The Year it was - 2011

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I have been thinking of writing a year ending post since past week, time went by and because of work and my laziness I am here on the last day of this year writing this post. So as I am typing this line I don't have any idea what to write here. Just went through Karthicks New year post okay now I have some sort of knowledge what to write here.


During the start of the year I started preparing to get new Job as nothing was happening where I was working and I wanted to leave it for good. I was trying but was not sure whether I would be successful or not then came March 12[hope I am not wrong with the date] and I went for the interview, went well and few days after I got confirmation that they are interested in me. April 6[I am sure about this date] I joined my new workplace with apprehensions in my mind but little did I knew that It would be of my liking.


I was having this Sony Ericsson W200i phone since September 2007[my first phone] gifted by my Father and over the course of time phones have evolved a lot and you have smart phones now Android,Windows Phone, Symbians blah blah blah so I also started saving to have a smart phone of my own. In between I thought why should I waste so much of money for just a talking device but then I thought It was need of the hour and with few pushes from Manish I finally bought Samsung Galaxy Ace in August[4 years after my first phone] and whatever time I have spent with it have been[ummm sorry I don't have a word to express, its been very nice].


On the blogging front blog crossed 50k page views on October 2, second year of this blog and I have not written half of the post that I wrote last year[part of my laziness] although traffic on the blog has not decreased. Changed the template of my blog made it of minimal design[inspired by Shiraz Hassan blog]. I have came across many blogs this year most of them write very well, I try to comment on every blog I visit[unfortunately not everyone comment back]. There is a travel blog My Yatra Diary [One of the best around] run by Arti,  
this blog I visit regularly and is a must visit and I have learnt a lot by style of her blogging. What I have experienced about blogging is that you have to be patient and regular and everything else will follow back. As now I have an Ok kinda Camera with me all the time[My phone] and I live in this beautiful city Delhi I try to click some pics, what do I do with them ? I started one photo blog[link] and post them there.


Twitter my favorite place is still going on for me. Those who are there know what fun it is, you have each information there before any medium. Made many new friends on twitter and continued interacting with old mates[No I am not going to #FF anyone]. I had fights with my Best Buddy Manish on twitter which I cherish most and awaits for the next one as soon I finish one. To all the people who are wasting there time on Facebook >>>>>> mate you are missing something[and better be there only]. Okay not a #FF but just wanted to refer about Amit and Pritam while the former is a great Friend and Colleague latter is a twitter friend and once I met him accidently in #delhimetro both are very nice.


On the financial front as I joined this new workplace I got little more money then the previous one, but the expenditure has increased too so as I write this post my Bank Balance has decreased to the last year at the same time[and I am still unmarried]. I never had thought of earning grand I just want that much which would keep my family happy[and I don't know how much will keep them happy].


At last I would like to Pen down what I expect of the coming year. I always wanted to earn something from the Internet[now I am getting  greedy] don't know why maybe I have some kinda fear what would happen If I lose my job ? What would I want to purchase this New Year ? [let me think.............] okay so after a deep thought I want a Tee with my blogs domain and my Twitter handle on it [actually I want separate one for both]. Also I have this one wish for so long to learn a language[other than Hindi and English] now which language it would be ? I have thought about it - Urdu it is - I understand it a little but reading is the issue - I would take the help of my Paternal Uncle who had learnt it by his own[lets see If I could learn it]. Lastly I want to be more disciplined in my life[hardest of all] and in the coming Olympics I want India to win atleast 10 medals[second hardest thing].


And till then watch this space ................ 

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Default Window XP Wallpaper Bliss - Where did it came from ?

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I have been thinking about it from sometime and searching on net but don't know why I always forgot about it whenever I come online. What am I talking about ? I bet you have seen it too , its the default XP desktop wallpaper called Bliss. So I began my search on net and now I am here to reveal most of the things in front of you.

This Picture was clicked by Charles_O'Rear    who  happens to be an American Photographer but as he is having Irish name many people thought that he clicked this picture somewhere in Europe but actually this picture belongs to California United States and to be precise Sonoma County.

Before

               

After

As you see in the default Picture it looks surreal and below you see the same place but with absolutely different look, there are two reason behind it one after O'Rear clicked this pic the area was converted into a Vineyard and Second when the XP Pic was clicked it was that window of season when everything is green and majestic.

I searched a little and got some other pics of the same area. Below are three of them.

This Picture best resembles the Original One

Inside Vineyard

Now as you have technology by your side and with the advent of Google Street View you can have a 360 degree view of the complete place. JW Van Wessel got the actual coordinates[38.248966, -122.410269 copy paste them in Google Maps] of the place and you can go to Google Maps and see the place by yourself. This is what I did and got some pics for you. 

Image by Google Steet View1

Image by Google Street View2

I guess you must have liked the short story about this pic : )

References 

The Next Web 
JW's Recognitions
Google Maps

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Me and My Bicycle

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Ok today I would try to write about something from the past. I always wonder why do I write here ? what for ? And the answer I get always is for all of you out there who though not many in numbers but still come here and for one more reason - that when I grow old I will start from the post no 1 on this blog and cherish what my life had gone through all these years.


Few days back I ordered Lance Armstrong's Book "Its Not About Bike - My Journey Back to life " Its a book which tells us how a Bicycle changed his life how he battled with Cancer. So I decided to write about my experiences with Bicycle.


During 1992 my Father got transferred to New Delhi from Meerut so we also shifted to Delhi and I with my Sis got  Admission in an English Medium School in Pascshim Vihar. While I didn't got through the entry exam of my School but Principal of our School was very kind enough to give me entry even I didn't passed the exam too.


I remember it was my first day in the School in Second standard, I was scared as all students in Class were modern to me and speak English while I didn't have any of those qualities in me.
Few minutes would have passed that one teacher entered our Class and started staring at all kids there without uttering a word , then she started calling names of some students one by one and at last I was pointed with a ' You ' yes as she didn't know my name.


Then we were escorted out of our Class and without any briefing we were made to sit in a Mini Bus of our School. As I was new in Delhi didn't know where we were heading, after some 30 minutes we entered into a some park kinda thing which were having traffic lights and roads[ why roads and traffic lights in a park ] also saw some  traffic policemen and I came to know we were in some traffic training park. Then we were given Bicycles to ride upon those roads - I was frightened because never in this world I had rode on Bicycles. I didn't have any idea how to balance them on two wheels.


While my Classmates were completely at ease with it I was the odd one out there, I just roamed there with Bicycle handle in my hands and on foot I helped that Bike to stroll on those  roads. Yes I was feeling shy but nothing could be done. I still remember that day and have a laugh at myself.


Then days passed to months and I never took Bicycle in my hands again for almost a year. Actually I was scared whether I could ride a bike on two wheels or not so I never asked my parents to bought me one then one fine day I saw one of my friends riding the smallest of Bike that you could see on earth and I thought I could handle this even if I lose control I would not get hurt. So I asked him to lend his Bike for some time to me. He was very kind enough to give his Bike in my inexperience hands.


As the Bike was very small I could easily sit on its saddle and at the same time keep my feet on the floor enabling me to control it better.
But as I tried to paddle with one foot the other has to leave the ground as to move ahead and I lost balance I tried  again but could not complete the feat hence at last I said to my friend to give me push and lets see how it goes. This time with push the Bike moved ahead with me top on of it and voila I could balance the Bike for some time. I continued with this and every time I was going ahead and was too happy.


As few years went by I tried my hands on some bigger Bikes off-course not mine but of my friends still didn't have one for mine. 5 years went by and my father again got transferred this time to Betul a Small Distt. in Southern Madhya Pradesh. My mother insisted my Father to purchase one Bike for me and now discussion began in our home to purchase which one for me. My Sister who was also a mug like me when comes to riding a Bike also wanted to have one, so we came to conclusion to go for a Bike which could be friendly for both male and females. 


We went for Hero Impact - it was actually a ladies bike with thin tyres and light weight body, our family of 4 on one fine evening went to purchase it on our Motor Bike and at 1850 bucks if I remember it correctly it was a good purchase. But as I tried to ride over it I stumbled and seeing this my parents told me to not ride it and actually carry with it handles in my hands and stroll all the way back to home which was around 2,3 Kms. Can you Imagine somebody purchased his Brand new Bike and then take it to home on foot - yes I was bit apprehensive too of riding it, was  confused whether I could ride it or not till home.


Next day I was determined to win over it, I took it to an empty park and tried to take control over it and as some say If you can learn riding on two wheels you will never have to learn it again and yes I could ride it again. As I continued on it in come some college going guys came infront of me and I instead of applying brakes rammed into them with Bike, Gosh I was let off after hearing some harsh words from them. Now as confidence grew I took it too streets of my neighborhood, on the very same day while I was riding it a Tractor Trolley passed me and I turned on the side of the street into gravel and slipped. As I slipped front part of my Bike collided with trolley.


This was my first day on my Bike and now I was standing with its front Brake gone with it wire dangling in the air and scratches all over the Bike and the Back Carrier all loosened up. I went back home scared knowing that I would be scolded by all. After some time I got accustomed to my Bike and was going easily to my School and tuition's on it.


 As a family of four and as both kids were growing it was difficult for us to go on our Motor Bike now so I was now taking my Bike where ever my family went, for eg if we were going for a Movie I would be on Bike ahead and my parents and Sis on there Motor Bike behind me, there was a reason keeping me ahead because they could  get an eye on me as they were still not confident of my riding skills.


Few years went by and Bike went old, now my sis also wanted one for her[she never rode on my bike] I started to conspire seeing this  somehow I convinced my Sister and parents that they should purchase a new one for me and this old one would be suitable for my sis who do not have to travel much. At last I was successful and got a new Bike - It was Hero Buzz costed us I guess 2200 bucks - It was male Bike like Hero Ranger with wide tyres and solid body I was in tenth or Eleventh class at that time. This time I rode on it to get it to home from Shop : )

Betul is a beautiful place with hilly terrain making it very good for trekking and riding bikes. With my new Bike I would wander around around all alone to places I never visited. I got one companion my Class mate Deepak Chourasiya to ride along with me on Bike. We would ride on long and winding roads of Betul all day long. Riding on hilly roads up and down taking in the beautiful landscape that Satpura range has to offer. My Bike would take me to each place without complaining a single time. I would ride as fast as I could.


Now my Father again got transferred and this time back to Meerut and I was in my twelfth Class, I was enjoying riding it while my Friends were riding Motor Bikes, then I got into College which was  far and I could not go there with my Bicycle. Four year into College
and now 3 years after it I have not used any Bicycle yet. 


All of a sudden I had this growing desire to ride my bike again, its not here anymore but I know I will get one in future. I never had any desire of purchasing a Car or a Motor Bike, I know I would never have one in future too. I wish one day we will have Bicycles on roads maybe we could have one green day each week and only Cycles would be allowed on that day. There is a person in my Office who is at good position but he always comes on his Bicycle to office with his Helmet on - I want to be like him one day.




P.S - This Post is written for Indiblogger Contest " If you had two more hours in a day, how would you spend it ? " Contest is sponsored by Surf Excel Matic  : )








  

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Ghazal Maestro - Jagjit Singh

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First thing that comes to your mind when you think about Ghazals ? Yes I know the answer - Jagjit Singh it is. Sudden demise of him has shocked entire fraternity of Ghazal likers and so does me. 

Hearing the news on one of the TV channels that he had Brain Hemorrhage I began to think about him and remembered some of his ear soothing songs and downloaded " Koi Fariyaad " from " Tum Bin " , then few days later I heard his health is stable and he is improving , little did we knew that he will lose the battle with life and we will just be left with his voice that is now stored in many many magnetic tapes.

Many fear that with him the tradition of Ghazals which is ever decreasing at a very steep rate may soon be over with other top Ghazal Singers like Ghulam Ali fearing the same. Also apart from music in Movies we Indians have more so not given any encouragement to IndiPop music and Ghazals .

I don't know how to pay tribute to the Ghazal Maestro what I have done is collected some tweets on my timeline which were posted as the Singer left this world. My apologies I could not collect all the tweets from the timeline but still got some.

This is what my Indian Friend with whom I interact on Twitter had to say about him ----

@manishrajora

 

@nitinkjain 

@AddyBrainwave

 

@subhadeep 

 

@deepaksainani 

 

@mayurjango 

 

@hg6 

 

@i_pSycHo_

 

@anuragrekhi 

 

Here are reactions from two of my Nepali twitter mates

@tajim 

 

@nepaleeidiot 

Here are reactions from some of the tweeples from across the Border in Pakistan

 @FarrukhSiddiqui

 

@ShirazHassan

 

@faizanlakhani 

 

Some tweets from known personalities across India

@Rezhasan 

 

@fakingnews 

 

@iamsrk 

@TusharG

 

@BDUTT 

 

No wonder he is not present but his voice still sings in our hearts , Thank You Jagjit Singh for giving us such wonderful songs.

 

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A Day out in Connaught Place

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While the last post of mine was dedicated to some Historical Place today I am here narrating you about my day off with my family yesterday at one of my fav place in Delhi, Connaught Place or Rajiv Chowk now is one place in Delhi that I visit very often,  as I travel to my work I change my DelhiMetro here from Yellow line to Blue line in morning and vice-versa in evening. Most of the times on Friday evenings I with @i4mit while returning from Office venture out there, we watch crowd, eat something, do some shopping and return.


Yesterday I had taken an off from my Office as my Sis and Brother in law were there in town and they wanted to do some shopping from CP and from neighbouring Janpath Market, so me with my Mom and didi Jijaji left home at 2 pm, first visited Teen Murti Bhawan - residence of late PM Jawahar Lal Nehru - about that visit I would have to write a separate post so let me return to Connaught Place.


After having little difficulty to park our Car in the inner circle parking we hit out at Shopping[ I am not a shopaholic was just accompanying my dear ones I just like to observe things]. CP was recently renovated on the brink of Commonwealth Games so it looked a little better than it was back few years back.


My Sis lives in Gujarat and her first stop was at this Gujarati stall, although they didn't purchased anything from here but wasted quite a bit of time.

The next stop was a Book stall having latest Books covering each genre, I am always fascinated by Books[not academic] so this place was of my liking but I didn't pick any of them although Sis took 3 Chetan Bhagat kinda Novels, don't remember their names but on all three Best Seller was written[ I doubt that they actually were].

 

And there was recently launched Shoaib Akhtar's autobiography too, you can figure it out.

 

As Jijaji Paid for the Books in return for the Chillar see what he got, that's rare when you get three of those.

 

Then there was this Posterwala stall but they were very expensive just took one pic of it.

 

Now we moved towards SreeLeather Shop an Iconic shop for Cheap and durable Leather products primarily for Shoes, this shop happens to be in the Regal Cinema Compound.

 

 

 Except me everyone got Shoes and Sandals for themselves while I captured some pics for you.

 

 

As we moved out had some tasty Bhelpuri.

 

As we were crossing road captured this lovely view of kabutar's[Pigeon's] having feast on dana's

 

LIC building at CP has always amazed me with its beautiful architecture , the red stone , the trusses that connects main building to the outer Pillar its just a super architecture.

 

Then there was this Pen shop with varieties of Pens just besides Pind Baloochi Restaurant .

 

Now we moved towards Janpath market, I don't have a liking for it but Ladies I guess like it as lots of new stuff for them is available there, I just passed my time and clicked some pics.

 

Remember Ravish ki report on NDTV ? So have a look at this pic that is from Ravish ki report and the one that I clicked

 

Just got to see this Colorful shop in Janpath market with lamps and stuff.

 

As we moved in Janpath market saw a Shakergandh[Sweet Potato]  thela could not resist to munch on it with a tangy Kamrak[kinda tangy fruit]

 

In the mean time ladies has finished with their shopping so we decided to to move out and return also we were tired a bit now.

We came back to our Car and returned home, to all those who didn't have much idea about Connaught Place can just Google it or can follow this link. I now take an exit from here and leave you with some other pics that i clicked.

 

 

Oh I am back forgot to mention one thing, there was one street shop where every wrist watch was of hundred Rupees only that's just two US dollars isn't it very cheap and all of the watch their were of latest trend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's all , hope you liked the post : )

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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