tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:24:03 +0000Eastern EuropeWat ArunThe DepartedShiva TrilogySuphanburiGameHopeWeekendConnectionsMafiaKoh TaoTaxiGetawayLeonardo DiCaprioMankaathaNagasStoryVoicesWat PhoFull Moon PartyGeneralGood IndianTravelAmishCholasJulia RobertsWaterfallsThalaMarketingCircular TimeThrillerAfricaNational ParksIgnoranceHome TouchVenkat PrabhuFictionDivingIndiaMankathaIndianYuvanHelen LiebermannItalyBook TouchInspirationsCultureMo ChitDriverExperienceRomanticLife LessonsMacedoniaHumanitarianManagement TouchMatt DamonMandelaAjithGrand PalaceMovie TouchDeath RailwayBaliAng ThongLoveApartheidSCUBAChao Phraya riverForeignGood menDesmond TutuBalkan StatesSuperstitionMartin ScorseseThailandNon-fictionKanchanaburiBangkokRiver KwaeEverything that makes us human & humane!http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Shanky)Blogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-8818951055259481324Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:57:00 +00002012-02-15T11:28:54.709+05:30Koh TaoThailandTravelLife LessonsHome Touch NangYuan Terrace and Doing Nothing As I had told you guys before reaching Mumbai, I had been to the islands of Thailand and met people from other countries. During these encounters I realized that though every human being is unique, there are lessons we can take from everybody we meet and apply it in our lives. So here are some of my interesting observations: Everybody has problems - Ifhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/5B_W0iIlE1I/lessons-from-doing-nothing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)6http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2012/02/lessons-from-doing-nothing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-15639104528440263Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:00 +00002012-01-31T16:02:18.867+05:30DivingSCUBAFull Moon PartyKoh TaoThailandTravelBangkok Beautiful Sunset at Koh Tao Heylos! I would really like to apologize for the unexplained hiatus. However, that would mean an arrogant me thinking that a lot of you are actually waiting with bated breath for the next masterpiece from this huge master of words. I know, I know - you are not! So, I just thought I will leave it at that and continue to blog as usual, as much as Mumbai would http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/-kiYJXX4UoI/bangkok-to-bombay.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)4http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2012/01/bangkok-to-bombay.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-9110792102524923912Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +00002011-12-01T17:30:30.114+05:30RomanticThrillerStoryIgnoranceSuperstitionCircular Time Courtesy - Google Images "So you can add this to the list of things only you and I know" said Satish and Anu looked up from his shoulder with her wide beautiful eyes. Those were like restless blacktip reef sharks; scanning his eyes in horizontal motion. Without saying a word She slid down a little, kissed his bare chest, rested her head on it. He knew what it meant; it meant - "I love you"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/xNGIrzDwl74/circular-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)6http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/12/circular-love.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-9159170784516145920Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:42:00 +00002011-11-28T20:16:26.928+05:30Balkan StatesMovie TouchMacedoniaEastern Europe When we think about time scientifically it is the unit used to specify rates like the rate of change of velocity is acceleration . Philosophically, I think it is circular. Circularity of time has many takers and nature is one of them. The repeating of seasons, day & night are all examples for cyclicity of time. We also observe cyclicity of time in the stages of man's life as depicted by http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/bfJAyyrDBbg/before-rain-movie-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)0http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/11/before-rain-movie-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-176072952587958169Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:34:00 +00002011-11-25T19:57:14.071+05:30Ang ThongKanchanaburiGood IndianExperienceThailandTravel This is a continuation from my travelogue about Kanchanaburi .  After a great trip to Kanchanaburi, the paradise that is almost forgotten by tourists, it was time to pack the bags and hit the road home. Have you noticed that the start of the trip is always full of energy and it gets to zero towards the end. What took like 2 seconds to reach the destination from home seems like 2 years http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/xr7-0S0_ElY/long-road-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)0http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/11/long-road-home.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-5961922986078923031Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:36:00 +00002011-11-23T21:27:41.212+05:30River KwaeSuphanburiDeath RailwayKanchanaburiGetawayThailandWeekendWaterfallsTravelNational Parks 5th Tier of Erawan Water Fall It has been three weekends and no travel! I was beginning to get antsy and was bitching about the floods that has got every frickin road out of Ang Thong closed down. But enough is enough, I am going this weekend and noone can stop me - not the floods, not the manager who refused to give the vehicle to the next town, not even the guest house manager who was http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/YRhfhL0IVSw/kanchanaburi-forgotten-paradise.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)2http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/11/kanchanaburi-forgotten-paradise.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-4441132016823942440Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:39:00 +00002011-11-08T21:09:53.041+05:30Book TouchAfricaMandelaDesmond TutuHumanitarianApartheidNon-fictionHelen Liebermann Even as a kid, my fascination towards the big cats was unexplainable. I have no clue why, but I think it might be due to the character of Bhagira in Jungle book. As I grew up, I was fascinated by the countries which had these big cats in large numbers. That and reading about Gandhiji's ashram in SA and colonization of African countries increased my fascination and a sense of brotherhood http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/XnakFNGydAU/rainbow-in-night-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)2http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/11/rainbow-in-night-book-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-1602746848353939945Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:21:00 +00002011-11-03T04:51:47.359+05:30ItalyIndiaMovie TouchBaliTravelLoveJulia Roberts If you want to wager with me and win, here is the secret: Show me a Julia Roberts movie and challenge me not to fall in love with her acting/character. You can even extort my entire salary at times! She is so good at what she does. Be it the struggling mother and activist in Erin Brockovich or the high flying actress in Notting Hill or the distressed lady in Eat Pray Love, Julia does it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/ffHKilhpogA/eat-pray-love-movie-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)4http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/11/eat-pray-love-movie-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-1116964452112858901Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:25:00 +00002011-10-20T00:08:36.752+05:30IndiaConnectionsThailandCholasTravelCulture During my short tour to Bangkok over the past weeks and relentless wikitravel browsing I found striking similarities that Thailand shows vis-a-vis my mother land, India. I am definitely not comparing, merely contemplating about what brought about these similarities. Some of these similarities can be explained while others can be viewed as logical extensions and few others may be just http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/4uCAStopOcU/yaadhum-oorae-all-towns-are-one.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)4http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/10/yaadhum-oorae-all-towns-are-one.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-9065383136273842352Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:31:00 +00002011-10-05T18:14:05.529+05:30HopeDriverGood menMo ChitTaxiTravelBangkok The real driver On my first visit to Bangkok, I met with a 50 year old taxi driver who claimed to be an ex-Muay Thai boxer. I have my own reservations about how much I should believe him. But this is not about his integrity or even ethics. He was a friendly taxi driver I hailed to take me to Mo Chit BTS station (commonly known as Mo Chit 2) from Mo Chit bus terminal. He was chatting away http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/XsWqjUKfDT4/interesting-journey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)1http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/10/interesting-journey.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-7843827880142813854Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:28:00 +00002011-10-05T18:11:52.038+05:30Chao Phraya riverGrand PalaceThailandTravelHome TouchWat PhoWat ArunBangkok Courtesy: Google Images Courtesy: wikitravel This is the first time my Indian issued passport is going to get a foreign stamp or should I say "Farang" stamp as they say here in Thailand ;)? Thanks to the company I am working for, I will be in Angthong province in Thailand for a 3 month training stint. Angthong is around 110 kms from Bangkok and so weekends are not going to be sober ;) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/jFrbnaWzXh4/sawatdee-khrap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)2Bangkok, Thailand13.7234186 100.476231913.476614600000001 100.16037490000001 13.9702226 100.7920889http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/09/sawatdee-khrap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-4504265786959524206Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:45:00 +00002011-09-13T15:15:30.138+05:30GameForeignMartin ScorseseMafiaLeonardo DiCaprioThe DepartedMovie TouchMatt Damon One of the important value-add through my MBA at IIM Lucknow was the introduction to a game called Mafia and redemption from the stupid Mafia wars on FB. The new mafia is a game involving real smart, enthusiastic people. That’s it! No boards, no dice, no cards, no timekeeper or any other equipment/prop. Its a simple yet powerful game and you will be so engrossed that you will forget time http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/UV7pn9ypm8c/departed-mafia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)2http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/09/departed-mafia.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-5945403444401412619Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:44:00 +00002011-09-12T15:14:39.203+05:30GeneralManagement TouchInspirations Pic Courtesy: www.danlew.com Rainbows used to be the magical color palette of the nature until you found out the science behind it. The stars were mystical beauties until we realised its just a mega giant torch burning far far away from us. Many things that were wonderful and beautiful becomes mundane and uninteresting once you find out the science behind them. So is it that being ignoranthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/DJ7pQzz4Ws0/blind.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)2http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/09/blind.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-4863539822722441797Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:55:00 +00002011-09-05T18:25:44.652+05:30MankathaMankaathaYuvanVenkat PrabhuAjithThalaMovie TouchIndian Just before the interval, Ajit plays chess and rehearses his moves to eliminate his partners. He would declare with finesse and arrogance "I am the King... maker!" That is when u sit up, smile and tell yourself "Bring it on baby!". The movie is about four rogue friends trying to complete a heist. Now money is evil, the only thing more evil is the desire that it creates. With 4 rogues, one http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/bezLk_olVGg/mankaatha-movie-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)4http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/09/mankaatha-movie-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-5569813176494778810Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:12:00 +00002011-08-29T12:42:58.979+05:30Book TouchAmishNagasShiva TrilogyFiction There are very few books that will make you feel one with the characters and emote you along with them. This is one of them. I really credit the author for doing this, especially considering that the characters in the book are considered gods in today's world. Hence to be able to connect to them in any way other than spiritual, fear or apathy is fascinating. To read about their anger, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/V-nwPtv8FcA/secret-of-nagas-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)2http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/08/secret-of-nagas-book-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-2542386950429723248Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:25:00 +00002011-08-26T16:55:46.692+05:30GeneralManagement TouchInspirations Pic Courtesy: redbubble.com When we were kids, we did not know anything about B+. Then slowly it was introduced to us as a blood group. Then a little later it was one of the dreaded grades. But this post is not about any of them. This is about being positive. Almost every feel good book, motivational speaker, teacher, coach, strategist, doctor, lawyer and many others preach this slogan of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/l-o9y4WAcG8/b-how-vs-why.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)1http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/08/b-how-vs-why.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-5127368532071739937Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:05:00 +00002011-08-24T18:35:24.724+05:30Home TouchVoices Jugaad is a very Indian term for Indian way of doing things. We Indians in fact propragate and recognise or even accept the existence of only the positive side of it. However, like any good coin Jugaad has the second side as well. The negative side. The dark side. Sometimes its funny how even the negatives are taken as positives in our society. Some sales guy could sabotage the competitor'shttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/Pp1kylDtf6k/jugaad-and-anna-follower.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)5http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/08/jugaad-and-anna-follower.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-8173340173948830325Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:14:00 +00002011-08-19T16:45:24.104+05:30Book TouchNon-fiction There are certain books that claim to have all the answers for all the questions. There are books that gives you only questions and asks you for the answers. Then there are books that just narrates a stroy and provokes questions in your mind. The third variety of books are powerful as the provoked questions wont leave your head until you give them the due time and analyse them. Smoke & Mirrors http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/EwVj-nwLlG8/smoke-and-mirrors-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)1http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/08/smoke-and-mirrors-book-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-3056384907426960579Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:25:00 +00002011-08-13T16:13:11.136+05:30Story (Pic courtesy: Arul Jegadish on Flickr) "இன்னொரு முறை மாங்காய் பறிக்ரத பார்த்தேன், ஆடிட்டு இருக்கிரத வெட்டி காக்கைக்கு போட்ருவேன், ஜாக்கிரதை" ("Once more I catch you and you will be dead! Do you hear me? The crows have been asking me for something soft and I think just yours would suit them") the angry old woman was shouting at the top of her voice, but it felt like it came from a far placehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/XkmYkAzFqsQ/low-entrance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)8http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/08/low-entrance.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-8396095187103556131Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:04:00 +00002011-08-12T23:11:23.740+05:30Book TouchFictionPublications: Rupa Publications, 2011           Genre: Fiction I was aimlessly wandering about the Mumbai airport as I had almost 2 hours to kill before I board my flight to Kolkata. And tucked behind a Philips store was my favorite shop of all time - Landmark! I walked starry-eyed with the prospect of buying books or may be even few DVD sets. Just when I was going to buy the trusted best http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/t0bp3eaRsBE/kabab-maker-and-consultant-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)1http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/07/kabab-maker-and-consultant-book-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-7192867985568476856Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:03:00 +00002011-08-12T16:45:25.847+05:30StoryHome TouchI am Raj, 25 year old male and I am going to end this life! No not the age old suicide that you are thinking about. I am going to end this life and start a new one. No, I don’t believe in second birth either and that is not the new life that I am talking about as well. No... I mean… Wait till I complete my story please. Good. So I am Raj, I am 25 year old average looking male living in Mumbai. Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/VtgrUpuFdlE/stool-mango.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)9http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/07/stool-mango.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-3907340772592570582Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:44:00 +00002011-08-12T16:46:17.848+05:30Movie TouchIndian3 friends, their problems, a road trip that brings a fresh persepctive to their lives and paves a new way to live - This is Zindagi Na Milegi dobara for you in one line. Zoya Akthar has scripted an entertaining movie that captures, very naturally, the chemistry between the friends. The movie opens with Abhay (Kabeer) proposing to Kalki and the ensuing party. Abhay plans a bachelor party for his http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/VcEQvUy9JMs/znmd-movie-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)2http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/07/znmd-movie-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-2170598234964773623Fri, 15 Jul 2011 06:16:00 +00002011-08-12T16:56:40.882+05:30Home TouchVoicesMight sound like an advice, but I was truly frustrated after today's incident in the bus. "Yaathum oorae, Yaavarum Kelir", when translated means - "The whole wide world is my place and every one kith and kin". These golden words from the great tamil poet, Kaniyan Poongundranar, makes great sense in today's world. If only we apply this in our day today life, I think we will be much more tolerant, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/adgT5mm3Vds/yaavarum-kelir.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)0http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/07/yaavarum-kelir.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-4062031521379674861Sat, 09 Jul 2011 12:37:00 +00002011-08-12T16:57:09.033+05:30Home TouchVoicesThis post is not about the latest multi-lingual movie directed by Jayender, starring Siddharth. The movie has anyway been ruled as a dud by many of my friends. So, this is about the 180 that we studied in Maths and Physics... The 180 degree shift! The joy of fundamental science is in the way they are so applicable in everyday life. 180 does provide us with joy, to say the least. I am talking http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/BTz_LeKzZ8k/180.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)0http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/07/180.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767915830737824117.post-3881463158032593298Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:44:00 +00002011-08-12T16:57:36.118+05:30Home TouchInspirationssIt is very rare that I blog on an impulse. But this is one such occasion. I usually type out my thoughts on a notepad, then transfer that to a word doc where I edit and make it better and then search for a good pic to go along with it and then, finally, post it on blogger. But not this time... I found this gem of a write-up which I had saved from the net or email forward long long ago. It is http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HumaneTouch/~3/ZXCYHw6MbIU/energy-supplements.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shanky)3http://humane-touch.blogspot.com/2011/06/energy-supplements.html