- Location:Work
- Mood:Sniffy
- Music:None
Not a regular drizzle, where the sun is half tempted to tear the clouds apart and shine once again in all its glory. Not rains accompanied by the crazy, strong wind, which bends the scrawnier trees, and satisfies itself with blowing the dry leaves off the stronger ones, makes the other wise pleasant droplets of water sting the passers by like bullets and makes them run for shelter, all the while threatening to blow the clouds away, and not let the rains last.
I want the monotonous rain. The dull ominous grey clouds in the sky, so dark, that if you look out; it feels like it’s still five in the morning. And drops that fall straight to the ground; big drops, which fall at a constant pace, steadily drenching the ground, filling the low lying areas with water. Creating puddles which cannot dry; because the sun can’t find the tiniest gap in the clouds to make its way to the earth. Because, there is absolutely no wind, not even a slight breeze. Because, even if a drop does decide to evaporate, there are a hundred others falling right into its place, even before it’s fully gone.
Rain which can be heard all the time, with no other sound to break the rhythm. Perhaps disturbed once in a while by a loud thunder, which booms, echoes, and then fades into the background, once again making way for the sound of persistent rainfall. I want that kind of rain.
Rain, which anyone would look at and say, that’s made the day so gloomy, when will it stop? Rain which mothers look at, and decide the kids should probably not go to school today, because it doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop anytime soon. Rain, which makes people leaving for work feel really sorry for themselves. Rain which makes you feel like stopping everything else, getting back under the covers and sleeping the whole day. Rain which leaves damp patches on the ceiling because the water on the terrace won’t dry up. Rain which makes you switch on the lights at home even at 2 in the afternoon.
I will not go to work. I will stay in my home shorts. I will switch off all the lights. I will put all my favorite songs on the On-the-go playlist on my Ipod, and connect it to the music system, and play it on loop. I will make me a cup of hot chai, with lots of ginger. I will pick up a packet of onion crisps. I will pick up Sophie Kinsella’s Undomestic Goddess which I am yet to begin. And I will sit in the balcony, sip my tea, munch on the crisps, and read. And if anyone from work calls, I will tell them it is raining too heavily for me to come, and I am sure it’s not stopping anytime soon. And then, I will switch the cell off.
Like I said, I am hoping it rains tomorrow. Just like that.
- Location:work
- Mood:
Lost - Music:None
Tokyo is a perfect metropolis, where everything is big and grand, organized, controlled, neat and just right. The city boasts of sky scrapers and zigzagging flyovers everywhere and very much reminds you of Canary Wharf in London. The tour guide is forever showing you the ‘tallest buildings’, ‘ biggest towers’, ‘most expensive real estate’, ‘maximum number of electronic stores’, which is what defines Tokyo. Explanation enough.
Living in Shinjuku, which has the maximum skyscrapers in the city is helpful, especially when you decide to venture out on your own to explore the place. You can always spot the tip of ‘that building which looks like it has ribbons criss-crossing it all over’ and then try and make your way to it. Also, if you can’t, you can safely assume you’re lost and need help.
Japanese people are very polite. And talk non-stop. They go on and on and on, knowing very well that the person in front has no clue about what they are talking. But they will smile, and bow, and speak and all you can do is smile back. Helplessly.
And oh, they are very honest too. This one old lady came searching for us all the way in a huge mall to return change we forgot to collect. And that was one yen.
Visiting Tokyo helps if you lag in the height department. You might be wearing flats the whole time and yet always be taller than the crowd. Very good experience.
The tube stations are in no way like the ones in London, they are more like huge shopping centres, where you have trains passing by now and then. Malls are omnipresent, and all are exactly the same, but still they are there, after every quarter of a kilometer.
Sushi is not as exotic as it sounds. In fact, it has this extremely annoying flavor which will refuse to go once you have tried it, and for some reason all eating places in Japan will smell of it. Oh ya, they will put make sweet potato sushi too. Imagine fish flavored sweet potato. Ugh.
Sake is ok. I personally thought it was like vodka, only smoother. The Dude didn’t like it one bit and finds it medicinal.
It is NOT ok to have perfect weather everyday of the vacation, and then rain like crazy on the day we are supposed to visit Disneyland. And it doesn’t help when the Hotel manager apologizes for it as if it’s his fault while handing us two giant umbrellas he is sure we will need.
But it does help that the rush is much lesser, and we get to try out every attraction in the place without having to stand in queues. Also, it does help that the rain stops after a couple of hours and leaves behind a heavenly breeze.
High-speed roller-coasters make me scream. And I feel like it is all over and this is the way things were supposed to end for me. But once I am done, I have a feeling of accomplishment which lasts for quite some time and makes up for everything else.
Air India sucks, big time. The flights never take off on time, always have some ‘technical issue’ which needs to be fixed , which by the way makes it even worse for someone like me who believes that something as huge as an airplane is not meant to leave ground in the first place. The airhostesses don’t serve, they throw food at you. The chairs are old and creaky. There is no entertainment except for ‘pot-pourri’ playing on a projection screen right in the front, which by the way has songs from Raja Hindustani playing. The headphones are horrible. They don’t have the food you ask for. In short, I am never flying Air India again.
People on the flight might actually prefer watching ‘Welcome’ over ‘Enchanted’ and the movie will be very unfairly stopped, and changed. Oh, but they serve unlimited drinks, and the best brands in beer, so The Dude says it makes up for everything else.
It doesn’t help that after the awesome weather in Tokyo, I am subjected to Hyderabad, which by the way, is an oven. And I am getting roasted. You know the kind of heat when you say, ‘It’s been this way for a week now, it’s definitely raining in a couple of days’, that kind, only it has lasted for over a month and it refuses to rain.
That’s about it. That by the way is my version of a travelogue. I might try pictures, but only if LJ doesn’t act funny. For now, I will get back to my post vacation depression, and probably start planning our next trip. That always cheers me up.
- Location:Work
- Music:My Rollercoaster - Juno OST
I simply have to write. See, whenever I don’t blog for a while, I end up blaming lack of interesting enough things in life for it. But right now, there are so many things I would like to record and remember (that’s what I blog for right?), that I have to write. Whatsoever. So here we go!
We won! And I caught ONLY the last over of the match. Why you ask? Well, because all the seniors at work conveniently dumped their jobs on the insignificant few at us, and disappeared. Where you ask (or don’t, I am telling you anyways)? To a nearby place to watch the WHOLE match. Talk about unfair. Hmph. Well, no complaints, because watching the last over, standing on my toes, and peeping into the neighboring floor (they have a TV on the work-floor for heaven’s sake! Two in fact! Talk about unfair. Hmph - repeat) and then cursing the tall guy in front, and then stomping away after the six, and then getting back anyways, because, well you couldn’t afford to see how it went after all, then standing with the mouth wide open as the ball went into the air, and then jumping and screaming like a banshee when Sreesanth took the catch, and then telling everyone on the way back that we won ( of course they already knew) and so and so forth, can be equally, if not more, fun. (Phew, that wins the longest sentence award: D). So, I am not really complaining.
Saturday was night out with The Dude, and I was all for some serious partying, when I found out that the place was invaded with Cricket freaks. So I spent the next 10 minutes grumbling about how the evening was ruined, and the hour and a half after that, enjoying what I think will be my favorites match ever. I haven’t had more fun watching a match, and of course, we beat the so called best!
Sunday night was Indian Idol Grand Finale, and I am depressed even now thinking about it. All I can say is I am glad I didn’t sit through the entire 3 hours of pain, for the most ridiculous judgment in the history of mankind (ok, I am exaggerating, but it was horrid. Pah! No more audience poll based silly, stupid, biased shows!)
And of course, the Sunday evening drive to one really pretty place. The Shamirpet Lake was much above my expectations, and the weather did an awesome job projecting it even better. I am so going there again!
Oh ya, I made cake. Choco-walnut cake. And guess what, it actually tasted good (I wanted to say awesome, but I don’t want smart comments about ‘self-appraisal’, ‘poor souls who had to eat it’ etc). Fact is, I burnt the sample ( see, so smart of me, I know my limitations, and hence get proactive (!!?)), but the final version was awesome! There. I said it.
Ok that was a fairly long ramble, and I myself tend to avoid blog posts which are little too long, but couldn’t help it, long week I had. But I will stop now. So till then, oh, ok, wait. Last thing. Tuesday, I did this cool ‘work from home’ thing, which was nice, as in lazy nice, but I realized I eat twice as much if I am at home. Yikes! So that’s not happening again. Ok, that’s about it. Till then, Ciao!
P.S. Lime wire rocks! The past few days, I have …. Ok nothing, I said I would stop. So I will. Tada.
- Location:Work
- Mood:
blah - Music:Nothing
Another long visit home, has left me somewhat depressed about getting back here. But, all good things must come to an end, and so did the holiday. So, I am back in my cubicle, trying to somehow, respond to, or atleast read, or actually at least click each mail, so that a read message is sent across to the sender.
Delhi was cold. And so Meerut was colder. Not really the Foggy, misty, you-cant-get-out-of-the-blanket cold, but colder than Hyderbad is at this time, or even will be by December, and definitely colder than K ever was. I have so totally lost touch with winter in general (and please, Hyderabad/Calicut winters don’t count. At all.)
So, about the cold. It was obvious. Right from when I landed in Delhi. And I was so not prepared for it, that I started my sneeze bout right away L. It over now, but the effects remain. So now I am sitting with a blocked nose, and horribly sore throat, and no voice. The croak that one hears everytime I try to speak cannot be termed as my voice. No No. *nodding vehemently*. It is too big an insult.
Having washed my hands off cooking everyday (we now have a cook, who hasn’t been cooking for the past few days, cos we haven’t refilled the groceries stock.), it’s back to my Maggi for brunch Maggi for dinner routine. Which is not that bad, as all my taste buds have stopped functioning, and maggi is probably the best thing for a cold. And Soup maggi’s even better.
So, all I wish for now is that I am better by the time we leave for Goa. (I am sure I have mentioned that before!!). And I am so glad, that I finally get to go there! J(and keeping in mind that it is an office-sponsored trip, the arrangements are A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!). Couldn’t have asked for more. And then there is this trip planned for the campus hires… (Hey! We do work here! Yeah, me too!)
Anyways, that seems to be enough updates for today. Rest, when I don’t need to go cough-type-cough-cough-type. Till then, Ciao!
- Mood:
Coughy? - Music:Tanhayee - DCH
(Seriously dude! Too much of anything is bad)
Come again another day.
(Well, that’s your call, but I need a break for atleast a week)
Little Johnny wants to play
(Or rather, I want to ‘not mop’ the floor for a few days)
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
(Or wherever you want to, just go!!)
Never show your face again!
(Wont say that, cause that would mean no 24*7 water, damn!)
Now some gyan about how the (actual) rhyme originated:
“The origin of the lyrics to "Rain rain go away” are said to date back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), one of the English Tudor monarchs. During this period of English history there was constant rivalry between Spain and England culminating in the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Spanish Armada consisted of many Spanish galleons and was sent to invade England. The Armada was led by Duke of Medina Sedonia and the fleet numbered over 130 ships. The English fleet, under Admiral Lord Howard, totalled 34 small Navy vessels and 163 armed merchant ships. But the great Spanish Armada was defeated. Only 65 Spanish galleons and just 10,000 men returned to Spain. The attempt failed, not only because of the swift nature of the smaller English ships but also by the stormy weather, which scattered the Armada fleet. Hence the origin of the "Rain rain go away" Nursery rhyme.”
Courtesy: http://www.rhymes.org.uk/rain_rain_go_a
Not that it mattered, but thought I would include it anyways. Damn, I hate these rains!
- Mood:
frustrated - Music:none
Me missing home a lot these days. I am realizing for the first time, that home cooked food, all ready when you came home from school, or even mess food at K for that matter, which was always taken for granted, was actually a luxury, and sadly the luxury no longer exists. And this realization sinks in more and more when every night, after reaching home at 9 or later, after having put in 10 hours at work, I need to cook from the scratch. Its not that there are no hotels or restaurants, but the very idea of eating out daily makes me feel sick. So, I end up cooking, and it takes me real long, considering I never even tried wandering into the kitchen till now, when I am forced to.
Waise, in other news, it’s still raining in Hyderabad. And…. Yeah. There is a possibility that me might be going on a holiday with the other Ops managers to some beach resort (Yipeeee!!! I love beaches!), Location and mode of travel however would depend on the amount the customer is ready to part with, this being an Ops off-site sponsored by our clients abroad. So, something good to look forward to.
4 hours to go *sigh*, and that is if boss doesn’t schedule a meeting tonight * double sigh *, but anyways, its Friday, and nothing makes cribbing acceptable on this day. So, here’s to more such weekends!
- Mood:
sleepy - Music:some telugu song again
Hmm… weekend’s here, yay! The best part about working long hours is that you never realize when the week ends… I love Saturdays. It’s like this beginning of a two-day long vacation, when I know, that the next day is free too. But that obviously means that I hate Sundays, and I do! Its like, ‘damn, its Monday tomorrow’. But then Monday is fine again, as it gets me closer to the next weekend… funny huh?
Harry Potter 6 releases tomorrow… and me going to The Odyssey to buy it, well that’s something to look forward to. Wonder, who Rowling plans to kill this time? (Kinda think it’s going to be Hagrid. But then, that’s what I thought last time, when she killed Sirius.) Doesn’t matter as long as Dumbledore stays, he makes the story seem so much safer!
Am watching Friends religiously, as usual. Just miss having all the episodes to watch and rewatch, and rewatch again on my desktop. Well, miss my desktop itself, and my I–tunes, and my music, and my wallpapers, and my screen savers, and yahoo messenger, and 24 hours net, everything!!!! Waaaaaah!!!!
A small change in my address in the records had resulted in me reaching home in almost half of the time I used to take earlier. Reason: I happen to live at this place called Ameerpet, which comes just before this place called Begumpet. And, I live at the end of ameerpet. Now since I mentioned Ameerpet in my address, they would put me in a cab with people from all over ameerpet, every possible corner of it, and as a result I was always the last to be dropped home. But now, I changed it to Begumpet, and so me is the first drop :) in a cab full of Begumpetians, Yippee!!!
I am damn hungry, and bored. Guess I will go say hi to the boss now. Too much of rambling isn’t good for health …till then, ciao!
P.S.: Why do the smileys in MS word change to 'J's in LJ??
- Mood:
blah - Music:Dhoom machale
Finally completed ‘The hungry tide’ yesterday. I am awful at any kind of reviews, so would just say that it was a decent read. Atleast didn’t feel like putting it down in the middle, and though there wasn’t this urge to complete it in one go, as was the case with quite a few books (say,’ The Da Vinci code’), it might have been because it wasn’t exactly the thrilling, masala, ‘full of unexpected twists’ kinda read. But then, it was definitely not boring, and not really philosophical either. Unless you are expected to understand the ‘deep embedded philosophy’ or whatever, which I most certainly don’t. Have started on the ‘Five point someone’ and that definitely is a total timepass, and does remind me of K :-(.
Lunch in office sucks. And it sucks so bad that I actually miss K food! So, I go for a daily dose of curd rice, which is abnormally diluted and at times kinda sweetened…. eeeyuch!! But then, atleast dinner has become a much better affair, what with me learning to cook ;-)… infact ended up preparing an entire meal, in the form of rice, rasam, and curry on Friday evening. And the end result was good (mind you ‘good’ and not ‘bearable’ or ‘acceptable’) food. There were obviously a few other consequences in the form of a burnt finger (was supposedly testing how hot the kadhai was before picking it up), and a slightly darkened bottom of the cooking vessel, and a messy kitchen, with all possible spices and extra vegetables strewn around. But then again, who cares, when I cooked! And that is something!
Hyderabad has an awesome weather still. It’s really breezy (infact windy) during the nights, and even with all the windows closed I don’t need the fan switched on, thanks to the huge hole in the wall for the AC. Slept comfortably for a long 9 hours yesterday night.
Salary got credited to the account yesterday, with a smaller goof up this time. Just that yet again, while everyone else had the money in his or her accounts on 30th evening, I ended up with a cheque, which meant another cashless weekend, but then I have no complaints, as an improvement, however small, is an improvement.
There is a scheduled Pizza party with the big boss who is coming to visit us today. Means I can’t leave on time yet again (haven’t done it even once till now, but still its fun making a big deal of it every time :-)).
There is nothing much to do, and there are quite a few useless things I can blog about, but feel too lazy even for that. Guess I should be leaving for a coffee break. Till then, Ciao…
- Mood:
groggy - Music:none
If you look out of the balcony at say 6 in the morning, the sight is even more breathtaking. The weather is at its best, a cool breeze and early sunlight. The hills are almost invisble, and all that shows is layers and layers of white covering each of the hill tops. Its impossible to believe that the clouds have actually descended so low as to touch the hills. On top of that you can actually see a white mist enter your room, and obviously these are the clouds on your hill top. It stays this way for almost an hour, after which the early sun rays clear your vision, and the clouds get back to their original position, leaving the hills bare to the vision once again.
When it rains, you actually realise the magnitude of it all. While you stand in the sunny balcony, you can see that the hills at a distance are rather misty. Reason being, its pouring out there. While the sky right above might be bare and cloudless, you can see the dark grey clouds hanging low over the other hills. And obviously there are times, when its raining where you are, and from the balcony you can see , that at a distance , the sun is still bright, and the clouds still very white.
And then there are times, when its sunny and rainy in bits and pieces. And then you look out of the balcony, and .... you see a Rainbow!!!! At times you even see two of them , parallel and one above the other. With nothing to obstruct you view, you can see where they begin and end, the whole huge semi circle. And then is when you see that every one in the hostel is in their balcony with their cameras, to capture the scene forever. Its beautiful, not only the rainbows, but also the excitement in the air. And thats what makes me feel that leaving this place is going to be one of the toughest things I have ever done.
- Mood:
peaceful - Music:Agar Main Kahoon: Lakshya
- Mood:
sad - Music:Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata
Holidays vanish too fast... damn I cant believe its 6 days already. Mom was here. and the only places we visited were all the restraunts possible in Calicut.Quite some people found it wierd that we didn't go sight seeing inspite of having 5 whole days on hand. Dunno why, but it doesn't seem wierd to me, doesn't seem wierd at all!! Its been like this with me and mom always... even when I go home for a month, we go out for shopping probably for two days in the entire break, and still time just flies. Guess it has something todo with our ability to chat continuously for hours about every relevant and irrelevant topic on earth!! Whatever, I am home sick now....
Weather's pretty hot out here, and I really want it to rain!! Inspite of what people said about getting bored with continuous rains in Calicut, I love it when it rains. Infact I miss rains now, and the fact that I might leave the place before it rains (I mean real heavy rains!!), makes me miserable.
Right from when I was a kid, I have loved geting drenched in the rain (well,who doesn't?), and my mom's always been dead against it (pneumonia, fever. whatever!!!)... but I always managed to find some of way of enjoying the rains thoroughly ... For example, I would have definitely forgotten my notebook in class, and I would realise that after reaching the school bus which used to be atleast 100 metres away from the school gates. And then I had to rush back to class, to get it before the gates closed, and for that I would obviously take the route through, well, say te playground, or.. the assembly ground.. and then take my own sweet time to get it back ( and since by now I am thoroughly drenched , its no use trying to save myself from the rains).. so I have the book and an excuse for my dripping wet self at home:D....
It was even better when I got my two wheeler, cos then I would obviously start back towards home in the rain, as I would be afraid that it could get worse if I waited (though worse could only mean the entire city drowning , or probably floods)... Riding in the rain is even more fun, and at times the drops almost sting!!
However ,I realised the fact rains could be enjoyed without actually getting drenched only after coming to K. I mean its awesome just watching it all.. and the hills look gorgeous , with sheets (practically sheets!!)of rain beating down on them... And yeah, the awesome fragrance of wet earth...
hmm... this is what I would call rambling, and if I dont stop now, I am definitely not going to finish ER.. So till then, ciao...
- Mood:
calm - Music:Jaadu hai : Ghulam
IIMK team at BBC University challenge has made it to the finals!! Its truly awesome, and the finals would be somewhere around January, a real long wait...
Btw, found this thing somewhere, and it game me the following results:
The Hermit often suggests a need for time alone - a period of reflection when distractions are limited. In times of action and high energy, he stands for the still center that must be created for balance. He can also indicate that withdrawal or retreat is advised for the moment. In addition, the Hermit can represent seeking of all kinds, especially for deeper understanding or the truth of a situation. "Seek, and ye shall find," we have been told, and so the Hermit stands for guidance as well. We can receive help from wise teachers, and, in turn, help others as we progress. For a full description of your card and other goodies, please visit LearnTarot.com |
What tarot card are you? Enter your birthdate. |
Really have no clue as to how the interpretation could be so offtrack, that is in my case, its hilarious. But then, thats how it sees it.
Bangalore meet is scheduled at the same time as my major chunk of ER and SDM classes are. On top of that, SDM presentations are at the same time. Now I really do want to go and play, just hope we get the permission.
Mom and sis were online for quite sometime today and it was nice to chat without worrying about the bill for once:P. My poor friends have taken this whole spending thing so seriously, that they dont recieve any of my calls, and instead disconnect , and call back... So as long as I have their sympathy, things might work:))
Summers process has started , and there is the same buzz as last year. I remember all the tension around the place, and thinking that the same things going to happen again soon , really scares me. Cant say I am worried about placements, but yes, I cant say I am cool about the whole thing either. Two years have been fun , and hope they end the same way.
I am feeling so damn hungry at this hour!! And its really bad since today I was discussing about all goodies I love with my friend. So right now, the chocolate mousse of Taj, the baby corn manchurian of fortune, pizzas, and even the pani puri from the street near office in Gurgaon, are all I can think of. This is pure torture!!!
Should get to sleep now, else I will end up waking up directly for lunch at 1 , and thats not a very nice idea. So, till then, Ciao...
- Mood:
hungry - Music:Tu mere Saamne - Darr
The neksthing was sleeping, which I did till 2 in the afternoon, when I thought it was time for lunch....and after lunch I proceeded on to watch a movie 'I robots' to be specific...pretty decent in fact.... Then it was back to sleep till 6 30 and then back to fun and total timepass..... Hours on the phone, and online.... it was the best holiday ever!!!!!
Today was a great day too, but for different reasons..... Firstly, I GOT MY STIPEND!!!! YIPEEEE!!!! Then, MY FLIGHT TICKETS ARE BOOKED!!!!! and, MY FINGER IS ALMOST TOTALLY BACK TO NORMAL!!(oh i dint mention that before right, since yesterday my poor lil indeks finger on the left hand is horribly swollen and painful:((....)
So, everythings perfect....hmmm almost actually....if only my friend had called as usual....talking to him has become a daily compulsary routine, and missing it out anyday is kinda wierd.....anyways, will make him compensate for this tomorrow....
So, after these details about my amazing past two days, its back to today when I have classes right from 8 in the morning :(.....dis have them today too, and in fact attended them ....hmm...am getting better i guess....
Was watching 'sleeping with the enemy ' today, and the house on the beach was so really awesome!!! Hmm...infact I have always dreamt of having a beach facng house.....I know it would be amazing, considering how beach crazy i am..
Kovalam is the only decent beach I have been to, and the place was the most beautiful ever... I practically had to be pulled out of water each time.... I really wanna see Goa , and Lakshadweep..... and on a more optimistic note , even Seychelles:P.... and probably Hawaii.... !!!
Someday i am going to post a wishlist here, all possible wishes, I mean am pretty modest, wouldn't ask for anything out of the world ....(though the world itself would do:)...), and keep updating it, to see how many actually come true, should be fun.....
Not that I am not having enough fun now;)....guess I should stop and enjoy this really dreamy mood I seem to be in.... Till then, Ciao!!
- Mood:
hopeful - Music:Buddha Bar .....Karunesh (solititude)
Not really, have three hours of MBFS tomorrow :(
Todays first exam, MBFS was a disaster, and worse than I epected it to be. And on top of that I made really silly mistakes as usual....anyways, life's like that...
On the upside, went out for dinner, the Punjabi fest on in Hyson...food was pretty decent, and I stuffed myself with the delicious 'Baingan Ka Bharta' and 'Boondi Raita'....reminded me so much of home....waaaaaahhhhh:((
The weathers amazing, with non stop rains, and the hills look really scenic ....theres a good view from my room though it is on the so called ground floor.....the insti being on a hill, our ground floor is at par with the top floors of the other hostels....so we have the best always:)..
Being on the ground floor has its disadvantages too, its nearer to reptiles and insects of all kinds....and there were 2 snakes in the hostel yesterday( details later)....
Its time to sleep now, atleast will try to sleep.....ciao
- Mood:
awake - Music:Fida: Aaja ve Mahive

I am The Hermit