Wednesday, November 30, 2011

My New Sony Cybershot

I've got a new camera! Yes! Its a brand new super awesome Sony Cyber-shot DSC W570.  Its a lovely shade of Purple isn't it? This is my second camera - technically my third because the first camera I bought was an Olympus (it was terrible never buy Olympus).  I was not at all happy with it and hence returned it within days and bought a Nikon S3100.  It was a really nice camera and I was totally in love with it... until one fateful day when it fell out of my hands and died! If you hadn't read about it previously here's the link. Since I had blogged about that I thought I should also share the good news that I'm in love again! :P

It took me some time to get over my Nikon but...hmm now that I think about it that was just last month! Anyway, so I had to buy a new camera because my phone camera despite being 5 MP was just OK.  So one fine day as I was out on a stroll I just impulsively walked into the electronics store and decided to buy this beautiful piece.  


It was love at fist sight! This was the first model I saw when I walked into the store and it was almost what I wanted - 16.1 MP, 5x optical zoom, very light point and shoot camera and its a Sony Cyber-shot (bas naam hi kafi hai :P)... I say almost because I did buy this one is a bit of a hurry and had not really checked all my options.  What can I say love is blind! :P Minutes after I bought this one I thought about the Nikon S6200 its a camera with features similar to this Sony Cyber-shot but something that clearly sets that apart is it had 10X Zoom!!!! Would have loved to have that one but one friend I consulted about this said the camera I bought is good too, just that I won't be able to spy on people :P heheh made me LOL! He was right I guess.  But yea.. I really really like this new camera :D and I'm super happy again :)

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Indian Speaks - The Rulers of India

Most youths in the metros don't have an opinion when it comes to these supposed 'Leaders' of our nation who are actually more like rulers.  They don't really lead - they just feed! Unless there's some personal gain the youth don't  involve themselves much - I hate politics and I'm not interested is what they say.  Even I said that! Its not because we find it boring but its because we feel its hopeless to even express it (though there might be few who are genuinely incapable of thinking about things beyond themselves) I know some people who don't even vote - What's the point they say. Even the news seems the same, a new scam - another added to the pile of scams. Murders / criminal cases that are not solved unless the media person or politicians are involved in.  There is a 'chalta hai' attitude among the public - not because they are alright with the things as they are but they don't think it will ever change.

After the politician slapping incident quiet a few people I know had updated status messages on the social networking and micro-blogging sites commending and appreciating Harvinder Singh (Sher da puttar) - The man who slapped and attacked the veteran politician.  Most 'normal' people feel Harvinder has acted on behalf of all the frustrated and angry Indians including me! When we saw the video clip of a sikh man slapping and attacking the Indian King of Corruption a little bit of our mind felt calm almost as if to say atta-boy! The reason I said most normal people is because there were people belonging to his political party who seemed to have taken it personally and stirred up a little riot in some parts of this state.  I really pity those who took to the streets for their so-called beloved Minister.  They are poor people who do not fully understand  the service he has been doing to this country (he's excellent at self service!).

For those of you who  don't know Sharad Pawar - he is the current Agriculture minister he is also the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.  He also served as the chairman of BCCI.  He is infamous as the most corrupt politician in the country.  You can read a lot of detail on his profile on this Wiki link which I think is still a quiet modest description. Here's a look at him.

Doesn't he look eternally slapped?
His entire family has been initiated into the political business. Politics for the likes of these is not a job but a family business.  What is India after all? A country which is free for all except for its citizens.  Its free for the rulers because they make the rules and they don't pay.  They get paid for making thsse rules for just 'turning up' in office. They don't pay their full taxes, some of them don't pay their electricity bills, phone bills, water bills anything! The public - the aam junta pays for it - we pay taxes on our income, road tax, house tax and all other types of taxes.  Sales tax which even the beggar pays! 

Did you know that in history India has never waged war against any other country? India is called the tolerant country.  Before its alleged freedom it was attacked and ravaged by many raiders and thieves from different countries.  They looted and plundered and left us a reduced, destitute and in a pitiable state.  They left this country in the hands of the then looked upon the first political party - the Indian National congress.  It's been 62 years and the country is 'Still' developing! Really.. Does it take that long?! After the old rulers left these new 'rulers' took up the vacant seats.  The laws and constitution were lifted from the left overs instead of creating new laws for their own people.  Nothing has changed except the rulers.  Today its the politicians filling their pockets and looting the country. 

All that is said above is what all the citizens know but still nothing is happening.  The slapping and booting incidents are just small ripples in the ocean but it sends out the message - we are angry. Majority of our people live in rural areas but the rulers live in the most urban places.  Did you see the new update of what Rahul Gandhi said when he went to UP for his election campaign? - Vote for Congress and we will change the state in 10 years! Yeah right! The country is still developing and he goes there and tells them 10 years? Even in a city like Mumbai the Bandra-Worli sea link which was planned and budgeted to be completed in 5 years took 10 years (amazingly well planned huh!) he says he will build a better state.. an entire state in 10 years? Really Rahul go back to the uncle who wrote your speech and tell him it needs to be more realistic. I pity the poor people of Amethi - who think about The Mahatma Gandhi and cast votes for these new age pseudo Gandhis. 

The Rupee is getting devalued, inflation and food prices rising, farmers committing suicide ... People are getting angry and frustrated and its only a matter of time till another Harvinder Singh will not just slap but may be even do much greater harm to the corrupt clan of India .  And if these numbers keep going up we could even be heading for a civil war - I think its a possibility.  Where is the Jan Lokpal bill? Even though it does not guarantee the end of corruption till the lowest of levels but at least for starters we have hope that these bigwigs will be going down first.  There's a reason they are afraid.  There's a reason why the millions of Indians came together for it... Its time the bill is passed, change does not just happen it is 'Brought In'. Lets go Anna!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Its Been a Year!

My blog is one year old today! <Applause> Last year this day (few hours from now) I had posted my first ever article into cyberspace.  Its definitely an achievement for me because its one of those few things I constantly keep at.  I can tell you about some things I tried my hand at but it was because either I was busy or due to bad luck due to which I failed

Here’s to name a few:
Learning Japanese – I love to learn languages and when I started working 5 years ago it was for a Japanese process.  So I wanted to learn the language.  One of my friend is a freelance Japanese translator and also teaches the language! (Lucky me huh!) So yea She agreed to teach me and said if I study hard I could answer the level 4 exam – There are 4 levels of Japanese  Language Proficiency Test (there are 5 levels now but there were 4 back then).  Level 4 being the lowest and level 1 the toughest.  Things with me is I get really excited and agree to do things when they sound do-able.  My friend lived about 11 stations away from my house (this is not too far if you get on to the Mumbai Local) that is about 25 min by train. So the excited me was all set and attended the class for the first 3-4 weekends.  Japanese is a really interesting language (and I wish I had pursued it) I’m a visual learner and Japanese words are actually drawings that describe the word.  I still remember the word Water – pronounced Mizu in Japanese.  Below is the picture of word in Hira-gana (one of the three scripts used in Japanese writing.  The other two are Kata-kana and Kanji) on the right.  The way my friend explained it is – it looks like a drop of water splash – Indeed doesn’t it? The language is mostly drawings... almost!:P

Mizu  - Water
I guess it was because of her teaching method I still remember the few things I do.  So the question why did I not complete it? I think because I was lazy and partly also because my friend got married and moved to a different city. So that was the end of learning Japanese.

The Violin Affair – I just love the sound of violins and its such a beautiful instrument. I love everything about it! One of my favourite musical ads is of the blender's pride music CDs (the ad where the guy first keeps playing this one tune and towards the end his girlfriend gifts him a violin and learns to play the same tune herself)...ever listened to it? At times like these I wish I could read and write music.


Its a thing of such beauty!
So once upon a time, I enrolled myself in a music class (this was almost 4 years ago I think).  The first day was exciting.  I learnt to play the DoReMi chords :) and dreamed that someday I could attempt to play a Beethoven or Bach (Yeah, I'm a hopeless dreamer :D) . I guess it was the class timing (and me being lazy) did not attend more 6 classes :(  A real shame! Even today I feel guilty because I just gave up.  Now I’m just buzy and work timings are a challenge for this sort of thing. But maybe someday I would go back and learn to play... or if I don't I know I will definitely buy a lovely violin for keepsakes :) (When I have my own place and won't have to worry about space management)


Un Sueño Español (A Spanish Dream) – I was keen to learn Spanish because after Japanese this language seemed a lot easier. For starters they used Roman alphabets. Quiet a few words is Spanish are  similar to few words used in Konkani (my mother tongue), Hindi, Sanskrit and has common words used in Portuguese (I don't know Portuguese or Sanskrit but know a few words from here and there). 

So I joined the class, got the books and was super excited to learn the language in the beginning.  I learnt the alphabet and numbers :) Every day I would find a word that had a similar meaning or sounded similar in some of the other known languages. The reason I gave up was... hmm, now that I’m writing this I realise is because I was lazy.  The class was in between workplace and home - usually this is a good thing. But the problem was I had to take the bus to get to class and the buses in this city.. and that's a whole different story. I had to wait for 25-30 minutes for the bus if you missed one you would have to wait for sooo long! Taking the auto-rickshaw was not a economical option for everyday travel... The wait was killing. So I gave up and wasted a lot of money - guilty again. This was about 3 years ago. I like to say I've learnt from these experiences... and now I don't enroll for any class :P - kidding :) Early this year I signed up to learn to drive and I completed the course and I now have a driver's license :)

I guess if I was really determined I would have been able to achieve all of the above... I remember this quote by Swami Vivekananda – "Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached."  Determination is the key to success... This was years ago and I have learnt few of life’s lessons through the years.  I have learnt that one needs to be relentless if we really want to make things happen. Another quote I'd like to mention is "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." (Don't remember who said that).

So yes... completing a year on the blog is a BIG deal for me because its one of those few things I am able to check off the list - not really going to check this one off.. yet!  Looking back and seeing 40 articles in a year, liked and commented on is not too bad I guess ;) It was a a wonderful 1st year of blogging.  Hope the inspiration continues and may my Muse watch over me :) 

I would also like to thank those who read these articles / stories that I post - Thank You! It is knowing, somebody somewhere is reading and appreciating my effort that has sometimes inspired me to write and share :) Please continue commenting, sharing and liking :D Your feedback is very much valued!

Monday, November 14, 2011

An Evening at Masjid Bunder - Mumbai

I was at Masjid Bunder yesterday helping my aunt with some grocery shopping.  For those of you who don't know Masjid Bunder - it is know for being a wholesale market and the second station on Mumbai's Harbour Line.  It is the second station after Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus.  (That's about how much I know about it :P)

Every time I'm here I feel like I'm walking in the streets of the old Mumbai - the Mumbai of the Mills Era.  There's trucks to hand drawn carts being used in this area to transport good from place to place.  Here I am reminded that Mumbai is a place where people work really hard.  See the picture below,  Its an old man carrying 2 pitchers of water.  He was so old and still carrying that much load.  I'm sure we wouldn't see any youngster in the city carry the pitchers this way.(Click on the images to view the full size version)

Its not just this man but anybody you look around will be buzy carrying something to someplace.. I think this the busiest area of the city :) Here's a look at a few people I spotted.

He's not a beggar...
Everybody is carrying something
There was such hustle buslte in this part of town I even saw people pulling hand carts but couldn't click a picture because I look like a tourist - clicking away while they were all working.

Most buildings and some shops have this really old era feel to it.  There were some shops where they lined the spices out in small trays for samples. Liked the colours... notice the shades of red?
Turmeric and Chilli powders with different spice limit :)
Other Spices
There were quiet a few shops that hung a sign that read - We take old notes... don't know what its is about them but I like :)

This is just fruits after the vendor had just sprayed some water on them. Not that I had not seen this before but... just went click :P
Fresh Apples
Take a look at this fruit seller.  He sells 5 peeled oranges for 10 rupees! They are small Oranges but still.. makes the point - Most people here work hard to make a living.

I spotted a toys shop that sold smiles by the pack :D... If only it was that simple to buy smiles :)

A pack of smiles

Something else I find in this city - Mumbai.  There are a lot of kabutar-khanas.  People here like to feed the pigeons and there a LOT of pigeons!
Here's a small Kabutar kahan in Masjid bunder and Pigeons :)

Pigeon Picnic

That was one evening in one of Mumbai's busiest markets and thought of sharing what I saw :)

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