Pakistani Spy Of Indian Origin...

Interesting news (India holds diplomat for 'spying' ). Glad to know that Indian Intelligence is getting better - atleast to identify these kind of moles.

But still we have al ong way to go. This news is flashed in almost every corner of the world -also specifying that there are more diplomats involved in this dirty spy game. How on earth will now the Indian officials grill them? They might have already swam the seven seas to their new destiny with new Identitys with American or Pakistani passports. - Jai Hind.

War of Destiny

War of Destiny

I knew the war would start any day. A few times it started but was defeated right away by shooting point blank on my head. Those defeats had devastated me quite a few times over the years.

Now I am powered with new shield. I wont be defeated, I wont …I wont!. This time the bullet wont be strong enough to kill me. It's not that the bullet has become weak - its always strong. But I am now stronger than the bullet. I won’t fire a single shot, but this shield, this shield will protect me against this mental evil forever. The Shield is none but my subconscious.

This war would decide my destiny!

Tip of Life

One Small lesson which I knew for the past few decades - though I miserably failed to abide by.

Do what you planned to do or what you are doing - unless the new one has
more priority over the other.

E.G - You are writing a mail - stop peeing into Rediff or BBC. Or Stop looking at you phone mail.

This simple thing makes a lot of difference in your attitude towards work and towards the quality of what you do.
Be it professionally or personally. Moreover this is the basic time management rule.

I've just stared this. Let me see how it goes.

A great Moment and a great joke...

Gary Sobers While walking back after hitting Malcom Walsh "6" sixes in his "6" balls
Gary:
'Malcolm what are you smiling at?'
Malcom:
'I want you to know you could not have done it without me!' "

Chinese Hacked Google Account....

There is a lot of fuss about the Chinese hacking of Google accounts. Is this something new? Doesn't the RAW/CIA/KGB/Mossad/MI5 does that? Who can deny?
I would rather say the Chinese were foolish, as their attacks were easily detectable unlike others. Sending malicious emails and placing a Trojan, with key logging capabilities and stealing the passwords is not so great. Or sending phishing mails and stealing passwords. Only Chineese can do these cheap tricks.
Moreover they should have spoofed the IP address when they accessed the hacked accounts (Which they have not done and the tracing of the IP addresses proved they were from govt agents).
I an do that with a 10 amateur computer users (Which I have done when I was a student 10 years back).
There is no need to do a "Wow" for this.

Who Is Responsible?

I believe, I am not a Hindu nor a Muslim nor a Christian..rather I believe am an Indian...But not all think like that...and hence...In less than 48 Hours, 47 People killed in a Radius of 4000 Sq Km, more than 100 Injured...1000's panicked...of fresh communal violence....business crippled..and stock markets would crumple on the next working day..on these speculations...

Terrorism is a concern which India is facing for the past few decades. Who is responsible?
Is it Hindus? Is it Muslims? Is it Christians? Or is it the so called, much hyped Democracy of India?

Well I'll writing more about it..in the coming days. Being an Indian citizen, I am obliged to give my views on it.

Jai-Hind..naa..its more communal.....Cheers, Aneesh.

Microsoft bids Yahoo.

Yahoo.com on a Microsoft Windows 95 box..., that was my very first experience of Internet, way back in 1997. Its been a decade since then. This afternoon, while struggling to finish my Subway foot long , I came across this "Could be" merger of the time.

Microsoft has proposed to yahoo for a merger. The premium seems to be exorbitant. Microsoft had in fact placed this proposal for $44.6bn. As per BBC's Tim Weber, this is a shotgun marriage, where the short gun is held by Google :)

What Microsoft claims, would apparently benefit from this merger is:

1. Scale economics: When the scale goes high the log run average cost decreases.
2. Expanded R&D capacity: The combined brain of both the engineer's can be focused on R&D priorities.
3. Operational efficiencies: Eliminating redundant infrastructure and duplicate operating costs.

Microsoft even offer significant retention packages to Yahoo employees.

Microsoft had earlier, in 2007 made an offer of merging the business, which Yahoo Bord had declined,anticipating a steep in the Yahoo shares. But yahoo had a very bad, last year. Their shares started from $31 and dipped to $19.1. But Microsoft has offered $31 in cash based on Microsoft closing shares on 31st Jan 2008 or or 0.9509 of a share of Microsoft common stock. This looks really a fantastic offer for me, and a tough time ahead for Google. When a fusion of both these technology company merge, its gonna be too loud, for google's voice. Yahoo chairman Jerry Yang, had announced earlier a lay off of 1,000 employees, as part of it's restructuring. Lets keep our finger's crossed and watch this!!

Rich & India

Last day was having a look at the new forbes list, which made me write this.

Indians Contribute to 15% of the 20 most Richest men in the world!!!Can you believe that????
We are second after the United stats in that count. We made UK, France, China, Germany, Japan... All Behind in that list.
We would have been 20% if Azim Premji, who is at 21 could have a bit more profit in the list quarter.

http://www.forbes.com/2007/03/07/billionaires-worlds-richest_07billionaires_cz_lk_af_0308billie_land.html

Can you believe, Indians contribute to 6.6% of the top 500 Richest men in the world.

Can you agree that. And An Indian is the Richest man in the UK, who were ruling us for 200+ Year's!! Can you believe that too??

My Swert Heart..

I got a new girl friend last week. I saw her online a week before the one. On the first glimpse itself, she won my heart, and it made it to my mind, "She is mine".

By Tuesday morning, I got a mail, about her arrival to my office. That afternoon, I was seeing her beautiful image all over my monitor, keyboard, desk phone and everywhere. Finally by afternoon, she came to my seat. I lifted her and had a very close look on her face to toe. I studied her for a while. She is dark & beautiful, sleek & sexy, tall and intelligent. She’s shaped as if carved by an sculptor. She shines in the sun so as you feel like you can even see your image in her bare skin. And the most amazing part, she sings so sweetly.

On seeing her, my Manager came over there. He was amazed to see her. The comment he made was, I don't have time now a days to own somebody like her. Strange!!

I left office with her to the tube station. My train came, and i got a seat. I hold her in my arms. She started whispering songs in my ears. I noticed people in the tube watching her with anxiety. I wished i had a automatic, so I could kill all the bastards who were eying her. At one time I saw all the people around me looking at her in amusement. I thought she is whispering a bit loud, and I calmed her. After sometime I fell into a nap. Suddenly woke up when the tube reached Barking.

After a 5 minutes walk from the station, reached home. Showed her to Prakash. I saw the delight in Prakash's eyes when i showed her to him. He..without hesitation asked me, he want to try her. I wanted to tell, how the ehck you can ask me that....but finally I left my beautiful girl to him and left to my room. After a while, he gave her back to me and told, "she is fantastic...I really enjoyed the time with her and she gave me a thrilling experience". I was happy to hear that...as I got a confirmation.. I made a good choice.

It didn’t take much time for me to reach the gym. After a quick workout, I left for home. On reaching home, Saw Kris sitting and watching TV. On seeing her he starting grinning with his big belly shaking. "Ooh you got her, Le me see" and he grabbed her from me. Krissssssssssssss......How can you do that????..Are you a savage. I told this in my mind and I left for the kitchen, as I was damn hungry. While in the kitchen I could hear my sweetheart screaming loud..at times. It had send shivers down my spine, but was busy scrambling the onions in the frying pan, so didn’t bother to see what the heck was happening.

After a while, Kris came to the kitchen with her...He congratulated me for getting such a gorgeous looking .....,and told me she is impeccably good.. I got elated myself, and became proud to own her.

By this time she was so tired. Though I couldn’t see the sweat in her, I could feel the warmth of it. I could even see the tiredness in her eyes. So I took her to my bedroom. My Poor sweet heart, she was working for long. Then I switched on my laptop, connected the USB cable to her USB Slot. Her charge had come down so low. I was hearing the music on my New IPod Classic 80 GB from afternoon, and never let if down.

I had got mixed opinion about buying her, but finally I took the decision. I had in fact two buying options. Either buy an iPod Nano 8GB and another 10GB USB Drive, or go for this massive offer, which I got from Amazon.co.uk. I got this pretty cool gadget for just 150£, including free door delivery.

Well about her, technically:

• She has got 80GB hard drive
• She holds up to 20,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format
• She holds up to 25,000 iPod-viewable photos
• She holds up to 100 hours of video
• She got 2.5-inch (diagonal) colour LCD with LED backlight
• She got 320-by-240-pixel resolution at 163 pixels per inch
• She got Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
• She can hold any Kind of Files up to 80 GB

If she got four wheels, she could even drive me to office ;)

How was that????????? Cool aha!!! See her and Decide!!

Goodbye Orkut...

It's quite a while since I've been to this spot. I was a bit active on the techie blog. Busy, tiredness, laziness.... could be anyone of them.

Today I feel I am becoming more mature..good to me and others. For quite sometime, I was wondering, is there a way to extend the 24hofaday!!!! I started rewinding my calendar..Found a few timewasters. Finally I made a very bold and indeed a clever decision....

I deleted my orkut profile, permanently..Bindaas!!!!

Though late, I came to know the truth..Orkut does take a few of my, that precious time. And I am sure that's the same for many.

Why do we want this?
To get in touch with friends?
To get new friends?
To vote for bullshit polls?
To join communities, which we never knew before orkut?
To secretly peep into some beautifully disguised gal's/Guy's/Gay's profiles?


There is Email..
There is Instant Messenger Chat...
There is Telephone...
There is Mobile Text.....
I'll use any of these,and those of them who wants to do the same, can choose any of them....

And if this makes sense to anybody who happen to read this, find the steps on how to do this:

Mozilla --> Google.com --> <search string> Delete Orkut

If you browser crashes or if you are using the ****king OS, Windows Vista..it definitely crashes If so, go directly to:

http://help.orkut.com/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=11596


What was I trying to focus here? Was that a constructive criticism against Orkut? And how did do that...

Against Google using Google for Google..weird aha..
Against Orkut(Google) by Blogspot/Google Search (Google) For Gmail/Google Talk (Google)

Goodbye Orkut...Goodbye...CRAP BOOK...

Bad Day With my Mom...

Today Morning, I woke up and had a Oral fight with my Brother. My mother came in between supporting him, so I digressed my anger towards her and shouted at her.

Later today, while @ office, I a got a forward from one of my friends, regarding and old age son and his middle aged son. The father and son was siting in the corridor, and a crow sat in the window pane, the father asked the question "whats it?" for 3 times repeatedly. The son gets irritated each time while he answered the same question. The fourth time, he shouts at his father "why are you asking the same question, again and again?". Suddenly the father goes inside and takes an old torn dairy, and gave a picked up page for his son to read. It was dated very long back, when the son was a kid.

A crow comes and sits on a window pane, and this same son, asked this same father "whats this?" for 23 times. Each time, the father replied "its a crow" by hugging his son. Today when the father asked it for 4 times, the son grew angry at him.

The moral is very clear right???

After reading the forward, I really felt sad on shouting at my mom. If I say sorry to her, she will shout at me saying "You shout at me and then come and tell sorry,
I don't want to hear anything from you".

Hmm....confused.

Ok, got it! She always like going to forum. Will tell her, I'll take her to forum, this weekend and have dinner from Transit

Mysterious Song....

Today evening, I did some pretty good job in office. I almost finished some of my pending jobs, which have been piled up for some time. I felt myself a bit elated after completing them.

I thought that I’ll just relax for a while and switched on my HiFi Dolby Powered Winamp ;-) . I thought of choosing some of my old time favorites. When I say about my old time favorites, it goes way back to 1988. During that time, I got a Recorded Sony Cassette, from my Uncle (Kochumoni maman). That Cassette featured some of that times best songs. I had that cassette with me until my graduation. Whenever I want to go back to Good ‘O’ l school days., I used to insert that cassette into my Panasonic deck, and close my eyes for a dream.

For so many years I was trying to figure out, who were the singers who sang those awesome songs. Almost I got every song but still, one and only one song, I can't figure out.

Though not in the desired order, they include:

Died In your arms tonight – Cutting Crew

Money for Nothing – Dire Straits

Hello – Lionel Richie

Right Here waiting – Richard Marx

Owner Of a Lonely Heart – YES

We didn’t start the fire - Billy Joel

Money – Billy Idol

One day in your Life – Michael Jackson

Final Count Down - Europe

……And one more Song, which I was not able to figure out still now.

A few months back, I went to the Lee showroom in Forum Mall to buy a jean. There I happened to hear that song, I rushed to the counter and enquired about the song, Unfortunately the guy over there was unaware of that particular song, as it was played by some channel of worldspace L.

Its almost two decades and still that song is mystery in my life L and I still continue my journey to the horizon, in search of that beautiful song.

MMM hhe hhah he mmhhe hhe …….I tried to murmer that song…lol!

But one thing I am sure, it was released some where in the late 80’s. Is there anybody who can help me? (Definitely not my uncle, he is still not aware, about that stolen cassette). Anyhow one day I’ll find that song. High Hopes J

Sadam - A Tribute

I Don't know, if Saddam had any new year resolutions? Unfortunately, he was Hanged, when 2006 was shedding its last leaves.

The first time, I heard of Saddam was during the mid 80's, when I had my first Dynora television at my home. At that time, fierce battle between Iran & Iraq war was going . At times, in the news they used to utter the word Saddam.

It was only in the 1990 during the gulf war, I happened to know who this person was. Like everybody, I too disliked Saddam then.

But down the line, I had a sympathy over him, due to atrocities done over him and his country by the US & Allies. Though I wont place him on the same plate as Fidel Castro , he was indeed a bold ruler.

I don't know what exactly it is, boldness or foolishness or mistake, he got paid for it.

For a ruler his country is his pride, then comes himself and his family.
Due to a mistake(Gulf war) he made he Lost His Pride(Country), His Son's, And finally his life.

Sad goodbyes.....

Premalekhanam (Love Letter)

Due to the hectic work over the weekend and the last few days, I was very very tired, last night. Honestly I didn’t know, when I got asleep last night. Morning, I woke up only by 10:00 am. By 11:00 switched on the TV and started having my Chappati and Mottacurry for the breakfast. Was simply browsing the channel, and it came to Kairali TV.

It was playing and old movie (Of early 80’s or mid – late 70’s movie). Somehow, I got a bit interested in movie. After sometime, I came to know it was a story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s, PremaLekhanam.

It was the love story between Kesavan Nair, a bank employee working in a remote bank in a village in Kerala and Saramma, the house owner’s daughter, where Kesaven Nair had rented. The role played by Kesavan Nair was by M.G Soman (Late), a very efficient actor, and Swapna did the Role of Sarama. Both of them have done their part splendidly.

Sarama was staying with his father, who was most of the time drunken and with her stepmother, who harasses her in all ways. But Saramma was a very mature girl. She spends most of her time, cleaning the utensils and embroidering.

Kesavan Nair fells in love with her and writes a love letter (premalekhanam) to her. The lines of the Premalekhanam were too good, and this love letter is spoken throughout the story, apparently the title too. He always asks the reply for his premalekhanam to her, and she will say “nale aaktte”(let it be tomorrow).

Though she likes Kesavan Nair very much, she won’t reveal it to him. Whenever Kesavan Nair tells her about his love to her, she makes fun of her. Another interesting part in the movie is, she agrees to love him, on a condition that, he has to pay her for doing so, every month. So every month Kesavan nair has to pay an amount to her for her love. It continues for long. Finally. Kesavan Nair gets a job in a far of place. She persuades Sarama to come along with her. She replies the, it was not in the “Love agreement”. But finally he finds her in the railway station, ready to go with him to start a new life, after writing a letter to her father.

A beautiful movie, especially a beautiful story by the Great Basheer. The location and atmosphere, the movie was made was a typical kottayam, vazoor , surroundeed with rubber plantations and beautiful mist covered mountains. The story is fictionalized in the 1940’s

Basheer worte this story 1943, when he was jailed in Poojapura Central Jail, by the then Dewan, CP for writing something against his governance. Its a very funny love story, but indeed an excellent narration.

Of geeks and coders

Today afternoon, I was sitting in my desk, biting my nails, over a long running JBoss-Bpel issue. A few minutes back, my manager pinged me asking for an update on that issue. Suddenly, the new mail jinni came. I went to my inbox, and saw it was a mail by Naveen. Thought of reading it, to overcome my boredom. The mail looks like an article, posted by somebody, copy/pasted. It was very much true, related to the industry where I am get the bread of my life. Though I have seen a few articles of this interest, this one looks a more interesting. Blogging it for my buddies to read.

Recently, I had this discussion around the issue of qualification for a software developer. Indian IT services companies often issue recruitment ads asking for first class engineers from the best colleges in India. Notably the IITs. That was how some of the companies started. Then they climbed down, going to the best non IIT colleges. Then they climbed down and now almost any engineer with a first class can make it through to most companies.

There are many other companies who ask for best in class graduates. Some companies prefer NIIT graduates - who are not engineers, though many of them are engineers too.

Really, what is the level of qualification required to be a software developer? This is a funny question if you ask me, since it is like asking what qualification do you require to be a driver. To be a driver, you need no qualification. If you are an MA or a M Ed, well, good luck to you but that has no bearing on whether you get a driving licence or not. As long you can drive a vehicle well and convince the RTO inspector that you can, you get a licence and you can drive.

To be a coder, is exactly like that. In India many people (and companies) make us believe that you need a science background to learn coding. It is like asking for mechanical engineers when what you really want are drivers.

I have some of my friends as young as 8th standard who have waded knee deep into coding. I know of some who have created small tools and other patches even before they cleared their class Xth exams. I know of accountancy grads who are experts in coding/hacking. One of the guys who studied with me had created his own game - and he was not even a graduate - his dad has passed him a defunct PC which he had made good use of. Qualification - well nothing. Except that they loved doing what they did.

Google Jam is a step in the right direction. I wish service companies in India too tried and picked up geeks this way rather than a traditional formal-tie interview process. These are the geeks who will create more code juice and innovate - they may not follow coding standards though and geeks oten come with their own idiosyncracies - which service industries hate. But Google and Microsoft? They love 'em.

The highly qualified educated coder who gets into the IT service industry today wants to "get out of coding" even as he sets foot in the industry - with the result that the industry is filled with (generally) low technical skills. The industry also "rewards" good coders with management positions with the result that they lose their technical skills and that is often seen as the only way to grow in the firm. (That last part is changing though the hiring is still done the old way.)

One point here is that good educational qualifications (ranging from any graduation to post graduation or an MBA) help in assessing whether a potential employee can create documentation, processes - but thats not the same as coding. What IT service companies do need is a mixture of low to medium end coding skills at the entry level followed by good communication, presentation and documentation skills at the next levels. Honestly, you need neither first class engineers nor first class graduates at the entry level in an IT service company. You do need a high level of presentation skills, negotiation skills, strategic thinking at a managerial level and beyond.

Coming back, coding is a fair bit about self interest, which is about the geek - someone who lives, talks and breathes code - and nobody can teach you to do that (not for code, not for music, not for blogging). This is for those whom computers (or central excise or dance) is a passion.

The other part is around technical training, which is for the NIITs and their ilk to milk. The engineering colleges should really get out of creating newer engineering streams for Information Technology (IT - this thing sells like crazy) and focus on creating engineers not coders.

Make no mistake, the uber technical chaps are highly regarded, paid as much as (if not far better -look at any core tech companies payscales) than uber domain guys and there will always be a continuous demand for technology professionals at all levels. And, once again, it does not matter what qualification you have as long as you have a licence to drive (or code).

ToBlog - Goa Trip

Last Weekend me along with my pals, went for a Goa trip. A few Photos need to be uploaded by Harish. Once uploaded will complete the blog.

TODO -> TOGET -->PICS
TOBLOG-----

Paintings in my mind

After wasting my weekend with 100% laziness, today after noon, I had an awesome Lunch with Aavoli Curry, Mooru curry (Weird combination aha, but I like this toomuch), Vendakka thoran & Cabbage Thoran, made by my mom. After my lunch, was watching “Salaam Namste” for some it. After sometime it got bored and I went to my room to get a quick nap. I switched on the music. I happened to hear an old song, called “I’ll be your everything”, by Tommy page.

Suddenly my memories went way long back . I remember the day, when I first heard this song. It should have been some where in the early 90’s. On a fine Saturday, when I went to my uncle’s house. I saw this filter applied, cassette cover, with a handsome guy. The cover had the name Tommy Page and the album name “Paintings in my mind”. With my uncle’s permission, I took that cassette to my home. I was really impressed by the song “You are my everything” & “Paintings in my mind”. After sometime, I lost that cassette, and had been longing to hear that since then. As this person was not a famous performer, it was hard to get his cassettes/CD in Trivandrum. This particular song was in the Billboard hits chart during the 1990’s. I think he is now the VP of some recording company.

A few years back, while working for TeN, I got a borrowed CD, which had this beautiful song. And now after more than a decade, I had thus wonderful Sunday afternoon hearing again the beautiful lines,

So long that I've waited for a girl
To come into my life and in my world
. . .
I’ll be your everything, your everything…

Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing Live 1978

For quite sometime I was wandering to get this music video, Specifically this live in 1978. I am hardcore fan of Mark Knofler. His voice and guitar skills had always amazed me. The last guitar tabing of "sultans of swing" I wish I could do it some time down the line. I missed , when this master played on the streets of Bangalore, during the april of 2005.

Richard Parker & PI

In July, while I was I Munich, John-Browns (JB, everybody calls him like that) and Myself, went to a Biergarten to watch the Germany-Italy, semifinals. While enjoying the game, JB asked me, casually if I had read a book by the name “Life of PI”. I had heard of this book earlier from Sajith & Biju. He told me it was a good book, and asked me to read it.

Back in India, once when I saw JB online, suddenly I remembered about the book, but forgot the name. Asked JB, and he forwarded me the entire link of Amazon, with the book.

That evening, I went with Mom to Bigbazzar. I went to the bookstall, and enquired about the book. Fortunately, there was a discount and I got it for 175 Rs. That night I started the book. Initially, I read about the author (Yann Martel) notes. All his books, written prior to this novel, were flops. He had traveled extensively inside India, and hence his novel “Life of PI” is based on India guy and his family.

The story starts in Pondichery, with a 16 year guy named Piscine Patel (aka "Pi"). His father was the owner of zoo, and PI had lived his life with animals, and knew much more about animal psychology, and hence he was not an ordinary boy. The story ends in Mexico, with lots of twists/Agony/Fear. Initially in the novel, it was specified, the novel ends with happiness, but for me it was bit sad. I am not going deep into the novel, you should read it. The book has three parts. Part 1 –PI’s life in India. Part II, PI’s life in the ship, and his life on the life boat for 227 days. Part III The final part, the life after the survival.

The story is the survival of PI in a lifeboat with a 400+ lbs weighing Bengal Tiger, named Richard parker. PI survived in the boat along with his pal, Richard Parker for 227 days, controlling the Tiger with a whistle. He ate raw fish, Turtles and other sea food. The tiger got this strange name, due to a mistake made by the Indian media, at the time when this tiger, when he was a cub was caught by a hunter, by the name Richard parker.

Until I finish the book, I never knew this was a fiction. However, after completing the book, I did do a research on this. Infact this book was inspired to Yann Martel, based on a true story of a German, who survived in a boat with a panther. The book also won the 2002 booker prize award. Night Shyamalan, had initially an idea of making this story a film. But due to the twists in the Story and the he himself thinks ,that making this story into a movie is not easy as narrating it, and hence dropped the idea. This a good book, worth reading. To me, I like Richard parker, more than PI, in this novel.

Coorg Trip - Aug-4-2006

For quite some time, going for a trip with my buddies, had crept into my mind. But it never happened though. During an usual weekend gathering, during mid July 06, Jean, Anshad and myself put a plan to go to koorg. The following week, I discussed this with Ajo and Benoy. Harish also agreed for the trip. So we finalized the trip, and planned to start on Friday, August 4th. A 12 seater tempo traveller was booked from Yathra travels. The final members for the team were: Anish, Ajo, Anshad, Bino, Jean, Harsih, Rasim and myself.

So finally the day arrived. I left office early, by 4:00 pm and reached madiwalla by 4:15.
Anish had arrived from Chennai, Friday morning itself. So Jean and anshad took leave that day. Ajo had some compoff, so he too was available free that day. Benoy and Shabeer dropped the trip in the last minute. We persuaded Benoy as much as we can, but with no luck. He was too dissolved in the work as if he was doing(I don’t know what the hell he is doing there). This was my first meeting with Anish. Indeed a good guy. Same frequency as our’s. The rest of the guys reached Madiwalla(Ajo's) house by around6:00 Pm, after their busy hectic week.

Raseem was getting married a week after this trip. We were at first reluctant to take Raseem along, keeping his marriage in mind. But he was too interested, and finally we took him. A cool guy!

Though Bino was my pre-degree colleague, we hardly spoke to each other at college during that time. This tour made us more close to each other. Binoo’s mails were floating along with the group mail(A group mail list we created for this tour, through which we planned and put in ideas). But I never thought this Bino was this old “Alavaladhi”, who studied with me 10 yrs back. On seeing each other for the first time, on the day of the journey this was the words exchanged:

Bino: “Evanaaaa…Njaaann varunilla :-D”

Me: “Eeee thendiyooo, njaanum varunillaaa :-D”

This tour bought in old memories, which were slowly perishing from my mind, my good
'O’l arts college life.

As my birthday was on 2nd Aug, we celebrated my belated birthday, by washing me with Beer and Cake.

We started from madiwalla by around 6:45 Pm. We kept on fueling ourselves with occasionally hot sips. After almost an hour we reached mysore road, due to the hectic bloody Bangalore traffic. We mad  our first halt near a railway track. We asked the driver(an excellent guy) to increase the music volume. Had some hot sips, and danced to the tune. Again we started the journey. After an hour, we halted at a roadside dabba, to have our Dinner.

There we started introducing ourselves, as people like, Anish, Bino and Rasim were not familiar to much of the gang. The introduction started with my boring introduction. I still remember people yawning, hearing my introduction :) It was alike an art film, honestly :))))After having the food, we entered the kitchen of the dhaba, and cut a few chilies, marking our entry. Then after collecting some charcoals from the dabba, we left. The night was too chilling. We sang a few bharani songs and played antakshari, until we reached Coorg. Whenever we had range, we tried calling a person called d Pooviah, where we have arranged the home stay(Courtesy to Vinod and Smita)

On the way we had another halt. It was near a farm house, almost 10 Km deviated from Sreerangapatna. After having some pegs from there, we finally reached the place. On reaching the place, we again called Pooviah. he came and took us to the place, where he has arranged the stay. The place was a three bedroom attached house. With neatly furnished beds, with two extra beds in the hall, which was too big. There were Chess/Cards kept. Water were also made available for drinking. Some old magazines were kept there for reading. All bedrooms had attached bathrooms, with geysers.

On reaching, Anshad, Jean, bino and me started playing 28. it was almost 3:30. We played till 4:30. After that, me and Bino, started speaking about the life after Govt Art's colleage. After some time, we knew it was dawn, 6:0 am. Then we went to have some rest. By 10 woke up. Took a fast bath. The others, except Jean, Ajo and me, went to have and get breakfast. We saw an middle-aged lady sweeping and cleaning the courtyard of her home.

After having two koorgi masala dosa, we started the trip to explore rest of Koorg. We targeted for Thalkaveri. It’s believed as the origin of the river cauvery. Both sides of the road were plantations of coffee and cardomom. We made the second halt, in a place, where it was marked 3700 FT. The place was so chilling, and there was a very mild shower. We spend some time there, enjoying the heights. After making some two halts for coffee and some early morning pegs, we reached madikavere, after an hours journey. It was raining heavily, but it really made us enjoyable. We enjoyed madikavare, in the rain. Man, you wont believe, in madijkavare, due to the heavy mist and rain, we were not ale to even see each other. In madikavare, there was a place, which has some 334 steps, where its believed, Lord Brahma meditated. Anish, Harish, Ajo , anshad and myself, climbed the steps and reached the holy spot.. Awesome experience.

We came down from Thalkaveri,and had lunch in a mallu hotel(Most koorgis know Malayalam and a lot of mallu population can be found in Koorg).After having our lunch, we raced to the next place, Abbey falls.

On reaching abbey falls, everyone was exited, to see lots of beautiful Fraulin's. “Abbey falls rocks”. Due t the rains the falls looked a bit violent. We spent hours there. We also went near the falls and took some snaps. Ajo and harish were like shooting stars, targeting the fraulin’s around. We were the last group to leave Abbey falls. It was almost 6:30 We rode about 1 km from the falls, and halted in a beautiful place to have some sip of the drinks.

From abbey, we went to the RajaSeat. This place was infact a park. It was the place,where the king used to spent the evenings. The place was really in an elevated position. from the edge, we could see most off koorg, and the winding roads. It was very dark, when we reached this beautiful spot. But in spite of the mist and darkness, we were able to make out the beauty. There, our Anish got a new name called "Nambi aliyan"(From here onwards, he will be known as nambi). Nambi, was following a bunch of grils from Abbey falls. He was wearing a Jacket, which almost reached over his knees(sathyam paranjal patty chandayku pooya poole undu :-D) Those girls were from tamilnadu. They when reached near nambi, one of the girsl spoke 'Enna ninappu, paathal M.N nambiyar mathiri irukku" Almost , everybody of us, knew tamil and there was a burst of laughter, and Nambi got this beautiful name "nambi"

We left from raja seat, and reached our rest house. Just 100 mts away from the place, Ajo,
anshad and me got down from the vehicle. We went to a chicken stall to get chicken for
the barbecue. I asked Ajo and Ansahd to get the chicken, ordered the butcher to cut it
Exactly as we wanted. I went to a nearby Internet cafe, to check some important mails.
We bought the chicken, soda, snacks and went to the rest house. Jean mixed the Masala with salt and oil. After that me and jean cut the chickn into four apprx equal sizes. Using the chicken the mixed masala and borrowed pepper powder we marinated the chicken. Set the fire, using the charcoal we bought from the hotel, lat day. We got a portable charcoal stove from the neighbor. We lit it using the charcoal, Placed the chicken on top of it, and poured rum over the chicken, the chicken started burning. To be honest, it was splendid and off course, tasted good. Whenever the chicken was taken out form the fire, and put in the plate, Harish and Bino attacked the chicken, like they have not seen food for almost a decade :-D. Only chicken bones(that too crushed like sand) we re left in the plates, in seconds.

After this yangnjam, Harish started with his semi classical number from chitram. Followed by Ajo Binoo, myself( :)) . Everybody sang. We even sang "pallikettu sabarimalyku" This was indeed a terrific experience. The night was enjoyed like anything. Even our dirver joined and he enjoed. By 1:00, one by one each guys started sleeping. I was the last to sleep.

Next day by 8:00 everybody woke. We paid the bills and left to a museum. It was a quite place, with some old guns, Double barrels, swords, cannon's etc. There was also some medals and Trophies, presented to our old, general , General Karriappa. It was 6^th aug. “Friend ship day” Got lots of calls and SMS wishing friendship day. And All of us were happy, as were able to have a good memoir for the friendship day.

From there we said adieu to Koorg, and drove for the next destination. A kind of sanctuary. I don’t know the name of the place. It was beautiful, with hanging bridges, deer's and an angry lake(because the dam was opened due to the rain). Due to this, there was no boat riding. But I told everybody adamantly, we wont have any boat ride, as it was too risky. There we fed the deer’s, and climbed an aerumadam. Took some pics. After sometime, it started raining, so we entered a small restaurant, and ordered some omelets. It was delaying too much, so took only the half of the order, and left from the place, after buying some honey and coffee powder.

After an hours journey from there, we reached the Buddhist monastery(Tibetan). Wont
believe we have such a place in India. They have made everything like Tibet. We can find Buddhist monks everywhere, wearing their traditional dress and riding macho bikes like Enfield and Pulzar. We roamed around the place, and as it was time for lunch,Unanimously, we choose to have lunch the Tibetan way. We had Momo, noodles(using the stick) etc. Though it didn’t taste great, it was a different experience. From there, we went to the Tibetan bazaar. There they had lots of Tibetan craftworks, toys, dress. We bought some Good Knives, just for the sake of remembrance. There was a sexy lady there,who was selling some antiques. Some of these guys even bought three knives from that shop(Not naming :) )

By afternoon we left the place. We made a halt in beautiful countryside. Finished the rest
of the pegs, And left from there. We continued the introduction. We continued the songs
and anthakshari. By evening we halted at a mallu hotel and had the food. By 9:00 PM we
reached back at madiwalla. Sad goodbyes to everybody, saying "See you next at Goa “(We have planned for the Goa trip for 29th sep, in the same vehicle and same gang)

In the way back we had a couple more introductions. Out of those, the introduction of Anshad was the most humorous. Anshad, during the schooldays, was having a very strange hobby. He tamed and kept Doves with him as pets. he was saying some tjargons about Doves(pravu), like, the doves will fly away from their nest and raom around the whole day, and comes back to the exact location. he even told a story about one of his dove, which he had bought from Aalapuzha, flew back to the previous owners place, from Trivandrum (Anshad's home). Due to his freak hobby, this guy was loosing concentration in his studies, and hence his Bapa, sold all his dove, while he was in 10th std. After the exam, the results were out, he got distinction. This was what anshad told: "result vannu ..adutha divasam veetil koodu vannu". After that, Anshad got the name Pravu****.

Wow! What a trip!. To be honest, this was the best trip I ever had till now. This was what everybody who participated in this trip also said. It almost took 2-3 days to relive ourselves for the trip’s memories. What gave us from the trip? A bunch of new friends and the intimacy of the existing friendship increased. We made a wow, to have a trip ever two months, as this trip a huge success.