Hobo visits a strawberry garden after a temple visit and shares a video too!
-Strawberry plants are imported from California, U.S.A.
- One plant of strawberry is capable of making 10 more plants
- Vai is the village where initially strawberry plants are planted in the month of June/July/August
- When they are grown farmers from neighbouring areas bought them to plant into their gardens. September usually is the month
Shruti on a hilarious summary of all desi vacations in the US:
If you have family in any corner of the earth, you should vacation only there. Note: the term family includes, your uncle’s wife’s sister’s co-sister’s family and beyond. Any location on earth is a perfectly acceptable spot for vacation if you can trace a relative there. … A 4th cousin in Bay Area is a god-sent gift.
Dhiru Bhai recaps some of the best villains we’ve seen on Indian cinema:
Indian villains are actually tribe of darlings!!! Most of them in real life are the best of gentlemen infact have a better reputation then most of the heroes in our industry !!!
They have tried to be evil but still they evoke so much affection, which is quite remarkable…
Can you forget, this guy who goes to rape girls and pronounces his name “Mera naam hai prem, Prem Chopda ! heee heeee hoooo” Not quite James bond but everytime we see him saying this dialogue followed by his unique laugh !!!! It just starts a laugh riot at my house!!!!
The movie Amu reminds Monika of her own personal memories of the riots of ‘84:
The house we used to live in had a shop run by a sikh on the outside and I still remember the way mom-dad and the landlords had to plead with those guys to not burn it as we were hindus… they agreed but on one condition they brought everything from the shop on the road and burnt it… burnt the daily bread-butter of the guy…
Go and read Aarushi’s enchanting poem about a winter morning:
I devoured with my eyes.
I did not know thatI would be so starved
For the vision of you.Now the cold winds anger
The architecture called space.
Because Mr Thakeray was busy burning buses, Ritu’s 5-year-old son could not go attend a picnic. But now the kid sees the answer to why he isn’t showing his face at a time of crisis:
Anger gave way to consternation and shock. One evening over dinner, the hubby said, “I wonder where Raj Thackeray is now. Will he or his men come to the aid of Mumbai?”
While I nodded my head, a small voice exclaimed, “Papa, Raj Thackeray cannot come to help Mumbai. He is busy burning buses na…”
We laughed over what seemed funny to us, but the little fellow was in no mood for humour as his eyes remained glued to the screen watching the scenes of devastation.
The third time I heard the reference to Raj Thackeray has actually left me stumped.
The Analyst draws the analogy (sorry couldn’t resist the pun :) ):
Two virtual strangers are bounded by lifelong bond of holy matrimony. This bond is governed by a two way stockholm and after the kids are born, they are part of that equation. The husband and wife are both captives and captors in this bond. Another way to at this is that this bond holds husband and wife captive together. They both dont know the true self of the respective partner. In most cases, they dont know each other and they havent met before as well. Thrown together under one roof, they start looking, cooking and cleaning after each other. That when carried on for a period of more than year creates a stockholm like situation. The husband gets to know the wifes wierd notions, the wife gets to know the husbands habits.
Go read the post to learn the risk-management techniques :D
In an Australian zoo once I had a python around my neck, crawling on my body and let me tell you… I wasn’t even trying to smile. I can imagine what these people would have experienced.
It was mixed feelings for many. Fear, awe, excitement, shock… something unimaginable. All of a 12×10 room. Over 20 people. And about 6 snakes coiling around your necks, hands and fingers.
Hop over to the couples’s blog for details.
The latest to join the celebrity bloggers from India is Malayalam actor and 3 time national award winner Mammootty. He has started blogging from today onwards and he blogs in Malayalam. His first post is titled “Samad Vyavasthayude Raashtreeyam” which could be roughly translated to “The politics of economics”. With the rumors of Mammootty going to contest in the next general elections with support of the Communist party, his blog would make an interesting read.
Asim Ghosh has posted some not-so-popular songs from Kishore Kumar in his music blog.
OK, may not be so “rare” to some of you ardent Kishore Da fans. But I see that most bloggers/karaoke enthusiasts more often opt for, say “Mere Sapno Ki Rani”, than “Moti Ho To, Baandh Ke Rakh Doon”. So, it’s probably wiser to say that these songs are “rarely” heard on audio blogs. I realize that tracks for rare songs are not easily/widely available. But even when singers perform on stage with live bands, you still hear the same ole-same ole “Roop Tera Mastana”, or “Dekha Na Hai Re Socha Na”, or “Chingari”….over and again.
His post includes the following songs:
Anil went to UK in 2008 and shares some pictures from Chepstow.
Club Mahindra invites a few bloggers to share their recommendations/wishlist of destinations.
Wish you all a Very Happy 2009 and may you all travel more.
Slogan Murugan writes a tavelogue after his trip to Kerala through Tamil Nadu.
The smell makes a lot of difference. And each Indian state has its own smell. When you cross over into TN from Karnataka, you can smell the difference the minute you reach Hosur. I can’t explain it, but the air is different. When you cross over from TN to Kerala through the Palghat, at Walayar, the smell hits you. Kerala smells of greenery.
Tim captures some beautiful images in India. The potraits are particularly captivating.
via Indiamike.
Rmathew is not too happy with the way ‘feedback’ works with some of the restaurants in Bangalore. The rule seems to be that the only feedback that is accepted is good feedback!
That’s right - there were no options like “Bad” or “Pathetic” for providing negative feedback for these items. This reflects the haughty attitude of the management. I selected “Average” for “Food” because that’s what it was.
As I was leaving, first the head-waiter and then the manager tried to convince me to change my feedback.
P N S happened to visit Patalkot, and see what he has to say. Damn ! I did not even know such a place really existed !!
we came across a sign board on the right side of the road reading “Patalkot”. We were reminded of the people living in the bottom of the earth and indeed it was!. We alighted from the van and saw an extremely deep gorge surrounded by high mountain ranges…
All of us climbed down carefully using the stairs provided but when we reached the bottom of the 3000 feet cliff, we were told that we need to walk for about 3 km’s to reach the nearest human habitat.
Why I failed in Maths ?
Ankur talks about how our education system could have been much better, had it addressed the usage of the subject in daily life.
असल में दिक्कत ये थी कि मेरे दिमाग की प्रोग्रामिंग दूसरों से थोड़ी अलग हुई है. मैं हर चीज को क्यों कैसे करके सोचता हूं. मैंने शिक्षा में एक बड़ी कमी पाई है कि उसमें किसी भी चीज का उपयोग नही बताया जाता है. उदाहरण के लिये हम भौतिकी, रसायन, गणित क्यों पढ़ते हैं? क्या कुछ बनाने के लिये? नही! बल्कि अच्छे नंबरों से पास होने के लिये और किसी प्रतियोगी परीक्षा में चुने जाने के लिये.
Shrey thought it was a mix of many Hollywood movies
So there it was, a drop of Memento (just a drop, mind you), a bit of The Butterfly Effect, with a large serving of THE HULK. Add some good old Rajni-style action for some desi tadka, and that’s Ghajini for you!
Ajit gives it 5 out of 5
Loosely inspired by Christopher Nolan’s Memento , the film moves back and forth in time, as it juxtaposes an effervescent romance in the past against a brutalized, spaced-out present. The two time zones criss-cross interestingly, leaving enough suspense to keep the viewer attentive.
Anand Vaishnav thinks it’s much ado about nothing
On the whole Ghajini is not a boring film by any stretch of imagination and packs in enough punch through its running time. But the massive buildup does not translate into an exceptional cinematic experience. It is much ado about nothing. Aamir is both the film’s biggest strength as well as weakness.
Ace movie reviewer Meetu gives it a “wait for video release” rating.
That I didn’t realize how my 3+ hours passed by is testimony to the fact that you can’t take the love for masala out of this Indian. Even though I usually don’t like this combination of spices I found myself enjoying most of Ghajini. The thriller succeeded in getting me anxious but the seasoning left a bad after-taste.
And finally, caught up in the Ghajini fever Jehan Handa at PFC decided to watch Memento. I have to agree with him when he says:
In short, in such times of Ghajini et al, we have a Memento to cherish about.
So, what’s your verdict? Drop us a comment and a link to your review if you’ve posted one.
Umar Pirzada recounts a story he recently heard at the Toastmaster’s club:
She was travelling with her spouse for her honey moon and while getting on the moving train which was leaving, one of her sandals fell off on the platform. While thoughts of having sheer bad luck and “why me?”, ruled her mind for a little while, there was the deeper thought which made her do something different in quick time.
She took off her other sandal and threw it to the platform. Her husband asked, “Why the hell did you do that?”
Like he says, there is always time to change and do something about the world around you.
D over at her blog talks about the public display of anger (PDA) as a general means of displaying frustrations and emotions:
To be honest, just the idea seems exhilarating, doesn’t it? But there are few people who enjoy such unequivocal public sentiment as does Bush. And if public opinion is divided regarding a neta or a world leader, would PDA against him still be justified? The reactions then would not be half as funny as the Iraqi journalist’s shoe-in-the-air act evinced. Would a divisive world be able to handle this PDA just as well as it has learned to handle the other one?
Update: Corrected the above to read ‘her’ blog, instead of ‘his’. Sorry, D :)
P.S. - Couldn’t resist adding this one here, from Jay Leno’s Tonight Show: the economy is so bad that people are standing behind George Bush just to get free shoes! :D
Plus Ultra draws a fine analogy of Pakistan PM Zardari asking for proof:
We had positioned one of our spotters at a cafe across the road from where he had a good view of the window of the deluxe suite. Through the light falling on the curtains, he caught the silhouette of the pair kissing each other. Here’s a photograph of that too.”
At this stage, the husband stopped the detective, “What happened next? What happened next?”
The detective replied, “After that, they switched off the lights in the room and we couldn’t take any further photographs”.
The husband thumped the table and cried in frustration,” Damn it. That doubt again. Always, the nagging doubt. That clinching evidence still eludes me”.
Link via: The Acorn.
Arun finds his picture of Chandratal published on NDTV site without any attribution. The only thing in NDTV’s favor is that it has responded fast.
We initiated an enquiry as soon as we received your complaint, and it seems that the image you have referred to, crept into our systems inadvertently. Although there are strict editorial standards and guidelines in place at NDTV.com, sometimes the sheer volume of content that we handle everyday and the multiplicity of sources through which this content comes in, can overwhelm the system. But that is not an excuse.
Bindu reminisces about a turtle walk she took along with volunteers involved in their protection.
We were led on this walk by an experienced volunteer named Arun, and were joined by half a dozen other volunteers as well. There was a small group of ~10-year old school kids as well, getting a first-class biology lesson right there on the beach. Their excitement and wonder filled me with hope.
Wanderlust gives a run-down of the various entities that lend colour to a Bengali wedding:
The Bandhobis- The female friends decked up in resplendent sarees and jewellery. Add to the glamour quotient of the marriage and usually keep the bride updated with all the gossip of whats happening in the marriage elsewhere. The unmarried ones pass fleeting glances at the handsome specimens of the group described below while the married ones rue a day very similar to this one which had snatched away their freedom to do so.
The Bondhugon - Mostly unmarried friends in suits representing the grooms friend brigade. Keep a watchful eye on the above group, interpreting smiles as invitation for dates and spend most of the time eating and doing nothing useful. They arrange on-the-stop rosogolla-eating-contests leading to an invariable shortage of the same and while nowhere to be seen when the need to drop an old relative back home arises, would suddenly emerge in full force as soon as they realise that the old relative is the father of the most dazzling lady from the above mentioned group.
Charakan desperately appeals to Mr. L. K. Advani to postpone the state-wide bandh called for in Orissa on Christmas Day, by Swami Laxmananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti supported by the Viswa Hindu Parishad [VHP]:
We the people of India request you to please use your influence on the organisers to postpone this Bandh which is planned for the Christmas Day, since a Bandh on a day of festivities for Christians may lead to further division of people on religious lines. The country has just suffered terrible Terrorists Attacks in Mumbai and we all need peace and unity at a time like this. This gesture of yours will go a long way towards bringing harmony and Unity amongst the people of Orissa.
There is also an online petition that you may sign to extend your support.
Shantanu tasted it at The Raintree at the Taj Connemara in Chennai, and fell in love with it. The description with the pics look very nice, but the cherry on the cake would definitely be “curry leaf martini”. :D
The Chef’s tasting menu in the form of a thali changes every evening. Tonight, the thali consisted of Uppu Kari - boneless pieces of mutton cooked with a multitude of spices, Kozhi Melagu - very tender pieces of chicken cooked in dry pepper masala, and Meen Varuval - spicy fried seer fish. The thali also had bowls of steamed rice, lemon-rice, sambhar, rasam, curd, white pumpkins cooked in spiced yogurt and gulab jamuns. We were served fresh appams and a variety of lip-smacking chutneys, pickles and papads.
Important note: The site feed urls have changed. Please update your feed reader with these feed urls
Site Feed
Comments Feed
Recent Comments