Friday, October 31, 2008

Round the world in just two books!!

The world goes around and comes back to the same place they say. I was taken on a journey, which brought me back to where I started, when I read the following novels. The Inscrutable Americans, some kind of defines the path followed by more than a thousand Indians, who go out to US in hunt for higher studies and higher glory with a profound settlement strategy. They quiet feel US is some kind of atonement, in their small cantonment.

Anurag Mathur defines his central character Gopal with characteristics disembarking as and when the pages of the book keep turning and the story unfolds itself. A guy from the hamlet of India, goes to US for his higher studies. He has never been in a city in India, is completely taken aback by the city culture in US.

A complete catastrophic change of paradigm and morality, which has been portrayed in a rather hilarious endeavour. The author tickle that laughter bone. The innocence of Gopal and the more extravagant American born Randy, brings the humorous coefficient which multiplies with the story.

The one thing I will never forget from this book is this, The offer by "a very good looking, black man, dressed in a breathtakingly beautiful gray overcoat" of "some real live pussy" begins the theme of the book, Gopal's quest, initiated without his slightest understanding, to get laid before he returns to India. "No thank you, sir," Gopal declines."I'm vegetarian." And when he returns to his cousin unscathed (and unlaid), he says, "I met friendly man selling vegetarian cats."

Randy on a mission to get Gopal laid, fails miserably each and every-time. This is kind of a book, surely makes you wonder, why the hell didn't I try going to US. The book is a good time killer and leaves you with a rather, cool note. A great travel read or a weekend stress buster. I do recommend it.

The other book I read was out of total curiosity, a book which I picked up just because it was something to do with IIM and business schools. Turns out, it had a completely contrasting nature. Samrat, a young American born with a Indian origin working at Wall-street, (Not quiet a story now, because of the financial crisis. This is sometime when there was no crisis) gets increasing frustrated with his monotonous life and wants some change. He comes back to India and enrolls in IIM-Banglore for doing his MBA.

His Indian experience is very nicely explained. Coming from US, Samrat, meets his fellow students at IIM, Sarkar(a guy from IITs mindbogglingly brilliant but a marijuana addict) and Vinod (ex-Indian army solider). The author gives us a birds-eye view of how things are go around in the IIMs.

Samrat comes to India, in search of happiness, but he just finds the gruelling IIM schedules. He gets a interim with one of the top companies and loves completing it. With Sarkar, he goes for a 10 day soul stirring experience in a yoga session at the Himalayas. After 2 years of Indian experience, he finds his happiness in a less dramatic job. A frugal salary, not a demanding life style.

Does Samrat find what he is looking for? Very cool book for casual reading!! Keep off the Grass here means nothing but marijuana. But marijuana does play a vital role in the story line!! :) Ruskin Bond, does tell you a a thing or two. I enjoyed every bit of it!! After all this reading, I could not sit home reading, so I planned to take a drive for a sandwich. I ordered a sandwich and was reflecting the books. As I was thinking, I was eyeing my bike which was parked on the other side of the road. Just lost in my thoughts.

The sandwich wala came out and asked me, do you want to have it here or take it as parcel. I said, I will have it. As I was having it, I still reflected the book. As I finished it, I asked the guy for a tissue paper. The guy replied-"Tissue paper tho nehi hai saab, yeh Indian paper he hai" and trusted me a old newspaper. Then I felt, wherever I go, India and the Indianess in me, will never change!!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

It is not fossil; it is Tommy Hilfiger!!

I had been shopping for some watches....this Tommy Hilfinger watch caught my attention.....I was inclined to go for a Fossil watch....I did not see the range, that met my criteria of requirements in a watch.....

1. Dual time- Which meant I can see two time zone on my watch simultaneously.
2. A formal watch.
3. Round shape, which is retro considered today exotic shapes of titan fast-track.
4. Elegant and at the same time simple.
5. No steel watches, I hate them as they are very bulky and very heavy
6. Leather straps, neat finish with date and day.
7. Not to forget I got a Tommy Hilfiger laptop back-pack free......:):):)

This Tommy Hilfiger met all the above conditions........hurray! finally got it!!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Those Childhood days!!

Gone are the days, studying, laughing, playing. What not, do we miss from those "magic" childhood days. The total number of friends and those playing days, goes on decreasing exponentially as you move on in your life. Every now a then, we do get in touch with those friends, but the fun and happiness is still deprived. Every now and then, we do remember lot of incidents very fondly. As we grow older, today would be remembered fondly.

When some similar incidents happen, we get those childhood chubbiness and laughter out of no were. Considering the busy schedule we cope with everyday, the time to spend time for ourselves is completely nil. I still think about those pranks, which was very much part of my childhood days!! Whenever something happens, which reminds me something from the past, I quietly smile at myself, thinking what an idiot I was back then.

Today, we had a supposed power cut, at office. So we had been to the pantry, just to enjoy and kill time. It was time for some carrom. Noting, as most of them at office come from somewhat similar back ground, it was quiet evident from the style of play. Every body were rusty. No one had played carrom for a long time. Simple shots were quiet miserably missed resulting in embarrassment.


I for a change was getting the hang, so what early in the game, just to slump in the middle. My partner, was getting those crucial punches every now and then. He was on his "hot and cold" form as one of my friend coined it. We hit a purple patch wherein, we won some boards. Getting those sleek cuts and majestic straight shorts, made me very happy. Got back those childhood tensions, describing other's shots, exclaiming when my shots did not make it.

Carrom did get those mickey out of us. Thoroughly enjoyed the crunch situations, playing under pressure. Getting that tough shot in, missing a simple shot. Feels great to be a child again. Hope such moments, brush us every now and then. I meant the carrom part, not the power cut. It is damn hot now a days.


Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Fossils

I was just going through some cool watches....I found this website for Fossil...

Really sleek, very good formal stuff. The first look, made me fall in love with these. The colour shades, round shaped watches, are such a rarity now a days. I would think about buying these, some day!!




Friday, October 3, 2008

Kovalam,

After a long time!! Many a trouble, running from pillar to post, I finally made video of our Kovalam trip!! It is a self explanatory one!! check out the video guys!!






Powered By Blogger