Smell of Love in the air...

Today I was riding from home to office, and suddenly a Bullet whizzed past me. There is something captivating about that bike - may it be the old world charm, may it be the 'king of the road' feel you get when you ride it, or may it be the thump - there is no bike to replace the good old Bullet.

After listening to the thump for some time, i thought today I will blog about the start of my love affair with bullets. And then i read about another love affair at Doc Akkis page today morning.

I still remember the first day when I rode bullet as a pillion. It was the day when my dad’s grandmother passed away. I and my mom were at my mom’s home - about 70 km far from my dads place, and i was a kid. There was no frequent bus service, so dad's cousin Roy came to pick me and my mom, and he came on a Bullet - a Black one. I rode all the way, sitting on the tank, and man - that ride hooked me. The feeling of wind on my face, the deep thump and the feeling of being on top of the world.

But it took lot of time before i swung my legs across a bull next time - it was again as a pillion. I waited patiently, knowing that no other bike can satisfy my urge. Years flew past, I started riding out, and changed quite a number of two-smokers and then one day, during my PUC, one guy challenged me that, if I can kick start his bullet, i can take a ride. Little did the guy knew that he was provoking a bullet fan - two half kicks with the decomp down and a third definite kick, and the red beast roared into life. And I rode the bullet for first time. Strangely, I never felt it awkward or out of place - the right side gear shift/ left side break arrangement. I somehow always feel more comfortable riding a bullet than riding any other bike.

After that day on the Red Bike, lot of miles passed under the seat, and till date, I am hooked to her big time. No other bike evokes the feeling a Bullet evokes, and no other bikes allow me the satisfaction of getting close to the bike as a Bullet offers me. Now, after almost ten years of biking, after changing the saddle for more than a dozen times, I still skip my heart whenever I come across a bullet.

These are the two beauties adorning my garage now, other than the ever trustworthy steed – Jeevs. The first one is Arwen, she is 1976 model and the second one – Kochupennu, is 1996 model. Both are Standard 350CC Royal Enfield Bullets.

A different meme

I took this from prats page. This is a meme, but a little bit serious and different. There are 10 points, and you are supposed to elaborate on each point. Here goes my interpretation.

1) It is important to be liked by others :Hmm...no. Nope, it is not important to be liked by others:
it is more important to be liked by yourself and be happy adn content. People can please some people for most of the time, most people for some of the time, but no one can please all the people for all the time. So, don’t give a damn about what others think - do what you want to do, and live your life exactly in the way you want to live. After all, it is your life. Be true to yourself, and don’t try to alter yourself so that people will like you.

2) Obedience is a virtue:
Really? Who says? Not me. Stand up, question. Say what you feel like. Unquestioned obedience is mark of a coward, I say. If you see injustice, or if you feel that you are being treated wrongly, stand up and question. Question the person, question the system, but never let it go in silence.

3) People are not malicious but they become so because of bad experiences or
circumstances:
People are good. Some are less good than some others. No one is definitely bad. Different people may react in different ways to certain situations, which I believe, is the outcome of the circumstances of their life. There is good in each and every human being. In some, it is deep buried.

4) Education broadens our view and makes people more humane:
Well, education is supposed to do so, but I can’t say with confidence that it is achieved. I have seen people who have become proud coz they belong to some elite institute or coz they did some amazing course, but on the other hand, I have come across down to earth people who have been studied in some of the most premier institutes. So, it is down to personal values. Education is a spring. Some people drink to quench their thirst, some just washes their face, some
just takes a zip and some, muddles the water...

5) People who have no money troubles are happier:
Well, the guy who told this sure knows where to shop for happiness. Money troubles are only a small part of troubles. Having no money troubles doesn’t guarantee a peaceful life. Money is not even a big thing in life. It is just a tool to achieve things.

6) As people get older they get wiser:
It depends. For some guys, wisdom comes at an early age, but for some, it never comes. Wisdom is not linked with age, but with experiences one go through and circumstances one have to endure. So, nope, people mat not necessary get wiser as they become old. But yeah, they can become more senile as they become old ;-)

7) You can live on love and fresh air:
Love and fresh air - well, then how will I ride my bike? Love and fresh air makes a beautiful, pristine world, but you need some more ingredients to live life. If you have got air to breath and only love to eat, life will become monotonous. Nightingale sings very well, but if it was only nightingale who sings in jungle, then the charm of jungle would have been long lost.

8) There is a celestial guardian angel looking after each one of us:
As Calvin says - there out to be some one out there to get me. On a serious note - yeah, i do believe that. Some power - some people call it GOD, some call it fate and some chose to ignore it - but some power is there which look after us.

9) All living beings reincarnate.
I don’t believe in this. The concept of re-incarnation is something I don’t believe. So, I leave it there. I don’t want to comment on something which I don’t know.

10) Heaven and Hell are places you go to after death.
Heaven and hell are places you create while you are alive. There is a saying in Malayalam, which roughly translates to 'Itz we who builds heaven and hell for us'. If we are happy and content, life is a heaven for us, but if we are not, we live in hell. Every man is responsible for his deeds. In the same way, every man is responsible to decide whether he should live in heaven or hell.

Ps: wherever i have used Guy/Man etc, they stands for both guys and gals. No
view expressed is gender specific.
Thank you prats, for providing me something to rant on.
I tag Shalini, kuttibalu,Ceedy,LJ, Shanu, Meghz, Lena and Priya. I would really appreciate to read your responses.

Tagged - again...

Was tagged by ceedy. here it goes....
1) What if the world suddenly decided to rotate in the other direction? (
question by Ceedy)well, i will just call it a day ;-)
2) Name Three Most Valuable Assets? (raaji's Question)Tangible Assets :
My Bikes, Camera and Friends
Intangible Assets :Belive in selfcourage to question and alterStrenth to fight
3) If you have the chance, what would you probably say to your beloved one?You are there in my mind, always.
4) If you were to be stranded on a deserted island, who are the 3 blog buddies
you would take with you?Sophia - she can make sense out of the most senseless situationsGineesh - I missed him out during my college days, and i want to make it up.Sinh(Swapna) - She can make the island a garden :)
5) Where is the place that you want to go the most?Trail riding - no matter where exactly the palce is - you dont need to know the
place to get lost...
6) If you can have 1 dream to come true, what would it be?Ride ride and still ride till i drop dead, without bothering about anything
else in my life.
7) Till now, what is the moment that you regret the most?No regrets.
8) What are you afraid to lose the most?Nothing. If i lose something, I can always fight to get it back - or let it go
and get something better :)
9) What would you do if you found a briefcase full of money?It depends - if that money is mine by right, go and get the best bike I can
afford, along with some good biking gear. If it is not my money, then somehow
find out whoz it is and give it back.
10) If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to him/her?Confession - nope. I dont have anything to confess :)
11) List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you
hm.. dunno ceedy personaly. like his posts, and his scribblings. he can write
really well.
12) What are the requirements that you wish from your other half?Just be herself, and let me be myself.
13) Which type of person do you hate the most?I dont hate people.
14) What is your ambition?Live life Happily.
15) What is the thing that will make you think someone is a bad person?depends on circumstances. Mostly, it is their actions.
16) If you could do one thing different in life, what would it be?Nothing. i am happy as it is.
17) Something which made u laugh today (pri's question)a telephone conversation with my friend S.
18) How do you deal with a friend who has wronged you ? (cinderella's question)If i am angry at them, give them a piece of my mind. Then go and shake hands
and tell them that it dosen't matter. If i am not angry at them, then sahke
hands and tell them that it dosen't matter.
19) How important is love for you to get physically intimate with a person ? Be
honest here. Not rational.(cinderella's question)Not importent. Physical attraction can happen without emotional attraction.
20) Name one favorite song of yours. (Ceedy guess Solitaires question)It is a obscure one from a malayalam movie - Siddratha - the song is 'Chandran
Mohicha penne' (which means the girl who moon loved)
too lazy to tag anyone now... if any of you feel like doing it, most welcome :-D

outdoors calling....

Itz been long time since we - me and Jeevs - went out for a ride. Those who know me will know that ride is something i need to sustain my brain in a somewhat sane level. Nothing freshens up me like a ride when I need some clarity of thought or when my spirits needs a pick me up or when i need to take a break.

I was determined to ride out this Saturday - there was no particular destination, but just an urge to ride, and then Friday night, my friend Praveen called me from out of the blue with a excellent plan - a small ride to a nearby dam reservoir and a full day of angling with some of his buddies.

I took the bait without even blinking, and Saturday morning i found me sitting in Praveen’s bedroom, arranging the backpacks and tackle for the days trip. Before 8 we rolled from his home, and Jeevs was all eager to attack any deserted patch of tarmac which we came across. But the fun didn’t really start until we took the turn from state highway - suddenly we found ourselves on a single lane winding country road. I was as happy as i could be - nice early morning breeze and a country road snaking through villages - I almost screamed 'country roads take me home' on top of my voice.
En-route Binu and Prakash caught up with us, and we stopped at Ramohalli for some snacks and to tank up our supplies. From there, the road soon became a trail and i was happy taking Jeevs through the loose gravel and dirt. Suddenly, after a turn, out of nowhere, this view greeted us.




By the time me and Praveen came back after obtaining the necessary permits for angling, Binu and Prakash did the ground baiting and was ready with their tackles and hand lines. Man, these guys are really into angling, and know their stuff really well. we spend a whole day out in the wilderness, and i did some pretty good trail riding - even did some water crossing and mud slinging and by 4.30, we called it a day and came back to Bangalore. Spend the rest of the day with my friends - nothing beats it when you are with your friends - and retired to bed by 11, after a superb outdoor day.
Some more pics from the trip:







click here to see more photos...

Kerala trip - Phto Bloh

Some pictures from my recent Kerala trip... Photos takes in and around Veli (TVM)











See more pics here.

...

I don’t ask for forgiveness
nor do i ask for acceptance
just want to say that
i have bared my soul
and i don’t have anything to hide
the pain is excruciating
the pain of hurting you
and being betrayed by own foolishness
only if i had a time machine
no arguments to offer, no proof to show
other than my word, and my integrity
i know i am asking for a lot
and trust don’t grow on trees
i miss you, J.

Whatz happening?

Itz been around one week since i read any of your blogs - one week of no blog
reading, no commenting, no new blogs, no reply to comments on my blog and worst
- no mails and call backs to my friends - whatz up with me?

Nothing. it is just that i am going through a frenzied activity period at my
company - which leaves me energy drained by the time i call it day so when i
reach home, what i do is just cook a meal, read some pages and sleep. no
energy left to boot my pc and read blogs. at office, no free time to take a
sneak peak into the blog world.
Please bear with me friends - gimme two more
weeks and i hope i will be back to the earlier stage :-)

Other than this, last week i got myself a new life guard - an AVG Pacific in
black color.
I am leaving to my home - Kerala - today afternoon, and plan to be
back by Wednesday morning. There is a around 300 km bike trip on cards - Itz
been long time since i have gone for a trip, so, I am crossing my fingers for
this Sunday.
I will be back with pics and ride log if that ride happens. And
what more – I will be riding a immaculately kept old 500CC Enfield all the way.
Whoopiee…

btw, i have got lods fo shover of love from many fellow bloggers - thanx for all teh awards - it really made my day. i am really sorry that i cannot post them now - but when i am back, i will take them up and post. a HUGE hug to all you...

chalo friends, now time for me to get back to more keyboard bashing. Need to
catch da train by afternoon. I will be back (terminator istyale ;) )

TZP

saw TZP yesterday. not planning to write a review...
only one line - Go and watch it.
and yeah, if you have a kid, take him/her along.
I think this is a must watch movie for all parent-kids....
took me back to the memory lane.. and made my eyes watery at times...

five links meme

I have been tagged by Kuttibalu to list five of my favorite links.

Google (google search, Google Reader and Gmail) - the one stop search/infotainment/mail shop.

Wikipedia - stop here for anything from salt to camphor

Blogger - where we all meet for a cup of virtual cofee

MSDN - not particulerly fond of, but cant escape as long as I work of a M$ partner company who uses only M$ things.

Rearset - for all the happening news @ Indian 2 wheeler industry
Now, i tag Lena, Nomadic dreamer, Meghz, Sahlini and Aarthi. Now, it is your turn to pass it on.. :-)

Rules (c&p from KuttiBalu's blog)

I thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen! )
They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…
There are Five Rules:
1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.
2. Only FIVE links.
3. MUST tell 5 people.
4. A link back to the person who tagged you ;)
5. Lara’s Place is the meme originator. ;) (an active link is appreciated)

anotehr one in my kitty :)

well well, this year it seems that awards are raining.. i am really happy to get another award - this time, from Shalini. thanks a lot, shalini - for the award.

now, time for me to pass it around. I have come across many thought provoking blogs here - and two of them - MMI of Shalini and TLR of Lena have already been decorated by this award. Let me pass this awards to Robert,Preeti,Priya and Ceedy. Spred the circle of happiness, friends :)

Let the friendship circle grow...

I was kind of busy at office - it is what most of the people call end of the day but I was here, still working away to glory, and then my cell beeped. Usually when some unknown number flashes @ the tiny screen, i am a bit skeptical thanks to the calls from all these cust. care execs.

The voice was cracking, and when the called identified him as 'Shanu' I was really clueless, but the moment he told ‘nomadicdreamer’ i recognized him, but before actually we started talking, he got another call and i kept the tweety down. After some more hours of head banging with some unruly, ruffian, un-civilized (PS: enough of this name calling, get on the subject, u stupid) network issue, I peeped out of my cube for some fresh air, and called Shanu back.

After the usual hi-how-r-u stuff, we quickly decided to catch up the same day, and by around 9.30, i found myself comfortably stretched on his beanbag, munching some lovely cake made by his granny :-D
believe it or not - the first thing we did after the usual -hi-how-r-u is to start arguing - me a Ferrari fan and he a McLaren fan, and soon, the room was filled with sparks and flames... but still, i believe Schumi is god of speed, Shanu :-D

We didn’t take any time to break ice - there was not much ice to break, blame it on the blog world :-D we hopped from F1 to photoshopping to rides to tech to business to partying and man, i almost lost track of time. and yeah, we also played carIQ on facebook ;). Had to break the meeting and get back on the saddle of Jeevs to reach home, so said good bye promising that we will meet soon again... and I hope to keep that word. Thanks for the wonderful time, Shanu.

a pleasent surprise...

What a way to start a new year than spreading joy and love.. Today morning when i opened my Google reader for my daily dose of blogs, little did i know that I was going to get a pleasant surprise. Lena, you just made my day with the award.

Few days into the blogspot - around 75 days of active blogging here and 69 posts (the first one was in july - when i calimed my stake @ this place, but i staretd active blogging from october 20)- and I already feel like I should have joined the force long time back. I used to blog at yahoo 360 earlier, but the place lost itz charm and then i was looking for some new place to host my new blogs - and among options of blogspot, wordpress, multiply and hosting my blog on my own website, i chose blogspot. And boy, I am happy to be bumped into lot of good pages here, and my dormancy of blogging became a tale of past....

I love spending time here, and my only grouse is that i don’t get enough time to spend here. All the blogs i keep checking are not in my blogroll ( i am soo lazy at times) but Google Reader is a great help to keep me posted on new posts.

Now it is my turn to pass this lovely award to some of my fellow bloggers, and from a bouquet of fantastic friends, i am choosing some - LJ, Meghz, Kuttibalu, doc akki, rajani and maddy.

Let the chain grow and let us spread love and happiness....

Wine, olives and no, no cheese.

I have read somewhere about precious evenings you spend with ur close friend where you both don't say any thing to each other but just sit by the fire side and when you leave, you feel like you have spoken what all is there to talk about - this is the kind of new year I had.

I am not a party animal, but of late, i have been to some parties and page 3 events, and for the new year, i got some invitations - some free, some paid but I decided to take a break from my hectic life schedule to be with one of my good friend - Gineesh.

Me and Gin met at a blogging platform almost an year back and became thick friends. he works at Hyderabad, and when he said that he will come to Bangalore for new year, there was nothing more i needed (well, nothing but a bottle of good wine and some snacks)

he reached here by Saturday morning, and we sped the day lazing around at home. we cooked Hyderabadi style chilli chicken and made rice and spend the evening under stars, doing nothing. Sunday we both decided to go and 'see' Strand book sale and eventually end up emptying our purses. After that we went scouting the city for almost rest of the day.

Monday was another lazy day, and evening, we went for a walk to see the 'kolams' designed by families to welcome the new year. came back and sat chatting and lazily browsing TV channels till the clock struck 12.00. by the time it was 12.00, people started busting firecrackers, and many where suddenly on the road, wishing each other happy new year. slept late and got up late, and went to meet some friends. came back, took rest and by 8 pm, i went to drop him at his boarding point to take bus back to Hyderabad.

a simple, quite and calm new year eve - one of the best i ever had. there is nothing more satisfying than spending some quality time with your friends...

A quickie blog

New Year was fantastic - took four days off from my work, and spend time with one of my best friend - a fellow blogger - Gineesh. Will blog about it soon
Posting a pic of what happened when we both just went to 'see' the Strand book festival.

(just want to do a post now, but lot of backlog to clear at work. so this quickie)