Summary of Material Losses

 I usually feels rattled when there is a material loss. So I usually like to keep track of these.

Notable losses I have had so far:

1. Suitcase - 10,000 

2. Hero Honda Bike - MH12 BK4152 - 30,000

3. DSK Stocks - 15,000

 

Whirlwind Road Trip !!

Whirlwind road trip to Nevada, Arizona and Califronia

Just for the continuity !!

Mesmerizing Summer of 2012 !!

Indeed we all had a mesmerizing summer in 2012 !! Special reason for this was the visit of my parents to US. They both retired from their respective Government service in June 2012 and I thought that it would be appropriate for them to spend the remaining summer and fall with us.

We began the preparation for the dreaded thing called - US Visa early in March and they had their Visa done in April. It was important to have it done when you are in active service. Everything went smooth and they were all clear to board the flight.

I had booked them for Air India as they had a connection to Newark which is more comfortable to travel from Harrisburg but unfortunately as is the case with them they had that flight cancelled. So the substitute arrangement was Jet Airways which I must say is THE best service compared to all other carriers.

Once here, it was the start of the party time. My project was finishing up in a week's time and I had already booked my vacation for 2 weeks. Once the vacation week started, all to be done was, Go North, Go South, Go East and Go West.

We traveled to Corning (Amazing Glass Museum), Niagara Falls (What more to say of it) in one trip. In another trip we traveled Washington D.C. In the next one it was the Big Apple and traditional India from NJ. And to the west it was Pittsburgh and Palace of Gold. To top it all was the Longwood Gardens fireworks.

And then there were Central Pennsylvania delights like, Dutch Wonderland, Hershey Park, Knoebels and Penns Cave. It was variety of food, bowling, mini golf, Chicken Wings and much much more.

Great satisfaction was that they really got some time to have rest and cool off. All the life it's been the same cycle day in and day out. And it became a forced rest against their nature since they had little avenues unlike Singapore visit where they could roam around on their own.

Youtube turned out to be a great boon for my father as all along he had been a great movie buff. He watched many a movies he always had wanted to watch from the 50's and 60's which are difficult to be seen even on Indian television.

And mother also didn't miss on her stuff, be it Balika Vadhu or of course shopping. She and Sharvari would visit all the range of shops - almost daily which was really crazy. Sometimes it was Window shopping and some times Real shopping. But she indeed had a great time with it which mattered the most to me.

Both of them have traveled extensively in India and hence are pretty open to trying different cuisines. They took an amazing liking to Chipotle and the last lunch they had in US before returning back was the Burrito Bowl. And of course all the recipes were noted so no wonder a India Burrito Bowl is on the way out from Aai's kitchen. Experimentation with American food also came out well with them. But the really praise was of course for good Indian Restaurants. Wherever during travel we encountered India Restaurants that was their numero uno choice.

Dussehra and Diwali was celebrated with great fervor and it was very satisfying to celebrate the most important festival to us with them in two consecutive years. All the home made stuff like Chivda, Ladoo and Chakali was simply amazing unlike the ones bought readymade from the stores. 

All in all, it was simply sensational visit and we all had such a great time together. Really wonderful to cherish all the time. Looking forward to take them to Europe as now Asia and US continents have been conquered. But beyond that more importantly looking to spend Diwali 2013 with them anywhere in the world and more favorably in Akola. 

Tour Diary - Diwali 2011 in Akola

2007 was the last Diwali I had celebrated at Akola and it was very grand since it was the first Diwali after marriage. Thereafter the Diwali's have been Global: 2008 - Singapore, 2009 - Beijing and 2010 - Raleigh,NC. And the frustration of having such a dry ones had worn me down completely.

So, I was hell bent that come what may 2011 Diwali has to be at Akola. Enough of the "Visit in Dec during Christmas" stuff..

S & S had already gone month and a half ahead to India and by the time I boarded the 15 hour flight from EWR to BOM they were at Akola. Flight landed fine but thanks to the Naxals, the train from BOM to Akola got delayed 8 hrs. What lay ahead was 8 sleepless hours at definitely the worst railway station ever - LTT. I bet even Akola station is 10 times better than it. Took Chetan Bhagat's book as companion for time pass but was more pissed off by the pedestrian writing. With all the hiccups finally reached Akola to a grand welcome.

First week of the vacation was meant for all travel. First visit was to "Ambejogai" our "Kuladaivat". Again it's been 4 years that a visit was due but 700 Kms in a day was little tough given the terrible road conditions.

Next lined up item was "Javla" function of my bhacha at Indore. And it was also the first time I was to see the 10 month old jewel. We decided to drive ourselves since the public transport facility to Indore have gone worse. And indeed it was a pleasurable ride with lots of Dhaba food along the way. Nothing in the city hotels can beat this raw taste on the dhaba.

Function was awesome and we had a special "Dal-Bafla" traeat for it, speciality of the Malwa region. Had some more visits to the relatives for rest of the time before finally catching some time at Indore Sarafa for some delicious street food in the late night.

After being back to Akola, had a visit planned to Nagpur and Durg. I had to visit my cousin sister since she is getting married few months later and I would be away in US during that time. It was a two day dash, first to Nagpur and then to Durg. Found Bhilai to be very interesting, quiet, clean and well planned town.

After all these rides, finally in Akola for the Diwali days. Nothing gets bigger than those 3-4 days at home. Pure fun, great food, excellent time with family and friends. It's really the place and time where your heart really belongs rather than all the superficial fanfare elsewhere. And we were joined by my sister and her family to add more sugar to the celebrations.

Sounds relaxing but Diwali days are also quite hectic but had a nice buffer of 3-4 days after the Diwali days to get relaxed and really charged up. And after that left for the last leg of the India tour which was Pune. My parents also accompanied us as they always do to Pune and Mumbai.

Reached Pune and had couple of days planned there. Caught up with some friends and also had some pending work to be get done.

Uncle who stays in Dombivli is the last destination on the route before the taxi rides to the Airport. As you are in Pune and Mumbai the rush is very crazy and hardly you find the time and peace to even talk at length. But that's how the life in urban cities is.

Finally the tour concluded as we boarded the same 15 hour rigour flight to US ..

Meritorious Child, Failing Value System and Hippocratic People

Many events in life made me think on this topic to a great deal. It's more related to parenting and how discrimination happens knowingly / unknowingly amongst children.

It's a common consensus that a child who scores 90% in exams is intelligent. Surely it's true. But the immediate interpretation is that it is talented in every aspect of life. This is where things start going wrong.

Now, whenever an opportunity is presented to learn news things which are not study it invariably goes to the meritorious student first. And if there is possibility for others then only they get the chance.

Another thing that happens is that parent themselves start promoting the bright student and thus inadvertently shun the others. That's where the other kids start losing confidence and gets the feeling of being neglected.

As a matter of fact, they slowly go so low on confidence that they start to bank on their siblings to perform their work.

I surely believe meritorious child is the one who doesn't make their parents to look down because of their deeds or choices. And our mindset is such that, even if meritorious student has done a wrong choice, parents instead of rebuking them tend to accept it. But had this been done by the other sibling they would just thrash them up.

It's indeed a deep rooted discrimination.

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I myself have gone through many of failing relations .. be it friends or relatives. I am just talking about personal relations here.

People have such a short sight and impatience that they make compromises uncalled for and thus devastating the relationship.

I believe every relationship is based on trust and being part of one side of it I expect consistent and truthful behavior.

But I had terrible experiences wherein people have cheated, plotted and abused the relationship forcing for extreme decision of shutting door on them.

And believe me, all these had been of planned behaviors and not plain unknown mistakes.

Very same people have seen better days very shortly but only after taking toll of a beautiful relationship. I hope that they had seen better situations because they most likely had improved upon their follies. Had they been patient and honest about things great relation could have been saved.

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In recent past, I have seen from close quarters that people have become Hippocratic very much like the politicians.

They blow the trumpet and express great spirit about different virtues like religion, caste and language. But fall flat when tested against these barometers.

In short, I believe people use these things just for their comfort and if conditions are favorable to them.

It's really upsetting that they compromise on such spirits carried over the years and settle for some sort of crap.

Why people can't be consistent in their approach instead of taking such U-turns.

If you carry these sort of spirits then stand by it even if it calls for harsh decisions else face the rightful wrath of people who are observing it.

July 2010 !!

@ WC Quarters - So they line up finally !! I want the Dutch to beat Brazil simply because Brazil's game is "functional" but not the "Joga Bonito". And on a personal note Dunga left out my player of the decade, Ronaldinho. I think going ahead Brazil might be hit in the midfield due to lack of creativity. And then on, Argentina has to beat Germany. I plead to Germany to please loose this one. I know they are good, but I want Argentina to proceed. Come on Maradona, make it 2.5 (WC record - 1 win, 0.5 runnerup, 1 as coach) as against Pele's 3. Such an ugly equation :). But one think is sure, WC winner would be one of the two winners of these two Quarters. They would have passed almost the Final test in these matches.

Otherwise, it looks straight forward for Spain unless they make a mess of it. And finally, hope Ghana somehow runs through Uruguay. If they do it will be a big fillip to the African continent. Simply would be tremendous.

Let's say - "Play on" !

@ Pele-Maradona feud - Again some salvo fired by Pele on Maradona. Till now in my book I always thought Pele to ne No.1 and Maradona to be No.2. But I think in Pele's book it seems to be opposite. He seems to be so insecure about his position that all the time this cross fire happens. It's really a classic case wherein people, media and administrators find it difficult to dislodge an already established "greatest" when some one comes to snatch it. I thought and thought, read and read and concluded that Maradona probably was inch ahead looking at the "single handed" impact he had on his generation of football. In Brazil's team there were other greats also, Alberta, Jarzinho etc but here he single handedly achieved it for Argentina. True, as a role model it would be difficult to recommend Maradona as an idol as against Pele who is like almost copybook but the performances on field by Maradona were simply tremendous. Goals scored cannot be contested since their playing positions were as Forward and Midfield. Now when Maradona is getting favourable results as coach insecure Pele is targetting him. Simply looks sham for player of his stature. (To Continue ..)