Ouch

Monday mornings are never easy, especially if your neck and shoulders are killing you and your doctor has advised bed rest. Getting out of office early to get some R&R. Having tomorrow off should help. Signing off with this:

Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
But then begins a journey in my head,
To work my mind, when body's work's expired:
For then my thoughts, from far where I abide,
Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
Looking on darkness which the blind do see
Save that my soul's imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous and her old face new.
Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee and for myself no quiet find.

Today

The leaves have begun to fall - its a new season!

Greygate

While I don't know anybody who is gay personally, I like to think that one's sexuality is one's own choice. Surprisingly (or not), most people I know actually cringe when they are asked to comment on homosexuality. In a city like Mumbai, its strange that there is so much homophobia. I found this article on the recent controversy surrounding the cast of Grey's Anatomy, which gives an interesting POV.

I want...

I want John Frusciante to perform just for me
I want to be in Machu Picchu right now
I want to go home when I want to go home
I want 25 hours of sleep full of pleasant dreams
I want to be my own boss
I want roman candles in the sky every night
I want Borat to play at the nearby cinema
I want a death ray gun to zap people who spit all over the place
I want to be the Mad Hatter
I just want to get all the stale air out of my lungs!

Recent reads

Been reading a lot (as usual).

A few recommendations:
Quicksilver - Neal Stephenson (Part I of the Baroque Cycle. Not Cryptonomicon, but brilliant nonetheless!)
The Sandman Book Of Dreams - Edited by Neil Gaiman (Awesome!)
Hyperion - Dan Simmons (Neat!)


Reading/Re-reading at present:
Ulysses - James Joyce (slow progress here because it makes me itch for a different life with every page, a very different reaction from when I read it first!)
Olympos - Dan Simmons (part 2 of Illium, a spin on the Illiad/Odyssey, very interesting).

Will take me some time and a lot of courage before I can start reviewing books.

Job well done?

The recent cessation of hostilities not withstanding, most Indians would still consider it an insult to be called a Paki. But Shilpa Shetty's publicist must be a really happy man. For the past week or so, she certainly has been hitting headlines all over the world. I don't want to comment on Shilpa Shetty's career prospects (or lack thereof) post Big Brother, but whole episode has certainly turned the spotlight on racism. Everybody from the guy next door to the British PM is now involved.

Given the financial strength of the Asian/Indian community in Britain, this will probably be a good time to start addressing the issue of racial discrimination. Maybe a lesson on how people from different places look would be a good place to start. Didn't the Metro P0lice kill a 'terrorist' because they thought he had "Mongolian eyes" only to find out that he was a Brazilian immigrant who had absolutely no connection to the bombings? And certainly was no Mongolian?

Some eye candy for a dull day

On monotony

Mindless tedium - that's an oft repeated word these days. Days when you're so busy that you don't even have time to step into your little bubble of peace and quiet. Days when even a Friday seems so bleary and you just want to curl up under a warm rug with the latest Dan Simmons book and forget everything else.

Art Buchwald - RIP

If you have been a regular reader of The Hindu, then you'd definitely know Art Buchwald. I remember reading his column religiously every week. If you want to have an idea of his wit try this - The NY Times website had a video clip yesterday saying "Hi, I'm Art Buchwald, and I just died."

Some people!

[Content removed by blog owner].
People keep telling me that the lack of manners in the broking industry is due to the fact that people make too much money too early. And its not only the big investors, dealing and sales teams are also notorious for their obvious disregard for what is generally considered good behaviour. I fail to understand why these people can't learn some basic sophistication and act decent, at least in public. Cuss words and gaalis should be left behind at college, its shamefully juvenile for professionals well into their 30s and 40s to be using them at the workplace!

New arrivals

Bought a pair each of Pearl Gouramis and Albino Iridescent Sharks over the weekend. A little bit worried that the sharks (actually a species of catfish, called so for their dorsal fins) might get a little too big for my aquarium, but that will take time. Till then, I hope they get along fine. The aquarium is pretty lively now, and the colours are just amazing - golden and pearl gouramis and shiny, pink sharks.

Alles gut endes gut, solamente para los americanos

Half way through Babel, one is stuck by a strong sense of deja vu - hey, isn't this last year's Oscar winning movie? No silly, this is going to be the Oscar winner this year - if the Academy liked Crash, they are gonna love Babel. Or so the makers of the movie seem to have been thinking when they made this highly self conscious, pretentious clunker of a movie.

For those who have seen Crash, the interconnect between the four stories in this movie is fairly obvious (except the Japanese one, which is the best part of the movie). Two brothers in remote Morocco taking pot shots with their new rifle injure an American tourist, whose children get lost on the US-Mexico border with their nanny. I'll leave the Japanese connection to those who watch the movie. The picture starts off pretty strongly and in the first half you are practically glued to the screen. The second half is messy, and nobody seems to have a clue as to where its going. Ultimately, it ends pretty badly for everyone, except for the Americans.

The Japanese tale involving the teenager Chieko is undoubtedly the most enjoyable part of the movie - the contrast the studied silence in the rest of the movie where the characters can talk and listen with the thumping loudness of the deaf-mute Chieko's Japan. Rinko Kikuchi plays the angsty, rebellious Chieko with the right mix of depression, frustration, anger and vulnerability. Pretty impressive for a performance without a word of dialogue. The best scene is the one in the nightclub, we get to hear the pounding beats of the night club and suddenly, the scene switches to Chieko's POV - a multitude of colours accompanied by a muted roar. One of the most visually powerful scenes I've seen in a movie.

Brad Pitt is horribly miscast - its difficult to relate to him as a suffering, middle-aged dad knowing that he has a hot babe for a girlfriend, an adorable new born and a fabulous lifestyle. Cate Blanchett is wasted, so is the amazing (yet again!) Gael Garcia Bernal. His first mainstream Hollywood movie and his character doesn't even get closure - Boo! Adriana Barraza as the loving nanny who is deported to Mexico is the tragic heroine in this movie and she is simply heartbreaking here.

Is Babel Oscar worthy? I don't think so.

PS: Its official - Gael Garcia Bernal is the next best thing. And absolutely crush-worthy!

Oasis

Finally warming up to the new Oasis album - Don't Believe The Truth. Dismissed it as Oasis in the '60s - it has influences from just about everybody, most of all Bob Dylan, The Who and The Stones, but I kinda like it now. Current favourite - Part of the Queue. Like the fact it sounds so sunny despite the lyrics. Loved Oasis while I was at college - Do you know what I mean is still a personal favourite. I mean, which 18 year old can resist lyrics like this:

I met my Maker, I made Him cry
And on my shoulder He asked me
Why His people wont fly through the storm
I said, listen up man
They don't even know you're born

Critics have called Don't Believe The Truth a return to form by the former bad boys of alternative. Hope so.

Apple does it again...

... takes your breath away with a brand new device. I mean, look at it!

Initial reactions here, here and here.

Days

The days just seem to bleed into one another, and bleed me dry while at it. And the result season hasn't even started!

Anybody interested?

DATE	DESTINATION		TIME		SERVICE
Day 01	Lima				Upon your arrival transfer to the selected Hotel. Private Service.
					Ov. Posada del Inca Miraflores Hotel
Day 02	Lima				Our guided visit to Lima allows you to see the Historical Center: Plaza Mayor ("Main Square"), the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the City Hall and old streets with colonial mansions and Moorish balconies. You will also visit the San Francisco Convent, which has the most magnificent monumental collection of colonial art in America. The tour will continue through the most traditional residential areas of Lima which include San Isidro, Miraflores and LarcoMar, a stop of international thematic attractions which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Shared Service.
					Ov. Posada del Inca Miraflores Hotel
Day 03	Lima				At the appropriate time, transfer out. Private Service.
					Airline ticket to Cusco.
	Cuzco				Upon your arrival at the airport you will be carried to the selected hotel. Private Service.
					The tour will show you the amazing colonial city built on the foundations of the Inca palaces. You will visit the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun, where you can appreciate the incredible masonry of the Incas, the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral with its carved woodworks, altars and paintings. Then you will be driven to the Inca fortress of Sacsahuamán, to the underground cave and temple of Kenko and to Tambomachay, known as the Baths of the Inca. Shared Service.
					Overnight in 1 Room Single, category Standard , at Don Carlos Cusco Hotel.
Day 04	Cuzco				Sacred Valley excursion. 31 km (19 miles) far from Cusco is Pisac, at the entrance of the Sacred Valley. Visit the colorful market, famous by its colorful typical market, and its sunday, tuesday and thursday fairs where you can be beautiful handicrafts. The lunch will be served in a local restaurant. The tour continues towards Ollantaytambo, this is the oldest town continuously occupied of the american continent, its narrow streets and channels are just like during inca times. Also Visit Ollantaytambo fortress. Shared Service.
					Overnight in 1 Room Single, category Standard , at La Casona de Yucay Hotel.
Day 05	Cuzco				Transfer to the train station. Private Service.
					After the train ride you will arrive to the Aguas Calientes station in Machu Picchu from where you will be transported by bus to the top of the mountain and to citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the most renowned examples of Inca architecture, surrounded by lush cloud forest. Lost in history, it was not discovered until 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. After a guided visit in the ruins, you will have lunch at a restaurant of the area. Shared Service.
					Overnight in 1 Room Single, category Standard , at Inti Inn Machu Picchu hotel.
					A private guide will assist you through the visit in Machu Picchu from train station up to lunch time. Private Service.
Day 06	Cuzco				Free morning to visit Machu Picchu ruins or to go up the Huayna Picchu peak, the great mountain behind the citadel. The guide is not included in this excursion. Shared Service.
					At the appointed time, you should return to the station to take your train ride to Cusco. Luggage porters from your hotel to the station are available for free. The ride lasts for four hours. Shared Service.
					Transfer from the Poroy train station to the hotel. Private Service.
					Overnight in 1 Room Single, category Standard , at Don Carlos Cusco Hotel.
Day 07	Cuzco				Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Private Service.
					Airline ticket to Lima.
	Lima				Air ticket to Iquitos
	Iquitos				Upon arrival transfer to the selected Hotel. Shared Service.
					Overnight in 1 Room Single, category Standard , at Victoria Regia hotel.
Day 08	Iquitos				Reception at the airport. After clearing baggage security look for our staff, transfer to the doc to take a speedboat to the lodge. Upon arrival, orientation and free time to relax and enjoy the lodge. At night, excursion by boat to see nocturnal wildlife. Shared Service.
Day 09	Iquitos				Every day your guide will discuss a menu of excursions to choose from, such as canoe trips in lakes, rivers and flooded forest, motorboat trips to a variety of wildlife habitats, long or short hikes through a variety of ecosystems, nature photography excursions, to their communication via hydrophonic technology and visit to native villages or native markets or have a session with a native shaman. Your itinerary will be to fit your needs and interests. Overnight at Tahuayo Lodge. Shared Service.
Day 10	Iquitos				Every day your guide will discuss a menu of excursions to choose from, such as canoe trips in lakes, rivers and flooded forest, motorboat trips to a variety of wildlife habitats, long or short hikes through a variety of ecosystems, nature photography excursions, to their communication via hydrophonic technology and visit to native villages or native markets or have a session with a native shaman. Your itinerary will be custobirdwatching, fishing for piranha or other species, canopy zipline or platforms, swim with pink dolphins or listenmized to fit your needs and interests. Overnight at Tahuayo Lodge. Shared Service.
Day 11	Iquitos				At appropriate time transfer to Iquitos. Shared Service.
					Airline ticket to Lima
	Lima				Upon arrival transfer to the selected Hotel. Private Service.
					Ov. Posada del Inca Miraflores Hotel
Day 12	Lima				At the appropriate time, transfer out. Private Service.

Ushering in the New Year at Amba

Kicked off the New Year over barbecue and fireworks at Amba, a quiet little retreat 420km from Mumbai. 7 of us started off from Mumbai on 30 Dec, and spent over 10 hours driving down to the place. We had great fun killing time on the way with a mean game of Gandhiji ki dhoti mein (for the uninitiated, the game is about appending the phrase Gandhiji ki dhoti mein with a movie title of your choice, for maximum hilarious effect!). The scenery also helped ease the travel - rounded mountain tops, mist hanging over babbling brooks and locals doing mass push ups and other exercises at 5 in the morning. Also learnt the meaning of the word lota. By the time we reached the Hornbill resort where we were supposed to be staying, we were almost delirious with laughter.

After a refreshing 4 hour nap, we were taken into a clearing in the jungle for lunch. After lunch, we lounged in hammocks, enjoying the peace and quiet of the forest. A flying squirrel hopping away Spiderman style was great fun to watch. Got back to the resort at sundown, but not before finding a really big bulldozer and posing for pictures on it. Dream come true, even though we didn't get to drive the thing.

The highpoint of the trip was the trip into the jungle atop an old Tempo Trax - the moonlight cast an eerie glow on the forest, and we nearly froze in the cold mountain air. We were lucky to spot some bison, including a dominant male who snorted his disapproval and glared at us for over 10 minutes. Getting off the jeep and walking to a watering hole in the forest was really thrilling, despite assurances from our guide that there were no major predators around. Headed back to the resort to welcome the New Year over a bonfire and watched fireworks in the sky. Heading back home the next day was a drag, needless to say. It was a great trip, thanks to the wonderful company - its been a while since I laughed till my sides almost burst, and all day long at that.