and Dickens' David copperfield were written with children in mind, but they retain their classic appeal among childen and adults alike after all these years!!
Speaking of books, I bought the Chronicles of Narnia (A major motion picture for the holiday season). Must see if matches Hogwart's Standards!!

- Mithra

15th Of August

2005-08-15T16:59:00.001-04:00

Independance day. Opened this B'log. More to come soon.