Monthly Archive for March, 2008

What preparation?

Published on March 31, 2008 in Sikkim and hopes & 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 on March 24, 2008 in Sikkim. 17 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 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 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 on March 17, 2008 in Gender blender. 7 Comments

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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 on March 17, 2008 in MTV Roadies. 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 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.

Answer the following:

Published on March 11, 2008 in From here & there. 9 Comments Tags: .

I got this mail from my friend. Its actually a tag thing but again, I’m useless at tagging. Please feel free to utilize the questions for yourself and let me know so I can know your weirdness too.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6 am. And I did nothing. Then I went and put on a DVD but missed the ending because I had to leave for work.

2. Diamonds or pearls? Are you kidding me? I never want a diamond after watching that crazy Blood Diamond film. Then again, if anyone actually wants to gift me one, I’ll be glad to change my beliefs instantly.

3. When’s the last movie you saw at the cinema? Taare Zameen Par, I guess. Lets not get started on my memory; I dont even know what I did two days back.

4. What is your favourite TV show? F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Could it BE anymore apparent?

5. What is your middle name? Geongmit. Thats my mum’s name.

6. What food do you dislike? Chinese. Almost every restaurant here in Sikkim is a Chinese one. And thats not even an authentic Chinese one – rather a mixture of Indian Chinese cuisine that I’m sick & tired of by now.

7. What is your favourite CD? Whatever my brother gives me to listen. He’s also a base player in his band. Last two CDs he gave me were of Joe Satriani and John Mayer which I both loved.

8. What kind of car do you drive? Zen LXI 2007. A 28th self-birthday present. Presently suffering from bouts of reckless driving otherwise ok.

9. Favourite sandwich? Long time since I had one but tuna, anyday.

10. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go? I have been thinking about this question frequently and still havent come up with an answer. Maybe Los Angeles, for the casinos.

11. Favourite holiday? New Year!!!

12. Where would you retire? I have to retire?

13. What was your most memorable birthday? 19th. These 20’s always remind me I’m getting near my 30’s.

14. Favourite sport to watch? To watch, being the operating word. Cricket and tennis in no particular order.

15. Favourite saying? You live, you learn.

16. When is your birthday? June 21, 1979

17. Are you a morning or a night person? Where’s the noon option??

18. Pets? Winkie Poo, Labrador, female, yellow, 17 months, apple of my eye & idiot of the house.

19. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us? You mean, any good news? Not yet.

20. What did you want to be when you were little? A despotic dictator. What about you?

21. How are you today? Same old same old.

22. Favourite candy? Chloromint. Thats the only one you get here in our canteen.

23. Favourite flower? Orchids. Strange, you’d think one would get used to all the orchids in every nook and corner of Sikkim by now.

24. What is a day on the calender you are looking forward to?  1st of every month. Pay day.

25. What was the last thing that you ate? Lunch. My turn to pay this time. 80 bucks for three people. I see why people like dhabas.

26. Do you wish on stars? Not in a long time.

27. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?  Pink.

28. How is the weather right now? God, its getting hotter by the day. I need to install an AC at my house.

29. Favourite soft drink?  System file not found. Press OK to continue.

30. Favourite restaurant? Little Italy, Gangtok. My brother’s band plays there and I’m hoping for a discount next time I go there.

31. Siblings? Two, my brother and a little sister called Joy who recently turned six. Her birthday cake was delicious.

32. Favourite day of the year? Sunday. Nothing beats lazy sunday afternoons.

33. What was your favourite toy as a child? Tobu cycle – A three wheeled red cycle-cum-car that I used to ride in the backyard.

34. Summer or winter? Summer, anytime. Near the beach although no swimming please. Would drown in water.

35. Hugs or kisses? *Hugs*

36. Coffee or tea? None. Not my kind of drink.

37. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate. For a while. Then vanilla. And then back to chocolate.

38. When was the last time you cried? Watching ‘My best friend’s wedding’ on TV for the nth time. I guess it was a hormonal thing.

39. What is under your bed? Dust. My maid cleans when I direct her to.

40.  What friend have you had the longest? Rikzing, since we were both one year old.

41. What did you do last night? Investigated a crime. Went to the scene to speak to the witness who had harboured the fugitive and finally came back home to eat left over food from the fridge. I’m not kidding.

42. What are you afraid of? The Dark.

43. How many keys on your ring? Added one more key yesterday, that makes it three… no wait, four.

44. How many years at your current address? 2 years

45. How many towns have you lived in? Counting… 4, I think.

46. Do you make friends easily? I’d like to think so. Making friends isnt a big deal… keeping them is what that counts. Dont you think?

Dear MTV. Cc: Raghu

Published on March 10, 2008 in MTV Roadies. 8 Comments Tags: , , , .

I’m your loyal viewer. In fact, I watch each Roadies episode every saturday and then also the re-runs the remaining days of the week. But I have to say – I’m now getting a tad impatient with Roadies 5.0. Let me tell you why:

  1. I dont understand half the things Ashutosh says. As to why he suddenly started crying in the middle of last week’s show – god only knows why.
  2. The game isnt going International only. Or was the original headline – Roadies 5.0: The game goes international only after seven people get voted out?
  3. Clever bit of manoeuvre keeping the Undesirables in the show to create more controversies, thereby generating more interest. But at what cost? So that people like Ankita get voted out? Hardly fair, even if Roadies 5.0 isnt all about fair play.
  4. Not another cat-fight. Arent you people sick of all the bickering or is it only me?
  5. Anmol complaining all the time. God, even I dont complain that much.
  6. Sonel. I wonder if Snehashish was right about her being an airhead.

These were the pros, if you can call them that:

  1. Shambhavi finally defending herself – thank god!! I mean, she stopped acting like an injured puppy and had the guts to bare it all. Good for her. Cant say the same for Nihal but who’s interested!
  2. Prabhjot’s revenge-seeking mission. A word of advice though – just please dont get voted out yourself in the process.
  3. Ayaz’s cute smile. He’s the only guy I find honest and someone I like very much on the show, besides Rannvijay of course.

Please take the game international already as well as add subtitles for Ashu, for which I will be very grateful.

Signed.

Reference: Dear Raghu part 3 which asks a very important question that needs answers.

What aim?

Published on March 7, 2008 in You live, you learn. 7 Comments

An interesting thing happened today. Karma Paljor, anchor of the Breakfast News on CNN IBN visited my Institute along with his wife and the duo journalists addressed the students on passion and motivation that forms one’s prospective careers in life as it happens. They also screened a short film showcasing the fast pace of life in some of the busiest locations in the the world such as New York and Japan and then asked what the film meant to different people. The answers ranged from ‘life is very busy’ (highly influenced by the Acer-makes-it-easy ad, no doubt) to the absurd ‘there are no illiterate people in the film’… whatever that meant.

I thought to myself – I feel very insignificant after watching this film and I understood that even if I wasnt there, the world moves at such a fast pace that there’ll be another replacement in no time because such is the story of life. It was a very humbling realization and given an opportunity to re-think one’s own value, I guess you get to find out that maybe you arent all that important as much as you’d think or feel.

The lady spoke about having an aim in life and then proceeding towards achieving that particular aim. Now normally thats standard advice that I’m expert at listening through one ear and sieving out through the other. But this time, I found myself asking – what is my aim? And I was floored to realize that I didnt have any.

So now I need to find an aim in life. Ah, you learn something new everyday.

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