I'm NO Saint

Bal Thackeray and The Adam Sutler

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:49:00 +0000

V for vendetta is one of my all time favourite movie and I remember almost every scene in the movie. The main antagonist in the movie, The High Chancellor Adam Sutler, played by John Hurt with a typical french beard, was characterized as a deeply religious man, spouting hatred and "Fear" was his main weapon in his rise to power...

Recently I was reading about Bal Thackeray and came across one of the picture of him with a french beard and only one face came to my mind immediately...

that of Adam Sutler...

I know that the movie is loosely based on a comic... I was just wondering if there are more similarities between Adam Sutler and Bal Thackeray other than the french beard...

Great movie though...

The Story of Bottled Water

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:43:00 +0000

I buy bottled water. At restaurant I ask for one. At the gym to quench my thirst. Whenever I travel , I make sure I have one in my backpack...

Recently I read a story in BBC... How slick advertising and marketing campaigns can turn something that was free into a multi-billion dollar industry...

In the last 40 years the bottled water industry has gone from a business prospect that few took seriously, to a global industry worth billions of pounds.

While the above link teach us some marketing lessons, the exploitative nature of the industry is well explained in the below video...

Modi, Kalmadi, Raja, Raju, Chavan, Yedurappa and Ramamurthy...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:50:00 +0000

Lalit Modi - Accused of Corruption in IPL - Is busy doing a seminar in London...

Kalmadi - Who made CWG front line news for all things wrong - is in Guangzhou voicing for Asiad in India 2019 and criticizing the shooting range there(This is the Highlight)...

A Raja - The man caught in the center of the storm. The mother of all scams "The Spectrum" - Attends the wedding in Madurai...

Ramalinga Raju - Biggest Corporate scam in Indian History - Jumps hospital now and then while CBI is trying hard to charge him...

Yeddyurappa - Busy defending his sons on the alleged land grab - Has gone to seek blessings of Sai Baba...

Ashok Chavan - Involved in the Adarsh Society Scam - Still waiting to be quizzed by the CBI...
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Ramamurthy - Caught for demanding 1500 - Swiftly arrested and put behind bars...

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Eppadi Iruntha Naan Ippadi Aayittaen...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:51:00 +0000

The other night I was watching the Expendables movie and during this particular scene when Stallone, Arnold and Bruce meet...

Only one scene came to my mind seeing Arnold walking...
"Eppadi Iruntha Naan Ippadi Aayittaen..."

Pakse, 4000 Islands, Wat Phou and more...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:12:00 +0000

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Udon Thani & Ban Chiang

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:21:00 +0000

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Waiting for August 14...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:57:00 +0000

Just an innocent status message in gtalk had my friends buzzing me... What's with 14th... what’s with it...

I asked them to guess what it would be...

Some guessed the as usual stuff "Are you returning to India..?", "Machi Enna kalyanama(Are you getting married)..?"

One asked me "Have you become a Pakistani kya..?"

The other... "Hey is it your Birthday?"... I said "No"... "Will you be getting your appraisal then?" he asked again... I couldn't help but laugh... "August 14th could become my birthday... But never will I get my appraisal(so confident about my appraisal)"

One other buzzed me with excitement... "Endhiran release ah..?"

Other friend just noticing the 14th asked me "Are you proposing someone..?" mistaking Aug 14th as the Valentine’s Day... He is working too much I guess...

When I told that 14th is when the "English Premier League" starts... I could see what the reaction on the other side of the chat would be...

"Ithellam Oru Polappu..?" :D

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Lunag Prabang... The UNESCO World Heritage City

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:02:00 +0000

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Ho Prah Keo, Si Saket... Vientiane

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

BC and the language exchange

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:23:00 +0000

Last week we went to a client party and I was seated next to a colleague from client team. As usual we were discussing many things and I'm being a language enthusiast asked him to teach some words from his language in exchange of mine...

So I said "First things first... Teach me some important words... The ones I should know when someone shouts at me and I shouldn't be looking stupid not knowing them... I mean the words that pisses one off..." and gave him a big smile... "I will teach you loads of those kind..." I added...

All of a sudden he said "Hey I know one Indian word.... B**** Ch***..."

I couldn't control my laugh and told him politely...

"Don't use that word when something's not working in the system..."

Buddha's of Vientiane

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:11:00 +0000

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Good Luck...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:51:00 +0000

But for what???

That Luang - Vientiane

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Tanna Adventure – Jacks, Yasur and Level 2 eruptions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:37:00 +0000

Saturday 09:20

Hi..I'm Siva.. The one you are waiting for...
Whats your name..?
Oh Jack.
Jack. Can we leave..?
fine...

Saturday 10:10

It was a short trip from airport to the resort. It was so peaceful a place, less crowded roads (if you could call that a road) and pretty raw. I checked in at the hotel and I was amazed to see how professional they were. The receptionist gave a big lecture though.

Okies... so we won't have power after 10:30 in the night
and comes back only around 7:30 in the morning.
Okies... No fans/air-cons in the room. I don't mind that.
Generators will be switched on when power goes in the morning.
Fax will not work blah blah blah...

The room was pretty good for a night stay, roof made of coconut leaves and cozy, Windows on all sides and nice breeze. You wont even need an AC in here. not even a fan for that matter and the resort had a nice view of the beach from the dining area.

Saturday 11:27

I didn't want to waste much time in the resort, so took my camera and went out for a walk. Not many foreigners around and the place seemed like its your own. Walked for a few mins and I hit a beach. Tanna isn't famous for its beaches. The shores were ragged. It looked like solidified lava.

Saturday 11:50

Enters Jack 2

Hi...
Jack...
I'm Siva...
From India...
You are from here..?
oh oh.. that's your house...
so you look after those boats...
hmm... those belong to a resort is it..?
Is that your kayak...?
oh okies.. you go out fishing daily with that...

and the conversation continued for sometime about Tanna, Vanuatu, India and stuff. He was very happy to show around the place. Took me to Blue hole 1 and 2, the snorkeling place in Tanna and around the coastline showing different things...

Little Jack

More Jacks

I waved bye to everyone around and returned to my resort

Saturday 13:25

Hi... What time will be the trip to Volcano...
3:30...
Okies can you call me at my room around 3...
Coz its such a nice breeze and I surely might sleep. So pls...

Saturday 15:25

Hi Jack...
You'll be our driver and guide too?
Cool... How much will it take to the Volcano..?
2 to 3 hrs... that long is it..?

The road was as expected. No tarmac and all. But the winding roads, greenery everywhere and less people on the road made it a great trip. We passed through several villages which were so basic, there is no electricity, TV and stuff...

These girls were walking from the main town to their village...Around 8 hours walk...

Jack was pretty adept to that terrain. He drove fast when needed, and slowed before we could see the bumps. The ride in the ash plains was itself a great experience...

Saturday 17:49

Worse thing happened. The one I didn't want to happen. It was little overcast during the afternoon and suddenly it started raining. Everyone warned me that if it rains, you get to see only smoke coming out of the volcano and no chance of fireworks. I could see my 500$ melting in rain. I was literally praying and voila it stopped.
Moral of the story: God is there...

Saturday 18:13

We reached the base of the Mt.Yasur and started climbing. We could hear the eruptions from the base itself. I couldnt control myself. I didnt want another rain to come and spoil it. I climbed as fast as I could and there I was witnessing Nature at its best... Piravi Payan Adainthaen...

No words to describe it... It was such a wonderful experience. Standing on the rim of the volcano, heavy winds pushing you, watching the eruption and smelling sulphur...

Saturday 19:15

It got very dark soon and we started returning. It started raining again. It was pitch black everywhere. The lights in the 4WD didn't help much and even then Mr.Jack showed no signs of reducing the speed. I could hardly see a few meters but he was driving like a rally car. Nothing bad as I thought happened and we were back on the roads again.

Saturday 20:45

Jack asked everyone to let him stop for a bottle of Kava on the way to the resort for his friends. We stopped by at the dimly lit Kava shop. I didn't want to let the opportunity pass. Kava is the local drink and how nice it was to end the day with a sip of Kava.

...to be continued

Tanna Adventure – The Flight of the Harbin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:34:00 +0000

After reading about Mt.Yasur Volcano and the kastom villages in Tanna, I wanted to visit the place before leaving Vanuatu. I had much hope on the unity airlines package which seemed to be cheaper.

Friday 13:45

What… you are not operating this Saturday?
Why…? Oh… you need minimum 4 persons to operate the trip...
Any other option...? You can only do it next week.
Ahhhhhhh...I wont be here then.
nahh... thanks...

Great time to get the news for the Saturday trip!!!

Friday 13:59

My research about Tanna came in Handy. I had inquired earlier about the Air Vanuatu flight rates and details and also about some resorts in Lenakel town.

Hey Rio... U know where's Air Vanuatu Office..?
Oh.. is it very near..?
Cool...

Friday 14:17

Good thing about Port Vila is that it’s a small city and almost all offices are just a walk away.

Do you have seats available for Tanna tomorrow and return on Sunday..?
Great.
Oh.. You give 20% discount for those who have flown in via Air Vanuatu..
Great...Yeah.. Please book it.

Friday 14:45

Hi.. Is it Vanuatu Hotels..?
I had already inquired about the Tanna Evergreen resort Garden view Sharing room.
Is it available.
Fine. Book me for tomorrow. checkout on sunday.
Are you running any discount..?
Oh okies.. 3800 vatus for a room.
Fine then... Please book one room for me.
Thanks...

Saturday 06:35

Taxis are a rip-off in Vanuatu, min 10$ for a short ride to Airport, so took a mini Bus from hotel. There are no shortages of buses here as everyone’s idea for investment is always a mini bus. Hopped in one and was there in airport in 10 mins. I checked in for my 8’o clock flight and was happy to see quite a few number of foreigners around. But a flight departed short time later to some island and I was the only foreigner left in the airport waiting for the 8’o clock flight to Tanna. Got little worried and checked my tickets again, whether I have booked the tickets correctly and have noted the time right. All was fine and they called for my flight shortly later.

Saturday 08:00

It was a Harbin and as expected I was the only foreigner in the whole flight. I was just seated behind the cockpit and could see all the dials and controls. I was getting little paranoiac. The Flight took off and we were immediately flying over the pacific.

We flew over islands with dense forests, rugged coastlines, no settlements visible whatsoever.

Saturday 08:43

After a short while we landed . The landing was rough. People started getting out and I also got out. But to my surprise it didn't look like a airport after all.
People were just standing near the flight and it wasn't a runway either. It was just the fields were cleared for a makeshift runway. I was looking for some board with my name on it from the resort people. But nothing. Everyone was looking at me. I ran to the pilot to check with him.

Hi.. Is it Tanna...
Oh... Thank god...
What island is this then..?
Erramango... oh... the next stop is ours...
Ahhhh. For one minute I thought this is Tanna...

Stopover at the Erramango Island: That's the Runway :)

That's the check-in

After unloading almost 400kgs of cargo and almost all other passengers we took off to Tanna.

Saturday 09:10

To my surprise the landing was very smooth and it looked like a proper airport but didn't see a single official though. I just walked out. My worries were gone after seeing the resort guy standing with a board having my name. Thank god.

... to be continued

Vanuatu, Vulcan, 40 Eridani A, 16 light years from Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:50:00 +0000

Immigration Officer: What’s this you have filled in the “Country Visiting”
Me: Vanuatu
Immigration Officer: What?
Me: Vanuatu
Immigration Officer: Is it a city or country?
Me: Country
Immigration Officer: Where is it?
Me: Its near Australia... One of the pacific islands...
Immigration Officer: For What Purpose?
Me: As a consultant to a bank and I showed him the invitation letter.
Immigration Officer: Is it..? Sure..? Please go and meet by boss.

Immigration Officer’s Boss: Where are you heading to..?
Me: Vanuatu
Immigration Officer’s Boss: What?
Me: Yes, Vanuatu
Immigration Officer’s Boss: Is it a city or country..?
Me: Country
Immigration Officer's Boss: Where is it?
Me: Its on the planet Vulcan.
Immigration Officer's Boss: For what are you heading there?
Me: I'm going to meet the Vulcan high command on the request of Mr.Spock...
Immigration Officer’s Boss: What race lives there..?
Me: They call them Vulcan's... I replied and gave him a Vulcan salute.

I thought of replying so but I gave him the usual answers again... I couldn't control my laugh when he asked about the race... He smiled back and stamped my passport and I'm pretty much sure, they both would be wondering where the country is and searching the world map...

WHAT THE New Year...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:21:00 +0000

“TO ALL MY DEAR ONES; who made 2009 a fabulous year… Hoping 2010 will be even better"... Read one...

“Wishing you and your family a very happy and prosperous New year. Best Wishes for a prosperous Year 2010”
Read the other...

Even better(Should I rather say worse)... One official mail from Office
“SUCCESS
Can’t be spelt without
U
We had a challenging year 2009!
Thank you for your whole hearted support
Hope to have great year 2010!
Wishing You and Your Family Bright and Prosperous New Year 2010!!!”

Ahahah...
“May the day break on Friday, be the beginning of 12 great months, the best year of your life so far!!!
Each moment in a day has its own value.
Morning brings HOPE,
Afternoon brings FAITH,
Evening brings LOVE,
Night brings REST,
Hope you will have all of them everyday.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.”

and lot other e-cards and the chat wishes...

As I sat and read the new year wishes sitting in the same old seat... with the same old job... with the same old leftover issues to look at... with the same WHATEVER you can think of...

I'd better be realistic... "Wish you all just another asusual year"...

:) :) :)

Inconsiderate Ever After...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:31:00 +0000

"Last weekend I and my friends were having our as usual Saturday night Beer. Suddenly we heard a loud cry and went outside to check out what it was. The Localites seem to have got hold of some small time robber (Or so it seems), and they started hitting him Bad/Mad. They had undressed him to bare body in that cold night and tied him to a gate. Beat him with Belts, Not the ones worn but the machine conveyer belts, Wooden Clubs, Pelted him with Stones and some even kicked. The beatings received by him were cruel, Out of proportion, in-humane to say the least... It can’t be described in words...

At last we mustered some courage and came down to talk to the localites. Some were already high with their McDowell’s...We tried to get some sense into their minds... We tried to persuade them to call police and handover the guy to them... But they weren’t ready... They were all charged up... Things flared soon...Their attention turned towards us... Minor scuffles broke out... Punches were thrown... Someone called police in between...We were all taken to the police station... They heard from both sides... They Mediated... At last they let us go without any charge... The localites had a long stare at us... We stared back...After all this drama, we returned home with the thought that we saved someone from this brutality and enjoyed our leftover beer until the early morning hours of Sunday... Happily ever after..."
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F****** Shit... The first half of the story is chillingly true and the rest is just a superhero thing I could conjure up later. We were just one in many of the onlookers... We didn’t have any courage to go near let alone talk to localites...Even the other localites were silent... Their attention turned towards us... they shouted at us to get inside...We were just happy to obey... We couldn’t take it anymore...We called the police and informed about what was happening... They asked us to come to the station and give a complaint... F***…They didn’t even bother to come and have a look at...The loud cry continued for another two/three hours and the localites were in no mood to give up beating... We turned a blind eye. So did others...

The happenings went through my mind ever after.

We all do things that could be tagged as bad. Many do it in a polished way. We’re No Saint’s to judge, let alone punish someone.

We are always taught that “Inconsiderate Ever After” is the way to “Happily Ever After”

We could all end our books with the same line “Inconsiderate Ever After”

F**********

Side Effects of Friends’ Marriages

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:38:00 +0000

Was just back from my friend’s marriage in what is a long list of friends’ marriages this month. Couple have got married already and couple more in the coming months. I was just wondering what the effects/side effects on me are.

Not many to make fun now.

No ones for a lunch outside. “Hey da… I have got my Dubba” would be the reply

Can’t sit and talk nonsense for hours anymore.

No more watching some hopeless movie and laughing at everything on screen (Veerasamy, Bose, Yaarukku Yaaro Stepney comes to my mind).

No more last minute Bike trip plans or rather weekend trips.

No weekend booze party and drinking the s*** out.

No company to bars and pubs.

No company for window shopping.

No more getting into trouble with the landlord.

And of course most important of all - No Roommates.

With my parents in no hurry to get their son married, my search for a roommate continues.

Where's My Identity

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:14:00 +0000

I wear formal shirts and tie…
Carry the electronic tag around…
Wallet full of cards…
So do others…

I talk about Issues…
Bugs, Meeting and Reviews…
Never happy about the Hike and Appraisals…
So do others…

I change my looks often…
Pubs, Bars and Restaurants…
Nothing but branded stuff…
So do others…

I’m lost… I’m lazy…
I’m getting used to what I’m…
Nothing but a tiny speck…
I call myself a Software Engineer… So do others…

Where’s My Identity…?

As usual

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:22:00 +0000

Got up late...
Brushed, bathed, dressed, combed...
Glanced at my mirror... Looked As usual...

Grabbed the paper...
Locked the door...got a taxi...
Paid 100 bucks... As usual...

Had a coffee...
Checked my mail...replied a few...
Lunch came... As usual...

Chit chat...
Out for meal...smoked a Cig...
Had a nap... As usual...

BBC, CNN...
Football and Cricinfo...
Time for tea... As usual...

Got back Home...
Beer and snacks...
Egg and Noodles... As usual...

Laid in Bed...
Swapped the channels...
almost 4... As usual....

Am I Unusual??

Anjappar and The Animal Planet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:46:00 +0000

Last week I and my friends went to The Anjappar for a regular weekend booze. We ordered for a pitcher. Anjappar famous for its Authentic Chettinad Non Vegetarian dishes, we ordered a few Non vegetarian side dishes. Few rounds in and feasting on the Non-Veg dishes I happened to glance at the TV in the bar. They were playing “The Animal Planet” on big screens. What an idea sir ji.

Are they hypocritical or am I.

Cricket’s dying... How True...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:22:00 +0000

I recently read an interview of Brian Lara about how cricket is a dying sport... and I for one felt how true it is...

You dont need to look any further than the ICC world cup qualification.

Bermuda......Canada......Ireland......Kenya......Netherlands......Scotland UAE......Oman......Namibia......Denmark......Afghanistan......Uganda

Many of these teams are just there to make up the numbers. Except from Kenya, I could hardly name a few players from the rest of the teams. Denmark, Netherlands, Canada combined has a total of around 12 players of Indian subcontinent origin. Hardly you can say it as a growth at grass root level. After 30 years since WC inception, this is the state of the world cup.

Lets take the crickets development. In the affiliate and associate countries listed under ICC,

I feel of all those countries, the ones that could be game changers are US and China... US with the money it could bring in, and China for its population. But unfortunately, Football is one of the highly followed game in China, and Basketball is slowly gaining hand(I assume due to Yao Ming).
In US, even football finds it difficult, even though they have a good national football team. They tried it with Beckham, and earlier with Pele to little effect. It would be a hard race for cricket to succeed in these countries.

What about cricket in the established nations...
Football is pretty popular in Australia, with them doing good in the last world cup and are sure to qualify for this WC. South Africa is the host nation of this years world cup and surely will see increase in reach/popularity (http://www.safarinow.com/cms/sport-in-south-africa/irie.aspx). England of course is one of the biggest footballing nation. Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa are all rugby nations too...

Carib, once the place of great Cricketers are still a struggling nation to create the same pool of talent they once had... I would put England and New Zealand in the same category.
http://cricket24x7.today.com/2009/01/10/crisis-in-west-indies-and-new-zealand/

India is surely catching up in football. Few years back I never knew anyone following football, but I follow it fanatically now and I know a few people who do follow EPL. I don't have stats on it, but if you look at the EPL fantasy premier league registered 37313 out of 1920659 are Indians. Pretty good number, I would say, and all EPL/Champions league matches are live in India, if u will take it as an indicator of the growing popularity.

And if reports are true, any of these players(16 young Indian footballers to train at arsenal camp) could provide a spark for the sport to be a hit in India.

Cricket is very much dependent on Indian subcontinent... Unless drastic measures aren't taken to make it a truly global sport, it would become a more localized sport than it is now...

Time Pass

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:40:00 +0000

Not during free time... Time pass during office hours ;)

Gtalk:
What else… chat with friends… family… Every time the network guys put on a show blocking gtalk access, some guys will find a way to make it work… I’m not the one to find a way... I’m one of those privileged who get to use… :)

Market:
If you talk market… you will be respected in office for sure… There will be lot of guys who follow market and a good time pass too… Also none of the sites will be blocked in most offices as everyone does it.
What else… you can even arrange opening bell coffee break… closing bell break and so on

Stumbleupon:
Install Stumbleupon plug-in and start stumbling… you get to hit some really good sites… Have you ever stumbled upon the same site twice… I have… :)

e-books:
All hail the forwarders… Lot of e-book sites and lot of e-book mail forwards… I finished 3 Harry potter books sitting in office. And also it will look like you are going through some document from distance. ;)

Flash Games:
Form helicopter to drunken driving lot of fun games to time pass with.

Blogging:
This post was written in office only :)

Football:
I’m really mad about football... as it is 365 days a year game ,there’s lot of news/gossips/transfers to track... Starting with BBC, Mirror, Sun... to my favourite club website... hell a lot of sites to time pass

606:
BBC’s forum for football and others... Lots of banter and WUMming...

And of course.. sight seeing.. bird watching... napping... etc etc... :D

Whats yours???

Reflections…

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:44:00 +0000

It’s almost a year and half has passed since I reached Philippines… I always wanted to do something in my free time… learn some language … Japanese my favourite … or some new programming stuff in my laptop… or at least Blog... Something interesting... or at least finish my GTA game in which I’m only half way through...

Looking at things right now, the bookmark in my Jappu book has moved just 2 pages... and nothing installed in my pc to learn stuff... and I haven’t blogged for almost 4months... It wasnt that I didnt have any free time... but

all there is, is…

110 Beer caps… Couple of bottles… and a wine cap... :(