Sunday, December 20, 2015

Spend Less

Looks like a simple thing , but it isn't. I was reading a post on quora and that mentioned, that everytime, we get a hike in our salaries/income, we tend to spend more on the luxuries than the basic necessities.  I am not sure, if thats a general rule, but I do for sure see, if quite frequently.

Just a couple of hours back, in our apartment, there was a Maruti's camp , which had a couple of cars on display. I test drove the Wagon R, automatic variant.  When I was leaving, the sales person told me to buy it soon, before the year ends as the prices of all the vehicles will go up in the next month (next year actually).  No, I dont have any plans to buy a new car :)

Putting both these together, if we dont spend much on these cars, don't you think that the prices of the cars will come down, with the lesser demand.  Agree, there are other factors like rising raw material cost and others. But in general, if the demand is less the prices will be less.

In summary, only buy what you need, and not really all the luxuries, all the time ( Buy when you wish to once in a while). Don't make it a habit.


Thursday, April 30, 2015

Nice Post on Quora

Found an Interesting Post on Quora and thought will keep it documented it here.

What I can do in my 20s that will benefit my future self ?
  1. Fall in love. Fail in love. You will understand what is love.
  2. Go early. Be late. You will understand what is time.
  3. Be at home. Be away from home. You will understand what is mother's care.
  4. Travel with family. Travel alone. You will understand what is loneliness.
  5. Be miser. Be spendthrift. You will understand who is friend. You will understand what does money mean in life to you.
  6. Attend the classes. Bunk the classes. You will understand both make no difference. (You will start studying on your own).
  7. Be idle. Read about stuff. You will understand the importance of reading and awareness. (when you have to shut your mouth in a group for lack of data to speak about).
  8. Use smartphone. Use symbian. You will understand how much time you wasted on selfies and shitty games.
  9. Use Facebook. Use Quora. Enough said!

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Pottery Town

As a part of the Photography Event organised in our company, we decided to try out the long pending place to shoot this beautiful creativity.
Indeed, we were lucky to see this person , just about to start his daily work .

The only sad part is that, we no longer have the manual wheels - We only see the motorized one. But in this age, maybe, its more convenient too..










Friday, March 27, 2015

Friday, March 06, 2015

The Celebration of Holi

Holi is celebrated at the approach of vernal equinox,on the Phalguna Poornima (Full Moon day). The festival date varies every year, as  per the Hindu calendar, and typically comes in March, sometimes February in the Gregorian Calendar. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive and repair the ruptured relationships.

Holi celebrations start with a Holika bonfire on the night before Holi where people gather, sing and dance. The next morning is a free-for-all carnival of colours, where participants play, chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and everyone is a fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples, apartments and buildings. Groups carry drums and musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw colours on each other, laugh and chit-chat, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks. In the evening, after sobering up, people dress up, visit friends and families.

Significance:-

Here is a symbolic legend to explain why Holi is well celebrated as a colour fest. The word "Holi" originates from "Holika", the evil sister of demon king Hiranyakashipu ( not Hiranya Kashyap - the corect name is Hiranya Kashipu). King Hiranyakashipu had earned a boon that made him virtually indestructible. The special powers blinded him, he grew arrogant, thought he himsef was God, and demanded that everyone worship him as God.
Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, however, disagreed. He  remained devoted to Vishnu. This infuriated Hiranyakashipu. He subjected Prahlada to cruel punishments, none of which affected the boy or his resolve to do what he thought was right. Finally, Holika - Prahlada's evil aunt - tricked him into sitting on a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloak (shawl) that made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the cloak flew from Holika and encased / protected Prahlada. Holika burned, Prahlada survived. Vishnu appeared in the form of  “NARASIMHA”,  the Man-lion,” and killed Hiranyakashipu. The bonfire is a reminder of the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlada over Hiranyakashipu, of fire that burned Holika. The day after Holika bonfire is celebrated as Holi.

In Braj region of India, where Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days (until  Rang Panchami) in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna. The festivities officially usher in spring, with Holi celebrated as festival of love.  There is a symbolic myth behind commemorating Krishna as well. Baby Krishna transitioned into his characteristic dark blue skin colour because a she demon Putana poisoned him with her breast milk.  In his youth, Krishna despairs whether fair skinned Radha and other Gopikas (girls) will like him because of his skin colour. His mother, tired of the desperation, asks him to approach Radha and colour her face in any colour he wanted. This he does, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. The playful colouring of the face of Radha has henceforth been commemorated as Holi. Beyond India, these legends to explain the significance of Holi (Phagwah) are common in some Caribbean and South American communities of Indian origin such as Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Holi festival has other cultural significance. It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive. People pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives. Holi also marks the start of spring, and for many the start of new year.
Holi is of particular significance in the Braj region, which includes locations traditionally connected to the Lord Krishna:- Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh, and Barsana.
Outside India, Holi is observed by the minority Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan as well in countries with large Indian subcontinent diaspora populations such as Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji. The Holi rituals and customs outside South Asia also vary with local adaptations.
Karnataka:-
Traditionally, in rural Karnataka, children collect money and wood in the weeks prior to Holi, and on "Kamadahana" night all the wood is put together and lit. The festival is celebrated for two days. People in north Karnataka prepare special food on this day.

In Sirsi City, Karnataka, Holi is celebrated with a unique folk dance called “Bedara Vesha ( Hunters’ Fancy Dress )”, which is performed during the five nights beginning five days before the actual festival day. The festival is celebrated every alternate year in the town, which attracts a large number of tourists from different parts of the India.
In Karnataka’s  villages and towns, days before the festival people, particularly children and adolscents, start stealing and gathering wood and combustible materials for the bonfire in parks, community centers, near temples and other open spaces. On top of the pyre is an effigy to signify Kaamadeva / Manmatha, who tricked Shiva in to loving  Paarvati. Then Shiva burns Manmatha with the fire from  his third eye.
In Karnataka, it is not Holika Dahan, but it is called KAAMA DAHAN. It signifies the  burning of lust, evil and bad desires.

In Safe Haven

Just when I thought that, it was one of the toughest day in office, I realized, I was wrong. Driving the car from the office premises on to the main road, was not as easy as it looked. Slowly and surely, as I braved my way through the traffic on the busy roads of Bangalore, I thought to myself, "Its Just Another Day". The music playing in the radio, didn't help me sooth my nerves, infact the 'Prank Calls' which the Radio Stations use to make someone's like miserable, made my blood boil. Why can't they help people live in peace? But then I guess, its not always the thoughts that matter, but more often it's the money that matters.

I rolled my car, into the easily maneuverable car park of my apartment, I felt a sense of safety. Yes, that's the way, I wanted my car park to be.Safe. Simple to get in and easy to move out. As I pressed '21' numbered button on the elevator, I knew what awaited me, as I would get into my home. Yes, I would call it my home and not just a house. The serenity and the calmness which I get as I enter my home, is sheer bliss. I helped myself, with a cup of green tea and stretched myself on the easy chair in the balcony. With a Kindle in my hand and the hot cup of coffee in the other, I enjoyed the fast moving traffic on the electronic city flyover. Wasn't I there on the very same road, a few minutes ago? And no, it didn't feel so great, as I am feeling at this very moment, looking at the very same road. The perspective has changed. I am now away from the 'fast lanes' of life into the Safe Haven.

As I start to gaze at the open sky right, with the crescent moon being the 'star' attraction, I begin to wonder, why does the moon , so small in size, yet looks so amazing with the countless stars, behind it, which in actual are much much bigger. Yes, the perspectives do matter. The seemingly tall coconut tree, seems quite short from the height I am seeing. The swaying the huge leaves adds a further chill in the already cold Bangalore weather. The shouting of the kids playing down in the kids play area, the splashing of the water by a novice swimmer, breaks the train of my thoughts. My focus shifts from admiring the nature to that of people around me. Those who bring in life to a life. If the serenity of nature, brings in peace, its the din and bustle, which adds fizz to the life. Both are important, in appropriate proportions. I am glad ,I took the right decision to buy a humble abode which would suit my requirement in the long run.




Sunday, February 22, 2015

Journey Or Destination

One of the common questions - What does one like, is it the destination or the journey. Yes, we all look for the destination and that's the target. But then, if you read some books or quotes, you will always hear that, its the Journey that's interesting and to focus on the journey and not the Destination

A few of the quotes, if you search for Journey's and Destinations

"Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity, but in doing it"

"Life Is a Journey, not a Destination"



And needless to say, over a period of time, and in "live" examples, like Driving to a nice vacation, I have personally enjoyed the drive and the views on the way, much more than the destination.
So, I have sort of believed in this philosophy of enjoying the Journey and not the destination.

But today , I have a different view point on this same philosophy.
What if one enjoys the journey so much, that he just doesn't feel like reaching the destination.
What if one loves the activity in the Journey so much, that, reaching the destination, is something, one is scared off, and just tries to move away from it, as much as possible?

I know, I am thinking a little off-beat, but somewhere this thought has occured and ever since I have been thinking of this thought process.

In today's world, I do feel that there are many, who love the journey so much that reaching the destination seems to be the most boring part, and due to this easily found knowledge, seeking the enjoying seems to be more important than reaching the target. Yes, we all know that, journey is fun, but we do need to reach the destination.

Love to hear your views on this..Looking for your comments.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Sunday, February 01, 2015

One Evening at Olive Beach, Bangalore

The quintessential dinner at the Olive BEach, Bangalore. I would let the pictures talk a bit :)


The watermelon Mock-tail


The Vegetarian Platter


                                           The Cheese Cake

The only dish, I didn't like much was the cheese cake. The rest of the dishes were great. Its just that the food is bit heavy on the purse.







Saturday, January 31, 2015

Indiblogger Meet - Jan 2015

We all go for different places or locales for entertainment. We also go to certain forums to get ideas and learn more, but when it comes to a Bloggers meet, its a different high. Its like an ocean of people, who have complete freedom to express whatever they want.. and whats more important - they are all together at one place. Just imagine the energy level of the place.  And if there is anything still amiss, thats taken care by the Indiblogger team. Wow. What an event.  Simply loved this event after a very long time.
And to be true - this was one event, in which we were talking closely about blogging rather than the , just the sponsor, and I think that should be the core of every bloggers meet.

Coming to the Sponsor of the event, ASUS, they came with a set of notebooks and PC's which were meant for home use. I liked both, with respect to the size and the usability.
The notebook was nice and sleek, and promised of a 12 hour battery life, which definitely makes it a great buy, also the weight. I found these two parameters for which I could for it, especially for my travel needs. I also liked the PC, but not the one on display. Primarily due to the size and also the RAM. Would have preferred bigger size, considering its a lifestyle product and just not another PC. And then in this age of laptops, I still love a PC, but it should have better capabilities than the laptop. The 2 GB RAM was not impressive, but they do have a one with 4GB and higher screen size, Maybe that's the one I would go for.

The number of games created,only so that we all bloggers meet each other was really thoughtful.
And then to end the same, there was a lovely dinner spread and couldn't have been a better evening spend than a bunch of bloggers, each one weird in its own unique way.

Hope to meet most of all, including the host Anoop and the Anwin in all subsequent Indiblogger meets.

But yes, sadly... we didnt get any T-shirts this time:( Even though they added more data into their databases with the size of the T-shirt :)



Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Sunday, January 11, 2015

10 of My Favorite Books

A long standing Facebook request - to document 10 of the favorite books which I have read -
So, here it it... though not in any given order, purely random as I tried to recollect from my memory.



  1. Outliers : The Story of Success - Malcolm Gladwell
  2. Iacocca : An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca
  3. The Toyota Way : Jeffrey Liker
  4. Five Point Someone - Chetan Bhagat
  5. Gods ,Kings and Slaves : The Siege of Madurai - R-Venkatesh
  6. Chanakya's Chant - Ashwin Sanghi
  7. Kane and Abel - Jeffrey Archer
  8. I am another you - Priya Kumar
  9. Life Is What You Make It - Preeti Shenoy
  10. The Professional - Subroto Bagchi

I might down the road - Keep adding, to this same list and the same blog, so that I also keep remembering the good books which I have read.


Sunday, January 04, 2015

Goals 2015

I wrote the goals for this year - 2015. I wouldn't want to call them as Resolutions but more so, as goals.
The difference being, Resolutions have the distinctive habit of getting broken. Goals are however , not having the same image :)

I have kept simple measurable goals and which are really achievable.

Friday, January 02, 2015

2015

At the onset of this new year , I would like to wish the readers a very happy new year.

Thankfully for me, it started off on a very positive note. After a short new year eve party in my apartment complex, I had to head to the Passport Seva Kendra in the morning. And probably for the first time , I have seen Bangalore, with such heavy rains in the morning, It was very heavy, quite comparable to that in coastal side. I simply loved the drive on the new year eve, with mostly empty roads and the perfect amalgamation of cloudy and rains weather.

What followed in the PSK office, made me think that, this year will be a much positive one -
Though I was the 2nd person to reach the PSK office, when the door was finally opened, the others rushed inside to the counter to check for the documents. I did see one counter, which no one had queued up. I reluctantly went there and stood first in the line. Within a couple of minutes the person came at my counter and there was none at the other counters :) I had won my first battle. Due to this I was the first person to enter inside and everything was a breeze, and within 45 minutes everything was done and I was on my way out.

I just liked the way the new year panned for me. It just gives you a hope that, the rest of the year will be equally promising if not more.

Later in the evening, I met a friend and I would say, it was a great evening. It was a merger of the new with the old. Going through the by-lanes of Sadashivnagar, everything was so nostalgic.

Hoping to see the same positivity for the rest of the year....

One picture taken in the morning - During the rains - Not a great one, but good enough for me to remember this day.



And to sum up, I am only trying to follow the message in the 2nd picture. Hence starting the new year with a good note.

Happy New Year to everyone.