Day 1 - Chennai

Chennai passed by in a blur. Views from the airport taxi- lovers under the arch of a railway bridge. Chaotic traffic and in construction flyovers – much the same as any city. It’s a city that’s developing and it shows. The girl peeking from the next rickshaw and me smiling at her (probably scared her away)

The nice people who looked after me in Chennai – a friend’s wife N and her roomie S. N who is originally from Jaipur has been in Chennai for over two years now. She has a charming South Indian lilt to her English – very endearing eet ees.

Went for dinner to Giorgio – the global cuisine restaurant in Adyar near Besant Nagar Beach. North Eastern waiters – the one who served us had this funny dumb grin on his face and of course could not understand us! We literally ended up having a candle light dinner after the lights went out a couple of times.

Dinner and IPL conversation finished, we went for a walk near the Besant Nagar beach. The sea air was invigorating and the road reminded me of Carter Road due to the sea and the road blocks of course. Went home with the ‘lovely’ rick driver messing with his cell phone. There then proceeded a song called ‘Smile baby, smile baby’ or some such thing which emanated from his fone :)

Reached home safe and sound. Watched IPL – Royal Challengers lost yet again, discussed IPL and its myriad politics and hit bed soon after.

The Return

I be back after a brilliant treep. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and absolutely didn't have to use my noise making thing or the nice smelling deo thing or anything for my safety. I met some absolutely lovely people and saw such amazing things. RG gave me company at Hampi and that was niceness :) I will be posting my travelogue soon with photos accompanying it. Hopefully my photos should go up on Flickr and FB tmmrw God and ex-company willing :)

Je departe

Image by jimfrazier via FlickrI have got a new job guys. Thanks for all the hand holding and support I have got. Anyone wants details - email me :D I shall be glad to tell you more. Today is my last day at my current company. This feels strange and good at the same time. I am aware that I am going to get a surprise farewell party. Of course I know by now so therefore it is not a surprise :O I am getting profounder by the minute it looks like.

Anyways, it has been a good two years in the company and I have made fab ass friends. Bogh always tells me not to use too colloquial words :) But theek hai - aaj last swan song hai atleast is jagah mein so haq bantha hai humara I reckon.

I am leaving for my S. Indian trip tmmrw. So intensely excited, apprehensive at the same time. Waheee I feel. I got up this morning at 7.00 am thinking only about the trip and the hazaar things I had to do before I go for it. I have bought deo (nice smelling one) and the bleeping avaaz making thing with me to protect myself against attackers :D

Let's see how the trip goes. I thought I should do a final posting before je departe :) Oh I will b posting on SMS so by all means join my group if you are not already a member - here for joining.

In the bus

I saw her in the bus again. I got into my 382 and walked ahead towards the Ladies seats. She sat in the same place as before. I thought to myself Ye Olde England is back. But nearing her I realised she had Trafalgar Square on her head today. Bleddy hell - I did miss :( I didn't carry my camera today and I did miss of her and her lovely scary. I was damn disappointed and cursed myself. This led me to speculate that she probably owns a whole London tourist series. I wish I wish for a camera at the right moments. Sigh

Travelling around South India

Image via Wikipedia

Intending to get up early in the morning. Didn't happen. No walk and then could not make out if I overslept or underslept. Zonked thru the car ride with Father reading Mint. I took a snap of his reflection in the side mirror. I think his face came out decent but the stupeed front seat covered his face.

Anyways, decided I would step into the local CCD and imbibe a cup of black kapi. Wonderful the walk was – felt nice in the warm sunshine with the sweat pouring off my face (slight exaggeration of course) The kapi was wondrous. Relaxed for 30 minutes, read the complete Hindustan Times – starting with the Business section and then reading the main section. I think HT started me off getting more interested in business, stock market and I do occasionally read the Mint too.

I am going on a trip to South India soon. Starting 30^th April and ending on 14^th May. Starting from Chennai, proceeding towards Mahabalipuram and then Pondicherry. I have done research on what to see and eat there. Booked my accommodation as well so that has been sorted out. I worry about travelling alone. This man will be in the last leg of my journey and he is excited too especially the part where we walk on hot melting earth - direct quote from him.

From Pondicherry I am travelling further to Salem. Salem is where my Mom was born. Her memories of the place are driving me there of course. She of course doesn't know that I am travelling alone. She threw a hissy fit (err, no other words for that fit fit :P) at me going alone. By mistake, I said something about going alone. But what the heck, you gotta do what you gotta do. From Salem, the original plan was to go to Madurai. But Madurai is overbooked so I am going directly to Kuttralam. The bloddy place is called Courtallam – blech how anglicized can things get.

Kuttralam – is where Amar Seva Sangam is located. Dad has been giving money to this place for the last 20 years. They started off against female foeticide and infanticide. Apparently they r looking forward to me coming there. This man told me abt Tenkasi – a place I am planning to visit. One thing that I am worried about is the way people are going to stare but then again I get stared in Bumbai. I am going to be carrying pepper spray or some variant on it too so that should make things okay I reckon.

Back to Coimbatore from here and onwards to Bangalore on the 9^th. Shall meet up with some friends then. Onwards to Hospet and then Hampi :) I am looking forward to this part of the journey. Yaaaay..3 days spent here and then back to Bangalore for a day and then catching a Jet flight to Mumbai. :)

My travel itinerary has now been fleshed out. Like I said my only worry is traveling alone. More than the safety issues I am concerned about how I am going to do trip without company. I like pointing things out, see details and love to share that with people. That is not going to be feasible on this trip except at Hampi. It is shaping up to be an interesting journey and I am looking forward to it with some parts excitement, some part trepidation and most parts YAAY :D

Standing tall in a world gone mad
I can walk alone
My rant has died its due death
My meadow of yellow flowers awaits :)

Loneliness Of The Long Distance Walker.

Loneliness Of The Long Distance Walker., originally uploaded by God's penultimate Mistake.

Listening to Yael Naim's 'Lonely' in a loop

The morning walk doesn't take the edge off my sorrow

Watching the sun come up didn't hit no high notes

The music seems to be missing in my life

One does stupid things in life. Throwing oneself at someone can count amongst the el stupeedo things one does. Especially when one is not wanted. That hurt lingers. Doesn't go away anywhere. Depression follows me around like a rain cloud waiting to burst. Alcohol looses inhibitions. You end up doing stupider things then. Thinking goes away. Acting on impulse has costs attached. The price must be paid . The heart is not given to listen to anything or anyone. It wants, it seeks and self – destructs.

It pays not to quit apparently. That my dear is all bollocks. Quitting gives you peace of mind. Persevering leads to your lil heart breaking into a zillion pieces. I hide my heart under a landscape of cheerfulness. I am happy or so it seems. Surface happiness is easy to obtain – superficial things can give me that. Watching flickr can give me that. Doesn't mean shit all in the long run.

Envy is a bad mistress, she needs to be struck from the heart or she will eat you up alive. Conquer her and you have conquered one – fiftieth of your desires and ambitions. Sound like a guru don't I? I think if I was a guru I would allow my disciples to drink alcohol and have loads of sex like bunnies. Bunnies are weird creatures. I know someone who has the most hideous stuffed bunny I have had the misfortune to see. Poor bunny – his existence must be so puerile. No offence Mr Bunny Owner. :)

The weak sun seems to desire to be let out

The clouds are still hanging around

Preventing a glorious day from emerging

Is there a triumph at the end?

Victory laps are awaiting

This too shall pass

Movie count

Image from WikipediaMunich - Good watch and believable historical fiction. Read more on the real life story here

Don't Move - Strange Italian movie starring Penelope Cruz and Sergio Castellitto - more here

Dharam Veer - coool retro Hindi flick with Dharmendra and Jeetu bhai. Fundoo eet ees with the hair, wigs, Rajmata, banjaras, Ranjit being villainous, Pran and his white horse doing that 15 feet jump - wahwah....

Shoot 'Em Up- Clive Owen n Monica Belluci starrer..total wot eet ees film. Paisa vasool eet ees. Shooting(s) galore, punchlines one after the other and oh yes the sex scene does take the cake. U r like wtf when u r watching eet!

Persepolis - animated French film set in Iran and an autobiographical one at that. History, identity, culture well explored. Lovely animation as well. Read more about this one here

No Country for Old Men- Bleak and bootiful. Love the dark humour in it. Brilliant performance by Javier Bardem - insane he is in this.

Juno- Ellen Paige is super in this. Lovely dialogues - must watch.

Jab We Met - Good performances. Enjoyed a Hindi movie which was actually nice and not shait!

The Abyss - Starring Ed Harris and chik with long hair. Wikipedia informs me that it is Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Geez, I actually recall thinking that it must have been her. Crazy ass sci-fi movie. One watches this with suspended disbelief. My mom was watching along with me and she was like asking me existential questions like what is happening, who is this etc...I answerd to the best of my abilities :)

Finally removed 'Lost in Translation' frm the dabba. Almost watched 'Michael Clayton', 'The Ant Bully' and 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Left to watch 'Across the Universe' - which has fundoo soundtrack.

Sunday luncheon

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Legs intertwined

Legs intertwined, originally uploaded by SMJ737.

The day begins with sunbeams
They dance around my face playfully
A moan tears through the air
Its echo lingering on

A light touch
The whisper of a breath
The feel of stubble on the nape of my neck
The hint of tongue before the lips
Gently collide

The sunbeams continue to play

Lapping at your feet

Lapping at your feet, originally uploaded by Chris Stickley.

Palm fronds

Sway gently in the breeze

Sunlit blue skies

The sea radiates a cold warmth

Her waves lap gently against my skin

I am enlivened

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Its a pointless journey

Without feeling hurt and pain

You wake up one morning

Find yourself transported into a no man's land

There is no succor for the hungry heart here

It was a dream

Where you held happiness in the palm of your hand

Where you stood and poured your heart out to another stranger

The waves lapping at your feet

Life is a minefield

You end up losing a heart or two

The mental scars – they never go away

My valley with the yellow flowers

Where I yearn to walk waits for me

I am still meandering

Achmed Returns

Dream a lil dream of me

Walk along paths golden with the flowers fallen

Walk along dark alleys lit by neon

Wait for a chance to show true colours

Hurt pain disappointment

Loneliness want desire

A stew waiting to be cooked up

Eat, slurp and drink it up

Slow fast quick as a bumble bee

Imbibe what your soul wants

Varnish it with the love of a thousand red balloons

Make the dream come true

Or let it vanish into the morning light

RIP

Interesting reads

A couple of news articles got my eye.

The first referred to an unsolved historical mystery in Ozland. Read more here

The 2nd referred to another literary - history type article. Read more here

The meaning of life

Warning : Free flowing post

Since my blog is meant to reflect life and all its purpose and meaning, I am here doing exactly that. Sounds fatuous I presume or is it flippant? Well, since this is random blog post, I am being random. Someone I knw likes using the word random a lot. I feel like doing random things now. Why do I feel like doing random things? Well, my US plan flopped miserably. I got rejected in both the places I had applied to. I am terribly disappointed but what the heck right?

Life is supposed to be disappointing. I mean where would the randomness be without the balance? I feel bitter, rejuvanted, hopeful, disappointed all at the same time. I feel like I can do anything- go assist people doing docus in Orissa, walk on water (slight exaggeration) but I can sort of float (brings back memories of floating in the Atlantic Ocean at 11.00 pm in the nite in Barbados holding Inger's hand and worried shit I would drown) and perhaps move anywhere I want to. There r bonds here but they are strong and won't break - distance can't damage them.

Oh yesh, people reading this blog : I am looking for a new job. Heritage, research, museums - are forte and what I want to do. Anyone know of anyone who wants to give me a job in this field pls by all means let me know. Next option, content research kind of thing. I am pretty much open to anything and anywhere - like I said distance doesn't stymie me anymore.

Evolution of Dance