Expressions Unlimited

Outdoor Activites in Western Maine

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:12:00 +0000

The crisp mountain breeze whizzing by you, sparkling clean waters from numerous lakes, rivers, streams inviting you, colourful leaves falling on your shoulders creating an array of colours for you to capture on canvas, skiing over the fresh layer of snow and avoiding to fall over the snowman while learning to ski !!
Welcome to Western Maine, also known as Vacation-Land, in the midst of "Lakes and Mountains". Western Maine is also a called a “Four Season Destination” for it's ability to offer you all year round outdoor activities, suitable for all ages, be it fall, spring-summer or winter.

I am sure your planners and schedulers are out to plan a perfect family vacation, which should be a mix of various activities.
Allow me to take you on a small informational tour of Western Maine, which will hopefully make it easier for you to experience this wonderful place to its fullest. As I had mentioned earlier, Western Maine is a four season destination offering diverse activities all year round. Easy accessibility from Portland International Airport gives Western Maine extra brownie points. Most importantly, Western Maine is family-friendly, safe and easy on your pockets.

Since fruit picking in this region of Maine, is one of the favorite activities, it just can't get more easier to sift out variety of outdoor activities Western Maine offers you, your family and friends. But given this regions vastness and endless offerings you might be a little greedy in devouring all the beauty this place offers which is truly natures gift to mankind. You can choose a "perfect base" for yourself which has great outdoor activities and also enables you to explore other areas around your base.

You could head out to SUNDAY RIVER RESORT which is a "all in one four season destination", which is easily accessible from Portland Airport. SUNDAY RIVER RESORT is located in Newry, Bethel. This is one of the most popular and premier destinations with tons of outdoor activities you can undertake, which also makes this a perfect base for you to explore further in surrounding areas. You will be spoilt for choices considering the huge range of outdoor activities with lot of hotels/lodges in and around Sunday River Resort and Bethel area. To further cement your relationship with Western Maine, land Maine offers you ample choices to buy a piece of land to build your own dream vacation or primary and retirement house.

Sunday River Resort Summer Activities : Canoeing & Kayaking, dozens of trails to walk and hike, bicycling on a variety of terrains, loops and trails, fishing, boating, camping, guided wildlife tours, summer zipline tours, chairlift rides, mountain biking, scenic drives, ATV rentals, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, dog sledging, windjammers, light house tours, whale watching, amusement parks, movies, cultural attractions, farm tours, orchards & berry picking, lighthouse tours, horseback riding, antiquing ….PHEW!!, if you are tired all day after your adventure escapades, there is a Spa Service & Wellness centre to soothe your tired nerves !!!
During winter : Two free shuttle services are offered during days and evenings between your hotel/lodges, outdoor activities and Bethel. Sunday River Resort, being the second largest ski resort with more than 120 trails on eight interconnected mountains, also caters to Nordic Skiers with a number of ski touring centers with skiing, sledding, snowboarding to ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skating.

If this still doesn't satiate your inner hunger, you can venture in and around Bethel - which is called Maine's most beautiful Mountain Village, just few minutes from Sunday River Resort, enabling you to dig out more outdoor activities.
You could venture a little up north to Grafton Notch State Park - which opens its gates for summer camping season and is a haven for rock climbers in summer as well as ice climbers in winter or try White Mountain National Forest or watch the local concert in the village common gazebo or after dropping off your wife in the local shopping market, simply play golf at one of the best Golf Clubs Sunday River Resort offers, keeping your kids engrossed in The Big Adventure Center. Well, you could join them for ice skating after your golf !!

If you choose Bethel or Sunday River Resort as your base, you and your family could also take day trips to other surrounding areas and towns, known for its natural beauty, outdoor activities and peppered with its own local flavour, which you must experience. These places are all within an hour n half drives range from Bethel / Sunday River Resort. You could have breakfast in the following places and return for your evening meal back in Bethel / Sunday River Resort.

The places you could take day trips to:

1) Rumford - Pennacook Falls, up north of Bethel and east of Rumford falls, Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls, all in Grafton Notch State Park, North East of Bethel is Black Mountain of Maine, famous for its finest family winter sports facilities in Maine.
2) Norway / South Paris - in the heart of the Oxford Hills Region, is a treasure of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. With lots of Cross country ski and snowmobile trails.
3) Livermore Falls - If you want to pick your strawberries and apples and enjoy the fall season, this is a perfect place. The area's natural resources offer vast options eg. swimming, fishing, boating, golfing, camping, hunting, hiking and not to forget alpine and Nordic skiing during winter.
4) Farmington - Visit the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, take a walking tour through the quaint villages and downtown main streets.
5) Naples - Here Sebago Lake provides opportunity for all kinds of water sports - power boaters, sailors, kayakers, canoers. Sebago Lake also connects to Sebago Lake State Park, a popular destination with picnic areas, sandy beach, woodland walking trails.
6) Lewiston / Auburn - in Androscoggin County, located along the Androscoggin River. Lewiston / Auburn is a gateway to scenic beaches and picture postcard coastal villages
7) Bridgton - Perhaps you may be wanting to recharge YOUR batteries here at Pleasant Lake with peace and tranquility freely available.

Even after your day of vigorous - outdoor activities, hearing the birds chirp and being one with nature, you could include a visit to one of the local markets in any of these towns to experience "local way of life", have a bite in local bakeries or simply buy some souvenirs for yourself and friends, which will help you rewind your memories.

Since Western Maine is a "all four season destination" it offers different kinds of outdoor activities to suit everyones needs, lets take a quick geography lesson about this region.
Western Maine is easily accessible from Portland Airport. GreyHound and Amtrak can get you to Portland swiftly.
Western Maine is divided into 10 small towns and villages, each offering myriad of outdoor activities in all four seasons :
1) Androscoggin County
2) Bethel Area
3) Greater Bridgton Lakes
4) Flagstaff Area
5) Franklin County
6) Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Area
7) Oxford Hills Area
8) Rangeley Lakes
9) River Valley
10) Sebago Lakes

The vacation doesn't here. Since this region is also called a foodies paradise you must awaken your sensory buds by tingling them with local delicacies made from farm fresh ingredients. Don't leave without taking a slice of Western Maine with you - spare some time in capturing ready frames of natural beauty God has made in Western Maine, you just need to click and freeze the moments with your family.

Lastly, inspite of the endless outdoor activities Western Maine offers you, if you just sit with your legs up with a fresh glass of cider in summer or a hot cup of cocoa / hot soup ( choice is yours ) during winters....BE CAREFUL, you could possibly face the wrath of your family !!

Improve your Putting game

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:52:00 +0000

PUTTING which is a final stage in completing a hole is 40 percent of good golfers score. Uncertainty while putting can either make or break your score, irrespective of how good or bad you play before reaching the green. A good putting technique should help you strike the ball in hole in fewer shots. Hence it's imperative for a golf player to thoroughly understand the nuances of putting.

There are various drills one can learn to practice the art of putting, but understanding the basic core will cement the foundation to improve your putting techniques :

1) Understanding Putting Stroke Techniques :
Before getting on the field you should practice several putting drills to get the hang of it. Practice and knowing the relation between your putt, ball and the target, learning the grip and stance while putting, accuracy of striking with different styles of putting will enable you to understand it's problems and putt accordingly.

2) Learn to read GREEN :
Once you reach the green, it's all about understanding the space you are playing in. Putting on green is to get the ball in the hole in fewer shots.
Practice and know your green - nature of slope, length of grass along with Aim, Speed, Distance and Wind factor. This know-how will help you judge green faster and put the ball in hole with accurate results.

3) Anticipating the shot with confidence :
Golf is a game which requires good guidance, practice, physical fitness BUT it also requires equal amount of mental fitness. Even slightest hesitation and lack of focus during putting could hinder your prospects. Keeping a calm and relaxed body without rushing can help anticipate a shot better, making him/her more confident.

To shorten the gap between the questions - How to Putt and How to learn Putting better - P3ProSwing has come out with a tool called Putting Shark, which lets you practice the art of putting in the comfort of your home or office. This putting tool attached to your computer, gives instant feedback with crucial data such as swing path, club-head speed, angle of attack etc required to understand, rectify and improve your putting shots.

Improve your putting skills and you will be perfectly analyzing a shot, ready to finish off the game with confidence, no matter where the ball is on the green.
Keep putting !

P3ProSwing - Golf Analyzer-Simulator Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:21:00 +0000

Golf is a precision club and ball sport, which has its own methodic style which a person needs to know and master well. Thank God for small mercies, due to innovative technologies at our disposal, some sports offer us a chance to play and learn a game without actually being on the field. Golf is one of them.

Few years ago, it would have been preposterous to even believe that golf can be played indoors and could have a system which analyzes to improve your golf game.
P3ProSwing's technology offers a professional golfing system called Golf Simulator, an award-winning golf swing analyzer, instructional aid and simulator.
This simulator not only lets you play golf, it also analyzes your game with accurate results, is versatile and a portable system for your home or office allowing you to polish your golfing skills.Without you being on the actual golf course, P3ProSwing golf simulator lets you have the experience of playing golf "just as you would play on golf courses" refining your shots.

How does it work ?
P3ProSwing’s Golf Simulator creates a virtual golfing environment for you. Using any club, with or without a golf ball - their system includes - a “Sensor Platform” connected to your computer with latest version of “P3ProSwing Golf Swing Analysis software”, analyzing and outputting easy to read data immediately in a graphical form of every shot you play - Club Face Angle, Swing Path, Ball Speed, Attack Angle, Strike Location/Sweet Spot, Club Head Speed, Swing Tempo, Toe and Heel Height, Distance, Right and Left of Path, Penalty etc ...
To further enhance your experience, you could choose various packages or individual gear like a small compact P3ProSwing catch net to practice your shots or choose to project graphical data on a big screen which also acts as a net and a virtual golf course. P3ProSwing can be used for its swing analysis capabilities as well as it’s entertainment value, making it a complete Home Theatre.

You could be a individual keen golfer, trainer, professional golfer, golf store, golf product promoter, indoor club center - P3ProSwing has various options as per your level of expertise, to help you sharpen your golf shots and enjoy the game.
To make your golfing simulator a better experience P3ProSwing systems offer you to choose from various packages eg. Analyzer/Simulator Packages, Studio Packages for a complete virtual golf studio, Virtual Golf Courses Collection Package with analysis and adjustable environmental factors OR you could mix n match with P3ProSwing's individual products like softwares and accessories which are required to maintain your P3ProSwing systems.

All simulator packages include P3ProSwing Golf Swing Analysis Software and Sensor Platform :
You can choose from the most basic to the advanced Analyzer - Simulator Packages
1) P3ProSwing Golf Simulator & Swing Analyzer
2) P3ProSwing PRO AND PRO PLUS
3) P3ProSwing PRO X
4) P3ProSwing PRO XC
5) P3ProSwing PROXCS
6) Putting Shark with it’s own sensor platform and software

P3ProSwing is highly regarded as a accurate swing analysis system for golf by the PGA Center for Learning and Performance. PGA Center, not only uses P3ProSwing as a partner in golf training but is also a official technology partner which is reiterated by the fact that PGA of America uses P3ProSwing in giving demonstrations to PGA Professionals as well as conducting lessons for golf schools, indoor gold centers and golf individuals of every skill levels.

“Take control of the game”, which is aptly mentioned on P3ProSwing's website.
P3ProSwing offers the best in golfing technology to enjoy, learn and be proficient playing golf in the comfort of your homes with 365 days a year of virtual tours of the best golf courses in the world...!!!

Why someone should have a website

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:31:00 +0000

You want your business to grow and have a presence all over the world. Obviously you can’t have physical offices all over the world, carry your work all over the place, keep distributing visiting cards.

What do you do ?
Develop a website - your virtual office which needs hardly any space to design with less time and money.
Lots of questions will arise, main one being - Should I have a website ?

Website is your virtual office which connects you to the entire world. A personal or business website assures presence, works on behalf of you and your business 24 * 7 building up contacts and eventually growing your business.

With having a website of your own, it’s not only easy for you to showcase your work anytime and anywhere, but makes it easier for a potential client to reach you. No matter what your business is, due to today's fast changing technology a website if correctly designed, allows any business to spread its network with various options you can choose, as per your business needs.

The basic advantages of having a website -
1) It acts as a virtual office and a showreel for you - personal or business.
2) 24 * 7 presence.
3) Wider reach all over the world.
4) Easier for potential client to search and reach you easily.
5) Saves time and money for you and your clients in reaching, communicating, understanding each other.
6) Due to rapid changes in technology, it’s now possible for you to develop a website as per your personal or business needs, hence it also makes it easier to execute more complex forms of businesses online which includes online shops, banking, online tutorials, etc

Website is a tool which basically enhances the prospects of your business. And I am sure after reading the advantages you are eager to design a nice website for your business - A virtual office with your presence all over the world.

Straight from the heart - Unedited and pure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:34:00 +0000

Devala Prarthana / Bhagwan ko Gujrarish / A plea to God

Ya ali Ya ali.....
Kaisee hai teri boli

Ya ali Ya ali.....
Karvaraha hai kyon tu atank ki goli

Ya ali Ya ali.....
Khilwaraha hai tu khoon ki holi

Ya ali Ya ali.....
Hum sab ko bata de tere dil ki boli

Ya ali Ya ali.....

Above is a short poem ( if it can be called a poem ) straight from of my heart. Unedited and pure. These lines suddenly just popped up in my mind, when I was thinking of the state this world is in - war, riots, terrorists acts and in general, a total chaos our world is in now. It is my plea to god asking him ( God ) - To say something about the state, this whole world is in.... Why is he doing all this and can he stop it ??

This poem just came out of me in "Hindi", my national language. And I would like to keep it that way and not translate it in English or any other language. Translating would rob off the essence of these lines.

Kip expressing :)

Devala Prarthana / Bhagwan ko Gujrarish / A plea to God

A letter from "Spirit of Mumbai" to people of Mumbai

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:49:00 +0000

I am the Spirit of Mumbai speaking :

Come disaster, rain or shine, come, destroy me anytime, disfigure me, I will still stand and smile, because I am the SPIRIT of Mumbai

Come all you people, come, abuse me, corrupt me, dirty me, litter all over me, trample me, I will still stand and smile because I am the SPIRIT of Mumbai.

Come, attack me please, bomb me, shoot me, kill me, I will still stand united holding hands with a smile and a candle in my hands because I AM THE SPIRIT OF MUMBAI.

A letter from "Spirit of Mumbai" to it's people which includes me.

I am Spirit of Mumbai known for it's resilience, strong shoulders and kindness. I was born recently, but have matured due to incessant disaster strikes on Mumbai. I feel tired and old everytime Mumbai is attacked by humans or natural disasters. I think I am here to stay, thanks to Mumbai people who believe in me and stand by me. No matter what happens to this city, they run and come under my shelter, rest for while and then walk off with a smile, holding hands, shouting slogans "Stay United", "Mumbai Spirit" and with a candle or two in hands. Please stop abusing me.

Yes I am resilient, have strong shoulders and kind hearted, but lately I have started to crumble with the burden of comforting Mumbai city. I am on constant call and no time to rest. All I am doing nowadays is saying, "Be calm and stay cool. Stay United. We are Mumbai People...blah blah. My parents must be surely laughing on my plight. I had heard from them, in their time....people were very strong minded and if at all a disaster struck, people would start devising ways to stop the disaster, instead of just holding rallies, fight amongst themselves and expect the useless politicians to do something for them.

But today, I am overworked. Isn't it time for everyone to start thinking of how to stop these disasters, terror attacks hitting Mumbai ? ( which are quite frequent in number ) and devise, implement and execute the plans for a better change, rather then just dial my no for help. People are just calling me randomly which I can't even refuse. And since I am kind hearted, I melt looking at the plight of the victims. I should have made a specific contract with certain points and not just walked in their life.

I urge the Mumbaikar's not to spoil my name. I am there every day, every minute, every sec, every breath in every human being but all of you have to use me sparingly and stop hiding wearing my mask.Use me to stop these disasters, attacks on Mumbai and do not use me to show the world "How brave you all are to face yet another disaster and eager to help eachother to hold hands". By all means help eachother and stay united in the "hour of crisis". But let the world hear your Voice of Unity and BRING in the change by "implementing the change". Don't let the willy politicians rule you or supress your Voice of Unity. Don't expect others to bring about the change for your safety and well being. Every individual has to do it and start from his own house, neighbourhood, area to see the change in our society and country.

As I had mentioned earlier I am inside every human being, I will always be with you, but if you all keep calling me, I will be forced to renew my contract with fresh clauses for the betterment of the city.

Till then take care and "Make that Change".

Kip expressing :)

Rat Island - Singapore, 1988

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:35:00 +0000

It was raining heavily the day we reached RAT ISLAND, a small island few kms away from Singapore city. We were waiting for the rains to stop at the jetty/pier for our boat ride to whisk us to RAT ISLAND. “We” consisted of me and few others from my school, as it was our school camp, a camp, which I will remember all my life.

It has taken 20 years and a short adventure documentary, which I saw on TV, to remind me, that I have my own adventure memories still inside me. Memories never get erased but somehow they get buried deep inside us, just to resurface, to remind us that “we ( memories ) are still inside you”. These memories are just like photographs, captured visually in intangible form by a human camera - eyes, brain, heart. And the only way to give these memories a tangible form is to write it.

1988, United World College, Singapore. Fully aware that this camp revolves around swimming, I still decided to join this camp since it offered me various activities. Those days I wasn’t a water fan, forget swimming I couldn’t float to save my life. Mahatma Gandhi pool, which is at Shivaji Park, Mumbai, was probably the best place to learn swimming in 80’s, but their trainers had finally given up on me. Even during our swimming sessions at UWC I never really “learnt” swimming. I was always the one to be in shallow water. Anyways, I was meant to be at the camp and so it was. I went to the camp on the strength of just one word, LIFE JACKET.

Within minutes of reaching the island, we were asked to JUMP in the ocean from a jetty just to warm up for the things coming ahead. Before taking the leap I embarrassingly reminded my group head about my swimming status, just to hear a big NO, with a LIFE JACKET given to me and shown the way. In no time, I found myself floating in the water, asking another guy, “Is it deep in here?” Obviously it was. What was I thinking, had I jumped in a tub? Well this was just a start of my adventure……

After reaching our camping ground and resting our wet butts, we were scooted off to learn sailing which I thoroughly enjoyed. Sailing was a cakewalk when compared to swimming AND the adventure lying ahead.

Next day, my real test lay in the sand in front of me. A CANOE, which is also called a KAYAK. Basically the act is called CANOEING and the boat in which we sit is called a KAYAK. We were given a KAYAK each, with a short training session and within no time we were on our own. This exercise was quite tiring but nevertheless had fun trying something new, perhaps because of our close proximity to the shore where the current was obliging my KAYAK. My first reaction on seeing this piece of boat was….. ahh LOOKS EASY, again better then swimming. As long as I didn’t have to SWIM, I was all fine even though there was direct contact with the water.

Before I proceed, I will describe what a CANOE / KAYAK is and three basic important points necessary to canoe. There is SEA KAYAKING, WHITEWATER KAYAKING, LAKE KAYAKING. We were given a SEA KAYAK. There are two types in KAYAK’s, OPEN and CLOSED. Open KAYAK can seat two people. Closed KAYAK’s can have 1 or 2 people as per the design. We were given a closed KAYAK which takes a single person, in which he/she sits on the buttocks with legs extended and maneuvers the boat with a paddle.
Some more points to bear in mind while canoeing :
1)
a) Firstly one should NOT be scared of water. ( I had no choice regarding this )
b) Believe me canoeing is tough. It’s not easy as it looks. For canoeing one needs to have powerful hands and legs with LOTS of patience and stamina in general and especially when the KAYAK is against the wind and waves. One just needs to practice for such a activity to control it and of course have a liking for water sports.
C) As mentioned above a single person sits with legs extended on the buttocks with no place to twist and turn the lower part of the body. Sitting in the KAYAK with legs stretched for long hours calls for strong legs and lots of stamina.
2) When one sits inside the KAYAK, it’s necessary to cover the mouth
( entrance of the KAYAK ) or the cockpit with a special sheet to keep the water away from entering the KAYAK. Removing water from the KAYAK, when in water is next to impossible. It’s like inviting trouble and sapping yourself of energy which is very vital when canoeing. If any water removal has to be done, it has to be done on land, usually by two people, since KAYAK’s are very heavy. It has to be turned upside down with each person lifting it’s side one by one to remove the water.
3) If you capsize ( the KAYAK turns upside down when in water with a person in it ) with the water protection sheet at the mouth of KAYAK, one should know the technique to come out of the KAYAK quickly and swiftly under water in few seconds. It’s very important not to panic and breathe correctly at this moment.

After spending almost half a day with the KAYAK I thought to myself well I guess this is it, end of this session and start of something NEW. NO this was not to be. A task which was thrown at us made my life a nightmare and yes, it was KAYAK related. Our task was to canoe for a about a km to another island, where our group had to put up tents and spend a night.
I wished, I hadn’t come for the camp. Is this a fun camp or a torture camp ? A km canoeing in deep sea ? Are the camp heads mad ? These thoughts relentlessly kept lingering in my mind till….. we were almost in the deep.

Deeper in the sea, our travel against the current, made things more difficult to maneuver the KAYAK, though we were travelling parallel to shore. More then hands, my legs started aching and I couldn’t take it anymore. My team mates were quite ahead of me. To make it worse I had slowed down since I was getting pushed sideways and more deeper by the waves, towards a gigantic docked ship, which in turn made me hit the paddle with more vengeance imagining horrible things. My mind was completely shut -
1) I was having unbearable cramps in my legs
2) Due to strong current I wasn’t moving ahead
3) To top it, I was pushed towards a huge ship which would have probably minced me and my KAYAK by it’s propellers, had it been moving.
I just had one thing on my mind, get out of the KAYAK and free my legs, I didn’t care about water going in the KAYAK. On an impulse I just took off my water protection sheet and managed to come out of the heavily bobbing KAYAK. I dared this, due to LIFE JACKET which was on me. I wasn’t scared of drowning. At that moment I just wanted to free my legs, which I did heaving a sigh of relief, stretching my legs holding on the KAYAK, ONLY to have my KAYAK filled with water. As mentioned earlier it’s next to impossible to remove water when the KAYAK is in water. I somehow struggled to take the water out of the KAYAK by turning and twisting it. It was a difficult task as water was constantly reentering the canoe as I was fighting to remove it. Thinking to myself that it was impossible to take the water out completely, I had to get in the KAYAK quickly and swiftly before more water could rush in, cause the KAYAK was bobbing up and down furiously. But HOW? As I tried getting in, the KAYAK would twist and turn and more water would get in. After a long play I somehow climbed the KAYAK, pushing myself through the KAYAK cockpit, without a care for the water which was still inside. I just had one thing on my mind “Destination – Island” for overnight stay. Although I was at my wits end and exhausted with this play of getting OUT and IN, I started for my destination with renewed vigour and strength mentally and physically.

And….. finally I reached the island as rest of the team mates were parking their KAYAKS on the shore. I was shuddering to even think of the next day travel from the KAYAK back to where we started from, but surprisingly the KAYAK literally glided through the water since the wind and water current were favouring us.

As things stand today, I can swim to save my life and others life. Though my Life Saver Certificate validity has expired long back, the Life Saver in me is still alive. I guess the know-how and techniques don’t have a validity period. Having said that, if I were to fall in the same kind of “canoe” situation I won’t require a LIFE JACKET at least for those couple of minutes I struggled then. BUT I will not hesitate to dial L J, my pal and saviour, LIFE JACKET which saved me from drowning and gave me strength for doing unimaginable things in the midst of the ocean, without fear taking over my mind.

Kip expressing :)

Wed Flowers - Up Close & Personal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:10:00 +0000

Pink Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by kvisualtree

I am presenting a flower photo series which I shot few days back. All the pictures are shot in super macro mode. Since I took hundreds of flower photos, I have selected best of the lot . All the pictures are untouched, taken in natural light & mostly shot between 2 to 4 pm.This theme is called "Wed Flowers - Up Close & Personal".
Let me explain why this title.....
1) On this particular day I was taking tons and tons of flower pictures and transfering them to iphoto and hence creating lot of randomly named folders. And since it was a "Wednesday" I just named one folder "Wed Flowers" to avoid too many folders. AND what you have is..... my theme name.
2) Up Close and Personal is because I have shot this flower series in super macro mode to peep close enough to feel the world of
flowers, leaves, ants etc... I hope I have managed that and it comes through the photographs. I have put in my heart and soul WITH
ants crawling all over me...so hopefully my effort is visible......Enjoy !!!!

IMP: Please do not repost the photos and misuse them....thanks

Wed Flowers - Up Close & Personal by Kapil A Suvarna is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

PS -

1) When you click the above photo and after the flickr page opens, click on - "Wed Flowers - Up Close & Personal ( set )" to see
the whole album

2) To enlarge a photo, please click "All Sizes" which is on top left of every picture

3) To read the EXIF data click "More Properties" which is on the right hand side of every picture.

Kip expressing :)

Marathi Manoos + North Indian = INDIAN

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:59:00 +0000

I wonder how the family of these maniacs can remain mute spectators to unparadonable atrocities causing communal disharmony on the streets of one the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, MUMBAI. My family would have thrashed the daylights out of me if I had attempted anything remotely similar. I would first question the family of such people who call themselves “leaders”. Leaders of what ? Leaders who lead a gang of hoodlums and sting them to create ruckus all over the city/country and beat up poor defenceless people and divide communities for their own hidden agenda….

Then the state government raises it’s head, with much hesitation and apprehension, to give the local police orders to arrest the concerned “leader” due to whom it all started. These leaders get arrested for making inflammatory speeches, which was the cause for this violence against North Indians. Within two hours of getting arrested these leaders are released on bail for a measly Rs 15000 to achieve a hero status in the eyes of ???? A few tobacco chewing, good for nothing a******s shouting slogans for their leader. I pity the local police for not holding them for few years. At least in those two hours the police could have shown them “the sun and the moon” and then released them with an ambulance waiting to nurse them. A big political game. I will not even step in that circle. Let’s keep it basic.

I am full of questions at present about what has happened in past few days. These questions are to myself as I am one of the Mumbaikar’s who have done zilch against this unfair action, which divides communities within a country and instigates attacks on innocent people coming to cities in Maharashtra, especially Mumbai, to earn 3 meals a day.
Just the other day I had gone to fetch my wife, quite a distance from our house on one of these unpredictable days. At the risk of sounding a hoodlum myself, if we were attacked or had I seen anyone getting attacked, rest assured it would have been “eye for an eye” . And knowing me, to avoid the “if”, my mother insisted that she accompanies me, which I couldn’t decipher at first. But as an afterthought, “eye for an eye” was an foolish thought on my part because this is not our culture or what we want, this will ignite the situation and be instrumental in planting seeds of mutual hatred and cement enmity between people living in peaceful city like Mumbai and this is precisely what these b******s want, communities, cities, country fighting against each other. In short a mayhem filled environment.

But I am glad that a educated Maharashtrian from a cultured family was not in support of this division which was tried in Mumbai, which if pursued more would have created bad blood between existing communities. Only good for nothing and power hungry people can think and do something like this in the hope of acquiring hero status in the eyes of bunch of nincompoops. Does he not understand being a educated person, that his kind of parties breed nothing but hoodlums and absolute nitwits who have no aim in life then act as battery powered robots and cause destruction without thinking on their own and hence cannot predict the outcome of their actions.

As mentioned earlier, following are some questions looming in my mind and I am presenting my expressions in a form of a letter to this “leader”…….

Dear, “self proclaimed leader” of a worthless party.

Here’s a definition of a leader for you :
Leaders lead a nation to harmony, prosperity, integrity.

It would be very interesting to study you or your behavioural pattern or your brain like eg: criminals, terrorists etc… It would be a good case study for students and me, for how it functions and gives you commands to do certain things/actions which are harmful to the society and thereafter whether you realize the repercussions.

If I may ask, was there any need to rake up this community issue between Maharashtrians and North Indians in a city like Mumbai ? I couldn’t agree more that Mumbai is getting burdened by hordes of people from other cities coming to Mumbai for jobs. BUT there are various ways to deal with this acute situation. Put on your glasses and read “VIOLENCE IS NOT THE SOLUTION”. With violence, you are waiting for the distressed to retaliate by pushing them against the wall and trigger a civil war. Is this what you want ? Raise your hand with all your might if anyone threatens your family or our country. BUT, beating up innocent samosawala’s and taxiwala’s mercilessly, by snatching away their livelihood with the help of your sponsored eunuchs, do you think that will help oust North Indians from Maharashtra ? Do you think that's power ? Power is when you can bring happiness in other's lives and make positive changes in the society. And why should other communities leave Maharashtra ? They are in their own house. I hope you understand what it means by “in their own house”. If that’s what you want, I suggest get all the Maharashtrians back to this country who have left their motherland and are taking shelter in some other country to earn their daily bread AND in all probability are snatching 3 meals a day from a local person. At least, these “North Indians” do not leave their “house”, their motherland. But then, can anybody stop anyone from migrating from one place to another ? NO. Likewise, you can't stop anybody from entering or settling in any state, region or country.

I am sure you are educated enough to have made a simple announcement to your party workers for not resorting to violence in the last few days and henceforth I hope you do the same before you and your party workers decide to take up a issue regarding Mumbai or any other cause. To congregate for a announcement shouldn’t be difficult task for you, since anyways, you like to regale audiences through many press conferences.

I am dead sure that a thinking Maharashtrian must not have supported your silly mission or would not join your party, which is like school kids forming groups and creating purposeless hubbub to attract attention and then later getting asses whacked by teachers, parents for disturbing the environment.

Who has benefited from this drama. No one. It’s just going to get more ugly and pit the communities one on one. Enough of this. If you think you have the power, do something constructive and productive for the society/country which will give YOU a genuine satisfaction and bring accolades at your feet, from, not a Marathi Manoos or a North Indian, but a INDIAN. Also, it may give you, instant publicity and thrust you in limelight which you were pining for years, rather then drawing publicity by taunting Amitabh Bachchan, who was, is and will be much loved and the greatest superstars world has seen. So lay off him.

I suggest you think in tranquility on a vacation, where you are with yourself and your FAMILY ONLY.

Regards
Kapil Suvarna
PS: It may sound inane, but if you want to satiate your urge for “division”, just get a birthday cake and slice/divide it in as many pieces you want, with your family and hired goons cheering you to boost your inconsequential ego or whatever you are…...And IMPORTANTLY please convey this message to you KITH AND KIN…..

Kip expressing :)

Movie Reviews : Business Killer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:26:00 +0000

We watch a movie, like it or dislike it and then just forget about it. It takes a minimum of 1 to 6 months to make a film OR more then 1 year to make a more complex film AND JUST 2 ½ hrs to judge it.

It’s a free world, a person walks in a theatre and gives his comments, good or bad. A filmmaker aware of all the risks in filmmaking business, produces the film and screens his creativity hoping that his film will be a box office success and fetches him some accolades. Fair enough.

When a film releases on it’s 1st day, critics put pen to paper and start writing reviews which in today's jet age takes no time reaching the public through various means of communication such as print, TV, radio, internet. Along with freedom of speech, critics have to earn their bread and butter. Again, it's fair enough.

Viewers just watch a film liking or disliking it, whereas critics watch a film and help diminish it's business from the very 1st day. I strongly feel curiosity level lessens when a person reads/listens to a film review before watching any movie, irrespective of the review, good or bad. The reader starts creating a "certain" image in his mind about the movie and if reviews are bad, it just expands the image. I guess it’s natural, if any product is bad I’ll will think twice before buying it. Similarly any movie is a product, which is presented to a wide audience and negative reviews will make a person think twice, if it’s worth the effort to visit a movie hall and buy a ticket for a particular movie which eventually affects a "certain" movie by robbing off it's "probable" viewership. Out of 10 movies released how many are truly box office champs ? 2? 3? max 4?......I don't deny, good reviews may increase the prospects of a film at the box office BUT since the probability of films getting bad reviews is more, it’s anyone’s guess what the final outcome be. A single man's judgement cannot be a final say on any movie.

There are people who don’t depend on reviews ( like me ) OR without regard to the reviews, positive or negative, film aficionados still head straight to movie halls to catch a "1st day 1st show". BUT sad part is, there are millions out there who depend on film reviews or word of mouth buzz. That’s where the fault lies. 8 out of 10 people watch a film for "pure" entertainment and are least interested in the “Technicalities” of the film. When lights switch off in a movie hall the viewers want to enter a different world for 2 ½ hrs forgeting their own. For these people if a movie manages to hook them for 2 ½ hrs and has “entertained” them, then a movie is “good”, if doesn’t then its “bad”. Period. These are the people who really make or break the film, that is, if they “REACH” the theatre, thanks to the reviews by our critics who sometimes I feel, write a movie review to showcase their writing skills.

I myself used to be a avid reader of film reviews in newspapers, on websites every fri/sat/sun, not that I was/am dependent on a review. But now I have stopped reading reviews of the films I wish to see, since reviews act as visualizers creating certain pictures in mind which increase or decrease our expectations towards a film and influences a mind to a large extent.

I feel it's really unfair for a film, which may find it's audience and "might be liked" by viewers, stay away due to negative reviews and most importantly that too in "FIRST 3-4" days, which are very crucial for a film to consolidate it's position box-office wise. Hence I feel the media - print, tv, radio, internet should not publish/telecast/upload reviews in the first 3-4 days which will give every film a chance to stand on it’s own merit. Good or bad. Let the people decide. Something to think about.

Kip expressing :)

Eee PC - Easy, super efficient and fun to use

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:44:00 +0000

How would you like to whip out a small gadget with a sleek body from your handbag, without puffing it up, to surf the net and check your emails wirelessly or work in word and excel document or perhaps a presentation in ppt, or may be in mood to chat or skype with someone while you download some files or listen to music, watch videos, or play games etc etc…. with ease and quick efficiency….? And lots of eyeballs admiring your machine ??? Sounds terrific? Exciting? To me, that’s what Eee Pc does and what hopefully Macbook Air will do ………

I am not going to review Eee Pc or Macbook Air nor am I going to pit these two awesome works of engineering against each other. I will just draw a quick picture in words about these two stunners and their capabilities.

Easy, super efficient and fun to use, this is what I would use to describe Eee PC and Macbook Air. Eee PC and Macbook Air are small extremely light and super efficient laptops which can do just about everything as mentioned earlier with ready to go softwares pre-installed at your fingertips. AND I can VOUCH for Eee PC since I own this baby.

Before I could lay my hands on Eee PC, a lady in a Hong Kong electronic mall, Mongkok Computer Centre to be specific, showed me a small laptop of same size by a Korean company, which was equally enticing and had more or less same configuration with 1gb ram instead of Eee Pc's 512mb ram and Windows XP installed. BUT, the cost was double of Eee PC and I would have seriously kicked myself, if I had bought it and later seen Eee PC. After setting my eyes on Eee PC and knowing it’s capabilities, our ( me and my wife ) decision became firmer to buy it and it’s price, sealed the deal.

I would not demean these two machines, Eee PC and MacBook Air by calling it, only a traveller’s dream companions. Just about anyone can start using it without an iota of computer knowledge. I haven’t used Macbook Air as yet, obviously as it’s just been launched, but from it's configuration it tells the whole story.

For uninitiated following is the basic configuration for Eee Pc and Macbook Air with Eee Pc pictures. Well, my Sony T200 digital cam insisted on doing the honours.

Eee Pc which is by ASUS and introduced in the market very recently -

1) 7” display - intel mobile chip with Linux

2) Solid state ( Flash drive ) 4 gig disk and 512mb ram

3) Lan port, optional phone port, mic and earphone outputs.

4) Memory Card Slot, 3 USB ports, External Monitor Port

5) Wi-fi and Web Cam

6) Loads of pre-installed softwares to start with....

Macbook Air

1) 13” display with Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 2GB memory with MAC OS X Leopard

2) 64GB solid-state driveor 80GB Parallel ATA, 4200 rpm.

3) With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

3) USB port, audio out, Micro DVI

4) isight camera

5) No optical drive. But there’s a feature in MBAir, by which you can access a optical drive from any other computer near you, Win or MAC to load softwares.

The know more head to :

Eee PC Website

http://eeepc.asus.com/global/product.htm

Macbook Air Website

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html

Kip expressing :)

Mumbai Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:10:00 +0000

It’s express time again, since my heart, mind, and hands were really itching to write and pour out my expressions. And what can be better then Mumbai Winter, which is raising quite a few eyebrows.

It’s suddenly very cold in Mumbai and for once Mr Jackets, Ms Sweaters and Mrs Shawls have stepped out of every Mumbaikar’s cupboard and given them the much needed warmth. I hope this renewed association ( after 1962 !!! ) with Ms Sweaters and Mr Jackets remains and doesn’t become a “once in a blue moon” thing.

But my thoughts go for all the needy people out there, who don’t have or can't afford, enough woolens to keep themselves and their families warm in this weather. I think that's one reason, why Mumbai shields itself from the winter every year, but has let it’s guard down and let the cold wave drop in.

Anyhow…. I am loving this weather and selfishly wish, this kind of weather and temperature touches Mumbai every year, but also considering underprivileged people I sincerely hope the temperature stays put at 10 C or else life would be unbearable for them.

Without saying much, all I will express is - Mumbai experiencing sudden drop in temperature this winter is thanks to Global Warming. I won't be surprised if we start experiencing extreme temperatures in winter and summer over the years in Mumbai and around the world. Unless we - Save Mumbai. Save Earth.

Kip expressing :)

RGV Ki AAG and Remakes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:19:00 +0000

I tried not to compare RAM GOPAL VERMA KI AAG with SHOLAY but the inevitable happens, at least during some poignant scenes from the original film. But nevertheless, I tried enjoying the movie as a standalone film.

Primarily I am expressing my thoughts on remakes and also, for AMITABH BACHCHAN, who I simply adore and AJAY DEVGAN, who is one of my favourites, play principal roles in the movie RAM GOPAL VERMA KI AAG. Rest assured, I won't let any favouritism rule my expressions.

If a movie has good content and people like what they see on screen, it will work at the box office, come rain or shine. In some cases people are really harsh, prime eg RAM GOPAL VERMA KI AAG. Let me just say, I fervently want this movie to work at the box office, YES for the sake of Amitabh and Ajay Devgan AND because it truly has some good scenes which are shot with dexterity.
1) All the Babban scenes. Amitabh Bachchan is the answer. His expressions, body language, his voice projection, dialogue delivery is honestly superlative. This man is unstoppable.
2) Sound recording is simply crackling. Nothing less then a DTS DVD will do justice to this. Hear the sound when Babban walks.
3) A shot of Babban sitting inside the jail, before he escapes to butcher Narshimha's family. I challenge any actor worth his salt or any critic to enact this "one shot".
4) Mohanlal’s expressions, say it all, when he sees cops stand outside his room, when they come to tell him about Babban's escape.
5) All Babban and Narsimha (Mohanlal) scenes
6) I liked the holi song for it’s energetic picturization. There was something awkward in that song, which works and I liked it.

BUT this movie is something akin to flipping through a photo album with some bad photographs. A film is made by stitching interesting moments and when there is a loose thread, audiences react positively or negatively. A film maker either makes a film to quench his creative thirst or makes a film for the audience. If later, the film maker ought to take the audience into consideration and make the film, especially if it’s a remake of SHOLAY, a loved film of yore, it has to be treated with loving hands. I just wish RGV had edited some scenes or reshot some, in order to rectify the occasional lethargic pace. But sadly, by the time I put up this piece, the harm will be irreversible. But in totality, it's a good effort in all it’s sincererity and definitely doesn't deserve snide criticism.

As to remake a film or not, who are we to decide. It’s the director’s vision. Period. Remakes will always be made and find takers. So why a brouhaha if SHOLAY IS REMADE. If I don’t like a film “there are exit doors in the theatres”. Give my comments and shut up. Why make a film maker feel as if he’s committed some heinous crime. Any remake is a director’s take, from a different point of view. Give a man his due.

At least RGV openly announced he’s remaking SHOLAY AS RAM GOPAL VERMA KE SHOLAY which eventually became RAM GOPAL VERMA KI AAG. Fine, it’s a unofficial remake since the producers of original film had copyright issues. Today when there is dearth of original ideas and concepts, RGV at least had the courage to admit he’s remaking SHOLAY, by giving due credit to the film maker who made the older version, unlike every TOM DICK and HARRY who make films, as their “original idea”. Oven fresh eg: a recently released film with three men and a baby. Fortunately for the film maker, the film worked. So henceforth I suggest, a film maker should not admit that he’s remaking a film and keep “plagiarizing” film concepts, if I may add, shamelessly, from the original film. Result: MOVIE WORKS, which sadly proves my point “If the content is good and people like what they see on screen, film will work at the box office” irrespective of fresh ideas or remakes or plagiarism. Likewise, a recently released sports film, worked at the box office and garnered lot of praise. It worked largely because, it was a new concept for the audience and had sentiments of the country woven into the script. Which is perfectly fine, but it's a classic case of taking a pizza, removing the toppings and regarnishing it with spicy hot masala to suit the regional audience taste.
References are as follows :
1) Freedom Writers (this is in a educational set up)
2) Gridiron gang ( The Rock )
3) Remember the Titans ( Denzil Washington )
It would be very cruel of me if I fail to mention, a comic caper which has just released today, is another “inspired version” of “It’s a Mad Mad Mad world” . How many people know of the hilarious escapades, the characters go through to reach the “Big W” in “It’s a Mad Mad Mad World” ? Well don't fret, watch the inspired version in theatres near you !!!

It’s a simple moviegoer psychology. “Concept not heard Concept not seen”. Every movie will be treated as a standalone movie, if it HAS a concept not heard OR not seen. If not liked, it’s rejected WHY? Bad product. Period. Classic example Victoria N0 203, another remake of a cult classic of yore by the same name, which released on the same day as RGV KI AAG. I am sure, not many from the younger generation have seen the older version or even heard of it, which puts it in “Concept not heard Concept not seen = standalone” category. Result ? REJECTED, WHY? Bad product perhaps..... At least this product got a chance to prove itself.
But in case of AAG, viewers just didn’t give it a chance, since it was a announced remake of much loved and much seen SHOLAY. All walked in the theatres with previsualized scenes, notions and God knows what. Hence, incessant hammering of the film and the director.

On the other side of the pond, Hollywood, master of churning out remakes and some atrocious movies in recent times eg: Grindhouse, Superbad, repackages a Scarface, it is considered as one of the best Al Pacino films( I don't think so), Cape fear remake gets it’s share of attention due to Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese with original soundtrack from the original film. Afore mentioned films are remembered as cult films, even though they are remakes. Let’s take a fresh eg: Halloween, which has just released, a remake of John Carpenter cult classic by the same name and which gave Hollywood a star, Jamie Lee Curtis. What happens ? It opens well and is doing well at the box office. 3:10 to YUMA, another remake, has already pocketed enough praise from the critics even before it’s release. Why? Director’s fresh approach, with Russell Crowe’s supposed star power.The last two mentioned films, when released back home will have movie aficianados thronging the theatres or atleast hankering for premier invites. It was the same story for King Kong a remake(2005), The Ring a remake of a Japanese horror film, Charlie and Chocolate Factory, The Departed, The Hills Have Eyes 1 and so on, the list is endless......

If we all can give Hollywood remakes a chance, why not our own countrymen, when he/she makes a attempt ?

Psst.... One more question lingering in my mind. Why the double standards by mere desh vasiyo?

Kip expressing :)

Fring - VOIP

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:09:00 +0000

I have been jumping with joy, literally and mighty impressed since I have tested FRING. My joy has no boundaries when I come across such tools, online or offline. It gives me a unexplainable kick to test drive various tools, and see, if it can add to my output.

FRING, is one such application, a VOIP and chat application for mobile phones. And yes, it’s FREE. This application lets us chat and make voice calls ( simultaneously if you wish ) through your MOBILE PHONES to buddies in Skype, MSN, Gtalk, ICQ, any SIP service and other FRING users WITHOUT exhausting your talk time. GRPRS/EDGE DATA PLAN, 3G or a Wi-Fi helps fire this application and connect us to the world, without any geographical boundaries. And with numerous Wi-Fi / WiMAX hotspots cropping up globally, the whole experience just gets worthier.

Today technology is an integral part of our life. I strongly believe technology “is a tool which enhances our productivity”. It should be simple to use and useful. This is precisely what FRING is. FRING’s technology, has cemented my belief in the “power of internet”. OK, VOIP technology may not be a new concept, and surely, there are quite a few instances floating around, but not FREE. But thanks to some think tanks, a great tool like FRING is developed, which doesn’t specifically target a niche market and is made for every individual.
What impressed me is :
1) Usefulness of this product –
a) Once logged in, it imports all your contacts from Skype, MSN, GTALK or any SIP service,
b) Make voice calls and chat with your contacts in real time.

2) Ease of use -
a) Easy to install
b) No high tech stuff, which a non technical person cannot understand.
c) Exclusion of features which are hardly used or understood.

3) Global use

4) IT’S FREE

Free from any gimmicks, free from any restrictions, this is HOW a mobile VOIP should be. Talkster, Nimbuzz, Barablu also have more or less the same features as FRING, but as per the techno meter, FRING leads the pack and I sincerely hope, it keeps me busy……..FRINGING.

Kip expressing :)

12th March 1993

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:18:00 +0000

12th March 1993. Me and my friend Jayesh Padake were at Worli having our lunch in a popular Udipi restaurant diagonally opposite old passport office. As you enter the restaurant, we were sitting on the left side, two benches away from the counter. On our left side were a middle aged parsi couple, sitting next to a big mirror.
After we finished our lunch and waited for the bill to arrive, we both heard some deafeningly loud sound. Looking at eachother, I asked Jayesh, kasla awaaz re? ( what was that noise ? ). As Jayesh looked at me, within a nanosecond, just like in the movies….the whole restaurant was blown to smithereens and my eyes saw the better part getting blasted, since Jayesh was sitting with his back to this shocking moment. Stunned and glued to my seat, digesting what had happened, it took me almost a minute to realize the commotion around me and Jayesh missing. As I darted towards the entrance now in my full senses, my file slipped off my hands in the chaos, which somehow I managed to retrieve with one hand trying to adjust my contacts …….. It was a sight I will never forget in my life – people running helter skelter, a taxi driver lying most probably dead next to his Taxi, A BEST double decker bus’s top part ripped off….As I came on the main road and faced the restaurant, I shouted to myself, kisne bomb lagaya? ( who planted the bomb ? ) Still clueless, I just had one thing on mind, Where is Jayesh ? This fateful day, I had coaxed him to join me, since I had work in Worli and I would have been responsible if God forbid something would have had happened…..
Jayesh walks towards me from my left side calling my name. I rushed towards him with joy only to find blood trickling down his face, which was probably because something fell on his head as he got out of restaurant. We walked speechless towards old passport office just to be turned down by several Taxi wallah’s and private cars for a lift.Wanting to rush home ASAP we were trying our best to get a lift, since Jayesh was bleeding continuously, but nobody cared to stop even though traffic was moving at snail’s pace. I used to stay at Dadar,Hindu Colony 3rd lane with my grandparents those days and was the best place to get medical help for Jayesh fast, since my grandmother knew almost all the doctors in Hindu Colony.
Finally a jeep stopped and we both asked the person if he could give us a lift. And as though god was driving himself, the gentlemen turned out to be a resident of Hindu Colony, about 2 lanes away from my house. As we went a little further a group of people stopped the car, forcibly started thrusting a injured boy in the jeep. They insisted that we take him to a particular hospital, but calmed down and let us go, after I told them that the boy will be taken care of.
After reaching Hindu Colony my family doctor directed us to Khandeparkar Hospital since they were better equipped to handle injuries. The gentleman who gave us a lift, finally dropped us at the hospital and left. I absolutely have no words to thank him. God bless him and his family. No sooner had we entered the hospital and were speaking with the doctor, yet another blast sound rocked the place. This was confirmed when a group of boys got a person with his bloodied back, a victim of Plaza cinema bomb blast. I requested the doctor concerned in Khandeparkar’s if they could tend to Jayesh and the boy who had come with us, putting forward my granmother's name. Jayesh had to take couple of stitches, without any anesthesia, brave boy. I would have passed out at the sight of a needle.
After reaching my grandparents house we called our respective parents, who were unaware about our escapade and how we missed our bus to heaven…….fortunately !!!!
Finally Jayesh went home with his uncle who had come to pick him up. I still remember him, sitting behind his uncle on scooter with his bandaged head, heading back home to chembur, with my typical goan cane hat to cover his head. We often joke about it, during his journey to chembur on scooter, he must have left people wondering about the necessity of “goan hat”. Alas, if only they had seen underneath the hat….
I profusely thank our stars for favouring us, especially me to have come out of that blast without a single scratch, only to find, a small itsy bitsy piece of glass in my right foot after 7 days……..And here I am, writing this after 14 years and ……still have to pay our lunch bill !!!

It took 14 years to end this blast trial and get the b******s involved, the deserved punishment. Several families who suffered due to this incident, lost their dear ones, must have heaved a sigh of relief…hmm relief after 14 years ???? I say the perpetrators should have been executed mercilessly long back ago. Does that include Mr Sanjay Dutt ? From the bottom of my heart I would like to believe he’s innocent and want to see him do what he does best, acting. But as far as keeping the weapons in his house, I have two pertinent questions lingering in my mind.
1) Was this man a child to keep a weapon of “mass destruction” AK-56s in his house and not understand the consequences he may have to face thereafter or was he plain stupid and ignorant.
2) If he wanted to protect his family. He could have got a licensed pistol or asked for police protection or any other form of protection. WHY keep a AK 56 ? It is not a weapon used for self-defence, but is an assault rifle, used to attack and kill.
The world knows what this man has gone through in his life and I sincerely pray that not a soul has to go through any of the ordeals Sanjay Dutt has been facing. But, isn’t he responsible for his acts? And before I end this, I hope the media, film fraternity and public in general who are not affected by the 93 blasts should think a little hard and feel for the families who lost their dear ones in the 93 blasts, before giving their unjust opinions and cease creating a sympathy wave for Mr Sanjay Dutt.

Kip expressing :)

Haswa Phaswi - Marathi Play

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 07:04:00 +0000

I have always enjoyed watching Haswa Phaswi and will always do, whether watching it live on stage or TV. I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed the play twice on stage around 10/12 years ago and have seen it countless times on TV since I have it’s VCD, which is aging now. But, I can’t dump it. It’s a treasure, I want to preserve. Probably it’s time to buy the small brother of VCD, DVD, since big brother VCD is tired of entertaining me by my constant replays of this particular play…….

When I watch this play I genuinely hold my stomach due to "laughing pain" caused during and after the show. I watch it definitely for it’s entertaining factor, but also for its actors who perform this play. My laughter pangs continue even after the play ends and crops up absolutely anytime of the day, month, year, just by thinking of certain scenes, dialogues, facial expressions of the actors or just about anything from the show which, generates a chuckle AND in turn pushes me to see it again and again. And I sure am enjoying this cycle ride.
This cycle ride wouldn’t have been possible without the actors involved. A play where one actor enacts 6 characters and other actor interacts with these 6 different characters. Watching Mr Dilip Prabhavalkar enact 6 characters is an experience in itself and ditto for Mr Liladhar Kambli OR Mr Hemu Adhikari playing the other role. I have seen both of them perform, the same role at different times and both are equally hilarious. All three are well known and respected personalities in Marathi Entertainment Industry, watching them perform is pure fun which I cannot put it in words and probably not fit to describe it. These actors don’t act, they perform and interact. Acting is all about interaction between actors, especially in this kind of play where action and reaction is of utmost importance or else all the punches fall flat. This play is a tutorial of how action and reaction should be a integral part of acting.

A play with one actor performing 6 different characters and one actor interacting with all these different characters in a marathi play is no easy feat . Making people laugh is a serious and tough business, but these guys make it seem like a cakewalk for 2 ½ hrs. Full marks to the entire team of Haswa Phaswi for creating such a unique and a great concept.
Dilip prabhavalkar brings on stage
1) chiman Rao ( He started his career, if I am correct with a TV show called "Chiman Rao ani (and) Gundya Bhau, hence he's lovingly known as "chiman rao" to the audience and is a supremely talented and gifted actor of India )
2) A chinese prince "Wan tun Pin Pin" from Ching Pong island
3) A cocky Chicken Seller
4) Dipti Prabhavalkar, sister of Dilip Prabhavalkar…...Dilip Prabhavalkar comes on stage dressed as a woman.
5) A cool dude ( paplu bhankas )
6) A aged and retired stage actor.
What’s commendable is how Dilip Prabhavalkar brings in his unique talent to interpret all six characters with studied body language, facial expressions and toning required for the roles. Moreover Liladhar Kambli and Hemu Adhikari just add their own to the party. Without their reactions it wouldn’t have been possible. Even the only supporting female lead in the play, helps make this play a hilarious outing for the whole family.

This play has been remade in Gujarati language with different set of actors, which I sadly haven’t seen. I am sure the actors concerned must have performed it well, since Gujarati theatre has talented bunch of actors. But even if I had seen it in any other languages, I would, anyday, prefer Dilip Prabhavalkar and Liladhar kambli or Hemu Adhikari performing on stage.

This play deserved a mention from me a long back and certainly not after 10 years. But after watching it on TV…..YES TV !!! I had to …..
When you spot a oasis in a desert you obviously jump with joy. I am referring to the programmes shown on TV channels nowadays. Present day scenario of Indian television is absolutely pathetic, if I may say so, at least programmes shown on Hindi and Marathi channels. Its full of pessimism. English channels = news = Breaking news. I will go in more detail regarding the same, but I think I will keep some fodder for my next post. So when there is dearth of good programmes and when a gem like Haswa Phaswi is telecasted on TV, I will definitely not leave the opportunity to watch it time and again.

Kip expressing :)

Finally I am here !!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:30:00 +0000

Yes !! finally I am writing something....sorry "blogging", that's the word I should be using. Honestly I am not here because it's a "blog mania" but, when you want to do something, you just do it..... I have been a blogspot member ....one sec lemme check the date..... yeah since "Thursday, November 17, 2005" courtesy my tech podcast which unfortunately ahem.... has not gone beyond 7 episodes, due to my work commitments. But, I WILL return with my tech podcast since technology is my passion and I want to share it with all. To compensate my tech passion I have a tumblelog - http://www.kapils.tumblr.com/ where you will find something interesting and useful.

Getting back to this "blog" let me be very clear and highlight in bold words.
I may not be a good writer, so please do not analyze my English grammer, spelling etc .... anndd the way I write. This "blog" OH! what the heck....I will use the word "expressions" from now on. My expressions are going to be straight from the heart....so, matters coming straight from the heart could wobble a bit and go left or right, as long as you understand and reach your destination, I feel it's OK. Too much of bold letters? I know it can get distracting sometimes.

I sincerely hope I can continue with my "blog" here. These "blogs" frankly speaking are meant to be shortlived and scrapped somewhere down the line. Correct me if I am wrong. But kvisualtree is about expressions, expressions unlimited and they never cease, do they ?

Psst....Since I am a tech and movie aficionado I could be little partial in my "expressions" towards afore mentioned topics.

Kip expressing :)