Cerebral Shangrila

2011-09-02T22:10:00.001+08:00

Julia - Twitter

Do I need to be worried or flattered that Julia Gillard, the Prime minister of Australia, is following me on twitter (my professional twitter account)? I checked it and it is a "verified" account (and not a fake one)!

2011-08-28T16:04:00.001+08:00

Rainbow Quiz - Week # 69

Anna Hazare has galvanized an entire nation through his hunger strike. Here is a quiz dedicated to him and numerous others who have used fasting as a tool for social change.

1. The act of hunger strike dates back to Hindu mythology. “X” went to ask the exiled Rama to come back and rule the kingdom. “X” tried many arguments, none of which work, at which point he decides to do a hunger strike. Rama, however, quickly persuades him to abandon the attempt. Who is X?
2. “X” started fasting for attaining statehood for Andhra in Madras on 19 October 1952. After 58 days of fasting, he died on the 16th December. X’s death started mass protests and led to Nehru announcing the formation of a new state 3 days later. Who is X?
3. The British arrested him in 1929 for revolutionary activities and X was imprisoned in Lahore jail. In the Lahore jail, “X” started a hunger strike along with other revolutionary fighters, demanding equality for Indian prisoners. His fast lasted 63 days and he died as a martyr in the end. Who is X?
4. An American suffragette, “X” fought to get women the right to vote with passion and tenacity. “ X” went on a hunger strike while imprisoned in 1917 at Virginia’s Occoquan Workhouse to protest the poor conditions. Her hunger strike got her a ticket to the psych ward, where she was force-fed raw eggs, but her protest served a larger purpose by helping fan the flames of public opinion. In 1918, President Wilson spoke of the need for suffrage, and women earned the right to vote in 1920 with the Nineteenth Amendment. Who is X?
5. In 2009, actress and activist “X” began a hunger strike to protest the conflict in Darfur. She also blogged about her experience and posted video updates to YouTube. Before beginning the fast, she wrote that she planned to go for three weeks without food, but a doctor put an end to her strike after 12 days, citing severe health risks. With her blood sugar plummeting, she passed off the hunger strike to Richard Branson, who took over for three days. Who is X?
6. “X” went on a fast unto death to protest against illegal mining on the bank of the Ganga in Haridwar. X, who was on fast beginning February 19, 2011 was declared dead the following June 13, after being on a hunger strike for 115 days. Who is this great patriot?
7. “X” also known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur" is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur. Since 2 November 2000, she has been on hunger strike to demand that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces Act, which she blames for violence in Manipur and other parts of India's northeast. Having refused food and water for more than ten years, she has been called "the world's longest hunger striker".

2011-08-20T18:14:00.002+08:00

Korean Diary - Some thoughts

a)As the cliche goes, "it is a small world". I realized that sitting in a traditional korean restaurant in Seoul, where my client had taken me. We got talking about various things and the topic turned towards my mother tongue. To my utter surprise I realized that Koreans call their parents as "Oma" and "Apa", pronounced exactly the same way it is done in Tamil. Further, Ganges means riverside in Korean.
b)Incheon airport is fantastic - great facilities and very spacious. While in most airports one hopes and gropes for free wi-fi, Incheon offers you at least three free wi-fi hotspots, most of which are high-speed.
c) Seoul's traffic is infamous like most Asian capital cities and I got a dose of that today morning. End-less queue of cars although it was a 8 lane highway. Subway is the best choice for getting around - fast, efficient and punctual.
d) National museum of Korea is huge and has an extensive collection of artifacts. In the 3 hours that I had, I couldn't even see half of it.
e) Seoul never sleeps. On weekdays, at 11pm, the cafes and bars are still over-flowing with people and there are many pubs, cafes and restaurants that are open throughout the night during weekends.

2011-08-15T20:59:00.003+08:00

I am @ Seoul

I am in Seoul this week on business. First visit and mightily impressed with the way Koreans use technology in day-to-day life.

Here are some first impressions:

a) Internet access is a roller coaster. Average speeds even in hotel rooms surpass 75 mbps (Almost 10X times faster than most parts of the world).

b) The audio guide tour at Korean palace museum relies on infra red to automatically recite the relevant information. Cafes use IR tokens that buzz when take-away food is ready.

c) Sub-way is efficient, ubiquitous and a great way to get around.

d) The palaces and cultural heritage centers have been very well maintained and most of them either have free admission or very low entry fees.

e) A big minus is the air pollution. Friends tell me it has now reduced but it is still very visible and casts a bad shadow over the city.

f) Today is the "Liberation day" in Korea and a national holiday. Coincides with our independence day.

2011-08-07T09:31:00.002+08:00

Rainbow Quiz - Week # 68

Trying to revive my now defunct Rainbow Quiz. This quiz is inspired from a book that I just finished reading - 100 Great Businesses and the Minds behind them".

Take a stab.

What am I talking about?

1. Mr.X, while studying economics at Yale, wrote a paper about the growing number of uses for computers (This was way back in the 60’s). He reckoned that as people become more reliant on computers, repairing them in a timely manner will be critical for the manufacturers. Legend has it that he received a “C” grade for the paper. Which company am I talking about (that was born out of this idea) and who is Mr.X?

2. While working in Asia, Mr. X came across caffeine filled drinks with foul taste that were sold in small vials at exorbitant prices (primarily as a cure for Flu, impotency). He set about finding a formula that he could take back to Europe. He found the answer in Krating Daeng (a Thai drink). He licensed it from the founders and gave a sporty makeover to the health drink. What am I talking about?

3. “Across Asia on the Cheap” was first printed in 1970’s and enjoyed modest success. Not many realized then that the publisher would become a cult brand that would forever change an industry. Which brand am I talking about?

4. An entrepreneurial streak pulsed through Mr.X since an early age. At 5, he was selling matches to family members and at 17, he was selling pencils in the neighborhood. The pencil selling was successful that X decided to change it to a mail order business by including other merchandise such as soaps, seeds and stockings. He decided to coin a name for the company with an acronym that stood for the first letters of his first name, last name, farm name and village name. Who is X and what company am I talking about?

5. In 1930 Japanese scientist Dr. Shirota discovered a strain of bacteria that was both good for the human intestine and tough enough to survive the digestive process. What sweet, skim milk based drink, named after “yoghurt” in Esperanto, emerged due to this invention?

6. Fashion retailing isn’t known for shy, retiring types. Yet this Spanish billionaire has created one of the largest fashion retailing empire in the world, though he has rarely granted interviews or been photographed. He believes advertising to be “pointless distraction” and the company spends less than 0.5% of its revenues on advertising. Who is this maverick, reclusive billionaire and which company am I talking about?

7. What started in 1979 as “Graphics Group” as part of Lucasfilm? Amongst other things, the group tried selling high-end graphics computers which were a disastrous failure. The company eventually stumbled into film-making after making a few successful commercials. In the fickle world of filmdom, the company till date has never produced a flop. Which company am I talking about?

2011-07-10T14:35:00.002+08:00

Google+

No one except Google can create such as buzz. For someone who has never been on facebook, I succumbed to the buzz and joined Google+ today. Anyone needing an invitation, give me a shout.

2011-06-19T09:35:00.006+08:00

Behind every successful artiste is a liberal parent

It seemed to be the best seat to choose. I had just entered the concert hall as Ravikiran was winding up his concert with the Mangalam. The next concert was by Sanjay and it was expected to be a full house. I wanted to get the best seat and though this seat was a lone empty seat in a crowded row, it had the best view of the stage.

I settled in the seat and to my left was an "Iyer Mama", close to 60 years of age with Vibhuti splashed liberally over the forehead. The Mangalam got over and it was announced that the next concert would begin in 15 minutes. That is how the conversation began :

Him : Are you new to Sydney, I haven't seen you in past concerts?

I ( I quickly guessed that he was a veteran of carnatic music scene in Sydney) : Yes, I am new to Sydney. I just moved here 6 months ago.

Him : It is good to see youngsters (!!) like you being interested in carnatic music.

I : Thanks. It is an interest passed on from my dad. How long have you lived in Sydney?

Him : I came here 35 years ago. Most of the accompanists who play here were all introduced by me and our circle.

I: wow. For someone who has lived here for 35 years, your Tamil is still intact. It has lost none of the Madras brahmin flavor.

Him: Thanks. We always speak Tamil at home. Btw, I lived more in Bangalore than Chennai but still how can we forget our language and culture. In fact, my daughter although born here in Australia is well trained in our language and culture.

I: That is very good to hear.

Him : In fact, she is a well trained dancer, winner of Miss India Australia and is now an actress in south Indian films.

My trivia brain immediately started working its way and quickly deduced the gentleman next to me was none other than the father of Actress Vimala Raman.

I: Are you the father of Vimala Raman?

Him (Excitedly): Yes, How did you know?

I: I have seen her movie "Poi" and also attended a Bharathanatyam recital by her in Singapore.

Him ( Calling his wife): He knows Vimala and has attended her dance performance.

That is when his wife turned to look at me. The resemblance was very palpable, Vimala looked exactly like her mom (minus the wrinkles).

Him : She can speak Tamil very well too. She learnt dance for a long time and even now performs when she gets time. She chose to pursue a career in films and now lives in Chennai.
She is a very intelligent girl and hence we decided to allow her to pursue her career of choice. Once they become adults, we should be an advisor to them and not a decision maker.

Something tugged at my heart then. I suddenly became an unabashed admirer of his liberal values . Here was someone, who wanted his daughter to grow up in a conservative manner but yet had the courage to not force his value system on her, once she became an adult.

We chatted for a few more minutes and promised to keep in touch. Hopefully I will meet him again during other concerts. I should conclude by saying " Behind every successful artiste, there is a liberal parent".

2011-06-12T09:21:00.003+08:00

Sanjay Subramanian - Live at Sydney - Concert Review

It has been raining music in Sydney. Braving the cold weather and drizzle, rasikas turned up in full steam (with steaming filter coffee for company) at the UWS Campus for the 3-day Sydney Music Festival.

Sanjay started the concert in his usual brisk manner with the Viriboni varnam in "Bhairavi" sung to three speeds - Vilamba, Madhyama and Dhuridha Kaalam. It was a great warm-up for the day, akin to a Sehwag sixer in the 1st over. He then sang the Thiruvarutpa " Sama Geetha Priyan" in Raaga "Gaulai". I had listened to this song a few years ago in Sanjay's Jaya TV Margazhi Mahotsavam concert. His pronunciation was commendable with no "Sanskrit vaadai". The next two songs were the Thyagaraja compositions "Evari Kai" in Raaga "Devamanohari" and "Janaka" in Raaga "Asaveri". He elaborated the "Asaveri" Raaga for 5 minutes giving enough glimpse of this rarely sung raaga.

Next came a "Kamboji" raaga alapana that was out of the world and then followed with the song " Adiyenai" that dripped with Karuna rasa, a hallmark of Kamboji. Hindolam is one of my favorite ragas and Sanjay sang a quick "Neerajakshi", preparing the listeners for the RTP. Just when you thought RTP was around the corner, there was yet another brisk " Niravathi" in raaga "Ravi chandrika" that added pace and fervor to the concert.

He started the RTP and within seconds I was throwing by dice between raagas "Nattai" Vs "Chala Nattai" - which were both unusual choices for an RTP. Quickly I figured it was indeed "Chala Nattai" and was amazed by his choice of this rare raga for an elaborate rendition. Contrary to my expectations, he didn't sing a ragamalika and sang the RTP fully in one raga for almost 45 minutes. He brought the intricacies of this beautiful & romantic raaga and kept the audience enthralled for the next hour. Though a Melakartha raagam (36th), Chala nattai has rarely been sung in an elaborate manner in concerts. On a related note, Illayaraja, the musical genius had captured the essence of this raga in the beautiful melody " Pani Vizhum Malar Vanam". As Sanjay elaborated the raaga, I realized the boundless genius of Illayarja for capturing the raaga's essence in a mere 4 minutes song. The more he sang it, "Pani Vizhum" was running like a background score in my mind. Viloiinist Nagai Sriram followed Sanjay in an adept manner throughout the rendition. The Kriti chosen was "Jalame".

How can one not have a Bharathiyar composition? "Payum Oli Nee" followed next (Not sure what the raaga is , seemed like Mand to me) and Sanjay 's delight was evident as he enjoyed singing it, imagining himself as the great poet. It was followed by "Vizhikku thunai" a virutham in "Mohanam" and "Va Va" in "Sindhu Bhairavi". I adore Sindhu Bhairavi and wished Sanjay had sung a bit more of it. He then wrapped up the concert with a Thillana in "Kapi" and Mangalam.

It was a phenomenal concert and yet another exhibition of the creative peak that Sanjay has been enjoying in the past few years.Great start to a weekend !

Here is the full song list:

1. Viriboni - Bhairavi
2. Sama geetha - Gaula
3. Evari kai - Deva manohari
4. Janaka - Asaveri
5. Adiyenai - Kamboji
6. Neerajakshi - Hindolam
7. Niravathi - Ravi chandrika
8. Jalame - Chala Nattai
9. Payum oli - Mand (I think so)
10. Vizhikku - Mohanam, Sindhu Bhairavi, vaa vaa
11. Thillana - Kapi
12. Mangalam - Sowrashtram

2011-06-02T19:44:00.002+08:00

Is Maran set to follow?

With deep apologies to Shelley who must be turning in his grave, " If Raja goes can Maran be far behind"?

If this CNN-IBN article is to be believed, the allegations against Maran (Apart from the Aircel Scandal) are nothing short of serious.

2011-05-15T14:35:00.003+08:00

A Midsummer night's dream

It has finally rained during midsummer in Chennai. A decisive spell of rain which has washed the state of nepotism and corruption that had haunted it for the past five years. Though the defeat of MK & his ilk was widely expected, the huge margin was a big surprise even for his worst detractors. The people have truly taught a lesson for the brazen attitude with which corruption and nepotism was openly practiced. Given his age, it could well be the end of political life for one of TN's shrewd and wily politicians.

How can someone as experienced and clever as MK, ignored the writing on the wall? You can accuse him of many things but lack of political acumen isn't one of them. How did this happen? The simple answer is "Blood is thicker than water". In this case it has been even more complicated by the presence of multiple families and spouses. DMK's biggest enemy lay within the party as Stalin, Alagiri, Maran and Kanimozhi camps often fought with each other for money and power. MK became an emperor who lost touch with his cadres (Controlled by Alagiri in South and Stalin elsewhere) and allowed his favoritism to get better of his rational thinking. For a man who espoused rationalism and self-respect, his last few years in power were a cruel joke on those lofty ideals.

A man who courted and encouraged caste division, in the end, fell victim to divisive politics of his own family. It is a tragic end to a long and checkered career. I am sure there are many who are shedding tears at the ignominy but this charade had to end this way. Poetic justice has finally been delivered.

2011-04-11T11:25:00.000+08:00

Lokpal Bill

On 9th April, a nation of 1.21 billion people finally found its voice. A voice that had been feebly mumbling for 64 years. A voice that had grown extremely disenchanted with the state of affairs that it decided keep mute on many occasions when it should have spoken up. A voice that has been trampled upon everyday by ill-mannered and subversive bureaucratic class. A voice that had nothing but the final embers of fire left.

Now that the voice has been heard, let us realize its power. The power that has been enshrined and guaranteed in the hallowed constitution of the country. Amitabh Bachchan is no longer the angry young man of India, we all are. What Anna Hazare ( Plus everyone who participated through physical , online medium) had achieved in those 4 days is nothing short of history. Hopefully it will herald a re-awakening of India. A re-awakening that will jolt the politicians and bureaucrats of their slumber, corruption and indifference.

What now? Where do we go from here?

1. There needs to be a fundamental change in the way we treat corruption. Its not between US vs Them. Because the US is them. Politicians are a reflection of our society. Unless we maintain high standards of integrity in our daily lives, we stand lesser chances of getting good politicians. It has to start with us first. Don't give bribes. Don't fake certificates. In simple words - Don't do to others what you wouldn't want them to do to you.

2. While the Government's acceptance of Lokpal bill's conditions is an unqualified success, let us be realistic about its limitations too. Granting sweeping power to a body, with so few individuals, has the potential of creating another unchecked monster. Powers equal to Super-cop need to be granted with utmost care and hence a mad rush to do something immediately might leave us with an ombudsman with a "Big brother" attitude.

3. It is time that honest, educated people seriously consider reforming politics. The only way to do it is to jump into it. Politics unfortunately isn't a spectator sport to be enjoyed from the Gallery.If we want change, let us create it.We need to persist. As Bernard Shaw wrote in his "Man and Superman" - " The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man".

India is a great country and she richly deserves the best from its people. It is time that we live upto her expectations.

2011-04-10T23:12:00.002+08:00

The Week that was

What a week it has been ! Team India created history by winning the world cup with hard fought victories in QF, SF and the Finals. Dhoni was captain cool - making crucial bowling and batting changes that handsomely paid-off for the home team. Congrats India - you guys have won the hearts because you played great entertaining cricket and exhibited real hunger to win.

However, a 73 year old man named Anna Hazare has completely stolen the limelight from Team India, for all the right reasons. The nation found its voice in venting its anger against political corruption and what happened in the last few days have stunned the nation. Gone is the "chalta hai" attitude, it is now " Hum honge Kamyaab Ek Din". Salute the people power and the new found optimism ! More on this in the next post.

2011-03-31T18:36:00.001+08:00

Match of the Decade

What a match it was. Stayed up till 5am and it was worth every minute of it. Players that really impressed me : Raina, Sehwag (He lives in another planet), Munaf (never thought I will say this), Wahab Riaz and Afridi (with his speech).

2011-03-19T05:29:00.000+08:00

From iPhone to HTC

After having lost the iphone, I needed a phone. I wasn't sure which one to buy but I was very sure which one I shouldn't buy. I didn't another iphone - it was too much of a financial and emotional baggage to carry. I also decided that I was not going to buy another expensive phone anymore.

That was when HTC entered my life. HTC was the opposite of iphone - Very good phone, Android device and the rising star. In the end, I chose the HTC Wildfire and been extremely happy with it.

Pros :

a) It is a good "phone" (Though still not as a good as Nokia for voice clarity)

b) Android Market / Apps

c) Touch Screen

d) Built for usage of Social media (Facebook, Twitter)

e) Touch keyboard is easy to handle

f) One can turn the phone into a 3G router thanks to Android Froyo ( Cool feature!)

g) Price - Great value for a sub US$300 phone.

Cons :

a) Touch screen is a little patchy

b) It takes time to respond (sometimes)

But in the end, I think I got what I was looking for.

2011-03-15T12:09:00.002+08:00

A world away from iPhone

The story starts in a typical bollywood flashback......(Do you hear/see music and revolving lights?).......6 months ago...

It was one of those unusual days in Singapore when it rained cats & dogs early in the morning (As most Singaporeans know, rains are half-a-day workers, it only rains between 2pm-6pm in SG, as per the Govt's order). I got out of the bus, waiting for the rains to stop, so that I could cross the road to reach the office. Minutes passed by and there was no respite from rain. That is when I made the boldest move in my life ( Ok, second most bold move after you-know-what). I decided to hail a taxi that would take me to the other side of the road. I rushed into the taxi to avoid getting drenched, when it all happened. That beautiful wicked device they call the "iPhone" jumped out of my pocket and in a second fell into an open drain (not open for humans but open enough for iPhone). It took me a second to realize that my life had changed. It was all over. The gush of water swamped the phone and it was well on its way to join the Indian Ocean.

In Zandu balm style - " Poye Pochu" " Poyindhe"..."It's gone".

I suffered from "iphonophobia" for the next 3 days, jealously ogling every iphone user in Singapore (which is every other person in that country). Why does it have to be me? When compared to all those flashy folks, I didn't even have an iPhone 4. I never downloaded more than 5 apps / day. Why me?

A few days later, I realized the purpose behind this charade. It was god's way of rescuing me from the emotional hell of Apple and throwing me into the un-emotional heaven of Andriod. That story will unfold in Part 2...

2011-03-14T18:56:00.002+08:00

Why we hate the wall street?

Whether it was thoughtless remark or true expression of his heart, either way, I haven't heard something as stupid and heartless as this in a long time.

RIP the tragic victims in Japan.

2011-03-13T07:19:00.002+08:00

Dreams from my father - Barack Obama - Book Review

After you finish reading this book, you feel very small. To have come to where he is today from where he was, is a tale of sublime inspiration and grit. Obama lays it bare in this wonderfully written book. He talks candidly about his confused identities, life without a father, ambivalent feelings towards his father,the black lineage and his odyssey to Africa where he attains truce with his inner conflicts.

Obama comes across as an "average Joe" as he bring out his own prejudices and inner conflicts without ever trying to glorify himself. The best parts of the book are his interactions with his sister Auma and his visit to Kenya, where he meets the entire Obama clan.

Great book and tale of inspiration on what every man can achieve irrespective of where he comes from.

2011-03-08T18:41:00.001+08:00

Movies that made you cry

Lists are lists. We hate them but continue to secretly patronize them. Rediff has published a " Movies that made you cry" list.

Before reading the article, I would have guessed "Anand" to be # 1 in the list. Surprising to see "Sadma" being # 1. However, got to agree with the choice. Even a stone-hearted would shed a tear in the climax scene. Where did that Kamalhaasan go?

2011-03-06T08:13:00.002+08:00

Of Languages, Racism and Road

By any standards, I am a lucky bloke. Within two months of arriving in Australia, my work has already taken me to Melbourne, Perth, Auckland and Wellington with weekends thrown in between for sight-seeing.

I returned back to Sydney yesterday after more than a month on the road traveling to Melbourne, Perth, Bali, Auckland and Wellington. With nothing much to do during the weekend, I headed to the local library to borrow some books. Library memberships are free in most libraries in Australia (they better be for the amount of tax that I pay!). I walked to the reception and stated that I wanted to become a member.

Receptionist : Hi, Welcome to our library. May I have your name and address?

I handed the proof of address letter that I had bought. What she asked me next caught me by surprise.

Receptionist : Do you speak/ read any other language than English?

Me : Yes, I do. Why do you ask?

Receptionist: We are trying to build our overseas books collection and would like to serve our customers by buying books in their mother tongue. What languages do you speak/read?

Me : My mother tongue is Tamil and I can read/speak Hindi as well.

Receptionist : Do you want to suggest some books in Tamil?

Me : Yeah, Sure.

Then I went ahead and gave her a list of books that I would like to read ( primarily works of Kalki, Devan, Bharathiyar, Kannadasan and Jayakanthan).

This isn't an unusual conversation in most developed countries that are striving to encourage diversity. However, for a country that is being accused of racism, I wondered if all those remarks made in the media were nothing but sensationalism. In the past month, I have spoken at conferences in Melbourne, Perth, Auckland and Wellington. Everywhere I found people to be extremely warm and friendly to me. Despite my accent , most attendees were effusive in their praise for my content and knowledge of the subject ( Whatever little I know).

Is Australia racial ? Perhaps, but I haven't seen that yet.

2011-03-05T11:10:00.003+08:00

Bade Achhe Lagte Hain

I was standing at the Sydney airport, waiting for my baggage to arrive. Like most others, I was glued into the phone, trying to catch up with lost email. I looked up and there he was waiting for his luggage.

Is that Amit Kumar - the playback singer ? He looked much younger than his age ( I did a quick math based on what I knew and expected him to be at least 55). Is it the same Amit Kumar, son of Kishore Kumar, one of India's greatest artistes? Nostalgia swept me and in a typical Bollywood flashback all his hit songs ran through my mind - " Bade Achhe Lagte Hain ( Ballika vadhu - My favorite song of his), " Yaad Aa Rahi Hai" (Love Story), "Uthe Sabke Kadam" ( Baaton Baaton Mein), " Deewana Dil" ( Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa).

I pondered if I should go up and speak to him. The heart said, "what do you have to lose"? - Just do it.

Me : Hi Amit, I am XYZ and a big fan of your dad and you.

Amit : Thanks. How are you?

Me: I am fine, thanks. So did you just arrive from India?

Amit : Haan Yaar. We just landed and am waiting for the luggage.

Me: Yeah, I do know that you are here for the "Rahul & I" concert with Ashaji.

Amit : Yes. I came today. Ashaji is coming tomorrow. Are you coming for that concert?

Me: Unfortunately, No.

Amit : So, where are you from in India?

Me : I am from Madras (Funny how I still say Madras to people older than me).

Amit : For someone from Madras, you speak good Hindi ( The highest compliment I ever got / possibly would ever get for my Hindi pronunciation!).

Me : I am still a learner. If you don't mind, can I take a photo with you?

He obliged immediately and posed with his arms around my neck.

Amit : Can you check my customs declaration form? Your country men ask a lot of questions.

I quickly scan through the card and all seemed well.

Me: Are you singing "Bade Achhe Lagte Hai" at the concert?

Amit : May be. Audience mostly request for it. Actually we haven't finalized the song list yet.

Me : What is your favorite song of your Dad's?

At that moment, we reached the customs gate. The customs officer allows me to pass through with no check but asks Amit to go through the scanner. Ha, I wish I had heard the answer to that question. So long !

2011-03-02T15:53:00.002+08:00

5 reasons why I love Air New Zealand

a) They run quiz contests on TV in the short hop flights. Great time pass for the quizzer in me !

b) They are part of Star Alliance. So I get extra luggage allowance, lounge usage.

c) The check-in is completely automated, except for the security check.

d) They serve L&P, better known by its slogan "World famous in NZ" (Its a lemon carbonated drink).

e) They have one of the funniest safety instruction video, courtesy the " All blacks" rugby team.

2011-03-01T18:28:00.003+08:00

12:51 pm @ Cafe, Wellington (NZ)

The time was 12:51pm. On hindsight, I presume it was 12:51 pm since I didn't realize it then. I was busy chatting with a customer about the state of internet infrastructure in New Zealand. Suddenly, someone from the next table nudged me " It is 12:51 pm". The entire cafe, in a spontaneous gesture, stood up silently for 2 minutes. At the end of 2 minutes, many were silently crying. Strangers were hugging and comforting each other. It had been exactly a week since the devastating earthquake struck the beautiful city of Christchurch. Wellington, a city far away in North Island, wept for Christchurch.

At that moment, I felt the pain. I was a stranger on his first visit to NZ, someone who had never been to Christchurch. But somewhere deep down the heart, I felt that pain. The pain that you experience due to helplessness, sympathy and an universal love of humanity that crosses all barriers. The pain that causes us to forget our differences and huddle together as fellow human beings.

I salute the Kiwi spirit ! I am sure they will rebuild Christchurch to be twice as beautiful as it was before. The best way we can pay homage to that city is to go and see it in all its glory. My greatest teacher in life has been/will continue to be my "Travel".

2011-03-01T03:31:00.002+08:00

In Wellington, NZ

I am in Wellington today. As I traveled from Auckland to Wellington, couldn't help admire the resiliency of the Kiwis in the aftermath of the earthquake. The airport was buzzing with volunteers, ever ready to lend an helping hand to the numerous survivors arriving from Christchurch.

Boarding an airplane was a completely automated process except for the security check. Busy today at Wellington today with no time for sightseeing. However, I have made a promise to visit the south island (at least on a 10 day holiday) to soak in the beauty of this blessed country.

2011-02-27T18:29:00.002+08:00

Travel, Travel and more Travel..

That should have given me more reasons to blog. Sheer laziness and lack of access to internet at home are the true reasons for yet another long hiatus.

I am in New Zealand this week on work. Took a cruise on Auckland harbour today, fantastic views of CBD and sail boats. Auckland Museum is huge, I just had 90 mins and could barely do justice to it.

2011-01-01T12:11:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year !

Wish you all a happy new year ! May all your resolutions, dreams and wishes come true in 2011.

2010-12-22T07:37:00.000+08:00

To Sydney or not to Sydney - That is the Question

Having happily ensconced myself in Singapore, it was tough to move away. When the Sydney (Australia) offer came my away, I was in two minds about taking it. A first glance pros and cons analysis (with no deep research) threw the following results :

Singapore (Pros) :

a) Safety ( Very few countries can match Singapore in that)

b) Low tax regime

c) Proximity to India

d) You can be what you are( Tough to explain it but you don't have to give up anything culturally to live in that country)

e) Great education system

f) Lower cost of living (Now that I own a house with low mortgage)

g) Rich Indian cultural experience ( Movie theaters, TV/FM Stations, Little India etc)

h) Great choice of affordable restaurants

Sydney (Australia) - Pros

a) Fantastic Outdoors

b) Climate

c) Great work-life balance

d) Unique Flora/Fauna - The traveler in me will love it

e) Early adopters of Technology - Important for my job as a technology analyst

f) Sport loving nation - Finally I can reconnect with Cricket

g) Beautiful city with a lovely harbour

h) Laid-back life and chance to enjoy the finer things in life

Still a tough choice but the traveler in me and some better tax packaging tilted the odds in favor of down under. More on this later.

2010-12-12T12:59:00.001+08:00

Relocating to Sydney (Australia)

Yet another long hiatus. After spending 6.5 years in Singapore, it is time to move. My employer has relocated me to Sydney and it is the beginning of a new life there. I look forward to the magnificent beaches, open spaces and unique flora/fauna of Australia. The traveler in me will love it.

Aussieland, here I come.

2010-11-13T08:17:00.001+08:00

The Amazing Smita Patil

A closer look at the supremely talented and enigmatic Smita Patil. Shame that she died so young.

2010-11-07T19:03:00.002+08:00

Mixed Bag questions from Landmark Quiz, Bangalore

Great set of questions. Answer by Wednesday.

1.A cat or dog’s hair stands on end, and a porcupine’s quills rise when they are cold, frightened, angry, or in awe. What is the common term used to describe a similar skin response to these stimuli in humans?

2.In his book The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman presents a theory of conflict prevention thus: “The ______ Theory stipulates: No two countries that are both part of a major global supply chain, like _____, will ever fight a war against each other as long as they are both part of the same global supply chain.” Which company’s name fills the blank?

3.It is called "Montezuma's Revenge", "Turistas" or "Aztec Two-Step" in Mexico, "Pharaoh's Revenge" or "Cairo Two-Step" in Egypt, "Kurtz Hurtz" in Uzbekistan, and "Kabulitis" in Afghanistan. The Canadians call it "Beaver Fever". A recent local term in Thailand is "Thai-dal Wave”. It was in the news recently with reference to CWG 2010. What is the local rhyming phrase for this?

4.What unusual achievement do these cricketers share and whose name is the latest?: Hansie Cronje, Ujesh Ranchod, Ruwan Kalpage, Mark Ealham, Neil Johnson, Jacob Oram, Monty Panesar, Cameron White, Peter Siddel

5.Forbes Magazine's List of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women 2010 has just 3 Indian women: Indra Nooyi of Pepsi no 6, Shikha Sharma of Axis Bank no 89, Chanda Kochar no 92. Which notable Indian name consistently in the list each year since 2006 (2004: #3 ; 2005: -) has dropped out?

6.Which children’s classic was given free with the launch of the iBook store for the Apple iPad?

7.As of April 2010, the Top 10 List with most Twitter followers is mostly populated by stars of the the entertainment industry. Only one politician and one sportswoman figure at #1 and #8 respectively. Who are they?

8.The Krishnarajasagar Dam's first output of electricity went to Kolar Gold Fields. The second output went to which place that started a tradition continued till today?

9.What expression is said to have had its origin from a chain of “sanitary cleaning shops” used as a front by Chicago gangster Al Capone to conceal his earnings from illegal sale of drinks during the Prohibition?

10.Which book's dedication goes thus and what is unusual about its layout: THE DEDICATION OF THIS BOOK IS SPLIT SEVEN WAYS: TO NEIL, TO DAVID, TO JESSICA, TO KENZIE, TO DI, TO ANNE, AND TO YOU, IF YOU HAVE STUCK WITH HARRY TILL THE VERY END.

2010-11-04T22:07:00.001+08:00

Happy Deepavali !

Wishing you all a very happy Deepavali ! May the festival of lights bring joy, prosperity and peace to all.

2010-11-03T22:02:00.001+08:00

Do Believe the hype - Thomas Friedman in NYT

It is a nice, breezy read. While I often find Friedman to be too optimistic when it comes to China, India, some of the points he makes here are very compelling. The optimism I see in India is something I haven't seen in many places - the excitement, pace of change is palpable. If I sound contradicting , here are my views in a nutshell : I am extremely optimistic about Indians - they will work wonders in the next few decades but still continue to be cautious about India, thanks to our inefficient bureaucracy and widespread corruption.

2010-10-25T22:30:00.001+08:00

Trek to Eisriesenwelt ( Largest Ice Caves in the World) - Near Salzburg, Austria

Here is the Visual Journey.

2010-10-09T15:37:00.003+08:00

Best Indian Cricket XI (Tests)

It is a lazy Saturday morning and I am browsing through "Tabla" - a local tabloid for the NRI community in Singapore. There are the usual "NRI"sh articles, new restaurant ads (how many more Indian restaurants can SG handle?) and then there is an article on possible candidates for the "Best Indian Test XI".

Here is my best XI ( and the reasons) :

Some players auto-select themselves. It is impossible to imagine an Indian XI without Gavaskar, Tendulkar and Kapil Dev. Let us now delve deeper into who makes the cut:

1. Opener - Gavaskar - Is there any choice other than Gavaskar ? His record speaks for itself. This man is a true legend. Call him selfish, dictatorial but never ever go to WI, South Africa or Aus (or any true world class pitches) without him.

2. Opener - Sehwag - Five years ago, I would have never chosen him. He has come a long way now and has proven himself on many occasions that there is as much substance to him as style.

3. Dravid - The Great wall of India. Highly consistent and disciplined, he is an asset to any team. Has performed very well both at home and abroad and can be the sheet anchor if Sehwag falls early.

4. Tendulkar - Arguably one of the greatest players of this generation, Sachin is a class apart.

5. G.Viswanath - This is a debatable choice but Vishy is a personal favorite. He is definitely the most stylish player that India has ever produced. No one has square cut the ball with such elan as Vishy. He is like Steve Waugh in many ways, if he comes to bat when the team is 300/1, Vishy would get out soon but put him to bat when the team is 30/4, he works wonders.

6. Kapil Dev - Greatest all-rounder India has ever produced. Period. He taught Indians what true all-rounder skills are all about.

7. Vinoo Mankad - The second best all-rounder India has ever produced. Can bat in any position and had tremendous control over his flight. Extremely prolific with both the bat and ball, he won several matches for India single-handedly.

8. Kirmani - If we are selecting the best keeper, he is the one. Kept for the spin quartet and Kapil with equal ease. Can also be extremely handy with the bat (Don't forget that he scored a century as a night watchman).

9. Srinath - The best fast bowler India produced after Kapil. His pace can be extremely lethal and later in his career also managed to add variety to his bowling.

10. Prasanna - The best spinner India ever produced. Pras had amazing control over the flight and the ball always managed to drop a inch shorter than what the batsman expected. The fact that Sobers considers him the best spinner, speaks volumes of his talent.

11. Chandra - Can be deadly and unplayable on certain tracks and in his day. He was the most unpredictable bowler that India ever produced. Can win matches single handedly and performed with great consistency even abroad (which is where Kumble loses to him).

Players who came close and didn't make it :

Dhoni - Dhoni is a better all-rounder but as a keeper, he loses to Kirmani. With too many good bats in the team, there is no reason to compromise on a keeper.

Kumble - Loses to Chandra by a narrow margin.

Vijay Hazare - Have heard a lot about him but Vishy is too good to be dropped.

Umrigar - Great all-rounder ; but Mankad is a shade better.

Engineer - Same reason as Dhoni.

Bedi - Chandra has better variety and the "wow" factor.

2010-09-23T19:20:00.002+08:00

Shanghai Expo ..

Sorry for the week's absence. I was in Shanghai the last few days to attend a technology conference and got an opportunity to visit the Shanghai Expo. It was an exhilarating experience !

First impressions of Shanghai :

a) State of art infrastructure and amazing variety in architecture. From skyscrapers to French style town houses to HK style tall apartments, the heterogeneity is mind boggling.

b) The city has a great mix of old world and new age feel.

The Expo defies description. It is so massive that it would take at least two weeks to see it all. The China, Saudi pavilions stood out with their unique architecture. Wish I had spent more time there. Now off to San Francisco for a few days.

2010-09-16T20:23:00.002+08:00

Photos of Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and continues to be a mecca for music lovers. Even without its musical heritage, its still a beloved place. What a beautiful small town feel with lovely rivers and hills!

Here are some photos from my Salzburg trip.

2010-09-14T21:56:00.003+08:00

Open - An autobiography by Andre Agassi

Autobiographies can be very tricky. Authors tend to balance " Candor" and " Political correctness" and in the end create a mashup that looks confusing.

Andre Agassi's autobiography is very different from any other book that I have read. Its the outpouring of a tormented soul who hated tennis with all his heart yet became a darling of the masses. The more he hated the sport and rebeled against it, the more fans he acquired. In this riveting book he tells it all and doesn't spare anyone, including himself. The characters that stand out in the book are his dominating father, demanding coach Nick, trainer Gil and his glamorous ex-wife - Brooke Shields.

He displays scant respect for his opponents and lays bare his feelings for them all. Sorry, if you are looking for a " politically correct" book , this isn't one. The charm of this book is that he makes his enormous tennis talent look so simple. With the exception of Sampras & Federer, there ain't a champion like Agassi in the last 20 years of Tennis.

Andre, give that soul some rest and heal the wounds. Don't hate the game so much. We all love you either way.

2010-09-12T20:38:00.003+08:00

Swarnalatha - RIP

It takes something as shocking as this to get me off my stupor. A brilliant talent cut short by the quirk of fate.

The fact that she hasn't sung much in the last few years makes me suspect that she has been suffering from some kind of an ailment for a long time. I first took notice of her not through the popular " Aatama Ther Otama" but the mellifluous " Maalayil Yaaro Manathodu Pesa" from Kshatriyan. The song is one of Raja's gems - a phenomenal melody that could tranquil and transport you to a different heaven.

Superhit songs such as " Povoma Oorgolam" and " Rakkamma" followed adding more variety to her repertoire. Rahman gave her some wondeful songs such as " Porale ponnuthai" ( for which she won a national award) and " Evano oruvan".

My personal favorite of Swarnalatha is the haunting melody from Rajini's movie Valli , the song " Ennulle Ennulle". Set to the raga Keeravani ( My favorite raga) with fantastic orchestration, the song brought the best out of Swarnalatha. A song that you could hear again and again - anytime of the day.

May her soul rest in peace. I am always envious of artistes because they never die. They continue to live with us through their creative works.

2010-08-02T22:56:00.001+08:00

Vienna, Austria - Photos

A photographic journey of Vienna.

2010-07-11T12:18:00.003+08:00

Europe Travel Diary - A detailed Itinerary of my 2 week trip to Austria, Switzerland and Italy

DAY 1 - 1345 Hrs – Arrive in Vienna ( By Emirates Air).

To Reach Hotel ( My hotel was opposite to Kepler platz train station) : Take the S-Bahn (S7) Train located in the Airport terminal lower level. The fare is Euro 3.6 per person and it takes 24 mins to Wien center.Technically tickets have to be purchased and validated before boarding but conductors usually sell and stamp tickets on the airport line--instead of issuing a fine which they normally do on any other line.

24-hour ticket €5.70 Valid from time stamped.
48-hour ticket €10.00 Valid from time stamped.

Vienna Card – 18 Euros. Free rides for 72 hrs plus discounts at museums.

Tip: Buy a 24 hour / 48 hour / Vienna card depending on your length of stay. There is a direct non-stop train from Airport to City center (CAT) but it costs more (12 Euros) and saves just 10 mins of commute time.

Route: Airport - Schwechat - Kaiserebersdorf - Zentralfriedhof - Geiselbergstrasse - St Marx - Rennweg - City Air Terminal. Change to U3 [Direction Ottarkring] to “Stephansplatz”. Change to U1 to “Keplerplatz“. Exit „Raaber-Bahn-Gasse“North, approx. 2 minutes walk to “Columbusgasse 16”.

Visit Belvedere Palace at 1600 hrs. Either walk 700m from Hotel or take U1 and get down at Südtirolerplatz (next stop). Palace closes at 1800 hrs.

If not tired, try going to “Prater” park - open till Midnight.

DAY 2 – Sunday – Vienna Sightseeing

Take U1 to Karlsplatz (3 stops) and take the 10am guided tour (Tkts Euro 6.50) of Opera House & Museum.

After the tour, Take U4 from Karlsplatz to SchonBrunn ( 6 stops). Spend rest of the day at the Schonbrunn palace & zoo. Buy Schönbrunn Pass Classic Light that covers Grand Tour with audioguide, Crown Prince Garden, Maze & Labyrinth, Gloriette with viewing terrace.

Zoo tickets needs to be bought separately. Zoo closes at 630pm. Return to Apt.

Day 3 – Monday - Depart Vienna at 06:14 (Train) ; arrive in Salzburg 08:53 – Sightseeing Salzburg

To catch train, From Hotel take U1 to Stephenzplatz (4 stops) and from there U3 to Westbahnof ( 5 stops). U-Bahn starts at 5am, Nightbuses run till 5am.

Take Train to Salzburg. Arrive at 853am. Walk 400m to Best western Hotel.

Entire city of Salzburg can be seen by walk.

Must see attractions in the day : Salzburger Dom - the city′s cathedral, Mozart birthplace & living place ( 1 km from Hotel), Mirabell Palace & Gardens (400m from Hotel), Getreidegasse - Salzburg′s busiest alley, Scholss Hellbrunn, Salzburg Castle - Festung Hohensalzburg.

Day 4 – Tuesday - Sightseeing Eisriesenwelt ice caves & Burg Hohenwerfen.

Eisriesenwelt is located about 40 kilometers south of Salzburg, in a town called Werfen. To get to the caves with public transport, you should go to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof and buy a ticket to Werfen. From here, you catch a bus to the Eisriesenwelt parking lot.

From the parking lot, walk approximately 15 minutes towards the Wimmer Hütte, where you can catch the gondola (Cable car) . From the top of the gondola, the caves are about another 15 minutes walk.

The fortress is accessed up a shaded footpath (approx. 15 minutes' walk). An elevator carrying passengers straight up to the fortress courtyard is available at an extra charge.

Return to hotel and relax.

Day 5- Wednesday - Depart Salzburg at 06:02 . The train station is 15 mins walk from the Hotel.

Arrive in Zurich at 1120 . Take train IR2331 that departs at 1135 (from Platform 4). Arrive at Luzern at 1225.

Entire city of Luzern can be seen by foot. See Chapel bridge, Lion monument, Leger Cathedral.

Take the 18:55 Golden pass train to Interlaken. Arrive at 20:55. Check-in to Hotel.

Day 6 – Thursday – Sightseeing in Interlaken. Entire town can be seen by foot.

Places to see : Hoheweg Park, Unterseen Church, Boating in Lake Brienz, Walk around Lake Brienz, Reichenback falls ( Sherlock Holmes falls). Reichenbach falls is 20 mins walk from Meringen station ( Take 5 min furnicular ride to the falls). Meringen is 45 mins by train from Interlaken in the Luzern route.

Day 7 – Friday – Do the Jungfrau trip. Take the “Good morning” train at 0635 ( Cheapter tickets) and return to Interlaken after noon.

There are two routes to the top. Trains head southwest from Interlaken Ost along the valley floor to Lauterbrunnen, from where you pick up the mountain line which climbs through Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg; different trains head southeast from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald, where you change for the climb, arriving at Kleine Scheidegg from the other direction. All trains terminate at Kleine Scheidegg, where you must change for the final pull to Jungfraujoch – the popular practice is to go up one way and down the other.

Day 8 – Saturday – Depart by Train IC 956 from Interlaken OST at 0701 hrs. Arrive at Spiez at 0722. Depart Spiez at 0805 (Train 51), Arrive at Milan at 1035. Depart Milan at 1135 ( Train 9715) and Arrive in Venice at 1410.

Everything on venice can be reached on foot. Visit Rialto bridge & market.

Day 9 – Sunday – Venice sightseeing.

Visit St.Mark's square, Take a boat tour of Grand canal (preferably slow #1 vaporetto) , Doge's Palace ( Near Piazza San Marco), Visit San Giovanni e Paolo ( Dominican church). Attend an evening classical music concert ( Vivaldi's four seasons) behind doge palace.

Day 10 – Monday - Depart at 0839 from Ve Mestre ( Take a local train from St.Lucia to Mestre – Journey time is 10 mins); Arrive at Florence at 1030. Depart Florence at 1057 and arrive at Pisa at 1206 (Train No 23355). Sightseeing at Pisa – Leaning Tower, Knights Square, Baptistry.

Depart at 1727 ( Train no 6835) from Pisa to Lucca. Sightseeing the Lucca walls, San michele, San Martino cathedrals.

Depart Lucca at 2032 ( Train no 3089) ; Arrive at Florence at 2152. Walk to the Apartment ( 5-10 mins walk).

Day 11 – Tuesday - Sightseeing in Florence. All places can be seen on foot.

Attractions to see : Piazza del signoria, Il Duomo, Galleria Uffizi, Galleria Academia.

Day 12 – Wednesday - depart from Florence at 0700 ( Train No 9501); arrive at 0845 in Rome.
From Roma Termini, take the escalator down to the Underground and change to the METRO line “A”. Take a train going in the direction of BATTISTINI and get off the train at the station OTTAVIANO-SAN PIETRO. This is only 6 stops. (To help you prepare, the station BEFORE this is LEPANTO). Get out the station and walk down the street called Viale Giulio Cesare direction San Pietro (Saint Peter).

Our apartment is in Vatican city.

Sightseeing in Vatican City – St.Peter's cathedral, St.Peter's Square, Audition with the Pope.

Day 13 – Thursday - Rome sightseeing.

Take metro from Ottaviano to Roma termini. Change to B line towards Laurentina; second stop is colosseo. Get down here.

Walking tour of Ancient Rome - Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. If you follow the Via Sacra (one of the oldest roads in Rome) out of the Forum, you will walk up a staircase and find yourself behind the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill). Take a photo of the Forum from here, the view is beautiful.Then head to the Pantheon.Walk towards the river (Tiber, Tevere) and next to the Pantheon you will find Piazza Navona.

walk over to the Trevi Fountain, exiting right on Piazza di Spagna (if you are facing the steps) by via Due Macelli. Head back to Apartment.

Day 14 – Friday - Vatican Museums / Sistine Chapel / Raphael's rooms. Take an audio guide. Vatican museum is huge and includes Sistine chapel and Raphael's rooms.

Day 15 – Saturday - Morning Sightseeing in Rome – Visit Capitolini Museums ( Metro is Garbatella – 3 stops away from Colosseo). From Roma termini, take a non-stop train to FCO (Rome) Airport. Head back home from Rome.

Vijay Siva - Live at SIFAS

2010-07-08T18:51:00.001+08:00

Look forward to the Tamil only concert.

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2010-06-25T21:37:00.000+08:00

Seems like a month of Travel. Sitting at Changi to board a flight to San Francisco. Going to be an hectic business trip with 3 days each in San Diego, Las Vegas and Bay Area.

I am trying something crazy. Thanks to the numerous domestic flights I am taking and the fact that they charge for check- in luggage, I am traveling without check- in luggage! Will try for a Guinness entry " first man to travel long haul with no Luggage!"

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2010-06-19T20:44:00.002+08:00

World Cup So Far ...

It has been a dull world cup so far. Plenty of surprises and not a single team ( with the exception of Argentina) has impressed the fans. There is one man who seems destined to rescue this messy world cup from its mess - oh yeah - he is Messi.

2010-06-14T18:34:00.002+08:00

ARR's Tamizh Manadu Theme Song

Quick Thoughts - Slick Video, Usual ARR style peppy music, Interesting choice of singers ( Slightly high number of Carnatic singers). Why didn't ARR experiment with some traditional instruments and folk music?

2010-06-13T20:22:00.000+08:00

Who will win the Football World Cup?

Given the current form and the Group they are in, I am betting on Spain. Who do you think will win?

2010-06-12T22:08:00.002+08:00

Would love to be him...

Kashi Samaddar, 52, a Dubai-based businessman (born in Calcutta, India) has travelled to 218 countries-setting the world record for the Most countries visited. He is also the first person to visit all 194 sovereign states with his mission of Travel, Tourism and Peace.

“Indians need a visa to travel anywhere outside their country. There were times when I had opportunities to get an Australian or Canadian citizenship but I declined the offer because I wanted to prove to the world that an Indian is capable of travelling so much without changing his passport,” he says.

For Samaddar in his 50s, it all began way back in 2003 on October 28, when he was denied a visa from a southern African country because of his nationality. Feeling humiliated he made a promise to himself that he would travel to all the countries in the world as a mark of defiance. Through travelling, Samaddar also hopes to bridge the gap between several cultures. “People are friendly in most parts of the world but they perceive Indians as troublemakers and therefore reject their visa,” he says.

But visa issues aside, Kashi says his around- the-world trip included plenty of postcard moments, including visiting the Alps mountain range and some fantastic spots in South America. “I think Brazil is a very good destination, for everybody,” says Kashi. “In Rio de Janeiro, when you get in the taxi, if you are from England they’ll play an English music cassette, if you’re Chinese they play a Chinese cassette and if you’re Indian they’ll play an Indian cassette. “The people are lovely.”

"Some of the great destinations that I would suggest are Copacabana Beach in Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil, the Kovalom Beach in India, Colonia at Micronesia- Margarita in Venezuela and Mala Mala at Nadi Fiji." "The towns at the foot of the Alps, Andes or Himalayas are just magnificent. I came across breath-taking views at Black River, Amazon." Samaddar added he is concerned about global warming and that he saw the Arctic icecaps melting.

2010-06-11T17:56:00.004+08:00

Europe Travel Diary - Part One

I intend to write a series of posts on my Europe trip with an intention of helping fellow travelers undertake this exciting journey. I did meticulous planning , learnt a lot of lessons on the ground and hope these lessons would benefit the future travelers to Europe.

Planning an Europe trip isn't an easy task. Three questions pop up immediately " Where, When and How". Let me explain my thought process on this:

a) Where : It is completely an individual decision. Europe is an exciting destination and needs at least 5-6 trips ( each lasting at least 2 weeks) in a lifetime. Ever since my childhood, Italy has fascinated me as a country ( Venice in particular). So with a Child like enthusiasm, I decided that Italy had to be part of the Itinerary, come what may. Having already visited France & UK earlier, I decided to skip these two countries ( Which are the most visited by tourists in Europe). If Italy comes ; can Swiss be far behind ? Delightfully perched close to Italy and a paradise for tourists ( for the eyes definitely not for the wallet), Switzerland self-invited itself.

Being a huge Western Classical music fan, Austria too invited itself to the Itinerary. Romantic vision of caressing the violin that Mozart used and attending an Opera in Vienna, led me to include that as the final country in my Itinerary.The fact that it was right next to both Italy & Swiss certainly helped.

b) When: I definitely decided not to go there in the peak season ( Mid June to Late August). Peak season is a bad time to travel for multiple reasons. Europe tends to be crowded, the weather is quite hot ( Places like Italy can be stifling at 35c+) and the room rates are very expensive.

I decided that the shoulder season ( When the temperature is pleasant switching from spring to summer) was the best. In my opinion , Mid-May to Mid-June is a great time to travel - weather is fantastic, it is less crowded and room rates are reasonable.

c) How: Should I do a arranged tour ( Cox & Kings, SITA and their ilk) or do it on my own? This was never a question to ponder because as an independent traveler ,I would never fit into a arranged tour schedule. I also decided to learn the art of planning a long trip and thus decided to do it on my own ( In hindsight, no regrets, would do it any day).

So, What next? coming up soon.

2010-06-09T23:17:00.003+08:00

Investing in Stocks - The best article that you have never read

This article is absolutely hilarious - a clever mix of common sense, lampoon and self deprecating humor. Now you know why Scott Adams is the best :-)

Europe Vacation

2010-06-08T19:03:00.000+08:00

Back after a 16 day long Europe Vacation. Went to Italy, Swiss & Austria.

Got tons to blog about. A series of Europe travel primer will soon follow.

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Long live entrepreneurship

2010-05-20T13:11:00.001+08:00

Long live entrepreneurship! Met a taxi driver with 4 failed business ventures who is now trying his luck in water desalination venture.

Way to go!

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Happy Mother's day !

2010-05-09T15:31:00.001+08:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Wished Mom on Mother's day. She asked " when did u become so formal?". Lesson learnt - Mom & I haven't changed ; the world has changed.

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2010-04-25T22:11:00.002+08:00

A stroll through Central London - My photo diary

2010-04-16T14:50:00.000+08:00

Wedding of the Yr

Something tells me that one of the Bhatt's ( Mahesh or Vikram) will try to make a movie loosely based on the Love / Marriage of Shoaib - Sania. What do you think?

2010-04-14T20:47:00.004+08:00

Steve Jobs in Kollywood

Steve has set in motion huge expectations for the next version of iPhone OS ( Ver 4.0). Was reading through the PR and these lines caught my attention:

" Jobs understandably put the best possible spin on the iPhone OS's multitasking tardiness. "We weren't the first to this party, but we're going to be the best."

In Kollywood speak with a bit of punch line thrown in this would be " Where is the party? An..OS 4.0 vandha party". " Naanga partykku late-a vandhalum latest-a varuvomla :-)"

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2010-04-11T22:33:00.001+08:00

Tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

My photo diary.

2010-04-08T21:18:00.001+08:00

From Chidambaram to Cambridge: a life in science

A very interesting autobiographical essay by the Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.

2010-04-05T12:08:00.002+08:00

In Apple we trust

Here is a PJ - What do iPad and Amitabh Bachchan have in common? - People can't get tired of them and both seem to be permanently camped in the TV stations.

Some observations on the iPad Launch:

a) Very surprised by the number of non-Americans who flew to the US just to buy the device at 9am !

b) The apple cult still amuses me - camping overnight outside the store.

c) Most iPad buyers seem to be Apple fans - they already own iPod, Mac, iPhone. Can it go mainstream beyond the fan base?

d) Very surprised that Google & Amazon ( the key competitors for Apple's iPad) were the first to develop apps for the iPad.

d) Its the closest a tech company can get to a religious cult - Steve Jobs is a messiah and there are millions of followers around the globe. Well done Steve !

2010-04-04T11:40:00.003+08:00

Dr. Ganesh - Live at SIFAS, Singapore

Dr.Ganesh , one of the most famous disciples of Maharajapuram Santhanam, performed at the SIFAS auditorium yesterday. Some quick observations:

The last time I heard him, he was a replica of his guru - Voice, Bhani and style. The Bhani still remains close to the Santhanam school but the voice has changed over the years. The concert was dedicated to his Guru and contained vintage Santhanam kritis.

Here is the song list:

Dr. Ganesh - " guruvin ninaivu"

1. Innum en Manam - charukesi
2. Sree maha ganapathe - nattai
3. En Mugham - amrutha varshini
4. Jutha muraya - arabhi
5. Pariyachagama - vanaspathi
6. Narayana ninne - suddha dhanyasi
7. Sangeetha laya - RTP- kalyani
Swaras in mohana kalyani, hamir kalyani, poorvi kalyani
8. Thunga theera - ahir bhairav
9. Madhura madhura - bhageshree
10. Petra thay thanai - siva Ranjani
Bho sambho - revathi
11. Mangalam - sowrashtram , madhyamavathi

Tech trivia

2010-03-30T18:58:00.001+08:00

What is special about symbolics.com?

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2010-03-28T10:34:00.004+08:00

Tata Crucible Quiz - Chennai Edition Questions

Give it a shot. Answers in a few days.

1. How does the world better know the Waterbury clock company?

2. Maheshwar Hydro Electric project is a diversification project of which textile major in India?

3. With which chocolate maker you will associate the tagline “the sweetest place on earth”?

4. Which form was founded in 1907 by Eugene Schuler ?

5. Which auto major is a major investor in Juventus?

6. Which organisation known for pioneering industrial standards was started in Feb. 1947?

7. One Italian word for maker of coffee

8. Your lungs, your heart, your legs, your will. Running isn’t a team sport – Adline for what ?

9. Theory propagated by a famous business leader during his tenure at GE called One-Two theory of Mgmt. Who and explain?

10. This term coined by Gifferd and Elizabeth gives the description of an employee who contributes to the business success of the organisation and innovation culture.

11. Term was coined in 18th century – comes from the French word of quarter master – extensively used in military management.

12. Believed and accepted to be first done by Simon Stevin from Belgium as early as 16th century -called it as “the Fair statement”. What?

13. Directors of this company thought that the length of the name was longer – so they had an acronym TTK – then they changed to a name of Latin origins to make a short and crisp name. Which company?

2010-03-24T11:48:00.002+08:00

Thomas Friedman on " Immigration"

Friedman hits the nail on the head with this article. It is a clever piece, using an interesting story to drive home a critical point.

Tns- live at Khoo auditorium, Singapore

2010-03-20T23:28:00.001+08:00

Yet another briiliant concert by the inimitable TNS. My picks were the yadukula kambodhi, shanmukhapriya and the thillana. Since it was a GNB memorial concert ( to commemorate the birth centenary of that genius) , TNS penned the main kriti on GNB. Though his voice has aged, the "vidwat" was all too visible. Listening to " thalaivar" on any day is a pleasure!

Here is the song list:

1. Intha - begada
2. Thelisi Rama - poorna chandrika
3. Enna kaadu - panthu varali
4. Para mukham - kanada
5. Mara koti sundari - bahudari
6. Ninnu - yadhukula kambodhi
7. Giri priyam - kadanakudukalam
8. Guna nidhi balasubramaniane - shanmukhapriya
Swaras in bagesri, hamsanandi, neelambari, kapi
9. Sayangale - ragamalika ( ahir bhairav, mohanam, kamas, bilahari,k. Goula, bhupalam,subapantuvarali, ahiri, neelambari, hamir kalyani, sahana,sindu bhairavi ( thillana)
10. Pazhani - behag
11. Pavamana - sowrashtram

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Trivia

2010-03-19T18:43:00.001+08:00

Which country has the longest life expectency in the world? ( clue: it isn't japan - japan is second)

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KL trip

2010-03-18T19:09:00.000+08:00

How to make a boring one day business trip to KL interesting?
Try flying the Firefly ( subsidiary of Malaysian airlines) turboprop flight to subang. It's a smaller yet cool looking aircraft which offers an adventurous short hop.

Here is my experience:

1. Check-in & boarding was a breeze. Being a smaller plane with just 72 seats, its easy to fill the plane fast.

2. The plane looks like a cross between a chopper & glider. The ground clearance is low and the noise is huge. It flies slower ( 80 mins flying time to subang ) and at a lower altitude.

3. They offer upto 15 kg check-in and serve muffin & cool drinks.

4. Immigration at subang was very quick. I got out of the airport in 5 mins and it was a 15 mins taxi ride to the city.

5. Tip: sit in the rear - that is where the exit doors are.

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2010-03-16T12:36:00.003+08:00

Nyepi - Balinese New Year

How different can Bali and Balinese be? How about this for a sample - the new year (Nyepi) is celebrated as a day of silence, fasting, and meditation. Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for contemplation and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are Amati Geni (no lighting fires); Amati Karya (no working); Amati Lelanguan (no entertainment or pleasure); and Amati Lelungan (no traveling); and for some, no talking or eating at all. The roads are completely deserted and the airport closes for 24 hours.

Why a new year is celebrated with silence and contemplation?

According to Balinese folklore, on this sacred day, after the eve’s festivities and rituals, the evil spirit is drove away from heaven by God. They are homeless now. They seek vengeance on those who drove them from paradise. These angry evil spirits roam the heavens seeking a new home in the world. The evil spirits take to the sky, their eyes wide open looking down at earth, especially Bali. However, they see nothing on the island because Balinese people do nothing on Nyepi and stay in their homes. The spirits think Bali is empty of people because there is no human activity. When they have seen enough, they fly off and Bali is safe for another year.

Today is Nyepi. Without much fanfare and ostentation, Bali is teaching the world the true meaning of "reflection" and " earth hour".

@ KL this weekend

2010-03-13T11:30:00.001+08:00

I am at KL ( Kuala lumpur) this weekend, having brought my dad for a sightseeing trip. KL never feels like " foreign" since I have been more than 25 times. But everytime there is something new to discover - this time it's the Petrosains museum at KLCC. They have got a massive dinosaur!

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2010-03-11T22:16:00.003+08:00

10 Most Dangerous countries to Visit

Interesting list from Howstuffworks. Of these - Kenya, Brazil and Russia are in my must-visit list.

2010-03-10T20:55:00.001+08:00

Cold, Colder & Coldest

I can forget my dream of going to Alaska during a winter. Having arrived from London with a sore throat and cold, I thought Macau at 10c might be a respite from the 3c at London. Do u know that Macau at 10c can be colder than London at 3c? It puzzles me but weathermen can explain it with two terms -" cold gusty winds" & " feels like zero".

Macau's weather can be as unpredictable as sehwag's form. It was 10c on Tuesday, 14c today and 20c tomorrow. Is this weather data or data from slot machines? - beats me either way.

The odyssey doesn't seem to end. I might travel to Boston next week where I heard the temperature is actually zero! Americans will make it sound better by saying it's not zero but 32f - thanks for that.

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Busy with travel

2010-03-09T19:15:00.000+08:00

It has been hectic past week with a business trip to London and Macau in china. Plenty of work but some quality time for sight seeing too. I am not complaigning !

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2010-03-01T22:15:00.001+08:00

Akshaya Patra: Improving Education, One Meal at a Time

Case Study of the Indian NGO - Akshaya Patra , the world's largest NGO school meal programme.

Source : Knowledge@Wharton

2010-02-27T09:34:00.005+08:00

10 Must Visit "Touristy" Countries

Was at the NATAS Travel fair yesterday and it rekindled my desire to "see the world". Before taking the " Road less Traveled", I need to take the " Road Traveled". Here is a list of 10 countries that are in my must see list before I die.

P.S : The list excludes all the countries ( numbering around 20) that I have seen till now.

1. New Zealand - One of the most beautiful countries on the planet. Nature at its pristine best.

2. Japan - A world unto itself. Mt.Fuji, Bullet trains, Kyoto, Tokyo, Japanese cuisine and people.

3. Russia - To quote Churchill " It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma".

4. Turkey - Asia meets Europe. Istanbul. Blue mosque.

5. Egypt - Pyramids, Nile, Alexandria.

6. Netherlands - Amsterdam, Dykes, Flower fields, wind mills, canals, museums.

7. Spain - Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Museums, Bull fighting.

8. Greece - Islands, Acropolis, Parthenon, Olympia, Delphi.

9. South Africa - Kruger, Durban, Pietermaritzbug, Cape town

10. Peru - Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Titicaca

2010-02-24T22:00:00.001+08:00

Photos from Sanya ( China) Trip

Here it is.

2010-02-20T10:52:00.007+08:00

Sanya, China - Travel Diary (Travelogue)

They call it the " Hawaii of the Orient" and its for a reason. This beautiful town is blessed with sun-kissed beaches, sunshine all around the year and a pollution free environment. Sanya is located in Hainan, the smallest province in China and lies in the Southernmost tip of China.

GETTING HERE : The Sanya Airport doesn't serve international flights. So most passengers need to take a domestic flight from Guangzhou ( the closest international airport), Shenzen, Shanghai or Beijing. Sanya is 1 hr flight from Guangzhou. Sanya airport has excellent connectivity to most domestic destinations and what Chinese term as "international destinations" - Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau.

VISA DETAILS : Most nationalities need a visa to enter China. Tourist visas are fairly easy to obtain and can be obtained through an agent.

WHEN TO GO : Tourists flock year-round to Sanya. Sanya has sunny weather year round with upper 20's (c) in Spring, Winter and lower 30's in autumn, summer. Be prepared to come with plenty of Sunscreen lotion.

CURRENCY : The Currency of China is Yuan (renmimbi). There are foreign exchange counters all over.

LANGUAGE :Of course, they speak Chinese in China. Most taxi drivers, shop owners, tourist operators do not know English. Luckily, all road signs are in English, aiding tourists . Make sure that you carry maps that can guide you. Also carry a translation guide or get the names of attractions written in Mandarin. Sign language is universal and always helps !

LOCATION : Sanya is in Hainan province in the southern most tip of China.

TRANSPORT :

Buses: There are hardly any public buses in Sanya and hence its not a preferred mode of transport ( unless you are relying on tour operators).

Taxis : Taxis are the most relied form of transport . Make sure that you agree on the price before embarking on the trip.Do remember that most drivers do not know English.

Cars / Bikes : Can be rented and is a good option if you know the island well.

TIMEZONE : Sanya is GMT + 8 hours.

HOTELS : Since I went to speak at a conference, I stayed at the Hilton resort & spa in Yalong Bay, China. It was a lovely property with its private beach. Can't dream of staying there on a personal trip.

FOOD :Sanya has a great choice of restaurants. Being a vegetarian, I was lucky since the event organizers took care of my special dietary needs. The Nanshan complex ( which is the biggest tourist attraction) is completely meat free due to its Buddhist roots and is a great place to gorge on oriental veg food.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

Beaches

The Yalong Bay has some of the best ( expensive) hotels and beaches.

Nanshan Complex

This complex is located 40 kms from Sanya and attracts lots of tourists. The highlight of the complex is the 350 feet tall bronze statue of Buddha, perched majestically on the ocean. It is supposed to be the second largest Buddha statue in the world and is truly amazing.

Other highlights in the complex include the Gold & Jade Buddha statue which is 3.8 meters high, costing over 100kg of gold, 120 carat of South African diamond, thousands of pieces of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, corals, boulders, pearls and more than 100kg of jade. You gotta see it to believe it !

The Dharma door of non-duality has some spectacular flower displays, landscaping and provides for some good photo-ops.

The entrance to the complex is Yuan 150. The whole complex might take 3-4 hrs to see on foot. There are battery operated vehicle (fee payable) if you want to do a quick tour.

FINAL WORD : Sanya was spectacular, very different from the other beach towns I have seen in south east Asia. I just wish I had more time to spend but that is asking for too much in a business trip.

2010-02-19T18:13:00.002+08:00

Best Budget Smartphone

Planning to buy a budget smart phone this weekend. Toying between a Nokia E63 Vs HTC Tatoo ( No, am not keen on a Blackberry curve).

Any suggestions, anyone?

2010-02-16T22:06:00.002+08:00

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Trip

Feeling absolutely refreshed after a magnificent trip to Saigon, Vietnam. Vietnam celebrated its new year over the weekend and the entire city was decked with flowers, colors, dances and other festivities. It was simply stunning ! More to follow with photos & travel diary.

Andaz apna apna - yaadein

2010-02-12T15:35:00.000+08:00

Was watching andaz apna apna recently - an illogical yet lovable comedy that has achieved cult status. Raj santoshi has generously borrowed from other movies, most notably the Tamil movie "then mazhai".

Like most cult comedy movies some dialogues remain etched in your memory. Here is a sample:

Paresh Rawal is trying to shoot aamir khan and the side kick says :

Side kick : vasco da gama ki gun yeh sir.

Rawal: kis ki mama ki gun?

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2010-02-10T17:44:00.002+08:00

Tiger Airways Promo

Something deep in my heart ( call it a travel freak's oracle) tells me that Tiger airways is going to announce some unbelievable air fares in the next few days ( during Chinese new year long weekend).

Why ? Afterall, the coming year is the year of "Tiger" and Tiger airways' marketing machine wouldn't want to miss that bus(zz). I am all prepared - will fly wherever they will fly me free ( or close to it).

2010-02-07T21:47:00.000+08:00

Dances of Bali - Photo Album

2010-02-06T17:46:00.002+08:00

Back from Sanya, China

I am back in Singapore after a three day trip to Sanya, China. Sanya was beautiful and truly deserves the epithet - " Oriental Hawaii". Though I was on a business trip, managed to get some time for sightseeing.

Photos & Travel diary to follow soon.

P.S : No access to Blogger & Twitter for the past three days since both are banned in China.

First trip to mainland china

2010-02-03T13:12:00.001+08:00

I am going to Sanya, Hainan today. I will be speaking at a technology summit tomorrow. Really look fwd to this trip.

1. Though I have been to hong kong, Macau before, this will be my first trip to the mainland.

2. Sanya is known as china's Hawaii. There is plenty of fodder for my touristy eyes !

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2010-02-01T21:21:00.003+08:00

Geography Trivia

Which country switched to the right hand driving system in the 70's, despite being a former British colony, at the behest of advise from astrologers & soothsayers. The head of state made this switch despite the fact that most existing vehicles were from Britain & Japan ( Both LHD countries).

In fact, Virtually all vehicles are driven with a passenger in place to watch the oncoming traffic and inform the driver as to whether it is safe to overtake or not, as the driver cannot see this from the RHD position!

2010-01-31T11:17:00.005+08:00

Masala Dosa - An interview with the winner

With the Outlook magazine announcing " Masala Dosa" as the national dish of India through a nation wide survey of 1000 people (!), there is no dearth of drum beating by the south Indians. I thought its better to interview the winner ( Masala Dosa) on this historic win which could have deep repercussions for the future of culinary scene in India. Here is an exclusive interview with Masala Dosa ( only on our blog) :

Q: Did you expect this win?

A ( By Masala Dosa): Honestly, I did. I knew in a country like India, the votes would be split with very little consensus. I was counting on my southern brethren to contribute to my win.

Q: Were you surprised by the support that you got from North Indians?

A: Not actually. Most North Indians know little more than Masala Dosa in South Indian cuisine. In addition, the fact that I have "Aloo" and Idli doesn't , tremendously helped me.

Q: What do you think about more women preferring you than men?

A: Is this going to be telecast on National TV or Cable? My response would depend on it !

Q: How do you plan to ensure your lead against competition ( Mainly Mutton Briyani, Tandoori Chicken, Idli Sambar)?

A: Between you & me, I am trying to garner some political support against the mutton, chicken camps. Since the foreigners can't vote, I am safe against competition from " Tandoori Chicken". Idli could hardly be considered as a competitor to me, it is not even available throughout India.

Q: Heard that a certain politician is trying to rile up protests against you since "Vada Pav" didn't win the polls.

A: You & I know the truth. Even people in his city eat more Masala dosa than Vada Pav. I have nothing against Vada Pav, if you think about it, he is a very close cousin of me.

2010-01-23T15:03:00.002+08:00

25 Authentic Asian Tourist Experiences

We all love doing the "touristy" things - " been there , done that". Here are 25 "non-touristy" things to do in Asia. Nice list.

My pick : Sheep rearing @ NZ, Komodo Island in Indonesia, Bicycle racing in Japan, Hiking up the Penang Hill ( Can't believe that I have actually done this one !).

2010-01-17T21:06:00.002+08:00

Bali Photos - Part 1

Bali was spectacular. Here is some of those amazing scenery.

2010-01-12T21:44:00.000+08:00

Business Trivia

What is common to Cisco, VMWare & Flickr?

Bombay jayshree - live at tank road temple

2010-01-10T10:39:00.000+08:00

Bombay jayashree performed at the tank road temple on Friday. She sang very well although the choice of songs were quite predictable. The poorvikalyani & thodi were sung with a lot of depth. Rks, Arun Prasad & Aditya lent excellent support. Here is the song list :

1. Siddhi vinayaka- nattai
2. Sogasujooda - k.goula
3. Akhilandeshwari - dwijavanti
4. Ananda - poorvikalyani
5. Karmuga shanmugha
6. Karthikeya - thodi - with thani
7. Virutham - bahudari, kaanada, behag - muruganin marupeyar
8. Kandha vandarul - natabhairavi
9. Srinivasa - hamsanandi
10. Thillana -maand
11. Mangalam - sowrashtram

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2010-01-09T16:50:00.001+08:00

Photos - Manhattan, Statue of Liberty

Photos taken during my trip to New York in Oct'09.

2010-01-08T15:14:00.003+08:00

NRI's can vote soon - PM

A much welcome move. I hope it some kind of a cohesion between the Embassy / High Commissions and the NRI's living in that country.

On a Separate note, I was at the High commission of India (Singapore) yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency. My task got completed in 10 mins, unimaginable a few years ago.

2010-01-07T22:15:00.001+08:00

Ben Bernanke - Time " Man of the Year"

An excellent photo album - From a spell bee to geek to academic to Chairman of Fed.

2010-01-06T22:05:00.002+08:00

Raining concerts in Singapore

It is raining carnatic music concerts at Tank road temple. Thursday ( 7th Jan) is P.Unnikrishnan, Friday is Bombay Jaishree , Saturday & Sunday ( will she be singing the same songs on both days?) is Sudha. All concerts start at 7pm and are free.

2010-01-05T21:46:00.000+08:00

Chitra's first tamil song

I had always assumed that Chitra's first song in Tamil was " Poove Poochudava". Learnt yesterday ( thanks to super singer) that her first recorded song was " Poojaiketha Poovidhu "( Yet another hidden gem of Raja).

This song is from the movie " Nee Thaana Andha Kuyil". Wow, how appropriate ! In the 80's she stormed the Tamil filmdom as the indisputable" Kuyil". Isn't there some poetic justice in this world?

2010-01-04T15:59:00.001+08:00

Bali - Travel Diary ( Travelogue)

The island of gods, beaches and handicrafts offers a unique experience for travelers. Bali is famous for numerous things - Ruined temples, sun kissed beaches, lush rice fields, breathtaking volcanoes, Music & dance and above all people.There is always something for everyone who visits Bali.

I had been intending to visit Bali for a long time but the terrorist attacks in 2005 made me cancel my trip and am glad I finally " been there ; done that".

HISTORY : Indians started arriving in Bali from as early as 7th century A.D and Hinduism still exerts a powerful influence . Hinduism is the dominant religion in Bali island with close to 95% of the population being Hindus. The Hindu way of life permeates across the culture of Bali by deeply influencing its dance, music, spirituality, food and living.

GETTING HERE : The only international airport at Bali is in Denpesar. Bali has excellent connectivity to most parts of Asia Pacific, Europe & North America.

VISA DETAILS : Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival (including Indians) . It costs US$ 10 if your stay is for 7 days and US$25 if the stay is 8-30 days. No photo is required for Visa on arrival.Make sure that you carry the exact amount of US dollars ( not any other equivalent currency else you may get a poor exchange rate).

WHEN TO GO : Tourists flock year-round to Bali. Bali has a typical tropical climate - hot and humid. The best time to travel is from April to September when its dry. December can be very rainy and crowded. Be prepared to come with plenty of Sunscreen lotion since it could quite hot during most part of the year. Bali can also be quite dusty and filled with insects. As a caution, bring anti-allergy tablets and general purpose medicines.

CURRENCY : The Currency of Indonesia is Rupiah . There are foreign exchange counters all over. The best exchange rates can be obtained away from tourist centers in Bali rather than your home country ( The exchange rate at Changi airport was 6250 Rp, 6400 Rp at Denpesar airport and 6600 Rp inside Bali ). At the time of writing, 1 USD = 9,700 Rupiah.

LANGUAGE : Bahasa Indonesia is the most spoken language in Indonesia. People in Bali speak Balinese Bahasa that is quite unique to the island. English is spoken quite haltingly in tourist places. Make sure that you speak English slowly and clearly when conversing . In the rural areas people speak only Bahasa. All road signs are in English, aiding tourists in Bali.

LOCATION : Indonesia is in the ASEAN region and is close to Singapore & Malaysia. Bali is one of the 17000 islands that makes up the archipelago nation of Indonesia. Bali island is around 144 Km X 80 Km.

TRANSPORT :

Buses: There are hardly any public buses in Bali and hence its not a preferred mode of transport ( unless you are relying on tour operators).

Taxis : Taxis are the most relied form of transport although metered taxis are quite rare. Make sure that you agree on the price ( always after haggling) before embarking on the trip.

Cars / Bikes : Can be rented and is a good option if you know the island well. The road directions in Bali are quite poor and hence one needs to be careful about this option.

Bemo : A form of mini bus that plies between key towns in Bali. Is quite cheap although the reliability isn't very convincing.

TIMEZONE :Bali is GMT + 8 hours.

HOTELS : Hotels range from extremely cheap ( as low as $5 / day ) to really expensive depending on where you stay.

If you are a beach person, stay at Kuta ( the most popular), Seminyak, Jimbaran, Legion or Sanur.

I stayed at Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali. Ubud has some fabulous resorts that are extremely tranquil & serene.

FOOD : Bali has an eclectic choice of restaurants. The best restaurants are found at Kuta, Seminyak. Being a vegetarian is hardly an issue in Bali since most restaurants serve some kind of Veg food.

The good Indian restaurants are :

a) Bumbu Bali, Ubud : Is located opposite to Ubud palace. The limited Thali costs Rp41,500 ++ and is a good "deal". The food isn't typical Indian but a mix of balinese & Indian. I would rate it 6/10.

b) Indian delities , Ubud : Is located close to ARMA museum in Ubud. Authentic Indian fare and a meal for two would cost around Rp200,000. I would rate it 7/10.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

Beaches

Kuta : The most popular beach in Bali and a great place for nightlife & water sports. There is also a water theme park in Kuta for kids & adults.

Kuta has suffered over the years due to its popularity. The scar of 2005 bombings are yet to heal and the place is also a constant traffic nightmare during tourist season.

Legian : Is a little less quieter than Kuta and is further up north.

Seminyak : Is the "high end" place filled with flashy lifestyle and western style malls. I wouldn't recommend staying here - its expensive, phony and boring.

Jimbaran : Lies just south of Kuta and is much quieter and a decent place for families.

Sanur : This beach lies on the east side of Bali, which means you don't get to see the fabulous sunset. Beach isn't that great either.

Temples :

Most temples in Bali are ruins and hence set the right expectation before you visit.

Pura Luhur Ulu Watu : Is one of the nine directional temples of Bali and lies in the southern tip of the island perched majestically facing the ocean. The sunset view from the temple is amazing and don't miss it. The temple has a lot of mischievous monkeys so pls be very careful about your belongings ( Don't have any loose items including spectacles - I saw a monkey grabbing the specs of a person next to me).

Pura Tanah Lot : Lies on the South-west coast and is one of the most photographed spots in Bali. The temple is an island in the ocean ( though the island is just 10 ms away from the beach!) and can be reached during low tide. The temple isn't much to boast about but the sunset is fabulous. Many consider this to be the perfect sunset spot in Bali ( Although I would rate Ulu Watu higher).

Pura Taman Ayun ( Mengwi) : Is a royal temple surrounded by a huge moat. The verdant green lawns add to the lustre of this place. I liked this temple a lot and would highly recommend visiting it.

Pura Tirta Empul: Beautiful temple located in North. There are natural springs that gush out and are supposed to have healing powers. The bathing place is quite clean and if you are religious, this temple should be on your "must visit" list.

Pura Masceti: Is located in the South east and is one of the nine directional temples. The temple is quite ordinary but the beach is good (and devoid of crowds) with black sand.

Pura Besakih: Is located in North and is considered the "Mother temple". It is actually a series of interconnected temples. The walk from the parking lot is about a km (though there are bike drivers willing to drive u upto the temple for a fee). I couldn't visit this temple since it rained continuously the day I went there.

Gunung Kawi : Located close to Ubud, this complex consists of 10 rock cut temples. The walk is quite steep and takes around 15-20 mins but the views are breathtaking.

Goa Gajah : Located near Ubud, this is a cave having Ganesha & Shiva idols. The entrance to the cave has a daunting figure that is supposed to ward off evils.

Monkey forest temple : Located at the heart of monkey forest. The temple is in ruins but there is a spectacular monkey demon statue and of course plenty of monkeys.

Dances :

Balinese dances are world famous and Ubud is the place to go for genuine performances ( The Kuta dances are mostly shortened version for tourists). I attended most dance performances at the Ubud palace in a open courtyard. Tickets normally costs Rp70,000 - 80,000 and can be purchased at the tourist office opposite to the Palace. Most performances start at 730pm and last for 90 minutes. Make sure that you take mosquito repellants with you.

Kecak Dance : The most famous dance performance held as a choir. Themes are often borrowed from epics and often accompanied by fire display.

Legong Dance : With elaborate costumes and performed by young girls, this dance is very graceful. I saw the "Mahabharatha" theme being enacted by the Legong dancers ( Don't expect the entire story of Mahabharatha, in most cases a small incident from the epic is illustrated).

Barong dance : Its the battle between good ( barong) & evil ( rangda). It is quite a spectacle with elements of suspense & drama.

Volcanoes :

Gunung Batur : Don't miss the Gunung Batur Volcano & Lake ( near Kintamani). The views, on a clear day, are terrific. I was extremely lucky here. It was raining cats & dogs when I landed near the Volcano. By the time I came back from Lunch, the rain had stopped and the sun smiled at me beautifully !

SHOPPING : Bali is a great place for shopping. Its famous for paintings, handicrafts and stone carvings. The " Pasar Seni", close to the Ubud Palace, is the best place for bargain hunting. The market starts at 9am and winds up by the afternoon. Be prepared to bargain (sometimes starting at less than one-third of what is quoted) if you want a good deal. I bought plenty of paintings, T-shirts, souvenirs here.

I would advise not to buy stuff near the tourist places as they tend to be expensive.

MISC : If you want to relax, get yourselves a massage - body/ foot.

How much would a trip cost ?

I went for 8 days to Bali from Singapore. I am a budget traveler ( I rarely stay in fancy 5 star hotels nor do I rent an expensive car to drive me around) who likes to backpack and travel with crowds. It cost me US$ 700 / person for the whole trip ( Includes Air travel, local transport, Accommodation, Temple entry fees, Food, Shopping , Departure tax , Visa fees, Misc ).

Do they speak English there ?

Most locals know a smattering of English that is enough for simple conversations. I didn't find the language to be a major issue. I had planned my trip well in advance and had the " Lonely Planet" guides and maps to tow me around. So the bottomline is, if you plan well , you should be able to manage.

Do I get Indian Food / Vegetarain food there?

Yes. I had already written reviews about the Indian restaurants in the "FOOD" section. Getting Veg food isn't a challenge in Bali.

How many days are enough to see Bali?

Depends on what you want. Plan for at least 4 days.

CAUTION :

a) Beware of street dogs. They are everywhere and bark constantly. Don't enter dark alleys alone after sunset.

b) Beware of touts who promise to be your tour guide or insist that the temple compulsorily requires guides.

c) People are extremely religious in Bali and I was often asked " Are you Indian?" or " Are you Hindu?". Irrespective of your religious beliefs, respect their culture and dress properly when entering temples.

FINAL WORD : Bali is a celebration of life and is a very unique place on this planet. It is where spirituality meets the surf and culture clashes with the malls. Most people would tend to love one of these contrasts.

At some level, you start wondering if Bali is over-rated - that is - if you haven't found your nirvana there.

2010-01-03T18:09:00.002+08:00

Sanjay's comparison - Cricketers and Carnatic musicians

The Q&A in Jaya TV Margazhi mahotsavam has been adored by the audience for "breaking the ice".

Loved this response from Sanjay. Can't agree more on GNB / Gavaskar & TNS / Sachin comparison.

2010-01-02T12:58:00.002+08:00

Worldspace - End of an era

Two days ago there was music but today there is just silence. Most listeners of the Worldspace satellite radio were taken by surprise when the broadcaster announced the closure of its Indian ( Asian) operations on 31st Dec. The news shouldn't have surprised many, considering that the company filed for bankruptcy protection in the US more than a year ago.

What made Worldspace good ?

An excellent rooster of India specific content ( well, they had 95% of total global subscribers from India) that was ad free and well compered. Their classical music channels , Gandharva (Hindustani) & Sruti ( Carnatic), particularly stood out filing a niche and cultivating a loyal audience.

My tryst with World space

In early 2009, despite knowing about the bankruptcy filing, I bought a World space radio in Singapore and immensely enjoyed the experience. I was particularly addicted to Sruti, listening to yesteryear masters and thematic programmes that greatly enriched my understanding and knowledge of carnatic music.

Why did I buy the Worldspace radio fully knowing about the bankruptcy?

Music is a matter of heart and perfectly rational people make irrational decisions, listening to their heart. With that same irrationality, I am hoping that Worldspace would make a come back in 2010 ( rescued by angel investors). It would be a shame if it is allowed to die.

Happy new year!

2010-01-01T11:00:00.001+08:00

May the new year bring peace, prosperity & joy to everyone!

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Tuesdays with morrie - book review

2009-12-31T10:34:00.001+08:00

After losing my battle with idleness, I chanced upon the library at the resort. It was raining cats & dogs, a perfect afternoon for book reading. Hidden amongst the popular fiction titles was this little gem by Mitch albom. I had heard of this book before, thanks to amazon's recommendation list.

The book is about the reflections on life by a dying professor narrated to his favorite student. As the title says it's about " an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson". Albom meets his teacher every tuesday until morrie finally loses his battle to als.Morrie is that favorite teacher we ever had - more a friend than a teacher. Morrie offers simple yet deep insights on the purpose& meaning of life. The topics range from family, love, emotions, aging, money, marriage, today's culture and death.morrie's observations are completely devoid of ego & preachiness yet offers sagely advice for the younger generation.

We have just one life. Let us live it rather than passing through the motions. Life isn't an act and even if it is , sadly, you don't get a second chance.

A perfect lesson for me as I strive to answer the larger questions of life. In an eerie coincidance, I read this book on a Tuesday !

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Sound of silence

2009-12-29T10:13:00.000+08:00

Sitting at a remote resort in Bali, Indonesia , I ponder amidst silence. For someone who prides himself on reading 2 books a week, I have lost a rare ability - The ability "to do nothing".doing nothing , I have realized, is a lot of work!

It's time to discover the smaller pleasures of life - catching the sun rise in a paddy field, butterflies hovering around colorful plants, discovering ancient ruins amidst verdant forests, catching an evening kecak dance, thanking those simple people who are full of love.

Hopefully I shall discover the sound of silence in this amazing place. In that sound I seek myself.

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Merry x'mas

2009-12-24T20:30:00.001+08:00

Wish you all merry x'mas & happy holidays!

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2009-12-20T22:00:00.002+08:00

Central Park - New York City

Photo taken during the " Fall" at Central Park, New York City.
Here is my photo album of " Central Park".

These photos were taken during my trip in October.

2009-12-18T20:44:00.000+08:00

Dr. Swamy & his Friends

Just when you thought you had seen the last of him, the inimitable Dr. Subramanian Swamy reappears to write a tribute to Paul Samuelson ( Appropriately titled " An Indian tribute : Guru").

Like most things with him, the later part of the tribute gets down to needless mud-slinging and self-praise.

2009-12-17T15:52:00.001+08:00

You Cannot be Serious - Book Review

" You cannot be serious" is the autobiography of John McEnroe . The book is very much like the man - irreverent , blunt, opinionated and " no holds barred". His inner turmoil, outbursts and professional rivalries have been captured very well in the book.

I really liked the book for it's candor and honesty. My rating for the book 6-4!

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