God has silenced the critics once again

Sachin Tendulkar hit a brilliant 76 balls century in the fourth and final one-dayer to help India clinch the four match series 3-1. The innings was studded with 10 hits to the fence and one hit clearing the stadium at Vadodra. Now once again the news channels have something to sing about....and to wait for. Each time Sachin comes up with such an innings, "experts" and the media starts talking about how much the team needs him and how the innings reminded them of the Sachin of yesteryears.

Experts get paid to comment on television and Media leverages such opportunities to sell themselves and out-do the competition. And they wait for the failure. A failure gives them the "masala". In India, Cricket is a religion and there are millions of Indians like me, who worship Tendulkar. Not because of his endorsements, not because of his ferrari, not because of his restaurant.....but because of what he has done and continues to do. Whenever India is playing a cricket match, an Indian forgets about the problems in office, increasing fuel prices, falling sensex, nagging wife/wives.....and gets glued to a television set. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, on numerous occassions, has made them smile and feel proud to be an Indian. So sentiments are obviously attached with Sachin. And the news channels know it. Thats why they keep him in news....be it a good reason or bad. One failure and suddenly he would be old, blocking one position in the team etc etc.

What these people fail to understand is that we need his batting brilliance if we want to have some chance to win the WC. Why are we unnecessarily creating pressure on him? Agreed he is going through a bad phase but wasnt he going through a lean patch before the last world cup too? We know what he is capable of. Okay, do one thing. Make a dream team for the world cup and try filling Sachin's slot with Suresh Rainas or Wasim Jaffers of the world and think if you would bet your money on that team. I definitely wont!!!!

Take a weekend off from Bangalore

Having spent a year and half at Bangalore, I know pretty well that weekends over there can become a huge problem. After slogging for a week in office, one looks for some excitement over the weekend. A newcomer to the metropolis can initially have good fun, especially if coming from a small town and even more if he/she is fond of "madira sevan". Bangalore has a happening crowd and some damn good pubs.

All that is okay but I started feeling bored after a couple of months. After all, how much bird-watching can one do on Brigade Road. And now days, the whole Bangalore heads to FORUM on the weekends, so chances are that you will bump into all the familiar and unpleasant faces from office. And above all, the traffic situation at Bangalore makes one think a zillion times before stepping out of home.

I was getting immensely bored and not surprisingly, I was not an "endangered species". There were several others in my friend circle who were facing the same problem. Collectively we made a plan that we should do SOMETHING INTERESTING on the weekends. We found out that there are several places around Bangalore that one can go over a weekend. Here are some suggestions (I have been to all these places and many more around Bengaluru. If you are ready to take out some time, the weekends can get every exciting);

1. Mysore (Check out the Mysore Palace and the Infy Campus)
2. Ooty (Everyone knows that Ooty is beautiful and I second that)
3. Kemmanagundi Falls (Not really too much fun but go with loads of friends and you will enjoy the journey)
4. Mangalore & Udupi (I liked Udupi more. It has a nice beach but the sea is very calm. Do have the "Outlook Dosa" at Mitra Samaj."
5. Bandipur (see picture) (Bandipur is a national sanctuary. I stayed at Tusker Trails resort over there, which is run by some royal family. It is a nice place to stay at. The cottages, food, swimming pool....everything is good. They conduct safaris too. There is a Jungle Lodge resort and Bush Betta resort. Jungle Resort is government owned and only their safari vehicles have the permission to go off the route into the jungle. Do not be too optimistic about a tiger sighting. The driver of my safari vehicles had not seen a Tiger in two years!!!! To go to Bandipur, one has to hire a vehicle from Bangalore/Mysore. Otherwise one can get take a bus for Ooty and get down at Bandipur.)
6. Nandi Hills (This summer residence of Tipu Sultan is just 60 kms from Bangalore. Go there to watch the sunrise. Breakfast can be arranged over there.)
7. Cauvery Fishing Camp, Bheemeshwari (This is a nice resort where in cottages and tents are available. Nice way to relax away from the maddening crowd of Bangalore. Their breakfast is something to look forward to.)

Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai......

Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai.....Ki zindagi teri zulfo ki narm chhav mein gujarne paati....to shadaab ho bhi sakti thi...

Yeh ranj-o-ghum ki syaahi jo dil pe chhhayi hai....Teri nazar ki shuaao mein kho bhi sakti thi....
Magar yeh ho naa sakaa...Magar ye ho na saka aur ab ye aalam hai...ki tu nahi.. tera ghum, teri justuzu bhi nahi....gujar rahi hai kuch tarah zindagi jaise.....ise kisi ke sahaare ki aarzoo bhi nahi...naa koi raah.. na manzil.. na roshni ka suraag....

Bhatak rahi hai andhero mein zindagi meri.....Inhi andhero mein rah jaaunga kabhi khokar...main jaanta hoon meri hum-nafaj, magar yu hi.....

Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai...

Do you miss those days?

Do u miss those days ....

When we desperately waited for 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi'. When Chitrahaar, Vikram-Baitaal, Dada Daadi ki Kahaniyaan were so fulfilling ...When there was just one TV in every five houses.

When Bisleris were not sold in the trains and we used to worry if Papa will get back into the train intime or not.

When we used to go to bed by 9 PM sharp except for the 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi' day ...When Holis & Diwalis meant mostly hand-made sweets and moms seeking our help while preparing them.

When Maths teachers were not worried of our mummys and papas while slapping/beating us ...When we exchanged comics and stamps. Chacha-Chaudhary and Billu were our heroes ...When one movie every Sunday evening on television used to be more than anyone asked for and 'ek do teen chaar' and 'Rajni' inspired us ...When 50 paisa meant at least 10 toffees.

When leftover pages of the last years notebooks were used for rough work or even fair work...When 'Chelpark' and 'Natraaj' were encouraged against 'Reynolds and family'.

When the first rain meant getting drenched and playing in water and mud and making 'kaagaj ki kashtis' ...When there were no phones to tell friends that we will be at their homes at six in the evening ...When our parents always had 15 paise blue colored 'antardesiyes' and 5 paise machli wale stamps at home. When crackers did not mean pollution.

The list can be endless ...on the serious note I would like to summarize it with when we were using our hearts more than our brains, even forscientifically brainy activities like 'thinking' and 'deciding' ...When we used to cry and laugh more often, more openly and more sincerily ...When we enjoyed our present more than worrying about our future...When being emotional was not synonymous to being weak. When sharing worries and happinesses did not mean getting vulnerable to the listener ...When journeys also were important and not just the destinations ...When life was a passenger's sleeper giving enough time and opportunity to enjoy the sceneries from its open and transparent glass windows instead of some superfast's second AC with its curtained,closed and dark windows.

Don't you miss those days?

Beauty lies in the eyes of the "Beer Holder"

24 hours in a day, 24 cans in a beer case. Coincidence?

1. The mouth of a perfectly happy man is filled with beer
2. Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants to see us happy
3. Pretty women make us BUY beer. Ugly women make us DRINK beer
4. A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure
5. Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza
6. When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. Sooooo, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!
7. Whiskey and Beer are a man's worst enemies... but the man that runs away from his enemies is a coward!
8. God has a brown voice, as soft and full as beer
9. The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind
10. I don't have a drinking problem, except when I can't find a drink

Havelock Island

The picture was taken at Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) in December 2006. This beach was voted the best beach in Asia by Time magazine in 2004.

Whenever we think of holidays on beach, the name that pops up immediately is Goa. No doubt Goa is a happening place with some very beautiful beaches. But people looking for a peaceful holiday; people who like to stroll on a peaceful beach, holding their partner's hand......must go to Havelock Island.

There are a few good resorts at Havelock (Barefoot, Wild Orchids, Dolphin). We very reluctantly stayed at Dolphins thinking that it will not be good (It is a government run resort and we did not have any other option left since other resorts were full) but it certainly surprised us. Decent place to stay and good for the pocket too. But ya, do not have food at Dolphins. Wild Orchid Resort is next door and they have a pretty good restaurant and BAR. The seafood over there is really nice and it was a nice experience for a big foodie like me.

At Havelock, there are two beaches...Radhanagar and Elephanta. Elephanta beach is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. Its a 45 min boat ride for Elephanta beach. Though Havelock is a beautiful place, one should ideally stay over there for not more than two days.

Havelock is 2:15 mins boat ride from Port Blair. Port Blair is also a very beautiful place. Its a peaceful place and the best part about it are the people. I was delighted by the friendly nature of the people out there. Most of them speak Hindi and English. The Cellular Jail is amazing and all you patriotic guys, you must not miss the Light and Sound show at the jail. The Corbyn Cove beach is the only beach at Port Blair and one can very well give it a miss.