Monthly Archive for March, 2008

What preparation?

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 31, 2008
in Sikkim and hopes and dreams
. 10 Comments

I might as well tell what I’ve been upto.

The state government of Sikkim has finally (as in finally finally) declared the examination dates for the post of Under Secretary. Unfailingly, this always reminds me of Dolores Umbridge in the Potter books. Also I can safely say that about four or five thousand applicants are anxiously studying with all they got for 40 posts. Thats right, forty - F as in forty, O as in orty, R as in rty, T as in ty and Y as in - you bet the chances are slim, allright.

There’s the English and General Knowledge paper on 12th of April. Then I have additional subjects of Physics and Electrical Engineering whose syllabus looks more & more tougher day by day. Yes, my being an Electronics lecturer will help tremendously but it remains to be seen if it will finally save the day.

Almost all of my other colleagues have opted for their own engineering subject and Sociology as the additional subject. Apparently the syllabus for Sociology was only one paragraph so everyone thought they could nail it with minimum effort. I, on the other hand was either very wise or very stupid to opt for Physics, since I thought I could not risk going along with an entirely new subject.

Lets see how it goes. Oh, and also if I dont talk about this anymore in the months to come - cause thats how long it takes to get the result - I probably didnt make it and we’ll leave it at that.

International Florishow, Gangtok

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 24, 2008
in Sikkim
. 15 Comments

The International Florishow was held on 14th to 16th March 2008 at Saramsa Gardens, Gangtok. It was inaugurated by the chief guest, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of National Planning Commission.

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Exhibition stalls in sync with the environment

Several high profile guests included star footballer and Sikkim’s own national football team captain, Bhaichung Bhutia as well as the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Dr Pawan Chamling accompanied by his cabinet ministers, MLA’s and senior officials from the state administration.

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My favourite red

The theme of the event was  “Sikkim: nature’s own garden”. Accordingly, Saramsa Garden was decked up with over 50,000 varieties of flowers like Cineraria, Petunia, Pansy, Aster, Primula etc other than orchids. Apart from the Flower Exhibition cum competition, the three day event also hosted an Internal Conference, Buyer-Seller Meet and various cultural Programmes.

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Sikkim: Nature’s own garden

Hundreds of coordinators and equally numerous volunteers, including students contributed to make the Florishow a success. Paintings of students from their respective schools adorned the walls of the 7-acre garden.

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Classic orchids

Four Wi-Fi systems were placed in four different corners of the garden and internet facilities were provided free of cost to all media persons. Sound systems were camouflaged in all corners of the garden that played soothing music for the entertainment for the general public.

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Amazing yellow

Internationally acclaimed flutist Shri Hari Prasad Chaurasia performed an enthralling rendition on the final day much to the delight of the audience present who were left spell bound by what was indeed an experience of a lifetime.

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 Dont know whats it called but look at the thorns!

Photograph courtesy: Tenzing Dorjee Pradhan, ATTC

Luncheon

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 20, 2008
in Life as it happens
. 10 Comments

The time is 1:10 pm. My phone rings as expected. Jimmy calling.

Me: Yeah?
Jimmy:  Where are you??? Its time for lunch. What are you doing? Blogging? Always online!!! Hurry up, we’re all waiting for -
Me: Ok! Ok! Coming.

I reach the lobby where three hungry people await me, or rather my car keys.

Jimmy: Always late! Lets go. I’m so hungry, my eye balls are about to pop.
Me: Here are the keys. You drive.
Jimmy: I dont want to. You drive yourself.
Me: Drive, idiot!
Jimmy: Okay, auntie.

Everyone gets into the car. Off we go with music at full blast. Bebot bebot be.

Robin: Where to?
Me: I dont know. Whose turn is it today?
(Everybody): Its not my turn.
Me: Jimmy, dont lie. Last time it was your turn, you conveniently stayed absent. So that means today is yours.

After clearing the confusion surrounding whose turn it is to pay, we head towards a joint that we somewhat frequent. While ordering lunch, we have a hard time catching the waiter’s attention.

Jimmy: Waiter, this table’s dirty. Can you clean it fast?
Robin: Could you bring us some water to drink?

Waiter pretends not to hear.

Me: This is what happens when you stupidly leave one rupee as a tip, like the last time.
Jimmy: He asked for it! I was deliberately trying to insult him after such poor service!
Robin: I thought we were never going to eat here after that incident…
Me: Sshhh… here he comes.

Lunch is served. Waiter’s face is impassive. Hard to make out if he remembers about last time.

Me: You know, Jimmy - that guy probably sneezed on your food. Heh.
Jimmy: Please, just eat and dont talk nonsense.
Robin: (Laughs) Hey, he forgot to serve the salad.
Jimmy: Waiter! Bring some nimbu-simbu over here??
Me: Yeah, he’ll probably pick up some Simbu from the kitchen and serve that to you.

Bill time. We hurriedly exit towards the counter in order to avoid the waiter and to pay the bill directly.

Robin: I’ll pay the bill today ok. Jimmy, you can pay tomorrow.
Jimmy: Whatever.
Me: How come???
Robin: Sshhh… the guy at the counter thought we ate only one fried fish each instead of two. Bill’s only 140 bucks. Lets get the hell out of here.

The single life

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 19, 2008
in Life as it happens
. 9 Comments

Since my better half’s out of town for a week, I’m currently in my third day of the single life. I cant say I havent thought about how it would be if I were single again and this was my big chance to find out.

Day 1: Get back to an empty house. No more making tea every evening wasnt all that much of a consolation as I thought it would be. Visited the hostel and chatted with the cooks before dinner.

Cook: So you’re going to be alone tonight? Arent you afraid?

Me: Naah, I got Winkie, havent I? (Smile)

Back home, watch TV for a while, finish dinner and feel drowsy. The conversation suddenly replayed in my head and thats when the Arent you afraid? part came back to haunt me big time. Couldnt sleep at all. Went back to watching TV till 1 am, then tried sleeping. Woke up at 2 am. Slept. Woke up at 3 am. Slept. Heard strange noises in the night. Went and kicked Winkie who was sleeping peacefully on the couch, the bitch!

Day 2: Back to an empty house. Play a computer game, listen to music, eat dinner and plan to watch the HBO 9 pm movie. Fall asleep by 9:30 pm.

Day 3: Start feeling starved for human company. Its no use. I’m set in my ways. The single life’s not what I thought it would be.

Big Picture

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 17, 2008
in Gender blender
. 7 Comments

cruella.jpg

I know someone who always counsels young people by saying - “We live in such a society which always has a tolerant attitude towards men but never to a woman.”

Then he goes on to say, “If tomorrow I were to smoke, drink and basically make an ass of myself in public, people will brush it off as a Man thing. But if she”, after which he proceeds to point towards me - “were to do it, people would say she’s a tramp who indulges in ungodly habits. Thats the nature of our society.”

Whether I think he’s trying to nail home any other point is immaterial, I guess. As long as the message gets delivered loud and clear to the target audience. Happy to be the Nearly Labeled Tramp example, no problem.

So-called Roadies

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 17, 2008
in Roadies 5.0
. 3 Comments

Prabhjot: They… wanted to… vote me out… from the… very beginning. I’m like… their enemy.

This was your big revenge plan??? Getting voted out yourself!?! Tough luck, girl. If the only thing you’re going to miss about Roadies is the bike, might as well pester your folks to buy you a Karizma, a red one and that will be that.

Anmol: All these people are such *beep*. I dont like anyone. They irritate the *beep* out of me. More *beep*.

Dear Snob, all talk and no action isnt Roadies material. Acting bitchy and snooty reflects major insecurity on your side more than your inability to perform well on most tasks.

Shambhavi:I’m hot, you’re not. I’m popular and guys flirt with me more than anyone else. I’m Little Miss Sunshine and the most innocent girl in the whole world, even as I scheme to get ahead in the game by latching on to the nearest possible guy.

Best Actress in a Negative Role in a reality series. Raghu’s pet has survived so long because of her male link-ups. How far will you run? I’m going to throw a major party here when you finally get voted out, you *beep*.

Nihal:Who should I do first - Shambhavi or Anmol?

Shiver me timbers, lad. Where the hell’s your stamina? Last time it was your thick jeans, before that, it was loose jeans. Are you really a Roadie? Are you sick of people asking these same questions to you all the time? Hard to believe if you say you dont give a fart!

Ashutosh: Mumble… mumble…mumble…

How come he’s loyal to Shambhavi’s side? Whats going on??? Where the hell are the subtitles???

Ayaz: (The guy with the neatest smile. Cant think of writing anything derogatory for him)

Voting out Prabhjot was smart. Now vote out Ashu next. He’s your enemy for god’s sake man!

Bad week

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 14, 2008
in No good
. 7 Comments

This has not been a good week. Almost everything that could go wrong, did. Two of my plans backfired right in my face and I will now have to think of new ways of what to do with the collateral damage. I realized I dont understand certain comments, even with comment moderation enabled and end up deleting them for want of a better solution. To top it up, I attacked my own Vampire in FaceBook twice in two days and couldnt attack anyone after that.

Thank god in heaven its finally Friday.