Bakthi pazham

So.. it all started two months back when mom started pestering me about going to Velankanni.  It took two months for us to decide on a date.. credit for the delay goes to my father and brother who always pretend that they are the only person working in their office.  The day finally came.. and I swear to god my mom dint even hint me that it’s not a P2P from chennai to velankanni…  you guessed it right.. we will have to cover all the temples en route. (That is Vaitheeswaran temple, thirunallar sanneswaran temple, Kaaraikal ammayar temple,  Nagur Dargah and Velankanni.. too much secularism I know)

My dad is very particular when it comes to timings and I’m very particular in not following it.  The plan was to hit the roads @ 5 AM and cover at least 3 temples before lunch.  And yes we started @ 8 AM.  To start with the roads.. Chennai – Pondy (via thindeevanam) in just 2 hours.. Good roads has its own disadvantages.  You’ll have to deal with lot of freaky maniacs.  To quote few instances:

Driving a Nano with alloy wheels and cool stickers doesn’t make it a Ferrari.. its still an Auto for me..no matter what you do… so racing with me only makes you an idiot.

For the people who are planning to cross the road:  I do stop for elderly people, small children’s and laborers who cross the road carrying heavy stuffs.. if you are not falling in any one of the above category.. I won’t even think for a second before scarring you.

To those brilliant & sensible lorry drivers.. I don’t know what joy you get driving right in middle of the road @ 30Km / hour… it’s like driving through a maze for me.

And things get worst when two such sensible lorry drivers meet… they literally drive together at same speed for at least 5 mins.  It’s only a two lane road.. and please have some mercy on the people behind you.  We will have to separate these pair by consistently honking for 5 mins… do you think it’s my Job??

Bike riders: I understand your frustration when I overtake you from behind just like that without any effort.. trust me I’ve been on the other side.  But don’t expect me to respect you and stay behind you all the time.

So called bike racers: Driving on a splendor @ 100+ kms… do you even know what will happen if you hit the brakes suddenly? To my knowledge there is no ABS in any 100 CC bike.. or am I missing anything here?

The experience got even worse after pondy when I realized that it’s going to be a single track without any median going forward.  So.. its going to be only 50Km/hour max.. but at least it will keep me awake (my brother gave me a dirty look when I told this while driving).  But the drive was peaceful.. with Illayaraja and A.R Rahman accompanying us all till the end.

We managed to cover all the temples we intend to and reached velankanni at 9 PM. We were extremely tired and everyone slept like a baby for the next 10 hours. 

Day 2: Dad strictly said we need to start at least by 6 AM and return to the hotel before 10 AM.. so that we can reach Chennai before 7.30. We stepped out of hotel @ 9.30 AM and came back to hotel @ 1.  Reached Chennai @ 10 PM.

Each of us had our own issues /commitments for the next day and was talking about the same while driving back:

Dad : “I’m already sitting with lot of pending work.. Now this audit is literally going to kill me for the next 3 weeks”

Brother : “Not sure how I’m going to stay awake tonight after this tiring ride.. Need to do something about changing my shifts permanently”

Me: “If I had booked the tickets for tonight..i would have taken care of the open issues in the flat tomorrow”

Mom: “I dono what happened to the two fish in our fishpond.. I hope I’ve fed them sufficiently for these two days”

She went straight to the fishpond after entering our home… And they survived!! Love you amma!!

In to the Wild..

“Wild life safari would be the last thing in the world that would amuse me”… this statement would be true if I’ve said it before Feb 23^rd.  A trip into the Wild and now I’m wondering how much I’ve wasted in my life without exploring “this world”.  With very little time left, I’m craving to find someone with whom I can explore this world. 

When my friend asked me if I could join this trip the only reason I said yes was to shoot some pics...  It’s been 2 months since I’ve touched my camera and thought it would be a good opportunity to dust it at least.  What was planned as a photo walk has now become one of my most favored places.  Two days at Kabini Jungle lodges & Resort has made all the difference. 

I’m trying my best not to make this a travelogue.. but I fear I would end up doing exactly the same.  The place has lots to talk about.. lot of good things…never expected such an ambience / cleanliness / quality in a government maintained resort.  Or is it the people that are making the difference here?  It’s definitely a new experience to see the wildlife out in open air… I’ve did few safaris before but like they say… you need to experience the right thing at the right time. 

During the entire safari (close to 6 hours) we sighted lots of Langurs, spotted deers, Indian Gaur, sambar, wild boar, varieties of birds (specifically owls and eagles) and of course the squirrels.  But we were really after the big cats.. Though one part of me was eagerly waiting to sight the big cats the other part of me was completely scared and thrilled thinking what he/she would do on seeing us. 

Whenever I see any animal eye to eye, I see the same signature look.. Reminded me of Vivek’s joke in whistle in which a dog says “Why are these guys watching us? Have we ever done this to them”.  Though my friends were re-assuring me about the safety procedures, I always had a hunch that something would happen.. Luckily nothing happened and we dint see any tigers/cheetahs too.  There was couple of close encounters.. nothing worth mentioning.  Looks like Kabini wants me to come back again.

Anyone game?

  

Sherlock – mAdE mE CrAzY!!

Sherlock!! Made me blog again after 12 months... Really can’t resist from blogging my thoughts bout this beautiful TV series.  What once started as a time pass has now become a pure addiction!!  At one point, I was mercilessly watching season 2 for nearly 3.5 hours (2.25 episodes b2b) only to realize that my iPod had only 5% battery left.  I was cursing apple the next 4 hours for not manufacturing iPods that can stand for 5 hours.  I even went to the extent of searching charging sockets in the next coach @ 3.50AM… and I was travelling from B’lore to Chennai!  After realizing that I was being watched by at least 5 pair of eyes for the past 10 min, I had to return back to my berth.  No other thoughts crossed my mind until I resumed watching the final episode of season 2.

It’s a sheer master piece and I've never enjoyed anything like this recently.  Sherlock has topped my all time fav list @ number two after the Dark knight series. Everything from the screenplay, pace, concept, twist… Man it’s awesome!! Need to find something to keep me occupied till they air the next season.

Did I tell you that last year I've watched 176 movies in total (excluding TV series) Well... once I saw the stats I was shocked and it was a wake-up call.  I promised myself not to watch more than 2 movies a month this year….  And I've already utilized the June month’s quota J.  May be some things aren't meant to be changed. 

P.S: If you are planning to comment that season 2 is “Just OK” and not a dream girl (Vijay’s slang)… be prepared for a fight!

Va – Match Box!!

11:38 PM – I was watching a movie in my laptop and suddenly felt a pinch in my stomach… reminded me that I haven’t had my dinner yet… Got up and went to kitchen found that I had some dosa mix left that could fill my stomach. I placed the kadai on the stove and looked the shelves for the match box.

11:51 PM – Still searching for the match box.

11:55 PM – Finally decided that if I spend one additional minute searching for the match box, I’m going to end up starving the whole night.

11:59 PM – Took the staircase, went down and started my roommates bike (Honda CBR – there is a reason for specifying the details here)

12:10 PM – slowed the bike near the chetha shop to see if its opened..

12:11 PM – Accelerated the bike @ full speed looking for the next shop… Mind is googling “where can I find a match box now”… 4 Results found.

1. 1. Chetha shop (Ruled out)
2. 2. Bunk shop near BEML gate
3. 3. Nattar shop next to Naidu mess
4. 4. Omlette shop near Leela palace

12:14 PM – Slowed the bike near the Nattar shop next to Naidu Mess – Could see the locks smiling at me L

12:16 PM – U turn – riding at full speed towards BEML Gate

12:19 PM – My saviour was standing there with a cycle, selling cigarettes, tea and biscuits

12:20 PM – Switched the engine off, got down and approached that guy. I know he is not here to sell match box… so I had to buy something else first… Googled again… 3 results found.

1. 1. Cigarette
2. 2. Tea
3. 3. Bun/biscuit

12:21 PM – Went near that guy and said “Tea ondhu koodi”

12:23 PM – Stood next to CBR and was sipping the tea.

12:24 PM – Mr.X in R15 came and stopped next to me. Got down, starred at the bike and me and went to the shopwalla and asked for a cigarette.

12:25 PM – Mr.X is now smoking his cigarette but was still looking at me and the bike.

12:27 PM – Tea over – went to the shop walla

Me: Yestu?

Shopwalla : Aiidhu ruba kodi

Me : Match box ondhu kodi. And gave him 10 bucks.

12:28 PM – Collected the change and went to start the bike. Noticed that Mr.X hastily took a last puff and throwed the remaining cigarette and got ready to start his bike.

12:29 PM – My instinct said this man is going to race with me. And my heart said… if that’s the case… Lets beat him!!

12:30 PM – I ignited the engine and waited for the RPM to come under 1.4 (Per my roommates instruction). Mr. X did the same and was waiting for me to move. (Race confirmed)

After couple of seconds the Race began… I hit 0 – 60 in about 10 seconds ferociously waiting for him to overtake me to confirm if it’s a race. Like expected, he came near me and that’s it… Vroooom……..

12:31 PM – was thinking 3 things in mind

1. Poda biskothu paiya

2. 10^th Main varaikum ivan munaadi vara kudaadhu

3. Inaiku night poi idha Blog pannanum J

12:33 PM – Turned @ 10^th main successfully finishing the race and was looking at the rear view mirror for that guy to cross the road… he crossed after 5 seconds… fair enough!!

12:42 PM – Lit the stove, prepared the dosa.

02:10 AM - Blogged

It’s payback time – Thanks to Angry birds!!

Last week I taught my dad to play “Angry birds”.. Yes.. The crazy addictive game “Angry birds”. The man who taught me how to read, write, walk, eat or simply put “to live” was sitting beside me and playing the game. It seemed really very strange when he was not able to follow the very basic moves in my ipod touch.. I was like.. is this for real?? Dad!! Are you so dumb to not to understand these basic moves??

Then I thought for a while… this is how he taught me to read isn’t it? A simple ‘A’ took me 3 days to draw (not write J) But he sat with me there patiently teaching me again and again to draw ‘A’. I could be extremely well versed in gadgets now.. But my dad still looks astonished whenever I show him any movies or songs in my ipod.. I felt it’s my payback time.. I sat next to him.. Explained the story of angry birds (the reason for the birds taking revenge on the green mothsJ) taught him the controls, explained what each birds can do and what their powers are etc.. Then I simply sat next to him and watched him playing the game.. I was able to feel what he felt 20 years back when he taught me ‘A’

Appa Dei!!

Just for fun.. this came out from the recent conference call i had with my friends.. thanks to Mohan ramamurthy and Zakir hussain for boosting the concept :P

Iruvathi ettu vayasu aagiduchae.. innum ethane naaliku naan oora saamalipaen.. Appa.. appa.. appa dei.. china vayasulu nee ennena thappu paniyo.. ippo enaku kayanam aaga matendhu.. appan seidha paavam pullaiku varumnu solluvanga.. nee seidha paavam enna vandhu suthiruchae!!

Engayo koluthu vela senjinu irundha kaminaati paya ne.. unna poi bank aapicer nu solla vechitiyae da.. Aishwarya rai yae propose pannaa kuda life la settle aagama naan kalyanam panika maatena? Hey.. kovai sarala da.. kovai sarala lighta kannadicha.. 30 varusham ava kooda sandhoshama kudumbam nadathuvaen da… kili madri oru ponnu college la ena chuma chuma look vita.. avala ushar panna mudiyaama.. ambo nu pathu dhadi thandavarayanungkitta vitutu vandhutaen.. indha vinzhana ulagathula ennenamo naladhu kettadhu nadakudhunu solranga.. adhelam ennala anubavika mudiyudha?

Oru figure kuda cinema paaka mudiyala, beachuku poga mudiyala oru park ku poga mudiyala.. anga nadakara romancea paaka mudiyala.. friends a kupita.. poda motta paiya nu kalaikaarana.. Appa.. dei.. enna polamba vittiyae da… Dei.. unnala onnae onnu micham da… kalyana selavunu idhuvaraikum naaan oru paisa selavu pannadhae illa da..

Five things I hate about going to temple

The views expressed below are purely emotional outcome of my personal frustration. Reader’s discretion advised

1. Dress code: Why don’t people realize that they are going to a TEMPLE? For heaven sake it’s a temple and not a theme park. You don’t have to be so casual in your dress code. In fact the word “Casual” is too low to describe the clowns show. This is also one of the most debated topics amongst my friends and most of the times the other side will shut me down by telling – “the problem is with your mind and you need to look them “properly”. I never bothered to explain them… it’s not about winning the argument. I know, and for that matter everyone knows the truth.
2. Special Dharshans: If in the eyes of God everyone is equal – why do we have special darshan queues? Why should someone be special before god? What is that you are trying to prove? Your money’s power? Your societal influence? This is no place to prove your power, for you are standing before him who created YOU. By all means, you are depriving someone else’s time and effort using your money!!
3. Commercialization: This one is connected with above – off late commercialization of temples is reaching its heights. It’s one of most promising business with guaranteed profits, for we have lots and lots of peoples who are ready to buy anything if you sell them in the name of God. The most recent example is “ISKON”. People who have visited it will understand what I’m talking!! For others I will give you a fair idea of how it will look like… the temple is beautifully built using state of art designs and astounding creativity.. All is fine till we see the darshan. Once you are done with the darshan the “way out” passage is so carefully designed to take you through a series of shops (food stalls, book stalls, cd stalls, icecreams, panipuris, samosas, handbags, t-shirts, popcorns!! etc.) there is no other way out of the temple!! And every one has to go through this even if they don’t like it..
4. Enthusiast worshipers: Some people are so involved into god that they don’t even allow others to worship. They are completely engrossed into HIM and don’t even bother to give way to others. People behind them have to literally shout/push them to move forward. In scientific terms, the speed of their walk is directly proportional to the distance between them and idol. As the distance lessens, their speed slows down. And at one point they’ll be on a complete halt!! And we have to wrestle with them to move them out of the way… At last, the piece of mind is lost… how do you expect someone to worship wholeheartedly when we have people like this.
5. Mobile phones: Last but not the least!! Needless to say the tortures this instrument is causing!!

"Search for the god within you" .......and i ain't atheist.