1. If you admire somebody from a distance, you make an image of him or her and you fall in love with that image and soon you are no longer in love with that person, you are in love with the image that you've created. And that image is the extension of your own fantasies, so that image is finally you. It's a kind of self-love. You forget that person and get very upset if that person doesn't match up to your fantasy. If you're grown up, mature, objective, you have to understand that people are not your fantasy.
2. We might believe we do things on the spur of the moment, but unconsciously we're preparing ourselves for the future.
ps: Read in a book called Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar
Dec 27, 2009
Jason Bourne, Mahatma and 3 idiots
In short I am back on Campus.
Here is a short review of the movies I have seen in recent times:
1. Making of Mahatma: Nice storyline covering some of the forgotten incident in the man's life. I have nothing else to compare it too. Still need to discuss the movie and the characters in the class so will update once I have more concrete opinion.
2. Bourne Series: I watched all the three movies in last couple of days. Just irresistible I must say. First movie got me really nostalgic about my stay Paris. It was a feeling like "I was there". Really nice pace in all the three movies.
3. 2012: One of the shittiest movies that I have seen so far. Nothing new. I tried so hard to watch it completely but just could not keep myself enthused for that. I wonder what did the world like in this movie!
4. Avataar & 3 Idiots - still to see. :D
Here is a short review of the movies I have seen in recent times:
1. Making of Mahatma: Nice storyline covering some of the forgotten incident in the man's life. I have nothing else to compare it too. Still need to discuss the movie and the characters in the class so will update once I have more concrete opinion.
2. Bourne Series: I watched all the three movies in last couple of days. Just irresistible I must say. First movie got me really nostalgic about my stay Paris. It was a feeling like "I was there". Really nice pace in all the three movies.
3. 2012: One of the shittiest movies that I have seen so far. Nothing new. I tried so hard to watch it completely but just could not keep myself enthused for that. I wonder what did the world like in this movie!
4. Avataar & 3 Idiots - still to see. :D
Dec 24, 2009
Dec 22, 2009
The Beginning of the End
Today is my first day of classes in this last term in IIMA. Another 70 odd days and I will be done with this vicious circle of classes, casemates and exams. Am I happy about it. I really am not sure. The senti nb is well on its way. I may not be those most vocal there but I know I am getting emotional about my time in IIMA. I missed these classes so much when I was away from the campus. I missed my dorm room and all the friends. They have been my life for last one and half year or so. They defined my life to a great extent.
Today I had three classes to attend and I really enjoyed each moment of those. I don't know why but classes here generate a wow feeling for me now. I see an awe-inspiring aura around my professors, something that I really did not feel during my stint in ESCP. This one last term is going to be a defining point for my career and life in general. I really don't know how much justice will I be able to do to it. Just hoping that I make the best use of it so that years down the lane I tell everyone "those were the days."
It's not the beginning of an end.
It's the return to innocence.
Today I had three classes to attend and I really enjoyed each moment of those. I don't know why but classes here generate a wow feeling for me now. I see an awe-inspiring aura around my professors, something that I really did not feel during my stint in ESCP. This one last term is going to be a defining point for my career and life in general. I really don't know how much justice will I be able to do to it. Just hoping that I make the best use of it so that years down the lane I tell everyone "those were the days."
It's not the beginning of an end.
It's the return to innocence.
Dec 9, 2009
EuroTrip - Day 86
Last Monday
The shopping list is almost done. So are the travel plans. A little more needs to be done on studies part and then the pack-up. The EuroTrip is coming to an end. I am left with just one more exam (that is on Wednesday) so for now it's a little relaxed for me. I can afford to do some more sorting of photos or catching up with friends before finally getting lost in the ppts that the professor had shown us in the class.
I am still to overcome the Swiss experience. It's a beautiful place worth its name and fame. I found it more of an adventure seeker's paradise than that for honeymooners. Still it stands right at the top on the list I have prepared so far. Just that Shreya and me might also do a bungee jump or para gliding if we ended up coming here. Not a really romantic thing but I guess she will not mind this craziness.
My bags look over-stuffed now. I will have lot of trouble getting all my stuff cleared through airport checking due to weight limits. I wish they had provision for allowing compensation for personal weight loss in your baggage limit. I would have got at least 10kg leeway. :)
The shopping list is almost done. So are the travel plans. A little more needs to be done on studies part and then the pack-up. The EuroTrip is coming to an end. I am left with just one more exam (that is on Wednesday) so for now it's a little relaxed for me. I can afford to do some more sorting of photos or catching up with friends before finally getting lost in the ppts that the professor had shown us in the class.
I am still to overcome the Swiss experience. It's a beautiful place worth its name and fame. I found it more of an adventure seeker's paradise than that for honeymooners. Still it stands right at the top on the list I have prepared so far. Just that Shreya and me might also do a bungee jump or para gliding if we ended up coming here. Not a really romantic thing but I guess she will not mind this craziness.
My bags look over-stuffed now. I will have lot of trouble getting all my stuff cleared through airport checking due to weight limits. I wish they had provision for allowing compensation for personal weight loss in your baggage limit. I would have got at least 10kg leeway. :)
EuroTrip - Day 85
6th December
6th December - this day is etched on my memories permanently. For all the bad reasons. There is nothing that directly impacted me. Still, some memories just refuse to fade away.
Today I got one more reason to remember this day. It's the day when the biggest cribber I have known was born. A mota-in-denial (as his dorm-mates believe) who plays guitar well. When he plays, he is so much into it that everybody is awestruck. Himself included. The brain behind some of the best t-shirt designs that I have seen. A smart-ass observer, he can be nasty when he is taking your case. Ask his girlfriend about it. A gossip monger to the core, he can beat girls in these art. A slogger by heart and by choice, he does not forget to crib about the hard work later. A nice mix of characters from every genre of t.v. serials. Call him by any name - TAClee, Nepali, Pahadi, Bora, Raju - he is the same. A good 'old' friend indeed.
Today, on December the 6th, I did nothing extraordinary. Got up, packed my bag, reached the railway station, shopped for souvenirs, played train-train to get a glimpse of Heidelberg and finally took my last journey in ICE. We might have reached the end of EuroTrip today. No more travel in this EuroTrip. We plan to spend next few days in Paris taking one last look at the city and giving an exam in between.
I'm still not euphoric about going back India. I am not sad about leaving Paris either. I just don't have any special feeling. What is wrong with me? Instead of running a countdown, I am listening to Enigma and Lucky Ali. I wonder if 'Aal Izz Well' with me!
6th December - this day is etched on my memories permanently. For all the bad reasons. There is nothing that directly impacted me. Still, some memories just refuse to fade away.
Today I got one more reason to remember this day. It's the day when the biggest cribber I have known was born. A mota-in-denial (as his dorm-mates believe) who plays guitar well. When he plays, he is so much into it that everybody is awestruck. Himself included. The brain behind some of the best t-shirt designs that I have seen. A smart-ass observer, he can be nasty when he is taking your case. Ask his girlfriend about it. A gossip monger to the core, he can beat girls in these art. A slogger by heart and by choice, he does not forget to crib about the hard work later. A nice mix of characters from every genre of t.v. serials. Call him by any name - TAClee, Nepali, Pahadi, Bora, Raju - he is the same. A good 'old' friend indeed.
Today, on December the 6th, I did nothing extraordinary. Got up, packed my bag, reached the railway station, shopped for souvenirs, played train-train to get a glimpse of Heidelberg and finally took my last journey in ICE. We might have reached the end of EuroTrip today. No more travel in this EuroTrip. We plan to spend next few days in Paris taking one last look at the city and giving an exam in between.
I'm still not euphoric about going back India. I am not sad about leaving Paris either. I just don't have any special feeling. What is wrong with me? Instead of running a countdown, I am listening to Enigma and Lucky Ali. I wonder if 'Aal Izz Well' with me!
Dec 8, 2009
EuroTrip - Day 84
Backpacker's Paradise
Get up early in the morning when everyone around you is still peacefully sleeping. Get ready and go for a long walk in some random direction. A nice refreshing bath followed by a simple yet filling breakfast. I have done this many times. Vayittiri, Goa, Abu, Maheshwar, Yercaud - the list is endless. Each such morning has been a memorable one.
Today I added one more name to this list - Interlaken. It's unbelievable to think that I never needed need an alarm to get up in right time on such days. The body clock adjusts itself, I guess. Today also, I was awake well in time to witness the sunrise in this beautiful little town in foot of the most beautiful of the Swiss Alps. However, the little cover of clouds in the east played the spoilsport. I missed the sunrise just by a whisker. But it was still a really beautiful morning nonetheless. Snowy mountain are a treat to watch when the first ray of the rising sun hits their peak and gives it a heavenly glow. The whiteness of pristine snow gives rise to a golden tint. The blue sky plays the perfect companion making the sight a treat to be cherished. There was something special in the air. Pure and refreshing. Melting snow gives rise to a variety of shapes. Kissing couple to dancing budhha - it's all there. You just need to open your eyes and let your creative self rule the vision.
Xmas is just around the corner and you can feel it in every town and village in this country. Interlaken's Xmas market started today. These festive markets are like small carnivals. Craftsman set up their shops in makeshift hut shaped stalls, so do the people selling traditional food and beverages. The decorations are carefully done and attention is paid to every detail. I had seen a glimpse of what goes into making such beautiful and vibrant market during my morning walk when I had exchanged some pleasant good morning greetings with those people. I am really impressed by their creative efforts. There is a passion which comes out so distinctly from their efforts. So far, Xmas celebration for me have been about enjoy watching these Europeans unleash their creativity. It's inspiring to say the least.
The traditional craft work in these markets are really interesting. Handcrafted wooden articles to glass souvenirs, woolen items and loads of other things - each one beautiful than the other. I really wish they were a little affordable. I would have so many extra souvenirs to take home then.
Interlaken is surrounded by two beautiful lakes (Thun and Brienz) and we had not yet been to even one of those. Today's itinerary had to include at least one of those. We headed towards Lake Thun. The direction looked simple but turned out to be real confusing. Or actually we really did not care about them. We kept walking - a long silent walk before realizing that we were literally lost. We could hear the sound of the river but could not see any water. There were hardly any soul venturing out of their cozy homes on such a beautiful day. So we kept walking. A couple of attempts to get some help and we were on a newer road. A beautiful golf course covered with snow, some trails for horse riders, a big field (which was still a field and no snow field) where parasailers were landing with perfection and a beautiful camping site on the highway. We had reached the lake somehow. A long walk listening to nature's music. Life could not have been beautiful.
Lake Thun is like the blue water lagoon of anyone's dream. Crystal clear water in the best of shades. Snowy mountains seeing their reflection as if to appreciate their own self. Ducks playing in the water. Sound of tiny waves splashing on the shore. Seagulls. Beautiful woooden houses with their windows opening directly above the water. No soul visible for miles. You and your loneliness. Just You. Heavenly is the word. It's heavenly beautiful and gives an ultimate feeling of inner peace. No wonder, I just dozed off dreaming of something beautiful. When I woke up, I realized it was not a dream. I was there in that beautiful world.
We stopped in a small little town called Brienz on our return journey to Lucerne. I wouldn't call this town sleepy as then I will be doing a total injustice to the inherent beauty of this town. It's just too content with itself. It has a small toylike railway station overlooking the lake. Beautiful houses with a small garden in front of them paint the landscape in vivid colors. Huge cowbells hanging in the balcony, snow covered rooftops and the white smoke coming out of the small chimney there, Xmas decorations on the walls and in windows - they are like the houses from the fairytale world. The town also has a funicular railway going up the mountains. With its steep path, this train would be an experience in itself. Lake Brienz is no less beautiful than Thun. It's blue shades are a notch up and the snowy mountain even more beautiful. The dreamworld follows you wherever you go in this part of the world. I don't know how many picture did I click, none of them would be real justice to the beauty of this place, I can say right away.
Rest of the journey on Golden Pass Line was just the continuation of our dream. We were tired after the long walk. So it will be difficult to figure out when we were actually dreaming and when we were living the dream.
Lucerne is one of the major tourist hub in this part of Switzerland. It's really touristic. We did not really want to be the tourists today so a small walk along the famous wooden bridge and we were back to the railway station to catch our train for Mannheim. To our bad-luck the train got late (oh yes, DB is notoriously famous for its late trains in this part of the world) and we missed our connecting train to Bora's private station. A long walk at mid night to find his hostel was not a bad experience. It made me prove once again that I am not bad with directions. :D
A long conversation. Loads of random gossips. That is our time spent in Bora's company. It really skipped my mind that it was Bora's birthday and bloody bugger did not remind me too. So bad!! I am going to make him pay for this sin. What does he think? Just because he is getting older, he won't remind his forgetful foolish friend of a his birthday. He better be beware.
It's 4am and I should really go and sleep now. Nahi to kal alaram se bhi neend nahi khulegi. Nidhesh bhai ne mast bed ka arrangement kiya hai so I am dozing off for a long confy sleep. Over and out
Get up early in the morning when everyone around you is still peacefully sleeping. Get ready and go for a long walk in some random direction. A nice refreshing bath followed by a simple yet filling breakfast. I have done this many times. Vayittiri, Goa, Abu, Maheshwar, Yercaud - the list is endless. Each such morning has been a memorable one.
Today I added one more name to this list - Interlaken. It's unbelievable to think that I never needed need an alarm to get up in right time on such days. The body clock adjusts itself, I guess. Today also, I was awake well in time to witness the sunrise in this beautiful little town in foot of the most beautiful of the Swiss Alps. However, the little cover of clouds in the east played the spoilsport. I missed the sunrise just by a whisker. But it was still a really beautiful morning nonetheless. Snowy mountain are a treat to watch when the first ray of the rising sun hits their peak and gives it a heavenly glow. The whiteness of pristine snow gives rise to a golden tint. The blue sky plays the perfect companion making the sight a treat to be cherished. There was something special in the air. Pure and refreshing. Melting snow gives rise to a variety of shapes. Kissing couple to dancing budhha - it's all there. You just need to open your eyes and let your creative self rule the vision.
Xmas is just around the corner and you can feel it in every town and village in this country. Interlaken's Xmas market started today. These festive markets are like small carnivals. Craftsman set up their shops in makeshift hut shaped stalls, so do the people selling traditional food and beverages. The decorations are carefully done and attention is paid to every detail. I had seen a glimpse of what goes into making such beautiful and vibrant market during my morning walk when I had exchanged some pleasant good morning greetings with those people. I am really impressed by their creative efforts. There is a passion which comes out so distinctly from their efforts. So far, Xmas celebration for me have been about enjoy watching these Europeans unleash their creativity. It's inspiring to say the least.
The traditional craft work in these markets are really interesting. Handcrafted wooden articles to glass souvenirs, woolen items and loads of other things - each one beautiful than the other. I really wish they were a little affordable. I would have so many extra souvenirs to take home then.
Interlaken is surrounded by two beautiful lakes (Thun and Brienz) and we had not yet been to even one of those. Today's itinerary had to include at least one of those. We headed towards Lake Thun. The direction looked simple but turned out to be real confusing. Or actually we really did not care about them. We kept walking - a long silent walk before realizing that we were literally lost. We could hear the sound of the river but could not see any water. There were hardly any soul venturing out of their cozy homes on such a beautiful day. So we kept walking. A couple of attempts to get some help and we were on a newer road. A beautiful golf course covered with snow, some trails for horse riders, a big field (which was still a field and no snow field) where parasailers were landing with perfection and a beautiful camping site on the highway. We had reached the lake somehow. A long walk listening to nature's music. Life could not have been beautiful.
Lake Thun is like the blue water lagoon of anyone's dream. Crystal clear water in the best of shades. Snowy mountains seeing their reflection as if to appreciate their own self. Ducks playing in the water. Sound of tiny waves splashing on the shore. Seagulls. Beautiful woooden houses with their windows opening directly above the water. No soul visible for miles. You and your loneliness. Just You. Heavenly is the word. It's heavenly beautiful and gives an ultimate feeling of inner peace. No wonder, I just dozed off dreaming of something beautiful. When I woke up, I realized it was not a dream. I was there in that beautiful world.
We stopped in a small little town called Brienz on our return journey to Lucerne. I wouldn't call this town sleepy as then I will be doing a total injustice to the inherent beauty of this town. It's just too content with itself. It has a small toylike railway station overlooking the lake. Beautiful houses with a small garden in front of them paint the landscape in vivid colors. Huge cowbells hanging in the balcony, snow covered rooftops and the white smoke coming out of the small chimney there, Xmas decorations on the walls and in windows - they are like the houses from the fairytale world. The town also has a funicular railway going up the mountains. With its steep path, this train would be an experience in itself. Lake Brienz is no less beautiful than Thun. It's blue shades are a notch up and the snowy mountain even more beautiful. The dreamworld follows you wherever you go in this part of the world. I don't know how many picture did I click, none of them would be real justice to the beauty of this place, I can say right away.
Rest of the journey on Golden Pass Line was just the continuation of our dream. We were tired after the long walk. So it will be difficult to figure out when we were actually dreaming and when we were living the dream.
Lucerne is one of the major tourist hub in this part of Switzerland. It's really touristic. We did not really want to be the tourists today so a small walk along the famous wooden bridge and we were back to the railway station to catch our train for Mannheim. To our bad-luck the train got late (oh yes, DB is notoriously famous for its late trains in this part of the world) and we missed our connecting train to Bora's private station. A long walk at mid night to find his hostel was not a bad experience. It made me prove once again that I am not bad with directions. :D
A long conversation. Loads of random gossips. That is our time spent in Bora's company. It really skipped my mind that it was Bora's birthday and bloody bugger did not remind me too. So bad!! I am going to make him pay for this sin. What does he think? Just because he is getting older, he won't remind his forgetful foolish friend of a his birthday. He better be beware.
It's 4am and I should really go and sleep now. Nahi to kal alaram se bhi neend nahi khulegi. Nidhesh bhai ne mast bed ka arrangement kiya hai so I am dozing off for a long confy sleep. Over and out
Dec 7, 2009
EuroTrip - Day 83
Snow fall and Swiss Cowbells
I am a jiddi. My mom would not disagree. Hero Puck Turbo, Philips audio system, those numerous clothes, accessories, watches, my decision to go to Bangalore, and to goa and what not! There is a long list of things that I have done that will remind her of my jid. Baring few I will agree to most of the things in this list. I have been jiddi all my life. So last week when I had planned to visit Switzerland once more in the last leg of our EuroTrip, I was more or less sure that I was going to come here. PooCh had his own doubts on my intentions (I still wonder why?) but still I somehow convinced him that we were going to Swiss bhumi once more.
SNCF tried its best to stop us. We found some way nonetheless. A long train journey was the last thing on our wishlist for this last leg of 'EuroTrip 2009'. But when you have got to do it, you have to do it. For most part of the morning and early noon we played the dreaded train-train game to reach Lucerne. Paris - Metz - Strasbourg - Basel - Lucerne - 5 cities, 4 trains and lots of sleep. I recall only the last leg from Basel to Lucern phase as we saw fresh snow outside our window. Damn! you could not open the windows of the Regional trains.
We were to spend very little time in Lucerne before starting the most important train journey of the day - the Golden Pass Line between Lucerne and Interlaken. I had my plans ready. First the visit to Tourist Information(TI) office and then to McDonalds to eat their McVeggi burger. Now even before you imagine me trying to ask some directions in the TI, let me clarify that I had gone there to buy a souvenir that had caught my attention during the last trip to this city. I somehow did not buy it last time and had repented all this while about it. Today, I washed off that sin from the past.
Golden Pass Line was the attraction of the day or for that matter of this EuroTrip. Lucerne to Interlaken - 2 hours of ultimate bliss. Fresh snow fall has changed the swiss landscape. Lush meadows, old houses, small railway stations, tunnels, snowy mountains, blue lakes - imagine nature's beauty and you will find it here. With a childlike curiosity, we jumped from one seat to other so as to not miss the magic of the snow on either side on the train route. It was cold outside, but that did not deter us from opening the window (Thank god! they did not seal windows of this train). We got so amazed that we just did not realize that it was getting really cold inside. I forgive the old lady who reminded us of this and asked us to close the windows. The view from behind the glass window was not bad either. Alas, it was getting dark and we had to drop the idea of getting down at some random station and spend some time playing with snow.
A little drizzle welcomed us in Interlaken. It is a small town in the overlooking three very prominent ranges in Swiss Alpes. Backpackers was my next jid when I had planned this trip. We had to stay in this very famous hostel. Thank god that our goofups during reservation of hostel bed did not cost us this experience. The window in our room gives an amazing view of one of the mountain close by. There are two Australians guys in the room who are on their way to Italy and have stopped here just to take rest. There are two Korean girls who seem to be the usual touristic types and then there is a third girl whom I have seen only once. Interestingly all of us are EuRail pass travelers. Nice coincidence, I must say.
Six o'clock is too early to lock oneself in the hostel. The cute girl at the reception suggested us to take a walk in the old town as there was nothing much to do in this town in nnight except the usual visit to some bar/pub/casino. A quick look at the map and we were out in the snow fields. It takes a map like this to tell that the snow field that we are seeing in front of our hostel is actually a beautiful garden. It had snowed a lot in last couple of days in Interlaken and there is almost 6-8 inch everywhere in the town.
The road linking Interlaken Ost to Interlaken Est station is one of the major tourist hub in this town that is otherwise famous for the variety of adventure sports opportunities it offers. There are loads of souvenir shops (interstingly, most of them run by Chinese) and some beautifully designed restaurants offering the world famous cheese fondue. Old town is close to the Ost station and offers a close look at the traditional swiss architecture. Did I tell you they use so much wood to make those large mansions? Beautiful houses, like those dream mansions that we plan to build when are kid. Wooden carving at its best. Some of them have been standing there for more than 2-3 centuries telling stories about the glorious past that they have seen.
Back in the hostel, everybody seem to going out for dinner and then party, so we were left on our own. A quick look at the bookshelf and I found the lone book in English. It was on some series that is aired on Nickelodeon. Horror, school romance, fun, thriller - all in one. I could not have asked for more. So I made myself comfortable on the cozy sofa and read it in one go. It was nice to read after so long. The hot chocolate made it even more refreshing and fun.
Our room is heated very well and the bed is really confy. I have taken the lower bunker this time giving the upper on to the kid amongst us. We have no fixed plan for tomorrow so we can sleep peacefully. No alarm clock needed for a change.
So that was day 83 of this Eurotrip. It's been a long day full with loads of excitement. We are two of traveling together still there has been loads of silence. I don't mind it as long as there is no specific purpose of the silence. We have talked a lot with each other in last three months anyways.
I am a jiddi. My mom would not disagree. Hero Puck Turbo, Philips audio system, those numerous clothes, accessories, watches, my decision to go to Bangalore, and to goa and what not! There is a long list of things that I have done that will remind her of my jid. Baring few I will agree to most of the things in this list. I have been jiddi all my life. So last week when I had planned to visit Switzerland once more in the last leg of our EuroTrip, I was more or less sure that I was going to come here. PooCh had his own doubts on my intentions (I still wonder why?) but still I somehow convinced him that we were going to Swiss bhumi once more.
SNCF tried its best to stop us. We found some way nonetheless. A long train journey was the last thing on our wishlist for this last leg of 'EuroTrip 2009'. But when you have got to do it, you have to do it. For most part of the morning and early noon we played the dreaded train-train game to reach Lucerne. Paris - Metz - Strasbourg - Basel - Lucerne - 5 cities, 4 trains and lots of sleep. I recall only the last leg from Basel to Lucern phase as we saw fresh snow outside our window. Damn! you could not open the windows of the Regional trains.
We were to spend very little time in Lucerne before starting the most important train journey of the day - the Golden Pass Line between Lucerne and Interlaken. I had my plans ready. First the visit to Tourist Information(TI) office and then to McDonalds to eat their McVeggi burger. Now even before you imagine me trying to ask some directions in the TI, let me clarify that I had gone there to buy a souvenir that had caught my attention during the last trip to this city. I somehow did not buy it last time and had repented all this while about it. Today, I washed off that sin from the past.
Golden Pass Line was the attraction of the day or for that matter of this EuroTrip. Lucerne to Interlaken - 2 hours of ultimate bliss. Fresh snow fall has changed the swiss landscape. Lush meadows, old houses, small railway stations, tunnels, snowy mountains, blue lakes - imagine nature's beauty and you will find it here. With a childlike curiosity, we jumped from one seat to other so as to not miss the magic of the snow on either side on the train route. It was cold outside, but that did not deter us from opening the window (Thank god! they did not seal windows of this train). We got so amazed that we just did not realize that it was getting really cold inside. I forgive the old lady who reminded us of this and asked us to close the windows. The view from behind the glass window was not bad either. Alas, it was getting dark and we had to drop the idea of getting down at some random station and spend some time playing with snow.
A little drizzle welcomed us in Interlaken. It is a small town in the overlooking three very prominent ranges in Swiss Alpes. Backpackers was my next jid when I had planned this trip. We had to stay in this very famous hostel. Thank god that our goofups during reservation of hostel bed did not cost us this experience. The window in our room gives an amazing view of one of the mountain close by. There are two Australians guys in the room who are on their way to Italy and have stopped here just to take rest. There are two Korean girls who seem to be the usual touristic types and then there is a third girl whom I have seen only once. Interestingly all of us are EuRail pass travelers. Nice coincidence, I must say.
Six o'clock is too early to lock oneself in the hostel. The cute girl at the reception suggested us to take a walk in the old town as there was nothing much to do in this town in nnight except the usual visit to some bar/pub/casino. A quick look at the map and we were out in the snow fields. It takes a map like this to tell that the snow field that we are seeing in front of our hostel is actually a beautiful garden. It had snowed a lot in last couple of days in Interlaken and there is almost 6-8 inch everywhere in the town.
The road linking Interlaken Ost to Interlaken Est station is one of the major tourist hub in this town that is otherwise famous for the variety of adventure sports opportunities it offers. There are loads of souvenir shops (interstingly, most of them run by Chinese) and some beautifully designed restaurants offering the world famous cheese fondue. Old town is close to the Ost station and offers a close look at the traditional swiss architecture. Did I tell you they use so much wood to make those large mansions? Beautiful houses, like those dream mansions that we plan to build when are kid. Wooden carving at its best. Some of them have been standing there for more than 2-3 centuries telling stories about the glorious past that they have seen.
Back in the hostel, everybody seem to going out for dinner and then party, so we were left on our own. A quick look at the bookshelf and I found the lone book in English. It was on some series that is aired on Nickelodeon. Horror, school romance, fun, thriller - all in one. I could not have asked for more. So I made myself comfortable on the cozy sofa and read it in one go. It was nice to read after so long. The hot chocolate made it even more refreshing and fun.
Our room is heated very well and the bed is really confy. I have taken the lower bunker this time giving the upper on to the kid amongst us. We have no fixed plan for tomorrow so we can sleep peacefully. No alarm clock needed for a change.
So that was day 83 of this Eurotrip. It's been a long day full with loads of excitement. We are two of traveling together still there has been loads of silence. I don't mind it as long as there is no specific purpose of the silence. We have talked a lot with each other in last three months anyways.
EuroTrip - Day 82
The Judgement Day
This post is meant as a declaration that I have almost passed my International Finance course. Today, I sat through the two and half hour long exam and came out satisfied with my performance. I will hopefully get good grades too. However that is just a secondary output. The foremost is that I enjoyed sitting in that examination hall and answering the questions that were thrown at me.
Throughout this course, our professor tried hard to make the subject interesting and exams less scary. And I guess, his efforts have paid off. He has a typical approach to teaching a subject like International Finance. I guess his vast exposure in industry and not-so-academic background should be given credit for this. This is one thing that I have found starkly different in most of the professors here in ESCP. They seem more close to industry than academia. While back home, we are graced with the best of academia in the country. Thus there is a stark difference in the approach. However it will be difficult to judge who's better.
I am missing the classrooms and the cases now. Just a couple of weeks and I am going to immerse myself in the those cases and readings.
God!!! I had never dreamt that one day I will wait to go back to those bulky spiral bound monsters.
This post is meant as a declaration that I have almost passed my International Finance course. Today, I sat through the two and half hour long exam and came out satisfied with my performance. I will hopefully get good grades too. However that is just a secondary output. The foremost is that I enjoyed sitting in that examination hall and answering the questions that were thrown at me.
Throughout this course, our professor tried hard to make the subject interesting and exams less scary. And I guess, his efforts have paid off. He has a typical approach to teaching a subject like International Finance. I guess his vast exposure in industry and not-so-academic background should be given credit for this. This is one thing that I have found starkly different in most of the professors here in ESCP. They seem more close to industry than academia. While back home, we are graced with the best of academia in the country. Thus there is a stark difference in the approach. However it will be difficult to judge who's better.
I am missing the classrooms and the cases now. Just a couple of weeks and I am going to immerse myself in the those cases and readings.
God!!! I had never dreamt that one day I will wait to go back to those bulky spiral bound monsters.
EuroTrip - Day 81
Aal Izz Well
Late night movies are not good for health. Irrespective of the number of hours that you had spent dreaming, you start the day on a lazy note. The more the dreams, the more incomplete your life appears to be. It's the law of the nature.
So while the poha that we were to have for breakfast became khayali poha, we resorted to the usual corn flakes - milk routine. Earlier during this trip, all my attempts of make Poha had met with cruel end (read - it looked and tested more like upma than poha). ConVo was my last hope in this far-far-away land for a nice plate of poha. Somethings were not meant to be. :(
At the Gare Du Nord, ConVo and I tried our luck to get some reservations done. 'No seats' - seems to be the standard answer for most of our requests. The amazingly friendly crew at booking counter is the only grace for SNCF that otherwise sucks with its reservation quota for eurail pass holders. Xmas is around the corner so getting reservations is even more difficult. ConVo dropped the idea of going to Luxembourg (damn! one less in country count). I persisted and finally got a really longer (and complicated) way to enter Switzerland. When you have to go, you have to go.
My last lecture in ESCP was rather dull. Even the presence of cute girl sitting next to me could not keep me awake in the boring one-way-communication called lecture. I wonder, why did I change my plans of staying at home (and studying) and ventured out on a cold and rainy day.
I tried my hands at bread roles one more and it came out even better. However, I really did not enjoy cooking today. I am not sure why. I don't want to cook just to make something to eat. Eating is just one of the end result of cooking process. If I think of it, the lunch was quite special today. Gunda made a nice mix vegetable which made our usual rasam chawal taste special today. A welcome change from eating aloo all the time.
I feel we all become too self centered. Today, this realization ruined my entire evening. I expect next couple of days to be hectic (mentally as well physically). But for now let me claim that I am not the only culprit here in this room. That's the only grace I have.
ps: Listen to this song called "Aal izz well" from 3 idiots. Superb lyrics by Swadanand Kirkire and a catchy tune by Shantanu Moitra. You are going to love it.
Late night movies are not good for health. Irrespective of the number of hours that you had spent dreaming, you start the day on a lazy note. The more the dreams, the more incomplete your life appears to be. It's the law of the nature.
So while the poha that we were to have for breakfast became khayali poha, we resorted to the usual corn flakes - milk routine. Earlier during this trip, all my attempts of make Poha had met with cruel end (read - it looked and tested more like upma than poha). ConVo was my last hope in this far-far-away land for a nice plate of poha. Somethings were not meant to be. :(
At the Gare Du Nord, ConVo and I tried our luck to get some reservations done. 'No seats' - seems to be the standard answer for most of our requests. The amazingly friendly crew at booking counter is the only grace for SNCF that otherwise sucks with its reservation quota for eurail pass holders. Xmas is around the corner so getting reservations is even more difficult. ConVo dropped the idea of going to Luxembourg (damn! one less in country count). I persisted and finally got a really longer (and complicated) way to enter Switzerland. When you have to go, you have to go.
My last lecture in ESCP was rather dull. Even the presence of cute girl sitting next to me could not keep me awake in the boring one-way-communication called lecture. I wonder, why did I change my plans of staying at home (and studying) and ventured out on a cold and rainy day.
I tried my hands at bread roles one more and it came out even better. However, I really did not enjoy cooking today. I am not sure why. I don't want to cook just to make something to eat. Eating is just one of the end result of cooking process. If I think of it, the lunch was quite special today. Gunda made a nice mix vegetable which made our usual rasam chawal taste special today. A welcome change from eating aloo all the time.
I feel we all become too self centered. Today, this realization ruined my entire evening. I expect next couple of days to be hectic (mentally as well physically). But for now let me claim that I am not the only culprit here in this room. That's the only grace I have.
ps: Listen to this song called "Aal izz well" from 3 idiots. Superb lyrics by Swadanand Kirkire and a catchy tune by Shantanu Moitra. You are going to love it.
I am
Listening
Mere Paa from the movie Paa (I want it to be the first movie that I watch after reaching home)
The Last Mohicans (This tune is literally haunting me now)
Aal Izz Well from the movie 3 Idiots (probably, I might end up watching this as the first movie after reaching home)
Watching
Wake Up Sid (not bad, though I really think Ranbeer has tried to play Hrithik from Lakshya)
Brave Heart (nice movie with a superb sound track)
Gladiator (watched it to relate to my experience from visiting Colosseum. Awesome movie and soundtrack. I can watch it any number of times)
Fight Club (well... what to say? the more I see this movie, I more I fall in love with it)
Reading
Animal Farm (one of the best of what I have read so far in this life)
Love in the Time of Cholera (I bought this book twice and ended up gifting to someone both the times. Right now reading it from an e-book, will buy a paperbound soon)
Eating
Bread role, Rasam chawal, Frozen parathas and Ready to Eat curries from MTR, McVegi burger (Switzerland rocks), Falafal (everywhere in europe), Bread and Nutella
Playing freecell on my nokia e63.
Doing lots of random shopping for this Xmas
Missing home and everyone there.
I am Pritesh Jain
and this is my life -
One moment at a time.
Mere Paa from the movie Paa (I want it to be the first movie that I watch after reaching home)
The Last Mohicans (This tune is literally haunting me now)
Aal Izz Well from the movie 3 Idiots (probably, I might end up watching this as the first movie after reaching home)
Watching
Wake Up Sid (not bad, though I really think Ranbeer has tried to play Hrithik from Lakshya)
Brave Heart (nice movie with a superb sound track)
Gladiator (watched it to relate to my experience from visiting Colosseum. Awesome movie and soundtrack. I can watch it any number of times)
Fight Club (well... what to say? the more I see this movie, I more I fall in love with it)
Reading
Animal Farm (one of the best of what I have read so far in this life)
Love in the Time of Cholera (I bought this book twice and ended up gifting to someone both the times. Right now reading it from an e-book, will buy a paperbound soon)
Eating
Bread role, Rasam chawal, Frozen parathas and Ready to Eat curries from MTR, McVegi burger (Switzerland rocks), Falafal (everywhere in europe), Bread and Nutella
Playing freecell on my nokia e63.
Doing lots of random shopping for this Xmas
Missing home and everyone there.
I am Pritesh Jain
and this is my life -
One moment at a time.
Dec 5, 2009
EuroTrip - Day 80
Eggjam Time
Finally. Exams are here. As a preparation, I had collected all those textbooks/case materials that had been hiding somewhere in our apartment. My laptop was ready with all the ppts that had been used during the class. On a very short notice, they could come to life and help me in preparation. I was ready for the exams.
Yesterday half the day had gone in the above exercise while rest went in actual task called study.
Today, it was the time to put those learning to use. One after another I was quizzed in three different subjects. And I did well. Hopefully I will pass (too) and will be rewarded with good grades.
The highlight of the day was the presentations in Negotiations class. As expected, everyone had put lots of effort in doing the small little exercise called introspection and had come with some real concrete action plans. My action plan seemed very ordinary in front of the well researched plan that everyone had put forward. It was important to me nonetheless. It was my action plan to improve my negotiations skills. Hopefully, I will be able to convert it into real action too and see some results.
I have just one class tomorrow and I am mostly in mood to bunk that class. The exam on Friday is a tough one and I know I need to do some real work to get good grades in that. Alas, this time I will be the only one preparing for this exam. I will have to put all the efforts myself.
ConVo and Gunda are in town and they are staying with us tonight. From our visa interview in Mumbai to today's (almost) night out in Paris, ConVo has been an good company to say the least. An interesting one that is. It's an Indorian gang at home tonight. I hope we get up well in time tomorrow to make some poha for breakfast.
For now, it's time to enjoy garma garam rasam chawal for midnight dinner and then Wake Up Sid. There could not have been any better way to celebrate the fact that we were half done with our exams here in ESCP. I am loving it.
Finally. Exams are here. As a preparation, I had collected all those textbooks/case materials that had been hiding somewhere in our apartment. My laptop was ready with all the ppts that had been used during the class. On a very short notice, they could come to life and help me in preparation. I was ready for the exams.
Yesterday half the day had gone in the above exercise while rest went in actual task called study.
Today, it was the time to put those learning to use. One after another I was quizzed in three different subjects. And I did well. Hopefully I will pass (too) and will be rewarded with good grades.
The highlight of the day was the presentations in Negotiations class. As expected, everyone had put lots of effort in doing the small little exercise called introspection and had come with some real concrete action plans. My action plan seemed very ordinary in front of the well researched plan that everyone had put forward. It was important to me nonetheless. It was my action plan to improve my negotiations skills. Hopefully, I will be able to convert it into real action too and see some results.
I have just one class tomorrow and I am mostly in mood to bunk that class. The exam on Friday is a tough one and I know I need to do some real work to get good grades in that. Alas, this time I will be the only one preparing for this exam. I will have to put all the efforts myself.
ConVo and Gunda are in town and they are staying with us tonight. From our visa interview in Mumbai to today's (almost) night out in Paris, ConVo has been an good company to say the least. An interesting one that is. It's an Indorian gang at home tonight. I hope we get up well in time tomorrow to make some poha for breakfast.
For now, it's time to enjoy garma garam rasam chawal for midnight dinner and then Wake Up Sid. There could not have been any better way to celebrate the fact that we were half done with our exams here in ESCP. I am loving it.
Dec 3, 2009
EuroTrip - Day 79
30th Nov - Monday
Mark this day in golden letters. It deserves the recognition. I spent almost the entire day doing studies. Yes, almost the ENTIRE DAY doing STUDIES. A rare and historical event of sort it is. There are three exams staring at our faces. So we don't have any option.
The day started with making a personal action plan to incorporate my learning from the course called "Positional Bargaining: Negotiation Workshop." An introspective account of my experience in last couple of months in that class. It was good. I am pretty sure I have done an honest work and tried to be creative too. Tomorrow, I will get to know the feedback from the class so hopefully there be a reality check.
The preparation for the course "Big Management Fads" followed. As the name sounds, the exam is also kind of fraud. Multiple choice multiple answers question from the things that were discussed in last 4 classes. It's an open book, open notes exam. However, I know I am not going to carry anything except my notes from the class (oh yea, I did make some notes here. 14 pages in total in my spiral notebook). A quick glance of the ppts (that the professor has readily shared) and the articles that were used as part of discussions and I was all set.
Last but most importantly, the group presentation for Marketing Strategy. We had a marathon meeting last Thursday and the group had almost finalized the ppt that was to be used in the presentation. Just a couple of big arguments to fix small details needed to be completed. And we did a group meeting for that. That too a group meeting in college (and not on skype). I just can not imagine me doing something like this in start of this term. But, I did go all the way to college to attend one meeting. And all we did in that meeting was to decide a theme that defined our team. It was a mendatory requirement for the presentation. Now that was disappointing, I had not come all the way to do just this. I had expected to see some discussions and arguments on the contents and design (did I tell you, we used a pink colored template) of the presentation. But all these group wanted to discuss what animal/song/line defines our team perfectly. And it just hit me. I don't know from where my creative (or not-so-creative) senses sprung into action and I threw blurted themes after theme. Sample this:
"They don't really care about us" - This is what our customers say about our firm and its products.
"E for Elephant.. oh no.. it is A for Ailment" - I wanted to call ourselves Elephant. haughty and really inflexible. We just could not take dynamic decisions. But Elephant starts with E and we wanted to make it beginning with A so we chose Ailment. Coz we could never identify the ailment that had made us suffer.
"Little moments of Joy" - We had reached 3rd position for a duration of one period and then our eternal fall started.
"Clueless" - We just did not have any clue of what was happening around us.
After a lot of crazy laughter and dirty looks, I settled for something less dramatic and came up with this lines from "The road not taken" by Robert Frost. It just fits our situation and the way we have behaved in this game. I am glad that the team appreciated it too and we have decided to call ourselves the team that took the road not taken. Here are the lines...
"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
I guess I am all set to face the exams tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Mark this day in golden letters. It deserves the recognition. I spent almost the entire day doing studies. Yes, almost the ENTIRE DAY doing STUDIES. A rare and historical event of sort it is. There are three exams staring at our faces. So we don't have any option.
The day started with making a personal action plan to incorporate my learning from the course called "Positional Bargaining: Negotiation Workshop." An introspective account of my experience in last couple of months in that class. It was good. I am pretty sure I have done an honest work and tried to be creative too. Tomorrow, I will get to know the feedback from the class so hopefully there be a reality check.
The preparation for the course "Big Management Fads" followed. As the name sounds, the exam is also kind of fraud. Multiple choice multiple answers question from the things that were discussed in last 4 classes. It's an open book, open notes exam. However, I know I am not going to carry anything except my notes from the class (oh yea, I did make some notes here. 14 pages in total in my spiral notebook). A quick glance of the ppts (that the professor has readily shared) and the articles that were used as part of discussions and I was all set.
Last but most importantly, the group presentation for Marketing Strategy. We had a marathon meeting last Thursday and the group had almost finalized the ppt that was to be used in the presentation. Just a couple of big arguments to fix small details needed to be completed. And we did a group meeting for that. That too a group meeting in college (and not on skype). I just can not imagine me doing something like this in start of this term. But, I did go all the way to college to attend one meeting. And all we did in that meeting was to decide a theme that defined our team. It was a mendatory requirement for the presentation. Now that was disappointing, I had not come all the way to do just this. I had expected to see some discussions and arguments on the contents and design (did I tell you, we used a pink colored template) of the presentation. But all these group wanted to discuss what animal/song/line defines our team perfectly. And it just hit me. I don't know from where my creative (or not-so-creative) senses sprung into action and I threw blurted themes after theme. Sample this:
"They don't really care about us" - This is what our customers say about our firm and its products.
"E for Elephant.. oh no.. it is A for Ailment" - I wanted to call ourselves Elephant. haughty and really inflexible. We just could not take dynamic decisions. But Elephant starts with E and we wanted to make it beginning with A so we chose Ailment. Coz we could never identify the ailment that had made us suffer.
"Little moments of Joy" - We had reached 3rd position for a duration of one period and then our eternal fall started.
"Clueless" - We just did not have any clue of what was happening around us.
After a lot of crazy laughter and dirty looks, I settled for something less dramatic and came up with this lines from "The road not taken" by Robert Frost. It just fits our situation and the way we have behaved in this game. I am glad that the team appreciated it too and we have decided to call ourselves the team that took the road not taken. Here are the lines...
"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
I guess I am all set to face the exams tomorrow. Wish me luck.
EuroTrip - Day 78
Christmas is all around me
One more of those unplanned journeys. We took train for Bern but got down at Zurich. A not-so-bright Sunday morning. Everyone is fast asleep as expected. Including the city. Empty roads - a welcome change, I must say. A new map and one more of those longs walks. To another lake front. Blue waters. And snowy mountains in the horizon. Morning dose of jogging and joggers.
Loss of purpose.
Return journey to find it back. Another long walk. Hundreds of shops and their glittering displays. No touch or smell - just the sight. Window shopping in true sense. A hot cup of coffee and veg burger in the McDonalds. A luxury mall with its festive decoration. "Welcome sir, may I help you?" I wish you could. Out of place and time. Running back to the real world. Migros. Lindt and some store brands. Shopping ville in the basement of Zurich railway station. And the Xmas market above it. Billy Mack singing.
I feel it in my fingers,
I feel it in my toes,
Christmas is all around me,
and so the feeling grows
It's written in the wind,
It's everywhere I go,
So if you really love Christmas,
C'mon and let it snow?
Train-train to go back home. Fcuk SNCF. Fcuk TGV. We are back to reality. Slow locals rock. 10pm arrival on a freezing night. Home sweet home. Rasam Chawal at midnight. A good night sleep. I am coming back to life.
One more of those unplanned journeys. We took train for Bern but got down at Zurich. A not-so-bright Sunday morning. Everyone is fast asleep as expected. Including the city. Empty roads - a welcome change, I must say. A new map and one more of those longs walks. To another lake front. Blue waters. And snowy mountains in the horizon. Morning dose of jogging and joggers.
Loss of purpose.
Return journey to find it back. Another long walk. Hundreds of shops and their glittering displays. No touch or smell - just the sight. Window shopping in true sense. A hot cup of coffee and veg burger in the McDonalds. A luxury mall with its festive decoration. "Welcome sir, may I help you?" I wish you could. Out of place and time. Running back to the real world. Migros. Lindt and some store brands. Shopping ville in the basement of Zurich railway station. And the Xmas market above it. Billy Mack singing.
I feel it in my fingers,
I feel it in my toes,
Christmas is all around me,
and so the feeling grows
It's written in the wind,
It's everywhere I go,
So if you really love Christmas,
C'mon and let it snow?
Train-train to go back home. Fcuk SNCF. Fcuk TGV. We are back to reality. Slow locals rock. 10pm arrival on a freezing night. Home sweet home. Rasam Chawal at midnight. A good night sleep. I am coming back to life.
Dec 2, 2009
Lakshya
My GK is failing me once more but the dozens of handsome hunks flaunting their fascinating army uniforms make be believe that Switzerland has a compulsory army stint for its young men. I have seen them in all the train journeys that I have taken so far in this country. Their well groomed appearances, typical backpacks and most importantly an even more typical army way of conversing and joking - it reminds me every bit of a person I wanted to become one day. I wanted to join Army for all these, let me accept it today. I guess, my parents did well to stop me get blinded by these charming face of army life.
Actually, if I look back today, I realize that there never were any serious discussions about me joining army, except a couple of mentions of Short Service Commission during my high school years. Mom wanted me to become a Collector (an IAS, not a ticket collector!!). Dad never really told me about his dreams for me. Him being a banker, one thing was sure that I had to study well and do something on my own. There was no question for succession. Moreover I knew from start that there was no way I could let their hardwork go rewarded by taking up just another job. Engineering and the job after that were my own decisions. So was the decision to quit job and join a business school. What I do for a living after my MBA will also be my decision only. But I know for sure, that my parents have put their full faith in all these decisions and have supported me with their heart and sense. I have no options but to take the wisest of the decisions and do my best to ensure that its in best interest of everyone. Now, after engagement, I have more expectations to take care of and there are many more dreams that need to be brought into reality. I know I have a companion who will support me in all these and more. I pray to God that we make our parents proud and happy.
ps: I just loved the movie Lakshya. I don't know why but I could not think of any other title for this post.
Actually, if I look back today, I realize that there never were any serious discussions about me joining army, except a couple of mentions of Short Service Commission during my high school years. Mom wanted me to become a Collector (an IAS, not a ticket collector!!). Dad never really told me about his dreams for me. Him being a banker, one thing was sure that I had to study well and do something on my own. There was no question for succession. Moreover I knew from start that there was no way I could let their hardwork go rewarded by taking up just another job. Engineering and the job after that were my own decisions. So was the decision to quit job and join a business school. What I do for a living after my MBA will also be my decision only. But I know for sure, that my parents have put their full faith in all these decisions and have supported me with their heart and sense. I have no options but to take the wisest of the decisions and do my best to ensure that its in best interest of everyone. Now, after engagement, I have more expectations to take care of and there are many more dreams that need to be brought into reality. I know I have a companion who will support me in all these and more. I pray to God that we make our parents proud and happy.
ps: I just loved the movie Lakshya. I don't know why but I could not think of any other title for this post.
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