SIMPLE LIFE

Concert of a lifetime - Lamb of God

2010-05-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

The hungry-for-top-notch-concert heavy metal maniacs from India as well as in and around India were in for a treat when two months back Lamb of God announced on its official website that they will be touring Banglore or Bengaluru as the purists would like it on 15^th May 2010. Me and my friends for one were only waiting to gobble up such an opportunity and booked our flight tickets and concert tickets instantly.

For starters LAMB OF GOD or LOG is a heavy metal band from Richmond Virginia, USA and like their music to be called as ‘Pure American Metal’. A 5-piece band, LOG consists of Drummer – Chris Adler, Bassist – John Campbell, Guitarists – Mark Morton & Willie Adler & Vocals – Randy Blythe.

So, finally Deepak & I reached Bengaluru airport on 15^th morning for “Summer Storm Festival 2010” at 8:00AM and waited for ei’s arrival from delhi. After boarding ‘Vajra’ the AC bus service from the airport to Hotel Basil, in Malleswaram, which was booked by ei. Reaching the hotel was not on our mind as was eating some nice South Indian idli, dosa with sambar & chutney. And you thought and only LOG were dying to have South Indian cuisine. Anyways, checked in at 12:00Noon in the hotel room and rested a bit so that we can be ready for the long day ahead at Palace grounds. After having some light lunch we zoomed to Palace grounds wherein there were wedding preparations going on which made sure that the actual place of the concert was on the other end, misleading directions from the localities made matters worse. Finally at 4:30PM we made it to the entry gate as Boomerang had already started playing.

The Indian bands performed well with Bhoomi not present for reasons know best to them. Scribe for one takes the cake with Vishwesh not leaving any stone unturned to connect with the audience. At the start the band had its share of problems with the sound check but later tracks like ‘Pav Bhaji’ really got the sweating audience moving. Extinct Reflections in their last gig with one of the band member coming all the way down from LA put up a good show with Prasad Bhat on the vocals trying his level best to get the crowd going. But they just could not get them much interested as the gods themselves were waiting backstage and the crowd was getting impatient. At 6:30PM Extinct Reflections buzzed off from the stage. The announcer then told that LOG wont be coming befor 7:30PM. The thirsty crowd started wandering off for a bite or some beer.

Finally, after a wait of 50 to 60 minutes, Chris Adler came on the stage and the band kicked off the show with ‘The Passing’from their newest album “Wrath”.Then Randy Blythe cam on stage and gave the crowd ‘In your words’ & ’Set to fail’. The crowd really got violent with mosh pits going infront of the barricade. Not that I was complaining. Then cam ‘Ruin’, Walk with me in Hell’, ‘Now you got something to die for’ & ‘Blacken the cursed sun’.Chris Adler showed why he was voted the best drummer of 2009 and the crowd was not denying either. Mark Morton’s riffs created waves and John Campbell gave the perfect bass to each and every track. Willie Adler on the other side with his no nonsense guitars completed the circle. Those not present at the concert did miss a spectacle and let me be down right candid here. I know some might say that Iron maiden was the best when it came to LIVE @ Palace grounds but LOG was different from them for the simple reason that they came to India in their prime. The fact that 6000 people made it to the concert is an achievement in itself for rock fans like us and the rock community in the country on the whole. A total of 16 tracks were belted out by LOG in a span of 90 minutes. For the full setlist go to http://setlist.fm/setlist/lamb-of-god/2010/palace-grounds-bangalore-india-13d4d991.html.

Even after so many tracks the crowd yearned for more and why would not they. LOG made their mark on India and they have promised that they will be back soon. With the vibrant headbanging and moshing during the last track ‘Black Label’ the body was a bit stiff, the neck stiffer but who is complaining after watching Lamb of God in flesh.

ROAD TRIPPIN'

2010-01-11T02:58:00.000-08:00

This is the first of the many parts of my Konkan Trip that started with 5 friends.

From 25th to 29th December 2009.

Its been a while since I blogged but am sure I will make it worth the wait. The reason being that on 25th Dec. 2009 at 3:00PM I and my 4 friends from WeSchool embarked upon a trip that had so many twists and turns and am not talking about the roads here, that we were all mesmerized as much as from the beauty of Konkan as we were with what was ahead of us at all times during the trip.

To begin with the preparations for the trip began a good 45 days before 25th of Dec. 2009. The locations that we planned to trip upon (pun intended) were Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri & Tarkarli, Malvan. The bookings for Ganpatipule were full as the weekend that we were planning had two holidays (Christmas 25th Friday & Moharram 28th Monday) and a Sunday, so all in all one Saturday off made it a 4-dayer vacation. We were not getting accommodation at ganpatipule so I tried my luck and got the rooms booked at Ganpatipule for 5 of us (Me, Gautam, Vinayak Rahul & Rameshwar). Happy that I did the same, I earned the bragging rights (atleast for the time being) that, what no one else could do I did. Days later I received the receipt confirming the booking I just gazed through it and text messaged my friends that the booking is confirmed. Fast forward to 25th December 2009. After a rather early waking up at around 8:00AM I helped mom with some errands as she was leaving for Malvan, hadpiwadi on the same day but by train.

So, at 11:30 AM on 25th December I left home but to stop over at my good friend’s place for the Christmas lunch. We were 4 of us for that lunch. Old friends from my graduation years. The lunch was really yummy with non-vegetarian food galore. The good time at this friends place got over as 2:30PM was nearing. The time we planned to leave Thane for Ganpatipule. As I called up Gautam, in-charge of the car to see if they had left, they were unfortunately late by about 30 mins or so. I had to wait in the sun though the cool breeze made the wait bearable to say the least. So at 2:55 PM after the TATA Indigo came I sat in it and left to pick up Rameshwar at Airoli Bridge the last of the 5 as Rahul had already come to Thane. So, our Journey started and we headed towards Navi Mumbai for NH-17. Slowly and surely we were able to leave the city behind us and it felt really good with every passing kilometer. At around 5:30 I got behind the wheels with the idea for the trip being that Gautam and I driving for 90 minutes each. This was the second time I was driving this car but the first time in the ghats. Being an entirely new experience I tried not to be too conscious but somehow I was not that easy on the gears with Gautam giving me instructions at every corner of the road. At 6:30PM Gautam took over, as the speed of my driving was not that favourable for the trip. Reaching Ratnagiri was our main motive as Ganpatipule was just a half hour drive from there. After reaching the so called left for Ganpatipule we drove a few feet away and thought of enquiring a shop that was open at 11:30 in the night. He directed us towards the road that was just a few paces behind us, which eventually took us to Ganpatipule. Reaching there our search for MTDC resort, which we had booked a month earlier, got over in 15 minutes, thankfully. Once inside the premises I searched for the receipt that was in the bag kept at the back of the car. Royally we 5 of us walked inside as we were seeing people around us searching for accommodation and believe me all the resorts/ hotels were full with not a single room available. But, we were carefree, as I had the room booking receipt in my hand. I kept that receipt on the counter and the two men standing across the counter glanced at me rather surprisingly, as if to say ‘What am I doing here at this hour of the night?’. Between it was past 12 that time and they were getting ready for there good nights sleep. They saw the receipt and at once pointed out the date to me. There it was the booking was done for 25th Nov. to 27th Nov. and here we were standing at MTDC resort Ratnagiri on 25th Dec. 09 expecting that we would be welcomed. That moment was such a low blow for me that the others in my group were controlling their laughter and I had a look on my face that was a ‘Kodak moment’ to say the least. The resort guys tried their level best to see if we could get an accommodation but there wasn’t a single room that was empty. That was it. We all decided that now we would drive down to Hadpiwadi (my house) 23Kms before Malvan. But that was another 4 hours drive for us and it was already 1A.M. It was decided that Gautam and me would drive and hour each. But I felt sleepy on my way to Hadpiwadi and Gautam did the needful. We reached 25 Kms before Malvan and went on going straight and it was 4:30AM now. We took a wrong right turn and went on going through a Jungle were there was so much of darkness that minus the headlights it would had been next to impossible to see outside. After much running around in circles we found that we had reached 12 Kms before Malvan and that meant we were on the wrong track. Suddenly at a turn after going through small lanes we cam out on a road were people were out walking taking their morning stroll. We were all wondering that for the past 4 hours we did not find a single person and all of sudden 12-15 people were spotted out of nowhere. One of the guy told us the way to Hadpiwadi and we followed that road religiously and at 5:45 we were at ‘Yeshwat’ my place, my house in the belly of mesmerizing Konkan.

This was just the start of our Journey. More yet to come.

LEARNINGS OF LIFE

2009-11-17T01:52:00.000-08:00

A few days back I had a nice discussion with a colleague at my workplace. It started with me asking madam about her work and personal life balance and the way she looked at it. At present she is 35 years old married happily with two cute kids.

To begin with she is at the Asst. Vice President level and has been working in the bank since 1996. She was the youngest AVP in India in 1998. 9 Years down the line she is still at the same grade. My question was directed as to what she thought if she had to sit and take stock of what went on in her life since 1998 that prevented from her going up the corporate ladder. On the other hand let me tell you that this lady is very smart, very energetic towards her work and has worked at the Branchhead level for quite a few years. So you can say she's a bit of a been there done that kind of a person.

So after I popped up this rather weird question to her that many might want not to, but its only coz I do share a good rapport with madam, she replied as below. Though not verbatim this is what she said.

‘As we grow up as kids we do have the obvious support of our parents, which is often the case with many of us. The fact that our parents have done good (or bad) in their age as grown-ups has its impact on us in some way or other. All that we do comes back to us in a way that either they get affected (in a good or bad way) or their family members (spouse, kids). Now, that you grow up and have the sense to take care of yourself i.e. post the age of 21 years or so, what takes us ahead from here is our karma and not the good or bad deeds of our parents but simply what we do in our everyday life. So, stop blaming your parents that they didn’t groom you well and that they failed as parents to bring you up. Always remember that as grown ups you might face a lot of distractions which are actually very attractive on the face of it, say to defraud someone, extra martial affairs et all. But to practice self-control in such times and concentrate on the actual work at hand is the right thing to do. The reason as told earlier as grown ups whatever good or bad you do comes back to you. What goes around simply comes around. The very fact that I was not selfish enough back in 1998 to climb up the corporate rung and have kids was the correct decision as far as I am concerned otherwise today I might have been at the President level but I might had not found the time to be a mom as I would had been busy making presentations and waiting for the next promotion. In doing this my husband and I would had been alone today with absolutely nothing to be enthusiastic about after returning back home from work. Today once we reach home my little ones make me forget the days fatigue and tensions at work and I can be my own self with them. So it’s important to do the right things so that you and your family can flower and be happy like no one else. Now, as parents I have the responsibility to be honest to myself and my partner in everything I do so that our kids don’t get affected because of our incorrect deeds’.

The above thing really was a sort of eye opener for me, for my future, as well as in general in the sense that I for one used to think that my parents could had groomed me better and I could had been much better academically. But in hindsight keeping the above piece of advice from Madam I think ‘It wasn’t that bad either’. I mean what if my grades at schools were great what difference would that had made to me as an individual. I would had anyways landed where I was destined to. And I am absolutely satisfied about it today.

Thanks Ma’am.

ITS GETTING COLD

2009-11-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

Well its getting cold and the urge to feel hot. With the season setting in slowly but surely it sometimes becomes really tough for couples ;-) to get up early in the morning. Newly weds and the newly deads too get frozen and the romantic atmosphere is there for everyone to see.

The Winter season other than the above has various facets to it. With chapped heels and chapped lips being in the forefront, the skin also becomes dry in moderate cold conditions. Food also is a frontrunner with some having a special liking for ice-creams in desserts. Those with less immunity (like me) can try something hot like hot pakodas or parathas with aachar :-). The hotter the better.

Different states have different ways to celebrate winter. In the north many a festivals are in this season viz. Dussehra, Diwali,Baisakhi & Holi to name a few. Mumbai to be quite modest has lost its charm of winter season of the yesteryears. The ever increasing pollution has only risen the temperatures considerably.

With Global Warming coming in faster than ever hope our next generation does not have the ill-luck to see just 3 seasons but it being moderate summer, summer & High summer.

Mesmerising Tarkarli beach

2009-10-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of days back I came back from my native place. It was an eventful 3 dayer with my whole family as my sis-in-laws parents had come as well. My sis-in-laws mum had been to my native place for the first time. Its really a blessing to have such a place called "My Native place" where I can be sure of pure "everything", right from water to air to the things we eat.

We saw some astounding places like the Dhamapur lake, Malvan seashore, Angnewadi Temple but the one place that stood out and really really mesmerised me to the fullest was Tarkarli. Just a few minutes drive from the Malvan seashore, this place is an extended part but a huge part of the Malvan seaside and the sands are white and shimmering. The water is clear and the fauna and flora in the seabed makes the seawater green in colour. I can say this with authority that the beach is a virgin as it is 'The most cleanest' beach I have seen in the past 27 years of my life. The marine life is very healthy. Tarkarli offers snorkelling as well. Could not go snorkelling this time but will definitely experience it the next time I go there which will be this year itself :-)....

Those of you who want to experience a pleasurable and life-lasting sight need to visit Tarkarli at the earliest.

ELECTIONS - A BIG FAT JOKE

2009-10-16T04:48:00.000-07:00

The state assembly elections though had a good enough turnout of 60% in the state of Maharshtra the city had a pathetically low turnout of 42%. The worst part was that south mumbai which was at the helm when the 26/11 attacks happened voted only 35%. This was the right opportunity for us all to actually give our verdict and stamp our authority on the whole process. But once again we have let the opportunity go by. Most of us grabbed the opportunity by taking monday as a holiday and escaping to some place for vacation.

The fact of the matter remains though that majority of us have lost faith in the democratic machinery. Thanks to the ever-increasing corruption in the state. But then the other side of the coin is that only we the people can change it. The ruling government unless given a run for their money wont learn that the people who bring them to power can make them taste dust as well.

The above might seems childish but not as childish as what some so called grown ups in this country of millions are doing. These people who have not voted have absolutely no right whatsoever to question the politicians about their under par performance. In today’s HT Rajdeep Sardesai has rightfully taken a swipe at such mumbaikar’s who did not vote on 13th Oct.

The same old story will continue in the next elections as well. The Resident Non-Indians who do not vote will continue to comment on the way the infra of the city is bad, the pollution controls being not of the highest level and then again won’t care to cast their vote in the next elections.

Adios Abhi

2009-10-10T23:46:00.000-07:00

A lot of people come an go in our life. Some people are forgotten quite quickly once meetings and greetings stop. Some people are not forgotten coz of their nature, their behaviour amongst peers, their simplicity. Abhi falls in the later category. I have not come across a more practical and so correct individual in my life. At his age he seems much more mature. Has a lot of confidence in his abilities, which very important in today's professional life. Has great ability to execute any task given to him. He proved that in WE School.

Now, that he has decided to pack his bags and leave tis city that gave him so many friends and so many moments that will defintely last for a lifetime.Right Abhi? do correct me if am wrong.

Yesterday's farewell in more than many ways summed up the ties that we all friends have.Feels heavy inside sometimes as I still can't believe that Abhi is leaving.
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/lh/sredir?uname=write2Abhishek.S&target=ALBUM&id=5391207544120477137&authkey=Gv1sRgCKLx5s3Qvu_rIg&feat=email

The right thing in the end for all of us though is to not forget each other and be in touch as far as possible. I know this blog is too emotional but thats how I am.

Lala mere maa ke kangan toh tu bech ke khaya. Lekin hum saab ki dosti ko kabhi mat bhulna.

GOA - SAD BUT TRUE

2009-10-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Me, Ei & Bra once again took our Goa trip seriously tis time around. With Rama getting sidelined tis year due to his new job constraints on holidays we 3 decided to go ahead and have a nice time together. I for one reached Goa a day later then ei & bra i.e on friday the 2nd taking 3rd an off. It was raining a lot alongside the costal areas of Maharashtra, AP & Karnataka. With news of parts of Goa under water and people getting homeless day by day the spirit in Calangute was not as high as was last year when we were here. Less number of bikers as people had to cancel there trips due to train delays and flight delays (dry day on 2nd Oct 09) we got on our bikes only on 3rd oct . Ei was possesed with "The cruizer biking mania" and boy was it infectiosu with me riding the Avenger late in the afternoon.

The day I landed in Goa we lunched at Souza Lobo's and came back to the room as it was raining. Dinner at Infenteria and ei & bra were hell bent on finishing off their respective bottles with ei really turning it on with Teachers on the rocks. Next day on the bike - as mentioned earlier we rode to baga, ajuna & not to forget fort aguada. Rains were not turning their back away from goa with drizzling rains continuing to wet us all through. Our lunch on the 3rd was decided at Britto's on Baga beach. Girls of different shapes & sizes strutted their stuff unbelievably. For a moment I felt as if I was in Thigh-land :-) with land being the land in english ;-).

Goa is still a place where people can be what they want, not caring one bit about what will their parents feel about their dress up. The fact that this place is so laid back gets you going at times. The sad part though is that Goa is loosing its charm with beaches getting dirtier and the roads getting clogged at junctions. The fact of the matter remains that once tourists inhabit any place they turn it into a junkyard. Nevertheless, Goa can still be enchanting if toured systematically over a period of 5-6 days covering the entire north as well as south Goa.

Rain gods seem to have been really angry and the cannibalising of the envoirnment that mankind has unleashed on mother earth is coming back to us in the form of tsunami's, earthquakes, unseasonal rains and such other signs of global warming. This is having its effects sadly on places where people still respect nature. Places like the rural india.

Hopefully, the present generation sees it coming earlier then later or else.

RELIEF IN SIGHT...ATLAST

2009-08-08T05:18:00.000-07:00

The month seems to be moving fast as I slowed down a bit with my blog.Thousand apologies to myself for being so very enthusiastic to not to write. The fever in the body is long gone but the cold just doesnot hate my company. People around me have started saying that I have this 365 days a year. No.Its not very nice to hear that. But now that on mum's insistence I am consulting an MD for 'The final cure' (blood tests and X-rays and other such tests followed) hopefully I should be relieved from this nagging disease of mine.

Relief from the disease is not that important for me though as I have got used to it now. really me dead serious there. Relief is what I am looking for from the daily work, daily travel, daily more work, daily more & more work. My boss was kind enuf to sanction my leave application and thats why I will be on leave in the last week for ganpati celebrations at my native place. With the lab giving birth to a pup am doubly waiting to be there asap.

I feel sometimes that we all are so stressed out that such breaks if called essential would be an understatement. In fact I would call such breaks as mandatory. Nevertheless, I am bubbling with joy coz my native place seems like Smirnoff all of a sudden. "Life is calling, Where are u?"

The Fuss

2009-07-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

Our former Prez Dr Kalam was frisked at the Delhi airport by Continental airlines staff which caused a furore nationwide with the media chomping on the same for the past 72 hours. I say what is all the fuss about.

As per Prafful Patel (Civil Aviation Minister) VIP's and Politicians are exempted from such frisking at the airport as they are VIP's and politicians. This is what makes my blood boil. I mean what the heck if these guys are politicians. What if one fine day some politician hides cocaine inside his kurta and goes through without getting frisked or for that matter a pen knife with an idea of hijacking the aeroplane mid-air. An International airport is a place where perhaps people of all nationalities come together. Some good,some bad and I mean the intentions. Our generation has seen almost everything (except another nuclear attack, dont want to experience or even see it either) and such frisking atleast will keep all the so called VIP's and Policticians on their toes and you never know they might get caught with an extra body part :-)

Continental airlines did not apologise saying that those on flight to US are checked in almost all countries by them. Fair enough. I mean are we surrounded by any friendly neighbours. Then why take a chance. For all you know and god forbid this Dr Kalam's family gets kidnapped by some terror outfit based in well u guessed it right, and then Dr Kalam is told that as this is the situation if you want us to release your family safely please take this dabba of ladoos to US (assuming the fact that the airport authorities wont frisk him). Does this guy have any choice. I mean how many of us would put the life of our family on the line, not many I guess.....

Dr Kalam the gentleman he is was not too bothered about the whole incident if reports in the media are to be believed.

Now, as the airlines has finally given an apology, they have also said that the rules of the US Transportation Security Administration(TSA) requires final security check without exemption (Source : CNN IBN). Its a case of Just doing my job maybe.

All in all the so called VIP pampering that goes on in the country should be stopped or atleast should not be given coverage in the media. Coz when the common man who pays the taxes and does not get good roads,traffic free roads,a comfortable train ride to work and the politicians get open roads during peak hour traffic , is the common man to be blamed for the frustration he carries in his head and heart.

WILL IT EVER END

2009-07-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

The only terrorist alive and in custody of the Mumbai Police admitted that he was behind the whole terror drama that happened on 26/11 in South Mumbai, which killed hundred's and left thousands injured physically as well as mentally. The trial started months back and is still going to continue for the next few months atleast going by the way our judiciary system is.

Terror had earned a name for itself, most so prominently after the September 11 attacks on the twin towers in US. With home grown small time terror outfits getting patronage from countries with greed for power and money ( US included) the world is at large at risk as all are aware. Nothing else but political will is necessary for uprooting the terror from the world.

The question though remains is when and who will take the bow high up and aim the arrow towards terrorism and will the rest of the world rally around. With G15 having India in it, we as a country have a point to make. Finally.

For all the countries it is more important to be financially dependent but can they concentrate on that if this disease of terrorism is still around? Countries like China frankly do not seem to be doing their bit to stop it as well. Seems like a situation of 'If it does not concern me why bother'. The recent violence in their country attracted comments from Al-Qaeda that "the muslim community in China if ignored will have far reaching consequences".All are aware of the military prowess that China has. It will be interesting to see whether they form a coalition with the rest of the forces if such a time comes.

But the question remains that will the developed and the developing countries come together as a force to reckon with and nip terrorism in the bud or will it rule our minds and bodies for the coming few decades.

Adios Super Fred

2009-07-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very surprising one with Andrew Flintoff the burly Lancashire all-rounder announcing his retirement from test matches after the on going Ashes Series.

Little did he knew at the start of the series that he will say what he said yesterday. But a string of ankle surgeries and knee operations, it was as the experts said was only a matter of time till he would be forced out of contention. No one ever thought such would be the price that the England lions would pay for utilising him time and again when they were looking down the barrel and almost everytime he delivered....but the repercussions were not that encouraging with him being in rehab for most of the times since 2005.

Not that he always helped himself up the ranks in the English side....keeping up with the bad boy image....but freddy showed a lot of maturity post his marraige to the beautiful Rachael who runs her own events company by the name of Strawberry Promotions.

All said and done this all rounder who played for 11 long years serving English cricket giving his very best everytime he walked the green patch must be defintely regretting having not being if not 'The Best' atleast 'One of the Best' Captains for England.

Test cricket fans will always miss the valor with which he weilded his willow and the fire with which he put his heart and soul in his bowling......

For now though he has to concentrate on the rest of the series. And how the whole of England would hope that he rambles on and roll presses the aussies.....

His teammates would also give their best to win the series....would there be a more fitting good bye for SUPER FREDDIE FLINTOFF.......

THE ASHES BEGINS.....

2009-07-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

By the time you read this "The Ashes Series" will be underway in Cardiff Wales. The 100th venue for test matches the pitch had come under the scanner for being under prepared earlier this year but did'nt have any controversy as of recently (source : BBC Live)

The history is well known. England & Australia started playing in 1882 and have been since playing after a gap of two years every year. The australians though are holding an upper hand over the series for the last 2 decades with only once tasting series defeat in 2005, the aussies look well on their way for another Ashes triumph this summer in England.

The England side though not carrying an attack with enough tooth, they must be banking on the spin magic of Monty Panesar. With Nathan Hauritz still not able to claw a permanent place in the Australian side he will definitely have his work cut out for the series. A series of injuries have plagued the Aussies with Bret Lee out for the first two tests and Watson not playing in the first one. Taking all the 20 wickets would be a cause of concern for the Australians. With the inexperienced Ben hilfenhaus as support to Siddle and the bowling machine Mitchel Johnson the australians would be hoping that the England batsmen make as many mistakes as possible. With the McGraths and the Warnes and the Gilchrists and the Haydens and the Langers making hay while the IPL shines the Australians are in for a tough series for sure.

The English side on the other hand would be banking highly on their openers to put up a good total so that their bowlers can atleast fight to get the Australians out for not too high a total.

All in all the series won't be one-sided as predicted by my very good friend eashwar as his prediction is a 5-0 English whitewash. Any takers?