melzscape

26/11 Three Years On

2011-11-26T08:47:00.001-08:00

On the 26th of November 2008, Mumbai, India and so did the world all over saw one of the worse terrorist attacks in the city (of Mumbai). Perhaps all of this could have been stopped, perhaps, lesser lives would have been affected, cannot really say but these terror attacks just refreshed some old wounds, and then again there was no really support from our government. But tributes were paid to the 26/11 martyrs on the third anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks on Saturday.

Many different kinds of homage are being paid to all the lives lost on that day, but is really worth the sacrifices? Mr. Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive is still enjoying a five-star treatment under a high-security Arthur Road jail in Mumbai. Whereas residents of continue to say that the city is still unsafe because of the poor level of security.
But in all of this the common man is suffering, but he is not giving up, he is trying to fight, may it be through violent or un-violent means. Today the real Indian common man is becoming less tolerant and loosing his cool to this ever sleeping and bother-less, government of ours.

The Writings On The Wall: Rahul Dravid Bids Goodbye To ODI cricket

2011-09-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

343 matches, an aggregate of 10,820 runs at a strike-rate of 71.16, with 12 centuries and 82 half- centuries to his credit, he also has 196 catches and 14 stumpings, Rahul Sharad Dravid, the Wall of Indian Cricket, bids adieu to ODI cricket. Having announced his retirement from the 50-over format following his surprise inclusion into the team for the ongoing disaster tour of England after a hiatus of nearly four years, 'The Wall' decided to end his ODI career after the England series.

Also known as 'Mr. Dependable', Rahul Dravid is surely one of the fines to have played the game. He was born on the 11th of January, 1973, made his debut on April 3, 1996, against Sri Lanka during the Singer Cup in Singapore; he captained the India side in 2005 to 2007. His wicket-keeping skills allowed the team to accommodate an additional batsman during the 2003 World Cup which saw the side finish runners-up.

In a career spanning over 15 years, Rahul Dravid has been a liability in the one-day arena, a true selfless player, Dravid retooled his game over the years to become an adept middle-order finisher, a high coming in during the 1999 World Cup in England where he finished as the top run-getter with an aggregate of 461 runs. During the tournament Dravid also etched his name into the record books becoming the only Indian to have scored back to back centuries during the World Cup. Dravid, who became a synonymous to consistency in Indian cricket, has often been forced to live under the shadow of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. As skipper, he had to see the humiliation of India being knocked out of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. Though he gave up his captaincy, he never lost his dignity.

Trekking @ Bhimashankar: The Experience

2011-08-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

13th August, 2011, I all set to go out trekking with nine of my office collogues all the way to Bhimashankar, Karjat. It was my first experience, as it was my first experience; I had no idea of what all that I would be going through. But to tell you the truth, it was a wonderful experience, had one of my amazing experience there, a Place that look like Heaven, almost took us there, but I'm glad we went there, trekking at Bhimashankar was a wonderful experience, a big thanks to all the buddies who were there, had a lot fun.

After work, I went with one of my collogue and also the organiser of the trip, to his place at Bhandup. The others were to meet up with us, at about 11-11:30pm and we were off to Karjat Station from the Bhandup Station. We reached at Karjat Station at 2 in the morning, from the station we went to the Bus Stop to rest for the sometime. At about 4 we were all set to leave for Bhimashankar, We just couldn't get on to the buses as we only stood and saw both the buses getting filled up, off the buses went and we were now waiting for the Tum-Tum or the six-seatter to take us there, we had to switch to a van as the Six-seatter driver was not willing to take us all the way to Khandas village that was base of this trek. We finally reached Khandas village at about 6, then it is a mere 10 minute walk to the start of the trek.

Leval 1: The Ganesh Route to the Ganpati Ghata, only Narendra and Dharmendra had trekked this whereas the others were completely new to this, going from ground zero to the Ganpati Ghata was not that difficult had we taken the easy rout, we only got to know the actual rout after reaching there. The rout we went through was really difficult, I slipped a couple of times, but we moved on to the top at the Ganpati Ghata. A few of my friends offered their prayers there, then we set off to another level, the trekking had only just begun.

Level 2: For me the easiest way moving up, the longest one as it was almost a plain it was almost effortless to move along the way and through the jungle, and we took out small halts in between, click pictures, eat, drink, and just wonder at the view, the greenery, the gushing water falls, the depth, the view on top and at the bottom, and we also saw the monkeys.

Level 3: The most difficult way up, steep, narrow ways, the fog and looking down almost made you feel dizzy. It was the most tiring and the toughest way up, basically we had walked for very long and our legs were hurting like hell, but there was no turning back, we had to keep on moving forwards. But once we reached up it was like reaching Heaven on another kind, nothing heard of, and nothing like ever seen. We found peace, it had taken us more than 6 hours to reach this far and we were tired and cold as hell.

Now we had made plans of staying here for the night and leaving in the morning, but with all the tiredness, we wanted to leave as earliest as possible and get as much rest possible. So we decided to leave, only after having tea, Bhajiyas and Vada-Paw at a tapri over there at the top. It only started raining once we reached the top, and the whole place was foggy, we couldn't see a thing at a distance. A few went to inquire about the bus service that would take us down from the other side, but to out fate, the bus services were not running that day and we were left with no choices but to move down the very path we moved up.

And then the way down, it had taken more than 6 hours for us to come all the way up here and about two hours for to move up form level 1 to level 3, and for me I thought this was my end, because I found it very tough to climb up, I thought it was going to be even more difficult climbing down, and to add up to all this was the incoming traffic of people wanting to climb up. Ironically it only took us about an hour to climb down form level 3 to level 2, we took a halt just to look up and see how much we had climbed. From there on we decided to move quickly and reach Ganpati Ghata as fast as we could, it was hard, tiring, and so very painful for the aching legs. But we took less of water, more of walking and lesser halts, after reaching Ganpati Ghata we took another final halt, and then decides to go down following the proper way down and not the way we created while climbing up. Moving down was really long as we all were tired, out of water stocks and really needing a big rest. Slowly we moved down and finally reach Khandas, from there we got a Scorpio and went off to Neral station, and from Neral station, got down at Dadar and from Dadar caught the Virar Local for Home.

VH1 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time

2011-06-21T00:53:00.001-07:00

Great music artists are not hard to find, but to rate this genius is a tough ask, to rate them by their fame, their work or their class? Everyone is a class apart. Everyone has a different style, how they put out their work into a piece of art is remarkable. Everyone here have achieved great heights in their respective carriers, but personally I think to rate them in any kind of way is not doing justice to them. Everyone is as good as the other, yes; there are some who remarkably created waves in the music world, some were extremely talented, but all in their own, changed the face of music in their own possible way. With their music, they've crossed every boundaries, abolished colour, redefined life as we see it and as we live it, stood up for Humanity, fought against corruption and crime, and so many countless things done through the power of their music, it united us as one.

Here is a look at how VH1 put up their list on their - VH1: the list of the top 100 artists. According to VH1, the voting was conducted by Shugoll Research. The list was determined by a poll of musicians and music experts. Over 200 artists voted including Alicia Keys, Diddy, Ozzy Osbourne and Carrie Underwood, as well as members of U2, the Police, Metallica and Aerosmith.

100 - Alicia Keys

099 - Hall & Oates

098 - Depeche Mode

097 - Pretenders

096 - Journey

095 - OutKast

094 - Mariah Carey

093 - Pearl Jam

092 - LL Cool J

091 - Green Day

090 - Elvis Costello

089 - Beastie Boys

088 - Bee Gees

087 - George Michael

086 - N.W.A.

085 - The Band

084 - Curtis Mayfield

083 - Earth, Wind and Fire

082 - Steely Dan

081 - ABBA

080 - Mary J. Blige

079 - Eminem

078 - Judas Priest

077 - Lynyrd Skynyrd

076 - Run-D.M.C.

075 - Rush

074 - The Cure

073 - Van Morrison

072 - Janis Joplin

071 - R.E.M.

070 - Def Leppard

069 - Tupac Shakur

068 - Otis Redding

067 - Coldplay

066 - Justin Timberlake

065 - The Doors

064 - Talking Heads

063 - Notorious B.I.G.

062 - Genesis

061 - Cream

060 - Whitney Houston

059 - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

058 - Cheap Trick

057 - Iggy & The Stooges

056 - KISS

055 - Peter Gabriel

054 - Public Enemy

053 - Little Richard

052 - Beyoncé

051 - Billy Joel

050 - Sade

049 - Parliament-Funkadelic

048 - Rage Against The Machine

047 - Jay-Z

046 - Ramones

045 - Al Green

044 - Joni Mitchell

043 - Ray Charles

042 - Metallica

041 - Van Halen

040 - The Police

039 - The Kinks

038 - Sly & The Family Stone

037 - Fleetwood Mac

036 - Paul McCartney

035 - Johnny Cash

034 - Tina Turner

033 - Guns N’ Roses

032 - Black Sabbath

031 - John Lennon

030 - Aerosmith

029 - Radiohead

028 - Elton John

027 - Aretha Franklin

026 - Neil Young

025 - Chuck Berry

024 - The Velvet Underground

023 - AC/DC

022 - The Clash

021 - Bruce Springsteen

020 - Marvin Gaye

019 - U2

018 - Pink Floyd

017 - Queen

016 - Madonna

015 - The Beach Boys

014 - Nirvana

013 - The Who

012 - David Bowie

011 - Bob Marley

010 - Stevie Wonder

009 - James Brown

008 - Elvis Presley

007 - Prince

006 - Jimi Hendrix

005 - Bob Dylan

004 - Rolling Stones

003 - Led Zeppelin

002 - Michael Jackson

001 - The Beatles

Bleed To Be Cut

2011-06-20T08:23:00.001-07:00

"Sometimes even as a Human Being one has to learn to be God some how...!"

Walking through this life in an entirely unknown direction all alone and without any support at all can be dangerous. You've tried all your life to live your live in a much different way, you want it to be simple, and then you want all the happiness. You want to live it rich, and then you want to get even more than you can really take. You want everlasting life but you don't want the hardships and the pain surrounding it. You don't want to socialise, but there is too little you can do all alone, you get crippled all alone inside your lonely heart. That's the state of being a Human I guess, you never know what is gone until it is really lost, and you got to get cut just to bleed.

We were the victims of ourselves somehow, maybe the children of a lesser God caught up between Heaven and Hell. We do not need directions, but can we sort out our own way. There are many lessons to learn here on Earth, but to understand everything properly one needs to be cut deep within his soul and dig in within the depth of his spirit, what he then sees maybe the answer to it all. Answers to the questions never known, answers to the hidden, invisible voices that ring on into the idle mind, we never understand it all.

If Now There Is Some Peace

2011-05-08T05:55:00.000-07:00

Let it out somehow, break yourself, shake yourself or just change yourself, yes, you'll have to change yourself, or do something more, maybe something extraordinary just to change the world, but at first you got to have peace, peace in within your own self, within your soul if you wish to bring peace to the others and the world.

Osama is dead, so what? Does that put an end to terrorisms? Who really knows? What the world would get to experience in the future. The world is bust thinking how did the Americans kill Osama so easily, but what they really need to look at is that there are many other Osama's living out there in the world. People who are misled to do something so ugly like killing other innocent lives in the name of religion. Religion was made to unite people but it seems to have divided people instead. There are fake preachers, preaching only rubbish and corrupting the minds of all the people and the young ones. And those who preach all the good are forgotten and let to live an isolated life and then die quietly someday.

But what can we do to bring peace back into the world? We need to Heal this bleeding Earth before it is too late. We have really got to think and think really fast before it is too late for us to even react to what hit us.

Don't create War... Make Peace!

Crack Kills

2011-04-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

Run along with the wind if you can, but it is still not so very easy to flow into the wind as it may take you along to unknown worlds. Go against it and you do not know where to find a safe place to be, or what to hold on to when it gets on to you hard. What seems to be easy is not always the way it seems to be, there is a difference in what we believe in, what we see and what is the actual. We may find that the grass is greener but when we look close, it is no so - in fact, the grass is the same everywhere, only what changes is the way we look at it - the way we assume things to be - exploiting our own imaginations to a complete alien level, dreaming with our eyes wide open.

We dream and dream, and keep on dreaming for eternity until we hit the ground and hit on really flat onto the ground.

"When you really learn to forgive and forget - it doesn't make you God! It only brings out the Human inside of you!"

Where Do We Draw The Line

2010-12-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

On your palm an endless wonder
Lines that speak the truth without a sound
If it can't be my own destine
Tell me where do we draw the line

The word is out, and did you ever think, this world that we all live in is going to fade away. And we all will see our end with our own two eyes and inside those million other innocent lives that we relate to somehow with a common bonding that of Humanity. But where is this Humanity gone? It's gone, faded away and we are not brothers anymore, we are someone complete unknown. From the bottom our broken soul, to the height of our wildest insanity, we were completely unaware of all that we were up to, of where we were heading to or what we were doing to this world - breaking it apart, bit by bit - piece by piece, until it was too late for us to realise that it is now all over.
The lines are drawn, the game is set, the plan is sketched, and the ones responsible for these lines are the first ones targeted for their own doom. It is here where we now draw the line, a line in between you and me, a line in between the rich and the poor, a line between the black and the white - or these are lines drawn between Mankind and God? Who knows, but we did try to play God, every one of us, but we never learnt to forgive, that's all whatever went wrong. But tell me, why is this line drawn anyway? For what reasons, and who is responsible for it all? Who is the one who can be blamed for it - maybe we all. Yes, we all are to be blamed for these lines, lines of division and destruction. A line drawn to seek unworthy power - Playing the God or playing the fool - Whatever we have done here, is there any return - A return back to our innocence?

Federer Wins The ATP Title... But Nadal Still #1

2010-11-29T08:47:00.000-08:00

Flawless Roger Federer floors Rafael Nadal to win ATP title... But Nadal continues to lead ATP rankings, continues to be world number one on the Tennis Court...

Roger Federer overcame Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to win the fifth year-end title of his career with victory in the final of the ATP World Tour Finals. He claimed his fifth titles this season, three from his last four events. With a record of 16 Grand Slam titles, this is his 66th career trophy. Although he closed the gap on Rafael Nadal in the men's ATP tennis rankings with his three set victory, he is still quiet a long way away from the number one position - Currently Nadal is with 12,450 points and Federer is quiet far behind with 9,145 points (the Spaniard still has an advantage of more than 3,000 points).

This victory is Federer's eighth win against 14 defeats against Nadal, but most of those defeats have come on the Clay Court, where Nadal is the King, where as here, in the indoor surface, the Swiss world number two now is 3-0 (his previous wins coming in Shanghai at the year-end event in 2006 and 2007. ) up against Nadal.

Nadal had a dream year (2010), Rafael Nadal is the latest, and by far the youngest entrant in a very small club of tennis superstars to have conquered all four slams. The all-star pair have won 21 of the last 23 Grand Slams (12 for Federer, nine for Nadal).

Federer has ended the season in winning a style against Nadal, but Nadal is someone who now may be hard to overtake, the way he is going about with his finest tennis - Indeed, Federer is a Master, but Nadal too has proven to be just that - another Master. And both these players are simply too good, they are truly the finest tennis players ever to play this game, who, at the top of their forms can floor their opponent any time.

ATP top 10:

1. Rafael Nadal (Spain) - 12,450pts.

2. Roger Federer (Switzerland) - 9,145pts.

3. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) - 6,035pts.

4 Andy Murray (Britain) - 5,760pts.

5. Robin Soderling (Sweden) - 5,580pts.

6. Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) - 3,955pts.

7. David Ferrer (Spain) - 3,735pts.

8. Andy Roddick (US) - 3,665pts.

9. Fernando Verdasco (Spain) - 3,240pts.

10. Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) - 2,920pts.

Heading To Nowhere?

2010-11-27T06:38:00.001-08:00

Long is the road, it is not clear, it is not smooth, it is a bumpy ride to where ever we go. We all here are travelers, travelling here in this place called Earth, meeting up with people, making and breaking up things that we do not even really know of. In this so called life, we have seen and been through a lot of things, some things amazed us, and some things made us laugh, cry, horrified, sing, dance, play, possessive, egoistic, selfish, and a lot, lot more. Some things made us who we really are, where as some things made us what we are not. In simple terms, we lived our very lives here as it went on by us in every day to day affair.

We are living in this world that we did not make, it has been given to us as a gift, a gift, and we also need to protect and keep it intact forever, and not break it into bits and peaces. But what are we up to here? What at we doing to this Earth? Tearing it apart, breaking it one by one into bits and peaces only to serve our own never ending (undying) needs to be selfish and satisfied. Being self centered and egoistic, we have created a huge gap between ourselves and this gap seems to be growing day by day.

We are all living here today, but what does tomorrow really hold in for us? Where will we be heading for tomorrow - Nowhere? The Earth in itself is loosing out, it is dying now, and we Humans are the only ones responsible for it. We are killing the Earth everyday, piercing it, burning it, demolishing it with every thing we do. Have we triggered the ecological activities of the Earth to move along faster? We can feel it, it is warming up, the weather cycle is not proper; the ice is melting at an alarming rate.

Of all that I am completely aware of is that it won't take time for all this to trigger the End of the World, the Yellow Stone Park Volcano could erupt any time, and if it does, it could swallow up the entire globe, then there is lodes of methane trapped inside ice, if it is exposed through the melting of the ice, it might again trigger up another big bang here on Earth. So is it getting over, that is my question? We are certainly heading to nowhere!

Vettel Grabs The Glory - F1 2010

2010-11-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

So close yet so very, very far, these are perfect phrases for both Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber, both gave themselves chances for the title glory in 2010 but both failed and in this small fight for the title, Sebastian Vettel stole the show (and the title).

Vettel had missed out last year to Jenson Button (he didn't impress much this year), but this year, he got his chance for glory. Becoming Germany's second world champion, after Michael Schumacher (who in his comeback finished 9th), Vettel has made his impression as a driver to look out for in the future.

Sadly Schumacher's return to F1 was a bit disappointing, finishing 9th, with just 72 points certainly does not impress much. He also failed to finish the last race due to a crash with Liuzzi. All in all Sebastian Vettel deserved to win, it was not easy pushing this car all the time, but he did not give up hope and fought it till the last race - great goin.

Top 10 Drivers

1. Sebastian Vettel - 256

2. Fernando Alonso - 252

3. Mark Webber - 242

4. Lewis Hamilton - 240

5. Jenson Button - 214

6. Felipe Massa - 144

7. Nico Rosberg - 142

8. Robert Kubica - 136

9. Michael Schumacher - 72

10. Rubens Barrichello – 47

Constructors'

1. Red Bull / Renault - 498

2. McLaren / Mercedes - 454

3. Ferrari - 396

4. Mercedes - 214

5. Renault - 163

6. Williams / Cosworth - 69

7. Force India / Mercedes - 68

8. BMW Sauber / Ferrari - 44

9. Toro Rosso / Ferrari - 13

10. Lotus / Cosworth - N.A

11. HRT F1 / Cosworth - N.A

12. Virgin / Cosworth - N.A

Without A Feeling - Being Numb

2010-11-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

When you had a fall

A fall down on the ground

You're left life-less, meaningless

You're left out without a feeling

You're numb!

We are all gifted with something or the other, sometimes with all of the good and sometimes with all of the bad. We are gifted with victories and defeats, happiness and sorrows, strength and weaknesses. Yes, we are all gifted with the good and the bad as well, but do we really know how to live with and without each of that?

When all of the good is happening in and around you, you feel like being one of the luckiest one who has ever lived on this planet, whereas if all of the bad things are happening in and around you, then you think otherwise. And you are the one who seem to complain at every step in those horrible times.

It is really hard to live in lie, a lie that everything is going to be alright, to wake up every morning and assume that it is going to be a great day, nothing can possibly go wrong. This life is not perfect, and one should also not try to assume or even try to make it perfect, because when reality strikes, it strikes hard, and it strikes so hard that you will not be able to rise up from that fall.

When bad times haunt you, they haunt you without any limits, you curse yourself, you wish to turn back time, sometimes you'd even wish you were dead. It is like living in a horrifying nightmare that will never seek to end. Sometimes you can just close your eyes, let yourself free, let yourself loose and imagine that there is noting wrong, all is okay, it is going to be alright, but the moment you open up your eyes again, you see it right in front of you, showing it's ugly face back at you.

Envy: That Human Feeling

2010-10-09T09:51:00.001-07:00

I write this today because I really think that human feelings can really destroy lives, and especially, this particular feeling, of getting jealous, or envying others is not good. I envy because I am a Human Being, just like you, every Human Being has had this feeling, as it is inbound - right within us all, but like vise, the less of it, the better. It's something one cannot live with or without, but don't know why, sometimes this feeling called 'envy' can swallows up a person completely.

Well, I would just like to say that, it is not good to envy others, but try to be your own in every possible way. All we have to do is just live life to the fullest, of all of that we have done, and not what others are doing or done. And it is well said that, "Don't worry over what other people are thinking about you. They are busy worrying over what you are thinking about them".

Rolling The Dice

2010-09-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Some people think that I am not mature enough in life at my age, that I lack a sense of responsibility in life, but what can I really say, sometimes I feel like I've been in and out through things that I should not have at that stage in life. Many things have gone horribly wrong in life, things that were so disturbing, so painful that it kept putting me down all the time. Sometimes due to misjudgments, miscalculations, I had to face a lot of problems, lost a lot of hope in life, got sick and tired of every bit happing in life at some points, but I knew I had to move on. Some problems just kept following on like a shadow that is always behind us, like a curse. Trying to overcome it was like mounting through something very high, did not know whether to give it up or let is aside and move on.

But then I look at others, others who have gone through ever more, much more worse in life than me. And they've lived on, live on facing everything without any complain, living like it is just another day in life. Like that I still have to learn to get myself used to all that worst in life, and stand up on my two feet on my own and put up a fight with life.

It is so very true that we have to roll our own dice in this game called life. Sometimes we get good numbers, sometimes we don't, sometime we get the brighter side, sometimes not. All we have to do is to keep the faith in ourselves and carry on, taking steps forward in life!

2 Years On @ HDFC Bank

2010-08-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

Wooah! What two years (two whole years in HDFC Bank, my very first job), so many ups and downs, I've now completed two years in HDFC Bank, joint it on the 22nd of August, 2008, my first job and two years seem like they just rushed through (too many things happening in life and at work, just did not know how the years just passed on by).

So, as I remember, I got a call from the HDFC Bank HR department, and I obviously had a go at it, gave my interview luckily got selected. Two years since then, it has been a great experience at HDFC Bank, learnt a lot, and still gearing for more.

Jack Of It All, And The Master Of None

2010-08-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

In this world, today that we live in - if you say that you are the Master of it all, people are going to laugh at you, call you names, they'll never believe in you, they'll prove it to you that they know much better than you and then make you feel down and low. So today, in this insane world that we all live in, the sanest thing to say would be that I'm the Jack of it all and the Master of none.

Each day there is something new that comes up, something that may seem to be impossible but is so true. There are so many new things to be learnt, so many new horizons to explore, there are so many things out there to be conquered, to be seen, felt, and touched. There are so many amazing wonders out there, just waiting to pop up from ones wildest imaginations.

There is so much to see, so much to say, so much to learn, each step of out life is a new lesson to be learnt, another chapter in the book of our lives - so how can we ever be the Masters? How can we know all of it, when we know only so little? That is the only reason why I say that it is a sane choice to say, "I'm the Jack of it all, and the Master of none" and I say that is my mind and hearty open wide and clear.

Killin Time

2010-08-09T08:51:00.001-07:00

And so, life goes on, a little small picnic here and there, but, I'm still not satisfied with it, because my heart wants more and more. I need a bigger break just to refresh myself completely, or a nice relaxed holidaying somewhere it would feel like Heaven - Yeah! That's what I'd love.

So now the branch has changed again, and don't know now where else would I be getting another transfer, or would I call it the quits? Well, till then it's running smooth and there are no such problems in life.

Whatz Up Next?

2010-07-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

People always have to say something about you, some always talk good about you, some talk bad, some people, straight at your face talk of you, good as well as bad, these are the people who are the ones whom you call your best friends.

Well, I'm going through a lot of ups and downs in life, having to make a few small but very effective decisions on my own. Still clueless about where to my life is leading me to, but I'm just going in my own was, walking on and on and on, till the day comes when I'd have to find a place for me to finally rest. Now it feels like I'm walking on something completely unknown, earlier had the support of my family, so I knew kind-a where to walk, but then too there were many difficulties along the way, broken bridges, rocky roads, dark rooms, endless ways to go, but only one to choose. But now I'm kind-a walking alone, in a dark, dark unknown road, saw a light somewhere, tried to run towards it but fell down, I fell down somewhere in the middle of nowhere, there seems to be a way out but that way is not too easy to be found. In this life's mystery, everything seems to be faded.

Taking It One At A Time

2010-07-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Football Fever wondering who's going to win - Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands, Spain, Paraguay...? Then at Wimbledon, Federer loosing his crown and not being able to attend the final this time, wondering who is going to win here as well? Hoping for Nadal to win... F1 not sounding so intrusting as Michael Schumacher is not scoring and both Farrari drivers failing to give a good performance.

And then there are various other personal issues here in the mind, Job, Life, Health, House Under Construction, Vacation, Sat-off's, Rest, Sleep, Fun, Pleasure, Leisure, Work, Pressure, Stress, Sundays, Family, Manic Mondays, Finances, Tuesdays, Salary, Fire Mails, Thursdays, Fitness, Headache, Fridays, Pain, Busy Saturdays, Job Change, Oh! My God, So much of chaos in one mind, I think I really need a break, so let me set off to someplace where I'll have peace in my mind.

One Year On: A Tribute To The Magic Of Michael Jackson

2010-06-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

He had the Magic, he had the spark and he was truly one of the greatest entertainer that ever lived (or existed on Earth). A year on after his death, he's made more than billions in his name (dead celebrities' earn a lot, but MJ has surpassed them all). He's got new admirers, new fans, the world now is feeling a sense of great loss in his absence. The Magic that now is lost would never be repeated again, for the magician is gone.

On the 25th of June, 2009, the world lost (I believe) one of its greatest gifts. A gift that was not yet done, and we all failed to see the magic live on the stage again, we failed to experience what would have been one of the greatest (comeback) live gigs ever. The dream left incomplete and a legacy lives on with no one to conquer it again, Michael left the world undone, the magic, the final vow left still incomplete.

Life's Really Been Tricky

2010-06-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

What I mean to say here is that this life that we live in indeed really, really very tricky. Don't know what's coming up next, don't know where the next turn will lead you to, don't know how, where, there's gonna be a change in life. It really goes from nothing to something and from something to nothing, never everything (life is never fulfilling). There has always to be a time or a point in life where things go blank.

In this life we learn a lot of things everyday, in every step that we take, there's always some thing new to learn , one of the greatest things that we get to learn, I think is Human Nature. Yes, Human Nature is very important to be understood, but one can never understand it no matter what, because it depends upon person to person, situation to situation. Two people are never the same, and hence there are conflicts/misunderstandings between two people.

But one thing in life is sure, even though it is tricky, even though it is tough; change makes it even more challenging.

Fifty

2010-05-01T22:34:00.001-07:00

Wooh, this is my fiftieth post, cool, and I have so far got fairly a good response here. It was nice that I got hooked on to this blogger thing, 'coz I really think that this is the only and the best way to shout your word out really loud and clear. "I'm Lovin' It" Yeah!

Only Just Begun

2010-05-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Maybe somewhere, someone has written down our lives, maybe on our hands or on our foreheads. But somewhere in our lives we do realise that someone or something is keeping a watch on you, following you, guiding you, protecting you, taking you places where you'd dare to explore.

Today we had the blessings done for the new house construction; the work had started about two to three months ago, from the breaking down the House to re-constructing it, the process has now reached to another level, as now the building process starts, still the memories of the old house remain.

When Pressure Drags You In

2010-04-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Only time can tell, whatever is written in your Life Story, really it is so hard to predict, when you feel that things will go smooth, something worst happens with me. I don't know why, but my life right now, specially in the last one month or two, has been bad, maybe more bad times are going to role by, who knows. Well, things sometimes are going horribly wrong and I am the one put on the scanner for that. At times, really I feel that life needed a Pause Button Seriously, because I need it just right now, feels like I should just hit on the pause button and relax for some time.

Well, everyone has to go round their rough patches time and time again, everyone has to carry their own crosses, if there's help, it's really good, but then you are always on your own here. I think the biggest thing that puts one down is 'Pressure'. The pressure to perform, to stand up to a task, to live this life that you are living right, to make everything that is alright. Pressure is everywhere, one just needs to find the right way of getting out of it.

So, let pressure not drag you in, face it, be brave, b'coz on the other side, there's light shining just for you, co come out into the light one more time, don't loose your hope.

Smooth Road Nowhere

2010-03-20T08:12:00.001-07:00

It's going down, or falling out

In pressure could you find the grace?

When luck seems to be fading out

So where do we go now, when there seems to be no place safe, where do we start, when all starts seem to have come to a stop. Life is not yet on the track, the smooth road seems to have somehow disappeared complete out of the sight. All that is visible is a troubled time with too many ups and downs, but hey, then there are also some turnarounds. But these turnarounds are so hard to come your way at times.

Things now-a-days are really getting on to me these days, finding it a bit difficult to go on in life, seems that I'm stuck somewhere in a lone dark corner right now, with little I know how to move, but surely there's light there on the other side, presently the road I walk is not smooth, there's no light, but I know at the end there is light shining for me. And with this hope I walk this lonely road of mine, waiting and wishing for a good sign. Just need to hold on to anything and everything possible now...

WR: Batti Gull

2010-03-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Off lately the commuters of the Western Railways are daily facing an in-between power failure or can we stat it as power fluctuation, don’t know what really happens but, somewhere between Borivali-Daiser, Naigaon-Vasai Road and else where in between, there is a lot of power fluctuation happening, the lights (including the fans) go off inside the local train. This is now happening daily since almost a month now, seems strange as the voltage is now up by 25000 volts, such things should not happen. First it seems as if only the new local trains were having a problem, but after travelling in the older local trains, commuters face the same problem.

But do they (the WR officials) understand this problem, though it seems to be a minor problem now, it can turn up into a major problem just within days. Hope the locals don't stop functioning or start mal-functioning because of this problem, because, if it does, there are going to be a lot of problems for the commuters, who go up and down daily (including me).

Trouble Times...

2010-03-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

So here I sit down here again to write something down with so many thoughts storming in within my mind, don't know what to say, what to write with all that is happening all around in my life. It's really getting a lot tricky at work; things are going in an unpleasant manner, some things, somewhere are crossing the line, my life is in a soup and I really need to get out of all this mess.

Things are really not working as good as I would like it all to be, but I think that there is a light somewhere at a far off distance, it cannot be seen but I seem to feel it deep inside me. I know I would get out of all the mess created now, but when? Only time can tell.

And Life Still Goes On...

2010-03-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, so there are many things happening on in my life right now, some things I can understand, whereas some things are too uneasy to be understood. And life is still going at it's annoying blend of pace here, 'fast when needed slow, and slow when needed fast', well, that's the way it goes generally I guess, but it's really annoying.

Well, it's been almost a month now and the mighty 'Bella-Kunj' has still not been grounded, little hammer work still remains and so does the cleaning and clearing up work. And in all of this I'm still wondering, when the new house will finally be complete.

Say, I'm in a new branch now, and it's been more than three weeks, I'm at the Vishal Hall branch, at Andhari (East). It's quiet good, learning a lot here, it's a bigger branch, so more transactions at the teller counter, and on top of it all I'm there as the main cashier, cool, life is rolling with unexpected things one by one. Every time there are things rolling out that are totally unexpected, but yet challenging, looking forward in this new task as Main Teller in HDFC Bank - Vishal Hall. There were a few hick-ups but thinking that I am getting the hang of it, hope to make it through properly.

EGO: That Human Feeling

2010-02-14T08:13:00.001-08:00

Well, it's only a three letter word but it surely can change more than a million things. It's something one cannot live with or without, one has to be egoistic and at the same time non-egoistic in life. But don't know why, sometimes this feeling called 'ego' swallows up a person so much that everything said and done against his will, is like committing a sin.

Yes, even I am egoistic, but not to the level I've seen in a lot of people. Sometimes one can be so egoistic that he doesn't want to listen or believe anything anyone wants to say to him, an egoistic person will always want to prove to the world that he is always right, and the others are totally wrong. They are also very selfish or self-centered; they only look what is better for them and care a damn for anyone else.

I write this today because I really think that this human feeling can really destroy lives, it's even worse than 'hate'. But one thing is really very true, too much ego is not good but too little is also not good, today one has to be 'self-centered' in a way, has to take care of himself. And certainly not go on and boost about self, how well off or whatever he is.

At the end I'd just like to say that, we all need to be egoistic, but in a gentle way, not by hurting the feelings of others around, just live life to the fullest and also do look back (be humble) at times.

House Being Torn Down But It's Wimbledon All The Way

2010-01-31T04:18:00.000-08:00

"Murray beaten by master Federer" read the headline on the Wimbledon website, and it was quiet a fight but Murray did not meet the excellence that Federer put before him. Federer now has his 16th grand slam title and fourth at Melbourne Park (The Australian Open), surely proves the dominance of this pure genius at play.

And at the other end of the World, here in India at my home... well our house is getting torn down to make way for a brand new one. Our 46 year old Mansion (House) has lived long to tell it's own tale...well if it could...

Now we are only waiting for it all to come down, get cleared and a new house to come in it's place. There are endless memories inside the head about the house, watching it at the state it was now in really made me feel bad, but as people say... We got to move on in life...

Waiting for the day when our new house will be completely build and we will enter in it with a hope that it will last for a long time... long to tell it's own tale...

Shifted!

2010-01-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

Now, everyone was building a house, I really mean renovating / improvising their houses all around us, and we were planning to do the same long ago. We wanted to build a proper house but there were a few problems within the family. But now thanks to mutual talks and corporation from a few, we will finally be building our very own house.

This sounds great, but it's gonna take long, don't really know how long but it's worth the wait. We have a lot of plans for the new house, hope all things fall in place and everything goes smooth.

Well, previously we and our uncle used to live in a bungalow type house (they used to live downstairs and we, upstairs) now we are getting separate homes for ourselves, to minimize the tensions and everything.

And for now we've shifter over to a relatives place, till our house is done...

Anyways, hoping for the best, till next time...

Twenty 10

2009-12-31T08:27:00.000-08:00

So as we say goodbye to the year 2009 and await for the dawn of 2010, I wish to look back at a few events in this year (like everyone else) that were really meant something for me. This year was really different from any other year in my life, maybe because, in this year I have learnt a lot in life.

The starting of the year was not all that interesting, same life, home - office - home, was the same old routine that I followed. In a way the first half of the year was where I was living the same old life that I used to, but maybe the second half of the year, gave me something to cherish - I was going places, doing and learning things I wanted to. And yes, nothing did come as easy as well. But probably this year, specially the second half was something to cherish for me. Well, things wern't the same, later on at the end, was enjoying life a bit.

Well, that's much about me, short and sweet. Nothing so special, nothing so extraordinary that happened, just ordinary stuff in this ordinary life of mine.

Now about the events that happened around the world I'd like to speak about here:

Well to start with, we'd go date wise here:

On the 20th of January, the USA saw a change, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th, and first African American, President of the States. A change for sure, a lot is expected of him, can he stand up to the test, who knows only time will tell.

On the 3rd of March, Gunmen attack a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, Pakistan, killing eight people and injuring several others, the players however were thankfully safe. This also raised a lot of questions about the security in Pakistan, where the situation was completely out of hand.

On the 11th of June, there was an outbreak of the H1N1 influenza strain, or “swine flu", that caused concerns and panic all across the world.

On the 25th of June, the world in a state of shock, a shock which was really unthinkable of, pop superstar, the King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson was no more, and so were gone all the hopes of one of the greatest comebacks in ages.

On the 7th of July, A public memorial service is held for musician Michael Jackson. It is regarded as one of the most prominent funerals of all time. The world paid it's last respect to the King of Pop, crying in disbelief that he now was no more. A memorial held at the "Staples Center" saw his entire family on stage, including his three children, Prince Michael Jackson (12), Paris Katherine Jackson (11) and Prince Michael Jackson II - also known as Blanket (7), who were there for the first time on stage, and they sang to his tunes in memory

On the 22nd of July, The longest total Solar Eclipse of the 21st century, lasting up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, occurs over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

On the 2nd Of October, The International Olympic Committee chooses Rio de Janeiro to hold the 2016 Summer Olympics.

And today it the Lunar Eclipse, cool way to end the year I say. So these were a few major events, adding to these were another events that made headlines across the world.

And who'd forget - Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Picture, Best Music, Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay, Best Musical Score - all at one memorable time, as Brit director Danny Boyle's Mumbai-based 'Slumdog Millionaire' swept almost every popular movie award show including the Oscars. And making India more proud was A.R. Rehman, the man who won two Oscars - and so the world went Jai Ho...all the way.

Roger Federer winning the French Open and the Wimbledon to become the Number 1 player in Tennis again. The Pakistan Cricket team won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, after India's sad fallout. The Indian Cricket Team becoming Number 1 Test Team for the first time in History of Cricket, and plus doing very well in ODIs as well.

Well, the Indian Cricket Team is doing fine, but what about the Country, yes we need to change as Indians. Can we dare to change, in the face of booming economy, there is light shining, totally new different things to be conquered. Just hoping India blooms in Twenty 10, not only from the outside but also from the inside.

Well, so in the end I'd like to wish everybody a very Prosperous New Year, may the New Year be wonderful to you all.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

2009-12-27T22:33:00.001-08:00

Each time I look into the mirror I see a new face of mine, each time trying to say something different each and every time. But I always fail to realised what it really wants to say to me, I just can't read those eyes.

It is very important for us all to know and understand ourselves, sometimes we do, but most of the times we fail to understand the real us. We tend to be someone or something else, beyond our own recognition.

So can we just look into the mirror see it for real, look deep inside those eyes and find out what they really want to say to us, maybe we will find many answers hidden within ourselves. Some answers that were so hard to find once but just by spending time within ourselves, going deep in spiritually, maybe we will find the answers to our own lives.

Just look inside your heart, and inside those eyes, you will know exactly what is going on in that mind of yours.

Cold November Rains!

2009-11-10T09:01:00.001-08:00

It is raining in the month of November, but these rains are just bad as they'll just bring out the heat and spread some more diseases. The rain did bring some pleasant breeze but the Electricity Department people just keep playing their old dirty tricks (every time it rains the electricity the gone) that really sucks. This department does not realise anything, there are no Humans in this Department at all. The lights go off at any hell timings, even 12 at night time, for more than 6-7 hours a day.

I believe that in India all this will never change, the government has always exploited people in this similar manner and will still continue to do so. Wonder when will all this end, matters just keep on getting worse. I mean the trains are late, there is water shortage, electricity problems, just how much will a common man face?

Formula 1: End Of An Amazing Season, 2009

2009-11-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

Just to know how much things have changed in formula 1, one has to be its fan right from the beginning. First of all, my congratulations to Jenson Button and Brawn-Mercedes for the fantastic showdown all season, though personally I did want Rubens Barrichello to win, but that did not really happen. Button was indeed fantastic and deserved to win, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel also did a fantastic job for the Red Bull Racing-Renault too, going beyond and saving the best for last with .

So, the drivers' standings finished as bellow:

1. Jenson Button - 95

2. Sebastian Vettel - 84

3. Rubens Barrichello - 77

4. Mark Webber - 69.5

5. Lewis Hamilton - 49

6. Kimi Räikkönen - 48

7. Nico Rosberg - 34.5

8. Jarno Trulli - 32.5

9. Fernando Alonso - 26

10. Timo Glock - 24

11. Felipe Massa - 22

12. Heikki Kovalainen - 22

13. Nick Heidfeld - 19

14. Robert Kubica - 17

15. Giancarlo Fisichella - 8

16. Sebastien Buemi - 6

17. Adrian Sutil - 5

18. Kamui Kobayashi - 3

19. Sebastien Bourdais - 2

20. Kazuki Nakajima - 0

21. Nelsinho Piquet - 0

22. Vitantonio Liuzzi - 0

23. Romain Grosjean - 0

24. Jaime Alguersuari - 0

25. Luca Badoer - 0

And, the construction standings finished as bellow:

1. Brawn-Mercedes - 172

2. RBR-Renault - 153.5

3. McLaren-Mercedes - 71

4. Ferrari - 70

5. Toyota - 59.5

6. BMW Sauber - 36

7. Williams-Toyota - 34.5

8. Renault - 26

9. Force India-Mercedes - 13

10. STR-Ferrari - 8

And as you can see, every one scored some points but the debutions Brawn-Mercedes clearly standing atop with 172 championship points.

And next year, there are going to be 19 races, and the season is going to get over by mid November. With new teams lines up, Lotus makes a comeback, hope its going to be another action packed GP racing as this year, 2010 (Twenty Ten).

Top 100 Tracks According To HT!

2009-10-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

On the 23rd of October, 2009, Hindusthan Times, in it's special supplement, HT café gave, an article listing "Mumbai's Favourite Playlist" giving a line up of top 100 English tracks that have been playing in the city (and perhaps in India's other metropolises too). I don't know how far would one agree with this list but the list had some of the all time great English Songs ever, agreed.

Here is the line up: (according to htcafé 23rd October, 2009)

1) Summer Of '69 - Bryan Adams

2) Hotel California - Eagles

3) November Rain / Sweet Child Of Mine - Guns 'N' Roses

4) Winds Of Change - Scorpions

5) Zombie - Cranberries

6) Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd

7) Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

8) YMCA - The Village People

9) Roadhouse Blues - The Doors

10) American Pie - Don McLean

11) That Thing You Do - Fountains Of Wayne

12) Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

13) Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple

14) I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

15) It's My Life - Bon Jovi

16) Loosing My Religion - REM

17) We Will Rock You - Queen (mistakenly printed 'Def Leppard' in htcafé)

18) We Didn't Start The Fire - Billy Joel

19) Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

20) Every Breathe You Take - The Police

21) (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones

22) Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

23) La Bamba - Los Lobos

24) Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor

25) Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen

26) Pretty Women - Roy Orbison

27) I Want To Break Free - Queen

28) Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

29) More Than Words - Extreme

30) Staying Alive - Bee Gees

31) Sacrifice - Elton John

32) Beat It - Michael Jackson

33) Sultana Of Swing - Dire Straits

34) Don't Speak - No Doubt

35) Everybody Hearts - REM

36) We Are The Champions - Queen

37) Hard Day's Night - The Beatles

38) Free Fallin' - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

39) Thriller - Michael Jackson

40) La Bamba - Ritchie Valens

41) Paradise (Original title: "Another Day In Paradise") - Phil Collins

42) With Or Without You - U2

43) What's Going On - For Non-Blondes

44) Cecilia - Simon And Garfunkel

45) Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin

46) River Of Dreams - Billy Joel

47) You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate

48) Jeremy - Perl Jam

49) Sweet Dreams - Eurhythmics

50) Mama I'm Coming Home - Ozzie Osbourne

51) Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynrd

52) La Isla Bonita - Modonna

53) I Feel Good - James Brown

54) What If God Was One Of Us - Joan Osbourne

55) I Will Do Anything For Love - Meatloaf

56) Simply The Best - Tina Turner

57) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cindy Lauper

58) Walk Like An Egyptian - Bangles

59) Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

60) Leaving On a Jet Plane - John Denver

61) Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

62) California Dreaming - Mamas And Papas

63) Proud Mary - CCR

64) What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

65) Right Here Waiting For You - Richard Marx

66) D.I.S.C.O. - Ottawan

67) Lady In Red - Chris De Burgh

68) Riders On The Storm - The Doors

69) Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley

70) Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye

71) Imagine - John Lennon

72) Where The Streets Have No Name - U2

73) Take It Easy - Eagles

74) I Want It That Away - Backstreet Boys

75) Bittersweet Symphony - Verve

76) Living On The Edge - Aerosmith

77) Lean On Me - Bill Withers

78) Wonderwall - Oasis

79) Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

80) Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

81) Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas

82) Uptown Girl - Billie Joel

83) Highway To Hell - AC/DC

84) I Love Rock And Roll - Joan Jett

85) Like A Prayer - Madonna

86) Love Is All Around - The Troggs

87) Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane

88) Smooth Operator - Sade

89) Unchained Melody - Air Supply

90) Light My Fire - The Doors

91) Gimme Hope, Joanna - Eddy Grant

92) Black Or White - Michael Jackson

93) Mama Mia - ABBA

94) Red Red Wine - UB40

95) I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder

96) Always - Bon Jovi

97) Words - Boyzone

98) Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers

99) Heaven - Bryan Adams

100) Gangsters Paradise - Coolio

This list has some of the most outstanding songs ever, but I certainly won't rely on the list, sorry, but I beg to differ...

Sometimes... Dreams Can Come True!

2009-10-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

11th October, 2009, we (I, my brother - Malcolm, and my cousin brother - Pradeep) went on a trip to Igatpuri to see our aunt who is there (she's a nun there). It came up suddenly and to me it was a great thing because I badly need an outing.

So we set our journey from the Vasai - Jalgaon S.T. (State Transport) Bus, thankfully my brother had reserved the seats or else we would have to have stood all through the long journey. Sitting right at the end we were pretty excited about the journey, clicking pictures from our digi-cam, chatting, laughing and enjoying our bus ride. The driver too was some sort of a sport, we joked that he was a pretty nicely 'drifting' the bus through the Ghats in the grand Ferrari (we call the ol' S.T. Bus a 'Ferrari'). The greenery was amazing and specially the Ghats, the old bridges, it was all so beautiful.

On reaching Igatpuri, we had to walk a little bit more to reach the convent, when we reached the convent; our aunt greeted us with a warm smile happy to see us after a very long time. It (the convent) was so very simple looking yet so beautiful, after all it had a very grand mountainous view to it.

The saddest part was that we only had a very little time to stay; we had to catch the bus to Vasai. But aunty said that the bus now would be too crowded and we won't get a place to sit in the crown, so we decided to go by rail.

We took a jeep to the Kasara Station, from there to Dombevali, from Dombevali to Diva, and then caught the Diva - Vasai Train to get back home.

It was an amazing journey, loved it, I had a great experience. I always wanted to travel in the Diva - Vasai Train, got my chance, wanted to see Igatpuri, so, went there, wanted an outing, got it... but would love to enjoy the same for more than just one day - you know!

Steps Forward And Steps Backward

2009-09-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

You always took steps forward to reach a desired destination, to fulfill your goals, to reach a point where you think you're really gong to be 'satisfied'. But then there were times when you had to pull up, taking your steps backwards. It was tough initially but then you realised that it was a part of a game, a game called life.

Life comes to us with many options or ways, but it's up to us to choose which one is the best one for us. At times we choose the wrong ones, and then we have to come backwards to choose another option. But at times all those options are just ways, and within those options there lies our ultimate goals.

We may choose any option, all these options or ways leas us to only one direction, at times we fail to see. What we do not realise, failure is just a stepping stone to success, we keep on saying that but tend to forget it easily.

The truth I feel is that every option, every way we choose is the correct one, once we fail in the same, we get another chance to overcome the past errors we made. And it is this way we can reach where we always dream of. There are many who got through against all odds and made it to the top, even though the kept laughing at them or cursing them, they did not budge, they kept on walking their way. And then there were those who felt like changing their ways every time they faced hardships, these were the one who suffered in the end, these were the ones who felt incomplete.

So what are you thinking now? All life needs is a few steps forward, then even a few backwards, to reach a desire called 'satisfaction'.

Footboarders Beware

2009-09-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

You got no choice but to stand on the footboard of the local trains if you are a Mumbaiker, but of late, the TTE's are booking people who do so. Wonder what's got into them, yes, it's an offence but before no one really bothered about that, then why now suddenly the awareness?

People who are caught in the act, just complaint about the rush in the train, and as usual the TTS's don't give a damn. Today I saw the TTE's on the act at the Mumbai Central Station in the evening while coming home waiting for the train. Don't know if they were doing a god job but, some accuses were really baseless, travelers either wanting to make way for onboarders, or just trying to catch the train that was crowded. Some cases were genuine though, there were some who just blocked the ways for the onboarders.

Well, I don't know about this new act started of lately but as always there are too many flaws all around. At times people running on tracks are still ignored, and then there are some who intentionally flock around and create a scene or some kind of a racket, but go totally ignored.

Well, finally all I want to say is that, the act is good but the people who supervise i.e. the TTE's need to be trained first, and most importantly they should always catch the right person on the move.

Ask Me Not Anything

2009-09-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

Days just go passing by and for me it's not going any easy, not really enjoying life as I always wished to. Sometimes things just don't seem to go the way I want to (that's life but...) and I'm left thinking what next. Luck seems to be fading away, life seems to be going in a mode unknown.

So do not ask me anything, anything about myself, because I don't think that I'll be able to tell you everything. Life inside is not so simple and all the bad things keep on happening at the same time, giving no chance at all to look back. And when there are some good things happening wonder why they are so short lived. "Came one day gone one night".

So I think what more to write, maybe I'll leave something for the next time. As they say "Life is and open book, it's never over until the final page is done".

Luck Fading Away Or Dying Out?

2009-08-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know why they used to say that I'm lucky, but now, today I don't find myself lucky at all. Somehow the luck factor has died away from my life. Now I've become more sort of an unlucky person. Failing and falling in most of my life now, I think things are not like they used to be before. Life's gone from great to good and now from good to not so good.

Think I need a refreshment in life, to make it much better, but wonder what that refreshment could be...

Schumi Come Back To Life In The Fast Lain?

2009-07-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

Following the tragic incident that happened at the Hungarian GP Qualifying, the freak accident that took place might just bring some good news to Schumi fans. Whatever happened with Massa was bad, but it's indeed good to hear that he is ok, and can walk out of the hospital within the next 10 or so days. But he may not be able to race now at least for two to three races. So I'm really hoping that Michael Schumacher somehow makes a comeback, it doesn't seem possible but I really hope that it would be possible.

Schumi, now 40 is certainly unlikely to replace Massa in the next races, but if he does, it would be fun to watch him again, doing what he does best - race a Ferrari that is!

Under The Spotlight: Michael Jackson Tribute

2009-07-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

The final curtain has fallen,

The final show has just ended,

One of the greatest entertainers of all time now laid to rest.

So was his legacy that all over the world, no matter black or white, rich or poor, children or old people, no matter what cast, creed, colour came together to pay tribute to the King, to bid him a final goodbye.

Now there's no one under the spotlight, no one dares to touch those lines, but the spotlight, it shines, shines on to keep his legacy alive, a legend that will not be easily forgotten.

On the 7th of July, 2009, the world paid it's last respect to the King of Pop, crying in disbelief that he now was no more. A memorial held at the "Staples Center" saw his entire family on stage, including his three children, Prince Michael Jackson (12), Paris Katherine Jackson (11) and Prince Michael Jackson II - also known as Blanket (7), who were there for the first time on stage, and they sang to his tunes in memory.

His Music Will Live For Ever...

World Number 1: Roger Federer

2009-07-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Roger Federer is a true champion, and he just proved it at Wimbledon yesterday beating Andy Roddick in an amazing final in four hours and 16 minutes to claim his sixth Wimbledon crown. He beat him 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14, the last set beating a breathe taking display of both players ability, but Federer had the last count breaking Roddick’s serve to earn the title.

The win not only gave Federer his 15th Grand Slam Victory, but also assured him Number 1 in the Tennis World Rankings yet again, well done Mr. Federer.

Long Live The King Of Pop!

2009-06-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

26th June, 2009 saw the world in a state of shock, a shock which was really unthinkable of, pop superstar, the King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson was no more, and so were gone all the hopes of one of the greatest comebacks in ages.

May he now be at Peace, for all his life he was never at peace, stolen from his childhood and never really given a chance to express himself to the real world, Michael never really got to show the world the real side of him.

True legends die young, and Michael was not any exception.

India's Loss Was Pak's Game

2009-06-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

T20 was just a fun game for them; all they thought of it seemed to be way different from what others thought of it. For them it was just a game played for fun, runners-up last time around in South Africa, they ended up becoming the champions this time in England. How odd is the game of cricket especially in this shorter format, mighty Australia, kicked out in the first round, where as a team like Ireland gave a tough fight to the Sri Lankans.

But this still means that good ol' England still have to prove a point in this game of cricket, they still have not won any major game, not a single World Cup, and not even a T20 Champions Trophy, that's pretty odd, if this is the Country that invented the game.

Surely, T20 is different game; anything can happen on a given day, zeros can turn heroes and heroes, well, you know can be a zero. India (winners of the last T20 in South Africa) didn't start well, though they won, they didn't look like a unit, where as list time runners-up Pakistan seemed to be a complete different unit altogether.

My personal favorites to win the Trophy were South Africa, but that didn't work so, sadly - but Pakistan had the better of India, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Well as they say anything is possible in this format of the game, and luck also plays it's part, well, Park was lucky - just like India were last time around.

Where's My Party Mode?

2009-05-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I've been at a party at Privilege Inn (Pride Restaurant), Malad, it was a party hosted by HDFC Bank. It was supposed to be my first time at any kind a party involving a complete different level of people. Generally it was little awkward for me to be there and enjoy with these people, to say, they were all HDFC staffs' but for me were a complete unknown.

So, as usual the party started very late, every party starts late, a few gigs from a few people and then everyone was invited to hit the floor. Many hit the floor alright but it seemed a little awkward for me to join them, did feel like shaking the leg here and there but the mind was not with the heart. There were only a few people I really knew, but not really knew them in the real sense. They pulled me to have a dance; I did a little bit, but really could not loose my self into the music.

I had never learnt how to socialise in the first place, the only time I danced socially was at one of my uncles wedding and with my college friends during our sendoff party. Well, if there's a next time, I'd try to my best to at least dance a bit more ;)

Wanna-b Some Place Else

2009-03-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

So now life has become more or less like a machine, doing the same thing over and over again, all over again and again and again and again...

I need a break, or maybe I need a vacation some place where I'll be far away from work and my routine life. Also thing about future studies looking to join Welingkar for a distance learning programme, lets see now. But where I really want to be now is a very peaceful place where I'd want to relax and spend some time for myself and keep away for the so called drowning world. I would love to go for a trip abroad, would prefer London at the O2 Arena in July just to see Michael Jackson perform his comeback gig.

What else? Well, then get back to work and keep doing the same damn thing over and over again, all over again and again and again and again...

Slumdog All The Way... Jai Ho!

2009-02-23T04:02:00.000-08:00

So here I sit down again to write another blog, this one's the first in the year 2009. So where was I? Well, a little bit busy I guess - work load never gave me a chance to sit down and write another blog.

So what's special today? Firstly, it's a holiday today, and secondly, can't keep away from the Oscar glories that India touches thanks to the Brit director Danny Boyle's Mumbai-based 'Slumdog Millionaire'. The film has bagged 8 Oscars (Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Picture, Best Music (Song - Jai Ho), Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay, Best Musical Score) which was really amazing. Frankly, I did not feel that the film would go on to put such a good show at the Oscars though, but was confident that A.R. Rehman would win one.

The whole thing about Slumdog winning was great; the feeling was amazing, just like an Indian film has won an Oscar. Though not an Indian film, it was a film about India, a film about Mumbai, and it's people.

All I can do right now is thank Mr. Danny Boyle for his wonderful adaptation, it was indeed wonderful and a very proud moment for every Indian. And of course not to forget our very own A. R. Rehman for his magical musical score in the film.

On one last note all I wanna say is ... Jai Ho!

Wonder What's Coming Next?

2008-11-29T21:47:00.000-08:00

Things were just going their own separate ways; lives were on their regular trail when suddenly something struck. Tragedy! It was going to be like an everlasting nightmare to hard to be true, yet true and right in front of you. Terrorists! do not know how many entered via the seas to cause chaos in Mumbai affecting a thousand lives across the streets, at CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), in the Taj (The Taj Mahal Hotel), the Trident, and at the Nariman House.

The nightmare that continued for almost 60 hours was the worst Terrorist attacks on India. There were plans to blow up the Taj Hotel again and also the Trident, but what was unclear was the attack on the Nariman House (were the Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch Group targeted here?).

In all these attacks only the common man suffered, while the politicians wrote speeches pointing out at oppositions for the lack of security at the ports. Really who is to be blamed for all of this, people who were ignorant or the ones who conducted these attacks? The attackers obviously came with an aim to cause more destruction and chaos; they were well planned and ready for a long fight (60 hours and there were still enough weapons to go on for another few more hours).

Our Police, Commandos & Naval Officers did their best to end it and they were successful in it too. But in all of it there was a heavy price to be paid, that of innocent lives and destruction of property.

I won't go on about it because it hurts to even think about it, the destruction, the chaos and the amount of lives lost. One can only hope to come out of it as fast as possible, but to come back to normalcy from such a big shock will take time. In that mean time let's pray for all the lives lost and the lives affected in these 60 hours of terror.

Now no one can even imagine what's coming in next for them - hope that everything will just be alright.

Trouble Times Ahead?

2008-10-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

So here I sit to write again with so many thoughts in my mind, don't know what to say, what to write with all that is happening all around the country. Communal violence, terrorist strikes, political wars, caste differences, and so many other disturbances have taken place in the country all this month, and not to forget the stock market that's making people go crazy.

Firstly the attack on Christians in parts of Orissa, Bangalore, Mangalore, and many other places only targeted innocent people who just wanted to live their life as a simple Human Being, took up a religion for a change but the consequences were as seen and heard (well they say a true Christian has to face their own crosses - that's very true). But this has been happening now for years and there's no one to really stop it. There are brothers killing their own brothers just in the name of religion.

And there has also been a huge political dram between the North Indians and the Maharashtrans or the Marathi Manus. All this is leading to nowhere, but this all is just adding fuel to the fire that's being repeatedly burning on and on and on. In all this drama only innocent people were affected, the others either stayed far away or took part in ruining normal, everyday life all around.

To be more in the darker side, it's festive season in India and there have been a lot of problems this year, not only the political clashes but also the Indian Economy is going in for a swing... (Although these problems are faced throughout the globe, here in India, due to the festive season it makes it a lot worse, as the festive season id indirectly hit.)

To end it here and not make this stuff to lengthy, I hope this all changes as the time moves on, after all we are Human Beings in the end, we will have to forgive and forget (at-least try to) and again live together in peace and harmony, and also do hope that the market makes a steady comeback...

But in all of this mess, we find a brighter side, HEY - the Indian Cricket Team is Winning! And that too verses the (so called) Mighty Aussies...

Introduction & Swagat

2008-09-14T04:53:00.000-07:00

8th September to 13th September 2008:

"Introduction & Swgat" it's a training session conducted by HDFC Bank for all it's newly joinees. It was conducted at Hotel Kohinoor Park, Prabhadevi (opposite Siddhivanayak Temple at Dadar West). Day one was a great experience; we were made familiar with the working of the Bank and most importantly we got to know how it really started - out of nothing to what it is today. This training was basically conducted in order to introduce us to the bank and not really introduce ourselves to the bank.

Our trainer for the event was Siddeshwar Natu who was a lot fun to go on with. So from the day two onwards it was pure learning about the bank and the ways it had to handle it's various processes. On Friday, we got a new trainer as Siddeshwar was to go to Delhi for some work purpose. He was replaced by Shalu Mathur who carried on with the programme and talked about the various types cards and the various types of accounts available at HDFC.

A week went by and so the training program over, we were wished our very best for the rest of our tenure at HDFC.

Signboards (Billboards) In Marathi Please!

2008-09-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Well off lately there's a lot of fuss going on in the entire Mumbai about "Who's the real Marathi" issue. This has taken a complete wrong turn now and is really disrupting normal livelihood of many people here. The MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) is forcing every shop to also put on Marathi signboards (billboards), why force them; just ask them, it should have been mediatory in the first place. I see no offence in that but I'd say, "It should not be imposed but implemented". Forcing on to something will not do any good. There should be a compulsion on to it rather than activists just going around and creating a huge fuss about it. Things do not work if they are forced upon.

Go to countries like China or Japan, they have got signboards in their own languages. Even down south of India, you see signboards in the regional languages, so why not Maharashtra? Why not make Marathi signboards mandatory? You can also have it in English at the same time. One only needs to understand that simple fact. But forcing and ransacking of property is just something unacceptable as it does not spread any goodwill.

Working Now

2008-09-03T02:41:00.000-07:00

So I am finally working now, I'm working at HDFC Bank as a Personal Banker (trainee) and I am feeling good about that. So I was going to start my job from the 20th but it did not happen that way, so I had to start my job from the 22nd. Anyways did start to work anyhow and now I'm earning on my own. On the 20th, I along with a friend (who also got selected for the same) went to HDFC Bank Lower Parel to submit our documents and get our respective branches, but only half the job was done. We did submit our documents but did not get our branches on that day, the next day we got calls from the Banks HR department and we were called at different places, I was been called at Ville Parle. After reaching there I got to know that that won't be my branch, I was just called over there as they could give me my branch - Well got it, 'Virar East', it was a newly opened branch (started on the 14th of August, 2008).

My training (probation) period is for one year and maybe after that I'll be eligible to get a promotion or a raise - well, something like that.

Anyways having a good time, it's been more that a week now and I feel that I am learning a lot of things already.

So Life Goes On...

2008-08-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

OK, so I've really thought about it, there are not going to be any complains from me this time around, nor would I try to complain about anything more (until and unless it's very important). So I was going to write a post last month about our '10 hours a day of load-shedding', but something stopped me, I saw in the new that some places there was load-shedding up-to 16 hours a day, and then I thought that I was just thinking about my self.
I also thought about writing about the so much (hyped) talked 'Nuclear Deal' but I just did not know how to put about that in words. Anyways, I hope that it really happens and the power problems (crises) in the country end for good. But also do hope that the government would make good use of the 'Nuclear Energy'.
So now, something about me, well, I did get a job, long back but my results weren't out yet. Well, they are now (passed my 6th semester), but still there are problems in it. (Not complaining) Well, I got a KT in the 5th Semester but after clearing the revaluation, I did pass, but in my final result shows it as 'Pass Class', which should actually be 'First Class' coz I got 60+ percentage. Anyways did a round of the university again and hope that everything turns out well.
Say I'll be joining my job from the 20th, one year of training, then lets see, where life takes me to, it's been a long and winding road and it keeps on winding every now and then. Hope you're havin' a very good time

'Till then, Live Life to the Fullest
Take Care!
Melvin

Is This Some Kind Of A Joke?

2008-06-05T01:26:00.000-07:00

The first rains, those first showers that fall on the Earth bring happiness to everyone, but not quiet so for many like me thanks to the MSEB (Maharashtra State Electricity Board). Because when the rains came, they turned down the power supply. It was restored after a couple of minutes but there was another power cut, and then another and another, this went on until late night and then at midnight the power was restored back again.
So when the rain falls there is a problem and the power has to be cut, and this takes place every year, and there’s no solution for it. Sometimes one does feel that the electric board is playing games with the people. And if there is a real problem, then why does the board not take any necessary steps to solve this problem.
And they say that our country is progressing, how can it progress when little matters like these are not looked after properly? Well, here there are only a bunch of people who want to just give trouble to the residents.

My First Official Interview

2008-05-26T02:41:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the AXIS Bank at Church Gate for my very first interview. The result, well all was good but I am still not a graduate, so I have to wait till my results come out.
Well, had a couple of interviews here and there, but none official as they were all for minute things. But today was the real test and for me I think I didn’t fair that well, coz I missed out on simple things. All I was asked to do was to operate MS Word and MS Excel, I did well, but certain simple things which should have been done right were done wrong - well yes I was a little nervous but at the end of it all I really feel I should have concentrated better.

Incomplete - Nobody's Perfect

2008-05-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

Whatever I write (here), whatever I do – whatever happens is all incomplete I guess, because nobody's perfect. Whatever I want to say in my blog may not be complete (with all the detailed information) but for me, I think it is enough to send the message out loud and clear.
I write my blog as and when any thing crosses my mind (I only need an active and a proper internet connection for that) I write it with a purpose, to ask a few questions sometimes. I only wish that my blog is easy to be understood and that there are no problems as such.

Thankyou
Melvin Almeida

Mumbai To Bombay

2008-05-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

We live in India, a free and a democratic country. But to live in this so called democratic country, we have to live in a communal divide. It was in 1990s when the Shiv Sena launched a campaign to rename the city (of Bombay) – from Bombay to Mumbai. Even the other cities like Bangalore – Bengaluru, Calcutta – Kolkata, etc followed suit in a few years time by changing the names just to fit in to their locality, but why do we need this – I don't seem to understand. Does a Human Being change with a change in the name? Then the same goes with the cities.
Everyone loved the previous name, but some minds wanted to change that. And if anyone uses the word 'Bombay' again, there's a fume and attack on those people/institutions. They want the city to (forcibly) accept the name 'Mumbai'. They say that the use of the word 'Bombany' was like a slap on the face of the 105 or so martyrs who had fought for the state of Maharashtra. Well, I say during their time the city was called as Bombay and they had no problems with it so why do some have a problem now?
First it was using the regional languages (that changed Bombay to Mumbai) then an ante North Indian moment – forcing is not accepted in a free Democratic country. This does affect the lives of other people who just wish to live in a free, safe, democratic Bombay, Mumbai or whatever you may call it...

A Moment In Life

2008-04-26T02:57:00.000-07:00

You try to find a gun to start a war but never find means to end it; you try to invent a rocket that'll destroy the world but never try and invent something that'll save the world. You can lead a life with money and fame but that life is never yours. All the moments that you live in happiness are untrue as to live your life completely, you need the shadows of sadness too. There is Life after Death, Light after Darkness, Day after Night and vice-versa (Death after Life, Darkness after Light, Night after Day).
It is well said that when you live for yourself, you live for nobody and when you live for others, you live for somebody. Your life is a gift as well as a curse that is put upon you. It is a gift as it is given to us to live it as we want upon the Earth; and it is a curse as we do not own it for it is given to us by somebody to take good care of it.
Our every moment in life is important as it counts. The life that we live today will change tomorrow and will keep changing everyday of our life. Reading the palms of your hands won't do, you have to work them in life. Life is uncertain, life is precious, life is a single moment of truth that can bring you into reality.

When Pressure Pulls You In

2008-04-24T03:00:00.001-07:00

"When you try your best but you don’t succeed,
When you get what you want but not want you need,
You’re stuck in a reverse..."

Where is this life going? When will it end? Will we be able to see ourselves successful in the future? – Too many questions, no answers, the mind keeps playing games and the world around you just stares at you watching your every move, giving you very little choices and just once chance. What are you going to do, where will you run; there is no place to hide. We are just put under pressure to be someone we cannot be.
There have been people who’ve said to be yourself no matter what, but in this world, today, being oneself is far more difficult than being someone else. We’ve been constantly put to the test, everyday of our lives to be someone but not ourselves. We been sacrificing for people because they think they know it all, but what we know it far more enough for us. We been tried and tested, molded to make perfect – but the truth still remains, ‘Nobody is perfect.’
We are always trying to be what others want us to be, we been put under pressure day-in and day-out to be just like someone else. But we cannot be someone else or ourselves. In each moment there’s a point you are made to fall down, and made to think that you’re loosing and that there’s no way out. Lost in all the nothingness inside yourself, you just feel so numb; you are not able to move.
Life comes with a lot of difficulties, being someone is also one – you certainly need an identity of your own. But the pressure that has been put on you is too much, you can’t freely move, you can’t be what you want to be – this is what pulls you under...
I know about it because I am going on in life with the same pressure put upon me.

Who's Marathi?

2008-02-17T05:31:00.000-08:00

There were a lot of things said and done over the last couple of weeks over who is the real Mumbaikar (Marathi Manus). It was a war out there – Mumbaikar V/s Non-Mumbaikar. But for whom was this battle fought for really? It was all just a political game (divide and rule), an ugly face of politics in Mumbai trying to crush the true Mumbai spirit. Protests were conducted all over Maharashtra, just because of one statement hitting out on some people. But weren’t these people living in peace before, and there was no problem for anybody, no issues over their migration. These migrates had been given places here and if one had been kind enough to give spaces, why now try to remove them now that they have become a part of the society.
Let us now forget and try to forgive everything, and learn to live in a world of peace and brotherhood - in the true Mumbai Spirit...

A Date With Ramoji Film City

2007-12-15T02:25:00.000-08:00

13th November, a new morning, a new day, but it was our last at Hyderabad, as we were to leave the city back to Mumbai in the night. But not without visiting Ramoji Film City - the largest film city in the world. It is just 25km from Hyderabad; it is an enchanting blend of man-made wonders and nature’s pristine beauty. Sources of extraordinary gardens, authentic sets, lavish locales, rides, thrills, adventure and excitement combine to offer an amazing experience. Its said if you have the script, the talent and the money, you can make a movie within the film city. It is said to be a 22 thousand acre land, some part of is still to be developed. It is an amazing experience to be there its worth the money you have to pay. Being huge it has a lot to offer and still can offer plenty as there are some barren areas. Lush green gardens, fountains, film locations, epic monuments and structures, it was like a small world within these 22 thousand acre. We were given a brief tour of the place via bus in the beginning. We were shown film sets that covered locations from India as well many other parts of the world. There were housed which could easily converted into something else like Hospital, Jails, Courts, etc. in no time. There were different sets for different purposes like a village area, an urban aria, some town in England or America or any other place in the world, an airport, parts and bits for around India, there was a whole lot of stuff in this mega plot, Hotels, Restaurants, Drive Inns, Merchandises, Rides, etc. After the bus ride we went to see the Hawa Mahal, Caves, and many other fascinating places at Ramoji. There were many rides there, but the most that fascinated me was the Bumping Car ride, I and my friends went in as many as 3 times before we could leave the place (just 3 times because it was always crowded). We had our lunch at a restaurant called Chanakya where they serve vegetarian cuisine. The whole day was filled just marveling at the film city and looking around, yet we could not completely see the complete place due to the shortage of time. Many things amazed us as we had never imagined a dream could be this big. One needed a lot of money to fulfill such kind of dreams, especially a dream this big that took so many corers of rupees to be built. The Film City was so huge and such a lot of work had been put up for its proper working, and maintaining it everyday. Having seen Ramoji Film City was an experience of a lifetime, an experience that will stay fresh in my mind now for many years to come. Hyderabad is surely blessed with a lot of wonderful things, the heritage, the food, the locations, the life, and not to forget Ramoji Film City and of course, the Snow World. It was nice to visit the Ramoji Film City in the end because it was an incredible experience... as they say, save the best for the last...

My Hyderabad Trip

2007-12-15T02:20:00.000-08:00

It was on the 21st of November when we completed our board exams, and now needed a much needed break and I knew our Industrial Trip (to Bangalore) was what would do just that. It was roughly decided, the trip was to take place on the 28th of November, and our return would be somewhere on the 3rd-4th of December. Everyone was pretty excited about the trip and wanted to have a very good time there, forget the last trip (to Pune) which was an easily forgettable one.
On the 22nd we got to know that our trip had to be postponed, now to be taken place on the 10th of December (10th to 14th) due to problems in the ticket reservation. There was another twist in the plans (no not again); our trip now was not going to Bangalore but now at Hyderabad. The best part was that the date had not changed but the previous of our stay had been reduced (to just about four days). But we knew we would make the best of it and have a blast...and we did.
It was 10th of December; I got up as earlier as 4 in the morning. I had to leave earlier as there was a boycott of the local trains on the very day. Buses had been hired from our college to CST. Reaching there we took a Mumbai-Hyderabad Express which was to leave at about 12:40pm. Our seats were not properly registered as many of us were separated, but we still found ways to come together and have some fun. We were told to bring our own lunch so we had fun eating and sharing it. One of my class-mated had brought 2 packs of cards and most of us just played cards. There was not a lot to do in the train, so at times we had to patiently wait for out destination to arrive. We had to sleep in the train itself as we were to reach Hyderabad next morning at about 7 in the morning.
Reaching Hyderabad, we were pretty much excited about the trip, the sight seeing and the industrial visits. Not too far away from the station there were buses waiting for us to take us to our hotel. Hotel Woodbridge it was called, looked good, and it was the same in the interior - lavishing. After reaching out hotels and getting our respective rooms, we were asked to immediately get fresh, come for breakfast and we were to quickly leave for our first Industrial Visit. It was a place where cloths dying process, and some regional cloths were made, next was a thread making industry, threads made of syntactic material, not cotton.
Sadly, our other industrial visits were cancelled as we did not get the permition of the respective officials, so we went sight-seeing (thanks to that, we got a lot of time for sight-seeing). Our first stop was at the Salarjung Museum, it was said to have the collections of one single person. Honestly, watching such a huge collection one can only wonder how and what it really took for that person to collect such a huge collection of antics, paintings, crockery, mirrors, watches, furniture, etc. and all this collection was not only featured antics from India but also from many other parts of the world, like Japan, Chine, UK, France, etc. We later went to the Hussain-Sagar Lake; we also took a boat ride there. It took us all around the lake. In the middle of the lake they have constructed a big statue of Buddha which looked stunning in the night. After that wonderful experience we returned to our hotel for our dinner, then for some sleep.
The next day we went sight seeing as there were no more industrial visits planned. We went to the interior of the city to see one of the greatest heritages of Hyderabad, the Char Minar. It looked amazing but, locked in the crowded streets its slowly loosing its charm, thought the workers there are trying their best to restore it original glory, its still loosing its charm. Later we were asked to go shopping, there was not a lot in the place for me to shop so I just hung around with my friends viewing the place. We were taken to our hotel for lunch later where we spent some time and then were off to another place called Snow World. It was like an amusement park inside a building. It was not all of snow, it had a Horror House, place for games, a few rides, a small place for shopping, etc. The best was the floor where they created artificial ice, a complete snow world with temperatures of about 2° C. We had a lot fun in the snow, throwing snow balls, playing football (not really, but just kicking the ball). We also danced which was very tough in the kind of clothing we were provided there. But the best part there was playing Volleyball in ice. After that experience (my first experience in snow), we took a small tour of the building, watching everything they had over there. I also took my very first dashing car ride there, with a little less fun as the controls there were not very easy.
We went back to the hotel for the night eagerly awaiting for the dawn as it was our last as well as we were to be taken to the Ramoji Film City - the largest film city in the world. It has been acknowledged by the renowned Guinness World Records as the World’s Largest Film Studio Complex. Its said that if you visit Hyderabad and fail to go to the Ramoji Film City it was really unfair to your visit. It was quiet an experience there at the Ramoji Film City where we were for almost for the whole day.
The day was almost done, we head back to the Hyderabad Station to come back home to Mumbai, via the Hyderabad-Mumbai Express. The trip was long, and we had the same pass-time as we did while arriving here at Hyderabad, i.e. playing cards, pranks, singing songs, etc.
All in all it was a wonderful experience, a trip to remember. Everything just went a well as one would love. This one’s going down in memory lain... maybe to last for ever.

In Any Other World

2007-12-06T04:29:00.000-08:00

“Those who want to live will leave this Earth and those who know how to live will stay.”

We belong to a planet, and that planet is Earth, here we lived, grew and evolved, how can we ever think about leaving it and not saving it. Today, we know our world is slowly dying, but it can be saved, still there is life in it and we need to act quickly in order to restore it. We cannot just give up and try to find any other world. Even if there's a world like ours out there and one decides to invade it, will we be welcomed there? Will we be able to live amongst those not like us and even if we do, who's the superior one? Us or Them?
Today, like we are trying to search for life in the space, maybe there is some other who's trying to do the same, i.e. trying to find life in this vast space of ours in various Galaxies and Milky ways. Maybe they've seen us but not bothered to invade us. Beware! Someone's watching over you, maybe! We don't kow, maybe they've been here earlier, or maybe they've set off from their world to ours...
And what if the other planet is suitable for life but the life there is not as vibrant as Human life, then maybe we can live upon there and make it a world of our own. We'll have to be very careful there and not repeat the same mistakes that we made on Earth. Life will be the same but the moon the stars and our sun would not be the same. For us who stayed on the Earth for long would go down memory lain and recollect those sweet days on the planet that we helped to built then destroyed it with our own hands.
Maybe it's not too late, we still can save this planet. But only if we join our hands and be together we can bring that change. All we need is understanding amongst each other, we don't need wars, no fighting. And then we need to give up on certain things that affect our Earth. It is easy on as one can put it but it is practically very heart to follow. But can't we do some bit to save Our Planet, or maybe a little bit more for the planet that brings life to us now for so many years.

Life's Been Tricky

2007-09-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

It's been many days since my last post, but I don't mind as I got to have something to write on. I had a lot, but could not put that down in words, tried but failed. And I was never going to just write some posts for the sake of writing something. So I think this one is for the days left behind, since I wrote the last post. And yes life has been tricky, nothing seems to go according to my way. There are testing and trying times to which I have failed again and again. And still there are so many questions in my mind, and I'm still trying to find a way to answer all of them.

"Where is this life taking me?" I really don't know, for some time it seems going grate and then there are times when it all seems to be lost. Sometimes I'm just scared to know where this life will take me to. Everyday I wake up with a sense of hope but many times this hope is buried in the nothingness inside of me. As and when I try to start a new there are huddles in my way, trying to put me down and out (though that's part of life) I can't seem to find a way out of this (maybe I am not trying and going in with the tide – need to go against it). I don't know what the future holds for me but somewhere in me I have a hope that it's bright. Just like everyone else I like to live life in peace, and after graduation get a good job, settle down and try to make this a much better life. Now, though it seems to be hard, I know I have to try.

"To taste success, one has to ride against the tide and not with it..."

Power Needed...Anybody There?

2007-04-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

They made a promise, assuring that electricity would reach in every corner of the stare/country. But all they could manage was, fail to even supply regular electricity to the main cities...then forget the villages doing without electricity all these years.
We have tried and did all our best to save maximum amount of electricity on our part but the sad inside story was that the Government officials utilise a lot of electricity themselves, out of which about 50% is used when not really required. The electricity that is supposed to be given to the common man is sometimes even sold to other states/hi-class officials/top industries...and in all this the common man has to suffer. We get nothing but blackouts at night, and then there is no electricity when needed the most.
Hardly they understand or try to understand that the peak hours is when electricity is needed the most, but then at that time electricity is not provided, resulting into delays, incomplete work...

Illustration: (Our very example...)
At first the load-shedding was only for about two hours, twice in a day (i.e. 4hrs. in a day), but that was fairly okay. But that increased by another half-an-hour (now 5hrs. in a day). But they showed us a hope that this problem will soon get over and that they were coming out with an solution. And did the solution come, Yes! another hour was increased this time. Then people got angry they even tried to speak to the officials but there was no effect. They even said that sufficient power is not available with them - where does all the power go? And now the situation here is even more worsened...the power cuts are irregular and may go at anytime of day or night - damn life is so sick here!

When can we live and breathe in a true independent country? We still have to depend upon the Government officials for certain basic requirements (which we never get easily). What else can one do, only they hold the key to all this mess. Can we ever expect our Government to fulfill their so-called promises?

Does the answer to all these questions still remain NO!

F1 Without Michael Schumacher

2007-03-17T02:11:00.000-07:00

When the engine blew up in the last season, it broke the hearts of a million fans for now there was no way he could turn the tables round and win for the final time - of what would have been his eight. He knew it was over so all he played for was the constructions points but all his fans were hoping for was a miracle in the last race.

Yes, the F1 Season has finally begun but it will never be the same without Michael Schumacher. The F1 scene is gong to miss him this year, his excellence, his dominance, his presence set the crowd on their feet always. The 'Michael Magic' is going to be missed.

The seven time World Champion nearly clinched his eighth title but the end went similar to the start - but Schumacher left his mark in his own style. He did not mind the loss and went away being a much satisfied man who had achieved so much on the Formulae One.
The question now haunts the minds - can anyone break the records that Michael Schumacher had set?

My Very First Website

2007-03-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

It was now or never, my brother already had his own website on the web (malcolm.net.ms) and I thought to myself why not I..? So I began to do it myself (making a webpage template myself), with a little help from my brother at the beginning I finally created the first template for my site, but I had to wait for it to really hit the web-world as my brother did not have the time and I never knew how to really upload not knew a proper source where I could freely upload the pages. For me it was only possible when we would get a net connection at our home, but that was at that time next to impossible.

Finally my brother thought to upload my web-pages at his friends house which he did, but in his own space provided by 1asphost - as he had no time to create a log-in for me. Later he gave it a pure domain name thanks to freedomain where he registered my 1asphost address - so melvin.co.nr came into existence.

I do not however know the date but it was somewhere around May end, but I wished that the official beginning should be - 6th of June - my birthday.

Then it was only when we got the net connection at our home I created my own space at 1asphost and redirected freedomain to that address.

Later on due to some technically issues I had to discard the domain name - "www.melvin.co.nr" and move on to - "melzscape.xphost.org". But now xphost.org does not exist so I had to make some changes, for temporary basis I have got a domain, which is "melz[dot]tk or melzscape[dot]0catch[dot]com".

The Village Called - "Bobipada"

2007-03-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

On the 26^th October, 2006: Thursday, around at 7:00am, we (Thomson, Seion, Roshan, Vivian and Melvin) started our journey from Vasai to Vadoli with Sr. Sheila. Violet Aunty took us all the way from Manickpur to Vasai Fata (Highway) in her car. Then from the highway, we had to ask for a lift in a truck then off to Vadoli.
We reached Vadoli in about two hours, then we went into the Sisters Convent there. There we got a little refreshment, relaxed for few minutes and then Sr. Sheila showed us the place, there was a hospital run by the sisters. There in the hospital there was a Leprosy Center as well.
After some time Sr. Sheila took us to a village where we had to stay, this village was called Bobipada (here, we had to teach basic English to the children). We then had a small meet along with Sr. Sheila in the Church (the village had its own Church) there and then to a house where there was food prepared for all of us - the best dal and rice that I had ever eaten.
We were five in number, so five village people had to select any one of us to stay with them, but Seion and Roshan decided to stay in the same house as that lady requested them so. I got the poorest house of the lot but they were rich at heart. After settling down at our respective houses we decided to meet our students to be, at the Church. A huge number showed up and for a moment we were confused as to how do we handle them all. Then came the simplest idea - devide them into groups according to their respective ages. Five groups were made for the five of us.
The first day was certainly not meant for studies, this was the time we really got to know each and every kid we were supposed to teach. So the first day was fun. In the evening, we had to go to a nearby cannel for a bath (We had to do this everyday). At night it was not possible to take any session as there was no light system in the church. So we used to either be somewhere else together ot at our respective houses just sitting around.
It was day two and when we woke up in the morning we were surprised to know that we had to go to a nearby river to brush our teeth!!! - Whereas Thomson got everything at home itself. Well this was just for the first 2-3 days then when we randomly shifted to other housed (on demand) we got those facilities there.
We decided to teach them on that day, and so the very first thing was to find out - how many of them were familiar with a b c... the answer that we got was that not ever 50% of them knew it - some knew it but were not opening up. The second day went out with a lot of new things on their as well as our ways.
Following Sr. Sheila’s instructions we decided to do Rosary every evening at the Church, well we lit candles for light - Maybe doing the Rosary everyday gave me the strength and the willingness to stay there.
From then on everyday went like a new experience and a challenge which was rather easily achievable. But slowly by slowly the five of us were parting away, Roshan and Seion had to leave home due to their personal reasons, even the number of kids we got were decreasing - maybe due to their personal reasons?
We really were enjoying the stay the days spent with families, students and other people. They were like - wanting to keep us there forever, but we had to realise along with them that we had a different life - which was not a part of theirs’. So many things to do, so many things to learn - just the experience of one village was not enough
Then, one fine day Vivian had to leave too, leaving only Thomson and me there, later we were accompanied by a Novitiate who was sent by Sr. Sheila to help us out. She took the smaller ones and we took the bigger ones, we taught them, we enjoyed with them, and we even learnt a lot from them.
We made a place fro us in some families but could not promise them this place forever. They also invited us for a fair that was to be held at Talasari. 12 days in the village with the villagers was a certain experience. That night was out last at the village. The next day on we would not be here, but there was an invitation we got by the villagers for their Church Feast that was to be held on the 30th December, 2006.
That night we all lit up a camp fire of a sort-of, we sang songs, we danced and enjoyed the night. The next day we did leave promising a return on the thirtieth for their feast. We, then went to Vadoli, back to the sisters convent, staying one night and thereafter experiencing a fair - well it was a 3 day fair but we could only stay for a day. We missed their local dance - ‘The Tarpa’ which we really wanted to see.
At last it was time to say goodbye - we would miss them and would always cherish those days, but also feel good about the days we had spent, the life we had seen, lived in, the families and the people we met. These things are certainly not easy to forget - well who ever would want good memories to vanish out of the mind??

First Publish

2007-03-16T00:35:00.000-07:00

Hey world, this is Melvin Peter Almeida from a small time place called Manickpur. I won't like to already start - this being my first publish, so I'd like you to know me first.

I was born on the 6th of June 1987 and currently live with my family (my mom: Mary - my dad: Peter and my elder brother Malcolm).

Me, as a person, I like to go my own way only doing what my heart says. I’m generally a shy kind of a person who’d very rarely speaks to people (even with some relatives), I tend to talk less, but I talk a lot when I’m in my friends circle. I'm naturally quiet friendly to those who I come across with. I never really like to talk about myself, nor share some of my personal problems nor secrets with any of my friends or even relatives to an extent. Well, I had a good childhood, my parents did everything that was possible for them and I’m thankful to them for that.

I am a graduation from VIVA College that's at Virar - in "Banking & Insurance". And now I am currently working with HDFC Bank.

Hey, you can also find me on Orkut & on Facebook too or just log on to melz[dot]tk or melzscape[dot]0catch[dot]com or just wright in to me at melvin[dot]almeida@gmail[dot]com.