A couple of years ago, I was on my way to Switzerland to spend the summer with my parents. This was the first time I was traveling alone and according to my itinerary, I was to take a flight to Colombo (Sri Lanka) and then stay at a hotel for 12 hours and then head back to the airport for my flight to Switzerland. Now, I was never told which hotel I would be staying in. I would know that only after I reached the exit gates of the Colombo airport.
On my arrival at Colombo, I went through the whole routine of getting out of the airport. At the exit, there stood a 'healthy' lady wearing the traditional Sri Lankan Sari. She was holding a placard with my name on it. I spoke to her and she directed me to a person who was to drive me to the hotel. Now for those of you who are ill-informed, Colombo is a place that is always in the news for bomb blasts and rebellious activities. It is a beautiful place nonetheless but the fear that a bomb could go off anytime can really gnaw on any tourists' mind. I was hoping the Hotel would be close by but to my dismay, the hotel was a good 45 minutes drive from the airport.
The hotel was beautiful. It was by the beach and as you walked into the lobby you could see the beach right there. There were couples everywhere! And I mean everywhere! Anyway, I checked in and the bellboy showed me to my room. It was a big room facing the pool. It had a huge sofa, a huge bathroom and bed. I've been to a lot of hotels but this one was definitely going into my top 5 list.
But it was only after I settled in that I realized that there was no TV in my room. At first it seemed strange and it took me a little while to understand the gravity of the situation. I was in a foreign land (where a bomb could go off anytime), I couldn't take a walk outside, I had no clue where I was and the pool had a huge hairy guy swimming in it. This was not good. So I went straight to the reception desk to investigate what was happening.
Receptionist: "Good afternoon sir. How may I help you blah blah blah... "
Me: "Hi I stay in room number ### and I noticed that I don't have a TV in there."
Receptionist: "Thats strange. Can you give me your room number again so that I may verify what has happened."
I repeat the number. [After a bit of tapping on the keyboard and a couple of swift clicks on the mouse.]
Receptionist: "Sir, it seems you have been given the honeymoon suite (with a big smile)."
Me: "What?! You have to be kidding me."
And at that instant everything made sense. That big sofa, that big bed, all those couples roaming around the place and that pool (with the fat guy) facing the room.
Me: "So are you telling me that honeymoon couples don't need television sets in their rooms?"
Receptionist: " Well sir, I don't think I am at liberty to give you my opinion on that."
[She definitely took the liberty to giggle like mad though!]
Wonderful! So here I am in a honeymoon suite all alone and with no television set. I never missed the 'idiot box' like the way I did on that day. I spent the next 11 hours reading a copy of the National Geographic Magazine which rocked me to sleep in minutes.
I was more than happy when I got the wake up call at midnight. I packed and I left. Next time I go there, I'll make sure I take my own little TV set!
Sheesh!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Who was I?
Of late I have been extremely jobless. Especially at my workplace since my boss is out of town. So I have been doing a lot of reading and thinking (surprisingly) about the concept of Karma - the famous hindu belief about good deeds and your past life. So I have been on a mission to figure out who or what I was in my past life and I think I finally have figured it out. I am pretty sure that I was a Dog in my last life. I have decent evidence to prove the fact. Here are some characteristics that I share with the canine clan:
1) I am friendly. It doesn't take me too long to strike up a witty conversation with new people I meet. Basically I leave a good impression on people just like a friendly dog would do.
2) I tend to get very philosophical and poetic most of the time. This has led me to believe that my master was a hippie - musician and renowned thinker. So I am assuming that I was around somewhere in the 1960s era. Plus I love Bob Dylan and folk music. So this sort of cements my assumption.
3) I have a keen sense of smell. I smell my food before I eat it (i dont know why. It just happens). I have a keen sense of smell for all the wrong things and lets just leave it at that.
4) I love kids! I love spending time with them and looking after them. Guarding them from anything suspicious just like any faithful, doting dog would do. Of course now, since I am human, there is a greater chance of me barking/shouting at them when they pull my ear or poke me in the eye.
5) I am good at finding things that are well hidden. This is a qulaity that has helped me track down my 'College Degree Certificate' and lots of other 'valuable' documents.
6) I am particular of my territory. I know this is not a very common trait of most dogs but some dogs can get very terrirorial. I believe I was one of them. The only difference is, I do not exactly mark territory the way dogs do. I have way more sophisticated methods get that done.
7) For some strange reason, I have this slight inclination to hate anyone from a certain part in South India. Hence leading me to believe that my arch rival was a mutt from that part of South India. I think we were fighting over a bone. Hmmm, I'm not too sure though.
8) I have quick reflexes! That is something I am proud about. Although I make a stupid face each time my body reacts quickly to something, I still manage to pull it off quite well. I must have attained such reflexes after all the dog fights I must have been in.
9) I (used to) bite. As a child that was one thing I was very famous for. And its not a quality that I am proud of. Its irritating when elders come home and then tell you: "You know when you were a baby I used to carry you around and take care of you but you had one helluva bite! Once you almost bit my finger off." Well atleast on the bright side they should be happy that there is a much lesser chance of them catching rabies!
10) Last but not the least, I am loyal and I expect the same. But of course, just like dogs I am also capable of changing sides if someone offered me the human equivalent of a doggie biscuit or a nice bone!
Hence, I believe I am pretty accurate in deducing what I was in my previous life. Now I have another 6 hours in the office which I shall use to figure out which breed I was and to find my ancestors!
P.S. Just in case you were the cat that I bullied around, I just want you to know that I had a ball of a time in doing so!
1) I am friendly. It doesn't take me too long to strike up a witty conversation with new people I meet. Basically I leave a good impression on people just like a friendly dog would do.
2) I tend to get very philosophical and poetic most of the time. This has led me to believe that my master was a hippie - musician and renowned thinker. So I am assuming that I was around somewhere in the 1960s era. Plus I love Bob Dylan and folk music. So this sort of cements my assumption.
3) I have a keen sense of smell. I smell my food before I eat it (i dont know why. It just happens). I have a keen sense of smell for all the wrong things and lets just leave it at that.
4) I love kids! I love spending time with them and looking after them. Guarding them from anything suspicious just like any faithful, doting dog would do. Of course now, since I am human, there is a greater chance of me barking/shouting at them when they pull my ear or poke me in the eye.
5) I am good at finding things that are well hidden. This is a qulaity that has helped me track down my 'College Degree Certificate' and lots of other 'valuable' documents.
6) I am particular of my territory. I know this is not a very common trait of most dogs but some dogs can get very terrirorial. I believe I was one of them. The only difference is, I do not exactly mark territory the way dogs do. I have way more sophisticated methods get that done.
7) For some strange reason, I have this slight inclination to hate anyone from a certain part in South India. Hence leading me to believe that my arch rival was a mutt from that part of South India. I think we were fighting over a bone. Hmmm, I'm not too sure though.
8) I have quick reflexes! That is something I am proud about. Although I make a stupid face each time my body reacts quickly to something, I still manage to pull it off quite well. I must have attained such reflexes after all the dog fights I must have been in.
9) I (used to) bite. As a child that was one thing I was very famous for. And its not a quality that I am proud of. Its irritating when elders come home and then tell you: "You know when you were a baby I used to carry you around and take care of you but you had one helluva bite! Once you almost bit my finger off." Well atleast on the bright side they should be happy that there is a much lesser chance of them catching rabies!
10) Last but not the least, I am loyal and I expect the same. But of course, just like dogs I am also capable of changing sides if someone offered me the human equivalent of a doggie biscuit or a nice bone!
Hence, I believe I am pretty accurate in deducing what I was in my previous life. Now I have another 6 hours in the office which I shall use to figure out which breed I was and to find my ancestors!
P.S. Just in case you were the cat that I bullied around, I just want you to know that I had a ball of a time in doing so!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Generation gap. Really?
Generation gap was a word I once heard during an English class session sometime in the eight grade. It didn't take me much time to realise what it meant cause when you are a teenager and you have amazing levels of energy coupled with a little tinge of rebellious behavior towards anything, especially rules set by parents, this was one term that both generations always lingered on.
Children would blame their parents for not accepting new cultural influences and parents would blame their kids for being stubborn and for ignoring tradition. But somewhere in the middle of this great war of words, there seemed to be a sudden shift. It was as though one generation decided to put down their guns and follow the other. The "Adults" found wisdom in the adage: "If you can't beat them, join them". Now, the adults never gave up and they never raised the white flag but instead they marched alongside their rebellious counterparts (without being noticed). This later turned out to be the best strategic move in the history of psychological warfare.
It was around this time that the world of technology had reached soaring heights and there came a need for understanding the working of one basic instrument/medium - The Internet. Some parents despised it for its complexity. Others hated staring at an empty screen which offered none of the wonderful soaps that only Indian television could offer! But in time they learned how to deal with the ever changing world of technology. They finally did what their children wanted them to do - Embrace new culture. And now all of a sudden, there seemed to be no more reasons to fight. The need for war which run through the veins of every budding teenager could not find a suitable outlet. It was concluded that the eternal war had finally come to an end.
But now there seems to be a new evil force lurking on the Internet. Making their way through the defensive barricades that the younger generation had set up for years. As I sit here helplessly in front of my computer, I am forced to make a choice and to face it alone - Should I accept the friend requests that my uncle, aunt and grandma have sent be on Orkut and Facebook.
As I walk along this tightrope, I know my days are numbered!
Children would blame their parents for not accepting new cultural influences and parents would blame their kids for being stubborn and for ignoring tradition. But somewhere in the middle of this great war of words, there seemed to be a sudden shift. It was as though one generation decided to put down their guns and follow the other. The "Adults" found wisdom in the adage: "If you can't beat them, join them". Now, the adults never gave up and they never raised the white flag but instead they marched alongside their rebellious counterparts (without being noticed). This later turned out to be the best strategic move in the history of psychological warfare.
It was around this time that the world of technology had reached soaring heights and there came a need for understanding the working of one basic instrument/medium - The Internet. Some parents despised it for its complexity. Others hated staring at an empty screen which offered none of the wonderful soaps that only Indian television could offer! But in time they learned how to deal with the ever changing world of technology. They finally did what their children wanted them to do - Embrace new culture. And now all of a sudden, there seemed to be no more reasons to fight. The need for war which run through the veins of every budding teenager could not find a suitable outlet. It was concluded that the eternal war had finally come to an end.
But now there seems to be a new evil force lurking on the Internet. Making their way through the defensive barricades that the younger generation had set up for years. As I sit here helplessly in front of my computer, I am forced to make a choice and to face it alone - Should I accept the friend requests that my uncle, aunt and grandma have sent be on Orkut and Facebook.
As I walk along this tightrope, I know my days are numbered!
Friday, June 26, 2009
A Tribute to the King of Pop
I am an avid music buff and I listen to practically every artist on the planet. But no one has ever made an impact on me the way Michael Jackson did. I still remember the first time I listened to him, I was 8 years old. I couldn't stop myself from tapping my foot to every beat. I couldn't stop my little body from swaying as I watched a man move so fluently to the music. I was mesmerized. I always look back to that moment as the moment that changed the way I saw music. I made sure I collected as many of his music cassettes as possible and that was no easy task when you stayed in a remote part of South India.
In the summer of 1995, I was lucky enough to grab hold of the 'History' series which consisted of his most famous songs over the last decade. His songs were a rare mix of both simple and profound lyrics which instantly caught my attention. Songs like "They don't really care about us", "Stranger in Moscow", "Heal the world" would always be playing on my little cassette player which I bugged my Dad into buying me so that I could listen to what Dad would describe as "a man shouting all the time".
He revolutionized the music industry. His electrifying live performances were and still are the greatest moments in music history. The "Moonwalk" became his trademark and it is something that I still find mystifying. Each move was done with effortless grace that sometimes it was hard to believe such things were possible to be performed by a human being. I am yet to meet someone who has not heard of Michael Jackson. I know villagers in South India to whom the western world means only one thing - Michael Jackson. I am sure no one shall attain such immortality.
Like all famous celebrities, Michael Jackson did have his share of controversies. But imagine living a celebrity life all the way from the tender age of five. Throughout the the mid 1970s all the way to the mid 1990s, he was the most celebrated artist/performer on the planet. He was always under pressure and he dealt with it in the best ways possible. Celebrity status was pushed on to him and he never got a break from it.
But in the midst of his recent tragic death, I wish for once the media would celebrate his fantastic career (which spanned more than three decades) rather than still cling only to the controversies that scarred his career over the last few years.
Irrespective of what people say, Michael Jackson shall always remain an icon to me. My childhood role model. The man who changed my way of thinking forever. I hope he finally finds peace and I am sure the Gods shall greet him with open arms. I am also sure that no other artist will ever be able to set new standards which are in par with his.
I would like to end this post with a song that was Michael Jacksons message to the world and to the world's children:
In the summer of 1995, I was lucky enough to grab hold of the 'History' series which consisted of his most famous songs over the last decade. His songs were a rare mix of both simple and profound lyrics which instantly caught my attention. Songs like "They don't really care about us", "Stranger in Moscow", "Heal the world" would always be playing on my little cassette player which I bugged my Dad into buying me so that I could listen to what Dad would describe as "a man shouting all the time".
He revolutionized the music industry. His electrifying live performances were and still are the greatest moments in music history. The "Moonwalk" became his trademark and it is something that I still find mystifying. Each move was done with effortless grace that sometimes it was hard to believe such things were possible to be performed by a human being. I am yet to meet someone who has not heard of Michael Jackson. I know villagers in South India to whom the western world means only one thing - Michael Jackson. I am sure no one shall attain such immortality.
Like all famous celebrities, Michael Jackson did have his share of controversies. But imagine living a celebrity life all the way from the tender age of five. Throughout the the mid 1970s all the way to the mid 1990s, he was the most celebrated artist/performer on the planet. He was always under pressure and he dealt with it in the best ways possible. Celebrity status was pushed on to him and he never got a break from it.
But in the midst of his recent tragic death, I wish for once the media would celebrate his fantastic career (which spanned more than three decades) rather than still cling only to the controversies that scarred his career over the last few years.
Irrespective of what people say, Michael Jackson shall always remain an icon to me. My childhood role model. The man who changed my way of thinking forever. I hope he finally finds peace and I am sure the Gods shall greet him with open arms. I am also sure that no other artist will ever be able to set new standards which are in par with his.
I would like to end this post with a song that was Michael Jacksons message to the world and to the world's children:
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Land of Opportunity
How many times have you heard the phrase 'Living the American dream'? And how many times have you wanted to actually take a shot and try "living it" ? Well, we are all suckers when it comes to opportunity and knowing that the US of A is the land of opportunity we all decide to head there and try and make the dice roll the way we want it to. Well I am pretty much a sucker (just like the rest of us) and I decided to give the "living it" factor a shot! I decided to head to the US of A to pursue my goals of achieving a Masters' Degree in Engineering. So I went through the whole ordeal of writing the GRE and TOEFL. Wasting loads of money applying to universities that would never even give me a call. And then going through hell to get my VISA approved! So after all this torture I thought I'd see the light at the end of the tunnel but boy was I wrong!
I took the flight to the US and it was filled with my own people! Thats when I realized how ironic my plight was! (Lets take a look at why I wanted to do an MS in the first place) .
The main reason I decided to do a Masters' outside my country was for the following reasons:
1) to get a better level of education
2) to get industrial exposure which would complement my education
3) to avoid the intense academic competition that was present in my country
4) in order to achieve goal no. 3, obviously meant I would have go to a place where there weren't too many of my people around.
(Back inside the flight) I couldn't stop thinking about these 4 reasons and when I looked around at all the people sitting around me I couldn't help asking myself in a very subtle manner: "IS THIS WHAT I SPENT ALL THAT TIME AND MONEY FOR?!!"
But as is always the case, just when I thought things were bad enough, they got worse. After a 22 hour journey to my destination I realized something. Out of the passengers (most of whom were my own people) 95% of them were new admits to the same university that I was going to! Okay, ignoring the fact that they looked a lot older and senile than I did, that didn't stop my conscious from striking me like a hammer on an anvil! And this is what it said: "THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU ARE GONNA FULFILL GOAL NO. 3 ! RETREAT! DAMN FOOL! RETREAT!". Yeah I know, easier said than done. But I decided to go ahead with what I had come here to do ( as if I had a choice!).
At the baggage claim I decided to unleash the social butterfly inside me and decided to introduce myself to a few of the people there. After all I was in a foreign country and making a few friends wouldn't hurt. So I chattered up with a couple of people and the next thing you know we were talking about the reasons as to why we had come to the 'Land of opportunity'.
I started off by stating (my) goal no.1 and 2 (and for obvious reasons discarded goal no. 3 and 4) . But in the next two minutes, I spoke to 3 other people and they told me that they had only one reason to come here. I asked them what it was and they said: "Duh, I came here just to make sure that I get a large lump sum of dowry when I get married!"
At this point an enlightened thought struck me (as I realized the kind of company I was stuck with) and it whispered into my ear : "Dude, you are screwed!" .
I took the flight to the US and it was filled with my own people! Thats when I realized how ironic my plight was! (Lets take a look at why I wanted to do an MS in the first place) .
The main reason I decided to do a Masters' outside my country was for the following reasons:
1) to get a better level of education
2) to get industrial exposure which would complement my education
3) to avoid the intense academic competition that was present in my country
4) in order to achieve goal no. 3, obviously meant I would have go to a place where there weren't too many of my people around.
(Back inside the flight) I couldn't stop thinking about these 4 reasons and when I looked around at all the people sitting around me I couldn't help asking myself in a very subtle manner: "IS THIS WHAT I SPENT ALL THAT TIME AND MONEY FOR?!!"
But as is always the case, just when I thought things were bad enough, they got worse. After a 22 hour journey to my destination I realized something. Out of the passengers (most of whom were my own people) 95% of them were new admits to the same university that I was going to! Okay, ignoring the fact that they looked a lot older and senile than I did, that didn't stop my conscious from striking me like a hammer on an anvil! And this is what it said: "THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU ARE GONNA FULFILL GOAL NO. 3 ! RETREAT! DAMN FOOL! RETREAT!". Yeah I know, easier said than done. But I decided to go ahead with what I had come here to do ( as if I had a choice!).
At the baggage claim I decided to unleash the social butterfly inside me and decided to introduce myself to a few of the people there. After all I was in a foreign country and making a few friends wouldn't hurt. So I chattered up with a couple of people and the next thing you know we were talking about the reasons as to why we had come to the 'Land of opportunity'.
I started off by stating (my) goal no.1 and 2 (and for obvious reasons discarded goal no. 3 and 4) . But in the next two minutes, I spoke to 3 other people and they told me that they had only one reason to come here. I asked them what it was and they said: "Duh, I came here just to make sure that I get a large lump sum of dowry when I get married!"
At this point an enlightened thought struck me (as I realized the kind of company I was stuck with) and it whispered into my ear : "Dude, you are screwed!" .
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Rise Against - Hero of War
Rise against have released their new album 'Appeal to reason'. Among the songs in the album there is one titled 'Hero of war'. The lyrics talk about how a person gets inducted into the army, his renewed patriotism, the prisoner abuse that he takes part in and his own personal conflicts. The video hasn't released yet but the audio is available. It is important to hang on to the lyrics as they start. Its something that will make you think for a while once you are done listening to the song.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tearjerkers
Ok, now how many of you cry at the movies? How many of you lose control and give away to your emotions at that right moment when the hero is dying or when the damsel in distress is rescued just in the nick of time or when a couple destined to be apart come together in the end or when a man who has been living in poverty all his life wins a lottery out of nowhere. Well I don't expect an honest answer from anyone.
I like to see myself as a scientist. An intellectual who is above the masses and the illiterate riff-raff. But unfortunatley this is just my little fantasty. I am no scientist. I can't even figure out what I am doing in a place that is supposed to be providing me with higher education and better resources. But I do have friends and I treat them like lab rats. I do my little experiments on them whenever possible. But eversince I have been asked this question about crying at the movies I decided this would be my next experiment.
Now you'd be surprised to know that in most cases, the people who breakdown during a movie are the very same people who claim that they don't have emotions and that they are hollow and in most cases its a mechanical engineering student who is just trying to be plain macho. But they are the ones who cave - in first.
Anyway getting back to the subject at hand, my experiment. Recently my circle of friends (read lab rats) decided to go for a movie. I read the review and it clearly stated that it was a pretty intense movie and that it was a great tearjerker. This was the best opportunity for me to observe the behavior of human emotions. In the theater I sat between two people who contrasted each other in every way imaginable. The movie was three hours long. Three - quarters into the movie and now the scenes began to get sentimental. I waited and observed like a tiger observing the movements of its prey. I didn't have to wait for long. I heard it. Sniff - Sniff. The sound of victory. I wish I had a bugle at the moment to blow out loud. But then I heard other sounds too. To my left I could hear someone snoring and in front of me there was a couple who seemed to be totally oblivious to the fact that they were in a movie theater and that there were other people around. And so there I was caught in between the sniff- sniff, the smooch - smooch and the snoring. I wanted to get out. Run towards the exit like a prisoner of war who had just found an escape route. But then there was nowhere to run. I had no choice but to try and block out the noise.
Finally when the movie got over, I looked like I had been caught in a hurricane. The whole experience taught me a very valuable lesson - When you make a plan, make sure you have a foolproof exit strategy to complement it!
I like to see myself as a scientist. An intellectual who is above the masses and the illiterate riff-raff. But unfortunatley this is just my little fantasty. I am no scientist. I can't even figure out what I am doing in a place that is supposed to be providing me with higher education and better resources. But I do have friends and I treat them like lab rats. I do my little experiments on them whenever possible. But eversince I have been asked this question about crying at the movies I decided this would be my next experiment.
Now you'd be surprised to know that in most cases, the people who breakdown during a movie are the very same people who claim that they don't have emotions and that they are hollow and in most cases its a mechanical engineering student who is just trying to be plain macho. But they are the ones who cave - in first.
Anyway getting back to the subject at hand, my experiment. Recently my circle of friends (read lab rats) decided to go for a movie. I read the review and it clearly stated that it was a pretty intense movie and that it was a great tearjerker. This was the best opportunity for me to observe the behavior of human emotions. In the theater I sat between two people who contrasted each other in every way imaginable. The movie was three hours long. Three - quarters into the movie and now the scenes began to get sentimental. I waited and observed like a tiger observing the movements of its prey. I didn't have to wait for long. I heard it. Sniff - Sniff. The sound of victory. I wish I had a bugle at the moment to blow out loud. But then I heard other sounds too. To my left I could hear someone snoring and in front of me there was a couple who seemed to be totally oblivious to the fact that they were in a movie theater and that there were other people around. And so there I was caught in between the sniff- sniff, the smooch - smooch and the snoring. I wanted to get out. Run towards the exit like a prisoner of war who had just found an escape route. But then there was nowhere to run. I had no choice but to try and block out the noise.
Finally when the movie got over, I looked like I had been caught in a hurricane. The whole experience taught me a very valuable lesson - When you make a plan, make sure you have a foolproof exit strategy to complement it!
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