Trip to Chickmagalur

Its been a while since people had been telling me this --> "I think you need a break. If you keep going on like this, you might end up in a mental asylum."(They just dont know whats my true background...*pagal smile*) They were referring to nothing but my work. Its been a little over 6 months since I got into this new project. Lots of challenges, lots of responsibilities and what more, helluva lotta work. Result: You have a man who walks java, talks java, speaks java and what more breathes java. The social circle started to shrink and everyone who met me and who saw me crib about work told me to pack my bags and just leave.

And woooohoooo... Leave I did for a weekend getaway. After some basic research and singling out on places to visit, I decided that we should have an adventurous trip. Something like a hill station cum jungle place cum a place to relax and so on. And found one in Chickmagalur. For those of you who dont know where Chickmagalur is or for all the brainless who think chick magalur is a place where there are lots of chicks, let me tell you that its the heart of coffee cultivation of India. And also its a district in Karnataka. Now then..off we went to a resort in the middle of the plantations.

The journey started off on a predictable note with me being elected unanimously as the trip driver although for a fact lemme tell you that I never contested. :( So I had to do all the driving. 6 hours of Indian road can takes its toll on anyone I say. But surprisingly the drive was good for once the roads were awesome and our music had some punch. It was such a huge relief to see some greenary and breathe some fresh air. I already started feeling my shoulders get unstiffed.

And finally, after 6 hours of fantabulous driving by yours truly, we reached Muthodi checkpost where we had to park our vehicle and get picked up by the Resorts vehicle.

Resort: First Impression: We landed in the Resort and the first thing was a nice long swimming pool. Sadly though it was infested by some weird looking creatures which in most part of the world would be referred to as humans. Ok. Lets do this. Imagine a Bowling Pin. Now imagine a human size bowling pin. Now imagine the human size bowling pin having hands and legs. Now thats exactly how these few creatures in the swimming pool looked. In their early 50s, god knows what these people were doing in that Resort. Spoilt my whole mood. But yeah... Had a nice physics lesson --> The quality and quantity of water in a swimming pool is inversely proportional to the creature infesting it and its size respectively.

Phew...Some start to the trip eh?? Tell me about it. So then, we decided that we aint jumping into the pool that day although it was so hot. We dint want to risk our lives. The food was decent but the place was a touch too hot for a hill station.

The evening was pretty cool and we had a long walk around the whole coffee plantation and trust me... it was wonderful. I mean wherever you see, its just greenary and more greenary. The sunset was the clincher for the day and we ended up narrating impromptu horror stories during the pool side dinner. I still kept looking at the pool wondering if they had cleaned it and will I be able to jump in the next day. (Ok... I was desparate to swim in the swimming pool.. :D)

The next day we had plans of trekking up the hill. The 3 km trek early in the morning had the fit me up and going while the lousy nincompoops with tonnes of belly fat around were huffing and puffing all the way up. Sigh!! And finally we were at the top of the hill. What an awesome view I say!! I could literally see the horizon and boy... For a second I was like 'Wow... Is this what you call heavenly??' I was amidst clouds and the sun had just risen and the sky... Inexplicable. Worth the effort so early in the morning.

Then we got down and I was all excited that finally I am going to jump into the pool and lo. Murphy shined his blessings on me.

Introducing the Butt family: When we got back from the trek, we got to see another horrific tragedy happening. Again in the pool. A family of 2 couples+ 2 kids. I have nothing against them jumping in the pool but come on... Dont you have swimming costumes. You just dont jump in with your travel clothes on. Yuck!! Was indeed disgusting. So our plans of jumping into the pool again was squashed. One of us even suggested that we jump in and put them out but what the heck. We ditched the plan and went for a safari. Oh wait... I dint tell you why I called this family as the butt family na.. hehe.. Its gross but still. Both the couples were so fat that their err...butt was sticking out. :P:P

Flora and flora: The safari was supposed to be a wildlife safari and we expected to see a lotta animals. But all we managed to see was a dog which apparently is that of a villager, two deers and one rabbit. Thats it!! That is all!! 1000 bucks gone in thin air. :(

The evening was cool with a nice round of fishing. I know the activity sounds boring for even I used to say the same thing before I tried. It was good. I mean, it takes some skill to fish fish. :D I managed to catch 9 kutti kutti fishes, the max by any one of us!! But poor fishes... the metal hook would have surely hurt them. :(

And then there were quite a lotta this and that that happened in the trip which are definitely not all that mentionable as its been more than a week and I dont remember half the things. And more so, I feel this blog has anyways gotten really boring and there is no point in continuing it any further. All in all, I had a great last weekend, a nice break from work and the whole mundane life and I feel a lot more rejuvenated. :)

So long...

Mother's day especial post - Amma!!

Its been 24 years since I started treading this planet(well..not literally...lest you think I am this super human creature who could walk the next moment I was born) and there is not a thing in the world I cant live without, except of course, my dear mom. I mean, the very thought that I had make my own coffee coz my mom wont be around for a few days back, gave me the creeps. Well, not because I make that bad a coffee, but because I simply cant imagine a day when I wake up and my mom is not ready with her simple filter coffee that is the world's best coffee. Well then, thats just for starters. Today is mother's day and I want to dedicate this blog to my mom and throw some light on this best friend of mine.

Some old memories:
The earliest memory of my mom is when I used to complain that my head is splitting coz of the construction work above my place and how she used to hug me tight so that I dont hear the sound. Little did she know that I was gasping for breath also. :)
But then that safety feeling made me sleep sound.
And then I remember those lunch times in school where she got me hot food coz I cant eat food if it gets cold.(psss... I like it only hot...even today) . I used to hate taking bath and used to run around the whole house(absolutely naked...) and she used to run behind me to catch me.

The way she used to teach how one should walk only on the pavements and never on road. I used to ask her why and her reason used to be, the thar on the road gets heated due to sun and becomes sticky. If it sticks to the shoe, the shoe gets spoilt. Probably she dint want to tell me about the vehicles for I would dare and try.

I dont remember any part of my childhood without my mom being in the frame. Dad...naah. He used to be this person who used to buy me toys everytime he went to bangalore. I thought that was his only job till I was about 6 years old. hehe... But it used to be mom all the while.

I remember how she used to pinch me in my tigh when I refuse to swallow food. (That is the only area in the human body where you can get hurt without the slightest injury) All that was then.

Momly ways:
There are some things only my mom can pull off. For example, that typical emotional card. Whenever during college I used to go out with friends, I remember my mom saying,"Yen pulla tappa dhanda yellam panna maataanu nambikka vechurikken"(I believe that my son wont get into bad things). After hearing this, which son would go astray tell me. I used to love the way she innocently says such stuff.

When it comes to cooking, she has this unique way of convicing us that what she cooks is almost always what we wanted to eat. For example, she would have told me in the morning that its gonna be potato roast for lunch. When I come home expecting potato curry, she serves me cabbage. When I ask her, she simply says, "Come on...you only say,'Potato has a lot of calories and cabbage is fibre and things like that'... so thought, why cook something unhealthy". How cool is that.

A thing she never ever compromises on is her daily dose of Saas-bahu drama, the Arasis, the Kolamgals and the Selvis. Years and years of same crap and she still doesnt get tired. Her line of argument is simple. When you guys can watch the same game of cricket which has unchanged over the years, why do you compalain about mega-serials. So then, we also keep her company, while commenting on its mediocrity all through the while. A nice battle I would say.
These are just to name a few.

The Routine:
Its amazing how her routine has been unchanged for the past so many years. I mean, when I was in school, my dad used to go to work and her day used to start with preparing coffee for everyone at home, then preparing breakfast - simultaneously getting me ready for school, serving breakfast for all, dropping me all the way to school, coming back home to cook the lunch and then the washing of clothes and then a little this and that and again, I come back home from school in the evening and the chores went on and on. What starts at 5:00 AM in the morning used to end at 11:00 PM in the night. And not one day have I seen her complain. Its as though she is addicted to this routine that even today she keeps doing one thing or the other and never keeps quiet. Her amazing amount of energy to keep herself going like this astounds me.

A little this and that:
Some things that I always admire about my mom is:

1. How she constantly manages to cook awesome food and make superlative coffee. (Coffee Days and Baristas, I dont think you can mock this... ever)

2. How she even to-date thinks that I would get scared if she scolds me(I do actually.. :))

3. How she had complete faith in me that I would do well, even after my pathetic showing in Entrance exams.

4. How she comes to me with those little things that she needs to get done and offers me a deal everytime.

5. How she keeps singing all the time all alone without knowing the fact that she is being noticed.

6. How she takes a neutral stand when me and my brother fight and then gives a biased decision based on some baseless information... :P:P

7. How she manages the home so well and never lets things go out of control.

8. How she still believes in giving me pocket money, even though I have been working.

9. How she gets angry with me over little nothings and still calls me for dinner and serves me dinner ever so affectionately.

This..that and a whole lot more. The list is endless and I can go on.

I think no person in this whole wide world would not love their mom. I mean, probably different levels of affection but the affection is certainly going to be there. Having never gone out for a long time, I havent yet got an oppurtunity to miss her badly. That day isnt far off and I hope I fare well. And I really dont know how I am gonna cope with it though. She has been there for me all through and I am sure she'll be there for me all my life. Come on, she has to and she will.

A note to mom:
Thank you mom for giving me this life and also for bringing me up to what I am today and showing all the love and affection you can. I am indebted to you for that and I love you. And yeah...Once in a while, you can cook garlic. I like it and you dont doesnt mean you should say it smells bad and so you dont want to :)

Well then... atleast the mom's day got me blogging again out here. As someone says, 'My blog seems rather mal-nourished'. Shall try and give it some nourishment, once in a while. :)

Ooops... somebody tells me that 11th May is Mother's day and I got the date wrong. Come on, everyday you or me lives is coz of her. There aint a need to have a day for us to thank her.

I...I...I...

For some reason, I have never been able to maintain my online journal. Most of my time or should I say, most part of my life, is always offline. Although my nature of work is to bring the population and their business online. How ironic... I wonder. Anyways, that just about leaves me with enough time to update my office blogs with all those non-sensical yada yada that would make even the Keelpauk/NIMHANS chief to go bonkers. But like someone said, I really wanna move over to Martinis from Scotch so that I get, entangled in and addicted to, both.

This time I am here to stay and I dont know in what way. But I shall prevail.
Being a person who doesnt read a lot of books, I have always had a limited mental library of vocabulary. I am probably at loss of the right words most of the time for I know not what I should talk. But a recent venture into some crappy talk made me realise that I do have an ounce of talent available to be showcased at the bottom of the heart of my bottom. That talent is pretty insane to say the least. Its about making sentences with all the words starting with the same letter. Might seem funny but honestly a coupla second glances at my own piece of work and it started seeming not crappy afterall. Trust me it isnt. Here are a few.

Prudently pristine philosophical profanity permeates perpetual pessimism, profusely petrifying poor people.

Crisp clandestine crimson crap creates creative cardinal criminals committing corporate crimes.

Imposingly ironical industrial information is irrelevantly impressed into irritating indian irredentists.

Now then, I can go on. But let me put a full stop at this moment for I dont want to be showcasing too much too soon. I know, I dont write well. I know I need to improve. I know...I know...(Reminds of some Raghuvaren movie...) But then, there is a difference. Knowing and Doing. I hope I know that I am a Doer and Do for once for I know it.
So long...

Just for tags...gags!!

Its been a long weekend with nothing much to do whatsoever. Thanks to Mr.Saturdayji, Mr. Sundayji and Mr.Mondayji(Oji...Aaj Onam hai ji), I am sitting here looking out for things to keep me busy. Atleast at work, I could have kept myself busy by eating away fellow bloggers' head for breakfast, 10 O clock coffee break, pre-lunch snack time, lunch, post-lunch munch time, 3 O clock tea break, evening snack, the appy fizz time and for dinner. But alas, with this long holiday I am deprived of all such heavenly pleasures. Its been just breakfast, lunch and dinner of the diet food...maane tho...maa ka khana. Anyways...I am not complaining. Once in a while you need to eat tasty food. Now, let me cut the crap and get to the agenda of the blog.

Picked up some questions from a tag. Lets see if I can answer some of them. Seems like time-machine and transport to parallel universe wala science to me. Whatever...Just bringth.

1. Pick out a scar you have , and explain how you got it .
Actually there are quite a few scars on my body. But if I point them out, I would be lost for words in explaining how I got them for I dont remember any of them. Mostly I convince myself that I was born with it. But there is this one scar, which is like this chaapaa that dhobis put on their donkeys to mark that they are the dhobi ka donkeys. Yes...I hereby introduce to you - The "ITScar". Now itscar can be located on the right hand of any vehement computer user. It is a dark brown scar located on the south-west corner of your palm. Yeah yeah...go ahead and look at it. Wow...isnt it a beauty?? So much so, for holding on to the mouse. See...if you dont leave the mouse alone, it will give you such scars.

2. What does your phone look like ?
Dont you think its such a slapstickishly stupid question. A phone looks like a phone, whether its mine or yours. Its doesnt look like a watch or himesh reshamiyya's cap. Anyways, now that the question is asked, it shall be answered. It looks like an i-phone. But its all screensaver ka jaadoo.

3.What is on the walls of your bedroom ?
A coupla calendars, lots of left over paper from the stuck-later torn posters, some spiders lazing in their webs in the corners, lots of childhood graffitis including many spiral targets(god knows why I wrote such stuff), a tennis racquet hanging and a mirror which is like an antique piece.
Oh...I almost forgot. I think the last time these walls were painted were when it still smelt of cement. Some 35 years ago.

4. What is your current desktop picture ?
The photo of a guy wearing a half saffron, half green shirt with a white tie and a chakra in the middle of the tie. And yeah...Thats me in my independence day attire suggested by a friend of mine. Fancy dress jaisa lag raha hai. Well...I shouldnt hoax people like this you know. In reality, its the windows XP ka default green pasteur thats on. But in actually that was the screensaver of hell shown to Bill Gates up after his death. God knows when he came back to haunt us with Vista.

5. Do you believe in gay marriage ?
Nope. I dont. A marriage can never be gay. I mean, have you ever seen a gay couple after some years of marriage. I havent. There is something or the other to crib about. Gay marriage is an illusion that is created before marriage. Ooops...Wait a minute...Am I missing something...Aila...Was it that Gay you were talking about? Extreme misunderstoodings. See...If bhaiji and behanji...ooops...another bhaiji are fine with it, who am I to stop them. Whether I believe it or not.

6. What do you want more than anything right now ?
Water supply. I am sitting here right from morning stinking and spreading stink coz water supply hasnt started yet.

7 . What time were you born ?
Whatever time it was, bohot hi bura samay tha. With just 22 years gone by, duniya mein itna gandh macha diya hai. God knows how long I am going to live. I yam lovin it anyways.
And yeah...Answer to the question. The record says 1:35 PM. The nurse said 1:25PM. I think its 1:30PM. Average always works.

8. Last person who made you cry ?
It was not a person. It was a thing. Called Tie. Ever heard of khushi ki aansoo and dukh ki aansoo pouring down together. One from each eye. It happens to me every monday and tuesday. I'll blog about this later.

9. What is your favorite perfume / cologne ?
I was waiting for this day. 1st september. Axe ka ad aane wala hai. So its Axe all the way.
Btw, I have already seen the uncut version of it in youtube. Phir bhi...TV ka maza hi kuch aur hai. ;)
And yeah, honestly, I like Axe. Not for the smell, but for the name. Sounds good. /Wicked grin/

10. What kind of hair/eye color do you like in the opposite sex ?
Black is beautiful.

11. Do you get scared of the dark ?
Of course not. I love the dark. I like venturing into the dark and exploring the unknown.
And please...if you believed the above, you are being very foolish. Everyone is scared of the dark and so am I!!

12. Do you like pain killers ?
No.
Aise ulte seedhe savalon ke liye one word answer kaafi hai.

13. If you could eat anything right now , what would it be ?
Lots and lots and lots of bhejas. I love bhejas. And I love eating them after frying 'em.
But then, I am not a cannibal. I am just another lousy dumb guy!

Chalo...bus...13 is my favourite number. And I'll stop at this. I dont want paraskavedekatriophobics around here. So long.

Self-Induced Inertia

Sometimes I just wonder how all engineers showcase the same pattern of using a lingo only they can comprehend and relate with. I mean, just have a look at the title! Self-Induced Inertia!
While Inertia is apparently the Newtonic word of yore, Induction can be related to some electrical scientist(At this point in time, I dont recollect anyone's name. Wait a minute... I dont know any darn electrical scientist's name!). Anyways, the point I am trying to slap on me is the fact that I am just another damned lousy engineer who keeps reminding himself the same with every action of his, so much so, titling his first blog.

Talking of Inertia...Fine...lets make it indisposition! Talking of indisposition, I feel sometimes falling sick is a blessing in disguise. Or should I say an evidently boastable blessing. For anything that you have to do, one's sickness can be the best excuse. Right from waking up early in the morning to buy milk to doing the chores of the day, you simply can say that you are sick and you are not able to do this and that. Because, its a very obvious thing that when you are sick you are simply indisposed. You are not in your elements to do anything. Atleast, thats how the world has made itself to believe. And the actions have supplimented the same to the T. It is a similar inertia, I must say, had kept me away from writing. I was simply sick. Sick of writing lame notes, records, readings, assignments, friend's assignments, essays(Oh yeah...I attended a few of them, essay competitions that is) and the numerous diaries that I wrote and tore and tore and wrote and again tore. And it is this sickness I was placing as a reason for me not to be writing. But then time moved on and so did I. Now with the industry I am working in, we are certainly creating huge losses for pen and refill manufacturers. We no longer write. We type. Well, that indeed is the order of the day anyway. So who cares. And I am fine with typing.

Hence I am out of this self-induced inertia. Rather, I am trying to get out of this block that I am in and let go of whatever little or even less crap I have to offer to this wonderful world. And so I have...started to Blog!