Random images from my flickr stream...

www.flickr.com

31/01/07

sToRiEs....

Abha's parents want her to get married before she leaves for the job she got selected for through her college campus placements... She says she does not want to get married and does not want to make her parents sad either... she does not know what to do.. she is sad, confused and frustrated... to add to the pain, she feels that she is still not out of her ex relationship....


Meera's parents also want her to get married... No idea if she likes anyone or she ever had an affair... she has not expressed her joy or sorrow whatever over the fact that her parents are looking for a match with her... Her parents are very worried over the effort that has not resulted in anything so far for over an year...


Abha's ex boyfriend claims that he loves her, but he is not in a position to get married to her... For reasons that he himself is aware of...


Meera's elder brother Nitesh is a chick magnet... he really liked girls and always had more than he could handle always around him...


Sakshi is a very ambitious girl... she has worked very hard to reach the position in her career where she is today... and maybe its too late for her to get married now... @ 32 she is finding it very difficult to find someone who would match her ability, who would understand her, who would be able to digest her success in her work... and she has no clue about how she would manage a home if at all she gets married...


Chetna is doing just fine in her office... she has a good job, she is a well paid manager, but not really doing that gives her a professional satisfaction the way she wants... she has figured out other ways to channelize her energy... and tries hard to be nicer and better... there are days when she looses it completely and things totally randomly, but then she gets back to her ownself.. and carries on...


Niti is seeing this guy who she kinda likes, but claims that its only a time pass "affair"... she just might be trying to fool herself with the entire thought process, and the guy might be adding to it...


Chetna does not like the guy Niti is seeing these days... she can strangle him any day....


Nitesh likes this girl... not for keeps types, but likes it.. but while she is a great person... she is not good in bed... and he does not know what to do about it....


Keep looking around... you will see more stories building up then you can imagine...


There always is something more to it....



30/01/07

That's why Deserts are HOTT...


Prashant in sand, originally uploaded by ankur_gupta10.

do i need to say more !!!

:D


:D


:D

and now time for a detailed trip-o-logue...

Long discussions with a group called Let's Go.. preperations and bookings... and last minute drop outs... this is what happened before the trip happened...

We finally managed to start around 0030 hrs on 26th January for Pushkar... it was just the four of us finally... Me, Ankur Gupta, Aditya, and Shubhika... about 100 kms on CNG and the rest on Petrol, we reached Puskar around 0600 hrs with one break and swapping of people on the front seats...

here are the key highlights of the drive to Pushkar and some statistical infomation...

1) Total Distance covered : Approx 425 kms...

2) Total Time taken : about 6 hours...

3) Top Speed : 160 kmph

4) Cars overtaken with sheer power : Skoda, Endeavour, Tata Safari and numerous others...

5) Best Stretch : A consistent 130 kmph on the Jaipur Ajmer road for about an hour

6) Car we were in : Fiat Rock Solid Petra

7) Number of Breaks : 1


We did not expect ourself to reach Pushkar that early, and were kinda surprised ourself when we reached there... fortunately we found a small Dhaba open in Pushkar and had our second tea of the drive there... we managed to kill about 30-40 odd minutes, before we moved to the Hotel Sunset where we had booked the rooms... this was right there in front of the Lake and the view was beautiful... thinking about not waking up anyone at that hour, we decided to just rest for a while, and then knock the doors... that we finally did and realised that the door keeper was not too keen on entertaining us and we left that place quickly... One local guy assisted us in reaching Hotel Kashyap Palace, which looked like a relatively new small hotel with 8 double rooms... no frills nothing, but clean and nice...

All we wanted to do at that hour was sleep for a while, before hitting the streets again in Pushkar... so we all crashed on the beds and woke up only around 1100 hrs, got fresh and all, and moved on to check out the small town... Our hotel was near the Govt. Sr. Secondry School Pushkar, and not too far away from the main market either... 10 minutes walk and we were at the Only temple in the world of Lord Brahma... did the usual walking around, shooting around and were out quickly... Had loads of nice food at a small restaurant called the Mamta Restaurant near the temple itself...

We tried to hire Camels for Safari, however there were no camels available, thanks to the maddening rush in the small town... which meant that we had to walk our way to the sunset point, which turned out to be a better idea then doing the safari... a walk back from the point took us to another restaurant, where we ate more...

Here is some statistical information about the day again...
1) Woke up around 1100 hrs...

2) Out of the Brahma Temple around 1400 hrs...

3) Things we had at the Mamta Restaurant : Rajasthani Thaali, Daal Bati Choorma, Gatte Ki Sabzi, More Daal Bati Choorma, Chaach... ( Bill : approx : 250 bucks)

4) Total Kms walked : Atleast 6

5) Things we had at the restaurant in the evening ( don't remember the name though) : Mexican Enchilada, Pizza with loads of toppings, a very different Tomato Soup, Pineapple Lassi and Masala Chai... (Bill : Approx. 250 bucks)

We reached our hotel after a tiring day, and were very very happy when the Hotel owner decided to get food for us from his home... Though we were kinda stuffed already, but the great food did not stop us from eating more... And this time we had great Kadi, Chawal, Chapati, and some traditional sweet... lovely food and that too on the house... We were on the terrace of our hotel which has been made very nicely to sit a lot of people and chat.. wonderfully done...


A good night sleep and my regular alarm saw me waking up at 0700 hrs.. and we got out of the hotel after packing our stuff by 1000 hrs...


I did one of the toughest climbs ever this time... we were trying to reach a temple on the hill top through an unconventional way and did not realise that its going to be this challanging... no way to climb up and no way to get back... we literally searched for a space for almost all the steps that we took to reach the top... and a small mistake would have meant that we fall about 50 ft into stones and thorns... phew... but then we made it to the top.. only to find a closed door :) anyway... it was the spirit that WON there... and we could come down just fine using the stairs that were there... and realised that it would have been tougher climbing up if we had taken that path...


Moved out of Pushkar after buying some excellent bers, and having some great Sugercane Juice... Went to Ajmer Sharif... now while I love the fact that I see people from all religions there, i hate the crowd there.... specially the beggers... God know what, but looks like that they have been professionally trained to speak a different line to get some money for a good 30 minutes... Had to get really aggressive to get two of them off my back, or else they would have followed us to Delhi i guess...


Left for Jaipur, got hit by a truck from the back and left with a damaged tail light... which led to spending a good 4 hours in a police station on the highway, with one of the most cooperative staff... the SHO, Mr. Rajvir Singh ensured the the driver was booked and a FIR lodged... it took some time, but we were out of there with the Truck confiscated, and a FIR lodged against the driver...

Took one break to eat on the highway, and then rushed to Jaipur, and went to Chowkhi Dhani, and ran out of there, scared by the crowd... I hope to go there again, sometime when its less crowded... had dinner at a place called Padharo Sa... decent food here... bill amount again approximately 250 bucks...

Left Jaipur around 2300 hrs and I was home around 0300 hrs... drove all the way from Ajmer to Jaipur to Delhi... and the best part was those 20 minutes when everyone else was sleeping, I was singing loudly, and driving at 120... i loved that time... loved it loved it loved it...


Some more statistics...

1) Total Kms Driven : about 850 kms

2) Room Tarriff in Puskhar : 400 bucks per night on twin sharing

3) Total expenditure for the trip : about 1800 bucks per person



4) Fun and feelings : Priceless


oh.. and a few pictures for the record have been posted here.

Some of my picks from the lot that I clicked can be see on my flickr page, or by clicking HERE...


26/01/07

JoKeroo.com

All of us have about a million things that keep up thinking, and at times sad as well during a day... and there are not many which make us smile...

Internet really helps a lot of us net savvy people to get over the blues and smile for a while, and at times laugh our hearts out too.. one of such sites is jokeroo.com where you find jokes, funny videos, celebrity pictures, funny pranks, a discussion board and what not... you can also subscribe to a feed and remind yourself to visit the site almost everyday to have your daily dose of laughter...





This is a paid post by Pay Per Post...

22/01/07

Batao Zara tum....

I do not have what i think i should have today because something better is about to be handed over to me...

hai na bhagwaanji?




Have you been to "The Compliment Club"?

Gold Differently...

Metal has always been very attractive to the human kind... the shine the luster, the use the attraction is very hard to ignore... and over the years we have moved on to be more specific about the metals that we like... Gold, Silver, and Platinum are the most sought after these days... with Gold being the conventional winner...

Starting from a time when gold and silver used to be purchased in the form of jewelery and was used more as an accessory, however these days, it has graduated from being just a piece of jewelery to an investment. One company that has been facilitating purchase of gold in America has been the Monex Deposit company. You can purchase either coins or ingots from the company and either arrange for a personal delivery, or a safe and convenience storage at an independent bank or repository. As an investment product, silver is available in coin or ingot form. Ingots are generally silver ingots of pure bullion cast in a convenient size and shape. Coins have a currency value or they are actually defined as ingots.

For over 30 years now, Monex has been leading the gold and precious metal investments, and that too at very convenient market and competitive precious metal prices.

21/01/07

Face iT...

In the last six years of working in the corporate world, I have more or less grown immune to how things are talked about and worked out in an typical corporate environment... thanks to the setbacks, thanks to the good words, the bad mouthing... the appreciations, the back biting, the great mentors, the not so good supervisors... a lot has happened since i started working...

last week I witnessed one of the most ridiculous examples of professional behaviour in my office... i should not really get into the details on this forum... but this is something that left me without words really both for the person who got effected, and the people who were the reason...

unfortunately, I am not in a position where I should be raising my voice or responding to such behaviour, however I can only pray and hope that the deserving get their share of wisdom.... and for the rest of them... well... i rather not start here... I am angry, I am frustrated, and I really want to give a few people a peice of my mind... but they don't deserve it for sure !!!

18/01/07

Three Four Five Six Seven.... and going....


most of the people who start knowing me are not able to understand Radha so much....

At the same time, i never am tired of speaking volumes about how wonderful she has been to me in the last couple of years...

What started off with love at first sight, graduated to a very well calculated risk, and then matured into a mutual admiration for each other and a bond less could effect... we stand together today happy about each other....

I cried with her...

I laughed with her...

I sang with her...

I have been myself with her...

and she has been there... right there to take care of me...

She is the best thing that has happened to me in the last few years... God bless her...

17/01/07

Anti Spyware Reviews...

With the internet becoming an inseperable part of our lives these days, there is more data that is being transferred today then ever... Data in form of music, files, videos, executables and is done through emails, CDs, free demo versions of software, toolbars, small utilities etc etc... and it brings with itself.. the fear of virus, spyware, trojans and things that would leave you with a frozen PC and a frustrated day...

What would assist someone who is a normal user and a more technical person in todays world is a site where (s)he can read about Antispyware software, anti virus, Firewalls , anti spam software... and most important of all an opinion which is unbiased and not influenced with financial gains...

One of such sites to provide excellent Antispyware and Antivirus Reviews is Adware Report... go check yourself and feel more educated and empowered....

This is a paid post by Pay Per Post...

12/01/07

KaHan Se Laoge...

Click on the image above for a better view...

And for people who do not read Hindi very well.... here is a more readable version...

ek daadi ka haath sar par,
aur wo lori...

kahan se laoge?

pair chukar namaste kehne wale chote bhai...
baithne par aawaaz karne wali charpai...

kahan se laoge?

ek gali jahan saath manai jaye holi, aur diwali...
Eid ki mubarakbaad se goonje, aisee gali...

kahan se laoge?

Siksha ke naam par siksha dene wali paathshaala,
aur wo baaju ki dukaan par muft mein toffee dene wala lala...

kahan se laoge?

Ravivaar ki dopahar mein saath moongfali khana...
roothe hue logon ko greeting card dekar manana...

kahan se laoge?

Taange mein jute ghode ki naal ki aawaaz...
Vividh Bharti ki Akhil Bhartiya Seva par bajne wale saaz...

kahan se laoge?

Samay Chalega hum chalenge tum chaloge...
par wo saath chalne ka Jazba...

Kahan se Laoge?

Prashant Bhardwaj, 2007

Loadsssss of thanks to Priyanka for the image :)

10/01/07

& tHe SuN SeTs iN ThE WeSt...

Some friends are really good at doing what friends should do...

not push talking about what is troubling you...

but just be there and let you decide if you want to talk about it or not...

and if not... then do things that make you forget completely about what is going wrong...

I am blessed...

and the day ends at a much much better note then what it started with in the morning...

Thank you Priyanka...

Thank you Kavita...

You are darlings...

Too MuCh Too QUiCK...

waking up with ultra low levels of energy...

a good shaving foam...

some fantastically nice tracks to make me dance...

and a few thousand thoughts in the mind...

a lot has happened already in the last 45 minutes after i woke up...

seriously looking forward to rest of the day now :)




have you been to The Compliment Club?

09/01/07

Humidifiers...

Winters are great... they bring with them wonderful weather, chilly mornings, cosy evenings, great colours in clothes, smiles, fun, quilts, fruits, vegetables etc etc... and then there are things that are not so nice... dry skin, sore throats , cracked lips, headaches...

most of us do not really understand why this happens to us in winters... most of us say that its winters that cause the dryness to form, however its the exact opposite that happens... the hot water, the hot air from the blowers cause more dryness then anything else...

Other then using creams and moisturizers etc what we can use is Humidifiers to keep ourselves comfortable... and while browsing the internet, i came across this good site where I could get a complete guide to buying a house humidifier.

The site provides comprehensive information about different sorts of humidifiers, what should be the desirable features in humidifiers, how they should be set up and details about the various brands available...

worth a visit...



This is a paid post by Pay Per Post.

08/01/07

Do "YoU" ReALiZe?

You know its too difficult to talk to you !!!

But I am just sharing my opinion...

Have you ever heard how you share "opinions"? Its like forcing me to believe and do what you are saying !!!

I did not realize that...

Well i guess now you should... Listening is different and fine... but talking is really something else... you do not know if I am going to accept or even realize the intention of your words when you say them like this... for me to understand and appreciate what you are saying and what you mean... you have to be sensitive to the other person as well while you are speaking you heart out...

07/01/07

TesTiNg TaSTiNg...

Ugh... this tastes yuck!!!

Give it to me, lemme see.
Oh Goodness... this sure tastes bad... what have you been upto?

Nothing much... i thought they will taste good together?

What? !!!

Yea... I like both these drinks... and i thought that if i mix them, it will be good too...

Are you nuts or something? Atleast you could have done it with some less quantity... now you have mixed everything you are not even left with the two that you like... and you have this mess that you are not going to drink...

Umm... this cannot be undone na?

No way you dumbass!!!

:( what do i do now?

well, there is not much that you can do about this mess anyway... but remember mixing of two drinks that you really like otherwise might not be a good idea always... which means that you gotta try first... mix in small quantity and see if that makes sense... if you think it does.. then go ahead... use your entire bottle... but if it doesn't, do not bother... let the two be two...

05/01/07

MeLtiNg iN CoLd...

1242 cc and 72 PS of power under the hood...

165/R14 Bridgestone Tyres

125 kmph @ 3500 rpm...

Rock Steady...

Pure Bliss...

mmmmmuah....

and Ram Prasad, Laxman Prasad, Ram Pyaari for company... sahi ekdum sahi....

04/01/07

WhY Do YoU AsK?

Why do you have to ask?

Because I want to know !!

Why do you want to know?

I do not know...

You know you behave very strange after you make love to me!!!

DaTe ToNiGhT?

Whoever said that there is nothing that comes for free was probably correct, a lot, infact most of the things that I know of in this world do not come for free... And then you do not really need to pay in cash for a lot of these things that look free on the face value... you pay with time, you pay with commitment, you pay with smiles, you pay with patience... and the best way to get in touch with people lately has been the internet... sites like orkut, and many more give you enough opportunities to make friends and Free Dating... check out the site I have added the link for and see if you are lucky enough to get yourself a date online too....







This is a sponsored post by Pay Per Post.

02/01/07

HoLd....

I can feel it on my ears... yes its kinda cold...
all i need right now is some hold...

a hold on life...
a hold on emotions...

a hold on happiness...
and a few notions...

i wish that the bad goes where it should...
i would have taken it there only if i could...

i wish that the people lost wake up and realise..
i wish the ones who gave up, understand to be precise...

i wish the white wines do not taste this bad...
at least not like the one i had...

i wish that smiles become cheaper...
and anger is no longer sold...
all i need right now is some hold...

a hold on patience...
a hold on faith...

a hold on happiness...
and memories that don't fade...

i wish i remember more birthdays then i did last year...
i wish i give more smiles then a single tear...


bas kar cheete.... bahut senti ho gaya tu :D

Review - Home Loan Advice

Taking home loans and understanding the complicated processes involved has never been an easy task... It was not easy when you had just one bank giving you home loans, it has not become easier with every bank assuring of the best deal on a home loan... What we really need are consultants who tell more about the home equity loan, what the processes involved, who gives the best deals, where you get the right information about the interest rates and the current market trends...





This is a sponsored post by Pay Per Post.

ArChiVes...

Is knowing a person really a function of how much we know about his/her history?

or starting from zero when we start talking to the person is equally good?

01/01/07

Front Row Seats...

Baseball has always been an exciting affair for me... the Strike outs, the home runs, the lights, the gear, the balls, the cheers... everything is so super exciting... In this side of the world, baseball is not really one of the most sought after sports, however the opportunities to watch baseball on diferent channels has always kept the interest alive...

i have been trying to follow the games on TV, however have always wanted to be in a position to watch one of these games live... i am sure the excitement levels are at a different level altogether when you are watching the game... and the best part is that one can also get the tickets online these days, thanks to the internet and companies like team-one sports... I was able to get a lot of details about the games and the Chicago Cubs Spring Training Tickets while browsing through this website... It was nice to get the information on the available tickets, the seating chart along with the detailed maps of the parks where the games are held... impressive and doable... looks like the feel of watching a game from one of the best seats is not too far away if you are really keen...


This is a sponsored post by Pay Per Post.

AaJa....

2006 has been a fair mixfor me.... i would remember a lot of things that happened in this year more for good then for bad...

nice...

welcome 2007, I was really looking forward to meeting you... here is what i have in store for you...

a more objective approach...
more focus and patience... ( thanks Priyanka for the two words)
and a better me...


hope you will like it....

c u around... keep talking...