Well...finally the lazy, non-creative, unimaginative me is writing again..After all Sindhu just said: will chk the blog tmrw and thr better b a write up!!!!
This time I plan to write about ...ummm..COOKING & FOOD!!!
Cooking always used to be fun when I had an option to eat out often (till in India) and while in mumbai i exercised that option almost everyday...But with moving here it has become a necessity, not a hobby anymore...Kind of compulsion for a veggi in the land of beef n pork and all sort of "unidentified" meats.
Today while at discussion at dinner at a friend's (actually colleague) place we talked about all kinds of meats and sausages just after a lovely Indian food of chane, poori, sabzi n shrikhand. All of us were sharing our experiences during lunch with dutch colleagues and we realized that most of the times dutch people classify their food as "Unidentified" as they really don't care which animal/insect they are eating!!! And we always thought human being have the most polished and developed eating habits!!!!
But yes definitely Indians have a great cuisine: We can talk about a variety of food from kashmiri wazwan to Kerala Banana dishes (Correct me if that is not the typical kerala dish)..Not to mention about chettinad, bengali, rajasthani, punjabi, gujju and etc etc type of cuisines. Every cuisine has so many dishes and we can talk for hours about the intricacies of all these dishes . Food is really something where we lead the world and I feel so good to talk about it in front of our dutch colleagues. Though it is really disgusting when they classify our "rotis" as "pancakes" even after telling them multiple time that it is "ROTI".
Now I close this random flow of thoughts with the realization that tomorrow we've 2 families at our place for dinner. And first time I am going to try "Chhola-Bhatura"... [D]...
BTW happy republic day guys!!!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
This Day-Last Year:)
Today is a special day- a day that witnessed a beautiful occasion, a day that brought all of us closer, a day that stood testimony to the fact that
To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong admit it;
Whenever you're right shut up.
Hee hee (The above quote was written by Ogden Nash..got it when I googled to scribble something that Phani would definitely agree to ;-)))
Dear Viji and Phani,
Happy Wedding Anniversary
:)
Enjoi...
To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong admit it;
Whenever you're right shut up.
Hee hee (The above quote was written by Ogden Nash..got it when I googled to scribble something that Phani would definitely agree to ;-)))
Dear Viji and Phani,
Happy Wedding Anniversary
:)
Enjoi...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hibernation!
As it appears after the initial hustle bustle our group blog has hit the hibernation!
Believe it or not I wrote this a week before...Shd I say I predicted it or just graced "hibernation"(- is a long inactive time period)
True to its name the journey is continuing with hardly anytime to muse!.
I sometimes wonder why I crib about monotony and do little attempt to break it!- Billion dollar question huh....This is one such time (Yeah lotta pending work , ever running meetings) and this time I wanted to make a small attempt ( later on probably once in a month we can evaluate the metrics ;-))
This time I attempt to write about My new non living lively companion in the journey -
"My Car"
At present is truly my car since we are yet to add Gopi's name to it!!!
The 50k miles sexy black civic sedan a Honda make, is an awesome car with a pricier tag
I loved the car tho not the price, one my most loaded lifetime investment.True I never spent this much before and felt really different.Now I realise why my father never even heard our cribs while watching a car ad.
Owning a car and running it is much like running a passionate family business- not necessarily a money spinner- In other words " Luxury".Unfortunately in this part of the world most of the luxurious things are made to become essential.
A car is a must to
1. Have 2 hrs extra sleep- 100$
2. Less exposure to cold hence lesser health care cost - 1000$ ( ya HC is damn costly)
3. No shopping dependencies- 3 hrs
etc
And
Highest mental peace -Priceless.....For everything else I have my car!!! :-)))
The above is one side of the coin......
The other side of the coin Gopi can give an overview---i.e The costs of owning the car...!!!!!
This is because " Females see positive side of life " :-)))
Eager for comments
{Basically need to keep this short (!) and prepare for my next meeting}
Believe it or not I wrote this a week before...Shd I say I predicted it or just graced "hibernation"(- is a long inactive time period)
True to its name the journey is continuing with hardly anytime to muse!.
I sometimes wonder why I crib about monotony and do little attempt to break it!- Billion dollar question huh....This is one such time (Yeah lotta pending work , ever running meetings) and this time I wanted to make a small attempt ( later on probably once in a month we can evaluate the metrics ;-))
This time I attempt to write about My new non living lively companion in the journey -
"My Car"
At present is truly my car since we are yet to add Gopi's name to it!!!
The 50k miles sexy black civic sedan a Honda make, is an awesome car with a pricier tag
I loved the car tho not the price, one my most loaded lifetime investment.True I never spent this much before and felt really different.Now I realise why my father never even heard our cribs while watching a car ad.
Owning a car and running it is much like running a passionate family business- not necessarily a money spinner- In other words " Luxury".Unfortunately in this part of the world most of the luxurious things are made to become essential.
A car is a must to
1. Have 2 hrs extra sleep- 100$
2. Less exposure to cold hence lesser health care cost - 1000$ ( ya HC is damn costly)
3. No shopping dependencies- 3 hrs
etc
And
Highest mental peace -Priceless.....For everything else I have my car!!! :-)))
The above is one side of the coin......
The other side of the coin Gopi can give an overview---i.e The costs of owning the car...!!!!!
This is because " Females see positive side of life " :-)))
Eager for comments
{Basically need to keep this short (!) and prepare for my next meeting}
Monday, January 14, 2008
Nano- Capturing My Imagination
The buzz word is all around-Nano, yes-everyone's lips seem to be muttering just that. Whether it is people in India, UK,US, this one word seems to have swept people off their feet. The wonder-the reality-Tata Nano. Much has been written about this car ever since it has been unvieled and now I am curious as to how the advertisements for this car would turn out to be. Hence, I let my imagination do the work here and try to capture what could be 'the' advertisement that would emerge?(would this car actually need advertising given the fact that it is a huge hit and I am sure it should be in the 'top of the mind recall' list now?)
a) Is it going to be the way Reliance spread the message of a cheap mobile phone? A car in every village- a car in households beyond imagination..
b) A daughter tells her mother that she is going out for movies with her friends. Her mother screams from the kitchen ' Badhrama poittu vaama'('dhyaan rakho, beti'). The daughter says 'Nano irukkae. Inime yenna kavalai' (Nana hain na, Mama. Ab tension kya hain?) and zooms off....
c) A school boy waits patiently in the parking lot for his father to pick him up since it is evening. He looks at his peers whose parents or drivers have come to pick them up. They all zoom in plush automobiles while he visualizes how he and his father get down at the bus stand opposite his school and come every morning. (This bus stand scene alone is in black and white). He sighs. (The background music is such that it evokes sympathy for the boy). Suddenly a fresh, stylish, yellow car zooms and twirls and parks right next to him. He looks up only to see the windows being lowered and his father signalling to him from inside. He joy knows no bounds as he leaps towards the car. They drive away.:)
d) Is it going to be portrayed as a style icon?- the speed, the technology, the colours .
e) A couple are in a crowded locality and are trying to park their car in a narrow parking space. The husband moves the car back and forth but is unable to park and invariably brushes against the next car only to be harshly sounded at by that driver. The couple sigh and rest their hands on their foreheads-meaning they have given up. Their holiday is ruined. Cut to another scene where another couple come that way in a Tata Nano to the same area. With one stroke, the husband parks in the narrowest soace and whistles as he opens the car door and comes out. The first couple look at the second couple-their jaws dropping. Tata Nano- easy, smart, comfortable..
f) You are now watching a fashion show. The ramp is full of glitters. The crowd is cheering. And the MC is annoucing the arrival of their hottest model. 'Ladies and gentlemen. You are now going to witness the latest arrival in this arena. The hottest, happening (applause level raises)...do I need to say more?? Andthe limelight focuses on the 'model' is vieled with a satin robe. The audience wait with bathed breath. They cannot sustain the suspense any longer. And at this moment. The count down begins. And finally crackers, confetti are flown as the satin cloth is removed and there stands the Tata Nano!! (Loud Applause)
g) Well, this one is on the lines of portraying Tata's contribution to the society. It could capture the historic beginnings, outline the various automobiles and finally end with the latest-the Nano.
h) On similar lines of the previous ones, this ad could portray the various contributions, basically the various businesses of Tata-showcase different products- Tata Salt, Hamam, Taj Resorts, Cellular phones and services, Tata Sky, Tea, Tanishq etcetc and finallly the unveiling of the Nano
i) How about a rap song with Nano in every alternate sentence???
j) Ok..this one really cropped up in my mind just now. There is a baking competition going on. The chef is a stern guy and is moving from one contestant to the other. He is not satisfied with what the contestants are baking. He frowns and mutters that they are not upto the standard. Suddenly, his eye captures the attention of one contestant. He walks towards the table. His face breaks into a smile. He applauds and cheers. Now as you wonder what it is that the contestant was baking, you are just shown the top side view. And as the camera goes closer and takes a turn, you realise it is a Tata Nano :)
I am really coming up with a lot of ideas. But let me stop here and hear as to what you have to say!!!
I wait to see 'the' ad...
a) Is it going to be the way Reliance spread the message of a cheap mobile phone? A car in every village- a car in households beyond imagination..
b) A daughter tells her mother that she is going out for movies with her friends. Her mother screams from the kitchen ' Badhrama poittu vaama'('dhyaan rakho, beti'). The daughter says 'Nano irukkae. Inime yenna kavalai' (Nana hain na, Mama. Ab tension kya hain?) and zooms off....
c) A school boy waits patiently in the parking lot for his father to pick him up since it is evening. He looks at his peers whose parents or drivers have come to pick them up. They all zoom in plush automobiles while he visualizes how he and his father get down at the bus stand opposite his school and come every morning. (This bus stand scene alone is in black and white). He sighs. (The background music is such that it evokes sympathy for the boy). Suddenly a fresh, stylish, yellow car zooms and twirls and parks right next to him. He looks up only to see the windows being lowered and his father signalling to him from inside. He joy knows no bounds as he leaps towards the car. They drive away.:)
d) Is it going to be portrayed as a style icon?- the speed, the technology, the colours .
e) A couple are in a crowded locality and are trying to park their car in a narrow parking space. The husband moves the car back and forth but is unable to park and invariably brushes against the next car only to be harshly sounded at by that driver. The couple sigh and rest their hands on their foreheads-meaning they have given up. Their holiday is ruined. Cut to another scene where another couple come that way in a Tata Nano to the same area. With one stroke, the husband parks in the narrowest soace and whistles as he opens the car door and comes out. The first couple look at the second couple-their jaws dropping. Tata Nano- easy, smart, comfortable..
f) You are now watching a fashion show. The ramp is full of glitters. The crowd is cheering. And the MC is annoucing the arrival of their hottest model. 'Ladies and gentlemen. You are now going to witness the latest arrival in this arena. The hottest, happening (applause level raises)...do I need to say more?? Andthe limelight focuses on the 'model' is vieled with a satin robe. The audience wait with bathed breath. They cannot sustain the suspense any longer. And at this moment. The count down begins. And finally crackers, confetti are flown as the satin cloth is removed and there stands the Tata Nano!! (Loud Applause)
g) Well, this one is on the lines of portraying Tata's contribution to the society. It could capture the historic beginnings, outline the various automobiles and finally end with the latest-the Nano.
h) On similar lines of the previous ones, this ad could portray the various contributions, basically the various businesses of Tata-showcase different products- Tata Salt, Hamam, Taj Resorts, Cellular phones and services, Tata Sky, Tea, Tanishq etcetc and finallly the unveiling of the Nano
i) How about a rap song with Nano in every alternate sentence???
j) Ok..this one really cropped up in my mind just now. There is a baking competition going on. The chef is a stern guy and is moving from one contestant to the other. He is not satisfied with what the contestants are baking. He frowns and mutters that they are not upto the standard. Suddenly, his eye captures the attention of one contestant. He walks towards the table. His face breaks into a smile. He applauds and cheers. Now as you wonder what it is that the contestant was baking, you are just shown the top side view. And as the camera goes closer and takes a turn, you realise it is a Tata Nano :)
I am really coming up with a lot of ideas. But let me stop here and hear as to what you have to say!!!
I wait to see 'the' ad...
Sunday, January 13, 2008
One sunday morning!
Welcome Sindhu and Phani!!!
A dull Sunday morning, its 8:45 still dark outside :(...I got up with a cup of tea and then thinking of what to do I opened my lappie (the default option) and see so many nice posts on our blog...With a smile on my face I thought now its my turn to write something :)
BTW Sindhu, you know whatta a lazy person I am, so that 'search' has been postponed indefinitely (that's a nice way of saying 'abandoned')
But am really short of ideas rt now...Its morning and I am really not a morning person so will be back soon again [:)]
A dull Sunday morning, its 8:45 still dark outside :(...I got up with a cup of tea and then thinking of what to do I opened my lappie (the default option) and see so many nice posts on our blog...With a smile on my face I thought now its my turn to write something :)
BTW Sindhu, you know whatta a lazy person I am, so that 'search' has been postponed indefinitely (that's a nice way of saying 'abandoned')
But am really short of ideas rt now...Its morning and I am really not a morning person so will be back soon again [:)]
Friday, January 11, 2008
customer review hilarious !!
I got this while going through one of the sites to buy a home theatre system online !!!
"Need another source of stress and anxiety in your life? Like the challenge of taming an uncontrollable electronic appliance? Has it been too long since you last payed astronomical late fees to Blockbuster because your DVD player refused to eject a long-overdue disc? Well, have I got a system for you! With the Sony DAV-FC7 Home Theater System, you too can experience entertainment like never before, with a DVD drive that dies a quick and asymptomatic death after only 4 weeks of moderate use, and the warm glow of an eternally blinking "STANDBY" display of your soon-to-be-non-responsive system. If that's not enough, you have at your disposal hours of fun with the world's most unintuitive voice response system. Just dial 1-800-222-7669, and let the fun begin. Not recommended if you're pregnant or suffering from a stress-related heart condition. Consult your doctor before purchasing. "
"Need another source of stress and anxiety in your life? Like the challenge of taming an uncontrollable electronic appliance? Has it been too long since you last payed astronomical late fees to Blockbuster because your DVD player refused to eject a long-overdue disc? Well, have I got a system for you! With the Sony DAV-FC7 Home Theater System, you too can experience entertainment like never before, with a DVD drive that dies a quick and asymptomatic death after only 4 weeks of moderate use, and the warm glow of an eternally blinking "STANDBY" display of your soon-to-be-non-responsive system. If that's not enough, you have at your disposal hours of fun with the world's most unintuitive voice response system. Just dial 1-800-222-7669, and let the fun begin. Not recommended if you're pregnant or suffering from a stress-related heart condition. Consult your doctor before purchasing. "
Forgetting!!!
This being the second day of our blog, I wanted to write something!.
The thing which I feared happened…I didn’t seem to have “Captivating idea or caption” in other words no creative ideas.
The issue was I was searching for something different to write while the reality is the most common things are the least written about and can be quiet interesting.
(Inspiration “The Broom” by Aqua- our friend” – guess it is the style of writing rather than the topic itself!!!)
Hence here I set to write one of the most common things that happens with me –“Forgetting”
The day I read Robert Lynd’s Forgetting, I was so very happy, here I see a great essayist having the same problem as mine!.Untill then it was an agonizing mystery to me “Why I alone Forget the things which I don’t want to forget”. My list of forgetting ranges from
Umbrella’s to Cell phones- Any thing that I carry in bus including hand purses
Bank details to boiling milk on the stove
Homeworks to Happy birthdays
And while I had been still writing I forgot where kept my bus pass..ahhhh
What do I do :( :(
The thing which I feared happened…I didn’t seem to have “Captivating idea or caption” in other words no creative ideas.
The issue was I was searching for something different to write while the reality is the most common things are the least written about and can be quiet interesting.
(Inspiration “The Broom” by Aqua- our friend” – guess it is the style of writing rather than the topic itself!!!)
Hence here I set to write one of the most common things that happens with me –“Forgetting”
The day I read Robert Lynd’s Forgetting, I was so very happy, here I see a great essayist having the same problem as mine!.Untill then it was an agonizing mystery to me “Why I alone Forget the things which I don’t want to forget”. My list of forgetting ranges from
Umbrella’s to Cell phones- Any thing that I carry in bus including hand purses
Bank details to boiling milk on the stove
Homeworks to Happy birthdays
And while I had been still writing I forgot where kept my bus pass..ahhhh
What do I do :( :(
It's My Turn Now :)
It is now a trio's blog though I still have'nt spoken to Kriti with regard to this blog. I need to find out if her hunt is still on or if she has succeeded in finding what inspires her.
Talking of inspiration (thanks to Kriti for having brought this idea out), I am reminded of numerous ways people suddenly get motivated to do things. Be it a student aspiring for higher marks because of peer competition, a dancer creating a new piece inspired by folk tale, a house-wife inspired to cook tasty food because her husband relishes every bit of what she cooks, a person who has lost all hope suddenly gettig inspired by a motivational speaker...this can go on and on.
At this moment I am inspired to write to this post because of the author invite I recieved for this blog.
So folks, shall we set rolling???
Talking of inspiration (thanks to Kriti for having brought this idea out), I am reminded of numerous ways people suddenly get motivated to do things. Be it a student aspiring for higher marks because of peer competition, a dancer creating a new piece inspired by folk tale, a house-wife inspired to cook tasty food because her husband relishes every bit of what she cooks, a person who has lost all hope suddenly gettig inspired by a motivational speaker...this can go on and on.
At this moment I am inspired to write to this post because of the author invite I recieved for this blog.
So folks, shall we set rolling???
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The hunt is on!
Both of us (me n her) are on a hunt to find something that interests us (or me?). Inspired by an email from Shivani, which reads "But ya just make sure dont stop enjoying life .. try to find out what u love doing the most & start doing it.Experience se keh rahi hoon, accha lagta hai ... mera salsa class exp ;) ".
So strange that in last 26 years of my life I couldnot know what is that one thing that gives me pleasure, ireespective or when, where, how and how many times I do it and how much time I spend on it. Lot of things like chatting, travelling, movies, cooking give me pleasure, but they are all dependent on the environment and the partners. Is there not even a single thing which makes me oblivious to the environment? :(
So this is what this hunt is all about!!!
I wish success to both of us in this [:)]..
Keep posting n so wil I [:D]
So strange that in last 26 years of my life I couldnot know what is that one thing that gives me pleasure, ireespective or when, where, how and how many times I do it and how much time I spend on it. Lot of things like chatting, travelling, movies, cooking give me pleasure, but they are all dependent on the environment and the partners. Is there not even a single thing which makes me oblivious to the environment? :(
So this is what this hunt is all about!!!
I wish success to both of us in this [:)]..
Keep posting n so wil I [:D]
duo's blog
yeah we wanted this to be a group blog, tho we currently finalized only between the 2 of us!
one dull afty in uncle sams(me) and when it was after office in the european empire(my friend) thought we would open a group blog and hence born "sojourn journey"
True the name is an irony and grammatically might be incorrect, then don’t blame me when
-all the names that I wanted for the blog were already taken
-both the friends’ current settlement is a sojourn
-and I love journey!
This is a rant, but then that was the idea of this blog!!!!!!!!!!
one dull afty in uncle sams(me) and when it was after office in the european empire(my friend) thought we would open a group blog and hence born "sojourn journey"
True the name is an irony and grammatically might be incorrect, then don’t blame me when
-all the names that I wanted for the blog were already taken
-both the friends’ current settlement is a sojourn
-and I love journey!
This is a rant, but then that was the idea of this blog!!!!!!!!!!
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