two bits

Two interesting reads from Today's news paper:
1. Job offer in store for Hanif

A government job, a teaching position in his alma mater and two leading hospitals in the city willing to take him in...jobs lined up for Muhammad Haneef Monday, a day after he arrived home from Australia to a warm but chaotic welcome after being cleared of terror link charges.

I am not at all surprised. Its all in the game. Big Brother repeated indeed. How these politicians and businessmen jump on to any opportunity of gaining sympathy from public. What happened with Haneef in Australia is really sad but then the events after this episode in Indian media are even more sad. Why do we try to make a hero out of every possible chance?

2. Mayawati to be immoratlised on celluloid

Titled "Bahenji The Great Sister," the film is set to be released in January 2008.
"The film's shooting will start next month. It will be shot in Noida, Bijnaur, Saharanpur, Lucknow and Agra. The script is based on Mayawati's own book which chronicles all her struggles and tribulations right from her childhood to her sweeping victory in the last Uttar Pradesh polls," Govind Agarwal, the film's music director, told IANS:

There comes one more not-be-watched movie. :)

And here is one more:
3. Tendulkar fails to deliver under pressure - Kapil

"Every time people hope big things from Sachin Tendulkar but often it is only disappointment that we are left with," Kapil told Aaj Tak, a Hindi news channel. "He is thought to be the backbone of the Indian team but many times he has not stood up to the occasion."

Now someone please remind Kapil praji about that teary eyed press conference after Match Fixing controversy. Remind him who resigns from the post of Coach of Indian team instead of standing by the whole team. And who came back to the game after the announcement "I will never come back to any of the post in BCCI." Sirjee, paisa bahut badi cheej hai. Aaj Tendulkar ko dekh kar jalan hoti hai naa. He never won a world cup for the country still gets all the honors. And then nobody will know you if you don't open your mouth every now and then. Ridiculous. Save your grace.

What you did not see...

Remember "Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2007" ?
If you are well aware about the happenings in state, you would recall the proposed ban on woman working in night shift. This was one of the most important clause of this act. But then there is something more to it. By chance I got to read about it in Bangalore Mirror some days back. Here is what I could gather about it from google -

Chairman of Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Siddalingiah has said that the Government will initiate legal measures against all those shops and business establishments, including hospitals, cinemas and organisations and persons responsible for public and private hoardings, that have not displayed Kannada signboards prominently, within 45 days from the day the recently adopted Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2007 becomes an Act across the State. Dr. Siddalingaiah told presspersons here on Wednesday that the Government was forced to bring in amendments to the Act. The existing Act had authorised the KDA to book cases against those who failed to display the signboard in Kannada, through the Department of Labour. It had also recommended a maximum penalty of Rs. 250 by the court concerned. It was noticed that a majority of the "offenders" were only willing to pay the penalty. Either the Government or the KDA was not against displaying signboards in any scheduled language of the country. But they were keen on displaying name boards in Kannada prominently, he clarified.

The proposed Act enables the KDA to collect an on-the-spot minimum fine of Rs. 1,000 to a maximum of Rs. 3,000.

It has also given powers to the KDA and the Department of Labour to register cases against offenders. Under the proposed Act the court concerned could now impose a fine of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 and three to six months sentence in case of first-time offenders. Second-time offenders would attract a flat penalty of Rs. 20,000 and six months to one-year jail term.

The KDA would launch a signboard jatha all over the State after the proposed Act got notified in the gazette, Dr. Siddalingaiah explained.
Story from Hindu

History is repeating itself.

When I read this news, the first thing that came to my mind was my recent reading about the experiences of common man in the similar kind of movement in Maharashta [I dont recall which one but one of the books by Rohinton Mistry deals with it in detail]. If they can do it why cannot we? And now KDA getting the authority for booking the cases and handling, you can be rest assured that they are doing exactly the same as what ShivSena did in Mumbai.

Its time to welcome Bengaluru.

want to hitch a partner

Do yea wanna [watch] partner? [G]o [watch] partner..
[But keep your mind safe in the fridge at home]

And yes, please forgive Govinda for the overacting. Once in parliament, he has lost it all. Oh no, I am not talking about losing weight [that he has gained in fact], I am talking about his so-called acting ability.
And yes, please forgive Salman for the overacting. Somehow it has made into his mind that for doing comedy you need to behave the Himesh way.
And yes, please forgive Katrina, for the no-acting. Her looks can compensate for anything.
And yes, please forgive Lara, for the no-acting. Her big boobs can compensate for anything.
And yes, please forgive Rajpal, he is just doing what he was asked to.
And yes, please forgive David Dhavan, he has his own style of comedy and trust me it is better than many others.
And yes, please do not compare it with Hitch. The scene by scene matching is just by coincidence. I am sure many of you wouldn't have watched it anyways.
And yes, please do listen to all the dialogues. Some of them are brilliant and you would really enjoy them.

If you are really looking for some lighter moments, just go for it.

iUse iPod

If you are one of the proud owner of an ipod then this post is meant for you only. I am sure by now you must be tired to connecting the ipod to computer for charging. Imagine your last weekend trip when the ipod went dead coz you could not charge it there.
There is a charger available for such a scenario. Check it out on apple website at accessories section.
And the good news here is that this is available in eZone for Rs 500 as against the tag price of Rs 1800. Its original and it works. No catch.
So just go and grab it before the offer closes.

ps: Only glitch is that the connector would be US style power plug. You need a adapter for Indian connections. It costs 8-10 rs and can be found in your neighbourhood electrician shop.

here there everywhere...

"I took a heavenly ride through one silence
I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life"
- Pink Floyd in Coming Back to Life.

Its been a break of sort for me from the blog. In fact my last post got me some "is everything OK?" mails and msgs from my well-wishers. :) I didn't mean it that way. Just that it was a Monday morning and then somehow I got caught up in work and life.

I actually thought of writing something last night, but then in Bangalore virus of laziness is spreading like bird flue in some north-eastern states. It rains or not, it is too sleepy and then I am having cold too. Let me assure you it was a casual leave [ and so please no more are-you-OK or get-well-soon msgs accepted].

Monica Bedi is ready for an entry and confidence is oozing out from her face. One of the reporter asked her "Are you planning to work in Bollywood or Hollywood movies?" Now someone please go and tell that gentleman that
One: Abu Salem does not rule Hollywood so there is no chance for her there.
Two: Abu does not rule Bollywood anymore, so there is no chance here too.
Three: She is not a hottie anymore [she never was].
Four:Go and do some useful work
[as I write this, I know from deep inside my heart that none of the above will actually happen and we are bound to see Monica in a movie or two. I wont be surprise if a movie comes out on her love and life with Abu. Given that, I still pray to god, Please Please Please, I wont be able to see a item number with her. Please]

A respectable minister in Karnataka has issued a statement saying implementing Total Prohibition in state will be a difficult task with challenges coming from inside the cabinet itself. I salute this minister. At least he accepted the presence of liquor nexus in the cabinet. Comments from Mr. Mallya are still awaited. Imagine Bangalore without Pubs and liquor shops. So much real estate will be freed in markets and commercial areas. Imagine!!!
For your trivia: Gujrat is a dry state and still you can find any type, brand of spirit in state.
Another one: When Arreck ban was implemented, state lost so much of revenue. What is the number this time, it will be a figure to see.
Food for thought: Will it help in anyway if selling liquor is banned in state. Will the roads improve? Will there be no floods, will there be no power cuts. Will there be no dowry harassment? Think think think...

In another interesting news, Kareena Kapoor has grabbed a 6kr deal for acting in three films. Did i use word 'acting'??? See we Indian have so much money to waste on non existing things. Remember what is called a white elephant??

Too much to handle these days. News is that Himesh is already flooded with offers to ACT in films. Sachin has learnt to express more nowadays. India has got a lady president and that Oz police is getting caught in their own trap. CIA is amazingly proving again and again that Mr OSAMA is in Pakistan and still US is not able to do anything.

Jaane kya hoga rama re...

Monday Morning Blues

It has been an altogether different morning so far. It's Monday morning after all. I am feeling an uneasiness in air. Something is wrong but I am not able to figure out what it is. Some days I wonder why do I find myself lost most of the times. Alone, wondering in dark alleys leading to nowhere. More questions than answer in my mind at this point. Why?

Today is one such days I guess.

PS: On a lighter note - title of this post translated to Hindi - "सोमवार सुबह के नीले रंग" :)

ticker is ticking

Today the game will surely reach extra time. Ticker is indicating favorable winds and no doubt everyone is happy.

Why shouldn't they be?

A jump of over 4$ [3.33$ EOD] on a single business day. And still correction has not settled in. E-trade portal is bound to see a traffic which will match the ticker trend.

I am lovin it. :)

*Chart taken from yahoo finance.

Kiss From A Rose...

There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea.
You became the light on the dark side of me.
Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can be seen.
Baby,
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.
Ooh,
The more I get of you,
Stranger it feels, yeah.
And now that your rose is in bloom.
A light hits the gloom on the grey.
There is so much a man can tell you,
So much he can say.
You remain,
My power, my pleasure, my pain, baby
To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny.
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby?
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen.
Baby,
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.
Ooh, the more I get of you
Stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom.
A light hits the gloom on the grey,
I've been kissed by a rose on the grave,
I've been kissed by a rose
I've been kissed by a rose on the grave,
...And if I should fall along the way
I've been kissed by a rose
...been kissed by a rose on the grave.
There is so much a man can tell you,
So much he can say.
You remain
My power, my pleasure, my pain.
To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny, yeah
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen.
Baby,
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.
Ooh, the more I get of you
Stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grey.
Yes I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you
Stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
Now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grey.

-A Kiss From A Rose by Seal.

Mehfuz by Euphoria

Zindagi hai dhuan to kya
Bujh gayi har subah to kya
Rootha mujhse khuda to kya
Ho gaye hum juda to kya

Faasle they hazaaron darmiyan,
Waqt ke they hazaaron imtehaan

Fir bhi ban ke nishaan,
Tere honthon ke kisi kone mein,
Hansi ke tarah, main mehfuz hoon

Teri aankhon ke chipe dard mein
Aansoo ki tarah, main mehfuz hoon

Bewajah har wajah to kya
Begunahii hai gunaah to kya
Beasar hai dua to kya
Ho gaye hum juda to kya

Raaz gehre hazaron bepanah
Lafz thahare hazaaron bejubaan

Fir bhi ban ke nishaan
Tere honthe ke kisi kone mein
Hansi ki tarah, main mehfuz hoon

Tere gesu ke ude pannon mein
Yaadon ki tarah, main mehfuz hoon

Teri aankhon mein
Mehfuz hoon
Teri yaadon mein
Mehfuz hoon
Teri baaton mein
Mehfuz hoon
Tere baalon mein
Mehfuz hoon

Faasle the hazaron darmiyaan
Waqt ki thi hazaron aandhiyan

Fir bhi ban ke nishaan
Tere honthon ke kisi kone mein
Hansi ke tarah, main mehfuz hoon

Tere kaandhe ke chipe til mein
Vaadon ki tarah, main mehfuz hoon

- Lyrics for "Mehfuz" from "Mehfuz (Euphoria)"

a moment of Eureka

While I was a kid, I had a hobby. I collected Matchbox labels. Not one of those hobby you can mention in your class 4th essay on "my hobby". Uncool to the core, you might feel. But somehow I was attracted to it; addicted might qualify too here. Not that my parents did not encourage me for it, but they hated when I used to pick match boxed from roadside and sometime even from garbage. Any parents would do that. But somehow it went on, and I had a beautiful collection of more than 3k different match box labels.

I cannot recall exactly when did I start collection those labels, but there are few memories from my early childhood that do have a matchbox collection. Dating back to class 2nd time, these stories of kids playing with match box labels as playing cards, sometime even betting like the way adults do, will always remain in my memories. I used to watch those kids with so much fascination when they used to trade matchbox labels like today's kids do with their hot wheel cards or Pokemon cards. Those kids cared about there toys that is to say these labels. And knew a lot about them.

Coming back in time, this Saturday when I was sitting in Mast Kalandar and enjoying yumm lunch, there is one more thing that caught my attention. There was a stand one wall with some picture post cards. Free cards for you. Some beautiful designs, an artist's work on display and for circulation. A photograph, a painting or just some crazy thoughts. Send them across to your loved ones. Back of postcard was a note - "to advertise, please contact..."The makers of card boasted of having reach in around 350 outlets in India. And in any criteria this number is not small. Not a bad strategy indeed.

And then popped another idea in my mind. Why not do the same on back of a matchbox label. Or rather have matchbox label as an advertisement. A childhood hobby giving birth to an idea. Let me put here what all my mind went through afterwards this moment of eureka.

PROS:
1. Reach: A matchbox is available in every household. Smoking makes them an indispensable part of our pocket. Think of the number and reach I am talking about. Its simply mind-blowing.
2. Cost: It will take practically nothing for getting them printed and circulated. No big licence money, no hording charges. No frills whatsoever.

CONS:
1. Limited space: Advertisement can be as big as the matchbox is. So it basically boils down to a 1 in x 2 in space. This is one big hurdle. But then there are always ways to solve such problems.
2. Choosing the Right market: What advertisement goes on the back of a matchbox is important. There is no point advertising indiatimes.com on the back of matchbox which is sold in a small time village. What inventory goes where takes an important role so. But seeing that each region has its favorite in terms of brand and company of matchbox [yes, unbelievable it is, but it is true], this one should not be a big issue either.

And here comes my favorite part.

Why cant we have alphabets printed on these labels. For a kid who can not afford a alphabet chart it can work as a building block for the same. Trade your alphabets with mine and we will have a full alphabet set. This can be really useful in villages. Education at its best and cheapest. They can have color names, shape names and what not. Practically everything we see in our KG and nursery class can be printed on them. Block by block that is. And for those unlucky ones in small villages these will be more than they ever saw in their primary school classes.

Just think of the opportunities.

I am surely doing it.

A Wild Sheep Chase

I just concluded reading A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami.

Finished reading it? Yes, at least for now.

Finished munching on it? No, not yet started actually.

It will be a long while before I can do so. For this is one book which will surely make you think a lot. To be honest, after a full read also I could not understand most of it, or at least the end. I cannot even say that the end was unexpected as I did not even expect anything. Just kept going with the flow and I reached the end. The journey is the reward, as the old Chinese (or is it zen?) saying.

I enjoyed each and every moment of the time I read it. Author is master of twists and turns. Its a mystery cum thriller cum philosophical story. Each and every aspect will takes its own time to sink in your mind and heart.

And I am all set for a second read to understand it more closely.

ps: Thanks a lot Rout. I really enjoyed reading this book. Your recommendations are really great every time. Keep it up. I am starting with "My Name Is Red" by Orhan Pamuk. I am sure its going to be one good read as usual. :)

dama dam mast kalandar

I always thought there are two restaurants in Bangalore that a veggie must visit one Gramin and the other Samrakand. And then I visited Mast Kalandar.

This post is going to be a unpaid advertisement of sort. You can also call it my testimonial for the place. Or simply a story of love at first visit.

I happen to visit Mast Kalandar this Saturday with members of the-hangar. A usual lunch outing for most of us as the cook works strictly on 7 meals a week basis. So after exhausting all our options in Jaynagar, we headed to Bannerghatta Road. Sourabh suggested a place called Mast Kalandar with a side note that we will get nice north Indian food there, minus much frill. Who is asking for more!!

Mast Kalandar is situated on Bannerghatta road near Ranka Appartments. [There are two more branches in Kormangala and Indiranagar.]

From the outside the place looks like just another coffee lounge at corner. Swanky orange is the color of freshness that drips from every nook and corner. Menu consists of mostly combo meals with a dal variant, a vegetarian gravy, raita, salad and Indian bread variants. There are many such combos on the card so you are really no short in terms of choice. Then there are some nice and creatively thought starters. To drink you can always have a flavoured lassi or shikanji. And last but not the least there are sweets like Halwa and Gulabjamun to end your meal on a sweeter note.

The description does not sound really tempting??

Ok then consider this - The gravies here have an authentic north Indian taste [not like the ones you find in Saagars and Darshinis in bangalore], you can find yellow tadka daal and the gulabjaamun is served hot. Cleanliness of the place is just comparable to your mom's kitchen. The stewards are really cheerful and then there are magzines to read if you need to kill sometime. If you are a tech savvy person, then this place being a wifi zone can be another attraction.

Not enough reasons still??

Ok then here is the best of it: This place is brainchild of three SW engineers. The concept is to serve people homemade food at affordable price. And trust me, it does serve this purpose religiously.

PritS's review:
Food: 5/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value for money: 5/5
wallet Factor: Rs 200 for a meal of two

Some links:
Hindu's review
Rediff's review
Bangalorebelly's review
Hungry Bangalore profile

Boondein -Silk Route

OK, I am really late to have written about this album. Its been almost 11 years since this album came in market. But what to do? I recently got the chance to listen it full. And am a fan of Silk Route after it. Not that I did not like their songs earlier, but then those were the potential chart busters from a group. After I listened to the whole album all I could say was "amazing!!"
Nice soft guitar and a silky voice.
Silk Route rocks.

the journey is the reward

If I give you a tag line describing a person or phenomenon as "The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business", I am sure half of you would guess that person or phenomenon to be Steve Jobs. If you could not, then no worry. Just read iCon Steve Jobs by Jeffery S. Young and William L. Simon, and you will realize aptness of the tag line.

iCon is a story of whims and fancies of a college dropout whom the world today better knows as Steve Jobs. It tells us how sheer determination of a person can change the world. He did it with Apple, then with Pixar and then again with Apple. He dropped out of his college and never finished formal degree course, started apple at an early age [actually he did everything at an early age], then traveled to far lands in search of himself, came back more determined, then changed the way world looked at computers. Considering that he was thrown out of his own company, any one would think that he must be finished then. But not him, there came the long road to success. NeXT, then Pixar. The world saw it all. And then the ultimate return of the century. Apple was changed once he came back to join it. iTunes, iPod, iMac, Safari and now iPhone all scream his success story in words louder than the Hiroshima blasts.

But then is Steve Jobs only good-good thing. No certainly not. A rude person to the core, he did not care about anyone. Not even his friends. Loyalty had its own definition for him so did powers. He dreamt of something and then whole of Apple had to work their ass off to get that dream into reality. Nobody could ever question. Whoever came on the way, he was shown the door. And still he did create wonders or rather inspire people to make wonders. The world curses him for being a dictator of a boss but then no one ever really turned down the opportunity to work with him. For him it was always as simple as "my way or highway" and everyone chose the correct way.

You can be an arrogant, not-friendly, moody, impulsive, over-confident, i-can-not-lose type SOB but still there is always a Steve Jobs who in spite being all these, became a legend.

iCon is a nice read, and I would surely recommend it for anyone who likes to read about business leaders.

ps: Title is taken from one chapter of the book iCon. Steve Jobs also wrote a book by the same title.

Disgusting Movie Festival

Ever watched movies on a weekday evening on star gold or likes?
Movies like Chor Machaye Shor, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet, Chhote Sarkar ... list goes on...

You should have guts to sit through three hours of these bollywood crap. We at the-hangar are trying to test our limits by watching such movies daily. I am sure that very soon I will be vetoed out from my rights of handling the TV remote control, as most of the times it is me who tunes to these movies.

As far as I am concerned, it gives me a pleasure to watch such movies. There was a time when I used to think who would watch movies like Scary Movies and now The Epic Movie. But I know, in deep down my heart, I am an avid fan of these. They make me feel disgusted. As if I am sittting on a hugh pile of shit. With nothing but shit all around me.

Songs that make no sense in term of music or lyrics; dances which are no good then what we see on streets on ganapati days; comedy and jokes which can not even be tagged as PJs [and trust me after living 4 years in hostel and working 2 years in IT industry, for us PJ means a really poor PJ. Alas these movies can not understand the religion called PJeying]; emotions that can force you to move away from even a notion of it; and to top it no storyline.

Its disgustingly yuckkkk.

But still we will watch it, for the joy of it. And will keep doing it.
Sorry my dear fellas at the-hangar.

remember the titans

Thanks to Aditya, Remember the Titans has made such a long lasting mark in my memories that any moment of triumph over odds just reminds me of one thing - Remember the Titans.
I watched this movie n number of times in my hostel days, and still have its CD with me. For those days when "the goals seem farther than they actually are, when odds are against me and I am expected to play the game."

This Saturday was one such moment when I had the same experience. No no, I did not watch the movie as the life is going as smooth as silk. I watched a hockey match between DAD (Dream A Dream) team and FAPS (Frank Anthony Public School) for St Joseph's inter school hockey tournament. I happen to work with these kids from DaD for some time now but somehow could never see any of them in action with hockey sticks on a turf of KSHA stadium in Shanthinagar. This time as I heard of the match on Saturday, I made sure that I had my calender free for that time. I had to be there; to see it.

And I knew it was a time worth spent as soon as I reached there. All the kids welcomed me to their karmabhumi as if I was their most awaited guest. Somehow these kids always make you feel so special with their affection and love. This was the payback time for me. I had to cheer them for their important game against the team of giants [FAPS had many 5ft height players].

All the strategies made, warm up rounds done and then words of wisdom from Shashank. I am sure he must have said only one thing "You have to play with your heart as usual. We are going to win easily." So here comes the titans.
One hand is the team of DaD, with kids from Ananya and all the partner NGOs. They have learnt Hockey under guidance of Mr. Shanmugha for last few years. They travel at 5am in public bus from their school ~15km from city to reach the hockey stadium for practice three days a week. They have learnt to control their aggression and have started utilizing it in positive ways. They have learnt to trust the guy standing next coz they know its the only thing we all can do.
And they have learnt to be a team. A team that plays together.

Against them was the team from FAPS. From first look it seemed a touch opponent with a tough mantle. Coach looked fierce and team super enthu about their low profile opponents. It is so easy to get misguided by the outer appearance of a person or team. And here it looked more so obvious. They would have never thought that the match will turn out to be a nightmarish experience for them.

Two 30m halfs with a 5m break between. 11 players against 11 players. And hopes and dreams of many more.
First few minutes, FAPS tried to attack. And DAD replied befittingly. But sooner it was turning into a one sided affair. While FAPS used long and fast shot strategy, DAD continued with their pass and short shots game. The coordination between players made all the difference between the two teams. The giants of FAPS tried hard with their flashy fast shots with a swinging arm. But every time they ended up giving the ball to one of the opponent player. DaD players on the other hand did their best to send the ball to forward line players, who in turn showed better of dribbling skills and coordination to take a shot at goal.
First half, luck deluded DaD but it was not long wait for them in second half. Within a few minutes the score reached from 0-0 t0 3-0 with two of the goals scored by the DaD captain Arun. The score does not say much about the efforts though. Consider this fact: while FAPS had more than 6 substitutions in first half [more than 15 overall], DAD has their first sub entering the field in second half only. DAD had around 10 shots at goal while FAPS could manage to do so only 2 in the whole match.

Overall a triumph. Win or lose is not the ultimate truth, its the game which is important. And surely DAD played the game well. Its the team which played there on turf and not the 11 different people. Considering that all of these kids have seen so many difficulties in life, this win just seem a befitting reply from them to life.
They kicked it right in the face with a smile on their face.

Here comes to blue...

Tijouri - avoid yaar...

Atria Group named this restaurant Tijouri as this is well hidden in some kind of basement setup. As you enter Atria Hotel, its lobby greets you with the majestic wall in background of 1498. Just across it in a distant corner is the entrance of the Indian cuisine food court called Tijouri.

There are two things about this restaurant that will make it a memorable experience for you.
First being its beautifully crafted entrance. As you approach it, with no standing guard in front, it gives you a feel of hidden treasure. Khul Ja Sim Sim are the words that can come out so naturally in such a situation.
Second would surely be the same entrance when you try to leave this place after a spoiler of food and service experience. It feels like heaven as you come out the place.

This Friday we went to celebrate the recent triumphs at some of us at the_hangar. Two salary hikes, one visa confirmation and one promotion, you don't need more reasons. So we chose a place which from its name seemed classy, well suited for this kind of celebrations.

But what an experience it turned out to be!!! Sad food, sadder service and even more sadder bill. Everything wrong from the word go. Let me list out the issues you might face in this restaurant:

1. There are two menus and only after spending a good amount of time over deciding about the starters and drinks that someone will inform you that one of the menu is meant only for drinks. The food items mentioned in that are not served in Tijourie.

2. Planning to order some mocktails? Never rely on the stewards suggestion as he does not seem to know about them. One suggested us that pink panther is gold coin apple juice based drink while after it arrived we realized that it is actually strawberry based cream filled drink.

3. As far as hard drinks are concerned, make sure that you place the order with all the necessary instructions as to how you need your drink. Make sure you mention number of ice cubes you want in your vodka else it would surely be a glass full of ice only. Mean time, if the steward drops any ice cube on your dress, don't mind it much.

4. Time for starters? Make sure you mention to them it is a starter and you need it served before the food. Again, go with your gut-feelings and don't rely on the suggestions. You are bound to make better choice.

5. Main course? Mention that it is meant to be main course. Don't get disheartened if it takes more than hour for food to arrive, even more rice coming before the breads or some of the dishes coming only after you are half done with you dinner.

6. There will be too many stewards flocking your table and you will never be sure as to who actually holds the responsibility of your service.

7. In the end comes the bill, which is no way worth the service. You feel cheated while paying so much for no service at all. A horrible experience to ruin your evening is just a add on.

Just avoid this restaurant if you take my words. There are hundred other ways you can spoil your day and waste your money.

Every dog thinks it is his day...

Saw this article in TOI today. Could not stop myself from posting it with the title.

Sachin called me a chucker: Shoaib

Karachi: Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has said he would always be grateful to Jagmohan Dalmiya for supporting him when his bowling action was questioned for the first time and took a dig at Virender Sehwag for calling him a “chucker”.
Shoaib said he had a “terrible” time during his first encounter with controversy when his bowling action was suspected to be illegal. “That was a terrible period and it really hurt me. The first time, in 1999-2000, was awful. I’m always going to be thankful to Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then ICC president, for his support,” Shoaib said.
Shoaib, however, said he had to face a lot of taunts about his bowling action from other Indians such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. “Sachin is a good batsman and humble person. (but) At the same time, I haven’t forgotten he once called me a chucker. I had to restrain myself. Virender Sehwag said the same thing and, today, he’s been chucked out of the team,” he was quoted as saying by the Dawn.
Regarding the dope episode, he said: “My own countrymen shunned me, with some even refusing to look at me. It was a terrible period. My hormone level fluctuates. I didn’t take drugs.”
Shoaib also often made headlines for being indisciplined on tours and quarrels with coach Bob Woolmer. “I admit to a big argument with him in South Africa earlier this year, when he suspected I was faking a hamstring injury. I exploded, for he had no business doubting my integrity and patriotism. Next day, Bob apologised as he was misinformed of my injury.”
PTI

The Quantum Theory:
AS says, "Every dog has his day..."
"Every bitch says that," replies Quantum.

हिंदी हैं हम

सेलम रेलवे स्टेशन पर फलों की दुकान के बहार लगा बोर्ड।
यदि आप तमिल नही जानते हैं तो आपके लिए ट्रांसलेशन कर देता हूँ -
"Fruits and Fruits Juice Stall" => "इफल और फल गूस दूकान"

Yercaud

Yercaud is a hill station near Salem, Tamil Nadu, India in the Servarayan range (anglicized as Shevaroys) of hills in the Eastern Ghats. It is at an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,920 feet) from mean sea level. The town gets its name from the lake located at its center - in Tamil "Yeri" means "lake" and "Kaadu" means "forest". Yercaud is known for coffee plantations and orange groves. It also has an orchidarium run by the Botanical Survey of India.

Last weekend we made a trip to Yercaud. Some of us have been there already, still the calmness and virgin beauty of the place compelled us to revisit it. From our last experience, we were sure that there can be many better ways to reach Salem (a unavoidable stop if you are relying on public transport) than to take TN State bus from Bangalore. And clearly we found one this time. There are plenty of trains that run between Bangalore and Salem. To our surpirse we could reserve tickets for the same just a day before the journey date. First phsae of journey was surely going to be comfortable. It indeed was. We boarded Ernakulam Express from Bangalore at 6am and reached Salem by 10am. Considering that we had planned a 3 day trip, we could easily afford to travel during day time. If you plan to make a two day trip, you can take nightly trains for salem and also way back.

New Bus Stand in Salem is around 3km from the railway station and you can take auto or tempos to reach here. There are regular buses for Yercaud from here. Frequency for such buses is about half an hour. Point to be noted is that these buses are really overcrowded sometimes. So you may as well let one go and wait for the next. We did exactly the same. We left one and then found comfortable seats in the next one.

Bus journey is Tamilnadu is an experience in itself. Each bus is equipped with 2 TV screening DVD quality movies. Some even boast of "5.1 surround sound system". Whatever it is, you really can not miss the movie or music they play. The driver makes sure that you can not miss even a single word of what a character speaks in movie. So we watched Chandramukhi. Last time I saw a Tamil movie was a similar bus almost 18 months back [on the same route].

Yercaud is 30 km from Salem and around 20km of this is a hilly section. The road is good and the greenery on both sides makes it a pleasent drive. 20 Hair Pin Bends [or HPBs, as they are called] make this journey a memorable experience. There are times when you can see atleast 3-4 levels of road below and above you. Amazing indeed.

It takes just above an hour to reach Yercaud [amazingly it takes more time in bangalore to travel 30km] The first thing is you as you enter Yercaud town is the lake which is situated in the heart of town. [There is a temple on the way from Salem to Yercaud and also some small waterfalls along the road; they are in the list of tourist spots in Yercaud]

Now that we have reached Yercaud, first thing first. Find a nice and peaceful abode for the stay here. There are plenty of budget and good hotels near lake. May-June is season time for Yercaud [we totally ignored this from the wikipedia page about yercaud] and thus had hard time finding a good accomodation. All the hotels were full as they have advanced booking. A little far from lake there are some resorts and bunglows where you can check in case of need. Excpet the transport part, they provide you a very good option of stay. We got a nice cottage in Thundreal Resort and as it turned out later, it was really good decision.

Travelling in Yercaud can be done on foot [all the common places and tourist spots except the Shevroy Temple are in a radius of 4km]. It is still not yet commercialized to have cycles on rent. For lazy souls there are autos and taxies availables. I would recommend to use your foot as much as possible as it gives you a lot of time to explore the place and get indulged in the beauty.

There are some so-called tourist spots in Yercaud and let me touch them one by one.
1. Lady's seat: This is a cluster of rocks on the south west of the Yercaud hills overlooking the ghat road and the city of Salem to the south. There is a sheer drop of about 200 feet at this point into a private estate in the valley below. It has a telescope house with a panoramic view of distant Salem and the winding road up. The spectacular view from Lady's Seat offers a complete panorama over the city of Salem with its twinkling lights. You can see atleast 7 level of road between Salem and Yercaud. In morning this place is totally covered with mist and clouds and is an amazing experience.
On the right of Lady's Seat are Sterling Resorts.

2. Gents Seat: It is located to the right of Lady's seat. It overlooks other side of the Shevroy range and thus has another beautiful view. You can enjoy windy evenings here.

3. Rose park and Children's Seat: Beautiful garden filled with roses of all varities. There are other plants and trees here and one can buy saplings for the same. Children seat provides another view of Shevroy range.

4. Pagoda Point: This lies on the Eastern side of the Yercaud hills and is also known as Pyramid Point. The name comes from the hill tribes having made four piles of random stones in a Pagoda or Pyramid formation reportedly to mark some event. Today there is a Rama Temple which lies between these Pagodas. One can get a grand view of Attur and Ayothiapattinam from this picnic spot. 5 km from town.
A morning walk to this point is a must. You can enjoy good breakfast in MM Resorts on the way back.

5. Monfort School:Monfort School was established in 1917 in Yercaud by the untiring effort of Bro.Denis. The school was named after the founder of the Order of St.Gabriel. St.Louis Marie Grignoin de Monfort. Its vast campus with attractive buildings, spacious play grounds, well planned and beautiful gardens, and a swimming pool which is the envy of all the schools in the South.
School is open for visitors on sunday between 10am to noon and then from 2pm to 4pm. Dont miss the chance to see one of the most beautiful school in south.

6. Kiliyur Falls: This delightfully breathtaking water falls is 3 km from the Yercaud Lake and should be visited after the South West or North East Monsoon. The surplus water from the Yercaud Lake and the other reaches of the Shevaroys Hills fall deep into the Kiliyur Valley in a breath taking 300 feet fall. The views from the bottom and top of the falls are breathtaking. The view from the top of the falls into the Valley is heart stopping. The trek to the bottom of the falls is only for hardcore trekkers as it takes about one hour from the lake to reach the bottom of lthe falls which is heavily wooded, but a good 2½ hours to get ones breath and trek back again. 7 km from town.
Sadly there is no water in it right now, and we could not go there. But soon it will be back in form and at no cost can you afford to miss it.

7. The Big Lake Or Emerald Lake: The first thing one sees as you enter the Yercaud town is this placid lake in a wonderful surrounding of hills and natural shoals. Also a beautifully landscaped garden on one bank. It has boating facility. This lake is the only natural lake among all the hill station lakes in the South. A floating fountain is constructed by MALCO , at the center of the lake. The lake is surrounded by a “Deer Park” and “ leisure park” and “Tamil Nadu Hotel”. Boat services are available at reasonable rate. Self Pedaling and Rowing boats are available. You have to pay the same amount as caution deposit. The safety measures are not at all followed.
Here you can spend as much time as you want. There is a small garden "Anna Park" just across the road. Nothing much to do there though.

8. Shevarayan Temple: The highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, which is situated at a height of 5326 feet. Hence the Yercaud hill area is called Shevaroy Hills.
The Shevarayan is a flat-topped hill with a plateau. The view from the summit on all sides is magnificent, one looks down on a mass of mountains and hills far and near, with the plains spread out like a map between the Shevaroys and the nearest hills. The Yercaud town and Nagalur is well seen from this hill. The Shervarayan Temple is situated at the top of this hill. It is dedicated to Lord Shervaroyan. The temple itself is a narrow and dark cave and seated inside are God Shervarayan and Goddess Kaveri representing the Shervaroyan Hills and the river Kaveri. The annual festival in the month of May is a colour event in which thousands of tribal people of the hill take part.

Other than these there are few more spots which you can visit if you time.
1. The Grange :This is one of the oldest buildings in Yercaud, built some time in the 1820's MD Cockburn the then Collector established the first commercial plantation in this area and planted Coffee, Oranges, Apples and other fruit trees brought from South Africa. The other coffee plantations in Tamil nadu are said to have originated from this humble beginning.During the Sepoy Mutiny, great efforts were made to strengthen the roof and ramparts were built with Gun emplacements and 3 Canons were mounted at vantage points. A large cellar was made to hold provisions for about 6 months in case there was a long siege and the Europeans of the Area had to hold off insurgents. Well this never happened and all was peaceful during those years. There is a well planned and executed Resort alongside the Grange, set amidst coffee & Orange plantations and Silver Oak Trees, a delightful get away for the well heeled traveller.
Currently it is part of The Grange Resort and you will need help and permission from the resort people to visit this place.

2. Orchidarium-Botanical Survey of India.:This is one of two orchidariums run by the Botanical survey of India. It has a large collection of native orchids. One can see the rare Ladies Slipper, an insect eating Orchid. A rare tree Shevaroys Bombax which was reported on one of the private estates has also been identified and multiplied in this farm. A treat for plant lovers. 5 km from town.

3. Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple : This is said to be the Goddess of all Gods in the Hindu Pantheon and by praying to her one can attain wealth and prosperit and be elevated to higher levels of spirituality.
This temple was founded by Tirukovilur Thapovanam Srila Sri Gnanananda Giri Swamigals Parampara Disciple HH Swami Poornananda Giri in the year 1983 and now succeeded by his son V Sri. In this temple the Godess Sri Raja Rajeswari is seen surrounded by a plethora of Gods.

Yercaud is a place where you can go to do nothing. Just spent some time with nature and yourself. And come back all recharged.
We did the same.

Information:
How to reach here: There are plenty of trains available from Bangalore to Salem. There are regular buses [from New Bus Stand] to yercaud from Salem.

Where to stay: Resorts and hotels of all kind of available here.
Sterling's Resort [near Lady's seat]
Grand Resort [close to Lake]
The Grange Resort[ on the way to Pagoda point]
Shevroy Hotel [ close to lake]
MM Resorts [on the way to Pagoda point]
Tamilnadu Hotel [next to lake]
Thundreal Resorts [5 roads, Close to Montfort school]
Clifton Inn Resorts [5 roads, Close to Montfort school]
And many more small budget hotels.

Where to eat: Most of the resorts have kitchen and restaurnet of their own. Food should not be a big issue if you are ready to compromise a bit of taste and service. There are lots of bhajji shops around lake and I would recommend everyone to try them atleast once.

Where to shop: There is nothing as such here for shopping. There are some shops selling perfumes and pain killer natural oils. You find them on hill stations. So my recommendation is refrain from the thought of shopping. :)

Final note: This place is aptly termed as Poorman's ooty. Dont expect interesting crowd here and sometime it is better to be away from popular tourist spots and spend time with nature.

Sources: Wikipedia