Music

What kind of music would you like to listen to?

As I listen to the strains of "mirchi song.." from the neighbourhood.. I wonder about this phenomenon of extremely irritating music by some composer / singer being played all over the place, from music channels to discos to the paan shops... I first heard it in Surat in a Friend's car.. Why did it ever have to start from there.... LOL!

Why is it that only the horrible songs catch on like this? I mean think about Altaaf Raaja.. there was a time where you could not get onto a bus or an auto-rickshaw without hearing "tum toh thehre Pardeseeeeeee..." Aaaaaarrrr gggghhhhh!!! Some more I can think of "Acha sila diya"......

So why do you think these songs catch on all of a sudden and disappear even more suddenly? Is their popularity due to the fact that they appeal to the great masses or is it the other way around?

Realisations

Was watching " The Matrix Revolution" the other day, in the third part there is a scene enacted by Trinity and Neo where Trinity is about to die in the space ship and she remembers, recollects the first time Neo saved her life...

As she faces death, she realises that she has so many things to convey to so many loved ones and especially to Neo. She marks the importance of the moment by mentioning that her last wish was to say sorry to him but instead she confesses her love. It was then that she takes her last breadth and dies.

It touched my heart in many ways, made me think of what i would be wishing for; at that crucial moment when the stark reality of this world will grip me through. Where there will be no space for lies, negativity or corruption and all one will wish for is good.

Some of the things that I have decided to do is to speak up my feelings, concerns and gratitude to those who owe it, deserve it and not be held back by ego, wrong beliefs and sometimes even etiquette. Normally as a child we learn to express, are taught good manners and informed about the world...many inhibitions take over and we lose the real essence of life. in this moment of truth, I have taken this resolution to do, share and live life to the fullest. ( truly speaking i have yet to find out the extent of "living life to the fullest")

Books over movies

" I have been arrested, for winning a quiz show. They came for me late last night, when even the stray dogs had gone off to sleep. They broke open my door, handcuffed me, and marched me off to the waiting jeep with a flashing red light....

Arrests in dharavi are as common as pickpockets where not a day goes by without some hapless resident being taken away to the police station....Even if I had succeeded in waking some of the residents, they would not have raised a finger to defend me.... There would be same queue for water in the morning, the same daily struggle to make it to the seven-thirty local in time"......

Vikas Swarup starts his novel "SlumDog Millionnaire" by the  above.I never intended to watch the movie. Came across this book and the writers knack pulled me towards it. 

I have always loved books over movies because of the sheer fact that when movies are made based on books, the director takes creative liberties and they don't end up being as interesting as the books. If one has a good imagination then the writers expressions help one form a different picture and not just restrict it to the director's projection on screen.

All Harry Potter readers - Dont you agree? Were'nt the spells, the Quidittch and the entire imagination of the fictitious characters more fun while reading the books? Aaah! u know now what i mean. :)

Skill with People

I learnt that dealing with people requires understanding them and their nature. - when you know why people do the things they do- when and how they react under conditions; it becomes easy to deal and be better managers at communication.

It involves recognising people for what they are, not what you think they are nor what you want them to be.


Its a realisation that has touched, affected me bigtime. It completely changed the way I perceived things, people and situations and more importantly my stand on the same.

How do you Communicate?

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

A video on Bhopal gas tragedy, " A night in Bhopal" was released in 2004 describing how it all happened and what were the flaws that caused the lives of more than 10000 people and left behind many who still suffer from side effects, forwarding them to their future generations. It could have been avoided like the many other incidences but thats learnt only after it has been experienced.

It was USA and Union Carbide who showed hopes in the eyes of the many needy who felt the only thing important for them was food, clothing and shelter. They were made to believe that this company was going to change their lives and provide them with employment, better standards and eradicate their ever existing problem of agriculture and irrigation. They indeed changed the lives of many in a manner which was'nt expected at all.

Precautions were maintained, working standard were defined but poorly adopted. Thats a believable picture of things in India even if its dealing with the most dangerous chemical which creates havoc when mixed with water or when heated. People living around were not even made aware of the dangers this factory brought along. It was tragic to see the people die of ignorance more than suffocation, the burning MIC gas caused.

After looking at this video, I think it was'nt just carelessness that caused this incident. It was the dream, the hope, the international banner, the sufferings, the poverty, the perspective to grow big, fast through this along with the inherited habit of cutting cost to earn more.

M not providing any links or pictures of this incident coz the internet is filled with those.

It makes me mention all those firms that adopt ISO standards and other certifications to have smooth functioning of the system but fail to keep the ball rolling because it involves too much overhead cost. All units may not be as fatal as this one but there sure is a lot to loose if not dealt properly... be it money or goodwill to start with..

If only the means would determine the end as well....

Science I was exposed to

On the 14th of Jan we visited the Nehru science Centre. 

Its a place to be at for all the science lovers, and those like me who like it when exposed to experimentation. The science centre has projects displayed where one can actually try out and experience for themselves what the cause and effect is...

Came to know a lot about gravity, centrifugal force, the vortex, the light and sounds section was enlightening (pun intended). I wonder what we would have done without air and atmosphere.. There was a 3D show that taught us the value of nature, recycled materials, preserving environment, etc. 

The biggest deal for the day was the science Odessey show. They were showing Africa - The serengeti. Its a documentary movie on nature as seen on the serengeti plain. Its a

 huge area of grassland in Tanzania. At the time of drought the animals travel north

 in order to survive.. and in its true meaning its the test of survival. The "Great Migration" in which million of wildbeasts, zebras travel hundred of miles across as the lions and other dangers like crocodiles await them along the way. The narrator describes the scene saying " the hunter kills to eat and to feed its own. There never is anything more to it. There is nothing that is ever wasted". The experience of watching this crazy hunt in the dome theatre was a memory that will last with me for a long time to come.

Looking forward to visit the NSC again for more information, new shows and better experiences and memberships.

Trip down the memory Lane

Pune trip.. Woah! we started on 10th morning. reached there safe and sound. Got the room that we always book - the fourth floor room which over looks the FC road down till the end, the hills and greenary across.. thats one of the locations we can always be found in - yes the room at Sheetal hotel. Its just awesome.. can just spend the day there.. three sided huge windows and wonderful lighting.. anyways.. coming off from it.. got the mere necessary things done that Aziza wanted.. ate and made merry.. it was a full moon so enjoyed the rays and had "chandani talks" as we called it.

Got up 6 in the morning.. got ready, packed and 

left for race cource and the uncertainties that lay ahead. 

The race course, though we have it in mumbai too was one of the places I have never gone before to.. huge ground with enthusiast on the horses, riding on the court with so much zeal. They were practicing and keeping the horses in shape.. the condition

 of both the animals and the riders look good.

 I am guessing they make a good living off it. would love to watch a game once in the midst of all the gambling, bets and people with high status and the aura that they carry along with them.

Then we further went around places that we had memories attached to..Sajid maamu lived there for a few years and Raphae, Yasir were born there so there was a lot to see and refresh memories from.. the by lanes, the houses, the people, the habits, the war, the shruwbery biscuits, the budhani's wafers and the shopping at M.G Road.

   Went to the gardens, visited the fountain which was the most relaxing thing in the evening coz by then we had a long day driving and walking around the streets and visiting places.. the sound of the water, the fresh leaves, the ducks and the entire sight of being amidst the greenery was very refreshing... I was kind of charged again.. ehehe!

The experience at the parvati parbat was kind of a big realization of how much stamina i had lost and how much i need to gain back... 108 steep steps to a beautiful temple and being the highest peak led us to see the hole curvature of city and beyond. Beautiful and terrifying both LOL!

All was great.. at 8:30 accelerated to leave pune for mumbai... with Farah having driven the entire day... she was looking forward to an autopilot drive to mumbai.... with speed limits to catch up on, the ghats to glide through and the breaks to depend on. :) as we started approaching the expressway out of pune, the ride got smoother and people started feeling the comfort of the AC. I had to shift my support from talks to the wonderful, songs on my phone. Raphae being next to me gave all directions and a few guidelines to take into consideration on the ghats.... no breaking was something that i felt was unusual on the ghats but when i approached them I understood what exactly he meant..

Driving the entire way in the center lane was smooth, maintained an average of 80kms / hr to reach back to mumbai within 2 1/2 hrs. The experience at the ghats was different than the normal drive though the express way and the tunnels have cut down the steep slope and low gear concepts. The lonavla ghats were a little tricky with having to experience slope with curves and overtaking on both the sides :). All was an experience to remember and first time night drive certificate to carry ahead for more of such travel in the near future..

Hats off to the HCC team for having built the highways taking into consideration the speed limits, the turns and the night vision problems that drivers face while driving... Its a road that I recommend for vacation and long drives on a full moon..

Thats it from me.. writing with a heart filled with excitement and fun... getting back to the concrete world and its worries is undesirable but required.. I would love to stay and create a life in pune.
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Farah
"Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them."

Introduction

Hello Dear Readers,

I just started blogging with a hope that it will provide me with the opportunity to connect to all those who think alike and also those who like to consider different perspectives.

Life is what we make of it so lets not just enjoy and make merry but responsibly live it to make it a better place to live in ; leave back a legacy of a Green Lifestyle that not only provides us with the best of technology but is environmentally friendly too.

Join me in my journey to live a healthy, wealthy and life full of wisdom :) there are a lot of things we don't know that we don't know about... Think about it!