Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Ridiculous....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-7ybrDcsrY&feature=related

I have not blogged for a while... just heard from dad, about lali di mom being among the 90 people who died in the above fire... How are these private hospitals even being allowed to operate without ensure basic safety of the people coming there for a treatment..

Life in India, at times feels so hopelessly HOPELESSS...that the world around feels so dark..

I was with another school friend of mine on Friday. We all spent our childhood together.. and grew up together.. I don't know how the family members are dealing with her loss..

Can it be forgotten as accident or is it pure negligence?
How do make up for such a massacre?

Life IS uncertain..but the uncertainty increases when you live around irresponsible, unreliable societies.. And unfortunately, we/I am part of that society..

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Black and White


Life isn't black and white!
It's "GREEN" :)
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

White Pine Lake


by Motorola Cliq XT ! I think my small eye did a pretty good job ! Another Alpine lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon at 10,000 ft. The hike was llllooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnggggggg and tiring. Totally worth it! 5 hrs of walking and walking ..
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Monday, June 27, 2011

Foodie Me


Summer is here and am away in the mountains.. streams.. river.. hardly been home to make update anything here. It has been great so far. Few new things for this summer :
@back to tennis,
@ Gardening
@Biking long distance
@ TANGO - yuppp... learning it finally... "whatever Lola wants"
Happie Me... Thank You Life..

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Really ?


Did it really happen ?
..
.....
had to cancel my memorial day trip. its going to snow.. and rain..
lost my "thai basil"... despite the start the end seemed..brighter..

nothing much.. I guess its for the very best.. I am absorbing...Posted by Picasa

The cancelled "Memorial Day Weekend" ... that became memorable..

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Ganges - the source of life

The river...

The flow..

Source of life..
The pollutant..
The River - Pollutant Fight..
The struggle to flow through ..
Leaving the pollutant behind..
Face to face with the dark matter...
Played to the Ananda Shanker's tune..eventually losing to the mighty pollutant..
A Lost Battle!

14th May was a wonderful weekend. I got the opportunity to go back on stage and participate in the above Dance Drama.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


I finally had the time to watch this movie. I am not into poems, but the last two paragraphs caught my heart. Morgan Freeman and Matt Daemon were as usual "brilliant". Despite the "Hollywood extravaganza" it was truely inspirational. LOVED IT. BRILLIANT.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Enlightenned !


Time to wake up from the meditating crush or infatuation.
Enligthened by the grace of ignorance, dishonesty, and jealousy.
I am glad that the cupid, is GONE!
Cheers, :)
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Thursday, April 21, 2011

Little YellowStone..


within 1 hr of drive from SLC. This shot summarizes all the possible reason's why I love UT.
Thanks LIFE for these wonderful days.
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

UpSide Down !

My life was flipped 'UpSide Down' this Monday!

I know its not a permanent set back..but for now it seems so. Life indeed is full of surprises. You never know how or when it might just fall apart or just fall in place. Wish it was the later. Back to the grind, stress management, focus, To Do List : Personal, Professional, Emotional.

Phew ! I guess life has decided not to give me a break ever !
Trying to appreciate the upside down view for now..
It shall be over soon !

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Living Traditions 2010

Memoir's from Last year.. when mommy was here.. we went to the "Living Traditions" festival.
She liked the the "Chinese Dance"....

But I liked the stuff(s) from Peru -
Until I visit Peru myself... this will be my boxed summary of Peru's diversity
These plaster dolls...are given the shape, color and inserted inside
a Pistachio shell
Or even a Match Box..
The Man who was doing it..
Basket's in the making.. Will make it to Real Peru, very soon.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Sunday, March 27, 2011

A day in a Bishnoi village near Jodhpur.. .

Jodhpur is mostly famous for places and forts. However, I wanted to see and meet the local people. We got lucky. The Haveli we stayed in, organised a trip to a nearby Bishnoi village.

"A Bishnoi Hut". Bishnoi community is known for their dedication towards conservation. Somewhere in the 18th century, the "Construction Minister" of king of Jodhpur needed wood for some construction project. Back then it was not an organised community, but 100 villagers stood up and tied themselves to the trees, stopping the Minister to continue with his plans. The Bishnoi's believe in conservation and respect for other animals and plants. They do not support the idea of destroying (killing) life for satisfying human needs. About 50 people were also killed. This incident got the attention of the King, and since then the village and its surrounding area was protected or marked out from any future extraction.


Pottery is not unquie to Rajasthan, but this is the first time, I actual witnessed the whole process outside a TV.
The pile of freshly made pots after it has been burnt for few days.
I was quite impressed to see the variety of things they end up making with just that spinning wheel! The variation in color comes from the duration of heat and water used in the soil.
The Master and His Wheel with few curious tourist's.

Yes, totally touristic ...

It felt like baking a cake with hand. Something between funny and interesting feeling for the hands.
Ghungat ke aarh se (Behind the veil). The Veil Culture of Rajasthan. Women are not allowed to show their faces to anyone but their husband and children. I don't know how they can carry out with such exclusive creative work behind those veils. If it was me, I am confident that I would have made a mess of things around.

Jodhpur is also famous for 'Darri/Rug'. To put it in simple words, a "Rug" made of sheep or camel hair, dyed and weaved into beautiful pattern. It can be used on either side and folded back into a small size. Its mostly used as a spread on the floor, table or wall, depending on your necessity.
I am pathetic and hopelessly drawn to such stuff. I am using them as my mouse pad :)
Now, right there we have '5 Camels'. The brown ball held in mom's hand. Camel hair from 5 camels. Coarse, hard but very warm. It's hard to dye camel hair. Hence camel rugs are mostly very dull in color. It's mostly used by the locals and does not seem to have a market outside Rajasthan.
Dal Bati Churma - traditional food from Rajasthan. Had Bhakri (the local bread) for the first time. We could not find the same dal or bhakri, anywhere else for the next 7 days!!!
Pigs and Piglets eating :)
Any guesses on what that man is holding.....????
That was "Opium". Five grains or produce from Rajasthan (Jodhpur). Mustard, Cumin, Opium, and Sangri (the only vegetable, its like beans). Cannot remember the other ones. Unlike other places where opium is smoked, here its drunk. A Bishnoi (the local community around Jodhpur) practice or ritual in the evenings.
Crack the fruit to extract the seeds. Crush them with a pestle. Clean or filter it through water couple of times. Then drink the water from those oval bowls, if you are a man, :)
The Opium Factory
"Asta la Vista". Time to say bye to the family who shared their home with us for a day. I don't think I will see them again in my life. But their warmth, gesture, affection and welcoming attitude will remind be of the beautiful people of "Rural India". Something, that I really miss, since I completed my PhD and have settled down for an urban life!

Our guide and his Land Rover. Must mention he had a "Black Beery "!

So, that was Jodhpur. We head north west from here (Jaisalmer and Bikaner) into the Desert.



The Green Rajasthan (East) that we are about to say Bye

The West, where we are headed for next 6 days..
The Landscape that comes to our mind, when we think of Rajasthan.