No Time for Long Time

It's been a long time now and I have not written here. Now I resolve to update my blog daily. Today I am writing because I have nothing to do. Yes, absolutely nothing. The famous project which I had been working at, is finally going through finally stages. Sriram has taken up the charge and will continue the project with Sachin.

It seems that I will be working on ER for some time. I do not know, how the things will turn up.

All of a sudden my quench for documentary making is on the high. I really want to be serious about it. But, I am not much sure about it and therefore apprehensive at the same time. However, I am planning to give it a serious thinking by meeting professionals in the field.

The creativity which was there in my life has vanished. I want to get out of my present job asap. It has become mundane and boring over a period of time.

The only source of entertainment is the computer which suffice my intellectual and entertainment needs. I have been watching good movies these days. I hope this will continue for some time. This will somehow help me to abate my creative pangs. All movies like Amistad, The Lady Vanishes, Twister, The Bugs Life, etc. were good and had come from different genres.

Today I will watch another movie from Hitchcock.

The KV Reunion

Reunions have always been cherished by all of us as they give us the pleasant opportunity to meet our beloved friends. Fortunately, I have had one last weekend, when I got a chance to meet my friend Robin. After being missed few chances of get-together during his earlier Mumbai visits, this time we were determinant to make it happen. With immaculate planning at both ends the result obviously was a plus.

Friday Evening

After the dull week that I had had at the office I went to Leela to meet Robin as decided over the phone. The phone call experience was good as the phone to his room was not direct but routed through reception on request. Every time I used to call him I would hear sweet and euphonic though mechanical answers from the other side.
It was my first visit to the Leela. After some initial debacles I finally reached his room 515. The room was grandeur as I was expecting to be and the beauty trapped me. It had a plasma display and a personal bar with liquors, selected with precision to evoke a desire to savor the taste. After our talks on topics of variety, covering the whole spectrum of our imagination, we decided to leave the place. Since it was Friday and Robin was with me I could not find another option but to have drinks at Aura a restro-bar in proximity of my house. We had some good talks over the beers ;). We returned back late in night.

Saturday Delight

Saturday was kind of hectic as Robin had a list of places to be seen with him. We started with Mumbai's life-line (locals) to Matunga. From there we caught a cab to Wadala. Imax – Dome was the first thing to be covered. The theatre has the largest dome screen in the world. (As per claims made by IMAX)
We saw a documentary on Dolphins. The narrative though was banal but the film had breath-taking shots, made more realistic by the IMAX technology. One can have vicarious feelings of motion and self-participation in a movie at IMAX.
After the movie is over we headed to town (VT). Since it was only 3 pm and Mumbai is too hot and humid to explore during these hours we unanimously decided to see Parineeta. I chose Liberty theatre because it gives AC at only 50 Rs. for upper stall. Also hindi movies give you an option to kill your time in the midst of emotional drama. The film proved to be a good option and did not disappoint us. It had an occupying story, with good songs and lyrics, spectacular cinematography, and appreciable performances; though the serious climax was overly done and had become melodramatic.

After the movie the duo moved to the Colaba – the heart of Mumbai and walked around the streets, catching the glimpses of Mumbai colors, tasting its rich flavors and breathing the scent of humid sea air. We headed towards Gateway of India – Monument of Shame rather than fame because it was build to commemorate the visit of the King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. The desire of “to be in the sea” rather “to be at the sea” led us to take a ferry ride. The quality of ride can be estimated by the fact that the zephyrs from the sea were soothing enough to engulf Robin for a quick nap. I stood there on the railings facing towards the sea and enjoyed the vastness of the Arabian Sea. Though I was alone, it reminded me of the scene from the titanic where Leonardo was standing with Kate, hand in hand facing towards the sea. The completion of ride opened the doors for a new quest. The quest was to search for a good bar or pub. Since Mumbai is humid and hot we were looking for an AC pub.
We started from Leopold Pub. It is famous among firangs and you will find a lot of them. Surprisingly only first floor has AC fittings. We didn’t get the permission to enter, as stag entry was not allowed. How an AC can affect the entry at a pub is so obscure a topic that it is difficult to understand and beyond my rationale. Do you need cooler ambience when you walk around with opposite sex or you must have a partner to claim for luxuries? I do not understand the motive of the pub, perhaps should have asked then and there. We then went to Café Mondegar, again the attempt was futile as we it was already packed for the evening and we were asked to wait until some benevolent guest oblige us by leaving early at 8 pm from the pub, which was highly unlikely the situation. We finally found one sports bar with enough space to accommodate us and when we were settling down there my friend popped up the idea to move to TGIF. Since TGIF was in proximity we went there and savored some of the concocted cocktails and food there. We had a good dialogue and we finished late at 1 am. Later we realized that it was too late to get a local, but god saved us and sent an angel in the form of a bus to Santa Cruz, which we boarded to later catch a cab to Powai. We could make before 3 am, which was an achievement, worthy to be blogged. The next day we got up late and sluggish at 11 am. Robin had some anecdotes from Holland to share with us (my roomie and me) and at 1 30 pm he asked to leave. I realized that the party was over but had left many memories. Memories that linger forever and become vivid when contemplated.

Valediction

Friday evening saw a meloncholic moment when Gautam left India. It was not really melancholic for me or for anybody of us who went there to bid him good bye but if it was then for his parents and siblings. I felt uneasy because I was witnessing the whole event. Whether I wanted to be or not, knowingly or unknowingly, I was sucked in the moment.

Test Drive - Maruti 800

It all started with me reaching at Sarvesh's place. We started late, around 9 pm to the airport. We were sure to miss Gautum as we had missed Charu the other day because of our 'COOL' attitude. The situation was adverse as we not only had to face the pathetic traffic of Saki Naka but also had to pick Shalaka from Vikhroli. Somehow we managed to pick Shalaka and later Amol from office. In the meanwhile Shalaka invited her friend Abhishek Thakkar from IITB. We were already packed in Maruti-800 and to accomodate one more seemed to be a tough task. The task became herculean once I saw Mr. Abhishek, a young man of 6 feet height and some odd 100+ kgs of weight. Since he could not be fitted in rear seat, I had to leave my front seat and moved back. Imagine Maruti-800 bearing load of 5 people. I would say 8 because most of us are blessed with good health. The car was undoubtly a winner as it not only left us at the airport right in time but also suffered us. Luckily the shockers were still intact and working fine.

The Photography Session

Mr. Thakkar was carrying his Canon so once we had introduced each other we could not over look the camera. Mr. Thakkar started displaying his photography skills. He took some nice shots. He put us in his frame with Gautam and Gautam's family. He also shoot a zoomed picture with his camera when Gautum was hard to see by naked eyes. I realized his dexterity when I saw his web site today. www.abhishekthakkar.com
Really good collection of images. He also took a photograph of the taxi stand at the airport and an Air India plane while we were leaving the place.

The Parting

Gautam started guiding his trolley with two suitcases and his thesis reports placed on it. I remember thesis reports because I know the hardwork that goes inside them. Everybody became silent as Gautam walked away not knowing what to do. All of us must be thinking drastically different for sure in our cerebrums.

His parents must be having benevolent thoughts for him in their minds while wearing benign smile on their aged faces. They would also be thinking of the void and the changes in life that had been created by his absence.

I felt sad because I could realte myself to the whole dismal episode. Because I could see the expression of gloom and lonesomeness on his parents faces. Parents would never like their child to leave them when they need him the most; but life is harsh and bitter. Perhaps I also wanted to leave and was apprehensive to go through the same ordeal which Gautam had been going through.

Lastly for Gautam, it must be really hard to leave India. At one end he would be feeling the warmth of the sunny days that he would see and on the other hand the coldness of leaving his parents alone. He must have meticulously worked out the delicate balence between his career and family before leaving. Being sensible and empathetic I think he will work his way out of this.

Finally.............. we could not see him any longer behind the glass wall. We waved till the time we got his last sight, even when he was not seeing us. Perhaps that is a kind of ritual that people perform to express their love to their parting friends.

And we left the place after exchanging tacit glances with his parents because nobody was sure whether it was a joyous moment or a melancholic one.

Should mention that we took a hault at Maharaja before we could make back to our places. :) I found that sometimes food also allays your pain.

The Last Pic 

Zooooomed 

Singhgad Seize - Oct 1, 2004

I had a wonderful weekend last week. Though things were not planned but they went in sequence and rythmically. All it started when a good friend of mine showed his face Friday evening. Friday sets the alarm for weekends. After an arduous, heavy, loaded, and sulking weekdays work (even if you pretended like that, it is exhaustive) you get to see the gate to enjoyment and merry making. No wonder why TGIFs are doing good business and have profused extensibly.So my friend dropped in and as usual we had a get-together party with the nostalgia of the past and exchange of our recent additions in our biographies. During the merry-making process an idea popped up of going to Lonavala. And as we all know that an idea can change your life :) so it worked this time also.Saturday morning and we were well set for the trip. Faced and survived the turbulance of the people with the people flooded locals of Mumbai. Reached Dadar and took a MSRTC to Lonavala. A friend of mine was being already asked in the meantime to be there to join us to transform us two to a triplet. We joined and started the trip after exchanging hellos and light banters.LONAWALAA small place blessed by lovely mountains and hills blessed with lush green vegetation. The expressway gives you the opportunity to have the sight of the famous Khandala waterfall. The fall which though carry small water in this season and could be easily overlooked elsewhere but lives with prominance because of the contrast between green surrounding and the sparkling white froth of the water. It is like a thin white stroke of a brush on a green canvas but thick enough to be overlooked. Also the fall is endued with a great height which makes the effect of the fall eternal. The fall is in between mountains. It is like a big green vessel. The walls being four mountains and you get to see it from the top of one of the mountains. The vessel enough big to accomodate thousands of elephants and enough deep to take in a reasonable big river if to be filled to brim. Inside the vessel the ornamentation is perfect. Big trees are sporadic but the green carpet of velvet grass has been laid with the uncanny precision of a magician without an inch being left. Rocks are in abundance but not enough to hide the green beauty. Infact it seems that even the rocks there have fallen for the stimulating green beauty because even they look green not grey. The air on the mountain top is so fresh and pure that every pore of your body will rejuvenate. The golden sunlight just warm enough to make you cozy. The green beauty at its pinnacle soothing your senses to maximum.Had to leave for Karla Caves 10 kms from Lonavala.KARLA CAVES:Karla Caves was the first place where we got the first opportunity to test our physical fitness. The mountain had proper stairs to get you to the caves but we being adventuresome and elated by the euphoria of the fighting attitude chose the rocks. We took the challenge and faced the steeps. Got back to stairs only when we had no other option. The space next to the sides of the stairs as ususal being used up for small tarpaulin shops. As you walked nearer to the destination the frequency of occurance of the shops went on increasing. The shops might look same physically but each had its own distinct signature. All were selling different items and articles. From lemonade, fresh water, cucumber, prasad, idols, lassi, chhaach to lunch. You could see the caves openings from the base. The mountain again lush green and the opening of the caves looks like black spots. As you approached them nearer, the fuzziness would vanish into the amazingly dexterous cut stones revealing their true forms. You saw rooms, halls and idols carved out of a mammoth rock. Not only you saw that but you would also be amazed with the spectacle of the interiors which would linger in your memory forever. A big hall having a rectangular shape with an entrance at one end and the stupa at the farther end. The height so high as if it has touched the sky. The side walls are made interesting by placing pillars on both the sides. The pillars of rocks are sliced out to give them a form of polygon and at the top they all wear idols carved intricately. The firmness of the rock as if been chaged to the malleability of the gold to make it workable. They are lined with perfection and precision on both the sides of the halls. The sight from the door looks like a perspective of the inside of a long hollow cuboid adorned with small pillars with entrance at one end and the other end occupied with the mighty stupa. This is not all that makes the site impressive but the master wooden work which has survived the wrath of all the extremities of weather since 10th century is what makes it impressive. The wooden work is done on the ceiling making the task more difficult for the hall of the height given. The wooden work is staying there to make the ceiling look like an inverted U-shaped curve rather than a dull flat surface. The planks being fitted to the rocks with perfection at its best, exhibiting the developed craftsmanship of the ancient india. The planks as huge as a full grown teak placed flawlessly. The stupa on the other end again being carved out from the same mammoth rock. The stupa lying their like a solid inverted bowl for centuries still have the aura and energy to comfort your soul. It has no carvings on it except few small holes to place the earthen pot lights. The surface of it is otherwise plain, so plain that it would have been boring elsewhere but here it would perplex your thoughts in an intrestingly engrossing way. You feel if been taken away by the silence and by the glory of the place but would get disturbed by occasional intrusions of other visitors. The place is worth seeing.We also had a small trip to Bhushi Dam. It was also enjoyable but non uncommon. The best memorable part though was the water staircase where you see water flowing down the stairs. The water takes the shape of the stairs around and falls down on the stairs. The force of water breaks the water into small droplets giving way to the air to intrude inside it to give birth to innumerable bubbles in the form of froath. The froathy water while falling down renders the stairs in white color making it a magical staircase waiting to be explored. When you climb the stairs bare-feet the coolness of the water would make you shiver once but after a while you will get into the mode and enjoy the brisk flow.THE TOUGHEST PARTWe left to Pune to test our limits and to grill ourselves to the maximum. We decided to try Singhad. Sunday morning we left for it. The mountain was reaching to the sun as it was already 11 when we reached there. We had water and necessary stuff with us. The fort of Singhgad was lost in the clouds and was not visible from the ground. We went up trekking, taking the most challenging routes. The climbs were steep but we denied to give up. Not only we were trekking it but the other groups also. One by one we left past most the groups before us because of our impeccable speed. No one could overtake us, only a girl who later came to be named as 'Tripti'. She was the one with guts. I was impressed by the guts she had. She was almost competing with us. Though she was with her group of seven but happened to be alone because she tried to match our speed which she could do. We took occasional breaks and rest to got back our breaths. We managed to make the aim in 80 minutes.When we reached the top it was the time for the triumph. We had chai and kandha pakodis followed by our lunch of Besan and Bajre ki roti (Khadki if I am not wrong).We enjoyed on the top and came back trekking again with the same girl. The girl with the guts even motivated me sometimes.Phew!!! The trip was over. With broken and shaked up limbs. Got super exhausted and dehydrated but.............We killed the fort.We won Singhad.