Brand Creation

It was a nice lazy friday evening.. i started back from office at 5 PM.. on my way back, i wanted to pick up something exotic to start my weekend.. i entered into the super mart and started checking out the shelves for something nice and soothing to eat or drink.. something in tea section attracted me.. it was a very attractive pack of tea.. i went closer to check on what was it.. this was tea with various flavors which is quite a big market in europe.. but this was something new, targetting the "organic and healhty" crowd.. as i held the pack in my hand, i could smell strong cardamom and liquorice.. i had picked up a detox pack.. retail being my passion, i went on hunting a bit more within the section.. i saw that this tea was priced almost 50% higher than the normal green tea that i buy.. but i just wanted it.. the marginal price difference did not look too much for a month's consumption..
Curious, i picked the pack, as i wanted to try this diffuser tea.. The curiousity has proven to be good, i guess.. i have a learning..
Here is what i saw how brands and commodities separate themselves out:
-- Certification from USDA Organic, Organic soil association and Kosher Parve
-- Detailed information on how i am different from other teas
-- Unique combination of ingredients
-- Elegant , soothing colors and packaging

This is "Pukka" detox tea for you.. It is an Indian sourced tea, marketed extensively in Europe and i must say, if you have it once, you would just want to try more of it.. its perception, attention to details and keeping eyes on niche markets.. they say your love and passion shows in everything you do.. looking at their product and then further into website and details, i feel entrepreneurship is about finding your passion and getting started to build it brick by brick.. in the end either you will find your way or you would have been through a journy which you shall never regret.. Not to forget India comes back to me in so many ways.. :)

Cirque Di Soleil

I am not one of the theatre and art enthusiasts.. I like good things in life, but animation and television was what art meant for me.. then came this art which becomes the part of my subject line..
During my visit to Vegas, some of us decided to watch "Ka", a circque di soleil's show.. this is a theatre which involves circus gymnatics and theatre art.. I did not really know what was i going for till i landed in and got introduced to this amazing world of art..
Lavish stage concept and direction, amazing acting, superb flex bodies, music, a neat story line and an awestruck me.. the colors of clothes, the impact that this theatre left on me is memorable for life.. I just knew that artists are unique and desrve to be the guys in fortune's top 50 rich people to live in this world, if only world was a fair place to live in and people got rich for their relative value of skills..
I like the way th art has been preserved, a niche market created and priced well for the same.. the uniqueness and quality has drawn more investments and hence has helped the organizer improve the art by adding visuals, costumes and stage effects..
Truly inspiring.. all form of arts, all over the world, need some enthusiasts, who can build these up and offer to the world.. the right shall survive and thrive.. :)
For all the money that "KA" in Las Vegas seeks, its worth a lifetime experience.. if you are around, just go in..

Inspiration!!

What is so common among all who do well and make their mark in life?? Most of us die ordinary.. we are born in comfortable setup, we know how to find faults, we know who can solve our problems for us and we die average.. with a few lakhs here and there, we die same..
Then, there are street hawkers, Dhiru bhai Ambani's, Chris Gardners of the world.. nothing seems to be working for them.. born in poverty, struggling for food, no one seems to be solving anything for them.. they dont have a choice but to fight and then one of such million fights turns their fate.. what dsnt change?? they keep fightng till they die, its an addiction, they dont realize till the end of their life that they achieved what they fought for long back.. With a lot of lakhs here and there and addiction to generate them, they die same.. just that they become inspiration for millions before they die..
So, what does really drive you to make your mark in life? Circumstances? Yes, in more cases than not.. Drive? Yes, if you dont fee like giving up, its a genetic disorder you have and you will carry it.. passion? you have to be mad enough to not be pulled by crowd of averagers who think you are hitting in dark, while they really are.. last but not least, perseverance to follow the silver lining in dark crowd till the last breath of your life!! Really, the ones who give inspirational speeches, dont really care about them.. their life is a never ending journey to move and learn.. there is never enough to stop and feel proud about and feel thankful about.. In the end, nothing is good or bad, great or faulty, right or wrong.. if you became an inspiration, you probably fought all your life and in the process never sat and looked back at life; if you did not, you probably did not fight for anything, so you dont know what is it to create and live a life of your own.. Life is equally exciting for the 0.5% who stand of stage and inspire and 99.5% who sit on chairs aspire..

Isle of Wights

It was the 31st Aug 2010 long weekend.. one of my friends from India was in London and in an early morning discussion, we decided to head to Isle of Wights!
Its a simple travel from London.. We took a train from Waterloo to Southamptop, a free bus to ferry station, a fast ferry to Crowes, a family bus pass for isle of wights!! The journey is around 2 - 3 hours..
The must see attraction in Isle of Wights is : the Needles.. this is a beautiful cut of valleys that overlooks the sea.. The white cliffs and natural beauty around is extremely calming.. There is a ferry ride for 15 mins which can take you near the white cliffs and give you a view of the island from proximity of needles.. you can take a sitting trolley down the cliff to reach the sea side.. The journey from New port can be done in an open top Breezer bus.. the natural beauty of the island settles in your mind.. while coming back from needles, you can choose to take the coasters bus ride... this bus takes the sea side route through the Isle of Wights and covers almost whole of island .. Some of the sea side towns are beautiful and comfortable.. if you are the kinds who enjoys your peace of mind and love nature, then just stay on for a night before you move on.. you can always choose to stay out in coasters ride for 2.5 hours, come back to Rhyde or Crowes, take the last ferry at 11:15 to Southampton and a train back to London..
All in all a MUST SEE place around London.. Very beautiful countryside feel with sea all around.. very far away from crowd..

The Neemrana Palace

This time when i visited India, i decided to spend a weekend off at Neemrana.. its an old fort which has been refurbished and converted into a resort.. Priced fairly, it does not really boast of the 5 star facilities, lavish lobbies and excellent room service.. this is a "true fort".. for those of you who want to go there, this has 11 floors, you might not realize it, but yes, you might climb 8 floors on your feet to reach to your room.. the rooms are very simple and have been decorated with old pots and craft from time of kingdom.. each room is different from other and has a history of its own which is preserved and explained in pictures and decors.. Small fort windows might lead to a scenic view of the village or a the back view of mountains.. there are cultural folk dances, buffet lunch and dinners and fire fox( zipping) activities which can be done in this resort apart from spending a lazy day and exploring the fort..
The fort has local staff which ensures that you get personal touch and you are taken care of.. all in all, a must once in lifetime experience.. a very well preserved heritage which shall make you relive the moments that you had read about in some tales..
Price : INR 4500 - 12500
Food : Buffet - Average
Services : Good but unique
Decor : Simple and elegant
Attraction: Pool and people
What you can see around : A Bowri and walk in the village
How Long : A day or two may be

A week in Las Vegas..

This was around July 29th.. My first trip to US.. i was somehow never so keen on working in US.. and i must say that i probably like to be comfortable and not run after many things.. but i have realized one thing in life, what is most important in your life is ability to understand and appreciate differnt cultures, learn from all, adjust with all and take back the best of all.. Vegas is fun and lively..being an MBA i will appreciate the business sense of its establishment.. Mid of desert, no where is this "strip" of land.. showcases some of the world's largest hotels.. entire economoy is gambling and fun.. yep, this is like a dream world.. "sin" city.. they say whatever happens in vegas stays in vegas.. and trust me it does along with the money that you bet.. :P
I stayed in Aria resort, which is spacious, neat and well maintained, has a huge casino and a very interesting and cheap buffet with a real large spread.. This is in middle of strip, so you can turn right or left walk for 3-4 kilometers on either sides and be back on foot.. In Vegas one needs to visit all casinos, all casinos have some or the other attraction to attract people to its vast casino floors and entice them into this world of gambling.. Must see attractions: Paris, musical Fountains at Ballerio (This is a must watch), Lion habitat at MGM grand, volcano around Caesar's Palace, the venetian for its massive marble floor and venice look.. you just need to walk in the strip at night, park yourself at each of the casinos for sometime, watch the players and move.. remember, longer the time spent, more the chances of a rip off.. :)
Try the luxurious ice creams, the large sized paris drinks, and variety of food available all around.. While the public transport is bad, you should still hop on one of them and take a 2 hour bus drive in 2-3 dollars from one end of strip to the other.. For the shopping freaks, this is a brand's paradise.. But you find the low priced brand outlets at extreme ends of the strip, so could catch one at manageable price.. Caeser's palace shopping mall with a sky ceiling is worth a go.. all in all, really, it can be one of the most leisure holiday spot to laze around and enjoy..

Real world Ahead!

So,it is just another day in life.. I did my honest work, came back home at 6 and decided to watch a movie.. As always i did not know which movie shall i watch till i reached the theatre.. I watched Woody Allen movie, quite liked it..
The day is over.. Another day in life.. I dont know what is it that i like to do.. I have been associated with innovation, sales and i always like what i do, but then there i something missing.. I always feel ething around me is too systematic.. An MBA is basically hired to run large systems with almost known and predictable inefficency.. There are some lucky ones who have to face extra ordinary situations during their tenure, but then owning extra ordinary challenges for someone's else' business is not really "luck".. If i see around me, everyone is struck in same mess.. A consultant is making ppts, investment banker - excels, PE guy - evaluations, reseacher knows that his data indicates preditable, but he does it anyway.. Its all standard.. Initially everyone feels, whats the big deal.. i mean handling 100 people was always me, thts where my leadership was proven and b school gave me an admit, thinking big and passion was always me.. BUT, am i using it?? NO, not really.. Someone used all that once, when he started his busiess.. then he grew it, got bored and handed it over to MBAs to run the systems and make money by solving systemic inefficiencies.. It is easy, fair money.. but then what?? Money does pull you, but then to an extent.. After that, there has to be more.. Somethng which is created by yu, challnges that are yours.. I used to think, i will never pick up book again, i am done.. but now i like to grow, read more on different subjects, think beyond work, think of new ideas, learn frm all cultures.. Thats something unique about ISB, when you come out, you just want to thnk and do.. Sometimes i used to wonder, why so many people, why 20 hours schedule.. It makes you hungry, makes you learn from differences, teaches you passion when u spend endless nights on your ideas.. it takes away all inhibitions.. it says, you are human, you can do a lot, you have 24 hours in a day, you have millions of friends and if you have a case, money is never an issue..
I have nt done justice to my degree yet, i am a part of a large system, i am good at it.. but my school did not make me an MBA, it made me a thinker, doer, it told me in multiple ways, nations progress from ideas, not following.. Now that i think of the last words that ISB had displayed on its exit when i left in 2009 " REAL WORLD AHEAD", i smile at them.. really.. thats so true.. The real world needs both followers and leaders, either you give in or you find your way.. this is the ultimate choice you will make..

Oxford, Stratford and Cotswolds

Last weekend it was about exploring the intelleigentisia of Uk.. The day started on a bad note.. i was late for my journey.. i ran for about 2 kilometers to catch my bus 15 minutes late and lets not even talk about the dirty looks people gave me, but i was too exhausted due to my long run to think of other thoughts..
My frend Sreya was with me, so the journey till Oxford was cool with lots to discuss about.. We landed in Chist church college of oxford.. Its a heritge building, the Harry Potter kind of structure.. well, the movie it seems had one of its famous dining hall scenes from this college.. The old walls, massive structures, long portraits of famous writers and for me being from India, i wondered Humanities is such a vast field and can it be really taught in class rooms.. The pace has a story of its own.. We moved on to see the library, the book store and finally to the high street.. it was time to feed us something, we landed in a mexican shop for a roll, which was yummy..
Our next stop was Catswolds.. the place is known for stone houses and roofs.. its a very small town with a unique feel.. We got down to see a church.. it has lots of graves around and a tall structure, though it wasn't magnificient, but it has smething interesting in its simplicity and size..
We crossed the town to find our way to the birth town of Shakespeare.. its called stratford upon Avon..Avon is a river which flows through this small town, hence the name.. there was a river side carnival going on with lots of traditional food stalls and icea reams.. we decidedto walk around and be a part of the same.. a short walk through the town is enough to realize the difference between the cosmopolitan and small town feel.. there was pizza being baked on stone, fuklava, different varieties of olives, ice creams and what not.. Slurrrpp.. food is best when eaten in carnival.. :)
With this our journey ended.. All in all a nice short trip.. I would not rate it very high on natural beauty, but its high on historical importance..

Food and More of London

There is lesser happening on this front.. I saw the guard chaging ceremony in Buchingham palace.. too crowded, nothing exciting, but still if you are here, you better see it once.. how they do it everyday is also quite wierd, but then they do it..
I tried some good food places:
-- Chiquittos - This is a mexican joint, i visited the one around Leicester Square.. DO NOT MISS ON NACHOS.. Food here is worth it..
-- Thai Food - This was in Cardiff.. Thai curries are worth giving a go, i can eat it anytime..
-- The brunch at local brundswick center..
-- My very own Kathi Rolls -- Thats amazingly spicy and tangy
-- food at Southall - If you want the paranthas and chaat, please do travel for an hour, its worth it.. And yes, you can even opt for langar..
-- The Krispy Creme doughnuts - They are bestest doughnuts..
-- The Greek Food - Falafel and Hummus - For vegetarians its almost a saviour
-- Sushi - This is healthy, but is an acquired taste and needs to be eaten will all sauces
-- My favourite crunchy oats and yogurt-- This has been my bfast many a times..
-- The apple crumble pie-- this is someting i found so so, but poeple are simple crazy about it..
-- I have done the London walk, i dont like hype about the star bucks

And yes, i did finally visit the Cineworld and saw the premiere showcase of Twilight saga or something like tht.. :)

What i still need to do:
-- London Theatre
-- Japanese food
-- East Ham
-- Wimbledon
-- Lebanese food
-- start on continental europe
-- Ireland
-- more places around London
-- Umm may be punting
-- The cruise

Will do will do.. But the summers are about to go and i have long list to cover..

Chatsworth and Matlock Bath

This is one of cheap day trip on weekends.. A journey to Derbyshire.. This is a country side.. Chatsworth is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.. yes, the royalty estate open for vistors and trust me it is worth the show off.. The place has large farm lands, lavish gardens, 126 rooms and huge mansion to boast of.. You enter into acres of greery and then you see this tall waterfall ( supposed to be the tallest gravity driven waterfall in the world ) and a mansion behind it.. There are lake, ducks, maze gardens, cascade garden, green house,a small museum showcasing the royal life and lineage of the duke and duchess.. and AGAIN i will mention, Europeans know how to create tourism business.. The historical artifacts are collected, a story is laid around them and organized to take the visitor down the memory lane.. I was partcularly impressed the artistic collection and taste.. You can cover the house in 40 minutes and then move on to view the gardens.. these are acres of green grass, a maze, a small tunnel, a small section of rock garden, kitchen garden.. ok, talk about it and you have it.. :) You can buy back books, try some patersseries or just lie down in grass and watch the world go by.. Well, as per my tour guide, there is some connection of this place with the notorious novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover".. Chatsworth has been selected as the United Kingdom's favourite country house several times.. Of particular interest to me were the cieling painting and the library and lavish dinish hall, some of the ceiling paitings gave a 3 D effct and looked magnificient.. Yep, thats about the Cavendish family, and Henry Cavendish the great scientist belonged to this family.. This has some connection with LAdy Diana.. The property being large and lavish could not have been maintained without being opened for visitors.. The collection from visits go to Chatsworth trust which is used to maintain the vast expanses.. You can even stay overnight in this estate for a handsome charge..
My next move after his was Matlock Bath.. This is also situated in Derbyshire.. There is a small railway station in this city , which can get you here.. We went to heights of Abraham from this place..At almost a thousand feet the Heights is home to some of the most stunning views of the Derwent Valley and beyond to Matlock and the wider Peak District.. We took a cable car to the moutain top.. the way up the mounatin is cable car is lovely as you see green moutains all around, a small river flowing by and the top of hill has mutiple things to explore.. This place has organized cavern trips.. The mining in this area is supposed to have begun in Roman days.. The tours in natural caverns take you back to mining days.. They hav beautiful animated way of showing how mining happened happened i old times.. the dark stonny walls of caverns have a story of their own to tell..
The place has a fossil factory which sells mutiple stone varieties and once can be picked if you like it.. :)
Nice 2-3 hours stay and you sit back in cable car to head back to home.. The thing i missed is the bakewell's pudding.. :(, nope, i could not go there.. All in all a fairly good day and a visit to discover the Derbyshire..

The Wales

This was an interesting 3 day trip over long weekend, thanks to all the friends who planned it.. we guys started from London, took a bus to Cardiff..Cardiff is the capital of Wales, a nice and cozy medium sized city.. Ok, here i will mention the Thai dinner that we had and let me admit, the various Thai curries are just delicious and worth a go..
The night was spent at a frenz place, only to start next day on a car drive to larger part of wales.. Wales is beath takingly beautiful.. grass and greenery in acres and acres.. no much population and generally sweet pople.. The "welshness" is so evident in the air.. There are welsh horses, the sheep pens which just look lovely and give you a feel like white pearls have been sprinkled all over the green ground.. The sheeps are fat and healthy.. It is a farming nation, with happy people and prosperous and healthy life.. But you do feel its different from England..
The beauty about this country is, its not the destination that matters, its the journey, literally.. :) Our first stop was to Breacon Bacon National Park. Ok, there are no tigers and lions.. This is naural beauty, long lavish green grounds, lambs, some stylish small pubs and yes, we did trek to a waterfall.. I can compare it to som treks around Bangalore and Jim Corbett.. There are multiple walking trails in Wales and the idea of this place is to be on feet and cover these trails to discover the natural beauty of this place.. If you are not a nature lover, then you will this place a little dry.. The trail we took was waterfall country and it was lovely.. we did this walk on a rainy day..
We had a few hours spent on this and we started our drive to Snowdonia. This is in North Wales. And yes, we went for a trip to Snowdonia summit in a steam driven mountain railway.. the jorney up is beath taking, though you do envy the people trekking their way up, because they see all these well and experience better than the tain..This is the highest mountain peak in Wales at 3560 feet...The loveliest site are the small water bodies among green moutains.. it does look like this is how heaven should be.. Oh, did i talk about the English breakfast?? The roaster mushroom, tomatoes, marmalade, flavored yougurt and much more.. yu are done for the day if you had this and it is worth its size.. :) We tried mexican during lunch and yes do try the leak and potato soup.. Everything here is rich and fattening, the pure milk, cheese and even potato soup.. :) Its a country of mountains, animals, farmers, cold weather and lovely people, no calorie counts needed.. just trek!! :)
AND let me not miss this, every family seems to be having dog as a part of it.. there were big, small, lovely, dangerous ones all around with their families.. so, yes Dogs have a life here.. :)
We missed the castles around the place, while we drove to Pehrhyn, we were to late to enter and see the same..We managed to see the Dinorwig hydr power station and explored the largest man made tunnel.. It is a 1800 MW pumped storage hydroelectric scheme, near Dinorwig, Llanberis in Snowdonia national park in Gwynedd, north Wales. It comprises 16 km of tunnels, 1 million tons of concrete, 200,000 tons of cement and 4,500 tons of steel.. And not to mention the large motors and transformes driven by the pressure of water in reservoirs.. the tour is worth a go as this is another enginering marvel worth exploring.. You do feel bad about the destruction done to nature by Slate mining, but this is being restored now.. the whole hydro power station tour is explained by audio, and is very well structured to explain..

We stayed one night in this area, drove back to Cardiff.. The journey back was as beautuful as it culd get.. this area is worth picnicking, spedning some leasure time, you will see lots of caravans, lamb, some handsome horses, good food..

I should mention the way one of the pub was decorated around the waterfalls.. it had a huge collection of mugs collected form various places, hung o cielings, side of the walls and very tastefull done decor with a sewin machine occuoying the window seat.. :)

Thats Wales for you.. Coutry side, breath takingly beautiful, less populous, rich food, lambs, lots of moutains and yes, did i tell you?? From Snowdonia summit, you can see Wales, England and Ireland and the sea line.. It does look like heaven is here.. :)

The Sea towns - Brighton and Eastboune

A weekend off in a low cost trip down the sea side with a bus full of people.. :) Brighton and Eastbourne are sea side towns, have famous piers with lots of games, fish and chips, lovely beaches, the sea birds, rides and small gullies in town to discover.. perfect for summer travel around the sea..
Wait.. whats the difference that you will find between the two towns??
Brighton is young and new and Eastbourne sea side looks upscale and contemporay.. If you ask my view, i would say Eastbourne looked better to me..
Though i am a veggie, but i can tell that fish and chips were fresh and an attraction, so if you do eat non veg, do sit in open air Pier restaurant and give it a go.. Oops, there was something for me too, the clotted cream fudge.. Yum.. try this.. it is made of sea water, so the slightly salty taste is worth it and difficult to find elsewhere... Do refrain fro honey combs if you do not have extremely sweet tooth, but do try the vanilla cone with chocolate stick..
Eastbourne had chalky sea side structure, it is an awesome view from Pier and if you walk towards the struture, you might get lost in the beauty and elegance of the place..
All in all a nice day out along sea side..

The Canterbury Tales

Though i have been extremely lazy and late in updating my travels on blog, but better late than never..
So, my summers started with a drive to Canterbury with some friends.. after long and cold winters, the green and yellow fields of Europe are just mersmerising.. This city lies in South East england and a small drive from London.. The place is famous for its cathedral which houses many holy souls and boasts of magnificient architecture... We started early morning from London, had breakfast mid way and moved towards the city.. It shows signs of Roman inheritance all around.. the magnificient city wall, the ruins of a prison or the cathedral..
The city is close to sea, so you can check out the cathedral and drive towards the sea, mid way cath up wth the famous large wind mill and all the way in between see the country, fairy tale, small city life of Europe.. yes, it does look like a perfect dream..
An excerpt from wikipedia about this place abot what was its connetion with famous Canterbury tales-- "After the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket at the cathedral in 1170, Canterbury became one of the most notable towns in Europe, as pilgrims from all parts of Christendom came to visit his shrine. This pilgrimage provided the framework for Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century collection of stories, The Canterbury Tales."

Canterbury Cathedral is a world heritage site, it is being restored and saved. The tourism industry in UK is extremely well stuctured, organized and preserved.. The sructure adds value to the otherwise common tourism industry..

We then moved to sea side to enjoy the beach and spend some quality time watching surfers, and trying to see the horizons of sea.. :)

The day ended with the journey back to London and OH did i mention the tunnel contructed through Thames, which one has to cross while entering to London when you travel to or from Canterbury?? Engineering marvels are a common site here and does make you feel that civil engineering found its way here..

The Tavel o u g e...

So, i am in London for almost 2 months now.. Woo.. unbelievable, the pace at which time passes by.. And i have been ignoring my blog.. I hate myself for it.. Sorry, i was just trying to concentrate on work, which for sure is not more important than you or you need some of my attention on weekend for sure.. Sorry, but i was busy on weekends exploring London to get something for you.. :)
Here are places i visited:
-- Greenwich
-- Piccadiliy
-- Liecester
-- Camden Lock
-- Regent's Park
-- Oxford Circus
-- London Eye
-- Primose Hill
-- Sherlock Holmes' fictitious house

And much more.. Blog, let me tell you, this city is truly multi cultural.. In a crowd of 5 peole there are atleast 2 nationalities.. Its diversity in true sense..

And getting to food--
-- Fuklava
-- Drummer's street
-- Maryleboune woodland
-- Wagamama
-- Crussh
-- Pret
-- Camden local food mart
-- Spitalfield food mart
-- Pizza Express
-- Sprat

I tried 6 different cuisines and let me accept, i love Indian food. :)Though cakes and some sweets here are worth learning to cook..

And not to miss, i am now a member of Best Gym in Britain. Yo, i spend all my evenings working out in Reebok ad thats the reason i am spending less time here.. But dont you worry, i will soon work out the balance and give you more info on whee my life is heading.. As of now, time for me to drop dead!! CIAO..

Trust!

So, i wonder whats so magical about trust? Is there a science behind it? Actually, its that inner feel, blink or gut feel. Its somewhere on the face and heart and mind. But no one knows what leads to it..

My journey to Canary Wharf is 45 mins, i love the new friends that i have made, all from different locations, aspirations and thought process, but we just connect.
While coming back in tube, i jumped in it last minute, there was an Indian guy who caught the tube with me almost every day around similar time. My spectacular last minute catch made him smile and ask me about my efficient run from almost 40 stairs.. :D

We got talking and with no basic questions on who, what, when, we just talked about India and work and about when he came back 3 years ago what he felt were challenges etc and i listened with interest and moved on..

Next day, we caught the same train again, the guy told me about the game he used to play while travelling back home and i tried my hand at it, i was pathetic..
anyway, next day again we were in same train. Suddenly, he came and handed over the game to me.. he said there is this guy stepping in, he is my peer and he will eat my head for next two stations. I dont want to end my game like this, i need to win this. Will you play it for me? A lil caught by surprise and nervous knowing that i could only contribute to failure in the game, i said how can i hold the fort to help you win, i am not good at it..

He said of little tht i know, i trust you.. you will not only hold the fort, you will do it with good scores.. with this he was greeted by his useless peer and i was on the game.. I have no clue what happened for next 10 mins, i just know i was sincerely trying to keep upto his trust, not really knowing what were the scores..

Next station the peer got down, he came, took the game, looked at me, gave me a wide smile and said "see, i told you, i trust u.. it dsnt take much.. its written all over the face..i won it.. you lived upto it.. " I smiled, i saw him switching it off and packing it.. I wondered what was the deal about? I mean, i had been fighting to keep the game on for last 10 mins, if he had to fold it, why did he waste my time? I went and asked him? He said i was just wondering if "trust" is a science or a gut feel.. I just had a gut feel that you are a nice friend and i can trust you with my game.. There was no science behind it.. I dint know your background, not if you had ever got scores that high, i just played it on gut feel and i was kind of right.. Next time when you see me, trust me, smile at me and talk to me.. your gut feel is better than a 100 questions that mind asks.. :)

My Valentine!

This was an amazing day by all standards. I travelled around, had a candle lit dinner with some friends. Not that i really cared about this day ever, but now that its been coomercialized, it just gives me one more reason to have fun. However, to accept the fact, i never understood what love is all about.
I used to ask Dad if what i felt for him was love? He was always the perfect human on the earth for me for all the love that he showered on me. There wasn't a single day when i did not talk to him and sleep and he was the only person i ever thought of when in odd times or good. I remember my first crush, i thought i was in love.. :) I went to papa and asked if, am i in love? He smiled and said may be, its not something that happens in a day, it just grows and then it stays, there is no replacement, all mistakes just get ignored. Its blind in all senses, but it takes time to get blind, if midway, you open your eyes, you were never in love. I smiled at his words, i did not know what they meant. I just knew that i was in love with papa and the fact that he reads out stories to me, he holds my hand and walks when they are cold and then when there were times i saw no way forward, he just told me there is always a way that led to him and he will be there no matter what i was and who i was.
Its been years that i have talked to him, i will not in this life, its the law of nature. I lost myself for sometime trying to figure out what is life without love, only to know that its there everywhere. I just know that all that has gone into my being is his "love". Whatever i do is his love and passion and whatever i see is the world that he saw in my eyes. And yes, its indeed blind, there is no scope to open eyes. Papa, year on year, till i die, you will be my Valentine. You just made my life worth living by being you. You taught me what love, patience, goodness and honesty means. You taught me what forgiveness means and you also taught me that life will take 100 turns, true love will stand by. Needless to say, "I love you." If Valentines is about the "ONE" you love the most, this day is reserved for you. Thanks for giving me a life i love and loved ones i love and will love.

Cute

Ok! if there is anything that i kind of like this country about, it is the BABIES.. Awe.. they are cho cute, fat, fair and ok.. I dont have words.. I feel like pulling cheeks of all of them.. They are adorable..Sometimes i feel that i should catch all of them and keep with me.. :)

Life Part 2

It was 30th Jan 2010, i landed in London. I had taken an emirates through dubai. I had no feeling. I have been living out of my home for 10 years now. I miss family and home, but i take it as a matter of fact that life has to move on and more comfortably you adapt to it better it is. I just told myself i am 9 hours away from home and i earn enough to visit back India every month, so its ok.
The country is cold and i felt that i would freeze. I came out to take my company cab, my taxi driver was an asian, he asked me a few questions and said, madame, you will like this country.. have you been here before? I said, yes, but not to live. :)
I entered into the YMCA, got the keys of my room which was warm and cosy and slept off. I saw all Indian faces and nothing was very different but for the fact that everything around me was running. I was calm and composed and as always thinking on what next and how. I needed a cell to connect. I needed to call up my freinds and i needed to make new friends.

I met a girl at bfast table and connected. She taught me how to travel through tube and that was the starting point of my survival stint in this city. I have gone long way in two weeks. I kind of learned to find my way, figure out which soup or bread to stuff in to live and have made some friends for life. I like to learn about new culture, i like to meet new people. Everything about this place is an experience and learning. Its good to come out and survive in international location for some years and then think next in life. I miss my home, i miss the simplicity of my country and people. My first day in Canary Wharf, i looked out of the window from 15th floor sipping my cup of tea and looked around at the upper bank street. I saw people in black moving fast from one place to others, i saw empty floors and some buzzing with life.. Suddenly a thought crossed my mind, this is the place of competition, money, intelligence.. It lost millions in last 2-3 years and there must have been so many who lost their dreams jobs, money and life in the battle.. Here, i am, standing amidst the disaster in the business of making money and determination to make myself visible in the crowd of the black dots moving from one place to other. All the Best to myself and i know its important to be more than a dot in life. :)

The Corporate Is Joke!!

Ah well, i cant hold myself from laughing since sometime.. The higher up you grow in life, more arbit you get.. Thats the status of some of the calls that i am a part of.. Sometimes i wonder if anyone knows what he/she is talking about, however everyone seems to be excited about the call and discussions in all directions.. Such meetings are usually so interesting that someones ends up setting up a series of them with a hope of driving some meaningful discussion at least on of the series of calls.. However, for me its like sitcome telecasted everyday at same time.. I tune into the conference and laugh my heart out..
Best are when you prepare for customer visits.. Poor customer has no business and no clue on what goes behind the scene in luring him.. While he is concerned about his hard earned money going out, and looking for sense to come out.. People out there might as well be concerned about the cake, color of balloons, paintings and torturous sessions that he must be subjected to.. These are serious topics.. What color balloons, which hotel, which taxi, what flight, who eats with whom.. And yes, who is the most boring speaker, lets get him in so that he puts the guy with money to sleep and torture him so much that he falls on his feet to give away all that he ever had..
Wooo.. This requires a lot of hard work, finally all sloggers wear the best of clothes sit in an electric car and take the "cat" around before putting it in concentration camp, meticulously prepared for putting it to death..
Isnt' the world fun place to be in? There is no sense anywhere behind all the seriousness on faces.. :D

Its only words.. :)

Ever wondered how powerful can words be.. Of all said and done, people say love is silent and its a tune between two hearts, i think the most memorable words are the ones said when you express anything you love.. The "Love Story" being hit.. The novel was about two strong characters in love.. I cant express in words how much i love the way Eric Segal has portrayed the charms of a strong and witty women madly in love..
Tonight, i am going to put down some of the craziest feelings as captured in some memorable dialogues of romantic movies--

You've Got Mail
A love story around the sharing of words.. Impractical, but whoever said love was practical ever.. :)
"I like to start my notes to you as if we're already in the middle of a conversation. I pretend that we're the oldest and dearest friends- as opposed to what we actually are- people who don't know each other's names and met in a chat room where we both claimed we'd never been before. What will NY152 say today, I wonder. I turn on my computer, I wait impatiently as it boots up. I go online, and my breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You've got mail. I hear nothing, not even a sound on the streets of New York, just the beat of my own heart. I have mail. From you."

A Walk In The Clouds
"I know that she is good and strong and deserves all the love this world has to give. Can't you see that, how wonderful, how special she is?"

When Harry Met Sally
This is by far the cutest words anyone could have ever said to anyone..
"I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
"I love that you get cold when it's seventy degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend a day with you I can still smell your perfume on my clothes, and I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night."

Somewhere In Time
Elise's soliloquy:"The man of my dreams has almost faded now. The one I have created in my mind. The sort of man each woman dreams of in the deepest and most secret reaches of her heart. I can almost see him now before me. What would I say to him, if he were really here? Forgive me, I have never known this feeling. I've lived without it all my life. Is it any wonder, then, that I fail to recognize you? You-- who brought it to me for the first time. Is there any way I can tell you how my life has changed? Any way at all to let you know what sweetness you have given me? There is so much to say...I cannot find the words. Except for these-- I love you! "

Shakespeare In Love
"If I could measure the beauty of her eyes, I was born to look into them and know myself."

Hope Floats
"Dancing is just a conversation between two people. Talk to me."

Ever After
And these are words of wisdom.. :P
Prince Henry:" And what happens if the person you're supposed to be with never appears or she does, and you're too distracted to notice?"
Leonardo da Vinci:"You learn to pay attention."
Prince Henry:" You told me it was a matter of life or death."
Leonardo da Vinci:"A woman always is."

The Englsh Patient
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart."

Don Juan DeMarco
"Have you never met a woman who inspires you to love? Until your every sense is filled with her? You inhale her. You taste her. You see your unborn children in her eyes and know that your heart has at last found a home. Your life begins with her, and without her it must surely end."

City of Angels
Nicolas Cage looked truly in love in this movie.. The all yours expression on his face is memorable..
"When they ask me what I liked best, I'll say it was you."

The Bridges of Madison County
And i love these words, isn't the first one amazing..
"It seems right now that all I've ever done in my life is making my way here to you."
"This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime."

The Accidental Tourist
"I'm beginning to think that maybe it's not just how much you love someone. Maybe what matters is who you are when you're with them."

A Beautiful Mind
"It's only in the mysterious equations of love that any logical reasons can be found. I am only here tonight because of you. You are all I am. You are all my reasons."
"Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to discover a beautiful heart."

The Notebook
Is it so common??
"I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me, and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul and to me, this has always been enough."

Runaway Bride
The dialogue i will never forget in my life..
"Look. I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But, I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me."

Shall We Dance
"We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet..... I mean, what does any one life mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things..... all of it, all the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness'".

The Wedding Date
And this is cute!! :)
".....I think I'd miss you even if we'd never met."

PS: These are a collection of best ones picked up from various sources..

I want to be an entrepreneur!!

Thats all i know about me.. One day i will plunge into doing something fun and interesting.. I know i am an entrepreneur and i have to be me some day...
Year on year, day on day, if there is anything that excites me its the desire to be me.. I am not slave to money, i like to work for doing something meaningful and exciting.. I want something which is mine and where i can use my creativity and mind.. I know i can do well in anything that i am out into then why not do something for me?? Something which is just mine..