Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Water visits Bangalore

Water visits Bangalore this time. Heavy rain batters Bangalore.

Monday was not a great day to be outside, in Bangalore. But several homes were flooded too. Water logging on major roads led to 3-4 hour long traffic jams. Flash floods affected animals too at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Banneghatta National Park and Mysore Zoo.

Friday, October 21, 2005

P. G. Wodehouse Rocks !

P. G. Wodehouse Rocks ! He is the humor equivalent of Conan Doyle's suspense and Austen's, hmm, formality.

JEEVES IN THE OFFINGHere I am, sitting in a bus, stuck in a bumper-to-bumper traffic, yet unable to control my sudden bursts of giggles. Thankfully most of the bus is asleep, tired from work and rocked gently to zzzz. Else they would have wrongfully assumed me to be a loony. Much like the way, to solve a huge impending problem, Jeeves puts Bertie in a situation where everyone but the intimate circle, assumes he is a loony or kleptomaniac or boot-polish faced tresspasser. And yet all Bertie can do is worship Jeeves and sing his praise.

I had hoped I would be concise and finish with just "P. G. Wodehouse Rocks !". But looks like I can't escape PGW's influence and just need to use long-winded sentences. I have finished 2 of his books and now 3 unread PGW, lying in my library, beckon me. Lets see, what they turn me into ?

PGW created such amazing plots, filled with peculiar but adorable characters (much like Kareena Kareena). I wonder how he wrote all this ? Was it at one go ? Or one chapter per week ? Were these serialized in some magazine, like Dickens & Alexamder Dumas ? Did he make a hundred drafts ? Did he create the plot first and then fleshed it up with his wit and wordplay ? There is so little I know of his writing method. I have purposely refrained from Googling him too much. Want to let the mystery continue. Ignorance is bliss.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

What Mythological Creature are you?

This is some dangerous description about me. But, nevermind, I took the quiz.

You scored as Mermaid. Mermaid: Mermaids are also known as Sirens. These creatures were beautiful women who tricked sailors into becoming completely entranced by their haunting voices and found death soon after. Not all stories of Mermaids are about gentle loving sea people. They are mystical, magical, and extremely dangerous. They have a way about them that brings anyone they are around to seem enchanted. They are very mysterious creatures and to meet one... Would mean certain Death. Let the song of the Sea fill your soul, for you are a Mermaid.

Mermaid

92%

Angel

92%

Faerie

67%

WereWolf

59%

Dragon

50%

Demon

0%

What Mythological Creature are you? (Cool Pics!)
created with QuizFarm.com

Friday, October 14, 2005

Ta Ta Kareena Kareena

Noooooo. Yeh nahin ho sakta .... ah...



I was watching Kareena Kareena just a usual. And bang - at the end of it, they said "Good Wishes & GoodBye". Just like that. I didn't see this coming, so it's a real shocker.

Tried to cheer myself that Hum Paanch is coming back. But no Kareena Kareena, boo hoo hoo. This is not fair.... Ok, let me compose myself and say what I had been wanting to say, but did not find time to.

Kareena Kareena was the Best of Hindi serials around. Just last week I was thrilled, coz it was Kareena-Tushar wedding week. And Prem (Shah Rukh Barucha), my favourite, came back, even if a cameo. And few weeks before that, I was thrilled that my emails had worked, and she was back in Saree.

This fast-paced serial has been through a lot of changes. But unlike, others, where the plot may move 20 years ahead, or the actor may change anyday, any time (even mid-serial), here the changes had been gradual and smooth. For that matter, after watching it from the past one half year, I can say, its in its fifth stage now. Its more like fifth season, only there is no concept of seasons in Hindi Serials. Its always non-stop and then they go dead without winding up of any of the threads.

Here the pace was fast, but even. The story keep twisting and turning every 10 minutes. Everything what we except seem to about to happen, but never does - something else happens.

It was an experience to see her fib. She gets caught in something, and then right from the top of her head, she would spin a tale. Each one incredible, but obivious at hindsight. Ah the cycle of shocks and relief. Each of the charaters, major & minor, are well developed. And most of them adorable.

Ah, now its all over. I think they got exhausted churning out good, refreshing & innovative episodes, 4 days a week. They should take a break, and come back with new season. Fingers-crossed.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Five Things Meme


Becky (pith, marrow and coffee spoons) tagged me last week. But this one required some homework. So here I am.

FIVE SNACKS I ENJOY
All heavy cal ones
1. Banana Roti Roll
2. Dilpasand
3. Lays classic salted chips
4. Biscuits dunked in Tea - entire packet of it. If its opened, its got to be finished.
5. Pakodas - Onion, potato, capsicum, brinjal, yummmm...

FIVE SONGS I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO
Man, this is difficult. I feel I know all Hindi movie songs, thanks to constant repetation. But let me list out these:
1. Tere chehre se - Kabhi Kabhi
2. Lakdi ki kati - Masoom
3. Gajab ka din, socho jara - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
4. Tujhe dekha to yeh jana sanam - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
5. Kabhi Kabhi Mere dil mein khalyal aata hain
Ke zindagi teri zulfo ki narm chao mein gujar na pati,
Toh shadab ho bhi sakti thi
Yeh ranj-o-gham ki siyahi, jo dil pe chayi hain,
teri nazar ki shuwao mein khobhi sakti thi.
Magar yeh ho na saka ....

Didn't understand a word of it, but it sounds so Beautiful. Esp when Amitabh recites it.

FIVE THINGS I'D DO WITH A MILLION DOLLARS
Hmm, what will I do ? Never thought about it.
1. Maybe be boring and invest on house
2. Dispatch a chunk to PM's National Relief Fund
3. Take a long holiday and visit all places I want to
4. Buy loads of handbags
5. And Gold & Diamond Jewellery. And Silk Sareeeeees, oh ya :)

FIVE PLACES I'D RUN AWAY TO
1. Toronto
2. Leh
3. Udupi
4. Assam - Beautiful place. One of my childhood places, memories of which are still unspoiled from my revisiting.
5. Amsterdam - To check out Vincent van Gogh gallery

FIVE THINGS I'D NEVER WEAR
1. High-heels - Mom says I am tall enough
2. Blunt or short hair cut - Mom, and now my Hubby, like it long
3. Nylons or any synthetic material. I get too much static.
4. Talcum powder - I get a sneezing fit
5. Piercings - no way

FIVE FAVORITE TV SHOWS
Oh I have my list ready here. Maybe even overspill the limit of 5. All I do is be online or watch TV.
1. Wonderfalls
2. The Monk
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Kareena Kareena
5. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. - I LIVE on this rerun.
6. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
7. Instant Kichadi

FIVE BIGGEST JOYS
1. Receiving a letter
2. Seeing my Hubby
3. Visiting my parents
4. Completing an esp rogue task at work
5. Seeing my name in print

FIVE FAVORITE TOYS
1. Our new car
2. TV Remote
3. Blog
4. Taperecorder
5. Mobile phone

FIVE FINE FOLKS WHO CAN NOW CONSIDER THEMSELVES TAGGED:
Let me pass on this baton to
1. Thomas @ Your ever well-wisher
2. Sugar @ Barefoot Mailman
3. SonSon @ Just Being Me
4. Amarnath @ KhelNayak
5. On a lookout for the fifth one !

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

North Indian Sub-continent Earthquake

Reports of the devastating earthquake in Jammu & Kashmir, and in Pakistan, are horrifying.

  • Red Cross
  • Concern
  • Mercy Corps
  • Monday, October 10, 2005

    Cart procession


    Click on the photo for a larger pic.

    Took this in Belgaum last month. Photo doesn't capture it all. The real procession looked, and sounded, real good. After years of watching motorised vehicles, it was a novelty to see the road captured by a single file of Bullock carts !

    Thursday, October 6, 2005

    Years Meme

    Wow ! I have been tagged after a long time. By Becky @ pith, marrow and coffee spoons. I am going to break the two of them into 3 memes.

    10 YEARS AGO
    I had newly met my hubby and was walking in the clouds with a perpetual silly smile, followed by wild checking if anyone saw me. Mutual declaration was to follow, in 5 more days.

    FIVE YEARS AGO
    I was soaking in the lovely place called IISc. Beautiful place to work. I clearly remember all those walks in the campus. Halogen-lit rain-soaked Gulmohar & Jacaranda avenues. << deep breath >>

    ONE YEAR AGO
    That doesn't seem like long time. I am sure I was doing the same thing I did today. Hmm. This is dull.
    Also, maybe constantly cross-checking the 9th anniversary surprise gift I hide, from my hubby.

    YESTERDAY
    Was Wednesday and I drove. Via treacherous terrain of rain-soaked Banshankari VI Stage and perpetually-in-repair Mysore Road. To my parents home, for their Grihapravesh (house-warming) ceremony. They finally moved to their new house. (And I have no immediate plans of returning their TV. Tsh Tsh, I am a TV-Addict, what can I say?)

    And let me pass on this baton to
  • Thomas - Haribol!
  • KhelNayak
  • Sugar
  • SonSon
  • Arranged inter-caste marriage

    This weekend, I was gossiping with Mom & Dad. And topic veered towards weddings. A Kannada dentist school friend of mine had married a Gujarati doc from her city. I always assumed it was a love marriage. But Bingo, now I am informed that it was an arranged match. I was incredulous. "Oh come on, it’s just a story they make up." But nope. Dad replied, "I know the boys side. And this was properly arranged by the family via a matrimonial ad in newspaper."

    I was aghast. Totally shocking. "How is that possible ?" Obviously I don’t live in the real world. "Why not? There are so many other cases." And out tumbled the list.

    Another Kannada colleague's daughter got married to a Delhi fella. This looked like a plain love match, both working for the same company. But no, it’s an arranged match. The boy was her colleague’s colleague in a different location. "Oh please, they just made up the story". And when another family friend was looking for bride for their eldest son, they talked to their second son's classmate's family, for his sister. After their family Guruji said it was fine, wedding was fixed. Here, boy is North-Karnataka brahmin and girl Punjabi Sardar. "Oh this is impossible". And, I was brought up-to-date on a lot more cases.

    But how can there be an inter-caste, inter-language arranged marriage? Won’t there be language or some cultural problems?
    My Dad came back with, "Why? Do we have language or any other problem with our son-in-law? No."
    Um, er, well our match was fixed by the boy & the girl. I didn't utter that. Because that’s very old water under the bridge.

    Anyway, still, don’t they face any problem in their community ?
    Mom replied, "Its only villagers who whisper, that they didn't marry in the same caste. Educated people in cities don’t care about such things, as long as all other criteria are met." Good family, stable job, proper behavior, decent social standing, etc etc.

    Wow! Now this is mind blowing. And in a good sense :) I mean, how come there is no publicity for arranged inter-caste marriages. 'Arranged marriages' are discussed threadbare by people who are scared of the expected. 'Love marriage and why they fail' is the favorite of writers in 50 & above age bracket. But this - arranged inter-caste - is going on from so long and is totally ignored. There is such a disconnect between media and real-world.

    Last I read was this report on Haryana-Kerala alliances in issue of The Week (they haven't put it online). And 36 of them ! Here the factor is shortage of marriageable age girls in Hissar. Before I can panic, we are told that all girls are very happy. That's heartening. And this too began with a 'lovu marriage'.

    And for some reason, this report reminds me of Punjabi-Mexican families who settled, a century ago, in Southern California's Imperial Valley.

    Maid in Kerala
    Haryanvis seek brides from down south

    by Vinu Abraham

    The two places have little in common: language, clothing, culture or food. But Hissar in Haryana and Kunjimangalam in Kerala are fast building bonds - through marriage. It all started innocuously. Eight years ago, Sudheendran, a young man from Kunjimangalam in Kannur district, went to work in Delhi, fell in love with a girl from Hissar district and tied the knot. Soon after, his brother-in-law Rajeendar, who was looking for a bride, saw a picture of his younger sister Rathi and liked her. Both families approved the match and marriage took place.

    Instead of being an exception to the rule, Rathi's good fortune transformed the destiny of more than 35 girls from Kunjimangalam area. Social factors played the matchmaker. In Hissar, girls of marriageable age are a minority thanks to a skewed female to male ratio. Most men wait well into their 30s before they find a match....For the Malayalis, glowing reports of marital bliss and the fact that the men do not demand dowry made up their minds.

    Bit how do the couples overcome the language barrier ? "For the first two to three months we did have trouble," says Preetha who is back in her village for the birth of her first child. "But our in-laws rigorously coach us in their language. We also got used to their food in a few months."

    Word of mouth has helped sustain the trend. The girls often suggest names of friends and relatives to the prospective grooms. Krishnakurup, a barber, recently married his daughter Prasanna to Gulshan Kumar from Hissar. "When the proposal came, we made inquiries with families who had sent their daughters to Hissar", he says. "We found that all girls were happy. Hissar men are caring and their family bonds are very strong." And with more proposals coming, the love story of Kunjimangalam and Hissar is likely to endure.