New Babe on the Block

/ Paddy / 4 Comments

The last year and now has been definitely the most beautiful phase of my life after being through a brainf**ked journey through hell in the previous 4 years. As i started off on my new streak @ life, i also started with my wish list. Definitely had a DSLR, so picked up a Nikon (Now awaiting accessories 😉  That’s on my next wish list ), Then wanted to pursue my MBA which is also on track, My own abode, 4 holidays a year – which also pretty much worked in.. And finally a companion who is damn lovable, cute, adorable, selfless, trustworthy, faithful, beautiful, intelligent. I finally found her in Bugsy 🙂  She’s the cutest lil Labmaraner pup you could possibly find. All she gives is unconditional love and of course a few friendly bites 😉

She’s ¾ Labrador retriever and ¼ Weimaraner, That makes her a F1B hybrid pup. Has almost all the characteristics of a Lab. Growing fast and getting very obedient by the day. I hope to capture as many pics as possible as she grows.. Heres a couple that i shot in the recent times.

Aint that the cutest look

Awwwwwww

 

Cheerios

Bangalore Revisited – Part 2

/ Paddy / 1 Comment

Finally yet another weekend comes to an end..  Hasn’t been the best one though but of course managed to keep myself more or less completely buzzzzzzzzzyyyyyy !!  The past week couldn’t have been more hectic.. Had my ITIL V3 Foundation Certification at  IBM MTP campus.. And i had to leave home by around 7 AM  to get to the land far far away.. MTP feels like its almost in another city and coming back is an absolute nightmare considering the traffic jams on the outer ring road.. Whoever said the ring roads were meant to ease traffic congestion should eat their words. Anyways Mon – Wed was eventfull.. Am ITIL V3 Certified 🙂 .  And thankfully to the chaos of the Babri Verdict, had to get to work by around 6 AM on Thur  and about Fri was pretty much relaxed. The Worst thing bout my job is that its similar to “Hotel California” 😉  — “you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave !!!” 😛  . I do have a fixed 9 hour shift but somehow time flies and the 9 hours feel like its just been a couple.. So i end up staying back. Hope i dont end up with a receding hairline soon.. My boss already seems to have one and i dont intend to follow suite.  Anyways i am gonna try n build 2 resolutions for the next year: 1)  to be back home everyday  on time after completing 9 hours of work and 2) to follow Resolution 1 😉

So there i was on a Saturday morning struggling to wake up coz a dear fren of mine and i had planned to Watch “Anjaana Anjaani” at Urvashi Cinemas, an old cinema theatre with latest sound systems but yet one of the few cinemas in Blore yet to be bitten by the Multiplex syndrome.  After a long time i heard folks hooting and whistling as the stars made their entry on to the silver screen… Something rarely seen in a civilized multiplex unless you have a Rajni starer movie.. which i will tell you bout as you read further.

Anyways the movie was kinda ok, definitely not impressive but a one time watch timepass flick..  Got tired of  watching useless attempts of suicides, I am sure the movie would be flooded by folks who want to think of innovative ways to kill themselves. 😉 . Utter no brainer !!

Lunch was good around late noon.. Went to this new north indian joint.. well new for us.. its been there for quite some time.. “Oye Amritsar” .. Damn good food.. Yummy thick Lassi and Butter Milk.. Well cooked meat.. Superb quantity.. amazing paan at the end. Only peeve was that the finger bowls were too small… I dont say i have Monster Fingers but the bowls were definitely small. I didnt like the bill but i liked the way it was presented.. Came in a neat container which looked like a Rajnigandha paan masala wala with some witty lines on it. we billed bout 1100 without desserts for two of us.. But the quantity was good enuf for three.

Then around evening, met a few more buddies at Garuda near M.Gs .. Some nice coffee and off we went to watch a 4-D entertainment visual called FUNMAX .. Its not the first time i was watching a 4D cinema but this one was kinda nice.. The duration is definitely a bummer.. they promise a 20 min movie but you might be lucky if the movie plays on for 10 min or less.  Absolute ripoff after paying 150 bucks a head. The seats aren’t really great for a tall person and could definitely do with a feet in the air effect.  My advice.. Watch it if you have never been to one before.. It would be a good experience.. I found the 3d effects of the movie better but the 4d aspects not so great.

End of Saturday… Sunday was kinda dull and gloomy until evening.. Watched the much awaited Tamil Superstar Rajni Starrer flick “Endhiran“.. Yes … no points for guessing.. we shelled out a bomb to watch this in a multiplex cinema and YESSSS the crowd turned uncivilized and there was hooting and whistling… Who cares.. Its a Rajni flick… I joined in too… 😉  I am Impressed with the movie.. I dont speak nor understand much of Tamil but you dont need to coz the movie speaks for itself.. You might feel a lil lost but then you will be able to connect with the movie… Hell yeah… i had a punjabi fren watching a tamil movie.. If she could understand, anyone can 🙂 . The movie has quite a few scenes which would seem as if its a straight lift out of Will Smiths “I-Robot” .. The special effects in the movie have definitely raised the standards of Indian Cinema and the techniques used. Truly fantastic.. Total Paisa Wasool  🙂

And for the finale.. Theres no better way to end the week than with a feeling of pride watching India’s CWG spectacle.. It was one of the best openings the country could have ever imagined after all the unwanted unsolicited media hype and controversies.  Hats off and Kudos to the people of this great nation for the solidarity and commitment shown to ensure the event goes on to become one of the most memorable ones in the years to come.

Bangalore Revisited – Part 1

/ Paddy / 4 Comments

Have been thinking bout this for quite a while now… The face of Bangalore has changed beyond recognition. I somehow dont seem to connect with most of the places in the city. I was part of this discussion on FB  with a few very close buddies of mine regarding how certain key areas of Bangalore has changed and the landmarks have started disappearing.  Few of the favorite hangouts of our yester years is too hard to connect with. Missing those somewhat quite evenings in 4th block complex, drive in one of the most beautiful roads in south Bangalore – Sangam circle to Southend Circle.  Having Softee opp Jain Temple, run down the Ragigudda temple hill.. wish it were un-barricaded as earlier, 20 rs movies at Swagath theatre, Cricket matches at Green Pitch (not so green anymore)  and Quality pitch.., Vadilal icecreams opp telephone exchange, etc ..  Gone are the days when one didn’t have to worry about traffic woes in the city but now shudder at the thought of driving out in the weekend even if its to pick up grocery. I would prefer a weekday anytime than venture out around the weekend. The other pain which i personally feel is the new “mall culture”.. Every block seems to come up with a new superstore ever week. Though it means a lot of options but it somehow seems to be a hassle as well.. Jayanagar’s traffic and parking woes in 9th block seem to have increased after the opening up of a very famous mall. I don’t completely say they are bad coz i frequent them quite often myself. I am ready to live with “mall culture” , most Bangaloreans wouldn’t mind either 😉 .. So before i completely fail to connect with this city beautiful, a dear friend and i thought of having this bucket list of things we wanna do in Bangalore and places  we would wanna visit while we still breathe and are alive in the few green pockets of Bangalore. So here goes……

Number 1 : though not in any order was to visit the famed Bangalore Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM). I wouldn’t say that i was completely impressed with the place though but it is definitely a must visit. I have been to better museums but this had a nostalgic feel since i was visiting this place after almost 15 years.. Few old memories of the place was us running around as kids  pressing all the buttons which bring the models into play. The ground floor has the engines and dinosaur exhibits.  Also try n catch up on the several shows which are presented, for instance we watched the “Taramandal Show” which explains how to identify Constellations and star patterns in the night sky. Pretty interesting. Also saw a replica of the wright brothers Smithsonian flight model.    The First floor had the Fun Science and the Electronic exhibits.  The Second floor had the Space and Biotechnological exhibits. The Third floor housed the BEL house of electronics and a kiddies corner with a few fun learning games. The entry fee is bout 20 bucks and the various shows inside cost bout 5 bucks each. You could easily spend a good 3-4 hours in there and though you wouldn’t be raving bout the place but certainly you will not be disappointed.  My advice : Take your kids along, have fun learning and relive your childhood.

Here are a few pics from the visit.

The Museum is located on Kasturba Road. Parking can be done near the Cubbon Park entrance and then a 100m walk back on Kasturba road should take you right to the museum. You could also visit the Aquarium and take a toy train ride at Cubbon Park, We skipped the toy train ride. and the Aquarium isn’t a pretty sight to watch either. Go if you must !!

For more info, check the museum wiki link here.

PS : Feel free to help me add on items to my bucket list of things to do in Bangalore. I would try and update my list on here in the next few days.

Cheers

me

My MesioAngular Impaction…

/ Paddy / 2 Comments

“ Ouch that’s gotta hurt !!! “ is the first reaction I got from everyone who saw the X Ray.. I got one removed a couple years back and I hated the doc for it. Never imagined that I’d need to go through the torture again. The only relief being that this time i had my best bud next to me who apparently isn’t a practicing doc but is definitely one of the best i have ever known.

Now the title of this post reads Mesioangular impaction, well it refers to a wisdom tooth that is angled towards the front of the mouth.. I thought I was unique until I found that am not alone 😉 over 44% of the folks face the same problem.  For all you folks who think why the F*#% in the world would anyone write about a tooth extraction, “ Go !!! get one removed  :-@ “.  This post is all about preparing for the tooth extraction and what need to be done aft.

I had mine removed, though it didn’t feel that bad but the pain is killing for the first few days. Tis just the third day and I am pulling my hair out… I am craving for some yummy food.. What a waste of this years Eid and Ganapathi Utsov both falling on the same weekend and I cant eat the Biryani and the Kadubu and all the modaks. Thanks to the after effects of the extraction.

For a start, Ice Creams feel heavenly and then the chilled thick milkshakes are never enough.  As for the food, Day 1 has to be plenty of fluids and a semi liquid diet.. Day 2 can be Soft rice Idlis and noodles, skip the spices.. Youghurt is good.. minus the salt n pepper.. Day 3 onwards you can eat the regular stuff except anything crunchy n fried n spicy.  Eat your favorite food to  your hearts desire for a week before you go for your tooth extraction so you dont feel the pinch.  I wish i had done so earlier 😦

Heres a Wiki Link which will give you more info regarding the Wisdom Tooth and its extraction procedure.

And also a few more links which would tell you the what to and what not to eat after the Extraction. And on a lighter note even tell you How to eat after a tooth extraction.  You could also look into how to stop the pain sooner.

Funny as it may seem… IT IS NOT 🙂

Check them out

1) What to eat after Wisdom tooth removal ?

2) How to eat after tooth removal ?

3) How to stop the pain after removal ?

The list isn’t comprehensive, If ya need more… Google Zindabad 😉

PS:  Stay away from all your  friends who munched on yummy food infront of you while you sat staring at them in pain and sipped on noodle soup 😉 and Pray that someday the tables turn 😛

Cheers

Bimba – Chiguru

/ Paddy / 1 Comment

A day of Pride .. 4th Sept 2010 … My lil sisters “Bimba – Cultural and Social Forum” organizes its very first grand opening program “Chiguru” in association with the Kannada and Cultural Society. The program was held at the Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore. The show was gracefully inaugurated by renowned Sitar musician Ustad Rafique Khan. The day was filled with the regular hustle bustle of a 300+ member audience comprising of students of Ocean Kids Mangalore and their parents.  The Bimba Foundation aims at promoting and honing art, culture and music in the GeNext of India.

The foundation spearheaded by Mrs.Gauri Suhas Rao, Mr.Suhas Rao and Mr.Kasargod Chinna ( a very familiar name in the Kannada theater and movie fraternity ) is just about a few months young. “Chiguru” in Kannada literally translates into the word “Flower Bud”. The program was conducted to showcase the various cultural dance performances from different parts of the country. There were the traditional Goan Baila, to the assamese Rangoli Bihu, to the punjabi Bhangra, to the Maharastrian lavani, Harvest dance from Karnataka,Gujarati Garbha and Dandiya and several others. All the dancers were kids under the age of fourteen. The talent and the energy in these kids was something to die for. Their infectious smile could make you forget everything else. Few of the pics i clicked during the event are posted here.

Bimba - Chiguru

Gauri Suhas Rao a.k.a Gauri Padiyar is probably more popular in Mangalore as didi to all her kids. She is a trained dancer in various indian and western dance forms. Graduating in Fine Arts from “Sandesha” – A foundation for culture and education, she took up dance as a full time career. She runs a very famous dance institute “Ocean Kids” near the Gokarnatheshwara temple in Mangalore.  Though the dance institute is for kids, she also choreographs events for corporates and also hosts large scale shows. Apart from dance and music, you can also contact her for Summer Camps for children under the age of 12 and Aerobics for Women.

The Institute is located at the following address :

Ocean Kids Dance Institute, Tanisha Building, 1st Floor, Alake, Mangalore – 575003

For enquiries Call +91-9880498515 / +91 9008936789