A little bit of myself and ....

Be urself. It's difficult. Still nothing harm in tryin it.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Merlion Merlion

Part 2
On the first day, Bro had plans for us, in the evening to visit Mustafa(This is the place ppl get goods very cheaply) to do the purchases, he wanted to avoid us from last minute purchases. So all the afternoon he asked us to rest [he thought we wud be tired ;) ] .

We freshened up & went out just to get the feel of the new place. While departing from bangalore one guy had told, if you know tamil half the battle is won. But the reality something very different. There acsent is soooo native that it's very difficult to understand there english, tamil is worst.

The architecture, Apartments are recognised by numbers, mine was numbered 204 in Serangoon Central. If we cross the road there is this market with all the things we need from needle to little less than buying cars(cars are different story will tell u l8r). Next to the market is the bus terminal where buses originate from. Right below it is the Transit(metro railway station). We found KFC, got some stuffs (our first dollars spending). After that we walked little further there was a stadium and then some more shops. We wanted 2 buy international calling card, so went to the Post Office (it resembles the Airtel offices here).

Little later we went back as per schedule Sister-in-law(SIL) took us to Mustafa. We reached there through Metro, Farrer Park. Then had a feel of how the cost is & Quality of stuffs. Didnot buy anything except for a Canon A620 for taking snaps for the rest of the stay.
The soaring throat was soaring to new high, in a country where except for streets everything is Air conditioned it was difficult. The Buses, super market, metros everything equiped with A/C. Getting a normal water was like a adventure, water is costlier than Coke/Pepsi.

Reached back home around 0030hrs. Did some chit-chatting with bro and discussed on next days plan. They said it's worth checking out the animal Zoo and gave me all the relevant details to reach there. As we had planned less time will be spent sleeping and more time in roaming. So got up pretty early (5IST) but around 7 there time(jet lag also played it's part). we reached the Zoo around 9 , it was umazing not even one animal is under bars, it is as if you walk next to them. There are shows regularly performed with those animals & environment awareness is thought along.

I caught up with Seal-Python-Gorilla show & Elephant Show. First had a look around the zoo in a tram, once acquainted, went around by walk. Everything is planned, the walk way, coverage of the zoo everything is very well planned.There is this funda where each animal has feeding time which is displayed there, you can go and ask the feeder who is available for any kind of queries.

We finished it up by 1400hrs, my bro called me (bro had handed me a mobile to keep in touch) and asked me to meet him at his college(lemme say it's a university not a college). We went in & met bro's friend, who was tenant in our place for few years. Then he asked me to chose between the 4cafetaria's to have food. I said "It's doesnot matter untill, what I eat doesnot aggrevate my soar throat, which had converted into a infection sort".

Later we went to Clarke and Esplanade,there art auditorium, there we saw small groups practising there talent, some skating skills, some dancing and next to the sea shore there was this rookie band practising the music and then Suntec City,Zodiacal Fountain(something of that sort) and Met my collegemate Nandu. From there we went to ChinaTown , had some burger @ burgerKing (fundu burgers). From there to Mustafa :) to do some more shopping.

Watch the space for next & final part....
|| Hash Gowda, 11:16 PM || link || Comments... ||

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Merlion

I was my first maiden Flight journey. All the excitement was absorbed when Throat Infection struck me just 2days before the journey. Just was hoping that this should not stop me from journey.

The D'day arrived, reached airport by 2AM 26th Jan 2006. We're wondering how we will spend next 105minutes. But thanks for our airport officers, even for a Tourism Visit they needed my office ID card. How the hell wud I know they want it? I said, I don't have it. Then he questioned me through my family tree detailedly. I patiently answered him, not giving any room to catch me. Later he got fed up & stamped. An announcement flight is delayed by 15mins.

Well got into the flight, my first impression "A 100 Seater Volvo BUS". When it took off, little thrust in the stomach felt very very hungry. Looked out and Bangalore looked very BEAUTIFUL in the night with all those lights, like little Diwali goin on. Air Hostess big disappointment(well cud not ask more from a Budgetted Airlines). After 4hours of intervalled sleep. A uncomfortable sound made my throat infection aggrevate and Ears started paining like HELL. Later when the wheels got down for landing, good amount of vibration in the flight and with one bump on the land.

It was a pretty big airport. I cud see looooots of planes parked. Then we board'd off with the immigration forms tucked in the passport. Headed straight to some very calm looking ppl. They greated me as if I am good old friend of them. Without any hassale, Passport was stamped. Singapore here I come.

As I had heard, Changi Airport IS the best airport. So big , but still so well maintained. We roam'd around for a while as suggested by my friend. Then got out, approached the travel information office and told them we're here to stay for 4days can you prepare a travel plan. They pulled out few pamplets and then expalained us what we can explore.

We went to a telephone and wanted to make a call. No phone card, then we saw we can shove a Credit Card as well. Then We put a credit card and called my Brother. He said "he is almost there". Got some more chance to roam around. There we see my Bro. We hired a taxi, a Merc. Started to move towards Serangoon Central. During the travel felt like am in Bangalore. Minus the street side dwellers , minus the traffic and congested roads, minus restless people.

Watch this space, more to come...
|| Hash Gowda, 11:15 PM || link || Comments... ||

Rang De Basanti (Paint it Yellow!)

This movie was not on cards, coz Mangal Pandey had flopped. L8r I heard that it's a good movie. Than wanted to watch but missed it on thursday had some work. Then we decide next thursday RDB is fixed plan. Then don't know, somehow 4got. Thanks 2 my colleague.He said "abhe tere Manhattan card de". I asked which movie "RDB". I said 2tickets(2free) totally 4 for me. We got just in nick of time. Second row from below, almost full :).

Since I had not gone thru the reviews, I started checking reviews after disastorous DUS viewing. It was word of mouth popularity, so thought it shud be good. Then checked review in rediff. Reviewers can say anything finally it's upto the viewer to decide :D.

Didnot pin up much hopes on the movie, by track record of the director with already a flop AKS.
Movie started with a WHITE and it came alive, when finally she tells her boss in frustration "Tere maa ki aankh". I quickly asked my friendaaa what it means, he said "just a bad word. tho it's not"

Slowly the movie started gripping, but good amount of comedy all along. Slowly some patriotism filled in and started understanding the Heroes of independence. Yes, @least somethings. I have gained some knowledge from this movie. After interval there was no turning back.

Siddharth was ummazing, the cool guy. My frends like the shayar, I also thought he was not bad. Aamir ..... wat 2 say. I literally cried when he cries for loss of his friend on the dining table.
to summarise nobody is a protagonist.. everybody has proper characterisation and well defined roles and well made movie.

Bottomline, MUST WATCH IF U THINK UR A INDIAN. Gauge urself.
Want to do something in these ppl thought lines, well visit paritrana

The songs I liked after watching is
Engagement song -- Tu bin bataye
Song parting son -- Lukka chuppi
Best scene -- Whole movie :D
|| Hash Gowda, 12:21 PM || link || Comments... ||