Alice-in-wonderland

Ice-cream robot!

2012-07-06T03:57:00.002-04:00

A robot making ice-cream in Tokyo! This ever smiley robot created by Yaskawa company makes and sells ice-cream. His name is Yaskawa-kun , kun is polite suffix for boys :).

Even the song is nice - roughly means, Yaskawa-kun is come for kids and parents and grandparents, and all love him . In the end, says "one more please" :D.
Even their website is robot themed !

A picture is worth a thousand words

2012-07-05T00:23:00.001-04:00

      I was always very curious to see different places, and if I cannot go to that place , then pictures taken by friends of the place,and listen to the stories about them. This was a way to see the unknown world through a known eye.. As in friends think alike and share similar understanding about a few things. So through their lenses the place will look more familiar than the pictures available on internet by professional photographers.

      Recently while sorting the old hard disk, found some trip pictures taken by friends. One of them was taken when she went to snowy alps, by a bullet train. I had never traveled by bullet train so neither had seen snow laden mountains through the fast moving train, then. Last year experienced both ! Yes snowy mountains through bullet train, location is different, but view is similar.. yes , I call it as experience! its not so often I travel on the same tracks, and not so often the mountains are covered with the white snow :). hmmm long pause, Now from friend's pictures, the scene I had imagined was totally different than what i saw! Obviously this picture i did not remembered when i 'experienced' the scene myself. just thought now when came across the pictures. And it is not related to only one picture, its for all places and pictures! And about pictures of same place too. When i see pictures of place, and decide to visit, and see it myself, place seems much different.

   Then i saw pictures of some treks, taken by me and taken by others in group. Picture of same place through different angle look so different! As if i just had not seen this part of the hill! Obviously this is not about the picture quality, dependent on the camera type and quality lenses. this is about the view angle. Really the perception reflects in the picture taken!

       I think The beauty of the pictures is it gets the memories in front of eyes, really and that is what is to enjoy!All other things become secondary...

{this is the Artist's view of 'harabhara kabab'.. with loads of memories during college days :). }

Pizza commercial!

2012-06-28T04:20:00.000-04:00

Pizza hut advertise from S. Korea!!
watch here

Doorstep service!

2012-06-22T23:30:00.000-04:00

Today morning, someone knocks the door. I see a salesman kind of guy from company "MAC".. Then he explained he is actually here for buying.. He said " I am here for buying used gold or platinum" shows a file with prints of all jewelry types. "we give u very good price" So he is interested in used gold or platinum! I am shocked !

My Indian mentality does not go beyond the a guy at doorstep for buying can buy raddi - used newspapers and magazines, at the max tins, glass bottles and used cloths.. but in japan why would someone buy these thing.. hmmm..

And here is a Japanese guy at door step neatly dressed, speaking good english (yes kind of rare to see in Mishima) interested in buying used jewelry !! And insisting on it to sell gold I have and ensuring repeatedly, a very good price !! Then he asked me my ring - wedding ring! I said a bigg "No"
"I cant sell this, its my wedding ring"
"I give u a good price."
{he is staring at my mangalsutra - the Indian wedding necklace}
"no"
"any ear piercings?" (with lot of hope)
(i checked my earrings, fortunately it was not gold)
{ still staring at mangalsutra}
"ohh thts not gold ." (witty winning expression)
" platinum demo diajoubu, even platinum is fine"
"aaah this is not platinum"
"really? i give good price" (more convincing face)
"No No.. I dont want to sell anything"
"unn okay" (sad like face)
I shut the door.

---
At Mishima, japan.

from across the world

2012-06-20T22:00:00.000-04:00

    What happens when a few poets from all across the world come together with an innovative project called "Renshi" ? Definitely it is a sheer entertainment to the reader !

    And then a few of them are not very good at english, keep open the option of translating the poem again :). Who started this is Makoto Oota a japanese poet and columnist in a well known news paper. and the news paper is also famous for his column! He gave rebirth to the poetry form of bygone age.. called "Renshi" in japanese. It was particularly famous in 12th and 13th centuries.. this is a set of linked poems where the next poem starts with last phrase of the a poem. in all forming a link. Ooka practiced Renshi successfully in homeland, japan, then across globe mostly European poets. Sometimes originally written in english or with help of translators. volumes of renshi are published in German, Finnish, Estonian , etc languages !! And this particular book,in English, which fell in my hands "What kite thinks" is a special one as OOka says.. This is collaborative work of poets unknown to each other , and special because as and when they discuss, they each of them reveals a secretes of their own creative process.

   Ok lot about the poets, but what is the entertain part? all poems collected as book has explanation by the poet, about the situation , their thought process about the title itself.

   a link from the chain :

         Bridge after Bridge
Don't cross them, she said. this place hides no treasures
no crystal forests or lpis rivers
no rose-petalled evenings
just an expense of nothing -
that's all.

Don't let greedy curiosity get the best of you.
Obstacles are not always the promise of prize.
(Toyama)

          The promise of prize
There are moments to ripe with promise-
cool air alive with cries of bird,
a glamor of gold sunsetting on a pond-
that we think poems could write themselves,
and we hold to heart an unwon prize,
that might not be a lie.

But last night the moon was so full
I could make nothing of it
(Stanton)

Magazines

2012-05-11T02:26:00.001-04:00

    I love reading magazines. Its mid way from heavy books to daily newspaper, covers vast topics in shorter version.
    As a child used to read the kids' magazines, then at teenage started reading the local weekly magazines for stories and some ntersting facts they used print , just to show off in front of friends.. and yes it worked well, most of them didnot have access to magazines, as parents were either not so interested or they used to read at work, others would just ignore the magazine as some other paper binding as daily news paper! As for me, i liked the witty humor in some magazines, story series in few and travel photography in other.. It definitely nourished my interest in reading. i was never choosy about subjects or types of magazines i used to read daily affair magazines, travel, spiritual, general knowledge and literature too.
   I remember when i was in school, once an uncle had given us some old National geographic issue with huge monkey -gorilla- on the cover.. and had information about animals.. I saw the magazine hundreds of times.. back then i could not understand English in the magazines. but i felt like we are so lucky to have such a great magazine- which appears on TV! when I left home for studies, so do the weekly magazines..Till this time india today was the most profiled magazine for me.. Now college introduced me some renowned magazines like national geographic, sky and telescope, computer world n all.. Now as I got more time to spend, reading the Time magazine, and vogue..

Magazines have different style of narrating and more general views from all over the world, according to the current happening throughout the globe. And different section like art and culture, brief facts, entertainment, sometimes puzzles n crosswords et al makes it fun package.
This will evolve as the time pass by.. but definitely magazines will remain favorite.

Fuji

2011-10-31T06:23:00.001-04:00

Mt Fuji - the sacred mountain in Japan! Gave me its "darshan" 5 days after arriving (!). Fuji is more often hidden than seen. By the way we are staying at around 40km from mt Fuji, in the city of rivers - Mishima.

I was very curious about the astonishing mountain, may be for the various stories about it or for the seemingly perfect cone shape of it or for the adorable snow covered open top of it. The sacred one not only amazes the 'aliens' like me but the people here too! Even a very sophisticated taxi driver turns his head towards Fuji, while driving, to see if its there! Apparently there is beauty spot on the mountain, i think the only mis-shape in the cone is called as beauty spot. (as in the picture.) We stay on the beauty-spot side of Fuji :).

Ancients founded the 'Shinto' faith in the divine presence of mt. Fuji. So they approach towards it with pure heart mind and body. "May all my six senses be pure, may weather be fair on mountain!" is the prayer they chant before the plod up Fuji's trails.

I saw Fuji accidentally. I arrived in the town, and was amazed with the mountain clad backdrops of the town all around. but no Fuji. I could see mountains in all directions but one in clouds. for 4 days i went jogging in 4 directions but in vain. And later i decided the sacred one is not showing up until November - until when the sky is clear , so just explore the town :) I was jogging along the highway, and paused a while to have a look at a lavish car parked in huge parking area. Amazing convertible! I wish i could get to drive once !! as i glide ahead, and eyes move slowly away from the car, there is the sacred mt Fuji! Stating tall and smiling with beauty-spot ! I stopped then and there, looking at the most awaited scene since few months.. Later i realized the parking area keeper was looking at me, this almost embarrassed me, but he tuned towards fuji and then towards me and smiled like "i too saw mt Fuji for first time!!" :-).

a song

2010-08-27T07:35:00.002-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMya9eAMUVo

(Aur phir yun hua
Raat EK Khawaaab Ne Jaga Diya)2

Phir yun hua
Chand ki woh dali khul gayi
Aur yun Hua
Khwaab ki woh lari khul gai

Chalti rahi Benuriya
Jalte Rahe Andheron ki Roshni ke tale
(Phir nahi so sake
Ek Sadi Ke Liye
HUm Dil Jale)2

(Aur phir yun hua
Subaho ki dhool ne
Uda Diya)2
Phir yun hua
Chehere ke sab nakashk sab dhul gaye
Aur yun hua
Gard the gard mein rul gaye

Tanhaiyan Odhe Hue
Galte rahe bheege hue
Aansuon se gale

Phir NAhi So Sake
(Ek Sadi ke Liye
Hum Dil Jale)2

A plant

2010-08-23T08:47:00.000-04:00

Got a sapling at home for this rainy season ! Hope it will 'flowerish' and keep me happy :).

youTube

2010-08-02T05:39:00.001-04:00

These days listening vivid music, fusion of indian folk n rock, sufi n jazz, n more :-)

Different style of music n singing.. its like something tinkling in mind, something is missing.. someone is missing.. like dancing angels in my head . The singing or the music takes me far away from near abouts.. And I enjoy it, like the rain makes earth happy and we can experince it with the fresh smell of the mud, n fresh green color of grass..

Music makes me happy indeed :).

And actually more is the visual effect, watching them playing . It makes the impact in mind , the way artist plays how they express themselves. Enjoying self like some invisible connection of minds!! And the synchro of the whole band or all performing artists! their graceful presence in front makes me happy !! Or what makes me more happy, is seeing them enjoying the moment, enjoying they being themselves, i guess :).

Thanks to youTube :).

Sunday $ Sand-day

2010-04-30T04:31:00.004-04:00

It was sunny afternoon with cool breeze.And the coconut trees, I could see from my window, were dancing on the tunes of wind. after a heavy lunch the sunday afternoon, it was more pleasant.

Just like that i went near the shelf and i saw a small plasic bag lying in corner. It seemed unnoticed for many days. I picked up and opened, It was sand from kanyakumari beach. This sand is different from arebic sea sand, that sand is golden white .. The long golden beaches of alibaag, goa, mangalore framed in front of my eyes suddenly. And then the colorful kanyakumari beach.. with 3 different shades. Three types of sands, each with different seive and color. Red, black and golden!

I opened the bag and put some granules on a white sheet. It was looking beautiful, different colorful crystals.. Suddenly i thought to take a closer look with magnifying lens! and it looks beautiful ! Adjusting the light on the granules and trying out diferrent patterns.. the colorful shadows of crystals.. simply amazing ! Sands are indeed one of the most fascinating things to see under the lens :).

"Tingya"

2010-01-22T01:56:00.005-05:00

Last weekend I saw a Marathi movie .. 'Tingya'.

I could relate it to somewhat forgotten memories, of the calf, with which I, as a kid, used to love to play... All emotions just strike to the mind, acting and the dialogues are simply great!

'Tingya' literally means, "small guy" , but to understand the feeling in the word, tingya, u should hear it aloud... umm if I try to pronounce it like dictionary style it would be "tin'gyaao" !!

Small kids playing around a bull are happy to see the tractor coming towards their farm and start jumping with joy that their bull will not have to work. But after a while the tractor turns away, making Tingya and Rashida sad... And here starts the story of love for Chitangya his favorite pet animal, the bull, who is almost of same age as Tingya and has served the family till recent time...

Tingya is from farmer family, with only bull and a cow, Chitagya, who is unable to work in farm now. And the family has no money to buy new one or to rent tractor. If they will not plough the farm, the potato crop will go waste and there will be no means to earn till next year... so his dad, head of the family is in trouble, decides to sell the old bull and buy one. Now this bull is of no use for farming so he would have to sell it to butcher only... Tingya of course opposes the idea, by all means shows his refusal, and to see all his cute ways to show his refusal, you should watch the movie only :-).

And during that time, Rashida's granny falls sick, and a doctor comes to examine her... this gives Tingya an idea to call doctor for his pet! And get his Chitangya cured. So this small 8 year old kid walks to the miles away town, in search of doctor he saw in morning... and finally he finds him, but doctor says he needs to find Vet, doctors for animals... and then he finds that doctor and gets him to his dwelling, with full enthusiasm and happiness. His father, who is already frustrated with all worries, screams at Tingya and the doctor, as he cannot afford doctor's fees... From his heart he wants his pet to be cured, and well but the situation is such that he is just helpless... And then the doctor says, the bull is seriously unwell and cannot work in farm again... Disappointed both, father and child cry in agony...

Finally they decide to sell off Chitagya...

With his walk all the way to the town, Tingya falls sick, and Rashida is worried, she sees her grandpa taking a medicine drink from bottle for his cough, and she offers that to Tingya... he is absolutely reluctant to swallow that bitter drink but she makes him drink... And after having finished the bottle, he gets an idea!! His father would sell the bull in bazaar tomorrow, but if the granny dies, bazaar will cancel, and Chitagya will get life! And knowing his Bhari idea this small little girl, just cry and cry and cry... puzzled with, why does her best buddy has to say anything like this?? After telling this story to her granny and grandpa, we know the culprit, the liquid in bottle, alcohol!!

Next day, Tingya still awaits, visits the granny, she is extremely unwell but alive, disappointing him... and his presence disappointing more for the little girl, Rashida... she asks him to go away...

His mother performs rituals with great gratitude for the pet, before father takes Chitangya to the bazaar, and Tingya still confused and angry, refuses to perform the rituals... and then they, his father 7 brother, take Chitangya toward bazaar... tingya follows them disappointed kid, but helpless.. None of his tantrums are helping in this situation... the bull is sick, and walk after very much force... tingya is supposed to push him with stick, but instead he hits the stick on his own leg to make the sound .. But to keep the bull safe... his leg is soaked in blood till now... (One may feel its exaggerated or something... but people really do love their pets so much...) since morning Tingya is just silent...like lost somewhere...

In bazaar no one is ready to pay the amount Tingya's dad is asking for... its almost end of the day...but till now no customer for his bull... and disappointed father says we are taking Chitangya back home.. Hearing this Tingya lights up with joy! And turns the bull towards home, with his brother... planning how to cure him, how to decorate him after he is all well... And here in bazaar, the butcher comes back to tingya's father and asks almost near amount, and deal is done! Chitangya sold off... they trace the little one and Chitangya, and take him forcefully from Tingya...

They return back home disappointed... Tingya is wearing the Ghungaru of Chitangya... which make weary sound in complete silence of the way.. And till they reach near house, the granny is passed away... more silence in the frame... and running Tingya with Ghungaru around his neck...

...after few days, their cow gives birth to a calf, he is a bull.. And Tingya names him immediately, "Chitangya" !! The movie ends with Tingya and Rashida dancing around in joy for new birth of ‘Chitangya’!

And back ground music of soft song.. Meaning literally, 'have my skies for you.. And keep yours for you.. ' Great line indeed, it means a lot! You can listen to he song here.

Nice movie.. Just small small things and emotions, very well captured in frame and in the acting. The countryside beauty captured in camera, and the small small incidents written and played extremely well.. Best part is music! Only one song, but enough :).

Indeed must watch movie !

Unknowingly..

2009-09-10T10:04:00.001-04:00

In Morning..at bus stop.. "Didi this bus will go to Ulsoor?" a tiny fragile voice asked me. She was about 5 yrs old kid, with shiney black dress with Chamaki, And big red bag. As I could see, the bag was soo big, she herself could fit inside it !

hmm.. So she asked me a question, while bus was going ahead.. I said "Yes.." and she smiled looking at the bus going ahead.

I asked,"Going at school?". again the fragile voice replied, yes.. You are going alone ? .. yes.. (with happy smile.. like achievemnt) :-).

Hey where is your scool uniform? and she replied "birthday!" I wished her with a chocolate, and she said in same fragile voice thank you.

Now she was my friend! May just for next half hour but she was :).

We traveled together, till Ulsoor, she talked about school and all And suddenly asked , Whats the time?? I told and she said nervously, "only 5 minutes to start the school.." I said, "ohhh... dear dont get afraid Today is your day , birthday girl ! No one will say anything to you.", and i smiled. She looked at me with confusion, i nodded that its true. And she believed ! And was very happy .. Till then we reached till her bus stop , she got up from het place , went till door and looking back towards me..as if I was someone differnt. she got down , dint forget to waved to me !

As I waved back, I saw some Chamaki on my hand, from her dress..

Now when I am writing its still shining on on my hand..

People leave things behind… Unknowingly....

Balloons

2009-08-25T09:33:00.003-04:00

Incidents:

Sunday eve, whole day at alone home did all pending work of week and finally came out, but as no surprise, all men at road, not a single lady, off course except me, outside, at 7 pm!! Hmmm happens.

And I saw her, first thing I noticed, her confident walk, believe me she was not less confident than any Super model on ramp! Her wide clear eyes had pride look. She was wearing a long Ghagra, with lots of plates, carrying a Balloon stand. A long vertical stick and 3-4 horizontal, with big balloons, small balloons... blue green, yellow, pink, orange, red, white, all colors!! And unknowingly I asked her for big yellow balloon, may be I was highly impressed by her being there (1 more lady, then me, outside) or I was just happy seeing all those colors. She kept the stand on ground, and turned towards the balloons, I noticed her shiny nose ring and silver bangles on arm. She gave me a big pink balloon. I wanted yellow, but didn’t accept the pink one. Before I could say anything thing, she pointed towards my kurta, pink, and smiled :-).

I took it happily and all day’s tiredness just became as light as air in balloon :-).

Morning 10 o'clock, I am tired of walking the long road; though weather is pleasant after last night rain and morning soft drizzle. I saw few small children walking on opposite side foot path, with dirty shabby clothes, and dust in hair with careless expression on face. Their parents must be working at nearby construction site.

A lady was walking towards them, with tricolor balloons, Independence Day special. As she slowly walk passed the children, a small kid in arms of a little old girl, looked at her and clapped happily. The lady noticed this, and and she waited there for a moment and walked back to the children with smile, and offered them a balloon each!!

All of them were so glad :-). They exchanged the smile of gratitude and the joy on their faces gave me the feel of independence, freedom!!

Janmashtami, birthday of lord Krishna, celebrated with Dahihandi in Maharashtra. Here in Bangalore dahihandi part is missing but festival is celebrated widely. I somehow landed in a Krishna temple with a friend. All floral decoration from main gate welcomed us. And main temple was just amazing ! Nice fresh flowers everywhere, smell of incense sticks and burning Ghee lamps made it just different. It was quite late (late in Bangalore out timings ;) ) so very few people were there. As I reached near the God statue, to my surprise there are balloons!!! A bright red heart shaped balloon is smiling at us ! and accompanied with other yellow and orange fellows!! So even people try to make God happy with balloons!!

Hmmmm (long pause!) Simple things make us happy no matter why but they do! :-). Stay happy always :-).

Too often.. Too True..

2009-03-30T07:25:00.000-04:00

Too often we don't realize

what we have until it is gone

Too often we wait too late to say,

"I'm sorry - I was wrong."

Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones

we hold dearest to our hearts

And we allow foolish things

to tear our lives apart.

Far too many times we let

unimportant things into our minds

And then it's usually too late

to see what made us blind.

So be sure that you let people know

how much they mean to you

Take that time to say the words

before your time is through.

Be sure that you appreciate

everything you've got

And be thankful for the little things

in Life that mean a lot.

Growing old surrounded by those we love

is a privilege denied to many

Never leave behind regrets.

~Author unknown

Wonderful spring !!

2009-02-19T06:46:00.002-05:00

The winds are moving pleasant.. the trees blooming pleasant.. The tree was mere a sparse bunch of sticks is now filling up with lavish green color.. Sun shining on them to give them golden shine..Yellow lavender blossoms are heads up to add new fresh look to the scene.. And spotless blue skies above that, make the scene Picture perfect !!
The scene is Reflected on the glass building and the glass in turn reflecting it down on the Earth.. To walk through the scene (metaphorically).. I walk on that lonely road and feet just drag me slower.. Feeling the warmth of nature..on the way to office.. and and enter office in fresh mood :)
Also with nature I am enjoying spring , a new beginning after some cold time.. I am ready to enjoy the crispy weather.
Oh lord nature, grant me energy to enjoy this! And let my life be like spring forever !!

मी एक रात्रि त्या नक्षत्रांना पुसले

2009-01-31T03:37:00.000-05:00

मी एक रात्रि त्या नक्षत्रांना पुसले
“परमेश्वर नाही घोकत मन मम बसले
परि तुम्ही चिरंतन विश्वातील प्रवासी
का चरण केधवा तुम्हास त्याचे दिसले?

तो आहे किंवा नाही कुणा न लागे ठाव
प्रज्ञेची पडते जिथे पांगळी धाव
गवसे न किनारा, फिरे जरी दर्यात
शतशतकांमधुनी शिडे उभारून नाव!”

स्मित करून म्हणाल्या मला चांदण्या काही
“तो मुक्त प्रवासी फिरत सदोदित राही
उठतात तमावर त्याची पाऊलचिन्हे-
त्यांनाच पुससि तू, आहे की तो नाही!”

-कुसुमाग्रज

Bangalore survival kit !!!

2009-01-28T23:39:00.000-05:00

Ah, why do I ever miss his sight whose breath touches my sleep?

2009-01-23T08:28:00.000-05:00

He came and sat by my side but I woke not.
What a cursed sleep it was, O miserable me!
He came when the night was still;
he had his harp in his hands,
and my dreams became resonant with its melodies.

Alas, why are my nights all thus lost?
Ah,
why do I ever miss his sight whose breath touches my sleep?

with thanks form "Gitanjali"
by Rabindranath Tagore.
Nobel prize for literature, 1913.

One Sparkling morning..

2009-01-12T00:15:00.000-05:00

Bright Golden treasure

at the edge of mountain..
Birds sing to sugary sweetness,
At One Sparkling morning.

-A Haiku.

Music

2008-11-06T03:35:00.000-05:00

The music just make you feel so happy… takes you the voyage long away you are living, long away you are being …

the way you are feeling that the moment :-).

Far beyond the worries , far beyond the friends far beyond the depth of thinking !!!

And leaves you in the heaven of your thoughts .. the dreams come true there , for the moment you live the way you always want to be like…. Life is no more worry no more pain no more living .. it becomes just being !! in the world of the own !! and probably with The one who rules the romance in you ..

Its not so spontaneous ever.. its like just feeling to be in heaven.. where signs also become meaningless and just the words flow like the romantic rain drizzles on you!!