Sleep

Sleep glorious sleep
I know that we humans spend a considerable time sleeping in our lives. And that sleep is important for our bodies.
It's so difficult waking up in the morning sometimes!! I wish I could just sleep sleep sleep.
That's why I love weekends. You can get up relaxed. These days I've started experimenting with cooking as well. I'm going to try and make chidwa on Saturday.
My Mom and Nani are great cooks. I wish I were more like them! It looks effortless.
Notice how the topic has veered from sleeping to eating. I think they're both synonymous in a way!!
Sleep glorious sleep

Too much food & Robin Sharma

Lately I've found myself eating a lot. I think it's cuz of the harsh winter and the fact that I'm just not controlling myself. However, I have made a resolution to lose weight, which I shall be doing soon.
I came across a website on Robin Sharma's blog which had been recommended by a friend. It is entitled 60 Tips For a Stunningly Great Life.
Some of the ones I liked:
- Exercise Daily
- See your work as a craft.
- Expect the best and prepare for the worst.
- Keep a journal.
- Plan a schedule for your week
- Know the 5 highest priorities of your life.
- Drink a lot of water
- Improve your work every single day
- Get a mentor
- Get up at 5 am everyday
- EAT LESS FOOD
- Spend time at art galleries
- Have five great friends
- Read daily
- Unplug your TV
- Pursue your dreams
- Be authentic
- Be passionate
- Clean up your messes
- Travel more
- Spend time in the mountains
- Make your life matter
Thanks Robin for the tips. Will try and follow the same!!

In Naukuchiataal with Family

Naukuchiataal is a lake in India's state of lakes - Uttarakhand. It is so called because the lake spans nine corners, and there is supposedly a spot where if you stand, you can see all nine corners - and this is supposed to bring you to nirvana.
Hmm... I seriously doubt that - in any case, it is a beautiful place, tranquil and sparsely populated. We went in December and the weather was better than Delhi's. Actually there you get pure unadultered sunshine which kisses your face and is a joy to behold.
Nothing like the winter sun to keep you warm.
Really nice resort of Mahindras - a nice place to relax and take time out to review your year. I really liked the whole experience.
5/5.

Dreams

I have had a few wierd dreams lately.

I attended a workshop on Dreams a few years back, when I was at University. It was an interesting workshop. One tip that they gave - that I remember - was that you should always keep a notebook next to your bed so that when you get up you can immediately note down what the dream was about. This is because as time goes by during the day, the mind will forget aspects of the dream and then the dream altogether, so that all that remains in the end is a blur.

Why is it important for you to understand your dream?

Some psychologists believe that dreams are your subconcious giving you a message. In the R.E.M mode, your mind is more active and ponders over matters. Because of this, aspects of your life that you do not devote to your thought process during the day come alive at night.

What kind of aspects though? What you are worried about... what you do not think about... what your insecurities are... where you think you're lagging...

Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year

I saw this film on my way back from Paris to New Delhi.
It's a slow paced film - not meant to be a big Bollywood blockbuster. It shows the life of a young under achiever - young sardar played by Ranbir Kapoor. I must say that he looked quite handsome as a sardar and did a stellar job in the role.
It shows him struggling to learn the work of a salesman. Eventually however, his entreprenuerial side shows up and he branches out, quite shrewdly.
What struck me about this film was the main boss - and how he deals with the conflict.
I've noticed that very rarely do people let you be in this world. The film was a refreshing change from that.
How to sell someone a pencil without an eraser?
Hmmm..... Will reboot your mobile and it won't cost you a thing. Well done, Rocket Singh!

Chartres, Jean Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir

I saw this documentary on a cathedral in Chartres that has the robe of the Virgin Mary. It was built in the late 12 century and is a testimony to the artisan and craftsmanship of that period. Even I cannot fathom how in those days they managed to put together such an impressive cathedral.
At the cathedral they say that you should sit and contemplate the 800 years of prayer that encompasses this structure. All around you are surrounded by these beautifully made glass stained panels depicting various scenes. There was a lovely one of the Virgin Mary in blue - one of the most azure blues I've seen.
At the entrance is a labyrinth - very interesting though covered with chairs when I saw it. It is a unique design and was put there for pilgrims as a test of faith.
I took the train from Gare Montparnasse - return tickets. If you are planning to go, do remember that you have to stamp the ticket. I did realise that only a bit later. Thankfully by then I'd reached Chartres!!
On the way back, I had read that a short trip to the Montparnasse cemetary would be a contemplative retreat. So after having seen the faith of life, I witnessed the faith of death. Reaching this place was not easy though.
We don't have the burial system among the Hindus - our rites consist of cremation and subversion of the same in the Ganges. It was interesting to see the tombs of so many people ensconsed in such a small area.
Among them were Jean Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir.
I did not know that they were buried together, let alone that they had a history together. In a way it's like kindred souls being together after death.

Snow in Paris

On Wednesday, we were most fortunate to see snow in Paris.

I know, I know - what's so great about snow. It just sits there doing nothing right?

Well - snow is such a pretty sight that it brings out the best in you - particularly when it's freshly fallen and you're looking at it from the cosy warmth of the building. It was awesome and lovely and I really really felt blessed to see this beautiful city layered in snow.

It felt like it would be a lovely Xmas.

In Paris for the week

Yups, I got to go to Paris for the fourth time in my life.

The first time was when I was a kid. Second, when I went with my Mom and brother on a youth council trip that I've already written about in this blog. Third was when me and a friend stayed for a week here and saw everything there was to see.

And now my fourth trip.

It's one of the coolest trips I've done since I am here on work and have extended my stay by a day so I'm really happy I can do this. Paris is Paris - beautiful and just a treat to walk around and absorb the beautiful buildings and scenery all around. I also went to The Louvre again - I love the architecture and the magnificence of the rooms more than anything. On the top floors I just spent all my time staring at the cieling and the walls looking at the grandeur all around. Napoleon's apartments too were a sight to see.

I didn't go to any other museums but spent today walking along the Seine and walked from Musee d'Orsay to Notre Dame Cathedral. I spent a bit of time just sitting listening to the carols in the Cathedral.

I can't believe I'm here again - it's just surreal.

I love my present assignment. Any assignment that sends you to Paris for a week is an assignment for which you should sit and work 150%.

Cuz Paris is just awesome.
And you only live once.
I did miss my husband though - a lot. It doesn't help being in one of the world's most romantic cities and not having your cutie around.

Frozen (2010)

Well, this movie is not for the faint hearted - I can tell you that from the start. It's about three young adults who go for a skiing trip - and end up stuck high up at night on the ski lifts. Adding the fact that the movie is entitled "Frozen", you really don't have to think too much about what may have happened.
Considering the film from a theatre-perspective, it is quite amazing how almost an hour of the film is shot on the ski lift and its immediate environs. Still the film manages to retain your attention.
There were some scenes even I could not watch - I just kept my eyes closed and hoped that what I was imagining wasn't taking place.
Don't read the next few lines if you want to watch the movie:

The film wasn't as good as "The Descent", but AT LEAST the ending was better!!
Sorry if this spoils the film for anyone!!

Mareechka

Lady From the Sea
Directed by Ila Arun

After a hard day of tackling PQs, I was more than happy to attend this wonderful play at Kamani on 2nd December 2010. Directed by Ila Arun, it is a wonderful adaptation of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's play Lady From the Sea.
It was performed in the Pabuji ka phad tradition of Rajasthan. The Pabuji ka phad tradition dates back to the 14th century when the martial exploits of a Rajput Rathod hero from the Bhopa community Pabuji were sung as ballads by local villagers from painted scrolls which would include both art and poetry.
An amazing rendition - both witty and intelligent - I really enjoyed it and I'm so glad I did this.

Anish Kapoor comes to Delhi

I first came across Anish Kapoor in New York at a museum where I saw for the first time - one of his pieces. It was a mirror - with lots of small mirrors in it. Hmmm I thought - not really knowing much, but knowing that minimalism was key to that piece.
That's why I was so excited when his works came to India - that too at NGMA - where I too could see them!! Yippee!! At only Rs 10 for the entry - it was a treat. In the main gallery they had shown models of his pieces that were on display all around the world - like the Cloud Gate at Chicago and the Red Tower (which is what I call it) for the London Olympics.
In all honesty, I didn't like Red Tower. It looks like a crumpled up version of the Eiffel Tower.
There were some pieces in the exhibition hall that were very awesome. I liked S-curve - reminded me of my days in physics. Laboratory for a new model was interesting. I still don't know how it was done. Some of the pieces you have to see to appreciate - the depth to the art is not so obvious from photographs.
All in all, a good show which I would HIGHLY recommend.
I also love the new NGMA - I loved it two years back when I first saw it and I still do!!

Meeting old friends

Today we're all having a get together of old college friends at Connaught Place. It's been a while since we've all gotten together - one is now in Bangalore, one is in Ghaziabad (which is near but not so near).
We have a tradition where we all take a common picture - just to show that we're all still around I guess!! It's the three of us over time. Hard to imagine that we have all gotten married, one has had a child and we're all on our way to becoming 30 plus somethings!!
Interesting.....
I bought nazar bandis for them (from Turkey). I hope they like it!! :) :)

The Social Network (2010)

This is a film that follows the life of Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook.
According to interviews held with Mark Zuckerberg later, it turned out that it's not so accurate at all. According to him, he didn't think of Facebook because a girl dumped him (though he does admit that it happened a lot!).
The way he treated his best friend is a little sad. I don't know if it's true or not but it wasn't very nice at all. I felt bad for his friend (if it's true). One point though that came out -
ALWAYS READ THE CONTRACT!! Even if it is your best friend's lawyer giving it to you!!
It's tough being in a new place, meeting new people. University can be a drag if you don't have a group to hang out with. I had my sister for 2/3 years of college, and we had a great time.
Why is facebook so successful? Well, I read an interesting piece on how it helps people snoop. It may be an intrinsic human emotion - so I cannot deny that! And why is it snooping if you want to find out what your friends have posted and what they are doing? Geez!!
One lesson I've recently learnt though is that you can only rely on your immediate family - and if there is money or property involved - they too become estranged. What I don't understand is that we are all so wise now (at least I've become and I'm 30 now). In the end, we're all going to be fodder for the natural elements. Shouldn't we do something better with our lives?
Carpe Diem.
One must work and dare if one really wants to live - Vincent Van Gogh
Live every act fully, as if it were your last - Buddha

Billy Elliot (2000)

Directed by Stephen Daldry, this movie follows the life of a young 11 year old growing up in a small coal mining town where his Dad and brother have worked for their entire lives. He gets interested in ballet and starts to attend classes: and he finds he's particularly good at it.

It is a sweet good film and I was surprised to learn that Stephen Daldry also directed The Hours and The Reader - both superb films as well.

Jamie Bell, the kid who plays Billy was awesome. I liked everything about the movie and I recommend it HIGHLY. If you have not seen it - please do. It is 5/5.

Ancient Megastructures: Chartres Cathedral

It is amazing how much there is to learn out there in the world today. I didn't know about this UNESCO World Heritage site called Chartres until I watched this NatGeo documentary on ancient megastructures called Chartres.
It is a Gothic style cathedral made almost 800 years ago. Located almost 100 kms from Paris, it is shaped in the form of a cross. The documentary focused on the architectural features of the cathedral - many of which I didn't know about. I've seen Notre Dame in Paris but I had no idea about why the cathedrals in the Gothic style were shaped the way they were, the significance behind the butresses outside, the pointed archways, the blue windows, the rose representing Mother Mary - all this was new to me.
I hope to go and see this cathedral one day. It is said that Napoleon said that even an aetheist would feel uncomfortable in this place. It was meant to impress and astound and to show the power of the church, which was at loggerheads with the French aristocracy. The main issue: taxation of the areas around the Cathedral and the town by the church.
All in all a good documentary to see. National Geographic sure does do a good job with their documentaries. I hope to see a few on some Indian megastructures as well. I saw one on the Taj Mahal, but I really want to see one on Red Fort in Delhi and the Jama Masjid.
Another place that I've seen on Nat Geo is Cambodia and the Angkor Wat temple there. That looks superb and I hope to see Phnom Penh one day!!

The Capital of Culture : Istanbul

This year, 2010, Istanbul has been labelled the Cultural Capital of Europe. And I was priviliged to get to see it!!
It was AWESOME - in one word! The Aya Sophia (Divine Wisdom), the Blue Mosque, the cruise down the Bosphorus - it was all amazing. I enjoyed seeing the Topkapi Museum, though it wasn't as big as I thought it would be. The views were amazing. Definitely a city one should see in one's lifetime.
I stayed at a very cutsie wootsie hotel near the main square called The Sultan Hill. It was just a stone's throw away from The Blue Mosque, and I thought the room was very nice and quaint. In the morning there was a huge breakfast feast to eat which I thoroughly enjoyed. The sights were nice to see and the visit to the castle overlooking the mouth of the Black Sea is something I will not forget.
I picked up nazar bandis from that small town. Euros were scarce and liras even scarcer. All in all, a trip I enjoyed.

It really takes it toll

Stress really takes its toll on the body without you even realising it!! It is amazing what one has to do in this life - at least that's what I think. One has to remain positive no matter what I think!!

I think that meditation would be a good way to counter stress. It would put the mind at ease and help you to bring shanti. But it may not be able to curtain a stressful situation. How and why are two different aspects.

The root of all that stress is to take on too much stress. One should try not to. The heavens will not fall when stress lands up. I think if one gets a good boss who doesn't give too much stress one should be happy!

Reading about topics that you like also helps to counter stress. I have a favourite author these days called Kathy Reichs and I've read most of her books. I really like these murder mystery books. It's all about bones and there are some anthropological bases that are covered as well. 206 bones in the human body btw.

:) :) Don't worry, be happy now!

Traınıng ın Ankara

I have been most fortunate thıs postıng sınce I have been sent to Ankara for traınıng!! So Im really grateful and happy for the opportunıty to wrıte from Ankara Turkey about thıs most charmıng country.
Fırst and foremost - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ıs the maın person behınd the lıberatıon of Turkey and the one responsıble for ıts current modern state. It ıs amazıng and admırable how he ıs stıll revered and the mausoleum buılt ın hıs honour ıs a masterpıece. We were taken there yesterday as part of our tour of Ankara.
The cıty centre ıs also nıce as ıs the Anka Mall whıch ıdeally we could have skıpped consıderıng the prıces there were astronomıcally hıgh!! Cest la vıe I suppose though. I only bought chocolate!!
The food ıs not so good here though - I am eatıng aloo everyday and now I am quıte fed up!! Imagıne - me gettıng fed up of aloo!! YUCK!!
(I just found the comma key on thıs keyboard!!) Yeah!!
Thıngs are a bıt dıfferent ın Turkey. In Ankara, no one speaks Englısh or any other language. The book stores, of whıch there are many, only keep Turkısh books - on all sorts of subjects ıncludıng physıcs!! It ıs amazıng how much ımportance ıs gıven to educatıon ın thıs country - a lesson we can all learn ın Indıa as well. It ıs 79 on the Human Development Index compared to Indıas 134. Norway tops the lıst.
The traınıng has been ınsıghtful and really benefıcıal!! Plus Im really happy I got to come here. In a way, hard work does pay, though I really wasnt expectıng thıs!!

Red Square

Hmmm.... well, the CWG projects are not on track. Mani Shankar Aiyer's wish for rain has come down in hoards - even I carry my umbrella everyday to class.
I'm just very tried right now.
I've decided that I will cut out all the articles in the papers on law and stick them in my little scrap book - which I was maintaining for Economics but have stopped. Today's article on monetary policy and it's sluggish nature too shall be put there.
Red Square - what a way to go.

Work

There is no greater sign that I have been working at office too hard than the fact that I have not read any book in August, September - and hence not updated my blogs - and that I have not done anything remotely recreational in these two months as pointed out by my lack of blogging on Mysteries of the World.
Having said that though, I think I unwind best when I'm watching television. There is one show - Bones that I watch from 10 to 11. 24 has also started but I'm not really too concerned about that. I find it cool though that Anil Kapoor is on the show. That's one of the primary reasons I watch it, though I find Jack Bauer's character totally macho and cool.
I saw "Letters to Juliet" over the weekend. My poor husband had to endure this 200% chick flick and he even admitted that it was NOT something he would have ever seen.
The last show of season 3's True Blood was quite a disappointment. It made me think that if I'd never watched the series it would have been a better idea. Too many loose ends, too many changes, and come on - wasn't the main point of the show that a vampire and a human were in love???
Must get back to work now. Lunch break is done!

Salt (2010)

Saw Salt yesterday. NOT that great a film, though it is not bad to watch on DVD. I'm just glad that I didn't waste money to see it in the theatre.
So Jolie plays this Russian-US spy who falls in love with a German arichnologist who saves her from a North Korean prison; but she only ends up getting him killed and is involved in an assassination plot to explode a nuclear bomb that is being engineered by the Russians.
Typical Bollywood - Hollywood movie.
Recommended for one viewing only. :) :)

Imagining chocolate

I've come up with a novel way to convince my brain that I've eaten chocolate. I go to the fridge, pick up the chocolate, but don't eat it. I just close my eyes and imagine that I've eaten it and then imagine the taste. Then after its consumed I imagine that the taste has gone. When I open my eyes, it's like I've eaten the chocolate, even though I haven't.
I hope this helps me lose weight!! I've got to lose at least 10 kilos in the next eight weeks!!
I'll try and go for a jog in the morning as well. I think 5/7 days should suffice. I'll put on the trainers and head out early.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Independence Day at the Lal Kila

My husband and I woke up at 4:30 am today to attend the Independence Day function at Lal Kila. It was full of pomp and show, though we couldn't see too much. We could hear the kiddies clapping and heard our hon'ble Prime Minister make the Independence Day speech. I liked the balloons that were released at the end. It was a nice sight.
No fighter jets zoomed through the sky and all one could see occassionally was a helicopter keeping vigil. I liked the whole day overall. It was a good way to start Sunday.
One must marvel at the Lal Kila. Built over 500 years ago, it is still standing. It is in stark contrast to the Commonwealth Games stadia that are disintegrating and may not even last a year - providing they last through till October. Maybe it's time we go and see how the Mughals handled corruption - though I fear if capital punishment was the solution then we may not be able to do much. I was relieved to see today's paper though where the PM has promised exemplary punishment for Games corruption.
I certainly hope so.

Slave labour

What do you do if there is slave labour but no corresponding debt? When conditions akin to slave labour arise - what does it mean for state policy? I read today that there are 10 million child labourers in India today. This in a country with rampant unemployment and underemployment of adults. It goes against all logic why there should even be employment of children.
When will things change? Governments make laws. The private sector should comply. When the market fails, the government steps in. Economists such as Keynes and civil society all agree - governments need to fill the gap. But what happens when there is government failure? When they are not regulating and supervising? Why should kids be working and wasting their youth? Why aren't they out playing in the park and worrying about a calculus question in the class test?

And why aren't NGOs - which are in a great number - along with organizations such as the UN and others being able to do something concrete about the situation?

Twilight: New Moon (2010)

Vampires and wolves - is it no wonder that we love escaping reality? Almost all of the recent hits have been based on some detraction - such as Inception, Twilight series, Avatar - makes you wonder though doesn't it?
But what would be the fun in seeing a film about our lives then?
Bella is as confused as ever. Edward is as handsome as ever. She wants to change and he doesn't. There's a new baby vampire pack in town, and as is explained, they're more powerful since they still have their human blood in their tissues. Definitely something we should all know.
It's amazing though how well the books have done and the movie franchise. I've read all the books and seen all the films, so I have no right to be sarcastic. I'm as hooked as the rest of the world.

Khatta Meetha (2010)

Named after the Haldiram snack, this was one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

Priyadarshini has a fan following. This truly disappointed. The script was botched up, I can't imagine laughing after seeing a bus full of people dying because of poor construction. It was all in bad taste I felt.

I don't think anyone liked it in the hall.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS.

Fallen (lyrics) by Sarah McLachlan

Heaven bent to take my hand
And lead me through the fire
Be the long awaited answer
To a long and painful fight

Truth be told I've tried my best
But somewhere along the way
I got caught up in all there was to offer
And the cost was so much more than I could bear

Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I have messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

We all begin with good intent
Love was raw and young
We believed that we could change ourselves
The past could be undone
But we carry on our backs the burden
Time always reveals
The lonely light of morning
The wound that would not heal
It's the bitter taste of losing everything
That I have held so dear.

Heaven bent to take my hand
Nowhere left to turn
I'm lost to those I thought were friends
To everyone I know
Oh they turned their heads embarassed
Pretend that they don't see
But it's one missed step
You'll slip before you know it
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed

Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I have messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

Knight and Day (2010)

A slightly older, but very fit Tom Cruise, with a slightly older, but equally fit Cameron Diaz, in a sweet but packed with action film about a rogue secret agent and an unprepared side kick.
I liked the film. It had gotten good reviews in all the newspapers and what every one was saying was that it was funny, full of action and had something for everyone.
Hence, I decided to go and watch it, along with my husband and our grandmom.
Our grandmom hadn't been for an evening show in 15 years, so she was quite excited about it. I was looking forward to the popcorn and candy.
We all agreed that the film was good.
It's not easy to pick a good movie these days. Film tickets are getting expensive and it costs around Rs 1000 per evening if you go out to watch a film and there are three of you. So you have to be particular about what you're watching. Now that is only ofcourse $25. But then, we don't earn in US $!!
Now my husband and I had a mini fight yesterday. Sometimes he is so silly I cannot even imagine why he does what he does and when he does it why he doesn't realise it ain't a good idea. Sheesh, it's a good thing that he has people to watch over him. I hate to say it, but it reinforces my ideas about men. They really do need to be guided by us women - though they won't admit it.
They're lost without us.

Dexter Season 4

Now last weekend I was sitting and painting and watching the special they had on Dexter - Season 2 all day long. See I was painting but the house felt empty, so I decided to switch on the television and presto - on was Dexter Season 2 all day long.
That's when I got hooked. So I decided to watch Season 4 which airs everyday after work.
It is good. Dexter Morgan is played by Michael C Hall, who is actually a joy to watch. The last episode in this season is very sad though, and very creepy. I just can't believe that it happened!! I don't want to give anything away, so I won't say anything.
But it was sad. And so unnecessary. John Lithgow was good as the psychotic killer. I just wish Dexter had gotten him earlier.

Painting

I have started a painting for my Anniversary. It is our first - One year anniversary coming up. I've painted us with a peacock. It's coming out quite nicely.

I love Madhubani style of painting. It's so pretty and calming. The border really emphasises the figures and there is a certain poignancy to the style. I hope my husband likes it.

I hope to complete it by tomorrow, cuz my new job is starting and I don't know if I'll be able to finish once Monday starts.

I'm looking forward to my new assignment. It'll be challenging and I hope I get some good cases and pointers for my orders.

When I'm painting I keep the television on - so I'm watching stuff like CSI, Sleepercell, Dexter at the same time.

I've started lagging behind on my exercise regime which is not good. I should get back on track. A weight of around 49-50 is optimal for my height. I'm right now above that which is not good. I should be walking more than I am at present.

Paper shadows

Egad. Now I don't really want to complain, but it is a sad fact that there are a lot of things wrong in this world, nothing more so than the problem of paper shadows.
This is when things remain only on paper, and no real work actually occurs.
That's why there is so much chaos and poor planning and management in this country.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever Gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.



In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.



Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unfraid.



It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.



William Ernest Henley

The power of a book

Can the written word have so much power? And if not the written word, what about oral recitations? That's what you learn from this film that I saw yesterday called "Book of Eli" starring Denzel Washington.
Set is a post-apocalyptic future, this film centres around Eli who is trying to head west with a copy of the Holy Bible. No surviving copy exists, except for his. This book has so much power that there are factions trying to capture the book, in a bloody tangle.
I thought the movie was just okay. It has a hidden meaning, with layers. I was tired though, Delhi was burning with a temperature of 43 degrees celcius (100 degrees fahrenheit) and there was no electricity in Gurgaon for around three hours. Needless to say, I was really tired at the end of the day, and all I wanted to do was curl up with a good book, which is what I did. I'm reading Into the Wild right now, and it's pretty good.
But my husband wanted to watch a film, so we did. I was kinda tired, but I stayed awake throughout.
I give it a 2.5/5.

Daybreakers (2009)

What would you do if you were part of a group of a handful of humans left on this Earth? And all that surrounded you were these bloodthirsty vampires, who lived on blood harvested by an evil greedy corporation that is intent only on profits?
That's what this film is about. We watched it late into the night - I missed my episode of Castle for this (I like Castle with it's debonair Nathan Fillion who is actually quite a good actor in this series.
I didn't really like it much - too much gore. But it is an interesting plot.
Then I came back from work today and I was just so hungry. So I cooked - aloo tikki. Not really that good, no coriander, no peas... but I must say it was edible, which is the first step in cooking!!
Tomorrow is mom's birthday, so I'm going to take Mom's present home. My brother and sister (along with our spouses) got her a very pretty silk white suit. It'll look damn pretty.
I'm glad Mom doesn't read this blog!!

The White Ribbon (2009)

A German film set in the pre-WWI period, directed by Michael Haneke, this film is a disturbing look at the repression that local society was under in a small town in Germany. This is a town ruled by the Baron, the Pastor and the Doctor, all patriarchal male figures who dominate the landscape and its people. Their children are under their control, and it is this repressive element that causes some of the children to lash out at the others.
It's a taut script, and well made. Nothing much really is revealed towards the end. The story leaves it open. It won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in 2009.
What is The White Ribbon? The Pastor ties it on his kids to signify purity and chastity. On the boy it is tied on the arm, just like the Nazis would tie on the Jewish community to set them apart.
Even if you push someone to accept a set of values that they don't believe in, will these types of things work?
I read somewhere that the Director was trying to also show how many elements in today's world are similar to those of pre-1913 Germany and how the regime of intolerance and repression that we find in many countries of the world today will lead to a situation like that in the 1910s to 1940s.
The world is after all, in its children's hands.

Shutter Island

Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film stars Leonardo Di Caprio as a tense on the edge federal marshall looking into the disappearance of a female inmate at a federal incarceration facility called Shutter Island.
It's well directed, taut and keeps you engrossed till the end. I can't say much, cuz the storyline shouldn't be revealed. Let's just say that it's more cryptic than it lets on.
I liked the film, I thought it was well made and even though I guessed what was happening, I didn't understand the whole thing till the end. Ben Kingsley is just so versatile - yesterday I saw him in Prince of Persia and today he is playing a psychiatrist in Shutter Island.

Prince of Persia

So anyone who has been a kid in this world would have played the video game Prince of Persia sometime in their life. I remember being the little prince, running around everywhere, drinking poisoned potion in an effort to save the lovely 2 dimensional princess from the evil Wazir, who has her trapped in a room full of little cushions and fluffy mattresses.
Hence we set off yday to become mall rats and watch the latest Disney movie called Prince of Persia. After snarfing down my delicious Chinese noodles, we set off for the multiplex.
It's a boon that we live only 10 minutes away from what is arguably one of the best places to spend the weekend in Delhi. Select City Walk and the two malls that adjoin it, give you a lot to do, in terms of walking around, browsing the various displays and eating - national past time for me and my husband.
Having bought three novels recently, I have curbed all desires to buy any more books for the next three months until I finish all the books on my bookshelf. This includes Thomas Friedman, P G Wodehouse and William Dalrymple. In India authors, 1/4th of a Rushdie novel is left, which I really should finish.
My verdict of Prince of Persia - well the effects were good. The Princess was beautiful. The plot was interesting.
All in all, 3/5 stars.

Absolute chaos

Today I went for admissions to Delhi University. As you know, DU is having admissions now and I'll be going for a law programme this year alongwith work. I figured, hell, let me get another degree.
Now I scored pretty high in the entrance exam - 45th All India, Thank You Very Much!! :) :) I'm damn kicked about it, but the way things were over there it was scary.
It's not like they don't have the infrastructure, or the manpower. But everything was just so damn chaotic. Absolute pandemonium. Even I didn't know what to do. Even before this there was an issue - because my admit card didn't reach me in time.
They said 10:30, and I was there. But it was utter chaos. Nothing was organised. One guy was telling you one thing, and then doing another. I was damn bugged.
It was wierd at one level.
See, they have a hall. BUT NO SIGNS. They have the forms, but they don't distribute it properly. They have counters, but no lines. They have people around to guide you, but they're not really guiding you.
I drank 500 ml of water in 2 minutes after getting out of that place. It was HELL!!
Then I called my parents and I ranted and raved.
Really, there is no one on this Earth who does more for us than our parents.

Rajneeti (2010)

Rajneeti is the latest instalment in the Prakash Jha directed group of films focusing on a political family in India. Awesomely enough, it really shows quite well how the political scenario in our country is proceeding today - with a bit of exaggeration of course, as is expected of a top of the line Bollywood production.
Don't expect no masala - this film has plenty of that.
The only one recommendation given to me was that we should watch it from the very beginning - which was understandable, because it puts a lot into perspective. Arjun Rampal deserves to be applauded - alongwith Ranbir Kapoor and Manoj Bajpai. Nana Patekar was brilliant, as was Ajay Devgn. Katrina Kaif played the sweet soft white character in the film. She did add a certain dimension to the movie - and she was also looking quite pretty.
At three hours, the film doesn't appear to be so long and really pulls along very well. It is fast paced and the first half an hour goes in trying to figure out who is who and what is what. I also thought that the way the aam janta was depicted was also very well done.
5/5 in my opinion. Don't expect a bit of exaggeration though!!

From today's TOI Sacred Space

What did you bring with you, which you have lost? What did you produce, which has destroyed? You did not bring anything when you were born. You came empty handed and you will go the same way. Whatever is yours today was somebody else's yesterday and will be somebody else's tomorrow. Change is the law of the universe. - Vedanta

Do not take this material world so seriously because it is always changing. Something terrible that you take so seriously today is going to change tomorrow. - Radhanath Swami

Fear nothing else, but try to fear fear... Remember no matter what your tests are, you are not too weak to fight. God will not suffer you to be tempted more than you are able to bear. - Paramahansa Yogananda

For tomorrow belongs to the poeple who prepare for it today. - African proverb

El Orfanato (2007)

Let me first say this. In retrospect, there isn't really much to fear in the movie. But how it is presented is actually totally and completely scary.
It is set in an orphanage and centres around a family who has recently moved in. Their son is extremely perceptive to everything around him and he has a number of imaginary friends. In this case however, some of his friends are ghosts.
Ghosts may not want to harm. When something terrible has happened, they want a knot to be opened in their story, so that what happened to them can be made known and their souls put to rest.
The ending is poignant - and it is one of the best films I've seen in a long time.
Now I don't know why it didn't get 10/10. I think it thoroughly deserved it. Why isn't horror as a genre respected more? Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, this is one film that deserved more awards than it got I think.

Ya gotta get outta ur comfort zone

I don't have many theories about life - but one thing I do agree with. If you stay in a place too long, you stagnate. You will start to mould, like old cheese.
That's why it's important to keep moving. To introduce change. To shake things up a little.
In the beginning, it'll take time to adjust. I remember when I joined my first position, we had no working computer, there was shaggy carpeting on the floor and the dirtiest curtains imaginable. It was just difficult getting everything in order.
In the next transfer, I had no fax machine, no photostat machine. But funnily enough, I went for a holiday to the US and bought a new laptop. And when I came back, my office gave me one as well!! So I was stuck with two laptops from having none!!
I separate their uses - one is at home and one is at office. Helps divide the work as well.
But ofcourse, I digress.
So I make it a point to go on at least one trek a year. To go once a week to Lodhi gardens, my favourite place in Delhi. To try and catch the latest exhibition at NGMA. To read about issues that interest me. To take up new projects and complete them. To take up at least one book a month.
To live and explore a little bit more. After all, we only have one life to live.
And one should live.

"If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness." Les Brown

Ambedkar aur Gandhi dir by Girish Karnad written by Rajesh Kumar

A play showing the events leading upto the 1932 Poona Pact between Ambedkar and Congress. It is a good play, with a lot of insight into history. Even I didn't know some of the things that had been outlined in the play, including Ambedkar's views on Gandhiji.

Gandhiji has been shown as an astute politician. His vision for India didn't have a cohesive policy for the depressed classes.

The actor who played Ambedkar was Bajrang Bali Singh and he was really really good I thought.

Don't miss this play I would say!!

Iron Man 2 (2010)

I can't believe I'm writing about this film before I discuss my cool trek that I took in Jammu recently. But then, since I'm not at home and my trek notes are all somewhere else, I will be discussing Iron Man 2 in this blog instead and write an in-depth write up later on my trip to Udhampur district.

So this is a follow up from Iron Man (duh!). It shows how world peace has been effectively privatised by the invention of a suit that can fly and has a man in it (not that that should stop anything).

Even as I discuss this I realise how silly this sounds. But then, that is Hollywood. It's sort of like Singh is King. If you leave your brain behind, it's really not so bad.

Gweneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansen are stunning and make you wish like you'd never eaten a burger to begin with!! Burger, fries, pizza.....

Oh yes, talking of food, I've recently given up pizza. Like totally given it up. Except home made pizza --- no more store bought stuff. We are trying to save up and eat healthy here. That 9.0 on my hemoglobin level has got me a bit worried. Plus I'm only 55 kgs right now - gotta get back to 45kgs!!

Trekking in Jammu and Kashmir

The northern most state of India is the state of J&K - i.e. Jammu and Kashmir. This state lies in the middle of a vast political battle between us and Pakistan, and it is here that I decided to go on my trek this year.

I try and go on a trek every year.

You can reach J&K by flight or by road. It is not an easy journey, and when I set off from Sarai Rohilla in the corner of Delhi, little did I know that I was travelling up to the northern most rail point in J&K - i.e. Udhampur.

The Udhampur special I was on emptied out in Jammu. I was in a particularly anti-social mood that day, having gotten up after being rudely awoken by the little baby in my compartment. They can't help it, and the baby was sweet. The parents were doting and on the surface, all was fine.

But why did they have to get my neighbouring berth? Where is the fairness in the world?

One tip to remember is that prepaid does not work in J&K. They banned it sometime last year. So once we crossed the border, almost everyone's phones stopped working. Except mine and a few others. However I refused to offer my phone to anyone, which led to my neighbour almost missing her train.

Like I said, anti social mood.

But why couldn't she have just asked me politely for my phone?

Mysteries of the World my friend, Mysteries of the World.

So I reached Udhampur, and then got a ride to the second stop - Nathutop. See, the group I was with, had no women. So I was put with a group that had left the previous day so that I would have company and so I wouldn't have to wait for the next group.

Nathutop was beautiful with a brilliant view. We were next to an Army base, which was really really cool.

After that, we proceeded to Sanasar. That was mostly downhill and was a pleasant trek. The next day was a bit tough, cuz we had to go to Patnitop, which involved us again passing Nathutop. Me and my friend Suma really bonded on this trek!!

The kids we were with were awesome. They climbed up and down those mountains like they were nothing. Really bright and athletic kids I would say!!

Patnitop to Mantalai was an adventure. We crossed by Gourikund and Sudhmahadev on the way.

Gaurikund is a reflection spot of Goddess Saraswati, where she used to do prarthana to Lord Shiva. It is a nice but small spot. I soaked my feet in cool water near the place. It was peaceful, but got me thinking about how difficult it must be manage crowds on that steep hillside.

Sudhmahadev has a big trishul. It is believed that Lord Shiva shot his trishul to protect Uma, his consort who was being followed by a demon. This trishul is apparently still present in the mandir. Now I went in the mandir, but couldn't make it out.

The last stretch was amazingly steep and frightening because of the torrential downpour we found ourselves in. It was awesomely difficult and I stopped by a small house to avoid the rain. In the end we had two little kids accompanying me who took me up.

They say that Mantalai is the place where Shiva married Parvati - and we passed the pond near the temple where this happened. Dhirendra Brahmachari had heavily invested in this town and was a powerful influence there. Further he is said to be the spiritual leader of Indira Gandhi. He died in an accident near the ashram he set up at Mantalai.

The next day we went by bus from Mantalai to Udhampur. From there, we took a trip nearby to Kricchi, which is the site of 11th century Pandava temples. It is an ASI sight and to be seen to be believed.

Awesome.

All in all, it was a brilliant trip. I also finished Milan Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being at Patnitop.

Trek preparation

Egad - I am leaving in three days and I don't have my stuff together, my admit card for the trek, my rug sack packed! My tickets are booked though and I have spoken to the course director, I have made a list (very important thing to do), and my work appears to be under control, so I guess it's all going to be okay!!
I hope to God it'll be okay!!
I wish my husband was going with me - but I think he won't be cut out for the hard travel time involved. And I know I'm not in A-okay shape for the trek, but I'm hoping it won't be too arduous!!
One thing I should be doing is my studies - considering that I just sent my form today and that there is so much material left to go through.
Yes, I probably should get around 2 hours of studying done today.
I love this time before the trek - rushing to get work finished, waiting for orders to get done, finishing up frantically....
Biting my nails all the time!!
Getting the track pants, the socks in order, trying out my new shoes --- I just wish it wasn't so hot you know!!

Das Leben der Anderen (2006)

Written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, this is a German movie set in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. It won the Oscar for best foreign film for 2006.
It is a very interesting film about a lonely secret agent who gets assigned the duty of spying on a young German couple. The husband is a playwright and his wife is a young pretty actress. It shows how the secret agent becomes engrossed in their lives - hence, The Lives of Others is the movie title.

I didn't know much about this movie when I began to watch it. I actually stumbled upon it. Like most things, if you have no idea what to expect, you are pleasantly surprised when the film turns out to be excellent, like in this case.

What do we live for? I think we live for others more than anything else. And we strive to be good. To be good human beings.

That is the point of life afterall.

I really liked Alice Sebold's last line in the novel - I think that the next time I even start to get angry, I will think about that last line. It gives me a lot of peace.

Even from Star Trek - Live Long and Prosper.

Better days - Goo Goo Dolls (lyrics)

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

And it's someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

"I wish you all a long and happy life". - Alice Sebold

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. ~Hans Christian Anderson

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. ~Danny Kaye

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone. ~Reba McEntire

If A equals success, then the formula is: A = X + Y + Z, where X is work, Y is play, and Z is keep your mouth shut. ~Albert Einstein

For if there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life. ~Albert Camus

Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them. - Lou Holtz

Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching. - Randall G Leighton



As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back. - Unknown

Eyjafjallajökull - the island-mountains glacier

Iceland is a small little country in Europe. It is funny because I always associated the landmass characteristics with the name - Iceland - land of ice.
Funnily enough, in April 2010, this premise was reversed after a volcano erupted on the island. The volcano is Eyjafjallajökull - which last erupted in 1823.
When I first heard the story on BBC, I was astounded. Man - a volcano in ICELAND? Not really heard of. I thought to myself, how come it didn't cause the ice above to melt before? But then, that is why it is a DORMANT volcano right?
(Taking a break to do some ironing)
Sometimes dormant volcanoes do erupt!!
So a volcano in Iceland has erupted. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't located near mainland Europe - which saw havoc arise because its airspace was covered in soot. No one knew what the consequences of volcanic ash would be on the airlines - but no one wanted to take a chance.
Now airspace has been opened up again.
How interesting right? The world can still amaze us.

Fracture (2007)

Starring Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins, this is one good movie that I must recommend. It is about a perfect crime - or supposedly a perfect crime. Hopkins is brilliant as the cool collected killer, who taunts the federal prosecutor into losing the case.

But what happens next? It is quite amazing how the film will keep you going and going and going. There is a fine distinction to be made in law - that is the beauty of law in the first place, and one of the chief reasons why I want to pursue law.

This film also stars Rosamund Pike - who I first saw in Pride and Prejudice. She plays Jane Bennet in this brilliant adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. I liked her - I even liked her in James Bond in Die Another Day. She is only 10 months older than I am!! That amazes me totally!! She is very very pretty though.

Assignment for gender course & other thoughts

Right now, I'm in the middle of an assignment for the certificate course in gender I've taken up. It is interesting because it is making me think of things that I normally don't think about. How I have been influenced by my grandmother and my mother for one. Secondly, it is asking what I want for women of the next generation. That too requires thought.
I also have to study for this oncoming series of entrance exams that are coming up. I haven't even seen my 12th class board certificate for over a decade. It is funny fishing it out again!!
Apart from that I have some things for work to finish. That is why I decided that today I would just chill out and spend doing something for moi. That includes the gender course btw. Ofcourse I should also be studying, but sometimes you need a break right?
What is interesting about competitive exams is that they can ask you anything under the sun. And these days the sun is very very bright!!
I went for a walk to the malls nearby today and bought my sister a shirt as a congratulatory present. I also bought some movies - Black Friday and Rann. I sat and watched Rann right now. I liked it. It was interesting.
Black Friday is directed by Anurag Kashyap, who has become a favourite director of mine after I saw Gulaal. Gulaal is a good film - it was the first film that my husband and I went and saw on our first date. Little did I know then that he hates Hindi films and wouldn't watch them in future with me!!

Rann (2009)

Now I couldn't watch this film on the big screen because I was busy with travel last year and so couldn't reach a cinema hall. And when I could, the film was off. Usually my husband doesn't want to come for films with me, so I guess it all worked out okay in the end.
I bought the VCDs today - courtesy Moserbaer it only cost me Rs 99. I don't even have to worry about piracy issues since I've bought the original.
The film was okay - I plan to send it to my sister to watch. It tells about the media wars between two prominent news channels - India 24X7 and Headline (or something to that effect). It shows just how badly the media has become a money grossing business, and how most news channels are not interested in the truth - just in making money, like any corporate house. So take what the media says with a pinch of salt. That is the end message.
It is well made - though in certain scenes the camera direction left much to be desired. I'm not a fan of the wavering camera. I thought the character development was good, but you jump right into everything.
All in all interesting. I'm glad I spent my Saturday watching it.

Stages

There are various stages in life. Right now, as I write this blog entry, I really want to write about the problems at office. But problems at office should stay in the office. Don't you think? I'm really tired though.

So recently I went to one of my friend's parties for her newly born baby boy. Very sweet little kid. He's really an angel. He hardly cries, will go to anyone and is the perfect picture of contentment. I believe that babies are stress busters (especially if they're not yours) - and that gets re enforced everytime I meet a new little angel.

So what are the stages in life? Well, I'm not going to talk about the be born, go to school, get married have babies cycle, primarily cuz that's obvious and not the point of this blog. I'm talking about the woman cycle.

In the beginning, you are the single girl in the room. As the years go by, it gets more awkward. Your friends steadily get married, you remain single. You accompany some couples on trips, are known as the massi/bhua, but remain the odd one out. Your parents are always after you to "find a boy". "Meet a boy". "Do something".

Then it happens. You get married. All that fuss and bother. You wonder why you just didn't do it in the first place!! But still, you remain the odd one out!! Cuz by now, all your friends have had kids!! Then you're still the odd one out. When are you planning to have kids? They're such blessings in disguise. What are you waiting for?

And so on and so forth.

All part of the various stages of life I would say.

"Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullesh; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think."
Horace quotes

Surprise about Abkhazia

Well, there are small countries called Georgia (Capital Tbilisi) and Moldova that I read about in current affairs a long time back. What I did not know was that there are three breakaway provinces (?) now converted into countries, recognized by very few other countries in the world.
These are:
Abkhazia (Capital: Sukhumi)
South Ossetia (Capital: Tskhinvali)
Transnistria (Capital: Tiraspol)
I'm sure if I delve deeper I shall find that there are more such little breakaway regions.
It's amazing though what you pick up everyday though isn't it?

Gender Course

I've recently joined a course of gender conducted by an organization in Delhi called PRIA. It is interesting and it consolidates a lot of what I already know. But it is good to have it in a structured format.

My sister is teaching gender and transnational feminisms at a college in the United States. I recently attended a lecture workshop on feminism in India and was aghast to find that there is actually a war raging on how it is possible to introduce gender studies in Economics! What a stupid idea is what most feminists are encountering. Sheesh Louise. That is SAD if you ask me.

Anyhow, even though this post will show some other date, because I'd started it earlier, I have actually finished it on 5th April 2010. And right now I'm not a happy camper. I'm feeling a bit low and nothing anyone says or does can change that.

The 10 Avatars of Vishnu

We recently went to Bhubaneshwar and picked up a painting depicting the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu. I amazingly enough learnt how to draw this art form ten years back when I was at LSR. We had an artist from Orissa who came and showed us how to do it. In fact, if I look hard enough, I may be able to find the sketch I did.

It is a fascinating story which also coincides somewhat with the natural history of time. All items in italics have been taken from Wikipedia. The first avatar is Matsya,
Matsya, the fish-avatar who saved Manu - the progeniter of mankind from the great deluge and rescued the Vedic scriptures by killing a demon
The second is Kurma,
Kurma, the tortoise-avatar, who helped in the Samudra manthan - the churning of the ocean
The third is
Varaha, the boar-avatar, who rescued the earth from the ocean, by killing her kidnapper-demon Hiranyaksha
The fourth is
Narasimha, the half man-half lion avatar, who killed the tyrant demon-king Hiranyakashipu, to rescue the demon's son Prahlada, who was a Vishnu-devotee
The fifth is
Vamana, the dwarf-avatar, who defeated the demon-king
The sixth is
Bali Parashurama, sage with the axe who killed the thousand-armed king Kartavirya Arjuna
The seventh is
Rama, the king of Ayodhya and the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana
The eighth is
Krishna, the king of Dwarka, a central character in the Bhagavata Purana and the Mahabharata and reciter of Bhagavad Gita
The ninth is
Gautama Buddha
The tenth is
Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga.
Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar

The ten most well known descents of Vishnu are collectively known as the Dasavatara (Sanskrit: ten avatars). This list is included in the Garuda Purana (1.86.10"11).
The first four are said to have appeared in the Satya Yuga (the first of the four Yugas or ages in the time cycle described within Hinduism). The next three avatars appeared in the Treta Yuga, the eighth descent in the Dwapara Yuga and the ninth in the Kali Yuga. The tenth, Kalki, is predicted to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga.

The Invention of Lying

Imagine a world where no one lied. Except one person.

The film was interesting. Though it could have been better executed and overall the screenplay was weak. It got high reviews overall but honestly, it could have had a much better storyline. Plus someone like Jim Carrey would have better suited the role of a unscrupulous nobody who stumbles upon the discovery that will change his life.

What would you do if you could do anything in the world? I don't really know actually. I'd like to quit and travel the world - that is for sure. Visit places like Turkey and Morocco, see the ruins in Greece and the Grand Canyon in the US, visit Machu Picchu in Peru, see the Barrier Reef in Australia... One thing that I can do is trek in the Himalayas - which is something that I endeavour to do every year without fail.

There are many unexplored places in India. For instance, the Buddist monuments in India - like at Sanchi, Bodhgaya... all merit a visit. Then there is Leh up north, one of the most beautiful places on Earth which one needs to go see by road I've been told. You can come back by flight. But the road trip up there is worth it.

Ofcourse for all this you need dosh. And yes, at the moment, we don't have much of it. My husband and I are a young working couple, with no assets to our name at the moment. We're working hard though. I think we both like our jobs, which is a good thing.

At least I'm in India and can go for my treks!!

Nietzsche

I don't know much about philosophy. It is one of those subjects I've never studied. I guess the closest I've come to reading about philosophy is my Calvin and Hobbes comic books that I love to read.

It's an interesting subject though and I've started to slowly read more about it. Yesterday I came across two references to a German philosopher of the 19th century - Friedrich Nietzsche. He, at the end of the 19th century, had announced the "twilight of the Gods", said the article in Times of India. Religion had become irrelevant. Replaced no doubt by the ravages of materialism and consumerism.

The second reference was in Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". I came across Bob Corbett's notes on the book - which I will read in full after I finish the novel. He says,

"Milan Kundera opens the novel with a discourse on Nietzsche's doctrine of the eternal recurrence. He rejects any view of the recurrence as being real or metaphysical. It is metaphorical he assures us. In a world of objective meaninglessness one must fall into nihilism unless one acts as if one's acts recur eternally, thus giving our acts "weight," the weight of those choices we make, as though recurring eternally, living forever. Kundera rejects Nietzsche's optimism and in compelling detail and poignancy he give us the story of the painful love affair of Tomas and Tereza, condemned by fate and choice to live together, yet never ceasing to cause each other enormous pain and suffering. "

What I understand is that Kundera said that living in cycles is a myth. There is no reincarnation. There is only the present. Nietzsche on the other hand was more optimistic (?).

I'll write more when I understand more. It is interesting though. The novel is also very interesting.

Secrets of the Taj Mahal (Nat Geo)

One must commend National Geographic and its efforts at making history interesting and illuminating. I recently got to watch a documentary made on the Taj Mahal - which was well put together. I being a student of history, having visited the Taj on more than one occassion, having heard the stories and read a recent novel written on the topic, am more than familiar with both the historical base and the local folklore.

The documentary puts in focus both the building of the Taj and the era in which it was built. Shah Jahan's rise to the throne is shown and so is his love for his wife, Mumtaz. Not much detail is given - dates, names of other great Mughals - they are all left silent - possibly because too much detail would have made the documentary boring (? Wierd ?). So his father and grandfather are referred to as just father and grandfather - instead of Akbar and Humayun, as it should be.

Some things were new though. I didn't know that you could piece together parts of the Taj from already existing monuments. That Humayun's tomb is very similar I knew, but that other monuments were also contributors, I did not.

Everyone knows that Aurangzeb imprisoned his Dad and captured the throne. But what I didn't think about was how much expenditure must've been incurred in building the Taj, which was one of the things that Aurangzeb did not approve of, being austere in his spending.

The contribution of the artisans and the craftsmen is silent over the ages - and lives on in the Taj. I have heard stories that all their hands were chopped off. That is sad. Or that they were blinded. That is also sad.

The craft does live on. The craft of pietra dura - or painting in stone survives even till now, almost 30 generations later.

It was good overall.

A near miss with the Taj Mahal

I was in Agra recently for some work. The work I was there for took longer than expected though. I must have been 4 kms from the Taj Mahal.
I had vowed that if I was going there, I would see it. But then, what happened?
I was tired. I was with other colleagues. I couldn't go.
It's ironic though. Only recently had a begun to watch the Nat Geo documentary on the Secrets of the Taj. It was beautifully done I thought. The tale of a charming king Shah Jahan and his beautiful wife Mumtaz, their story... finally encompassed in marble.
I don't think there are love stories like that out there anymore. These days there are things to be said for love marriages and arranged marriages. Does anyone pursue their passion anymore?
Do you like to do what you did before?
It becomes difficult after a point to handle the pressures of work with the need to pursue your passion.
But what makes a human being different from an ordinary living thing?
It is the spirit of humanity and the presence of being that makes us different. We can appreciate the power of poetry, the beauty of our surroundings, the need to immortalize. We create beauty and try and preserve it. We go on treks, we make pictures, we draw, we sing.
Man, I wish I'd seen the Taj again. Last time I saw it was four years ago.

El secreto de sus ojos (2009)

One of the best films I've seen in a long time. It will keep you riveted, you'll have 100% attention and it is awesome from start to finish.
I seriously recommend it.
I watched a really really bad translation version with English subtitles that were in just the worst English possible. But the direction was so good, the acting so awesome that you are totally enthralled as you watch it.
The director, Juan Jose Campanella really does a good job. I won't give away too much of the story. It's a love story and a murder mystery. It's sad and it does show you a lot. About how two people who love eachother and what they do about it. Or in this case, do not do.
Awesome. 6/5
It totally deserved the Oscar it got.

Drawing in Lodi Gardens I

So today I went for a walk and drawing tour of Lodi Gardens. The only sad thing was that I couldn't find the group that I was supposed to draw with!!

I instead took up a shady spot and started sketching nearby. It took 40 minutes to depict an old monument in pencil. I think I'll put it in black ink and it'll look much better.

There was a person giving a talk to a group of people in the gardens. He was talking about what the point of life was. He asked. One person replied, that the point of life was to be happy. But then he asked, what does make you happy? Does money make you happy? Because a person may have a lot of money, but if his child has passed away, he won't be so happy. What about your job? Does that make you happy? What about your possessions? Do they make you happy?

It was interesting - but then I had to shift away because the sun was getting into my eyes. I think if one goes there early morning, you'll find more shade in places.

Can you imagine doing something like this on a day when it's going to soon become 38 degrees!!

An Education (2009)

Set in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s, this film follows the life of a young 16 year old who is wooed by a gentleman much older to her. What happens will give much of the story away - but one thing that the movie does emphasize - is how important it is to go to University and make something of your life. Though the roles of a housewife or an English teacher may appear dreary to you - in the end, it is your decision.

It's a bit sick though - the idea of an elderly man preying on the fantasies of a younger woman - or a girl in this case. But it does show just how creepy some guys can be.

There are some very nice scenes from Paris - and it is amazing how beautiful that city is. I count myself fortunate of having visited the city on more than one occasion!!

My solution to TPNSTT

Oh yes, let me just share this.

My solution to the principle of not spending time together.

: :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;

Do what you can together. Realise that he too will not want to do what you want and you may not want to do what he wants. So give eachother space.

And do as much as you can on your own. Cuz it's a short life. So don't miss out on anything. :) :)

Benoy K Behl, William Dalrymple and Driving in Delhi

I went to attend a documentary done by B K Behl today at the Habitat Centre. He's a learned film maker with an interest in Indian art and he's made a remarkable set of documentaries on the topic. It was a follow-on from the Ajanta paintings to latter day. I didn't quite agree though that there was a similarity ALL ACROSS India - that's not possible according to me. There doesn't seem to be much evidence of exchange of art and ideas between Ladakh and Orissa like he alluded to. So I can't really agree. That they were two dimensional - yes. That the temple at Thanjavur was amazing and so were the paintings in it dedicated to Lord Shiva - amazing. That the Kailashnath Temple at Ellora is breathtaking - yes. But the strands that connect it all.... I'm not so sure.

One thing that I will say about the whole series. It's a good introductory insight into Indian art.

At Habitat Centre today Penguin books was having a doo dah. They were selling their books at 10% off and had some pretty good deals. William Dalrymple was to speak - and I wanted to attend, but I had to leave the talk and the book reading early because I was driving back home and I didn't want to get too late. I did however spend the last of the cash on me - which was meant to be given for my mobile phone bill (already late).... on a book called "Nine Lives" by William Dalrymple. I thought I may get lucky and get his autograph. But then.... I figured... since I was driving in Delhi after 7:00 at night....

That maybe I should just get back home. The BRT can be hell and so can the traffic.

Welcome to living in one of the biggest metros in the world.

Birthdays Side and Blind Side

Yesterday (20th March 2010) was Mataji's 95th birthday. Yes, she has lived on this earth 95 years. She has seen the horrors of the partition of India, seen the beauty of the world and the changing natures of people and their hearts.

It's amazing isn't it? Kylie Minogue's song comes to mind - I should be so lucky .... Man, to be alive for so long? Amazing.

Her mind is very very active. Mobility is limited though. So we took her out to lunch at a nice and very popular South Indian restaurant to celebrate. It was a nice afternoon. There were people everywhere. I had the most yummy Rava dosa. I totally recommend it to one and all.

I've started a course on Understanding Gender now. It's totally interesting - it puts in a framework things that we already know - difference between sex and gender; how 1975 was the Year of Women - etc. It is amazing how much the world has moved on as well.

I saw a film yesterday called "The Blind Side" for which Sandra Bullock won the Best Actress Award. I liked the film. It was about a young talented man called Michael and how his life transforms when he meets the Ohers. Now I didn't know much about this film or the story behind it, but one thing I shall say. It is awesome how one's life can transform if you have someone to support you. A must see. 5/5. And Sandra Bullock totally deserved the Oscar.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

I had the privilege of listening to the 14th Dalai Lama today at Delhi. He is a sweet person with the best philosophy on earth - nonviolence. Often it is not adhered to though. And that was what he talked about today.


One thing I also liked was his concept of blessing. What is a blessing? It is not what people bestow on someone - it is service - it is duty. You should help the poor he said. You should help those less fortunate that you. Then you will get the blessings you need. That is better than merely giving offerings at a temple and reciting shlokas. Different people have different types of meditation - but you should help your fellow human beings.


Which was a very good message I thought. What else do you actually need in this world? Why are emotions only being used for the bad? Why doesn't anyone think of good emotions? Good thoughts and beliefs? Good intentions? Why is everyone so self centred and bent upon hatred? Jealousy?

It's not good to have so many bad intentions. It'll fester and you'll end up being really sad and lonely. No one will be too bothered about what is happening with you.

I liked the talk. I have a few books on the Dalai Lama. I shall try and read them. Right now I've joined this feminism course at a local NGO. I just received the course material today and I thought it would be a refreshing change from finance law which is what I've been looking at for the past six years.

It'll be good to have this now on my agenda as well. It's always good to keep up with your interests.

I went to the talk with my Dad. He's become a bit more rigid now - he wants his way more often than not. My mom is also not so amenable now - she does too much harm to herself more than anyone else.

I worry about them both.

Delhi has so much to offer. You only have to make the effort. Spring in New Delhi is very very pleasant though - the trees are a lovely shade of green and a light breeze is blowing. Even though it's 35 degrees outside right now..... but remember, our summers touch 45 degrees soon!! It'll be an oven like scenario soon I think!!

Carpe Diem

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When I want to read a novel, I write one.
- Benjamin Disraeli

When one door closes another opens. But often we look so long so regretfully upon the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us.
- Helen Keller

There is time for everything.
- Thomas A. Edison

Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.
- Leo Tolstoy

The world is a book andthose who do not travel read only one page
- St. Augustine

CARPE DIEM

From a Latin poem by Horace called "Odes"

Don't ask (it's forbidden to know) what end
the gods will grant to me or you, Leuconoe. Don't play with Babylonian
fortune-telling either. It is better to endure whatever will be.
Whether Jupiter has allotted to you many more winters or this final one
which even now wears out the Tyrrhenian sea on the rocks placed opposite
— be wise, strain the wine, and scale back your long hopes
to a short period. While we speak, envious time will have {already} fled
Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the next.
(Courtesy, WIKIPEDIA)

"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary" - Dead Poets Society - that truly is a good film.

The Principle of Not Spending Time Together

Yes, I am formulating a new principle which encompasses several features from economics. That is, the principle of not spending time together.

After marriage they say, things change. You were the centre of eachother's lives before. After, you no longer are. In many a comedy they emphasise that the thrill is in the chase, once it's over, well, what else is left?

I on the other hand, truly do not believe this. However, in light of certain occurrences I am getting to believe in the principle I'm about to elucidate:

i. He is busy
Which he will be because he has a hard job and has long hours. I too am away a lot, travelling and stuff. I do call when I can. What gets me is when he doesn't come for things I like!!
ii. Days off become like days on
Ever think a holiday for him may be something different? I'm beginning to think not!!
iii. Planning vacations and even taxes becomes a 5 minute affair
Yes, I can't say more.

All I think about is though, when I get more busy, what will happen then? What will happen when we have kids? Egad, it's all very very scary to think about. Right now I have my books, my work, my treks, my studies.

My blog.

There should be more to being married though right?

I will write more when I've thrashed this out into an economic principle.

Brothers' Hurt Locker

I watched this really interesting movie yesterday called "The Hurt Locker" directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It won the best movie and best director award at the Oscars this year - which was deserved - but I can't really give much of an opinion cuz I haven't seen all the other films. I didn't like Avatar though, so I'm glad she won instead of her husband.
"The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug." - by Chris Hedges is the quote that the movie starts off with - and it's quite apt.
"War is a drug". The adrenalin rush getting you in the end.
Well, at least for one character; cuz the others are just dying to get out of the hot desert that they've been forced to fight in.
I watched this movie without my husband - he was busy and I was bored. So I decided, hey what the heck - lemme watch it. And I'm glad I did. I liked the film - I thought it was well shot and initially I thought it would be boring because there didn't appear to be any single reference to any female character (I'm doing a course of gender and feminism and I am acutely aware of these things now). One scene that stayed in my mind was one of a bullet falling in slow motion from a gun - for some reason that just seemed awesome.
War does not determine who is right - only who is left. ~Bertrand Russell
The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living. ~Omar Bradley
Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime. ~Ernest Hemingway

Only the dead have seen the end of war. ~Plato
This was also said in the film "Brothers". This too was based on war in Iraq.

Humayun's Tomb (2010)

Well, today my mom-in-law and I went on a heritage walk to Humayun's Tomb. My husband was supposed to join us, but had a prior meeting so couldn't. I wish he had, it would have been nice to share it with him as well.

The walk and talk had been organised by the Aga Khan Foundation in Delhi. They are doing restoration work and have largely been involved in getting the gardens around Humayun's Tomb back in shape. Humayun's Tomb is the tomb of Emperor Humayun, son of Babur, one of the great Mughals. He died in 1556. His tomb was built by his wife, Hamida Banu Begum.

The walk was part of a series of events aiming at developing the area into more than just the UNESCO World Heritage site it is, as there are a number of intangibles that too deserve to be preserved by humanity. The rich tradition of qawwali music that emanates from the past from Nizammudin Auliya to the artisans and craftsmen whose traditions have been carried forward. Unfortunately only the monument has the distinction of the tag though.

It is a beautiful though.

I feel fortunate to be living in a city like Delhi where we have such beautiful monuments nearby.

2010 and earthquakes

This year has been particularly sad so far for all those who've been ravaged by the menace of earthquakes. Chile in particular has suffered because of its location - being on one of the continental plates edges is a delicate position, to say the least. Even during the swearing in of the new president, the earth shook for hours. I recently just read that Indonesia has just been struck by seismic activity as well.

2010 hasn't been the greatest year I think so far for me. I've learnt a lot about life and I'm not so happy about it. I wish that things had been a bit different, but then, c'est la vie as they say.

C'est la vie. It is unfair, but you have to deal with it in the end.

In the end, it doesn't even matter, to say in the hands of Linkin Park.

When you feel so tired that you can't sleep

This actually happens. It's not just a song (Fix You - ColdPlay lyrics).

I have been experiencing this lately.
My back hurts and my head hurts and all I want to do is sleep sleep sleep. But there are a list of things to do and I just don't know how to finish it all.
Why I write this blog entry today is because I heard something that I wanted to discuss. One person recently told me that all signs of obesity are a sign of depression. Now I really don't know but it may be true. So I read up some more on this:
Apparently the following are signs of depression: Aches and Pains, Weight loss or gain (how I wish it were weight loss in my case), unkempt appearance, fatigue.
The best way to combat depression would be to stay focused. Concentrate on a goal and achieve it. It becomes easier to stay on your mark when you have a job, because it immediately takes away some of your thought process. You don't dwell on things. You set targets and you achieve them. That way you become much stronger.
Like I tell those around, sometimes you have to FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.

Plans.....

We all make great plans for the future. But does it all work out?

It should actually. I've started working on my novel. It is a work in progress though. I get told off a lot I've noticed for doing things that I like to do and for not doing things that I have to get around to doing. It feels a bit crazy, but then, what can you do? Actually what tends to happen is that the mundaneness of day to day life will get you after a while. So you should keep healthy and do what you like to do. You should read, exercise, watch a good movie, draw, trek - everything that you like to do. I recently read an article by Rachelle Disbennett-Lee which talks about how to create an idea into reality. She says that these are the steps:

i. To turn a dream to a goal, you must shape it, define it, visualize it.
ii. Make a commitment to your goal. Turn all obstacles to opportunities.
iii. Write it down.
iv. Create a plan. Write down the steps it will take to achieve the goal and put dates on it. Create a prosperity board where you put up the plan.
v. And then work towards it.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

I better work towards my goals as well. :)

Resigning

Recently one of my colleagues resigned from her job. We don't know the details, we can only speculate why she did what she did.

I can't say that the thought has not crossed my mind. But it's not such an easy step to take. The job market is tight and you can't think of leaving a job you've been in for six years, unless you find something much better.

One thing that takes a bit of getting used to is the politics in the workplace. That you find everywhere, be it a small organisation or a mammoth one. And you find the same kind of people everywhere. I got this advice very early on in my service, and it helps me a lot.

Last week there was a benefit given to half of our office that wasn't given to us. I was livid. When I met my boss a few days back, I brought it up. He too had been excluded from the benefit to which we were all entitled. But he was very calm about it, since we'd made a representation and now we would be getting it in due course.

Now it should not have happened in the first place, but it did. We don't have very good administrative and organisational systems in place - because ideally this should not have happened but it did.

All my boss said was, I've been here the longest, and they've excluded me. Implying that if anyone had a right to be angry, it was him.

And I agree.

Ke sera sera.

Kartik Calling Karthik (2010)

Directed by Vijay Lalwani, it is the third film starring Farhan Akhtar. And I don't really care what anyone else says - this film had me guessing till the very end!! I liked it totally and it was a refreshing change!! :)

I won't give away too much of the story. I thought that Deepika and Farhan acted well and came together well. She played the breezy, talented and smart modern woman to a T, and Farhan was awesome in both his sad and cool roles.

TOI gave it a 3.5 out of 5, which I agree with. It was a good way to spend Holi!!

We're all going on a summer holiday

It's going to be Holi weekend soon! Yippee Yippee Yay Yay!! Though it is far away, I'm still dreaming about what I will be doing on that weekend. Now, all said and done, I don't have to dream. Cuz I know that the weekend shall be spent cleaning out my cupboard, doing laundry and keeping away the winter wear!!

Summer in India is HOT. And I mean HOT. It's not a surprise that some of the books written about India reflect this theme. For example, Ruth P Jhabwala's "Heat and Dust" or "An Indian Summer"... are all reminiscent of this.

So yes, the heat is setting in. Soon life will be unbearable without A/C, which is why we're only going to start putting it on in the month of June. Because if it's hot right now, wait till it touches 40 degrees!!

I am planning a short trek up in Jammu. Let's hope it works out!!

Thoughts to ponder

Maybe this wouldn't hurt so much if we weren't in love, I thought. What happens when trust in a relationship dies?

Oh God, probably too melodramatic to start my novel. I should get back to reading P G Woodehouse for a few more months!!

I recently saw a film called Shattered. It has the cutie, Gerard Butler in it, and he plays the devoted husband with the adorable daughter and the cutsie wife. Ofcourse, all is not well though. A psychotic maniac in the guise of handsome Pierce Brosnan holds the couple and their child hostage and makes them do some bizarre things --- all the while taking pleasure in his sadist ways.

I thought the movie was quite rivetting. I saw it on Saturday -- a day that went brilliantly cuz I got published in the newspaper. I didn't know it then - I only found out the next day. It was a nice feeling to behold though.

I think that I should mark today in fact as a day that has actually changed my life and the way I think about things. I'm a little scared now though. Does that happen when life changing moments happen?

Reading Wuthering Heights (2010)

Yes, the novel was written in the 19th century.


And yes, I am only now reading it.


I shouldn't go into details on the novel. It's an age old love story which doesn't have a happy ending. It's about torment and longing, about how two people are meant to be together but the pressures of society and not following your own heart finally tear apart a friendship and a love so deep that it should have survived.

Is emotion that deep? Sometimes I think it is and sometimes I think it isn't. Does all that life revolve around is how much money you make? Is all that matters about a relationship what is the economic factor?

I don't know. Lately my husband hasn't been spending enough time with me. He goes off to do all sorts of other things but not what I want to do. A movie - Well, he's doing me a favour. What about an outing? A date? Nah, not really. Egad, sometimes I think if he's reading this, he should get a move on!! Romance in a relationship should never die - don't you think?

Sorry, coming back to Wuthering Heights!! Heathcliff, Cathy..... sad sad sad..... I loved the book though!!

I sound like a caffeine addict

Even though I'm not. But my last blog entry sounded like someone who was going into withdrawal pangs.

I'm happy to report that I've started my novel. I started it two days back with a burst of inspiration that I received when I took out my 2010 diary and had a flash of brilliance. Now I've started it and I've decided that the pen and paper format will be tried first, because that seems to inspire me more.

Today is a close friend of mine's wedding. There were a few pre-wedding ceremonies, but I was busy at office so I could not attend. Today is the main day though - so I'm looking forward to that. Getting the sari ready will be a hassle though! (As usual!!)

I'm kinda feeling a bit better today. This week has been particularly tiresome and more so because I was travelling last week so I couldn't recuperate fully. I plan on spending today drinking lots of water and chilling out in bed with my two novels. I'm almost done with the Rushdie and with Wuthering Heights. Let's hope I can finish both so that my tally on my book blog doesn't look so bad!! Because right now I have no books finished for January!!

All is well though.

I saw this film recently called 3 Idiots, and I thought I'd give my views on it. It's a light comedy about three young aspiring engineers and their stint at their college. It's a good parody on the education system in India today. I liked the film - even though I've yet to watch the part after the intermission! My husband has flat out refused to watch any movies in the theatre with me - I'm sure I've mentioned this before. So I have to resort to my own devices.

FIRST DAY WITHOUT FACEBOOK

Hmmm.... for one who lauds the positive effects of facebook, isn't it surprising that I've decided to get off this website?

I have my reasons, be sure of that. I found that I was spending at least one hour every day playing silly video games on that site, looking through friend's profiles and browsing various pages. All a waste of time.

I came to this conclusion this morning when I signed into my account and saw the same old, same old. Friends who never write, still never do. Friends who always write, are always there. A nice quote used to greet me every morning - I'll miss that, but I think that overall it's not a bad deal.

A few more hours in the day to read, exercise and take care of myself, body and soul. So I'm starting my blog entry with the title: FIRST DAY WITHOUT FACEBOOK!!

Friends

Recently a friend of mine told me what a great life I led. And I was like? What??? Most of the time I just shunt off from home to work and back. Now that I run my own house, my last thought while awake is : What will we eat for lunch and dinner tomorrow? (My husband and I eat a very standard breakfast).

She says I keep travelling and I keep myself busy. Which is true, to some extent. I do have some friends, but some friends are much closer to me than others. Some friends are truly caring, some are not so. Some have drifted away and some I'm not in touch with anymore.

I have a friend though who has stopped respecting convention with me - which is fine and good but really, one shouldn't let the other person take her for granted. This hasn't really been a very nice revelation for me: in fact I've been quite distraught about it. But then, you live, you learn.

I don't think much value is put on friendship these days. I recently saw a really funny movie called 3 Idiots (Hindi). That was a nice film to watch which breezes over some of the more difficult aspects of life that we as young people are facing today - be it from the competition to the stress levels.

Coming back to my hobbies - reading (solitary), travelling (usually with friends), watching television (solitary), sketching and drawing (solitary)..... it's a wonder why anyone could think that my life is happening? I go for exhibitions - painting, art, crafts, trade fairs - when I can and do keep myself busy visiting my parents, my in-laws, my grandparents ---- work keeps me on my toes and active.

Exciting life? I think the jury is still out on that!!

New Years Resolutions

Yup, it's now well into January and I'm writing my first blog entry for the year. Shameful?

Yes.

Actually, there really is no excuse 'cept for the usual dose of laziness that afflicts someone from time to time. I had made up a list of New Year's resolutions on the 1st, but then didn't write them down properly. So I decided yesterday when I was on a four hour train journey, to sit with my planner for the year and pen down what I wanted to do.

I came up with a list of ten resolutions, and I'm going to make each month a focus month for them, starting with February. See, according to me, it's better to make the resolutions like projects, with cumulative add ons. Each month you concentrate on one resolution while working towards the others as well. And then each shall be featured on my blog to show that if I can do it, so can you.

Now why have I been freaking out for the past three weeks? Cuz all said and done, I've had my fun for the year. No more chocolates (like at the rate I've been having), no more procrastinating, more focus. I'll even rope in my cute husband to help me.

So what are the New Year's resolutions you wonder?

Well, there is a list. I'm not going to bring it all out at once, but on it is included the creative side of me - drawing, painting, reading and writing. I've vowed to do more of that this year, and as part of that endeavour, I shall be posting entries on my blog regularly on things that I see around me. I am fortunate that way to live in such a diverse multicultural land called India where there is no lack of things to write about.