S.N. Date Time (hrs) Cinema Movie
1 05th Jan'08 11:50 Satyam-NP FUR
2 06th Jan'08 13:00 PVR-Anupam THE GOLDEN COMPASS
3 12th Jan'08 10:00 PVR-Priya NATIONAL TREASURE-2
4 19th Jan'08 11:30 PVR-Anupam MAD MONEY
5 21st Jan'08 09:20 PVR-Anupam ANURANAN
6 10th Feb'08 10:30 PVR-Priya MITHYA
7 16th Feb'08 10:30 PVR-Priya JODHA AKBAR
8 17th Feb'08 10:20 PVR-Anupam P.S. I LOVE YOU
9 17th Feb'08 12:45 PVR-Anupam ENCHANTED
1018thFeb'08 19:00 PVR-Anupam RESERVATION ROAD
11 23rd Feb'08 11:45 Satyam-NP NANNY DIARIES
12 23rd Feb'08 13:45 Satyam-NP MICHAEL CLAYTON
13 24th Feb'08 18:00 Satyam-NP AMERICAN GANGSTER
1403rd Mar'08 21:00 PVR-AnupamSWEENY TODD
1504TH Mar'08 23:15 PVR-AnupamVANTAGE POINT
16 08th Mar'08 12:45 PVR-Priya BLACK & WHITE
17 09th Mar'08 12:00 PVR-AnupamJUMPER
18 09th Mar'08 14:10 PVR-AnupamWEDDING DAZE
19 15th Mar'08 14:45 PVR-Anupam AUGUST RUSH
20 16th Mar'08 18:00 PVR-Priya 27 DRESSES
21 16th Mar'08 20:15 PVR-Priya WE OWN THE NIGHT
22 21st Mar'08 10:30 PVR-Priya RACE
2323rd Mar'08 10:00 PVR-AnupamTHE BUCKET LIST
24 30th Mar'08 11:10 Satyam-NP LOVE SONGS
25 14th Apr'07 15:45 PVR-Priya PERFECT STRANGER
26 20th Apr'07 22:45 PVR-Spice THE REAPING
27 21st Apr'07 11:00 Chanakya KYA LOVE STORY HAI
28 27th Apr'07 22:45 PVR-Spice TARA RUM PUM
29 12th May'07 10:20 Chanakya LIFE IN A METRO
30 19th May'07 14:00 PVR-Priya SPIDERMAN 3
31 20th May'07 10:00 PVR-Saket MADAGASKAR
32 30th May'07 13:35 Chanakya CHEENI KUM
33 30th May'07 16:30 Chanakya SHOOTOUT AT LOKHAND
34 12th Jun'08 10:30 PVR-Priya HANCOCK
35 12th Jun'08 12:30 PVR-Priya JAANE TU YA JAANE NA
36 15th Jul'08 14:25 PVR-Select City THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
37 19th Jul'08 12:30 3Cs-Lajpat Nagar KISMAT KONNECTION
38 26th Jul'08 11:20 PVR-Priya DARK KNIGHT
39 26th Jul'08 14:10 PVR-Priya MISSION ISTANBUL
40 30th Aug'08 17:30 PVR -Select City ROCK ON
41 31st Aug'08 12:00 PVR-Priya WANTED
42 31st Aug'08 14:10 PVR-Priya C KKOMPANY
43 31st Aug'08 16:55 PVR-Priya BACHNA E HASEENO
44 06th Sep'08 13:05 PVR-Priya A WEDNESDAY
45 06th Sep'08 15:20 PVR-Priya WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS
46 14th Sep'08 10:20 PVR-Saket RIGHTEOUS KILL
47 14th Sep'08 12:20 PVR-Saket 1920
48 14th Sep'08 15:15 PVR-Saket THE LAST LEAR
49 05th Oct'08 19:45 PVR-Priya KIDNAP
50 11th Oct'08 18:30 Sapna HELLO
51 25th Oct'08 10:30 PVR-Priya ROADSIDE ROMEO
52 01st Nov'08 13:50 PVR-Priya FASHION
53 08th Nov '08 12:15 PVR-Saket QUANTUM OF SOLACE
54 08th Nov'08 15:50 PVR-Saket BODY OF LIES
55 15th Nov'08 11:30 SPICE-Noida DOSTANA
56 06th Dec'08 10:45 PVR-Priya DIL KABADDI
57 06th Dec'08 13:15 PVR-Priya BURN AFTER READING
58 06th Dec'08 21:30 SAPNA-Eok MAHARATHI
59 07th Dec'08 14:25 PVR-Anupam OYE LUCKY! LUCKY OYE!
60 10th Dec'08 16:40 SPICE-Noida DASVIDANIYA
61 10th Dec'08 20:25 SPICE-Noida SORRY BHAI
62 12th Dec'08 16:15 SPICE-Noida DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
63 13th Dec'08 21:30 SAPNA-Eok RAB NE BANA DI JODI
64 28th Dec'08 18:50 PVR-Priya GHAJINI
March 25, 2008
February 26, 2008
THE GOA DIARIES
I reach the Nizamuddin railway station at 07:00hrs and see the Goa Sampark Kranti already waiting in platform# 7. Cool. But as soon as I get inside the train, I realize there is no electricity and the stink is too much to bear. As if all these are not enough, there arrives a herd of cricketers from Kashmir. They are a mix of Moslems, Pundits & Sikhs from J & K... people in different size, age and gender. I take the window seat and look out. Soon all the seats in the coupe are more than occupied with co-passengers I do not quite like the looks of. As the train starts off at 07:30hrs, I go off to sleep, even though I'm not quite used to sleeping in the daytime.
I'm woken up during lunchtime by the 2 young & hyper-actively excited sards (M & N) offering me lunch. UGGGggghhhh!! *GO AWAY!!* I hide under my naga-shawl even though its too warm by now. I can't sleep back. These guys are chomping and yapping away to glory. I sit up straight and find company in Tuesdays with Morrie. I read it straight up and finish it off around 19:00hrs. Now I'm hungry. I eat something at the next station. M & N follow me like shadows. I get back to my seat. M starts a conversation. I pretend I'm deaf. N tries to show he's mature; asks M to keep quiet. *N scores brownie points here* I keep the bored-to-death look on my face and body-language intact. It helps. I sleep off at 21:00hrs sharp.
(Note to myself: Worst journey of my life. GgRRRrrrr!)
Sunday 3rd Feb'08 23:55hrs
Its a lovely morning. *especially because those nerds are nowhere around to be seen* I yawn aloud and stretch. A couple of oldies and kids inspect me like I am from outer space. I look at the passenger sitting beside me just by instinct, and...I have to look again...*my eyes pop out and fall off* A HOTTIE!!...reading the newspaper....*Awwww!!!* Now where on earth has this one landed from?? (let me guess...ummm MARS?!) He reminds me of my friend R. I think I'm staring. That's too obvious. But I'm not staring, I'm looking at him because Hottie looks so much like R. Does that mean R is a hottie too and I haven't realized it all this while? That's too much of thinking to be done on a train journey (especially to Goa). Hottie looks at me and attempts a light smile, slightly uncomfortable. I surprise myself by smiling back when I don't want to. Hottie extends his hand and says he is S. I shake hands and say hi! Everything is nice and smooth and we get talking while the others look on and the nerds barge in. S happens to be in the same group... but he is so refined. (Sigh!). M & N almost starts panting at the prospect of talking to me. S introduces them to me. I say hi without shaking hands. M & N start their much awaited (and mostly one-sided) conversation. I reply in monosyllables when I want to. They are much more stupid than I thought. And desperate. But they appear to be good souls and their stupidities prove to be innocent and very original. I become a little soft. After all, there's not much time left for me to reach my destination. M writes the mobile no.s of all the 3 of them on a piece of paper and hands it over to me, asking me to call them if I ever want to visit J & K.
(Note to myself: Nerds can be sweet at times, but they are basically annoying. I'm losing them fast, so who cares!)
I take a nice long look at S before getting down and when he catches me doing it, I casually drop in the conversation how much he resembles my (actually non-existing) boy-friend. S looks disappointed but I clear my stand. M & N simply gape. Then S says something really sweet..."Bring him along too...to Kashmir. It would be nice to meet the lucky man."
I'm so touched. I get off at my destination (Thivm) with a heavy heart and an even heavier duffel and head straight to Tony's cottage at Anjuna Beach.
I choose a nice front room (courtesy Tony), unpack and take a long leisurely bath, before going out to the beach. A little later I go to meet Baba (another shack-owner, who had refused to give me a room the first time I landed in Goa, but later on, became a very good friend). I ask Baba for food and a Masala Chai. He offers me a seafood burger and beer instead. That's why the love them Goans. As I'm eating and having the beer, a Chinese man comes by and makes a joint. Its good stuff, I can make out from the smell. He offers me to share the joint, but I'm just too tired. So I refuse politely and both of us try to converse in broken English. As the Chinese man was doing the last few drags and I was gulping down my last few sips of beer and burger crumbs, a small carnival band comes right up to the Paradiso-turn just a few feet away. Baba asks me to go watch. I run to the point with my camera to watch all those colorful floats and troops. These are mostly white-people, not the locals, but its fun none-the-less. A white lady who looks totally stoned, comes by and kisses people randomly... on the mouth... *EEKS!* I escape and she catches hold of a guy standing next to me.... N. He doesn't seem to mind, but his girlfriend A, doesn't look so amused. We become friends. They have a couple of other friends- R & S. They are all from Mumbai. We all say hi to each other and watch the carnival for sometime. Later on, we decide to go to the Hilltop and have a freaky time till past midnight with port wine & psychedelic trance at its loudest. *a total WOW experience!!!* R hails from Goa, so she meets up with friends and cousins there. S is drunk silly on 3 large vodka shots. A seems a little bored and lost as N and I are dancing to the trance beats. Just before midnight, N drops me to my guest house and returns to his gang-o-girls. I call it a day.
(Note to myself: Who gives you a nice time... friendly strangers or strange friends???)
Monday 4th Feb'08 23:00hrs
I'm woken up by a loud knock on the door, around 8ish.*Who's it?*. "Hey, its me... N". Am surprised but still open the door for him. He explains sheepishly that they had all stayed at R's native place in Vagator nearby and did not go off to Calangute to their hotel last night. And since he woke up early and the girls were catching up on their beauty-sleep, can we please go for breakfast?! I get ready in 10 minutes flat and we're off to the German Bakery at the Anjuna junction. As we're finishing off breakfast, N gets a call from R's mother that the girls have woken up and waiting for him. He leaves. I go off to the beach for some sun-tan and water-play till mid-day. I experiment with my Canon SLR at all the hours of the day, trying to learn all its hidden features. When I have enough, I take a long long bath in the warm afternoon sea, then go hog on sea-food and port-wine in one of my favorite shacks nearby. After lunch and a quick afternoon siesta, I go shopping gift-items and mementos for friends back in Delhi. I buy beads and anklets and a marble-chillum and a nice green dress and a pair of crocs for the beach. Now I'm happy with all the shopping. *little pleasures of life*. In the evening, I walk down to and pay a visit to Tony's family. That beach is not one of my favorite, so I come back to before its too late. Its too early for dinner and I'm not hungry yet. And I don't have anything much to do. So, I stop by at the 'VagatorAnjunaSea Queen' shack for their evening movies. I watch SHOOT 'EM UP on their big screen projector. Then have a light supper and walk back to my room. I read up some before calling it a day.
(Note to myself: Alright, so the day has gone by unexpectedly uneventful and laid back! But I like it this way sometimes. I miss my girlfriends though... and some of my guy friends too... *wink!*)
Tuesday 5th Feb'08 23:45hrs
Good-morning.... Goa! Its such a lovely morning. Just by the thought of how much lies ahead to be done the whole day, gets me all excited. I go to a secluded spot near the German Bakery which looks like a deserted graveyard, but the place is not as scary as has high walls with lots of stairs and an uphill. I can see some huts and a little hint of civilization up on the hill. So I'm not all that scared. I climb up to the highest stair and sit up on the wall with the hope of catching the first rays of the morning sun with my camera. After what seems to be a long wait, the sun finally shows itself. Not as beautiful as I expect it to be, the sunrise. In Goa, its the sunset at the beach that is the most breathtaking site. Nonetheless, I click some pics and climb down the wall and the stairs and head straight to the German Bakery for breakfast. I'm getting addicted to their masala chai, cheese-burger & omlette breakie. I do my usual sun-soaking and then after a shower and change, at about mid afternoon, I start off for Mapusa.
Today is the last day of the Carnival and its in Mapusa. I can't afford to miss this one. By the time I reach Mapusa and scan the market for some local Goan lunch, the floats are already there on the main road. I rush to catch a glimpse and after I see a couple of them, I'm captivated. I go on clicking them one after another. One float is better than the other. The cheer, the colors, the excitement is all so enticing.... its unbelievable. Before I realize, its dark. I rush to the market to buy some eatables... cashews, dry apricots, prawns balchao, dry-fish, churiso, wines, port-wines, etc. While I was buying my stuff, stacking my wine bottles here and there in the 2 bags I was carrying, it created quite an amusing view (apparently) for 2 friendly strangers-M & A, who have been watching me all this while from outside the shop.*twist in the tale*We say hi! to each other and chat up. They are from Mumbai again. M looks like either a cross-dresser or gay, but nonetheless very friendly and open-hearted and A has a permanent 'bored to death' expression glued on her face. Later I found out that she's not actually bored, but that's the way she looks even while she smiles. I couldn't be bothered. We find a local bar and sit there chatting up, eating, drinking and clicking pictures together. We get along so well that we decide to extend our meet and go over to Club Titos (Baga Beach) at about 22:30hrs. That's where M & A are putting up. They have a car, so we all hop in. My shopping bags in tow.
We have a wild time at Titos and M attracts a lot of 'unwanted' attention while revealing up to his thighs while dancing in his beach sarong on the dance floor. Both A and I lose him in the dance floor and we come out to the bar for more beer. We catch up on beer and some girlie talks and just when 4 cuties come up to us to ask us for a dance, M finds us and snarls at the cuties.*darn!* He looks hurt at our betrayal. Suddenly I am drunk and too tired. So, I want to go to my room. Them good souls drop me to my hotel room and ask for my tomorrow's plans. Without even thinking I utter out that I have to go to the Anjuna Wednesday Flea Market tomorrow morning. Both of them (being first-timers in Goa) invite themselves to come with me. We fix to meet up tomorrow at my room at 10:00hrs, I gather all my shopping bags and bid each other goodnight.
(Note to myself: Quite a day. Whew! And quite an odd couple. But they are harmless, so I'm kewl.)Wednesday 6th Feb'08 23:00hrs
I sleep straight till 09:45hrs and wake up with a start at the shrieking alarm clock bell of my new next-door neighbors. *What a timing!* In a jiffy, I shower and get ready and walk up to the shack right across my hotel for a quick breakie. As I finish off the last bit of breakfast, M & A arrive. We drive to the Flea Market and buy a whole lot of junkies. We finish our shopping and a complete round of the market by 15:00hrs, then stop by at a local eatery there in the market for delicious yet affordable local goan lunch. We are all happy with our new possessions.
M decides to take me & A to his local goan friend at Calangute Beach, who owns a shack. We all go over to meet J at his shack. As we reached there, J welcomed all of us with a big friendly smile and open arms for warm hugs. It was hard to believe someone can be so friendly from the first meet. But I observe that in J's line of business, this is extremely important for his clientele to spread about his service and attitude by word of mouth and hence make him more popular than the 10 other competitive shacks in the neighborhood. The pool-table in his shack (the only one in that area) proves to be another added bonus point for his shack's popularity and earnings. And the tall-dark-handsome hunk (his most prized employee) is a hot favorite escort amongst the single white women who visited the shack. There was no leaf unturned by J to soar his business much higher than all his competitions. We sit there chatting, playing pool, sipping on beer and port wine, eating huge crispy-fried tiger-prawns, mussels, etc. everything on the house. There was no way one couldn't keep from coming back to a place like this. We leave for our respective hotels at around 22:00hrs. M & A drop me to my hotel room. They leave for Mumbai tomorrow early morning.
(Note to myself: I learned so much from J today. If you run a business, be passionate, shrewd and friendly in an absolutely balanced ratio. There is no way you can fail. I'm so impressed. It was also nice to have met M & A. Friendly strangers turn into my good-natured, pure-hearted friends... at least for now.. and I loved every moment being with them.)
Thursday 7th Feb'08 00:00hrs
Rise & shine gorgeous! Its a bright new day again. My last day in Goa for this season. And I'm on my own. I have not planned the day yet. Let me take it slow and on impulse today...
I have breakfast at Tony's shack today, their specialty being freshly-baked homemade pitta bread & hummus with masala chai. I feel so satiated. After breakfast, I sunbathe and take a swim in the almost empty beach. The local tourist crowd have all left and there were only a few foreign tourists left in sight. The season is getting leaner by the day. I go to my room, take a shower, get dressed, check my jhola for money, water bottle, sunglasses, a book and some dry-fruits to munch on, then set out just aimlessly for destination anywhere. I keep walking till I reach the Anjuna junction bus-stop and get up on the first bus which stops. Its going to Calangute. That brings a smile to my lips and as I pay the bus-fare to the conductor with a mysterious smile, he looks confused, yet shrugging his shoulders moves on indifferently to the next passenger for fare. My co-passenger is a local school-teacher and we have a short but friendly conversation till she reaches her destination. After sometime I reach my destination too. And without any help from my brain, my feet walks to J's shack.
J has a big smile glued on his face as he sees me. He welcomes me exactly like yesterday and tells me to feel at home. I make it clear that today I'm gonna eat, play and drink here only if he allows me to pay. He wouldn't listen. Finally we both settled on me paying whatever amount he'd quote, without him showing me their menu-card for the prices. I keep my jhola with the accountant, take my book to the beach, do some reading, sun-bathing, sand-writing and clicked a few random pics of strangers and of the staff at J's shack. Mr. TDH doesn't have any customers to escort today. So, he kills time with me. I tell him that I don't need an escort, but he clarifies that he's only into white women and that I don't need to get scared. I discover that he's an educated, well-read bartender, but not rich enough to fulfill his dream of going abroad to work, on his own. He sees escorting every single white lady as a new opportunity for work permit abroad and also the earnings out of it go into his savings for his 'overseas dream' after giving J a fat cut-out as commission. I was touched by TDH's story. We played some pool together and he offered to take me to a casino in the evening. He and J had plans of going to one of their favorite casinos in the evening anyway, as the business was lean today. I agreed immediately, as I had never seen a real-life casino ever.
J drove us all to the CASINO CARNIVAL at the Goa Marriott Resort in Miramar Beach. They charged Rs. 200/- per head. Their dress-code being formals and smart-casuals, I suddenly felt under-dressed in my beach sun-dress and flip-flops. But these are situations when a lady feels privileged when she is not stopped by anyone for not following any rule. I never looked more confident than this time in my life. With 2 well-dressed men coming to the casino to blow their money, I felt no less than a princess. J & Mr. TDH indulged in Roulette, Black Jack, Baccarat & Slot Machines keeping me nearby as their lucky mascot, but lost miserably.*tch..tcchhh!* But hey, I never asked them to gamble, nor told them I'm lady luck, so I maintained a blank innocent look on my face throughout.
After losing enough money, J & TDH took me to Palmeira, the Marriott's in-house multi-cuisine dining restaurant for a nice chatty dinner, after which both the men drop me off to my hotel room and left for their destination.
(Note to myself: Its such a good yet strange feeling to be able to trust people in a place like. People I hardly know, yet I could trust, not to cheat me or take advantage of. Yet another reason why I'm in love with Goa and its natives. Boy! Am I tired?!*yawn!*)
Friday 8th Feb'08 22:00hrs
With a heavy, reluctant feeling, I slide out of bed and get ready to leave. Checklist for everything to be packed. My bags are super-heavy with all the shopping here. I go to Tony's shack to pay him. The good soul gives me a hefty discount for being an old customer and a long stay, so I am left with more money to do more shopping on the way, if I can. Seeing my super-heavy bags, Tony offers to drop me in his van till half-way till Panjim. And I thought courtesy is an extinct virtue unheard of by Indian men.*Sigh!*
(Note to myself: I'll get all teary-eyed and never leave if the Goans continue to be so nice to me.)
I have to come to Vasco to board the Goa Express at 14:00hrs. After bidding Tony 'goodbye' at Panjim, I boarded a bus to the Vasco railway station which brought me in time to grab a quick Goan lunch just outside the station and also to pick up some more cashew packets to send home to Ma.
The train's on time and I board it peacefully. It was thankfully not too crowded. So, it was a perfect time to devour John Grogan's 'Marley & Me'.
I read, ate, slept and did not even look up to see my co-passengers this time.
As I finished reading the book and my heart grew heavy at the world's worst, yet most lovable dog's demise, we reached the Nizamuddin railway station, Delhi, on Sunday 10th Feb'08 06:00hrs.
And that's how ended my fun-filled, carefree & colorful time in Goa this once.
February 20, 2008
The SUNSCREEN Song
Everybody's Free
(to wear sunscreen)
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97... wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice... now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are NOT as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
I can never fail to get inspired by this song... time and again...
(to wear sunscreen)
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97... wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice... now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are NOT as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
I can never fail to get inspired by this song... time and again...
February 14, 2008
This Valentine's...
I feel I just couldn't care less about dressing up... about how I look... I don't feel like talking to people around... When someone comes to me to chit-chat I find it so intruding, I can hardly stop myself from snarling at them. I find all the funny jokes really annoying and silly... I don't feel hungry more than once in 24hrs... I have problems sleeping at night and I can only manage to catch on some sleep by the wee hours of the morning. I am restless almost all the time... I feel like smoking but when I do, my throat feels like its rotting inside... All the hype about the Valentine's Day isn't helping too much either. Suddenly I feel so old that it almost seems I belong to a different century... like I've been around forever. And yes, those men... they all seem so wrong... Will somebody please tell me where the right ones are? if they were there at all?? or have they just vanished into thin air when I wasn't looking??? Forget about men, but what is it that I'm looking for? I know I'm longing for something thats really close to my heart... something that I'd go to any extent to get hold of and then hold onto, but I don't know what it is... My heart longs and hurts and I can feel sensations which I never knew, existed.
Maybe I'm suffering from schizophrenia... maybe I'm just Goa-sick... maybe I'm in love... Maybe I'll never know the difference before this dangerous feeling goes away and I become my happy, carefree self again...
Happy Valentine's to all, anyway...
February 01, 2008
The SUN and the SEA beckons
After shouting at the office-transporters for their consistent inefficiency, snapping at about 50% of my colleagues from the team and then profusely apologising for being rude to them for no reasonable reason, first trying to convince my boss then confusing him to the extent of him approving 10 days of paid leaves for me (of-course with sufficient amount of emotional drama and also managing to shed a few crocodile tears... a la Bollywood ishtyle), giving the office tax-consultant a piece of mind for wrong tax-deduction from my salary, and being enquired by a third guy-friend if I am about to have my periods for such foul mood-swings, I am finally leaving for my favourite destination tomorrow early morning to get myself plenty of fresh coastal air, to catch on a lovely tan and to devour my favourite sea-food-cusines and to get sloshed with all those intoxicating port-wines. A week of carefree hippie-life with no connectivity with the rest of the world... a time when I can paint myself all over with the exquisite colours of the carnival... to be with people who are complete strangers but ones who make me feel I belong. For only by doing so, I know, I will be at peace with myself. My beloved beckons and I have to go... for old times' sake... for heavens' sake... and for everybody elses' sake. Amen!
January 30, 2008
My new-found Passion
I am a hard-core foodie. I confess I like eating everything edible, except for 'kardhi-chawal' and a few oil-and-spice-laced Indian dishes on a regular basis. But given no alternatives, I can manage to eat that too. My strongest guess says its a genetic trait passed on from my dad. Anyone who sees me eating unashamedly is usually shocked and amused by the quantity I can consume at a go and the amount of satisfaction that reflects on my face and eyes after I relish a meal. But to everyone's surprise and mine, my appetite and consumption capacity does not reflect on my physical frame at all... thank God! So I was saying, being fond of eating, I obviously like cooking and experimenting with various recipes. But there would be conditions attached... like I need a sparkling clean kitchen with enough moving space, fully equipped with all the right utensils and ingredients.. sharp knives, et al... a nicely stocked refrigerator and a never-ending supply of water. Oh, did I mention my (culinary) mood and the comfort-level of whose kitchen I'm using?!
So, the first place which qualifies my basic requirements, is my friend-Jeena's kitchen. Of-course my mom's kitchen would have been my first preferance (only if she was not always in a hurry to rustle up meals for the family and the ever-welcomed guests), but that's almost like a far-from-real fantasy, I have realised over the years. And my own kitchen? Well, if you really have to know, it is only equipped with the basic requirements of making fast-food... like the baking and grilling kinds and full-course meals only once in a blue moon. Excepting the occassional cooking at Jeena's, naga-cuisines at Naro's (my friend from Nagaland) and home-made food from my colleagues at the work-place, I more-or-less survive on zero-oil, zero-caloried grills, bakes, steams and boils on all the other moons. So, over these years of my stay in Delhi I used to consider 'cooking' as the last or second-last priority in the to-do list of things during my weekends. Takeaways, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, fruits & salads, steamed vegetables and boiled/poached eggs, though dull, are re-assuringly time-efficient staples of my daily diet. So, the only times I really relish eating my-kind-of homemade food, are the times I visit home and feast on my ma's (mostly dad's) cooking. Oh by the way, my dad is a better cook than my ma and all he needs to take over the kitchen and prepare yummy meals to fill up the dining table, is just a little mention of how much I miss his chicken-curry or duck-roast or any of the sticky-rice dishes that he specialises in.
Anyway, being bored of what I was eating here all this while and being recommended by the doctor to eat proper home-made meals after I fell ill sometime back, I resolved to do some real-time cooking on a daily basis in my very own kitchen. I learnt some easy-to-make recipes from my ma's collection, some naga-delicacies from Naro and a few yummylicious recipes from Manju Malhi's show-Cooking Isn't Rocket Science shown on NDTV Goodtimes. My belief about cooking full meals being a waste of valuable time, was disillusioned as I started to enjoy the process. Rather than being the dull utilitarian practice I imagined, cooking I realise, is the most creative of all art forms. And there is something deeply satisfying about taking separate ingredients and creating something new and unique, which pleases the tastebuds and hence instantly devoured.
The great appeal of cooking lies in the touch-feel-smell therapy. The sensation of chopping, slicing & stirring... the smell of crushed garlic and green chillies as it simmers with the olive oil, finely diced onions and chopped tomatoes... the varied natural colours of different vegetables combining into a multi-coloured dish one main colour of turmeric overpowering them all... and the final touch of fresh coriander leaves garnishing a dish... are all so glorious and demands one to be engaged in that 'cooking moment'.
Fortunately for me, cooking is now a choice rather than a chore or responsibility. And guess who is the happiest with my making this one sensible choice in what seemed to be a lifetime? No prizes for guessing... you are right. Its my ma. She has spent the best part of her life feeding my perfectionist-foodie of a father, the never-ending list of guests and relatives, and ofcourse her three notorious daughters with completely different tastes from each other. So I suspect she would be less persuaded to believe that cooking is as relaxing or liberating as I claim. Nonetheless, cooking is not only creative, it also encourages social interaction. Now that I cook, I sometimes carry meals to the office and share the food with my colleagues who had fed me with their home-made meals at some point of time. So I get a chance to return the favour. I also feel like inviting friends for lunches or dinners. Though its another story whether or not they like the taste of what I cook. But the satisfaction derived from others liking and appreciating your preparations is almost at par with the satisfaction derived from someone appreciating any other work of art created by you. When so much of modern life gets onto you, cooking at home demands an active engagement with your inner self and reminds us that life is there to be savoured. And the last tip from my end... always cook with fondness and lots of love. It really comes out in the food.
So, the first place which qualifies my basic requirements, is my friend-Jeena's kitchen. Of-course my mom's kitchen would have been my first preferance (only if she was not always in a hurry to rustle up meals for the family and the ever-welcomed guests), but that's almost like a far-from-real fantasy, I have realised over the years. And my own kitchen? Well, if you really have to know, it is only equipped with the basic requirements of making fast-food... like the baking and grilling kinds and full-course meals only once in a blue moon. Excepting the occassional cooking at Jeena's, naga-cuisines at Naro's (my friend from Nagaland) and home-made food from my colleagues at the work-place, I more-or-less survive on zero-oil, zero-caloried grills, bakes, steams and boils on all the other moons. So, over these years of my stay in Delhi I used to consider 'cooking' as the last or second-last priority in the to-do list of things during my weekends. Takeaways, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, fruits & salads, steamed vegetables and boiled/poached eggs, though dull, are re-assuringly time-efficient staples of my daily diet. So, the only times I really relish eating my-kind-of homemade food, are the times I visit home and feast on my ma's (mostly dad's) cooking. Oh by the way, my dad is a better cook than my ma and all he needs to take over the kitchen and prepare yummy meals to fill up the dining table, is just a little mention of how much I miss his chicken-curry or duck-roast or any of the sticky-rice dishes that he specialises in.
Anyway, being bored of what I was eating here all this while and being recommended by the doctor to eat proper home-made meals after I fell ill sometime back, I resolved to do some real-time cooking on a daily basis in my very own kitchen. I learnt some easy-to-make recipes from my ma's collection, some naga-delicacies from Naro and a few yummylicious recipes from Manju Malhi's show-Cooking Isn't Rocket Science shown on NDTV Goodtimes. My belief about cooking full meals being a waste of valuable time, was disillusioned as I started to enjoy the process. Rather than being the dull utilitarian practice I imagined, cooking I realise, is the most creative of all art forms. And there is something deeply satisfying about taking separate ingredients and creating something new and unique, which pleases the tastebuds and hence instantly devoured.
The great appeal of cooking lies in the touch-feel-smell therapy. The sensation of chopping, slicing & stirring... the smell of crushed garlic and green chillies as it simmers with the olive oil, finely diced onions and chopped tomatoes... the varied natural colours of different vegetables combining into a multi-coloured dish one main colour of turmeric overpowering them all... and the final touch of fresh coriander leaves garnishing a dish... are all so glorious and demands one to be engaged in that 'cooking moment'.
Fortunately for me, cooking is now a choice rather than a chore or responsibility. And guess who is the happiest with my making this one sensible choice in what seemed to be a lifetime? No prizes for guessing... you are right. Its my ma. She has spent the best part of her life feeding my perfectionist-foodie of a father, the never-ending list of guests and relatives, and ofcourse her three notorious daughters with completely different tastes from each other. So I suspect she would be less persuaded to believe that cooking is as relaxing or liberating as I claim. Nonetheless, cooking is not only creative, it also encourages social interaction. Now that I cook, I sometimes carry meals to the office and share the food with my colleagues who had fed me with their home-made meals at some point of time. So I get a chance to return the favour. I also feel like inviting friends for lunches or dinners. Though its another story whether or not they like the taste of what I cook. But the satisfaction derived from others liking and appreciating your preparations is almost at par with the satisfaction derived from someone appreciating any other work of art created by you. When so much of modern life gets onto you, cooking at home demands an active engagement with your inner self and reminds us that life is there to be savoured. And the last tip from my end... always cook with fondness and lots of love. It really comes out in the food.
January 28, 2008
Little things which make you HAPPY
It seems slightly strange to talk about an individual's minimum requirements for being happy, as everyone has different requirements for happiness. Have you ever stopped doing something you really enjoy doing, just because you got too busy and forgot all about it? I think we have all done that once in a while. Remember, what it felt like to do this activity again? If it was a great thrill of the experience itself, coupled with a thought of 'oh yeah, this feels great' then you're on the right track.
A couple of examples from my own life this past weekend, might be helpful for you to connect with what I'm talking about...
Last friday (the 25th of Jan'08), our office had organised a painting competition for the employees on the event of the next day's Republic Day celebration. I had not planned to participate, but at the 11th hour I felt like taking in the plunge and found myself leaving my daily share of work, loitering around from floor to floor in search of the organizers, paper, paints, brushes, et al. Finally I managed all of them on the basis of the begging-borrowing-stealing that I could resort to. And then when I mixed the colours on the pallette and the first stroke of the sable-hair-brush hit the ivory cartridge sheet, mixed with water and the bright colours, all mixed and blended, I wondered why on earth hadn't I done this in ages. The smell of the paints and the view of the mixed colours on the paper, filled my heart and soul with a renewed pleasure I had forgotten behind. The painting turned out to be a beauty in my eye... and hopefully for the others, too. I'd only know it later in the week.
Again on saturday (the 26th of Jan), I gave a miss to my usual movie-watching routine. My almost zero-bank balance and the freezing cold waves doing their rounds in Delhi, were the major contributors for this. But being the outdoor person I am, I couldn't hold myself back in the confines of my room any longer than 6pm. So I went out for an evening walk in the neighbourhood. While coming back, I crossed several vegetable-vendors selling fresh, colourful vegetables. And I had to give in to the temptation of buying those beauties. Though I felt like bringing all of them home, I searched for and could fish out only 80 bucks from all that I had in my pocket and spent it all buying those yummy looking broccolis, celeries, button mushrooms, bitter-gourds, eggplants, spring-onions, beans, tomatoes, carrots and red-cabbages. They were just too irresistible to be spared from bringing back home to the kitchen.
Yesterday was a broody day for me. But thanks to all the vegetables bought in from the previous evening. I spent the whole day cooking. I baked pasta in white-sauce with some of the vegetables, on the other hand prepared a 3-course naga-meal with the other set of vegetables, greens and dried meat. And though I felt quite relaxed (mentally) and tired (physically) by the end of all the cooking, I realised that I wasn't even hungry... either for lunch or for dinner. So, I watched some television, talked on the phone, prepared myself a cocktail-blood on the rooftop-with redwine and apple juice, and drank myself to sleep.
A totally uneventful and boring weekend, you might feel, but it made me re-discover a few things I had totally forgotten doing. A slow weekend which brought some happiness to me. And the cooking came in handy for today's lunch and dinner at work.
A couple of examples from my own life this past weekend, might be helpful for you to connect with what I'm talking about...
Last friday (the 25th of Jan'08), our office had organised a painting competition for the employees on the event of the next day's Republic Day celebration. I had not planned to participate, but at the 11th hour I felt like taking in the plunge and found myself leaving my daily share of work, loitering around from floor to floor in search of the organizers, paper, paints, brushes, et al. Finally I managed all of them on the basis of the begging-borrowing-stealing that I could resort to. And then when I mixed the colours on the pallette and the first stroke of the sable-hair-brush hit the ivory cartridge sheet, mixed with water and the bright colours, all mixed and blended, I wondered why on earth hadn't I done this in ages. The smell of the paints and the view of the mixed colours on the paper, filled my heart and soul with a renewed pleasure I had forgotten behind. The painting turned out to be a beauty in my eye... and hopefully for the others, too. I'd only know it later in the week.
Again on saturday (the 26th of Jan), I gave a miss to my usual movie-watching routine. My almost zero-bank balance and the freezing cold waves doing their rounds in Delhi, were the major contributors for this. But being the outdoor person I am, I couldn't hold myself back in the confines of my room any longer than 6pm. So I went out for an evening walk in the neighbourhood. While coming back, I crossed several vegetable-vendors selling fresh, colourful vegetables. And I had to give in to the temptation of buying those beauties. Though I felt like bringing all of them home, I searched for and could fish out only 80 bucks from all that I had in my pocket and spent it all buying those yummy looking broccolis, celeries, button mushrooms, bitter-gourds, eggplants, spring-onions, beans, tomatoes, carrots and red-cabbages. They were just too irresistible to be spared from bringing back home to the kitchen.
Yesterday was a broody day for me. But thanks to all the vegetables bought in from the previous evening. I spent the whole day cooking. I baked pasta in white-sauce with some of the vegetables, on the other hand prepared a 3-course naga-meal with the other set of vegetables, greens and dried meat. And though I felt quite relaxed (mentally) and tired (physically) by the end of all the cooking, I realised that I wasn't even hungry... either for lunch or for dinner. So, I watched some television, talked on the phone, prepared myself a cocktail-blood on the rooftop-with redwine and apple juice, and drank myself to sleep.
A totally uneventful and boring weekend, you might feel, but it made me re-discover a few things I had totally forgotten doing. A slow weekend which brought some happiness to me. And the cooking came in handy for today's lunch and dinner at work.
January 10, 2008
LIFE'S LESSONS
Lessons I learnt in life...
01. Gossip, men, coffee and chocolates... some things are better dark and rich.
02. If you are a lady who knows to cook and drive, HUSH! Just keep it to yourself. After all, why do all the hard work if you can get away faking ignorance?!
03. Men come and men go, but friends are forever and nearly always outlast (superficial) lovers.
04. A not-so-goodlooking guy who is chivalrous, polished, good to you and genuinely cares about you is much more worthy than a good-looking guy who is insensitive to your feelings.
05. Not having a man in your life is not reason enough to go into a full-on crisis mode. Infact, to be single is better than to be stuck in a bad relationship.
06. Share everything with your mate... except the details of ex-s and the location of your porn stash...(wink!)
07. Men do make passes at girls who wear glasses or braces. Infact, some men even make passes at anything that moves, crawls and wears a skirt.
08. Dress up real nice on a dull and depressing day. Who knows, you might run into a cute guy who might ask you out or better yet, meet a woman you could make so jealous.
09. Exercise is a great excuse to wear clingy clothes, but it is something you do to keep fit, not to get thin.
10. There is no fight that can't be won when wearing sexy lingerie or only that.
11. A designer bikini can cost more than a whole outfit.
12. It IS possible to have too many shoes, bags or clothes.
13. A good haircut is well worth the investment. After all, you have to wear it everyday.
14. It is much better to spend your money on a vacation than on luxury items. The vacation will provide memories and lessons that will last a lifetime. The latter, only momentary pleasure and maybe a little chance to show off.
15. The world is a much better place after a glass of wine.
16. Nobody really cares that you have that ugly acne on your left cheek or nose or wherever. The truth be told, you are probably the only one aware of and annoyed with its existence.
17. Eat all the carbs-and-calories you want, while you still can. Soon, that spoonful of chocolate mousse or mayonnaise will travel straight to your mid-riff area.
18. After you reach a certain age, no matter how much you diet and however hard you exercise, you will never be twig-thin again like you were as a teenager. And clothes which looked good on you a decade ago, won't look that way ever again... even if the fashion is back.
19. No matter how many creams you rub into your problem zones, you can't stop the inexorable march of cellulite onto your thighs, arms and butts. Gravity will take its toll on you and everything that can sag, will sag. So, don't bother fighting it.
20. People who invest in LICs, Mutual Funds and Retirement Policies while still in their 20s, are NOT losers.
21. It is better to buy a property than to rent... even if it means living in an area that you don't consider entirely worthy of you.
22. Its difficult to soar high like eagles if you work with turkeys.
23. You will never be able (or willing) to work this hard again. So make the most while still at it. But don't lose sight of the fact that there is life outside your workplace.
24. You can only really make friends when you are young. After that, you're only stuck with chance acquaintances and work contacts whom you also socialize with.
25. There is a reason why you lost touch with so many 'friends' you made in school, high-school and college. You simply had nothing much in common, except for the fact that you were once together, somewhere, somehow. So, there's no need to feel guilty when charged with 'dropping' them.
26. If you want something, don't be afraid to ask.
27. Do not be afraid to speak out your mind... ever.
28. If you dare to do the impossible, it actually becomes possible, 'cause the 'impossibler' does not exist.
29. You can't change the world. But don't let it change you either.
30. Whatever you give to others, comes back to you... in this very life.
31. Nothing is as important as you think and everthing in life (good or bad) shall pass. Yes, it truly will!
01. Gossip, men, coffee and chocolates... some things are better dark and rich.
02. If you are a lady who knows to cook and drive, HUSH! Just keep it to yourself. After all, why do all the hard work if you can get away faking ignorance?!
03. Men come and men go, but friends are forever and nearly always outlast (superficial) lovers.
04. A not-so-goodlooking guy who is chivalrous, polished, good to you and genuinely cares about you is much more worthy than a good-looking guy who is insensitive to your feelings.
05. Not having a man in your life is not reason enough to go into a full-on crisis mode. Infact, to be single is better than to be stuck in a bad relationship.
06. Share everything with your mate... except the details of ex-s and the location of your porn stash...(wink!)
07. Men do make passes at girls who wear glasses or braces. Infact, some men even make passes at anything that moves, crawls and wears a skirt.
08. Dress up real nice on a dull and depressing day. Who knows, you might run into a cute guy who might ask you out or better yet, meet a woman you could make so jealous.
09. Exercise is a great excuse to wear clingy clothes, but it is something you do to keep fit, not to get thin.
10. There is no fight that can't be won when wearing sexy lingerie or only that.
11. A designer bikini can cost more than a whole outfit.
12. It IS possible to have too many shoes, bags or clothes.
13. A good haircut is well worth the investment. After all, you have to wear it everyday.
14. It is much better to spend your money on a vacation than on luxury items. The vacation will provide memories and lessons that will last a lifetime. The latter, only momentary pleasure and maybe a little chance to show off.
15. The world is a much better place after a glass of wine.
16. Nobody really cares that you have that ugly acne on your left cheek or nose or wherever. The truth be told, you are probably the only one aware of and annoyed with its existence.
17. Eat all the carbs-and-calories you want, while you still can. Soon, that spoonful of chocolate mousse or mayonnaise will travel straight to your mid-riff area.
18. After you reach a certain age, no matter how much you diet and however hard you exercise, you will never be twig-thin again like you were as a teenager. And clothes which looked good on you a decade ago, won't look that way ever again... even if the fashion is back.
19. No matter how many creams you rub into your problem zones, you can't stop the inexorable march of cellulite onto your thighs, arms and butts. Gravity will take its toll on you and everything that can sag, will sag. So, don't bother fighting it.
20. People who invest in LICs, Mutual Funds and Retirement Policies while still in their 20s, are NOT losers.
21. It is better to buy a property than to rent... even if it means living in an area that you don't consider entirely worthy of you.
22. Its difficult to soar high like eagles if you work with turkeys.
23. You will never be able (or willing) to work this hard again. So make the most while still at it. But don't lose sight of the fact that there is life outside your workplace.
24. You can only really make friends when you are young. After that, you're only stuck with chance acquaintances and work contacts whom you also socialize with.
25. There is a reason why you lost touch with so many 'friends' you made in school, high-school and college. You simply had nothing much in common, except for the fact that you were once together, somewhere, somehow. So, there's no need to feel guilty when charged with 'dropping' them.
26. If you want something, don't be afraid to ask.
27. Do not be afraid to speak out your mind... ever.
28. If you dare to do the impossible, it actually becomes possible, 'cause the 'impossibler' does not exist.
29. You can't change the world. But don't let it change you either.
30. Whatever you give to others, comes back to you... in this very life.
31. Nothing is as important as you think and everthing in life (good or bad) shall pass. Yes, it truly will!
January 04, 2008
MOVIES I watched in 2007
S.N. Date Time (hrs) Cinema Movie
1 06th Jan'07 11:10 PVR-Priya BHAGAM BHAG
2 06th Jan'07 14:20 PVR-Priya BABEL
3 23rd Jan'07 11:00 Anuradha-Ghy SALAAM-E-ISHQ
4 27th Jan'07 11:00 Anuradha-Ghy GURU
5 08th Feb'07 10:00 PVR-Saket DEJA VU
6 08th Feb'07 16:10 PVR-Saket PARZANIA
7 10th Feb'07 13:45 PVR-Priya THE HOLIDAY
8 10th Feb'07 16:30 PVR-Priya BLACK FRIDAY
9 17th Feb'07 11:15 PVR-Priya EKLAVYA
10 17th Feb'07 13:30 PVR-Priya MUSIC AND LYRICS
11 24th Feb'07 10:20 PVR-Priya GHOST RIDER
12 24th Feb'07 12:40 PVR-Priya HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT LTD
13 03rd Mar'07 10:00 PVR-Spice LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
14 03rd Mar'07 13:40 PVR-Spice BLOOD DIAMOND
15 03rd Mar'07 15:40 PVR-Spice NISHABD
16 10th Mar'07 10:00 PVR-Priya APOCALYPTO
17 10th Mar'07 15:15 PVR-Priya WATER
18 11th Mar'07 11:00 Chanakya RED
19 15th Mar'07 09:20 PVR-Saket PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
20 24th Mar'07 09:40 PVR-Priya 300
21 24th Mar'07 12:00 PVR-Priya NAMASTE LONDON
22 31th Mar'07 12:00 PVR-Saket THE NAMESAKE
23 14th Apr'07 11:30 PVR-Priya BHEJA FRY
24 14th Apr'07 13:30 PVR-Priya ERAGON
25 14th Apr'07 15:45 PVR-Priya PERFECT STRANGER
26 20th Apr'07 22:45 PVR-Spice THE REAPING
27 21st Apr'07 11:00 Chanakya KYA LOVE STORY HAI
28 27th Apr'07 22:45 PVR-Spice TARA RUM PUM
29 12th May'07 10:20 Chanakya LIFE IN A METRO
30 19th May'07 14:00 PVR-Priya SPIDERMAN 3
31 20th May'07 10:00 PVR-Saket MADAGASKAR
32 30th May'07 13:35 Chanakya CHEENI KUM
33 30th May'07 16:30 Chanakya SHOOTOUT AT LOKHAND
34 10th Jun'07 10:10 PVR-Priya OCEAN'S 13
35 10th Jun'07 12:20 PVR-Priya PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN
36 23rd Jun'07 15:00 PVR-Saket THE QUEEN
37 23rd Jun'07 17:20 PVR-Saket SHREK THE THIRD
38 30th Jun'07 10:20 PVR-Priya DIE HARD 4.0
39 07th Jul'07 12:20 PVR-Saket THE GRUDGE 2
40 08th Jul'07 10:00 PVR-Saket THE BONG CONNECTION
41 08th Jul'07 12:15 PVR-Saket EPIC MOVIES
42 14th Jul'07 11:00 Chanakya NAQAAB
43 21st Jul'07 13:50 PVR-Priya HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF
44 21st Jul'07 16:40 PVR-Priya PARTNER
45 22ndJul'07 10:20 PVR-Saket VACANCY
46 04thAug'07 11:00 Chanakya CASH
47 05thAug'07 10:30 PVR-Saket THE SIMPSONS
48 05thAug'07 12:00 PVR-Saket BOW BARRACKS FOREVER
49 11th Aug'07 11:45 PVR-Saket SURF'S UP
50 11th Aug'07 18:30 Sapna CHAK DE INDIA
51 12th Aug'07 15:15 SATYAM-N.Plc GANDHI MY FATHER
52 26th Aug'07 11:00 Chanakya HEY BABYY
53 01st Sep'07 13:55 PVR-Priya RGV KI AAG
54 02ndSep'07 12:15 PVR-Saket THE INVASION
55 08th Sep'07 14:20 PVR-Priya DHAMAAL
56 08th Sep'07 17:00 PVR-Priya DARLING
57 09th Sep'07 11:00 SATYAM-N.Plc APNA ASMAAN
58 04th Oct'07 10:30 PVR-Priya JOHNNY GADDAAR
59 04th Oct'07 13:15 PVR-Priya DHOL
60 04th Oct'07 16:10 PVR-Priya LOINS OF PUNJAB
61 06th Oct'07 14:05 PVR-Saket DIL DOSTI ETC
62 07th Oct'07 12:30 PVR-Saket THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
63 07th Oct'07 15:45 PVR-Saket NO RESERVATION
64 13th Oct'07 13:10 Chanakya LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG
65 14th Oct'07 10:25 Chanakya BHOOL BHULAIYAA
66 20th oct'07 11:00 SATYAM-N.Plc HANNIBAL RISING
67 27th Oct'07 10:30 Chanakya JAB WE MET
68 28th Oct'07 13:10 PVR-Saket A MIGHTY HEART
69 28th Oct'07 15:10 PVR-Saket RESIDENT EVIL:EXTINCTION
70 28th Oct'07 19:10 PVR-Saket MUMBAI SALSA
71 03rd Nov'07 13:30 SATYAM-N.Plc SHOOT EM UP
72 03rd Nov'07 16:00 SATYAM-N.Plc THE BRAVE ONE
73 11th Nov'07 10:30 PVR-Priya OM SHANTI OM
74 11th Nov'07 13:45 PVR-Priya SAAWARIYA
75 17th Nov'07 11:00 SATYAM-N.Plc DECEMBER BOYS
76 17th Nov'07 13:15 SATYAM-N.Plc BREACH
77 23rd Nov'07 12:00 Sapna-EOK (Forgot)
78 25th Nov'07 19:30 PVR-Rivoli DHANDHANADHAN GOAL
79 01st Dec'07 11:50 SATYAM-N.Plc BEOWULF
80 01st Dec'07 14:00 SATYAM-N.Plc GAURI-THE UNBORN
81 01st Dec'07 16:20 SATYAM-N.Plc 30 DAYS OF NIGHTS
82 02nd Dec'07 10:40 PVR-Saket THE KINGDOM
83 02nd Dec'07 12:45 PVR-Saket LIONS FOR LAMBS
84 12th Dec'07 14:00 Anuradha-Ghy DUS KAHANIYAAN
85 22ndDec'07 10:35 PVR-Priya AIR BUDDIES
86 22ndDec'07 12:25 PVR-Priya TAARE ZAMEEN PAR
87 22ndDec'07 16:45 SATYAM-N.Plc WELCOME
88 23rdDec'07 10:00 PVR-Saket I AM LEGEND
89 29thDec'07 13:10 PVR-Saket 1408
90 30thDec'07 15:10 PVR-Saket RETURN OF HANUMAN
91 30thDec'07 17:20 PVR-Saket BEE MOVIE
January 02, 2008
Goodbye 2007, Welcome 2008
2007 had been a very exciting and eventful year for me. Lots of travelling, lots of movies, good friends, met interesting people, attended quite a few weddings, became an aunt. Also I discovered 'orkut' and got a little addicted to it, till the time I got caught red-handed while being online from work (oops! its a zero-tolerance, but they decided to tolerate me on for one last time). But then, what the heck? I made a couple of very good friends and it was worth the risk.
Well, now its time to analyse the resolutions which I had made for the past year.
Resolutions 007 status:
#1: Smoking-Did not smoke at all till the 15th August 2007, but then I smoked on and off once in a while.
#2: Organic life-Ate healthy, exercised, meditated and cut down on alchohol to a great extent. Only stuck to beer and red-wine when I had to drink. Also curbed down on meat, being strictly vegan on tuesdays & saturdays (even if that meant a lot of hassles and being the odd one out at social gatherings).
#3: Photography-Even though my uncle gifted me with his old Canon SLR, I couldn't bring myself to do a lot with it yet.
#4: Travel- Oh yes... and a lot. Visited my hometown 4 times in the year (thats the most I've done in all these ten years I have been here in Delhi). Also visited Mumbai, Rishikesh, Daman-Diu and Pushkar.
#5: Gadgets-Got a mixer-juicer-grinder and an oven, but not the i-pod, digicam or the much-required lappy.
#6: Painting-Did not paint at all. Blame it on the mood or the hectic outdoor life or simple laziness.
#7: Pray-Yes, that I did. Chanted 'the gayatri mantra' everyday and 'the hanuman chalisa' on tuesdays. And I feel that has brought in a lot of calm in me. I also realise now that prayer is not about asking God for things to happen, but to thank Him for all that I have and that I'm grateful for the good things that has happened to me.
Now, at the start of the New Year 2008, I promise myself 8 new things-
#1: To earn more money and while also investing for the future, to be able to indulge more.
#2: To upgrade my room and my mobile phone.
#3: To work harder and more sincerely 'coz I realise I've been a lazy bum in the whole last year.
#4: To laugh more, humour more and spread more happiness.
#5: To break more rules by doing crazier stuff than my usual.
#6: To try and travel to the remaining parts of the country I haven't covered yet.
#7: To be more forgiving and be a better human being.
#8: To get married (after I'm done with my travelling, ofcourse!)
Well, now its time to analyse the resolutions which I had made for the past year.
Resolutions 007 status:
#1: Smoking-Did not smoke at all till the 15th August 2007, but then I smoked on and off once in a while.
#2: Organic life-Ate healthy, exercised, meditated and cut down on alchohol to a great extent. Only stuck to beer and red-wine when I had to drink. Also curbed down on meat, being strictly vegan on tuesdays & saturdays (even if that meant a lot of hassles and being the odd one out at social gatherings).
#3: Photography-Even though my uncle gifted me with his old Canon SLR, I couldn't bring myself to do a lot with it yet.
#4: Travel- Oh yes... and a lot. Visited my hometown 4 times in the year (thats the most I've done in all these ten years I have been here in Delhi). Also visited Mumbai, Rishikesh, Daman-Diu and Pushkar.
#5: Gadgets-Got a mixer-juicer-grinder and an oven, but not the i-pod, digicam or the much-required lappy.
#6: Painting-Did not paint at all. Blame it on the mood or the hectic outdoor life or simple laziness.
#7: Pray-Yes, that I did. Chanted 'the gayatri mantra' everyday and 'the hanuman chalisa' on tuesdays. And I feel that has brought in a lot of calm in me. I also realise now that prayer is not about asking God for things to happen, but to thank Him for all that I have and that I'm grateful for the good things that has happened to me.
Now, at the start of the New Year 2008, I promise myself 8 new things-
#1: To earn more money and while also investing for the future, to be able to indulge more.
#2: To upgrade my room and my mobile phone.
#3: To work harder and more sincerely 'coz I realise I've been a lazy bum in the whole last year.
#4: To laugh more, humour more and spread more happiness.
#5: To break more rules by doing crazier stuff than my usual.
#6: To try and travel to the remaining parts of the country I haven't covered yet.
#7: To be more forgiving and be a better human being.
#8: To get married (after I'm done with my travelling, ofcourse!)
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