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
Friday, May 28, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, May 21, 2010
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
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
Saturday, May 15, 2010
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!!
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!!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
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!!
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!!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
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.
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.
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