R-Rated

A (slightly belated but) very happy Independence Day to all you folks!! Enjoyed my first long weekend in India (Janmashtami, August 14th). For the first time in my life, I experienced a full blown version of Lord Krishna's puja at a friend's place at midnight on Friday. The attention to detail was fantastic and the devotion displayed by Pandit ji and his cronies was thoroughly remarkable. The amazing fact about the night was the heavy downpour at midnight, which coincidentally was the case when Lord Krishna was born. Saturday and Sunday were equally painful because of the boredom. I still have not been able to get the laptop fixed (which was supposed to have been done by now already). Leaving for Bombay this weekend to spend Ganesh Chaturthi, first time after marriage in India and enjoy some quality time with family, friends and specially Mayank's baby girl, whom they have named Nayonika (Expressive Eyes). I will know my fate (supposedly) of my US trip end of this month, ...

An eventful weekend to say the least. While returning from work on Friday night, lost my wallet and mobile phone to a group of thugs that entered the bus just a couple of stops from my destination. In a packed bus (possibly one of the last to leave the Wipro campus) with not an inch to move, this group identified me as a weakling. It hit me just as I alighted from the bus that my wallet and the phone were missing, and so were the group that probably whisked them. A double whammy! one from the back jeans pocket and one from the front. Called up the bank to block the debit card from misuse. Next morning, made a stop at the Police Station to lodge a complaint and subsequently expect some action from them. High hopes. I end up paying the cops Rs 100/- for notarizing my report. For a moment, I didn't know who the thieves were. Got a new Nokia with the same number (after paying Airtel Rs 75/- for the same). The really disheartening thing about the whole incident is the fact that it happe...

Went out to Nandi Hills and Bannerghatta National Park with roommate and his friends on Sunday. Had a terrific time with all of them. Got up at 5:40am on Sunday (after ages) and reached a beautiful foggy Nandi Hills at around 7:30am. Cloud covered hill top made it an amazing view and the crisp weather made it haunting. Later in the afternoon made a trip to the National Park, which to my satisfaction, had a lot of wild life to offer. The park staff had their and the animals' welfare as a top priority by posting signs that made the public sit up and take notice about tossing their garbage in dust bins only, not to tease any animals etc. But, looks like we were surrounded by blind people who just did not care for the advisories. Trash all over the place. One particularly funny moment was when an (educated) person was calling the leopard out to him as if he was petting a dog or a cat. One growl and he would wet his pants, thats for sure. Thats another thing where people need to be educ...