Mumbai Terror 26/11/2008 – A Week After

We now know that the US, British and the Australians are helping India, specifically Mumbai Police, to investigate the macabre event. We also know that one terrorist has been captured and he is under arrest and that he is being questioned.

Now I have been thinking as to why snippets of the investigations are being leaked to the media. Who is that person in the government that is giving away this privy information since investigations are not over as yet? I would have expected that after completion of the investigation a joint report that is signed off by the team is made public. It would have been difficult then for our friendly brothers to keep doing the chameleon act and making divergent, irresponsible and deceitful statements. But then, as someone said that after all it’s a failed state.

A lot of people think that War is a solution, but I reckon that’s not the answer. As Ms. Rice pointed out the other day, the world now has to fight this in financial and logistics terms. For doing this we need cooperation from a strong Pakistani government and therein lies the fallacy. The government there is still under ISI and army influence and it suits them from time immemorial to keep trying for an unstable India. The thinking is beyond logic but then that’s what the British did to the sub continent. They made us hate each other so much that this went to our genes and especially when you work for the government or armed forces. When you work with a any ordinary person from that country, you would find to your pleasant surprise that he thinks like you, likes the same music, eats the same type of food and you would completely feel at home.

I have been seeing these candle light meets and most places other than Mumbai or Delhi are quite chilled out and life and mind is normal and as usual. The media of course refuses to go interior, where bulk of the voters are, and find their reaction. So we see the same bunch of faces again and again on Television telling us on how to get together.

As usual, the problems are in dealing with specifics. For change you need leadership. If that leader is the same one who you are cursing now, what else could you deserve and expect? Specific plans and specific implementation targets and how would they be implemented are the questions that need to be asked. Sphere: Related Content

Sounds of Silence ; Mumbai Terror Aftermath

People have gone back to work. Trains, taxis, buses are back on the tracks and roads as per schedules. Radios and televisions have gone back to playing the normal peppy songs, serials and entertainment shows. Comedy serials are desperately tickling the viewers in order to emanate some laughter. Charges and counter charges are being hurled at each other by political parties. Some resignations here and there have taken place. Some grandiose plans have been announced by the government here and there. Debates on televisions by the same old faces continue. Symbolic fights and protests are on here and there. Investigations are on and press keeps reporting at regular intervals some snippets that some stupid source divulges to them. Page 3 people are fighting on words like resilience and strength. Poets are writing poems. Artists are possibly painting some pictures. Writers are writing and Film makers are planning. Bloggers are blogging. Offices and factories are open. The brokers in the stock market are screaming. Its normal time folks!!!

In the meantime there is silence. There is silence in the homes of the men and women of the forces and civilians who died. There is silence at the home in a small village at Uttar Pradesh where a waiter of Leopold Café used to hail from. The village is silent.

Major Unnikrishnan’s house was silent other than some partial disturbance by some politicians, Sabina Saikias children are not asking any questions that her husband Santanu has to answer.
Hemant Karkare’s house is silent.
The police constables who died on duty, their homes are silent.
So many foreigners who died, their homes overseas are silent.
I can hear this silence and its bursting my ear with its deafening noise. Sphere: Related Content

Mumbai Terror 26th November 2008 - What Next?

Last few days I was glued to the television broadcast and it was all about the Mumbai Terror Attack. I have been thinking of writing my thoughts on it but then the developments at South Mumbai kept my desire at bay.
The operation was over yesterday and I will not delve into what exactly happened since there is anyway enough in the media and the net. I just wanted to capture some thoughts here for the sake of myself given the extremely poor readership of my blog.

The Background:
Terrorists came by sea route from Karachi to Mumbai. Entered two luxury hotels and a building where Jews were staying. Kept people on hostage, killed them, damaged property and managed to keep Mumbai out of action for 3 days. Finally the commandos captured one of them while the balance were shot. More than 200 innocents dies while scores were injured.
My thoughts on the issue:
What should the authorities do?
1. Sack the Home minister (This has been done).
2. Sack the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister (This is yet to be done).
3. Make the police professional autonomous bodies without ANY political interference in their work. A zero interference policy needs to be followed.
4. Make crime/terrorism related laws same all over the country. This different strokes for different folks does not work and created confusion.
5. Create a National Anti Terrorism squad with a Hub and Spoke concept throughout the country. They should own and have full control over logistics.
6. The security cover for politicians and dignitaries should be a state and center subject for their respective state and Central Government. NSG should be transformed into the agency suggested in Point No. 5.
7. Have civilian participation in policing. Community policing with prpper training and methods and ammunition should be given.
8. Have a proper communication channel for all the intelligence units. Maybe have specialized units for terror related intelligence.
What should the media do?
1. Have regular debates and discussions on terror related issues.
2. Have journalists follow up on all the old promises to soldiers, policemen and others who have shown bravery and follow up on those cases. The delivery is important and not the promise.
3. Create chapters and forums in each town where media meets civilians and account for the deliveries the local politicians have made.
4. Be impartial while showing, printing and moderating.
5. Do not play the religion game and fall flat on your face and be careful.
I am sure we will change and lets change now. Sphere: Related Content

Six Questions - Market Crash - (On the spur of the moment)

1. Would we get some money back from the investment banker/s, own personal equity, who advised the good banks on sub prime related investment?

2. Would'nt you like to meet the Risk Heads and Managers of these banks and ask them to give a talk on Risk Management?

3. Would'nt you like to meet up with the mathematical and statistics graduate analysts researching stock markets and ask them there views on how to predict a recession?

4. Would'nt you like to know as to how Dubai spends on the Atlantis party the same day when Citibank was collapsing?

5. Would'nt you like to know why such a hyped hotel now does not get guests to stay and have had to reduce prices?

6. Would'nt you like to know as to how most private business have no concern for human assets capital whenever business is low?

Sphere: Related Content

Follow the Leader - NDTV India

I chanced upon this program broadcast by NDTV yesterday. The TV Journalist was not just following the leader, they were going along with the leader. The camera was not concerned with what's the feedback from the gentry around the leader.

The Leaders love this proposal from NDTV since its after all using TV Time for their own campaigns for FREE.

The bonus for the viewer was that we knew how Sheila Dixit can sing songs from Taare Zameen Par and how Uma Bharti loves and hates LK Advani.

Rest was free publicity of the election campaign. What a waste of time!!

Sphere: Related Content

Conspicuous Consumption

I have been reading articles and news items in the media about how people in UAE are prone to diabetes and obesity. I have been in Dubai now for about one and a half years and I tend to believe that conspicuous consumption of food during working hours seem to be a major factor. A major percentage of colleagues are extremely prone to junk food. I may be wrong but most people bringing food from home belong to India.

A lot of guys and gals come in to office in the morning with a coffee in one hand and a croissant or a chicken mayo sandwich in the other to kick off the day. Candies, gums, dry fruits, cookies, chocolates can be found in almost every alternate desk and mind you they are not for guests. I know of people going for ice cream breaks like others go for a smoke.

I was at a client’s office the other day and I could see at least 10 people out of a total thirty having French fries and burgers during lunch. Then there are these salad fetish people giving you that guilt feeling of you are onto something else. The amount of feta cheese, bread croutons in them easily transform those into the junk food category.

There is this 24/7 outlet in the ground floor of our building and the maximum consumption of items are juices (full of sugar), pies and croissants, biscuits, nuts and of course the famous coke.
There is more to the story. The consumptions are not declared at home and that’s the truth!! Sphere: Related Content

Good Food List - Dubai

Chapli Kabab at Afghan Khorasan (AL quoz and Deira I think)
Sheekh Kebab at Daily Restaurants (Karama and Qusais)
Steak Sizzlers at Yoko, Karama
Fish preparations at Fish Market, Regent Palace
Tandoori Rotis at Ravi Restaurant
Dal Makhni at Garden Resturant, Al Nahda 2
Java Chicken at Wok Inn Karama
Jalebi at Bikanerwala
Roast Beef at Lulu’s Take Away Counter
Panner Tikka at Kamat
Hyderabadi Biryani at Travancore, Karama
Beef Fry at Super Kids, Karama
Iddiyapam at Saravana Bhavan
Dosa at Kamats
Chicken at Nandos
Hummus at Karam Beirut, Mall of the Emirates
Fish and Chips at Food Court Deira City Center
Doughnuts at Krispy Kreme, Food Court. Deira City Center
Classic Burger at Chillis
Any burger at Burger King
Medu Vada at Venus Restaurant
Rolls from Kabab Roll, near EMPOST, OFF AL WASL ROAD(near old Belhasa)

....and more to come. Sphere: Related Content

Fish Market : Regent Palace Hotel Dubai

Perhaps the Time OUT Dubai food critics have not been given any invitations and therefore you don’t find the mention of this restaurant anywhere. A friend suggested the other day that this is one place we should visit since a promotion was on. You just needed to spend 110 AED for all you can eat.
We reached the hotel and found quite a few arrivals already occupying their respective tables. The hostess showed us ours and we were well set for the proceedings to start. You basically had to go this large counter where all varieties of fish are kept, just like in a fish market shop. Select the ones that you want and they would pick them and provide you recipe options. You select and walk back to your table and perhaps while enjoying your starter drink the food would start to arrive.
We had mussels, prawns, kalamari, crabs, hammour, salmon and also some rice and noodles to go along. It was an excellent experience and you must try it without falling into the timeoutdubai –only-five-star-food-good trap.
This hotel is opposite the Burjuman Center and the restaurant is on the first floor. Good Stuff!! Sphere: Related Content

Karam Beirut - Lebanese Food in Dubai

Karam Beirut

Week before last we were in the Mall of Emirates and somebody suggested that since we were getting late for dinner why not have some Lebanese food and then head for home. Karam Beirut was an option and as usual it was a long walk in the Mall to reach the place. Its absolutely at the corner overlooking the fabulous ski slope(Dubai has this indoor huge ski park with actual snow!!!)

Thankfully we had done our reservation (getting a table for nine may sometimes become difficult) and on arrival we were gently ushered to our tables. The usual Hommos/Hummus was of course on the cards, but then we ordered for some other exquisite stuff. The starter in the form of a laban drink( butter milk - sort of liquidised yogurt) was excellent with the specific gravity being just right. The flavoured rolled vine leaves were not bad and the group liked it. The sheesh kebabs with pista filling were exquisite. The hummus were smooth and nice and when accompanied with the fresh breads it was a high. The meat balls in a yogurt based gravy were good too. We did not have place for dessert but I recommend that you should visit this place. Some of the reviews in magazines have talked about insipid service but frankly I disagree with that view.

So next time you are in doubt, just zero onto Karam Beirut for a taste of Lebanon in Dubai!! Sphere: Related Content

Dubai Desert Safari - October 2008

PROJECT
Desert Safari – Dubai – 19th October 2008

What was the OBJECTIVE?
Take visiting friends from UK for a Desert Safari

What are the Official Features of a Desert Safari?
Dune Bashing
Go to the Sunset Point on the desert
Camel Ride
Dune Buggy Ride (Optional extra)
Dinner with Soft Drinks (Hard Drinks optional extra)
Belly Dance
Pick Up and Drop
Time: Pick up at about 3.30 pm and drop back by 10.00 pm

How do you select a Travel Agent?
Read up reviews on the web. Write and/or call your shortlisted travel agents. Select the best in terms of cost and service delivery. We selected North Tours. There are others that are more expensive without perhaps additional value. The Cost would vary from 120 AED to 300 AED depending upon something that I am yet to decipher. Maybe in a camp the food is better(I am conjecturing).

What matters most in the selection process ?
1. Does the agent response promptly to your queries?
2. Does the cost suit your budget?
3. Do they have goodwill in the market?

The Beginning:
The assigned escort would typically call you and fix the minute time arrangements and pick up point. We had asked him to come at 3.30 pm for a possible departure by 3.45 and he was on time. The vehicle would typically be a Toyota Land Cruiser. Since we were in Qusais we quickly got onto Emirates Road and then took the Hatta, Oman exit. I would reckon that after about 20-30 kms we came to a roadside inn cum touristy thingy shop. Here the escort would deflate the tyres to about 15 psi from the normal 29-32 psi so that we are ready for the desert. A tyre with lower pressure would have a better grip over the desert sands.

The Main Event:
We were now on our way to the desert where we left the highway and got into the real desert. This is a designated place fixed by the Government for the Desert Safari Tour Operators to “bash the Dunes”. We went deep inside the desert and then when we reached the dunes it was like a thrilling roller coaster ride. We went up and down the dunes and at all sorts of angles. The vehicle roared along and finally we reached sunset point. We de-boarded to go through the mandatory photography routines and also took a shot of the setting sun where each amateur was trying to outdo the other. It was also entertaining to watch the other vehicles traverse the terrain up and down and you realize that you would need special skills to drive around in a desert like that.

The feeling of your barefoot touching or submerging inside the soft silky sands were fantastic. It reminds you of touching nature closely that we in our daily mundane lives have forgotten to do. All done, we were on our way back to the camp where Arabic tea and dates were waiting for us.

The Camp:
Once we reached the camp, we were provided as promised the tea and some not so good dates. The tea was provided in small cups and when you finished off the used ones would be thrown into a bucket full of water. After a while the same cups would be recycled and I understood that washing here meant just submerging used cups in unchanged water for a mile. No Arabic tea for me next time for sure.

The camp is surrounded by a dense fence. Inside the enclosure there is a concrete stage surrounded by tables and cushions. There were drink and food counters along with a henna(a paste made of powder prepared from Henna leaves is used to typically decorate your hands) counter. You could try out sheesha (flavoured tobacco smoke passed through water – not necessarily absolving you from the toxins).

After a few rounds of drinks (remember that you have to pay for hard drinks), they would announce that food is ready. A selection of grilled lamb and chicken and some vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes were on the offer. You had some insipid dessert too in the form of some custard with apples.

The grilled lamb chops were good, but the rest of the food was some roadside common eatery and nothing to talk about.

The END:
That was that, and we were no entertained by a belly dancer, who we found was quite good in her art and looks too. She managed to pull in one or two from the crowd and we did enjoy her performance that was accompanied by some good Arabian Music.

Our small one in the group posed for a picture or two with the dancer and then it was time to say good bye. Same vehicle, same driver and off we went before stopping once again to inflate the tyres. We did tip the escort and the end of it all we were quite a pleased lot.

Views:
The driver Sharafuddin from North Tours was extremely polite, smiling and helpful. He was also an expert on the sands and that makes a lot of difference to your enjoyment. North Tours gave us competitive prices and for a full house Landcruiser (6 pax) we paid 1000 AED for the tour (all inclusive). There were others too but I felt more comfortable dealing with them The camp is shared by a few travel agents and I have suggested North Tours to take it up with the organizers on the quality of food and attitudes of the people who serve the food. Overall I was happy, and I would give an 8 on 10, the two marks being deducted for the gliches.

Sphere: Related Content

Lunch at Fujairah

The other weekend a cousin of mine called up from the high seas and I got to know that he has anchored his tanker at Fujairah. We thought that this was a good opportunity of perking up the otherwise dull Saturday and therefore off we went to Fujairah for a drive. It takes about 2 hours from our house and the road is smooth. The final portion of the journey is good especially when you are winding your way through the barren hills.
Finally we reached Fujairah City, a neat and clean place without the hustle and bustle of Dubai. We spotted him waiting for us in front of the Lulu Hypermarket and there were only two items in the agenda with him. Eat and Gossip!!
Without exploring too much we drove into Al Diar Siji Hotel which was bang in the middle of the town and we landed up having a very good gourmet experience. Vegetarians of course should avoid this place since nothing on the buffet would excite them.
The spread was fantastic in terms of international, Arabic and Indian dishes. The mezze was very good and so were the roasts. The Indian curries were reasonable and the desserts were adequate.
You should definitely make it a point to visit this place and don’t forget to come back and let me know!! Sphere: Related Content

Inconsequential Ramble

The weather has finally shown indications of the good times to come that hopefully will continue until February. I know I am going to start my walking and that should help shed some unwanted fatty acids. This is the time perhaps I could drive with my sun roof open, since I sometime wonder about the novelty of having it in the first place. I am also looking forward to some long drives and thinking of making a long distance trip in the December Eid holidays. Not sure of where to go, but perhaps Musandam is an option among the limited ones we have in the UAE. The other day somebody suggested that Khatta Springs could be a good idea. Well, we still have to cross November and that’s a wait that cannot be avoided. Sphere: Related Content

Dubai Top Twenty - Good and Bad

10 Good Things about Dubai

1. Driving around on Friday Mornings
2. The maintenance of grass in the various parks and roads in the city.
3. Traffic systems
4. Helpful Police
5. Lots of eateries
6. Religious tolerance and respect for other religions
7. Car prices
8. Movie Theatres
9. Malls and Supermarkets
10. Near Home (in my case its India)

10 Bad Things about Dubai
1. Traffic Jams
2. High Rent
3. Summer
4. Road Rage
5. Average quality of Indian Food
6. Thursday evening shopping at Lulu
7. Ban on Khus Khus (made from poppy seeds)
8. The sad faces of labourers
9. Public Transport including Cabs
10. No ethnic culture or no promotion of it Sphere: Related Content

Vegetable Biryani

I am a Bengali and that information is known to a lot and as a race typically we are fish consuming people. So when my friend from Coimbatore asked me as to how we consume fish for lunch and dinner, day in and day out, well sort of literally....I exclaimed back...just like you have rasam and sambar and rice and pickles every day. But that did not deter him and he kept nodding his head like I was from Mars. I tend to think that this concept of eating meat or fish really puts the vegetarian's mind into a jiffy. They just cannot seem to accept and sometimes cannot perhaps even tolerate.

In my younger years I used to retort back with logical or contrived arguments. Then came a phase where I was like Buddha. I started ignoring any overture the vegetarian made. In an office canteen somebody would make that hiss hiss sound and stay away from you. Others would twitch their nose and look the other side. I could not care less.

But these days I have planned to give it back. Next time you get some Mashed Brinjal Indian style I might just get up and leave your table. Or say you get Indian Bread with Lentil Curry and some stuffed Bitter Gourd I might make some funny noise emanating from the stomach and then spit out some nasty exclamations.

But then I have discovered a problem. There are some vegetarians who would eat eggs. Some would not touch onions and garlic. Some proudly mention that they are vegetarians at home but can eat ''whatever'' outside. The pride to me is misplaced since my dear friend is fooling none other than himself. Then there are these pure vegetarians. What the hell is that supposed to be? On the contrary I am an impure Non Vegetarian since I don't shun vegetables.

The battle goes on.... while I order my Seekh Kabab from Daily I am in no envy of the Biryani being consumed in Kamat. But then what a shame for the Biryani since it turned a vegetable there!!!

Sphere: Related Content

Lulu Hypermarket, Tomatoes and Others!

Going to the supermarket is a weekly affair for me if not more. There is always something to be bought for home and while the family does a trip in the weekend, I do some random stops while coming back from office. Actual field research (I am the sole researcher) shows that Friday morning is the best time to go. The same research also mentions that – that’s not the time we land up being there!! You would rather be in bed and extend your Friday well deserved holiday morning.

Now I have these interesting observations/feelings in the supermarket that come to me at different counters. We do these quality assurance checks while say buying vegetables. At the tomato counter, the first check would be to ensure that the piece fits into my palm. Then I squeeze it slightly to check for how firm and juicy it is. This selection process goes for a while, notwithstanding the stares that I get from my fellow customers. But a bad tomato is very similar to a bad potato, if you know what I mean.

The lady’s finger is another unique area where I manage to irritate others where painstakingly I select each piece and now see that it’s not too hard. The texture should be smooth and the squeeze ritual applies here too. The long green beans also are time consuming efforts where I have to select the right measurement in terms of length and the tubular circumference. The potatoes are easy. They are either good or bad. I love potatoes without any growths or black pressure marks.

The coconut buying in Lulu is interesting especially if you want them grated (free service). You carefully select a coconut where the quality of the coconut is dependent on the weight, spherical volume and the tonal quality of the music emanated from the sound the water makes when the coconut is shaken vigorously near your ears. All this done and off you go the counter and deposit YOUR piece. After 10 minutes what you would get back is grated coconut off some other piece selected by somebody else!! What a waste of time. These days I straightaway ask for the grated stuff, assuming that somebody else would anyway get the coconuts to the grating counter. Sphere: Related Content

My tryst with DIY

The concept of DIY always intrigued me but being a resident of India most often than not you always get help at a very economical price. The outcome is that you never get to practice it. Have stayed in Korea and Japan and now Dubai has changed my mind set. The wallet also is no longer considerate in these cities for spending on help for stupid things.

Since one of the important tasks in hand was to fix nails on the wall I ventured and found out that the local carpenter would charge a bomb and getting one was not easy either. Tinni however insisted that we need to get these done quickly without which the décor of the house was rather incomplete. I could not agree more.

So there I was visiting ACE a big DIY supermarket in Dubai and was frankly quite overwhelmed. Being an amateur in the subject matter I quickly summoned for help since the agenda was to invest in a drill. I had done my profitability calculations and discovered that I rather have a capital investment done instead of spending on mundane operating cost alone. So there I was trying to imbibe the knowledge that the salesperson was giving me on drills. It was basic but I found the same enough for my need of the hour. I bought a Bosch drill and along came a free ratchet screwdriver with 32 free bits enabling me to screw anything(AHEM!!).

So there I was back home, Tinni ready with all the paintings and masks and one by one I went creating holes and then putting in screws. Then came the hanging the painting and the balancing act. By the way, there were some calculations to be done on hole placement too.

Since now I am an expert you could call me if you are interested, what would you say…Come for a screw up….that does not sound correct for sure!! Sphere: Related Content

Causes : Dubai Accidents

There is not a single day here in Dubai when I have not seen an accident. This is irrespective of the route I take to office and back. Lately, the type of accidents that I have been noticing are between fellow motorists where one bangs behind the other, and there could be more who keep coming up and join the mess. While I try to figure out the reasons, I am also scared that something might happen to me too. Anyway the most likely reasons for such incidents are as follows:

1. While driving people DO NOT maintain minimum distances between their and the car ahead. The distance would vary depending the speed you are driving at.
2. Most people do not signal while changing lanes and worse they forget to look at the blind spot.
3. Most drivers are not relaxed while driving. The pressure to reach on time I understand that but perhaps better late than never.
4. There is no remorse for causing an accident since the insurance company is there to bear the cost!!
5. The testing methodology and passing techniques by RTA are not as per process but rather on whims and fancies and mood swings of the examiner.
6. Dubai road signage is still not upto the mark considering the high speed driving that occurs here. Frequently I have seen people changing lanes because of poor signage or none at the appropriate points.
7. A lot of trailer trucks while coming out from an inner road and joining the main road do not fathom the space their tail needs to turn.
8. Peer pressure for driving fast is a social phenomena and this is applicable to mostly younger drivers.
9. Mobiles are one of the worst causes of distraction. I don't talk on phone while driving. I don't care what you think of me.
10. People are a lot of times not careful about their lanes!!
11. People get agitated if a fellow driver makes a mistake. Don't aggravate the situation making him more angry. YOU go on your way and leave him alone.
12. If you have reached your speed limit and there is this driver who wants to go ahead of you, give him the space. Let him disappear from your life!!

Thats all I can think of now and there could be more. Drive safely, relax and enjoy the music if not the jam!! Sphere: Related Content

Why I love going to IKEA, Dubai!!!

I have visited IKEA with Tinni and Tisha about thrice so far and our experience has been wonderfully mixed!! The furniture is of course there but because of the DIY concept perhaps the beds and stuff are not so sturdy when they finally reach shape. I may be wrong, but its the misc items in that store that really makes your mind to think and then BUY the stuff. There are lots of useful nick nacks and you would realise their utility or value only when you see them. The store is quite well spread out but the staff are of mixed quality in terms of responsiveness. In fact, the meeters greeters at the entrance are quite ''not willing to help'', answering in monosyllables and stuff. Maybe I met the wrong ones!!!!

As usual most of the items are made in that beloved country of ours...what else...CHINA!!! It seeems that the rest of the world has stopped producing anything. I am sure Air Arabia is waiting for the day when China starts producing Air Planes.

By the way, did you know why I love going to IKEA. Not for its furniture, rather for the Grilled Salmon at the Cafe. That's a must and I discovered that its no point churning that up at home. Visit Ikea and have your fill of your recommended Omega 3!! Sphere: Related Content

A Letter of LOVE

GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ, a famous writer from Colombia, and Nobel Prize winner for literature, has retired from public life for reasons of health. He has a form of cancer, which is terminal. He has sent a farewell letter to his friends. It is moving to see how one of the best and most brilliant of writers expresses himself & with sorrow. (even as I'm sure this would have sounded twice as good in Spanish, enjoy the English version nonetheless. ===========================

A GENIUS SAYS GOODBYE FOR GOOD, he says:If God, for a second, forgot what I have become and granted me a little bit more of life, I would use it to the best of my ability.
I wouldn't, possibly, say everything that is in my mind, but I would be more thoughtful of all I say. I would give merit to things not for what they are worth, but for what they mean to express.

I would sleep little, I would dream more, because I know that for every minute that we close our eyes, we waste 60 seconds of light.

I would walk while others stop; I would awake while others sleep.
If God would give me a little bit more of life, I would dress in a simple manner, I would place myself in front of the sun, leaving not only my body, but my soul naked at its mercy.To all men, I would say how mistaken they are when they think that they stop falling in love when they grow old, without knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love.

I would give wings to children, but I would leave it to them to learn how to fly by themselves.
To old people I would say that death doesn't arrive when they grow old, but with forgetfulness.
I have learned so much with you all, I have learned that everybody wants to live on top of the mountain, without knowing that true happiness is obtained in the journey taken & the form used to reach the top of the hill. I have learned that when a newborn baby holds, with its little hand, his father's finger, it has trapped him for the rest of his life.I have learned that a man has the right and obligation to look down at another man, only when that man needs help to get up from the ground.

Say always what you feel, not what you think. If I knew that today is the last time that that I am going to see you asleep, I would hug you with all my strength and I would pray to the Lord to let me be the guardian angel of your soul.

If I knew that these are the last moments to see you, I would say 'I love you'.There is always tomorrow, and life gives us another opportunity to do things right, but in case I am wrong, and today is all that is left to me, I would love to tell you how much I love you & that I will never forget you. Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone, young or old. Today could be the last time to see your loved ones, which is why you mustn't wait; do it today, in case tomorrow never arrives. I am sure you will be sorry you wasted the opportunity today to give a smile, a hug, a kiss, and that you were too busy to grant them their last wish. Keep your loved ones near you; tell them in their ears and to their faces how much you need them and love them. Love them and treat them well; take your time to tell them 'I am sorry';' forgive me','please', 'thank you', and all those loving words you know. Nobody will know you for your secret thought. Ask the Lord for wisdom and strength to express them.

Show your friends and loved ones how important they are to you.Send this letter to those you love. If you don't do it today...tomorrow will be like yesterday, and if you never do it, it doesn't matter either, the moment to do it is now. For you,With much love,Your Friend,

Gabriel Garcia Marquez Sphere: Related Content

Last Month

Last month has been hectic. First we needed to shift to a new rented house. That means a lot. Buying new furniture, getting the nitty gritties of the house organised, and things like that. It has been almost a year that I have been in a studio apartment and family joining in once in a while. Now everybody is here lock stock and barrel and thats a good thing. The studio of course goes.

I am now behind NMC Hospital, Al Nahda and thats the Dubai one. Ravi Restaurant is another landmark since it faces the main road and we are in the same building. However my apologies to die hard fans, the food is nothing great. I know I am a tough customer, but thats that. In fact there was this Tunde Restaurant in Sharjah that produced fantastic food and I hear that the same has closed down. The good news is that they are opening an outlet in Qusais.

Last month also has been a clearing month. Bank Account Clearance!! if you know what I mean. I have to make up...hmmmm.

I plan to keep in touch with this blog once again and I know that I have been neglecting. Thats my fault and not your problem!! Sphere: Related Content

Dream Come True

A cliched phrase that has been used all over by all and sundry. But then there comes a time when a dream really comes true and then you realise the depth of the three words.

The other day I was watching Oprah Winfrey and saw two sisters meeting each other after some 35 odd years and they did know about their mutual existence all these years but circumstances prevented then to get together. Then came a news item the other day of a labourer in Dubai winning the Post Card Millionarre and I could see the gleam on his face in the news print. Both these cases they expected some result to happen and a dream came true!!

There are other situations, and I am talking about only the positive ones out here, where things happen unexpectedly to you. A raise that you did not expect(thats an oxymoron!!!), a long lost friend that you never expected to meet, a free ticket to a sold out concert.

From the mundane to the extraordinary, these accidental moments do make up for all the small negative events that occur off and on. Perhaps a lot of times its not good to dream!! But that might go against some who say that first you should dream and then drive towards making it happen. I am not preaching anything..I am just waiting(oops)...rather not waiting for that positive stroke.

And if I have managed to suitably bore you, that was not expected by you, right? Sphere: Related Content

Rules of the GAME : Dubai RTA Bus

The Dubai Bus system is an adventure by itself. To begin with you cannot really plan your journey in terms of start and finish time (even on a day when there is hardly any traffic). There are time tables at the bus stops but I guess the only people who follow them are the commuters and not the bus drivers!! So you land up at the bus stop and I am sure Mr. Murphy would intervene in your plans.

To begin with the bus of your choice may not stop since the driver inside decided that his bus is full (seating and standing). They arrive at this conclusion by using a very complicated calculation. The no. of passengers he can figure out on his rear view mirror is multiplied by the pie (22/7) and if he gets a multiple of 13 then your luck is in jeopardy.

Well let’s say that the situation is better, and he does stop. Now you would need to judge as to where exactly will the front door of the bus be positioned when he brakes. Given that you have judged incorrectly, that is mostly the case, now you just throw your body into the humanity that wants to enter the bus. You may witness if not participate in this jostling Olympics everyday evening at the Trade Center stop when a C2 comes in.

The bigger game would start now. You have no clue whether a bus is capable of taking in standing passengers. I guess that is determined by the date of birth of the driver multiplied by the bus license number, divided by 786. If you get an even number then standing is Ok and if it’s an odd then you are at your odds too.

So next time you plan to take an RTA Bus, make sure your math’s is quick and fast. And I guess if you know the driver, nothing like it!! Sphere: Related Content

Meat Me

This is a favorite meat preparation that came to us from a friend's mom. I have cooked this on multiple occasions and it has always been a hit. I guess you would not be disappointed.

1. Get One Kilo of Lamb/Goat Shoulder Meat(the latter is preferred) that has been cut to medium size cubes. This is not a boneless preparation, so its better that you buy meat with bones and trust me, it makes a major difference. Clean them, fry until light brown and keep aside.
2. Potatoes are not a must, but if you are keen I am not going to deny you the privilege. So for this quantum of meat I suggest you fry about 8 semi spheroids of peeled potatoes and set them aside. Don't fry them too much...just about less than very light brown.
3. In the oil fry mashed onions till about light golden brown. (About 2 onions would do).
4. Add 3 heaped tsp of garlic paste and 1.5 heaped tsp of ginger paste and stir fry for a while. Then add 1 tsp of turmeric powder, 4 tsp of red chilly powder and 2 tsp of cumin powder to the same mix. Also add Stir the pish pash for a while while you add minute quantities of water so that the same does not stick. About 3-4 minutes would do and all this on medium heat.
5. Now you would add back the meat and potatoes that you had set aside.
6. Add about 150 gms of beaten curd and mix well on medium heat.
7. Then sprinkle a bit of soya sauce, tomato sauce and vinegar. Now you would add salt too depending upon the saltiness of your soya sauce.
8. Stir all of this and then add reasonable quantity of water and pressure cook for about 10 minutes. The final preparation should not look like a pond, so go easy on the water.
9. Garnish with Coriander leaves before serving.

That's about it. Goes well with rice or for that matter any Indian or Arabic Breads. Sphere: Related Content

Saturday Egg Canape

This is Chaitali's favourite and I do surprise her with this when I arrive with a few of these and a hot cup of tea and wake her up from her post afternoon siesta on a lazy Saturday.

It goes like this.

1. Take three eggs and beat 'em up. I typcially discard two yolks. So if you require more volume lets say I would suggest throwing away 2/3rds of the number of yolks.
2. Do add some hot pepper and salt to the mix.
3. To make it real hot I sometimes add those Mexican Red Chillies grated into tiny bits. A bengali could be advcnturous in using Dhani Lanka(small dwarf chillies violet-black in colour-abundant in West Bengal, India).
4. Add some milk to the same mix.
5. Beat up the mix to a nice consistency. To beat use a fork or those hand blenders...that would ensure that enough air is taken in by the mix.
6. Heat oil(depends on your tolerance levels) in a sauce pan and once smoking switch off the burner.
7. Pour the mix in the oil and keep stirring.
8. Do not leave the counter and while stirring keep watching the process of solidification.
9. The mix would slowly convert from its liquidy texture to a semi solid soft stuff and then it would have arrived at the "done" state. You might have to switch on the burner once in a while to maintain the heat..but not too much!!! Once done....keep it aside...in fact transfer the "scrambled eggs" in a separate container.
10. Take square slices of bread and cut them into smalletr squares of four!!
11. Pre heat an oven and toast the bread pieces. You could even fry them like croutons but then its again a question of your tolerances on oil consumption.
12. Anyway once done, take a spoon and place reasonable amount of the soft scranbled egg on each bread piece.
13. Thats it and I can assure you that it won't be unlucky for you inspite of the number of this statement. Sphere: Related Content

Jumeirah Open Beach in a So So Evening

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Umm al-Qaiwain impromptu

Two forced bachelors figured out that to kill boredom on a Friday evening, perhaps it would be a good idea to drive up north and find out why alcohol centric people are so keen to land up in Barracuda in the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain. In the process we took some photographs or two to satisfy our brains' photo voltaic cells!! The trip was not too exciting especially theb scenery was nothing to talk about except that the roads were excellent to drive in. We stopped at beach and clicked a few shots for you to critique!! Don;t take me too seriously!!!

Next in line was Jumeirah. The beach and not anything else since the clouds played spoil sport the day we visited Umm al-Qaiwain.

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Road on the Rocks

On a sunny Thursday post afternoon, with the hope of catching up with the sunset at Jebel Hafeet, me and Upalda(an old friend-more important the enabler of the trip) set out towards the outskirts of Al Ain. After about two hours of dedicated driving on a barren highway, we reached the well planned city. The Sheikh has spend money and the place definitely looked more appealing then the concrete jungle coming up in Dubai!! The big brown road sign boards led us to Jebel Hafeet. It was a hillock or a collection of hillocks out of nowhere. No greens, it was pure rock!! The first glimpse of the mountain is nothing exciting but then thats what we did not come for. We came for the winding asphalt that was built on this barren hill albeit equipped with a Hotel and dissappointing Cafe at the Mall at the top.

The winding road was extremely good and perhaps we would have done better with a Aston Martin, but beggars can't be choosers, not always that is. We stopped at some vantage point where I thought of capturing the sun setting as usual promising us for a better day ahead. We

whiled away there and then back were in the car for hitting the top at top gear in a winding sort of way. On the way we passed a few cars and a couple of villas on the rocks and then of course the Hotel. I guess a weekend out here would not be a bad idea with some alcohol on the rocks on the rocks.

We stopped at a couple of mor points that allowed Upalda to go for some more shots of the stony heights with his new acqusition. I was waiting for whats on the top. It was like a flat top that reminded of some old phantom comics of a hill like that.You could skate board on the flat concrete and of course I could see tyre marks too and that means people would have tried out some stunts hopefully without creating trouble for others. I took some more of my silica carbon surroundings while enjoying some good chatter from some Gujarati families having fun.

At the cafe we ordered for coffee without paying heed to my sugarless life and spent discussing some points on phtography(my sister an avid photographer perhaps would be laughing at the whole idea). But then thats what it is and I was keen to make the best out of the evening and why not. The sun had finally set and the lights

came on and I managed this amateurish shot from inside the windscreen while we were winding our spiral downwards. The immediate thoughts were like, would we come here again and perhaps we had mixed feelings about the whole sojourn. The idea was to also visit the park at the foothills but amateurs like us without signage got lost and we started heading towards nowhere land, well not really since the road led to the city centre of Al Ain, But then that was nowhere considering our objective in mind, We came to a roundabout and I insisted that we should turn around and like a good bloke Upalda agreed to the pleasantly put dictat. But then we turned around the lights dazzled us from a distance. I got down from the car and shot some film and I guess more than the images here the naked eye devouring the scene was more effective.

And that was our small Jebel Hafeet episode. Nect we visited our own Jumeirah Beach in Dubai and that was interesting too albeit it was hardly for an hour.

ADIOS!!

P.S. Have you seen the movie Race(Hindi)!! Its happening at Jebel Hafeet!!

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The Earth Hour and the moments thereof!!

In our lives these days there is never one that has not been defined as SOME DAY or the other. Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Lover’s Day, Peace Day, Health Day, Women’s Day and so on and so forth. These days we have hours and shortly perhaps we would come down to minutes and then moments. But then we were talking about the Earth Hour that was observed yesterday for an Hour!! Everybody was supposed to switch off their lights and being in Dubai I am sure not the Air Conditioning Units or for that matter the television. What about the neon advertisings? To be honest I was not sure myself of the dimension.

I would prescribe that we break up the Earth Hour into tiny implementable bits and an one that would make a difference. For example, every moment should be a earth hour. In office do not pick up that plastic or paper glass to drink tea, coffee or water. Instead, invest in a mug that you wash yourself. Wear lighter clothes in office instead of wearing suits and then turn the environment into a refrigerator.

Decline to pick up that plastic bag when you visit your local convenience store when all that you have bought is one Coke and a Chicken Pie!!Switch off your engine when you are standing at a signal or a traffic jam for a long time. Switch off that extra fluorescent tube when you can well do with natural light(working for long hours under fluorescent light is harmful to your health too. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when going down. Don’t over order in restaurants and waste food. Don’t buy gas guzzling cars just to show that you are superior than me. Actually you are not, since you did that to cover up your inferiority complex.

Offer car lifts to your friends and colleagues in office, instead of waiting for them to come. The GDP will go slightly done but it would save some fuel. Use less paper in office and don’t foster a photocopying fetish.

I could go on, and the best part is that you know it all. Practice earth moments instead of observing earth hours. Just a changed color on Google(the screen turned black) will not make the difference. Sphere: Related Content

THANK YOU and BEST REGARDS

"Thank you so much for joining in", said the news anchor in a television channel to a news correspondent joining in from a remote village somewhere in Iraq. Did the host really mean it from the bottom of her heart when she said that? The correspondent was anyway cutoff from the transmission before the dialogue was delivered. So he logically could not have heard her pleasantry.

This is just an example. Let's take the case of emails. We end our mails by "Regards" or "Best Regards" or some other form of acknowledgement on how pleased we are. But does this matter. What about when you are sending an angry mail or perhaps reprimanding somebody. "I wanted to inform that you have really screwed it up and I am at a loss. I am not able to control myself and might just strangle you." With Best Regards ...you would end!!

Are these pleasantries just words that mean nothing or its just the context that make them meaningless. We are taught not to act what you don't mean and by the same logic are you falsifying your actual intentions or perhaps no intentions. It's somewhat like the Good Morning that people wish me while they pass my desk every morning without the slightest intention of waiting for my response.

I rest my case...With Best Regards!!! Sphere: Related Content

Abu Dhabi Airport vs Dubai Airport

In the alpahebtical order, Abu Dhabi would come first but in terms 0f sixe, grandeur and action the airport in Dubai would put the former in shame. In terms of Duty Free Shopping, Passport Control, Services, Handling the capital's airport has a long way to go.

The departure gate lounges are pathetic and worse is passenger management and amenities. Whats wrong sir? Sphere: Related Content

Eyes Open, Mouth Open, Jaws Hung, Nose Twitched and Ears Stressed

VG Pillai and his two sons go to the local grocery shop and get three ice cream sticks for themselves. They chatter amongst themselves, breaking the peaceful silence of the night and when finished with the sticks, they casually throw them on the road and walk nonchalantly way home!!

Rahul Chatterjee smokes a cigarette (isn't he pleased?) and then flicks the balance butt two footsteps back unconcerned about its destination!!

Raghuvir Sharma likes his Betel Leaf with Tobacco and he beats the cow in terms of extracting the juice and then he opens the door of his posh Lexus and spits out some red paint on the black tar.

Srilatha Subramaniam gets ready early in the morning and goes for work. I can smell her Indian made hair oil 40 minutes later in the elevator!!!

Daisy D'Souza and her family impatiently waits at the Karama Signal with her husband and son. The signal is red but she lashes out at her husband and starts off to cross in spite of the same. Poor Husband follows. I am still waiting for the signal man to turn green!!

Pinky Chauhan visits the garbage room in my block everyday. But she has a fetish. She cannot throw the bag full of garbage down the shute, She leaves them on the room floor for our benefit!! Well, you never know, maybe she expects us other mortals to scavenge through the remains to find a treasure(smelly though)!!

And then I met Vinit Gupta. A pious man, at least that's what he projects. An erstwhile Hindu, a pious man, hears Sankrit Slokas in RAP form - when he drives a car, you would remember Dr. Jekyll and Mr, Hyde. His driving influnces you too pray too!!

And I know lots of other people. Another day, another time!! Sphere: Related Content

Examinations, Schools, India

"One test can decide a person's whole life," runs a popular Chinese saying. All students, regardless of their intended major or career goals, must take the grueling, examinations in schools and beyond, periodically, month after month, year after year. From early years in school, children are told by their parents and teachers to spend their free time studying for examinations that seem to be always round the corner and finally on reaching Class X they would need to sit for a life determining Board examination, not to mention the future endless examinations while pursuing higher studies. I personally refute this practice and not without reason.

In most Indian schools, with minor variations, examinations are held weekly or monthly, term ending and annual. The student finishes school by crossing two hurdles in the form of the 10 plus board examinations and then Plus 2 ISC examinations. Then they would need to clear the Entrance Examinations for higher studies and then the Degree examinations.

Most of us are quite happy to follow existing systems and are quite resistant to change in mind and practice. Therefore whenever we talk about change in this system of examinations in school, scholars would opine to bring in change while the bureaucracy would dither. Rather than examine students, the old school of thought should reexamine their own thinking and here’s why.

The first important reason against the examination system is that the same promotes studying and not learning. Somehow the students are expected to memorise all sorts of data and information and then complete their answer papers. It’s purely a study and forget methodology.
The system does not encourage practical application oriented learning. Real life requirements are ignored and the students when they grow up lack basic common sense in dealing with myriad real time situations and obstacles. The memory system promotes negative thinking and therefore discourages creativity.

Stress and anxiety is a serious problem that the world is facing today while the examination system is introducing the same harmful traits early in life. Majority of students are bogged down with unhealthy competitive pressures, peer pressures, parental pressures and societal pressures. The school world today is quite unreal when compared to the real grown up working world.

While assessment of any student is necessary, the current examination system hardly does that. It does not help in measuring the student’s aptitude. It does not help in identifying specific strengths and weaknesses and somewhere the individuality of the student is lost.
Knowledge in today’s world is constantly evolving and the current system denies the student to expand his horizons beyond text books. The student is compartmentalized in his mind and therefore true understanding and learning does not take place. The learning system needs to imbibe curiosity rather than submission.

The revolutionary teaching methods followed in developed countries are never implemented in the Indian system because of the stereotyped examination system practiced here. Some may argue that India still produces brilliant students but those are exceptions. The masses are the one we should be concerned about and the current system has miserably failed in this perspective.

The reasons above clearly establish the negativity that is being spread consistently and are running deep. There is no denying that assessment and stress should be part of life but not at the cost of hampering learning and at such basic concept levels. We need to develop creativity, analytical abilities and common sense among students. That is possible when assessments are based on application rather than theory. The semester system and case study methods used in higher management courses would be ideal for school students. Physics clearly defines that pointed pressure is more painful than when its spread. Our education governors should learn from this simple natural fact. Sphere: Related Content

Dubai Drivers

I cannot yet drive in Dubai due to my status and other technical reasons but that does not stop me from commenting on the state of the traffic and the people who drive on the roads. Dubai happens to be a melting pot of all types of nationalities but the population is primarily dominated with people from the Indian Sub-Continent. You would also find Americans, Europeans, Egyptians, Lebanese, Moroccans, Africans and of course the local citizens. Coming back to the point, you would accept that due to this diversity, the concoction of driving habits do show up on the road if you are keen to observe that is.

I come from Delhi, and the habit of people there is to trample you on the road. From one signal point to another, it’s a formula one race!! It’s no different in Dubai irrespective of the background.

Instead of being verbose, let me put down my top ten:

1. Most drivers in Dubai use their mobile phones while driving. The majority of them do not use hands free equipment. This is irrespective of background and origin.
2. A few I have seen and also travelled with do not use Seat Belts.
3. Children are carried on laps in the front seat.
4. Switching lanes constantly is a way of life.
5. Given a chance, a driver would cross speed limits. They slow down in areas where cameras have been installed and once they pass it, they would again break the rule.
6. Hardly any zebra crossings for long stretches and no other mode of crossing the road too for pedestrians.
7. Scant regard for fuel economy. People keep car engines running when stationery. The trend is to buy 4WD cars just for status.
8. People willing to fool the cameras, drive on the 3rd lane and then speed, especially on S Zayed Road.
9. The driving lessons are forgotten and people drive like as before and if not caught, people are willing to break the rules.
10. When signal turns green to yellow, drivers speed up instead of actually doing the exact opposite.

There could be more, but between you and me, if these can be taken care of we would have won a war.

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