In what was our first "trip" per se since our move back to India, we visited Mysore. We wanted to take Subhash's parents somewhere because ever since they have come, we haven't gone out anywhere.
2001 was the last time I visited this sleepy town. And in 2008, I find, that its not so sleepy anymore. I remember as kids, we used to hate going Mysore because it was the most boring place on earth. There is nothing we could do except going to the same Mysore Palace and the same KR Sagar and the same Chamundi Hills and the same Zoo ;)
Much worse were the bus trips. My Dad's eldest sister lives in Mysore. She has always been there. My Dad's second sister lived in Tumkur. I remember we were game for Tumkur any day because that was a simple 90 minute bus journey from the very-famed "Majestic" circle in Bangalore. Whereas Mysore was a real "sore" story. 3.5 hours or even more at times by bus. And the road. Ohh don't even ask. Potholes masquerading as a road. And on top of that the buses were truly what we call "Yerra Bussu" in Andhra. (Red bus, in AP red buses were district/village service ones, usually we called someone a "Yerra bus" if they hailed from a village;) Mean, I know!). Since we were kids, we got to have the privilege of being pushed around and would usually end up on the gear box beside the driver. And then would start the nightmare. The drivers would stop for anyone and everyone who waved their hand at the bus. Not so bad, right?! Well think again and factor in the animals these people would bring in with them into the bus. Chickens, goats you name it! And they would dump it, yeah you guessed right, near the gear box. God!!!
I remember this other time there was a farmer's unrest in Mandya and there was major confusion. And all the buses were halted and pelted at (I hate it when people destroy public property, did I ever say that? Now they are doing that in the name of Gujjar agitations, darn it!) and somehow we managed to scrape through out of that place and arrive in Bangalore just in time to catch our train back to Hyd. I think in the process my grandma and uncle got left behind because they chose to take a different route back to Bangalore or some such thing, don't exactly remember there was much confusion anyways;)
So yeah, we hated going to Mysore, just the thought of that bus ride made us repulsive;) Later years we saw trains going to Mysore. In fact when I went in 2001 to say bye to my "Atte" (Dad's sister) before I left for the US, I went by train and I can still remember how relieved I was to not get into those buses ;)
But things have changed now. Road is unbelievable. I can't believe its the same route. I did hear about roads having gotten better thanks to Infy and all that but what I saw was beyond my belief. Mysore is not the sore anymore. Its a much happening place. I am not very sure I like it. this way either;) I hate change firmly ;) But Subhash says well everyone needs their share in the excitement. So I watched Mysore in amazement.
Couldn't really meet my aunt and uncle because it was a one-day trip. We went to Srirangapattana (Tipu Sultan's capital city) and later on to Chamundi Hills. Then had lunch and went on to see the Mysore Palace and later KR Sagar (the very famed "Brindavan gardens" which was ubiquitous in movie songs at one point in time). I hardly remembered any of these places except KR Sagar and its fountains. I think I was going to Mysore Palace after maybe 15 long years.
All in all it was what I like to call a "neat trip". Not much tiredness, accomplished (read as saw) all that we wanted, and came back in good time. We even managed to have dinner at "Kamat Yatri Nivas" on our way back, it came in highly recommeneded from our VP-Engineering when I was moving back. He told me not to miss eating there when I went to Mysore ;) It was good. Simple and good food :)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Yeah, why Mr. BigB?
I was going to do a piece on BigB's blog. Yeah the TRP comaprison one. Big news in the media and all that (more on the media later). I read it even before they could splash it all over you know. And it was sad to see all my respect go down the drain.
But then I found this post by Dipta that is way way better than what I could have ever conceived to write. So please to read and muse:)
Now onto my thoughts. I think that post from BigB was the last straw. I lost it completely. That curiosity to know him more as a person. Now I rarely "read" his posts. I just glide over them. All the same brouhahas, what is the use.
Then I think some more. Why do I expect him to be an angel? He is a star yes, but why does that elevate him to be angelic. If someone accused me of something, if someone wrote wrongly about me, if someone tried to get back at me by publishing something, of course I would react wouldn't I? That is exactly what he is doing as well right? Just because I thought "he was above it all" doesn't mean he has to abide by it and "let it pass". So he writes. But then the relationship between the media and stars is so synergistic that it almost seems unfair that he retorts back when its bad publicity and gladly accepts it when its good publicity ;)
Well, I never lived the life of a star so to speak so I will probably never understand this. But yes, it does feel sad to see him resort to means like this glibly (but not very successfully) disguising his actual intent. He profusely (and in more words than I could tolerate, too verbose) said a bunch of "sorries" in his subsequent posts (you dare underestimate the media, they will make anyone apologize;) ) but the apology posts irked rather than doing damage-repair. Which made me learn *ALL OVER AGAIN* that words once said, can NEVER be taken back. I should remember that before I say anything. I should. I should. I should. I should.
OK enough said;)
But then I found this post by Dipta that is way way better than what I could have ever conceived to write. So please to read and muse:)
Now onto my thoughts. I think that post from BigB was the last straw. I lost it completely. That curiosity to know him more as a person. Now I rarely "read" his posts. I just glide over them. All the same brouhahas, what is the use.
Then I think some more. Why do I expect him to be an angel? He is a star yes, but why does that elevate him to be angelic. If someone accused me of something, if someone wrote wrongly about me, if someone tried to get back at me by publishing something, of course I would react wouldn't I? That is exactly what he is doing as well right? Just because I thought "he was above it all" doesn't mean he has to abide by it and "let it pass". So he writes. But then the relationship between the media and stars is so synergistic that it almost seems unfair that he retorts back when its bad publicity and gladly accepts it when its good publicity ;)
Well, I never lived the life of a star so to speak so I will probably never understand this. But yes, it does feel sad to see him resort to means like this glibly (but not very successfully) disguising his actual intent. He profusely (and in more words than I could tolerate, too verbose) said a bunch of "sorries" in his subsequent posts (you dare underestimate the media, they will make anyone apologize;) ) but the apology posts irked rather than doing damage-repair. Which made me learn *ALL OVER AGAIN* that words once said, can NEVER be taken back. I should remember that before I say anything. I should. I should. I should. I should.
OK enough said;)
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Well I have seen the Hyd Airport, to say the very least I was disappointed. We need to catch up. By the way it is not maintained by Govt. It is not complete yet and I cannot even compare that to the third best terminal at Detroit airport. Yeah thats where I live now. This is not a complaint, I want Indians to compete, compete at an international level. We boast a lot, but do little to match that. As for the security, its a joke. I can go on and on.....
Sachin
Wed May 21, 08:43:00 PM PDT
Hi Sachin
Well, you should take into account a lot of things before you compare anything in the US with anything in India. Sorry, but I usually don't tolerate people comparing India to the US and saying roads are cleaner, airports are better, traffic rules are followed bla bla bla.. especially when India has a very severe infrastructural disadvantage when compared to the US (1/4th the area and 4x the population). I never let anyone say that in front of me and get away without having a piece of my mind.
We boast yes, its unhealthy. I agree. We do a little and then we celebrate a lot. But that aside, why don't you compare the Hyderabad airport with the older Hyderabad airport. Its a far cry and we have come a long way. I wish people would dwell on the positive end and look to the brighter side of things. But more often than not people are pessimists. They insist on pulling down every small achievement. Moderation is good, pessimism is not.
Yes, its not maintained by the Government which is all the more reason for us to hope it will continue to be better and not get worse.
We need to catch up yes. No one is saying we are all there and arrived completely. But we are at least trying to run along in the race and that is what you should appreciate. Catching up doesn't happen over-night and far less with just building a couple of squeaky airports.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy Detroit ;)