Blog day... and something to rock

A very happy Blog Day2005 to you ... Bloggers that I recently found worth a read Deepak Chopra Nandita Das Parth Thoughts on a Lonely Afternoon Life or something like it ****************************************** These days I am surrounded with Rock music it seems and well I must say it reminds me of my college days when I used to blast music... without caring a damn about the neighbors... Now it seems that this has come back to haunt me... but in a good way.. Have got a dedicated rock fan... blasting good old rock to his or her heart's content and that makes me swing myself now and again... yeah now I am feeling like doing the same... Shall we compare notes through music.. would be a good idea... buhahahah !! at least its not the same music again and again... like another neighbor... PHEW... ********************************************************** 15 days of vacation and I have 5 newborns to visit... there are baby boys all around.. And I am going mad shopping for blue... I am also surrounded by baby talk.. here and there.. how the labour went and what color poo the baby has.. ( i know that the poo changes color every some days) !! In a way its nice to see the parents so excited... Knowledge stashed for further use I think... Rash.. you are scaring me with your notes... LOLOL.. Somehow I noticed that just some months back it was all girls and now its all boys.. does the universe plan in such a way that one phase only boy babies are born and one phase only girl babies are born ... I wonder ... *scratching my head* This would take care of the female foeticide in some wierd way.. if they knew how to control this.. Oh heck... *********************************************************** Am hooked on to ROCKSTAR INXS. They have some serious talent there and its amazing to see how much it takes to make a Rockstar... I think after Amazing Race.. this is one of the best reality shows that has come across television... if you can ignore the hysterics... and focus on the way they play the music... YOu can watch the next show today... Suzie is trying to sing Bohemian Raphsody. And WHOA mama that is one tough vocal.. to bleat... I am waiting to see how she performs... I like her and I also like Mig...and Jordis though she totally spoilt Aerosmith's song last show.. but it is interesting to watch them try... It airs on Sunday ( 10 :00 PM) , Tuesdays ( 10:00 PM) and Wednesdays ( 9:00 PM)... in Star World. ************************************************************ And methinks that TOI does not like bloggers much... going by this article which had something of a wierd feel to it... Is blogging really a shadowy world in the Internet...just because someone deletes his post and decides to go off blogging or to another anonymous name... well thats one of the concept of blogging isnt it or just because someone wants to remain anonymous... ?? I thought it was the opposite... TOI must be on a demolish the blogger fraternity mode... go figure.. According to this article.. .bloggers are better writers than speakers.. huh.. not to me.. All the bloggers that I have met ... have a good quotient of intelligence and great personalities and this is a cool hobby I say... now what does is TOI aiming at ??? ******************************************************** Also found this cool blog site... Intent Blog... I am liking reading what Rahul Khanna has to say.. Also Nandita Das' Experience can be pretty interesting to read... thank god its not colored with the glam sham and they can be perceived as the people they are.. Also you might want to check out Shekar Kapoor's Intellectual discourses.. ( which sometimes fly by me head) and yep Deepak Chopra also has a popular entries here... ************************************************************ Tripping on : Dave Matthews Band - Before these Crowded Streets... Technorati tags: Blog Day, Rock

Train Notes.... where are you from ???

And here we go again... On boarding the train in Cooch Behar.. I have a somewhat old passenger(OP).. coming down and sitting opposite our berth... One by one the passengers come by and start filling in the train.. I watch as a smart man (DOC) comes and seats himself... bang opposite me.. He sizes us up and then smoothly takes out his mobile and starts talking... Another gentleman quickly makes himself confortable and starts talking on his mobile.. ME( wondering) : Technology has taken over even a place as small as this.. Suddenly I was bombarded with mobile ringing here and there.. ... and it seemed to me that everyone was talking at the same time... OHHH.. after what seemed like an hour I looked at myself and well just for timepass took my NOKIA 3230.. BUhahahah!!! the smart man opposite eyed my cell very covetedly... while I talked to my aunt... now that shut them up alright ( EVIRL SMILE) OLD MAN to the man on the side berth: So where are you coming from ? Man on the side berth: Cooch Behar ( with a polite smile ) OLD MAN: oh so what do you do.. ? Man on the side berth: I work ( looking sheepishly around at so many other people who seem to be listening to the conversation.) OLD Man: I understand work but what work ? Man on the side berth: ( a little irriatated but out of politeness) I am in Finance . OLD MAN: Oh there is a treasurer there... ?? Man.... : ( finally getting fed up) Yes I am working there, posted in Cooch Behar, going to visit my family.. and then coming back.. I like working here.. blah blah... ( then goes back to his magazine OLD MAN ( looking at us furtively) Rocks: Not aware... possibly dreaming of Jeeps and Bikes.. Me : Putting my nose up to avoid any questions... bury my face in a magazine.. OLD MAN to the person next to him ( lets call him A) : What will happen to this country A: ( somewhat politely ) yes ? OLD MAN: You know this Rajniti doing Brashtachar.. ME: ( all ears set to listen to an interesting discussion) It is to be noted that in Bengal it is the THING to discuss politics to break the ice.. all the souls seem to unite in cursing the government here... OLD MAN ( after his political discourse..) to A : So where are you from ? A: I am from Cooch Behar OLD MAN: What do you do ? A: I am a Doctor.. OLD MAN ( very proudly ) : Oh yes.... you see I was in the Health too.. I retired.. A: Oh yes .. how nice.. OLD MAN: Do you work or do you have a practice.. A: I do both.. in Kolkatta. OLD MAN: Oh ... OLD MAN ( looking at us furtively) Rocks: Jeeps , Bikes, Sleep, Bangalore in his thoughts,... now he is drooling over a Hummer in the Magazine.. . ME : Bury my face deeper in the magazine.. GOSH Amir Khan had an an illegitimate baby... BIG News... Kareena coming closer to Shahid after the kissing episode... well whats new... ( UGH if only i could take my face beyond the magazine) Rocks ( all excited) : Tells me the specs of HUmmer.. I jump with relief and we engage in an animated conversation about F1, Jeeps, SUVs, Italjet. A: All curious but maintaining his silence.. OLD MAN: Peering at us through his glasses... more curiouser... Me slowly realising that we were acting like specimens in the BHODRO dabba... so I go back to the filmi ruminations.. Where was I ? Ah Corsets are in fashion... now .. A: getting bored... singing nice songs by himself... Partly it was to avoid conversation with the old man... ME: Closing my eyes and listening to the music.... pretending to read... thinking to myself.. A has got a nice voice..And the train goes CHUG CHUG to his HUMM HUMM.. Old man makes a big deal of him wanting the lower berth .. no matter what... Night falls and after a lot of whining to the TT, he gets his lower berth.. Tall man C comes with friend B to sleep... they make a huge noise.. seem to be good pals.. nice to see them bantering.. methinks.. OLD MAN looks them over curiously... and tells them a long story about him wanting to exchange his middle berth for lower berth and blah blah... B says fine.. before he could finish .. and promptly arranges for the night... C suddenly comes over and curses * SHAALA* and jerks WHATCHAMACALLIT towards me thinking that I was asleep ME ( affronted ) Eije DADA... Ki Korchen ( What are you doing ) B ( cooly as if jerking pests at fellow passengers was no big deal) : Ki holo ( what happened) ME: Jaake aapni Shaala bole jhakda dilen... ota to amar gaye porlo. Ektu dekhe... please... ( What you called Shaala and threw it fell on me... Watch it please) B: O ota kicho na... ( that was nothing) ME: Rolling my eyes... but decide to bury my nose into a book... OLD MAN: watching this very intently with peering eyes... All the co passengers go to sleep... my brain also stops observing... In the middle of the night... I see Rocks getting up for his nature call.. Next I see some Hijdas crossing the bogey... Rocks comes out and spies them now knowing that he has the invariable habit to get caught in sticky situations... decides to go back to the toilet and wait for the mandli to go by... After some moments he comes back relieved and tells me this story later in the morning... to my great amusement... Next morning: We were conversing in Assamese and English and in West Bengal Assamese is what Tamil is to Karnataka.. Rocks is spending his time snoozing while I gulp down tea from the hawkers that pass by.. I also see people buying lot of stuff from the hawkers.. and then go back to reading my book.. OLD MAN desperately wanting to talk.. catches on to B ( c's friend ) who is awake and chirpy: So where are you coming from.. ? B: From Dhubri OLD MAN: I was also in Dhubri...See when you want tea you will never get tea.. . B : Oh I had mine... OLD MAN: You know the sheets that we sleep are never washed... how can you all sleep like that ( after he has had a good night's sleep) B ( who was traveling for the first time was quite stunned) : Yeah ( with a worried look) OLD MAN: Yeah where will they have the time to wash all that... they just fold and give it back to us... B : Quietly listening and suddenly gets up to wake his snoozing friend... desperate for diversion.. he decides to go for a walk... then.. ME: rolling my eyes... SIGH Rocks and me keep talking about this and that... Now it is to be noted that Rocks though familiar with the Bangla language cannot speak properly. Observe how he carries on a 5 minute conversation with only single words... I found that pretty amazing Suddenly OLD MAN seizes chance and catches on to Rocks. OLD MAN: So where are you coming from ? Rocks: Cooch Behar OLD MAN: Oh you have relatives ? Rocks : Mesho ( Uncle) OLD MAN: You from Assam ? ROcks : Bangalore OLD MAN: What do you do ROcks: Service OLD MAN: So what does your mesho do ? Rocks: Retired OLD MAN ( not yet giving up ) : Hmmm Oh I might know him .. tell me his name Rocks: N Chakravarty OLD MAN: Where does he stay in Cooch behar ? Rocks ( now at the end of his vocab) : Rani ...( MUMBLE) ... Mumble ME: ( having had enough... smiling to myself at the Old Man's Persistence) : Ranibagan and my uncle is from Shillong. You might not know him... OLD MAN: (Getting a small start at hearing me speak... ) OH ... we are reaching Sealdah ME: yes we are... Suddenly the old man sees A hurriedly .. getting up on one socked leg and pulling his bags and rushing out.. OLD MAN to all of us: You see you see ,... how "bhodro" ( decent) society fellas behave.. he is a medical.. profession.. has a practice and yet does not have any social hygiene..how dare he put his put up like that... there is no decency... this is what is bringing down the society... yada yada yada ... blah blah blah... ( and this is the person he had the longest conversation with during the journey ... who bothered enough to talk to him about his profession and politics... go figure the human mind.) Suffice it to say that ME and ROCKS and all the co passengers.. were never too relieved to see the Sealdah Station I guess.. PS: this post is not to offend any Bongs.. this is to please be taken in the spirit of humor...

Photos... just in case it was missed..

Standing strong... in the rains, originally uploaded by Jilmil.

Monsoon is the season when all the possible flowers bloom.. this time I saw more than my share of beautiful flowers which I missed for a long time... Gardening is a part of life up there in the North East.. and each house proudly shows off its collection.. Our house in Shillong was also known for its flowers... here in Golaghat.. this grows in my yard and backyard.

Duck House, Assam, originally uploaded by Jilmil.

A duck house, my husband tells me... This house is a typical one used to keep ducks.. they swim and roam around during the day and stay here during the night... ponds such as this are also very common in Assam.. where they have small variety of fishes and ducks... SIGH.. that makes me nostalgic about my ancestral home in Sibsagar, Assam.

What is this, originally uploaded by Jilmil.

Kuku, who is looking as curious as can be... I am totally enamoured by Kuku as you can see.. his body has all the colors possible.. and I never thought that a bird would willingly stay at home.. I think it was born domesticated.. and somehow managed to break free... It just came to my aunts hand and sat there... it is fond of nuts and loves to had tea with us... I love this little pecker... when lonely he walks all around the house and he loves playing with a wind blown calender... go figure.. .!!!

05, originally uploaded by Jilmil.

The famous toy train in Darj.. One train was hired by some Japanese guys for some shooting... this train collided with a running train.. due to bad weather the same day.. it was sad.. the guys in the front sitting outside the train were injured.. luckily no one died.. the roads.. up the hill are broken due to the train line crossing it... This is at the foothills of the mountains...

Cooch Behar, Palace of Gayatri Devi, originally uploaded by Jilmil.

This is where the Rajmata Gayatari Devi was born. The palace looks wonderful.. I did not have the time to go inside the palace ... will do so next time... This palace ground has a lotus pond, parks, etc... This small place has been maintained well by the royalty.. The city is small but well equipped and is a good break on your way to Sikkim, Darj, etc...

Moments, Miracles, Mist......

Yes I am back ... and I am having a bittersweet feeling in me... I would have loved to be enconsced in the arms and loving warmth of my family and just do nothing... but all good things have to come to an end and well so here I am and I must tell you that I did not miss being online at all.. made me feel as if I was back to the good old days where even telephone conversation was a luxury only few could afford and we had all the time in the world with people to talk to... and so many things to do... Some momentary shots as I whizz by my memory cells. For a moment...... while driving from Assam we thought that the 50 odd kilometers of clean and quiet green highway was absolute heaven with not a soul around even to farm.... when we very rudely realised (after being stopped by the cops) that it was because there was some stupid Bandh declared somewhere in the middle of the highway... which made us go back all the way home... Sheesh... I thought that there could be nothing better than a kiss from my parrot Kuku back home... and he is a handsome one at that... he knows what LURVE is and he laps it up.. it is a different thing that his sole pastime when he is bored is to open all buttons earrings and rings... but I got a way to get him not to do that with me... I touch his tail... which is the weakest spot and he is affronted... to say the least.... and he understands that he needs to keep away from my rings and buttons... buhahahah ... what communication can do ... and parrots are intellident souls... I must say... heres more on kuku.. There was nothing better than spending my time catching up on my reading.... near the window as the rain pelted down giving some relief to the humidity and the heat... and Kuku quietly going to sleep standing on my chest as he watches the rain.. ah bliss... I could not envision any other life other than being with my family dining, talking, laughing, doing trivial things with them.... or just having a cup of tea and sharing gossip... until I was jolted... back to reality..... I thought that a dearly beloved uncle who till that time was a walking talking fit man would just pass on right in front of my eyes and in my hands without us being able to do anything about it... thank god that it did not happen but will never forget fear in my heart... my heart almost stopped beating seeing uncle almost giving up.... I experienced the intense combination of heat, humidity, rain, clouds, cold... all at one go and I ended up flat in bed with illnesses having some LONG NAMES. I have yet to recover my voice... My colleague humorously says to me now that he wished that I spoke so softly always... HUH ... so soft that I cannot even hear my own voice... go figure... LOL My wonder of being in a cloud and actually driving through dense cloud on a mountain on our way to Darjeeling ... changed into horror and put me on the edge after going through the same BLOODY cloud for two hours... one can take in the clouds only for some time.. I found back my clogged brains ( read ears and nose) after two hot dishes of momos... I thought that our driver was crazy when at Mirik Lake, ( which was incidentally covered with thick cloud ( not fog) he asked us to go further ... and see the lake... I was almost screaming at him... WHAT LAKE??? ... ALL I CAN SEE IS WHITE ALL AROUND... and If I move 2 inches away from you... you TOO are INVISIBLE... He refused to believe me and told me to go further... well I just gave up... ( at the risk of walking myself in the lake) We touched both Bangladesh border and Nepal ... (as we passed Fatak on our way back from Darj.. to Mirik. ) Believe me my fellow travellers... this road to Darj and back is much safer and sceanic than the usual one... It was like going back in history while walking down the streets of Cooch Behar. Here one can actually experience the glory of the royal family and how the Rajah served his subjects... a small quaint town with its own language and style... and so charming... I felt that Darjeeling is not a place to go as a tourist... it stinks when it comes to tourism... but I think it will be a great place to be with friends or on your own ... mingling with the people... I for one am going back with a totally different plan this time... I was almost pleasantly blinded by the amount of greenery in Assam and West Bengal... Kerela guys you must see that green.... I do not say your green is bad but our green is also awesome... It is the right time for the paddy fields and it is as if you are floating through wide stretches of green velvet... ooohhhh I thought that Kolkatta is going the Bangalore way when I saw so many flowers and trees planted across the roads... until my friends told me that it was only in the bypass.. well at least its there... the bypass drive is awesome... in Kolkatta... TO BE CONTINUED........

notes from darjeeling

here i am waiting for a hot cuppa tea and sandwich and its almost time to go.. my holiday is coming to an end and it has been an eventful one... i spy this internet parlor in The Mall and cannot wait to note down a few words as I wait for my coffee... we have arrived at a not so opportune time .. its cloudy most of the time... and its raining but its wonderful all the same... this time it was a short trip... i promise myself to come here again... here and there saw the much renowned toy train and also unfortunately we heard in the news that the same train collided with an oncoming train... thus injuring some workers... Sukna, Rong Tong, Chunbhatti, Mahanadi, Ghoom, Sonada, Kurseong, etc we passed them all along with the clouds which made the drive fraught with danger... yet the people here seem to think its a daily routine... ahhh had some wonderful momos .... did lunch, dinner with momos... And today being Rakhi purnima, Darjeeling is looking very colourful... The ladies here were surprised to see that we ate everything... vegetarian tourists seem to be the flavour of the town and its rare to find a non veg tourist... haha !! haggled with a beautiful shawl seller in nepali, she was surprised to give me a good rate.... my learning Nepali language in Shillong came into use after all... it was good to hear the sweet tones of this language after a long time... bought some absolutely rare CDs from a small shop here... now I have a full collection of Janis Joplin, some more Al di Meola, etc.... the view when the clouds clear is spectacular.. though I think we have to contend with driving through the clouds again... RAMRO JAGA CHO this darjeeling .... If you are visiting this place... Rainy season has its own charm if you like the season... Make your bookings carefully... do not be intimidated with crowd of people who want to give you a cheaper deal.. be firm.. Food is great in small places... It is possible to walk around and see the places in Darj... You might be conned into taking some tours which cost a bomb... be alert... Make sure you stay in Mall road... I spied the Shangrila Hotel which seems to be a very old place and a nice place to stay... Again it seems... so...and there is also a quaint pub cum coffee shop where you can chill out... N0tes from Assam, Cooch Behar, coming soon..... also the snaps will be up as soon as I reach home... till then... have a nice day.....

Somewhere Someone...

So friends all set to fly tomorrow.... so will be reading you all after 15 days... and yeah meanwhile.. though cyber life is great.. it will be refreshing getting back to a land of no onlune connections.. and pure earthy life .... yeah it will be... shall I miss it ? Yes I will.. but its good to just shut off everything that we so take for granted for sometime in our life and focus on what we do not take for granted.... See you when I am back and you all have fun... and I am sure I will have a lot to read up ... once I am back... hopefully I shall bring in lots of stories and photographs... from my trip... Adios .. amigos.... Sionara.. and if I do not see you for sometime.. good morning, good afternoon and good night buhahahaha

Listening to Dido as I pack... she is one soothing soul.... Trilok Gurtu is setting me on fire meanwhile... as I rush about.. and good old Lynn Anderson is singing.. I never promised you a rose garden as I drive... ticking my checklist off... how profound for life....

I leave you with this song right now....Life on Rent By Dido I haven't really ever found a place that I call home I never stick around quite long enough to make it I apologize that once again I'm not in love But it's not as if I mind that your heart ain't exactly breaking It's just a thought, only a thought But if my life is for rent and I don't lean to buy Well I deserve nothing more than I get Cos nothing I have is truly mine I've always thought that I would love to live by the sea To travel the world alone and live my life more simply I have no idea what's happened to that dream Cos there's really nothing left here to stop me It's just a thought, only a thought But if my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy Well I deserve nothing more than I get Cos nothing I have is truly mine While my heart is a shield and I won't let it down While I am so afraid to fail so I won't even try Well how can I say I'm alive If my life is for rent...

Vodka Martini... shaken but not stirred...

Won this at an F1 Showing event in Legends of the Rock... buhahahah.. it is waiting to be opened on a special occasion. It's a 5 litre Beer Can.... SLLUUURRRPPP... What is it that makes you sometimes go so fast into past hurt that it bedazzles your senses... one little remark.. one reference and you are back like a wheel as shown in Austin powers... it is not a nice feeling... is it worth it I wonder?? Thinking happy thoughts of home, hearth, folks, family... a heartwarming anticipation that is building in the depths of my heart... Not really liking the fact that I will be airborne this Sunday.. somehow I have begun to dread flying.. except for the time factor... Train journeys.. are the best... Shopped shopped shopped and have some more shopping to do.. love shopping for family... Have to yet pack my stuff... I remember when I was a single un, I used to pack from a month back... shows how desperate I was... then I guess .. :) Rocks has me addicted to JAMES BOND.... He has got the whole BOND series and we have been watching the movies... never get tired of them... EGAD the things Rocks makes me do .. I am being colored in his shades... and well I love it... hahahah !! First it was bikes then F1 and now its Bond.... bring it on honey... Loved Moonraker... and The Spy Who Loved Me. Though if I compare them to the present day... the Bond girls seemed to be pretty dumb... he he ... but then what the heck... Roger Moore is DROOOLLLLL... Also if you are passing by The Grand Taj near Shivajinagar, do not forget to try the Kadai Gosht and the Ghee Rice... Absolutely yumm... usually you will get the meat dish in the afternoons..

Monday Musings

peace and light, originally uploaded by Jilmil.

Ride to Bellum Caves... a wonderful experience... however, fraught with little issues.. some narrow escapes and some pure luck.. and some pure good riding. Photos here and here.. Passed through a nice Kumbakarna Gardens on the way.. in the middle of nowhere.. Rocky fixed Anil's punctured tank with the help of soap and glue... Amazing huh !! LOL and it lasted till Banagalore.. A place called Timbuktu actually exists. HUH !! Exhaustion crawling at the bones.. not from the riding but from the continous onslaught of crosswinds on the highway which was like swimming against the current. Great food at that place.. nothing better than a home cooked meal at that place run by a small family The areas near Bellum were an amazing place for katpada stones resembling grey granite.. the soil was comprised of sheets of these layered stones which one had to just extract and use it to build houses.. amazing.. Orrissa had something similar where on digging you got brick like stone formations... The caves itself was an amazing adventure... beautifully maintained.. and well organized... A visit to the caves is a must.. but not with a crowd of 300 men and women... Waiting for some 100 men to pass my a narrow walkway... all of us sweating like pigs and men stripping to their Banyans... is not a good feeling Screaming chicks gave a new definition when we saw some 150 women... cackling in and rushing into the cave... like a rush of unstoppable river.. My friend Dosai ( Manoj) had the experience of being ogled at by more than 20 women..( to be police women) as we passed them by and it was unnerving.. I think he experienced what we could call the Adam tease.... buhahahah... I had the feeling of being felt over by these same women who thought I was some specimen from Mars... when I got lost among them.. Rocks forgot to shorten his long legged steps you see... and poor me had to wade through some 30 women who kept touching me and hugging my shoulders.. just to see maybe if I was real.. and why was I so different.. it was like a competition of .. who dared to touch me more... BRRRRR.... I almost wanted to scream... when I saw Rocks calling for me... Ahhhh my knight in shining armor... I was never more relieved to see him... than at that time... Rocks got almost molested for a photograph by the guys .... they thought he was a firang... buhahaha.. Sometimes being short has advantages.. When they told him excitedly that they were Indian policemen... he told them calmly that he was also an Indian... but it did not convince them... to the mirth of Anil and myself who were watching the fun ... ( me of course after having escaped to a safer place) Being short also helped me go through the low crevices in the caves... All in all it was an amazing trip.... one which we would like to repeat sometime again... It was great meeting blogger Morphie now a member of Mad Bulls, who has recently taken to riding... see you more on the highway buddy.. Ah ha ... and how can I forget mentioning one of my dearest blogger friends that I met on Friday. In spite of both our hectic schedule... we made sure we met up for coffee... And it was a pleasure to meet another blogger Deepak. Neels, we must meet again.. it was great having coffee with you.. Maybe this time when we ride to Hyd, we shall peep in.. :) we are planning to do that soon ....