I rock!!

My Rajasthan Travelogue

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:18:00 +0000

My Rajasthan travelogue
Day -1: Jaipur
We reached Jaipur in the afternoon and had lunch at Niros Restaurant on our way to the hotel. Food was good but expensive. Checked in at around 3 pm. Hotel Jai Niwas is one of the better hotels that we have stayed till now. The room was clean, spacious and well maintained. Food and room service was good. The electric tea maker in the room was something new and very useful for hot water. Also, the messages in various forms to save water were well done. After some rest; we went for shopping in one of the places recommended by our driver. The place was good but had only expensive collection. We spent a lot on shopping. Had good thali dinner at Jai Niwas

Day -2: Jaipur
We left around 8:30 am to Amer Fort. On the way, we stopped at Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal. Unfortunately, entrance to both the monuments is closed. Just clicked some photos from outside and moved on. Amer Fort was very good. We took the right decision to take a guide. After Amer Fort, we stopped at Jaigarh. The view from Jaigarh was superb. Post Jaigarh, we went to Rajasthan Government’s Handicraft center and spent lot of time and money?. We had delicious non veg lunch at Durg – The Fort restaurant. Our next destination was Jaipur City Palace which was obviously marvelous. We spent a lot of time in the Palace. Jantar Mantar was our next stop. The afternoon sun was beating down on us so much that we decided to finish Jantar Mantar in a flash and skip the Museum visit. We relaxed for some time and by 5:30 pm left for Choki Dhani on our driver’s insistence. There was a huge crowd building up and reaching early made it easier for us. We had 2 options; normal – Rs.400/head that includes entry fee with normal dinner and special –Rs. 650/head that includes entry + Royal Rajasthani dinner. We went for the Royal treatment ? Choki Dhani was excellent though the normal entry would have been fine since the only difference was a little more on the menu with AC seating.

Day -3: Jaipur to Udaipur
Excellent Rajasthan roads made the long drive easier. We stopped at a dhaba for lunch and reached Udaipur by evening. We were really shocked to see the narrow roads in Udaipur. Hotel Mewar Haweli was one among the series of hotels in those narrow lanes. The receptionist took us to the rooftop restaurant before showing us our room. Their rooftop restaurant with the lake view is their USP. Room was decent but there was no phone and it looked like converted into a room recently. The restaurant service was excellent and food was superb.

Day-4: Udaipur
Location of the hotel made it easier for us to see the places. We started the day with a visit to the Jagdish temple, Fateh Sagar Lake followed by Lok Kala Mandir and City Palace; all were good. We asked our driver to leave us for the day by afternoon and did the rest of our day by walk. City Palace was huge and we were tired by the time we came out. We relaxed in the hotel and were a bit late to reach Bagore Ki Haveli Museum which closes by 5 pm. But we enjoyed a 1 hour folk dance program in Bagore ki Haweli at 7 pm which was awesome.

Day-5: Udaipur – Mount Abu
Check out was a breeze and again the Rajasthan roads ensured that we reached Mount Abu much ahead of time. Hotel Parash new was convenient but will not come near to the other two hotels that we stayed in Rajasthan. Food was oily and some school students staying in the adjacent rooms made it noisy. Reaching early meant that all view points as per the itinerary was finished on day one ?

Day-6: Mount Abu
Next day, we got up late and enjoyed some wildlife in the morning. By afternoon, we bid adieu to our driver Bhavani Singh. We finished rest of the day shopping, roaming around Nakki Lake and relaxing in Café Coffee day ?

Day 7: Mount Abu – Ahmedabad
After 6 days of sight-seeing and soaking in Rajasthani culture, we headed out of Mount Abu to Ahmedabad Airport with couple of stops for tea and a good Punjabi lunch. Reaching early meant we had lot of time to check out Ahmedabad airport which was more like a bus-stop. Flight was on time and we reached Bangalore by 7 pm.

Here today ... gone tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Planning to sell my sofa set. Had bought it just before my marriage and had thought it will be give me company for a long time ... but times change.

last few days before I bid farewell...

Another year

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Start of a year gives everyone an opportunity to reflect on what's working and what's not. End result of this reflection leads to the common and most abused new year phrase "resolution". Though I never try to get on to the "resolution" bandwagon, I try to see my life from an outsiders perspective. More often than not, I am disappointed. Not because it was not good, but for how much better it could have been.
Looking back at 2010, it has been "the" hectic year of my life. Status changed from just married to full time married. Biggest change was that my contribution to UB group came down drastically. Kingfisher folks should start an anti-shaadi movement to stop huge loss of revenue to them :)
It has been an year of responsibilities with taking care of in-laws topping the chart. There were lot of good news, lot of fun, lot of learning and lot of travelling.
My expectations from 2011 ... More travel, more fun and regaining my fitness .. Now does that sound like a resolution? ;-)

Sunish

30 Skills Every IT Person Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 08:56:00 +0000

Article by Richard Casselberry in 2008 but will be right forever

BSOD

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 03:10:00 +0000

How many times have you gone through this? You turn ON your notebook for a quick email check or for a quick reference and Windows welcomes you with a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Sounds familiar?

Based on my experience with all windows OS versions including Win7, I have come to the conclusion and also accepted the fact that BSOD is part and parcel of our Windows life.

I almost forgot to mention something that I like about Win7. Whenever Win7 comes up after a blue screen, it tells you that it went through a blue screen syndrome; kind of empathizing with you. Hats off to MS for that :)

Long live BSOD!!

Note: This is not a anti-Windows propaganda. I am a fan of MS and particularly of Win7 and hopefully will continue to be for some time...

Sunish

ubuntu time

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 03:52:00 +0000

At last, installed a VM on my Win7.... Oracle VM Virtual box. With my new pro-Open source mindset, I started exploring and went ahead with installation of icinga on ubuntu.

My updates were failing with a problem that was reported on the web in multiple places but with no solution.
Unable to update Ubuntu 10.xx using proxy connection – “No address associated with hostname”
Then, I found this link http://linuxdesk.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/unable-to-update-ubuntu-10-04-using-proxy-connection-%E2%80%9Cno-address-associated-with-hostname%E2%80%9D which was spot on.

error “No address associated with hostname”
Solution:
Create the file /etc/apt/apt.conf if it is not present or else add the below line:
Acquire::http::Proxy “http://myname:mypassword@proxy:8080″;
Mind you, do not copy-paste. Type it manually.

$ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for xxxx:

WOW!!!!

ICINGA on Ubuntu begins

Mail to blogger test

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:21:00 +0000

This is a cool feature for some reason, I never tried.

travelogue

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Will try one about my sirsi trip ....

Back to blogspot :)

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Sat, 29 May 2010 12:17:00 +0000

Now that I have lost my blogging habit, its time to move back to open source (less $$$ in other words).

Not only have I lost my habit but I also lost all my posts on http://sunishrocks.com.
Last post now is dated 2008 :(

It made sense to stop auto renewal on godaddy for my domain and move to blogspot :)

Euro 2008 ticker

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:29:00 +0000

Catch the latest on Euro 2008!

Bawra Mann

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:39:00 +0000

My car stereo tells me enough of this ...but I say "no"

I have been listening to this song continuously for a week.

More I listen, more I like it...

Bawra Mann from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi

Bavra Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna
Bavra Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Bavre Se Mann, Ki Dekho Bavri Hain Baatein
Bavre Se Mann, Ki Dekho Bavri Hain Baatein
Bavri Se Dhadkaane Hain, Bavri Hain Saansen
Bavri Si Karwaton Se, Nindiya Door Bhaage
Bavre Se Nain Chaahe, Bavre Jharokhon Se, Bavre Nazaron Ko Takna.
Bavra Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Bavre Se Is Jahan Main Bavra Ek Saath Ho
Is Sayani Bheed Main Bas Haathon Mein Tera Haath Ho
Bavri Si Dhun Ho Koi, Bavra Ek Raag Ho
Bavri Si Dhun Ho Koi, Bavra Ek Raag Ho
Bavre Se Pair Chahen, Baavron Tarano Ke, Bavre Se Bol Pe Thirakna.
Bavra Mann, Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Bavra Sa Ho Andhera, Bavri Khamoshiyan
Bavra Sa Ho Andhera, Bavri Khamoshiyan
Thartharati Low Ho Maddham, Bavri Madhoshiyan
Bavra Ek Ghooghta Chahe, Haule Haule Bin Bataye, Bavre Se Mukhde Se Sarakana,
Bavra Mann, Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

....even the movie is wonderful

Digital Red!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:16:00 +0000

Ranjith sent me this link from one of his friends blog
http://aimlessdrift.blogspot.com/2004/12/kerala-model.html

The blog "Kerala Model" is quite old but the thoughts...are still new.

Nothing has changed except for the government that keeps on alternating with no great results.
[Excuse me for using the word "great" here ;-)]

What a coincidence that Kerala is on "hartal" today, this time against fuel price hike...Has the fuel price hike not affected other states?

In this digital age, when the neighboring states are trying to compete with the world, Kerala is struggling to get on the IT map.

In one way, it is good that the IT revolution has not taken over or else we would have definitely seen software engineers with red flags in their hands. It is so easy to visualize them with a red bandana and union badge hung down their neck instead of company I-cards.
Hope such a thing does not already exist :)

Their blogs and websites on the internet would have been interesting
http://www.itunion.com
http://developers-zindabad.blogspot.com
http://adminskijai.blogspot.com

On a serious note, every mallu is responsible for the current fiasco. Rain or shine...they will toil in all corners of the world except in Kerala. The entire gulf stretch would have still remained a desert had it not been for mallus. For their migrating nature, every NRK should be classified as 'nomadic tribes'.

Its time to digitally enhance 'God's own country' to 'God's own e-state'.
Come on mallus...its high time you do something.

Mind it...'something' is not a synonym for 'boozing'

Disclaimer: The author qualifies for reservation under 'nomadic tribe' category

Movie to watch...Snatch!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:32:00 +0000

This is the third run and I am enjoying it.
If you are the kind who gets high on Tarantino movies, this movie is for you.

Snatch has good resemblance to Pulp Fiction in terms of slick editing, criminal background, boxing, fast motion sequences, etc etc...

Alan Ford as the pig feeding gangster is amazing.
Lots of twists at a fiery pace keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Some quotes from the movie:
--------------------------------------------------
Customs official: Anything to declare?
Avi: Yeah. Don't go to England.
--------------------------------------------------

Turkish: What's happening with them sausages, Charlie?
Sausage Charlie: Five minutes, Turkish.
Turkish: It was two minutes five minutes ago.
--------------------------------------------------
Sol: I'm not in here to make a bet.
Female Bookie: 'Preciated, but all... bets... are... off. If all bets are off, then there can't be any money can't there?
Sol: I'm not buying that.
Female Bookie: Well that's handy, 'cause I ain't selling it.
--------------------------------------------------
Check out more quotes here

Go ahead and "Snatch" a DVD or download it from bit torrent.
Headphone on a laptop is a better idea to enjoy the quotes ;-)

"Snatch" is definitely a good catch :)

Happy Birthday Palsi!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:07:00 +0000

Palsi,
I have been trying to reach you since morning. For a change, your cell phone stays unanswered.
Looks like you are analyzing your last year's achievements :)

It was a year in which:

you spent more time in "apun ka Bombay" than "namma Bengaluru"

you got to know what "Amsterdam" is all about ;-)

you tried your best to get a "loser" back on track

you had more fun in "Disneyland" than in "GRS fantasy park"

you tried very hard to force each one of us to your "close" friends marriage/reception unsuccessfully

you tried very very hard to be the highest contributor on "Dr.Vijay Mallya Donation fund" list

We were planning to celebrate your birthday on a high note...a weekday not withstanding
Anyway, it does not dampen our spirit. I can see an exciting weekend ahead. Cheers!!!!!!!

Closing Note:
As you step towards another 365 days journey, I can see Jeetendra with a pack of tablets waiting for you :)

Lots of wishes!!!

Ring!! Ring!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:00 +0000

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon. As usual I was about to start my regular Saturday@2 “shavasana” regimen.

I thought to myself, “Is there any other better way to spend my time?”

The awesome “Nalapaka” breakfast combined with the heavy lunch left me with no other option but to say NO!

I was getting into my sleeping gear and all of a sudden from the corner of my eye; I felt like seeing two giant squid eyes staring at me. I turned back in a flash to realize that they were my own oncall mobile phones (small Nokia 6610 and the bigger RIM blackberry) sitting on the table top waiting anxiously to start ringing.

I was shocked when the small black mobile asked me, “How dare you sleep when you are oncall?”

I could not believe it. Am I still drunk from yesterday or was there something wrong with the food that I had?

“Don’t worry,” the big black mobile chuckled “I know you are confused. Just as you humans speak, we also speak among ourselves. Only difference is that now you are able to here us.”

“What?” I stuttered “Now I am. What does that mean?”

Biggie explained, “Every time you take us near your ears, we send out signals to your brain”.

“You mean the much hyped electromagnetic radiations from the mobile phones?” I asked in curiosity.

“That is what you mere mortals call it. For us these are evolutionary signals, which help us capture the human brain and convert them into one of us.” added the biggie.

“What?” I asked moving a bit backwards.

“Yes.” said the biggie animatedly. “Over a period of time, the signals create a precinct in your brain and you start losing control of yourself. In other words, you start thinking like us.”

The little one added, “Now that you have started interacting with us, it is just a matter of time before you become a part of our community”

I blurted “Your community. What do you mean?”

The biggie said in a commanding tone, “You will stop speaking like humans. From now on, you will only be ringing.”

I could control no more and started laughing. I said, “You kidding me. Do you think…ring I am…ring…going…ring…to…ring ring…believe….ring ring ring ring………..ring?

I thought, “Oh it has happened. I cannot speak … I can only ring.”

I shouted out loud. Just then my friend patted on my shoulder, “What is wrong with you? Why are you shouting in your sleep?”

I got up and asked very slowly, “Hey, can you hear me? “Yes, you @*#%” was the reply and I cried out loud, “I will be speaking, I won’t be ringing” to my friend’s surprise.

He could not understand why I was shouting. It took me some time to explain my out of this world “mobile” dream to him.

What a “mind-ringing” experience that was!!

My tryst with Firefox

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:37:00 +0000

I still remember reading a review about Firefox in Business World by Mala Bhargava some years back. At that time, browser was just a tool to surf the internet and so ubiquitous was Internet Explorer (IE) that the word web-browser was synonymous to IE. Mozilla was somewhat of a known entity at that point but Firefox was definitely not. Mala gave a list of features but the one that caught my attention was “tabs”. Opening a window in a new tab was unheard of and the idea of having all related links in the same window was really impressive. Also, clutter-free taskbar was a welcome change.

Next day, I had Firefox running on my desktop. Slick and lightweight, the experience was good to start with. Having an alternative to IE in itself was a kind of relief. Though Opera was an option, it never came out of the shell. As always, the curiosity to know a product better led me to explore the themes and extensions that were available for Firefox. I was never happy with the themes that Mozilla provided. Even now I run the default theme. The element that impressed me the most was “Add-ons”.

Initially, it was a bit difficult to understand how useful an add-on would be from a web browser perspective. My notion about add-ons in a browser was limited to better speed and reliable downloads. But once I understood the power of Add-ons, there was no looking back. I realized how add-ons can help me stay in touch with the current events, play my favorite music, block the ever irritating advertisements, etc. etc. etc. Though all these came at a price, not in monetary terms but in way of memory, add-ons were worth it. Certainly, a small bargain for the wonderful surfing experience it provided.

Firefox is no longer a web-browser for me; it is more of a utility. It is a gadget that helps me interact with the world, stay abreast with the latest happenings, filter out the unwanted stuff and undeniably increase my productivity.

Long live Firefox!!!

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Post Alpha!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunish) — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:59:00 +0000

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No relation to the cold war :)
Post alpha just refers to my first post. On second thought, it is related to war... a war against myself to start blogging. I should say public blogging.

I have been thinking of doing this for a long time. Feels a bit relieved to get going. Needs to see how long this will continue :)

Wishing myself ... "Best of luck!!!"

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