Thursday, December 10, 2009
“The Buddha, Geoff and Me”, and me
This book by Edward Canfor-Dumas is something that I would have never borrowed much less bought had I seen it at a bookshop. I would have dismissed it as pop-psychology/encourage-yourself-in-10-steps kind of a book – something that I never read. So when Vatssla, a friend from school, recommended it after hearing of my marriage fiascos, I noted down the name and comfortably went to my World War 2 Stories.
But she persisted, and I am glad she did!
After she insisted that she wants me to read it cause she considers me a friend, I had to give in. I ordered it on Amazon and the book arrived in a few days.
When I started reading it, the initial impression was indeed of it being a pop-psych-10-step course with a veneer of a storyline. But as I usually persist with all the books that I pick up (only exceptions being Mein Kamf and The Jamaica Inn), I kept on with this one.
I am glad I did.
The protagonists in the book – Geoff and the Narrator talk about life and how Buddhism can redeem what we call life.
This is the first time I really read about the religion apart from the stories that I had read in school textbooks. The fantastic thing about the book is that it conveys that you can apply the learnings of the religion without actually following it.
Several of these things resonated with me at different levels. At certain points I identified what I had absorbed as just being a Hindu and being observant of my religion. At others, I recalled lessons that I had learnt in my Moral Science classes at the Convent School I went to. Still others were values that I got from my mother. And the ones about being grown-up and independent from my counseling sessions were there too.
So, though I felt like “I know it all” at times, it was quite enlightening to read about all those values that have been know to us all from the various sources of our growth, and which still get lost in the banalities of life.
Am I going to use these principles to make anything of my marriage? May be, may be not. That would all depend on my life state at the time of reckoning. But I would definitely try and change my life-state at that point in time. Live less of “Animality” and “Anger” and go to more of “Learning” and “Buddha hood”. It’s not going to be easy but I will try. It may not help the marriage, but it will help me and, hopefully, Neha too.
And I am going to recommend this book to some of my friends as well. That would be the “Bodhisattva” state! Hooray!!!
Thanks Vatssla. Thanks Mr. Dumas.
Read a chapter here
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Trinity
by Leon Uris
“All we have ever shared,” she said, “is a room, a bed and a little time. We have never shared the sunlight or the wind or the feel of rain. When we were together it was always so temporary we never had the time to be ourselves. Love can’t mature in one room.” “What happened”, he asked. “One night, I found myself laughing. I laughed and laughed until I had tears and pains in my side…..I talked to Blanche and told her about all the peculiar sensations I was going through and I asked her what was wrong with me. She said, ‘My God, Shelley, you’re just happy, that’s all”.
David Kimberley realized he had never made her happy. He had given her pleasure from time to time, but what they had shared really was flight from mutual disenchantment.
“…I’ve lived in limbo, Conor. Limbo is no place for a man to exist. Its living death, worse than death, praying for death.”
Atty neither budged nor acknowledged his presence. He played his fingertips down her back and over the curve of her hip. No response. He rolled away, onto his back. He knew she was awake, stuffing it in, would never show a tear. “You are mad at me and you’ve every right to be,” he said. “A little, not too much,” she answered.
“I don’t know what’s the matter with me. For three weeks, I’ve been looking forward day and night to seeing you…and then I go make a balls out of it”.
“It’s natural enough,” Atty said. “You’re all pent up with no one to let it out on. You’ve got to cut it lose on me, I suppose. I understand.”
“I don’t know how much of this guff you have to take,” he said. “Just because you get drunk once in a while, I’m not letting you go man. Besides, I’ve poor little pride where you’re concerned.”
“All we have ever shared,” she said, “is a room, a bed and a little time. We have never shared the sunlight or the wind or the feel of rain. When we were together it was always so temporary we never had the time to be ourselves. Love can’t mature in one room.” “What happened”, he asked. “One night, I found myself laughing. I laughed and laughed until I had tears and pains in my side…..I talked to Blanche and told her about all the peculiar sensations I was going through and I asked her what was wrong with me. She said, ‘My God, Shelley, you’re just happy, that’s all”.
David Kimberley realized he had never made her happy. He had given her pleasure from time to time, but what they had shared really was flight from mutual disenchantment.
“…I’ve lived in limbo, Conor. Limbo is no place for a man to exist. Its living death, worse than death, praying for death.”
Atty neither budged nor acknowledged his presence. He played his fingertips down her back and over the curve of her hip. No response. He rolled away, onto his back. He knew she was awake, stuffing it in, would never show a tear. “You are mad at me and you’ve every right to be,” he said. “A little, not too much,” she answered.
“I don’t know what’s the matter with me. For three weeks, I’ve been looking forward day and night to seeing you…and then I go make a balls out of it”.
“It’s natural enough,” Atty said. “You’re all pent up with no one to let it out on. You’ve got to cut it lose on me, I suppose. I understand.”
“I don’t know how much of this guff you have to take,” he said. “Just because you get drunk once in a while, I’m not letting you go man. Besides, I’ve poor little pride where you’re concerned.”
Monday, November 16, 2009
क्या ...
क्या तुमने बारिश की छांव देखी है?
....पतझड़ की सरसराहट सुनी है?
क्या तुमने बादलों को छुआ है?
....कोहरे से ख़ुद को भिगोया है?
....पतझड़ की सरसराहट सुनी है?
क्या तुमने बादलों को छुआ है?
....कोहरे से ख़ुद को भिगोया है?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Bratislava
The capital of Slovakia is quite unlike a western European city, much less like a capital. People attribute that to the Communism that left the country 20 years ago.
It reminded me of a Delhi of about 20 years ago. Old buildings with peeling off paint, ground floors housing glossy shops while the upper floors look unkempt, smart boutiques propped up amidst debris, and a nice central district.
It was my first taste of an erstwhile communist country. With several permanent as well as moving exhibitions on, the city seemed to be stuck with an agenda of highlighting the communist evils of the entire Eastern Europe.
Another peculiar thing about the city was that the churches were mostly closed for renovation or just taking a break which is quite unusual. Plus throughout the city, there are sculptures – numerous random sculptures – modern art as well as statues and busts. They have a sculpture of a pair of women’s thigh length boots in the backyard of the president’s house!
And there is series of sculptures of “Cumil and friends” across the old town. These are statues of men in interesting poses – right from getting out of a manhole to being paparazzi.
Then, there is Petrazalka. A township built by the communist government to keep the people in the city. The biggest township in central Europe is blocks of paneled houses built on top of each other. Some of them are crumbling and some have received new cheerful colors to beat away the generally grey mood of the city. This place reminded of old DDA flats, only that these are much taller and more numerous housing about 200,000 people.
The vegetarian food is primarily based around potatoes and cheese. The best part of my weekend trip was the desserts – Sachertortes (sugar tortes – chocolate cakes with jam fillings), Tiramisus, apple pies and other versions of chocolate cakes – sheer bliss! Overall, it was a decent, fattening getaway for me.
It reminded me of a Delhi of about 20 years ago. Old buildings with peeling off paint, ground floors housing glossy shops while the upper floors look unkempt, smart boutiques propped up amidst debris, and a nice central district.
It was my first taste of an erstwhile communist country. With several permanent as well as moving exhibitions on, the city seemed to be stuck with an agenda of highlighting the communist evils of the entire Eastern Europe.
Another peculiar thing about the city was that the churches were mostly closed for renovation or just taking a break which is quite unusual. Plus throughout the city, there are sculptures – numerous random sculptures – modern art as well as statues and busts. They have a sculpture of a pair of women’s thigh length boots in the backyard of the president’s house!
And there is series of sculptures of “Cumil and friends” across the old town. These are statues of men in interesting poses – right from getting out of a manhole to being paparazzi.
Then, there is Petrazalka. A township built by the communist government to keep the people in the city. The biggest township in central Europe is blocks of paneled houses built on top of each other. Some of them are crumbling and some have received new cheerful colors to beat away the generally grey mood of the city. This place reminded of old DDA flats, only that these are much taller and more numerous housing about 200,000 people.
The vegetarian food is primarily based around potatoes and cheese. The best part of my weekend trip was the desserts – Sachertortes (sugar tortes – chocolate cakes with jam fillings), Tiramisus, apple pies and other versions of chocolate cakes – sheer bliss! Overall, it was a decent, fattening getaway for me.
Change…
As the weather was changing this fall, I happened to change a few things about my routine. I took up a workout package at work, went to learn a new dance style, changed my working hours, started eating my dinner earlier, a new language course etc. Seemingly minor changes in my lifestyle but they pulled me out of my comfort zone. I was delightfully surprised by the change.
Suddenly the life seems very busy – quite different from the slow paced monotone that I had fallen into. It was nice being stuck to my books, my running and my usual nothingness. After the hullabaloo in my life while in India, coming here had given me a chance to relax and ponder. But then I got too ponderous!
So, all this activity and buzz is a welcome change. Today, I did find myself longing for some relaxed time, but then I just smiled at that.
As the leaves changed color and the weather got colder, I seemed to find a new purpose. A welcome change!
Suddenly the life seems very busy – quite different from the slow paced monotone that I had fallen into. It was nice being stuck to my books, my running and my usual nothingness. After the hullabaloo in my life while in India, coming here had given me a chance to relax and ponder. But then I got too ponderous!
So, all this activity and buzz is a welcome change. Today, I did find myself longing for some relaxed time, but then I just smiled at that.
As the leaves changed color and the weather got colder, I seemed to find a new purpose. A welcome change!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Ein Zwei Drei Pause
The beat is Mambo, and the language is Deutsch. I am learning both.
I am not sure what really happened. This was not my plan. I was never keen on learning German. Heard a colleague of mine was enrolling, and the next thing I knew was I had enrolled too! Just like that!!!
At 150 Euros, 2 classes a week from 7:45 to 9:15 PM, for 15 weeks - that is the program. It is amazing fun! The class has 5 Indian, 3 Iranian, 2 English students along with 1 each from South Africa, Russia, Poland, Italy, Vietnam and Sudan! And a German born Russian as a teacher. What a potpourri!
It is so amusing to learn, or rather re-learn, nay unlearn and learn, the alphabet. Most of it sounds the same as English alphabet but with a different ending sound, and with 4 extra sounds thrown in. In English, most consonants ends with the “e” sound – B, C, D etc. In Deutsch the alphabet “e” is pronounced as “ei” and everything ends with “ei”…..OK that’s a rule of the language I just discovered while writing this post. The 3 of the 4 extra sounds are the umlauts – ä, ü and ö, which are difficult to pronounce cause the tongue should be in the mouth somewhere midway to the regular a, u and o sounds. (Oh, stop trying that, silly!) The 4th sound is the etzet – ß. No it’s not beta but has the use of a double ess.
The verbs are funny too. Well, actually not. Its just that the normal constructs of the two languages that I know are so much DNAed now that when I was told that Deutsch has three verb forms - masculine, feminine and neutral, my jaw dropped at the imagined complexity. Only later I realized that I have been doing the three forms of verbs forever and this one is no different.
So, the classes have made me look at languages in a different light.
The students are funny. There is this Iranian chap – Muhammad, who has been speaking only Persian all his life and now suddenly has to deal with strange characters as alphabets and an alien language. Poor thing cannot read “a” from “b” but is required to spell them all out. He is such an entertainment – repeats the teacher’s words every time – even when he is asked a question. Even said “Ich heiße Alex” because that’s what the teacher had said when introducing himself! He makes such blunders that the class looks forward to his turn for speaking out the lesson just taught. He knows that he is blundering and takes all of it with such a charming smile that all of us can only laugh even when it takes eons to get a single correct sentence out of him!
Then there is the Polish woman who is just slow. No offence, but she just doesn’t seem to get it. When she is asked a question in Deutsch, first she looks at the teacher, pauses, squints her eye, cranes her neck, looks at her notes, looks at the teacher from the top of her glasses, and gives up. The teacher prods with some hints and the lady mouths the question that she was asked. This happens each single time she is asked a question.
In Deutsch, V has the same sound as English F. So Vornamme is pronounced as fore-namm-e and means Forename. When the English woman was asked her vornamme, she began thus – “Mein phone nummer ist drei null null….” And the teacher went “but I didn’t ask for your phone number!”
Depending on the numbers people want to practice, they decide to have a different number of “kinder” (kids) and “geschwistern” (siblings) each day. Also some of them are married one day and “nicht verheiratet” (not married) the other!
So, it’s a crazy and fun bunch. I am having a lot of fun learning a new language, more than I imagined, and my learning gene that had almost gone extinct feels rejuvenated!
Now, talking about the Mambo…..
Do not jump to say “Mambo No. 5”. People, Mambo is a style of music and also a style of dance belonging to the same family as Salsa and Cha Cha, only a tad slower. It pauses on the 4th beat and hence the pause – One Two Three Pause!
This was not as much of an impulsive decision as the Deutsch lessons but it is fun still.
Imagine being in a small sized disc with a tall single-filamented trainer resembling an ostrich’s neck wearing a shirt patterned so as to make a peacock pouting pink, surrounded by cooing couples, old round bottomed women in tight pants, bespectacled bald gents, giggling girls, and me - standing in the middle scratching my head. Get the picture? I don’t blame you for guffawing out loud.
Ok, its not so bad. There are some pretty, single ladies and I got invited for extra classes by the trainer because he did not have enough men to go with the women. Are you laughing still?
Haven’t yet learnt much. Only the basic front and back step, and one swing. In salsa, the man pushes himself on to the woman, the woman retracts a bit and pushes the man back….In mambo, the man pulls the woman to himself, pauses and then pushes. So it’s a lot of pulls and pushes with underlying sexual innuendos. There – that was Latin dance forms de-mystified for you.
But all that happens with professional people. In the motley group that I am in, when expected to dance, people march, sway, look heavenwards or downwards concentrating hard, and pretend to enjoy. And being the in-love place that this is, couples kiss each other at the end of each step as if they have accomplished a major feat that deserves celebration. Singles like me just pout and look at the corners of the room.
But the music is so upbeat. It is very sad that my dance gene resides in my neck and not in my feet. So, when the tempo increases and the music encourages movement, my neck gets a life of its own and my head goes berserk with one two three pause. The pause reminds me I forgot to move my feet. Hence I am always late. Well….I always knew I wasn’t cut for disciplined dancing. Though the world tells me that at the end of the discipline lies fun, I am too impatient and too Bollywood-bred to care much for the subtleties of hinted coitus. I’d rather do the pelvic thursts full on.
Oh wait, the music just changed and I should be doing ein zwei drei pause….
I am not sure what really happened. This was not my plan. I was never keen on learning German. Heard a colleague of mine was enrolling, and the next thing I knew was I had enrolled too! Just like that!!!
At 150 Euros, 2 classes a week from 7:45 to 9:15 PM, for 15 weeks - that is the program. It is amazing fun! The class has 5 Indian, 3 Iranian, 2 English students along with 1 each from South Africa, Russia, Poland, Italy, Vietnam and Sudan! And a German born Russian as a teacher. What a potpourri!
It is so amusing to learn, or rather re-learn, nay unlearn and learn, the alphabet. Most of it sounds the same as English alphabet but with a different ending sound, and with 4 extra sounds thrown in. In English, most consonants ends with the “e” sound – B, C, D etc. In Deutsch the alphabet “e” is pronounced as “ei” and everything ends with “ei”…..OK that’s a rule of the language I just discovered while writing this post. The 3 of the 4 extra sounds are the umlauts – ä, ü and ö, which are difficult to pronounce cause the tongue should be in the mouth somewhere midway to the regular a, u and o sounds. (Oh, stop trying that, silly!) The 4th sound is the etzet – ß. No it’s not beta but has the use of a double ess.
The verbs are funny too. Well, actually not. Its just that the normal constructs of the two languages that I know are so much DNAed now that when I was told that Deutsch has three verb forms - masculine, feminine and neutral, my jaw dropped at the imagined complexity. Only later I realized that I have been doing the three forms of verbs forever and this one is no different.
So, the classes have made me look at languages in a different light.
The students are funny. There is this Iranian chap – Muhammad, who has been speaking only Persian all his life and now suddenly has to deal with strange characters as alphabets and an alien language. Poor thing cannot read “a” from “b” but is required to spell them all out. He is such an entertainment – repeats the teacher’s words every time – even when he is asked a question. Even said “Ich heiße Alex” because that’s what the teacher had said when introducing himself! He makes such blunders that the class looks forward to his turn for speaking out the lesson just taught. He knows that he is blundering and takes all of it with such a charming smile that all of us can only laugh even when it takes eons to get a single correct sentence out of him!
Then there is the Polish woman who is just slow. No offence, but she just doesn’t seem to get it. When she is asked a question in Deutsch, first she looks at the teacher, pauses, squints her eye, cranes her neck, looks at her notes, looks at the teacher from the top of her glasses, and gives up. The teacher prods with some hints and the lady mouths the question that she was asked. This happens each single time she is asked a question.
In Deutsch, V has the same sound as English F. So Vornamme is pronounced as fore-namm-e and means Forename. When the English woman was asked her vornamme, she began thus – “Mein phone nummer ist drei null null….” And the teacher went “but I didn’t ask for your phone number!”
Depending on the numbers people want to practice, they decide to have a different number of “kinder” (kids) and “geschwistern” (siblings) each day. Also some of them are married one day and “nicht verheiratet” (not married) the other!
So, it’s a crazy and fun bunch. I am having a lot of fun learning a new language, more than I imagined, and my learning gene that had almost gone extinct feels rejuvenated!
Now, talking about the Mambo…..
Do not jump to say “Mambo No. 5”. People, Mambo is a style of music and also a style of dance belonging to the same family as Salsa and Cha Cha, only a tad slower. It pauses on the 4th beat and hence the pause – One Two Three Pause!
This was not as much of an impulsive decision as the Deutsch lessons but it is fun still.
Imagine being in a small sized disc with a tall single-filamented trainer resembling an ostrich’s neck wearing a shirt patterned so as to make a peacock pouting pink, surrounded by cooing couples, old round bottomed women in tight pants, bespectacled bald gents, giggling girls, and me - standing in the middle scratching my head. Get the picture? I don’t blame you for guffawing out loud.
Ok, its not so bad. There are some pretty, single ladies and I got invited for extra classes by the trainer because he did not have enough men to go with the women. Are you laughing still?
Haven’t yet learnt much. Only the basic front and back step, and one swing. In salsa, the man pushes himself on to the woman, the woman retracts a bit and pushes the man back….In mambo, the man pulls the woman to himself, pauses and then pushes. So it’s a lot of pulls and pushes with underlying sexual innuendos. There – that was Latin dance forms de-mystified for you.
But all that happens with professional people. In the motley group that I am in, when expected to dance, people march, sway, look heavenwards or downwards concentrating hard, and pretend to enjoy. And being the in-love place that this is, couples kiss each other at the end of each step as if they have accomplished a major feat that deserves celebration. Singles like me just pout and look at the corners of the room.
But the music is so upbeat. It is very sad that my dance gene resides in my neck and not in my feet. So, when the tempo increases and the music encourages movement, my neck gets a life of its own and my head goes berserk with one two three pause. The pause reminds me I forgot to move my feet. Hence I am always late. Well….I always knew I wasn’t cut for disciplined dancing. Though the world tells me that at the end of the discipline lies fun, I am too impatient and too Bollywood-bred to care much for the subtleties of hinted coitus. I’d rather do the pelvic thursts full on.
Oh wait, the music just changed and I should be doing ein zwei drei pause….
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Oktoberfest
The annual beer drinking festival in Munich actually happens in September, and ends on the first Sunday of October!
I landed there on a sunny afternoon, in traditional Bavarian attire – Lederhose and Jacket, with boots to boot! What a crowd!!!
Beautiful women in amazing dresses – also traditional – but fashionable still; amazing burst of color everywhere; and never ending one-liter mugs of beer! Of course you cannot blame the men for the little hooliganism that is bound to happen.
The festival place is close to the hauptbahnhof and you just have to follow the crowd to end up there. Traditional German Festival shops selling food and attire are the first thing that you’d notice. These are interspersed by rides – not the usual Mary-Go-Rounds but their more thrilling versions. This time even the free fall ride was present.
After you take in the enormous crowd, you’d notice the never ending “beer tents” which are really high roofed sheds, each stretching over almost a football field or may be more. Each brewery or ‘brauhaus’ has one and all of them are jam packed. Queuing begins for each of them as early as 7 AM and if you are lucky you can get in afterwards. I could not.
So I did the next best thing – got into a “beergarten” – which is the area in front of the tent. It’s almost the same as the tent only that it is in open and minus the live music! There are scores of benches and tables lined up, each served by a dedicated waiter. So, you just plop yourself on one of these and start guzzling.
Imagine a table with absolute strangers who begin talking with you immediately in a babble of all foreign tongues imaginable. My table had a Spanish, a German, a French, two Italians, two Chinese and several others a bit further way to which my only contact remained “Prost” – the Deutsch for cheers! Thankfully I had a Radler to drink - it looks like beer, is served similarly, has 2% alcohol, and is a saving grace on a table where you do not belong if you are not drinking!
One has to be there to know just how contagious the air is! With beer that is 8% alcohol and with drinking being the ONLY thing to do, people turn into such characters that you get entertained full on! There is singing, dancing, hugging, smooching, jumping, yelling, guffawing – merry-making full blast. Someone starts singing on one table, some one else joins in from two tables away and suddenly everyone is bellowing the same song. I yay-ed to the German lyrics which seem filled with a lot of Ale, Ole and similar non-words so that I did not feel too lost for words. I envied the people who were inside the tents. I did try getting in, but was not lucky. So I got back to my multinational table.
Yes, amid all this there is a little unpleasantness sometimes when some one too drunk or a brawly guy has to be evicted by security personnel. This happens pronto and people go back to their beer mugs. And when they get tired of drinking, they go out to one of the numerous lawns/gardens in the city to sleep some. You can see scores of people lying everywhere in all states of inebriation. And well, vomit is also a common sight!
I had a great day, and hopefully I can go there again next year. Now since I know the fun first hand, I’d be looking forward to the Oktoberfest 2010.
I landed there on a sunny afternoon, in traditional Bavarian attire – Lederhose and Jacket, with boots to boot! What a crowd!!!
Beautiful women in amazing dresses – also traditional – but fashionable still; amazing burst of color everywhere; and never ending one-liter mugs of beer! Of course you cannot blame the men for the little hooliganism that is bound to happen.
The festival place is close to the hauptbahnhof and you just have to follow the crowd to end up there. Traditional German Festival shops selling food and attire are the first thing that you’d notice. These are interspersed by rides – not the usual Mary-Go-Rounds but their more thrilling versions. This time even the free fall ride was present.
After you take in the enormous crowd, you’d notice the never ending “beer tents” which are really high roofed sheds, each stretching over almost a football field or may be more. Each brewery or ‘brauhaus’ has one and all of them are jam packed. Queuing begins for each of them as early as 7 AM and if you are lucky you can get in afterwards. I could not.
So I did the next best thing – got into a “beergarten” – which is the area in front of the tent. It’s almost the same as the tent only that it is in open and minus the live music! There are scores of benches and tables lined up, each served by a dedicated waiter. So, you just plop yourself on one of these and start guzzling.
Imagine a table with absolute strangers who begin talking with you immediately in a babble of all foreign tongues imaginable. My table had a Spanish, a German, a French, two Italians, two Chinese and several others a bit further way to which my only contact remained “Prost” – the Deutsch for cheers! Thankfully I had a Radler to drink - it looks like beer, is served similarly, has 2% alcohol, and is a saving grace on a table where you do not belong if you are not drinking!
One has to be there to know just how contagious the air is! With beer that is 8% alcohol and with drinking being the ONLY thing to do, people turn into such characters that you get entertained full on! There is singing, dancing, hugging, smooching, jumping, yelling, guffawing – merry-making full blast. Someone starts singing on one table, some one else joins in from two tables away and suddenly everyone is bellowing the same song. I yay-ed to the German lyrics which seem filled with a lot of Ale, Ole and similar non-words so that I did not feel too lost for words. I envied the people who were inside the tents. I did try getting in, but was not lucky. So I got back to my multinational table.
Yes, amid all this there is a little unpleasantness sometimes when some one too drunk or a brawly guy has to be evicted by security personnel. This happens pronto and people go back to their beer mugs. And when they get tired of drinking, they go out to one of the numerous lawns/gardens in the city to sleep some. You can see scores of people lying everywhere in all states of inebriation. And well, vomit is also a common sight!
I had a great day, and hopefully I can go there again next year. Now since I know the fun first hand, I’d be looking forward to the Oktoberfest 2010.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Done the Diva
When I was a teenager and saw her on video, I only dreamed of standing by the stage and shout out her name and all her lyrics. I learned them all by heart and could intone all of them as best as my musically challenged vocal chords would allow me to. There were at least three posters on my bedroom walls.
Last year when I realized she was performing in Paris while I just arrived in Germany, I wondered if I would ever get a chance – concerts happen not often and since I had missed the one just then I had no hopes left. The Paris tickets were going out for about 500 Euros then.
On a sunny summer afternoon, while returning from my mundane grocery shopping I saw the poster. “Sticky and Sweet – Madonna in concert”! I stood spell bound and read the poster several times that it said “September 2009” and that it was happening in Munich!
The next thing I remember doing is looking up how to get a ticket. The tickets to the “Innenraum” – the inner sanctum were sold out and all that was available was the outer standing area. I didn’t even bother to consider the seating tickets that promised a better view. I knew I had to be as close to her as I possibly could get.
Half a day off at work, and a train journey later, I was close to the stage which spelt all the M-oomph of the Diva. She arrived diva-ishly late and then she mesmerized!
Amazing show, great visual treat, unstoppable energy. And I sang on top of my voice. So much that all the videos I shot went shaky and blurred. But hey, I lived my dream!
Last year when I realized she was performing in Paris while I just arrived in Germany, I wondered if I would ever get a chance – concerts happen not often and since I had missed the one just then I had no hopes left. The Paris tickets were going out for about 500 Euros then.
On a sunny summer afternoon, while returning from my mundane grocery shopping I saw the poster. “Sticky and Sweet – Madonna in concert”! I stood spell bound and read the poster several times that it said “September 2009” and that it was happening in Munich!
The next thing I remember doing is looking up how to get a ticket. The tickets to the “Innenraum” – the inner sanctum were sold out and all that was available was the outer standing area. I didn’t even bother to consider the seating tickets that promised a better view. I knew I had to be as close to her as I possibly could get.
Half a day off at work, and a train journey later, I was close to the stage which spelt all the M-oomph of the Diva. She arrived diva-ishly late and then she mesmerized!
Amazing show, great visual treat, unstoppable energy. And I sang on top of my voice. So much that all the videos I shot went shaky and blurred. But hey, I lived my dream!
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| 2009 Aug Madonna Concert |
Armageddon
by Leon Uris
“This is the final love, to know the faults and the wrongs of that which you love…. And go on loving just the same”
…Igor, one of the protagonists in the novel explaining his love for his motherland Russia to an American friend.
“This is the final love, to know the faults and the wrongs of that which you love…. And go on loving just the same”
…Igor, one of the protagonists in the novel explaining his love for his motherland Russia to an American friend.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The day I jumped from an airplane
Whenever I had heard people talk about sky diving or seen the pictures of their bravado, I called them foolish for risking their life.
But here I was on the train to Osterburken, an unknown town somewhere in central Germany, with ten of my colleagues all waiting to take the dive. I was shit scared.
This trip was a dual challenge for me. I was to be in company that I knew little about and didn’t exactly look forward to because I had imagined them to be bawdy. And we were to camp – away from my warm, cozy bed. But I took the challenge – primarily to prove to myself that I am ‘fun’ still!
We arrived at Osterburken and met Alex – a short skinny fellow who seemed more like a tour guide to me. He indeed drove us to the Southside Base – the adventure sport company. It was cloudy and windy and I missed by bed on the Saturday morning.
Before me lay a small field and a quaint, little white airplane. We thought it was a dummy and the real plane would be in a hangar somewhere close by. But soon we woke up to the fact that this white dove was to be our stead indeed. And the airstrip? What airstrip? The plane taxis on the field and has to be in the air because it reaches the hill’s edge. I was so shit scared, I smirked!
In about an hour, we signed on papers that said that we knew we were putting our lives in danger and that the company or the guide will not be responsible for any damage that may happen to us during the flight, the jump and the landing and the that we understood we could die! Also, no turning back once you are in the plane. And all of this at a cost of 300 Euros to be in the air for 5 minutes. Then they trained us about the positions and the techniques, about the dos and the don’ts. I was so scared, I asked stupid questions like “can I shout when I am falling?”
Suddenly the weather cleared up and the two people who had volunteered to be the first to jump were in their jump suits. Smart and harnessed, they waved and smiled and posed for the cameras. It turns out that Alex the minnow is an expert diver and will be the main video-grapher for the day, while two sturdy divers will be the tandem experts – that will actually jump with us.
Off they went – huddled into the white contraption that spluttered and choked and shook as it gained speed. Several divers and two of ours. We cheered them and waved and clicked their pictures. Then we waited for the twenty minutes that we were told it will take the plane to get to the 4000 mtrs. from where the jump would happen. We craned our necks each time we heard the roar of the plane and tried to spot it among the clouds. At the promised time we were all looking heavenwards with gaping mouths for them to fall.
And suddenly spots appeared on the clouds. Purple and blue and orange and red and white on a backdrop of grey clouds. We cheered as we spotted the parachutes and waved and clicked like excited children.
Our two heroes were the last ones to make their landing and we watched keenly their landing technique. They waved and we shouted back. They came back looking like Top Gun heroes. I was excited but scared still.
Then the next pair was suited but the weather went bad. Then we waited. It started to drizzle and we waited. It cleared but we waited still cause the Met said it was too windy to fly the small plane. We waited and got hungry. We ate quickly fixed sandwiches while the first pair was happy to have made their jump. We ate and we waited. But the weather kept playing truant.
Then it cleared. The next flight was announced (yes – German orderliness) but only one of us could take that flight cause there were several other divers. We cheered the girl on and repeated the same routine as with the first pair. We were happy to see her arrive back but she did not open her legs well while landing and it was bad. She landed first rather than the tandem guide, who actually rolled over the poor little thing. She had three fractures and was rushed to the hospital. I was so scared, I gave up the idea.
The weather worsened and the plane was rolled back into the hangar. I checked the time for the train back home and realized it will leave in two hours’ time. I announced that I was bored of waiting and would return by the next train. Some of my colleagues tried to cajole me to stay the night and do the jump the next day, but I had had enough of the challenge already!
About thirty minutes before I was to leave, skies cleared and out came the plane. They started the dives again. One of my colleagues convinced me to wait till the last train at 10 PM. I cursed my luck – not knowing to be happy cause I could possibly make the jump or to be sad cause I was scared and was hoping to run away!
One after the other they kept going and jumping and arriving with smiles and stories:
“It feels amazing”, “better than any intoxication”, “be careful, else you fall backwards”, “the harness gets very tight and crushes your balls”, “It doesn’t feel like you are flying”, “my arm went numb”, “its scary when you look down” – each narration left me more edgy than the previous one. And I hoped the weather would go bad again. I was so scared I jumped up and down and went to the toilette without having had much to drink.
I imagined the fall into nothingness; the failures I have had on a few of the adventures I had tried earlier; the effect on the human body if it would hit ground after a fall from 4 kms; the plane going wrong; the hooks that tie to the guide coming off; the earth rushing to you….. I wanted to run away!
Then my turn came and I decided to block it all away. I just took it as a chore and got to business – got into my suit and harness, smiled for the camera, got my last instructions, Yay-ed to my friends, and went into the plane.
As I sat in there, the plane jerked and moved forward and got into the air quite effortlessly. I saw rolling hills, and brown wheat fields, tall wind mills and green pine forests. But I avoided looking out the window and kept making small talk to my guide and the partner. I smiled at the videographer while Alex the minnow dozed off! I was like “OMG! Can I run away now?” But I smiled and looked at the altimeter. It was only half the journey. I looked down a little bit and smiled and looked back into the plane.
After a while, my tandem told me it was two minutes to go and he got hooked me up into his suit. The door opened…and I flew!
When I landed back I jumped for joy several times and called up everyone that I could, to tell them I had jumped from a plane!!!
But here I was on the train to Osterburken, an unknown town somewhere in central Germany, with ten of my colleagues all waiting to take the dive. I was shit scared.
This trip was a dual challenge for me. I was to be in company that I knew little about and didn’t exactly look forward to because I had imagined them to be bawdy. And we were to camp – away from my warm, cozy bed. But I took the challenge – primarily to prove to myself that I am ‘fun’ still!
We arrived at Osterburken and met Alex – a short skinny fellow who seemed more like a tour guide to me. He indeed drove us to the Southside Base – the adventure sport company. It was cloudy and windy and I missed by bed on the Saturday morning.
Before me lay a small field and a quaint, little white airplane. We thought it was a dummy and the real plane would be in a hangar somewhere close by. But soon we woke up to the fact that this white dove was to be our stead indeed. And the airstrip? What airstrip? The plane taxis on the field and has to be in the air because it reaches the hill’s edge. I was so shit scared, I smirked!
In about an hour, we signed on papers that said that we knew we were putting our lives in danger and that the company or the guide will not be responsible for any damage that may happen to us during the flight, the jump and the landing and the that we understood we could die! Also, no turning back once you are in the plane. And all of this at a cost of 300 Euros to be in the air for 5 minutes. Then they trained us about the positions and the techniques, about the dos and the don’ts. I was so scared, I asked stupid questions like “can I shout when I am falling?”
Suddenly the weather cleared up and the two people who had volunteered to be the first to jump were in their jump suits. Smart and harnessed, they waved and smiled and posed for the cameras. It turns out that Alex the minnow is an expert diver and will be the main video-grapher for the day, while two sturdy divers will be the tandem experts – that will actually jump with us.
Off they went – huddled into the white contraption that spluttered and choked and shook as it gained speed. Several divers and two of ours. We cheered them and waved and clicked their pictures. Then we waited for the twenty minutes that we were told it will take the plane to get to the 4000 mtrs. from where the jump would happen. We craned our necks each time we heard the roar of the plane and tried to spot it among the clouds. At the promised time we were all looking heavenwards with gaping mouths for them to fall.
And suddenly spots appeared on the clouds. Purple and blue and orange and red and white on a backdrop of grey clouds. We cheered as we spotted the parachutes and waved and clicked like excited children.
Our two heroes were the last ones to make their landing and we watched keenly their landing technique. They waved and we shouted back. They came back looking like Top Gun heroes. I was excited but scared still.
Then the next pair was suited but the weather went bad. Then we waited. It started to drizzle and we waited. It cleared but we waited still cause the Met said it was too windy to fly the small plane. We waited and got hungry. We ate quickly fixed sandwiches while the first pair was happy to have made their jump. We ate and we waited. But the weather kept playing truant.
Then it cleared. The next flight was announced (yes – German orderliness) but only one of us could take that flight cause there were several other divers. We cheered the girl on and repeated the same routine as with the first pair. We were happy to see her arrive back but she did not open her legs well while landing and it was bad. She landed first rather than the tandem guide, who actually rolled over the poor little thing. She had three fractures and was rushed to the hospital. I was so scared, I gave up the idea.
The weather worsened and the plane was rolled back into the hangar. I checked the time for the train back home and realized it will leave in two hours’ time. I announced that I was bored of waiting and would return by the next train. Some of my colleagues tried to cajole me to stay the night and do the jump the next day, but I had had enough of the challenge already!
About thirty minutes before I was to leave, skies cleared and out came the plane. They started the dives again. One of my colleagues convinced me to wait till the last train at 10 PM. I cursed my luck – not knowing to be happy cause I could possibly make the jump or to be sad cause I was scared and was hoping to run away!
One after the other they kept going and jumping and arriving with smiles and stories:
“It feels amazing”, “better than any intoxication”, “be careful, else you fall backwards”, “the harness gets very tight and crushes your balls”, “It doesn’t feel like you are flying”, “my arm went numb”, “its scary when you look down” – each narration left me more edgy than the previous one. And I hoped the weather would go bad again. I was so scared I jumped up and down and went to the toilette without having had much to drink.
I imagined the fall into nothingness; the failures I have had on a few of the adventures I had tried earlier; the effect on the human body if it would hit ground after a fall from 4 kms; the plane going wrong; the hooks that tie to the guide coming off; the earth rushing to you….. I wanted to run away!
Then my turn came and I decided to block it all away. I just took it as a chore and got to business – got into my suit and harness, smiled for the camera, got my last instructions, Yay-ed to my friends, and went into the plane.
As I sat in there, the plane jerked and moved forward and got into the air quite effortlessly. I saw rolling hills, and brown wheat fields, tall wind mills and green pine forests. But I avoided looking out the window and kept making small talk to my guide and the partner. I smiled at the videographer while Alex the minnow dozed off! I was like “OMG! Can I run away now?” But I smiled and looked at the altimeter. It was only half the journey. I looked down a little bit and smiled and looked back into the plane.
After a while, my tandem told me it was two minutes to go and he got hooked me up into his suit. The door opened…and I flew!
When I landed back I jumped for joy several times and called up everyone that I could, to tell them I had jumped from a plane!!!
When I flew…
There was a gush of cold wind as the airplane door opened. There was a layer of clouds down below and the sun shone brightly somewhere. The couple who sat right next to the door, kissed, held hands and were gone. The video-grapher was next but he merely held on to the rod that connected the wing to the body of the plane. Just then, my tandem guide asked me to get to the door and I was there.
A glance at the clouds below, and a shudder of terror later, I was in the banana position – face upwards, hands on the harness, elbows back, legs down and out of the door. I heard the count and before I knew it – we were out.
Zoop!
Out into the blue sky, out at four thousand meters above sea level, out into the cold air, out above the clouds!
Though I went out face down, the guide took a turn and I was falling on my back. Then we twisted and I was falling face down again – all of this in an instant. The instant that I knew would come. I was terrified I think, but it ended so soon that it did not register then.
And then I was falling down to the earth, accelerating and gaining speed every single moment. That is when I started flying. My tandem signaled me to let go of my harness and I spread my arms. That’s when I said “Shit!”
Bad word at the right moment.
I fell and flew with the blue sky above me and the white cotton of clouds stretching below me. Then I was in the clouds. When, as a kid, I had morphed them into tiny elephants and giant mynahs, into devils and into angels; I had never imagined I will touch them all with my two hands. And now I did.
It was white or was it grey? Or was it just misty? It surely was dreamy.
I saw the smiling face of the videographer in front of me. I smiled back and the only way I could express my joy was by two thumbs-up – something that seemed the only way to express my exhilaration. While we were in the clouds, and while I was grinning ear to ear, the speed had increased enough to make my cheeks sway with a life of their own.
Just then the clouds disappeared and I saw earth rushing to me – fields, trees, buildings all closing in rapidly. A tap on the shoulder told me what was coming and my harness tightened. The parachute was engaged! From 190 km/h down to 19km/h in a second may be, at 1500 meters above sea level. We had had a free fall of 2500 meters in about 50 seconds! The videographer, who had skillfully stayed in the clouds for a bit to record this event, zooped past us without his canopy deployed yet.
That’s when I said “Fuck!”
The amazing scenery below me and the stupendous vista in front is beyond words, and hence the swearing.
The evening sun rays came through the clouds and lit up the ground, while the clouds cast their shadow right next. The rain that was falling somewhere far away drew a grey curtain and beside that was the vast expense of green forest - a magnificent display of nature’s elements, at full glory. I could have stayed there forever.
My tandem got me back to reality as he made me practice the landing position and made me held the strings of the now gliding canopy. We turned a few times in the air at super speed and then it was time to land.
When the signal came I held my legs at 90 degrees to my torso and we landed at the patch of grass marked out for us with amazing precision and my feet scraped against the earth to bring us to a halt. The friendly videographer was right there waiting for us. I smiled and the thumbs went up again.
That is when I jumped for joy and shouted out to my friends!
I know how flying feels.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Midnight's Children
The book that got Salman Rushdie his Booker Prize in 1981 is about Saleem who was born at the stroke of midnight when India came into existence. Several hundred children were born through that night and were bestowed with some extra-ordinary powers. Though the book revolves around the protagonist (because it is set as his auto-biography), the narrative visits most of these special children through the very special telepathic powers that Saleem had.
When I realized the connection between the country’s origin and Saleem’s, I assumed there will be parallels drawn between the two and that one’s progress will reflect the other’s journey. May be it did, but thanks to Rushdie’s writing style, which I found cryptic at places, any similarities were lost on me unless they were brought out very explicitly. May be there was a general downward trend described – Saleem was in a rich household but grew poor as the country grew more chaotic! Parts of the book were full of fantasy, there is treachery and loose morals, there is love and acceptance, there is forgiveness, parts are dirty and ancient, and characters are diverse – much like the country.
I found the book entertaining for the most part. It actually begins with Saleem’s grandfather in Kashmir during pre-independence because Rushdie wants us to believe in the cosmic connections between Saleem’s grandfather’s patients and his subsequent failure in life. Saleem’s childhood shenanigans, Bombay city descriptions etc. were very lively and kept me engrossed. His bristle with Bombay film industry that makes his life akin to a potboiler was fun. But towards the end, I found the book becoming tedious. Was that intentional? Was it reflective of Saleem’s own state becoming murkier and difficult.( This actually reminds me of the other Rushdie novel – ‘Shalimar the Clown’ in which the Kashmiri part of the story was poetic and serene and the California part was digital and complex)
Did I imagine misogyny? Did I imagine blasphemy? Did I imagine immorality? Or was it all just human?
When I realized the connection between the country’s origin and Saleem’s, I assumed there will be parallels drawn between the two and that one’s progress will reflect the other’s journey. May be it did, but thanks to Rushdie’s writing style, which I found cryptic at places, any similarities were lost on me unless they were brought out very explicitly. May be there was a general downward trend described – Saleem was in a rich household but grew poor as the country grew more chaotic! Parts of the book were full of fantasy, there is treachery and loose morals, there is love and acceptance, there is forgiveness, parts are dirty and ancient, and characters are diverse – much like the country.
I found the book entertaining for the most part. It actually begins with Saleem’s grandfather in Kashmir during pre-independence because Rushdie wants us to believe in the cosmic connections between Saleem’s grandfather’s patients and his subsequent failure in life. Saleem’s childhood shenanigans, Bombay city descriptions etc. were very lively and kept me engrossed. His bristle with Bombay film industry that makes his life akin to a potboiler was fun. But towards the end, I found the book becoming tedious. Was that intentional? Was it reflective of Saleem’s own state becoming murkier and difficult.( This actually reminds me of the other Rushdie novel – ‘Shalimar the Clown’ in which the Kashmiri part of the story was poetic and serene and the California part was digital and complex)
Did I imagine misogyny? Did I imagine blasphemy? Did I imagine immorality? Or was it all just human?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Bamberg
This historical town is touted as Little Venice because of part of the altestadt, (the old town) is between the river Regnitz and the Main-Donau canal (the same canal that passes by my appartment), and there are several bridges crisscrossing on both sides.
The town is about 30 minutes from my place by train and cost me 10 bucks for a day trip. I carried my bicycle along on the train (at 4 euros extra). The day was forecasted to be cloudy as most of this summer is turning out to be. But since I was bored of being at home, I took the risk.
As I cycled through the town, the fragrance of flowers was very refreshing. And the cloudy weather actually helped because it made cycling more pleasurable.
The town was abuzz with activity – typical of a summer afternoon in a European town I think. People were out and there were a lot of tourists. The market was choc-a-bloc with people and roadside restaurants had spilled on the roads which, as usual, are blocked to automobiles.
After parking my bike by a church, I explored the town on foot – the famous Alterathaus is perched atop the island between the rivers and is quite a sight with one wall painted in Renaissance style. Someone actually got ingenious and sculpted a painted cherub’s leg out from the wall. See pictures below.
The main church – The Imperial Cathedral or the Kaiserdom, has been in place since the eleventh century and has been rebuilt several times. It seemed like a typical German Catholic church to me. But I saw a cavalcade of leathered motor-bikers wearing their “don’t-mess-with-me” attitude gathering around the church. Later, the priest of the church had a service for them – outside the church. I wondered if the bikers needed the service more or the souls of the bikes themselves. Some of the bikes were antiques and some straight out of Fast and Furious!
After a strenuous climb, I reached the St. Michael Convent. The tiny windows of the nun’s cells appeared like boxes piled up on top of each other. Also, since its on top of a hill, the rose-garden next to the Convent gives a good view of the town of Bamberg.
After ice-cream and coffee in a nice café, I covered the St. Michael church and also the St. Stephan’s church. The latter is a Lutheran church and is different because of its Protestant style. Seemed more modern to my untrained eyes and I liked it.
After the pilgrimage, I realized that the town can indulge you in more worldly pleasures – Orgasms and Blow Jobs are available for as little as 2.90 Euros! See pictures!
I enjoyed my (still) vegetarian meal of grilled fetter cheese with lots of olives and started the journey back. Just then, the rains started!
The town is about 30 minutes from my place by train and cost me 10 bucks for a day trip. I carried my bicycle along on the train (at 4 euros extra). The day was forecasted to be cloudy as most of this summer is turning out to be. But since I was bored of being at home, I took the risk.
As I cycled through the town, the fragrance of flowers was very refreshing. And the cloudy weather actually helped because it made cycling more pleasurable.
The town was abuzz with activity – typical of a summer afternoon in a European town I think. People were out and there were a lot of tourists. The market was choc-a-bloc with people and roadside restaurants had spilled on the roads which, as usual, are blocked to automobiles.
After parking my bike by a church, I explored the town on foot – the famous Alterathaus is perched atop the island between the rivers and is quite a sight with one wall painted in Renaissance style. Someone actually got ingenious and sculpted a painted cherub’s leg out from the wall. See pictures below.
The main church – The Imperial Cathedral or the Kaiserdom, has been in place since the eleventh century and has been rebuilt several times. It seemed like a typical German Catholic church to me. But I saw a cavalcade of leathered motor-bikers wearing their “don’t-mess-with-me” attitude gathering around the church. Later, the priest of the church had a service for them – outside the church. I wondered if the bikers needed the service more or the souls of the bikes themselves. Some of the bikes were antiques and some straight out of Fast and Furious!
After a strenuous climb, I reached the St. Michael Convent. The tiny windows of the nun’s cells appeared like boxes piled up on top of each other. Also, since its on top of a hill, the rose-garden next to the Convent gives a good view of the town of Bamberg.
After ice-cream and coffee in a nice café, I covered the St. Michael church and also the St. Stephan’s church. The latter is a Lutheran church and is different because of its Protestant style. Seemed more modern to my untrained eyes and I liked it.
After the pilgrimage, I realized that the town can indulge you in more worldly pleasures – Orgasms and Blow Jobs are available for as little as 2.90 Euros! See pictures!
I enjoyed my (still) vegetarian meal of grilled fetter cheese with lots of olives and started the journey back. Just then, the rains started!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Paused
Plans
Procreation
Passion
Trips
Thoughts
Tales
Ambition
Amour
All strangely paused
As time passes by….
Procreation
Passion
Trips
Thoughts
Tales
Ambition
Amour
All strangely paused
As time passes by….
Friday, June 19, 2009
Dev D
One of the oldest Bollywood tales told in a very contemporary style is Dev D. Interspersed with numerous frescoes of a not-so-distant take on the original drama, this one has several twists in the tale.
I found it very enjoyable – it tugged at my heart, and it tickled me. It made me cry and it made me want to hug. It made me sad and it made me hopeful.
The educated yet rooted, rustic Paro who moved on when she realized that Dev was stuck up with himself, is played out well by a newcomer. The turn of events that turned Lynet into Chanda seemed a bit far-fetched but was inspired by truth. Abhay, who conceptualized the movie, plays Dev convincingly. The eternal loser keeps on losing and inspires disgust and fondness – you feel like reaching out to him and set him right while he keeps on dithering between life and loss.
The movie has a feminist angle – may be not intended but very subtle. The way the two women are strong about their feelings and make choices is rarely visible in cinema. Paro puts Dev in his place. She seems to derive a devout pleasure by straightening up his mess, reeking of unfulfilled desires; or did she craft an invitation to pull Dev and then push him away, avenging the rejection? Chanda checks his feelings and doesn’t make tall claims when she is told that the feelings are not for her.
And Dev finally gets his act straight, leaving me with a smile at the very end.
Good enjoyable cinema. Good audio track as well.
I found it very enjoyable – it tugged at my heart, and it tickled me. It made me cry and it made me want to hug. It made me sad and it made me hopeful.
The educated yet rooted, rustic Paro who moved on when she realized that Dev was stuck up with himself, is played out well by a newcomer. The turn of events that turned Lynet into Chanda seemed a bit far-fetched but was inspired by truth. Abhay, who conceptualized the movie, plays Dev convincingly. The eternal loser keeps on losing and inspires disgust and fondness – you feel like reaching out to him and set him right while he keeps on dithering between life and loss.
The movie has a feminist angle – may be not intended but very subtle. The way the two women are strong about their feelings and make choices is rarely visible in cinema. Paro puts Dev in his place. She seems to derive a devout pleasure by straightening up his mess, reeking of unfulfilled desires; or did she craft an invitation to pull Dev and then push him away, avenging the rejection? Chanda checks his feelings and doesn’t make tall claims when she is told that the feelings are not for her.
And Dev finally gets his act straight, leaving me with a smile at the very end.
Good enjoyable cinema. Good audio track as well.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Paris. My Trip. Paris.
Dreams, Disneyland, Paris.
The Eiffel, the Mona Lisa, Paris.
Cafes, Bars, Cabarets, Paris.
Fashion, Fireworks, Fountains, Paris.
Museums, Paintings, Palaces, Paris.
Romance, Lovers, Paris.
Never ending, meandering Metro stations.
Kaput transport passes, jumping the turnstiles.
Hostel room, cramped loo, expenses.
Tired companions, irritations.
Eccentric French, eager tourists.
Maps, maps, maps.
Ice creams, Coffees, Indian restaurants.
Spring, flowers, cool breeze.
Queues, Cramps, Cruises.
Touristy, hectic, return promises.
My trip, Paris.
The Eiffel, the Mona Lisa, Paris.
Cafes, Bars, Cabarets, Paris.
Fashion, Fireworks, Fountains, Paris.
Museums, Paintings, Palaces, Paris.
Romance, Lovers, Paris.
Never ending, meandering Metro stations.
Kaput transport passes, jumping the turnstiles.
Hostel room, cramped loo, expenses.
Tired companions, irritations.
Eccentric French, eager tourists.
Maps, maps, maps.
Ice creams, Coffees, Indian restaurants.
Spring, flowers, cool breeze.
Queues, Cramps, Cruises.
Touristy, hectic, return promises.
My trip, Paris.
Dachau
The Nazi Concentration Camp that became the proverbial hell is just outside of Munich. This was the first concentration camp that came into existence immediately after Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1932. It was used as a prison for all political opponents and Jews, but went on to serve as the basic model for all concentration camps that were created across Europe during the Second World War. It was also the only camp that lasted all through the Nazi years, till it was freed by the US forces in 1945.
Today, the camp has been converted into a museum and a memorial for all that went wrong. The museum is very informative. It describes in detail, through visual aids, how the post World War 1 Germany was, what conditions augured so well for Hitler and his Nazi followers, the propaganda that they used to get the masses hooting for them, the atrocities that they carried out once in power.
Some of the artifacts leave you chilled to the bone – the pictures of skeletal prisoners, the details of the experiments conducted on human beings, the methods used by SS guards to earn brownie points – leave you wondering how could this have happened to ‘civilized’ people.
My trip left me more informed about a subject that I am getting more passionate about – the History of the two world wars. I try and understand how the ‘democratic’ Germany of post world war one went into recession and utter chaos and how Hitler used his charisma to lead otherwise ‘cultured’ people into such hitherto unheard acts of hatred against their fellow citizens; and I try and draw parallels of how could this happen elsewhere – may be in India where current political leaders use similar tactics to herd massive support.
I reckon India is too divided and too massive for any one issue to unify the country for such acts of hatred. Plus the leaders are not as charismatic any more – but you never know!
Today, the camp has been converted into a museum and a memorial for all that went wrong. The museum is very informative. It describes in detail, through visual aids, how the post World War 1 Germany was, what conditions augured so well for Hitler and his Nazi followers, the propaganda that they used to get the masses hooting for them, the atrocities that they carried out once in power.
Some of the artifacts leave you chilled to the bone – the pictures of skeletal prisoners, the details of the experiments conducted on human beings, the methods used by SS guards to earn brownie points – leave you wondering how could this have happened to ‘civilized’ people.
My trip left me more informed about a subject that I am getting more passionate about – the History of the two world wars. I try and understand how the ‘democratic’ Germany of post world war one went into recession and utter chaos and how Hitler used his charisma to lead otherwise ‘cultured’ people into such hitherto unheard acts of hatred against their fellow citizens; and I try and draw parallels of how could this happen elsewhere – may be in India where current political leaders use similar tactics to herd massive support.
I reckon India is too divided and too massive for any one issue to unify the country for such acts of hatred. Plus the leaders are not as charismatic any more – but you never know!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Salzburg
This tourist attraction, which lies in western Austria, right across from Germany, derives its name from Salt (= Salz in Deutsche) – a commodity that was very important in the medieval times and the town turned to be important on the trading route.
My trip was fairly impromptu and I was driven to the city by friends from Munich. The drive was about an hour. After a comfortable stay in a neat hotel, the Saturday morning was started with a traditional Austrian café. This café had wood paneled walls, a high roof with that was decorated with very European motifs. It was lively as all tourists had a relaxed brunch over newspapers and coffees. The newspapers were held together with wooden frames – something that I had never seen.
The Mocha coffee was strong and nothing like the chocolate syrup sold at the cafés in India. The delight of the morning was the numerous pastries and cakes presented on heavily laden trays carried by maids around the tables. How could one resist those absolutely delicious looking desserts presented right under your nose! So, I helped myself to several pieces of sweet sins.
Having fortified thus, I started off to the fort (a castle, really). On the way, I saw the majestic Dom Cathedral with ornate designs on columns, walls and the roof – a classic example of baroque architecture. The church is huge and sits right in the middle of the south part of the town. The castle overlooks the cathedral, and is reachable by a train ride of two minutes and 10.5 Euros. This price includes the guided tour within the castle. I think the castle can be reached even on foot though I am not sure if that gets one to inside the castle. But one can still climb up the stairs if one wishes to look at the town down below.
Once up there, I got a good view of the meandering Salzach on which the rafts had once transported the salt. And then my fingers froze as I was clicking the pictures. It was freaking cold and I had happily forgotten my gloves back home. So, off I ran into this Marionette Museum housed in one of the rooms of the castle. It was cold still but protected me from the wind.
The tour itself took about 30 minutes and we were given hand held devices so that we could listen to commentaries in a language of our choice. Sadly, the tour took me to the very top of the castle and hence to freaking freezing weather again! But anyhoo….I survived to tell the tale.
Back down, I have had enough of sight seeing for one day – a sentiment felt by my friends too – and off we went to yet another café and to several hot cups of coffee and more desserts. Later, dinner was corn ricotta on vegetables. The waitress insisted that it was traditional Austrian fare but I thought it seemed more Mexican. But it was delicious.
Later we had a walk out in the town while it snowed but was a bit warmer than the morning, and I got good glimpses of the town with all important buildings lit up.
The next morning was yet another café, the Mirabell Palace gardens, and two other churches – one in baroque and the other in Gothic style. The latter had actually been destroyed in the Second World War and they rebuilt only part of it – minus the spires.
On the journey back, we stopped at Chiemsee – a vast lake back in Germany. The lake has two islands – one of which is a palace and the other is a women’s monastery. We didn’t visit any of those but there is a promising weekend get away for the summer as it is about 30 minutes drive from Munich. The Alps overlook the lake and it’s a very beautiful sight!
Thus ended my trip to Salzburg – the town where Mozart lived, the castle that never fell in battle and the location of the movie Sound of Music.
Here are the pictures. Click to go to the web album:
My trip was fairly impromptu and I was driven to the city by friends from Munich. The drive was about an hour. After a comfortable stay in a neat hotel, the Saturday morning was started with a traditional Austrian café. This café had wood paneled walls, a high roof with that was decorated with very European motifs. It was lively as all tourists had a relaxed brunch over newspapers and coffees. The newspapers were held together with wooden frames – something that I had never seen.
The Mocha coffee was strong and nothing like the chocolate syrup sold at the cafés in India. The delight of the morning was the numerous pastries and cakes presented on heavily laden trays carried by maids around the tables. How could one resist those absolutely delicious looking desserts presented right under your nose! So, I helped myself to several pieces of sweet sins.
Having fortified thus, I started off to the fort (a castle, really). On the way, I saw the majestic Dom Cathedral with ornate designs on columns, walls and the roof – a classic example of baroque architecture. The church is huge and sits right in the middle of the south part of the town. The castle overlooks the cathedral, and is reachable by a train ride of two minutes and 10.5 Euros. This price includes the guided tour within the castle. I think the castle can be reached even on foot though I am not sure if that gets one to inside the castle. But one can still climb up the stairs if one wishes to look at the town down below.
Once up there, I got a good view of the meandering Salzach on which the rafts had once transported the salt. And then my fingers froze as I was clicking the pictures. It was freaking cold and I had happily forgotten my gloves back home. So, off I ran into this Marionette Museum housed in one of the rooms of the castle. It was cold still but protected me from the wind.
The tour itself took about 30 minutes and we were given hand held devices so that we could listen to commentaries in a language of our choice. Sadly, the tour took me to the very top of the castle and hence to freaking freezing weather again! But anyhoo….I survived to tell the tale.
Back down, I have had enough of sight seeing for one day – a sentiment felt by my friends too – and off we went to yet another café and to several hot cups of coffee and more desserts. Later, dinner was corn ricotta on vegetables. The waitress insisted that it was traditional Austrian fare but I thought it seemed more Mexican. But it was delicious.
Later we had a walk out in the town while it snowed but was a bit warmer than the morning, and I got good glimpses of the town with all important buildings lit up.
The next morning was yet another café, the Mirabell Palace gardens, and two other churches – one in baroque and the other in Gothic style. The latter had actually been destroyed in the Second World War and they rebuilt only part of it – minus the spires.
On the journey back, we stopped at Chiemsee – a vast lake back in Germany. The lake has two islands – one of which is a palace and the other is a women’s monastery. We didn’t visit any of those but there is a promising weekend get away for the summer as it is about 30 minutes drive from Munich. The Alps overlook the lake and it’s a very beautiful sight!
Thus ended my trip to Salzburg – the town where Mozart lived, the castle that never fell in battle and the location of the movie Sound of Music.
Here are the pictures. Click to go to the web album:
Saturday, February 28, 2009
More from the Budha of Suburbia
Her father had died at the wrong time, when there was much to be clarified and established. They hadn’t even started to be grown ups together. There was this piece of heaven, this little girl he had carried around the shop on his shoulders; and then one day she was gone replaced by a foreigner, an unco-operative woman he did not know how to speak to. Be so confused, so weak, so in love, he chose strength and drove her away from himself. The last years he spent wondering where she’d gone, and slowly he came to realize that she would never return…
Death just leaves so many questions unanswered, so many emotions unspent, so much incomplete!
Death just leaves so many questions unanswered, so many emotions unspent, so much incomplete!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Budha of Suburbia
by Hanif Kureishi
An excerpt from the book describing the situation when the protagonist asks his father about the latter’s middle aged affair and his plan for the family that he was part of until then:
Confusion and anguish and fear clouded his face. I was sure he hadn’t thought much about any of this. It had all just happened in the random way things do Now it surprised him that he was expected to declare the pattern and intention behind it all in order that others could understand. But there wasn’t a plan, just passion and strong feeling which had ambushed him.
An excerpt from the book describing the situation when the protagonist asks his father about the latter’s middle aged affair and his plan for the family that he was part of until then:
Confusion and anguish and fear clouded his face. I was sure he hadn’t thought much about any of this. It had all just happened in the random way things do Now it surprised him that he was expected to declare the pattern and intention behind it all in order that others could understand. But there wasn’t a plan, just passion and strong feeling which had ambushed him.
Luck By Chance
The end of the movie has stayed with me. The way Shona decided to not go back to Vikram is so atypical of our films. The fact that she could empathize with Vikram, and still see his selfishness in the whole come-back-to-me-cause-I-need-you act is so rare in life, and almost unheard of on screen.
I loved it.
I loved it.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Happy 33!
The day went by pretty uneventful. Had to work which I think is a big sacrifice. But took a half day off. Colleagues got a cake and wished. Screwed up a plan of getting people home. Visited a Gurdwara for the second time in my life, and actually sat by the Granth Sahib for the first time. This part was peaceful.
Screwed up a little more by questioning the nature of a gift sent from miles away.
Bought my self a cool pair of trousers. Had dinner with friends/colleagues.
Several questions remain unanswered while new ones have popped up. Several dreams are yet to be realized, while the debris of several others lies strewn everywhere. This is not how I had planned it to be. This is not how it was to be. But this is destiny. And as I learn to live for the day, I’d say ‘Hello 33, nice to meet you’.
Ae zindagi, gale laga le….
Screwed up a little more by questioning the nature of a gift sent from miles away.
Bought my self a cool pair of trousers. Had dinner with friends/colleagues.
Several questions remain unanswered while new ones have popped up. Several dreams are yet to be realized, while the debris of several others lies strewn everywhere. This is not how I had planned it to be. This is not how it was to be. But this is destiny. And as I learn to live for the day, I’d say ‘Hello 33, nice to meet you’.
Ae zindagi, gale laga le….
A Long Way Down
by Nick Hornby
"...You know that things aren't going well for you when you can't even tell people the simplest fact about your life, just because they'll presume you're asking them to feel sorry for you. I suppose it's why you feel so far away from everyone, in the end; anything you can think of to tell them just ends up making them feel terrible."
Or at times one is so conceited that other people seem plain stupid, unable to comprehend one's troubles.
"...You know that things aren't going well for you when you can't even tell people the simplest fact about your life, just because they'll presume you're asking them to feel sorry for you. I suppose it's why you feel so far away from everyone, in the end; anything you can think of to tell them just ends up making them feel terrible."
Or at times one is so conceited that other people seem plain stupid, unable to comprehend one's troubles.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Chandni Chowk to China
Mindless Bollywood montage, served Chinese Noodle style. The movie puts together the latest Bollywood fad of revisiting its past along with Chinese made products in an attempt to lure a bigger market.
The story could have been set like Chandni Chowk to Cooch Bihar – but Bollywood has visited the hinterlands of Bihar forever. Plus its time to bring in the exotic. Hence off we are taken to a village next to The Wall.
You have a separated family that visits the same place a la Amar Akbar Anthony and Yaadon Ki Baraat; you get to see bandits descending on a village in the middle of a song and dance a la Sholay; you are served emotional atyachaar in the form of long dialogs along with kung-fu achaar.
You also have a myriad of Chinese products that actually work - translating on the fly and doubling up as parachutes and bullet proof umbrellas.
A neat experiment. Decently enjoyable if you leave logic behind (aren’t we all adept at that already?!)
By the way, Deepika rocks.
The story could have been set like Chandni Chowk to Cooch Bihar – but Bollywood has visited the hinterlands of Bihar forever. Plus its time to bring in the exotic. Hence off we are taken to a village next to The Wall.
You have a separated family that visits the same place a la Amar Akbar Anthony and Yaadon Ki Baraat; you get to see bandits descending on a village in the middle of a song and dance a la Sholay; you are served emotional atyachaar in the form of long dialogs along with kung-fu achaar.
You also have a myriad of Chinese products that actually work - translating on the fly and doubling up as parachutes and bullet proof umbrellas.
A neat experiment. Decently enjoyable if you leave logic behind (aren’t we all adept at that already?!)
By the way, Deepika rocks.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Reality ravaged the romance
There wasn’t a familiar face. There wasn’t anybody waiting. No open arms to rush into.
Instead I found friends who had forgotten the dates of my arrival, phone calls that went unanswered cause my number was new and then some excuses.
It was unpleasant as my enthusiasm died down in the never ending traffic. As I woke up to the fact that life has gone on while I was gone, I wondered why I was there!
The home front was a battle, full of stress. I tried to squeeze in some pleasure – a few breaths of normalcy.
My vacations felt vacant.
Only later when I let go of expectations and donned the practical outlook did I get some solace and had some fun.
Lesson learnt.
Instead I found friends who had forgotten the dates of my arrival, phone calls that went unanswered cause my number was new and then some excuses.
It was unpleasant as my enthusiasm died down in the never ending traffic. As I woke up to the fact that life has gone on while I was gone, I wondered why I was there!
The home front was a battle, full of stress. I tried to squeeze in some pleasure – a few breaths of normalcy.
My vacations felt vacant.
Only later when I let go of expectations and donned the practical outlook did I get some solace and had some fun.
Lesson learnt.
Dilli meri jaan
Mist rolling on the long smooth roads. Cozy winter sunshine.
Coffee cups. Parathas at road side dhaba.
Golgappe. Til sakree. Moongphali.
Thirakte kadam, wo behake kadam.
Pretty people. Dazzling décor.
Making of the Metro. Glass facades of majestic buildings.
Huge malls. Lots of shopping.
FM stations. Street hawkers. Moving traffic following lanes. VIP movement.
Such is Delhi.
Coffee cups. Parathas at road side dhaba.
Golgappe. Til sakree. Moongphali.
Thirakte kadam, wo behake kadam.
Pretty people. Dazzling décor.
Making of the Metro. Glass facades of majestic buildings.
Huge malls. Lots of shopping.
FM stations. Street hawkers. Moving traffic following lanes. VIP movement.
Such is Delhi.
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