...pictures (that I never posted and recently discovered again) taken on a far-away deserted road on the outskirts of Bangalore when I went for an Airshow with Grace.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Lights Out People!
In 30 minutes the lights will go out in this house! What about you?(click on the logo to know more)
*Update>>>>
Our IT neighbours. It's a saturday night and nobody is in the office... Do you really need all those lights?
My cousin's house across the street...
And... out go the lights! (after a little reminder phonecall!)
and finally... Earth Hour 2009 at BMP 20, Krishnappa Garden! :)
Eating leftovers from my chinese lunch out with Dada and D this afternoon and some extra cooked by mommy...
and after the lights come back on; yours truly still getting bitten to death by mean mosquitoes on our COVERED balcony...
where are they coming from!?
And... out go the lights! (after a little reminder phonecall!)
and finally... Earth Hour 2009 at BMP 20, Krishnappa Garden! :)Eating leftovers from my chinese lunch out with Dada and D this afternoon and some extra cooked by mommy...
and after the lights come back on; yours truly still getting bitten to death by mean mosquitoes on our COVERED balcony...where are they coming from!?
this was fun! Yay, Earth Hour India 2009!
p.s. check out the Flickr Earth Hour Global 2009 folder. Some awesome pictures in there!
p.s. check out the Flickr Earth Hour Global 2009 folder. Some awesome pictures in there!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Better late...
Okay, so here are some photos that were taken on the 13th of February! After our birthday treat (Sonu's and mine), we headed over to the Kala Ghoda Festival which is this really cool event (my 2nd favourite, after the Mumbai Marathon) that happens in South Mumbai every year in February (another reason why I love February! :)).
the entrance.
art displays like this one are all over...
a mirror, a camera. tina must take a photo. :)
bubbles!
Sonu found this stray dog resting its "tootsie" on the sidewalk. so hilarious!
fruits in squishy cubes. 
and mashed potatoes. all this after our "dips and desserts" at Moshes. what can i say, we love to eat! 
Obama, on the front cover of handmade-paper notebooks.
It's basically an art festival and all that that entails: film screenings, exhibitions, concerts and plays on the street, food and... FUN! And if I'm not wrong, everything is for free! Except for the food (darn it!) and all the stuff they sell at the stalls (which are mostly to help different NGO's raise some funds).
the entrance.art displays like this one are all over...a mirror, a camera. tina must take a photo. :)
bubbles!Sonu found this stray dog resting its "tootsie" on the sidewalk. so hilarious!fruits in squishy cubes. and mashed potatoes. all this after our "dips and desserts" at Moshes. what can i say, we love to eat! and we caught up with Smriti too! she was in our class at Sophia's before she transferred to St. Xavier's college.
Obama, on the front cover of handmade-paper notebooks. Now that's what you call "Obama-mania"!
a quaint little cafe in an obscure little alleyway at Kala Ghoda. No, we didn't go and eat there too, but we really should. Someday!
...a sculpture of Ganpati; Mumbai's favourite. 
A kathakali dance performance.
We also got to meet Antu's adorable little niece who had come down with her parents from the US. Just look at those expressions! Priceless! :D
...and, finally. Gotta love this pic of Sharan and Jo!
a quaint little cafe in an obscure little alleyway at Kala Ghoda. No, we didn't go and eat there too, but we really should. Someday!...a sculpture of Ganpati; Mumbai's favourite. Made out of bicycle parts - a very creative idea.
A kathakali dance performance.We also got to meet Antu's adorable little niece who had come down with her parents from the US. Just look at those expressions! Priceless! :D...and, finally. Gotta love this pic of Sharan and Jo!Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Commute with me!
I've wanted to do this post for a looooong time (inspired by this) but just never got around to take enough photos. Anyway, so when Grace came to visit she took a lot of photos while we travelled around the city so I stole some of them and added a few others, did a little photoshopping (my newest obsession!) and ta-da! Here's what my daily commute in Bombay looks like with some added bits...
walk to the station...
...or on lazy days take a rickshaw or an auto which is a three-wheeled vehicle and is only found in the suburbs of Mumbai (till Bandra). No rickshaws allowed in the city. The minimum cost is Rs. 9. 
...buy your train ticket. The counter is almost perpetually crowded with HUGE lines. To avoid the crowd you can get a pass (which is what I do) or buy coupons or get an ATVM (??) card which is a fancy shmancy thing that you put in a machine to buy your ticket... You can either get a first class or a second class ticket. First class is much more expensive and they have cushioned seats rather than wooden ones! Oh, and it's generally much less crowded too... The minimum cost for a IInd class ticket is 4 bucks. There are three main local train lines in Mumbai - Harbour, Central and Western and they are the most efficient form of local transport in Mumbai - you avoid the maddening traffic and there's a train about every 3 minutes. Let's just say the city would fall apart without the local trains.
but of course it has its limitations ...yeah, that's not even peak-hour crowd at my station (Andheri)!
and often the trains are not running on schedule...
...this is a relatively un-crowded IInd class compartment. You just have to find a bit of space and squeeze in. On the local trains, there are special compartments reserved ONLY for women. This is a relief because you don't really want to be rubbing up against stranger-men on overtly crowded trains on your daily commute!
...a daily sight. This poor old blind man drums his heart out every day for a few coins from generous travellers on the over-bridge at Andheri station.
...beggars on the street. Taxis/Cabs are much more expensive than autos, but if you're in a hurry and you're in the city - this is your best option. At some places you can also get share taxis. We often share a taxi with other to College from Grant Rd. Station. The minimum fare is Rs.13.
...or bus it! Buses are fantabulous and cheap - problem is you have to sit through a lot of traffic and pollution on the roads. Oh yeah, and CROWDS! Sometimes you may have to stand the whole way and if you're not holding on tight, watch out! This picture doesn't show a local bus, but that's what the crowd looks like usually - pushing, shoving et. al! The minimum is only Rs.3 and they're very well connected to pretty much all parts of the city.
yes... you do sometimes see cows on the streets!
...and other creatures; pigeons, crows and rats are the most populous. Stray dogs and cats come in second. You might also see a horse carriage. Haven't spotted any elephants yet! ;)
...roadside food! Sugarcane juice is the most refreshing on a hot day (which is pretty much everyday in Bombay!) But watch out if you have a weak stomach! They probably score negative on hygienic standards but that just adds to the flavour and oh-so-cheap! :D A "half-glass" (which is pretty big) of sugarcane juice is just Rs.3!
walk to the station......or on lazy days take a rickshaw or an auto which is a three-wheeled vehicle and is only found in the suburbs of Mumbai (till Bandra). No rickshaws allowed in the city. The minimum cost is Rs. 9. ...buy your train ticket. The counter is almost perpetually crowded with HUGE lines. To avoid the crowd you can get a pass (which is what I do) or buy coupons or get an ATVM (??) card which is a fancy shmancy thing that you put in a machine to buy your ticket... You can either get a first class or a second class ticket. First class is much more expensive and they have cushioned seats rather than wooden ones! Oh, and it's generally much less crowded too... The minimum cost for a IInd class ticket is 4 bucks. There are three main local train lines in Mumbai - Harbour, Central and Western and they are the most efficient form of local transport in Mumbai - you avoid the maddening traffic and there's a train about every 3 minutes. Let's just say the city would fall apart without the local trains.but of course it has its limitations ...yeah, that's not even peak-hour crowd at my station (Andheri)!and often the trains are not running on schedule... ...this is a relatively un-crowded IInd class compartment. You just have to find a bit of space and squeeze in. On the local trains, there are special compartments reserved ONLY for women. This is a relief because you don't really want to be rubbing up against stranger-men on overtly crowded trains on your daily commute!...a daily sight. This poor old blind man drums his heart out every day for a few coins from generous travellers on the over-bridge at Andheri station. ...beggars on the street. Taxis/Cabs are much more expensive than autos, but if you're in a hurry and you're in the city - this is your best option. At some places you can also get share taxis. We often share a taxi with other to College from Grant Rd. Station. The minimum fare is Rs.13....or bus it! Buses are fantabulous and cheap - problem is you have to sit through a lot of traffic and pollution on the roads. Oh yeah, and CROWDS! Sometimes you may have to stand the whole way and if you're not holding on tight, watch out! This picture doesn't show a local bus, but that's what the crowd looks like usually - pushing, shoving et. al! The minimum is only Rs.3 and they're very well connected to pretty much all parts of the city.yes... you do sometimes see cows on the streets!...and other creatures; pigeons, crows and rats are the most populous. Stray dogs and cats come in second. You might also see a horse carriage. Haven't spotted any elephants yet! ;)...roadside food! Sugarcane juice is the most refreshing on a hot day (which is pretty much everyday in Bombay!) But watch out if you have a weak stomach! They probably score negative on hygienic standards but that just adds to the flavour and oh-so-cheap! :D A "half-glass" (which is pretty big) of sugarcane juice is just Rs.3!Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Ein Gedicht*
*A Poem
Yesterday as I was sorting out my 'treasure-trunk' from my Hebron school days, I came across a folder called 'Prefects Retreat'. In it I found a whole lot of stuff from our Prefect's Retreat Weekend away to this wonderful campsite called Avalanche and other such stuff including the poem typed out below. It was written and recited to us by our wonderful principal at the Prefect's Dinner Treat we are given at the end of Std. 13 before we hand over our duties to the next batch... Just thought I'd share it with you! Look out for me!
Hebron Habitat
1. Here are the Prefects of Hebron School
Who began reigning in 2005 and number twenty-two.
2. When they started their rule they were very keen
And represented all types - kind, compassionate, cruel and mean!
3. Sam Abu Bakker is alphabetically first in this team,
Master of rotas, football and hockey he never runs out of steam.
4. Then there's Deepak Barkataki, his partner in crime
Who keeps Prefects and their duties closely in line.
5. Meghna Daniel is next , of 'Peter Pan' directing fame,
Like her Old Testament namesake even lions (crocodiles, pirates and mermaids) she can tame.
6. Orville D'Silva as a tennis player displays shots which punch a packet,
But as Inters' Prefect he certainly won't tolerate a racket!
7. Jugal George is our resident cycling maestro,
Whether its guitars or bikes, just watch him go!
8. Whoops - alphabetically I missed Catherine C.
Whilst short of stature she keeps her Dorm girls busy as a bee.
9. I've also forgotten the charming Miss Cho,
Her art and music are graceful, don't you know?
10. I'm now back on track with Ajay Lee,
After his failure to hand in R.S. prep his mother with have him over her knee.
11. Natasha Menon is our Prefect of the wavy locks,
Now she's cared for Silverdale, Natasha's prepared for any shocks.
12. Alva Miah arranges Assemblies and is not one to fret,
She even put up with me in her history set.
13. Priyanka Nandi comes next - or should I say Tina?
As a Dorm Prefect who could be meaner - sorry, keener?
14. John Peters cares for animals from dusk to dawn,
But he really comes alive when he plays his horn.
15. I should really be asking Pete the Poet to do this ditty,
But he runs so fast that I don't think he'd have the time to be witty.
16. Oh no, how could I have left out Gavin - he's so tall,
As he comes smiling all the way down from Nepal?
17. I've also omitted Abigail P.,
Striking and brave she talks the hind legs off a donkey.
18. Niru has the name of an Indian great,
But on the hockey field she tackles at a fearsome rate.
19. Vikyath Rao is the coffee maker supreme,
And as canteen wallah he knows how to get the cream.
20. What can I say about Jonathon Reid?
As his father I don't suppose there's any advice he'd heed.
21. The other coffee maker is Abhishek Singh,
Of cricket, brains and Inters he is the joint - King.
22. Anjali, of course, will also be remembered as Peter Pan,
Fly through the air she certainly can.
23. David Sorge has brought a new understanding to library reviews,
We wonder if anyone can fill his shoes.
24. And so at last we come to Wendy, or is it Anna?
Who also swims and plays sport in a wonderful manner.
25. I am very nearly finished my poor rhyming couplets,
And I'm sure you're saying 'great' with no regrets!
26. But before I finish and breathe a sigh of relief, too.
I really must finish by saying thanks to every one of you.
27. Duties and responsibilities you've taken in your stride,
And so I wish you God's blessing as you go into the world, far and wide.
-- Alastair Reid
28/4/2006
all of us 'jazzed up' for the Prefect's Dinner
Monday, March 23, 2009
Schatten*
*Shadows
So I'm home!
I feel content - to be at home (we have such a beautiful home), with my parents, with Dada and D (even though it's a little strange not having them around at home and I miss that), having my own room (!) and my own wardrobe (I spent all of yesterday morning throwing out old stuff and trying on new stuff - perfect hand-me-downs from D in which I am now living!), time and solid eight hours of sleep (which has been a rare event for the past month or so!). Oh yes, and finding that my Ma has started painting again and she's really brilliant for an amateur. (I will post photos as soon as I get batteries for my camera!)
Today, I emptied my big ol' trunk from Hebron and re-located all (well most) of the stuff to my wardrobe. This is always interesting. I started writing a diary when I was 13 and over the years I've written about 10 and it's just so interesting to read through these and see how much I've changed. Things that I was so crazy about then, seem so silly now. I threw out a lot of stuff that I don't want to be reminded of anymore, sorting out photos and put some in frames on my shelf. Dusted off my German books and magazines so I can put my head into them again and bring back to life that part of my brain which safe-keeps all the German. It's nice to move ON and put things into perspective and see how God has been working and continues to work in the shadows.
You know how they say that there's a reason for everything that happens? It's so true. When I was in A'levels I took Geography, English, Maths and German. Four subjects barely related to each other and I had no idea what I wanted to do with them later on, I just knew that these were the subjects I HAD to take and even when it came to Std. 13 and I was allowed to drop one subject, I couldn't. I couldn't bare the thought to part with any of them and I picked the hard way - man, it was hell doing four subjects in Std. 13! Too much work, too little time. Now I know. Well, atleast I know why I took German and why I contined German with Max Mueller Bhavan even after I left school and why I should continue German. I've been going over this in my head for the last two days and it's so amazing, so amazing how the tiny, seemingly insignificant details come together. How relationships are formed and grow beyond anything you could ever have imagined when they started off.
It is nice to know that God sees the bigger picture and He whispers to us the next step even when we don't really realise it then. So good. You are so good.
This holiday I plan to:
* Go to Kerala and Ooty.
* Practice my hindi.
* Read. Read. Read.
* Try writing more. Like seriously.
* Vote. (I went and submitted my papers yesterday and am praying my name comes on the Electoral List in time!)
* Watch movies.
* Bake
* Study German again and remind myself of all I have forgotten.
* Blog (duh!).
That's all I can think of right now. I'm open to more ideas! :)
Bis Bald! Tomorrow I shall share with you a poem I found in "treasure-trunk" that I had completely forgotten about!
So I'm home!
I feel content - to be at home (we have such a beautiful home), with my parents, with Dada and D (even though it's a little strange not having them around at home and I miss that), having my own room (!) and my own wardrobe (I spent all of yesterday morning throwing out old stuff and trying on new stuff - perfect hand-me-downs from D in which I am now living!), time and solid eight hours of sleep (which has been a rare event for the past month or so!). Oh yes, and finding that my Ma has started painting again and she's really brilliant for an amateur. (I will post photos as soon as I get batteries for my camera!)
Today, I emptied my big ol' trunk from Hebron and re-located all (well most) of the stuff to my wardrobe. This is always interesting. I started writing a diary when I was 13 and over the years I've written about 10 and it's just so interesting to read through these and see how much I've changed. Things that I was so crazy about then, seem so silly now. I threw out a lot of stuff that I don't want to be reminded of anymore, sorting out photos and put some in frames on my shelf. Dusted off my German books and magazines so I can put my head into them again and bring back to life that part of my brain which safe-keeps all the German. It's nice to move ON and put things into perspective and see how God has been working and continues to work in the shadows.
You know how they say that there's a reason for everything that happens? It's so true. When I was in A'levels I took Geography, English, Maths and German. Four subjects barely related to each other and I had no idea what I wanted to do with them later on, I just knew that these were the subjects I HAD to take and even when it came to Std. 13 and I was allowed to drop one subject, I couldn't. I couldn't bare the thought to part with any of them and I picked the hard way - man, it was hell doing four subjects in Std. 13! Too much work, too little time. Now I know. Well, atleast I know why I took German and why I contined German with Max Mueller Bhavan even after I left school and why I should continue German. I've been going over this in my head for the last two days and it's so amazing, so amazing how the tiny, seemingly insignificant details come together. How relationships are formed and grow beyond anything you could ever have imagined when they started off.
It is nice to know that God sees the bigger picture and He whispers to us the next step even when we don't really realise it then. So good. You are so good.
This holiday I plan to:
* Go to Kerala and Ooty.
* Practice my hindi.
* Read. Read. Read.
* Try writing more. Like seriously.
* Vote. (I went and submitted my papers yesterday and am praying my name comes on the Electoral List in time!)
* Watch movies.
* Bake
* Study German again and remind myself of all I have forgotten.
* Blog (duh!).
That's all I can think of right now. I'm open to more ideas! :)
Bis Bald! Tomorrow I shall share with you a poem I found in "treasure-trunk" that I had completely forgotten about!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Bombay today, Bangalore tomorrow!
Yup, it's finally here. I'm going home after about four months and am soooo looking forward to it!
I board the train in the morning tomorrow and reach Bangalore on Sunday morning. It's a pretty long journey but I have books (Wuthering Heights and Five Quarters of the Orange), movies (Oscar movies!), my mp3 player (with new music thanks to Sharan!) and about a dozen batteries to keep it going and well... me. I think I'm pretty good at keeping myself occupied and am actually kind of looking forward to the journey. Traveling through rural India is always a treat!
Anyway, I'll see you in Bangalore!
I board the train in the morning tomorrow and reach Bangalore on Sunday morning. It's a pretty long journey but I have books (Wuthering Heights and Five Quarters of the Orange), movies (Oscar movies!), my mp3 player (with new music thanks to Sharan!) and about a dozen batteries to keep it going and well... me. I think I'm pretty good at keeping myself occupied and am actually kind of looking forward to the journey. Traveling through rural India is always a treat!
Anyway, I'll see you in Bangalore!
Jo, Sonu, Gauri, Antu, Sharan and Vini: I miss you already! :)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Just a bunch of camera-happy people!
By the pool, in the house, eating, in front of mirrors, everywhere! :)
Sharan's creative mirror shot!
Food!
Sonu going to chase the cat away from our towels...
Don't you think this is a cool pic? Sharan and I took it at the same time!
The famous mirror-shot!
Song-time. She's really good you know.
O Sanam - Lucky Ali
Shraran's pours her heart out in dosas!
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