Sacrificed

After a really really long time, I finally watched a Hindi movie that’s realistic in a wretched and twisted kind of way. It finally felt like it could happen to anyone and was based on real life issues and how it changes people, for the better or the worse…

Starring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor

Kurbaan (Sacrificed)

Reminds me so much of a fantastic Hollywood show I watched a few months ago… called Traitor

Traitor

Week One

My first week at work. I really love my colleagues – I’m not saying this cuz it’s public, but right from the time I stepped in to till today, I’ve received so much guidance and help from everyone – the dudes in my function, to my boss and even other colleagues from other expertise – who’re willing to set time aside to answer my queries, let me join in meeting with clients just to listen, observe and learn.

Although there’s a ton of reading to do (this week alone, i’ve read over 400 pages) and most of it are jargon and complex concepts which are hard to understand and comprehend, it helps that the two dudes are willing to jump in from time to time and tell me what’s important to understand as a beginner and how it fits in with the Singapore Regulations. This helps me appreciate and give more meaning to what I do.

Also, I love the fact that when something is undecided or hand to decide, they e-mail spam everyone to discuss it out and everyone gets to participate and and is taken seriously. It really hit me when during the start of a discussion, when my colleague introduced me as, ‘This is my colleague, Sandip.’ Instantly, I felt important. The work culture makes me feel like I’m wanted there and this to me is meaningful – so every morning when I wake up at 6 and every night when I get back home totally tired and thrashed out, not for a single moment do I feel like I was not working. To me, this job is is more than the money.

The people are very close to one another too. This I realized today when one of my colleagues was leaving for Austria after working there for two years. It was so obvious that she was fighting back tears while taking pics with everyone. Although I knew her only for a day, seeing her reaction, I can expect these guys to be a great bunch of people.

One thing did suffer this week though. My running! Seems like the day I started till now, I don’t even have the time to think of going for a run. Maybe, on Sunday, I’ll sit down and plan myself a schedule to wake up early for a run before work. I fear I’ll be too damn tired at the end of the day though, so gotta plan swee swee! Once I fit my running schedule in, life will be complete – completely awesome!

Time to go to bed. Gotta wake up early tmr for TNF 30k progressive run. =)

You are nothing

These are a few words of encouragement from Dad.

Awesome… Just perfect. Exactly what I needed to hear.

BS

Stands for Barney Stinson. Possimpibly the most awesome guy ever!

And his code of ethics and conduct is honouredly called – The Bro Code.

And finally, Ive gotten my hands on a hallowed copy! I love it! =)

The most Possimpible Blog

I love this… stuff (I meant, stuff!)

Hmmm

Discoveries of recent have led me to a new perspective… but principles first…

Somehow related to this old post… on Spineless People

And suddenly

I don’t feel like doing anything anymore…

New Divide

Dispatches

A video on the Terror in Mumbai…

Channel 4 – Dispatches (June 2009) – Terror in Mumbai from Mskadu on Vimeo.

The joy of Running?

Everyone’s heard and read about how good it feels to run a race and cross the finish line and how awesome it feels to be appreciated by just the look on people’s faces when you tell them that you ran a marathon.

The first one  was during my run with Team FatBird two Saturdays ago – when the heavens poured down in full blast. I had to make do when my target was just to finish the 15km of pain through the rain and winds drenched from head to toe. No stop, no surrender. The only thing I could drink to prevent dehydration was my own sweat from the first 10km mixed with rain water straight from my singlet. Aweful and unthinkable? I think sometimes, we’re all driven to a point of madness just to finish the shittiest part of the deal.

Last SUnday I realized: The real joy is not the joy. That’s just the great feeling after you hit rock bottom during the run. I had mine on Sunday during the 19km run. It was not only hot and humid cuz the sun was at full blast, it was my first time running without music – the sweet distraction that had me occupied since my first days since I resumed long distance running. Also, my hip had been hurting like hell since 10km+ and the dehydration didn’t make it any better. But, my motto of no surrender – I did finish 19km in 1hr 54mins. Tired to the point of not just worn out physically but emotionally. Was almost in tears by the time I san the last bit back to base.

I have no idea how I’m gonna deal with NorthFace 100 which is going to be twice as gruelling compared to anything I’ve done before. Again, no surrender.

I need a reason to endure though it. And I need to find that reason – real fast. Or else, every run will be a pain.

Khuda Kay Liye

I watched this show last evening.  Really really good show and it touches on so many different concepts from inter-cultural relationships and how ‘Allah’ is percieved by different people – exactly what the title says – ‘In the name of God’

Trailer

I heard this song and really loved it.

Bandya Ho

New York

Although there was much fanfare about Kambakkht Ishq – which was a major disappointment (except maybe the Soundtrack), New York was a pretty good show with its twists and good story telling. Well for people who critically review the film, I’m sure You’ll have a lot to say about the driection, production, camera.. blah blah blah but for a layman consumer like me, I think it reflected pretty well the human side of terrorism and how to deal with it.

The story follows Omar, an Indian Student in NY State Uni who seven years later, he’s taken in by the FBI for questioning under the Patriot Act and told a deep dark secret that haunts his past as a student. Then he’s sent by the FBI as an undercover agent to open up the pandora box of troubles. The maybe-only-fragment-of-truth is the way South Asians and Middle Easterns are viewed in the public eye.

Trailer of New York

Other shows I’ve watched that deal with these issues – which I loved was:

The Kingdom

Traitor

Interes-Ted

Seems like I’ve finally let my anger go now. I’m no longer upset about the past and although it took me so long to avoid, ignore and keep it all in, I don’t know when in this time, it all went away.

I’m ready to move forward.

This became so much more apparent when I was watching How I Met Your Mother. Ted, a single guy, who’s looking for his future wife, gets to know Stella – a separated mom of a 7 year old daughter. He gets to know her better and they end up almost at the altar – where she leaves him to go back to her ex-husband, Tony. He’s angry and sad and a whole host of things that one would feel but eventually, sees the light. As he narrates this story to his kids, 20+ yrs in the future, he says:

“…and that was it, in that moment I wasn’t angry anymore. I could see that Stella was meant to be with Tony.

Kids,

You may think that your only choices are to swallow your anger or throw it in someone’s face. But there is a third option, you can just let it go. And only when you do that is it really gone, and you can move forward.

And that kids, was the perfect ending to a perfect love story. It just wasn’t mine. Mine was still out there, waiting for me…”

~ Ted Mosby

Legendary Trip 2!

To con-tin-new where I left off last night, on 20th June, I left for my hometown, Bhubaneswar (BBSR) with Pupsy since dad was fine on his own. I bought my first non-aeriated drink at the Airport and it was one of my fav fully awesome ones – Snapple – Mango Madness. =)

Everyone was so thrilled that I was back that I was very touched and felt the love all around me, esp my cousins and granny – who I still insist was trying to flirt with me!

I went for a concert since we had passes and one of my sister-in-laws was singing and my uncle’s childhood friend was playing – Kishore Kumar was a music genius… Legen-wait for it-dary! Shall post one of my fav songs once I’m done with this. =)

The lead singer – had almost the same voice and look like Kishore-da

This lady was the stage turner for the duet – love the chemistry betwn them – her voice sucked though! =p

Prutyasha (hope I got that right) one of my distant sister-in-laws also sang a few songs – her voice was so much nicer!

My uncle’s childhood fren – lost in the passion of music. =)

The next day was Sunday, so we could whack a day trip! Off we went to Maa Tarini temple where apparently, if u make a coconut offerring and ask for something, you’re sure to get it. Well, it’s kinda obvious what I asked for. We met up with Sukanya’s family on the day trip – who’s close to Sush’s family too.

Sush and me again!

My eldest uncle and Sush

My youngest uncle

Sush’s Dad

The people who went there

Sush and Sukanya’s Sis

I loved this hut – looks so laid back

This is a crap translation of the name of the place – esp for a hotel!

The week after that was the annual Chariot Festival, where the God goes his aunt’s house for a few months. SO to celebrate this, we had prayers that day. A few years back, I sat for the prayers but this year i had a bad tummy ache, so my eldest uncle sat for the prayers.

The holy fire

The aunt-home-going God and his siblings

Our family butler (Hari) who came the house the very day I was born =)

The prayer offerings which Hari cooked – Love his food! Awesome! =p

Then we went over to my cousin’s place to see my nephew of 7 months. He’s so chubby and cute!

Spoilt brat loves the air-con! His little piece of heaven that is…

Cousin and me

Then we went over to my eldest cousin’s place to meet her and her family. I love the verbal jostling with her cuz she’s really damn funny and witty! Her husband on the other hand is damn shy and he can’t say shit but just blushes and gives up! Damn cute couple!

Husband, wife and me

Retro casette!

My youngest 2 cousins

Sush and me

Super whacking session!

Dinner plan was with my two yougest cousins and Sush. We went to Tangerine 9 and whacked till we were full, fat and happy! Haha… We talked so much cork that we were reeling laughing for next three good hours. My youngest cousin literally fell down laughing! This went on for a good four nights over dinner! =p

My cousin and me went to Mayfair, a super posh shopping area to do some window shopping! Her treat for the evening! =)

I loved the colourfulness of the place!

Yummynessess!

A couple of days, we went to puri Jaganath – the God who went to aunt’s place. Apparently, very few people can get to see him there and so it was a unique opportunity cuz it was not as crowded – ually there are 1/2 million people there at once – i do not mean figuratively, there are crowds of 1/2 million on festive days.

My niece

And cousin

Niece, a distant nephew and me.  The fella is damn funny! We had an awesome time!

And one last whacking session with cousin – Haka.

The buffet is damn worth it! 4 Sing dollars! =p

One last pic – cuz she wanted to look taller! =p

I miss the place and the people already! Most probably, my next trip… will be my wedding. =)

My Legendary Trip 1!

Is what I would call my trip to India this time around! Well.. besides having a lot of fun and carbo loading till I gained 3 kgs(!), I actually kinda re-conciled what I’ve been looking for and what I’ve been missing out on. One point of self-discovery is that no matter where I live and where I work, I will always want to go back there from time to time – cuz at one point in time or the other, I miss the place really dearly – not just the food or the people, the feeling of being settled and being back home – with family.

This post is gonna be a shorter version of the looong story that I’ll prob tell u ppl in parts! So here goes! =)

Vidhana Soudha at night – There’s a cheesy line written on the top… try to read it!

Our driver, Viswanath tried his best to take a pic… after much much coaxing!

My cousin and me (mum not in pic) are squeezed into out little car at the back! =p

The ladies

And the gents

And began the holiest week of many years I’ve had in a long long time! I went to a new temple literally everyday from Iskon in Bangalore to Tirupati to the temple near our house to even Puri Jaganath – after the Chariot Festival. Like my cousin told me, we’re gonna have a life full of blessings considering how many temples we’ve been to so far!

Iskon Temple, Bangalore

Then I wanted to take pics of our house in BLR and wow! The mansion is a mother load so huge that I had to take samples of the Taj Mahal mum and dad had built after a lot of pain and sweat.

Balcony

Living Room 1

Living Room 2

Bedroom

Prayer Room

Grand Staircases… slippery too!

A REAL dorky pic of me on the living room wall. Taken when I was in Sec 2… I can see why I was alone with no frenz!

Look at the hair, the tummy, the glasses, the bloody backpack! SHEESH!

The next day, we headed to Mysore, a small place near BLR (abt 280kms away) which was the capital of the state previously. I had been there last when I was 6 or 7 and so for me, it was like being there for the first time again! As for mum and dad, it was a second honeymoon trip to what was 26 yrs ago! OMG! And for me… I took a pic for comparison. Once the old pics are scanned and up, I’ll show u ppl – promise!

Sleeping Vishnu Temple

Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace

Cam-whoring again…

Honeymoon pic spot – 26 yrs on, Chamundibetta Temple

Temple outside Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace

YELPS!

A pic of me at the very same spot after 25 yrs… I’ll show u when I scan the original

The musical fountain

And the beautiful dome fountain – my fav of all!

A pic of the place from practically every Bollywood movie in the 80s and early 90s.

The next day, we intended to go to the Museum and the Planetorium – obviously, nothing happened when we met up with Sukanya – Pupsy’s fren who lives in BLR. All we did was the take a lot of pics and talk a lot of rubbish and played UNO – to the point we even forgot our tea and screwed the initial plans! Totally worth it! =)

Sukanya and Sushree

And the three S-ess (No puns intended)

Sukanya in her beloved room with her beloved kapohed lampshade

Evening, we headed down to Prabha aunty’s house to meet Vani Didi and Ajay. They were so young I last remember them tt Didi now has a son of the same age that I was when I first knew them! OMG! After so long, I didn’t even know where to start trying to catch up. Btw, the house Ajay built for his dad and mum is so beautiful and functional, as an engineer, it makes me tear in joy! Then we 4 went for a quick dinner to retire for the night… cuz next up was Tirupati.

A nice place just near home. =)

Love BLR, the weather is so nice u look exactly the way when u left home after ure bk!

The next day, our road trip began at 430am to Sukanya’s place and picked her up and off we went to Tirupati. Although I was hoping to get to know her better, the poor girl had a whole trip of motion sickness – which our driver Mahadev was very nice to constantly look for drug stores to buy medication. Also, he knows so much that he made the trip worthwhile and cracked a lot of funny jokes along the way. The two of them were def lost.. and I had to laugh twice – once with Mahadev and once more after translating it! My Kannada was surely brushed up at the end of the trip! =)

5am from a Hyundai Tucson

Outside

And Inside

Ms. Motion Sickness with her power Remedy

We’re still good to go… till the ascend began. After tt we all looked the same

The awesomest driver, Mahadev!

Sukanya and Me at Woody’s – I ALWAYS loved to stop here for tea since I was a kid!

The next big thing was shopping and what we did instead was eat more and take more pics! We found this huge butterfly made of paper cups in a shopping mall! It’s to raise awareness of re-cycling and re-using. But for us, it’s just another prop!

After this I headed to my hometown which I’ll continue in Part 2 cuz its almost 3am now… OMG!