Before I start writing something, I would like to wish all the readers of this post a very happy friendship day. Friends really make life so simple. It would be very stupid of me if I would say that I can die for friends, but the truth is that, I can't do without my friends either.
By the way, I went to Sanjay Gandhi National park today with my sister. She had invited two of her friends along. I was very excited because, I hadn't been to that place before. We decided to visit the Kanheri caves instead of the lion and tiger safari. I personally preferred the safari though. But who cares about what I say?
So we bought our tickets and very excitedly walked towards the caves. We saw some beautiful streams and rivers on the way. The rain water drains down the hills through these streams. The strems are sparkling clean. However, there are a small settlements inside the national park and the people staying there have totally dirtied the place, if you can understand what I want to say. We hadn't walked a kilometer when my sister was all drained out and asked for lift. A very kind couple were courteous enough to offer 2 out of the 4 of us a lift. So my sister and one of her friends left; leaving me and her other friend, because we wanted to walk. He claimed that he loved walking and his CV said his hobby was walking (yes, you can laugh if you wish to). On the way we crossed a few more streams. After another half kilometer, I could see my sister and her friend coming back. I was surprised to see them. They didn't have a ticket to enter into the forest. The ticket was with us. So they were not allowed to enter by the officials and they decided to walk back to find us.
Now that we were all together, we entered the forest. Once we entered the forest area, the roads became lonelier. It was more silent and peaceful in there. We saw few langurs and monkeys. And because we didn't get any lift for quite sometime, we had to walk. Then, we finally decided to sit near a stream and eat some cucumbers. There, I spotted a water snake. A very beautiful snake. It was greyish in colour with a checkered pattern. The steams also had a number of crabs.
After a pretty long time and some 3-4kms of walking, we reached the Kanheri caves. We sat there and filled our stomachs. I had to eat bread and jam when others were eating garma garam vada pav (I HATE JAUNDICE). My mother had been very sweet to pack me something to eat on the way in the morning.
Talking about the Kanheri caves, they are really cool. The state government has done whatever it can to maintain this place. Even most of the people tried to maintain the cleanliness of the caves. There are buddist caves just like ones you would come across at Ajanta caves in Aurangabad. However, the speciality of this place is the rain water harvesting system that the monks had created.
There were beautiful waterfalls and streams on the way from one cave to another. We climbed higher to reach a plateau from where we had a wonderful view of Malad, Kandivali and Borivali, right uptil the creeks in the west, a very breathtaking view (quite literally). On the other side of the plateau, we could see Powai. This place was cool, windy(with good prospects of wind power generation) and something you would not have expected to see in Mumbai city.
The Sanjay Gandhi National park is really the lung of Mumbai. If it wouldn't exist, the pollution would have killed us by now. After spending an hour at the plateau and viewing some wonderful places, which cannot be put into words, we started walking back. We got a lift. All 4 of us. It was really fun. Then, in just a few minutes we stepped out of the jungle into another jungle.
If you ever go to this place, just watchout when you exit the main gate of the national park. It is surprising when everything green around you suddenly changes to grayish concrete. The silence is overpowered by the horns of the buses on the highway. The lonely forest roads are replaced by the overcrowded Western Express highway. I had a wonderful time at Sanjay Gandhi National park. I suggest all of you to visit this place. But please take me along when you go because I am looking forward to visiting the place once again!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Tempest
He stood fearless as the storm raged. He could not give in to the dust and dirt that the storm wind threw at his face. He had atleast a dozen of lives depending on him. Everytime the wind hit him on his chest at the speed of a jet plane, he wished he didn't have to face it again. But everytime he thought of the lives that counted on his, he knew that he could bend but could not afford to break. As he looked around, all he could see was the dust that the wind carried with it.
He could not see his cousins who stood tall beside him amidst the choas. They had been with him for a very long time. He had lived there ever since the day he could remember. He didn't know who had given birth to him, who his parents were. All he knew was what he had learned from the ones that had loved him the most; his cousins. They had told him that if he had to survive, he would have to be big and strong. They told him that he was special. But he thought otherwise. He had a hard time learning the trick of the trade. Everytime he tried to surpass his cousins, every inch he grew taller, they made sure he wasn't the tallest or the strongest one among them. Every ray of sunlight was precious for them. Every drop of dew felt like Elixir of life. When he bent down, he could see nothing but darkness on the forest floor.
It was just like today. But for now, he could not see anything around him either. Dust had blinded him. Today he was holding his ground, fighting with the storm wind. But he didn't know how long he would last. His body was aching. The storm was breaking him from the outside. But he would not break from the inside.
Suddenly, he felt a shiny ray on him. The sun showered smiles on him through the gray clouds. Little drops of rain followed. The wind stopped blowing. The dust settled as the nectar like rain drops trickled down his bruised body. He could now see what the storm had left behind. He looked all around him. His great cousins had fallen. He was standing all alone. He felt like a man stranded in a desert.
Suddenly he realized that he had managed to protect the lives that depended on him. And as the birds spread their wings and flew off his branches, he could do nothing but smile. He then realized, what his cousins had told him had indeed been true. He really was special!
He could not see his cousins who stood tall beside him amidst the choas. They had been with him for a very long time. He had lived there ever since the day he could remember. He didn't know who had given birth to him, who his parents were. All he knew was what he had learned from the ones that had loved him the most; his cousins. They had told him that if he had to survive, he would have to be big and strong. They told him that he was special. But he thought otherwise. He had a hard time learning the trick of the trade. Everytime he tried to surpass his cousins, every inch he grew taller, they made sure he wasn't the tallest or the strongest one among them. Every ray of sunlight was precious for them. Every drop of dew felt like Elixir of life. When he bent down, he could see nothing but darkness on the forest floor.
It was just like today. But for now, he could not see anything around him either. Dust had blinded him. Today he was holding his ground, fighting with the storm wind. But he didn't know how long he would last. His body was aching. The storm was breaking him from the outside. But he would not break from the inside.
Suddenly, he felt a shiny ray on him. The sun showered smiles on him through the gray clouds. Little drops of rain followed. The wind stopped blowing. The dust settled as the nectar like rain drops trickled down his bruised body. He could now see what the storm had left behind. He looked all around him. His great cousins had fallen. He was standing all alone. He felt like a man stranded in a desert.
Suddenly he realized that he had managed to protect the lives that depended on him. And as the birds spread their wings and flew off his branches, he could do nothing but smile. He then realized, what his cousins had told him had indeed been true. He really was special!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Dil ki baat zubaan par
This is my first post of the year 2008. I know, I m really late but its that time of the year again when i can do nothing else but study coz the rest of my friends are also doing exactly the same thing. So i end up finding solace in this world wide web n start thinking about wierd stuff to post in my blog.
I can't believe that I am in the third year of engg now. It seems as if I just joined the college n met Rohit, Salil, Divyanshu and Amit at the entrance when I was waiting for Gurudatt. What a day it was. I was so scared that day coz I was entering an entirely new territory where all I knew was an encounter with the final year students could be hazardous to health. We had the most coolest BEs when we joined the college. Very cool n talented guys. I really missed those guys when they left the college.
In SE, I made some new friends in FE trical. Wasn't very close to them. But thanks to a few guys like Siddharta n Yaseen, I met Ashwin n Nandan, two gifted guitarists, who really need to work on their stage presence.
Now I m in TE. Have made more friends. TE trical is the best class in the entire college. Some of the most talented students in the college study in my class. Inspite of these varied interests among the students, the class is still a unit. We dun hav groups. Polls in the class are useless. U just hav to ask one person and that is exactly what the rest of the class thinks. I dun think any class is more unified than ours. If u think otherwise, ask Bharat Raut.
3 years have just passed by like a dust storm. And you might be wondering as to why I havn't mentioned anything about the semester exams that take place twice a year. Thats because, I hardly care about them till 4 days prior to the exam. Thats wen the actual studying takes place. For instance, my first exam is to be held on 23rd may n its 19th may today, 7:35pm to be precise.. ;P
Wish me luck!!
I can't believe that I am in the third year of engg now. It seems as if I just joined the college n met Rohit, Salil, Divyanshu and Amit at the entrance when I was waiting for Gurudatt. What a day it was. I was so scared that day coz I was entering an entirely new territory where all I knew was an encounter with the final year students could be hazardous to health. We had the most coolest BEs when we joined the college. Very cool n talented guys. I really missed those guys when they left the college.
In SE, I made some new friends in FE trical. Wasn't very close to them. But thanks to a few guys like Siddharta n Yaseen, I met Ashwin n Nandan, two gifted guitarists, who really need to work on their stage presence.
Now I m in TE. Have made more friends. TE trical is the best class in the entire college. Some of the most talented students in the college study in my class. Inspite of these varied interests among the students, the class is still a unit. We dun hav groups. Polls in the class are useless. U just hav to ask one person and that is exactly what the rest of the class thinks. I dun think any class is more unified than ours. If u think otherwise, ask Bharat Raut.
3 years have just passed by like a dust storm. And you might be wondering as to why I havn't mentioned anything about the semester exams that take place twice a year. Thats because, I hardly care about them till 4 days prior to the exam. Thats wen the actual studying takes place. For instance, my first exam is to be held on 23rd may n its 19th may today, 7:35pm to be precise.. ;P
Wish me luck!!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Mishap in Cozumel
Well, its been a very long time since I blogged now. Semester 5 exams are on and I have been studying from 12am to 5am in a stretch, sleeping till 12pm, having a bath by 1pm, having lunch at 2pm and watching t.v. till 6pm. This has been my schedule for a few weeks now. And it is yet to continue coz I have to undergo a month long semester 5 examination to successfully become an electrical whacko.
I have been watching National Geographic channel lately n I saw this very interesting half an hour long show which I would like to share with all of you.
In Mexico, there is a small island called Cozumel. It is an Island where tourists crowd to enjoy the bright sun n the cool sea. The island is 48kms long from north to south and 16kms wide. This island has number of endemic species of birds and animals. Animals like raccoons and coatis used to be found in large numbers on this island.
But, since the last 30 years, a number of these animals are vanishing. Consequently, the number of boas in these areas are increasing to a large extent. These boas are making a meal out of these native birds and animals. There are about 3000 boas in Cozumel now. This is a very strange thing. Because, boas never inhabited Cozumel 30 years ago. The question is, where did they come from?
Many biologists tried to find an answer to this question. Some theories suggested that the boas swam across the sea from the mainland to the island. But, that is a very rare possibility. Another theory would be, a female boa which was about to give birth might hav come to the island on a log. However, the trade winds in the region blow from Cozumel towards the mainland Mexico. Trade winds never change their direction of flow. So, even this possibility can be discarded.
However, some natives hinted towards a movie that was shot on the island in 1971. Many animals were used for the movie. On further investigation, it was found that 6 boas were used for the movie and after the movie was shot, the man who was incharge of the animals released the snakes on the island itself. A female boa can give birth to around 40 offsprings in a year. This means that a simple mistake made by the man incharge of the animals has affected Cozumel's entire bio-diversity. Why I am telling all this to you is for a simple reason.
Man and nature have to learn to co-exist. Nature will flourish without man. But, man cannot exist without nature. Man is on the apex of the pyramid(and George W. Bush is at its tip) and if the tip breaks off, the rest of the pyramid will stand but if the base of the pyramid is destroyed, nor will its tip stand erect. We have to learn from the above disaster in Cozumel, that we should not do anything that may affect the biodiversity of a place. So, the next time you pick up anything that belongs to the nature, please return it back to the place where you found it or the place it belongs to. Misplace could be hazardous not only to the animal but also to you.
I have been watching National Geographic channel lately n I saw this very interesting half an hour long show which I would like to share with all of you.
In Mexico, there is a small island called Cozumel. It is an Island where tourists crowd to enjoy the bright sun n the cool sea. The island is 48kms long from north to south and 16kms wide. This island has number of endemic species of birds and animals. Animals like raccoons and coatis used to be found in large numbers on this island.
But, since the last 30 years, a number of these animals are vanishing. Consequently, the number of boas in these areas are increasing to a large extent. These boas are making a meal out of these native birds and animals. There are about 3000 boas in Cozumel now. This is a very strange thing. Because, boas never inhabited Cozumel 30 years ago. The question is, where did they come from?Many biologists tried to find an answer to this question. Some theories suggested that the boas swam across the sea from the mainland to the island. But, that is a very rare possibility. Another theory would be, a female boa which was about to give birth might hav come to the island on a log. However, the trade winds in the region blow from Cozumel towards the mainland Mexico. Trade winds never change their direction of flow. So, even this possibility can be discarded.
However, some natives hinted towards a movie that was shot on the island in 1971. Many animals were used for the movie. On further investigation, it was found that 6 boas were used for the movie and after the movie was shot, the man who was incharge of the animals released the snakes on the island itself. A female boa can give birth to around 40 offsprings in a year. This means that a simple mistake made by the man incharge of the animals has affected Cozumel's entire bio-diversity. Why I am telling all this to you is for a simple reason.Man and nature have to learn to co-exist. Nature will flourish without man. But, man cannot exist without nature. Man is on the apex of the pyramid(and George W. Bush is at its tip) and if the tip breaks off, the rest of the pyramid will stand but if the base of the pyramid is destroyed, nor will its tip stand erect. We have to learn from the above disaster in Cozumel, that we should not do anything that may affect the biodiversity of a place. So, the next time you pick up anything that belongs to the nature, please return it back to the place where you found it or the place it belongs to. Misplace could be hazardous not only to the animal but also to you.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
The superior breed!
Ever since I have opted for engineering, I have made few inferences about this wierd community of people called the engineering students who seem to be talking tech stuff for the first time but later you learn that they are talking crap.
I don't know why, but engineering students always have a feeling of superiority over other students. We believe that we are the better breed of social animals. Even I have had this feeling at times. "BComwale to kuch nahi hain yaar, apan log to engineering kar rahe hain. Wo log to padhte hi nahi." We usually keep comparing ourselves to commerce students, BSc students and arts students. But when medical students crop up, our feet tread backwards, "Yeh medicalwale log to saal bhar sirf padhte rehte hain. Apan dekh padhte bhi hain aur masti bhi karte hain. Balance hona chahiye"
The funny part is, during the judgement days, I mean the submission days, we are so fed up with our lives that we keep saying, "Kaash apan log ne bhi BCom ya BSc kar liya hota!" without realizing that we cursed those very BCom and BSc students with friends. The one month long submissions feel as if joining engineering were the worst decisions we had ever made in our entire lives. Mental pressure and pain in fingers due to writing journals. We engineering students are known to complete our journals and assignments on the last day of submission. So, a semester long of tit-bits pile up into a huge mountain.
The submission times are a havoc. One person completes one journal and forgets about it, because the rest of the class borrows the journal for copying the experiments! After a month long submission tension its time for the bigger tension. The Exams. 20 to 25 days is usually provided as preparatory leave. But we engineering students study only for a week in the end and pass gracefully.
We are true engineering students. Semester long masti, and a month of submission and exams. We know how to manage time really well. We always meet our deadlines! Come what may, we make sure that we have had our part of entertainment. I don't know if you would understand how it feels to us. But I bet a true engineer would!
I don't know why, but engineering students always have a feeling of superiority over other students. We believe that we are the better breed of social animals. Even I have had this feeling at times. "BComwale to kuch nahi hain yaar, apan log to engineering kar rahe hain. Wo log to padhte hi nahi." We usually keep comparing ourselves to commerce students, BSc students and arts students. But when medical students crop up, our feet tread backwards, "Yeh medicalwale log to saal bhar sirf padhte rehte hain. Apan dekh padhte bhi hain aur masti bhi karte hain. Balance hona chahiye"
The funny part is, during the judgement days, I mean the submission days, we are so fed up with our lives that we keep saying, "Kaash apan log ne bhi BCom ya BSc kar liya hota!" without realizing that we cursed those very BCom and BSc students with friends. The one month long submissions feel as if joining engineering were the worst decisions we had ever made in our entire lives. Mental pressure and pain in fingers due to writing journals. We engineering students are known to complete our journals and assignments on the last day of submission. So, a semester long of tit-bits pile up into a huge mountain.
The submission times are a havoc. One person completes one journal and forgets about it, because the rest of the class borrows the journal for copying the experiments! After a month long submission tension its time for the bigger tension. The Exams. 20 to 25 days is usually provided as preparatory leave. But we engineering students study only for a week in the end and pass gracefully.
We are true engineering students. Semester long masti, and a month of submission and exams. We know how to manage time really well. We always meet our deadlines! Come what may, we make sure that we have had our part of entertainment. I don't know if you would understand how it feels to us. But I bet a true engineer would!
The superior breed
Friday, June 15, 2007
Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine - The lead guitarist and vocalist of one of the greatest thrash metal bands "MEGADETH"
The best riffs I have ever seen have come out of his fingertips. This guy by what I have read, is a man full of attitude. When I heard Megadeth for the first time, I didn't know that singing Mustaine songs would be difficult. But God save me! He has a very high pitch. It really gives me a headache to sing in his pitch. As far as playing the Guitar goes, you can simply call him the Guitar God! Playing the signature Mustaine riffs and singing in the signature Musataine pitch is not simple. Infact it is not easy at all. There are people who can do it. But no one good enough to stand toe to toe with Mustaine.
The best riffs I have ever seen have come out of his fingertips. This guy by what I have read, is a man full of attitude. When I heard Megadeth for the first time, I didn't know that singing Mustaine songs would be difficult. But God save me! He has a very high pitch. It really gives me a headache to sing in his pitch. As far as playing the Guitar goes, you can simply call him the Guitar God! Playing the signature Mustaine riffs and singing in the signature Musataine pitch is not simple. Infact it is not easy at all. There are people who can do it. But no one good enough to stand toe to toe with Mustaine.
I read somewhere that he had broken his hand and he learnt playing guitars all over again. He asked his tutor to teach him scales. The tutor was stunned. Mustaine played him some solos and his tutor told him that he played Pentatonics. If self taught guitarists can be so good, I guess i should stop learning from a teacher myself. But nevermind, he is The Dave Mustaine. He is a gifted human being. Gifted with a wonderful voice, great guitar playing skills and loads of attitude.
For those of you who didn't know, Mustaine played with Metallica long back. James Hettfeild kicked him out due to ego problems. Mustaine formed Megadeth to kick some Metallica rear. I bet if he stayed with Metallica any longer it would be him kicking Lars and James out! All hail Dave Mustaine and may Mustainisms live forever!!!!!
Jinju -The name
Well, many of my friends ask me why my name is Jinju. Well I was born in New Delhi. There lived these lovely people in the neighbouring flat. Mr. Krishanmurthy whom I fondly called "kichchamulthy mama" n Mr. Lakshmi Krishnamurthy whom I called "Lachmi mami" because I couldn't pronounce properly. Well, mami n mama have been like family to us ever since my parents shifted to the flat in Delhi. Mami used to take more care of me than my mother, atleast thats what my mom confesses. And not to forget that I was a very good boy back then and I have never troubled her, not that I am not one now. So when I was born, I don't know what struck mami's mind that she nicknamed me Jinju. I really don't know what it means. And I bet even she doesn't.
Ever since then, there had been a strange grin on my face when anybody asked me what Jinju meant. I was passing through this "What does my nickname mean?" crisis. But last year, things began to change. My sister, sent me an e-mail of something called an ego-search. Well, for those who are ignorant as I was back then, ego-search is basically googling your name. Trust me, it feels so good that it deserves to be called ego search.
I totally forgot about this e-mail. Just a month back the mail struck back to my mind. I began searching Jinju on Google. And believe it or not, there is this cool city in Korea which is called..... u guessed right "Jinju". Oh my God! This thing was really cool!! Moreover, the city's got a sword dance which was designated as an asset on 16th January, thats my birthday! What a coincidence! This city's even got natural history. Its got fossilized dinosaurs and stuff. Jinju is such an ancient name. I bet even mami doesn't know this.
Now I think that if I go to this city, I will be treated like a King. But never mind, I am Ganapati. I am GOD here.
Ever since then, there had been a strange grin on my face when anybody asked me what Jinju meant. I was passing through this "What does my nickname mean?" crisis. But last year, things began to change. My sister, sent me an e-mail of something called an ego-search. Well, for those who are ignorant as I was back then, ego-search is basically googling your name. Trust me, it feels so good that it deserves to be called ego search.
I totally forgot about this e-mail. Just a month back the mail struck back to my mind. I began searching Jinju on Google. And believe it or not, there is this cool city in Korea which is called..... u guessed right "Jinju". Oh my God! This thing was really cool!! Moreover, the city's got a sword dance which was designated as an asset on 16th January, thats my birthday! What a coincidence! This city's even got natural history. Its got fossilized dinosaurs and stuff. Jinju is such an ancient name. I bet even mami doesn't know this.Now I think that if I go to this city, I will be treated like a King. But never mind, I am Ganapati. I am GOD here.
Pictures from top to bottom
1.A picture of the city
2.Sword Dance of Jinju-si
3.A three storeyed Pagoda in the city
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