Of friends and facebook - unfriending!

Today somehow made the concrete decision of reducing my FB friend count. I have stopped accepting new requests unless its my trek friends. But since the number was hovering at 202, which is probably huge and I am not in touch with almost 100 of them since last one 3 years, took a bold decision to do a friend count revisit and cleanup.

Had time in the morning and deboarded few of them from my friend list. The count now stands at 150, though 100+ of them are still under restricted list, rest 30 of them, I'm not following them.

Reason why I chose to do this, was not only that, I was out of touch, moreover, I am in peace with my own life. I'm least bothered as which part of the world others are, whether they are sleeping eating drinking or driving, it makes least difference to me. I really do not have time to admire others' day to day activities, I wish the same in return too. So it was high time, I took a concrete decision.

So, all in all, I get to save lots of time, by not browing feeds on facebook. One way to be more productive and do things which I like to do the most!

Cheers to life!

Of movies: Baahubali & Baaji Rao Mastani - TTTT 53

Let me be honest, I generally do not prefer to watch new movies, be it bollywood or hollywood. Reason being, I do not have time and also I sincerely feel all the latest movies in the market are absolutely uninspiring and uninteresting.

That is my opinion by the way and I do have a right to have one.

I, instead prefer to watch Rajkumar & NanaPatekar, Amitabh Hindi movies over and over again, even though I have watched it around 50 times before. Reason being dialogue delivery.

During my recent trip to Gujarat via bus, the only option to spend time was by force feeding myself to watch movies. While going I had gone in a semi sleeper (sitting) and as a result, there were 2 television sets for the entire bus and whether or not, I wanted to watch it, I had to watch it.

This was one drawback of travelling by road, I can live with it for the moment. Let me tell you about the movies which I got to watch.

Baahubali 1 & 2, Baaji Rao Mastani (two are sufficient for time being)

All these days I was wondering, what it is all about Katappa killing Baahubali, everyone wondering why why and why?

I guess a 1000 hours productivity has been already lost just because of pondering over this question. And when I watched the  movie, I just didn't feel the need to even think for an answer to that question.

The movie was nothing but special effects. I did not enjoy the movie, I am glad I did not spend my money on the tickets for the same.

Same with Baaji Rao Mastani, was there something special in the movie, I guess not, I felt the dialogue delivery of Baaji Rao was substandard, nothing to be compared to even Raza Murad in the same movie.

What an irony.

Forget comparing with the likes of Amitabh Bacchan, NanaPatekar and the legendary Hindi actor Raj Kumar. Voice of Bhaji Rao was just a big turn off.

Never mind it is my opinion. I'm glad, I watched these movies for free, else I would have to curse myself for a lifetime, for watching them after paying money.

Cheers.

Gujarat trip

My 8 day Gujarat trip finally came to a closure today as I reached home at 7pm. The biggest difference between this trip and my other North India trips was that, previously I used to take flight rather aeroplane to travel.

This time I chose bus, yes, SRS Travels volvo bus to Ahmedabad and one more SRS Travels volvo bus back from Ahmedabad to Bangalore.

My iternary goes like this

1. Bangalore to Ahmedabad.
2. Ahmedabad to Bhuj.
3. Bhuj to Rann of Kutch.
4. Rann of Kutch to Bhuj.
5. Bhuj to Mandvi.
6. Mandvi to Dwarka.
7. Dwarka to Rajkot.
8. Rajkot to Ahmedabad.
9. Ahmedabad to Bangalore.

Cheers to one of a kind trip. I'm feeling tired after my 27 hour bus ride from Ahmedabad to Bangalore. Completely worthwhile and definitely one of a kind!

Cheers to myself for making it happen!

Weekday off

After working for 20 days on the trot, I decided to take off on a weekday that is Monday. Every since I started working, taking off on a weekday has been the best guilty pleasure.

I had no other option I was exhausted to the core, unable to think about work, because I had worked so much, written so much code, unit tests that, I had enough. This in addition to meetings, helping out others plus facing all those negative energy and forces at workplace!

Somedays, I think we should be paid not only for our work but for enduring the dirty politics and negativity others bring which we have to face, which stresses you out.

Watching the world go by while you just listen to music, read a book or blog or play on PS4 can be nothing short of heaven.

Cheers, to one more such a day!


On reading reminded me that, I have to start reading
Kim by Rudyard Kipling - audio book as well as kindle.
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen - audio book as well as kindle.

Upcoming posts

1. Something to pursue for a lifetime - ie exercise.
2. Movie which I need to finish watching.
3. New way to promote a movie?
4. Stock market and company valuation.
5. Dream of having personal library of books of course :)
6. Pictures from my recent trek in the forest.
7. Hindi - Ghazalish duet songs of 1980's.

When we encountered wild boars on a trek (for the first time) - TTT 49

Since the day I started trekking, I had always wondered what all wild animals will I encounter. I had encountered elephants (at a distance though), reptiles, deer, Indian Guar, few other creatures. I always used to see land dug up by wild boars during many treks, the mud they smear their bodies with, also trees which have claw marks of bears. Once when we were cooking food in the forest, apparently there was a bear sighting close to our camp.

I had never seen a wild boar in the forest. I had heard they are a plenty in some of the forests. But this time, it happened, got to see wild boars, 10-12 in number at around 50 feet from us.

Upon seeing us intruding into their territory they just ran away. Apparently they are quick and can pose threat. Luckily we could mind our own business and get out of the forest.

So one more interesting encounter to post about! Sadly they were so quick, I could not take picture of them!

Cheers,

When we had a tyre puncture 3 times in a row on a single trip! - TTT 50

Till date it had happened once during our journey that, we had encountered puncture or flat tyre two times. But last weekend, was something special, our vehicle got punctured two times before we reached our destination and guess what, we were stranded on the road early in the morning for over 2 hours.

I had almost lost interest in the trek because of this delay, but in the end all is well that end's well. We got the flat fixed and started our journey. None of the people complained.

Below is the picture of our stranded vehicle somewhere in Hosanagara after Shimoga.

Guess what, we were stranded somewhere in Hosanagara again during our return journey, that makes it 3 times in one single journey and what better post to put up TTTT # 50,

Cheers,

When we had a 6 year old on our trek - TTT 47

During my last beach trek from Gokarna to Honnavara, we had a 6 year old kid as a member of the team and he trekked all the way from Gokarna till Kumta along with us. He was the son of one of our trek team members.

Isn't that cool, starting early means a lot to a lot of people. Whilst everyone was kind of mediocre with their energy and their enthusiasm, this kid was at his best, enjoying the waters and the beaches.

Only time he felt home sick was during the return journey near Mavinagundi :)

Cheers, will upload a pic soon!

When we ended our trek early due to losing our way and then.... TTTT

Of Ruskin Bond and commercialization - A conversation on goodreads.

Recently had a conversation with one stranger on goodreads. It was about Ruskin Bond autobiography which had come out recently, "Lone Fox Dancing". Somehow the conversation tilted towards stories of Ruskin Bond being printed again and again under different titles or for commercialization.

I deeply felt offended. I could not figure out as to why I was offended, but I was. Later after a long period of contemplation I wondered why.

There were many points, Ruskin Bond and his writing is close to my heart, obviously I was offended. But bigger part was how less equipped was the person who was trying to tell me that Ruskin Bond was more or less having a mindset of commercial writers these days.

Good thing was, I let the stranger sink in his own ignorance, meanwhile, I just figured out what I could take away from this conversation.

Well, Ruskin Bond now in his 80's, can he be indented towards commercialism these days? I'm pretty sure no. When he wanted money via writing he has made sufficient. Though he struggled too during his days.

Plus the stories of Ruskin Bond should be published again and again. I guess, its not because I like them. But its because they are all about celebration of India as a country. What our country was during that golden era, when there was no commercialization to worry about. Just plain simple life. Plain simple stories. No fuss, no complications.

Why shouldn't our country be glorified in such ways? I bet it should, so more and more stories of Ruskin Bond should be published again and again.

I get to relive those days once again, if not in real but atleast in fiction and if not in personal words atleast via words of Ruskin Bond.

Cheers,

Wish I could quote some Kipling poetry, I'm afraid, I will have to do some more reading to mature!

Best youtube comment

Sometimes, over the internet you just end up reading something, which really catches your attention. one such thing I found is a comment for a video on youtube.

The comment reads like this -

The song in picture is "Tarzan Boy - by Baltimora" 

When we loaded honey and jaggery (in our vehicle) while returning from our trek - TTT 46

I have been on numerous treks in the last 2-3 years. Each time, we do go by a hired vehicle, more often than not, it has to be 12 seater Force traveller, other time, we had 24 Swaraj Mazda and 30 seater TATA bus.

This time too during our beach trek we had a Tempo traveller. All these treks, though we visit places quite distant from Bangalore, we never load our vehicle with consumable stuffs during the return journey. 

Stuffs like, rice, vegetables or anything which is produced at the place of our visit and which can be ferried back to Bangalore and which works out cheap for us.

But there is a first time for everything. This time, we managed to source Jaggery and Honey from somewhere in the Sharavathy valley and we loaded them in Sagara. Opposite to Sagara bus stand.

It appears there is a subtle difference in the purest form of honey and packaged honey! 

Cheers,

When I trekked the same route for 5 years in a row (yearly once) - TTTT 45

After all this is something which I could proudly write about. It happened for the first time in 2013 and as of 2017 its still on!

I am referring to my participation in the annual beach trek. I had this so called affinity to beaches and it was not very evident until I was away from India. Even more is my affinity to the coastal area of Karnataka, especially Gokarna till Udupi stretch. It makes me feel grounded. It gives me time to contemplate.

Each year there are lots of groups which do beach treks along the coastline. This year too, I am happy that I was a part of another group. Not just that, it completed my 5th year of beach trek.

1. 2013 - Kumta to Aghanashani beach / Tadadi port (boat to Gokarna). (22 members).
2. 2014 - Apsarakonda to Bhatkal (Sri Durga Parameshwari temple Ilvekodi). (26 members)
3. 2015 - Gokarna to Haldipur beach. (28 members)
4. 2016 - Gokarna to Haldipur beach (13 members).
5. 2017 - Gokarna to Kumta beach (13 members)

Apart from one year, where I trekked from Apsarakonda all the way to Bhatkal via Murudeshwara of course, all the years it has primarily been Honnavara to Gokarna OR Gokarna to Honnavara.

Feels so nice to have been doing it again and again. Hope to continue it in future too. Given a choice, of course with the same group too! And guess what I never get bored of this route.

The feeling of being connected to this piece of coastal land is just tremendous, you can imagine, how tremendous, the feeling of me being connected to India is (no prizes for guessing and no sarcasm please)!

Cheers,

When a strange reason ended our trek - TTTT 44

There have been multiple occasions when our treks have ended ahead of time. Each time, it would be the lack of time, rains, tired teams, losing way etc etc. But this time was another awesome reason end our trek ahead of time or rather to not trek.

I recently had been to Gokarna, to take part in this year's beach trek. We managed to walk all the way from Gokarna to Holanagadde beach (after crossing river Aghanashani / Tadai port via a ferry of cours)  on day 1 and camped at a temple.

On day 2, we managed to reach all the way to Kumta beach and there you go we needed some help. There is a place where the sea manages to stretch itself into the town as backwaters and we needed to cross this one. It is a good 15-20 feet depth and needs boat. On all the previous occasions we could manage to source a boat from the nearby fishermen, who would be busy cleaning their boats.

But this time, with no availability of people around, our only option was to walk along the road leading to Kumta town. After walking for half a kilometer we found water to drink and clean ourselves, via a roadside tap after all. The person instructed us that a bus would be available over here any time soon.

And, we managed to reach the main road aka NH-66. Now people were in two minds whether to walk back to the beach or call it over. Lunch and play time in the beach plus Apsarakonda waterfall dip was pending. So this precedence took over, we ended the trek 4 kilometers early. 

But all in all I thoroughly enjoyed the trek, which was overshadowed by some great company, one person of whom had come all the way from Gulbarga!

Cheers,

A driver who listened to retro songs only! - TTTT 43

This time, during the return journey from our trek, we had noticed one thing since the start. The music system in our van was always silent and never played any songs. So we asked the driver what was the reason, and why didn't he play any songs.

His reply was an uncharacteristic one. He told, he always listened to old songs. Fearing most people disliked old songs, he never bothered to play any music!

But in our team we had guys who liked old songs, especially Hindi and Kannada, and there was a unanimous yes for playing it out.

So we got to hear old songs from late 1970's and 80's sung by Shailendra Singh, Mohammed Aziz and others. Then there was a discussion about art films from 70's and 80's.

All in all a nice way to end a trek with some slow songs, providing much relief, during the night journey.

Cheers,

Trouble with BSNL internet

My goal for reaching 100 posts for the year seems to be going nowhere, I owe some part of it to BSNL. On two occasions when I had time to write something, BSNL internet was down.

Previously it was down for over 5 days in succession and today it was around 3+ days. Only after some people near my home intervened and blasted the operator at BSNL office, there was some quick turn around and repair was done and internet re-introduced.

Each time, not only the writing took a hit but even my office work, I generally work more from home and I'm better productive. But on these days, I used every curse from the dictionary.

In the meanwhile tried applying for ACT but no use, now shall try for TICONA or Airtel.

lets see, until then, scampering with BSNL.

Cheers,

Fit Stop (hits) on MTV beats

Every day while I workout in the gym, I get to hear some random playlists. After hearing same set of songs repeatedly, someone complained and we got a TV in the gym and now it belts out songs from music channels.

Its usually MTV beats or 9XM which airs while I exercise. I had a major major concern for this, as, along with the song, the music video turns up. And believe me, if its Sunny Leone or someone else (heroine), whole bunch of people who will be exercising will stop exercising and stand idle, looking at the TV watching the video. This despite of the warning of our trainer, having NOT to take longer pauses between exercises/repetitions.

Irony is that, music is just to aid exercising and here there is a distraction. Even bigger irony is that, MTV is about to start a program, "Fit Stop with Sunny Leone", I guess in the morning only.

But on the contrary what better and fitter person than Sunny Leone, someone who's totally fit,  (to aid people's exercise).

Cheers,

Only Ironies no sarcasm within this post.

Technological advancement or derailment - Alter thoughts 18

Recently in a conversation someone spoke to me about a song which is rather 10 year old and which used to be in the radio countdown at #9, or #10. So this put me into a kind of nostalgia.

These days I have stopped listening to contemporary music and every song which I like dates back to few years. I was wondering if these days such songs have been written or produced or sung.

Then I went back few years again and there you go I could get Billy Idol singing eyes with a face, Billy Joel singing Vienna, and this was 1980's and 1970's respectively.

I was just wondering what has all these technological advancements done to the music industry? where the essence of it still remains song writing and singing which have been the same throughout.

I feel its just the social media and marketing which have turned this industry too into a kind of gimmickery and capitalistic centered market, where emphasis has been taken away from good lyrics and song writing skills and turned it towards marketing and presentation skills.

So is this technological advancement or derailment where I need an optic fibre network over an undersea link just to provide me the data which comprises of what my neighbor is doing over his weekend, which comes all the way from a server located half way across the world?

Irony is I still complain, my internet is slow :) (I'm so curious to know what my neighboring is doing you see, just that I hate to go to him and ask him directly, I believe in snooping).

Pardon my sarcasm though :)

Same goes with writing, for inspiration, is there something which I can look to in the contemporary alternate rock music or any genre for that matter? Not sure!

Here and there I do find songs which I can relate to, but it isnt the same as the good old days, thanks to the derailment caused by technology, consumerism and capitalism :)

Am I correct in judging/assuming, help yourself with comments :)-

Cheers,

Nice country song

Found this song playing on a music channel on television. It sounded interesting. I felt it was indeed a nice country song I heard in a while. I generally do not follow this genre of  music. Great great great composition by Loy, Shankar, Ehsaan! [Hoping its not a rip off]

But this one appearing in a Hindi movie made it somewhat extra special. Sukhwinder Singh has sung it to precision. And Farhan Akhtar has done justice to the song with his steps. I sincerely wish the amount agreed upon to charity has been paid by now.

Need to check out more country songs, something I always wanted to do, but it always starts with Shania Twain and ends with Shania Twain :). and I run out of time.

Cheers,

Here goes the song which I was talking about -

Slow Motion Angreza from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag! Irony is I heard it playing while running on treadmill in the gym (2 years after movie release?, shame on me? or shame on the quality of contemporary music? suit yourself!).

Can you imagine when you are running and this song shows up. Do you run, do you dance or do you admire the song or think about German beer? Take a guess :)

Hectic week - 2 Oct - 7 Oct 2017

One hectic it was with clients visiting us from Germany. Got sprint work thrown out of gear, could not work much. Had to take part in some technical and functional sessions with Germans about upcoming work.

Plus, had to go for lunch with them. I was invited for dinner too, but politely declined. I did not want to take a risk of eating outside two consecutive days plus most people were non vegetarian, so avoided second day.

In between, there was an escalation from the client regarding a use case I had worked on, and release of the application was delayed. Best part was client got a first hand vision of how I reacted in case of escalation. And guess what, I had a poker face with absolutely no emotions. Finally once I became comfortable with the fact that I was solely responsible for this delay, I enjoyed every minute of the stardom.

Mails floating from top German management as well as mails / JIRA comments from German developers on how to proceed. Finally a workaround was agreed. I'm glad it worked out well. But got tremendous experience all along the way.

Learnt that I could be better friends' with German clients than our Indian counterparts. Sad to see our Indian counterparts causing trouble to their own people by showing them as low inexperienced lot, just to impress the client and safe guard their job by licking their A%##.

Attended top level management with client and felt it was more of a comedy show considering what our Indian counterparts were speaking. I'm sure clients each time have a good laugh at the way our Indian management speaks in status meetings.

I recorded the conversation on my mobile, just to make sure my other colleagues too get a good laugh.

Cheers,