Weekend Bonanza!

The weekend started off with a pinch of irritation that peeped on and off on Friday - thanks to the evening beach visit - it was fun and it really cooled my pulse. Of course followed by a awesome dinner at Kana Kazana - we were just pushing our tummies to reach the bike stand ;).

Infact we had killed the time in an interesting way then expected.

Plan for watching the new releases - Mozhi - paruthi veeran - was total flop - as none of the theatre doors were open for us (HOUSEFUL).

What next??

Let’s try something different.

Saturday evening we visited the Grand Royal Circus opposite to Nehru Stadium Chennai. Appa was looking at me up and down when I broke the news that I am planning to visit the circus - Kalutha vaayasaachu unnaku enna circus nu :P. I hardly remember watching a circus - Appa romba emmathitaa :( - If my memory is right it was when I was 4 years - suthama niyabagame illa.

It was a 2.30 minutes show and surprisingly it was good to watch it as a gang. I was dumb struck gazing at many of shows - they are all really talented - hanging up side down, body twisting just like rubber, playing with rings - balls, well trained dogs - horses - elephant playing cricket and many in the list. There was one another entertainment - I was playing with the small pony of kid who was sitting in front of me - yebba these days they can talk anything :).

After circus we directly landed in Ratna Cafe Triplicane and we ate like hungry Lions (Koonjam decent aah sollanum na) but the glare that server gave us when we had requested him to get some nth helping of sambar, it was a bit indecent: D - paakitaanama saapitom - amma parthu irrundha seriyana oozhal nu thiti irrupa :P

idhoodha niruthi irrukaalam - Sunday evening again at the Besi Beach. Intension was to go for a long walk - of course we did - but finally settled to watch the Chennai Sangamam koothu paatarai - super aah irrundhu dhu.

It was a different weekend and of course it is not going to stop here and I better concentrate on reducing the pounds I am gaining before the weighing machines starts to cry.

Seriyaana thaaruthalaiya soothitu irrukom nu athula vaiyaara :D

Game Shows Mania

I just could'nt stop my fingers typing this post.

Of late it has been game show mania and Star Vijay leads the satellite channel's queue in implementing their creativity successful, while Sun TV tries to adopt something similar catches the race as it is the most watched channel by tamilians across the world (I just wonder how these ladies watch these sobbing mega serials - totally jobless).

This post is completely dedicated to all those ridiculous shows... lol…

1) Thiruvalar Thirumathi - Saturday nights in Sun TV - it is a show for couples - Oh My god - Narayanaaaaaaaaaaaaa! - I was stumped watching one of the couples dancing (winner of the that specific round wins some cash) - orru orru couple um road roller mathiri irrukaanga and looking at them dancing on a glass stage, koonjam bakku bakku nu irruku :D - there is also on the spot skit (verbal fight) and what not - Enna aachu tamil nadu makkaluku nu thaan theriyala - they look like real jokers..

2) Kasu Mazhai - Raj TV on weekdays - I was shocked looking at people locked in a cell catching money they is flying in the glass cage - romba kevalama irruku.

3) All those shows where talented makkal come and sing - these shows are sometime good - but I am bugged and bored watching these - koonjam creativity koondu varallam.

4) Top ten movies - they can stop these ratings atleast for sometime.

5) How can I miss these shows where people dedicate songs to others – I just wonder how people have so much time to call – post letters – answer questions for these shows – total waste of time and money?

6 - 7 - 8 - 9 ----- poodum there is lots of add to this list...

Looks like I am completely pissed off with these shows and I have missed out many in this list as I hardly watch the Television???? Why do not you guys go ahead and add them???

Serious ah thaangala..

Aha FM

The amount of time I spend gazing the hoarding is high when compared to the time I spend concentrating on the traffic and signals when I am on the road.

Of late the advertisement of the new FM has been bit weird - Each and every time I watch any of the hoardings relating to this FM I am not able to see the intended message the advertisement should actually trying to convey.

In each of the hoarding you can see a person totally mesmerized, exhausted and thoroughly intoxicated listening to the music from the FM. But the expression that you see in their faces - talks lot more: D. I rather feel the concept behind the advertising for the FM is lost. Of course it does attract people’s attention that is how the ad is – but ???

Few of the hoarding images captured using a mobile camera.

Do comment on what you think about the hoarding and do you feel that ad talks what it should?

PS: Photographs by Praveen.

Bounce

This should have been the first post of today - but I was taken away by that questionaire you would have seen my previous post - so indha post koonjam late :)

A saying in Tamil - "Aal pathi adai pathi" - I would rather say "Aal pathi, adai pathi, hair stylum pathi" - ithu puthu molzi...

For a long time wanted a change of hairstyle and did not find the right time for the past 2 years. Usually I do a holy hair cut in Thirupathi and then go to a parlor for a better style. After lots of postponing we did visit Thirupathi but had to wait for almost 2 weeks to have a better cut - Amma thaan Thirupathi la cut panna and it was zia zag - Sunday is longer than Monday range la.

Last time I had been to "Kanya" quite a famous saloon - rather a beauty parlor. But the cut that time was not much impressive. So this time decided to go to a better place.

As usual ennoda Guru Ji - Verra yaru my useless akka suggested "Bounce Hair Lounge" (chumma pulling your legs di :D). She said that this place was great - seriously I believe her - onnume illama irrundha ennoda sister oda hair aah - semma thick kaavum stylish aavum aakinaanga - so should be true :P.

In fact I just thought of the scene in the movie "Goburangal Saivathilai" in which the expert hair stylist would go nuts seeing Suhasini's hair - I would rather say she would go mad repairing her hair :P. Akka nanu unnoda hair stylavum Suhasini hair stylavum compare panave illa ;).

To be true - these guys are real professionals - good system and specialist. In fact I was impressed when they said you would need an appointment to visit the place.

A must visit place for quality hair cut!

They did a great hair cut for my zig zag mess - enna amma thaan konjam arandha vaal mathiri irruku nu sonna :(

Caste System in India

Sunday evening and there is nothing great on the Television. As usual switched on the "potti" - (that is how i call my "kanini" - laptop) and I received an unusal request from a person in skype.

His name was Lea - that's how is display name appeared in skype - I that the person was a He.

[9:24:22 PM] Lea says: hi, my name is lea and I am from Germany. In school I have do write a very important work about the caste system in India, in order to make the work more vivid and more lifelike I decided to make a questionnaire. I therefore want to ask you if I can send you this questionnaire. It would be very nice and you would really help me.thanks a lot!Lea

I was just warming the sofa with my but on it and spontaneously decided why not help this guys - sounded like a reasonable request. I asked him to send the questions over skype and here we go with the questions and the answers.

Sunday anniku paana orru urpidiyaan kariyam - orru paiyanuku help pannirkean - so why not post that in the blog.

Questionnaire

General question:

1) Gender: FEMALE

2) Age: 26

3) Occupation: SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL

4) married/single? SINGLE

5) children/no children? NO CHILDREN

6) Did you spend your whole life in India? YES

7) Are your parents both Indian or are they foreigner? BOTH ARE INDIANS

Question regarding to the caste system:

1) The Constitution of India promise in its preamble every citizens “Equality of status and of opportunity”. Do you take the view that this assurance is a lie or do you think that it is reality? I AGREE. EVERYONE IS TREATED EQUAL IN FRONT OF LAW AND MOREOVER MORE OPPORTUNITY IS GIVEN TO MINORITY AND WOMEN.

2) In article number 17 the Constitution of India assures the people of no caste, the untouchables:

“Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of Untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.”

Do you have the opinion that the politicians have reached their aim to abolish untouchability or are the untouchables still discriminated and seen as “polluting”? I WOULD RATHER SAY THERE IS STILL SUCH PRACTISES IN REMOTE VILLAGES IN INDIA BUT HIGH PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO ABOLISH THIS. IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF SUCH A MINDSET. IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY ABOLISHED AS GENERATIONS WOULD PASS.

What do you think about the second sentence of the 17 article? Does the police punish people who still practice untouchability? YES PEOPLE ARE PUNISHED IF THEY FOLLOW SUCH PRACTISE

3) Do you know if the caste system is pervasive in India? And are there differences between urban areas and rural areas?

YES CASTE SYSTEM IS PERVASIVE AND THERE IS LOTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS WHEN IT COMES TO THOUGHTS ON THE SAME.

4) How does the caste system works in everyday life?

IT IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER. TAKE THE CASE OF HINDUISM - IT IS A WAY OF LIVING. AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT SUB SECTS IN HINDUISM AND THEIR PRACTISES DIFFER AND THE SAME IS APPLICABLE FOR MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIAN. WAY OF LIVING DIFFERS EVEN IN FOOD HABITS EVEN IN HOW THEY COOK. THIS IS RATHER A LONG ANSWER :)

5) The caste system is entwined in Hindu beliefs, but does it encompasses non-Hindus as well?

YES - YOU CAN EVEN SEE HINDU CHRISTIANS AND HINDU MUSLIMS.

6) And how does the caste system works between Hindus and non-Hindus or foreign people?

NOT SO GOOD. PEOPLE HAVE NOT BECOME SO BROAD MINDED. BUT IN COMING GENERATIONS IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER AND THERE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS IN THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.

7) Are there still the four castes (Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra) and the people of no caste, the untouchables?

NOPE. BRAHMANS STILL EXIST IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS. KSHATRIYA AND VAISYA ARE RATHER VERY RARE. SUDRA - THEY DO EXIST PREDOMINENTLY IN RURAL AREAS.

8) Are there explicit standards within a caste?

YES. IT DOES EXIST. EVEN HINDU'S YOU HAVE HIGHER AND LOWER SECT.

9) Does the caste one belongs to have influence on the choice of occupation today because in the past Brahman for example had to become priests or scholars, and Kshatriyas had to become warriors or rulers?

NO NOW A DAYS IT IS MORE TO WITH HOW OF MUCH EXPOSURE AND EDUCATION A INDIVIDUAL GETS.

10) What is about personal contact/ relationship with members of other castes?

IN URBAN AREAS IT IS LESS. RURAL I WOULD SAY IT DOES EXIST. BUT THE DEGREE OF SEVERITY IS COMPARIVITY REDUCED.

11)What do you think about marriages between different castes?

Do you believe that a person, who decided in favour of a love-marriage, would be excluded from the family?

I FEEL THAT THIS RIDICULOUS. MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR COMPATABILITY.

12) Is it possible to move from the own caste into a lower or higher one? YES. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HINDUISM THERE IS NOT SUCH THING CALLED CONVERSION AND THERE IS NO PREACHING FOR THE SAME AS IT IS A WAY OF LIVING.

13) Do you think that the Indians have become more flexible in their caste affiliations? YES IN URBAN AREA A FEW OF THEM HAVE BECOME BROAD MINDED BUT THE PERCENTAGE IS VERY LESS.

14) Do you know the reason why the caste system is sill existing in India? Is it perhaps attributable to the samsara (reincarnation) and karma (quality of action)? Or is it because of the system of marriage? I BELIEVE IT IS FOR SAMSARA AND KARMA. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MARRIAGES PEOPLE STRICTLY DO NOT GET MARRIED OUT OF CASTE, BUT NOW A DAYS THERE HAS BEEN MORE OF REVOLUTION ON THIS TOPIC WITH RESPECT TO MARRIAGES.

15) To which caste do you belong to? HINDU – BRAHMIN - MORE DETAILS - VADAKALAI IYENGAR - WORSHIPPERS OF GOD VISHNU.

I did not want to go to the depth how bad it was in rural areas – nambha nata pathi bad aah portray panna pidicala – but I also did not want to lie that caste based issues does not happen in India – touched things from a 100 feet level.

Any thoughts on the question and answers – feel free to add your comments – your keyboard would not cry if you type a bit :P.

Employee of the Year!

How was Feb 3rd 2007???

Got up at 7.00 AM in the morning - Appa thirupalli padindu irundha.. I had to clean the vasappadi and put kolam so that dad can proceed with his daily pooja...

9.00 AM sharp, I was ready to catch the bus and leave to the Photon Towers so that B and I can ride the scooty pep we had left in the office yesterday... How can we ever start on time - there was some delay (last min coffee preparation for my dad) and I finally reach Mandhavali bus stand at 9.30 AM. Bhu was waiting for me in front of the terminus.

It was 10.30 when we reach Karaipakkam and in the meantime we had walked, travelled in share auto and bus. We took the vandi and we were off to the Kochar Farms and as usual late!

11.00 AM - 4.00 PM It was Photon Day and we had a offsite managment meeting in the morning... It was a pretty decent session - boring and interesting at time… Came to know more about what the top managment had planned for the future growth of the company and employees... We did a lunch break also in between: D

4.00 PM - 6.30 PM it was entertainment session and there we few dazzling dance performances, game shows and light music.. Nangalam medaila illama orru event aah.. NEVER!! We planned an on the spot skit..

The new fresher joinees were totally enthusiastic and we wrote the story and dialogues with amazing contributions from other counterparts.. The skit did come out pretty decently and it would have been much better if we had practiced more...

Wanna know the role I did - The Pandi's role in Kakka Kakka :P

Conducting parties in ECR is not allowed and our police uncle's made special appearance without invitation to the company party at 6.30 PM and before they were out with the amplifiers it was already 7.00 PM.

No one could stop the presentation.. We had our CEO talking about the promises, growth rate, future pipeline and so on without the mic.. The response from the audience was terrific with encouraging applauses... Finally it was award presentation to employees who had done well last year.. they announced names which were very familiar in the organization and they had done great work!

At the end of the 5th award they announce a name that was very very familiar..

Bhargavi Krishnamachari - oops that was my name!

Lots to tell but it would look like I am giving a speech after a oscar award or a paramveer chakra.. lol.. It is of course quite an achievement to be proud about as it was out of 800 employees and it all came through in 2.5 years and for all the hard work... But did not expect it to come so soon ;) … Indeed it had been a rollercoaster ride!

The day ended great! Of course there was a pinch of fear - What am I going to do for the bills???– sure gonna become bankrupt treating – it would be great it was a cash award ;)

Kalyana samayal sadam

Mom had gone to "Ahobilam" and for the past two days I managed with breakfast - coffee, lunch - hotel Insuvai (on Friday) and office sponsor (Saturday) and dinner - fruits and milk.

Yebba mudiyala... vellila poitu aathu varum bothu Amma unna romba miss panarean - No food :(...

Inikum same schedule - no way!!...

Lets start the dance nu I entered the kitchen - nallavela Amma kitta cooking items ellam enga irruku nu oru quick session thursday annike ketundean.

First engine ku koonjam oil poodalam nu - coffee pottu appa vum nanum kudichom..

Enna samaikalam nu think paanum boothu than therinjuthu vegetables eeh illanu. So first went to the market and purchased Potatoes, Tomatoes, ladies finger, kothamalli and karuveppillai.

Edula arambikarthu ne theriyala?? Seri modalla sapadu decide paninean…

Idea rice yum urlakalangayum boil paanalam nu cooker la set paaniean.. ana how much of water to add for cooking the rice?? Seri logic use panalam... 1 cup rice ku 1 1/2 times water nu conclusion draw panitu cooker ah stove mela vetchachu...

Next kulambhu - hmmmmm... ennapanaradhu - Seri lets try Vethakulambhu but adhula podara vethal - I did not know where it was – final ah vendaika vethakulambhu nu mathitean :)... Socked tamrid for some 10 mins, then filtered the mix. Then heated the vaanali with oil, kadugu and parupu (thooram parru nu ninaikarean :P).

Within a min I poured the tamrid water, then the kulambhu podi and the vendaikai.. Oru medium heat la irundhadhu and I starring at it for some 4 mins and it looked watery... seri put some more kulambhu podi to make it thick :D... Ellam usual technique thaane.. lol.. Kolambhu was ready within next 5 mins - moved it out of the stove before it became pulikachal ;)...

Side la cooker was shaking and at that time only I realized that I did not put the weight on the top of it.. Vedikathuku munadi podanum and I was searching it when it was already there in my hand.. tension :P

Appa seriyana pest.. samaika ve vidala.. cat mathiri kitchen la anga umm inga umm odindu irundha.. Appo thaan purinjuthu why mom does not allow him in the kitchen nu :P... I literally dragged him out..

In the meantime cooker la ella matter umm over - I took the aaloo out and I started to roast them in another vanali... that is pretty simple but I was literally tossing it when I pealed its skin – semma sudu..

Ellathulayum multitasking venum - enna naaga ellam semma efficient la - rasam start panlam second trip tamrid mix panitu stove la aadhayum heat pana arambichutean.. I put some rasam powder cut 2 tomatoes and it was boiling in the adjacent stove..

Within 5 mins rasam ready and next kaadugum thaalichu kootiyaachu... 10 mins la roasted potatoes um ready...

Of course I put salt and other necessary spices for potatoe, sambar and rasam..

Appa ready sapadarthuku!!

He was sitting in the dinning table and ennaku he looked like a rabbit in a scientist lab: D... Appa is very particular about few things on the plate... Vethakulambhu and pickle - enna combination noo theriyala and I do not know how he likes that ;)... He was eating and I was anxiously looking at him...

Finally exam results range ku poiduruthu - He told that I cooked better than MOM!!! Nalabagam :D...

Nanbargale eppo enkaiyala samaicha food aah sapada varengo ;)

Seri ippo naanu poi saapadaporean - semma pasi!

It did happen!!

T time conversations are usually fun and electric depending on seed (topic). After a long time we had a great time - Mom, Dad and I. Dad was narrating few of the real time comedies that happens in Court and you would definitely need to agree that they are much better then all those flakes that you watch in movies. Lets hit one of them now!

Dad a.k.a T.V.Krishnan BSc BL (T.V.Krishnamachari - Appa-Amma vetcha perra maathardhala ennoda appa onnum exception illa :P) - I would rather call him Krish ;).

Okay!!

Krish (should be around 24) successfully won the case (It was his 10th case - not sure) and had a decree against the opponent that he should either pay the debt amount or would be imprisoned. The court would then send a notice to the concerned person and they should present themselves in front of the magistrate - either pay the money or get behind the bars.

Krish's client - Mr X in full enthu was present in court to collect the debt amount from the court as per the notice he received.

What actually happened????

A usual hectic day and Krish was waiting for his number in court 7 rechecking on the evidences and proof he was going to present. Mr X came running to court 7 searching for Krish.

"samy enna idhu ennaku onnume puriyala" said Mr X.

"Enna aachu, paanam kidaichudha" said Krish.

"Iyya nanu court room la wait panikittu irrundhean. Apporam nambha case number koopitaanga naanum elundhirichu judge iyya munadi nindhean. Avar enna paanam kaataraya illa jailluku poorayaa nu ketara. Ennaku onnum puriyala samy. Judge iyya kitta nan thaan kadan koduthean nu sonnean avar enna pathu sirichittu ungala kopitu kondu vara sonnaru" said Mr X.

Krish then read the notice that X had got and he was like - What the hell!!

The court room exploded with laughter when the judge enquired on what had happened. These court staffs are real nuts! They had sent the notice to the petitioner instead of the opponent. Kadan koduthavan kitaye kadana thirupi pay pana sollaranga paa! Kalakitanga po!

Enna ithu sirru pilla thanama :P

Mr X said to Krish - Ennaku panam kidaikalanalum parava illa samy enna jail la podavendamnu sollunga :D.

Finally Judge had to explain to Mr X (completely paranoid) that it was not Krish's mistake but the person who sent the notice and he will not be sent to Jail.

Aiyo! Aiyo!

What happens when you are pizzed off???

Never trust anyone in life.
Never believe anyone in life.
Never like anyone in life.
Never let anyone into the four walls around you.
It is all you and just you - so beware of OTHER HUMANS.

Seriously...

Ignore all those insects - that is the best way to handle them.

That is the way others treat you!

Do not be so good - Ignoring someone is the worst thing you could do even to your enemies.

Bullshit!!!

It is snowing here!!

Last night Bro had buzzed and the first thing he told was

"It is snowing here!!"



hmmmmmmmmmmm....

Inga no rain - not even a drizzle. Cha nonsense.

Would love to watch snow falling and wow!! imagine skating :D..

Romba over imagination thaan.. This time I going to make a point to have fun in the rain.. We hardly have rain here in Chennai maha nagaaram :)

reel Vs real life - Mockery!

Start of another weekend - quite a long one this time - as usual nothing spl - all day occupied with hectic task of "Obi adichufying" ;) and with a pinch of domestic work which pitched in due to the guilt that mom was doing all the work :).

As usual was watching movie in the evening and it was "Kaadal Koondein" - starring Danush and I got reminded about my darling brother. They look a bit similar - the glasses and short hair cut - of course my brother looks much better :).

For all those who have not watched the movie - here you go with the narration - but lets not go into minute details. It is the scene when the math professor catches Danush red-handed sleeping during his lecture and trashes him. Danush is then thrown near the black board and the professor dares him to complete the math equation. Danush then completes the problem just like Einstein.

I just ran the spiral above my head and rewinding my memory tape to recollect the real life incident.

Danush aka. My brother in this case was sleeping in the last bench as he always does during lectures. His professor came to his desk and started the morning alarm with special suprabatham with enough dosage of praising words. She had explained a problem and had asked him to solve it on the board - similar to movie scene.

Lazily the real life hero walked to the board hardly remembering whatever the prof told - He had muted the volume once he heard her sweet voice. He was now standing in front of the board. "Silly!! That is a simple equation and why was she yelling at the top of her voice" - thoughts running in the mind He smiled and turned towards the class to pick the chalk from the table.

A very good friend sitting in the front bench was waving at him with a look of "Oye don't do it" - in slow motion just like how we see in movie during climax and thrashing fight scenes. Puzzled! He just proceeded to solve the equation thinking what is wrong with this dude. Within a minute he solved the equation and turned back to address the lecture with a proud smile.

But every thing went upside down - The lecturer was glaring at him instead of embracing him with a glad look for his brilliance.

"Can you please get out of class??" – she yelled at the top of her voice.

"I had solved the equation and why the hell is she asking me to leave the class" - He left the room puzzled.

It was during the lunch He came to know that the equation was written during the previous lecture and he did not realize the start of the next lecture. Deep sleep pa enna paanarathu...

The "Please don't do it" look of his friend all made sense now! :D

PS: Thambi - if you by any chance read this forgive me ;) lol..

Crazy buggers!

My morning calendar was fully blocked for my mom - that is how I would call it royally. If you want to know the masked truth - I was unofficially appointed as my mom's driver: P. It was not a bad job as it all ended with an excellent feast at my aunt's place: D.
It was a usual "Thiruthalam trip" - we had gone out visiting temples. If only my mom knew more temples I would stay a street by street journey worshipping deities.

We had gone to the Thirumala Thirupathi devasthaanam in T Nagar and the AP tourism office for booking tickets to visit Mr. and Mrs. Balaji :). Ooph - it is very difficult to get an appointment in his schedule and we some how managed to block his calendar.

It was all done and we were getting out of the office and I noticed few pictures.

A photograph of old man - the owner and the man were looking similar - it was his father. Then the new calendar for year 2007 and photograph of Mr. Balaji decorated with flowers.

Finally my eyes noticed another photograph - It was Lord Krishna with garland and vuthubhathi - the face in the image was very familiar - then I realized that it was N.T.Ramarao (famous telugu actor) in Lord Krishna's costume.

I just said the dialogue which Vivek (Tamil movie comedian) usually says in his movies.

Crazy Buggers! : P

உன் நினைவால்

நீ இல்லை என்பதே மெய்,
ஆனால் உன் நினைவு மெல்லிய நறுமணம் போல் என்மனதில் எழுந்து,
என்னை கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாக கொல்கின்றது,
மரங்களின் கிளையை கரயான் அரிப்பது போல, உன் நினைவு என்னை கொல்கின்றது.

PS - Thoughts Bhargavi, Editing Lakshmi and Praveen.

newYear = incrYear(this.year) { return 2006 + 1; }

Too bad you need prove that you are a programmer even in your post :P - Hey boss, see I can program :D.

Let’s try to make an attempt to poetic ;)

She passed by leaving behind evergreen thoughts - Thank you 2006 :)

Scientist relate her to light,
Astrologers mint money in her name,
All over the world people celebrate, cry, dance and laugh as she moves along with us,
In return she just leaves behind memories to cherish,
Hope someone finds "Time Machine" soon - to sail back and see a re-telecast :D

There she comes again showing promising signs of prosperity, good health and peace - Lets make 2007 a step to reach pinnacle!

Mylapore blues and Mambalam greens - Triplicane times (could not think of anything rhyming :D )

I would say this is one of the posts which has varied thoughts and totally random.

So let’s start with a variety!

What is so special about these areas - Few things which make these places stand out - Lots of temples, residential area - beautiful chicks and handsome-smart dudes, Agraharam (locality where most of the Brahmin communities live), witty mamies :D.

Thinking about temples - Shastra related to building temples is a very good topic to research about - It is really mind boggling! I might not have the patience to do a research on this but I would always love to hear and learn about this (not an avid reader :)).

Mylapore Vs Triplicane - Shiva Vs Parthasarathy

Let’s not discuss about Saivaites and Vaishnavaites - they are hot ones and you guys better visit wikipedia :).

Parthasarathy (Lord Vishnu - Protector) temple at Triplicane is a beautiful place - it is actually one of the temple in the 108 Thirupathi list - it is said that anyone who visits all the places in this list would directly go to heaven - almost all Iyengar oldies tries to complete the list.

"Hariyum shivanum onnu ariyaathavar vaayil maanu" :P

Being an Iyengar the first temple I visited was the Kabalishwar (Lord Shiva - Destroyer) temple at Mylapore - It is a real huge temple in the midst of the city. It is quite silly, but there has always been an electric conversation between the worshippers of Shiva (Iyer - saivites) and Vishnu (Iyengars - vishnavites). I have myself have made few discussions on this topic ( B.Bhu and C.Bhu you can have a hearty laugh if read this blog - remember those hot conversations we have had :P about How great Iyengars are :D).

Having visited both the temples - the notable differences I have seen apart from the dieties are - kumkum instead of vibhudhi and of course thulasi, special thertham, jatari, puliyodharai and dodhiyoonam (thayir saadam).

Let’s not divert the blog to discuss about temples - Let's talk about few of the Brahminical food punches!

Common - Iyengar - Iyer

Sambar - Nazhikaramadhu- koozhambu
kaai - karamadhu - kaai
rasam - sathamadhu - rasam
paisam - kannamadhu or thirukanamadhu - paisam
thayir sadam or soru - dodhiyoonam - thayir sadam

There are more terms to add to this list - feel free to add or correct if I am wrong!

Lets make the blog more random - Why not talk about mamies - (even I would fall in that category few years from now :)) - You can find few of coolest mamies on earth in these areas - the kind of language they use, the conversations they build - it can be as silly as possible or even intellectual :P.

The core identification marks of mamies - diamond earrings, pierced nose - decorated with diamond, neck completely covered with gold - I sometime wonder how they ever bear the weight, madisar saree ( Costume a typical mami would wear - it is a nine yards saree - I would say the Iyer way of wearing it is sexy :P ).

Have you guys visited Agraharam - streets where brahmins reside - Mostly they are streets that surrounds the temple. The only Agraharam I have visited is the one in Mylapore and Triplicane - I would love to visit the ones in Villages - Have never visited any village (I should probably marry someone whose native is a village - otherwise I see no scope of visiting a village: D). The houses in Agraharam are too good with an excellent construction strategy and they differ from place to place (Even now I remember the way one of my friend had explained how a house in Agraharam would look like in Thirunalveli - Hey dude it would be great if you would comment on how these houses look like :) )

Before making it more random I think I will stop here :)

சூரியோதயம்

தேடினேன் அவள் சுவாசத்தை கடற்கரை காற்றில்,
தேடினேன் அவள் காலடி தடத்தை கடற்கரை மணலில்,
தேடினேன் அந்த தேவதையை ஆனால் அவள் நிழலை கூட காண இயலவில்லை,
கடல் அலை என் காலை தழுவியத்தில், கலைந்தது அந்த இனிய கனவு.

PS: Written by Bhargavi - Words sponsored by Lakshmi :P

Can you please wait ?

What is it to wait? Damn I just hate waiting, whether it is for someone or something and it is the most irritating thing.

Well if you are wondering what I am waiting for and you have your thoughts wandering let me help you. For what do people wait ah?

Exam results! That was long back and it has been quite sometime now. Even if I plan to take up some exams I need not wait as it is all computer based and it would be quick evaluation. Thanks to Kaanini! But of course I can even now remember the way I waited for 10th, 12th, college (not much of excitement though) and ICWAI exam results. Lots of anxiety!

In front of the movie theatre waiting for your friend and that idiot has the ticket or you have the tickets. It is always pleasure to watch the movie from the scratch - even the "Bihar ille vellam...." short movie: P.

Mom has locked the house and she has gone out. Waiting for her to get back to open the door and you have just returned after a long tiring day. Thank you Mum I have never experienced this as you are always there with the dinner ready: D.

"Thank you for attending the interview. Will give the feedback to the HR and they would get back to you in a day or two". These lines are irritating. Why cannot they announce the results immediately and why should anyone wait? I have not experienced this for a while as I had been the interviewer. Sorry guys (people I have been interviewing) If I have been telling this line more often now a days.

Waiting for someone special to call up or meet and you are restless looking at the phone or waiting for door bell to ring. This will not happen until I find that someone special ;).

Nature calls and you find all the toilets full. Hey people why you cannot wrap up things fast and leave way for others :).

Waiting for Dad to give permission! He would dodge and finally say "Yes". Dad why do you always do this?

Waiting for the weekend to come! This happen often and I hate Mondays!

This list is never ending and do you want to add anything more to this waiting list?

Sorry people if anyone of you have been waiting for me anytime :D. Let me not try repeating it again. Do not curse me if I did make you wait :P.

Ok. Coming back to what I am waiting for – FYI - It is none of the above. I am waiting for a long leave so that I can be happy in my own world.

What am I waiting for ????

A long sigh!!!

You too ?

Ennaku veendam enndru manadhil ninaithean.
Aanal nee athai thaan veendum enndru kooduthai.

Ennaku veendum enndru yaasithean.
Nee athai ennidam irrunthu thaati koondai.

Dinnam unnidam pessinean.
Aanal unidam irrunthu orru varthai illai.

Unnaku kadidham eluthinean.
Nee atharku badhil elutha villai.

Annaivarum solvathu nijam thaan.
Unnaku meegavum pidithavargaludan thaan nee ippadi vilayaaduvai enndru.

Athu yen appadi? Unnai avargal maaraka koodathu enndra.
Manidargal maathiri enna unnakum 'Possessiveness' ah?

Gingee

Do not get paranoid thinking about what I am going to write as you would be trying to relate the name of the blog - whether it is slang, nick name of a person or whatever… If you have let your imagination walk on the clouds better make a safe landing: P

Gingee, is the name of one of the famous forts in Tamil Nadu.

It was a long awaited exciting trip that we had planned, all completely devised by one of our close friends - "Madam B" (Hey do not curse me when you read this. Just reserve it for the end as there is more to come in this blog :D). The idea of visiting the fort invaded our minds as we saw it during one of our successfully executed holy trip to "Thiruvannamalai".

After a hectic week at the new office at Karaipaakam we decided that we would visit the fort irrespective of however tired we were. I had in fact wrapped the previous day with a tearful send off to my sister at the Chennai Airport and I slept with thoughts of late realization that I am going to miss her (It is the usual philosophy that you tend to miss and like a person more only when you would not be able to meet that person or the relationship is lost forever). Okies senti apart and coming to GINGEE :)

I was all set with perfect costume - Jean, T-Shirt and power shoes on the next day… We planned to start at 8.00 AM in the morning and we managed to start at 9.00 AM on the 7th of October 2006...

Hey how could that ever be possible, friends of Bhargavi can never be punctual ;)... I had once read an article in which I remember one line crystal clear - kids born to a Leo and Virgo are very punctual - I guess the writer of the article is a liar... there are three exception to the rule (sis, bro and I)...

The drive was pleasant with the travel filled with music (few of them leading us out of the track with memory lanes switching here and there), messages, calls and call diverts.... Of course how could I miss the wits that we throw at each and pulling "Madam B" 's legs and her sensational voice (you would never believe that she has a fan club.. lol), making "SG" (nick name of one of our friends - If you really want to know what it really means you should ask him - call me for his contact details) wild, comment on those exemplary messages what our friend "Three leaves" (again a nick name and do not ask me the meaning again) receives... A notable comment on "Three leaves" costume - He looked just like a beetle inside that shirt which had black circle in a red background: D...

By 11 AM I could hear bells ringing in our belly louder than the music and we successful found a place where we can eat... We were too lucky that the hotel service boy announced that even the finally left over puri's were over… We managed to pick few biscuits, munches and chocos and continued with our journey... It was almost a 150 Km (approx) from Chennai…

We managed to reach the destination with a couple of outstanding direction sense and guessing - thanks to "SG"'s contributions and few road side romeo's... lol...

Mission - GINGEE…We had to climb two hills - Raja fort (where all fighting actions take place) and Rani fort (where all personal actions take place ;))... Even before we started the mission the first thought that came to our minds was - God how far should the Raja travel to meet Rani, should be once in 2 days.. Surely he would have had one Rani in each of the watch tours so that he can peep in during his travel time between forts… lol. Just kidding :)...

The ticket cost just 4 RS for Indian Nationals (RS 100 for Non-Indians Actually a nice way to make money - Indian Tourism department)...

We started off with the Raja fort and it was all beautiful site seeing as we climbed up the hill - crooked rocks over which we managed to lay our legs and pushed our body up the altitude as we saw treasury room, weapon rooms, granary, watch towers, canon and more (a huge room which we guess would be sufficient for the Raja to have a bath with all the Rani’s :P) along few ancestral friends of ours (Monkeys :)). We just imagined how it would have looked at those ages as it was all seen completely conquered by the usual invasion of nature. We took few pictures, giggling and joking as we proceed and the climbing was both fresh and tiring. We climbed down having a complete view of the fort within two and a half hours.

Only "SG" and I planned to continue the mission to the Rani fort as the other two were totally out of energy by the time we managed to gulp few lemonade when we reached the foot of Raja fort.

As I guessed having a look at the Rani Fort it was comparatively smaller to climb but more difficult as the steps were narrow and steep. "SG" was almost pulling me up on each of the steps. In few instances we even tried jumping between rocks to avoid steps. Finally when I successfully dragged myself up the fort I felt the air of victory as though I have won a war between the want of my body to crash against the power of my mind: P. We got beautiful glimpses of the Raja fort from the Rani fort, the darbar, a temple (where the shrine was already invaded) and of course the "Andhapuram" where the Raja and Rani would have happily enjoyed their personal life.

By the time we came down we were drained out, hungry and we felt our legs shaking. I had slept most of the way back home and by the time I reached chennai and finally my home I had vomited (“Omlet” a dialogue from the movie boys) six times (effects of smelling the air of victory by invading the Rani Fort) :). But of course all these side effects are not going to reduce my spirit for my next trip as all I require is the power of mind... lol..

This is what I would call a complete crash to be as I could just remember the time I got up the next day morning :).

After all the blabbering and non stop nonsense about the trip if you would want to know about forts have a look at the images below... It is a nice place you should visit with you pals :P...

Seasons (of life)

Climatic variation is what we experience every year. Changes are prime entertainment in life. Every one undergo a monotonous routine of day to day activities with out realizing the fact that they are experiencing a specific season of their life as they would be busy enjoying it. Only when it is past they would actually know that they are past that season…

A simple comparison on seasons with life… It all depends on the way you imagine…During each and every part of life people undergo all seasons…

Let’s start with a hot comparison... Do not let your imagination go high: P... I was talking about the summer season... Phewww.. The only reason why anyone would love this season is because of the summer holidays and that too it last only till you are in school… Dammn it is too hot and I hate them… but anyways thanks to the inventor of AC as he has made survival easier during the scorching sunny days...

Sooooooo… what periods of life would you compare with hot sunny days?? hmmm.. Thriving to reach the targets and challenges it can be anything and there is a thirst to achieve... you feel happy after reaching the destiny just like how fresh it would be when you feel the air after perspiring or drink something cold when the food pipe is because of the heat... What about the nights when people (2) sweat even with AC :P not sure if I am comparing it with the correct season can be cold or rainy (will change in future ;) )..

Autumn season… "Ellai Udhir Kaalam"... Just like how the tree leaves fall one feel that you lose everything in life... friends reminding of passing clouds, relationships (whether it has a name tagged or it is nameless) that does not last because you would not want to or the other person is not willing to… the numb season where there is not much of change in life and there is an atmosphere of frustration… the most famous of the lot is the failure and this reminds me of a "Kavithai" - poem... Failure in relationship just like the dried leaves falling from the tree…

Ennaku nee arimugam aagum thaarunam kooda ennaku ondrum thoona villai...
Naanum unnudan peesum pozhuthu kooda ennaku ondrum thoona villai..
Naan unnudan sandai poodum pozhuthu kooda ennaku ondrum thoona villai..
Nee ennidam unnudaiya virupathai sollum pozhuthu kooda ennaku ondrum thoona villai..
Nee ennai veendam enndru sonnai appoluthum onndum thoona villai..
Ippoluthu nee ennidam irrunthu villagi poogirai, illai villagi sendru vittai..
Aanal ippoluthaan naan unargirean ennaku unnai evalavu pidikum enndru...
Unnudaiya niyabagam alaigalaga manathil thoondrugindrathu nee varuvaya enndru.. Enna varuvaya ??

In no mood to translate to English… if you want to know the meaning try to understand it yourself :)... enough of all sad things lets go to fun seasons ;)...

Rainy season and the comparison are extreme… It is not about getting drenched in rain unexpectedly on the way to work place or school or college... It is about rainy season in life… Heights of happiness - succeeded in challenges, in love and being loved, looking at the new born baby in your hand and what not there is no end to happiness... If there is fun there is of course the opposite end and why should we think about it right now...

Thinking of spring season I can smell fresh air, pleasant atmosphere and when it comes to comparison… It is the calm happy period... settled at peace with all your targets achieved and now it is the time to relax... enjoying the holidays after exams, relaxing the retired life in a village, romantic spring ;), newly married life and this list is never ending and it depends on each and every people… For few of them who always want to have in life it is a all time spring season :)....

Winter season and I can get reminded only of the cozy bed and the mind that says "Damn... why the hell I should get up??"... Apart from cozy bed I could just think of snow: D... Skiing is one of my all time dream - just waiting for snow in Chennai ;)... Generally it is a static part of your life nothing happens either sad or happy… just nothing... Is this season not romantic - Why not?? It is winter guys…

Enough… now my mind is getting out of season looking at the bed that is calling me to stretch and hug the pillow....