...happened on Saturday. Was good fun. Usual gang. Deverabetta is near Thally, 3-4 kms off the Anekkal road, and about 15 kms further on from Muthal Mudiyu falls. This was the first trek we did without a destination in mind. I had convinced the others that Thally was just gorgeously beautiful and we could find some place to trek. Turned out that while that route is indeed beautiful, it's not really dotted with hills. So, it was a bit of a relief to spot this hill.

When we reached there, we realized that the hill wasn't actually worth climbing, but what was intriguing was this vast forest terrain extending all around. We noticed a couple of dirt tracks, went down one to do a quick inspection of the milieu. This track ended quickly at a large rock, from where we could survey the entire forest area. We noticed a hill about 3-4 kms further on, and a few more hills beyond that. The only worry was the forest seemed completely uninhabited and we weren't really sure how safe it would be. But with Vasant & Bharat around, there wasn't much hope for wary souls like me or Ashwin. Led by the intrepid duo, the rest of us headed into the forest in the general direction of the hill. Happily, the forest wasn't too dense, though we had to negotiate a thorny bush or two. Midway through we reached a small lake that looked like a watering hole for the wildlife around. Thankfully, there weren't any to bother us, and keeping a close watch for crocodiles, we walked along the lake and past it. Another 2 kms or so, and we had reached the base of the hill. The foliage was particularly dense just before we reached the base, and I wasn't too keen on going ahead. V & B did a quick reconnaissance and convinced us to head on. Just as well, as we were almost immediately at the base of the hill. The hill itself was more of a hillock actually, I would be stretching things to the limit to call the ascent even remotely strenuous. We were at the top in another 5-10 minutes, and we settled down there to talk about what the whole world is talking about - The Financial Meltdown. Here's the view from the top of the hill..



Another day, we may have ventured further, but it was quite hot, and we didn't really feel like going further into the unknown. So, we headed back, stopping for a while near the lake to skip stones along the water and to see who could throw a stone the farthest. Exciting, no! :-) Abhishek won the skipping the stones contest, and Ashwin won the farthest throw contest. I was the worst at skipping the stones thing, pretty much every attempt I made ending with the stone sinking without a trace! Childhood skills aren't supposed to vanish just like that, no? :-)

Around 12:15 or so, we were back at the temple. Plan was to stop at Muthal Mudiyu on the way back, but we lost our way bit, and ended up doing a 10 km detour before we hit Muthal Mudiyu. Didn't really go down, as it didn't seem like there was much water. Ended up having lunch at Karnataka Tourism's Mayura hotel there which was a one man show - the dude took the orders, served the food, and probably cooked it as well - with the result that we ended up being there for almost 2 hours! Stopped again at Nisarga layout on the way back for a cuppa chai, and was back home by 5:15. An hour longer than my usual day trek, funny really, given that this was a relatively easy trek compared to the last few.

All said and done, great fun once again. The only regret - no great snaps this time since none of us took a camera. This one's from a Samsung mobile - not bad really, for a 2 mpx phone camera.

Her little chest crushing
against mine, head bobbing
from my shoulders, eyes
peering this way-then that, she
stares in smiling intensity
at patterns indiscernible
to world weary eyes like mine.

A yawn escapes, she rests
her cheeks on my shoulders and
I get the goose bumps even
as she drifts, ever so gently,
into some languid sleep.

I rock her to and fro, sing
made up lullabies, walk
across to the  balcony, open
the faucet and the sudden hiss
of cold water startles
her awake; beaming, she breaks
into a smile so wide, this
everyday moment transforms
into surreal contentment.

Current Mood: groggy

 

I haven't read any of his books, as a matter of fact, I wasn't even aware that he was most famous for his book "Infinite Jest" (a modern American masterpeice, by most accounts). Of his very signficant output, all I had read was one single essay - the most beautiful essay on sports I have ever read, on my most favourite sportsman ever.

So, here's pointing you to "Federer as a Religious Experience". A tiny snapshot of a fantastic writer. Someday, maybe, I will pick up one of his books as well. 

Current Mood: sad

...is probably the bowler I love to watch the most in Test Cricket. It's just such an awesome sight - genuine, pacy swing: to watch the arc of an Anderson outswinger at 140Kmph or so is quite literally poetry in motion. And when that snick flies to the slips or the befuddled batsman finds his stumps knocked over, you can't help but wish that Jimmy boy would do it more often. Even against India. Well, ok, I got a bit carried away :-)



Test Cricket so rocks. Lalit Modi, may you rot in hell.

There's something about Test Cricket in England. Those lush green out-fields, gentle applause, reasonably packed stadiums, spectactors with atrocious attires and head-gear guzzling beer, I mean, that is *fun*. Not silly girls dancing about around the boundary.

Living my life out of a suitcase,
sights filled my head with words
so freshly minted and surreal
I could smell them coming
even before I saw the sights
and they meant the world to me.

I sit now at a desk, a shade
of unfathomable gray so full of meaning
I wouldn't know where to start looking;
and I fear, if I did, I would find
even the words I knew
leaking out like a dysfunctional toilet flush
till I am a man the way
newsreaders are men.

Precis:  Nothing to say,
and I will say it
over and over again.

The gloom builds into
silent fugitive tears.
Breathe In. Breathe Out. Breathe.

Current Mood: gloomy

I have been reading a bit about the coming energy crisis and the like. And am realizing there's some pretty cool research going on in solar, wind, safer nuclear energy, nano-tech, carbon eating algae etc that are trying to solve different aspects of the problem, and it seems like, optimistically, in 10-15 years time, we should have some sort of "renewable solution" that will crack the energy puzzle, maybe for good.  That would just be so amazing.  This move from oil to renewable energy & dramatically lower carbon emissions without having to cut down on lifestyle would be just such an incredibly powerful change. It may not happen, there's always the chance of that, but no one ever won a bet against technology.

All this will probably be too late for many of the world's great cities today, particularly those in India & China - some, I think will simply not be liveable (not that they are particularly so today) in 10-15 years unless they dramatically alter course & go through a period of pain & shrinkage till easier/cheaper solutions come by. But new cities will arise. And the old ones that don't take action within the next 3-5 years will disintegrate and rebuild.

Well, at least, that's my hopeful hypothesis. :-)

Two treks in the past 20 odd days - pretty cool.

The first was at Sakleshpur end of last month - we had gone to trek this hill called Jenukal near Sakleshpur. Trekked in the morning - it was raining like crazy, and bloody windy. And then, the leeches, which thankfully spared me - courtesy some good preparation with salt/lime/relispray, some sheer panic, and some bloody good fortune. We had climbed about 70% of the way, when we had to call it quits because it got too risky - the last part of the climb was rather steep, the rains had gotten heavier, and the wind was literally blowing us off our feet. A bit of a pity that we couldn't complete the trek, but the trip was great fun overall. We stayed overnight at an overpriced home-stay, but the food was excellent, and we had a lot of fun chatting, playing dumb-charades and the like.

This Saturday was an easier trek - the usual day trek this time. Location - Rangaswamy  betta off Kanakapura road, near a place called Horanahalli or something like that. The climb was rather similar to the Skandagiri one, but this time the weather was bloody awesome. I was in fine spirits, and for a change, made it more easily to the top than a couple of the others. About a hour & 45 minutes climb, though it can be done a little quicker if you don't stop along the way. There's a small cave temple of Balaji at the top & the view is excellent, if not spectacular. We also had to walk a couple of kms from the village where we had parked our car to the foothill, and I could spot some really beautiful butterflies along the path. Lots of birds too, unlike Skandagiri and a couple of the other hills we had gone to earlier. I think this place could make for a good bird-watching visit too. Maybe, another time.

We made the mistake of not carrying enough water & food, so, by the time we stopped for lunch at around 3:30 in some restaurant near the Art of Living campus, I had a bad headache. Thankfully, this time, that didn't lead to nausea, and I was almost fine by the time I got home.  After a quick nap, was out again to a colleague's place who had invited some of us over dinner. Excellent kerala dinner (appams, stew and the like) was had, though I was a bit stuffed and tired out to do justice to the food.

Guess this will be my last trek for a while - I thought Skandagiri would have been my last, but with A being in Delhi, I have had weekends to kill, and, but for my addiction to Prison Break, have made fairly good use of it.  Wasted another 10 hours on PB yesterday to compensate for the exertions of Saturday.

Current Mood: indescribable

My story - It begins and ends
here, in this place of work
and money. Oh, this need
for the good life, growth
some would say - you start
at 2 lakh something and add
a zero and you hope, someday,
then some.

And everyday, I stifle
this scream for the sea.
But, you hear it, maybe,
Still.

In the old days, they sailed,
I read in these fat fantasy books,
simple men with
similar complex minds
- women, adventure,
plunder, wisdom -
different callings

Maybe, they didn't go far -
wherever their boats, the horse,
their feet, donkey even -
(Mulla Nasruddin ha, ha ha)
took them - knights
in their coarse armour (or without)
it doesn't matter now, does it-
For Go, they did. Forgo.

C
A
L
L
I
N
G
S

I romanticize, you say - and yes,
there is truth in that.

But, you hear it, maybe,
Still.

Forgive me, Mr. Munch

...That was what I made yesterday night. This was much quicker - 25 mins or so to cook, though it took 10-15 minutes to chop the bhindis. Turned out really well again.

So far my experiments with cooking have been quite encouraging. This weekend, I think I will try my hand at sambar, and try the rasam again. As they say, one swallow does not a summer make.:-) But, who cared for summers anyway.

karmakurma , these posts are reminding me of your recipe series (maybe I will try a few of those too! :-)). I know, I know - not even close to being in the same league :-)

Man, cooking is tiring. :-)

The wife & baby are out-of-town, and for the first time ever, I tried my hand at cooking something more complex than bread toast, maggi, dal & rice :-). With my parents just around the corner, I have never had to do much in the kitchen, but they are out for a week too, and so....

Rasam was the goal, and right now, I am just super drunk pleased about how well the rasam turned out. Multiple calls went forth to Delhi during the 1 hr it took me to make everything - boil rice, boil dal, and prepare the rasam. Much trepidation about the way it was looking as the clock ticked - 5 min - how much tamarind should I squeeze, 6th min - throw the tomatoes, the hing, the chillis, the turmeric powder, blah, blah...gee, did I add too much??? 15 min - looks too brown...hmm, too much tamarind?, 30 min - should I add the dal, how much dal? More water? How much more? 40 min - looks yummy...

Tasted yummy too - just about perfect, but for a wee bit more tamarind than necessary. Which was good in a way since the potato podimas (that I had made in the morning) didn't have enough salt and spice.

This one time at least, it was good to do this instead of lazing on the couch to watch some crap on the tube. I think I will try a few more things over the next few days - sambar, dry bhindi curry etc. Let's see how they turn out.

Current Mood: chipper

This Saturday, I saw "March of the Penguins", a documentary film on the multiple to&fro journeys that the male & female penguins make across the Antarctic sea & their nesting place on the ice, till the time the penguin chick is old & ready enough to go out into the big bad world & make his/her own way.

Stunningly beautiful & incredibly heart-warming. A total must-see documentary.

Work/tennis colleagues had been raving about Prison Break the last couple of months. Unfortunately, they only had real media files of Season-1, which doesn't play on my DVD player. And I don't like watching anything longer than 30 minutes on my comp. As a result, I kept putting off my plans to watch the tele-series. Last week, I finally gave in to the curiosity & got the Season-1 DVDs from Seventymm to check out if it was really worth all that hype.

Ended up watching it for 6 hrs (8 episodes each time) non-stop on Saturday and Sunday. 

Tuesday, I was working from home 'cos I wasn't too well, and finished the last 6 episodes as well. End of season-1. Gripping is putting it mildly. I am a huge Lost fan, but I think this is probably a wee bit better.

Have the Season-2, Season-3 in avi format, so I guess I should be able to catch that on my DVD player. The weekend seems quite distant right now. :-)

The rainswept soil steals
the clouds' sweet essence - Is this
the taste of vengeance?

Meme, via sthira. Passing it on to whoever feels like doing it!

Last movie you saw in a theater - Sarkar Raj

What book are you reading - Just finished "A Prisoner of Birth" (Jeffrey Archer), selective reading from Vivekacudamani (English translation), Beyond Buzz

Favorite board game - Scrabble

Favorite smells - Not sure. Used to be Petrol :-). Generally speaking, any interesting stuff cooking in the kitchen

Favorite sound - Sitar, Veena (but, right now Namita's noises)

Worst feeling in the world - Being Conflicted

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up - These days, Tennis

Favorite fast food place - Gangotri

Future child's name - No idea

Finish this statement. "If I had a lot of money, I'd...." - go travelling, write a book, learn/try a few new things, burn/make some money trying a few things, take more decisions by the heart & not the head.

Do you drive fast - Yeah, whenever I can.

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal - Bah!!

Storms - Cool or scary - No idea, never been in a bad enough one!

What was your first car - Santro Xing, still going strong.

Favorite drink - Water, Spiced Buttermilk, Virgin Pina Colada

Finish this statement. "If I had the time, I would..." - travel, do whatever stuff pops in my head!

Do you eat the stems on broccoli? - I don't eat broccoli

If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice? - Not a dyes person

Name all the different cities/towns you have lived in - Hosur, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore

Favorite sports to watch - Cricket, football and tennis. Except Chess, I can watch anything though. Even Golf.

One nice thing about the person who sent this to you - She has a way with words that makes you feel happy.

What's under your bed? - The floor

Would you like to be born as yourself again? - Yeah, with just a lot more money :)!

Morning person or night owl - Morning person, mostly

Over easy or sunny side up - No idea what over easy means. So, I suppose Sunny Side up.

Favorite place to relax - By the beach/in the mountains. Ideally, alternating. But it's more a mood thing than a place thing.

Favorite pie - Haven't had too many varieties. Choco-Walnut pie, I suppose.

Favorite ice cream flavor - Chocolate, Butter Scotch.

The night storm's last breaths
hang from the dying brown leaves;
beauty in the beast

Rains perfume the soil,
boys frisk and frolic. Inside,
he sweats, Half-Alive

It took me quite a long time, but I finally did finish "The Book Thief" today. Every page is peppered with tortuous similies and metaphors that are hard to understand, but the basic idea, the story and the context are so powerful, it still works wonderfully well. A couple of occasions, I stopped reading it simply because it felt like I was being subjected to a heavy heart breaking onslaught that was getting too much to take. In that sense, it is not really unputdownable - to use that oft misused word, but it is a book you will want to return to.

On one of those occasions when I stopped reading "The Book Thief", I started out reading Richard Branson's autobiography "Losing my Virginity" - about the time A was admitted to the hospital. Turned out to be just the right book to keep myself occupied in the hospital, for those moments when Namita (yes, that's what we named her) and A were asleep or resting. I finished it in a fortnight or so, which is quite incredible, given my current reading habits. I haven't read too many autobiographies, but this is probably as good as it gets. Absorbing, entertaining, with revealing business nuggets hidden here and there. It's not meant to be a business book - so you won't find too much "strategy" and that sort of bull, but it's a fun read. I suppose one can't take everything that he's written about at face value, but nevertheless, there's much to admire about Branson & the things he has managed to pull off.

A certain madness, like Branson himself says, is a necessity to be drawn to (let alone to succeed in) seemingly unsurmountable challenges. I don't have that sort of madness in me, but it is good to have people like that around.

Parenting is fun - a good friend told me before we had the baby that she somehow fancied my chances as a dad if we had a girl. We did have a girl, and I am beginning to think maybe she was right. I hold N and make up songs out of everyday objects and moments; often the songs rhyme well, why even the tunes aren't all that bad, even if I say so myself. On occasions, I have even managed to put her to sleep, and that, I must tell you, is not an easy thing at all. But when she does fall asleep, it is such a beautiful feeling. Truly. The first time I put her to sleep, I set her down on the bed a bit too soon, and she was crying again in 5 minutes. Since then I have made sure I rock her in my arms for at least 10 minutes after she's fallen asleep, before I set her down on the bed. That seems to work better.

Yesterday, it felt like she recognized me for the first time. I am probably kidding myself though. Babies can't recognize anyone other than their mom for a couple of months at least. So I have been told.

Tennis continues without any impact whatsoever on my general fitness levels. But who cares.

That sounds like a nice movie title, but no matter what the context, it's the waiting that gets to people.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/03/040503fi_fiction?currentPage=all

via indiauncut

Been a while since I read a short story. John Updike's Problems and Other Stories has been lying in my car for a while now. Had picked it up a long time ago at Blossoms/Bookworm, but never got around to reading it. The first two stories in the book weren't all that great, and ever since, it's been sleeping in my car. I guess, one of these days, I should dig into it again.

In general, I have hardly been reading anything this year. As good as The Book Thief has been, it is now many months since I opened the first page, and the end is still a hundred pages away.

Other books in various stages of completion, and which I don't think I will ever complete - Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth. Been reading chapters at random from this one. Hmm...I guess, that was the only other one.