Praying for a better show

We have finally entered the medals tally in the London Olympics. Gagan Narang has done India proud by winning the bronze in the 10 meter air rifle event. 

A lot of people had big hopes from the Olympics. A friend of mine had even predicted 4-5 Golds!!! Even I had a lot of expectations. Day after day, that hope and expectation is dwindling. I had more expectations from archery and shooting. It is not over yet and we can still win a few more medals but so far it has been disappointing. Even in case of Narang, most people were expecting Gold. I hope India puts up a better show in the remaining days. 

P.S. I still do not want Bhupathi-Bopanna to win a medal

Three Long Weeks

Got up this morning and like everyday, started looking for cushions to put on the bed so that Ananya does not crawl off the bed. Then I realized that she is not there :(

Sitting in the office now and her pictures are playing on the tablet.

It is going to be pretty difficult three weeks.

States visited so far

Have visited 20 states so far (marked in red)

This is by far the most boring Sunday of this year

Amitabh Bachchan: Some of my favorite dialogues

1. Main aaj bhi phenke huye paise nahi uthaata (Deewar)
2. "Yeh Indian Army hai, hum dushmani mein bhi ek sharaafat rakhte hain" (Lakshya)
3. "Sahi baat agar sahi waqt par ki jaaye to uska mazaa hi kucch aur hota hai. Aur main sahi waqt ka intezaar karta hun (Trishul)
4. "Govardhan seth, samundar mein tairne waale kuoon aur taalabon mein dubki nahin lagaya karte hain" (Muqaddar ka Sikandar)
5. "Phir ya to main kal subah suraj nikalne se pehle Habibullah ko le jaunga....ya phir kal suraj nahi niklega" (Khuda Gawah)
6. " Hum jaha pe khade ho jaate hein, line wahin se shuru hoti hai" (Kaalia)
7. " Rishte me to hum tumhare baap lagte hain, naam hai Shahenshah" (Shahenshah)
8. "....aur sun.....tujhe bhi nahi karne dunga" (Sarkar)
9. "Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, naamumkin hai" (Don)
10. " "I can talk English, I can walk English, I can laugh English because English is a very phunny language. Bhairo becomes Byron because their minds are very narrow." (Namak Halaal)
11. "Tumhara naam kya hai, Basanti?" (Sholay)
12. "Saala nautanki, ghadi ghadi drama karta hai (Sholay)
13. "Mujhe to sab police waalon ki shaklein ek jaisi lagti hain" (Sholay)
14. "Partner, ab bol hi diya hai to dekh lenge" (Sholay)
15. "Aap log to kucch samajhte hi nahi hain na" (Chupke Chupke)
16. "Main aur meri tanhaai -- aksar ye baatein karte hain...." (Silsila)
17. "Yeh telephone bhi ajeeb cheez hai -- aadmi sochta kuch hai, bolta kuch hai aur karta kuch hai" (Agneepath)
18. "Pura naam...Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. Baap ka naam...Dinanath Chauhan. Maa ka naam... Suhasini Chauhan. Gaon...Mandwa. Umar...chhattis saal..." (Agneepath)
19. "...to tumhein kya lag rahe hain hum.....Gubbarewaale?!!?" (Bunty aur Babli) 
20. "Pandrah Sau rupaye mein saala ghar nahi chalta, imaan kya chalega" (Agneepath)

Air Asia Red Carpet: Pass to Hassle Free Travel

Air Asia is one of the cheaper options to fly between India and Malaysia. From Kuala Lumpur, it has flights for Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and probably Kochi and Trichurapalli as well. While booking the tickets for my wife and daughter, I noticed a 'Red Carpet' option. I inquired about it with a my colleagues who have taken the Air Asia flight in the past. To my surprise, no one has used that option. They did not have much idea about it as well and most discouraged me from paying additional MYR 100 for this option, when it is unlikely to give much incremental benefits.

Since my wife was going to travel alone with a small creature, who has just learnt the use of legs (apart from kicking) and is fairly restless, I thought there is no harm in buying a possible comfort. I did not make a mistake.

Yesterday, at the airport, we noticed long queue for check-in, which we could avoid thanks to the Red Carpet. The check-in took less than a minute. Afterwards, my wife and daughter were escorted to a premium lounge. The lounge had snacks, internet, clean bathrooms etc and Red Carpet gives an access to these facilities for upto 2 hours. 

Later, they were escorted for the immigration and security check. There was a separate section for Red Carpet and it took less than 5 minutes. Red Carpet also given an option of a buggy service under which passengers are taken to the aircraft in a buggy (golf cart). It is a good option to have since one can be made to walk long distances in some cases. Additionally, at the destination, the baggage comes on priority. What more can one ask for in MYR 100? 

I have not opted for Red Carpet for my travel to India in August but I will definitely do that before I travel. I wonder why more people do not do the same.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S: Done

Two and Half Men: Done

How I met your mother: Done

The Big Bang Theory: Work-in-Progress

What next? Please suggest.

Blind Support

Dear God,

Please put people around me who would support me and back me the way MS Dhoni supports Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma. And please do not make me as useless as these two phenomenally talented individuals. 

Animesh

----------------------------------------------------

Backing the team members that you believe in is a mark of good captain. However, keeping to back them even after too many failures at the cost of other talented players is tyranny. Sourav Ganguly was a great leader, who was instrumental in changing the attitude of Indian cricketers (and followers). He backed several players (Yuvraj, Harbhajan, Nehra are the prominent ones). That is a quality that I liked in him. However, he also inexplicably gave a raw deal of some players who 'could have' done better than they did. Murali Karthik and Sanjay Bangar are examples. That was tyranny and something that I hated about Ganguly. Now, Mr. Dhoni is doing something pretty similar. Some of the talented cricketers who find a fan following in Dhoni have been enjoying a great and extended run. The skipper even gives meaningless and stupid excuses to persist with these cricketers. On the other hand, some others (Manoj Tiwary, Rahul Sharma (who may soon be playing for Tihar XI), Irrfan Pathan to some extent) keep praying for better luck as well as stronger support of the captain.

Rohot Sharma is undoubtedly a gifted cricketer. However, talent does not win matches. Performance (substantial and consistent) does. He was chosen above Sehwag, Gambhir and Tendulkar in Australia as the next world cup is in Australia. Does that mean that others are not in the scheme of things at all? Shall Manoj Tiwary, Ajinkya Rahane etc opt for retirement? Now, Rohit Sharma is playing match after match in the series against Srilanka as the T20 world cup is in Srilanka!!! Is it that Rohit Sharma has been already picked to play all major events that we will have to back him and make him ready? Why do not we try others 'instead' or 'as well'? 

Watched a movie in a movie hall after almost a year and half. (I guess the last movie that I watched in hall was "Sahi Bandeh, Galat Dhandhe"!!!). After dropping my wife and daughter to the airport, I did not feel like coming back to home straightaway. I decided to watch a movie to feel better. And I ended up watching a movie in which a husband/father loses his wife and daughter and then tries to reunite with them. Sounded intense, isn't it? Actually it was Ice Age-4 :)

Ananya (and of course her mom) just left for India. Am sitting at the airport and already missing them 

Ananya aka Aanya aka Gulli Singh aka Dim-sum is leaving for India tomorrow...Don't know how will I manage the next three long weeks :(

BCCI da jawaab nahi!!!

Yesterday I read a news that the BCCI President, N Srinivasan has taken personal initiative to bring back Kapil Dev in the official fold. If this is indeed true, it is a great news and finally better sense has prevailed. Kapil Dev is truly a legend of Indian cricket and sidelining him just because he was the head of the rebel T20 league (ICL) is unfair. After all, ICL made BCCI to start its own and highly profitable league (IPL).

Kapil Dev has faced a lot of humiliation since BCCI stopped inviting him to cricket functions. Neglecting the first World Cup winning captain and one of the better all-rounders to play the game was an uncalled for stance. BCCI's decisions affected Kapil Dev financially as well since he stopped getting pensions. Recently, he was ignored in the 1 Crore one-time payment scheme (indeed a great idea) that BCCI has formulated.

I am glad that Kapil Dev will now get his dues. He has to apply for amnesty, which he has agreed to do. That is some great news. Though, I wish BCCI could do without this applying and requesting business.

Aman ki Asha....#*$%&€Δ§π¿¢π*#!?

India Pakistan cricket series in December 2012. Good news.

The matches will be played in India. Extremely bad news.

I cannot understand the logic behind this decision. Recently, Abu Jundal revealed that some of the terrorists involved in 26/11 came to India as cricket fans and did some 'site seeing'. Why do we want to give them another opportunity?? They must be giggling, celebrating and would have already started making plans for the next strike. Sewaiyyan hum banake denge to woh eid manaane to ayenge hi. 

Moreover, it seems Pakistani players may be included in the next edition of IPL. What is the reason of this sudden change in stance?? Why do we want to help them now? Corruption in cricket is present in each country. Players are trying to find quicker ways of making more money. In terms of corruption among cricket players, Pakistani players are ahead of everyone. Salman Butt, Mohamad Aamer, Mohamad Asif, Danish Kaneria etc. We are also not far behind with our Azhars, Jadejas, Shalabh Srivastava etc. Do we want to change the situation and eliminate the menace of fixing from cricket, especially IPL or do we want to further increase it? If we want to eliminate it then why are we inviting the global ambassadors of match fixing and spot fixing to come and influence our young cricket players?

I think these decisions of BCCI are definitely flawed and they should rethink this new stance. I hope the thought process does not include spreading peace through cricket. That is not happening. Aman ki aasha with Pakistan is nothing but a big, dirty and bloody joke!!!

Kilkaariyaan - IV

Kilkaariyaan - III

Kilkaariyaan - II

Nani Teri Morni Ko......

Wishlist for Olympics

I do not think I have ever been as interested in Olympics as I am this time around. I will try to closely follow the mega event.

I think India should have a better medals tally this time around. We have a good chance in Shooting (possible golds for Narang and Bindra), Boxing (possible gold for Mary Kom and hopefully a few medals for the male boxers) and possibly Archery (Deepika Kumari).

However, if I am really really REALLY praying for someone to win then it is (a) in Hockey and (b) Paes and Vishnu Vardhan in Tennis Doubles!!! If Paes-Vardhan win, Walt Disney must make a movie on them

After Rafting in Port Dickson

Ananya @ Sushi Zanmai

Pleasing Personalities

Sania Mirza had lots to say 'after' she qualified for the Olympics. She commented regarding male chauvinism and against how she was paired with Paes to please the star player. Pssch!!!

Her mother has been appointed as the manager of the Olympics bound women's tennis team!! Of course, her mother 'now' has the experience as she was the manager of the team in CWG and probably Asian Games as wel. But why did she get the job in the first place!!??!! Since Madam Mirza has been so vocal against 'pleasing' players, I believe that is not the reason. I wonder what is the reason. And I wonder if her Pakistani Mother-in-law would get to be the manager in the next event.

National Geographic -II

First Wave

Today, for the first time, Ananya waved at me to say bye when I was leaving for the office!!! She had this confused expression on her face which suggested, "I hope I am doing this right"!!!

:)

Buy or Die

I do not find buying something for someone extremely difficult as long as there is no particular 'reason'. In fact I like doing that. I roam around malls as well as pages of online shopping sites and if I come across something interesting for myself or someone close to me, I buy it. If there is no occasion or reason, the gift can be anything. It need not be big or significant. More importantly, one does not HAVE TO buy something.

In August, I will be traveling to India. The customery gift purchases is getting on me. It is mighty difficult to buy stuff for people when there is no occasion but something HAS to be bought. More importantly, you cannot buy expensive perfume for someone and a pen for someone else. There needs to be 'parity'.

And I do not understand why should something be bought in a foreign location to carry it to India. Everything is available in India and for other things you have eBay Globay Buy!!! Malaysia is not particularly known for any product. If there is anything like that, I do not know about it. Ya, getting something from the duty-free store at the airport makes sense as things are cheaper there. But one cannot buy gifts for everyone at the last minute in the duty-free store!!! What if you get gifts for everyone except 1 or 2 people. That would be catastrophic!!!

Last few weekends, we have been wandering in shopping malls or websites without much luck. The next weekend is going to be the same. I want to buy lots of stuff for everyone who matters but it is proving to be extremely difficult.

(Pic Courtesy: istockphoto.com)   

Dinner at Port Dickson!!!

Walky Talky - II

Walky Talky - I

Heavy Lunch...Feeling Sleepy

Heavy Lunch at Sushi Zanmai at 1 Mont Kiara in Kuala Lumpur.

Now I am feeling really sleepy but there is lots to be finished today :(

Their Chicken Karaage Don (bottom right in the picture above) is simply awesome!!!

All the best Andy

Roger Federer won another Wimbledon title to his tally. He defeated Andy Murray of Scotland/Britain/ United Kingdom/England in a awesome four set match. It was a treat to watch as Andy played out of his skin.

The only issue with Andy is that he was born in the wrong era. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have been and continue to dominate the tennis scene and thus Andy has not been able to win a grand slam event so far. He is indeed a good player and it is a shame that he has not won any of the Big 4.

There have been other examples in sports where someone exceptionally talented did not do too well as there was someone else who was dominating the scene. A name which comes to mind is Stuart Macgill, the leg spinner from Australia. In spite of being a great leg spinner, Macgill did not get to play too many tests for Australia as there was Shane Warne in the team. I am never too good with history and statistics but if I am not mistaken, in the few occasions that both the leggies played for Australia, Macgill did either better or not to bad compared to Warne. However, Warne was undoubtedly the better among the two and hence played more matches and enjoyed exceptional success. Had Macgill been born in another era or another country, he would have played a lot more matches.

Not drifting too far from the topic, I think Andy Murray put up a great fight against the King. He had the game, the crowd support. The only thing which was missing was the experience of playing such big matches. Federer, in comparison, played much below his best but his experience and temperament saw him through.

Though I do not like Brits winning any matches, I hope Andy Murray sees the success he deserves. Djokovic broke into the world of FedEx and Rafa dominated tennis and there is no reason why Murray cannot do it.

Trip to Port Dickson

In May this year, we went for a Automotive team outing to Port Dickson. It is a beach town. I am told that there are lot of things to do over there but with all the presentations that were scheduled, we did not get a lot of opportunities to explore the place. More importantly, the trip would have been much more enjoyable had I gone over there with my family. 

Nevertheless, we did manage to spend some time on some team building activities. The time spent in the pool was quite fun and relaxing. The resort that we stayed in, 'Thistle', boasts of an inviting and hard-to-avoid pool. We played water volleyball in the pool. Evening was full of dance (which I skipped) and drinks (which I did not). Overall, it was a good trip with a good mix of fun and work. Though I would have loved some more fun quotient.

I made these!!! Hash Brown Potatoes....not so healthy and thus Yummy!!!

All week, I make plans for the weekend. Places we will visit, things we will do etc etc. Last evening, I also thought that I will try my hand at cooking and make some breakfast!!!

But, like most times in recent times, the weekend has started on a frustrating note :(

Quote of the day:


"The idea is not to find faults....Just say sorry and lets end the matter!!!"

"Yeh Dil Maange More!"

On this day, back in 1999, we lost Captain Vikram Batra, PVC. A true hero. "Ya toh Tiranga lehraake aaunga, ya phir Tirange mein lipta hua aaunga, lekin aaunga zaroor"

We salute you 'Sher Shah' and you will always be missed. "Yeh Dil Maange More!"

Ananya & Me :)

Minutes of the Meeting

Important notes during one of the meetings :P

Wonder why!!!

I wonder why did it take scientists so long to find the god particle!!! All they needed to do was a blood test of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Dumb asses!!!

Paes-Stepanek lost to the 15th seeds in 5 sets in the 3rd round. Pssch. :(

Hesh-Anna lost to unseeded '???-???' in straight sets in the 2nd round. :D They should now ask SM Krishna to try and get even these results changed

Small steps, big happiness

Dear Ananya,

Today you took 8-10 steps!!! I laughed with excitement, mom cried (as usual) and you looked confused.

Love you,
Deda

So 'hesh-ania' crashed out in the second round!!! reminds me of a dialogue of shri gabbar singh, "nikal gayi saari hekdi??......aaaak tttthhhooooo"!!!