adios 2011! welcome 2012!

On the penultimate day of 2011 we sit back and look at how did the year 2011 treated us, good or bad, positive or negative, successful or unsuccessful, exciting or non-exciting, expected or unexpected.
Every adjective mentioned above for the year 2011 is totally dependent on the person being referred or the person reading this post. It just goes with the main heading the blog, Life is interesting-it depends on how you take it! I've tried to pick 10 events that shaped the year 2011:

1. Japan 'moved and shook': A horrifying and a devastating earthquake shook Japan, and adding to this tsunami rocked Japan taking countless lives and rendered thousands homeless. A total unexpected catastrophe pushed one of the world's better economies behind. Furthermore, the news of the nuclear reactors' damage raised questions about the radiation hazards.
2. African 'Turmoil': African nations of Egypt, Sudan and Libya saw great changes in the governance. With a new country liberated from Sudan, the rulers of Egypt and Libya had to step down, the latter being killed.
3. 'Royal' Wedding: Prince Charles and Kate Middleton got married in the year 2011, said to be the wedding of the century.
4. World Cup 2011 'Cricket': The saying, "Cricket is our religion and Sachin is our god", went all over the country as a slogan for this year's most coveted trophy in cricket. A last feather in his cap was to be fit in, and who knew that it would come in his home ground, Mumbai. India defeated the island neighbor, Sri Lanka in a thrilling one-day final in Mumbai to win the World Cup 2011 after 28 years. A stellar performance by the team in the knockout stages defeating the trophy holders Australia in the quarter finals, arch-rivals and neighbor Pakistan in the semi-finals, and the island country Sri Lanka in the finals, made it clear that India's not only the best team on paper but, on field also. (The author is a cricket fanatic!!)
5. Launch of 'Iphone 4s' and death of its father: This year saw another big story in launching of the next generation Iphone 4s, but, along with this, it also saw the demise of the father who nurtured and grew an empire called Apple. Steve Jobs, the driving force behind Apple's success, lost the war against cancer.
6. The Dead Terrorist: In a very secured and a secret operation, the US killed the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks in 2011. This became one of the most important and the most unexpected stories of 2011.
7. Google +: 2011 saw the launch of 'another' social networking website, Google +. This saw Google entering in the league of making man a sociable animal, which he was already since orkut was launched!
8. hype over 11/11/11: This story did make in my list as was one of the most discussed story on FaceBook on a specific day. It, being just an ordinary day was hyped so much that people got their marriages, divorces, pregnant ladies got deliveries on this day!! What!! Height of craziness!
9. and 10. shall be added depending on the most number of events posted in the comments. Your views and comments are welcomed. And, do not forget to write about the events that you expect and do not expect on the year 2012 (do not mention about the end of the world!!!). Thank you

Interestingly, a lot of the events (personal and world) that happened in the last year can't be termed as 'cheerful', but, still we've to make sure that these do not affect us. That's what it says, try to get cheerful and get the best out of what we got and what we have!

Happy New Year and will see you here, same place in the year 2012.

The Common Man!!

R.K. Laxman, an illustrator, a cartoonist and a humorist is widely remembered in India by his creation of "The Common Man". As soon as we hear the name, a picture of an old man who is half-bald, a checked coat, a dhoti, round glasses, a simple smile and a stick on his shoulder comes in our mind. The reason of depicting the common man was to show the action that takes place in offices or around us. The common man witnesses these silently. The best part in the English daily published in India, The Times Of India, The Common Man became a mirror of the happenings around us. A comic strip which gave importance to the sufferings of a middle class man was executed with perfection.
Continuing the tradition, a situational comedy series has been on air on an Indian channel (SAB TV). Though the cast remains very simple, but, who cares, until the show delivers what it is supposed to. The show has the common man as the father along with his middle-class son who runs a family of 7-8 with a salary of a middle class. He wakes up in the morning to see that the milkman gives him 500ml milk more than everyday, charges him 2rs. less from the next day, the auto-rickshaw driver's meter slowing, a pay hike from his boss, and many more surprising events. But, as we all know these happenings remains a dream for a middle class man, it was a dream for Bhavesh Vasavada (son of the common man). To his surprise, the milkman adds more water in milk as his buffalo has given less milk, a price hike in milk/ltr., a price hike in auto fares because of petrol hike in the country, etc. makes his day start miserably. But, what can he do other than cursing them?!! Nothing! absolutely nothing!!

The point here is not about advertising about the series or the comic strip by R.K. Laxman, it's about when will this misery stop? We always complain about the inflation, the petrol hike, hike in groceries, hike in day to day used articles, etc. Why doesn't the rich complain? These are open-ended questions asked by a majority of people around us. The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. The ratio is becoming more and more uneven!! No wonder our usage in increasing but, is it the right answer? I do not know. We all have to figure it out!
Right now I am watching the GOP presidential candidate debate on a couple of news channels. These candidates are of the Republican Party, out of which only one will contest elections for the President of USA.
7 members of the party are made to stand in front of anchors and news-readers in a hall of more than 500 members (all of them are distinguished personality in their own field). The candidates are thrown questions regarding the running issues, future developments, their analysis of the reforms, their policies to stop the economic turmoil, and various other aspects. They should be very firm in their decisions and must have supportive evidence or reasons of their support. Even a small umm makes them pee in their pants! Words spoken must be specially carved out. A small mistake can ruin the campaign, just like the ended campaign of Herbert Cain, who was accused of sexual harassment, and having an affair with a lady despite being still married.
During this, I realized the importance of this type of interview for our politicians also, who are contesting elections. This proves to be a model stage for them to contest for elections. But, it would become very difficult for them to withstand the questions and the pressure before the start of the debate, that they would start blaming the ruling party (if its the opposition) or the opposition (if its the ruling party) for staging such "irrelevant" debates (ye opposition or ruling party ki koshish hai humein neecha dikhane ki). We ask you, If you are right, you have a platform to accuse the party of mis-behavior. This may not start a revolution, but, it will just make us realize the fact of choosing the correct ones to lead our country rather than going after the names!

ek mulaakaat!!

It was the same night today when I was talking to my parents (in India). I was out of the motel in the parking lot talking on the phone, when I saw a police car patrolling out catching for some anti-socials (although gays are legal here, there still caught for harassing people, how sick). Were they looking for some Afro-Americans because I looked so (I was wearing a XXL hoodie on a M size shoulder!!). Holy Shit!! How?? I don't have that big body, nor do I look like a ghost in a dark night (they look so when they wander in night with a capped jacket, esp. white colored).
So, yes, I was talking to my father and the car came and stopped in front of me. I told my dad, "Dad, hold on." The gentleman (read policeman) came out of the car, and asked me, "What are you doing?"
Me: I am talking to my parents.
Gentleman: It is cold outside, why don't you talk inside?
Me: My friend is sleeping inside, and I do not want to disturb him.
Gentleman: Do you have a hotel room here?
Me: Yes sir.
I was about to show him the room.....
Gentleman: Where are you from?
Me (proudly saying): I am from India.
GM: Are you visiting the place?
Me: No. I completed my education here. I did my Masters and now I am looking for a job (increasing in the overall unemployment rate of US. I didn't tell him this, but, just had a second thought!! I can think of this during the conversation. Laugh Out Loud!!! :P).
GM: Okay.
And he stepped back in his car and started looking for someone.


The point of writing this post is not only about sharing the experience, but also, how interesting and surprising things are around us!
Rather than taking it seriously, "Yaar aaj to vaatt lag gai, ek police vale ne pakda aur interrogation chalu kar diya. main to dar gaya."
Take it in a lighter way, "Yaar aaj to maza aa gaya. ek police vaale ne apna interview liya!!"


Treat life in the same way, modify it accordingly by modifying your way of thinking!

LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES!! YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S IN STORE FOR YOU THE NEXT MOMENT!!

Laut aa ae bachpan...

Time Machine!!

Last night just after supper, my friend handed me something telling, “Oza, aa le (take this)”. I looked up and saw it was my harmonica (do not get confused with the high pitched plastic instrument that we used to get in fairs) that I was searching for since I came in NJ. I was so happy getting it back that I revived my old memories with the instrument. Talks started between me and my room-mates on the experiences.  Our talks took us back in the late 80s and the 90s, making us feel we’re travelling in a time machine.

The era of our childhood or our heydays was the most mesmerizing period. The conversation ignited our passion to go back in our childhood and enjoy all those games that not only we don’t see, but we don’t hear from the children in this generation.

Ye Xbox 360 aur PS3 khelne vale bachhe kya jaane, brick game aur video-game kya cheez hai,

COD, CS, aur Battlefield khelne vale bachhe kya jaane, Contra aur Super Mario kya cheez hai,

Ghar me baithe hue poker or 21 khelne vale bachhe kya jaane, kabaddi aur kho-kho kya cheez hai,

Yaad aaya vo bachpan, jab hum khela karte the ice-spice aur hide and seek,

Kitne suhane the vo rangoli ki puraane geet,

Vo bhi kya din the jab hum exam k baad rumaal aur pad se khela karte the cricket,

Fir bhi sham ko gili-danda khelna achha lagta tha, rather than playing cricket,

Nahi aayega vo bachpan jab humkhela karte the marbles,

Dodgeball was supposed to be played in a circle,

Baarish me terrace pe soccer khlene vale din nahi aayenge,

Nahi aayenge vo skates par colony ke darshan karne vale din,

Solitaire ne le li jagah mongoose ki,

Black jack aur poker ne le li jagah desi teen patti ki,

Laut aa ae bachpan jab hum khela karte the wii ka desi version in duck hunt, - 2

Endurance ka level test hota tha in daud pakad and stop,

30x30 ki jagah me cut-a-run cricket kahan lautega,

Kahan lautega vo pehli baarish me bhegne ka maza lene vala bachpan,

Laut aaya vo bachpan kal raat dosto se baatein karne mein,

Laut aaya vo bachpan kal raat dosto se baatein karne mein,

Jee chahta hai ek time machine banau aur chala jaaun us bachpan mein!!!

New York: Empire State of Mind!!

As soon as you hear the song, 'New York: Empire State of Mind', you always start visualizing the city with its busy streets, where there's no space to walk free, the skyscrapers, which makes the neck pain by counting the number of floors each one has, the Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium, and lot more.
It just happened to be my 5th trip to the city in a just over 2 years (excl. the1-night halts I made to visit India).
Each trip gives me a unique experience to deal with. Adding more, I never get bored going there!
A crazy start in the morning added by another blunder (taking a wrong subway) was not what we expected for the day!! A lot of new animals, including our ancestors were encountered along with some desi animals (camels, lion, tiger, and peacock). 3 hours down the road we were out from the zoo towards the business street (Wall Street). Clicking pictures at the NYSE and the bull (lack of tourists and commuters) made it feel, "saala recession ka asar kaafi gehra hai". Next one was the famous Brooklyn Bridge (for us 'KHNH' vala bridge).
Thank God, no one clicked pictures posing like SRK!
Gusty and chilly winds and dipping temperatures in the evening was making it difficult for us to walk. But, if you are in NYC, though you're feeling pain, the excitement makes the pain bearable. We had our passes ready for the visit to the 9/11 memorial site. A long queue to the memorial was hurting us!! Half a dozen security checks made it feel that how important was the day to the people of US. We made it to the memorial after passing 1/2hr through the queue. It was amazing! Falling water in the center of the ground zero, and names of the deceased on the border made everyone there filled with same feelings. Hats off to the firefighters, NYPD, security personnel and the people of the city for the courage they showed. We salute to the commandos, who, this year, killed the master mind behind the attack on WTC.
Next was our last destination - The Times Square. The place full of lights, babes, bars, billboards, on-street comedians, cartoonists, and us made the place lively and entertaining. It just reminded me of the last visit that I made with my school pals - Darshit Trivedi, and Maulin Vora. Enhancing the skills of clicking pictures, we were almost exhausted by walking throughout the day in the world's most exciting city.
The watch in my hand was always ticking and making me feel that I should return back. It was a memorable day with some good memories to leave behind and get ready for another trip back!!! (Yes, you read it right. I am ready for another trip to the city, but, this time with my old pals Deep Bhatt and Jarmy Patel.).

"Rome was not built in a day" and "New York City can't be toured in one day".
It takes one lifetime to get it done. We missed some, but, that's why NYC calls us for another trip!!

Adios! GoodBye!

Welcome!

Hello and Welcome friends to my official blog!

Here, you will have a view of my major experiences, my views, opinions (which can be added by all), and ideas.
With each and every blog, I will make sure that the writings are more and more exciting.
you can reach me at: vikram2805@gmail.com

Thank You