So, it's 8 AM here on a sunday morning here in Vancouver. I am getting this sudden pang of being in India. I would never think that my five years in India would change me so much. There's something about India, that 17 years in Abu Dhabi will never give me, or any part of Canada for that matter. Frustration sets in when I think about indian tax system, the corruption and all the other innumerable things we think about when we live outside India. However, since I am not doing anything about it (neither are all the remaining NRIs) I would not have the right to grumble about it. Hopefully, one day all this change and India will be the destination everyone will come to.
But this post is about all the good things that I miss when I think of India. This is to enlighten my non-Indian friends that India is not all that Russel Peters talks about :-). Ofourse, there's some truth in it as in all other cases.
I can close my eyes and feel I am in India when I get ...
The sweet smell of the earth when it rains in Kerala, the bus drivers who stop wherever you want, running behind buses, getting stuck in Bangalore traffic jams and looking at the other drivers who take it as it comes, speaking in non-grammatical hindi to Mumbai cab drivers, bargaining at road side shops when both the shopkeeper and customer knows that the price is high, the MG Road in each city, the countless train journeys each having its own story, the spices which makes each curry unique, the sweet coconut water directly from the coconut vendor on the roadside everyday on the way to Yahoo, the filtered coffee and cone shaped dosas at the restaurant opposite Besant Nagar beach in Chennai, the frenzied craze when there's a(ny) cricket match going on, the greenery which I cannot see anywhere else, the riverside adventures, the view of Trichy and Coimbatore at night from a flight at 30k feet, the misty mornings at hills in Kodaikanal and Munnar, the hair pin bends and waterfalls on the way to my paternal home at Wayanad, the customs and traditions that are unique to each place and ... the freedom which I cannot explain.
I have not been north of Mumbai, so I cannot do justice to the beautiful places of Himachal, Kashmir, the north east. Having heard a lot about the beautiful hill stations I hope one day I can see all these places too.
Looking forward to July... India 2012 :)
Ending with this song... makes me emotional whenever I hear this: http://www.saavn.com/popup/psong-EOlLqXyD.html?q=chak+de
Ciao
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, September 09, 2011
Moving on...The West Coast it is!
I have finally completed the move from Toronto to Vancouver and settled down to the new phase... back to school!!
It's been a great 10 days in VCR. Excellent weather, scenic mountains, the beaches, the ocean & the bridges,new faces, new roles.
Vancouver is like mini china, you see a lot of chinese people around.
Toronto will always remain close to me, especially Pickering. A nice small town... friendly people. I guess my brothers were my best flatmates ever till date. period.
It's time to move on... After graduating, every year has been spent at a different place. Bangalore, Toronto and now Vancouver. I have learnt quite a lot from my experiences in all these places, good and bad.
Summing up Bangalore in short: forum mall meet ups when non bangaloreans land here, chilling out with nittians, nitc girls 05-09 reunion, late nights at Corner House, Yahoo! days.
Toronto has been a mixed bag: Skiing at devils glen, Winter movie marathons, 2 awesome months with bros and parents, year end parties, canoeing, National Exhibition, Wonderland, NexJ days
Vancouver started off on a great start. Hike at stanley park which was for about 12 kms and steady elevation. Not sure of the elevation gain. Took some really good photos with my italian friend's SLR cam :)
UBC has a great campus and an olympic size swimming pool indoor and outdoor :)) At the tip of Vancouver, the most beautiful campus ever.
So the next 2 years is going to be another story! :)
It's been a great 10 days in VCR. Excellent weather, scenic mountains, the beaches, the ocean & the bridges,new faces, new roles.
Vancouver is like mini china, you see a lot of chinese people around.
Toronto will always remain close to me, especially Pickering. A nice small town... friendly people. I guess my brothers were my best flatmates ever till date. period.
It's time to move on... After graduating, every year has been spent at a different place. Bangalore, Toronto and now Vancouver. I have learnt quite a lot from my experiences in all these places, good and bad.
Summing up Bangalore in short: forum mall meet ups when non bangaloreans land here, chilling out with nittians, nitc girls 05-09 reunion, late nights at Corner House, Yahoo! days.
Toronto has been a mixed bag: Skiing at devils glen, Winter movie marathons, 2 awesome months with bros and parents, year end parties, canoeing, National Exhibition, Wonderland, NexJ days
Vancouver started off on a great start. Hike at stanley park which was for about 12 kms and steady elevation. Not sure of the elevation gain. Took some really good photos with my italian friend's SLR cam :)
UBC has a great campus and an olympic size swimming pool indoor and outdoor :)) At the tip of Vancouver, the most beautiful campus ever.
So the next 2 years is going to be another story! :)
Monday, July 04, 2011
Love in the time of Cholera
There are some books that creates a lasting impression. I have just finished reading one such book.
The story is based on the lives of 3 main characters, Fermina Daza, Florentino Ariza and Juvenal Urbino. It is set on the backdrop of a time when cholera was something close to an endemic at the city where they lived. The best part about the book was how the characters evolved and how the reader can not say that any one person is right or wrong. The author manages to capture the time when love stories were built on scented letters and exchange of flowers. The other characters who were beautifully crafted were Fermina's spinster aunt, her father Lorenzo Daza and her cousin who supports Florentino in his passionate crazy love for Fermina.
Florentino's thoughts and actions sometimes seem so surreal, yet not to the point of ridicule. It seems implausible that Florentino is determined to wait for Fermina till the very end with the hope of marrying her after her husband Urbino dies. However, the part that gives plausibility to the book is the weakness in Florentino's character, as a womaniser. He is not portrayed as a jilted lover or someone who waits selflessly for his love.
His life revolves around Fermina so much that he realises the signs of aging by seeing it in her and when he comes to the sudden realization that Fermina could die before her husband, his grief is contagious. The reader would easily forget that the very desire of Florentino to be wanting someone like Urbino dead, 'can' be wrong in the first place.
The character of Florentino evolves in such a manner that it evokes mixed feelings of sympathy, indignation and sometimes even disgust in the reader. He is associated with someone melancholy and his dark plain clothing which makes him look aged works in his favour when he goes on endless liaisons with women. The author has done a great job in evoking such varied emotions for that single character.
Juvenal Urbino, a renowned surgeon, comes across as a pious man who loves his wife Fermina for her character and their marriage is based on practicality. He accepts her lack of belief in God, they compromise and accept each other and they manage to survive the stormy days of their married life. He is a man who is the opposite of Florentino in so many ways, he's a rational person who wants to live by the rules of society & religion, believes in moral and ethical values.
Fermina Daza, the female character around whom the story revolves, is someone who is strong willed, practical and tries her level best to be a perfect individual. Her moments of fear, guilt and rage at those close to her has been beautifully captured by the author. Her character matures quickly through the tough times in her life and Florentino is left behind as a consequence. The way she sees Florentino, as the shadow of a man she has never known, might seem cruel, but it is not unwarranted.
There are some pretty ingenious parts in the book where they reveal Lorenzo's shady business deals and how he made a fortune by fraudulent means. The idea of getting the left pair of a consignment of shoes at one port, the right pair at another port and selling the pairs together at a 200% profit was one of those means. The hindi movie, Badmaash Company, had in fact been 'inspired' by this book.
The book is an excellent read and it is not one of those reel love stories. Many aspects such as the weakness of human character, our imminent mortality and the selfish nature of love were handled with sensitivity.
The story is based on the lives of 3 main characters, Fermina Daza, Florentino Ariza and Juvenal Urbino. It is set on the backdrop of a time when cholera was something close to an endemic at the city where they lived. The best part about the book was how the characters evolved and how the reader can not say that any one person is right or wrong. The author manages to capture the time when love stories were built on scented letters and exchange of flowers. The other characters who were beautifully crafted were Fermina's spinster aunt, her father Lorenzo Daza and her cousin who supports Florentino in his passionate crazy love for Fermina.
Florentino's thoughts and actions sometimes seem so surreal, yet not to the point of ridicule. It seems implausible that Florentino is determined to wait for Fermina till the very end with the hope of marrying her after her husband Urbino dies. However, the part that gives plausibility to the book is the weakness in Florentino's character, as a womaniser. He is not portrayed as a jilted lover or someone who waits selflessly for his love.
His life revolves around Fermina so much that he realises the signs of aging by seeing it in her and when he comes to the sudden realization that Fermina could die before her husband, his grief is contagious. The reader would easily forget that the very desire of Florentino to be wanting someone like Urbino dead, 'can' be wrong in the first place.
The character of Florentino evolves in such a manner that it evokes mixed feelings of sympathy, indignation and sometimes even disgust in the reader. He is associated with someone melancholy and his dark plain clothing which makes him look aged works in his favour when he goes on endless liaisons with women. The author has done a great job in evoking such varied emotions for that single character.
Juvenal Urbino, a renowned surgeon, comes across as a pious man who loves his wife Fermina for her character and their marriage is based on practicality. He accepts her lack of belief in God, they compromise and accept each other and they manage to survive the stormy days of their married life. He is a man who is the opposite of Florentino in so many ways, he's a rational person who wants to live by the rules of society & religion, believes in moral and ethical values.
Fermina Daza, the female character around whom the story revolves, is someone who is strong willed, practical and tries her level best to be a perfect individual. Her moments of fear, guilt and rage at those close to her has been beautifully captured by the author. Her character matures quickly through the tough times in her life and Florentino is left behind as a consequence. The way she sees Florentino, as the shadow of a man she has never known, might seem cruel, but it is not unwarranted.
There are some pretty ingenious parts in the book where they reveal Lorenzo's shady business deals and how he made a fortune by fraudulent means. The idea of getting the left pair of a consignment of shoes at one port, the right pair at another port and selling the pairs together at a 200% profit was one of those means. The hindi movie, Badmaash Company, had in fact been 'inspired' by this book.
The book is an excellent read and it is not one of those reel love stories. Many aspects such as the weakness of human character, our imminent mortality and the selfish nature of love were handled with sensitivity.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Subway Face
Travelling by the subway each day, I see so many people, some of them commonly become the "subway aquaintances". All of them are so different, yet similar in one aspect - They all have the "Subway Face". This is supposed to be an impassive expression that you put on when you are in the subway, to show that you are indifferent, you have stuff to think on your own and you are not interested in their conversation. Nothing to blame, especially when you are packed like sardines at a 9:03 am subway train. You do not want to laugh at this really funny joke the person sitting opposite you is telling, since you do not want to be the eavesdropper.
It's not easy to put on the subway face unless you have something to support you with that, like a book or your daily metro newspaper, or your apple gadget. Unfortunately, you can not stare out of the window into the grey walls of the tunnel, no fun in that. I find it extremely hard to sleep, with the operator announcing the name of each subway station through the microphone. So that's about it.
Ofcourse, there are still guys who manage to hit on their attractive counterparts when you are sitting in a morning subway, looking groggy eyed and trying to maintain your subway face. Some of the pick up lines I have heard so far range from extremely lame ones to the downright outrageous. There were some nice exceptions where the concerned person seemed to like it too :)
Then there are these absolute depressing experiences, the ones that result in the best FML of the day and might result in a bad day ;)
As days pass by, you become well experienced in maintaining your subway face whatever be the situation.
It's not easy to put on the subway face unless you have something to support you with that, like a book or your daily metro newspaper, or your apple gadget. Unfortunately, you can not stare out of the window into the grey walls of the tunnel, no fun in that. I find it extremely hard to sleep, with the operator announcing the name of each subway station through the microphone. So that's about it.
Ofcourse, there are still guys who manage to hit on their attractive counterparts when you are sitting in a morning subway, looking groggy eyed and trying to maintain your subway face. Some of the pick up lines I have heard so far range from extremely lame ones to the downright outrageous. There were some nice exceptions where the concerned person seemed to like it too :)
Then there are these absolute depressing experiences, the ones that result in the best FML of the day and might result in a bad day ;)
As days pass by, you become well experienced in maintaining your subway face whatever be the situation.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Spring's round the corner
Spring's just a spring away. Temperatures are rising, it's 1-2 degrees nowadays ;)
I have learnt not to get deceived by the sunlight outside, it could still be sunny with a -10 degrees! The trees are still barren, but there's no snow around.
Oh Dear Mother Nature,
your naughty tricks do not deceive me anymore. I know perfect spring would start only in April. There are people who stack away their winter tires and you decide to have a snow storm the day after that! There's a beauty about snow though, which I would miss. The white ground which is so heavenly, skiing trips... i won't miss the black ice and the wind chills though.
Looking forward to summer which reads as hiking, swimming, a weekend at some cottage :) ... ah, blissful days ahead. The days get longer and the nights shorter,
I have learnt not to get deceived by the sunlight outside, it could still be sunny with a -10 degrees! The trees are still barren, but there's no snow around.
Oh Dear Mother Nature,
your naughty tricks do not deceive me anymore. I know perfect spring would start only in April. There are people who stack away their winter tires and you decide to have a snow storm the day after that! There's a beauty about snow though, which I would miss. The white ground which is so heavenly, skiing trips... i won't miss the black ice and the wind chills though.
Looking forward to summer which reads as hiking, swimming, a weekend at some cottage :) ... ah, blissful days ahead. The days get longer and the nights shorter,
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Life is a Tree
Disclaimer: I am not referring to the tree of life.
Life's like a tree, this makes sense when you look at a tree that has shed its leaves and all that remains are it's barren branches. When we are born, we do not have a choice regarding the time and nature of our birth. We also can not choose between parents, the life we would lead, the religion we would follow etc. That symbolizes the trunk of the tree, thick and strong, no choices, just accept... your childhood.
Slowly, the trunk gives way to branches, which leads to more branches and that goes on, till finally the branches give way to twigs and there is an end, The branches represent the choices we have, the decisions we make and we follow one branch. Ultimately, whichever path we follow, there is death in the end. However, some branches have seeds which end up having fruits. These are those tiny moments of accomplishments in life. As life progresses, the decisions we make increase. Every day we make choices, some are too subtle to even care.
Finally, there is the unseen, the roots of the tree, the foundation. I like to think of it as the 9 months we spend in our mother's womb. When the foundation is strong, the tree is magnificent and healthy.
Lastly, the picture is the tree outside my home, which brought about this philosophical note...
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Canadian Way Eh?
Post finally written after a suggestion from a nocturnal online friend who knowingly or unknowingly has inspired me to resume blogging! :)
The "eh?" is used in Canada at the end of almost every question.. "enjoyed your weekend eh?"
Where do I start about the past 5 months? It's been one crazy time with the confluence of cultures. So much to take in and a lot to watch. Made a few good international friends. (Un)fortunately, I did not even make an attempt to change my accent. Finally, at work, my team's got adjusted to the accent. I have this Chinese friend who amuses me a lot with her way of saying "rumali roti". She rotates her hands above her head (to show the way it's made). I really do not think we swing our hands that way when we make the roti.
Anyway, food was something I knew would be this way. ...
We have Indian masalas here, but the taste is not as good as in India.
The tea here at cafe shops is just caffeinated water! Even if you say double-double ( 2 spoons of milk powder and sugar each), it just becomes white caffeinated water. Be it Second Cup or Tim Hortons (Timmy's). Nothing gives me the same pleasure as having the masala/cardamom tea at Bangalore.
There's something about Timmy's though.. on a cold winter day, having a hot cup of chocolate milk. YUM. However, everyone feels the same way, so Timmy's is usually crowded on such days.
There's something about pets and people here. They absolutely LOVE pets, sometimes even more than their parents and can engage in a conversation about them for a very LONG period of time.
Reading the Hindu online has become a habit now. I think I follow more news about India now than when I was there!
My present Home...
So, I live at this place called Pickering, that's about an hour from the happening place - Toronto. That's where all the activities take place, very vibrant night life. Pickering is a quiet place.. mostly like the country side, lots of trails and frozen streams during winter. The best month was December, with a lot of year end parties and new year eve celebrations.
On weekdays, two hours everyday is spent on traveling to work in the "GO BUS". It is not as arduous as it seems, the GO buses are luxurious to say the least. The only lack wifi :)
So life nowadays, it's mostly discovering trails in Pickering/Ajax, that's a lot of fun. Next week is my first skiing trip and I'm totally looking forward to it. The ski resort is Devil's Glen at the south of Collingwood.
The "eh?" is used in Canada at the end of almost every question.. "enjoyed your weekend eh?"
Where do I start about the past 5 months? It's been one crazy time with the confluence of cultures. So much to take in and a lot to watch. Made a few good international friends. (Un)fortunately, I did not even make an attempt to change my accent. Finally, at work, my team's got adjusted to the accent. I have this Chinese friend who amuses me a lot with her way of saying "rumali roti". She rotates her hands above her head (to show the way it's made). I really do not think we swing our hands that way when we make the roti.
Anyway, food was something I knew would be this way. ...
We have Indian masalas here, but the taste is not as good as in India.
The tea here at cafe shops is just caffeinated water! Even if you say double-double ( 2 spoons of milk powder and sugar each), it just becomes white caffeinated water. Be it Second Cup or Tim Hortons (Timmy's). Nothing gives me the same pleasure as having the masala/cardamom tea at Bangalore.
There's something about Timmy's though.. on a cold winter day, having a hot cup of chocolate milk. YUM. However, everyone feels the same way, so Timmy's is usually crowded on such days.
There's something about pets and people here. They absolutely LOVE pets, sometimes even more than their parents and can engage in a conversation about them for a very LONG period of time.
Reading the Hindu online has become a habit now. I think I follow more news about India now than when I was there!
My present Home...
So, I live at this place called Pickering, that's about an hour from the happening place - Toronto. That's where all the activities take place, very vibrant night life. Pickering is a quiet place.. mostly like the country side, lots of trails and frozen streams during winter. The best month was December, with a lot of year end parties and new year eve celebrations.
On weekdays, two hours everyday is spent on traveling to work in the "GO BUS". It is not as arduous as it seems, the GO buses are luxurious to say the least. The only lack wifi :)
So life nowadays, it's mostly discovering trails in Pickering/Ajax, that's a lot of fun. Next week is my first skiing trip and I'm totally looking forward to it. The ski resort is Devil's Glen at the south of Collingwood.
Jason Being an Atheist
Mom: Son, we have to go to church today.
Jason: Today, I'll pray at home Mom
Mom: No son. today the Clarks are going to be sitting next to us at the church. They are good people and their friendship will mean a lot to your father. Mary Clark is a nice girl, you know. She has expressed a desire in meeting you. What other place to meet than in the presence of God? *Eyes closed*
Jason: MOM! There's something I've to tell you, I am an atheist.
Mom: Jason Dyck! You Will listen to me today. Such foolish thoughts and behaviour will not be entertained by your father.
Jason: Do you mean dad or the Father in heaven? *Smirk on his face* I think the father in heaven will be more displeased with you going to his "holy house" with such thoughts...THAT IS if the Father and the house exists. I am better off being an atheist than a hypocrite Christian like many I know. Now, let me continue reading.
Mom: Okay, Jay. Do what you like for this weekend. I sincerely hope for your good that you mend your ways. We are off to Church to pray for your soul.
Jason's busy reading and Mom leaves room. In half an hour, his parents leave home.
Jason: So what am I going to do next week? going to church be meet Mary Clark?! You must be kidding me. I would rather sing at Mrs. Higgings choir than talk to Mary.
Jason: Today, I'll pray at home Mom
Mom: No son. today the Clarks are going to be sitting next to us at the church. They are good people and their friendship will mean a lot to your father. Mary Clark is a nice girl, you know. She has expressed a desire in meeting you. What other place to meet than in the presence of God? *Eyes closed*
Jason: MOM! There's something I've to tell you, I am an atheist.
Mom: Jason Dyck! You Will listen to me today. Such foolish thoughts and behaviour will not be entertained by your father.
Jason: Do you mean dad or the Father in heaven? *Smirk on his face* I think the father in heaven will be more displeased with you going to his "holy house" with such thoughts...THAT IS if the Father and the house exists. I am better off being an atheist than a hypocrite Christian like many I know. Now, let me continue reading.
Mom: Okay, Jay. Do what you like for this weekend. I sincerely hope for your good that you mend your ways. We are off to Church to pray for your soul.
Jason's busy reading and Mom leaves room. In half an hour, his parents leave home.
Jason: So what am I going to do next week? going to church be meet Mary Clark?! You must be kidding me. I would rather sing at Mrs. Higgings choir than talk to Mary.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Between the lines
Facebook is defintely becoming a phenomenon. Some people watch "The Social Network" and decide they'll not "facebook" again, but Zuckerberg was right...a movie is not going to reduce the number of unique vistors of Facebook. It will probably be just a few months before facebook becomes a verb in the dictionary like "google", or probably it already is.
Its fun to watch the stuff that comes out of this social networking.
Recently, I started noticing people were giving into the facebook-deactivate-for-sometime syndrome. Deactivating facebook is a painful process... literally time consuming, with giving reasons why you are deactivating and having your friends pictures strewn all over your page saying "X will miss you", "Y will miss you". Finally they give you an easy option "This Deactivation is temporary..I'll be back".
How do you realise someone is suffering from this syndrome? You see that your photos have reduced in number and hence decide to see which of your friends untagged you /blocked you /deactivated their profile. Obviously, you would not realise if you have about a 1000+ photos and a few 10s are missing :)
Another thing is facebook stalking. It ranges from stalking your "celebrity friends" to stalking people you have not met and who unwittingly do not realise about the facebook default privacy options! Finally when you meet the person you have never seen before except on facebook, you wonder where the hell you met her. Good for you if you keep yourself in check and don't keep rambling about her awesome dress which she's not wearing right now.
Every facebook app is a hit because there is someone who would play farmville/ mafia wars, "who will be your 2011 valentine?".
Getting to know if a movie is worth the watch does not require reviews anymore. My news feed had a post "avante ammumeda oru Kandahar" and some 20 odd people liked it.
Broadcasting developments from getting a new job, change in current city, getting engaged etc etc has never been easier.
Another thing is having your family and relatives on facebook. One wrong move in the form of a status update/ a photo which you got infamously tagged in and the likes can have them breathing down your neck.
All said and done.... think before you post is a good phrase for us ;)
P.S: When you are stuck at home with a snow blizzard, somehow facebooking seems a better option than most of the other stuff. Maybe it's just the times and the fanciness.
Talking about fancy, I was so crazy about getting an ipod touch. Finally after getting it, it's been lying inside the box for about a month now. Thankfully, I did not get a BB/iphone.
Its fun to watch the stuff that comes out of this social networking.
Recently, I started noticing people were giving into the facebook-deactivate-for-sometime syndrome. Deactivating facebook is a painful process... literally time consuming, with giving reasons why you are deactivating and having your friends pictures strewn all over your page saying "X will miss you", "Y will miss you". Finally they give you an easy option "This Deactivation is temporary..I'll be back".
How do you realise someone is suffering from this syndrome? You see that your photos have reduced in number and hence decide to see which of your friends untagged you /blocked you /deactivated their profile. Obviously, you would not realise if you have about a 1000+ photos and a few 10s are missing :)
Another thing is facebook stalking. It ranges from stalking your "celebrity friends" to stalking people you have not met and who unwittingly do not realise about the facebook default privacy options! Finally when you meet the person you have never seen before except on facebook, you wonder where the hell you met her. Good for you if you keep yourself in check and don't keep rambling about her awesome dress which she's not wearing right now.
Every facebook app is a hit because there is someone who would play farmville/ mafia wars, "who will be your 2011 valentine?".
Getting to know if a movie is worth the watch does not require reviews anymore. My news feed had a post "avante ammumeda oru Kandahar" and some 20 odd people liked it.
Broadcasting developments from getting a new job, change in current city, getting engaged etc etc has never been easier.
Another thing is having your family and relatives on facebook. One wrong move in the form of a status update/ a photo which you got infamously tagged in and the likes can have them breathing down your neck.
All said and done.... think before you post is a good phrase for us ;)
P.S: When you are stuck at home with a snow blizzard, somehow facebooking seems a better option than most of the other stuff. Maybe it's just the times and the fanciness.
Talking about fancy, I was so crazy about getting an ipod touch. Finally after getting it, it's been lying inside the box for about a month now. Thankfully, I did not get a BB/iphone.
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