Archana's journal

Mr Dutt and his joke on the Constitution of India

2009-01-16T19:30:00.002+01:00

Its official...Munnabhai is set to fight elections for Loksabha from Lucknow representing the Samajwadi Party. Unless something is wrong with my memory, was he not arrested a ton of times with links to the 1993 Bombay bombings? I remember reading in my 6th or 7th grade social sciences text book that once you're convicted by the court you cannot contest in any government elections. And his dear wife Manyata Singh, headed a campaign on boycotting the general elections as a voter after the Bombay seige last november....I am confused! Is India a big joke for these people?

London

2009-01-08T13:41:00.003+01:00

I was strolling from waterloo bridge towards charring cross station, by the thames, enjoying the golden sunrays stay the morning mist on the river and the city. When I reached embankment gardens, I looked back at the City of London on the horizon of the river and wondered, how can anyone not fall in love with London?

Only if I could swear in a title..

2009-01-02T17:14:00.003+01:00

The university I studied my PG at is ranked among the top 10 in the world. Its been exciting...the number of opportunities showered with and the excellent, excellent research facilities provided with. As a student or an alumni, I should be proud but here's why I strongly disagree with that list.
I received my master's degree certificate today. It is such a shame that there is absolutely no sense of satisfaction, zilch, not even a smile on my face when I receive it. Ofcourse, it could win an award for the worst design of a certificate (it looks like its printed out of a computer!) or actually it could go to some university in TN overdone with English translations on a cheap white sheet but that is the least of the matter. I worked hard, was happy, till September 15th that is, the day I submitted my thesis. I did not want to return to the university again, so I get together all my library books so as to return it. I go to the library, I'm not let in. My student card says it expires on December 15 so this must be a mistake I think and go to my department. Entry is denied there as well. I'm furious at this point of time, I donot belong here anymore? Registry is next and the bored gentleman there tells me that I will not be able to gain access into any of the buildings as I had submitted my thesis already. Its not logical I tell him. I havent received my results and what if I failed? I am still a student then, am I not? All of this more than one month before I receive my results. One day they welcome you with freshers fairs, parties etc when you're paying incredible sums of money as an International Student. A year later they kick you out without any prior information whatsoever. Why all the pretention then? Why say your card will expire on Dec 15 when it does on Sept 15?! I am just left there, stranded, opposite to waterstones, wondering if and how I'm ever going to get my degree, feeling cheated!
Come November 1st, I receive my results over the internet. I am disappointed with the system...it was not fair. I worked 100 times harder than a couple of my mates. I obviously did score higher than them but by 4 or 5 points. I expected the difference between them and me would be around 10 when it should infact be 20. I am shattered when the difference falls down to 4 or 5! Thesis are marked by different supervisors. Their supervisor didnot have a high standard while mine had really high standards for marking. I know these silly marks may not matter anymore at all but I would feel reassured if I was appreciated for the amount of work I put in. People who took three or four long vacations during the term period scored better than they should have...I should have gone on a long holiday too!
Since I have studied at two different universities in this country, and have friends in other universities, I understand how graduation ceremonies work. There is one in June/July which is mostly for UGs who finish term late spring. There is one in December and this is the one for PGs who finish term in September. The purpose of such a ceremony in this university is to have minimum number of students participating. There is only one ceremony a year which happens in August/September. My UG graduation ceremony was less significant purely due to my performance. My dear mother was looking forward to attending my masters graduation ceremony. I have my degree certificate now but have to wait until next September to wear a funny hat and go shake hands with somebody on stage and officially graduate. It doesnt make sense to me but I guess it does to them.
£16,500 later, I am not a happy consumer!

A loser's qualities!

2009-01-01T23:57:00.003+01:00

Little things, very little things drive me far away from people. While I should not (it is a cardinal rule for any single girl) make a list of what qualities impress me, I shall make one tiny list of some unpleasant things I have experienced when out with certain "guy-friends". Men with the singlest of these qualities turn me off, instantly!

A man who does not care to hold the door open when I walk in, yes like in Dostana...I didnt bump onto the glass door but I had to push it open and let myself out!
A man who does not offer to pay at a restaurant, for himself! Some men are just plain cheap!
A man who thinks he is too much of a man for household work
A man who does not let me go to the bathroom before the start of a movie at a cinema. Well, he doesnot feel comfortable telling people that the seat was occupied
A man with a strong Indian (any region) accent applied to English
A man who can talk about nothing but himself, his work, his family, his friends
A man who thinks he's inferior to almost every other man
A man who doesnot bother to introduce me to his friends when we stumble on them or his friends who cannot be courteous enough to say Hi!
A man who expects that a woman do his cooking
A man who thinks he is the smartest or kewl est or greatest of them all
A man who is a boy immature and sloppy
A man who has made an habit out of drinking and/or smoking and its worse when he thinks its cool!
A man who is always raring to show his physical strength
A man who doesnot listen to suggestions even if they are better
A man who insists a girl should either wear a saree or should not wear tight jeans and short tops in front of his parents
A man who is controlling
A man who walks in front of me rather than with me or better, behind me!
A man who does not offer to carry any shopping bags (have you seen Chinese men? They carry their girlfriend's Louis vuittons!)

and there are so many! I have lost the motivation to retrospect or write and so I shall stop here. It is at times like these I feel like punching those men but it happens every now and then with Indian men here and my mind repeats 'just another loser!'

I was 16 when I was swept off my feet last. I was 17 when I came here and 5 years forward, I still have my share of bad men, but others have....eh...luck? My dear darling friend back home, whom I have been very close and attached with for more than 6 years now is getting married. My mind insists that she is too young to be married and has much to live for. She has known the guy for 2 hours in total but there is little left to do when she thinks she is ready. Maybe she is, maybe it is love at first sight but I'm my rational self! So here's wishing her, from all my heart, the best in holy matrimony! It does rain men but it rains stupid men!

Recipe records

2008-12-17T20:08:00.003+01:00

For those who did not know, I am a fantastic cook (or atleast I'd like to think!). I absolutely love Italian food.. well actually any food as long as its vegetarian or chicken or fish. I shall record all my recipes from now on so that I dont spend time thinking in the future on what I'd like to eat for lunch or dinner. My first recipe will have to be 'Penne Giardiniera'. This recipe is inspired by the pasta of the same name served in Carluccios, the Italian chain of cafe-restaurants here. Everytime I go in there, I end up ordering the same thing...every time except for twice I think when I tried the ravioli. Okay, the recipe is the simplest there could be and is easy to cook.
Ingredients: (for two)
Pasta, preferably penne...other types like farfalle or shells can also be used but donot use spaghetti, the structure doesnt gel well!
1 medium sized courgette - grated
1 medium sized clove of garlic - finely chopped
1 spoon of grated Parmesan (you get this in Tesco)
1 small red chilli - the not hot variety - finely chopped
salt for seasoning
Olive oil

Boil the pasta in water with some salt added till its done. Drain it and keep aside. Meanwhile, take a seperate pan, pour in 1-2 spoons of olive oil. Put in the grated courgette and garlic and fry for apprx 3 minutes. Pour some water in between if you donot like your pasta dry. Add the chilli, the parmesan and season with a pinch of salt. Pour the courgette mixture over the drained pasta and mix well. Serve on a pasta plate with sprinkled parmesan on top.

On a completely different note, I started running again yesterday. Its been almost 2 years since I bought running tights and shoes from nike, thought I'll finally put it to some good use (specially after my dear friend in India commented that my weight is 'out of control' and I weigh 56 kilos!) But seriously, a healthy body, a healthy mind or so they say! Besides, Tower hill is so close to home and it is a serene place if one wants to run...and there are plenty running all day long. The weather on the other hand is horrid and discouraging. Not in terms of my body withstanding the temperature but my throat and the cold air donot make a good match. Would love to run a (short distance) marathon sometime...lets see if I can sustain this non-lazy phase!

Men and monogamy

2008-12-16T03:39:00.002+01:00

It is a cruel and difficult thing this monogamy and I think male chauvinists of present age agree with me. Flash back to late 1800 where a wife is namesake. The prime minister of a certain country flings with various women on his visit to various cities. The news about extra marital affairs were indeed public but divorce had not settled into the society. The mother educates her daughter about the importance of being patient and her need to please the husband. Extra marital affairs in western countries were mostly limited to men who could woo or force women into bed ergo the rich or the rich and powerful. Virtually every rich and powerful, young, married man would have slept with more than 3 women to say the very least. It is sad that the wives were merely legitimate child bearing, society pawns!

Across the seas in India, rich men did exactly what their contemporaries did on the other side of the world. Here I think, it is safe to include moderate to poor men too who, under the curtain of having a male successor, would easily be a part time husband to a second wife. Now if you remember Ashutosh Gowariker's previous movie Jodha Akbar, it was widely promoted as a love story untold or something on the lines of a love story. The magic of the movie per se the story failed to touch me then and it fails to do so now. The movie really pushes the envelope of love for me. Was the story of Akbar's low-on-life love for Jodha really a thing to be heralded? Was it not clear for Ashu the number of women Akbar had had "fun" (and I quote that from the cast) with? He should really have said that story..'the flings that Akbar had and how it affect Jodha'! But I sympathize with Ashu..as a director he would have gone for 'easy, no controversy, space for creativity, mass appealing' fake love story. If somebody scripts a story about Krishna (now that Ramayan is underway) may I suggest that it be 'Krishna and his gopika strees' or 'Radha, Rukmini and Satyabhama: how to cope with the mistresses'...still fail to understand Hindus worshipping deities who practice/practiced polygamy...here's hoping I dont the attract Shiv Sena!
Move over to the 21st century and I read that a certain MP, defamed, quit his post over his alleged affair with another woman. Now what exactly is it with men and monogamy? Why is it that men find it difficult to contain their feelings for one woman at a particular time? I dont read/hear about women having affairs as such. Is it because we still live in a male dominated society or is it because one single woman is physically less eloquent? or could it be both?

Theory of Continuity part deux

2008-12-07T03:37:00.002+01:00

Has it been more than an year? I guess one can start, or restart blogging when one does have some time on hand...and I do! I am not occupied by anything these days except for job hunting. Ah! the transitional phase between being a student and being employed...I think it can be compared to Jodie Foster travelling through whirlpools in the movie 'Contact', which is delightful btw.. Search for employment is anything but easy. First, because I know that I donot want to work as an engineer which funnily enough is my major! Second, the economic crisis! Everyday, I hear people getting sacked or companies shut down...is there hope at all? I continue to believe so as I donot want to take the other choice that lies in front of me! Third, maintaining financial stability when one is unemployed and this means cutting down on shopping and going out!
I hope to record my ongoing situations now...maybe one day when I am employed and successful, I can look back and smile!

Theory of Continuity

2007-02-06T15:11:00.000+01:00

Lets see, this is how it goes....a fairly young blogger, say just turned 18, who should not have been blogging btw, starts it all. She blogs two times a day but about a year later she's kind of bored. She realises most of her thoughts are just for the moment and are rather stupid. It all becomes lame. So about a year and a half later she stops to not look back at it at all. Then suddenly, she thinks, who could she have wanted to read it except herself?? maybe years later, to just shamefully smile at it...like I am now
Okay, I should know when to stop!! There have been a couple of incidences over the past few months where I've thought 'this could go on my blog!' and I didnt really want to after having given it up. But here's a start again, to write what I want and only when I want..

A couple of posts ago I had hated piracy.. I did...I truly did!! But you know, people grow and all that crap....anyway the point is that I'm against it no more! Though I'm not pirating anything myself now nor am buying any pirated stuff, I'd be truly happy if people depending on me financially downloaded pirated music, video and all that junk. When I bought my brother his i-pod, I did not realise that I was committing the most stupid mistake. But ever since I've given him my password to the itunes store, which he is constantly hacking btw, I receive an ebill of 79p every single day...whatever happened to all the pirated music!!

People, bring on piracy, piracy is good, love piracy and save my money!!

2006-07-10T16:07:00.000+01:00

and 3...a couple of pictures i took on a recent trip to the ghats .... the lotus very familiar to the ones that you find on wallpapers that come with MS windows :) More pictures to go but me too lazy to blog

2006-07-10T16:04:00.001+01:00

2006-07-10T16:04:00.000+01:00

football fever

2006-06-10T23:50:00.000+01:00

football fever
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Football world cup + summer heat + England + Manchester triangle + crazy fans + white and red + beer + cigarettes + cops on horses

what you're seeing is absolutely nothing! Unfortunately my camera's battery dried out right after this picture...before the event started... have i seen these many people? this crazy?? with so many beer bottles? not even when India plays Pakistan are we like this!! This is one football crazy nation where football comes way before life and its stars are Gods reincarnated! To us, Manchester happened entirely due to different reasons...it cud as well be our last time together.... we didnt know England was playing Paraguay today until the last but one station. The train station remained abnormally uncalm and the triangle, insanely chaotic under the scorching sun. People from all corners of mid-England started pouring in as time moved closer to the event...its even better with a pint of beer i tell you! By the time we step out of selfridges after buying Gucci sunglasses, its worse!! Guys [well girls included] are clotheless! Its like being in an exhibition at Palace grounds, the crowd moving around, no air to breathe, just cigarettes and if when we looked up, we could see heads of tall guys if not their naked shoulders...jammed!! we're nothing but happy....its new.... something that doesnt happen everyday :P! we find a place....just so that we can watch half the screen. they start singing vindaloo and we follow humming the lyrics on the screen... guys behind us are chanting "Kick the fuckin losers out ta daa da daa da" we hear, sniggering. they boo paraguay, we stay good.... they boo the tree thats restricting views "pull the fuckin tree down ta daa da daa da", we're good really good! they shout when the team arrives, we do tooo... at the start of the match, to every corner my vision can reach i see white and red and faces over that.... looks like the entire arena is painted red and blue! England score the first goal, we're still there, dumbed by the noise. We've had our share, we cant take it anymore, not this madness, not the hunger.....we take off to a Spanish tapas restaurant and luckily England won 1-0, so we didnt miss much!!

so you like me?

2006-05-25T20:30:00.000+01:00

so you like me?
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Took a couple of pictures of these kids when I was in Bangalore... Though I did enjoy taking pictures of them, I dont see myself taking such pictures again..
Some of them do look good, and into it went a little bit of cropping...

2006-05-15T19:30:00.000+01:00

DSCN3568
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

2006-05-15T19:29:00.002+01:00

DSCN3552
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

2006-05-15T19:29:00.001+01:00

DSCN3540
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

2006-05-15T19:29:00.000+01:00

DSCN3554
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

intensifying samaachaarrr

2006-05-10T14:47:00.000+01:00

Junior doctors at the Victoria government Hospital and seven others go on a strike after harrassed by a patients husband. It was a news channel that reported the news first and well, thats how i got to know and this is how it was broadcasted 'Govt doctors in Bangalore go on a strike' and I'm thinking what the hell??!! I wont go into the details why I think so, but I think for any doctor to go on any kind of strike, no matter what, is absurd!! think its irresponsibility...?

kalyani

2006-04-27T16:54:00.000+01:00

kalyani 2
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Alrighty....This is a Kalyani [a holy waterpool] in Nandi. Most of you would know Nandi as the nearest hill station/ tourist spot to Bangalore. But the name 'Nandi' comes from the village-town that is at the bottom of the hill. This temple/monument is the oldest of its kind you can find in and around Bangalore. The architectural style includes that of the Cholas, Kadambas and Hoysalas. Click on the picture for more pictures
Its special to me cos my parents were married here, I was born close by and well...its home..

2006-04-23T19:09:00.000+01:00

for all the 'religionlessness' and 'no belief in god' thingy, i was a bali ki bakri :D!! someone wanted me to post this particular on the blog.... :) taken during our house warming ceremony/ grihapravesham

2006-04-13T10:25:00.001+01:00

Update :Two more die totalling 3 in all... Several more including security personnel and police men are injured at the funeral site...

ಬಾನಿಗೊನ್ದು ಎಲ್ಲೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?
ನಿನ್ನಾಸೆಗೆಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊನೆಯಿದೆ?
ಏಕೆ ಕನಸು ಕಾಣುವೆ?
ನಿಧಾನಿಸು ನಿಧಾನಿಸು...

An icon, perhaps the biggest ever of the state dies and this is what it means...
Funeral today with State respect and honour for the actor at Kanteerava studios, a memorial to be built
His eyes donated as per his wish to Narayana Netralaya
Ofcourse, schools/govt offices and organisations remain shut yesterday and today
Advani's Bharath suraksha yatra called off in Karnataka
Any form of entertainment to remain shut today....cinemas/ TV channels etc etc
Mass hysteria throng the streets, gloomy weather over the state, life comes to a total standstill.
Tears grip the faces of the millions of fans/fellow movie stars descending to see the man one last time
State in flames..Mob turns violent, more than a hundred vehicles burnt in the city
Numerous lathi charge, tear gas attacks....several injured in stampedes and other violence....
A man is reported to have died after being shot by the police near Siddalingiah circle, a hotel is set on fire..
A film stars death, whose many movies out of the 200+ people have watched growing up, a screen idol who gave a new dimension to the 'Gokak Chaluvali' exactly 25 years ago, who was honoured with Padmabhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke, Karnataka Ratna, all this with him belonging to a Schedule Cast, truly does deserve the tears with which he is sent away....perhaps not the violence?

2006-04-08T17:01:00.000+01:00

okay....my camera has not yet been repaired ...unfortunately, the sea water infection continues to worry me at right times.. as you can see the picture is a ramanavami effect..this one a particular fav cos of two expressions..

far too long..

2006-04-04T16:54:00.000+01:00

ok, ok, i owe an apology...i've not visited blogs recently and i've not updated mine too. and that is cos i've been busy[finally!]....no, not with the university but back at home in Bangalore. yes, Bangalore! its been almost 10 days that i've been here and not a day have i stayed at home let alone check my mails and update the blog...so i guess this is called "busy" ?
I kind of felt wierd when i landed down, maybe it was a splitting headache, but i was shocked...one question ringing in my mind 'bangalore?' maybe i was away for a lil too long or maybe i needed some sleep....or whatever it was, its gone and i'm back to be being Archan/Achchu/Archu. And life just keeps getting better and better...
- with every face...around people who love me and whom i love, whether being pampered or even having a pillow battle for that matter.
- with every question...one thing most asked, 'why on earth have you lost weight?'. normally i donot care abt it, but i admit, it kind of gets me feeling good nowadays ;D
- with every song...well actually its paathshaala from rdb. Some Rang de Basanti influenced crazy friends forced me to race with them! in true rdb style...me n my car and them on their bikes....so if you see somebody racing along the road amidst heavy traffic you can be sure its us..
- with every mile...i've been driving nonstop for hours together and people with me are only happy to take a break from the traffic chaos....the no of vehicles are mad, me madder with my usuals like "oye!! yaako road nim taatanda?" [thats something like "oye...the road belong to your grandfather huh?"] its maddest to be following any rules in India...so break it all!
- with every movie... ha!!! i watched V for Vendetta again! kill me if you want to but i was at pvr cinemas today with my bro to watch 'crash' but its an 'A' certificated movie, not for below 18 year olds! so we changed it to V for Vendetta on Gold Class!! paid Rs.500 per ticket and as their logo goes, we were treated like stars! but if you ignore the crap, you can watch 10 movies at the same theatre instead of 1 for the same price. anyways, it still was the best luxury money can afford at any cinema in blore..
- with anything new...my new phone is an absolute hit than my 30GB ipod [which is obv better in terms] and i always knew it would be! Its a nokia 7280...I'm satisfied with the features and the main reason i chose it, it looks special! its not common, its unique and it makes you want to stop, turn back and take a look at it! absolutely! its a hit with my dad too though he's got a better one and finally, he's getting to know why i like stuff like these... :D
- with rajini/bhajini/ghajini.....its a tamil movie. I heard it as rajini, xxx thought it was bhajini and it was actually ghajini..Asin and Surya?! entertainment of the week....the movie was crap but we loved every bit of it, just like anniyan or chandramukhi [which btw, will be released in german and turkish lang] Apologies to all the Asin fans but I didnot quite see her as someone special...
- with every late hour of the nite...maybe darna mana hai at 2 in the nite or some insane people singing along with usher for yeah/ kanye west's gold digger [which btw is my mum's fav song at the moment :P] or fighting with them to see who's stronger..
to put an end to this post...with every step...that i took on commercial street today, the dust and the smoke, has infected my throat
so i say goodbye for now. I'm tired and i need some sleep..

V in Vain

2006-03-24T22:11:00.000+01:00

It is our friendly neighbourhood masked superhero who sports black skintight clothes and pretty hair…. but that’s not our tacky story is it? The villain is the evil communist govt in a former USA world running the UK. Our dear V is the guy who survives the tortures and our heroine is the doll faced civilian falling in love with this masked guy who rescues her from a couple of govt-rowdies, delivers a few wacky lines, saves her from her dreadful past [he , also wants to save the country, in case you didn’t guess]..…An utter mediocre story, ‘watch-able’ actions and stunts [by matrix people] make it a V for vendetta…and of course, the destruction of big bens!
The TV’s say it’s a hit…. the crowd at the cinema enjoyed the movie which leaves an ‘I’ in introspection. Off late I have had success in becoming a critic! Maybe the movie is bad or a tiny little miniscule possibility is that maybe I was not in a mood…but oh! the movie is not all that good!

And Sonia Gandhi…
She’s smart… whether or not she was honest is another issue. Holding an office of profit? the bjp must be so brainless to not to have a strategy! What they did is detrimental to their own party…. making them infamous among the commoners.

sexy...

2006-03-11T00:16:00.000+01:00

update : talking of music, pay attention on this!! The raghudixit project! Listen to his vocals, his voice will stir your soul....listen to his music, it doesnt leave your heart untouched.....listen to the lyrics, your mind will lead on... Not many people can create a successfully appealing blend of folk, carnatic and rock....it is impossible to classify the kind of music this man hums.....what i can classify it as is something different, something original, something beautiful, something rocking! Raghu is the talent, and his music a passion.....donot leave without listening to his music and that is an.....!

getting a few days off from school implies sticking to the television and books...i like watching nevvs...and ibn does it good! when a programme was on a repeat, i skip to B4U music..India top ten. I've not been following Indian movies or music much so better late! rakhi sawant is with her remix of 'budda mil gaya'.....i almost throw up my brunch! now for all of you who donot know, rakhi is India's Jordan with as little clothes on her body as possible...if you donot know jordan, please do some google image search on her. I feel sick, I go back to read something abt India and wonder where Indian music is heading to.....its either 'I'm no more an Indian' punjabi's screwing the bulbs and tapping their feet to punjabi rap/hip hop or these dumb remix stuff filled with 'look at me you idiot, i'm hot!!' girls at night clubs....
Incidentally, a friend here asked me 'are girls in India like that?!'
why doesnt the censor board make a classification of whats porn and whats not?

2006-03-08T23:06:00.000+01:00

edited..

2006-03-08T22:54:00.000+01:00

edited..

2006-03-07T12:59:00.000+01:00

edited, edited, original....first snow

but then it feels like christmas!

2006-03-03T22:37:00.000+01:00

the heaviest snow fall i've seen to date....finally it pays off after almost 4 months of below freezing point and the other days, just under a 5...

xxx philosophy

2006-03-01T15:10:00.000+01:00

' A man enquires 'is she drunk?'
she sits up and slaps the man...'I am not drunk, I'm Indian!!' 'drinking rots the mind, the body and the soul and stops one from accessing the inner truth. Hindus want that truth, we will not drink!' '
[exaggerated at times but truly hilarious....sarah macdonald's Indian adventure called 'holy cow']
I've not understood why even the word 'drinking' attracts 'i'm offended' glares among us Indians....what could be so bad?! for women though, its more like a crime....no good homely girls from good households drink. If you do, you're too bold, upfront and spoilt...and thts the gen. perception. well, it is not good or healthy [normally, disregarding the warmthness wine gives to the uterus], but its not bad too. considerations are not for health here....its just a social stigma which brings a bad name to the family and to the girl....

icecream brings me a cold!!
this is more scandalous than expected....
>morality...how can a person who drinks be less moral? this reason sounds the silliest...so counting it out..
>westernised?? people who drink are westernised...we've all got that element in us. its just branding it westernism or not...so this is ruled out too..
>socialising...who drinks to socialise??? people normally drink with people or without people to get on a high or maybe just cos they 'WANT TO' drink....nobody drinks because its 'needed' to drink while getting to know other people....not that i advocate it..
>health concerns...reality matters..you are not prone to suffering from serious liver disorders or pancreatitis if you drink once or twice in a month.....believe me and believe WHO, you'll get nowhere near to it! For the fact, some amount of alcohol is said to prevent heart disease and strokes to an extent. So, I guess the health factor is out too....
women's rights....i've never believed in fighting for womens rights. why fight for something thats yours? when its about doing something thats right or wrong....i donot think that drinking is wrong. its as normal as eating an icecream once in a while...and if its wrong/bad for some, i donot understand why....

affinity...

2006-02-23T23:59:00.000+01:00

UPDATE : for comments you can use the one at the end of the post....by 'rate your music' :D

comments...i'll try to fix it up this weekend...
Jai raventhorne....one extraordinary character thats beyond compare!
rebecca ryman, the author of olivia and jai, is actually fictious....this is all i could find out abt her! anyways, i picked up this huge novel, the biggest one i've read.....and it surprised me that i finished it in two days time!
an amazing love story set in british calcutta...an affinity between a half blood bastard and an english 'mem'....good read but i say, was too interested..
and whats the thing abt da vinci code....it did go on sooo wonderfully well but end tak nahin gaya..

aeon flux!!

2006-02-18T19:03:00.000+01:00

.......was the movie we were to see last friday. Bought the tickets, thirty minutes to go, we sat down for a lil chat.

me : [after a lot of topics..] i dont see good kid movies by walt disney in the near future...all they have is 'the wild' and 'the shaggy dog'
xxx : shaggy dog is by disney?
me : says so....oh! i should have bought lion king..
xxx : i've got a fake dvd back home...
me : [not serious ofcourse!] dont talk of pirated stuff....i'll call the police!
xxx : oh really? can you do that?
me : trust me i can.. i threatened my brother once. we had such a huge fight at home... mum had to interfere to call peace

seconds later..time for the movie..
the ticket collector [lets call him tc] : just tissues??
me : [uh? tissues? why dont guys carry tissues with them?!and why does he want tissues? .....convinced that i heard it wrong..] pardon me?
tc : those are just shoes in that box?
me : [what else could it be? an AK47?] a stunned expression on my face....yes!!yes ofcourse!!!
dumb ticket collector[now we'll call him dtc] : some people take video recorders with them...so i was just...
me : [video recorder? me? do i look like a criminal? what the hell?] HUH?
dtc : people carry video recorders..?
me : yeah....i carry a mobile phone!!
dtc : haha [an evil laugh]..screen 4...enjoy your movie!
me : [now looking at xxx] what on earth was that? why would ''I'' carry a video recorder? do i give a feeling of a 'pirator' or whatever they're called? damn...
sometimes life is just not fair....all bad things happen to good people! and most of the time the devil seems to target me!
see if you get the connection.....if you d/l pirated stuff, buy pirated cds or dvds for cheap, cos you think its too expensive originally, its not fair! its not fair for people like me.....and its so not fair for the artists who depend for survival on the no. of records they sell...
the music industry is charging sky high but that does not mean piracy is the answer. its like mehboob ali defending his actions....saying he accepts bribe cos the govt doesnt pay him enough!
its a complete circle if you get what i mean....so if you stop supporting piracy, it would help the artists a lot and mostly, it saves me a lot of embarrassment....me? a pirate? jack sparrow...annah maria? christ!
support is directly proportional to piracy...get the logic?
and, aeon flux is just an ok...

2006-02-18T15:27:00.000+01:00

not seen something this beautiful.....cant take my eyes off!! Happy birthday....love you so!

beautiful day...

2006-02-18T15:20:00.000+01:00

beautiful day.....[name courtesy : beautiful day by u2]

freedom of press

2006-02-15T15:40:00.000+01:00

cnn-ibn/south asia world as it is called here is a tie up with news biggie CNN operating in India for India. I discovered the channel while surfing for happenings in India and it was around the republic day that i saw rajdeep hosting state of the nation with country related polls blowing my mind away...
we are a nation thats surviving and growing between differences but yet a majority of us still being reserved. An avg of 30% placing the nation above religion or the contrary a startling majority of 70% prioritising something as simple and sensical as clean drinking water for all against India winning the world cup, nobel prize or more medals at the olympics...
beauty of democracy is the freedom we have to shout against dissatisfied activity by the people in the govt, freedom for me to call devegowda a drama king/hypocrite, protesting on a large scale or off late as i'm learning, the freedom of the press....inspite of the corrupted people we've got, our democracy just does me proud. Its logical for me that we've kept freedom alive in the form of democracy than giving it up by accepting anyother form of govt.
and the freedom, to strip the ministers in public, calling them rot is what the press [cnn-ibn with dig] has done..now remember that everything was caught on tape..
1. sumaru ram saroj [kirakat up, mla BJP]....bribed 5 thousand rupees for protection
2. anil kumar maurya [rajghad up, mla BSP].....5 thousand again. a poacher of endangered species.The guy carries a gun in his pants!!
3.the shocker...mehboob ali [samajwadi party, cabinet minister, UP] a drug trafficker of heroin and opium who offered to transfer narcotics in his official govt owned car for a price of twenty lakhs
4.rakesh verma[minister for prisons, UP] referred by mehboob ali
The reactions that i waited for were expected. A BJP spokesperson congratulated CNN-IBN than anything else, 'promising' action. The BSP leader kicked the media out of his house not wanting to react. The samajwadi party leader, Amar Singh shrugged saying the accusations are false. He currently does not want to react...

A BIG salute to B.K. Shivakumar and his team for actually risking their own lives to expose corruption that has rooted so deeply. If you've not seen the videos, visit cnn-ibn's website for updates and details.

how to end a valentines day..

2006-02-15T02:59:00.000+01:00

not a good kiss or a warm hug..try thinking of death...doesnt scare you? watch final destination 3...
I've not until today, met someone who's mad abt going to the cinemas as much as I am....name a movie worth watching that passed us by in the last 3/4 months! regular and loyal customers we are to cineworld bradford. A warm, red, love filled day....watched two movies, shopped a lot, ate a lot.....all woven around one philosophy..be happy!
the movies...
casanova.. slated for release on the 17th the friday, we got to watch it before the rest of the world did [talking of adv screenings!] with a casanova right with me and a baskin robbins [the only icecream i eat] in my hands :D! the movie does not make much sense towards the end but we absolutely LOVED it! heath, you're the closest thing to heaven!
final destination 3.. i had no idea what the movie was abt until we actually saw it! and god! still feel so uncomfortable....what crap at 12 in the night..'death is an energy that follows you'....even the sound of the curtain/blow of the wind starts making sense...and that might just be death..!
right enough...no movies until the end of next week is what we've decided but looks like there are a lot of good ones to miss..no roller coasters and no tanning too for the next ten years to come....watch the movie, you'll know what i'm talking abt..
bought 4 dvds for the week however..
sweet home alabama...seen it, like it
saving private ryan
lost in translation
finding neverland.....johnny depp :D!

2006-02-11T01:39:00.000+01:00

took some pics of the university.... richmond building @ the university of bradford....they're trying to modernise the look....so its half naked...

2006-02-11T01:30:00.000+01:00

soedt [chesham]...mostly the place i study..

2006-02-03T12:49:00.000+01:00

Arts [sorry it took so long ] got me on this one and I've not the
slightest idea why....so the tag....
1. The tagged victim has to come up with 8 different points of their
perfect lover
2. Need to mention the sex of the target
3. Tag another 8 victims to join this game and leave a comment on
their comments saying they have been tagged
so here is my perfect lover...

Sex : A GUY!

1. I just saw brokebackback mountain and I cannot wait to watch
Casanova, so most importantly my perfect lover SHOULD look like Heath
Ledger! preferably Indianised!

2. He should be super rich, a label freak....one who can afford to
take me to the high streets everyday...

3. Should be as charming as Richard Gere's character in Autumn in
Newyork!

4. A diehard romantic....considering I'm most of it, he'll make me
feel like a queen ;)

5. not a doctor...!

6. heads should turn towards us whenever we make our appearance
together in a crowd

7. should sing....a must!

8. DISREGARDS everything above, least cares about it all and WILL NOT
HAVE A "8 THINGS OR MORE ABOUT MY PERFECT LOVER LIST"! He'll be
confident and mature enough to just smile at such a list! Love is just
love.....as long as it happens between us without characteristic or
materialistic conditions binding it and as long as it lives on between
us its perfect!
Hmm....my lover will be perfect for me with or without any 8 things I
can mention.
I cant think of having a list, and he wont have one too...

Tagging on, Ashish D£$%&* this is for you alone....complete it and
please tag 8 people for me....please.....remember shrek2?

cats and a tag!

2006-01-29T13:04:00.000+01:00

cats in uk : bad....bad mannered!
we've got 4 dogs as pets at home in India. though i've seen them once in the last two years, they still surround me with utmost love whenever i see them..but pets here, donot ask! sitting on the steps i was gazing at the sky, my fav past time...this black cat, out of nowhere is standing 3m away from me, staring at me for abt a min. i waited for it to go away but its still there....no superstition but i cant have a good feeling abt a cat thats staring right back at me. i get up, muttered a gentle 'shoo' and that damn thing gave a giant leap towards me! one small animal, it was supposed to go away....not meowww me into the kitchen.....
not the first time.....sometime back i had a cat chasing me all around the management school

Ashish's 7 tag :
You shud actually let me know when you tag me!

7 things I plan to do :
I'm a good planner but executing them? I'm null! but....
-sleep.....immediately!
-eat.....feel like I havent eaten for weeks!
-fly a MiG....nothing to do with rdb but I've alvays wanted to be a pilot...old readers wud know..and the inspiration...aero show-India in Blore held every winter. used to go there as a kid, watched them fly over our farm house....never missed them until last year. Piloteering, maybe but I'll be grateful if somebody can lend me a MiG!!!!!!
-go back to India asap?
-take classes in photography this time...
-buy a new phone in two days time
-go on a holiday...soon....

7 things I can do :
-speak out, without caring.....leads me to being outspoken?
-put myself in a disadvantageous position/lose.....but I really dont care as long as I think I'm right
-cook.....always thought i'm bad at it....but know what? for a 19 yr old, 'never seen a kitchen' self taught cook, I'm good...I'm not that bad!
-be lazy.....probably the most complained thing abt me
-never tried it much cept my sis and bro and a few others.....but if you get me too mad, an extreme, i can punch or push you out of my way.....seriously!
-tend to be messy.....abt everything....my room's a big mess always! note : a big diff b/w messy and dirty
-time and again, i keep surprising myself [good/bad] with things I do or say

7 things i cant do :
-break an egg to make an omlette...i cant, i need atleast 15 seconds before i break an egg
-be a vegetarian....i tried to but i luv chicken too much
-dislike someone to an extent tht i hate them
-be punctual? impossible!
-do things faster.....i do things in my own time....shower - 45 min, wash my hair - 95/1oo min...dressup- 15min, coffee - an hour? eat - should'nt you enjoy your food....?
-shut my mouth while driving....have i not said this before?
-get along with everyone....there's one particular set of people i cant get along with

7 words i use the most :
-damn....my current fav...i've got no probs saying 'damn me, i'm bad !'
-dars, di, da, babes, sweetie.....limited to closed ones
-huh?
-':D'
-mmmmmhhh....? [anyone from home, on phone get this]
cant think of more!

so thats it! I'm done! tagging someone? anybody's welcome!

Arts, your's is next i promise :D

My govt...your govt...whose govt?

2006-01-19T20:50:00.000+01:00

TOI portrays a state crisis as a city crisis.....paints its front page a lovely red! A word to the paper...Karnataka isnt just made of Bangalore! The way you present something makes all the difference! but you're media and you just want to sell or should i say..'reach out'?
Karnataka, a fully visible huge state, in the south of India, up until i post this, is run by a coalition govt formed by JDS and Congress. BJP, though won the maximum no. of seats is pushed out of the scene cos of the coalition. Dharam Singh from congress is the CM, a puppet in the hands of JDS leader Devegowda...

chronologically....

Siddy has a row with H.D.Devegowda's son Kumarswamy on the leadership of JDS, attends a minority [kuruba] conference in Hubli against Devegowda's wishes......so is sacked from being a deputy CM and is kicked out of the party
Siddy joins congress as a junior [something is better than nothing]!
M.P.Prakash, a senior but more quiet leader, is appointed the deputy CM just as expected.
Kumaraswamy is still itchy fo power...wants to lead JDS and the state, is extremely unhappy about not given importance under the present congress govt. Devegowda cant help his son cos he's committed to the central govt and moreover there are other senior and more experienced ministers in his party.
kumaraswamy ditches his own dad, dumps other seniors, takes most of his witless colleagues into confidence ..
they elect him as the new JDS leader
Meanwhile, BJP, content with the happenings, promises full support to JDS if a new govt is to be formed..
the Kumaraswamy lead JDS, head to the governor's house, withdraw support from the present govt, leaving congress astray
Devegowda isnt happy with the developments, requests the governor to not consider till time
BJP, the biggest loser, gains....[desperate times call for desperate measures!] elects Kumaraswamy [the guy from the opposite party JDS] as their leader!!!!!!! call him their king....declares that they're ready for any sacifice to overthrow cong,Promises to make him the CM for the first twenty months!!!!!
M.P.Prakash and sindhia [ministers fom JDS] still stick to congress and provide support to the present govt.
dharam Singh, the CM, asks the gov for time to prove support
all in the hands of the governor..

things that will happen :
cong fails majority....resigns as the ruling party...
Kumarswamy is the brand new CM of Karnataka with BJP backing up...
Huge split in JDS...M.P. Prakash, Sindhia and others walk their way or simply join congress with the hope for a better future..which i cannot promise :(!
JDS vith kumaraswamy falls enormously......becomes incredibly unpopular...

distant dreams:
somebody suffers a heart attack to step back from politics forever
the BJP/ JDS coalition throws up
kumaraswamy and his gang is kicked out..
elections...[that i can finally vote in]
SMK returns to active politics for a CM.....
Congress wins
and i'm happy! I promise everyone a treat ;D

facts not opinions :
BJP is not a good enough government for Karnataka...people wont elect them, they are not powerful....but with all the confusion, looks like they are powerful..
mostly, people of Karnataka, omitting the vegetarian sect, support JDS/congress....
JDS without M.P.Prakash, Sindhia and other such ministers is nothing
The kumaraswamy lead JDS contains a bunch of uneducated ministers who were famous rowdies that i donot dare mention
implies we'll be ruled by people who are no good than some roadside pigs

Disclaimer : what i write is what i think....I donot care abt the changes that are happening....not at all...! The present govt's sleepy to say....so make way for another useless govt lead by a dubious moron supported by pathetic hypocrites!
and oh, does this mean Bangalore is not gonna be called Bengalooru?

Brokeback Mountain...

2006-01-09T00:19:00.000+01:00

''I wish I knew how to quit you...'' says Jack as he faces unending streams that lay infront of tall mountains, before bidding goodbye to Ennis..
A cold summer of 63, a story starts on the brokeback mountain, wyoming, when two tough cowboys meet to fall in love with each other. the talker and the emotional of the two, jack [jake gyllenhaal] invites a rather 'keep to himself' ennis [heath ledger] into his tent to avoid the nights chill, when passion sparks almost accidentally... its undying...an unreal bond that developed through the challenging blizzards and storms comes to an abrupt end and all they say to each other is ''see you around!'' time takes four years and a change in life to bring them together again. a twisted and tormented tale of love takes shape again in between real life, a shaken wife and lovely kids.... in between the mountains gaurding their secret.
Ennis : we can still see each other once in a while...
Jack : once in a while? once in four fucking years?
the topic maybe debatable or even unacceptable or understandable....but the movie, in all, is lovable....not one flaw could i point out....not one thing to criticise...
I will be mighty surprised if Heath Ledger, an australian born lad, who's ennis's soul and heart does not win an oscar for his performance......nobody has performed this well in any of the movies i've seen....[just explaining the magnitude]maybe Hillary svank of 'boys dont cry'....
Jake gyllenhaal is the expressive sensation!! eye candy! watch him when he cries or when he's fisting ennis or when he forgets the world in ennis's arms.
the character Elma played by Michelle williams, makes you want to cry for her when she's torn apart by her loving husband's gay story...not knowing whether jealousy for Jake, who is a man, should take over her emotions or anguish and disgust...
Jack's wife, a rodeo rockstar, anne hathaway, compressing her emotions, supports well...
Larry Mcmurtry , though not read the novel, must have done a writer's job for the film to be what it is....to have inspired the director's imagination...
AngLee...AngLee.......how do you make a two people talk without words? he does it with style on the mountains and away from it, between two people....doesnt matter that they happen to be of the same sex! the movie, though without a lot of talking speaks a lot cos of him!
ultimately, its not abt coming out of the cowboy closet, its not abt sex.... its more abt emotions...love and romance between two people who fall in love but are of the same sex....''If you can't fix it you've got to stand it!''..Ennis Del mar

DISCLAIMEr : Again, I'm not concluding on whether being gay/lesbian is rite or wrong, i'm talking of the movie....so any discussions or judgement is 'not' welcome! this post does not mean that i have a soft corner for homosexuals or that i dislike them....so no conclusions about me too!

2006-01-07T02:45:00.000+01:00

"your little mind, my dear, is so easy to be analysed!!!!"

2005-12-31T02:16:00.000+01:00

I've done some limitless shopping.....here's a list of entertainment out of everything I've got lined up!

Music:

Green Day - American Idiot
Oasis - Dont Believe the truth
Oasis - Heathen Chemistry
Cold Play- X&Y
Kylie Minogue - Ultimate Kylie
Bryan Adams- Anthology

Movies:

Rainman
Dancing with the wolves
The Manchurian Candidate
Casablanca
Sound of Music

Books:

Life of Pi- Yann Martel
Olivia and Jai - Rebecca Ryman
To kill a mocking Bird - Harper Lee
The DaVinci Code - Dan Brown [had to give in to the hype]

btw, I've got exams in abt a few days time.....

Hanuman in Bangalore

2005-12-25T23:54:00.000+01:00

Hanuman in Bangalore
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years....Abraham Lincoln
Wonder if he thinks the same too, wonder if he calls it a life or an experience....

A series of 'un'fortunate events....

2005-12-24T21:06:00.000+01:00

23rd Dec.....want to remember this day later sometime when I look back.....
1) Insurance denied after almost a promise that I wud be provided with one, couldnt take a ridiculous reason from them, still cant understand their rules....its the law and its preposterous....being 19 is a crime!
2) On our way back, we stopped a police car for a taxi!
3) Not actually been this mad in a really long time....at the top of my voice, we head towards another company and they refuse it too...
4) Anger gives way to disappointment that I used a swear word for the way things work in this country and a guy bumped right into us that I actually thought for a moment 'we're in a brawl girl!' ......thankfully he wanted to fist someone else......and that was close!
5) I try to calm myself down, my friend's trying to calm me down.... we go to cineworld to see if any new movie's up. We've watched everything except Lassie [the dog movie] and the Family stone? [Diane keaton, I suppose]....wudnt watch them for anything
6) The train station is our next stop to buy tickets for 26th and guess what? no train service on the 26th.....the trains need a break! Btw, the automatic doors and the escalator too dont work at the interchange...
7) Atleast a coach service would do, but the travel centre was closed by the time we got downstairs...
8) At the city centre, a royal mail van drives right on a "pedestrian only zone", right behind me, my friend pulls me back just in time....
8) Its been a wonderful evening so far, I'm tired, I need a mocha.....but the starbucks guy says "sorry, we just closed!"
9) All I want to do is just sit down and sip a hot mocha...thats all I need to cheer me up....Costa should be open until 18:00.....oh no! they've closed early cos its Christmas!
End of it all we returned home empty handed to deal with a lot of other things....just another eventful 'nothing works here' day! No, not complaining.....I can take more! feel like a stalwart now.... :D

Vetti time da.....

2005-12-24T00:03:00.000+01:00

This is what some 'VETTI' time during Christmas vacation can do to you...[wondering what vetti is? refer Vatsan please...] Few things....

1) Someone screwed up my Christmas plans, so that implies no going anywhere...I'll be spending Christmas immersed in Thermodynamics an engg approach and T.J. Hughes' Electronics.....two very... very.... VERY..... interesting books at this time of the year! cant even think of surviving without them.....! oh, I can even have them as Christmas presents! Not complaining of studying...but I so much needed this break...

2) I've become really quiet nowadays.....quiet as in, u know, just dont see myself blogging like before......now thats bad enough!

3) Not just me....I think all people surrounding me have switched into some kind of bizarre silent mode. Strange that everybody lacks enthusiasm these days! Most bloggers I know have almost completely terminated their blogs...interesting..... WAKE UP GUYS!!!

4) This I'm not complaining....the Bangalore infrastructure woes have finally given way to Bengaluru....nobody's complaining nomore! so the 'FROGS' have finally shut up! and good move DS!

5)MOST IMPORTANTLY : Something that just flashed into my exceedingly pre-occupied brain.....would you sleep if HemaMalini [yes, the real HemaMalini, the dream girl] is performing Bharathanatyam just a few metres away from you? Some broken twig called Siddaramiah did, and yours truly, people, is the witness...

sleepy now...goodnite all!

lets just sit and talk...

2005-12-21T21:18:00.000+01:00

lets just sit and talk...
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

I'll be away from my dear blogworld until after Christmas...so, a wonderful Christmas all!
the picture : The last one was composed well but was exposed a lot to the right...this one's not much exposed, but the composition....that one was better....

2005-12-18T14:18:00.000+01:00

Me and my brother were two big pranksters and I was the dominant queen who ruled over the both of them and over the TV ofcourse. In b/w swatcats......'Go fetch me some water, I'm thirsty!' I tell my brother. My obedient brother would tell my sister 'get two glass of water from the kitchen' and poor my sister, youngest of the lot would go and get us both water. When my sister started to talk, properly i.e, Mi, obviously, was teaching her how to address everyone at home, respecting her elders and stuff like that. My brother didnt have this habit of calling me 'akka' meaning elder sister. But my sister, as taught by Mi, started calling me 'akka'......and I caught hold of her one day and in the most threatening of all voices I said "I have a name.....somebody named me 'Archana'....you dont name me 'akka'. Call me Archana ok?"
Mi, alarmed by this whole scene, commented "you'll regret this one day!" She was right....I regret it! My sister doesnt even call me Archana now....she doesnt even say 'hogu [go], baa [come]' as in the singular sense.....she doesnt even say 'hogele...or baare...'in Kannada atleast.... she says a downright disrespectful 'podi di di!' I give a stare back and rise my hands to spank her......but before I know it, she's already chasing me into the kitchen [where my mom is] with a wooden ruler or something. Now that hurts!! and times change!! Oh....mean time, my brother is locked up in his room, concentrating on his PS2.....winning Grand theft auto.....bad brother, doesnt help his sister when its most necessary...

Siblings and me!

2005-12-14T23:26:00.000+01:00

I love having my younger brother and sister, who wouldnt? If you're born in those new nuclear families, guys...you dont know what you're missing.... My handsome-hunky brother is 5 years younger than me aand my precious-darling-dumsy sister is 10 years younger than me. The first thing I remember of having done to my brother is stuffing a piece of cloth into his mouth to stop him from crying.....my Mi was probably in the shower, Dad was working, I was at home and he was crying.....now dont expect lullabies from a 5 year old me! Thankfully Mi came out of the shower in time to stop me from going to prison [would they prison a 5 yr old girl for killing her brother?] ....seems all scary while writing this actually.....

Moving to my sister, I've got a lot of memories from her...cos I was older at the time of her birth! I can remember holding her in my arms when she was born, oh how I couldnt wait and how tiny she was! Her tiny hands and her tiny feet....she clutched my little finger everytime I placed it in her hand! She looked adorable....ADORABLE....unlike now ofcourse! I remember scowling at Mi and almost hitting grandmom for making her cry during her first shower at home.....I was holding that soft white towel for her after her bath and she was so warm and nice and wet when she was put into my arms. I used to dress her up, the J&J baby cream, the talcum powder, the designs I used to make with the shringaar kaajal on her forehead and her cheek ! It initially became my duty to perform aarthi late in the night [the one with turmeric powder and betel leaf] to ward off evil eyes from effecting her! I used to run to her as soon as I returned from school....I couldnt stop talking about her at school....she was on display the first time Mi came with her to school to pick me up....I taught her how to hug and how to kiss....we used to have these practice sessions where she used run to me from the backyard to the front door, where I would be sitting on my knees, to hug me and kiss me! I was soooo scared the first time she fell ill....I really thought she was dying!!!! I mean babies are so delicate.....Chinnu was only 4 months old when she had this terrible fever. I even remember crying that day, begging other parents at the clinic to let me and Mi to see the doctor first..... Why am I writing this? The purpose of the post seems lost!

Right....few days ago, when Mi called, she, as usual started complaining about how my brother is irresponsible about his studies, how he doesnt attend any of his tutorials regularly and how she suffers from an head ache everyday watching him play 'the Sims' on PS2. Again, as always, she asked me to talk to him.....persuade him to concentrate on his studies.....Ahem, this is one of those duties as an elder sister.... [the conversation takes place in Kannada [slang ofcourse], but I've tried my best to give it an equivalent English translation!]

Me : hmm....how are you sweet son?
Him: Umm...I'm ok!
me : Mi's complaining that you're not studying!
Him: She's lying! I just came back from that tutorial....I go there even if I dont understand a thing that [dabba] guy teaches!
me : You go there because your love [or dove if you may!] Aishwarya goes there! [Aishwarya is his classmate cum friend cum crush]
Him: eh..?? Who who? Miss Rai doesnt study in my class anymore...
me : [switching the topic] Did you like Mortal Kombat?
Him: I cant tell you how super it is!
me : good! Abt studies and about tutorials......do what you feel like....just follow your heart!
Him: yeah......ok....

Next day....
Mi : You terrible girl, what did you do?
Me : What did I do?
Mi : What did you tell your brother yesterday?
Me: What did I tell him?
Mi : He's abandoned his tutorials cos you asked him to follow his heart!!!!
Me: Huh???? [seriously, I had a 'way to go brother!!!!' expression on my face and I couldnt be more proud of him!]

BIKES!

2005-12-11T16:42:00.000+01:00

BIKES!
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

For tht someone who loves wheels as much as I do!

sunset 6

2005-12-10T01:05:00.000+01:00

sunset 6
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Last one! This side of the horizon awaits the moon now!

the picture speaks for itself!

2005-12-09T00:35:00.000+01:00

the picture speaks for itself!
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

need I say more? Was looking at the Wales album and found this the best of em all!!

sunset 5

2005-12-09T00:34:00.000+01:00

sunset 5
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

This is it! He's drowning!

sunset 4

2005-12-07T18:48:00.000+01:00

sunset 4
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

As perfect as it can get....sony cybershot was the camera and the picture looks like a painting to me. Look at the sky! and the sun, he's got a reflection on the sea at the horizon!

sunset 3

2005-12-06T23:59:00.000+01:00

sunset 3
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

after this, just wait for the next one!

2005-12-06T13:23:00.000+01:00

For those interested in this picture, there's a superior or a rather romantic package of a beautiful poem and a picture [darling souls, these are for you!] on Ananth's blog.

sunset 2

2005-12-05T14:01:00.000+01:00

sunset 2
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Would I miss you if I ever close my eyes?

2005-12-04T17:42:00.000+01:00

I'll see you when the sun goes down - 1
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Starting now, for next 5 or 6 days, I'll post pictures of a sunset that I witnessed in Blackpool....its a series....from the time he turned angelic gold, tinging the cold sea with his warmth until he disappeared leaving the sea glowing lonely red and me breathless!

Driving me crazy

2005-12-02T19:27:00.000+01:00

What I dislike mostly about UK are the car rental companies. You have to be 21 years or older to rent a car. On the contrary, you get a driving license when you're 18 just as in India. I have my license but I dont have a car....I cant buy one too, not until next year. What I dont understand is the logic of it all..Driving is a skill, why does age matter? If experience counts, I've been driving my car since the day I turned 13......for the love of driving, before I breakdown and cry, would some company rent me a car please? All I want to do is just hit the road now....

PS : My blog's a year old now!

2005-12-01T13:48:00.000+01:00

That girl.....she's got me thinking! :P "Faith enables us to put our trust on belief. Faith and belief are clearly distinct. Religious beliefs and faith in God are different" --- something I think Karen Armstrong said and I mean. My religious beliefs once triggered the faith I had/have in God. Beliefs faded and are now long gone and God's [I'm sorry God!] become more of an habit that I'm trying hard to let go of. My beliefs dont exist, the concept of God is becoming more complicated yet clear.....At the moment, I do believe in God but I am religionless...this is my faith, my religion, my God and everything else
Thats it...no more God topic

I'm weird!

2005-11-29T12:57:00.000+01:00

Conversation between my classmate /coursework partner/ only third girl in a class of 70 odd guys....

She [she's pretty btw] : Which religion do you belong to?
Me : [is that relevant to anything at all??!] er... I'm religionless
She : what? [with a 'I didnt hear you' expression]
Me : [trying to explain] My parents are Hindus....but I'm not. Just dont believe in all that stuff...So that makes me religionless!
She : Religionless?
Me : Yes, religionless..... [is that bad?]
She : You're weird!
Me : yeah right!

The Blackpool tower

2005-11-24T19:36:00.000+01:00

The Blackpool tower
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Uncomparable to the Eiffel tower in Paris was inspired by the same. Built in 1890's the tower's 518 feet tall. The base of the tower rises from a low lying building that houses a ball room, a huge circus, an aquarium and an amusement centre. Take a ride up and you'll feel, its not as strong as the Eiffel Tower. There's a walk of faith...a 2 inch glass floor overlooking the northern pier road from 380 feet above. Not scary at all, the most that can happen is the glass cracking out to let you have a free fall of 380 feet until you're flat on earth....but chances are like 0.000001% and I was in a 'mood' for a walk, so I took one! I walked right on it and it didnt break! The view is amazing....during the night watch the not-so bustling city and during the day, just stretch your mind till you find the end of the ocean.

Roller coaster

2005-11-23T00:28:00.000+01:00

Roller coaster
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Lets do this!
Okay....
Lets finish this thing!!
Okay....
Lets finish this damn thing!!!
yeah....its just a damn ride!
Lets finish this damn ride then!!!!
Okay.....
Shout as much as possible....its okay to shout and scream u know...
Okay....I'll shout if at all I want to
Sit back....hold tight and enjoy!
Okay.....

[The okay part of the conversation is from me]Typical me.....dont think about things! I didnt want to think of how it would be at all! Just didnt want to think of it as the BIGGEST roller coaster ride in EUROPE [yes it is the biggest in Europe]and its beyond my belief that I took the ride! Do you know how it is like when you feel like you are dying? I thought I died three times on the ride!! "Is this how its like after you die?" was what went through my mind. I screamed as much as I could, top of my throat, never heard that voice before! I was screaming even after the ride....

Scene 2:
Speaker speaks : This ride will show you what one revolution can do to a human body. In about a few moments you will experience the most exciting and thrilling ride ever... [me : uhoh....not again!]
Aaahh.....living life...to the fullest! Last weekend it was Wales and this time it was Blackpool [the entertainment capital of UK]. The best sea sunset I've seen so far, an extravagant night of musical and dance performance at the Opera [best I've seen out of all....hadnt cheered this much since high school], a day at the pleasure beach island amusement park [weird name huh?]......I'm living the time of my life!!

2005-11-19T01:11:00.000+01:00

A policewoman killed in a shootout a few steps from home, right outside the university. How safe are we?

East cliff and three cliffs bay

2005-11-15T14:14:00.000+01:00

East cliff and three cliffs bay
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

no more pictures....this is the last one! The walk from Pobbles bay to three cliffs bay.....you can sit down on top of the cliff with none around....look at the calm ocean all day long, hearing to the waves splashing onto the rocks....amazing! End of the world to your eyes!

Castlewell bay

2005-11-15T14:06:00.000+01:00

Caswell bay
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Swansea to Mumbles

2005-11-15T14:03:00.000+01:00

Swansea to Mumbles
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

This is the view to the left side of the road [Swansea to Mumbles].....extremely extremely beautiful! We drove early in the morning at abt 8:00 with the first set of rays from the sun kissing my face and the wind breezing through my hands!

southerndown

2005-11-15T13:53:00.000+01:00

southerndown
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Jo, the countryside w/o the road! English countryside is beautiful....but I had been to the Wales coastline :( The picture is a bit dark cos of the sun...it was just a lil after noon!

if you've got a minute why dont we go? talk about it somewhere only we know....

2005-11-15T02:19:00.000+01:00

if you've got a minute why dont we go? talk about it somewhere only we know....
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

when you flow

2005-11-15T02:14:00.000+01:00

when you flow
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Reason # 3 and Wales

2005-11-14T23:22:00.000+01:00

#3 Emotion is thy name.....emotional to an extent that its both an advantage and a disadvantage to the opposite sex! Guys realise this....you can, both, get away having done anything/everything and you can also be caught for some nothings !
Ex: My friend's boyfriend cheated on her for her best friend [and I pray that none of them ever discover this blog!] They did break up just as one can expect. But what happened later came as a big shock. He spoke some extremely sentimental words on how much he loved her and voila...she forgives him!! Mind you, the other girl [her best friend] remains unforgiven and she is the only loser here. She's called a 'temptress', tempting our poor and innocent hero!

Reason # 2

2005-11-11T19:43:00.000+01:00

I'm off for two days....but before I go...
#2 A few days ago, I met a 'guy'friend of my best friend. I've met him once when he visited us for dinner and he had a nice hair do. This time he had cut short his hair, you know, to wear his yankee cap. His girlfriend was with him [my best friend informs me that she's a Japanese]. When you meet someone you tell them something warm....and thats called being nice, isnt it? I was trying to do exactly that!! Since i didnt know him all that well I commented on his new style "Hey!! Look at your hair.......you look cooooool!!" As always, my voice sounded a lil excited. His girlfriend did one thing that she shouldnt have done [atleast not in front of me!] She looked at him with a "uhhh...how do you know each other? have you gone out with her? how could you.....". Poor that guy....how insecure can a girl feel about her boyfriend!

war again

2005-11-08T14:02:00.000+01:00

After you read this, if you feel like kicking someone, Jagan should be the one! He holds full responsibility for this post! While we were talking last nite, his [probably idle, bored and tired mind after that flight] mind came up with something very true. "You know, lets make another statement [I made the first one and it was "Indian men are smart" for sure I didnt mean this, not at all!]......90% girls are dumb" said Jagan. My reply was "I agree! but maybe 75%". He then says "I'm quite surprised.......you should put it on your blog, you may become famous overnight!!" [so now you know who's idea it was!]
Let me try to substantiate Jagan's statement and why I agree with it....
Examples I can think of, for now.......
1. Looking pretty.....why does it matter so much? Layers of make-up measured in cms - trying to look better than other girls? Trying to impress the opposite sex? Looking pretty and feeling confident is super.....its whats being a woman. But too much of it turns me dead off. Shiseido skin care [swear by it], Lancome's perfume [so flowery!], Mango/Zara clothes [in fashion!], Gucci watches [stylish!] fancy me a lot......I can spend a lot of time getting dressed too but wearing makeup to school? like everyday? at 8 in the morning? I better spend those 10 minutes tossing on my bed! Running to the bathroom after every class to apply more uh??

More reasons to follow........one by one

2005-10-31T21:36:00.000+01:00

ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವದ ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

November 1, 1973 - The day when our state was transformed from the Mysore state to Karnataka......bringing the Kannada [one of the oldest languages in India....comes only after Sanskrit and Tamil] speaking population together to form a state. Worst comes, we, our language and our identity are a minority in our own land now.....but not forgetting the day, I bow to all those people [the poets, writers and theatre people] who strive day after day to keep the language and the spirit of the state alive. Specially to those people from outside of Karnataka like one Mr. Maththew [my Kannada teacher in high school], who inspite of being a Tamilian, didnt let us feel like he's one..... Mrs. Catherine [my Kannada teacher in primary school] with a Tulu mother tongue, I didnt know that she was a Mangalorean until about the last day of school. The knowledge they have about Kannada, I can only lighten up my eyes to look upto them. One can actually feel their love for the language when they speak. Its not difficult to draw inspiration from such people.....and I cant thank God [if there's one] enough for bringing them into my life.
You can actually disregard or even dispose the way the day is celebrated by some extreme 'porkis', film stars and politicians or people who limit the language to the film industry only.....the one's who collect 'chanda' to celebrate it on a high scale on a street, the one's who dont mind playing "Kenchaalo machaalo....hegavro nin duvgalu?....aahaa!!" as loud as possible the first thing in the morning and "Raaa Raaa.....Sanihaku raa raa" as late as 12 in the night!! Its highly enjoyable and we enjoyed it a lot too.....mainly laughing and dancing to the tunes but ohoyeeee......Kannada elli banthu illi??!!

Ps : If this day is just another holiday for you, hmmm.....

the coloured one

2005-10-22T21:48:00.000+01:00

DSCN1937
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

no sunlight here......but it goes down as a favorite cos of the empty road.....I had to wait long for the road to be empty and when it was empty, I got exactly what I wanted!

2005-10-22T21:28:00.000+01:00

and Jo, this ones on sepia.....sorry, couldnt get a coloured one with the sunlight......but I do have a coloured one without the sunlight

2005-10-22T21:17:00.000+01:00

Jo, the B&W picture

Yet another Bigben's

2005-10-20T15:30:00.000+01:00

Yet another Bigben's
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Seasons...

2005-10-17T20:24:00.000+01:00

DSCN1023
Originally uploaded by Archana's.

Autumn.....just before winter

The birthday update

2005-10-15T13:55:00.000+01:00

Days ago, Jo had a post on snakes. Now why I mention this is because, as much as I can think, I am scared of two things...1)Snakes- I've never ever seen them for real and I cant watch them on TV too.....once on TV the channel will be switched to something else after a loud shriek. They not just frighten me but I dislike them to an extent I cant explain.
2)Age- 19 is old! very old!! This is my 20th year.....I'll complete 20 years next year....and thats too old for me! Its beyond my world of imagination that I'm on 20 now.....and yes, its scary!
But somehow, this before and after fear was seperated by one day. Thursday was so full that I didnt think about this. The first hour of thursday Mi and me celebrated in the company of an instant fruit cake. I was woken up at 10:00 in the morning by a phone call of wishes from home. Received lots and lots of mails from friends back home....one's I never thought would wish. People whom I least expected called in one after another to wish me. Spent about two or three hours talking to a college friend. How content I was that I had to thank someone called God for all the people around me. A perfect day where I felt a little more than special. The chocolate cake , the french champagne to go along with delicious dinner from home and the loud peppy music that got us dancing which btw, also got our neighbour's dog barking..... the evening showed almost no sign of ending. The day goes in as one of the most memorable days I've had.......love you all who made it so!

The day I was born!

2005-10-14T00:58:00.000+01:00

Cake 2 : Thornton's moist luxury chocolate sponge with layers of truffle and continental chocolate [when people are on a high, pictures tend to be blur.....so blur the blur!]

Birthday report to follow......but for now, good night!

2005-10-14T00:55:00.000+01:00

Instant cake 1

On a high!

2005-10-13T12:05:00.000+01:00

Janmon Ke Vaade Har Baar The Kasam

Kabhi Jaan Kahnaa Kabhi Kahnaa Sanam

Aur Sau Sau Baar Ye Kahnaa

Hamein Pyaar Hai Tumhi Se

Le Aayeinge Hum Taare Zamin Pe

Jo Kahoge To Jaan Bhi Deinge

Vaise Pyaar Ke Naam Pe To Yaaro Sab Huaa Hai

Ab Ye Pyaar Bhi Ho Jaaye Bas Itni Duaa Hai

In Lamhon Ko Rokne Ki Vo Naakaam Koshishein Karnaa

Jo Guzrein Hain Saath Unko Phir Yaadein Banaa Ke Rakhnaa

An update to follow.........

Update update :

I turned 19 today! Was talking to my dumbo friend after a very long time. V3 went to college together...... memories came flashing back. Our adda that we named 'Titanic', the chapel we went to skipping our classes, the steps where we spent hours and hours chatting, the tikki-puri-wala who provided us lunch every afternoon, our dreams set asail at the 'after hours' small store, the first time I went to a movie ever with my friends w/o telling my parents, the watchmen chasing us when we actually jumped over the fence to escape to Majestic to watch Saathiya.....the time we had in a crowded theatre when we stood on our seats to sing "Reheneko Chodo bhi jaane do yaar....Hum na karenge pyaar" amidst DilVil Pyar Vyar.......everything came right back......

On my Birthday, I'm not done with it yet.....more to follow!

Just in a mood....

2005-10-11T20:55:00.000+01:00

Its out of focus and beautiful!

Found these verses match beautifully....

"There came a soft and gentle breeze
Followed by a ray of light
As all the other roses fell into darkness
The solitary rose began to shine

Shining with a special light...
And watered by a gentle cascade...
A cascade of love
A cascade of selfless affection

"I do... not now but forever..."
Said the rose to the sunlight
And there they remain
A rose in full bloom
With her sunshine smiling down on her..."

......Zahra Ahmed

Just another FABULOUS day!!!!

2005-10-10T13:14:00.000+01:00

I was to write this yesterday, but by the time the movie finished it was 2:00 AM..
Plan 1 : To sleep and relax the whole sunday......mission failed. Woke up at around 10:30/11 and changed plans.
Plan2 : Was to go to Manchester.....we went to the train station and missed the train!
Plan3: Didnt change much, we were to catch the next available train and that was an hour later!
Plan4: No more Manchester! Who wants to wait for an hour.....at a train station.....when the temperature is about 9/10 C
Plan5: To come back home and activate 'Plan 1' . So we start walking towards home.
Plan6: There's Cineworld on the way. So why not watch a movie? We dropped in only to be disinterested in all the movies.....seriously, who wants to watch Pride & Prejudice again? So we went to 'Nandos', the restaurant I had mentioned before....to eat......and we ate!! Walked to the city centre and found just one store open and that, thankfully, was a Virgin megastore. I finally bought a special edition of the famous ' Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Godfather' [I had not watched both of them....not until yesterday!].
Walking back we pass by NMPFT [National museum of Photography, Film and Television] . This is the best in UK and living in Bradford for about a year, it was bad enough that I hadnt cared to step inside.....not for once atleast even though we've walked by it several times. If you ever visit Bradford, it should be because of this museum! There are about 3 cinemas inside...Pictureville, IMAX and the Cubby Broccoli Cinema. After visiting the gallery to look at Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn, we decided to watch 'Oliver Twist'. For those of you who are unfamiliar, 'Oliver Twist' is a novel by Charles Dickens and the movie is directed by Roman Polanski of 'The Pianist' fame. Roman Polanski was a reason enough to watch the movie. After watching, I couldnt make out whether it was Charles Dickens or Ronald Harwood......but if you are movieless after watching Pride&Prejudice, this is the one to go for.....there are no good movies this season : ( And the best part of the movie, Ben Kingsley makes you want to punch him on his face!
Time for IMAX, and time for India........Mystic India! Caught up with the IMAX experience of Mystic India.....an awareness documentary about SwamiNarayan and his journey. I went in to catch glimpses of an unseen India, which btw I did to a very less extent, and I came out knowing about Swaminarayan! I would have been more appreciative if the title were to be something like 'YOGI' instead of Mystic India!
We left IMAX and NMPFT at around 9:30 in the night and walked back.....the sky was the clearest....I could see the stars and the walk back home was.... beautiful specially cos its autumn! Late in the night we watched 'Shawshank Redemption' and I have this to say about it...........

If I didnt care
More than words can say
If I didnt care
Would I feel this way?
If this isnt love
Then why do I thrill?
And what makes my head go round and round
While my heart stands still?

Lunch was deliciously satisfying, the first two movies were less impressive but largely enjoyable, the walk was quarter moon-lit and finally Shawshank Redemption was Shawshank Redemption! This week, life will be like this.....inefficiently planned but eventful......very eventful!!!!

Me again!

2005-10-07T20:10:00.000+01:00

This one's a quick update kind of a thingy......"Utky" somehow thinks that I have huge problems in something sinfully colourful called life and thus I am kept away from my blog by all those, you know, problems [grrrrr..........]. Apparently, he also believes that the posts are losing all their weight[.....unconsciously!!]......but fact is that extra weight should be lost!! I dont want my blog to be overloaded with all unwanted saturated fat now do I? Okay.....that was probably the worst or no explanation whatsoever!! But hey, no reasons for me to be sad/ depressed/ low in spirit /mentally dispositioned......or etc etc.....
My Mi hasnt left, I donot have a witless boyfriend to breakup with and to cry over, I am not 100 years old and most importantly, I have not been kicked out of my university [not yet!] and no, I dont suffer from an over sensitive MPD too!!
But for all you office goers or students or house wifes [I havent come across any!]for whom, my blog along with numerous other blogs provides a work long commitment of companionship, I promise you for this one week, I will post regularly.....atleast once in two days :D However people, beware , I am not good at keeping promises!

what happens next?

2005-10-04T15:34:00.000+01:00

Right.......there is this xxxxx hospital in Bradford. Just abt a 5 min walk away from home. It is a huge hospital, looks bigger than Manipal Hospital in Bangalore. The board at its entrance reads :

XXXX Hospital
This is not an emergency hospital
All accident cases should go to YYYY Hospital

And I always thought, whichever it is, a hospital is a hospital...and every hospital should be equipped/prepared to attend emergency cases. What if a case suffers death on the way to YYYY Hospital??

2005-10-01T12:03:00.000+01:00

not missing him........

"Sometimes the last person on earth you want to be with is the one person you can't be without."

2005-09-28T18:23:00.000+01:00

People who have seen the previous version [1995 - Colin Firth's hit] of this Jane Austen's adaptation would love to disagree with me, but if you're watching Pride & Prejudice on screen for the first time [disregard the desi version], you will find Joe Wright [the director]'s version a romantic delight!
The movie / novel is a story set in medieval England, Keira in the role of a senseful, independent minded woman Miss Elizabeth Bennet and the very handsome Mathhew Macfayden in the role of a pained young gentleman Mr Darcy. The story spins around the Bennet family where Mrs Bennet is desperate to find rich suitors for her daughters. Step in Mr. Darcy.....a friend of Mr. Bingley, an eligible enough bachelor for any of Mrs. Bennet's daughters. Miss Bennet finds an insensitive jerk in Darcy but destiny brings them together and how this happens along with a lot of other things is the movie!!
Now the technical part...The screenplay by big screen debutant Deborah Moggach is extravagant and splendid at times and weak at other times....the sunshine mountain scene with Keira was found completely baseless and inappropriate. But other parts......the scene when Darcy first proposes to Lizzie flows naturally.....the rain, the tears in Macfayden's eyes....awesome it is! Another scene is when Liz is on the rope swing, round and round she goes, world changing just like weather..... rain, sunshine, wind.....everything right there, infront of her.....just as she goes round and round and round. I personally thing Joe has done complete justice to the script.....though the script is nigh incomparable to the novel. The script tries hard enough to fit in all the characters and the scenes but fails to deliver......you wont find much of Miss Bingley or even Mr Darcy....you'll actually miss Macfayden much on the screen.
But, finally [[I have to say this], its a Very VERY WELL MADE movie......probably one of the best that I've seen in recent times. Its put together brilliantly.....Macfayden...he takes over the screen completely, exactly the same for Brenda and Donald [Mrs & Mr Bennet]. It is a paisa vasool movie and if you like good movies at all, you SHOULD go watch it.....COMPULSORY!!!! All you lovers too.....go watch the movie [with or without your sweethearts' ....thats completely left to you]

pride and prejudice [image from yahoo!]

TIRED!!!!

2005-09-27T16:13:00.000+01:00

Second year started on Monday and I already look like I've got exams from tomorrow. The house we've rented is about a kilometer [or more] away from the university.....this means that I walk for almost 4-5 kms a day!! I actually couldnt wait to go back to school, specially when it had been about 3 months......but the fact that I've to wake up at 6:30/7:00 AM, cook, and then walk to the dept makes it all difficult. All that apart, the modules are really interesting....we have more of Medical Engineering subjects now.....something like cell biology in engineering, thermodynamics applied to the human machine etc etc

This one was a really boring topic to blog about........Honestly, I seldom feel like blogging nowadays. I wish I could say I was busy.......but I was not! I had all the time in the world, and all the topics to rant about but with so less interest to write. Nope........not interested to write down at alll.....so lets see how long this goes!! Before you conclude that I am depressed/sad, let me tell you, I am actually the happiest person in the world.....seriously!! Just dont want to blog :(

and this is?

2005-09-23T21:57:00.000+01:00

I read this - Encephalitis deaths in Uttar Pradesh and I read this - our dear Amma [u know who's she, dont you?] pleadging one million dollars to Katrina victims! Read the article and you'll hear her saying that its her duty. Our Indian government too has contributed an aid of about 5 million dollars [later in the article]. I completely understand that our government has to repay America for all its help during our bad times.....or maybe it isnt about repaying, our government maybe just trying to help. But what I'm confused about is whether this is right or wrong :-/

More pictures

2005-09-20T13:43:00.000+01:00

A) Its been exactly a year and a day that I landed up in UK!! :D
B) No alteration/editing work done with the pictures.......they are original

www.flickr.com

2005-09-18T11:24:00.000+01:00

The best of London - London eye,the county hall and the art galleries Saatchi and Dali

2005-09-17T19:35:00.000+01:00

Eros.......my God of Love!

2005-09-09T20:55:00.000+01:00

After having said all that, I think I should have just shut up......good lessons learnt the hard way. "Truth is always bitter" says someone but if that someone's got a frog stuck up in his/her throat, its not my problem!!
As all of you can see.....I'm going through a personal crisis :( :(( I'm taking a 10 day break starting tuesday. See you all when I get back........enjoy!!! :D

To add: 'No entry' - for people who like to laugh [and well...for people going through a crisis like me]......go watch this movie!! Wish there was more of Sallu bhai!

Give me a break!!!

2005-08-30T22:09:00.000+01:00

I've got issues.....serious problems with people who actually live where they live and yet complain about it crossing their limits. Not getting it?? Its about Bangalore and yes, you're reading a fanatic's views. Unfortunately there's been a lot spoken about how poor Bangalore is, how bad the infrastructure is etc etc everywhere and I'm growing sick of it. Some amount of criticism is alright but criticism shouldnt be of the sort that undermines what the city has provided to you. These are what I actually read /was told[I'll refrain from mentioning any names/URLs]:
1. Bangalore is stupid [I was confused whether to laugh or shout about with anger]
2. Bangalore sucks [again the same]
3. Kannada, the language, is third class [I swear that this one is true....though it happened sometime ago]
4.Bangalore is not a place fit for anyone to stay
5. Bangalore is developing backwards

Whilst the third one has got nothing to do with this post, I did mention it "kyunki woh baat seede dil tak pahoonch gayi"! But seriously, it did prick my heart :( Next post on that one
Bangalore is a very very very young city just incase you havent noticed. Sure there is a history to back 'Bendakaalooru' but Bangalore doesnt have one. Not much attention was given on the city by the union government about 12/13 years ago. It was just another city...and infact it still is. Even Vidhana Soudha has a history of just about 50 years, being built in 1954. The first flight was operated in 1940 out of the BIA .Bangalore started its development only after Information Technology showed up. If you've lived here in Bangalore during this time, you'd understand what I'm talking about. In just a short span of about 13/14 years, the development that has taken place, the international recognition obtained is nothing short of a remarkable achievement.
I agree that the infrastructure is poor but consider the number of people moving into the city. Was Bangalore prepared for such a robust growth? No less than often, I too complain about the traffic woes, the pollution problems, the roads etc but I was wondering how the government would actually put an end to the traffic problems. Good roads? A number of flyovers? Under-passes? a number of traffic policeman? If none of us follow the traffic rules, the traffic problems are never going to end and finally, Bangalore would be needing a policeman for each one of us.
Enough of that...I'm not going to deviate from what I actually wanted to say. Criticism of the like 'sucks', 'stupid' and 'third class' and exaggerated mails containing quotes of different executives is certainly not what the city you live in, or better to describe it as the one that gives you food to eat, Bangalore, deserves. Give me a break please.....and oh yes! Give 'Banglore' a break.....it surely needs one!!

Miiiii....

2005-08-20T19:52:00.000+01:00

Here you may find reasons why you are advised against bringing your mother/father to live with you abroad [please dont shoot me]

1. My mother started laughing at about 19:05 and she hasnt stopped at all !! non stop laughing for 50 minutes....good for health?? And the reason? " I remembered something!!" she says. What is it? God knows!!
2. She hasnt gone out for two days and she's started complaining about how she thinks that living here is as good as living in a prison. This, in my case, is a little embarrassing....have I been living in a prison all this while?? Good God NOO!!
3. I think that she thinks I'm a waste bin cos she dumps lots and lots of food down my throat.....she cooks and cooks and cooks [ not because she has nothing else to do but because she wants me to eat] .
4. She cleans and cleans and cleans [this cos she is bored]
5. She complains on how she is gaining weight when all the time she wanted to lose some: "All i have to do is cook and eat and sleep. How am I going to lose weight"

A day after Independence day

2005-08-17T19:58:00.000+01:00

The Rising - would have been perfect to watch it on the 15th of August. Did'nt plan it well before so missed it by a day. Nevertheless, the feeling of watching a Hindi movie [specially if its a patriotic one] outside your country, is quite special. The start of the movie, the elephants, the trumphet and the song 'Mangal mangal' evokes a sense of pride with which I sat head-high for the first 15 minutes. Nothing special later on so I had to rest my head and sit comfortably. At the end of it, whatever took over me, I stood up again, for the last five minutes.
The movie: Between scenes, one takes a second or two to understand whats going on. Ketan Mehta, the director doesnt deliver much at all. Rani Mukherji isnt as special as one can expect her to be ..... she's got so little in the script!! Her wardrobe is unrealistic and soo out of place [she's the heroine...so her clothes are the best among all the other girls in the movie if not exhuberant] Amisha Patel is wonderful when she has her dead husband on her laps....God..she looks amazing!! So does Kiron Kher and the gora guy. Finally, Aamir Khan!! I looovvveee his present hair style...not the one in the movie but the one after that. The guy doesnt look like he is 40! If you'd go to watch the movie then it 60% should be because of Aamir's performance and his dedication towards the movie. 40% for everything else.
Now, is Nandos in UK an Indian Restaurant? Somene recommended Nandos so much for the delicious 'INDIAN' food they make. Now I entered this restaurant right after the movie to fuel my hungry stomach. There's a lot of warmth and coziness inside. Dark-wood furnitures to give it a nice English countryside feeling. I look at the menu and search for familiar words like tikka/kadai or something...but then I discover its a Portuguese restaurant. Its not nice to walk out on the restaurant so I had to sit and eat the food available there and actually, its not bad!

2005-08-15T19:48:00.000+01:00

A sight not so uncommon......my secret hiding place