Weekend in Goa

I've been too busy to blog recently. Drove down to Goa for the weekend with some friends from office. The trip was actually supposed to be just my team members - old and new, but in the end we took two 'outsiders' along too.

We started on Friday night (after working all day!) and we got to Goa almost 12 hours later!!!

Well the drive down is supposed to take about 8 hours but we cut from NH 4 to NH 17 through Mahabaleshwar. Do NOT do that if you're interested in a quick short trip. If you want to take your time and drive along hairpin curves overlooking a fantastic view... well that's the route to take.

We set off in 3 cars. An Indica, a Maruti 800 and a Spark. The guys who were doing the driving (Chetan, Shishir and Kiran / Praful) were fantastic! They're the only reason we enjoyed the trip as much as we did.







Friday midnight saw us under a full moon admiring the "table land" in that region. Something I'll always remember. A vast expanse, no other signs of life except for little twinkling lights in the distance.

And after zooming around all those hairpin turns, when we finally joined NH 17, we were shocked to see that it was 3.00 am and we still had 400 kms to go.







Well when we finally got to Goa we relaxed, had some juice / beer / rissois / samosas, and then relaxed some more until lunch :)

My dog was so excited about the new comers he didn't even bother to look at me.





Lunch was at Anoushka's. Loads of fish, prawns, squids, limesoda, beer and feni. Lunch got over only by 3.00 and then at 6.00 we were ready to see Goa.

What did we do that night?

Well we waded along Calangute beach, snacked at a shack, watched a guy do some fire-juggling under the full moon, climbed over rocks along the sea shore at Anjuna at midnight, admired Vagator beach in the moonlight, feasted at another shack at 2 in the morning, and finally drove back home at 3 am.

I had more fun than I've had in Goa anytime this year. It was a night I'll never forget.

Next day there was breakfast (coffee or beer?), sightseeing, and hat-buying at the Dona Paula jetty, and later shopping - for cashewnuts and all the other stuff Goa is famous for ;)

Lunch at Ritz Classic. Crabs, a fish platter, a whole kingfish, all in quantities I'd never seen before.

And then it was back home to pack, rest, have a cup of tea (prepared by Anirudh) and leave.

We were back in Pune in 9 hours, tired but happy.

Slow Down

I first read this article almost two years ago. I don't know who the original author is but the words have more meaning that ever before...

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An interesting reflection:Slow Down Culture

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.

Globalized processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. We have come to possess a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold endless meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end though, this always yields outstanding results.

Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their cars to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, neither the second nor the third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be in a hurry and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think?"

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality" or the "quality of being". The French, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than the Americans or British. The Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen productivity driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".

This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking essential human values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, happier, lighter and more productive where people enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in what each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for getting to the end of this message. There are many who would've stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this "globalized" world.

Spreading the blog....

I mentioned a colleague who wrote a poem on peace in my last post. Well I've convinced him to start a blog and put his poems up there. What I like about him is that he writes straight from the heart. He doesn't focus on the words themselves, his emphasis is on the feeling that made him write that particular poem and on sharing that feeling with everyone.

Once some of his stuff is up and running I'll link to it here.

Until then here's a list of three good things that happened today, my own personal "gratitude list".

1. A good friend who was away has come back to Pune.
2. I've borrowed the secret of chimneys and I've started reading it again..
3. I cancelled plans for a movie and it started raining... :) Now I feel like I have precognition.

I love lying cozily in bed while it's pouring cats 'n dogs outside... Nothing quite compares..

Terror Attack in Mumbai

Watching tv right now. Mumbai is under attack once again. Bombs and AK-47's too. 25 people already killed and who knows what the body count will be once the night is out.

This is shit.

Innocent people should not be in danger this way. It's just not right. And yet it happens, again and again. And the police... ok, I'd be the first to admit that I don't normally appreciate the normal-cop-on-the-road. But I have to say, I can't imagine risking your life the way they do, just for a paltry salary each month. And don't tell me they are all desh-bhakts. I know it's just a job to them, but they take it so seriously! It's a job and they do it, even if it costs them their life.

Poor Mumbai. If not being burned by terrorists from outside, it's being terrorised by self-proclaimed dictators from within. The ultimate loser is the common man.

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00:47 now and it's worse than ever. I don't know if this is really live but there was this loud blast and it appears that there was an explosion at the Taj. I don't know what's worse, Indians being killed, or foreigners on vacation losing their lives for the folly of choosing India as their destination.

00:54 now and 4 terrorists have been captured apparently. Finally, score one for the good guys.

1:22 am now and 60 confirmed dead. I don't want to go to sleep. It seems indecent to sleep peacefully in my bed when people are being killed. This is the first time I've seen an attack like this. Scene by scene. Usually the news starts after the event. This is horrible. I can't imagine having to live through a war.

A colleague of mine wrote a poem about peace today. Something that we seem to be running out off.

1:42 am and they keep listing off all the cops who've died tonight.

1:50 am now and all my friends are safe. There was one guy I've been trying to get in touch with cos he's one of those people who head towards trouble instead of away, but he's just reached home so I can stop worrying about him.

1:53 am and the fire that started in the Taj on the top floor of the Heritage wing, has now spread to 3 rooms.

1:55 am now. A picture of one of the terrorists on the tv. Apparently at least one of the cameras put up by the city was working.

1:59 am. The army has entered this battle. (It's joined the police at the Trident hotel.) Doesn't that make this a war of sorts?

2:50 am. Some people came out of the Taj and now the channels are interviewing them. Just watched an interview with a Korean guy who was in the new wing which has now been evacuated. His wife is still a hostage in the old wing. In his position I'd have probably slapped any tv interviewer who asked me questions at such a time.

2:58 am. The press conferences have started. Some Chief Information Officer of I know not what just said 78 are dead. Last seen the poor guy was surrounded by eager journalists.

3:00 am. The Taj and the Trident Oberoi encounters are still on. The channels have fallen back on previous footage as the action has now moved indoors and they don't really have a clue what's happening there.

3:03 am. The politicians speeches have started. Thats what every tragedy comes down to in the end. Speeches and conferences.

I just had a funny thought. Usually when a terrorist attack happens the date goes down in history. For eg. 7/11 and 9/11. Well what date is going to get the dubious honour of representing this attack? It started on the 26th and will probably end today, the 27th.

3:08 am. 9 terrorists arrested says one channel. Interviews are on with guests who escaped from the gunmen in the Taj. Most of them have some very good things to say about the Taj staff. Finally some good news. Maybe I'll finally be able to sleep.

3:17 am. Just when I thought I could go to bed, lots of noise at the Taj. The dome covered in smoke, the fire seems to have spread over the roof. Huge sparks. Firing seems to have escalated.

3:25 am. The fire is spreading rapidly and gunfire can be heard. I hope no one was caught in that fire. It would be better to be shot than burnt to death.

Looking at the clouds of smoke I had this sudden feeling of deja vu. I spent hours watching the news during the 9/11 attacks and I remember the clouds of smoke from the Twin Towers. I wonder if this portion of the building will collapse too.

3:41 am. The fire at the Taj seems to be subsiding. News of another encounter outside a restaurant called Bootleggers at Colaba. Also the stairwell of the Taj in the old wing reportedly is full of bodies.

3:51 am. According to one channel, 2 terrorists killed in the Taj. 2 to go. A Japanese citizen has died in Bombay Hospital. The fire brigade is sending up ladders to try and get the trapped people down.

All schools and colleges in Mumbai will remain closed today. People are advised to stay indoors.

3:57 am. Shots of people waving from various windows hoping to be rescued by the fire brigade. Reports that terrorists may be holed up in the Cama hospital at Colaba.

4:03 am. Rapid Action Force gathering outside the Trident Oberoi. Near the th BP petrol pump (Colaba) which was blown up right at the start, a hostage situation seems to be going on at Nariman House. Cafe Leopold, just down the road, was apparently one of the first spots where firing occurred. So it seems that the news is getting back where it started.

4:15 am. 5 hours into the attacks, the RAF is also inside the Trident. The army had gone in about 2 hours back. The situation at the Taj is improving but at the Trident the situation is still uncertain.

More than 80 killed. Less than three hours to go before I have to wake up. I hope I wake up to good news. Or atleast the absence of more bad news.

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I fell asleep only by 5 am or so. It's now 7.20 am and from what I can gather nothing much has changed.

Second Life

The title refers to this blog... not the 'game'. (I apologise for calling Second Life a game but couldn't think of any other term...)

I never intended to blog here... as would be evident from my very first post. However events have conspired against me. For various reasons this particular step child of mind has become an useful player - though it's a bit late in the day.

Time will tell which way this blog chooses to grow. The important thing is, that grow it shall. With the passage of time some might find its growth twisted and deformed... to all those people I have only this to say...

It's my blog and you're jealous (sticking my tongue out at them)

To all other critics – please see above.

Of course there's that other demon; constructive criticism. Well, I suppose *grudgingly* it's useful, if done with tact and sensitivity. Tact and Sensitivity remember. Good intentions aren't enough!

That said, I hope you enjoy what's written here. My blog will be very pleased...

:)

Mahabaleshwar

June 2008

Some memories from June 2008...

Ashish Natu's birthday... celebrating with the new team...

and old...

Prajakta's birthday...

Roushan's birthday...

May 2008

Some things that happened in May 2008...

My view of the office from my desk...

Bharat Ahuja... all dressed up!

Sonal's birthday...

Harish Kamble's birthday...

The cricket team... victorious!

Nilesh Dhote's birthday...

History is amazing !!!!!!!!!!!

One history leson I didn't mind learning:

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.

Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.

Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln 's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.

Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.

Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln' made by 'Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

And here's the kicker...

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

Creepy huh?

Common sense in the U.S. Military

A lot of life's problems can be explained by the U.S. Military and its applications of common sense ...

1. "Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography." (Paul Rodriguez)

2. "A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit." (Army's magazine of preventive maintenance ).

3. "Aim towards the Enemy." (Instruction printed on US M79 Rocket Launcher)

4. When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend. (U.S. Marine Corps)

5. Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs always hit the ground. (U.S. Air Force)

6. If the enemy is in range, so are you. (Infantry Journal)

7. It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed. (US Air Force Manual)

8. Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons. (Gen. MacArthur)

9. Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo. (Infantry Journal)

10. You, you, and you . . . Panic. The rest of you, come with me. (Marine Gunnery Sergeant)

11. Tracers work both ways. (US Army Ordnance)

12. Five second fuses only last three seconds. (Infantry Journal)

13. Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last, and don't ever volunteer to do anything. (US Navy Seaman)

14. Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid. (David Hackworth)

15. If your attack is going too well, you have walked into an ambush. (Infantry Journal)

16. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection. (Joe Gay)

17. Any ship can be a minesweeper... once. (Admiral Hornblower)

18. Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do. (Unknown Marine Recruit)

19. Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you. (Your Buddies)

20. Mines are equal opportunity weapons. (Army Platoon Sergeant)

21. If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly. (David Hackworth)

22. Your job is to kill the other person before they kill you so that your national leaders can negotiate a peace that will last as long as it takes the ink to dry. (Drill Instructor)

23. In the Navy, the Chief is always right. (Written on the door into the Chiefs quarters)