Nov 27, 2009

My Own Obituary

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Well it was a sweet Sunday morning of 2087 when this not so great personality died of too much percussion in his life sleeping in total slumber, as it was till death not in his habit to wake up early. He died as a man of honor after receiving Nobel prize for discovering 100000 ways of remembering English words which helped many test takers for all round examinations like GRE, CAT, GMAT, TOEFL, SAT and only because of their blessings he lived so long. He although was unmarried but was secretly in love with somebody whose identity was not revealed even after his death.
He was amiable and was very supportive but it occurred that he later in his life suffered from visual hallucinations. He started to see people which in a way completed his personality. Some are to be known by the mortal world. Firstly he saw Angelina jolie who died because of heart attacks 30years ago when Brad Pitt again got back to Jennifer Aniston, popularly known as Rachel Green. He was fascinated by Harry Potter as it clearly was revealed when certain paranormal activities started happening wherever he went.
He also interacted with Iblu and Tublu, the two famous creatures who once landed on the surface of earth and were only able to talk to Mr. Singhal (the name he preferred more) to discuss the possible solutions for the recession which led his company ‘Singhal Enterprises, the pioneers of spaceships’ to tumble in thousands of pieces. He always followed the principle of Stay Hungry, Stay Sleepy! (It was proved that Steve Jobs copied his slogan, modified slightly and became famous). He came to the conclusion that there is only one way out of recession and that is to live with the people of Mars following barter system.
Well outlining the life he led, starts with his childhood, extremely cute, fair, talented (there is a saying in Marwadi ‘putne k paun palne mein hi najar ajate hein’), he was once caught in front of a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, and made the conclusions about the origin of Christianity which people believed and revered him for his foresightedness. Apart from his dancing skills and management skills he was once famous for his modeling skill set. He earned the Mtv Youth icon 2050, Ultimate Roadie47 along with Model of the Year. He was awarded with the then SMW, car named after him. He was noted for his humbleness, he attended funerals of all the people like Amitabh Bacchan(a great loss had to bared by Sanjay Lila Bhansali in his film on gay sensuality named GREY), Shahrukh Khan(who died saying k..k..k..paro), Salman Khan(still unmarried), Saif Ali Khan(having his 13th child with his 25th wife/gf not Karina…long story though), Akshay Kumar(surprisingly married to twinkle khanna only), Sachin Tendulkar(scored 350000runs in International Cricket). He missed out only one person, Amir Khan, as he was 45seconds late for his funeral and after death too he maintained his image as Mr. Perfectionist.
Now coming to his public speaking events, while addressing 102nd convocation at MIT, where he used to teach Electrical Engineering, specializing in Natural Intelligence, used in surrogates of all the people, he spoke of possibilities of living after death and people are still trying to understand his concepts. He then resigned and joined ‘Rajasthan has got Talent’ as a judge along with Katrina Kaif and Penelope Cruz, with whom there were news of his alleged affairs with. He wrote many books like: Family Guy, ways not to be called as ‘Bhiyya’, FRIENDS and his autobiography ‘Just Like That’. These all became the bestsellers earned approximately $75billion each.
He was against any violence and hence worked for peace all over the world. He made peace treaties with Barak Obama XVI for abandoning ‘weapons of mass destruction’ holding a position of Prime Minister of Rajasthan (today’s Asia+Europe+Soudi Arabia+Australia+South Africa+Antartica).
We all hear wish that may his sole rest in peace and never comes back through nay of the gateways like a well or something. He led a successful life. May his all desires fulfill when he goes to inferno. We all wish him happy journey and hope to make full use of his book on 100000 ways of English vocabulary.

Nov 25, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Vienna

                        That was the end of my Italy trip but now at the weekend I was in mood to go to Paris but couldn't get holidays from the university so I decided to go to Vienna or a day only. I made a new , friend Praveen who was doing his internship at TU-Vienna so I decided to leave on Friday and then reach out his apartment take rest for the night. But when I reached his apartment he was ready with the amazing food. Not a bit of arrogance of being an iitian responsible and yet at the same time complete fun. We then saw the most famous movie that the youth of all the states have watched it at least 10 times, Dil Chahta Hai. It was amazing to see it again. We then set down to chat for a while and approximately at 4 a.m. we finally slept. I woke up at 11 a.m. Man it was a good sleep.
                    It was a good morning and we then got ready to rock the city. We first started with the Ring and saw TU-Vienna. Yeah I forgot to mention the amazing balcony breakfast prepared by Praveen, refreshing and the most waited thing for me 'laddu' and that too of 'desi ghee'. Well first we went to see the Belevedre palace and it was scorching heat but between our songs and jokes it was all very smooth. We roamed till 3p.m. and then get out of there to eat something and ate Indian food at a very cheap restaurant in just 3 euros. Then we went to see Schonbrunn Palace. It was marvelous. We also saw then Hofberg Imperial Palace. Horses were everywhere and along with them they brought the pungent smell of their shit, unlikely to most of people including me. Opera house, Secession building were also some of things in between. But again the time didn't permit us to roam around more and we then returned to Praveen's apartment and just had two laddus and then started the run of a lifetime. It was again something to remember for whole of lifetime. I ran for my life. It was my last day of my pass otherwise I would have to suffer a loss of 30 euros. We both took a tram and were ready to shoot to the station as soon as the gate opens up. I ran out and on the way crashed a lot of times shouting sorry a lot of time. It was only 3 minutes left to my fate and I was ready to take up the challenge with the time. I reached the entrance of the station and only two minutes were left and to my bad luck the train was from three platforms away from the gate. I had to cross the tunnel then a bridge. It was a race against time and I was completely ready to take it on. Now shouting at my full pace. My legs gave away the hope but my heart was still holding in that world of chase. I then finally reached to the platform and people who say that Austrians trains never got late, well they now should check the possibilities in which it could. And one of them is that when the driver faces two young guys hoffing poffing shouting to stop the train. Well it should be written somewhere that I was meant to be on that train and finally I was and much of the credit goes to Mr. Praveen, who was constantly saying that he will not let me miss the train. Well it was a prophecy from him and I finally reached the goal. To my end I found an empty apartment and set there for an hour to catch my breath. A couple with there two children, cute little boy and a girl entered and I had a chat with them for the whole journey, this tie the discussion went far and we discussed many things about cultural differences and future possibilities. The guy was an engineer too so one can say that the world is small. To move on this was my journey to Vienna, one of the most adventurous and memorable.

Milan...a experience


                            Well it was a bit difficult to roam around without map in place where one has visited first time and is just opposite to what place he has come from. But I was feeling happy well more because I got out from that place. Place where I spared one of my delirious moments. But finally it was over now I realize why people say that morning rays bring happiness and bliss to everyone. Hail to those who wake up early in the morning. I saw a church and went inside, first time I tried to pray in the manner what Christians do, hardly understood anything that I was doing but it felt amazing. Peaceful it was and an amazing kind of energy woke me up. Well I then sat on a bench and let the cool breeze along with the bright sunlight let me sink in the wonderful land of fairy with them. I was amazingly drawn towards the mother earth and for those few moments I felt a complete bliss growing inside me and slowly coming to my face as a faint smile. I sat down for I don't know for how long and then again set towards station to get my map and then I sat down to go for a fun ride on the streets of Milan, now seeming refreshing and bright unlike the darkness that dawned for last 8 hours. I then visited the most coveted building that I have ever seen, the biggest church. It was amazing how the engineering turn the world into an aspiring milieu. Their also the prayers were going on and between the tight security I just looked into the church and get out to see the biggest brands of bags, goggles and wallets etc. Everything that I have heard was right in front of me. Those classy things do have an materialistic effect on everybody, with no exception. Then I fed some of the birds from my hands and time again was not permitting to go further deep in the city of Fashion. So after looking to the picturesque of Mozart and all I set out to my return journey. And to my surprise I found all three of my companions sitting in my next apartment. We then four talked about our lives and ins and outs to be in a relationship and had great fun. So much so that the ladies sitting in the apartment went away because of the noise. I then caught a tram to my dormitory after changing trains, well I was completely tired and immediately to a deep slumber thinking nothing but tomorrows plans of completing he project asap.

Oct 8, 2009

Milan


Milan, first thing that comes to my mind when i hear the word Milan is dangerous(not that fanciful dangerous of MK but really really dangerous). I reached there at night around 10:40 and as in other places I expected some of light in the town, some beautiful gals roaming around, well with their boyfriends of course and bars and trams going around the places in the town but to my shock there were none and I had not realized that this is the dead end I will have to just wait for the morning to come and have some people around here to see. Well I also didn't know that Milan has its mafia on the news all round the year and all across the planet so I landed there with no preparation whatsoever. I was tired and was dressed in a way that I look like a easy target for anybody to get a absolutely wrong impression, and due to that impression a hotel manager asked me that if I wanted a suite of only 60 euros, well I would have told you the Indian ruppe conversion but by this time I have learnt that I will not see anything by converting it to Indian currency. So I rejected that person, who was constantly trying to make a deal saying all the amiable words that he can remember in English, and assuring me that this is the safest place and he is making me The Best Deal whatsoever. I rejected him politely. Well after roaming here and there I finally accepted my defeat to get a good accommodation and of course cheap and settled down in the waiting room provided by the government, thank god Milan has one otherwise ti is difficult to find such familiar looking places in Europe. Well to my surprise or rather I should say my shock that I saw most of the white people on one side and all the black people on the other side of that big hall. well this is not a war scene but it was a kind of cold war I guess. I sat down in the middle, not to do any settlement or anything, not because it requires qurbaani and all the bloodshed but because it simply could not be done. So I finally sat down and was sure that this night is going to be some awful night of my life. And just after some time I was proved right, some people gave somebody some drink and then after he was asleep started to rob him. Some people were playing football in that small place shouting and that too in some weird language that we usually here from criminals here. I sat down with my awful novel NEXT, I think I have already said that, so whoever is interested in Novels please don't buy NEXT, it is awful crap. Well coming back to the story of my survival, I was feeling very dizzy and was every now and then dozing off. Suddenly i heard a thick voice in front of me the guy asked "Do you have ....(I didn't get it but by his expressions I figured he was asking for something to light up his life, i mean cigarette)?" I said no in the similar fashion just the sign language. He took off and the whole night some people were coming and going shouting some taking care of each other. A guy also came to sleep beside me but luckily went away quickly. I then changed my sea now more nearer to white people and I don't remember when I got asleep in that wooden bench, where only a very people can get asleep, but all the tiredness helped me get it finally. Now the time was passing by a but quickly and I saw the first rays of the morning, well may be my few of it as till I woke up morning rays have been long gone. Now there were more people around more hustle bustle ad I sat down just liek that in the town.

Sep 26, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Venice Rialto Bridge


                          Now after getting out of the palace I couldn't control my hunger so I sat down on a staircase and ate my 'khakhras' with 'namkeen'. Generally I wouldn't prefer such kind of food in lunch but at that time anything would work and it did. I again sat out for my voyage and landed up at one of the famous places where the song 'khuda jane' from the movie 'Bachna e haseenon' was shot Rialto Bridge. It was crowded and at first one cannot recognize that this is the same bridge but it is. People were all round there and beside that bridge lays one of the most beautiful market places in Venice and the specialty of Venice is its Masks which they wear on some carnival or something. Well it was all beautiful and lively I couldn't resist myself singing the tunes of 'ye sama..sama hai yai suhana suhana' by none other then KishoreDa and 'gata rahe mera dil..' again by the legend himself and many others. Markets were flooded with fancy clothing like 'I LOVE VENICE' t shirts and many other funky crazy clothing.
                                      My eyes sat on a shop which displayed only hand made works of wood and Pinocchio was their main attraction and children were going crazy to see him long nose skinny yet so funny. I came to church as usual but didn't stayed long as I had to catch the train to Milan my third and last destination for Italy. I sat down at the bank of a very small canal and again had some refreshments and this time I was accompanied by white, yellow, whitish-yellow, brown all kinds of birds eating their food :) and also by a couple but this time I was in no mood to talk to anybody, I think I was well sunked into the ambiance of the place after walking for like 2 hours continuously I needed this break and what is the better place than a bank of water body. Now the rain was completely off and a bright sun was glooming on my head not that like in India specially in Rajasthan and that too in Jodhpur where sun has some kind of special pact with the place to shine with all its strength no matter people like it or not. I then decided not to roam around on my legs rather give Venice Transportation a chance to make me do the same and I just traveled hearing now to Hindi songs from my creative i-pod and sitting on the edge of the boat from one station to another watching people boarding and leaving. I than came to Venezia Santa Lucia and then took a local train to venizia Mestre and I was this time early than to my scheduled departure and to my rescue there was a McDonald right there in front of me so I took a LONG coke and sat down and this time I was accompanied by a guy whose name I don't remember but I do remember that he didn't liked that place he was working there as a marketing manager for some mobile company. Well I then sat on my train to Milan.

Sep 18, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Venice Palace


The first thing when I entered the palace was WOW..Its HUGE!
where am I really. Is it for real...No it can't be. I immediately started clicking from my NIKON 10X optical zoom 6 mega pixel camera. I can't let thing this go without being captured in. I was really amazed to see such a big palace. I told to myself that well it was all worth taking all the pain to reach here...all those hundreds of mails and staring eyes and researches for topics and professors, departments, universities..all the pain that I took to make tickets and planning my "Euro-Trip". I without any doubt was more and more curious to know what is the history of it and who were the people who lived here. To my rescue came an European guy, well I will come to that later, but the funniest thing happen to me. Not knowing the way and places of the palace, no map I straightly went pass to the exit gate and found myself outside from the other side where a lot of people were standing in a long queue and I thought may be that is the main entrance but then i figured out that I had come outside the palace so I ran to the main entrance again and convinced the lady in charge that I made a mistake so please let me in again. It was my good luck that she allowed me to enter and then I went to the first floor seeing the glorious and the most beautiful dining hall I have ever seen in my life. Chandeliers hanging from the rooftops. Crystal shaped glasses neatly placed on the tables. Huge painting covering every bit of the walls. Beautifully colored and preserved for a very long time. I then began to enter to the numbered halls from 1 to 30 and each one had its own history written at the entrance of each hall, photography was not allowed and each having a all together a different setup and aura. Some were having paintings depicting the history of how the Jesus was killed and the era before that that how happy were all the people to find God to their rescue. People started believing him some sort of incarnation of GOD and some people just thought of him as a rescuer some scolded him another some treated him as king, but whatever he was he came as a helping hand to the common people. How he transformed the lives of many.
The pictures were depicting how the people were again ill treated and how they cope up with that. Mythology along with wars was so beautifully carved that one cannot imagine. In India Mythology is always been treated more or less similar to secularism and communal ism but in European countries it was all but different and nothing was mixed up and people knew where to draw boundaries that is why there are a lot less differences in there. Well coming back to this palace I was really amazed to see that big globe and maps and people all around he palace old young couples Americans Europeans Indians, though far less than I expected everybody was happy to be there. I was still raining outside, now heavily, I was not surprised to see that because in Europe you can see all the four seasons in one day.
Now I met this India who was working for Whirlpool in Venice only and he was with a European guy which knew a lot about the stuff so I hanged around them and he said that pointing to one of steel structures this was forced by the kings to the ladies to wear so that they cannot have sex with other men and they used to have the key. How pity that was, well what we can do.
Their were armours and long swords which the warriors used in the wartime. It was all very awe-spiring. That time they didn't have the machine guns and modern artillery that we all know about form the movies, so they somehow managed to device to shoot the explosives to a very large distances with a very large speed. They used to write in Roman numbers. The caves like cells where the kings used to keep the prisoners from the wars. That was really scary. There was a well also from where the prisoners were allowed to take water but now that was sealed for safety purposes.
The tour of the palace came to end with the music playing outside and I couldn't asked for the better ending for that remembrance that encounter to the history to such an amazing place.

Euro Trip - Part 1 Art Gallery


I again set out to roam around in the street and accidentally entered to an art gallery. Art and me have relation whatsoever. But still it was classy and I was at first point in my life felt that the artists have something in them that makes them a lot different from the rest of the world. They have insight to human mind, though not fully but somehow they manage to portrait somethings that are just in the fields of our virtual world of oneself. Beautifully crafted stones and paintings. Each telling some or other story.
Symbolism, difficult to understand, but draws you near to it somehow. You keep on thinking the grounds on which you are getting connected to that piece, but only few of us have the aptitude to get what was hidden in it. And then the role of artists gets started. A true artist is one who can not only portrait the realms of life or whatever message he wants to convey but most importantly that message should reach the onlooker, I should say.
As they say that artists are somewhat out of this world and that too sarcastically, I really don't agree with that completely. I cannot say that I understand art, but in respect to make someone feel the message and stops your eyes the minute you saw that painting and starts thinking that ok the artists must have thought this and that while painting his thoughts, I can say that I was a bit overwhelmed to explore that part of me.
And what I like also the most about anything that is being on the display that each and every bit of it was displayed beautifully and just like it is as important as the other one, and this is not only true for just painting but everything all over Europe whether it a roadside advertisement or a Picasso or Da Vinci.
Well I was all freshen by that half an hour experience and now took my luck, the usual khakhras and again set out to roam around the streets.
As I learned till this time if you don't know the place, follow the mob. And I did the same and reached one of the most memorable places. I always used to think the palaces to be huge and awespiring and well I was not totally incorrect as I entered the Palace of Ducale.

Sep 17, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Venice


Well I reached Venice in the morning, Venezia mestre. Well I took a ticket for a euro to reach Venezia Sanata Lucia. Came out of the station and as usual inquired for the map and guidelines. This time it costed me 4.5 euros for the map and it always hurts when you find out some sudden expenses come into your way.
Well as I looked outside the station all the worries were gone it was raining just as I wanted it to be. Lots of people here and there and boats were there. First thing I said was WOW!I am here finally in the city which has houses and churches and buildings floating on the water. The Floating City as I call it. The fist thing that went to was the famous place from the Oscar winning movie "The Sound of Music" the basilica from that movie. It was huge and it is always good to see the place that u have seen in the movies:)
I was really amazed to see the place and was just thinking how it is all working. I crossed the bridge and went to other side of it and was just admiring the ambiance of each passing moment. All different kinds of boats. Gondolas(mostly being opted out by couples), Motor Boats, Big Boats, Large Cruises, Small Cruises, Ships, what they call it as prince of Venice, Taxis as boats. Parking spots for boats. All new to see to feel. There were some buses also but who is gonna look for them when the place have given me,for a water lover, boats to travel.
I already took the day pass from which I can now travel in any damn boat except of course gondolas from anywhere to anywhere. So I asked a guy how to use the card and I sat on a large boat and sat on a tour of 'Venice'. At first I was really amazed and had no clue where I was headed to, but after some time I realized that I am traveling on the boundaries of it. I went to the roof of the boat and started my new habit of clicking each ad every site that I liked...enjoying the rain and ups and downs of the boat..those strong currents of water..sometimes still water...some strong splashes. The weather and the place was much more endeavoring.
Finally I arrived at the same place where I left off...zero displacement but much more to remember this time. I went to a show gallery where these obscure videos were playing of some artists whose name I can never remember. Some new technologies at display. I like the building more than the movies. It had a small playground and like 70's-80's. Clean. White. Very sophisticated though. and since it was raining now a bit strongly so it was the best option for me to be there.

Euro Trip - Part 1 Italy Last Leg

Whats ironical about the place in each part of Europe is that one wants to visit them again and again. one does not get satisfied just by seeing and visiting it only once. your inner voice always says that i want to come back and see it one more time. Just once. Well I am no exception and felt it that way also. So after reaching station for getting my battery recharged, again one more thing I didn't thought over before setting out for Italy. It has become for me not to plan anything
and just go with the mood. And rest all of them were getting there next destination. I then returned to Colosseum to again have a look at it and you say that to Roma around the streets of Rome. My take is that one gets a very acquaintance of a city and only way when he sets out in the streets and see for themselves how the common people survive, live life, enjoy and have fun with their families. Luckily where ever I went I got a chance to look at it, the inside story you can say. One thing I noticed is that Indians there have a very state regarding money, same with Bangladeshis, Sri-Lankans. All the people there are either selling goggles or any other job and all the European people hold the better posts with better money and all. I don't know the reason but it is true.
Well I as usual had the map and went out towards Colosseum. I decided to do it by walk having no idea that how far it is actually from the railway station but like I said it was all Just Like that. Well in like about an hour I reached the Colosseum, having less time left in my clock I decided to take the metro for the return journey to the station. Meanwhile I bought a pair of goggle just for 2euros, saw a church and waling on the streets. You can imagine how much I was tired after two days of long roaming and a very little sleep. I was literally amazed to see that the same city Rome was a Lot different in the evening time than it was in the day time. And certainly a lot different from other parts of Europe. People here don't like to party much, far less bars and restaurants. Just visitors and those too in some kind of hurry.
Well after seeing Colosseum once again and this time it was more subtle and calm. Party going on nearby and cool breeze blowing. All very soothing and in that moment. No worries and music playing. Vendors selling some food items and others some remembrance for the Colosseum.
Well I took the metro and reached Roma termini. I began searching for the station and to my horror the train was not listed in the board. I thought that it might come after some time as it was still 1.5 hrs left. But as the time passed by it still didn't show up in the display and that put me back again in that horror state. I searched for my tickets and glanced it, this time with more attention and I found out that the train departs from another railway station. I quickly went to buy the metro ticket and searched for the station and all. Now I have made the habit of catching the trains and trams and metros in that period with quick foot. You must have got it to do all just like that I had to. I caught the train luckily. When the TT came to check my ticket then I shouted O Shit! Well I didn't loose my tickets and documents but I only then realized that I have lost my jacket having 20 euros in that. But the tickets were there and I was heading back to Graz.

Sep 15, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Fontana Di Trivi & Spanish Stairs

'Fontana Di Trivi' - An utter pleasure for anyone to be at that place. To see the marvel by his eyes and feel the magic of the environment. You don't regret the amount of visitors there, all the people pushing and taking pictures and the mob just enough not to make any mishap and be in control though by policemen. In that scorching heat the water was so cold. This is the place where you wish to get your dreams come true. You throw a coin not facing the fountain, in a hope to get what you have asked from HIM at that very moment. I hope I will get it, though I don't believe in fate and luck and all the things but I was still feeling that somehow my wish will be fulfilled, that is how much magical the place was. You come as a impure soul and gets divinity in its simplest form possible. I fall in love with that place at once and was feeling relaxed and like I have completed my journey of life. I have done my hardships to reach there and now is the time to get relaxed. To feel the ambiance, to let the environment do its work of magic and take you away to some place you cannot imagine to be.
You can all read about its glorious history on wiki but what I felt is total bliss..somehow. Don't ask the reason. Nothing less then total happiness. Now I know that why they call that happiness can only be pursued. The art with which the place has been put together can only be described by great poets, telling how beautiful the place is by some analogies, may be. We all four made our wishes by throwing coins into the water. I truly wanted to spend more time in their but as usual we were running out of time. The next thing I knew was we were climbing a slant road, in spite of Spanish stairs that we were looking from last half an hour, to some place whose best part would be that we were chatting all the way. Its always good to make new friends and share your thoughts and weird experiences, likes, dislikes. Now somehow we reached to the Spanish stairs, I don't know why do they call them that, they certainly led to a beautiful church, Cathedral as it is called in German. Well it also had a bad memory for me, as I forgot my jacket in that church having 20 euros in its upper pocket. If somebody goes to Rome and to that church, please return my jacket:)
As we noticed that Rome is much similar to India, broken walls, deteriorated paints small houses and lots of tourists everywhere. Vendors shouting for various things. Some painters making sketches of the people at cheap prices. At the starting of the stairs there is a very small but beautiful fountain, where we took cold water, who cares if it was drinkable or not. And as we turned we all just stood still by seeing a black colored Ferrari, though reminds me of my first year when all of my friends used to call my old scooter Ferrari(as I used to drive it at 70 kmph, bit of daredevil though..huh) but the real one was nothing like that. Without a doubt I dream of that car in each and every one of my dreams riding in the suburbs of Europe empty roads greenery and with no speed limit music at its class.
Well let me come out of my dreams. We then now headed towards our next destination..railway station.

Sep 14, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Vatican City

Well we didn't get a chance to see the Colosseum from inside, one thing that has left for me to do when I will again go to Europe...hopefully. We went along the bus displaying our photography skills all the way along and in spite of not knowing the names of all the sculptures we went on clicking. It was all fun. Well we all then arrived in the smallest country in this world. The place where one of the strongest personality of this world lives. Who has certainly more powers than the President of the United States but more importantly he doesn't uses it in negative sense. The place where movie 'jhoom barabar jhoom' was shot. Now without delaying and getting your nerves up I will start telling about the place The Vatican City.
Yes where the Pope lives. It is very difficult to tell the experience in words, you can see in my album on Orkut. The place is huge with long pillars standing symbolizing the more so pride. Its suitableness was the first thing that I notices and will be remembered that way. Fountain in the middle pouring us the much needed cold water in that scorching heat. We were hungry that time but still couldn't resist us to get in line to get in there. So we decided to first see the whole thing and then arrange something for food. We entered with the security check though we all get through. We saw guards standing as stiff as some pillar. I still remember people taking their pictures and laughing but they were doing there duty to stand still...and they were doing great I guess.
We then entered the building cracking jokes about meeting pope and all. There was a huge line for entering the building which we didn't opted for, considering the shortage of time. We saw graves of old kings and queens and some prayers were also chanting centrally so we were supposed to keep quite which we didn't:)
Now our gang proceeded towards the food arrangement. Well we went to a famous Italian restaurant as said by the people there and preferred the much said about food Pizza. Italian pizzas being famous all over the world and is being said to have taken the pride to invent this. Well we, well at least I was expecting the pizza to be thick with lots of stuff in it and we will be relieved by out hunger..like in India. But it turned out to be that the pizza was very very thin and it hardly made any weight to our appetite. We has to get satisfied to that only as the things which come in fancy packages are more expensive then they should be and each one of us paid 5euros, no need to convert it Indian currency to check my price for the half.
We again set on our open buses and headed off to our next destination.

Sep 13, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Colosseum

Euro Night is a very nice train for long journeys, well not of course better than OBB (Austrian Trains) but you can spend a lovely time in that. I really wished that once I sat in TGV.
I was dejected by my tragic loss of 60euros for the can I took, in morning I was about to go to the loo and I saw Praveen, Suraj and Sougat (I didn't knew both of them, at that time...now very good friends) had a formal contact with Praveen. You cannot imagine how it feels when you see an Indian outside India. Well we hit it off pretty fast and found each others company very good. To start with we all collected maps and just after coming outside we hired a tours and travels for a open bus to take us the tour of Roma. Each of the ticket costing 20 euros, well totally worth it.
We started with the marvel structure of all times. The place where kings used to make their slaves fight with vicious animals in an open ground. You must have seen Gladiator, Russel Crow. Yes I am talking about Colosseum. I have only seen it in pictures and never imagined to see that thing in my whole life, but here I was in front of it, admiring its broken walls and the corridors where those fighters used to prepare themselves for their battle against the ferocious animals of all kinds. Colosseum do resemble the spirit of survival and to take revenge of what bad has happened to you. It symbolizes the desire for destiny, for salvation. Beside Colosseum there are roman ruins of the wars. Broken buildings but not broken thoughts. Broken bricks but not broken desires. Broken hearts but not broken soul.
I revisited Colosseum at night and it was a real taste of what people called as Roma. Music playing. Lots of visitors traveling across admiring the beauty. Lights from every window of Colosseum. Nice weather amazing attitude of surrounding. Feels like Rome at that point of time. I wish to be there and sit for hours just watch and feel. You forget all your worries and a new wave of energy surrounds you. All the tiredness is gone 'Just Like That'.

Sep 11, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Italy Tour start mishap

now just after coming back from Salzburg I has to work till 9 in the evening..:( well it was not bothering me so much because I was about to depart for Italy. It was in the evening 8:20 I had to catch the train for Bruk Mur. and then from there to the city of culture Rome. I came back 5:30 in the evening and took a long long bath, as this pleasure will not be available for next three days. Had dinner and then took a temporary sim and then started for taking a tram to Hauptbanhof.
Fate has turned his face from me and everything planned was going against me from the moment I stepped out of my apartment.
The lift took 15mins, which generally takes 5min to come and 30seconds to take me from 14th floor to ground floor, well you never know what can happen.
I then realized that I can miss my train if I don't hurry up. I came to the tram station and to my bad luck the tram no. 3 and 6 were not running that day, which goes directly to the station...of course I didn't know that so I took the tram for Jakominiplatz, the center of the city and was cursing each and every person who were coming and going out of that tram taking a few precious mins of my rush hour.
I reached Jakominplatz and then started running towards the next tram station panting hardly, reached there and then took tram no 1 which goes via station. Each and every second prooved to me more longer than I expected.
People say that if you want to ask the importance of 1 sec you should ask a swimmer if you want to ask the importance of 1 hour you should ask a Olympic runner but if you want to ask the importance of catching a train then you should ask Ankur Singhal. As I said in Europe if the train s scheduled to go on 8:20 then it will depart at 8:20 no delays.

8:18 the gate opened and I started running..pusing a lady out...I shouted sorry, well it didn't came out that loud but was enough to apologize at that moment

8:19 I crossed the main road and still running panting hard enough to blow somebody out

8:20 I reached the gates of the station..still hoping to catch the train

8:21 I was looking at the display chart and to my horror surprise and utter confusion the train that I was looking was not on the charts..I am doomed

8:22 with still some hope left I reached the inquiry counter which was about to close down..I asked the guy for the train to Bruk Mur. he finally said the thing which I didn't want to hear...
2 mins late..you are 2 mins late...
And suddenly all the things came rushing to my mind..and world stood still for a few seconds..my mind stopped working, nothing to do, nowhere to go and nobody to help me out...
There was nothing that I could do and now the only option was to take a cab for Bruk mur.
The connecting train to Rome was an hour from that time..so I had to take some quick decisions. I came out of that place and hit the road with a cab which took 60 euros to save me a loss of 159+47 euros and in 45 mins I reached Bruk mur. and to my utter surprise the train was an hour late, the trains which are on time is an hour late. What do you call at that time you all know.

Sep 10, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Salzburg

Well I reached Salzburg in the afternoon 2:30 and it was raining all the way and the weather was awesome, well to me..mind it European people don't like rain they like sunshine. On the way to Salzburg in the train as my mind goes crazy on long trips, I spent my journey listening to my i-pod and reading NEXT:).
On my arrival I did what I do on my first arrival at any place, went to the inquiry counter and asked for map. I sat out in the open roads holding a map rather than umbrella, strange but all that was happening was more than strange. Luckily I was wearing my jacket because it was cold out there believe me, much more for me a person from the deserts to a land where green is everywhere and by everywhere I mean 'everywhere'.
As my intuition proved to be correct this time also I reached out to the river in no time and it was beautiful. Every city has one river and every place for the visitors is located nearby it. Salzburg is all about Mozartium, I first saw the national museum and in front of that was a school for mozartium. I wish I were there for a longer time so that I could also try to understand Mozartium. Well then it was my turn to watch a palace, which was having in my mind a image that it is meant for princesses and price charming..and I was correct palaces are awesome and 'Palace of Mirabell' proved to stand to its popularity and its beauty lies in its environment location and the way it has been designed. Reading my explanation, go check out the palace and one will not regret spending ur money.
I appreciated the beauty of the palace and then at around 6:50 p.m. I started for the railway station called as Hauptnhof in German.
I then witnessed the most sweetest goodbye ever in my life..a gal came to see off his bf with all the love and tender..a moment of despair, a moment to remember, a moment to regret, a moment to express your love..happiness and realization of the importance of each other...well I talked to the guy afterward and heard an amazing love story, which I love the most to hear.
I reached Graz at night and was very tired...so just had a good night sleep as I had to get back to my dept. to work whole day.

Sep 8, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Food and all

Well days passed by and I now managed to reach department in 5 mins:) and now I was feeling much happy to be there. At the time of depositing my rent for two months, warden broke the news to me that I had to register to the police that I will be here for two months. Another formality means another head back to roam around and search for the police station was not that exactly I wanted at that point..now that I didn't know that the offices are also very very punctual of time I reached, after again searching for an hour and the women in charge said that I am 5 mins late so I should come tomorrow...huh!
Well as and when the days were passing by I ran out of my storage of food like 'khakhras','Maggi' etc so finally it was my turn to do what I had not done in my entire life. I only went to kitchen for eating but this time it was me who had to cook so after asking the whole recipe from my mother via e-mail I cooked my first meal the 'daal chawal' and I didn't expected it to be tasty, but it turned out to be eatable, I will not brag about my cooking skills but...well the food as the time passed by turned out to be good(as u can see from the pic)
I sat out to work very hard. And one of the time pass was also to plan my euro trip which turned out to be much more difficult considering less amount of funds and more amount of opportunities and places to visit. People buy Euro rail pass to roam around but I opted for Global pass of 159euros plus the reservation fees. So I finally planned for Italy tour first keeping in mind my interest for exploring the cultural part of the place. My department was having some construction so I went to Salzburg for one day rather a few hours just like that without any planning whatsoever...just packed my bag and caught the next train available.

Sep 7, 2009

Euro Trip - Part 1 Checking in


Lufthansa as it promises gives us a pleasant flight..I enjoyed the movies a lot...finally arrived in the afternoon in Graz, second largest city of Austria, three times been awarded 'The Cultural City' and has the most intake of students round the year. To be true I didn't have any idea what it would be like to be in Europe or should I say a country with so much different environment than India, will come to that latter. I was in that awe spirit from the time I took off from India and it continued for a while. I asked a lady smoking in the Smoking Area that from where I can get the Shuttle Bus to go to Jakominiplatz('J' is pronounced as y..well of course I didn't know that:))she pointed out to me to wait under the symbol H..and all this conversation was loosely a sign language communication, but I still didn't get her and went to taxi stand and asked a guy, he knew English and told me that it will cost me 15euros it I take the taxi so keeping in mind the financial restraints I waited for 45 mins in cold weather tired from a long long flight and finally the bus arrived at its scheduled time and at that point of time I noted that trains, buses, trams any damn thing in Europe is never late in departure or in arrival. Well I spent my expenses in euros as a bus ticket 1.8euros. I now was on a journey to see the most beautiful houses and colonies..I was literally dumbfounded by seeing such a beautiful locality..the bus driver dropped me somewhat at a distance from my destination..he didn't know that I am new to this place..I saw many railway lines at a distance and figured that it should be Jakominiplatz..well I was lucky..it was. I now had to take a tram no. 5, this time I took the wrong one and at the next station I asked a guy that I want to go to Haffenerigel 53 and then I got to know I am in wrong tram. I get sown and got the correct one, and after wandering for another an hour I finally reached the dormitory. As instructed to me by Anne Marrie I collected my keys from Berat Gashi(it was then very difficult to remember those names:P) and I entered my room.
Now the moment came which i will never forget, I was wandering how to get drinking water and I heard a beautiful voice saying 'hi' I turned around to see one of the hottest girl in brown top and mini skirt. I saw her for a few minutes, well more than anybody should look on their first meet. I finally managed to come to reality and asked her where I can get drinking water(stupid question though..made my first impression more worse..:() now I got myself on my feet by eating 'khakhras' and set out with my camera(I don't know why I took it..)to look for the way to university. I had to be on my toes to remember the way back to dorm, I noted the wrong way..another blunder:) next morning well prepared to start my new journey of a different professional life..I reached places which I shouldn't and after walking for an hour for a distance of 5 mins I finally reached my department IGTE. I was welcomed in a very good manner by the professor and was introduced to his whole team. I was somehow confident and managed to communicate well. I was then instructed by my mentor Andrej Stermeki. I got lost both the times for going to lunch and coming back to university and was much tired at the end of the day. Gergey, the genius a phd. student helped me buy stuff from spar, German for super market, finally I reached my dorm and got a long awited sleep of 12 hours, but still couldn't feel relaxed. All these tiredness and all the things happening so fast took out my excitement to come this far to such a prestigious place.

Euro Trip - Part 1 Beginning


Well it all started with my "CV", the most critical one page of anyone's life, and the so called Cover Letter. Not a while ago these terms would have meant either a movie or some cool slang and the cover page of your love life(:))but now these are the integral part of me. I prepared my CV and cover letter and as the "procedure" goes I started mailing all the professors and research assistants all across Europe and on most of the days I got the same old reply like-"Mr. Ankur(it feels good when somebody calls you that, but in mails I figured from this line that OK something bad news is following) we don't have enough means to call you, although your CV seems pretty impressive"(all the credit goes to my brother rather than my results and other stuff:P) or may be they once in a while ask me-Do you have financial assistance?(whose obvious answer was no..!) but after like many many many mails I got positive reply and I was like on cloud nine!!
Well after all the formal mails and phone calls to the professors and the follow ups I went to apply for visa for Austria. The date for which was decided after messing up with college gundas("dudes" as they call themselves..:)),long story though, and asking a thousand times to all the people from teachers to classmates about the exams dates, canceling tickets to Delhi a few times I managed to decide the dates, which by the way didn't turned out to be quite correct...:(
I sat in the general coach(believe me no one ever wants to travel in that..I know I will not ever in my life) of the mandore express,which as the name suggests should be a express but it has something against me that it was not willing to go that fast that day and was 9hrs late, which made me the last person to apply for visa in VFS Center(the name that I will not forget)....tired and exhausted after applying I got out of that building and saw McDonalds and sat there for a long long time just sipping my coke as I had to travel again in that shithole general coach.
Now the time has started when I had to wait for the visa and trust me that seemed pretty long than I ever expected. Again follow ups with VFS and Embassy of Austria..mails and faxes and phone calls...I ended up making a loss of 6000/- as a penalty for date change of Air ticket. Tired of waiting and making lab records for the upcoming examination I went to college to chill out and do some formalities while returning I met a accident, my first on my pulsar, got my knee injured and some bruises on leg spared me of much bigger pain than it could be.
Finally I got my visa 'just like that' and that day will be written in my obituary..trust me it is hard to pack for two month stay in Austria n just 5 hrs with all the tickets and formalities also, again the credit goes to my brother, mother and father also...I once again prepared myself to travel from mandore express(I don't know why do they call it a express..:))as this time it was late from here only by 4hrs. I went punjab hotel and tried to get heeled by taking a long long sleep...and by long I mean pretty long:). Thanx to Luftansa for departing the flight in the early morning I got to see what it looks like morning 4a.m. worried about my extra luggage, but I was lucky to get cleared.
Paper planes of my dreams finally were coming to fly and take me to Austria, one of the most beautiful part of Europe.

dua!

vo masum sa chehra

us chehre pe muskurahat

vo chehre ki masumiyat

us masumiyat mein chipi hansi

vo pyari si hansi

us hansi mein chamakti ankhen

vo jheel si ankhen

un ankhon ka nasha

vo chehre par ati jhulfen

un jhulfon ki chaun mein rehti chandni

vo jhukti-uthti palken

un palkon mein behte sapne

sada poore hon vo sapne

yehi dua hai hamari..

Sep 6, 2009


jise piroya hai shabdon ki mala mein

jise sameta hai samay k un palon mein

jise dekha hai osar ki bundon mein

jise samjha hai kisi kavi ki kavita mein

jise sajaya hai kisi shayar ki gazal mein

jise bandha hai moti ki sundarta mein

jise buna hai asmaan k taron mein

vo aur kahin nahi yahin hai

mere dil k kisi kone mein..
hathon ki lakiron pe likhe tere naam ko mita na paunga..

meri hansi mein teri khushi ko chupa na paunga..

mere dukh mein tere saath ko bhula na paunga..

ankhon ki gehrai mein chupe tere chehre ko mita na paunga..

palkon ki nami mein teri yadon ko bhula na paunga..

mathe ki shikan mein tere hathon k ehsas ko chupa na paunga..

sangeet k un suron mein tere lafzon ko nikal na paunga..

mere dil ki us dhadkn se tujhe mita na paunga..

kasam hai mujhe us khuda ki..

tere saath bitaye un palon ko bhula na paunga..

Sep 5, 2009

Wouldn't it be better watching
..morning sun glow
..little children playing in the streets
..birds feeding their young ones
..young lads talking about their future
..evening blues around the street corner

Wouldn't it be better watching
old man laughing on the park bench
...remembering their old days
...remembering their great lives
...remembering their love

Wouldn't it be better watching
..leaves falling over to the barricade
..moonlight falling over to thousands of stars...glowing
..music playing from leaves...from everywhere

Wouldn't it be better
to love someone from the bottom of your heart
and.......be loved!

Sep 4, 2009

Something Somewhere inside me..


Something Somewhere inside me
is searching for shelter
is searching for happiness
is searching for freedom..

Something Somewhere in me
is died because of failures
is dying because of circumstances
will die at eternity..

Something Somewhere inside me
is feeling lonely
is feeling guilty
is feeling tired..

Something Somewhere inside me
wants to be just me...and
not what people want me to be!