One from the Barrel

Reading through my "Favorites Mail" archive, found few of them very very enticing. And a few quite mushy-mushy for public viewing..hehehehe

This one has to be one of my most cherished mails. My first trip abroad way back in Jul - 04. The enthu and pleasure, I had in writing it for my friends back home was so intense. And yeah you can feel my pleasure in very small things those days. To be frank, I miss those moments. Burden of growing old ? Hope Not :-) .. anyways small is relative :-)

One of those write-ups, which calls for many reads' for thyself.

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Hey all..

my transcrips of the trip

Bangalore International Airport: International Immigration - 8.40 PM -
17 Jul 2004

Baggage Checkin went smooth as none of the visitors had more than 60
kgs. Then, the Immigration Section, we need to fill in a Immigration
Departure Record. After presenting the same to the Immigration
Officers, some questions are asked, such as, Why are you going ? Do
you have the Invite letter from the client? how long you will stay?
etc.. on the same lines.

Then the Customs and the security Check, which as smooth as eating
butter, provided you are not a member of Al-Qaeda :-D.

Finally in the Boarding Lobby at around 10.45 PM.

Singapore Airlines SQ-429 bound to Singapore departed at 12 midnight.
Facilities in the Aircraft is quite in the standards of the AMERICAN..
not sure.. juss kidding :D. Supper was quite good. And another good
thing the aerial view of Bangalore, my City looks good. We can view a
Queens Lace due to the lighting of the Ring Road.

Thanks to the STAR Alliance, passengers can choose Movies of their
choice from the list of On-Demand Movies On-Flight. Likes of HellBoy,
Hidalgo, 50 First Dates, AI, MunnaBhai MBBS, Baghban to name a few.
Choice for On-Demand TV Programs, On-Demand Audios are also available.

We reached Singapore, Changi International Airport at 7 Am -18 Jul 2004.

Changi International Airport: Arrival - 7 AM - 18 Jul 2004

Singapore - SINGAA + Pura - East Asia's Door to the Globe looks awesum
aerially, especially when the aircraft is over Singapore River.The
AeroBridge from SQ-429 led us to a world of fantasy... thats
exaggeration, but yes, a world of its own. We landed in Terminal 2, of
the two terminals in the airport. Not sure of the perimeter or area of
the Airport, but the Boeings, airecrafts stood like BMTC buses in
Majestic.

We then had to reach "RainForest" Lounge which was in the other end of
the Airport Terminal. So take a walk... Sorrry.. you have the
SkyTrain. Just Sit in the SKyTrain, within 60 seconds you are in the
other terminal. Refreshed ourselves in the RainForest Lounge, Browsed
the Net, Breakfast.

We then landed in Terminal 1 to book tickets for the Free 2 hour
Tourism Trip organised by Deapartment of Tourism, Singapore. We got
the tickets for 1 PM slot. So still 1 hour left, walk through the
airport terminals, viewing the American, United, Lufthansa, Qantas,
Virgin Atlantic.

Come, 12.25 PM, we had Queu up for the free trip. We need to surrender
our passport. At sharp 1, the bus leaves the Changi International
Airport, to take us a ride of the Singapore. The ex-British Colony is
just a ride away from Indonesia and MAlaysia. A person can view
Indonesia and Malaysia when he steps into a overbridge on the main
highway.The guide, who claimed himself to be a friend of next PM of
Singapore was quite articulate in explaining about Singapore. But I
remember only about apartments, Car, Death Sentence words from him.
Unluckily, we missed the boat trip on River Singapore due to light
showers.As usual, the concrete structures looks good, rather very
good. Many of us almost slept due to lack of sleep, last night. We are
back to the airport at 2.30 PM. Diligently, the passports are handed
over to the respective individuals. So some more time to go for the
SFO bound Singapore Airliner. So, once again Window-Shop the Pierce
Brosnan, Cindy Crawford in OMEGA, Aishwarya rai in Longines, Anna
Kournikova in NIKE, Pierre Cardin's, TagHeur, HEINZ. We can even
browse the Internet in the Free Internet Shoppe.

At 5 PM, Singapore Airlines SQ 002 was ready to Take-off from the
Changi IA. Not a very good aerial Take-off view, due to the
backwaters, and due to the abscence of Lights. Once again the bliss of
Window Seat. After around 210 minutes, the aircraft passes on a
ex-British Colony, Hong-Kong. Refuelling Stopover is for around 75
minutes, during which SFO pbound passengers can also alight the craft.
The newly built Hong-Kong International airport, is funky in the
Design of the Roof structure. One of our Client Manager who was in the
same flight, led us through the viewing of the Airport.

Hong-Kong International Airport 9.55 PM Local Time, deaparture to San
Francisco Airport.

San Francisco:

Aerially, SFO provides the best view for any passenger in the
aircraft. The Golden Gate Bridge, the salt extraction processes, the
skyscrapers looks awesumm.

San FranCisco International Airport :

Finally, in the port of Entry to the Sammy's Land, The United States
of America. Any non-resident American visitng the country has to
undergo the Immigration Process. Nothing but, I-94 form to be filled.
i GOT the i 94 for three months. Baggage Claim and Securrity was cool
and easy

--paks

Pleasant Surprise...

Every weekend, I forget to change my mobile profile setting to "Ringing". Thanks to which, I would have missed quite a few calls. Over the last weekend, I did miss one. And after subsequent callbacks could not reach the person intended.

Finally, the get-to-gether which was to occur over a weekend, concludes on a cold weekday late evening. Well, either of us did not know each other. We only knew that, each would be of same skin color and could resemble an indian face. Perfect blend for a Blind-date. Rightooo!!! Read On...

When I did meet the person in a luxurious hotel, I was in for a surprise. Pleaseant one indeed.

Of all the people who read this, how many people have felt the feeling of being remembered by your ex-manager after years? Being remembered not being cursed ?

How many people have a ex-manager who sends out an authentic Indian sweets/savouries through an unknown person across seas, to refresh your tastebuds ?

Yes I do and I cherish that :-)

Thanks a ton Lakshmi...

Cheers...

Magician...

Public holiday amidst a week, does not act as a catalyst for an outing to Aussie Outback. The only option left out is to relax back at home experimenting on cooking or reading or watching movies or working. The least preferred is the last while the most preferred one is the penultimate.

Whilst in Singapore, I had watched "Dalapathi" ( Maniratnam-Mamotty-Ranikanth tamil starrer)and was more impressed with Mani's school of direction. After watching those tamil movies of 80's, when you watch "Dil Se" or even "Guru", you feel the shadow of Mani at work and not himself.

Of all his works prior to Roja, have watched "Nayakan", "Anjali", "Dalapathi" only. Yeah, after "Roja" he was a household name, so no one would have missed his movies. But there is lot of intriguing contrast compared to his previous direction and the present.

B.Rangan, one of the renowned film-writer, writes about a phenomenon called Mani Ratnam here . And yeah read till the end, on why Box-Office has changed the real Mani.

Cheers

mere yaaar ki shaadi hai :-)

**dedicated to Anil Kumar, the only A of P3A, who from today would lose the bachelor tag and downgrade himself to be part of HIS OWN family**

Dude,

When I started writing this blogpost, I wanted to write one comical blog on you, same on the lines of Jaspal Bhatti's "Flop Show". Somehow, mid-way I felt am not doing justice to the post and the person yourself. So retraced myself.

Have used this space, to write about P3A many a times, so any intro to you as a blokey would be sheer repetition.

Still, lots of unmentioned stories lies beneath the stones of rail-tracks running across Bangalore-Tiptur. Rightooo!!! Well, for all the minds imagining a wonderful story, my dear apologies as there was nothing but you were very fond of the Chur-muri's sold in the train :-)

Many of us when we saw you first, would feel why are you so slow. Werent you then? No wonder you were nicknamed "Gaja" in college. But, going on we always found you as a geezer with a calm, sedate and solitairic attitude, who wanted to accomplish things in your own way. Truly so, you have done it. Bulls eye.. right!!!!

Also, kudos to you for maintaining a clean-slate in terms of hang-ups, rumours, gossips in college(kudos to me as well.. pat on my back). As your hard-work (hang-on, when did you study in BE.. ohh yeah you missed few hours of sleep in 7 sem exams) would yield results, you are now right up their in you life professionally. Content in profession in adds(to some extent) to happy hours in personal life. Correct!!

When it comes to P3A, I wholeheartedly admit that you have been a bonding gel between us. I would credit that to your patience, calmness and non-violent nature. Many thanks for that, yet no thanks :-d

After we four guys, gelled together as a "Gang of Four", we always felt that, it should be "We Four and Our family". Many a times, we felt a moment of uneasiness if there was a fifth name in group-mails. Aint it!! Well dear, that could be accreditted to our bonding.

Finally the day has come for a new member to take on the esteemed role. Bingoo!!!

Mate, as you tie the knot to become one, on this very auspicious day of "Akshaya Thrithiya" with SreeGowri, me as a dear friend, admirer; wishes you both deep down from my heart, for a joyous married life going ahead. Wish all the GOD's shower this wonderful pair with all the good things/wishes for you both, to take on the journey called "LIFE" always together happily and joyfully. All the very very Best!!

I seriously understand that I have missed something by not being there with you guys, yet I will not dampen my spirits to wish you again through this space. Albeit, gelaya ondu kshamae irali :-)

Have a wonderful married life, Anil and Gowri :-)

pakku

ps: Dude..you missed some bums on your bachelors party. Did you have one ;-)

Best wishes..

Yesterday, cosily sitting at home, was chatting(read as confrontation) with this female named, AB. The crux of the matter was another set of A's and B. That is, AbhiAsh and their proposed relationship.

The chat which started as leg pulling (as she is a major fanatic of AB and me of Ash) against each others interest, slowly moved to a phase on why each other fantacised their star. To be frank, either of us did not hate the same gender individual, it was just that we were fanatical about our own star. The worst part of these confrontation, it only drags on, never does an individual give up to agree the opposites view. So.. the arguent still continues...

Going back to my Class X days, around 1996, that is when I noticed this lovely-looking female named Aishwarya Rai, more so as she was a mangie. Then, my high-school days were more packed with cricket matches and tennis (read hand-tennis) but less of studies. Still, pakku master was capable enough to get 90-odd percent in the boards (bit of self-praise ;-)

Back to Ash!! While my PU days had more hours spent for tuitions, but every now-and-then, i used to view pics of Ash in fridays film-supplement of "Praja Vani" (No.1 kannada daily then). Then, started my engineering days. Around the year 2000, during my 4 semester holidays, I watched "Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam". Till date, its been one of my best movie, creditted to Ash.

Everyday when i used to walk to my college for around 30 odd mins, I used to sing "Jhonka hawa ka.. aaj bhi" between my ears. And even after 6 odd years, I can still recite that complete song. That is when I started collecting more info about her. And got labelled as an "Ash-fan" in college. Every time I watched her movies, she never impressed me as an actor. But there were exceptions, in Taal, HDDCS, Chhoker bali and Provoked. And in Guru, mani did not give any room to showcase her as an actor.

She may be called as "Director's Actor", but pakku feels the gorgeous female she is and her height, does not bring in due credits to her acting or dancing. She is more a still-photography element than a motion picture thespian.

While my friends used to google for her JPEG images, I used to search for articles on her modelling days, transition from modelling to acting, to a woman of substance. Oops.. thats a very weighty statement. But, I still feel she is that.

My genX have grown up fantacising her. Whenever people asked about my marriage plans, I used to respond "Ash is busy at work.. so....". Never would they ask any more questions on marital plans. Sometimes, I have even retorted back saying, dont you recognise "Ash" in my name (prakASH) ;-)

Have read many blogs which have supposedly showing her "darker side" (most of these blogs are written by females, sometimes they themselves are in a confused state, if they were writing as they are J of her or becoz of concrete material to prove that)and laughed over it but none of them could disprove my thought about her. Esp.. those blogs who wrote about her personal life. Many a times, I would script few sentences to lash back at them, but then the smart pakku, would never publish the comment on those blogspace. Only reason being, as it was their thoughts in their space.

She did have her ups-and-downs in career and personal life. But, whatever she did, it was with utmost dedication and self-interest.

The word "Ash" has been a synonym for beauty and smart intelligence right through our growth in our 20's. And she has displayed that even in her decision towards next level.

Ash, heres wishing you all the very best in your new phase of life, as you walkalong with Abhi for a lifetime. Hope all the GOD's shower their divine blessings at this wonderful pair :-)

Always, keep your "plasticised" smile :-)

pakku

Weekend Travel..

Of late, close-in friends have been alleging that I dont blog about my weekend locomote. Last few weekends, when I did share trip snaps, few of them tipped "loafer ninna yaaru nodbeku.. send us only melbourne snaps" (Idiot.. we dont need your snaps.. we need melbourne snaps). I could sense even the dried up Cauvery water basin in mandya cry in my small eyes. Albeit, an exaggeration though.

To be frank, myself realised that snaps had more solo snaps of me than group photos which is usually the trend in my photo bucket. No.. please dont let your phantasy thoughts to fly. Coincidentally, it was incidental :-)

Goneby weekend, had been to Ballarat. Again, the wonderful weather was soothing and refreshing to walk the whole daylight through.

To put in simple words, Ballarat is similar to Kolar Gold Fields in karnataka. But, the whole delta is, the environ in the city has been crafted to look like Ballarat of 1850's. Sounds inviting!! Yep, it was :-)

Courtesy, prior photo uploads, this time made sure, I dont feature myself in any of the photo-shoots and hence a mini-photo-guided tour of the golden city of Victoria, Ballarat.

People googling for Gold. And we did accumulate some gold dust :-). Everyday, the authorities throw some gold dust to water, to keep the tourists enthusiasm

Mirroring Ballarat of 1850's. Away from the city travails, it was nice experience to go back to 1850



Stones of Gold.. That was not in the museum.. it was right inside the mine..around 100 metres down under...



Right Inside the Mine..



Live demo of Gold extraction. That nugget was worth AUD 85K :-). No, I aint exaggerating


More snaps of Ballarat in 1850s





Awesome Ballarat Outback :-)

Have a wonderful week ahead

cheers...

The BOSS

It has to be one of the most awaited movie of recent times. And, finally the countdown has begun with official release of its music worldwide. Yep, it's none other than, AVM prouctions latest offering, "boxoffice darling" star director Shankar, music maestro AR Rahman, AND "Superstar" Rajinikant's latest flick to be released "Sivaji" - The BOSS.

After a great hooplah on pirated music release, the production house has finally cracked the whip, by releasing the album. Yep, once again its a AR Rahman magic.

The first time you listen, will not feel the conjurer. Thats when you rewind few more times, then the music grows on you. And that is when you feel rahman.

Yeah.. no wonder rajini fans aint complaining...

PS: Not the best of Rahman

Going ahead...

When I was doing my bachelors, I had this intricate nature of contemplating ideas within myself. I used to talk to myself, not literally though, wrangling about different dimension an idea can be nurtured in. People around me always used to think that I was reminscing the educational concepts. Well, the thinker was always active then.

Those were just thoughts, I could not give a definite directions to them when it came to implementation. Years have flown by, and so did my thinking acumen has drastically decreased. Sometimes I attribute it to extreme passion for good movies I have away from work. Last couple of years, I would rather be thinking why SRK is so rigid to prove himself as the next legend than my own self.

Well..again theres some brain cells burnt even if I think about movies. Albeit, with no defined paradigm.

Few weeks ago, I was reading an article about Retail sector in India. Buoy, wasnt I interested in that. I started reading the article as big names like Ambani, Mittal, Walmart were associated with it. Then, as I further mused over the area of Retail Sector, it was a revelation.

I love numbers and finance. And I love probing more in that arena. I always wanted to be in finance sector, but fortune got me into IT. Its not that Retail is all about finance. But, the finance management a petty shopkeeper does, can amuse PC ( hehehh P Chidambaram.. I love calling him PC.. it sounds nice). India has such huge scope for a retail giant that it can make wonders for them, to the country, to consumers and overall economy growth if handled in the right manner.

Now that the telecom sector has almost reached its peak, I would love to be a part of the retail boom in India. I have cursed myself umpteen times for not being part of either telecom or IT boom in India, when it mattered. Thanks to my birth year. I have only reaped the benefits, but havent been part of it behind the scenes.

Yeah, I may not hold a fundoo management degree to showcase it to the whos-who of big companies, but being an astute indian consumer I have it in me to make it big in retail sector.

On a signing note, I pray and wish that this post acts as an precursor to the blogpost titled "My shift from IT to Telecom" years down the tunnel, as google more for "Retail in India"