In Rome

We heard these guys in Rome first. Enchanting is the word for their music. Thanks HotTiii for finding them on youtube.



I remember listening to this tune in some Hindi movie. My guess is that either it was Koyla or Karan Arjun. A Rakesh/Rajesh Roshan work for sure.

And for record, this is the original composition from which the inspiration is taken by the group. Another amazing piece of music.

EuroTrip - Day 69

Friday Night Fever

It feels nice to get up one morning realizing that your bank account has been replenished. You don't need to worry about that extra euro that you might spend to quench your thirst on a chilly afternoon. That you don't need to feel guilty for the word 'spending' itself. It feels so nice to even to imagine such a day. I woke up today doing the same. Now I am hoping that such miracles do take place in this world. Life will be beautiful then.

Talking about money, I have always wondered why these people have a currency denomination called 'cents'. It just does not have any value without another denomination called a 'euro'. I have collected dozens of 1 cents by now (I hate carrefour for that) and I know I will end up carrying them back home and using as souvenirs. It just not make any sense to take two hundred of them to a shop to buy a can of sprite. You just can not buy anything in those cents unless the count up to a euro.

Coming back to world of crazy dreams (I am going to juggle back and forth between some topics today). I feel dreams and abstractism have one thing in common. They are open to interpretation and you are bound to get different interpretation given different people, same person at different time, or for that matter the same person, same time but different mood.

We visited Pompidou today. The temple for people who worship abstract art. This inside out building hosts the Centre national d'art et de culture and is open to public for over three decades now. It hosts a permanent exhibition (in Musée national d'art moderne) as well as some temporary ones to showcase the work of some well known and some not so well known artists of our time. As apparent from the name of the place, the idea is to promote modern art. Currently, the central exhibition is focused on work by around 200 female artists from around the world to emphasis on the importance of women artists in 20th century art. Around 500 works of art are used to portray the way these artists have explored various topics ranging from sexuality to modern notions of junk. They have used various media such as paintings, sculptures, plastics as well as photography and videos. There are rooms dedicated to each artists or on a particular theme and apart from just a brief description from the artists they are left open to interpretation by the viewers.

I must tell you I have not seen so much of abstract work in one place. I just fell in love with it. Each piece of work is so different and can convey so many meanings. At times, I had a feeling that even I could do something like this - a lot of things were just too normal and we tend to ignore them from the word go. But then I realize that even if I could do it, I did not do it. These artists did it because they had the courage to do it. They did not bother what the world will think about them after seeing their work. And because of this courage that today people like me stand in front of those same works of art and appreciate them. Somewhere I read "I do what I want to do. Others do what they can." I guess it beautifully sums up my thoughts.

It was a sunny morning to start the day but as the day progressed the clouds covered the blue sky. I just hate such weather where the cloudy sky leave in anticipation of rains. You just feel too lazy and bored. A long walk turned out to be so boring that I literally felt sick of it. I have never felt so tired after a walk back home from college. I'm too tired to do anything useful now and I guess will hit the bed pretty early. It's my way to enjoy the Friday night.

EuroTrip - Day 68

Buddha is smiling again

Because the apple has finally fallen. A long wait. Some nerve wracking tense times giving way to moment of elation. I had dreamt about it recently. I just could not believe when I heard about it first time. I wanted to check it myself and I did the same. And yes, it did happen. The apple did fall.

I am talking nonsense right? It indeed is nonsense. For a majority of you in this world. But it matters a lot to me. Because it proves that there is still an element of luck in my favor. I don't want to attribute it entirely to luck. That will undermine the persistent efforts that we had put in. It's just that our efforts have finally fructified and I am mood to celebrate this moment.

It's 2:30 am Paris time. By this time a lovely sun would have risen in most part of India. I can not wait any more to call home and give them the news. Sometime this time differences make all the differences. I distinctly remember waking up my sleeping parents at around midnight when my IIMB admission result had come. I just could not wait then. I just could not wait today.

It's a new day now.

My iPod had the same playlist for more than 6 months for now. I just cannot imagine how did I let it happen. A new playlist is on its way. Karunesh and Coldplay are back on the list. I hope to find my Lucky Ali collection soon. It's been a long time since I heard him.

I just finished watching Pulp Fiction. Finally. I feel no shame in admitting that I did not fully understand the movie but I loved it nonetheless. I guess I will spend some time reading about it and other work by Quintine Tarantino before giving this movie one more shot. I want to watch a couple of Raj Kapoor movies too. They have been doing rounds in my mind for quite some time now. Now that my vacations is about to end, I hope to get back to my movie watching schedules soon [Isn't it ironical that I watch less movies during vacation as compared to during the college time?].

PS: Smiling Buddha was the code name for the missing to conduct the first nuclear test in Pokhran. Buddha smiled again when we successfully tested our nuclear technology for the second time in Pokhran.

EuroTrip - Day 67

Kisses on the Grave

There were no negotiations yesterday. It was one of those canceled classes that I had mentioned in one of my earlier posts. You turn up for the class but the professor does not. Luckily, the professor entrusted us with some task and allowed to claim an attendance for it too. We really could not afford one more rescheduled class.

When it comes to negotiate something in absence of professor, it does not take much of a time. We are just too good and the meetings get over in less than a couple of minutes. There is no disagreements whatsoever inspite having students from so many cultures and nationality in the class. Nobody wants to work even a bit extra if the professor is not taking a note of it.

So we had a break for ourselves. A long break. And the first thought that came to our mind when we realized a possibility to go out of college, it was about visiting Le Cimetière du Père-Lachaise - the world famous cemetery in the center of Paris. It's just a 5 minutes walk from our college so we could spend a good amount of time there. Last time I went there, it was about to close and I really did not want to venture a great deal inside the big place so as to get lost and then end up spending my night next to some grave.

This cemetery boasts of being the resting place of many a great personalities, the world famous author and lover Oscar Wilde being one amongst them. His grave is very famous and is high priority item in the agenda of every visitor to this place. BTW, could you believe that this cemetery sees more than 2 million visitors every year (almost a third of those visiting Eiffel Tower)!! Coming back to Oscar Wilde's grave, this tomb is unique in itself. Instead of flowers, Oscar's follower shower kisses to his tomb. There are lipstick marks all over the tomb and messages from hundreds of lovers. It's interesting to say the least.

There are thousands of graves here, few of them are really beautiful. These graves are a testimony to the person who is resting to peace inside them. They are full with messages and souvenirs from the family and loved ones. Each one special for the people for whom it matters. Each one is unique in its own sense.

There are more than one million dead burried here and this cemetery seems to be running out of space. What will happen then? I wonder. They will need to find some way. Every soul needs its own resting place, you know.

That was my second date with Père-Lachaise.
Today the day has been rather uneventful. I really don't know how can a marketing class be so boring. It just not make any sense to me why they need to teach so much theory about human psychology in a course of consumer behavior. One could go in that depth if he has lot of time at his disposal. However with just 10 classes to complete a course, it does not leave any scope for actual interaction or discussions about the consumer in the class. I wish I had a chance to take this course again in IIMA.

International Finance class was as interesting as ever. The arrival of good news that 'pappu pass ho gaya hai' made it even better today. Yes, I have passed the mid term exam of International Finance. Atleast for the time being, that is. I was so hopeless after that exam that I had to pray to godjee and promise him that I will be a good boy. I guess it is time I become a good boy. :D

EuroTrip - Day 66

Life @ ESCP

I have been asked this question many times that how do I find my life at ESCP? How are things here as compared to those back home (sounds cool to talk like this). I really feel it does not make a great sense to compare the two institutions as each business school has its own distinct culture. The cultural difference between two countries make this task of comparison even more difficult. So, let me just list down my observation about this place instead. It's Life@ESCP through my eyes.

1. While just one class per week schedule gives you enough time to prepare well for each class, the three hour long class is actually a big pain. You tend to lose the concentration how much ever you try to hold your attention to the proceedings in the class.

2. Canceling of classes is common. Some of the professors have buffer sessions to take care of cancellations and rescheduling of such classes.

3. Every student realizes and respect the authority and power the professors command. However, this does not translate to a feeling of respect the same way that we see in India. A professor's presence does not affect your actions and discussions.

4. There are no prohibitions. In fact, there is a basement bar in the college. Every week there are party thrown for some reason or the other.

5. I did not notice any smoke detectors and fire alarms. Smoking is not banned in open space.

6. Assignments are taken very seriously. The deadlines need to be followed.

7. Basic facilities such as printer and xerox are very expensive and require you to take a bulk usage subscription.

8. The student body (or whatever it is called here) elections are really the matter of pride. It's a long process and requires the parties (or teams) to actively campaign through various means. There are many parties thrown out for such campaigns. Free daaru and khana are the biggest attraction of such parties.

9. As the Paris campus does not have residential facilities, everything closes by 9pm. You are on your own after that - no library, no internet.

to be continued...

ps: Will update as and when something comes to my mind.
ps2: Screwed up marketing strategy again, no negotiations on it. I really think classes are becoming a fad now.

EuroTrip - Day 65

Back To Reality

Back to Paris. To our abode for these three months of EuroTrip. Back to the world where we have a 'home' to go back to at the end of the day. Where we go to college and attend some lectures. Where we need to bother about assignments and attendance. And about the stock of grocery at home and cleaning up of trash from the bins.

This world is not as bad as it might seem from my words. It's just a different world.

It's a world where we bother, just for a moment though, that we have been wearing the same jacket for last two months. And that the jacket is not black in color (Black is 'the color' in Paris). Our appearances do matter here. Even if we don't bother much about it.

It's a world where we bother that if not us, there is someone else in our group who really cares for his/her grades in the course. And we need to work hard that grade.

It's a world that reminds us that life in Europe is more stressful than it appears on the faces of fellow travelers in the places we have been. Tourism has taken a toll on the face of this world. The real self is somewhere hidden behind the mask that a tourism friendly city portrays. One need to stay longer and interact at a deeper level to get to know the real nature of a city.

It's a world where you don't find a single smiling face in the metro train unless that person is on phone chatting with his/her family or loved one. The higher you go on comfort, the lesser you see a friendly face around. It's the same back there in India too. A journey in AC compartment is the most boring of them. I think a traveler loves to share only if there is pain around. Comfort makes him a loner.

Here people are more willing to kiss in public than throw a broad smile on their faces. Take my word - smiles are really rare. It might contradict my earlier observation about this city. However I have to accept that I was wrong to a certain extent.

Here we are so glued to our laptops that we forget that there are other souls around us. The virtual world overshadows the reality.

We are back to a world that is more closer to that back home. The loose threads of email and phone calls are pulling us back to those old days. Days, when we had to bother about our resumes. About the job and the salary it entitled. Bidding points, CGPA, CV Points appear more frequently in our conversations than 2 months ago. We are no more in our dorms but the conversations are same.

We don't know which destination we will go tomorrow. We don't bother about it anymore. May be it's really what they call backpacking. Good or Bad? I don't want to judge. It's just the way it is. And it happened on its own.

We are getting back in form. We are getting back to reality.

EuroTrip - Day 64

Life is BARCAful

It's consecutive third morning when we have got up with beautiful Barca sun outside our hostel room window. Till today, each morning had been sunny but as the day progressed the clouds covered the golden sun and we had to just make good with a pleasant temperature. Today, it was different. The sun was out there greeting us a beautiful day. It was a perfect day to hit the beach. However all of us had this firm belief that if we hit the beach, that will be the last thing we do in the day before the evening train to Paris. It was difficult but we had to control our emotions and proceed to see some of the things that were not yet ticked on our list.

Plaça d'Espanya was the first stop for the day. Actually we happen to reach here just by chance on our way to the Olympic Stadium. It's really hard to imagine that they could build a stadium that can host in vicinity of such a huge establishment. It's only after visiting the stadium that we realized that the stadium was actually constructed in the first half of 20th centuries and actually had been a major center for holding various events of international significance. The architecture of rest of the Olympic park is very much modern. I wonder why did they not include even a small hint of Gaudi influence or may be a dedication to Gaudi in the design of this stadium. I really expected to see some connection to Gaudi in this place that played such a significant role in bringing this city to the world map.

As if the detour to Olympic park was not enough, I chose to take a different route again. Instead of hitting the beach, I decided to go to Tibidabo, the small hill situated close to Barcelona. The church situated on its top had caught my attention as soon as I had arrived in this city. When lit in evening, it looked really beautiful and I really wanted to get a closer look at the place. I reached here (alas I did not take the popular funicular train and took the bus route instead) on a sunny afternoon and was amazed to see the crowd at this place. This place is heaven for couples who come here cycling/trekking or by other modes. The cathedral is just-another cathedral but looks good next to a giant wheel on top of this hill. Such a peak is an unsual location for an amusement park. But the park which is located on Tibidabo hill is a very popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. They say, this place is the best location to get a panoramic view of the city. And I vouch for it. It's like being on the top of Barcelona. You get a good look of everything around. I really wish that I should have come to this place during night so as to see this city when it is really alive.

There are so many things that you can do in one city. Barcelona is the first city where we have spent so much time and tried to feel the beat. We still could not do it full. It takes a lot of time and more involved interaction to understand the psyche of a city like Barcelona. For last 4 days or so, we have made our life BARCAful. Hats off to this city.

ps: Title taken from Jalan's status message on gtalk.
Barcelona trivia: There are metro stations named Parellel and Diagonal in this city. I wonder why they needed to have names like this.