This is from one of those websites for expecting parents.. nice read!!!
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At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails. Her finger - and toenails will continue to grow throughout pregnancy, so don't be surprised if she needs them trimmed soon after birth.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Dhak dhak...
dhak dhak... dhak dhak... dhak dhak...
In case you are wondering whether I am trying to do a Madhuri Dixit item number here, let me clarify. This is the heartbeat of Pu, my young-one to be.. approx 150-180 beats per minute. Heard it for the first time yesterday morning when the Doc put the doppler or something like that to Surabhi's stomach!!
I was sitting in the visiting part of the Doctor's chamber and hence didn't really know what was happening. First I heard this set of regular heartbeats.. @ 70-80 per minute and then suddenly it was like a train had left the station and was chugging along at full speed.. dhak dhak.. dhak dhak.. dhak dhak... That was Pu at 180 beats per minute.
Since I had read about it before, I sort of got it and strained by ear to hear the Doctor say - "That's the baby's heart beat."
It shocked me a bit out as I realised once again that I am going to be a father soon. While the thought is there all the time, any sign of the 'live' baby still does hit you bang in the face. I'm not saying this in a negative way. Rather its completely a positive surprise that makes you sit up and smile to yourself and if the world is lucky, to the world too. It's the sort of feeling that hits you when you are right in the middle of some busyness, and makes you stop and smile.
I can now hardly wait for the next sonography when I get to see my baby again. The kiddo is 4 inches long already!!!
In case you are wondering whether I am trying to do a Madhuri Dixit item number here, let me clarify. This is the heartbeat of Pu, my young-one to be.. approx 150-180 beats per minute. Heard it for the first time yesterday morning when the Doc put the doppler or something like that to Surabhi's stomach!!
I was sitting in the visiting part of the Doctor's chamber and hence didn't really know what was happening. First I heard this set of regular heartbeats.. @ 70-80 per minute and then suddenly it was like a train had left the station and was chugging along at full speed.. dhak dhak.. dhak dhak.. dhak dhak... That was Pu at 180 beats per minute.
Since I had read about it before, I sort of got it and strained by ear to hear the Doctor say - "That's the baby's heart beat."
It shocked me a bit out as I realised once again that I am going to be a father soon. While the thought is there all the time, any sign of the 'live' baby still does hit you bang in the face. I'm not saying this in a negative way. Rather its completely a positive surprise that makes you sit up and smile to yourself and if the world is lucky, to the world too. It's the sort of feeling that hits you when you are right in the middle of some busyness, and makes you stop and smile.
I can now hardly wait for the next sonography when I get to see my baby again. The kiddo is 4 inches long already!!!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Happy Diwali
That Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival for most of us in India (barring the folks from the South i.e.), is a needless comment to make. Its a common fact, known to all of us.
Nevertheless, given my penchant for random bakwaas (my wife keeps telling me.. kitna bolte ho!!!), I decided to let all of you know that indeed Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival for all of us (and most certainly for me).
While each Diwali is special, I think this year's was amongst the most memorable. My entire family was together, even my Bro managed to make it for about 30 hours or so. This time there was no rush to go anywhere. We were not in a hurry to return to office as all of us were in Bombay and the office decided to give me Mon/Tues off. Hence we managed to spend a nice, relaxed family Diwali.
Dont want to make this a boring, family post. Hence will end off here.
Hope all you guys also had a great Diwali.
Ciao
Nevertheless, given my penchant for random bakwaas (my wife keeps telling me.. kitna bolte ho!!!), I decided to let all of you know that indeed Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival for all of us (and most certainly for me).
While each Diwali is special, I think this year's was amongst the most memorable. My entire family was together, even my Bro managed to make it for about 30 hours or so. This time there was no rush to go anywhere. We were not in a hurry to return to office as all of us were in Bombay and the office decided to give me Mon/Tues off. Hence we managed to spend a nice, relaxed family Diwali.
Dont want to make this a boring, family post. Hence will end off here.
Hope all you guys also had a great Diwali.
Ciao
Monday, October 16, 2006
Do gaj zameen
Its NOT the name of a Hindi film, directed by Bimal Roy (the director of the original Devdas and Parineeta and multiple other memorable films) with Hrishikesh da having written the screenplay and dialogues. Its one of those movies which make be a big Balraj Sahni fan (something I dont often remember, but am forcefully made aware of this fact everytime I see one of his films). Its a very touching and sad movie which epitomises the struggle many Indian go through in their quest for survival. That was "Do Bigha Zameen".
Anyways, the idea today is not to write about Hindi cinema in general or any movie in specific. Instead, I wanted to share my thoughts on what does a human being really need to live a happy life.
The title reads "do gaj zameen" because that is what a person finally needs on the way out to the after-life. The issues lie not at the end, but in the entire interim when the person is alive and goes about his/her business of life on this planet.
At every stage of life we are always wanting something or the other. It could be simply material things - more money, better house, bigger car, better clothes, more jewellery and so on, or it could be the rest of the 'moh' items such as love, affection, respect, acceptance, dominance, etc. Do we ever sit back and question if we really need all these things to be happy? Or are we getting into a trap.. a trap which will lead us on into this mad race of life where we are chasing something at every point and not bothering to stop and enjoy what we have today.
When I think back and reflect on these things, I am amazed at how stupid each of us is. What other word can I use when we throw away an opportunity to be happy today!!
I am not saying that one doesn’t need things in life to be happy. I am simply saying that most of us (those who are probably reading this), are endowed with enough to make us happy. We only have to have the wisdom to recognise this fact and "Be Happy". And if you still dont get it, here's what it is - good upbringing, a spouse who loves us for what we are, parents who have given us the best they could - selflessly, education from the better institutes in the country, jobs that we may crib about but that are sought after by more people than we can imagine, decent money (cannot say good as it is never enough ;) and a promise of a bigger and better future. How many people have all of these on this planet??
Yet most of us are unhappy!! Why??? Have we ever stopped to think about this? If not, I suggest a pause here, before you read on!!
I once attended a course on "Art of Living". The instructor, Maureen, asked - "What is the one thing you need to be happy?"
Each of us had varying answers and gladly shared those, each trying to convey that he/she was less greedy in life than the other. Someone wanted more money, love from children, peace of mind, less painful mother-in-law, better job, better house and so on. The key thing, however, was that everyone did want or need something to be happy.
Maureen said - "What if you get each of these things? Will you be forever happy then? Or will you then want something else?"
The answer was obvious, even though many did not venture as far as to say it.
The moral was that one has to learn to be happy with what one has today and now. That is the only truth in life. What was yesterday is gone and no more. What will be tomorrow, we do not know. The only thing we have is in the today and now. And if one really wants to be happy, one has to be content with what one has today. Tomorrow may bring something better. That would be a bonus. Do not tie your happiness to what that tomorrow may or may not bring.
Your happiness is within your control. All you got to do is just "Be Happy".
PS: the movie bit at the start was just something I wanted to write.. had nothing to do with the rest of the post!!!
Anyways, the idea today is not to write about Hindi cinema in general or any movie in specific. Instead, I wanted to share my thoughts on what does a human being really need to live a happy life.
The title reads "do gaj zameen" because that is what a person finally needs on the way out to the after-life. The issues lie not at the end, but in the entire interim when the person is alive and goes about his/her business of life on this planet.
At every stage of life we are always wanting something or the other. It could be simply material things - more money, better house, bigger car, better clothes, more jewellery and so on, or it could be the rest of the 'moh' items such as love, affection, respect, acceptance, dominance, etc. Do we ever sit back and question if we really need all these things to be happy? Or are we getting into a trap.. a trap which will lead us on into this mad race of life where we are chasing something at every point and not bothering to stop and enjoy what we have today.
When I think back and reflect on these things, I am amazed at how stupid each of us is. What other word can I use when we throw away an opportunity to be happy today!!
I am not saying that one doesn’t need things in life to be happy. I am simply saying that most of us (those who are probably reading this), are endowed with enough to make us happy. We only have to have the wisdom to recognise this fact and "Be Happy". And if you still dont get it, here's what it is - good upbringing, a spouse who loves us for what we are, parents who have given us the best they could - selflessly, education from the better institutes in the country, jobs that we may crib about but that are sought after by more people than we can imagine, decent money (cannot say good as it is never enough ;) and a promise of a bigger and better future. How many people have all of these on this planet??
Yet most of us are unhappy!! Why??? Have we ever stopped to think about this? If not, I suggest a pause here, before you read on!!
I once attended a course on "Art of Living". The instructor, Maureen, asked - "What is the one thing you need to be happy?"
Each of us had varying answers and gladly shared those, each trying to convey that he/she was less greedy in life than the other. Someone wanted more money, love from children, peace of mind, less painful mother-in-law, better job, better house and so on. The key thing, however, was that everyone did want or need something to be happy.
Maureen said - "What if you get each of these things? Will you be forever happy then? Or will you then want something else?"
The answer was obvious, even though many did not venture as far as to say it.
The moral was that one has to learn to be happy with what one has today and now. That is the only truth in life. What was yesterday is gone and no more. What will be tomorrow, we do not know. The only thing we have is in the today and now. And if one really wants to be happy, one has to be content with what one has today. Tomorrow may bring something better. That would be a bonus. Do not tie your happiness to what that tomorrow may or may not bring.
Your happiness is within your control. All you got to do is just "Be Happy".
PS: the movie bit at the start was just something I wanted to write.. had nothing to do with the rest of the post!!!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Do unto others as you would...
From the time I was a kid, I have often heard of concepts and notions such as the previous-life and the after-life and such other things. While in general, I am a believer and I do not see anything wrong in accepting the possibility of such concepts, the one concept which I do not believe in is that your fate in this life is a result of the good and the bad you did in your previous life.
I am a firm believer in "now and here" and hence believe that what you get in this life is a result of what you do in this life. It ain't like the accounting system wherein you can carry forward past losses to get a tax break next time around. One should be very careful about one's each and every action, as the result of these actions is what we get every day (though I must say the timing part of the equation can be a little off!!)
When I was a kid, if anything bad were to happen to me I would always reflect back and see what was the mis-deed I had done recently. Sure enough, I would find one which I could relate with the bad result in the same proportion. This had become so much of a second nature to me that till I was able to establish a cause-effect relationship, my mind would not rest.
You might say that this is rather obvious given the number of mis-deeds each of us do on a daily basis (after all, none of us are a pious soul really!!). Indeed you are right. However, the key to this exercise of mine was the magnitude of the mis-deed and the magnitude of the misery that had befallen me. More often than not, in the scale in my mind, I would be able to weigh those and realise that the scales were more or less in balance.
Funnily, I would never do this co-relation exercise whenever something good happened to me. I often wondered why I never did so, but never came to a real answer. Maybe some of you guys can tell me why.
As it happens, over the years I lost this habit of mine (maybe because my mis-deeds became so many as to be rather unwieldy and unmanageable ;). I would often this back and wonder if the r-square would be as high if I were to track it again.
It was only recently that I actually got back to the analysis and starting keeping some sort of a rough score. And lo and behold, the r-square seems to be pretty much up there for the mis-deeds. As like old days, I still do not check for the good things. Also, I do not think I am half as rigourous as the olden days. Still, this exercise serves as a good self-check for me with regard to my behaviour!!
Often, even as I am doing something which I know is wrong, I also know that this will result in some bad consequence. And as sure as the sun rises, the consequences are there.
I guess its very much like the old adage - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", except that the others is a rather broad definition and not just other people.
I am a firm believer in "now and here" and hence believe that what you get in this life is a result of what you do in this life. It ain't like the accounting system wherein you can carry forward past losses to get a tax break next time around. One should be very careful about one's each and every action, as the result of these actions is what we get every day (though I must say the timing part of the equation can be a little off!!)
When I was a kid, if anything bad were to happen to me I would always reflect back and see what was the mis-deed I had done recently. Sure enough, I would find one which I could relate with the bad result in the same proportion. This had become so much of a second nature to me that till I was able to establish a cause-effect relationship, my mind would not rest.
You might say that this is rather obvious given the number of mis-deeds each of us do on a daily basis (after all, none of us are a pious soul really!!). Indeed you are right. However, the key to this exercise of mine was the magnitude of the mis-deed and the magnitude of the misery that had befallen me. More often than not, in the scale in my mind, I would be able to weigh those and realise that the scales were more or less in balance.
Funnily, I would never do this co-relation exercise whenever something good happened to me. I often wondered why I never did so, but never came to a real answer. Maybe some of you guys can tell me why.
As it happens, over the years I lost this habit of mine (maybe because my mis-deeds became so many as to be rather unwieldy and unmanageable ;). I would often this back and wonder if the r-square would be as high if I were to track it again.
It was only recently that I actually got back to the analysis and starting keeping some sort of a rough score. And lo and behold, the r-square seems to be pretty much up there for the mis-deeds. As like old days, I still do not check for the good things. Also, I do not think I am half as rigourous as the olden days. Still, this exercise serves as a good self-check for me with regard to my behaviour!!
Often, even as I am doing something which I know is wrong, I also know that this will result in some bad consequence. And as sure as the sun rises, the consequences are there.
I guess its very much like the old adage - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", except that the others is a rather broad definition and not just other people.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Old friends and Orkut..
My bro has been a big Orkut-ter for a long time now. He used to keep telling me to join Orkut and I used to keep fobbing him off. I didn’t really care for another networking site. I was already using Linked-In and besides, I didn’t really have time for another one.
The persistent dude that he is, he still sent me a joining request and I decided to join - just to get him off my back.
In the last couple of months since I logged in, I must admit that even I have gotten hooked onto the damn thing. I must be spending at least 20-30 mins a day on the site. The best part about the site is that I have gotten in touch with a bunch of friends that I had lost all touch with.. for years!!
Met one of my old school friends this afternoon, after we got in touch again through Orkut. Was good to catch up on the past 10 years and figure out who's where, doing what!!
Must say.. thanks Bro!!
The persistent dude that he is, he still sent me a joining request and I decided to join - just to get him off my back.
In the last couple of months since I logged in, I must admit that even I have gotten hooked onto the damn thing. I must be spending at least 20-30 mins a day on the site. The best part about the site is that I have gotten in touch with a bunch of friends that I had lost all touch with.. for years!!
Met one of my old school friends this afternoon, after we got in touch again through Orkut. Was good to catch up on the past 10 years and figure out who's where, doing what!!
Must say.. thanks Bro!!
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Clean beaches at last
I used to feel really sick when i used to cross past Girgaum Chowpaty in South Mumbai or the Juhu Beach and see them choc-a-bloc with these food stalls and vendors. Not only would the stalls be there, the stall-wallahs would even corner large chunks of the beach to lay out an elaborate seating arrangement for potential customers. So much would be the nuisance that the genuine beach goer would hardly get any space to enjoy the beach. And then, if you were to go to the beach in the morning, you would be treated to a humungous amount of junk and garbage, strewn all over the place, and making the place look more like a dumping ground than the beach.
A few years ago, thanks to some High Court intervention and the good effort of some citizens, the Girgaum Chowpaty was rid of all the hawkers (who by the way, were given space in an enclosed area which was created as a food stall arena). As a result, one could see and appreciate the good beach that Bombay had. Children could actually play in the sand and build sand castles or whatever else caught their fancy. Families could sit there comfortably, in a clean environment, without being harrassed by 10 people persuading them to have bhel puri fromeach of their stalls.
Juhu beach, the one closer to my place and which Surabhi and I used to freqent often before we got married, however continued to be one big mess. Such was the state that we guys totally stopped going there. There was a lot of talk of litigation and a citizen's forum and so on to clean and beautify the beach. However, considering the vested interests and the weak willed Maharashtra govt., one never imagined that one could see the Juhu beach as a clean and inviting beach ever again.
As i cross the beach this evening, I was taken by surprise to see that all the hawkers had been cleared off the main beach (I understand they have been given space in a food court). For the first time i could see the entire expanse of the beach and realised that it could be a great beach even when the high tide was up. Felt really good to see that. Kids were constructing their sand castles, running around playing pakram-pakdai, playing ball, and so on. Families were comfortably settled on the beach having some good family time together and enjoyin the sea.
Now as i get ready to start frequenting the beach again, i only hope that we are able to maintain it clean and that it doesnt go back to their old days.
Will try to get some snaps next time around!!
A few years ago, thanks to some High Court intervention and the good effort of some citizens, the Girgaum Chowpaty was rid of all the hawkers (who by the way, were given space in an enclosed area which was created as a food stall arena). As a result, one could see and appreciate the good beach that Bombay had. Children could actually play in the sand and build sand castles or whatever else caught their fancy. Families could sit there comfortably, in a clean environment, without being harrassed by 10 people persuading them to have bhel puri fromeach of their stalls.
Juhu beach, the one closer to my place and which Surabhi and I used to freqent often before we got married, however continued to be one big mess. Such was the state that we guys totally stopped going there. There was a lot of talk of litigation and a citizen's forum and so on to clean and beautify the beach. However, considering the vested interests and the weak willed Maharashtra govt., one never imagined that one could see the Juhu beach as a clean and inviting beach ever again.
As i cross the beach this evening, I was taken by surprise to see that all the hawkers had been cleared off the main beach (I understand they have been given space in a food court). For the first time i could see the entire expanse of the beach and realised that it could be a great beach even when the high tide was up. Felt really good to see that. Kids were constructing their sand castles, running around playing pakram-pakdai, playing ball, and so on. Families were comfortably settled on the beach having some good family time together and enjoyin the sea.
Now as i get ready to start frequenting the beach again, i only hope that we are able to maintain it clean and that it doesnt go back to their old days.
Will try to get some snaps next time around!!
Thursday, October 5, 2006
The French Connexion
Connexion is the name for the aborted Boeing project of providing internet facilities on board for long distance flights. The only reason I pick the word here is that it makes the title sound a little different from the plain old “Connection”.
France is a country which never has been high on the popularity ratings with me. General impression of the country and the people is that they are a bunch of arrogant, inefficient and lazy (I would also add stupid for reasons which would be evident later on) buggers who are so totally used to the social security concept that they have lost the desire and ambition to work hard to maintain their place under the sun. You will hear the French complain about the increasing number of migrants and in the same breath scorn the idea that the French could do the kind of low-end work being done by such migrants. As a result there is high unemployment and increasing discontent in an atmosphere of slow growth.
Anyways, the idea of this column is not to be a discourse on the French and their socio-economic setup. The idea is to highlights a few notables from my 1-day (first) visit to the country.
The first exposure to the French was on the Air France flight from Mumbai to Paris. Fortunately, it was a night flight and I slept though most of it. The time when I woke up though, I was greeted with some horrible breakfast (for which I wouldn’t single out the French as the other airlines are no better). The problem is that we guys are far too used to the idea of a HOT breakfast and hence cannot appreciate their COLD, FROZEN breakfast, even if the items are of seeming Indian origin.
Landing at the Charles de Gaulle airport was not so bad really (or maybe it was worse!). The customs/immigration personnel barely glanced up at me and took less than 20 seconds to stamp me through into Paris. I wondered whether they are not as paranoid as the Americans and British on security or they are just plain lazy to spend any effort (notwithstanding the Turkish hijack the previous evening).
The cabbie we got for the hotel was a complete fraud who would make the Delhi cabbies seem like angels. The guy passed in front of our hotel and instead of getting in there decided to take us straight on. When I questioned him, he went “Pardon…. blah blah.. blue blue.. Marriot… I sorry…. Not know…” Then when we pointed the place out, he took a 2 km turn and got us to the place.
Rascal.
The Conference itself was quite decent. It seemed to be more of an Indian and Chinese conference, though you could see a lot many other people as well. Considering the extremely large desi contingent, it was a bit of a surprise to find that there was barely any veg food other than the croissants and the odd sandwich (don’t count wafers as food anymore!). We made up for this shortcoming by raiding all the stalls which had dry fruits or tortilla chips, etc out for the visitors to snack on as they did their meetings (we didn’t do any of the meetings though ;)
The highlight of the visit has to be the Buddha Bar. Located in the middle of the city, it is said to be the original lounge bar. True to its name, it has a larger than life Buddha statue spanning across the second (the restaurant) and first basement (the bar). The whole setting is rather thematic and rather romantic (in a medieval sense of the word). With the lovely looking French women (this was the other highlight), the outstanding music (highlight # 3) and the overall ambience, it made for a rather enjoyable evening. Not having a drink there would’ve been like insulting the place, and I didn’t want to be disrespectful.
Few thoughts on the highlights:
French women are so tall... as in sexy tall and with even more sexy legs. And quite at ease with showing off a fair proportion of their assets. They carry themselves rather well, in that slightly haughty manner which few guys can resist (nor can tolerate, lest some of you in India get ideas!). Seeing some of the model types from the famous Paris fashion circuit was quite a bit of eye-candy.
The music at Buddha Bar (pick up a CD at your music store and listen to it before you accuse me of the blasphemy of comparing the women with it) was simply the best lounge bar music I have heard ever. Apparently they get musicians to create music to be played in the Bar on an exclusive basis. They do sell CDs of this music though. It’s a fantastic mix of Oriental, Indian and Western instruments and is enchanting. The tempo builds up ever so slowly and before you realise you are wanting to dance. Alas, here’s where the place fell below expectations…Very little place to shake a leg (leave alone having a dance floor!!)
As we got out of the place to come back to the Hotel, we were treated to a series of exotic cars lined up like the Maruti 800s in India.. the Ferraris, BMWs, Porches, Maseratis and so on.
Leaving Paris back for Mumbai, I had what I though would be my final taste of France, the airport. Its quite exquisite in being spread out over a huge area with full service roads passing all through it (quite nice to have an airplane go on top while you move ahead in the taxi through an underpass!). At the same time its one of the crappiest airports I have come across. Its like an artist’s rendition wherein terminals have been placed as and where the architect liked with no attention to passenger comfort and ease. The access to the lounge was so sad that I didn’t even bother going there. Not much of a shopping experience either with a handful of shops selling some alcohol, chocolates and books/magazines.
The final episode of the trip was the return flight. Sitting on the Air France flight back to Mumbai, feeling rather hungry because all I had was a bit of bread and pancakes for breakfast and waiting for lunch to be served. Tolerating some really loud French group jumping around and chatting at the top of their voices. Finally my moment of glory arrives and they start laying out the white table-cloth.
And then -
French Steward (he looked quite Asian, but I am convinced he was French!): What wood eou like to drink zir?
Me: A glass of water would be just fine
French Steward: Zparkling or ztill?
Me: Still.
French Steward: And have eou decided your starterz Zir?
Me: But I haven’t got the menu!!
French Steward: Zir, we have zee duck or zee shrimp.
Me: But I am a vegetarian. Don’t you have a special meal for me?
French Steward: Then eou cood try the shrimp Zir.. Itz got veggiez..
Me:…….
PS: Realised by the end of the flight that the dude was indeed desi!!!
France is a country which never has been high on the popularity ratings with me. General impression of the country and the people is that they are a bunch of arrogant, inefficient and lazy (I would also add stupid for reasons which would be evident later on) buggers who are so totally used to the social security concept that they have lost the desire and ambition to work hard to maintain their place under the sun. You will hear the French complain about the increasing number of migrants and in the same breath scorn the idea that the French could do the kind of low-end work being done by such migrants. As a result there is high unemployment and increasing discontent in an atmosphere of slow growth.
Anyways, the idea of this column is not to be a discourse on the French and their socio-economic setup. The idea is to highlights a few notables from my 1-day (first) visit to the country.
The first exposure to the French was on the Air France flight from Mumbai to Paris. Fortunately, it was a night flight and I slept though most of it. The time when I woke up though, I was greeted with some horrible breakfast (for which I wouldn’t single out the French as the other airlines are no better). The problem is that we guys are far too used to the idea of a HOT breakfast and hence cannot appreciate their COLD, FROZEN breakfast, even if the items are of seeming Indian origin.
Landing at the Charles de Gaulle airport was not so bad really (or maybe it was worse!). The customs/immigration personnel barely glanced up at me and took less than 20 seconds to stamp me through into Paris. I wondered whether they are not as paranoid as the Americans and British on security or they are just plain lazy to spend any effort (notwithstanding the Turkish hijack the previous evening).
The cabbie we got for the hotel was a complete fraud who would make the Delhi cabbies seem like angels. The guy passed in front of our hotel and instead of getting in there decided to take us straight on. When I questioned him, he went “Pardon…. blah blah.. blue blue.. Marriot… I sorry…. Not know…” Then when we pointed the place out, he took a 2 km turn and got us to the place.
Rascal.
The Conference itself was quite decent. It seemed to be more of an Indian and Chinese conference, though you could see a lot many other people as well. Considering the extremely large desi contingent, it was a bit of a surprise to find that there was barely any veg food other than the croissants and the odd sandwich (don’t count wafers as food anymore!). We made up for this shortcoming by raiding all the stalls which had dry fruits or tortilla chips, etc out for the visitors to snack on as they did their meetings (we didn’t do any of the meetings though ;)
The highlight of the visit has to be the Buddha Bar. Located in the middle of the city, it is said to be the original lounge bar. True to its name, it has a larger than life Buddha statue spanning across the second (the restaurant) and first basement (the bar). The whole setting is rather thematic and rather romantic (in a medieval sense of the word). With the lovely looking French women (this was the other highlight), the outstanding music (highlight # 3) and the overall ambience, it made for a rather enjoyable evening. Not having a drink there would’ve been like insulting the place, and I didn’t want to be disrespectful.
Few thoughts on the highlights:
French women are so tall... as in sexy tall and with even more sexy legs. And quite at ease with showing off a fair proportion of their assets. They carry themselves rather well, in that slightly haughty manner which few guys can resist (nor can tolerate, lest some of you in India get ideas!). Seeing some of the model types from the famous Paris fashion circuit was quite a bit of eye-candy.
The music at Buddha Bar (pick up a CD at your music store and listen to it before you accuse me of the blasphemy of comparing the women with it) was simply the best lounge bar music I have heard ever. Apparently they get musicians to create music to be played in the Bar on an exclusive basis. They do sell CDs of this music though. It’s a fantastic mix of Oriental, Indian and Western instruments and is enchanting. The tempo builds up ever so slowly and before you realise you are wanting to dance. Alas, here’s where the place fell below expectations…Very little place to shake a leg (leave alone having a dance floor!!)
As we got out of the place to come back to the Hotel, we were treated to a series of exotic cars lined up like the Maruti 800s in India.. the Ferraris, BMWs, Porches, Maseratis and so on.
Leaving Paris back for Mumbai, I had what I though would be my final taste of France, the airport. Its quite exquisite in being spread out over a huge area with full service roads passing all through it (quite nice to have an airplane go on top while you move ahead in the taxi through an underpass!). At the same time its one of the crappiest airports I have come across. Its like an artist’s rendition wherein terminals have been placed as and where the architect liked with no attention to passenger comfort and ease. The access to the lounge was so sad that I didn’t even bother going there. Not much of a shopping experience either with a handful of shops selling some alcohol, chocolates and books/magazines.
The final episode of the trip was the return flight. Sitting on the Air France flight back to Mumbai, feeling rather hungry because all I had was a bit of bread and pancakes for breakfast and waiting for lunch to be served. Tolerating some really loud French group jumping around and chatting at the top of their voices. Finally my moment of glory arrives and they start laying out the white table-cloth.
And then -
French Steward (he looked quite Asian, but I am convinced he was French!): What wood eou like to drink zir?
Me: A glass of water would be just fine
French Steward: Zparkling or ztill?
Me: Still.
French Steward: And have eou decided your starterz Zir?
Me: But I haven’t got the menu!!
French Steward: Zir, we have zee duck or zee shrimp.
Me: But I am a vegetarian. Don’t you have a special meal for me?
French Steward: Then eou cood try the shrimp Zir.. Itz got veggiez..
Me:…….
PS: Realised by the end of the flight that the dude was indeed desi!!!
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
The Unpredictable Life
Each of us is usually very casual, short-sighted and parochial in our approach to life:
I know this is important and has to be done.. but I can always do it later
Life is long and beautiful.. why should I not enjoy it?
It’s just a cigarette.. I don’t smoke that much.. no harm will come of it..
I enjoy driving fast.. Danger.. what danger.. I wear a seat belt, have insurance, and btw I am an expert driver!!
This may be a small thing to you, but it’s a big deal to me !!
How dare he/she do this?
How dare he/she talk to me like this?
And so on..
In all these and more ways, we demean the value that we ought to have placed on our and others' lives. We live in the false belief that all the bad things will only happen to others and not to us or our loved ones.
When the shit hits the roof (read when we or one of our loved ones get hit by the vagaries of life), that’s when we wake up and smell the coffee. Often by then, it’s just too late for us to retrace some of our actions which would have led to the crisis. That's the point in time when we can do nothing but regret the past, and resolve to improve the future. Though the fact is, again we do very little to improve the future unless we are forced to.
Isn't this mighty stupid and irresponsible? Don't we owe it to ourselves, our families and friends and the good God who created us, a bit more responsible behaviour?? They are the ones who get most affected if something happens to us. Don't we love them and care for their happiness??
These are all questions which one can dismiss as rhetoric, but these are questions which will come back and haunt each of us at some point or the other in life.
Choice is ours.. be prepared in advance or scramble when the shit hits the roof.
PS: And don't you please dismiss this under the ruse that "one has to enjoy life to the fullest".. Cos nothing can be more enjoyable that valuing life as it should be valued!!!
I know this is important and has to be done.. but I can always do it later
Life is long and beautiful.. why should I not enjoy it?
It’s just a cigarette.. I don’t smoke that much.. no harm will come of it..
I enjoy driving fast.. Danger.. what danger.. I wear a seat belt, have insurance, and btw I am an expert driver!!
This may be a small thing to you, but it’s a big deal to me !!
How dare he/she do this?
How dare he/she talk to me like this?
And so on..
In all these and more ways, we demean the value that we ought to have placed on our and others' lives. We live in the false belief that all the bad things will only happen to others and not to us or our loved ones.
When the shit hits the roof (read when we or one of our loved ones get hit by the vagaries of life), that’s when we wake up and smell the coffee. Often by then, it’s just too late for us to retrace some of our actions which would have led to the crisis. That's the point in time when we can do nothing but regret the past, and resolve to improve the future. Though the fact is, again we do very little to improve the future unless we are forced to.
Isn't this mighty stupid and irresponsible? Don't we owe it to ourselves, our families and friends and the good God who created us, a bit more responsible behaviour?? They are the ones who get most affected if something happens to us. Don't we love them and care for their happiness??
These are all questions which one can dismiss as rhetoric, but these are questions which will come back and haunt each of us at some point or the other in life.
Choice is ours.. be prepared in advance or scramble when the shit hits the roof.
PS: And don't you please dismiss this under the ruse that "one has to enjoy life to the fullest".. Cos nothing can be more enjoyable that valuing life as it should be valued!!!
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