Karma (Sanskrit: कर्म from the root kr, "to do") is a word of ancient origin meaning action or activity and its subsequent results (also called karma-phala, "the fruits of action"). It is commonly understood as a term to denote the entire cycle of cause and effect as described in the philosophies of a number of Dharmic Religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. Individuals go through certain processes and accompanying experiences throughout their lives which they have chosen, and those would be based on the results of their own creations: "karma". Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward. Karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well.
Hindus believe that everything in the Universe is in the state of creation, maintenance or destruction. The Hindu trinity of Gods Brahma (creator), Vishnu (maintainer) and Shiva (Destroyer) correspond to the states of creation, maintenance and destruction. At the thought level, the mind creates a thought, maintains (follows) it for some time and the thought ultimately dies down (perhaps to be replaced by another thought).
Maya (Sanskrit: माया māyā, from mā "not" and yā "this"), in Hinduism, is a term describing many things. Maya is the illusion that the phenomenal world of separate objects and people, is the only reality. For the mystics this manifestation is real, but it is a fleeting reality; it is a mistake, although a natural one, to believe that maya represents a fundamental reality. Each person, each physical object, from the perspective of eternity is like a brief, disturbed drop of water from an unbounded ocean. The goal of enlightenment is to understand this—more precisely, to experience this: to see intuitively that the distinction between the self and the universe is a false dichotomy. The distinction between consciousness and physical matter, between mind and body, is the result of an unenlightened perspective.
Maya is the limited, purely physical and mental reality in which our everyday consciousness has become entangled.maya is the limited, purely physical and mental reality in which our everyday consciousness has become entangled.
Maya is neither true nor untrue. Since Brahman is the only truth, Maya cannot be true. Since Maya causes the material world to be seen, it cannot be untrue. Hence Maya is described as indescribable. She has two principle functions—one is to cover up Brahman and hide it from our mind. The other is to present the material world instead of Brahman. She is destructible. Consider an illusion of a rope being confused as a snake in the darkness. Just as this illusion gets destroyed when true knowledge of the rope is perceived, similarly, Maya gets destroyed for a person when he perceives Brahman with the transendental knowledge.
In Hinduism, Maya must be seen through in order to achieve(liberation of the soul from the cycle of death and rebirth)— ahamkar(ego-consciousness) and karma are seen as part of the binding forces of Maya. Maya is seen as the phenomenal universe, a lesser reality-lens superimposed on the one that leads us to think of the phenomenal cosmos as real.
------------------------------------------
Yup - I went on an ego trip :)
Also: my dear boy, be warned...
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Heart break
What hurts more… a broken heart or breaking a heart?
Circumstances are such that the one thing I was looking forward to at the end of the year for nearly most of the year now won’t happen. And I’m disappointed. More so since there is another person looking forward to the same thing that I was…. I’m going to disappoint him.
Circumstances are such that the one thing I was looking forward to at the end of the year for nearly most of the year now won’t happen. And I’m disappointed. More so since there is another person looking forward to the same thing that I was…. I’m going to disappoint him.
Incomplete
Usually one is supposed to meet the person that is the completing half. I’ve met the person that makes me feel incomplete.
Now incomplete does not mean inadequate or less than what I am. All it means is that when I’m with this person I know exactly what (kind of person) I need to be complete, which highlights the fact there is something to complete (no matter how much I’d like to believe that I, me & myself is more than sufficient)
Why can this person not complete me, you ask? This person is a friend and will always be that. He is everything that I want in a guy. He is the right guy for me in all terms except that he is unavailable.
Such is life.
Now incomplete does not mean inadequate or less than what I am. All it means is that when I’m with this person I know exactly what (kind of person) I need to be complete, which highlights the fact there is something to complete (no matter how much I’d like to believe that I, me & myself is more than sufficient)
Why can this person not complete me, you ask? This person is a friend and will always be that. He is everything that I want in a guy. He is the right guy for me in all terms except that he is unavailable.
Such is life.
Experiences
I’ve had so many things that I wanted to write about over the last few weeks/months, but 2 things have kept me from bloging; first, an absolute lack of time & second, a lack of the right words.
I’m hoping today I will have the right words…
Over the weekend I was in Pushkar. THAT is something everybody must do once in their life. There is nothing much in Pushkar per se except the lake, a few temples, lots of people & even more shops (slightly Anjuna flea market). The experience comes from the people and the energy of the fair. I think Rajasthani people asre probably the most hospitable of all Indians. “Atithi devo bhav” (Guest equal god) takes on a whole new meaning when an old nomadic lady with obviously not very much invites 2 healthy affluent young urbanites to her house for a meal. This invitation would have probably stretched her family’s rations to the limit but she still invited us.
The sheer number of people at the Pushkar fair is overwhelming. The energy in that place is a cumulative of individual energies and you can feel the energy (noise level as well) all the way up on the top of the hill with the Savitri mandir. There is a background roar of hundreds of thousands of people going about their religious rites, sale & purchase of camels/horses/cattle & entertainments at the fair.
The one other thing I will always remember from this trip… the strength of a genuine smile. A lot of the people that we saw/met are simple nomads that came to the fair from various parts of Rajasthan. They own virtually nothing. Still they showed generosity & kindness like nowhere else and if nothing else they smiled at you because they wanted to & meant it.
I’m hoping today I will have the right words…
Over the weekend I was in Pushkar. THAT is something everybody must do once in their life. There is nothing much in Pushkar per se except the lake, a few temples, lots of people & even more shops (slightly Anjuna flea market). The experience comes from the people and the energy of the fair. I think Rajasthani people asre probably the most hospitable of all Indians. “Atithi devo bhav” (Guest equal god) takes on a whole new meaning when an old nomadic lady with obviously not very much invites 2 healthy affluent young urbanites to her house for a meal. This invitation would have probably stretched her family’s rations to the limit but she still invited us. The sheer number of people at the Pushkar fair is overwhelming. The energy in that place is a cumulative of individual energies and you can feel the energy (noise level as well) all the way up on the top of the hill with the Savitri mandir. There is a background roar of hundreds of thousands of people going about their religious rites, sale & purchase of camels/horses/cattle & entertainments at the fair.
The one other thing I will always remember from this trip… the strength of a genuine smile. A lot of the people that we saw/met are simple nomads that came to the fair from various parts of Rajasthan. They own virtually nothing. Still they showed generosity & kindness like nowhere else and if nothing else they smiled at you because they wanted to & meant it.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Diametrical Opposites
Delhi has had the Metro now for over a year... yesterday was the first time I went on it.
It is done beautifully... big, spacious & definitely at par with any other international rapid transit system. It actually might be better than the London Tube or New Yorks' Subway. It for sure is cleaner and more spacious.
I went from Connaught Place ( Metro stop - Rajiv Chowk) to Chandni Chowk.. the culture shock is extreme ..walking into a modern granite subway station, exiting from a similar modern structure into the sprawl & confusion of Chandni Chowk.
The Metro is large, new, modern, clean, spacious, sharp edged.
Chandni Chowk is cramped, suffocating, smelly, dirty & weathered with age.
The Metro & Chandni Chowk are diametrical opposites. Yet, they exist side by side and fuse into each other... alot like our everyday lives. Up-to-date yet so entwined with our history & culture.
It is done beautifully... big, spacious & definitely at par with any other international rapid transit system. It actually might be better than the London Tube or New Yorks' Subway. It for sure is cleaner and more spacious.
I went from Connaught Place ( Metro stop - Rajiv Chowk) to Chandni Chowk.. the culture shock is extreme ..walking into a modern granite subway station, exiting from a similar modern structure into the sprawl & confusion of Chandni Chowk.
The Metro is large, new, modern, clean, spacious, sharp edged.
Chandni Chowk is cramped, suffocating, smelly, dirty & weathered with age.
The Metro & Chandni Chowk are diametrical opposites. Yet, they exist side by side and fuse into each other... alot like our everyday lives. Up-to-date yet so entwined with our history & culture.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Religion ... Faith... ?
Religion. Faith.
Does one feed the other or is one the foundation for the other?
What comes first, faith or religion? Can there be a seperation of one from the other - mutually exclusive concepts or are they always going to be intertwined?
There are multiple theories (religious as well as scientific) that extrapolate on these questions, but those are relatively detached and clinical since they are mostly scholastic nature. But what about the answers to these questions on a personal individual basis...
We each have "unique" experiences that help create individualistic filters and skew our view on life/situations; help us create our values, principles and beliefs.
How much of our faith/religion is affected by these filters?
How much of our filters are created by our faith/religion?
I have never adhered to A religion... I can't. I've been brought up in a home that follows two religions - catholic and jain. I was never asked to chose one over the other, instead I took part in all ceremonies/rites/rituals of both religions equally. I was allowed to choose which I wanted to understand and follow further. I chose neither, instead tried understanding the main ideas and beliefs nearly all the religions that there are today and deceided I didn't want to have one religion.
Faith was my answer. I chose to believe (and still do) that there is a higher power. Higher power that created us, the universe and everything we know today. Maybe there is purpose for our creation, maybe there is just no reason for our existence but there definitely is more than just us. No, even though the matrix is an interesting concept, that is something I really don't think is possible....
These are ideas and thoughts on an extremely personal subject (even if one has no inclination or stand on the matter). No offence intended. Just curiosity.
Does one feed the other or is one the foundation for the other?
What comes first, faith or religion? Can there be a seperation of one from the other - mutually exclusive concepts or are they always going to be intertwined?
There are multiple theories (religious as well as scientific) that extrapolate on these questions, but those are relatively detached and clinical since they are mostly scholastic nature. But what about the answers to these questions on a personal individual basis...
We each have "unique" experiences that help create individualistic filters and skew our view on life/situations; help us create our values, principles and beliefs.
How much of our faith/religion is affected by these filters?
How much of our filters are created by our faith/religion?
I have never adhered to A religion... I can't. I've been brought up in a home that follows two religions - catholic and jain. I was never asked to chose one over the other, instead I took part in all ceremonies/rites/rituals of both religions equally. I was allowed to choose which I wanted to understand and follow further. I chose neither, instead tried understanding the main ideas and beliefs nearly all the religions that there are today and deceided I didn't want to have one religion.
Faith was my answer. I chose to believe (and still do) that there is a higher power. Higher power that created us, the universe and everything we know today. Maybe there is purpose for our creation, maybe there is just no reason for our existence but there definitely is more than just us. No, even though the matrix is an interesting concept, that is something I really don't think is possible....
These are ideas and thoughts on an extremely personal subject (even if one has no inclination or stand on the matter). No offence intended. Just curiosity.
Monsoon Wedding
This weekend my most dearest friend got married. Vikram Chanda is finally married. The guy who was sure to be the last man standing, finally bit the dust. (Well Nik is still sorta holding up that fort, but he too will soon yield and succumb...)
I never thought it would be possible to see the ever-grinning Chanda smile that much. Shaleila and Chanda look so adorable together and they truely have found their better halves. (I don't know Shaleila that well, actually not at all, but she gives of such a fun & honest vibe it is hard to not like her and hopefully I will get to know her better)
The wedding was in Goa - beautiful rain drenched Goa... Lush, green and vibrant. Perfect.
It was a four day long affair attended by about a 100 odd freinds' of Chanda, from all over the country and the world. The wedding itself was on Saturday but it was planned such that the pre-wedding party was thursday, friday was R&R from the drinking (which didn't happen!) Saturday - wedding, Sunday back home... I'm pretty sure alot of people stayed till Monday... (btw Shaleila also had a whole bunch of people there.. please don't think only the "Chanda" people attended.)
It was a beautiful Church wedding at the Saligaon Church - for those of you who know their way around Goa, the Church is about half between Betim and Calangute on the Panjim - Baga road. I think. Well it is defintely half way between Panjim and Baga, it is a gorgerous Church and all lit up at night - hard to miss if you are on the right road.
The wedding had all the trappings of a catholic wedding from the bride in a beautiful white gown, the "i do's", tears, speeches, bouquet throwing to the sugared almonds as giveaways to the guests.
The ceremnoy itself was a little long - longer than in Europe - but lots of times funny since all the non catholics were sort of (very!) confused as to when to sit and when to stand... so if one person from the grooms' side sat at the wrong time they all sat.. just to realise that they had to stand, so everybody would stand up again.... and this happened even though everybody was, very thoughtfully, given a specially-put-together booklet in which every aspect of the ceremony was explained with pretty precise instructions with what had to be done when by the guests....
So basically I was in Goa for my friends' wedding... drank lots, met a tonne great new people (some of them were even from Delhi!! Can you believe it !!!!) ate some killer sea food, spent some time with my sister (just to find out that even though I like her, I'd kill her if she actually lived in my house all the time), chilled with my brother(realised I'll actually really miss him once he's gone to Germany), poured a glass of whiskey coke over groom right after he was drenched by a bucket of ice... can't remember why that happened, sat under the stars in Baga and was reminded about a certain somebody and a conversation we had about infinity on that exact same beach last December. Sitting on Baga beach, also made me think about my birthday weekend in May that was(also) spent in Goa. And the call I got from Chanda on my birthday morning, telling me he had proposed to Shaleila and that they were to be married.
I am happy for them. Actually I'm overjoyed. It kind of restores my faith in the concept that there is somebody out there for everybody and at the right time you'll find what you are looking for. Just need to be patient.
---------------------------------------------------------------
PS: for all those of you who are going to attend a catholic wedding and are single, a word of advice - beware of the love songs... they WILL make you feel very single & you WILL cry (not neccesarily due to being/feeling single). So make sure you find someone to distract yourself with. Sadly enough I didn't take my own advice!! :)
All in all, I had a great time and a bunch of realisations. Some good, some not so nice, but most importantly I'm grateful for all the great things in my life, especially my brother and the wonderful people I call my friends.
I never thought it would be possible to see the ever-grinning Chanda smile that much. Shaleila and Chanda look so adorable together and they truely have found their better halves. (I don't know Shaleila that well, actually not at all, but she gives of such a fun & honest vibe it is hard to not like her and hopefully I will get to know her better)
The wedding was in Goa - beautiful rain drenched Goa... Lush, green and vibrant. Perfect.
It was a four day long affair attended by about a 100 odd freinds' of Chanda, from all over the country and the world. The wedding itself was on Saturday but it was planned such that the pre-wedding party was thursday, friday was R&R from the drinking (which didn't happen!) Saturday - wedding, Sunday back home... I'm pretty sure alot of people stayed till Monday... (btw Shaleila also had a whole bunch of people there.. please don't think only the "Chanda" people attended.)
It was a beautiful Church wedding at the Saligaon Church - for those of you who know their way around Goa, the Church is about half between Betim and Calangute on the Panjim - Baga road. I think. Well it is defintely half way between Panjim and Baga, it is a gorgerous Church and all lit up at night - hard to miss if you are on the right road.
The wedding had all the trappings of a catholic wedding from the bride in a beautiful white gown, the "i do's", tears, speeches, bouquet throwing to the sugared almonds as giveaways to the guests.
The ceremnoy itself was a little long - longer than in Europe - but lots of times funny since all the non catholics were sort of (very!) confused as to when to sit and when to stand... so if one person from the grooms' side sat at the wrong time they all sat.. just to realise that they had to stand, so everybody would stand up again.... and this happened even though everybody was, very thoughtfully, given a specially-put-together booklet in which every aspect of the ceremony was explained with pretty precise instructions with what had to be done when by the guests....
So basically I was in Goa for my friends' wedding... drank lots, met a tonne great new people (some of them were even from Delhi!! Can you believe it !!!!) ate some killer sea food, spent some time with my sister (just to find out that even though I like her, I'd kill her if she actually lived in my house all the time), chilled with my brother(realised I'll actually really miss him once he's gone to Germany), poured a glass of whiskey coke over groom right after he was drenched by a bucket of ice... can't remember why that happened, sat under the stars in Baga and was reminded about a certain somebody and a conversation we had about infinity on that exact same beach last December. Sitting on Baga beach, also made me think about my birthday weekend in May that was(also) spent in Goa. And the call I got from Chanda on my birthday morning, telling me he had proposed to Shaleila and that they were to be married.
I am happy for them. Actually I'm overjoyed. It kind of restores my faith in the concept that there is somebody out there for everybody and at the right time you'll find what you are looking for. Just need to be patient.
---------------------------------------------------------------
PS: for all those of you who are going to attend a catholic wedding and are single, a word of advice - beware of the love songs... they WILL make you feel very single & you WILL cry (not neccesarily due to being/feeling single). So make sure you find someone to distract yourself with. Sadly enough I didn't take my own advice!! :)
All in all, I had a great time and a bunch of realisations. Some good, some not so nice, but most importantly I'm grateful for all the great things in my life, especially my brother and the wonderful people I call my friends.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
All things come in threes....
I think the proverb is " all good things come in threes.." but it seems to me that "all things come in threes" is truer and more realistic, specially for not-so-good things. Or maybe I notice the "not-so-good" threes more than the "good" threes because - touch wood - I have more good things in my life than bad things.
And the "threes" happen in the same category of life. By categories I mean love, luck, money, friends, enemies, accidents... Generalised categories into which we file everyday incidents.
2 not so good things happened in the same category in the last 3 days... the second incident being slightly worse than the first.. I just hope the 3rd isn't fatal.
And the "threes" happen in the same category of life. By categories I mean love, luck, money, friends, enemies, accidents... Generalised categories into which we file everyday incidents.
2 not so good things happened in the same category in the last 3 days... the second incident being slightly worse than the first.. I just hope the 3rd isn't fatal.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Smallville.
Life has been hectic for most part of last month and defintely will continue to be so till the end of the year.....
There was India's "first ever" Spring Summer Fashion Week... courtesy Wills Lifestyle and Nokia... so lots of shows and parties... (seperate post...hopefully!)
Delhi's excuse to be pretentious and over the top has become bi-annual.
Next week I'm going to Goa for a friend's wedding... high time he got married! :)
After that ofcourse starts "festive season" madness which will run through Dusehra, Diwali, hopefully the Bombay fashion, the wedding season and ofcourse Christmas and New Year (hopefully in New York)....
...... from now till the end of the year there are multiple excuses to party....
But coming back to my original thought for this post... other than partying I have also been working very hard and travelling .. specifically to mini-metro/small town India. I've noticed these places are more open to ideas than "modern india", which the metros are a part of. Specifically, basic courtesy towards and treatment of women.
If you have lived in Delhi long enough you'll have become immune to lecherous looks, comments and general lascivious behaviour. Men treat women like objects...
In the smaller towns, people (men) look at you, like they'd look at anything else new to their environment... purely out of curiosity.
Metros (specfically Delhi) people (men) look AT you.. simultaneously objectifying & working out an exceptionally lewd disrespectful comment.
It is annoying at best.... at worst.....well.....
And I'm not commenting on all men... I'm commenting on a cross section of men from the same socio economic lower middle/lower class background, that do not differ in Metro India or small town India.
They have the same social, economic, educational and family structural backgrounds, they just moved from small town to big town. Yet they have such different attitudes when it comes to women.
Does moving to a bigger city make it ok to lose all basic respect for another person.?
Maybe it happens everywhere, just not at the same level so small town seems to be "better" than big town India.... but from personal experience/observation, Delhi (which I love and call home despite everything) highlights a lack of basic sense when it comes to these things compared to other cities and specially the smaller ones....
Disconnected post at best... :)
There was India's "first ever" Spring Summer Fashion Week... courtesy Wills Lifestyle and Nokia... so lots of shows and parties... (seperate post...hopefully!)
Delhi's excuse to be pretentious and over the top has become bi-annual.
Next week I'm going to Goa for a friend's wedding... high time he got married! :)
After that ofcourse starts "festive season" madness which will run through Dusehra, Diwali, hopefully the Bombay fashion, the wedding season and ofcourse Christmas and New Year (hopefully in New York)....
...... from now till the end of the year there are multiple excuses to party....
But coming back to my original thought for this post... other than partying I have also been working very hard and travelling .. specifically to mini-metro/small town India. I've noticed these places are more open to ideas than "modern india", which the metros are a part of. Specifically, basic courtesy towards and treatment of women.
If you have lived in Delhi long enough you'll have become immune to lecherous looks, comments and general lascivious behaviour. Men treat women like objects...
In the smaller towns, people (men) look at you, like they'd look at anything else new to their environment... purely out of curiosity.
Metros (specfically Delhi) people (men) look AT you.. simultaneously objectifying & working out an exceptionally lewd disrespectful comment.
It is annoying at best.... at worst.....well.....
And I'm not commenting on all men... I'm commenting on a cross section of men from the same socio economic lower middle/lower class background, that do not differ in Metro India or small town India.
They have the same social, economic, educational and family structural backgrounds, they just moved from small town to big town. Yet they have such different attitudes when it comes to women.
Does moving to a bigger city make it ok to lose all basic respect for another person.?
Maybe it happens everywhere, just not at the same level so small town seems to be "better" than big town India.... but from personal experience/observation, Delhi (which I love and call home despite everything) highlights a lack of basic sense when it comes to these things compared to other cities and specially the smaller ones....
Disconnected post at best... :)
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Safe and Secure
This whole thing with my being able to travel on an invalid passport.. read previous post.... makes me really wonder as to how effective all these security measures at airports really are.
Atleast I had my own (if invalid) passport with me... but what about this kid that my mum was telling me about that got on a plane in LONDON without anything documents? They only realised he was there because the head count was showing an extra passenger. The kid was already eating and drinking by the time it was figured out that he got through security unchecked.
Is all this talk about security just that... talk?
Atleast I had my own (if invalid) passport with me... but what about this kid that my mum was telling me about that got on a plane in LONDON without anything documents? They only realised he was there because the head count was showing an extra passenger. The kid was already eating and drinking by the time it was figured out that he got through security unchecked.
Is all this talk about security just that... talk?
One Night in.... on the way to.... Bangkok.
It started with a whole bunch of hunting, yelling and accusations about people being careless and ended with running like crazy to get to the gate... everything in between, is what happened while I was in Bangkok for the week.
Going to Bangkok for the long weekend before 15th August was a very on and off plan, but it finally turned out that I was supposed to leave with my brother on the 14th night... but when how where is not the point...
Half an hour before we were supposed to leave for the airport, I asked Ma for my passport (which usually is in her cupboard)...
1st she couldn't find the passport... which is when the first bout of hunting, yelling and accusing happened. Then we found the passport, but my POI card wasn't there which is usually inside the back cover of the passport... next bout of yelling, hunting and accusing happened... Ma is yelling at me, I'm sreeching at my brother, Dad is trying to calm me and ma down, we both yell at him together... basically extemely hyper...
I got to a point where I just didn't want to go anymore, but Daddy being Daddy came to the rescue with a simple solution.. "take a print of your POI scan and take along your registration..they'll let you out of the country.. when you come back if something happens I'll handle it. "
We get to the airport, check - in, clear immigration after a very nice customs guy heard us out about how I lost my POI card etc etc etc. He even explained to us what I had to do so that I wou'dnt have problems on the way back. Trust me, it is very rare to find such n understanding guy at immigration..most of them just want to make your life diffcult.
For all those of you who are wondering what the hell a POI card is and why I need it... well POI stands for Persons of Indian Origin and since I have a German passport I need one to stay/live/come and go in India.
Also I must mention the lines at luggage screening/check-in/immigration/security screening were extremely long, not only due the near fiasco in the UK and bomb blasts in Mumbai but also because we were travelling on the eve of the Indian Independence Day. Security was EXTRA HIGH alert.
Which is why I'm surprised that nobody caught on that I was travelling on a expired passport.
I, myself, only realised it once I was outside the airport in BKK and Mike called Dad from a Thai pre-paid no. While Mike was talking to Dad, the expression on his face changed and he went a strange sort of grey... which needless to say freaked me out beyond belief coz I thought something happened to Ma. The change in expression and color was brought on by the following words
"Hi, where are you guys... Don't worry about anything. Mom found Mayas' POI card AND passport *change in expression* and she is catching the next Air India flight to BKK. *change in color* She should be there by lunch time...."
Not only had I picked up my old passport on the way out and was travelling on an expired document but my MOM was coming to BKK!!!
How we got Ma not to come is another story all together, but long story short... with all this hooha about increased security and safety measures I travelled across international borders and only on the 6th time of my passport being checked, was it noticed that my passport had expired. My passport was "checked" at the airline counter for check-in, ofcourse at immigration while leaving India and then once again when I was entering Thailand. Not to mention twice for the hotel. It doesn't say much about the security measures in either country and makes me wonder... how effective really are all these safety/security measures, that are so vehemently being implemented?
Incase you are wondering.. No they didn't deport me... I'm back in Delhi. All's good since Dad had my valid passport couriered to me the next day.
BUT on the way back because of the security measures in BKK, we did have to make a mad dash to get to the gate on time. :)
Going to Bangkok for the long weekend before 15th August was a very on and off plan, but it finally turned out that I was supposed to leave with my brother on the 14th night... but when how where is not the point...
Half an hour before we were supposed to leave for the airport, I asked Ma for my passport (which usually is in her cupboard)...
1st she couldn't find the passport... which is when the first bout of hunting, yelling and accusing happened. Then we found the passport, but my POI card wasn't there which is usually inside the back cover of the passport... next bout of yelling, hunting and accusing happened... Ma is yelling at me, I'm sreeching at my brother, Dad is trying to calm me and ma down, we both yell at him together... basically extemely hyper...
I got to a point where I just didn't want to go anymore, but Daddy being Daddy came to the rescue with a simple solution.. "take a print of your POI scan and take along your registration..they'll let you out of the country.. when you come back if something happens I'll handle it. "
We get to the airport, check - in, clear immigration after a very nice customs guy heard us out about how I lost my POI card etc etc etc. He even explained to us what I had to do so that I wou'dnt have problems on the way back. Trust me, it is very rare to find such n understanding guy at immigration..most of them just want to make your life diffcult.
For all those of you who are wondering what the hell a POI card is and why I need it... well POI stands for Persons of Indian Origin and since I have a German passport I need one to stay/live/come and go in India.
Also I must mention the lines at luggage screening/check-in/immigration/security screening were extremely long, not only due the near fiasco in the UK and bomb blasts in Mumbai but also because we were travelling on the eve of the Indian Independence Day. Security was EXTRA HIGH alert.
Which is why I'm surprised that nobody caught on that I was travelling on a expired passport.
I, myself, only realised it once I was outside the airport in BKK and Mike called Dad from a Thai pre-paid no. While Mike was talking to Dad, the expression on his face changed and he went a strange sort of grey... which needless to say freaked me out beyond belief coz I thought something happened to Ma. The change in expression and color was brought on by the following words
"Hi, where are you guys... Don't worry about anything. Mom found Mayas' POI card AND passport *change in expression* and she is catching the next Air India flight to BKK. *change in color* She should be there by lunch time...."
Not only had I picked up my old passport on the way out and was travelling on an expired document but my MOM was coming to BKK!!!
How we got Ma not to come is another story all together, but long story short... with all this hooha about increased security and safety measures I travelled across international borders and only on the 6th time of my passport being checked, was it noticed that my passport had expired. My passport was "checked" at the airline counter for check-in, ofcourse at immigration while leaving India and then once again when I was entering Thailand. Not to mention twice for the hotel. It doesn't say much about the security measures in either country and makes me wonder... how effective really are all these safety/security measures, that are so vehemently being implemented?
Incase you are wondering.. No they didn't deport me... I'm back in Delhi. All's good since Dad had my valid passport couriered to me the next day.
BUT on the way back because of the security measures in BKK, we did have to make a mad dash to get to the gate on time. :)
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Moose - I hate you.
I am thinking about:
killing Moos for making me spend valuable time writting about rhetorical concepts.
I said:
alot of things through the years.
I am:
a contradiction. I'll never be what you think I am and I will always do what I'm not telling you about.
I want to:
make a wish and have it come true.
I make with my hands:
castles in the air.
I wish:
for world peace! Just like I wish to become Ms. Universe.
I love:
all things bright and shiny.
I cry:
at the silliest things and during hindi movies.
I hear:
my cellphone on silent.
I wonder:
about the matrix.
I regret:
being born before my brother.
I confuse:
the spelling of dessert and desert.
I dance:
to make me happy.
I sing:
when nobody else can hear me.
I am not always:
a spoilt stuck up princess.
I write:
what I feel/see/experience. If it is coherent to other people is immaterial
I need:
validation.
--------------------
PS: Tagging is childish.
killing Moos for making me spend valuable time writting about rhetorical concepts.
I said:
alot of things through the years.
I am:
a contradiction. I'll never be what you think I am and I will always do what I'm not telling you about.
I want to:
make a wish and have it come true.
I make with my hands:
castles in the air.
I wish:
for world peace! Just like I wish to become Ms. Universe.
I love:
all things bright and shiny.
I cry:
at the silliest things and during hindi movies.
I hear:
my cellphone on silent.
I wonder:
about the matrix.
I regret:
being born before my brother.
I confuse:
the spelling of dessert and desert.
I dance:
to make me happy.
I sing:
when nobody else can hear me.
I am not always:
a spoilt stuck up princess.
I write:
what I feel/see/experience. If it is coherent to other people is immaterial
I need:
validation.
--------------------
PS: Tagging is childish.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Fad Diet
Ever sat at the same table with a perpetual dieter?
Perpetual dieters, as I refer to them, are proportionate to really skinny women, who are constantly on a diet. It doesn't matter if they are joining you for a meal or a drink but mention food and I guarantee you a ...
"I'm on a diet, I've GOT to loose weight. So, NO thanks.." response.
After which they get the standard "no... are you mad... you aren't fat... order something.."
After which the Perpetual dieter (PD) launches into this rant of how much they've been eating lately and need to loose just x number of kilos in the next y number of days/weeks.
The x and the y of the equation seem to never change.
When the food arrives and people start eating, the PD looks slightly lost since they really cannot part take in this activity after having so vehemently declined any and all food. If they are a smoker chances are that they will light a cigarette and start smoking , against all table etiquette.
If they aren't smoking then they can't but help themselves and start "trying" the various different things that the table has ordered. Before you know it, the PD has tried everything that has been ordered and if there is something really good in particular, the PD will have devoured half of it while the original consumer looks on astonished. The more the number of people eating, the larger the quantity the PD consumes. They do the hogging is such a dainty barely there sort of way...
At the end of the meal... PD
"MY GOD..... i've eaten so much.. after this I'm not going to eat a thing for atleast a week".... Hello..... You weren't eating in the 1st place!!!
I have nothing against people eating ... I live to eat so I understand people wanting to eat, but I don't understand why do women have to make such a fuss about eating.
Nobody will hold it against it you that you ate more than a lettuce leaf in public. Men actually like women who eat properly. By properly, I don't mean be a glutton and shove everything that comes your way. That'll make you fat! Normal eating is appreciated.
And so is offering to pay a share of the bill..... since you ate as much, if not more, but technically didn't order anything.
If nothing else, shut up about how you need to diet, your dieting history and how you just can't eat.... Don't make me feel guilty about something I enjoy.
PS: Ever noticed how the ONLY time a woman actually willing discloses her weight, is when she is talking about how 'effective' her diet was...
Perpetual dieters, as I refer to them, are proportionate to really skinny women, who are constantly on a diet. It doesn't matter if they are joining you for a meal or a drink but mention food and I guarantee you a ...
"I'm on a diet, I've GOT to loose weight. So, NO thanks.." response.
After which they get the standard "no... are you mad... you aren't fat... order something.."
After which the Perpetual dieter (PD) launches into this rant of how much they've been eating lately and need to loose just x number of kilos in the next y number of days/weeks.
The x and the y of the equation seem to never change.
When the food arrives and people start eating, the PD looks slightly lost since they really cannot part take in this activity after having so vehemently declined any and all food. If they are a smoker chances are that they will light a cigarette and start smoking , against all table etiquette.
If they aren't smoking then they can't but help themselves and start "trying" the various different things that the table has ordered. Before you know it, the PD has tried everything that has been ordered and if there is something really good in particular, the PD will have devoured half of it while the original consumer looks on astonished. The more the number of people eating, the larger the quantity the PD consumes. They do the hogging is such a dainty barely there sort of way...
At the end of the meal... PD
"MY GOD..... i've eaten so much.. after this I'm not going to eat a thing for atleast a week".... Hello..... You weren't eating in the 1st place!!!
I have nothing against people eating ... I live to eat so I understand people wanting to eat, but I don't understand why do women have to make such a fuss about eating.
Nobody will hold it against it you that you ate more than a lettuce leaf in public. Men actually like women who eat properly. By properly, I don't mean be a glutton and shove everything that comes your way. That'll make you fat! Normal eating is appreciated.
And so is offering to pay a share of the bill..... since you ate as much, if not more, but technically didn't order anything.
If nothing else, shut up about how you need to diet, your dieting history and how you just can't eat.... Don't make me feel guilty about something I enjoy.
PS: Ever noticed how the ONLY time a woman actually willing discloses her weight, is when she is talking about how 'effective' her diet was...
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Godly Fashion
I was watching the news day before... A Headlines Today Special on fashion.
Apparently, a certain Mr. Jasmine Shah from Ahmedabad has filed an FIR against Tantra T-Shirts (www.tantrauniverse.com) for defamation of a very powerful Hindu mantra.
The Issue:
The mantra is an extremely powerful mantra and by being put a Tshirt will be exposed to sacreligious activities such smoking, drinking and going to the bathroom which will diminish the power of the mantra. Also putting the T-shirt with the mantra on it for a wash, is blasphemous.
The Solution:
Ban clothing with religious icons/symbols/texts ..... Dharm ki dhajiya urti hain!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you kidding me??!!!!
I can't wear a tshirt with a Shivji/Ganeshji/Om/Mantra on it because some guy in Ahmedabad wants 15minutes of fame.... C'MON!!!
These tshirts have been around for years.... maybe not as tshirts but definetely as saffron kurtas with brown "om namh shivayah" and Om symbols on them.
Take a walk down Janpath..... every possible God, Goddess, reliogious motifs jumps out at you from every hole in the wall shop.
Everybody wears some sort of religious symbolism in whatever form appeals to them. Some tattoo an Om onto their forearm... others a God tattooed on their back... some wear God embossed coins around their neck.....some carry "chalisas" in their wallets..... others wear a bloody T-shirt.
"Defiling" a religious symbol through manipulation, innuendo or in general in-sensitive use by depiction on underwear, shoes and other profane items, etc is not acceptable - fine.
I will also buy into the logic that Mantras are mysterious things and their power diminishes with "over-exposure"... but to lobby for a generic ban on clothing sporting religious motifs.. like I already said - C'MOOHHN!!!
It isn't just about a banning clothing.... What all are you going to ban? Tattoos, ornaments, jewellery, calendars...??!!! Most of these things have been around for years if not centuries.
This isn't about any one religion or raise issues about sensitivity towards a particular religion... it is about what all will we accept as people who are, supposedly, free to practice whichever religion we chose, in any manner we see fit.
What if I choose to practice my religion by wearing it on my Tshirt.. and proudly at that.
As long as I know what I'm wearting & why I am wearing it, who is Mr. Jasmine Shah or the Hindu Dharam Raksha Sena to tell otherwise?
Apparently, a certain Mr. Jasmine Shah from Ahmedabad has filed an FIR against Tantra T-Shirts (www.tantrauniverse.com) for defamation of a very powerful Hindu mantra.
The Issue:
The mantra is an extremely powerful mantra and by being put a Tshirt will be exposed to sacreligious activities such smoking, drinking and going to the bathroom which will diminish the power of the mantra. Also putting the T-shirt with the mantra on it for a wash, is blasphemous.
The Solution:
Ban clothing with religious icons/symbols/texts ..... Dharm ki dhajiya urti hain!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you kidding me??!!!!
I can't wear a tshirt with a Shivji/Ganeshji/Om/Mantra on it because some guy in Ahmedabad wants 15minutes of fame.... C'MON!!!
These tshirts have been around for years.... maybe not as tshirts but definetely as saffron kurtas with brown "om namh shivayah" and Om symbols on them.
Take a walk down Janpath..... every possible God, Goddess, reliogious motifs jumps out at you from every hole in the wall shop.
Everybody wears some sort of religious symbolism in whatever form appeals to them. Some tattoo an Om onto their forearm... others a God tattooed on their back... some wear God embossed coins around their neck.....some carry "chalisas" in their wallets..... others wear a bloody T-shirt.
"Defiling" a religious symbol through manipulation, innuendo or in general in-sensitive use by depiction on underwear, shoes and other profane items, etc is not acceptable - fine.
I will also buy into the logic that Mantras are mysterious things and their power diminishes with "over-exposure"... but to lobby for a generic ban on clothing sporting religious motifs.. like I already said - C'MOOHHN!!!
It isn't just about a banning clothing.... What all are you going to ban? Tattoos, ornaments, jewellery, calendars...??!!! Most of these things have been around for years if not centuries.
This isn't about any one religion or raise issues about sensitivity towards a particular religion... it is about what all will we accept as people who are, supposedly, free to practice whichever religion we chose, in any manner we see fit.
What if I choose to practice my religion by wearing it on my Tshirt.. and proudly at that.
As long as I know what I'm wearting & why I am wearing it, who is Mr. Jasmine Shah or the Hindu Dharam Raksha Sena to tell otherwise?
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Falling in Love
What are you looking for
It's got to be hard core
Must be some kind of nouveau riche
Is this your only chance
Or some hypnotic trance
Let's get you on a tighter leash* Aerosmith - Falling in Love (is so hard on the knees)
open to interpretation....
Friday, July 28, 2006
Über achievers and their free stuff
Have you noticed how people who have tonnes of money and can afford to buy pretty much anything they want, are the ones that get all the really nice expensive free stuff from Brand names, corporates, etc.
Usually these people who get the free stuff, belong to a breed of humans commonly known as "celebrities" and the people giving out the free stuff come under the multi-purpose title of "marketing".
This phenomenon is world wide. It happens for the Oscars, it happens for Filmfare awards. Movie stars are comped everything from their outfits and jewellery to the 5 inches of gunk that covers their body... face. The Celebrity breed has not only actors but covers a wider gamut which includes sports-people, business tycoons, page 3 socialite, models.
You get stuff for just being...but there is a hierarchy. The more successful you are the better free stuff you get. Getting free stuff isn't the same as getting the stuff you endorse for free. It's ok if Airtel gives Sachin a million connections for free or if Aishwarya gets a life time supply of hair color - its payment in kind.
I know this certain sports celebrity though, who isn't happy getting really expensive free stuff. I've watched him pick the 3 top of of the line watches from the new range of a 100K+ brand. The marketing guys left and 1st thing the guy says, " I bet they gave Shah Rukh more variety to choose from.... "
Gimme a break... if it weren't for your batting, you wouldn't be getting shit anyway. Just hope he doesn't get a free tennis elbow.....
PS: The sports celeb is not Sachin. He actually appreciates all the free things thrown at him. :)
Usually these people who get the free stuff, belong to a breed of humans commonly known as "celebrities" and the people giving out the free stuff come under the multi-purpose title of "marketing".
This phenomenon is world wide. It happens for the Oscars, it happens for Filmfare awards. Movie stars are comped everything from their outfits and jewellery to the 5 inches of gunk that covers their body... face. The Celebrity breed has not only actors but covers a wider gamut which includes sports-people, business tycoons, page 3 socialite, models.
You get stuff for just being...but there is a hierarchy. The more successful you are the better free stuff you get. Getting free stuff isn't the same as getting the stuff you endorse for free. It's ok if Airtel gives Sachin a million connections for free or if Aishwarya gets a life time supply of hair color - its payment in kind.
I know this certain sports celebrity though, who isn't happy getting really expensive free stuff. I've watched him pick the 3 top of of the line watches from the new range of a 100K+ brand. The marketing guys left and 1st thing the guy says, " I bet they gave Shah Rukh more variety to choose from.... "
Gimme a break... if it weren't for your batting, you wouldn't be getting shit anyway. Just hope he doesn't get a free tennis elbow.....
PS: The sports celeb is not Sachin. He actually appreciates all the free things thrown at him. :)
Monday, July 17, 2006
Happily drunk..... too drunk.
Extreme drunk is right.
I don't remember posting the last write-up.
Actually I don't remember a lot of things that I did after I came home.
I must say I'm not very proud of myself for blogging at 3 in the morning after a brilliant night out but I am impressed with the quality of my writting and how few the (marignal) screw ups are, considering my general level of intoxication.
For all my dear friends that are going to take a chance at making fun of me for the post... all I have for you is .... :p
I might have made a complete ass of myself online and don't remember very much of what I did after I got home, but I do know this - I managed to get home without making an ass of myself.
Small gracess should be acknoledged.
I don't remember posting the last write-up.
Actually I don't remember a lot of things that I did after I came home.
I must say I'm not very proud of myself for blogging at 3 in the morning after a brilliant night out but I am impressed with the quality of my writting and how few the (marignal) screw ups are, considering my general level of intoxication.
For all my dear friends that are going to take a chance at making fun of me for the post... all I have for you is .... :p
I might have made a complete ass of myself online and don't remember very much of what I did after I got home, but I do know this - I managed to get home without making an ass of myself.
Small gracess should be acknoledged.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
happily drunk
It is one of those days where i have achieved relatively extreme drunkness.....
I'm not quite falling apart but yeah keeping to together is no less of ann effort...
Every single cell in my body is full of energy yet I'm having a hard time standing straight as a ramrod which you'd think that amount of energy would get you to do....
Swaying is a natural and bumping into things even more so.
Even though the eyes are fluttering shut I know what is happening behind the back of my head... every iota of me is on attention. There is one little bit of my brain that is so extremely sober it is superhuman how it registers the smallest change, just so that I can keep myself out of harms way.
I'm the kind of person that NEVER loses control yet I'm happy in the knowledge that it is taking all my conscious effort to form a coherent thought.
I'm drunk and I love it.
I've reached a level of intoxication that leaves me aware of the fact that I'm drunk but yet not drunk enough to loose all sense of who I am. It allows for all the control to melt away and yet still not be vunerable.
I know I'm going to regret having written this tommorow, but for once it will be honest, un-edited and true. And hopefully grammatially correct.
It is things like this that give away the fact that I am a quintesserially (even this word) a control freak. sometimes i think, thanks to all the control i've learnt to exercise on myself I've become a controlling bitch.....
I refuse to acknowledge weakness ... least of all in myself. Is it a wonder that sometimes I can be a bitch?!
I'm not going read and edit this.... for y'all that see it before I hit delete tomm. you have seen a side of me that is hard to come by, a side I refuse to show myself in fear of loosing my sanity/ Enjoy. for this is a rare sight...... even for myself.
The weakest link is only as weak as you alllow it to be.
I'm not quite falling apart but yeah keeping to together is no less of ann effort...
Every single cell in my body is full of energy yet I'm having a hard time standing straight as a ramrod which you'd think that amount of energy would get you to do....
Swaying is a natural and bumping into things even more so.
Even though the eyes are fluttering shut I know what is happening behind the back of my head... every iota of me is on attention. There is one little bit of my brain that is so extremely sober it is superhuman how it registers the smallest change, just so that I can keep myself out of harms way.
I'm the kind of person that NEVER loses control yet I'm happy in the knowledge that it is taking all my conscious effort to form a coherent thought.
I'm drunk and I love it.
I've reached a level of intoxication that leaves me aware of the fact that I'm drunk but yet not drunk enough to loose all sense of who I am. It allows for all the control to melt away and yet still not be vunerable.
I know I'm going to regret having written this tommorow, but for once it will be honest, un-edited and true. And hopefully grammatially correct.
It is things like this that give away the fact that I am a quintesserially (even this word) a control freak. sometimes i think, thanks to all the control i've learnt to exercise on myself I've become a controlling bitch.....
I refuse to acknowledge weakness ... least of all in myself. Is it a wonder that sometimes I can be a bitch?!
I'm not going read and edit this.... for y'all that see it before I hit delete tomm. you have seen a side of me that is hard to come by, a side I refuse to show myself in fear of loosing my sanity/ Enjoy. for this is a rare sight...... even for myself.
The weakest link is only as weak as you alllow it to be.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Long Distance Relationships
Remember the time when the furthest distance between you and your best friend was that between your house to theirs'?
I realised at some point between yesterday and today that the distance which seperates my closest friends from me (not all, but most) is a minimum of 1500 odd kms or just over 2 hours flight time. It is horrible and I am miserable.
I don't like it one bit .... not to mention what it does to my phone bill!!
I realised at some point between yesterday and today that the distance which seperates my closest friends from me (not all, but most) is a minimum of 1500 odd kms or just over 2 hours flight time. It is horrible and I am miserable.
I don't like it one bit .... not to mention what it does to my phone bill!!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Basil & Strawberries @ Akademia
I had indirectly mentioned Akademia in my "More Russia..." post as a must-write-about part of my trip to Moscow.
Akademia is a smallish restaurant on the Tverskaya just before the Red Square. Tverskaya is one of the main thorough fares of Moscow, incase you were interested.
Even if you have never heard about the place and/or it is completely deviod of its extremely fashionable clientele to give you a clue, you just know it is one of those places where go to see and be seen. In Moscow fashionable is not a criteria to defining young and hip because there being fashionable is a way of life but the decor and menu is a dead give-away.
The "it" place felling when you walk in comes from the cream and warm wood nearly-minimalist interior with the only accents being zen flower arrangements of white calla lilies and angled well placed large mirrors above the tall leather panelled walls broken by flat pillars topped with delicate plaster of paris borders.
Take a look at the menu and suspicions are confirmed. Sushi, pasta with black truffels, pizza with ruccola and cambert....... basil ice cream with strawberries and liquorice. This was particular dessert rocked my world. The combination sounds strange at best but it is the most awesome thing I have ever eaten. And I have eaten a lot of desserts in my time.
If you see me anytime soon after reading this post, don't dare to comment.....I like food :)
And if there are doubts left, rest assured, they will be cleared by the fact that they serve Pellegrino and play Jazz.
Akademia is a smallish restaurant on the Tverskaya just before the Red Square. Tverskaya is one of the main thorough fares of Moscow, incase you were interested.
Even if you have never heard about the place and/or it is completely deviod of its extremely fashionable clientele to give you a clue, you just know it is one of those places where go to see and be seen. In Moscow fashionable is not a criteria to defining young and hip because there being fashionable is a way of life but the decor and menu is a dead give-away.
The "it" place felling when you walk in comes from the cream and warm wood nearly-minimalist interior with the only accents being zen flower arrangements of white calla lilies and angled well placed large mirrors above the tall leather panelled walls broken by flat pillars topped with delicate plaster of paris borders.
Take a look at the menu and suspicions are confirmed. Sushi, pasta with black truffels, pizza with ruccola and cambert....... basil ice cream with strawberries and liquorice. This was particular dessert rocked my world. The combination sounds strange at best but it is the most awesome thing I have ever eaten. And I have eaten a lot of desserts in my time.
If you see me anytime soon after reading this post, don't dare to comment.....I like food :)
And if there are doubts left, rest assured, they will be cleared by the fact that they serve Pellegrino and play Jazz.
Single... Happy?
"I am single and thrilled about it..."
A common sentence, well rehearsed and definitely over exposed.
But is it true...?
(I'd really like to know, so please use the comments link!)
A common sentence, well rehearsed and definitely over exposed.
But is it true...?
(I'd really like to know, so please use the comments link!)
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Looking for Love...
The coffee vs toffee argument can be applied to happy singledom vs. comfortable twosomness.
All single people will vehemently agree that they love being single. The freedom to be who they want to be and not having to do anything that they think sombody else wants them to. The ability to follow the heart without restraint.
Couples on the otherhand will bored you no end with their smug coziness about how having somebody you love/trust/worship helps you grow and how there is nothing better in the world than knowing there is somebody by your side no matter what.
Both arguments are valid and have weight in their own right but neither side will agree with the other. And it is a question of preference.
I really don't mind the cozy couples or the vehement singles, but what does get to me is how quickly the tune changes once somebody gets on the other side of the fence.
All single people will vehemently agree that they love being single. The freedom to be who they want to be and not having to do anything that they think sombody else wants them to. The ability to follow the heart without restraint.
Couples on the otherhand will bored you no end with their smug coziness about how having somebody you love/trust/worship helps you grow and how there is nothing better in the world than knowing there is somebody by your side no matter what.
Both arguments are valid and have weight in their own right but neither side will agree with the other. And it is a question of preference.
I really don't mind the cozy couples or the vehement singles, but what does get to me is how quickly the tune changes once somebody gets on the other side of the fence.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Games.. Or just egos?
Men vs Women
The games people play.
Its starts as banter and continues till one of the 2 cannot keep up and then it becomes playing. When does flirting/baiting become playing games?
* * What is playing games?
* * Why play games?
.................................................................
At some point or the other we, women, have all heard it: "dont' play games with me" or "I hate women who play games".
Guess what men play "games " just as much as women do. It's human nature.
Do what you want, say what you want... it all starts as a game. The flirting, the conversations .. irrespective if
it is face to face, over the phone or in any other form, it is all about:
"Do I want to deal with you on a more frequent basis"
"Is there a point in getting to know you better"
None of it is intentional or planned... ask anybody how they flirt.. you'll get a bunch of answers but not one giving you a game plan which goes any further than the ice breaker (read blatant & completely unoriginal pick up line :>)
Conversation about random things... opinions about unrelated topics... it is about tryin to build common ground where the one and only question getting answered is
"Are you smart enough for me to be around you".
"Are you worthy of my time? "
The need to answer this question comes after 'lets get coffee' but before 'lets go watch a movie'. By the time movie scenario rolls around you are already comfortable being around each other in silence. By then its too late. You can't do a "I was just flirting" turnarond... miniscule strings have begun to from. All the talk MUST come before you get comfortable.
Let me run you through this step by step...
- It starts with a general "my name is so and so....blah blah"
Basically covers likes and dislikes.. establishes common ground other that freinds, family and work. - If you create enough common ground, it moves onto rhetorical questions based on 'principles'. At this phase conversation will include inuuendos to check for ability to see if you 'get' it.
It is about seeing if both parties have enough intelligence to sensibly hold an argument and/orback their stand about a sensitive/tricky/multilayered topic without backing down or resorting to evasive logic show lack of logic. - At this point there has been enough talk to figure out if conversations can get more "forward" or if the situation requires a "alright buddy - you didn't fit the bill - nice talkin' to ya... peace!" as an extremely tactful (NOT!) friend of mine put it.
By the way, while all this is happening you are completely unaware . It is unintentional. Sort of just happens.
There is no set flow to how it goes, but does applies, EQUALLY, to men and women.
The reason, I think, we indulge in all Stage 1 flirting and "word-play" is because we d0n't want to get hurt.. or nurse damaged egos, either our own or somebody elses'.
Playing level 1 of the game (flirting, incase you were wondering...) over and over again, in all its variations and combinations and getting as creative as we can about making it extremely hard, is a hella lot easier that actually moving to the next level.... where the dreaded strings might come into play and there is definitely no way you can get out of it with, simply, a "no harm, no foul - lets be friends" conversation.
Next time you start to flirt - watch how it goes. And don't let knowing what you know ruin the fun. At the end of the day we ALL play games because they are FUN and make us feel GOOD about ourselves. :)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The author of this post has an honorary PhD in Relationship Gaming, awarded by the University of the Jaded and Observant. Material is copyrighted under the law of the State of Egoistic. All disputes will come under the Jurisdication of the courts of "I don't care what you think"
Nice guys?!?! Martians?!?!? Same difference!
Where are they?
I don’t mean the sweet next door neighbor or your best (gay or straight) male friend. No offence.
I mean the guy you want to hang out with and spend time with and hopefully at some point deem worthy of introducing to your friends and know that they won’t pelt him (or you) with eggs. The guy that doesn’t look half bad, has an iota of a brain and actually has a semblance of a personality with a sense of humor.
Any ideas? Or do guys like that even exist? !!!
Disclaimer: I am not being soppy, hopeless or fatalistic. Nor am I looking for a nice guy. Jus wondering. Very happy being a free bird.
PS: I've had enough of the travelogue for a bit.
I don’t mean the sweet next door neighbor or your best (gay or straight) male friend. No offence.
I mean the guy you want to hang out with and spend time with and hopefully at some point deem worthy of introducing to your friends and know that they won’t pelt him (or you) with eggs. The guy that doesn’t look half bad, has an iota of a brain and actually has a semblance of a personality with a sense of humor.
Any ideas? Or do guys like that even exist? !!!
Disclaimer: I am not being soppy, hopeless or fatalistic. Nor am I looking for a nice guy. Jus wondering. Very happy being a free bird.
PS: I've had enough of the travelogue for a bit.
More Russia...
I know, I know... this is looks like it is turning into a travel blog.. but what can I do if came away with so many impressions. More importantly so many good ones. In all honesty, I didn't really want to go in the first place. I was doing the whole "Visa nahi mila toh nahi mila.. chorro na. Unko Dilli bula lenge" . Translation for my non indian/hindi speaking friends " if we didn't get the visa, we didn't get it.. let it go. We'll have them come to Delhi". But if my Dad says we are going to Moscow then we are going Moscow. Come hell or high water.
Anway I'm going try and make this real short by ONLY LISTING all the things I feel compelled to mention. These are in random order and I might elaborate in future posts coz I know myself, I won't be able to not give details. :)
Anway I'm going try and make this real short by ONLY LISTING all the things I feel compelled to mention. These are in random order and I might elaborate in future posts coz I know myself, I won't be able to not give details. :)
- Everything is huge... but I covered that already - twice over!
- Everything is damn expensive... so much so I felt poor with 500 USD in my pocket
- Food is excellent... I had the most interesting desert - Strawberries with Basil icecream and liquorice. Different but extremely delicious. (You will definitely read about the Restaurant where I ate this.)
- The women are hot.. that also I mentioned.
- The people are really friendly
- I went to the BOLSHOI!!! It was fantastic. That is another experience that I REFUSE to degrade by simply putting on a list.
There is more. It is impossible to put down in words. Architecture, history, art, clubs, restaurants..... just so much.
It is definitely worth trying to get a visa and taking a look. Just remember to take along a no limit credit card preferably the Amex Black.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Red October - Willy Wonka?!?!!
As I already
mentioned previously... everything Moscow is huge. So is the chocolate factory.
The brand is called 'Red October' and the factory building size is... well what do i say?!?!
I'm not surprised it made me think of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The size would of the building would easily support the idea.
The Red October factory is one of the oldest and largest chocolate factories in Russia.
mentioned previously... everything Moscow is huge. So is the chocolate factory.The brand is called 'Red October' and the factory building size is... well what do i say?!?!
I'm not surprised it made me think of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The size would of the building would easily support the idea.
The Red October factory is one of the oldest and largest chocolate factories in Russia.
Moscow - Interesting.
I've been busy... Moscow is... uhhmmm.... Interesting.
Everything is SUPERSIZED! The numerous propagators of the idea of supersizing in the good ol' US of A, be shamed!
The buildings, roads... Everything is huge. No building is less than a 100 feet tall (now I'm supersizing, but you get the idea) Roads are 6 lanes wide - one way! Portions are huge and so are the drink measures. It is the first place where a standard measure is 50ml and not the international 30ml. The prices reflect the supersizing as well. Again only place, that I've been to, where booze costs less than food. Oh and you can order liquor either 50ml or 500ml!
And the population in general is quite hot and good looking. Both the men and the women.
There are 3 types of women (or so it seems):
Everything is SUPERSIZED! The numerous propagators of the idea of supersizing in the good ol' US of A, be shamed!
The buildings, roads... Everything is huge. No building is less than a 100 feet tall (now I'm supersizing, but you get the idea) Roads are 6 lanes wide - one way! Portions are huge and so are the drink measures. It is the first place where a standard measure is 50ml and not the international 30ml. The prices reflect the supersizing as well. Again only place, that I've been to, where booze costs less than food. Oh and you can order liquor either 50ml or 500ml!
And the population in general is quite hot and good looking. Both the men and the women.
There are 3 types of women (or so it seems):
- fat
- supermodel
- pregnant
The attention to details in the way people dress is crazy. Not only are high heels mandatory so are short skirts. Displaying brand names has been turned into an art. Of course they have turned wearing brand names into an art. I have seen today every possible brand name that exists. There were predictable ones and not so obvious ones, LV, D&G, Prada, Gucci, Armani in reference to Couture Fashion Labels. High street fashion was a whole different universe. Make a list of all the stores you'd find on Oxford street/Piccadilly/Marble Arch, London and on 5th Ave/ Madi
son/ 7th Ave in New York. You've covered pretty every store name that I saw today.
At the Red Square they have the G.U.M. It was the State Department Store... Yeah right!!
This is where all the Fashion Labels are. It has 3 parallel 
sections with 3 floors each. Each floor has 40 stores. Basically 3*3=9*40=360. A grand total of about 400 stores including the cafes and refreshment stands.
Not to mention the fact that it takes a whole bunch of stairs to get to each floor. I think it is 3 sets of 10 steps per flight. And those steps are well worn from CENTURIES of use. On the way down walking on the right, along the banister, you nearly slip because the steps are that well worn.
The city is different to anything I have ever seen. Everything has a very distinct feel. Isn't all just humongous. There is also great attention to detail, except in the stuff that was built during Kurshov's time.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
All things Bright and Shiny…
I love to shop – most of my friends AND my bank account will testify to that.
It doesn’t matter which part of the world I am in or how long I am there for, I will find something to buy. But isn’t that what girls do? Here comes that gender bias thing again...
(Side note: I’m starting to realize that the more we talk of equality, the more focused girl/guy attributes get.)
Back to the point – I was looking at all my newly acquired possessions while I was packing to go to Moscow. I have bought a shit load of shiny things. Or things with shiny stuff on them. Handbags, shoes, belts, skirts, rubberbands….. the list goes on. (It isn’t that bad, but if I wouldn’t exaggerate than it wouldn’t be fun.)
Now please don’t think that it is all “jatak” and grossly over the top sequins and "gota" kinda stuff, but there is always some element of shine.
Come to think of it, I was chatting with Pranav (he has this knack for hitting me on the head with my own flakiness and in the process is quite self deprecating) and for some reason he asked me IF he were to buy me something… like that was happening in a million years…. how would he know that I’d like it and not chuck it back at him… my answer – “as long as it is pink and/or shiny chances are I won’t hate you for it”.
This statement kicked off an avalanche of questions… list things that are pink and shiny, things that are pink but you’d still chuck at me, give me a list of things that are pink/and or shiny but do not come under jewelry or accessories… yes, we are both extremely vela.
Where was I going with this post? I lost track of what I was going to say with all this talk about shiny things… See what I mean. I’m like a magpie…
Now please don’t think that it is all “jatak” and grossly over the top sequins and "gota" kinda stuff, but there is always some element of shine.
Come to think of it, I was chatting with Pranav (he has this knack for hitting me on the head with my own flakiness and in the process is quite self deprecating) and for some reason he asked me IF he were to buy me something… like that was happening in a million years…. how would he know that I’d like it and not chuck it back at him… my answer – “as long as it is pink and/or shiny chances are I won’t hate you for it”.
This statement kicked off an avalanche of questions… list things that are pink and shiny, things that are pink but you’d still chuck at me, give me a list of things that are pink/and or shiny but do not come under jewelry or accessories… yes, we are both extremely vela.
Where was I going with this post? I lost track of what I was going to say with all this talk about shiny things… See what I mean. I’m like a magpie…
So next time you want make ME HAPPY, head out and buy me the biggest pink Swarovski teddy bear you can find!! :)
Football vs. the Weather
FIFA World Cup, Germany 2006 has taken over the world. The atmosphere at the moment in the country is INSANE.
I think after the Unification of Germany, this is the event that most is pulling the Germans together and instilling a sense of national pride.
Football is everywhere – on TV, in the radio, the fans are thronging the streets. There is merchandise, there are huge live outdoor screenings across the city… and I mean huge 80,000 people in one place huge. You hear about nothing else. Every pub, club or restaurant you go to, it invariably is either the ice breaker or the filler.
In my own house it has become a religion. My grandmom has watched every game and kept a record of all the scores right from the 1st match. I kid you not; she has a diary in which she notes down the score of every game along with any remarks that made a particular game stand out. Like for the Netherland vs Poland game, she wrote down “rowdy spiel” (unruly game) next to the score.
Not only does she watch every game she also watches the post game analysis and then of course the replays. Football starts with breakfast, continues through the day and ends (hopefully!!) well past midnight.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not whining about it, like most women. I have nothing against it being the primary topic of conversation for over 8 weeks either I like football. But I don’t HAVE to watch every game and hear about every lost goal opportunity a million times.
Football is becoming a bit like the weather; over analyzed, over discussed and definitely never right the way it is. Somebody is going to be unhappy, not matter who wins.
I think after the Unification of Germany, this is the event that most is pulling the Germans together and instilling a sense of national pride.
Football is everywhere – on TV, in the radio, the fans are thronging the streets. There is merchandise, there are huge live outdoor screenings across the city… and I mean huge 80,000 people in one place huge. You hear about nothing else. Every pub, club or restaurant you go to, it invariably is either the ice breaker or the filler.
In my own house it has become a religion. My grandmom has watched every game and kept a record of all the scores right from the 1st match. I kid you not; she has a diary in which she notes down the score of every game along with any remarks that made a particular game stand out. Like for the Netherland vs Poland game, she wrote down “rowdy spiel” (unruly game) next to the score.
Not only does she watch every game she also watches the post game analysis and then of course the replays. Football starts with breakfast, continues through the day and ends (hopefully!!) well past midnight.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not whining about it, like most women. I have nothing against it being the primary topic of conversation for over 8 weeks either I like football. But I don’t HAVE to watch every game and hear about every lost goal opportunity a million times.
Football is becoming a bit like the weather; over analyzed, over discussed and definitely never right the way it is. Somebody is going to be unhappy, not matter who wins.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Strawberries in Chocolate... hmmm
As nearly everybody knows, I'm in Munich.
And I'm getting bored out of my skull, thanks to lack of company. (more about THAT next time)
Fortunately this is an extremely vibrant city and there is always something to do, if you chose to.
I chose to spend my Saturday walking around the Tollwood festival (www.tollwood.de/english/).
It is Munich's version of the Anjuna flea market. A non beach version of course. More organized - typically German. And lots more variety. Specially when it comes to food and drink. (Elaboration at some point in the next few days.)
Part of the abundance of multinational culinary delights are :
skewers with strawberries coated in chocolate. With a choice of dark, brown or white chocolate..
This picture doesn't even come close..
imagine the strawberries being twice the size and drowned in chocolate.
The fact that you can't see the strawberries, thanks to the chocolate, leaves your mind unprepared -
a burst of succulent strawberry when you take the first bite... Heavenly.
And I'm getting bored out of my skull, thanks to lack of company. (more about THAT next time)
Fortunately this is an extremely vibrant city and there is always something to do, if you chose to.
I chose to spend my Saturday walking around the Tollwood festival (www.tollwood.de/english/).
It is Munich's version of the Anjuna flea market. A non beach version of course. More organized - typically German. And lots more variety. Specially when it comes to food and drink. (Elaboration at some point in the next few days.)
Part of the abundance of multinational culinary delights are :
skewers with strawberries coated in chocolate. With a choice of dark, brown or white chocolate..
This picture doesn't even come close..
imagine the strawberries being twice the size and drowned in chocolate.
The fact that you can't see the strawberries, thanks to the chocolate, leaves your mind unprepared -
a burst of succulent strawberry when you take the first bite... Heavenly.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Relationships - unequal by nature?
A very strange thought occurred to me - is it possible to prove that there is no such thing as an equal relationship. So I kept wondering and came up with this:
The term relationship means 1. "The condition or fact of being related; connection or association." 2. "A romantic or sexual involvement." (//dictionionary.com//)
The first relationship we form as a human being is that with our mother. A mother protects and safeguards her child. We rely on our mother for survival in the initial stage of our lifecycle. Do you honestly think that relationship is equal? Ever?
Second definition.. Romantic or sexual involvement. Do you remember the first time you had a crush on somebody... How long did it take for you to tell that person that you like them? Chances are you didn't have the nerve to do it. (if you did - good for you.) You probably waited for a sign that it was safe to go tell the object of your affection how you felt without getting hurt. The ability to reject you gave the other person power over you, even if it was inadvertent and they weren't aware of it. Again the relationship can not be equal if either side has an initial advantage.
Our most basic relationships and first encounters with romance are imbalanced. Is there the possibility that the idea of relationships being skewed, is entrenched in our sub conscience and therefore no matter how hard we try we never really manage to find a balance in our relationships?
I'm intrigued by relationships. Power in relationships is going to be my next pre-occupation.
The term relationship means 1. "The condition or fact of being related; connection or association." 2. "A romantic or sexual involvement." (//dictionionary.com//)
The first relationship we form as a human being is that with our mother. A mother protects and safeguards her child. We rely on our mother for survival in the initial stage of our lifecycle. Do you honestly think that relationship is equal? Ever?
Second definition.. Romantic or sexual involvement. Do you remember the first time you had a crush on somebody... How long did it take for you to tell that person that you like them? Chances are you didn't have the nerve to do it. (if you did - good for you.) You probably waited for a sign that it was safe to go tell the object of your affection how you felt without getting hurt. The ability to reject you gave the other person power over you, even if it was inadvertent and they weren't aware of it. Again the relationship can not be equal if either side has an initial advantage.
Our most basic relationships and first encounters with romance are imbalanced. Is there the possibility that the idea of relationships being skewed, is entrenched in our sub conscience and therefore no matter how hard we try we never really manage to find a balance in our relationships?
I'm intrigued by relationships. Power in relationships is going to be my next pre-occupation.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
MTV, AOL and "The Devil Wears Prada"...
This is probably the worst time for me to start blogging.. Right in the middle of a full lifestyle turn around.. But what the hell.. If I can travel half the world in 5 days, turn down an offer to come to D.C just for dinner and drinks - I can start a blog...Can't I?
I mean it doesn't seem sooo hard looking at all my moderately to extremely well educated friends... funnny thing is the more educated the less coherent their blogs...
What is the point of blogging.. This isn't going to be a blog bashing session or questioning of the existence of this phenomenon. Just wondering
I think its great... I love reading my friends blogs.. Keeps me informed of what's happening in their lives, there are definitely some amusing moments and but more importantly sometimes they remind me of why I am friends with these... Ever so obvious nutcases that rant and rave about everything - from their soulessness to how the weatherman on TV is ALWAYS wrong...
As you can see this is an exercise in absolute disconnectedness and incoherence but I promise it's going to get better... If for no other reason than to prove to myself that all the money spent on my education was not a waste and that I can compose a decent thought and bring it across coherently ....
PS: the title for this post is the product of nothing better than all the activities that I was indulging in (simultaneously!!!) when the thought of starting this blog entered my mind...
I mean it doesn't seem sooo hard looking at all my moderately to extremely well educated friends... funnny thing is the more educated the less coherent their blogs...
What is the point of blogging.. This isn't going to be a blog bashing session or questioning of the existence of this phenomenon. Just wondering
I think its great... I love reading my friends blogs.. Keeps me informed of what's happening in their lives, there are definitely some amusing moments and but more importantly sometimes they remind me of why I am friends with these... Ever so obvious nutcases that rant and rave about everything - from their soulessness to how the weatherman on TV is ALWAYS wrong...
As you can see this is an exercise in absolute disconnectedness and incoherence but I promise it's going to get better... If for no other reason than to prove to myself that all the money spent on my education was not a waste and that I can compose a decent thought and bring it across coherently ....
PS: the title for this post is the product of nothing better than all the activities that I was indulging in (simultaneously!!!) when the thought of starting this blog entered my mind...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)