Letters to Myself

Where do I belong?

2008-06-10T16:59:00.001+05:30

I have thought about the whole regional biases before. May be a couple of years back when I wrote something about the affiliations and hence priorities being decided as per the linguistic abilities of the person. Fair. Whatever.

Raj Thakare recently blazed about the issues Marathi Manus is facing inviting a lot of sentiments, debate and mockery. I happened to hear the speech he made at Shivaji Park. Homework was thorough. He made statements with references. People reacted without any.

Which side of the coin is true? I don’t know. I only know either is not serving the purpose of development. And I am being specific to development of Mumbai as that’s where the major reaction has spurred from.

Area of Mumbai is 437 sqkm. That of India is 3287590 sqkm. 0.01%.
Population of Mumbai is 1.2 crores. That of India is 112.9 crores (as per 2001). 1%
Mumbai has 6 seats in the Parliament in total of some 545. 1.1%
Mumbai contributes to over 25% of national GDP. Opportunities and resources are plenty I guess.

Still the infrastructure sucks. I am at loss. Isn’t there space for everyone?

“That’s the reaction of masses dude” or are they?

I don’t think even the so called intellectual layer of Mumbai who drives the financial capital is any different. Being Marathi can mean (and I say can not does) being a sentimental fool.

For once try and set the priorities right. You are “learned” for god’s sake. For those who are not, tag of “Indian” is by default. But then again….as they say….to each his own….there are always the regional loyalties to consider.

Changing Times ...

2007-12-28T14:31:00.001+05:30

Surprising that the Anniversary for Reliance marks the death of Journalism.

Yesterday Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. Today Times of India ran the front page advertisement of the Reliance Empire.

Did not know that the front page news cannot be changed at last minute if important enough news comes up. Not getting into the debate of what she did and what she did not, I feel it is not the way for anyone to die. For sure it bears some importance upon the political scenario of Indo-pak relationship.

Isn’t it the duty of supposedly the “best” newspaper to flash the more prominent news for the nation on the front page? The soul is not saved in spite of the poor attempt by the editors to print the “Times of India” on both the pages.

I think she deserved page one.

And what do we do? Celebrate the success of an empire? Feel sorry for Benazir? Or just mourn for the death of journalism?

I Did It My Way.

2007-10-10T17:33:00.000+05:30

Recently I heard the once famous masterpiece by Frank Sinatra. I did it My Way.

Stoical and Inspirational. Someday as the end nears, let me be able to sing this song standing tall.

For those who have not had the chance of hearing it, here are the lyrics.

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, Ill say it clear,
Ill state my case, of which Im certain.

Ive lived a life thats full.
Ive traveled each and evry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, Ive had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, Im sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

Ive loved, Ive laughed and cried.
Ive had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

!?

2007-10-03T14:56:00.000+05:30

As one steps into the second quarter of life, one word hits you quite regularly. And more it hits you, more you fear it. Commitment.

Last month I attended one of my closest friend’s marriage. He is only 24. Watching him there in that mandap all dressed up in bridegroom’s attire. (it’s a different story that south Indian males hardly wear anything for their marriage) But that was the “Eureka” time for me. Committment!

I mean I have already crossed the first quarter of life. I have no clue as to when is my turn for it. I am hoping it will be somewhere near 28. Age I consider nearest to ideal. What I fear is what Ragsi could commit at age of 24, will I be able to do it at 28?

Adjustment if the name of the game dude; someone told me. Ideally. Will I find someone? Hopefully!

Flickr

2007-09-12T14:20:00.001+05:30

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

JuSt CrUsH iT…

2007-07-05T16:09:00.000+05:30

Learning from relationships never seems to stop to amaze me. Only a few days back I was amazed to see how boys and girls can perceive the meaning of crush differently!

For me (and I am speaking on behalf of the male fraternity, call it self proclaimed spokesperson….well at least a very large percentage of it) word “crush” means that you like a girl. That’s it. Full stop. It does not mean that a guy is in love with the girl or he would like to have a romantic relationship or he wants to marry her or for that matter he is her fan! And yes, crushes can change many times in a day.

For girls (it comes from some of my well informed friends of fairer sex) it essentially involves a romantic angle in the whole matter. I don’t know if that changes that often but I am pretty sure in this sense they are not much different. So even if it changes, for whatever little time it exists, they got to perceive some romance in it. (And I have no clue why as even the dictionary points towards something destructive with that word.)

I was confronted by a friend of mine a few days back by a question “so….how is your sweetheart doing?” These are the times when I feel happy, confused, suspicious and mad at the same time. Happy to think I am capable of having a sweetheart. Confused because I did not know I had one. Suspicious because what on the earth this person wants from me and mad because that hardly the first sentence to greet a friend. So back to story and I had no clue who she was talking about. With all the politeness in the world I said, “well, she is doing fine…..by the way whom you are talking about?”

“Common now, don’t you know? The whole group thinks you are mad after her.”

“which group?”

she let me out on the information with a look similar to the one Alice must have had after tumbling through that tunnel. Piece by piece it came. And slowly but surely it fit like a jigsaw puzzle.

Suddenly I was able to make out the meaning of all the quick glances exchanged and small laughs shared amongst the members of the “group”. It was quite appalling to know that I can be thought of as a most loyal fan and nothing beyond that. Even a “label” of friend would have sounded better to ears. Not that I do not like someone but its quite different to be made fun of on entirely different imaginations.

So, just to make it clear, crush means only the fact that one likes a person as a friend and likes to spend time with her and that is all there to it!

His name is "Today"

2007-06-26T13:34:00.000+05:30

Some lines I really liked....

Ours by Choice
We are guilty
of many errors and many faults
but our worst crime
Is abandoning the children,
neglecting the fountain of life.
Many of the things we need
can wait. The child cannot.
Right now is the time
his bones are being formed, his
blood is being made, and
his senses are being developed.
To him we cannot answer
"Tomorrow."
His name is "Today."

- Gabriela Mistral

Lost

2007-06-18T22:26:00.000+05:30

I am sad.

I think I used to be a better person.

Don’t remember when.
I only remember me then.

Lately I have dried up.
Of emotions. Of friendships.
Of some close relations.

I have failed everyone I think.
I have succeeded enough.

I have become cruel.
I can’t cry anymore. Even if I wish to.

I feel like I am walking towards the success with me facing my past.

I want to cry.

I don’t know if I have friends left.
I mean the old ones.

I want to grab all the happy moments.
I want to escape.
Why do I have to face it all?

I can maintain two faces.
One of Dr. Jekyll and other of Mr. Hyde.
I hate both my faces.

I only like my curly hair. Straight as arrow they are.
Unlike me.

I have become selfish.
I despise myself a lot of times.
My behaviour is turning obnoxious.

Losing it.

Time to fight.

A spoonful of advice - from a friendly neighbourhood

2007-06-11T23:21:00.000+05:30

“More money and only more problems to take care of J” One of these days before sleeping, I was chatting with my mom. We are searching for one more and a bigger house.

I have started inquiries. The other day I asked the builder who is building right across my house. 1000 sq. feet and 1.2 crores! This essentially translates into 12k per sq feet. Hmm….

Well, had it all been white money, I would have thought of (well, honestly only thought of J) applying for bank loan. But then this 70-30 ratio kills me. So back to ground realities and I started thinking of other possible alternatives. Say like searching a good house at some other place. My parents are not so cool with this option. Inertia may be. Mom actually told me that at this age she just cannot think of settling into any other city. Other suburbs she might think of, but then probably I should think again!

I am too cool. So I was totally ok with the other options. Till today evening.

I came back today to find aunty staying next door sitting and chatting with my mom. Since I landed earlier than usual, I wasn’t much tired. Also in some time I hadn’t said hi-hello to any neighbours and so I sat there. What followed was amazing fun for next hour or so!

“These guys were just waiting! Whose number is it first!” (I entered middle of a conversational thread. What number? Who was waiting? I had no clue! Later I realized it was about who has the first appointment with god or for that matter devil :P)

“Nahitar kay”

“The idea that all of us could be benefited never touched their minds. How my decision is elected final against yours……that was the main concern. Had it not been for that; all of us would have got bigger and architecturally better flat. There have been some stupid pillars climbing right in the middle of house such that you can’t even renovate the house the way you want! (Ohh….topic close to my house, I mean my heart. Or is it that I have started listening selectively?)

The above line of conversation followed for some hour or so J. Long time I had seen my mom engrossed in such kind of gossip. My mom is not much of a gossip person. But it was fun to see her enjoying herself. My presence in the whole conversation was restricted to say “huh?....eh?.....err…….oh yeah……what are you saying bits. But more importantly what I realized was how important could be the factor of neighbourhood in house selection! You never know how much the neighbouring uncle and auntys can mean for an evening chat. Strange realizations stupid things can lead to….

I love my neighbourhood. And I am not so cool after all!

Dosti ka naya funda

2007-05-15T09:59:00.000+05:30

You should not have friends who are committed
If you have then you should not meet the person your friend is in love with
If you do then you should not become his/her friend as well
If you ignore previous 3 then get ready to get jacked!

Did I hear you asking why?

Simple! Current make’n’break statistics in love stories suggest that the probability of breaking the affair now or in near future is much higher as compared to yesteryears.

So prepare yourself for the eventualities. If the anticipated break indeed happens (high probability mind you; nothing has changed from previous sentence!) then you want to lend only one shoulder to crying friend. You can shift the weight from time to time you know and you won’t have any joint ailments.

Consider where both were your friends. Both your shoulders are gone and orthopeds and shrinks are having a gala time! Orthopeds coz suddenly you have developed a shoulder pain and shrinks because you are going mad emotionally (what did you think, for the break-up couple…you fool what did I get the shoulder pain for??)

Got it now? Yeah well only one case where you can ignore the initial advice….

Only when you yourself are in love with the person your friend loves! Just kidding…!

I am single. Thank god for small mercies!

Life in a Metro…..where was I living all this while….??

2007-05-14T19:50:00.000+05:30

Movie starts with something like this….. A has affair with B… B has with C……C has with D…..D has with E who in turn has it with F……and to complete the circle……F with A!

Then everyone starts sleeping with everyone…..that is cool in a way…..but I just wonder if a pornographic gangbang would have been a better time pass….:P

Then there come the characters in the film……unbelievably weak……Shilpa Shetty is like the forgiving “abla” naari of 60’s where she is ready to forgive her husband whatever he does….

KK has got the best deal…..no limits to infidelity…..sleep with everyone…..come back home…..wife is always there!

Kangna and Sharman are confused…..one is acting like a slut and another like a pimp…..ain’t clear what they want from life…..apparently it’s the race of life why they are acting so….

Shiney Ahuja is the biggest loser…..everyone dumps him…..his wife…his career in acting…..and finally Shilpa Shetty!

Nafeesa Ali and Dharmendra are the old age lovers……again Nafeesa forgives someone who stood her up years ago…….watching her and Shilpa Shetty it seems that there is serious lack of dignity in metros for women….

Dharam paji……getting old….his crying makes audience laugh in the theatre……what else do I say??

Saving grace…..Irfaan Khan and Konkona Sen….had they not been there I probably would have walked out in half!

And of course the singers……come out cool first time……but as the movie progresses……there presence becomes increasingly creepy……(songs are nice though)

I think I should put a full stop to watching Hindi movies unless someone really recommends it……I mean look at me…..all I have done after watching last few is writing these reviews of crap movies….! Not that anyone read them here…..but then it’s a country of free speech ain’t it?

Overall…..its a CRAP movie…..and if u read this and still see it then just drop your contact number in comments because I assume you have shit loads of money to spare….!

Please Stop Singing; Noen ain’t no good

2007-05-08T10:25:00.000+05:30

“Yudhdha Taryanche, Swapna Suranche”

That’s the program that is currently going on like a TV series. All the supposed self proclaimed who’s who of Marathi television are invited to participate in a singing competition and display “the other set” of talents!

I happened to watch one of the episodes the other day. It was a tired evening after office and I switched it on with some expectation of listening to pacifying melodies. What I actually got….well, why don’t you experience for yourself? After all its “the other set”!

I am not trying to make a point here about their singing abilities however. It sucks big time. And then there is further complication. After every round I think last 3 are eliminated and remaining reach the next round. So basically considering their singing, those who have really decided to watch should thank their stars that the annoyance level surely goes down per level.

There was one shot displaying the emotions of participants while the results were announced. The “stars” that feature in last 3 are apparently so broken that it seems like they were super confident of making to next round and now they can’t become great singers! I am sure its not only these stars however. It all comes across as a coached performance. You know…..when camera comes; show that you are dejected kinds.

But for what? Do producers/directors really think that they are increasing the interest levels by letting stars manifest “real life reactions”? and on top of that do they think audience is fool enough?

Rather than such stupid star fight, may be a chance can be given to some people who can really sing. And if they can’t manage that then put that money in producing something good for Marathi industry.

Being a Maharashtrian it hurts to see nothing good, nothing of quality is coming out!

It Festive season...

2006-10-23T23:03:00.001+05:30

Hay Nikhil, Dude! Hows life?

Hay Amit, fine man. Where you up to?

Just going out.

Where?

Jlt man….nothin special.(wht a nuisance!)

Ha baba but where? Kuch thikana to hoga…

Surabhi’s room yaar.

Some B-plan competition eh?

Hmm….(shit he knows I am participating)

So whts the team?

Me, Surabhi and I think a couple of others…(there he goes!)

So whts the competition? Wht details?

(Wht the fuck!!) are there was this mail a few days back. Don’t remember who had floated it.

(He doesn’t remember? For god’s sake, u have registered and u are participating….) Ahh…

So when is the deadline?

(shit, its tomorrow….if I tell him now, he will also participate….) Don’t remember man…..but I think sometime in couple of days I am not very wrong.

Aha…

Chal cya….Surabhi is waiting.

Sure.

Amit reaches Surabhi’s room…

Are kitna time Amit!

Are Nikhil mil gaya raste me…was asking bout this competition…

Bola kya usko?

Well not much…

Hmm…

Accha sun, we need a DVD writer. We have to submit the final proposal in DVD as the film we have shot cannot fit in one CD.

Shit!! Only Nikhil has a DVD writer. I cant ask him now.

Hmm….ek kaam karte hain…Rima nahin to Suresh ko poochne bolte hay (these are the other two member of the team)

So Rima calls Nikhil.

Hay Nikhil, yaar I need your DVD writer sor some time….can u give it pls (this pls comes surprisingly sweetly!!)

K….np….get ur lappy…..will writ eit anytime u want.

Are can u pls lend it for some time?

Okies…..but wht do you need it for?

Wanna write a DVD. (To be honest enough, I am a lil technologically backward…..dunno many uses of it other than DVD writing!)

Haan but wht?

Are there was this film we had shot….just wanted to write tht.

Oho….so yet another b-school competition huh?

Yeah.

So who all?

Me, suresh and a couple of others….

Chal thik hay….leke jaa….

Epilogue: Nikhil never came to know that Amit, Surabhi, Rima and Suresh formed same team. In spite of all the efforts to keep the competition at bay, they cud not win the competition.

And someone had posed a question whether B-school help us become better human beings….

Some things never change....

2006-08-13T21:34:00.000+05:30

Accused for: Committed one of the biggest blunders a person can ever commit.

Defendant played guilty.

Court adjourned till next hearing in which the penalty would be declared. However the offence committed is so grave that parliament and legal advisory board is thinking id including it in the list of criminal offenses.

I actually went and saw (or tried to see....) 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' by a supposed to be director called one Mr. Karan Johar.

Story on part of the defendant:

That f***** thing sucked big time. Sure. So much so that 4 people (including me - the defendant) left 10 or 15 minutes after the interval.

Preity and Shahrukh are married. Sharukh meets Rani in some park (arbit meet as typical of KJ movies) just before she is supposed to marry and sitting in full wedding clothes in park. (Point to be noted here is he is already married for 5 long years) He advises her to go and marry. So does she and ties the knot with Abhishek. Then when he is out of the park, he meets with accident and injures his leg for life. Since he was a football player before that, now it is obvious that he cannot play football. So a level of bitterness creeps in him. So far so good.

Some years later, they meet again (And the trauma starts.......for audience....not actors). Because of his son and with some typical third grade KJ jokes. Some damn chemistry strikes once again and since they are dissatisfied with their respective partners, the storyline starts. OK let us get this straight. He is unsatisfied because Preity is more successful than him. (As a matter of fact she never bosses around. But still....). Rani is unsatisfied because Abhishek is interested in parties. (But point again he always wishes that she accompany him to the parties but she always refuses).

Bottomline: Marriages in DANGER!!

Point to be noted my lord is that it is typical....dont get the notion that it is something different just because it is in Caps. (Its in caps coz I want to complete this blog. Otherwise the danger persists that writing about this damn thing, it is so boring that I might never complete my post)

But the efforts to save marriages is seen only on the parts of Preity and Abhishek. Though we see Rani and Shahrukh to try and make some efforts, all they end up doing is: Shahrukh takes Rani to some sex shop to get her some sexy lingerie so that she can look sexy and Rani tries to teach him some lessons which Abhishek seems to practice with her and in the process she herself gets "lost" (Only if you know what I mean). See......I told you it is unbelievable!!

So I left at this point (which was something like 15 minutes after the interval). But you read on as I narrate the story as i heard it from some friend. In the process of having some damage control done for their marraiges, they only end up sleeping with each other. (Point to be noted my lord is when Abhishek who is her husband and in opinion of many, handsome than SRK, wants to make love to her she refuses it on the grounds that there are many more things than just sex). Basically they are losers as all of you juries must have guessed by now.

Saving grace: Good old pillar of Hindi cinema.......Amitabh Bachchan. (Though his character is shown to be a lil frivelous)

As story by defendant comes to close, the next court session begins. Members of the honourable jury are ready with their opinion and comments.

Jury: As defendant has already played guilty, the possibility of doubting that never existed. However considering the fact that he has already undergone more punishment than required, as per the Indian law, he need not be punished again. Watching a KJ movie is a punishment in itself. Also as per the utilaterian theory, for greatest good of greatest number of people and considering the social implications of such movies, the bench of this jury feels that permission to KJ for producing/directing movies should be reconsidered. The jury stands unanimous in it decision. Decision awarded 14-0.

P.S. This is a good revenge technique however to suggest your enemy to go and watch the movie as battles could be won without a bullet.

Juniors' night and me

2006-08-12T03:05:00.000+05:30

Junior's night.......

I danced on stage after something like 7 years.......

After my first year engineering when I had danced in our freshers party.......

And now when we threw party for juniors.......

Preparation in last couple of hours.......

First one involving 4 songs from past decades and more than 10 people willing to dance........

Dance steps, choreography, practice only twice.......

Plain fun, enthusiasm and makin sure that we have fun in prolly last year of educational career.......

Needless to say a total disaster.......

Highlights on stage.......

I forgot stpes couple of times......

So did other people.....

Someone's saree's knot got loose.......

No one got props on stage with which we were supposed to dance with.....

Song stopped once.......

We ended up dancing with partners we were not supposed to......

JLT.......

I am dying laughin even when i remember it.......

Second one when we took stage on the beats on 'Sex Bomb' song.......

One good hit to end show with.......

Call it foolishness, enthusiasm, fun, bewakufi.... I don't care.....

Just living life by some right advice.......there is certain age to do certain things.......

And then of course the traditional role of waiters serving juniors askin "would you like this sir? Would you like that ma'am?" "Drinks are served upstairs Sir!!" "We also serve special ice cremes and paans and alike ma'am"

A trully memorable and fully enjoyed evening.......

And thats that!!

Being ?

2006-08-01T22:07:00.000+05:30

Yesterday I visited Cheshire home. A place for mentally retarded human beings. Otherwise just like us.

But how big a difference that otherwise makes. So many old questions resurfaced. What is life? Who is god?

I said, " they have no life. Its just a mockery of it. Who exactly are we being good to by allowing them to live that kind of a life?" ..............I have always been a supporter of euthanasia. More I read, more my belief is reinforced. Criminal? Who me? ok.......... To which he answered," They are feeling people mate, not thinking like you and me".......well.......in any case, on the day of judgment I have something to ask back to god.......

Am still thinking.

Same day I saw the softer side of so many of my batch mates whom I wouldn't have known otherwise. Ever. Nothing new that everyone would feel sad in such an environment but something I saw there moved me. People I always thought to be too selfish and too materialistic came out so differently. And me, myself, whom I have always looked up to as an emotionally enriched person, was nowhere to be found. I could interact with those people probably easier than most of them. But where was that feeling of sadness? I felt i was sad just because one is supposed to be sad. I felt so helpless that I am not doing anything. So damn helpless. It drained me. And that's that. I thought as if i was lying to myself when I said I am sad and angry.

But Why?........

It made me realize however how blessed we are. Fights for placements, higher education, strategic thinking seem so petty.

What I am going to do about it someone asked. I don't know. I do not know if I am brave enough to visit and spend time with them. Partly because I cant see that life. Partly because I am becoming dry I think. A state i dread of. And one more why?

But something for sure. What remains to be seen is how I channelize all this "learning".

Alive and Kicking....

2006-07-23T09:48:00.000+05:30

Now that my blog has survived an premature death threat............alive and kicking!!

As my internship comes to a close…

2006-06-15T05:03:00.000+05:30

This one is dedicated to all the people who made my life in Switzerland not only easy but a lot of fun………The animals appear in the order in which I met them.

Niharika: My first point of contact. Her interaction started even before we touched the foreign land. All out insatiable queries were best answered and it was so much easier because of that. Also she in troduced me to wonderful world of trainees and so many new friends that I was to make.

Sandra: My first dinner invitation and first Arab dinner invitation. Austrian by nationality, she is a very quiet and mature person. Doesn’t talk much but whenever talks, talks a lot of sense. Of course a pub quiz partner. I enjoyed it very much Sandra.
I unfortunately dont have a snap righ tnow...

Nataliya: Ms. Brazil. That is what we call her sometimes. A very enthusiastic and jovial personality. I never knew Brazil and India had so many things in common. She has even gifted me with Brazil wrist band. I will never forget the match we saw together and I am expecting you next year in India.

Nataliya: My Ukranian connection. I have hardly seen anyone laughing like her. Perfectly innocent and not caring if someone is watching or not. I really envy you for that. I wish I can do just like that some day!! Again an extreme enthusiast…..Budma…..Ho !!

Michal: My polish friend. One of the coolest people and best friends I made in Switzerland. He is the one in whose room I am sitting while I write this. He so gracefully accepted me for the last week. We share a lot of interests in common all of which I cant write here because of obvious constraints…..but football is certainly one of them. A die hard polish fan. Too sad the way in which they lost today to Germany. I supported them mate….tough luck!!
We sure will meet one day again in life. Keep in touch buddy!!

Julia: Wie geht’s? My German connection. As I have mentioned before, our first host outside Zurich. I cant describe how I enjoyed that weekend Julia. She also happens to be the one who can boast of having started this tradition of having gatherings every weekend and making a lot of new friends and a lot of fun!! Your performance while bidding us goodbye at Lausanne station can never be erased from my memory.

Emyra: Again the first host. We never really had muchinteraction. But wishing you all the best wishes for your upcoming wedding and hope you two do well in life.

Daniel: A Hungarian student I met at Lausanne……
we didn’t have much time together. But I enjoyed
every bit that we spent together.

Dominique: Fosters Australian for beer!! I will remember your advise “Give it a try, it always works!!”

Andre: My brasilien __________

mate!! He just turned a man and what a grand party we had on his birthday!! You have been a great friend mate. I hope we always remain in touch. However before I go I am expecting to meet you again at Zurich…..

Where is Brazil??.....when you ask that question where is India next time……be assured that I will be there in India!!

Asia: We didn’t have much time together either….but whatever time we spent together, I thoroughly enjoyed. My polish friend.

Unna: Scandinavian friend from Denmark. One of the most silent and most sweet people around. Tell her something and she will go out of her way to help you. She was again a perfect host in Lugano. A very well received trip and who can forget the Swiss m

iniature museum? Pity Unna that we could not meet after that weekend. Hope we meet sometime in future.

Emir: Go Tunisia go!! He and Julia bag the award for most hospitable and courteous hosts. He is a silent worker. Will never say what

he is doing but you can be rest assured that it will be perfect. He also happens to be the one who showed me around in Basel when I had been there. He also is the member of our elite team which saw Brazil playing!! That Sheesha was amazing man with apple flavour. Do try sometimes the way I have suggested. Believe me it is nice!!

Carmen: Mexico. We spent very little time again but it was good trip with you in Lugano and Basel.

Ewelina: Poland again!! And I finally get her name’s spelling right!! Met her a little late as she arrived after some time than when we arrived. However, one of Zurichers I spent m

ost my time with. You have been a very good friend. Keep in touch.

Chris: My african brother!! We had great time together....i hope some of our african brothers do well in WC.......and for all those who do not know him.....he is another laugh freak just luke Natasha (Nataliya)!!

Thank you guys and girls for a wonderful reception and a wonderful stay. Have a lot of good memories to take back and hope to meet you all sometime in future. And anytime you plan to come ti India and just remember I am just a phone call away.

For all my Switzerland trip snaps....please click here

And Mike, Nataliyas, Sandra, Andre I am expecting you next year!!

P.S. I need to mention my project guides.....

A very sweet lady. And a very nice man. I was treated very respectfully at work and was given the full freedom to work the way I wanted to. A very professional treatment and I bet I was in best of hands.

Summer of 2006

2006-05-24T14:23:00.000+05:30

Hmmm…..so I hear that you are learning something new everyday. This foreign soil seems familiar to you now. All the initial anxieties have vanished and what remains is desire to prove and perform and go home “wiser”. You have been fortunate that the true intention of summer training is being fully appreciated in your case. In fact you should say that you are learning much more than what is intended. Intention of course is the industry exposure. You are working with a bank and a Swiss one at that. So……

But as I said you are learning much more. You are learning the real meaning of independence. Independence does not mean that you can do whatever you wish to at whatever time you want. It only means that you are at liberty to take best possible course of action keeping in mind the good for everyone. You are realizing that slowly aren’t you?

Almost everyday every week you are meeting new people. You have made plenty of friends and some of them hopefully for life. You have been fortunate than you are very comfortably paid for a trainee. Your salary is much more than most of them. But it has affected you in either ways…..hasn’t it? One way you are comforted that your life has become much more comfortable. And on other side it is the pressure to perform. To prove your worth. To prove that you are indeed from the best business school from India in your area. I am happy that you are taking it in right spirit and it hasn’t got into your head.

I am also happy that you are realizing the “value” of money but at the same time you are not being miser and are spending money amply for experiences. It is a very appropriate trade off.

I am happy that you are noticing the differences and I am happy that you are able to understand why we, as Indians, are different. The difference in some cases is because there is no other option, in some of the cases because we have faltered and in some of the cases, it is because of choice. You have seen plenty of things here which are better than those in your own country. Some you think are better than in India but many you think are far superior to existing Indian standards. The first thoughts which crossed your mind were not of disgust for India and dream of settling here but were of anger and making them come true back home. I am happy that you are thinking that “My home will be like this one day……” rather than “India ka kuch nahi ho sakta” And I am very happy for that.

I am happy that you are not shy of meeting yourself. Have a nice hard look at your deficiencies. There are so many. I think this summer has given you the “exposure” in its essence. An exposure to yourself and to life. You have started to learn and appreciate life. And it is summer of 2006.

I am missing you.......

2006-05-19T12:42:00.000+05:30

I am very relaxed now and Ali Haider’s Purani Jeans is going on……

………..Mohalle ki wo chat aur mere yaar…..suddenly all those memories are awake and in a moment I have started missing home…….I have started missing my friends….Ragsi, Shaks, Dicky, Callboy (Koulboy…..pls don’t think anything else), Onshul, Ghattu, Chino, Mayz…….(Raghu, Vinod, Daksh, Sunil, Anshul, Ashish, Siddharth and Mayank in that order)…..and I am missing u Aadat…..and Saji, bada bhai Matthai, and roomie Jas and Shipra, Sheetal, Sandhya, ali, Mansi and of course Antu………table bajake wo gane gaana yaaron ke saath…….and all my classmates in XL……and need I say XL ??

pahuchna college hamesha late……wo kahna sir ka get out from the class…….i am so fortunate (?)……I never had to hear tht……..

Wo papa ka datna aur kahne mammi ka chodiye ji aap…………..I am missing my family…..i am missin u mom and I am missin u Dad…..and I am missin tht “datna” too which in reality I don’t remember when I got last time……..love u 2…….and 2 ashs, kaks, kaka, aaji, 2 maus, kaka and everyone back home…….

Ladkpan ka…..wo pahla pyar……wo likhna haatho pe A+R……..wo likhna letter unhe baar baar………..wo lena dosto se paise udhar……..dont even know how we always settle wo hisab………..

Tanna nana dat tat dat tat nat……….music is on………and song is getting over….

Aisa yaadon ka mausam chala…….kahan mere dost aur wo guitar……...for me one more year with all these animals (read my frds) and XL is still remainin…..and I thank u god for tht……..love u animals and love u XL……..

All u ppl have a special space in my heart ………and believe me sometimes its wise to say it out loud (at the risk of sounding “senti” and being tagged as “uncool” and)……as a friend told me today….in words of Mark Twain……”20 years from now and you will be more disappointed for things you did not do rather than for those things you did……..”…..so just makin sure that I can eliminate some of those “did not do” things, which I can………………

I am missing u home, you mean a lot to me.

Jungfrau !!

2006-05-19T12:41:00.001+05:30

The literal meaning of the greman word is virgin. This name has been given to the highest peak in the mountain ranges of the great Alps.

Jungfrau is supposed to be one of the most expensive trips and people ere even after being something like 6 months haven’t gone. But given the time constraint for us, we were determined to make most out of it!!

So on next Sunday morning it was that we finally decided to invade Jungfrau. Got up at 5.30 am as we were advised to catch first train if we had to avoid most of the crowd……so we were ready at 6.30am on platform to catch the mountain cog-wheel train. It is another magnificent piece of engineering. It has got gears at the symmetry line across the length of the train at bottom and they give the train extra grip and required push while climbing up the steep slopes of Alps!!

While going, one needs to change trains at 2 points but as everywhere is this wonderland, its not a problem at all, as when you get down from the first train, connecting train is ready just at the next platform!! They halt at 2 points on the journey, where there are caves made out of the mountains and at the end of these caves, there are glass windows for tourists to see breath taking white snow covered peaks. This train is always full of enthusiastic people who go up to ski!! And ours was no exception. There were many of them with all the preparation and glowing ski equipments!! I was so tempted to have my first try but then first try right on the steep slopes of Alps and that too from the highest peak would have been too much (and later I came to know that it is not allowed also if u do not know how and if you don’t have the equipments)

We reached right at the top somewhere about 9.30am……there are about 4 places where tourists go. And here we decided to follow the special instructions for tourists. Starting with a completely snow covered peak (see the snaps for reference)……and I had not set more than 2 steps before both my feet were deep down in chilly snow till ankles!! Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Had I not had these good boots on, it wouldn’t have taken more than 10 seconds for my feet to freeze!! (and this is not even a bit of exaggeration……we took up snow in hands just for the purpose of snaps and by the time other person had finished clicking, we were rubbing our hands vehemently to get the blood flowing again!!)….boy….wasn’t it some funnnnnnnn……..people who have visited there in winter or just on the verge of winter finishing, will agree to my statements.

After clicking like a mad person there, our next visit was to “Ice Palace”. Here there are various sculptures carved out of ice……some like bears and various other animals and come characters like Mickey and mini mouse. The specialty of this cave cum palace is that its walls as well as its floor and ceiling are of ice!!....nice little walk I must say……but…….may god save u if you are not wearing boots with good grip…..wouldn’t take much long for you to slip over it.

Next in line was of course what we had come here for!! Jungfrau (N)och!! The highest peak in Alps where tourists can go without any equipment!! (Actual Jungfrau is a different peak very close to this one and you can see it……people that are trained in mountaineering can climb it with the help of all necessary mountaineering equipments.)

You do feel like you are in heaven…….anywhere you see and its only the untouched white ice is to be seen and the sun shining above gives it a wonderful aura…….it does reflect the virgin beauty in spite of having so many visitors every day!! Its difficult for me to describe in words…..see pictures and you will understand why…..

I can still feel the pain of leaving that place…….really feels like heavenly beauty…….

Rest of that day was just another day in life of us mortals……meal at Bollywood restaurant (I am not joking, there is a restaurant named bollywood restaurant at the highest peak in Europe!!) and quiet travel back home.

RhineFalls

2006-05-19T12:41:00.000+05:30

This is supposed to be the biggest waterfall in terms of volume of water!!.......There was a direct train to a village called Schaffhaussen. Initially Vishal and me got a ticket to Winterthur and that too full. But then we realized the mistake and the person on the counter was kind enough to make it the required one and he also adjusted the money. So we set out with right tickets and the journey was as good as it had been on previous 2 days. In the train and then in the bus we met a guy. He was studying at Zurich University and was going there to meet his friend who was working in the restaurant. We also met an interesting person who was very helping in guiding us. He also had a very sweet baby and the baby was so cheerful!! It was really really cute!! God bless it!!

The place is really beautiful and the actual fall is real great. There is a ferry ride which takes you to the island which you can climb and the view if fall from there is real close and grandiose. I clicked n number of pictures from there. After staying there till the next ferry came to pick us up, we went on a big walk. There are multiple pathways around where you can walk and see the water from various angles. One path goes directly parallel to the railway line and it also happens to be the bridge over the river. Here we and Shweta lost track of each other. (Eventually we met and came back together)….here also I have clicked loads of pictures and all of them are worth it!!

The journey back was quite uneventful and this concluded our first weekend.

Interlaken - Part I

2006-05-19T12:40:00.000+05:30

Day 2 of the weekend and there was not much confusion regarding where we should be heading. We started for Interlaken at about 2pm. The journey this time was a break journey in which we had to change the trains at Bern. The train timings in Switzerland are synchronized to perfection. For us it was from Zurich to Bern, change the train and then from Bern to Interlaken. We reached Bern and within 5 minutes the next train to Interlaken was supposed to start. This time it was delayed by 15 minutes and gave us a little breather. For any new person it is a little tough to get used to this extraordinary sophisticated system. You waste 5 minutes and then you will have to wait for at least half an hour for the next train. One more thing which makes this whole system so amazing is that the time across the country is more or less perfectly synchronized. Also, there is not a delay of a minute (unless of course it is announced) in timings. So if a train is supposed to leave at 2pm then sharp at a minute to 2 the doors will be closed and at 2 the train will depart. No wonder why these people are so famous about there watches. Anybody valuing the time so much deserves the respect in the same proportion.

After changing the trains at Bern, we reached Interlaken at 4pm. It was cloudy and raining most of the time and this time we had no umbrellas with us. Nevertheless we proceeded for River lodge, the place Shweta had booked earlier online for four of us. Unfortunately it was full and we had to come back to station. There was this amazing map of all the lodges and hotels in the area (a very detailed one). It displays the current position of the visitor. Also, to its side, pictures of all the lodges and hotels and hostels are mentioned with a code number. When you press that code number in the machine provided, it beeps a light and the map gives you the exact location of the place you are looking for. To make it better, there is a telephone right besides it. You dial the same code number again in the phone and it connects you directly to the hotel you have dialed for. You can enquire here about the availability of the rooms. And all this free of cost again!! (You can’t help to wonder, if this whole system can ever be implemented in India. And ever and even it is, how long will it function? Some sad facts……..but one day all this will be possible) We called up all the feasible places and got the same answer from everywhere. “We are fully booked!!”. It was only one place which told us that it can accommodate us but we would have had to share a room with 31 other people…….
Next we reached travel guide office and were told that the weather next day wasn’t exactly ideal for visiting Jungfrau as showers and cloudy atmosphere was predicted. Obvious choice was to take a round about Interlaken and catch the last train back.

Interlaken is just like a country side. Though thousands and thousands of visitors visit every year, it is really appreciable the way the government has maintained the beauty of the place. Again you start making comparison with India and some common examples that come to your mind are Shimla and Manali etc. I bet equally beautiful places, but with the volume of people visiting every year, the beauty is diminishing. But here its hardly the case.

A nice couple of hours of walking around the place, some good shops and some real scenic beauty and we were close to call it a day. On our way we had noticed a nice restaurant called Shalimar which announced to serve Alu Mutter and other Indian cuisine. It might sound funny, but just in a week we were bored to death by eating bread everyday. But it turned out to be a little expensive. (3 CHF for a naan and with a thali only one naan or a portion of rice) So we went to another one called Bamboo something. Had some nice Thai food. Also It happened so that Vishal wanted to purchase something from a gift shop for his girlfriend. So the arrangement was that he would meet us in Shalimar in 10 minutes. But we decided to shift the place. Hence Shweta ordered in that restaurant and I waited for him outside Shalimar. 25 minutes passed by and there was no sign of him at 8.15pm. So I joined her for dinner in the hope that we would catch a glimpse of him from that restaurant and we would go back together. But Murphy’s law again and I think it was destined that we would go back separately.

We finished our dinner in a hurry and rushed to station to catch 8.47 train back. There we came to know that it was a bus and not a train and next train was only at 9.25. So we waited. There was this taxi driver and a girl(French I think) who helped us with the time table. Then for train we crossed the rail line and got this warning from an official as to how it is dangerous and how we should not be doing it in Switzerland. He was really caring and nice.

The journey back home was quite uneventful except for the fact that only two of us were together. Back home Vishal had already reached and truly relived that he too had reached safely, we hit the bed!!

First weekend - Lusern

2006-05-19T12:39:00.000+05:30

We never realized how quickly our first week in Switzerland passed by……or may be I should be saying the working week!!

Time of Oesterfest and everyone in this part of world is with some or the other plans. So we had to have one. Even people in my office were concerned whether I am doing something over the weekend or I am spending my time only in Zurich.

So after a lot of contemplation and a lot of deliberation, first day (that was Friday) we decided to have a one day trip for first day as we got up a little late that day. Lusern came as one of the obvious choices as nothing much else could be found.

We left home somewhere about 12 and reached the Zurich main station. After some information from travel office at Zurich and gathering some pamphlets, we got ourselves a half tax ticket. With this pass you can buy all the tickets in half the price in Switzerland. This is nice system as trains, buses and boat travel is all integrated and is very nice.

After having this pass done, we proceeded to get ourselves a ticket for Lusern. We got a ticket and also met a person from Pune, India. Raghunandan Mone. And to our luck, he also knew German and French fluently. The train was at 13.04 and reached Lusern at about 1400 hours. Outside station was a inquiry counter for tourists and there we got to know that a boat ride was starting in 2 minutes. RUNNNN!!

We just made it on board. Half pass in action again!! We settled on front deck. Sunny and windy and scenery and nice company. Just the perfect start needed for first day and first tour.

The boat ride is amazing. The lake is surrounded by mountains either covered with ice or wit lush green grass. The scenic beauty is simply outstanding. This also happened to be my first test of Swiss countryside. It is an amazing experience to be on a boat in middle of a lake and being surrounded by mountains and ice and colours and Mother Nature!!
The ride was of 2 hours during which we experienced truly wonderful sights.

The ride finished at about 1615 and we had lot of time to explore the city of Lusern on foot. We had this map of Lusern in which all the tourists’ places are marked wonderfully. The details of the locations are mentioned to perfection and finding then with the help of a map is only child’s play. First it was a church, followed by a castle. Church was very beautiful from inside. Extremely quiet, very old and very well maintained. And then another star attraction - The walk on and around the fortification wall of the city. It is a beautiful experience for anyone who is not shy of walking. A total walk of about 6 to7 kilometers takes you around this wall. From the top of wall you get a wonderful overview of city of Lusern and the lake. Here unfortunately the battery of my camera got over but most of the pictures are available as we had 3 cameras between us. We walked and walked and walked and enjoyed every bit of it. (Here I forgot my umbrella in one of the tower on the wall and realized it when we had almost climbed down. So ran all the way up and got it back).

It was almost 7.15 and we decided to return. A train journey back to Zurich and time to bid farewells. We exchanged the contact numbers with Raghu and returned to the apartment.

A fantastic trip first up and time for three satisfied souls hit the beds!!

Switzerland Diaries – Chocolates, Time, Nature, Knives, Beauty and Me!!

2006-05-19T12:38:00.000+05:30

Day one!!

The first day on the foreign soil was a memorable experience. This beautiful city of Zurich greeted us with rains and temperatures of about 3-4 degrees Celsius!!

We were greeted bu Jorge (AIESTE, Financial Advisor) and Niharika Pande on the airport at the meeting point and it took us about 15 minutes by taxi to find out apartment. One our way I also saw one of those big buildings meant only for parking….first in my life (and it was one of the vary few things I was to see for the very first time I my life as I later came to know).

Apartment is really beautiful. It is a penthouse on the 7th floor with 2 bedrooms, hall, dining room, kitchen, terrace and a lift directly taking us to floor no.7!! All well furnished and with fantastic amenities. We were to pay 1200 CHF as against initially informed CHF 600. But people here assure us that with the salary we are getting, we would still manage comfortably.

Sunday was mostly spent in getting to know the essential places like tram stops and markets from where we can purchase our daily food. Tram stop is like 3 to 4 minutes walking from my apartment. There is also a shop called “On the run” at petrol pump which happens to be one of the many in the chain. Luckily we get everything here. (well almost….)On the same road we visited “Bahnhofstrasse” (main train station) market. (Later we also came to know that it is the biggest shopping place in Switzerland!!)

We purchased some food items and accessories for a couple of days. Dropped them at house and went back to have the first look at UBS building and our workplace!

Rest of the day was quite uneventful except for the fact that we prepared our own food and then cleaned the dishes as well. And too damn successfully to say the least. (Cant help boasting here guys….it was really wonderful)

Menu: Rice, a mix curry vegetable of potato, tomato, onion and some limited spices (tomato batata rassa for those who know Marathi)

First day…….and what a memorable one!!