tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75451026653362769802024-03-19T05:50:09.631-07:00Simba's PridelandSimbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-70694874486735337422012-11-06T09:40:00.002-08:002012-11-06T11:27:18.175-08:00This and That: A new life and a little bit of the old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
So today I just sort of perambulated into by blog. Thought I would just write a few updates about what’s up in my insignificant life. I am back home
after spending a semester in Mumbai for my Masters. And since the very day I
was back I have been driving my mother nuts. My mum got a mini heart attack on
seeing my luggage.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">“You just got 5 set of clothes for your holidays?” She looked at me
incredulously.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">“Ya”, I grinned broadly.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">“And what do u suppose young lady you are going to wear during Durga
puja?”</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">I shrugged merrily.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">And she took me shopping the same day. I think her ulterior motive was
that she didn’t want me looking shabby in front of the bong babes. I am not
complaining.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">The next day during lunch. I suddenly said, “Hey mum, I was thinking I
will try beef next semester”</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">“You do that and no Hindu boy will marry you”, she said wagging her
finger at me.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">“Then I shan’t marry a Hindu boy then”, I teased grinning broadly.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">“Do what you wish”, she sniffed.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> Also back home there was a surprise waiting for me. This mongrel which
has made our area its home had had wonderful furry and plump looking pups. I
had a nice time petting them and chasing them around and occasionally shooing
them away from the road because I remember being heartbroken the last time she
had pups and one of them got run over by a car on that road.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">Speaking of which, in my college there is a pampered cat of whom I have
become rather fond. This cat whom I have christened Marx rules the college
canteen. One day it climbed up the table on which I was having my breakfast. It
took a royal walk as it surveyed the occupants, stopped in front of me, sized
me up, then majestically descended on my lap, made itself comfortable by
curling itself up and took a nap. I sort of bloated up, looked around smugly
for being the chosen one and gently stroked its fur and it purred contently.
Since that day Marx and I are friends.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> There is also a dog of questionable breed in my campus. It resembles
a Labrador a lot but I am sure it’s not. It’s probably the progeny of some
posh dog living in nearby bungalows gone astray. This one I call Mao. Mao is a
sweetheart. It’s a very affable and playful little thing.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> Now I am thoroughly confused which pet I should get for myself. I went
through a guinea pig phase, I had even gone to a pet shop and selected one for
myself. A white one with a brown patch around its eye and some brown spots on
his body. My mum said she will let me get it on the condition that I take full
responsibility for it. I was more than willing but I read in an article on web
that they poop a lot and I soon got dissuaded. Then I went through rabbit
phase, but we don’t have a garden and a rabbit needs lots of space to move
around. Then I went through a dog phase, but the trouble is I like pups, big
dogs with large sharp pointy teeth and ferocious growl scare me. Now presently
I am in the cat phase. I am planning for a fur-ball type of ginger cat.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> Oh did I mention the street which I take to go to college, I frequently
encounter these two little girls in tattered frocks who grin when I come along
and let me know that I am looking good that day by shouting out mischievously
from across the road “Mast lag rahi ho!!” . I wave and say a big thank you and
carry on smiling to myself and feeling immensely nice about myself.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> And did I mention I am becoming increasingly fond of Mumbai? So much to
explore, in this gigantic city. After staying in Mumbai for around
six months it amuses me when I think of when I was growing up in Jamshedpur, if
somebody invited us for a birthday party to their place which was around say
15-20 minutes away from our place, we would whine that it’s too far away we
won’t be able to make it. </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> One of my favorite places in Mumbai is the Haji Ali Dargah. I have been
there thrice till now and came back every time feeling at peace with myself.
Today I read they have put a ridiculous ban not allowing women inside the
sanctum sanctorum of the dargah. I might just as well go to Siddhivinayak this
time and whisper into the mouse’s ear to knock some sense into these dargah’s
trustees.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"> I don’t really know how to end this post. And I realize my thoughts
haven’t been very coherent. I have jumped from one incident to another. Ah
well. </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-51577596733231630502012-04-05T01:50:00.009-07:002012-04-06T02:16:05.635-07:00A Thing of Beauty is a Joy For Ever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">This post is going to be different than my other posts, it’s going to be serious-y :O</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Have you ever seen something and been completely awed by it? Completely mesmerized? Felt like when you laid eyes upon it entire being was fixated for a moment then and there?</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">No no I am not talking about love at first sight (silly concept that is anyway :-/ )</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLQKRMKUchFDrGbtGLj5rqtHXYpGLCt4dRJ9f0zBQsqqbN26HnSlsQWk7qEVjLA4n_jQKy4sNzpf5waop8V0M0O4kH60IaVUmxfFJHu0w4oU4Fg1uR6opn3FpC05VHGaLioYnTKlfKHs/s1600/554647_316436355088763_220408858024847_882709_1688943611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLQKRMKUchFDrGbtGLj5rqtHXYpGLCt4dRJ9f0zBQsqqbN26HnSlsQWk7qEVjLA4n_jQKy4sNzpf5waop8V0M0O4kH60IaVUmxfFJHu0w4oU4Fg1uR6opn3FpC05VHGaLioYnTKlfKHs/s320/554647_316436355088763_220408858024847_882709_1688943611_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Click on the pic to enlarge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">This happens to me when I come across a thing of beauty specially some paintings have this effect on me. The first time it happened was when I was surfing the internet and I came across a paintings collection. I have always wanted to own a beautiful painting , so sometimes I like looking at them on the internet. I am no art connoisseur mind you, nor do I know much about the various art forms, though a Facebook picture I found the other day very nicely sums it up. :P (Refer to pic attached). My interest in paintings is that of a dilettante. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULLGQE7JkQANFyPIA-hNq-RijaxWvxdFeRcjOtsYN_4cJAhwp2ga_o6KDyQoYWxROlHnULBWCSgA_K10FmK_O1ODRohTdBC2E7U8ZcaI28VrFdWN8OF4XjjvWwv0GTJt0mMWhdUv0s9Q/s1600/Anastasiya_Markovich-Effect+of+Butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULLGQE7JkQANFyPIA-hNq-RijaxWvxdFeRcjOtsYN_4cJAhwp2ga_o6KDyQoYWxROlHnULBWCSgA_K10FmK_O1ODRohTdBC2E7U8ZcaI28VrFdWN8OF4XjjvWwv0GTJt0mMWhdUv0s9Q/s400/Anastasiya_Markovich-Effect+of+Butterfly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Effect Of Butterfly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">So anyway, while surfing a gallery, a Ukrainian artist</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>Anastasyia Markovich</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"> caught my eye. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Her paintings can be best classified as surreal. I was going through her work when I came across her painting called Effect of Butterfly. This painting left me completely awestruck. The painting has such a liberating effect , as if it is calling out to you to spread your wings, to set yourself free. The girl in the painting taking a slight leap in the air, with her arms outstretched, her windswept hair, her skirt flowing seems to beckon one to break away from metaphorical shackles. The Butterfly with its wings flapping, to me, it seems to signify , a charmed life waiting out there to be discovered once the shackles have been broken. Juxtaposing the girl and the butterfly seems to suggest a metamorphosis of the girl into a carefree butterfly. When I saw this painting for the first time all I wanted to do is reach out and gently touch the real painting, to feel the play of colors in the butterfly’s wings .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyEHFi3QYxf_LZuq90nomoPCbfz4isUPLl2RlA9WP5LGJgHBSQyxcFhnjxLU4n4ry5a1OObteHTucEeSmHR9aBaMgBkKMtdwCX9eAu_LEkmhEPs41nBafhi0W_KM8lnSWQWrg8QSUHxw/s1600/305500_10150639303213590_646258589_9285643_1559741653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyEHFi3QYxf_LZuq90nomoPCbfz4isUPLl2RlA9WP5LGJgHBSQyxcFhnjxLU4n4ry5a1OObteHTucEeSmHR9aBaMgBkKMtdwCX9eAu_LEkmhEPs41nBafhi0W_KM8lnSWQWrg8QSUHxw/s400/305500_10150639303213590_646258589_9285643_1559741653_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Artist Unknown :(</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Then recently I came across another painting. I saw it in an album of a friend on Facebook. I do not know who made it. The artist seems to be a student from her college. Unfortunately the painting isn’t signed (All upcoming artist, learn this golden rule, always sign your work! ). I think I am drawn to paintings with bluish tinge. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1122cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Markovich</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">’s painting had it too and so does this one. This painting depicts a woman with her back exposed, having a sharp nose with her hair neatly in a bun.Tthe way she has elegantly and delicately held her cigarette seems to exude confidence. This one to me seems to portray a self assured woman. A women used to living life on her own terms. This image is stuck in my mind. It happens to be my mobile wallpaper now as well, the previous wallpaper was the Effect of the Butterfly. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the entries in my bucket list is to visit the Louvre in France., National Gallery , London and St Peter’s Basilica Rome. But I hope I don’t get too overwhelmed like many Japanese tourists do when they visit places steeped in art and culture :P That brings me to the Stendhal syndrome. I had read it somewhere in connection to a lot of art in one place.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Stendhal syndrome</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">, or <b>Florence syndrome</b> is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art is in a single place. The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction to a surfeit of choice in other circumstances, e.g. when confronted with immense beauty in the natural world. (Lifted from Wiki :D)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">I have a cousin who is a super talented artist. I have asked her to gift me a painting on my birthday. Yes I shamelessly ask for birthday gifts :D My mother was a fabulous artist too. Her paintings are hung in my grandparent’s house, my house and almost in all her relatives house. However she has lost touch now, she can’t even draw cat or flower properly now :-/ And her talent seemed to have skipped my generation. I can’t paint at all :-/ I can sketch cartoons to some extent though :P</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Can’t think of a conclusion for this post so Ok thanks bye :D</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div></div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-59738091396966124562012-03-17T02:45:00.005-07:002012-03-25T08:40:39.217-07:00Mumbai tour in two days :D<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">I was in Mumbai this week with my father for three days for an academic purpose. It was my father’s first and my second visit to Mumbai. I had been to Mumbai earlier as a part of excursion trip during my 11<sup>th</sup> Std. During my trips I like to maximize my time and visit as many places as possible, mostly of historical importance.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">So after getting done with the academic task at hand I had an evening and three quarters of the next day at hand for Mumbai Sightseeing. My Mumbai friend had told me the best way to travel in the city is by local train, but I was a bit apprehensive regarding this because whichever documentary or travelogue I had seen on Mumbai on Lifestyle channels always showed people hanging from everywhere in the local trains and a lot of shoving and pushing going on. As I am pretty clumsy I was sure that I would be run over in a stampede if I took the trains.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZEuZfaoWp2YGJIuIFdnq-NmhIe6XwY-4U3TPdeD20HBC-rjyAJRsscVhN7nHAaO-kbJ8-U-iAfh-aT6Q2-pq2xdK4FaIBfl7NmhrPBo4isw4abloA2-kLDVDqD8TejZdyxO8jGL5sw8/s1600/2012-03-13+16.27.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZEuZfaoWp2YGJIuIFdnq-NmhIe6XwY-4U3TPdeD20HBC-rjyAJRsscVhN7nHAaO-kbJ8-U-iAfh-aT6Q2-pq2xdK4FaIBfl7NmhrPBo4isw4abloA2-kLDVDqD8TejZdyxO8jGL5sw8/s400/2012-03-13+16.27.50.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pic taken from the Ferry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">However it turned out, I was living very far away from the places I wanted to visit and Mumbai is a humongous city. So I fearfully travelled to the nearest station to board the train to CST. It was around 3 at noon and imagine my shock when I found it to be sparsely crowded and I actually got a seat :O and happily travelled the distance to CST seated and watching one shanty after another pass by :-| </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">So first stop after getting down at CST was the Gateway of India. I remembered the first time I was there in 2007, I had already read about the history of the Taj Mahal Place hotel and how it was a gift to the city of Bombay by J.N Tata and wonderful stories about Taj. The Taj along with the Gateway makes a beautiful panoramic view. I had planned a ferry ride to the Elephanta Caves from the gateway, but turned out that the last ferry for the day had already left. Hard luck :-( . </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Anyway to make up for that I took a ferry ride around the Apollo Bunder (Bunder is port not monkey you sillies!!) . It turned out to be an amazing experience, cool gusts of wind playing with your hair. To enjoy the experience further I went and stood on one end edge of the steamer boat and got an absolutely wonderful view from there. I Gazed in awe at the Gateway and the Taj as we left the port and tried to steady myself against the strong breeze, as it threatened to blow me away :D. In all a wonderful experience.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">The next stop was Chowpatty through a taxi drive through Marine Drive. The beach side was rather dirty. :-/ and I was awfully hungry as well. There were wonderful snacks kiosks but there was sand blowing everywhere, I was afraid sand would get in the food and the food won’t be hygienic, but my stomach continued to growl and wagged its impatient finger at me and I decided to screw hygiene and indulge in some pav bhaji. It was mouthwatering! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">I wanted to sit at the beach and watch the sunset. However my papa, who was with me, blatantly refused to sit at the dirty beach. See now you know where I get my genes! But I was adamant; I sat down anyway and gazed into the horizon. But the sun refused to set no matter how much I gazed. It sets so late in Mumbai, Mumbai being in the west :-/ </span>So I decided to leave. Anyway my papa was tapping his foot impatiently wanting to leave. He then suggested a walk through marine drive, so I feigned tiredness. Last time I was there, I had only come across couple’s cooching cooing all over the length and breadth of marine drive so wanted to be spared this time. :-/</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Then off we went to Colaba Causeway. My friend had suggested that’s a good place to shop because as she put it you get a lot of “pretty, pretty girl stuff “ there :D. She was right! However taking your father shopping or rather any boy is the worst idea ever :-/ Boys I tell you :-/ They hurry you along, have patience the size of a teaspoon, and call everything not worth it, so the shopping experience wasn’t that great. Though the merchandise on display was rather nice :D Will shop some other time in future maybe. I am optimistic like that :D</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHs2atKkb-Ya8PBBlswx8-HjW1wAYG6YvbKaMkqX6hyphenhyphenCA9ZWQvnvehwDb6v7Gl7sxt1lOHDSsvWKHETTch4uZI5RaZ8SoxWDKS_DJ0SIjHTbg0icv7EyjJ6SswabHaX9yoYVWN0_b1Buk/s1600/2012-03-14+08.39.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHs2atKkb-Ya8PBBlswx8-HjW1wAYG6YvbKaMkqX6hyphenhyphenCA9ZWQvnvehwDb6v7Gl7sxt1lOHDSsvWKHETTch4uZI5RaZ8SoxWDKS_DJ0SIjHTbg0icv7EyjJ6SswabHaX9yoYVWN0_b1Buk/s320/2012-03-14+08.39.13.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On my floor in the IIPS hostel. These three kittens would come </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and sit infront of a door, every night. Arent they adorable?:D </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am slowly beginning to feel I am a cat person!:O they are small and cute. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Big dogs scare me :-(</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Then I went to catch a local at CST To begin my journey back to Govandi where I was staying at the IIPS(International institute of Population Sciences) . It was around 7 , there was like a massive sea of people at the station. And I finally got to see the real face of the Mumbai local trains, the kind they show in documentaries and shuddered inwardly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">The next day I planned a trip to SiddhiVinayak. Oh did I mention I finally changed my phone , I got myself a Samsung Galaxy Y. A rather nice phone it is. I used the netpack in it for the first time in Mumbai and was surprised by the efficiency of the GPS and Google maps feature. Makes travelling rather simple! I planned my entire trip on that likeaboss :D . I even sat and gave taxi driver, who was at a loss as to where IIPS is, directions from it. It gives you everything from which bus number to catch and from where, all step by step directions, I was rather impressed. Those of you who have been using Android phones since ages please don’t roll your eyes at my gushing, let me make my own little discoveries and enjoy the pleasant surprises life and technology throws up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">I reached Siddhivinayak and had expected to find a huge snake like queue there. But surprise surprise the queue was really short! :O I didn’t get pushed or shoved and prayed fervently and peacefully as well. The sanctum where the idol is kept is really beautiful and has beautiful chandelier which reflects light from the gold plated sanctum. On the right of the sanctum there are four idols of mice (Ganesha ji’s Vahana). I saw people going to it as well and what seemed like then kissing Mouse ji’s ears :O. I went to take a closer look at this ritual and found that people were actually bending down and whispering in Mouse’ji’s ears, then out of the blue I faintly recalled having read or heard somewhere that one is supposed to whisper their wishes in Mouse ji’s ears and he would carry it to Ganeshji. I stood there for a minute or so observing how the ritual is supposed to be done. I noticed that while whispering in one ear , people were covering the other ear of the mice. I tried to put two and two together and concluded Mouse ji is like us human beings in this aspect and in order to ensure that what mouse ji hears from one ear doesn’t go out of the other, we need to cover the other ear (so that mouse ji doesn’t <i>ek kaan se sun ke durse kaan se nikal denge </i>:D ). I whispered my wishes in Mouse ji’s ears for at least 5-6 minutes. I had a huge wish list for lots of people you see. I am greedy like that. I have to say this is one of the cutest ritual I have come across in any sacred site :D.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29uGv6BvvjO21NfP9bkGRDrCMsT2eMHv0w7IT2yddDnqzUjSyNf7OERpPuOpYG3lGTBkVc3ckXWkuacb6RdO0KGJNqu0NTjKP0V_mfMSqjvRHEum2_SnduhmYXqK8lKgsoVrtpYdC85c/s1600/2012-03-14+12.19.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29uGv6BvvjO21NfP9bkGRDrCMsT2eMHv0w7IT2yddDnqzUjSyNf7OERpPuOpYG3lGTBkVc3ckXWkuacb6RdO0KGJNqu0NTjKP0V_mfMSqjvRHEum2_SnduhmYXqK8lKgsoVrtpYdC85c/s320/2012-03-14+12.19.56.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pic is not that nice :-/ couldnt make out what </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was capturing on the LCD coz the sun</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> was too bright .</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">My next stop was Nehru Science Centre as it was in a nearby area. The architecture of the building is magnificent and the sprawling lawn in its front very scenic. There is a huge permanent Discovery of India Exhibition at the Science Centre. It is a must visit for any history lover. Its tracks everything from India’ freedom struggle, to birth of some of the greatest religions in India, to sacred sites, development of art, rise and fall of great civilizations. The unique aspect of the exhibition is that it leaves the journey of the discovery up to you. You choose your own journey of discovery of India based on your interests. I happen to like history and those of you who were thinking of muttering how boring can go drown in Worli Seaface :-/ . Oh history lovers can go to Prince of Wales museum too. Unfortunately I didn’t get time. Though I have had a quick tour of it during my first visit to Mumbai. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs1VzO7rqsT6_eXgRlYqwW4MpdEOxej7ljlQXvlZ8qbwc2yQXaV_-ksB7ISDdiSe3oeWWk4hLFIokPCf5DCBiWciJ1PXqJlK8MfMj24wWtLMWcteFHm8OWEjnlDuFzzsrd8sYtMgd5ps/s1600/doi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs1VzO7rqsT6_eXgRlYqwW4MpdEOxej7ljlQXvlZ8qbwc2yQXaV_-ksB7ISDdiSe3oeWWk4hLFIokPCf5DCBiWciJ1PXqJlK8MfMj24wWtLMWcteFHm8OWEjnlDuFzzsrd8sYtMgd5ps/s320/doi.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a better pic of the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">science centre, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you Google. :D</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Next stop was Atria Mall. It happened to be walking distance from the Science centre, and I had read that the mall offers a wonderful view of the Worli seaface. At the security check at the entrance, the guard lady who checked my bag saw a hibiscus and marigold flower I had taken from Siddhivinayak and had kept it in my bag in between books, she sought of touched it and did a Pranam to it. She looked at me , her eyes went to the vermillion tikka I had put on my forehead at SiddhiVinayak and she asked me : <i>AAp Siddhivinayak gaye the? .</i> I flashed a broad grin and nodded. :D Felt really nice to see people so attached to their God. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl83CSJ_vO2q4lPQz5jFe4vid1K8Nu15yQUww6MOS091D2I2MYUJKn0HhGUw2kqhprbT0MMUM8OoCY1paI8vJvx6RnXqGung1fIhZyunzFbxy6foIXXt8KmT_N50d6yyzYROYZ_dJ7FuU/s1600/photo_aldo-shoes-accessories_worli_mumbai%25406g60m23g_103v_1_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl83CSJ_vO2q4lPQz5jFe4vid1K8Nu15yQUww6MOS091D2I2MYUJKn0HhGUw2kqhprbT0MMUM8OoCY1paI8vJvx6RnXqGung1fIhZyunzFbxy6foIXXt8KmT_N50d6yyzYROYZ_dJ7FuU/s320/photo_aldo-shoes-accessories_worli_mumbai%25406g60m23g_103v_1_300.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their shoes collection made me drool </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and their prices made me cry</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Atria turned out to be a very expensive mall with mostly luxury brands. I found myself staring through glass panels like a slumdog kid at Rolls Royce and Audi Cars, Ducati Bikes. I drooled at the wonderful heels and wedges at the ALDO showroom. Priced at around a measly Rs. 5000-12000 :-|. And what was supposed to be a panoramic view of the Worli Seaface turned out to be just a sandwiched glimpse of it from in-between two huge buildings infront of the mall. :-| </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">That’s it for my two day sightseeing in Mumbai. Coming from a small town, the hustle and bustle of this huge city was quite new to me. I just didn’t get why people own private vehicles here, everything is so far :O . It not like you can go to CST from Worli in your car :O Or can you? Will have to ask Mumbai friends :P . It’s a huge city. But very well connected via buses and trains. I would definitely like to come back for a visit :D</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">P.S: The pics are from my mobile camera so they aren’t that nice. Plus the sun was shining with all its might and the LCD screen was reflecting sunlight, I couldn’t even make out what I was clicking, just went by estimation. :-|</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</div></div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-68814097350722810482011-07-31T09:21:00.000-07:002011-07-31T09:21:55.719-07:00Absent Minded Much?? Pretty much! :(<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj470scxXOmQByR76C8EUrBtz-mII2yYN9fsYoLvKjctwAElEi58NnVrl2R-x3aWwcxiqDE5YdcmynD7OsVMF8I727wzP-m7y7dkaIBfEyy-qBaFmYVl_uPt1rrJrZi_NgKXWhMaKz9700/s1600/absent-minded-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj470scxXOmQByR76C8EUrBtz-mII2yYN9fsYoLvKjctwAElEi58NnVrl2R-x3aWwcxiqDE5YdcmynD7OsVMF8I727wzP-m7y7dkaIBfEyy-qBaFmYVl_uPt1rrJrZi_NgKXWhMaKz9700/s1600/absent-minded-300x300.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A very dominant trait in my personality is that I am absent minded. I have several times in the past demonstrated this aspect of my personality much to the chagrin of my Mum. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Once I was visiting my favorite cousin who lives in the same city. I sprinted up the stairs to his flat with a spring in my step. Finding the door open I happily entered and closed the door behind me. When I turned around to face the room I saw a stranger sitting on the couch watching TV.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Errr…Where is Bhaiya?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bhaiya?? he asked. Who are you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Err…His cousin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Whose cousin”?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I looked around and saw a lady I had never seen before staring at me from the kitchen. It was then that I surveyed the room, stood there for what seemed like eternity, gulped and realized this was not my cousin’s home at all!!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Panic stricken, my eyes shot back to the man on the couch who was gaping at me quizzically waiting for an answer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Sorry wrong house”. I managed to mumble. “Ok thanks bye.” And with that I turned back and dashed out of the house leaving the man staring dumbfounded at my retreating back. My cousin’s home was just one floor above. Don’t ask me how I managed to enter the wrong house even though I have been to his house hundreds of time. Don’t ask me why it took me an eternity to realize I had entered the wrong place. The answer is very simple I am me! :D<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;">There have been other instances as well like the time when I made popcorn in the microwave without putting the lid of the vessel causing the microwave to be inundated with popcorn. Or the time when my Mum wasn't well and the responsibility of managing the house fell on my slightly irresponsible shoulders. I was making rice. I am a pro at it mind you. When the pressure cooker started whistling I scurried to switch off the gas</span>. I was just wondering how come the rice got cooked so fast today? When I noticed raw rice staring back at me from the kitchen slab. What I had smartly done was put water in the cooker , forgotten to add rice and had let just the water steam. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the many times when my mum or papa ask me to do something and I stare and nod and go away. Then come back after a minute or two to ask what exactly did they want me to do? Because I had nodded without really listening because I was lost in some other thought. Or the innumerable times I lose track of the conversation going on when I am with my friends and have to be brought back into reality by someone poking me and asking “Are you with us ?” and at other times when <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>someone puts a question to me and I go Huh? What were we talking about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQCvxwxmCCc0Pm6epH1hhHXTP2Dyxi4VHKwi7I65dT2HLinHXtIxsxxfb6yFciWFsCNyDTWdH3MB4qPwIVeem10l_jle11tRFvczjxvH5WzTSiCj1DiLTSihmaYbjL1-sE1zXUBJ1D94/s1600/absentminded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQCvxwxmCCc0Pm6epH1hhHXTP2Dyxi4VHKwi7I65dT2HLinHXtIxsxxfb6yFciWFsCNyDTWdH3MB4qPwIVeem10l_jle11tRFvczjxvH5WzTSiCj1DiLTSihmaYbjL1-sE1zXUBJ1D94/s1600/absentminded.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Before you conclude I am cerebrally challenged let me take an opportunity to boast that I have surprised many a soul with my excellent memory. I recall incidents and events very graphically. I left a friend dumbstruck by exactly telling her what the first sentence of our first gtalk chat ever was and another one by reminding her exactly what we had in the canteen at a college fest 2 years back. So you see all is not lost in my case.</span></span></span></div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-83160102639753127402011-07-05T10:12:00.000-07:002011-07-06T08:53:03.323-07:00Eating Out!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Eating out is one I activity I enjoy the most. It never fails to brighten up my day or light up or bring a goofy smile on my face. When someone cannot tell me the exact name of the dish they had I feel annoyed. No, saying I had chicken won’t do with me. I need to know exactly which chicken :-?. It’s not just the food part that is the most enjoyable for me. It’s the whole preparation that goes into it. It starts right from choosing the correct restaurant for the day keeping in mind the preferences of your friends. My friends let me inform you are lazy bums of the first degree. They will each individually tell me to make outing plans but will come up with none themselves. So the entire arduous task of deciding that ideal time and venue falls on my slim shoulders (ok not that slim now :-/ ). After making around dozen calls and sending some more messages to coordinate everything we finally land up in the restaurant which everyone has agreed on. Phew! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0iCOWy1bqA0809lOL9lqfpr2Ju3hj-z0cSXVJLoUFmkjjKoWGw4wBAl9TwXFvj4mVmN4OyITrLyMgLp_tcTzZjnI6TIBDfhXN9uzOXIw7RH07uWz_iGwHbfunEcPNxBaEnGEcB8Hifw/s1600/eat_1587666c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0iCOWy1bqA0809lOL9lqfpr2Ju3hj-z0cSXVJLoUFmkjjKoWGw4wBAl9TwXFvj4mVmN4OyITrLyMgLp_tcTzZjnI6TIBDfhXN9uzOXIw7RH07uWz_iGwHbfunEcPNxBaEnGEcB8Hifw/s400/eat_1587666c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">After settling down we get busy chatting and catching up, leaving the poor waiter hovering around our table with his notepad. Absolutely no one of them feel any pity for the poor waiter except me. So I wave the menu card in front of their noses and remind them to order. But no! I get the menu card thrust under my nose and is made to order for everyone. Did I mention my friends are lazy bums? I then take to playing mother goose quieting down everyone for a minute or so to ask everybody's preferences. This is the toughest part since my friends never seem to be out of topics to talk about. Well since this happens almost all the time I almost know everyone’s preference by rote. :D Who doesn't eat onion and garlic, who is a vegetarian, who doesn't like paneer, who loves pasta.etc etc. I decide a dish then put it to vote. If it doesn’t get a majority or gets vetoed altogether then it’s back to square one. All this while the waiter would have hovered over our table and left at least thrice. So through this process of voting we arrive at a consensus. Sometimes though we skip the voting process altogether. This happens when my friends get exasperated with me and ask me to order anything and agree to eat it without blaming me if it turns out anything less than delectable. I make sure that I am exonerated of this blame only then I order without consulting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Then comes the giving order to the waiter part. This is the time I become very finicky. If the menu does not describe the preparation for the dish, I make it a point to make the poor waiter (notice how he is becoming poorer by the minute) do it. I ask about the sauce base used, how does it taste (mildy spicy, very spicy, sweet :P ) whether it will have mushrooms as ingredient, (I am not a fan of mushrooms you see) etc etc. This is the time I get unkind stares and amused smiles from my friends because they are all waiting for me to finish with my interrogation. And oh did I tell you ordering involves a lot of brain storming too when you have vegetarians friend with you. It involves getting the correct combination of vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes so that we don't exceed our budget or waste food. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">When the food is served and we begin eating, if any one of my friend compliments a dish of my selection my face acquires a glow as if it was me that had laboured in the kitchen to prepare it. When the food does not go down well with my friends I take it personal affront and feel apologetic about it and mumble excuses like it tasted good when I had it in a different restaurant. And I absolutely cannot see good food being wasted so in case we over order and are over stuffed I play mother hen again and serve a little bit on everyone's plate and cajole them to finish it off. I go, "See just a little bit everyone, yes there you go, we can finish it off, there is no need to waste."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Now from the whole description you might wonder why I enjoy eating out so much when I make such a fuss about it and make it sound like such a cumbersome process. Well to me it is not. The whole process of choosing the restaurant , getting there, studying the menu ardently, deciding the various combination of dishes gets me excited to put it mildly and hyper to tell you the truth. But most of all the friends I am surrounded with makes it so enjoyable. I like it that they subconsciously or maybe now consciously know that I like it so much that they hand me the menu as soon as we get to the restaurant. They tell me that they would end up talking and not ordering if I wasn't so hyper about it. I love the way conversation flows in that set up. How all of us begin talking at once and then try to shush each other and then everybody takes turn to lay out their gossip. I like the way they shake their head when I spill food. I have a knack of doing this always. Ok I am getting a bit sentimental now *sniff*. Here is to many more such 'eat-outs' with friends. :) :)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-3660472224955055092011-03-17T03:03:00.000-07:002011-03-17T07:22:17.034-07:00When I was Away from Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok this post is going to put a huge question mark on your face regarding my intelligence. However I feel the world needs to know my predicament.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was 2008, I was fresh out of school and heading for college in a distant land.Away from the cocooned shelter I had enjoyed at my home, I was unleashed on the the big bad real world without proper training. I was on the other hand very smug that I was fully equipped to take on the challenges of living in the hostel. However I could not have been more wrong.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDRwlqqX0DIajq3plZ9ouKPe6omuDxMK_10vLbn8ZzNV52-nal8uMslQ6zs0i198H2R4p5T9z8F7pw9xlyCtLgEHE9bCsxtxqRD7guI7xsIuV7-SjBCC3hX7vcJPDomL-Fkn7oME7m9o/s1600/150px-Nokia_3310_blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDRwlqqX0DIajq3plZ9ouKPe6omuDxMK_10vLbn8ZzNV52-nal8uMslQ6zs0i198H2R4p5T9z8F7pw9xlyCtLgEHE9bCsxtxqRD7guI7xsIuV7-SjBCC3hX7vcJPDomL-Fkn7oME7m9o/s320/150px-Nokia_3310_blue.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My antique phone <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I have always had an aversion to mobile phones. Bloody nuisance is what they are.My mobile phone can be classified as an antique. I have been planning to get a new one for ages but then my present one never gets broken,damaged and of course no one will steal it either. I am not finicky about features of a phone either. One reason is that I am a technology illiterate and moreover I use my phone only for calling and messaging( err isn't it that was it was meant for in the first place?) When buying gadgets I just go on looks. Thats why my laptop is a pretty purple color with flowers <b> :P</b> and the phone im planning to buy is a cute looking square one.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUB9weG81Osjn1hnVXIGMooaxR6YYZOFmrw43_xkwuK-wZFzH4YWZpSB93PrAi7bjys8xgFgVEuL4GPj4T1yzUNTAY0xpickia4__-I6rFJ5v9bETSyRbs3500loHvNonqvEMZgo6nxQ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUB9weG81Osjn1hnVXIGMooaxR6YYZOFmrw43_xkwuK-wZFzH4YWZpSB93PrAi7bjys8xgFgVEuL4GPj4T1yzUNTAY0xpickia4__-I6rFJ5v9bETSyRbs3500loHvNonqvEMZgo6nxQ/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square phone <3 which im getting soon <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">And I just drifted from the point. What I was basically trying to say was I avoided using mobile phones when I was at school. What is a landline for anyway? And when I was out I happily forgot my phone at home. Mum had to call on my friends phone. So in college when I was handed a phone by my parents I went to The Idea shop which gave me a huge form to fill for applying for a new number and handed me some SIM cards and asked me to choose the number I wanted. All this was new for me mind you. I inky pinkyed ponkeyed and chose a number and then happily came out of the shop. After 10 mins I get a call and i stared at my phone in amazement. <b>Who could it be I wondered?</b> since i had not given my phone number to anyone. Turns out it was the Idea shopguy I had very conveniently forgotten to pay for my sim card. :-| I entered the shop sheepishly, apologized profusely and paid up. And thats not the last time that happened. Over the next few days I would forget to pay the photocopy guy, for my juice at the juice stall and so on and so forth. Sometimes I remembered on my own and would run back huffing and puffing to pay up. But other times the shopkeeper had to call out to my retreating back and yell <b>O madam. Aaap paise dena bhul gayi!!</b> Those times i wished i was an ostrich so that i could dig a hole and hide my face in it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I soon found out that I am utterly incapable of taking care of myself. I found going to a bank to be a very daunting task. Everybody would look so sure of themselves there and I would look around like a lost puppy. I had once gone to get a bank statement of my account from the bank. The lady there informed me that I would be charged for it. I immediately whisked out my wallet and said how much. The lady gaped at me incredulously for 5 secs and said it will be cut from your account. <b>Oh ya right!</b> i said and quickly put away my wallet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also have an uncanny knack of falling on ridiculously flat surfaces also.Once I went to a medical shop with a <a href="http://arienthoughts.blogspot.com/">frien<span id="goog_1847420527"></span><span id="goog_1847420528"></span>d</a>. There were just two small steps leading down to the shop yet I managed to lose my balance and land on my bum on the second one. Obviously all the heads in the shop turned towards me. And I got up assuring my friend that I was alright and rubbing my wrist where i had got hurt.As I was coming out the shopowner i noticed the shop owner was trying to get my attention. He was offering me pain relief ointment to put on my wrist which i was still rubbing. I politely declined it. This later on evoked fierce calls of gender biasness from guys to whom i narrated the incident. They protested they wouldnt have an offer of ointment had they had landed on their bums <b>:P</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And the one which takes the cake is when i fought with the IDEA shopkeeper. I had gone to get balance for my phone for the first time ever on my own. I asked about the plans he told me abt several such as 100 rs with 80 rs talktime and so on and so forth.However why should i get 80 rs talktime when i am paying 100 rs defied all logic for me and what did talk time mean anyway? The poor guy had trouble making me see sense and finally got exasperated and said <b>Arey aap samjhi nai rahi hai! Rukiye main dusre customer ko dekh ke aata hu.</b> I stood there wearing a hurt expression. I was moping for having been chided by him. The shopkeeper saw this and came and apologized to me too. He said <b>arey aaj dimag kharab hai mera ! aaj log aarhae hai and kuch khareede bina hi ja rahe hai. Sorry aap pe gusaa hogaya.</b> Then he went forward and explained the concept to me.<b> :P </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Such times I wished I was a kid again. No worries, no daunting bank tasks to do, no need to spend time comprehending technology which changes everyday, when we would be home and would just had to stretch to get our hands on eatables which would magically keep replenshing itself( unlike hostel where one is always out of food stock) :(</div></div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-87906438306361276372010-09-07T10:51:00.000-07:002010-09-11T22:53:52.572-07:00The Story of Simba's Prideland.<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpA-axnxNwBFKnCRBTd7CcVj7KItA6y5gyhZdYyeGNeeNd3ASsNzCeQN6d2dagVA7yOmk_5vrUwfgJRTksUVMTbGuy21I2jLe8D8jfVacCOnwQUbE6tgIPqLwdPZOzpbN21QSnba_D5s0/s400/The-Lion-King-the-lion-king-208848_800_437.jpg" width="400" />.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many of you who read my blog must have wondered why the name "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Prideland'? Or maybe not because most of u who take the pain of reading my blog are my friends since the times we frolicked around in the corridors of our Alma mater Sacred Heart Convent School and are therefore aware of my ardent obsession with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.And others who were not with me in school i have already bugged by recounting my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> infatuation innumerable times.But the time has come to give a even more detailed account of my love affair with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:D </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was the year 1997 .Three years after Lion King had released world wide.A swarm of people were heading towards an auditorium where Loyola School's (my brother's school) Golden Jubilee was being celebrated.Among the sea of people was a tiny tot heading towards the auditorium clasping her parents hand.She again glanced at the brochure in her hand ,It said said Loyola School welcomes u the stage adaptation of the movie The Lion King.The pictures from the movie on the brochure looked quite adorable and she was quite eagerly looking forward to the play</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nAadyzmPmz6P7ZDqnUHViV-rA18kP8yEMH71N14x8FEtibfWqI4yCUtRRZExrugaQicrrorQabYyDbMu0bKR22FPJf5k6VpqptfA7tHqFqxYv2Y18Qc2W-uY9X8dnXJPjd514spfuC8/s1600/Presentation5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nAadyzmPmz6P7ZDqnUHViV-rA18kP8yEMH71N14x8FEtibfWqI4yCUtRRZExrugaQicrrorQabYyDbMu0bKR22FPJf5k6VpqptfA7tHqFqxYv2Y18Qc2W-uY9X8dnXJPjd514spfuC8/s320/Presentation5.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Presentation of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The opening scene of that play would forever remain itched in my memory.The scene is the presentation of the new born Cub </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to the subjects of King </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.The opening song of the movie "The circle of Life" is amazing.It starts with very powerful Zulu Lyrics and for me it has magical feel to it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is presented by the King </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> old and wizened old friend </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to the subjects.The subjects bow to the their new Prince and the song reaches its crescendo.In School play the cub </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> was a baby in a lion suit and on seeing the baby the entire audience </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">awwwed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and went </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How cute!</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> including me of course.That's when i fell in love with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and the Lion King.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0CoalUk8SYe36LfUPzEPEVR70JOALv9u2J42S7GRYzdsaKkpovjn1BDMggUoPcuJ-aVgPwtq-hfEuw0DwiF0a9EsGnHCunA2eb7IBVNOdGb_r4RhfPC_elU4Q2hgSdOpomImtrbMX7U/s1600/lionKing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0CoalUk8SYe36LfUPzEPEVR70JOALv9u2J42S7GRYzdsaKkpovjn1BDMggUoPcuJ-aVgPwtq-hfEuw0DwiF0a9EsGnHCunA2eb7IBVNOdGb_r4RhfPC_elU4Q2hgSdOpomImtrbMX7U/s320/lionKing.gif" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The pic I used as my election symbol</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fast forward to 2005.Campaigning of the School Pupil Elections of Sacred Convent School was going on with gusto.Vote For </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">!!!!! went the campaigners .One Two Three Four who are we for Five Six Seven Eight whom do we appreciate ? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">!!!!!!!! chants echoed in the corridors of my Alma mater.I had chosen cub </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> as my election symbol.By this time I was in 10th Std and had watched The Lion King innumerable times and developed a bond with him.In my election speech I referred to how </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> ,a boisterous playful little cub, an heir to the King </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, had not a care in the world but then his life is completely shattered upon the death of his father for which his wicked uncle blames him.He runs away out of guilt .He eventually returns to his kingdom </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prideland</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> with a mission to take his rightful place as King.Its about Simba' s journey of self discovery which leads him to take his place in the Circle of Life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Needless to say batch mates and juniors alike went gaga over my symbol.There was huge demand fr </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> stickers and badges.I had to print so many .The Juniors would go "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">didi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Didi on seeing me. (How embarrassing!!! *shudders*) ( </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ok</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ok</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">!!Confession!!! I secretly enjoyed it</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> :P</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)I got won with above 350 votes and the next highest was a measly 70 </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:D :D</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now Fast Forward to 2007.This time I was in 12th Std and standing for the School President elections.This time I didn't even have to think for a moment regarding what my election symbol should be .As soon as I was nominated as a candidate I said to myself </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> has grown up. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:D</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> So my symbol this time was Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.The logic being last two years had been a growing up journey fr me.And my stint as School pupil leader has made me more responsible and instilled in me even a greater pride for my school. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:D *</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tch</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I am a genius :P * </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGNqvNuAHFhHnjNlMHgZearrzqeOeHTewu6DLWBHjFW4yV2j4lKmuxq664iPHsXZSMb_9i7W0L8ONnXF1I9BM2bqkpS-mdWSvqgm4MExP1E2PhKHQDBJaf9CKygyPdakkrShfoztku5U/s1600/lion-king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGNqvNuAHFhHnjNlMHgZearrzqeOeHTewu6DLWBHjFW4yV2j4lKmuxq664iPHsXZSMb_9i7W0L8ONnXF1I9BM2bqkpS-mdWSvqgm4MExP1E2PhKHQDBJaf9CKygyPdakkrShfoztku5U/s320/lion-king.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hakuna</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Matata</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> moment.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I won this time too though the vote margin had narrowed this time. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:( </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But still a victory is a victory :</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">D</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> . I remember those fun filled campaigning days, When my friends boisterously sang in the corridors and cheered and shouted slogans for me. One daring one even volunteered to dance wearing a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> mask but i blatantly refused and saved her from embarrassing herself</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> has always been with me in my life's journey.I have watched the movie many times but yet I never get bored of it. I adored cub </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, his rowdiness , his playfulness, his arrogance,his mischievousness his attempts to be brave like his father,.the lessons which wise and experienced King </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> teaches his young cub and the wonderful and close bond they share. I have all these years cried along in the movie when </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> dies and swelled with pride when </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> returns to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prideland</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> .I have laughed at the antics of Timon and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pumba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and sighed when love blossoms between </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nala</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">..I have cheered</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">when </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> defeats Scar and finally in the closing scene- the presentation of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nala's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> cub to the animals of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prideland</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Apart from the cuteness and charm of the movie and the mellifluous music and lyrics what I like about it is how with utter simplicity the movie teaches us important life lessons.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I put in two quotes like. :D :D</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: [</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">after guiding </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to a spot where he says will show him </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">] Look down there.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: [</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">looks into a pool of water</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">] That's not my father. That's just my reflection.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: No, look harder.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">touches the water, as it ripples </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> reflection changes to that of his father</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: You see? He lives in you.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> ghost</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: [</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">from above</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">] </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Father?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> ghost</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: [</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">apears</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> among the stars</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">] </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, you have forgotten me.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: No. How could I?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> ghost</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mufasa's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> ghost</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king. Remember...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><br />
<div class="linksoda" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="linksoda" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here is another one : </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: I know what I have to do. But going back will mean facing my past. I've been running from it for so long.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> hits </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> on the head with his stick</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Ow! Jeez, what was that for?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: It doesn't matter. It's in the past.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">laughs</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Yeah, but it still hurts.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">swings his stick at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> again who ducks out of the way</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Ha. You See? So what are you going to do?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: First, I'm gonna take your stick.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> snatches </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> stick and throws it and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> runs to grab it</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: No, not the stick! Hey, where you going?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000111/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: I'm going back!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Good! Go on! Get out of here!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> begins laughing and screeching loudly</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div></span><br />
<div class="linksoda" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div class="linksoda" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ofcourse</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> one of my favorites </span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347039/" style="color: #003399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rafiki</span></a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Asante</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sana</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Squash banana, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wiwi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nugu</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Mi mi </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">apana</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This quote is in Swahili.I have often put it up as my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gtalk</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> status message.And many unsuspecting people have asked me what does it mean. To which i reply impishly and animatedly "It means You are a Baboon and I am not" .</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:D :D </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes Yes that's what </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wiwi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nugu</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">mimi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">apana</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> translates to in English , not kidding </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:D :P</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ok</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ok</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I think i have said all i wanted to say.U might conclude from the post that I am infatuated with The movie and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in particular.But let me tell u this.Its not infatuation or obsession. It is love :D :P</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P.S - I cant find the pic of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adlut</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I used in the president elections : '( .Will put it up once I find it :D</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-15625549723223521492010-08-22T08:46:00.000-07:002010-08-23T08:44:35.360-07:00Great Indian Love Marriage :D<span style="color: #990000;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">Yesterday I attended the wedding of the sister of our family friend.Mum told me it was going to be held with arya samajic rituals and all which meant it would be held in the morning and the reception would be at night.Which also meant no Baraat and Nach gana .<strong>No Baraat :O</strong> I was dejected.one of my favorite passtime in weddings is to watch the bridegroom's friends and family dancing funnily in the Baraat.And baraat dance also happens to be the only dance I'm good at :D .I have two left feet u see :( </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>"Whats a wedding without Baraat? "</strong>I muttered to my Mum.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">She also informed me the girl was having a love marriage with a boy of a different caste.At this i jumped and said <strong>"Wohoo!! Way to go didi"</strong> . My Mum threw me a irritated look.She has given me numerous lectures on pros and cons of love marriage(specially inter caste ones) No make that only cons .She is dead against it :(</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">Though i have radically different views.I feel caste is such a outmoded concept I am a believer of bubblegum romance and then a fairy tale wedding :D.Hope Mum doesn't read this otherwise I will again get a free lecture :P</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">We arrived at the venue all decked up at around 11 a.m.I was highly sleepy having gone to bed late the previous night.I was watching the wedding rituals in progress and yawning from time to time.My Mum nudged me and said <strong>"Hey that guy is good looking na?"</strong> I turned around to gape at her and shrieked "<strong>Mum !! Whats up with u? U are checking out Guys.Wait I am going to tell papa what u are upto"!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">"<strong>Hatt,</strong> she said slapping me on the wrist.<strong> "I was checking out for u.Now take a look."</strong> I grinned broadly and turned around to look. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">"<strong>Naah."</strong> I said. <strong>"Decent hai but not good".</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>"I have to be on look out now na.I have to get u married soon no.",</strong> she said.I rolled my eyes and said <strong>"Mum not for another five years ".</strong>At that she giggled and said mischievously , <strong>"Of course but we can always be on lookout."</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">"<strong>Hey Mum What about that one "?</strong> I asked pointing to a dude with a goatee and in blue kurta </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>"I thought u were going to point out that bloke.Nope not good",</strong> she said .<strong>If such a guy asks fr your hand in marriage i will reject outright</strong>.'she finished. and I giggled.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">For next hour we discussed and scrutinized the Saree's and suits of the guests and debated on whether the flowers used to decorate the Mandap were artificial or real.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>"Mum I am hungry"</strong> I wailed after sometime.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>"I told u to have more pancakes for breakfast.Why did u have only one?"</strong> she chided.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">"<strong>Not my fault u forgot to put salt in it."</strong>I shot back</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">We had lunch and went back home.We had to come back later in the night for the reception.As soon as i got out of the car in front of the reception hall I heard the sound of dhol and nagada coming from inside.Turns out the bridegroom's friends deprived of the opportunity to dance in their friends baraat had brought the dhol people.<strong>Friends I tell u :D</strong> When we entered the hall they were all dancing and making the groom and bride dance too.I got to watch the funny steps they were doing and felt like breaking into a jig too.But i controlled myself.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">Party was nice and lively.I chatted up a friend of mine she told me that aunties were talking that the girl should not have gone fr a love marriage as the bridegroom's parents had not accepted her.And also that nobody had come for the marriage frm the bridegroom's side except his brother and his friends.I was shocked at this piece of news."<strong>What are they(bridegroom's parents) creating such a fuss for?He is marrying a girl only na? So what if she is from another community? That should be the least of their worries.There are graver issues now like guys ending up marrying guys</strong> ."I replied angrily and my friend sniggered.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">That night I went home pondering that its high time people change there mentality regarding inter community marriages.Hmph :|</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-71640333321065733742010-08-14T03:15:00.000-07:002010-08-22T08:52:44.817-07:00The Great Indian Arranged MarraigeThis event happened sometime in April.Its the rituals which happen in the Great Indian Arrange Marriage but this one describes the plight of a boy.Times they are changing!! :D<br />
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The morning began with hustle and bustle of activity in my house. My cousin an MBBS was staying with us and the previous day we had been informed that an interested party (read parents of wannabe bride) wanted to meet him and would come to our place today evening. Ahem! My cousin an eligible bachelor was of the opinion that it would be his parents who would have to go girl hunting and he wouldn’t have to face what girls face when would be in laws come to your place and stare at you as if they are looking at an interesting creature in the zoo.<br />
I for one saw this an excellent opportunity to pull his leg .You see I wanted to take some revenge for all the torture he had put me through (read “<strong>Simba your are very lazy”, “Simba you have no girl like qualities, Simba its high time you learn cooking”, “Simba you should help your mother more with household chores”</strong> and on and on he went with the incessant nagging) throughout the one month he stayed with us.<br />
After breakfast Mum entered my the room with a solemn face and said <strong>“Simba we are having guests over,I want to you to serve tea and snacks ,and please don’t drop anything “</strong>,she implored. She added the last sentence because I am quite notorious for my clumsiness in such matters. Just then my cousin entered the room and I looked at him impishly and said<strong> “Mum why don’t You make Bhaiya serve. Let the ladkiwalas also see that Bhaiya is sarvagunsampan .” </strong>Then I chuckled at my own joke and mummy started laughing hysterically .My cousin threw me a nasty look at this point and said ruefully that he thought he would get the opportunity to go bride hunting but now it looks like he would also have to give interviews.<br />
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Throughout the day my mother kept giving me odd jobs to do like changing the sofa covers and bed sheets and all while my cousin was lazing around and net surfing. I barged into his room and said ,”<strong>It’s not fair that I go around making the house tidy for your wannabe in-laws while you sit cosily"(</strong>Feminist hu na :D)He should help around too. He got up grudgingly and did small jobs around the house.<br />
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Throughout the day I never missed an opportunity to pull his leg and I must say I quite enjoyed it. In the afternoon our taps suddenly ran dry. Papa called the watchman and instructed him to start the motor so that water could be pumped into our water tank. “<strong>And be quick”</strong> my cousin added. Hearing this I sprang up and said “<strong>Bhaiya why are you so worried? Is it because it would make a bad impression in front of your wannabe in –laws if there is no water."</strong> He threw me a dirty look and I grinned broadly. Later in the afternoon my cousin was putting aloevera gel (aloevera gel has cleansing properties btw)on his face, which he usually does, but of course the impish me grabbed this opportunity to sneak behind his back and shout <strong>“Look mum! A girl wouldn’t take so much pain and efforts as much Bhaiya is taking ".</strong>This time I got my ears pulled .<br />
In the evening I saw my cousin coming to my room but then he stopped at the doorway and started scurrying away. I jumped off my bed and called out to him. He said he came to my room to ask me which shirt should he wear but then he changed his mind lest this gives me another opportunity to take a dig at him. <strong>Ha! Looks like I have scared him.</strong><br />
Evening approached. Everyone in the house was ready to welcome the guests. We heard a car screeching to a halt nearby<strong>.”Are they here”,</strong> the wannabe groom asked. To which I said mischievously <strong>“Relax Bhaiya! Dont get so excited, It‘s not them”.</strong> They finally came .Greeting were exchanged and conversation flowed easily between my parents and them. The wannabe bride’s parents handed over the bio data and her photo to my mother who showed it to me. I took it and went hopping and skpipping to my brothers’ room were the wannabe groom and my brother were chatting. I waved the bio data and the photo infront of his face. Then I read out the bio data to him and showed him the photo .He listened to it all with a a sombre expression on his face.” <strong>So?”</strong> I asked giggling<strong> “So what?</strong> “He asked<strong>.”Aree kaisi lagi bhabhi”</strong> I asked now laughing hysterically<strong>.”Umm..She is nice”</strong> he replied and his mouth then twitched into a smile.<strong> “I like her”</strong> I declared after scrutinizing the photo and bio data and <strong>“If you don’t marry her I will get her married to Z bhaiya(another eligible bachelor cousin of mine)”</strong> I said teasingly. <strong>“Wait”</strong> I said. <strong>”I’ll go check her out on facebook”,</strong> the facebook addict in me said. I tried to track her but looked like she wasn’t a member. <strong>“Looks like your would- be is not tech savvy....who does not own a facebook profile these days</strong> “I said quite shocked.”<strong>Hey its nothing like that”</strong> my cousin said <strong>“I myself joined it a month back”</strong> he said defending her<strong>.”Hey whats this? You are defending her already?”</strong>I said mischievously. The wanna- be groom threw up his hand in exasperation and I gave a devilish chuckle. He bribed with me with a Cadbury Bournville if i stopped it but i was surprised at myself for refusing the offer.You see i was having far too much fun doing this.<br />
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All in all the day ended nicely. This is just the beginning lets see how it turns out whether this particular girl is going to be my future Bhabhi. Lets wait and watch and wait for things to unfold.Till then i will enjoy the Great Indian Arranged Marriage. :DSimbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-10135451405029254882010-08-12T03:06:00.000-07:002010-08-13T03:36:37.904-07:00Hong Kong-Foreign Travel and International Experience Take Three<div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">As the name suggests this is Take 3 of the post so <a href="http://simbasprideland.blogspot.com/2010/08/foreign-travel-and-international.html">Take One </a>and <a href="http://simbasprideland.blogspot.com/2010/08/taiwan-foreign-travel-and-international.html">Take Two</a> should be read before this.What are u waiting for? Go read !!! :P<br />
Ok 2 very Important things about Taiwan trip I missed in the previous post..The Awards ceremony I mentioned had a very elaborate dinner afterwards.Having only had fruits and juice for breakfast and Subway submarine for lunch I was obviously starving.I could have even had beef if it looked delicious.Oh I have this theory which I put in practice that what doesn't look good doesn't taste good.The beef looked repulsive so I circumvented it.I steered clear of Squids and seaweed also.(Obviously) But I stopped at ham stir fried noodles.It looked scrumptious and the starved me immediately piled it up on my plate.The rest of my plate was occupied by asparagus, lettuce and the like (hindi mein bole toh ghas phus).I sat at my team table and immediately started devouring the noddles.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>What is that?</b> my Gujarati teammate inquired<br />
<b>"Ham stir fried noddles"</b> I replied cheerfully .The change in mood was of course because I had something to eat in my plate.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>"What????" </b>My strictly vegetarian Gujarati teammate shouted and gave me such a nasty look that I felt myself sinking and slouching in the chair</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>."But..But...I am hungry"</b> I said feeling as guilty as if i had murdered the animal for the ham with my own bare hands</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>."What about Swine Flu"?,</b> he countered.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">I had no counter attack for that and I pushed away my plate and the cheerful expression i had a moment a go was replaced with a scowl.But I later found myself wishing I had never touched the ham noddles because during the return flight i was feeling a little feverish and I became paranoid that I had caught the flu :(<br />
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Then another very important event in my life happened later that night. It was the After Awards Party and alcohol was flowing freely. Now the teetotaler me sat there sipping my soft drink I looked around at people consuming alcohol and I mused that I had paid for that too in my competition fee.Not only that I had paid for the food too.But neither did i eat their food nor did i drink their wine.What a waste of money , I brooded.It was time to do some Paisa Vasooly , I decided. I then made a resolution and made my way towards one of my teammates.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">"<b>I want a sip of your Vodka"</b> I said to her.<b>"Then I will think about whether to get my own glass."</b> She more than willingly handed it to me.Having reached this stage now looked at the glass unsure.I was afraid it might burn my throat.Then with steely determination I put the glass to my lips and drew a sip.<b>"Ugghhh....Vile stuff !!"</b>I concluded just after one sip. It tasted like lemon gone bad(I had Vodka with Sprite) but thankfully it didn't burn my throat as I had expected.I handed her the glass back and went back to my soft drink and to my ambition of making it to the List of Famous Teetotaler in Wikipedia.So much for Paisa Vasooly, I rued.Now u mustn't let this attempt of mine at Pasia Vasooly fool u into thinking I am parsimonious in any way.But my 1 year stint in Gujjuland (My college was in Gujarat) was bound to affect and give my thinking its characteristic stingy touch .<br />
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Ok now back to where I left.We landed in Hong Kong at night and headed towards Causeway Bay which is one of Hong Kong's busiest shopping district.Since we were in Hong Kong only for a day we were putting up in a hostel in Causeway Bay It was nearing midnight but All of us wanted to explore the place so we headed out.Most shops were closed but the place was alive with neon signs.We were clicking pics in one such place when I caught one of my teammates excitedly pointing at something.Her face was glowing with happiness of the kind i didnt even see when we stood third in the competition.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>"What is it?" </b>we inquired</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>."Look This building has an Indian Restaurant on the 7th floor</b>.All our faces lit up brighter than the neon lights of Hong Kong.We rushed to the lift giggling with pleasure at the mere thought of eating an Indian meal at last.We reached the restaurant only to find the owner switching off the lights, ready to close</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #990000; float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr align="justify"><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGDJHVG_l_W6OvS1yz8Gec1JgvzhLlhQwJbGO7HvZAQy_fvehkJipKaYAKQ3rFx_APKSlpdBx0Y9eOxY1BFtHvbqf4NN0p5sHDwZ1p4CFcsr21yxWzop5EJoyU5i1DGe0xMx9j1EecY4/s1600/IMG_3263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGDJHVG_l_W6OvS1yz8Gec1JgvzhLlhQwJbGO7HvZAQy_fvehkJipKaYAKQ3rFx_APKSlpdBx0Y9eOxY1BFtHvbqf4NN0p5sHDwZ1p4CFcsr21yxWzop5EJoyU5i1DGe0xMx9j1EecY4/s320/IMG_3263.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption">Sign showing Mirch Masala(The Indian restaurent)</td></tr>
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"<b>Oh</b>?<b> You are closing?</b>"we inquired.The crestfallen and dejected look on our face quite apparent.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>"Yes we close at midnight",</b> the Indian owner of the restaurant replied.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">"<b>What time do u open in the morning?"</b></div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>At 10"</b> came the reply.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b>"Can we at least look at the menu?"</b> we pleaded.He looked at us for a second then went got us the menu.We were drooling just looking at the name of the dishes.Kashmiri pulao with raita,Paneer kadai,Paneer Pasanda, Chicken butter masala etc etc *<b>slurp slurp*</b></div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">We explained the reason for our weird behaviour and he said <b>"Oh OK I can do one thing.I can ask the Chef to prepare some dishes for u and parcel it .Quickly decide what you want</b>.We thanked him profusely and he said benevolently <b>*Agar ek Indian dusre Indian ki help nai karega toh kaun karega"</b>and I could have hugged him and planted a peck on his cheek right then and there but i refrained from such overt acts of expressing one's gratitude.<b> :D :P</b> </div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">Much before i landed in Hong Kong i had done some research on it.And since i was only there for a day i had my heart set on visiting Disneyland.But before that i wanted to make a stop at the Peak.This tourist destination was suggested to us by a Hong Kong participant<b>.Did I mention him before?Oh damn I forgot.</b>Ok will tell u in short that he was very cute and he also tried to teach me how to use chopsticks but alas i failed miserably and concluded that my fingers are not flexible and dexterous enough to hold and use chopsticks <b>:-| </b></div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">Off to The Peak I went with one of my teammates.The other two preferred to go to Mong Kok for shopping The Peak is Hong Kong's highest point.The Tram journey to reach The Peak is quite exhilarating.The design of the peak tram is very ingenious.Most part of the route is quite steep and the steepest slope angle is around 27 degree.This gives a very topsy turvy view of the city on the right.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #990000; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnOYBMh4HxyRniuW1RY3grBlxdp1xnxLilifLWM28sKJ_MR4Gq85842olPpyKMaR0Sw3bRZFq5j806XG_Dcc1RlSy5HbiNchJtBALgbDvXR8CKXfFu5P7LSABn-v5mg2zwqBDOD7DMqY/s1600/3-Victoria-Peak-Tram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnOYBMh4HxyRniuW1RY3grBlxdp1xnxLilifLWM28sKJ_MR4Gq85842olPpyKMaR0Sw3bRZFq5j806XG_Dcc1RlSy5HbiNchJtBALgbDvXR8CKXfFu5P7LSABn-v5mg2zwqBDOD7DMqY/s320/3-Victoria-Peak-Tram.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Peak Tram</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJvboFjLEnfsFBOhq0v6g_4GMiAjQvL-RBWyQXR5le9aJS6Mf1NmhKAHbByekw4ictQskE54Xo9OQJvUdwYjnFAT8xiKzyZWYzx2kh7YEUH_UtE1q4CHrmAkYnN63l6pzb2E43EGkMWQ/s1600/IMG_3304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJvboFjLEnfsFBOhq0v6g_4GMiAjQvL-RBWyQXR5le9aJS6Mf1NmhKAHbByekw4ictQskE54Xo9OQJvUdwYjnFAT8xiKzyZWYzx2kh7YEUH_UtE1q4CHrmAkYnN63l6pzb2E43EGkMWQ/s320/IMG_3304.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pablo Picasso at Madame Tussads</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP7ACoBDnDvkf3LOjR8UrUK3L1o7QqRYsX_m2prdpiePyjX_y0c1QtfsyL-LXaa2IGxy_LKEx28xuZ-EV_NlWNeqFVFjlQ2Xsb77oiuLuTWio9CEY67YGOa8yJJ5SUEcJgNnfI65cMG4/s1600/IMG_3328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP7ACoBDnDvkf3LOjR8UrUK3L1o7QqRYsX_m2prdpiePyjX_y0c1QtfsyL-LXaa2IGxy_LKEx28xuZ-EV_NlWNeqFVFjlQ2Xsb77oiuLuTWio9CEY67YGOa8yJJ5SUEcJgNnfI65cMG4/s320/IMG_3328.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View From Sky Terrace</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">Now i expected the Peak to be some kind of mountain.It was but with so much more.It had a mall where one could do souvenir hunting and some pretty expensive shopping.It had great many restaurants for dining.It had a Sky terrace from where u could get a panoramic view of the Hong Kong city.U could enjoy the high speed wind blowing across your face at the Sky terrace and ponder over the wonders and delights that Hong Kong had to offer.On one side u could see the concrete jungle and right on the other the Victoria bay and the greenery around.And it also had a Maddame Tussads :D. I posed for innumerable pics with wax statues.My favorite ones are with </div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">Brad Pitt,Pierce Brosnan Lady Daina and Marlyn Monroe.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">Then we headed to Disneyland from there.Disneyland is on another island in Hong Kong and it has its own train to ferry passengers to and fro too.The train is painted very colorfully and inside it also there are various small figures of Disney characters.Just as i got off the train i saw a little girl running around with Mickey Mouse Ears and anotherone with a Stitch cap(he too is a Disney cartoon.) .And i found myself grinning broadly from ear to ear.I resolved to get the Stitch </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #990000; float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumzh36vQYP4wXgGF5NRK8rkuWhnS3XZYH5Pg_hwsJ57yfFk_pn9zIJAmnZkIVSxpZY4OLNc79RZy1DjM3nZ96eCrG5kx1FY2UXr84tfDvSnNFGds-J6xxRlhHn7kunqGqYakdWpQQBLU/s1600/DSC01044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumzh36vQYP4wXgGF5NRK8rkuWhnS3XZYH5Pg_hwsJ57yfFk_pn9zIJAmnZkIVSxpZY4OLNc79RZy1DjM3nZ96eCrG5kx1FY2UXr84tfDvSnNFGds-J6xxRlhHn7kunqGqYakdWpQQBLU/s320/DSC01044.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stitch Stuff toy/Cap</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">stuff toy.At the very entrance of Disneyland a giant a </div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">statue of a whale with Mickey Mouse surfing on the water coming out from its Blowhole welcomed us.</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">As soon as I lay my eyes on the Stitch cap i had seen earlier (.It was a cap with doubles up as a stuff toy.The mouth serves as the cap part and the body of the stuff toy dangles from the back of the head like a tail. :D Take a look at the pic for better understanding) i bought one from the first stall i came across.I had to shell out 195 HKD(Hong Kong dollars) for it.I was in a very jocund mood and put on the cap without caring how silly i looked.In my defense Disneyland is a place where one is allowed to act like a kid :D. As i walked </div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">along taking in the various sights i did a quick mental calculation as to how much my cap had cost me.It came out to be Rs. 1462.5 :-o (1 HKD was around 7.5 Indian Rupees that time.) I jerked away the cap from my head and gaped at it fr a second , my love for it diminishing slightly.Did i mention i had already spent 350 HKD on entry ticket. (Rs.2525) :-o .<b>"But oh well ",i thought,"Its a wonderful souvenir to take back"</b>.I again donned on the cap and went back to looking silly.Throughout Disneyland I fought a strong impulse to buy more souvenirs.I really had to pull myself away from the Lion King T shirt <b>*sob sob sniff*</b></div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49KnnCna2HWyxp4OCyWykOqk0h_tAbf_5V59aIPoMWfxI8mA78N5wFCN2qAbmadsml49I8esOuT3lmEXvIT25jr3OkSbtPtjnFu5SvIetJrjeiAjUU6IELqsnrzHEjGcFtQRtyXPngsk/s1600/New+Folder1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49KnnCna2HWyxp4OCyWykOqk0h_tAbf_5V59aIPoMWfxI8mA78N5wFCN2qAbmadsml49I8esOuT3lmEXvIT25jr3OkSbtPtjnFu5SvIetJrjeiAjUU6IELqsnrzHEjGcFtQRtyXPngsk/s400/New+Folder1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disneyland</td></tr>
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</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;">There were many rides in Disneyland.One particular ride i enjoyed a lot was called Space Attack. It was a roller coaster with a difference.For one thing it was an indoor roller coaster.We passed through darkness and every now and then it was illuminated by beautiful pictures of space.It was a very thrilling ride and I went on it twice.The rest of the rides I found a little silly and slow.There was a lot of stuff to do at Disneyland.It took us rest of the day to explore it all.And when the time came for Disneyland to close at 7 in the evening we were treated to a spectacular display of fireworks accompanied by nice music.Thus next day we headed back for our homeland :D .I enjoyed the trip immensely.Though after coming back i weighed a good 5 kgs less than I weighed went i had begun my journey.And that's not a good thing considering i weighed only 48 kgs in the beginning of the trip<b> :P :-o</b></div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGDJHVG_l_W6OvS1yz8Gec1JgvzhLlhQwJbGO7HvZAQy_fvehkJipKaYAKQ3rFx_APKSlpdBx0Y9eOxY1BFtHvbqf4NN0p5sHDwZ1p4CFcsr21yxWzop5EJoyU5i1DGe0xMx9j1EecY4/s1600/IMG_3263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</span></div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-60862645410071699072010-08-09T00:29:00.000-07:002010-08-10T01:42:26.137-07:00Taiwan: Foreign Travel and International Experience -Take Two<div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Disclaimer : I repeat My name is Simba and I am not a racist. :-|</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> I will continue from where I left.(<a href="http://simbasprideland.blogspot.com/2010/08/foreign-travel-and-international.html">Those of you who haven't read the previous post should go through that before reading this one) </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB4cVswCgi5EYTIv1F_59SFwjUIhOo0nzfjssuPgKqq-yrqy3PniNhR4ycDLtDJWed0W-iSYiC4aMxPeLFufsflmAAzptEy-cck1CCks69yrpUB-Ks5Zf7CtV_xnsm6y4ljFRVYthkow/s1600/Glass-Shower-Panel-AED-9147-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdTixnismN0x1rI8u3EmZVctbAMcS3moSRQuhEsYsnI7i2Ss4QH67SiHHVi8cFC94kC591sGib9W1V8mIFja3tsnydITylRYD7K7qUNBGIlz_6Er6HUupCI2Fl6KQw60NYPGCO7SMVC0/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdTixnismN0x1rI8u3EmZVctbAMcS3moSRQuhEsYsnI7i2Ss4QH67SiHHVi8cFC94kC591sGib9W1V8mIFja3tsnydITylRYD7K7qUNBGIlz_6Er6HUupCI2Fl6KQw60NYPGCO7SMVC0/s320/IMG_3348.JPG" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We were waiting at the Bangkok Airport for our continuing flight to Taiwan.As we navigated the airport to reach our Security Check In point, at one place I stopped for a brief second looking in horror at what lay ahead of me.<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Escalators!!</b></span> I have had a strange phobia for escalators ever since I can remember.I avoid them at all costs .In shopping malls or any other place I always take the stairs.The phobia is mainly because I always have an queer feeling that my jeans will get caught at the end of it and I also don't like the queasy sensation one gets when one steps on an escalator.<br />
So in the airport I looked left and right for stairs but nope there were none.Refusing to freak out in front of my senior teammates lest I come across as a rustic character.(Hindi mein bole toh gaon ki gawar) I plucked up my courage and gingerly stepped on it.The initial queer sensation having subsided I was extremely alert and timed my stepping out of it with precision so as to avoid my jeans getting caught.Time and again i encountered escalators after escalators in the airport.My phobia started diminishing slowly and I even came to the conclusion that they were not that bad after all(provided u stay alert and time ur stepping out with precision of course).Now I can confidently say that one good thing that happened in the trip was that i overcame my fear of escalators. :D</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB4cVswCgi5EYTIv1F_59SFwjUIhOo0nzfjssuPgKqq-yrqy3PniNhR4ycDLtDJWed0W-iSYiC4aMxPeLFufsflmAAzptEy-cck1CCks69yrpUB-Ks5Zf7CtV_xnsm6y4ljFRVYthkow/s1600/Glass-Shower-Panel-AED-9147-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVpiDKAwsfDLVN1CKmMpw7w79PabHigpi7Cd4jT7A9-s2KC8T6BYPxx5_fCwHP68UxjIuS3Sf7RVxeDX8yTkf1W9qpFuuiFhaU4sh0KvFQw3vCwfx65wzQdCECBeZx8my6UBlM7vrWw8/s1600/IMG_3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVpiDKAwsfDLVN1CKmMpw7w79PabHigpi7Cd4jT7A9-s2KC8T6BYPxx5_fCwHP68UxjIuS3Sf7RVxeDX8yTkf1W9qpFuuiFhaU4sh0KvFQw3vCwfx65wzQdCECBeZx8my6UBlM7vrWw8/s200/IMG_3244.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Room at The Leader</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We finally boarded the plane and reached our destination.Taipei(Taiwan's capital city)was beautiful.During the journey from the airport to the main city we passed through a scenic landscape but the main city was a bit of a concrete jungle.We arrived at the hotel(The Leader) and after completing the check in formalities we headed for our rooms.Our rooms were luxurious without being ornate.They had a comfortable and homely feel to it.<span style="font-size: large;"><b>But the bathroom!!!</b></span> I gaped at it aghast. It had a translucent sliding panel for an excuse of door and with no latch.Yes you read right <b>No latch ! </b>It was not defective in any way it was designed like that. :-| And they called this a five star hotel.<b>Hmph!</b></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB4cVswCgi5EYTIv1F_59SFwjUIhOo0nzfjssuPgKqq-yrqy3PniNhR4ycDLtDJWed0W-iSYiC4aMxPeLFufsflmAAzptEy-cck1CCks69yrpUB-Ks5Zf7CtV_xnsm6y4ljFRVYthkow/s1600/Glass-Shower-Panel-AED-9147-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB4cVswCgi5EYTIv1F_59SFwjUIhOo0nzfjssuPgKqq-yrqy3PniNhR4ycDLtDJWed0W-iSYiC4aMxPeLFufsflmAAzptEy-cck1CCks69yrpUB-Ks5Zf7CtV_xnsm6y4ljFRVYthkow/s400/Glass-Shower-Panel-AED-9147-.jpg" width="172" /></a>Later I wasted a good ten minutes trying to figure out how to work out the various knobs on the shower.It was the kind that had water sprinkling from all sides.<b>Cant these people keep anything simple?</b> I reflected critically.Take a look at the pic in the side to fully understand the extent of my dilemma.Later as we waited in the lobby we were joined by other participating teams.They were mostly South Asians.As I looked at the sea of faces around me I was confounded as to how to tell them apart.:-o How to tell apart Vietnamese from Japanese from Hong Kong participants from Taiwanese from Koreans?? But right then i was transported to my kindergarten days when we used the<b> Chinese Japanese Batameez (*slap* ) Sorry Please Jingle(accompanied by actions) </b>to dupe our friends.I recalled that for Chinese we pulled our eye slits upwards and fr Japanese downwards.Therein lay the difference.I scanned the faces and was immediately able to pick out the Japanese girl with eye slits slanting downwards (Yes yes i know i am a genius :D )</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #990000; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyQJ97X-9EGXpwnbeGi_wjR39IoezCIwIKXtievihUwgGLQJRD9TPFoR7Nx7fvMefSY7SFdun5S7yOMoCMTXmkU-e3t7Y8Y_A3JggglCMwBPqsfhQgZyk6Tr9O5UBM1o3eqYCNbNal5w/s1600/n701782311_2145341_1424411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyQJ97X-9EGXpwnbeGi_wjR39IoezCIwIKXtievihUwgGLQJRD9TPFoR7Nx7fvMefSY7SFdun5S7yOMoCMTXmkU-e3t7Y8Y_A3JggglCMwBPqsfhQgZyk6Tr9O5UBM1o3eqYCNbNal5w/s320/n701782311_2145341_1424411.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food(I think) we were served.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">For the food we were served take a look at the pictures,A picture is worth a thousand words they say.I survived on Subway submarines during the entire trip and devoured on the Theplas my Gujarati teammate had brought from home.Every time i raided his stock of food i thanked the Almighty profusely for Gujaratis and their habit of packing enough eatables to feed an entire army, for any trip.</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Taipei is very famous for its Night markets(they are basically Street markets) which is an excellent place to shop for clothes, and gifts and try the local cuisine (if you are the daring type of course). One thing i liked about if was that shopkeepers had their prices on display and didn't try to rip you off by quoting exorbitant prices just because you are a foreigner.The night markets we went to were Gong Guan Night Market and Shilin Night Market.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #990000; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhgqv19Ad6AwYd0GkQuuwxrDc3PmgoA8OEphHX4ywRh4mJYt9ac7XJLacG9LD4GAbJHA7wAu5AVd_gxwSAnHectr16oy_1ulah_e7cxQVv4DhKw0F6QrzMts8RqXSeaHkTDZHWbVbE0Y/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhgqv19Ad6AwYd0GkQuuwxrDc3PmgoA8OEphHX4ywRh4mJYt9ac7XJLacG9LD4GAbJHA7wAu5AVd_gxwSAnHectr16oy_1ulah_e7cxQVv4DhKw0F6QrzMts8RqXSeaHkTDZHWbVbE0Y/s320/IMG_3434.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taipei 101 at night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO4DH6akclreUldz-Ye5JuDpJhL_Dm2iKc5-P_MeapurzIL-fligwo8AF-lhcU2QMmtyyi2Z-6UEQ2CE6R_jABWkjKNBCZ94kNg8qHv9W1jNeYEy80sAexKaK9wkzOG2ViLeu_sBxbn8/s1600/IMG_3439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO4DH6akclreUldz-Ye5JuDpJhL_Dm2iKc5-P_MeapurzIL-fligwo8AF-lhcU2QMmtyyi2Z-6UEQ2CE6R_jABWkjKNBCZ94kNg8qHv9W1jNeYEy80sAexKaK9wkzOG2ViLeu_sBxbn8/s320/IMG_3439.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A very famous landmark of Taipei City is Taipei 101.it had the honor of being the tallest skyscraper and having the fastest elevator before Burj Khalifa overtook it in 2010 on both these counts The first five floors have a shopping mall.The view from the top is no doubt spectacular.I also found out that from 6:00 to 10:00 each evening the tower's lights display one of seven colours in the spectrum.<br />
Another remarkable structure is the The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek,<br />
<br />
former President of the Republic of China. It incorporates traditional Chinese Architecture and is a mesmerizing piece of work.</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Now allow me to describe a little bit about the Awards ceremony night of the Elsa Wto Moot court Competition.We had decided to wear ethnic Indian clothes for the function.(And oh btw we were placed third in the Competition :D ) I wore a salwar suit ,the other two girls wore Sarees and the guy member a sherwani.Needless to say the other foreigner participants all went gaga over our traditional outfits.All of them wanted to pose for photos with us.I guess i ought to be flattered but right then i was feeling like a <b>Mickey Mouse in Disneyland </b>with whom everybody wants to take a photo. :-|<br />
The competition was over and the next day we were headed for Hong Kong.The Hong Kong experience coming up in the next post.Stay tuned :D</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">P.S -All photos (except the shower one is from my camera :D ) </div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">P.S.S :This post was short before I added pics.I swear!!! :( :(</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-40121529033674880732010-08-06T09:09:00.000-07:002010-08-07T23:15:37.641-07:00A view from the Top---(Foreign travel and International Experience)- Take one<div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
Disclaimer: My name is Simba and I am not a racist :-|<br />
<br />
In March 2009 I got an opportunity to go abroad for a competition.It was called ELSA WTO Moot Court Competition.We were a team of four members .One guy and three girls.Now I will not bug you with boring details of the competition.Will just tell you that it was held in Taiwan and during our return journey we made a stop at Hong Kong for a day.</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Haan so I was going abroad for the first time so naturally I was bubbling with excitement.Everything was a brand new experience.First visit to the international airport.First international flight.First Duty free shopping :<b>D</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We boarded the flight from Mumbai's Chattrapatti Shivaji Airport.While waiting for my flight I explored the duty free shops.Girls and window shopping/shopping can't be separated.I spent a good half a hour drooling at the chocolates section.</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As soon as I entered the flight ,the porcelain doll like air hostesses greeted us with their smiling faces and some said mumbo jumbo in Thai( i think) My mind shouted <b><span style="font-size: large;">"Chinki Air hostess!!</span>" </b>with glee.Then the other stupid part of my brain said "Eh? You are travelling in Thai Airways what else did You expect?"<b> :-|</b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #cc0000; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYgaMC2_hXP2jLI9B96_LdYborRSAuNcimCmETutJC3dO8MTXef1bvGZtbgfzfV6vcsks9fH4cvi3q-J1NCkrtHu0UwVWkbADM5karVlsbhlkS5j4FbC9tBE9Eime_KKEMzBElF4gwfc/s1600/IMG_3253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYgaMC2_hXP2jLI9B96_LdYborRSAuNcimCmETutJC3dO8MTXef1bvGZtbgfzfV6vcsks9fH4cvi3q-J1NCkrtHu0UwVWkbADM5karVlsbhlkS5j4FbC9tBE9Eime_KKEMzBElF4gwfc/s320/IMG_3253.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy-Yours Truly </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then I saw another species of people in the flight.They were called Flight stewards. I had never seen these species in domestic flights.So I had always assumed that they were now extinct <b>:-| </b></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Communicating with the Chinki flight attendants posed a serious problem and led to comical miscommunication.The Guy team member (who will be henceforth referred to as <b>Bemused Gujju Chokra </b>coz he was a bewildered Gujarati Guy n th e trip) in the asked the air hostess to get him a pair of headphones but she got him a glass of water, he explained again what he wanted this time he got a blanket.<b> :P</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Having comfortably settled in and explored what all the tiny buttons at the armrest was for,I put on the headphones and was flipping channels, when a air hostess stopped in the aisle with the drinks trolley.The other two girls in my team asked for Vodka and I watched them in horror half expecting them to become drunk and start some sort of drunken ramblings.When the air hostess asked me what would I like? </div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>"Do you have any apple juice?."</b> I asked meekly.I am a teetotaler u see.One of my ambition in life is to make it to the<b> "List of famous teetotalers " </b>in Wikipedia.(Yes Yes such a list does exist in Wikipedia) .That just goes to say I want to be famous :D Bemused Gujju Chokra asked for the same.He too is a teetotaler u see, minus or plus the ambition to make it too the list i am not aware of. .Then I made another shocking discovery.You can ask for as many glasses of alcohol or juice as u want <b>:-o </b>. Now I seriously expected to see drunk people stumbling or tumbling down the aisle.<b> :-|</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then we were served something the Chinkis called food <b>:-| </b>.I looked at the wrapping on my tray.It said <b>Oriental(oriental matlab south Asian ) vegetarian dinner.</b>I took out the aluminum foil covering and peered inside struggling to understand what exactly they had served me.I poked at it with my fork, turned it over , sniffed it."<b>Ummm ",I said to myslef looks like cottage cheese but just plain white cottage cheese with little red colored sauce in the side?</b> I took a tiny bit of it and daringly put it in my mouth.Nope not cottage cheese I concluded.<b>Oh!!</b>!Then realization dawned on me ."<b>This is tofu </b>(also called dofu )".I had heard about it and seen pictures of it too .Now those of you who still have a bewildered expression on your face Tofu is a soft, bland, white cheese like food, high in protein content, made from curdled soybean milk: used originally in Oriental cookery but now in a wide variety of soups and other dishes. --courtsey www.dictionary.com :P ) </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #cc0000; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-syS6hpZHhbOu7GngE6GNaOqSr6S8tkNN-Vf5muxfna6d5tVhxUgRROkSNVioARJ4OfjzlXazbfL3XIAxmH0ndAC-zZWpB8G18EiQX0wcehzrw0GLzo5qF8n6slbmRqu69EWOMIl2G10/s1600/tofu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-syS6hpZHhbOu7GngE6GNaOqSr6S8tkNN-Vf5muxfna6d5tVhxUgRROkSNVioARJ4OfjzlXazbfL3XIAxmH0ndAC-zZWpB8G18EiQX0wcehzrw0GLzo5qF8n6slbmRqu69EWOMIl2G10/s320/tofu.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tofu :-|</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> .But it didn't taste good so i put the tray aside.I then turned to salad.There was Kaccha babycorn kaacha lettuce and other kacha vegetables which I had ,all the while feeling like a cud chewing cow (I am a non vegetarian btw..i asked for veg food on flight because i was not keen on experimenting with their non veg food ).I attacked the dessert (strawberry jelly)then.</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Soon after that lights were dimmed and most people fell asleep.I looked to my right.My teammates were sleeping like babies.No doubt the Vodka they had consumed had something to do with it.I on the other hand am unable to sleep during flights(include train journeys bus journeys and car journeys also to that.Light sleeper you see.<b> :( )</b> So i was fidgeting in my seat.One particular button in the arm rest caught my eye.<b>"What does this button do?" </b>My mind said exactly like DeeDee says in Dexter's laboratory.Unable to hold my curiosity I pressed it.<b>Ting!! </b>Nothing happened.<b>Oh well</b> ! I said but just then a smiling air hostess appeared beside my seat enquiring what did i want?</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>"Eh?"</b> I looked at her perplexed.She jerked her head towards the glowing button and again asked <b>"Ma'am you called? How may I help you?"</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Oh!! </b>That's the call button I realized.</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>"Ummm...Hmmm Could u please get me a glass of apple juice?"</b> I replied almost inaudibly.</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A I sat sipping away my apple juice.I felt the plane jerk a little.Then another jerk.I cast aside my apple juice and quickly fastened my seat belt just when the pilot announced."<b> We are passing through turbulence. Please fasten your seat belts." </b>Another jerk. I tightly clasped the arm rest holding on to dear life.I glanced sideways .My teammates were snoring away. Blissfully unaware what was happening and that I was freaking out.I felt like shaking them awake and saying <span style="font-size: large;">"<b>Wake up!!!We are about to die here!!".</b></span>But we didn't die because the plane was soon out of turbulence area..<b>Phew!! </b>Maybe i should start drinking.That would help calm down the hyperactive brain of mine! <b>:|</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFUux40mBuw17HAHWBxVeA4Z8Zy8Y7FRlM0ENzXDW_ZzAr5vIJPg95oMaMPr_tNrUbSxGP_RBnpOtnjMWhyPNiSNQUTDYcZLWAp-W8a_qJUdFOj8lHtyKWhMmE6r_NN89edvPLE_-40U/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFUux40mBuw17HAHWBxVeA4Z8Zy8Y7FRlM0ENzXDW_ZzAr5vIJPg95oMaMPr_tNrUbSxGP_RBnpOtnjMWhyPNiSNQUTDYcZLWAp-W8a_qJUdFOj8lHtyKWhMmE6r_NN89edvPLE_-40U/s320/IMG_3231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A work of art depicting the Sagar Manthan<br />
at SuvarnaBhumi Airport. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On our way to Taiwan.We had a transit at Bangkok airport.We had to change flights there.We reached Bangkok's Suvrnabhumi Airport.I was mesmerized by the splendour of Bangkok airport .It was huge!!.I thought it would take a person at least a day to explore it all.In several places in the airport there were works depicting Hindu mythological events. </div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHLdc5tgeyx9nBeG4Q528niLMCv5eb5kmgt8e3nQ7b25WGhIf_YwhX2Pt_afdLn4N-jCODZXwHgC39wFffFn8QB_Lv6CHom_cOo9kBEPIEU4CgNn-LsTXpSWn6s3o_Su2YCvSSCAsEQ0/s1600/airport-chanel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHLdc5tgeyx9nBeG4Q528niLMCv5eb5kmgt8e3nQ7b25WGhIf_YwhX2Pt_afdLn4N-jCODZXwHgC39wFffFn8QB_Lv6CHom_cOo9kBEPIEU4CgNn-LsTXpSWn6s3o_Su2YCvSSCAsEQ0/s320/airport-chanel.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanel Outlet at the Airport.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I was walking in the airport taking it all in when I saw something which made me stop in my tracks and made my jaw drop<b>."Is it what i think it is? No cant be! I Look again.Yes!! it is :D." </b>There standing in all its splendour was a <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chanel Store</b></span>. I love all the Chanel outfits which the Hollywood and Bollywood actresses wear.Automatically my feet started towards it.I entered it expecting to be transfrred into another world. A world of Uber Chic fashion.<b>"But hain? Whats this?The showroom looked pretty normal to me".</b>I saw some dresses.One caught my eye.I stole a surreptitious glance at the price tag did the mental calculation of converting dollars into rupees and then put it back with a forlorn expression on my face.</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">There was a three hour( i think) halt at the bangkok airport.The remaining part of the journey and foreign travel part i will cover in my next post.Till then stay tuned :D :D</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">P.S: I had meant to keep this post short.Next time se.Promise!! :( </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545102665336276980.post-14139935971578984782010-08-04T01:15:00.000-07:002010-08-05T01:23:00.688-07:00Puppy Names and Naming Fetish :D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRRQXXCXXeE9Jk6nX8T0os33nlGipLnRCqYPCT4_aBcPooX_qJ1BD7C94EAsMCi391THkxUfIvkEtPVUJxoV9Oug5XF2dheLqmnFdXs9JPTlNqQ_fJURhbz1juOUBiTCdbtZX_NUuzi0/s1600/Labrador-Puppies-dogs-1605498-519-462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRRQXXCXXeE9Jk6nX8T0os33nlGipLnRCqYPCT4_aBcPooX_qJ1BD7C94EAsMCi391THkxUfIvkEtPVUJxoV9Oug5XF2dheLqmnFdXs9JPTlNqQ_fJURhbz1juOUBiTCdbtZX_NUuzi0/s320/Labrador-Puppies-dogs-1605498-519-462.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is going to be my first post.I will soon post an introduction and elaborate </div><div style="text-align: justify;">why i chose this name for my blog.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok Let me begin,My current obsession are dogs :D </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A friend of mine has a doggess(doggess is a she dog .Its an actual word i didn't coin it.I refuse to use the other term for a she dog because evolution of language has given it several meanings over the years.It has almost become a derogatory word.And i feel such a term should not be used for an animal as cute as her) named Jenny and she is the most adorable thing ever.She is a Papillon (i think).Whenever i go to my friends house i look around for her.She never barks at me (come to think of it i have never heard her bark :-o)she allows me to pat her,and tries to lick me too . :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;">She is the most docile dog i have ever seen. Although this makes her practically useless as a guard dog.Agar usko thoda sa hadkao toh she starts cowering and flinches :P . She is afraid of other neighbourhood dogs too.Even earlier i liked dogs but from a distance only.I never had the courage to go near one and pat it.The fear was mainly the outcome of being nearly chased and bitten by a Pomeranian in my tiny tot days.I still have a strong aversion for Pomeranian .I feel they are noisy, irritating and bark too much :-/</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However my recent obsession is all thanks to Jenny.So when the other day another friend( i will refer to her as Lucky Chick henceforth.Lucky because she is getting a puppy and chick because she is one :P) of mine told me that she is going to get a pup i was euphoric :D . I was adamant that she get a she pup.Her uncle's Labrador was having puppies and he was going to give her one.I immediately started suggesting names also.I have a fetish for naming everything you see.I suggested Zoey but she didn't like the name much.So i told her i will come up with some more names later.Lucky Chick then told me her college friend has a dog whom he has named Babu Bhai. :P She said so with a wrinkled up nose to show her distaste for the name and it was also a silent warning for me not to come up with something as wacky as that.I on the other hand thought that the name was a stroke of genius.It got me thinking that we need not give firangi names to our pets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later when i was online the other day i had a discussion abt Puppy names with a another mutual friend(whom i will refer to as Lukhi. Err.... because she is one of course and a cousin (whom i will refer to us Hapless cousin because i bug him in chats every night and he has no other option but to listen to the loquacious me. :P)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A part of the chat i have reproduced here. U will notice an excessive mention of "Shaadi" in it .It's all because of the influence of a new friend of mine who is obsessed with bubblegum romance and is in her own words "Mujhe Shaadi karni hai" types.In the chats I have given my own comments and insights in brackets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Take One</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">me: pata pata Lucky Chick might be getting a pup :D :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lukhi: yaaaaaaa?????</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> which breed?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: labrador</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: oooooohhhh</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: i told her to pick out a she pup</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> we will name her</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lukhi : done</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> u hav a deal</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> naam socho</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: aaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> .............</div><div style="text-align: justify;">me: zoey :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;">( I always wanted two guinea pigs as pets and had decided to name them Zoey and Joey but alas the wish still remanis unfulfilled.Time and again i have asked some of my friends to gift me one but they are all to scared of my mummy i guess. :( )</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: naaaaaaaaaaaaa</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: oh :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lukhi: arey........dont lose hope.....im sure u can cum up with better names</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: haan will think</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> how abt indian names</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> chameli??</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> champa?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> phoolan ?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: champa</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> done</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> final</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: ekdum :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lucky Chick ko will inform</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: yo</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> do that soon</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> mmuuuaaahzzzzzzzzzzzzz</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Next Day</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">me: i finalised on a name fr a he pup</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: bolo</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> why a he...but</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: Hiccup</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> and if she Buttercup</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: naam hai yeh/...........???</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: :D haan!!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: i like hiccup</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: me too!!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: its sooooooooooo damn cute</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> but i doubt Lucky Chick will agree to it</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: koi nai tum doggie logi na toh name him hiccup</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: ya phir hum hi le lete hai</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: but its awesome all the same</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: ok done</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: theek hai le lo</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: ruko mera shaddi hone do</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> is ghar mein mummy nai allow karegi</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: matlab??????/</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> achha</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> wt if ur husband doesn't allow</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> phir kya karogi<br />
me: will kick him out and stay with the doggie<br />
:D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: okies</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> wow</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> tum mast ho gayi ho</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> i lub u</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: :*</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lukhi: chopi.....apne hubby ko kick out karke doggie ke saath rahogi</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: aur kya :D im sure he will be more loyal and loving </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: waise guys like doggies....so i don't think that u'll face a problem</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> good good</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> im so proud of u</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> B-)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: what if he turns out to be a cat person or allergic to dog hair</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: achha suno bakwaas khatam</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> meri roomie ko ol jaana hai</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> toh she needs the lan cable</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: okay</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> bye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: tatatatas</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: aur hum bakwas nai kar rahe the</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :-/</div><div style="text-align: justify;">((what has one got to do to be taken seriously? :-o )</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: bbye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> achha par main toh bakwaas kar rahi thi</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: ok</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> jao jao</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: aur tum encourage kar rahi thi...kindof</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lukhi: bbye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> gn</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Take two</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">me: :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> pata hai?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> jaiye mat reply kijeye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> sulks</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: are nhii</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> bakoo</div><div style="text-align: justify;">matlab bolo</div><div style="text-align: justify;">me: hehe</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> haan meri friend na puppy lene wali hai</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> i told her to take a she pup</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: ha ha</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> chee chee</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: kya chee?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :-/</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hapless cousin: koi kaam nhii</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: aree pata i thought of a name also</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> zoey</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> but she didnt like it</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: sahi baat hai</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> kabhi bhi sahi pronounce nhi kar payegaa koi</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: so me and another friend decided to try indian names</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> i suggested chameli</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> champa</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> andphoolan</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: Devi</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: eeewww :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me and friend decided on champa :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> bas ab usko batana hai</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: ehh hee</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: ab she is going to be champa fr me</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> but if she wants a firangi name then buttercup :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> nai toh agar he pup hoga toh Hiccup :D :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> cool no?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: ha ha</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: agar woh nai rakhi yeh naam hiccup toh hum khud ke doggie ka naam hiccup rakhenge</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> lekin phele rukiye mera shaadi hone dijeye</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hapless cousin: kyun</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> nhii.. hum tumhare liyee Hicupp nhi dhoondengee</div><div style="text-align: justify;">me: aree nai mummy yeh ghar mein toh kutta nai lane degi isliye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :(</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: ha ah</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> mujhe laga apne pati ko doggy type rakhogee</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: hawwwwww :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;">hawwwwwwwwwwwwwww :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: hicupp.. plz make a coffee 4 mee</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> bada matching lag raha hai</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> :P :P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hapless cousin: hicupp.. goo n make d dinner</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> me: nai nai :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So everything has been decided.Only Lucky Chick remains to be informed. :P I am eagerly waiting for Champa/Buttercup/Hiccup's arrival in our lives :D</div>Simbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994425575893375939noreply@blogger.com8