Z for Zomato : Love us ? Hate us ? Yell (at) us ?? Tell us !!

Zomato is like Democracy. Its for the people. Of the people. By the people. 

 Zomato (Z) is a user-review page where people gets to decide what’s In & what’s Out of city.

Word-of-mouth is out. Word-of-Zomato is in.The first thing that comes to my tiny head when somebody says “lets go hog” is Z. Even to google, that happens to be the first thing in mind or on internet, So we think alike!! Don’t remember since when I started Z-ing every little place in Bangalore, but through Z searching for food, place, good ambiance, fast – service, I have found answer to many questions in life.

Starting from where to go for best cupcake to the nearest best place for burger.  Been to so many places, clicked so many pictures so far  & finally one fine day, decided I would start helping this world a little, by reviewing my share of places also. Social media is one such thing where anything can get viral & I believe it, by heart.

Some of the features that I personally die for,  in Z be : 

• Searching restaurants location wise – which is my main criteria as we live in a city with such diversions.

  

  You pick your base location - North / South /  East / West

• Wish list is like a dream come true. ( Like icing on cake for a  fat kid who loves cakes)  U put your wish in list & you won’t let that go till you get a chance to visit that place & eat like a yum.raj!!

Got a wish ? 

• The section where management gets to reply to our reviews randomly.

  

  Cue Abba song - Thank for the service 

Common features/reasons of Z you know we love & you know you love, so everybody’s overwhelmed about it, are:

1.  Photo stream 
2.  Simple. Elegant. User Friendly page
3.  Every.restaurtant ( almost) has a menu & photo page which is how we decide.
4.  And difficulty in concentrating at work after seeing The drooling front page.

Reasons/features what I don’t like or would like to see in Z in near future:

• More from management side to reply to reviews.  So far seeing it only from very limited management team of restaurants.

• The fact that you can edit  your previous reviews is good but a chance to put together two reviews one after other for same restaurant from same reviewer ( before & after) as I have felt that it’s easier to go through reviews that way.

• Common feature that I’d like to have on my Z profile is  – search places for a particular best dish or place where we get best chutney along with hara bhara kabab <3

• Go more public with media & advertizing & keeping us all happy

Love.Food.Eat

Sindhu

C for Career, C for Crisis !!

 So, hoping that publishing long stories in the name of blogs isn't a big crime, I continue to do it again!! My friends complain about getting-deep-sleeping while trying to go through what I call as blogs! I have been reading a lot of blogs lately. Food blogs, travel blogs, blogs about cooking/baking,  anything but technical which is most essential for me, right now! I love reading food reviews, reviews about new places around town, doing a little research before heading out somewhere – this is basically what I have been doing lately! *guilty*

      This particular blog coming from me (especially) may sound wrong to so many people I know. But when your mind is filled with To-do or not-to-do kind of situations & whether you are doing everything right in your life, you just write-off! I was even told to take up consultancy for a living because all I do is give pieces of advice to people around me & it helps, sometimes. Funny thing, never really helped me and that's what I am gonna do, AGAIN!

     I have come across many people in my life who see their goal towards life & work as opportunities to reach some top of mountain, to get a sense of achievement, some reward for the job-well-done. These are the ones who think of ONLY profit & what they will gain if they reach that level. For people with such goals, promotion is what matters.

     And then there are few for whom goals  would mean getting noticed for the work. It’s about security. Stability. For all that working-late-hours, mid night meetings – calls for which they have worked so hard for, they don't want to lose it. These are the ones who want to be responsible through-out, avoiding danger, doing the task assigned to them, someone people can count on. For people with such goals, stability is what matters the most. 

   For people with promotion focus on their head, they take risks in life which land them   in hot water. The fact that they will be innovative, creative in their minds, seizing every single opportunity to get ahead everywhere will remain the qualities that distinguishes them from the rest of crowd. They will not think twice before crushing anybody else’s chances of going front.

   Being someone people can count on, one always focuses on getting every detail done, thoroughness, fineness, accuracy in every single piece of work they do even if it means work done slowly. 

 

              When you see yourself headed in million different directions at once, you start to explore. You don’t explore much, but you do enough to keep going. When someone tells you choose a career where you will enjoy your work, believe that you do the work happily & not by cribbing every single day, you just nod & think in your head “Yeah, it’s never gonna happen”!

   Like some people deal with midweek crisis, I have been dealing with Career – Crisis for a while now. Even though I am not able to decide it for myself, I’m gonna write about it,anyway…!!  Choosing your first career or changing one can be an anxious trip for anybody. This happens when you are exposed to lot of different cultures, but never been actually giving importance to any.

      For someone who has scored good marks throughout their schools, colleges, graduation - one fine day, getting placed in a company that comes to college that promises an amazing salary package ,  somewhere outside your city just when you think you need to live an independent-life, which will sound like a double bonanza to you.. that might be a dream come true. But that is not 100% true. You enter that corporate culture only to realize something else. Its like you order Masala Dosa & all you got was plain Dosa. Okay, I am horrible at explaining such things, so lets skip to main deal!

   You know you want to do something amazing, but it always comes back to something that doesn't define you completely. I had a breakdown. Okay not just one. Fine, I broke down n number of times. So, the most common things I am hearing these days from people close to me are "follow your passion", " do something that you love" - which may not be an useful advice to me being the clueless soul as I am now.

         When I was in college, when I was growing up, I was passionate towards way too many things in life.. but it was ME who decided doing something I am passionate about  - that's impossible. I have had passion & love towards (well.. ) most of things ( and few people :D !!) in life. I am passionate towards music, singing, writing blogs, photography, cooking, baking, travelling, planning events, managing crowd, talking ( not so confident about most of it) but what the heck..!!  I always look for motivation. From people, from around the city, from watching videos, reading blogs. But it hasn't been helping me much. Maybe I haven’t met the right people or not reading the right things. That's what I tell myself before I skip to reading something funny. But the skill set & values you have learnt growing up… will that always match with the passion you have towards a career? It should, right?

   You don't know how you will feel (in future) when doing something different, but still go on predicting that it may not be correct or maybe something’s wrong along the way.Are passion & love towards something, the only roads to choosing your career? Does that always work for everybody ?? I'd like to believe that if those aren't something that gets you where you want to be, then the skills & values you have achieved though your academics - that is what you should start with. But then, there are quirks to everything. 

   If that is something you own - Ur values & skills, you also need to seek career that gives you the right motivation in every way. Or else you will feel out-of-place. I have this feeling that I will sabotage my career with unrealistic plans all day long. The plans that only run in my mind, so beautifully executed but never in reality! Even though I know how happy it would make me, I am just not up for it, yet! And here I'm giving gyan about "If you don't do something you like, you wil never know how you feel about it" - Its sabotaging, alright !

  There are plenty of people (I'm sure) who have decided to change careers to do something they love & wind up hating it but the one thing I admire about them is the courage they have to actually make up their mind in deciding. That one decision which they will not regret for the rest of thier lives. In their defense, if you haven't done anything, then how are you supposed to know if you will be happy with the path you have chosen.  

           I met this wonderful gang few months back when I was helping a friend conduct a cooking workshop & we were talking & I told them about how this crisis is getting under my skin – they told “this isn’t even an age to do such thinking, go out there, enjoy , live your life” & started laughing at me! 

Funny, how one man’s misery can be another man’s joy :D

Wish me luck ! !

I have met some amazing people along this way, been to some fantastic places, food photography, blogging/ Story telling, adventure ,managing a photography page – been going through a lot of good things – some amazing things that I’m greedy for more & more!!

Before I end this Not-so-Short Blog ( I tried, U knoww?), signing off with this lovely song that has kept me going & sometimes karaoke-ing too :D 

Don't stop believing

-Sin

Morning after dark - Hello Xperia J

                                     I fell for a guy *Twice * and it was worth it !

So, Assuming you have read my previous post to know a little story behind ( Link here) & hoping you are prepared for one-of-those long posts ( Again ! ) , I am going to tell you a happy-ending story.

What do you do when you have lost a precious good looking phone, you run behind who-you-think-is-the thief,  you fall on your face twice and hurt yourself & still don't get your phone ? You cry, you feel betrayed, you blame on yourself & you start thinking “why me??”

*There have been times when I used to ask myself *Why not me* . This certainly din’t qualify for one.

What you usually do is -   keep the faith on & start hoping. I was not very high on hopes because I have seen a lot of people lose their phone & never get it back, even after they blocked the sim immediately & complained right after. I have heard their stories but I never could empathize !  As much as I wanted it back, I was hurt that I couldn't catch hold of the guy who made me fall…..

                What else do you do ? You start eating lots of ice-creams, you watch season finale's of all sitcoms & you try to feel better by talking to friends who keep the good old lines in tact like – "that phone wasn't worth it"," you are better  off without  that one" , “ Tell me, the detailed version of the story again?”  & the best " You did the bravest thing by running & all, but try not to do this again" ! As much as I feel calm by those, I knew I couldn't just  sleep it off! I had to keep the lights on for so many nights after the incident because every time I blinked, I had the entire scene pop in front of my eyes.  No amount of motivational/cheerful speech could keep me happy or normal.

     And guess what (else) I did ! ? I volunteered for this amazing TCS world 10K run on Sunday. I decided if there's anything that will help me at times like this, it would be going out on a limb and being around a bunch of excited enthusiastic people who are running for a cause. When you’re working in an IT company, you hear plenty of such events but not everybody gets to be part of such huge & well- organized events.  I had heard several good things about this marathon & now I got to be a part of it. I was part of Elite Athlete Management team where we took good care of the International & Indian Athlete - winners after they finished the run. I wasn't sure if I was up for it after I fell & hurt my legs & hands & knowing that this kinda event would require a lot of running around but you definitely can't sit at home & keep thinking its gonna b O-K !  My family was more than happier to send me to be a part of this Marathon. *They even saw a little of me, LIVE on TV * ^Eeeeeeeeeeee^

     After heavy rains on Saturday night, it was time to run & make others run for the money. We started our prep at 4.30am. It was a Sunday like never-seen-before. From 10year old's to 70 year old, I saw them all. Active, Enthusiastic, Cheerful, full of Energy &  they were all ready to give their 100%, to  participate., to run & to spread the word around. Apart from these, I even saw some amazing international runners. And then I felt, what more could I have asked for, on a Sunday morning. Live cameras, so many photographers, families, beautiful crowd , day-after-rain & there I was (along with some youngsters) - getting all the athletes ready to feed to the starting line. The feeling was great, to be around some international & national great atheletes, to be taking special care of them & having one hell of a good time too. The event was successful & as soon as I got back home, I could sleep it off.  16hours of sleep & I felt like a fresh new person this morning and there was no memory of losing a phone, running around or anything for that matter.

And next day, it was time to face the people. It was my first time at office after the phone Incident & it was scary. Scary - mainly because I got to hear some not-so-good things as I ran & made the office bus stop & for creating a scene in middle of road. But they have their reasons, so.. it was one of those Auto-Deaf moments for me. As I was getting back to my normal self, trying to realise few things about myself & my things, I receive a call from my father asking for sim details as he couldn't block it over weekend. I repeatedly keep getting calls from him asking for tiny details and one last time I receive call from him & I decided that I was gonna tell him that  its okay if he's not able to block the number  and that is exactly when he decides to break the news to me

"Hello Madam Sindhu Rao, This call is regarding your lost-phone. When are you coming to pick it up as the police have  found it"

This was definately one of the most powerfull calls I have got!  And I jump with joy & the leg hurts again *Ouch*. But yes, *Happy dance* continues & I can't believe what I hear.  Yessss, there's hope after all :)

After what seemed like ages, I was standing still at the police station. Few more hours of wait din't seem like a problem for I, who was about to get my phone back, I fought for it & I was gonna see my precious lil one.  I used to creep out when few of my friends said they name their car/laptop/phone & etc etc..but after today, after this incident I think I'm one of those too. It’s just got too many memories attached to it, starting today.  OKay, not taking you off the track, it had been more than an hour or so & its pouring cats & dogs outside - Is it true when somebody says " it rains for a reason" ? Or " If it rains,something good is about to happen or happening?" .  Rain was definitely in my favors’ for the day & I was feeling pretty happy about it. Finally, it was time I showed my face to the Sub Inspector of that station & he went on & on about how bad of a criminal that guy was & because of this incident, they found 10 more mobiles from him & he be sent to jail for 6 months! This thief along with one more ( who is yet to be caught) are both involved in this theft.

All that guilt trip I was having for maybe catching the wrong guy went one last round & never came back. I felt happy. Strong.  Courageous.  I felt like I could take up on anybody or anything in this universe again ( Back to my self) .

           Another day in paradise comes to an end. Calm.  Composed. Peaceful sleep at night.  Fresh hopes. Fresh mind.  Clear thoughts. Orgranized.  Life  truly was a circus for me for past 4 days & now its time to take on another adventure life has to offer. 

Basically my situation was very very simple.

Usually, someone asks for something, you give it & then they return it with a thank you. but replace this with a few things,

You have my situation i.e

Instead of asking for phone, He just took it.  I wasn't given the time to respond , so I start screaming. Instead of returning it, I had to forcefully take it from him with police complaints & running around. As simple & as stupid as it is :)

Some steal little things, some steal your heart, some steal your phone. You get some, you lose some ! 

Lots of love & till another one of my unusual adventures,

Sindhu 

Guest Edition I - Words from an Angel by Anjali Sreedhar

This blog is a guest edition from a lovely friend of mine – Anjali Sreedhar. Purely her words, her emotions, her thoughts .. Go on, give it a read & enjoy J

July 16^th, 2012 is a day I remember vividly in my head. The day I left my country to pursue my Master’s in Information Systems from one of the most prestigious universities in the United States – Kelley School of Business. On that day though, this was the last thing on my mind – when I say “this” I mean studies. For a person who has a stable emotional level, the rate at which my emotions were changing was almost comical! Scared – of living “alone” in a big city (I did not envision Bloomington to be what it is); sad – to leave behind my family and friends whom I called life; excited – new friends to make, relief from a boring, monotonous job.

May 19^th, 2013 – 300 days of life!

The day we are going to move out of this place we have come to call home – 3210 F. The array of emotions going through my mind right now would definitely put Inception to shame. All I can think is – Thank you, God; for giving me friends who are now a family away from home; for memories created and relationships formed; for the positive change in myself today; for this year; oh and for the “Kelley Experience” as well :D

Laughing fits – laughing till your stomach gets cramps; partying – we go crazy; music – remember “what is love?”; workouts – yeah most of us made use of the $65 we paid SRSC; insider jokes – noooo, yessss!, popat, Oh My God, Aditya – chips hai?, I am tired/sleepy/hungry….there are way too many of them!

Why the hell didn’t we ALL take up 2 years to graduate?! - because the time spent together will never be enough J

Hello GoodBye Xperia J

Picture this.

Gloomy , beautiful Bangalore morning – the weather is just perfect to fall in love with, pretty faces to look around at 9am. You think you’re gonna have a good day, you think you will survive one more day in this big bad-a** world, you think you can take up on this universe & you feel so energetic that you think you can take anybody down. Got that picture ?  That’s how I was feeling on a terrible Thursday. I dint know what was ahead of me, I din’t know if I was even ready to take up on this universe-challenge thing, but there I was – happy-smiling,  glee over fact that its gonna be weekend in two days, I had all the reasons in the world to be happy about.  All the excitement covered over the fact that I was about to experience something big, something worse. I’m giving such build up, I don’t know for sure if this is actually as big as I think this is. Okay, I will come to that later, yeah ? A little background check first.

      With only a year completed at job & no work to do, all one can do is sit back & read blogs, read motivational speeches, try and study something & go for n number of coffee breaks. This was my usual day, my usual Thursday. In came the thoughts of how awesome it would be to work in radio station, surrounded by music 24/7 &  365 days a year and how cool it would be to travel around the world(of course, with your own expense) & try out different cuisines, meet different people, share the thoughts, exchange ideas, & etc etc.. but I was brought back to reality by this friend of mine who keeps telling me that I shouldn't get excited for each n every single thing that passes me by. I should wait for that perfect moment & then get excited. Yes, I know I can go hyper, I can go Wheeeee at things that wouldn't even matter to most people. I can be really happy when I see a distant cousin working in an office next to mine. I will be excited at the fact that I am gonna meet my girl friends even though I know most times its gonna be cancelled [ but it’s the little things that matter, right? Can somebody pls tell that to my friend? ] I will be over-the-moon-happy when I see a long lost friend approaching me wondering the same question as I do – Have I seen u before? I am happier when I know a little something new about my brand new phone that I got for my happy birthday . I feel good when my office cab driver stops the cab right where I need to get down. I laugh with joy seeing the clear clouds, when it starts to thunder making way for the rain, when I get a perfect cup of coffee, when I hear my favourite song on radio – I will make my sister switch on the radio & listen. When there is a really good movie on TV & I have all the time in the world to watch it. 

         I will probably jump with joy if I see someone good-looking too ;) . So what if I get excited about all that & more .. it only makes me happier & its no loss to anybody. I even feel happy seeing somebody smile/ giggle when they are looking at their phones [ probably a text/image ;) ] and No, I am not the creepy kind to stalk people like that, but if I get a glimpse, then yes, I do feel like smiling. When there are things like these that can make me smile, I am pretty sure its gonna be tough for that man [my man] out there to figure out how to actually make me happy when he knows I will be watching every movement of his ! Okay, thats creep &  for another blog.  Coming back to office, while I am busy reading/ pretending to not look over what others are doing, checking texts once every minute, making sure I’m logged in communicator,  another thought crosses my mind. The same friend who thinks I am psycho for being happy/excited about every little thing, thinks that my life is full of drama & he calls me Drama queen ! C’mon – whats life without some Melo-drama! Some fights, some love, some regrets,some unexpected moments, appearance of  unexpected people in your life  - brings the joy out of every tom, dash & harry right??

    Yes, I like a little bit of drama in my life as well.  But the one I’m about to tell you all isn’t a pretty one &  doesn't have a happy ending. So if you’re already sick n tired of reading this piece of unusual blog,  what are you waiting for ? Christmas??  Get back to your usual life :D .

And for the rest of you lovely,amazing bunch who are still continuing to read – Mwaaaaahh, I knew I could always count on you guys ! Thanks a heap.

      So here it is. Me and my colleagues are done with one of the coffee breaks & are walking towards our building when we hear a  loud noise. More like a bomb-blast kind of loud. And my heart skips a beat there. I cross my fingers & we hear that loud noise again & again. I was expecting the earth to crack open & all that but nothing happened. We entered our buildings safe.  End of day is here, I completely survived this bad bad world with some learning online , some chai to go with, some gossip to live to & unlike any other day, some loud-noise to be scared about, I get in my office cab with another expectation – Pls Rain-god, Let there be rain today! But like always, Disappointments in life! Anyhow, I climb the bus, my usual play list starts, a bunch of talking gang have started their “what happened at your cubicle today” gossip  and a bunch of people who are so tired of their 9am-6pm job schedule, they slept right away.
  
         In midst of all these & some traffic signals, peeping through the window to look at the beautiful sky, I was lost in another one of thoughts & was texting a friend about why he doesn't pose for camera, or be in the picture for that matter. Remember  -photos are memories for life , right?? I mean, I know there are people who are camera-shy, but this nut just doesn’t seem to b in any picture – so invisible & so difficult to be with when he’s with  camera – lover, poser. [ME] !  And I go on telling him – Be in the picture, when my bus stops suddenly at one of those last minute red signals!  This is where it gets exciting.

Now, picture this.

          A guy who is short, long – hair, white  T-shirt,half sleeves (as told to me, as I couldn’t see his face) just snatches the phone right away from my hand. Mind you, I am not listening to songs or am I talking to anybody , or trying to put my hand out of the window. NO.  I got a text, I see the light & within Milli seconds , I feel like someone is reaching for the phone & running away. And me being the perfect drama queen, started yelling PHONE PHONE inside the bus , waking up everybody & I get down from bus, between all those trucks, bus,cars & what-not & try to catch hold of him. I know, I know – that’s definitely not , what one should be doing at that time & there was no police around so you can’t really blame me okay ? I get down & see a guy [ pink shirt] running away to another signal & I just start running & yelling these words randomly - Phone, Thief, WAIT !! I still don’t know if this is the same guy who grabbed the phone,but you see somebody running away from you , what do you do ?

    
     So, nobody around comes for help  & I am still  following him, barefoot!!!!!!!!!!!  Hundred thoughts cross my mind “will I catch hold of him ? Will he get away? Will he throw away my phone ? what happens to my brand-new-baby phone ? Are people gonna get to him,beat him up & give me back my phone? Where is my chappal? My bus !! OMG, I just got down from my bus without telling anybody & now I am running behind this nomad, how am I gonna go back home !” and such thoughts. And I see, I am still running & there – I fell  on my face. Hurting my knee, hand, leg, stomach. Thank god my teeth is fine – U know its terrible to lose a teeth right ?  I get up & start again. But now I feel like I have been just going nowhere & fall again trying to reach for help. *This is where I think of the most stupidest thing ever – I fell for a guy, Twice*. Okay, not cool. I know.

   After all that running, I see him talking to one more guy – No exchange of phones, nothing & he’s super calm. I go to him & start telling “PHONE, GIVE, ME,”!  And like a cute little baby he tells me , that he’s running to find the thief as well. And that he was trying to help me. Damn right he’s gonna help me. I start telling people around & they gather. Within quick seconds, he makes a escape again. And this time, entire troop of people run behind him. And me. After going around for about 2 3 blocks, he gets caught & he’s trying to tell me- He was only helping me. How could I believe him ? If he was trying to help me, why did he run in first place when he dint even know I was gonna run behind him.  I am not being completely rude here because I told the people around that he wasn't the one who snatched the phone right out of my hand, but as soon as I got down, I did see him run. So it was only obvious for me to catch him, first! Wrong ?? And then people start questioning him & I look around – I am not in a good friendly neighborhood.  50 people surrounding me. All trying to jump on him & I cannot breath. I feel blank. I don’t know how to react. Do I go back to my bus, I don’t even know if the bus is still there. 

        The Signal will go green after 60s, what was I thinking running like that? I feel suffocated. I feel paranoid. I feel like screaming for help, but even with 50 people around, I felt helpless.. I was looking for a familiar face & there was none. Was it my mistake to get down & try to catch him? Should I have kept quiet & made a complaint later when the signal had just turned Red ? With million wrong things going in my head, one thing was clear – Phone was gone. I was behind something that’s already gone. I start crying & I make a call to home – told them what happened & there I see – Police trying to beat him up. I tell them entire thing again & police just starts vacating the entire group, makes me and him sit in police jeep & they tell me to calm down. They console me & I feel like what did I just get into?? Is this a dream or is it really happening?  Of course, I shouldn’t have gotten out of bus without telling anybody, but  what choice did I have. I felt like I should make an attempt while I could. And I did. That’s my side of story.

      But I also know,it’s the wrong thing I did. More than his stealing, I feel like mistake is more on my side. But it felt like I had already jumped into the pool & I din’t know swimming. I got into jeep & then I see a colleague of mine rushing towards me. He gets into jeep as well & we head straight to police station. As scary as I felt back there on the roads, I felt much scarier to enter the station also. Its supposed to be making you feel comfortable with so many guns & police men around, but it just dint seem to do the trick for me. I was nervous, scary, fell on my face  - so lots of bruises on leg ! My jeans got torn & I am limping. They take me inside to meet the head of police to that station – I start explaining . And they listen to me carefully & tell me to calm down. I can’t. I just lost my phone. I ran to catch him. I fell on the roads. And I might have caught the wrong guy as well. No, I cannot calm down.
        But then , I see  whole lot of my colleagues show up at police station. Now, I can calm down for a second. They start explaining to police that they did see a short guy snatch phone outta my hand & that the guy whom I was following wasn't the guy who actually stole but he dint have to run if it wasn’t him,right?? That’s what I don’t understand! Its late night already & I am hurt. I am crying. I am shit-scared for life. I start calling home & telling not to worry & it still hurts. The entire scene just flashes before my eyes & I feel awful. There are plenty of things that I could have done to stop this from happening. I could have not used the phone at that minute. I should have let that text go unread. I could have grabbed him by his hand & not let him take it away. I could have not ran like that & let it go for that moment. There are plenty of things like this racing my mind at that time & I feel regret. Cheated. Horrified

   Being the nice police for that area, they take my complaint, I give away the details of phone, family & everything needed. And its time I got to hospital. Two policemen take me to hospital. I am accompanied with two of my colleagues & I visit hospital. This was one of the scenes that I can’t take out of my mind. They had to tear open the jeans from knee length onwards . I get first aid & some injection shot – tetanus & we go back to police station.  All this while, all I can think of is  “things I should  & shouldn’t have done at that time”. I feel like that was one of the moments when I wish I said  Thank god, it was a dream”.

The jeans that doctors tore with the blades . Shocking. Scary. Damage. 

   I reach police station & they explain to me that this is very common around Bangalore. Girls should be more careful. And that’s when I learn few things in life. Being independent doesn’t mean you go around feeling nothing can stop you, nor anybody. As much as I tell others to be careful, never really thought that I could be this careless. I was one of those who kept thinking – That would never happen to me.. & here I am. A victim. And I can’t do nothing about it.

  I did not get down from my bus to get phone [ I did, but that wasn’t my primary reason], I got down because I got anger, anger on all those people who hurt me over past few years & I felt like if I can catch this guy, I can get by any kind of people. It’s silly, I agree but everybody has their ways to get over their anger. I hear stories about rape, stealing, robbery & when there’s nothing I can do about it, I feel helpless. People chose Bangalore because its one of the beautiful cities to live in. people feel safe around others. But with so many horrible things happening around and not being able to do anything , you feel like you need to get over that anger. And that was for me, back when I ran for him. I just din’t wanna quit running till my last breath. Sadly, it isn't always the drama that holds life together. It’s the people around you. The trust-worthy people, the ones whom you might not know well, but good enough to actually advice you the right thing. I met such a bunch of good people today. My colleagues. Yes, I have my share of fights, office politics, love-hate relation with them but at the end of day, they stood by me. They ran behind me as well. They were with me , holding hands at police station when I was shaking. They held my hand tight when I was crying because of injection. They all might not be there for me forever, but at that moment when I could have been kidnapped or (god-forbid) fell on wrong foot when signal went Green,  I dint even think twice before jumping signals & they were all there for me. I felt like I was safe already. I couldn't care less for the phone.

       Yes, I lost a beautiful looking phone but whats gone is gone. Complaint has been taken.  Procedures are followed. People stood by me. I think that’s alright. After all this drama, police finally dropped me & my colleagues  near my bus  – where people are waiting for me & the gang to come from past one & half hour. I might know not them all well, I don’t hang out with them daily, I don’t speak to them daily, but I do see them daily -  what they did for me there, being there for me .. I feel blessed. I feel like I am back in my comfort zone.

I reach home safe & sound. But even now, when I just think of that signal, that snatching of phone – its like a dream. A bad one. The one which will wake you up at the middle of night looking for help, for support, the one I am trying to get over with , soon.

This has changed perspective of life for me. Not everything in life can be awesome, cool & happening, all the time. You take responsibility for your things, for what you do & be aware of your surroundings.  Be aware of what is exactly happening around you. Treat your body like it is EYES. Have an Open eye for everything that happens around you.  You blink once & they are gone.

There’s always two versions. There’s yours & theirs.

Today morning, my father went to police station & found out that the guy who was held at station over night because I ran behind him & blamed him for something that I wasn't even sure of, doesn’t have my mobile. But he’s one of the usual thief around that area & that they had been looking for him as well. 

Here's the link to what happened next!!

                      Say What You Need To Say !!

I’m me . I have a regular life. I have my set of people. I like few. I love few more. I hate lot more. But they are my people. They wil always be. Sometimes, I feel like I have it all mapped out for me, in terms of life. But then, you come across situations, people who will make sure that map is turned upside down. Some for good, some for just ruining your life. But U can get out there, live your life the way you want. 

Easy peasy for me to say, tough for you to do !

Today, I realized if you don’t get up & say what you need to say, you will never be able to live with that.

 I have got suggestions, advice from friends, foes & who-not on how you should treat people the way they treat you , but I can never be that BADASS!  I can sugar-coat & be nice but just when I thought that’s all there is , I get up & SPEAK ! And, hell YESS !!!!!  IT FELT AWESOME!

            Not everybody can be happy all the time. Not everybody can please everybody ! And more important, you’re not here to please everybody. And today was one such day for me. I could say, I was having a break down at some point, but to be able to say what you have always wanted to say, to have that relief, that *sigh* feeling - - Nothing can come close to that.

There are a bunch of people in everybody’s life whose motive is to just call you names, get jealous of your Oh-So-Happy-life, make sure you have the worst day for life time like it’s a Year supply of doughnuts from your favorite shop (You can't have it all, nor can you do anything about it ! !  ).  No matter where you go, they follow you like a lost puppy . Your life can never be full of these cranky people. You have to face them everyday, everywhere. You cannot just run away from them. Either you ignore them..or you NEED to face them.  

For some reason, my life rite now has more than a bunch of those. Can’t take them in , can’t take them out either. Your peers act as if they can boss around talking like they own that place, when they have the same responsibility as you do. You can never manage that sort of people. Although, it is good to be a  leader but not where you should behave like a team member. What’s life without a little gossip from here & there. But when it gets out of hand, there’s no stopping you !

 I am very blessed to have an elder sister who is always right next to me,when I need her and a bunch of crazy people who love me & care for me.  And then there are those outsiders, who have no meaning in my life ( what-so-ever), who are SOO messed up in their own life & come to you giving you life advice & start barging around like Your life is My life ( This is not some Funny jingle to go ; what’s yours is mine,baby ! ! ) !  

To those losers , nasty people , retards , - 

"Usually I'm not the kind of person to wish bad things for anyone, but for once I'm gonna do it & do it with all my heart 'cz they deserve it!"          

A lesson , well learnt ! 

Love ‘N peace

Sin ! 

One Girl. One Camera. Three days. One Beautiful City. Being a Foreigner

When you’re home trying to figure out what to do next in life, or in my case waiting to do what’s been told to me, a lot of things run in your mind! And if you’re a fickle minded like moi, there’s no end to this thinking!  Eight months & running .. planning & plotting, going anywhere & everywhere .. its amazing what runs in this tiny lil mind!

     

               From creating a photography page on Facebook just for some time pass to this date, when I just spent 4 days 3 nights in an entirely new city exploring the places, wandering vaguely around, sometimes mindlessly and all this to click some pictures & to know how capable I am ! Some would sum this up saying  ‘SILLY’ but for me this is an Never-Forgettable Experience!

       

             For a girl who is so comfortable in her tiny lil life, happy family, few good friends, Finished with studying, Work life starting from next month, happy social life, surrounded by music (ME) .. this Tripping alone was the best thing so far! No guilt, no regrets, not looking back for anything, ‘go-anywhere-do-anything-no One-to-ask-you-anything' kind of freedom!

     

            Few months back ( Aug 17^th,2011), I was going through some flower pictures I took in lal bagh & I decided to show it to everyone via a Facebook Page! There begins an EPIC journey of my life! Little did I know, I would be tripping & exploring cities & clicking pictures for that page ! Now when I look back,all those comments,suggestions, people telling me u’re doing nothing but wasting time.. I BEG TO DIFFER. I have made something out of my life when I thought I would be just sitting & watching TV like any other Graduate-Waiting-to-Join-Work !  

                 It may not be something that an engineer would do when they have free time on hand! They wud probably join course & do Java .Net certified courses & try for jobs Or do internship at some fancy company & probably start working there, but all I knew was I have a job to join in few months & I had to make those ‘few months’ count !  But again,little did I know, that ‘few months’ would be 8 months :D I dint lose heart ! I was more happy than ever.

          Usually,there are two conversations  that happen simultaneously, my world voice & little voice in my head with an opinion on everything I say!

Little Voice (LV): Anyways I will be working in few months,so its no big deal if the page doesn’t work out after I get busy with work. Its not like I will be clicking pictures that will change the history of this world,let it be just Part-Time ! J

Came up with this name called “ Part-Time-Clicks” ! Spent a day or two just thinking the name. Then I had my page up & running. Then did the next step required. Promotion!!

People : Hey,what’s this page invite you’ve sent. What is part time clicks? U click ?

LV : No,fool ! I don’t click. I’m just copying pictures from google & I  copy right it with my name & upload & get all nice comments & appreciations from people like you!

ME : Yes, I click J . Do check the page!

      

              So after months of promotion & still promoting everytime I get chance too, now I am proud to say I click what I like & sometimes what I see & be all happy about it. I don’t always know the ABC of photography. But the equipment that I own, I experiment with it, in every way possible!  Nothing like satisfaction you get when people appreciate your work & even I feel happy. Very ! After that lalbagh trip,my dad got home a brand new camera, I wasn’t even aware of it! He consulted my sister on which one to take, they did the R&D..they got themselves a new camera. I wasn’t least interested !

LV : Its not like I will get to click with new camera & get to take it out all the time for all occasions so why bother at all. LalBagh was a one time thing. It aint gonna happen ALWAYS!!

           I did sneak out with camera most of times! I met my peeps who were ready to be clicked & get Famous ;) I went out within Bangalore to areas I never went & started exploring. I got this habit of taking camera everywhere I went & just clicked everything & nothing ! I had the most memorable experience with camera,everytime I went out !

                 I won this lunch for two on Radio Indigo once, & it was for buffet at a very fancy place! I was happy to take my dad out for a fancy lunch for once J

LV : Look dad, even though I am not earning as fancy as sis is..I’m taking you out on this yummy buffet even before I started  earning J

     Instead of  stuffin myself with sumptuous food spread across the buffet, I was out there clicking salads, appetizers, main course,desserts. And ofcourse my dad wasn’t happy with my behavior! It was a 5 start hotel,for Christ sake!  I bet my dad was lil embarrassed with me.

His Little Voice : Oh no, why did I agree for this buffet in the first place ? This girl is making it more than worse! She’s acting as if she’s seeing this kind of food spread for first time!

My Little Voice : YES,Ofcourse!

So,like this I went on clicking everything I liked ! From food, to people, to animals ! Recently I was told of a function away from Bangalore. Cousin marriage.

LV : Wheeeeee, I’m a food photographer, & now going to be a wedding photographer too J

      It ain’t easy! Well, Nothing is ! But I figured, if I am going to try, I am going to try harder & know my capabilities ! I just gave attendance at wedding & instead I went to Safari/ zoo near by !

That was one of the happy moments. I clicked one of my most fav picture of lifetime. I knew then & there, if I try harder, I can atleast get me some nice memories! Now, when I look at those pics, I get a good laugh & some good pictures too!

         

               I tried my best to be with the camera,most of times. but sometimes the review people give can give a set back ! That’s what happened with me.  Some say LOL & comments like “ really, U clicked” .. which I know are sarcastic but now I don’t let them get to me. There ‘s a huge difference now, in what I do. After I finished graduation, I had nothing to do. I decided it was time, I did something different. But I never knew I would actually take it up, seriously ! After clicking pictures & creating page & keeping it alive .. I decided it was time to take up more things ! I joined  10 day mehandi learning course near by home & I LOVED IT J kept me busy, kept me happy,kept me going everywhere. There was no end to what I did ! I started applying mehandi to people I know & made THEM happy J ! I started cooking at home,baking !

ME  : Yay, I am cooking & baking & clicking pictures of cakes & cupcakes !

LV: wow,I have a photographer residing inside me,from always ;)

 I did a lil bit of this & that but nothing went fr a long time,except photography J Now, I take things seriously.. which brings me to this BLOG J

    

       Months of clicking people, places, food, abstract, random – whatever they call it, I had it :D Everyone dreams of independence .. Freedom !  Not always,everyone gets. I did,too.. I wanted to live alone..the happiness of being alone, being able to do what you want, being able to learn new things on your own & be proud of it !           I too wanted all of it J

  One fine day…...

 Mum : Sin, Go outside, live alone for a while & know the difficulties you will face & get solutions fr urself!  

LV : OHMYGOD !!!! God has finally listened to my prayer ???

Me : WHAT?????????????

A day later, I see myself sitting in a Train at early morning with a bag & my jhola ( People who have seen me,know the bag that I always have, hanging around me like its full of diamonds) !

                               I WAS ON MY WAY TO MYSORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its not that big deal for everyone,cz its not far from Bangalore..but a beautiful one J It is exactly 160km from where I stay & I was on my way there, Alone J I can’t stop but mention GOING ALONE  often cz it is a big deal for me J

LV: if you feel bored with Going alone being mentioned 100 times in this blog, I say U start ignoring now, cz I be mentioning it everytime I get excited & think of my trip J   Going alone  Going alone  Going alone  Going alone  Going alone  Going alone  Going alone  Going alone  Going alone!

  I was on a train full of people, who were prolly wondering what’s with this girl :D ‘cause I had my CAMERA with me ;)

LV : I bet people would give me a red-carpet entry to the train & ticket-less journey if I had a D-SLR camera with me ;)

I started clicking picture rite from the start.  Of  TC ( Ticked checker ) for starters cz he asked extra cash as I went there without reservation!

LV : What did he think ? I would be told months before that I will be sent on a trip,alone cz I started taking pics & that I wished to go alone ???

            I was happy & high & I couldn’t stop smiling all thro the journey!  I put on the best music that I could have (OnDaHouse2012 Mashed up -  http://ondahouse.blogspot.in/2012/03/ondahouse-mashed-up-march-2012.html    ) Put it on loop & I was Smiling away to glory ! & then started reading a novel, cz I like to ! Especially when on train! There’s something about train,listenin to best music while reading novel that gives me much happiness. Plus this time, I was Going ALONE J

People sitting next to me Must have been thinking : Nutcase with headset on!

        

           So,after completing successfully 3 best hours :D , I was on a train station unknown to me ! I started my journey then & there.  Along with my luggage, went to the nearest bus station ,caught the bus to the city bus stand & I was on MY WAY to being the best company I could ask for, on a trip ! Took the daily pass,cz I knew I would be roaming whole day ..so lot of getting down here n there J

Ah, I totally loved it J

              Started off by visiting my most fav place as a kid – Mysore zoo :D But one worse thing – The Sun, the heat .. could easily get the tan  & upon that I am wearing jacket..cz mUm told : ‘new place, u don’t want to be giving ppl any signal :D ‘ *not exactly those words,but yes*!!  It was a good start.. Kept the luggage in luggage counter & I see giraffe,monkey’s, Birds that I have never ever seen before, & everything !  3hours,6km radius..it was a fun way ! By the time I came back to luggage counter, poor thing battery is OUT ! Both mine & camera’s ;)  

           So I start charging camera at the luggage counter, & within 2hrs .. We were fully charged ! Next stop – Chamundi hills ! I get into this local bus from Zoo to hills & Funny –weird thing  happened ! The driver, the conductor..think I am someone ELSE ! Thy start saying ‘Madam..Neevu illi ?? ( Madam.. you here??) & it was not a good feeling !  Being told that you look like someone else is usually a good feeling for some people. NOT FOR ME. That too..being told that I look like someone whom I HATE Much..definitely  put me down!    

Witnessed anger first time on the trip ! Then After 30min shocking stare from conductor & driver,I was on the Hills ! Sadly the temple was closed by the time I went ..so I just roamed around clicking pictures.. & to my bad luck, the return bus that I sat in,has the same conductor,driver !

LV: why god,whyyy..whyyyy..whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy did u make me look familiar to someone I don’t like one bit also, Just tell me Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

               But the best part is..thy were good people. They asked me if I had seen a temple that’s rite across that road.. while going back!  He had to take a diversion as their route doesn’t include that temple. I said no & then driver just takes the diversion route & stops near the temple & tells me “ goo madam, go click a pic soon & come back” after seein the camera in my hand ! And we’re talking about LOCAL BUS. Not private bus ! I didn’t know what to do,at the moment ! Can people be really that good to someone whom they don’t knw ?

LV: I bet he’s stopping only cz he thinks I am someone else

               Its amazing, how people we don’t know treat us nice & some whom we know so well..dont even bother sometimes !  *yes, I am givin Gyaan / lecture too,now *

There I was,visiting places alone & people being nice to me cz they think I look like someone else & my next stop was the beautiful Mysore Palace ! I was getting down from that bus when driver says “ Your parents must b very lucky to have you “ I had no clue why he said that..but in some way ..some different way it felt nice J

                  Mysore palace is famous for many reasons. The buildings, the palace, the history. As a kid I have always loved it, often used to visit with my family but this was different ! yes, cz I was GOING ALONE J ! I look around there are people from everywhere. Foreigners, localites, school trip people,couples, but alone people are very rare sight ! J I was one of them ! people clicking buildings,families asking some stranger if he can take the family pic,school kids telling Hi/bye to foreigners , & to people who are alone !            Like ME ! ! I found a bunch of crazy kids..doin the foreign accent sayin helloww, what is your name? ? ?      I wont deny, but I felt nice J someone talking to me. Just the gesture made me feel happy !  :D someone asking me to click thr picture! Its all these things that made the trip an EPIC ONE !

I probably wouldn’t have experienced all of this if I went with family, or with friends..or maybe I would have. I never know!

      

          There I was, from 10am till 6pm.. I survived in a city strange to me,without knowing any people,without worrying about anything ! *Ofcourse there were ppl getting worried for me – My mom dad,sister* J I was in contact..Saying I am here there..EVERYWHERE: ) So good it felt!

         I knew a friend who was doing medical in Mysore. Got to know about her thro my bestie..& I planned on crashin at her place J After much travelling & no food cz I liked travelling so much I forgot I had to stuff myself with something … I call up my friend – Aishwarya (Ash/aishu – she has many names :D ).   Her roomie – Priyanka  came to the stop to pick me up & we went out for dinner !  I was soo tired with the jacket on, the heat on, & bag on… I had no energy left in me even to say the food is good ,after eating ! So tired, so wasted I looked J

       The next day was a hectic one..cz I wanted to go everywhere but had no clue wr to start with ! The girls I stayed with were busy with thr work/study so I really cudn’t disturb them with anything J  Thy were so kind to let me in to stay at thr place,& provide me good food J & the awesome company ! I had nothing to complaint about J  Must say, Mysore has some rrrreally nice people J . 

   

    Without a clue, I got ready,went to city bus stand & I decided going to a place ! I took the appropriate bus & had the headset one but the last day’s tiredness was so much I felt so sleepy & was feeling dizzy too.

 These were the places that I had to visit that day.

-Bird sanctuary

-Srirangpattna

-Some other temple

At the Sanctuary stop,when the conductor yelled “ SANCTUARY”

LV : I am feelin so sleepy  Oh I have to get up,I will get down at next stp..I think  ! I will visit the other two places & come back

 ME : *Listening to music, eyes half closed *

 At the Srirangpattna stop,when the conductor yelled “Srirangpattna”

LV : I am feelin so sleepy  Oh I have to get up,I will get down at next stp..I think  ! I will visit that other temple &  come back & visit the other two places.

ME : *Listening to music, eyes half closed *

Finally, it was the last stop when conductor yelled “ TEMPLE STOP/LAST STOP”

Me: Uh,  I have to get down !

                   The temple was not so famous one,either & the sun was BURNING !  I got up anyway & walked 2km fr that temple cz I had come so far & I would regret not goin there ! temple was good, but then its located in such dessserted place, I dint get a bus back to WHERE-EVER I had to go ! I just din’t ! Walkin wasn’t a option ..so I took auto to look around some places..by the time he dropped me off at bird sanctuary which I was supposed to go in first place .. Auto meter was running High . Way HIGH ! ! way wayyyy HIGH !

     Heck, that’s what happens whn I don’t plan properly & just go crazy.

           Bird sanctuary was another place I loved. But not anymore. Cz there weren’t any birds to see only !! Going to bird sanctuary in an OFF SEASON is a bad idea which my girls told whn I told them I had plans of visiting  ! I shd have listend :P I Witnessed regret first time on the trip ! Then after going to the boating place where there were birds, just here n there on the trees..I was quite happy ! ! Finally camera came into the charge ! ! I met this foreign couple with the cutest baby! I have this thing fr babies,I like ‘em, I love ‘em ! I can spend my days with them..without getting annoyed with thr crying,irritating ! That baby was playing with my camera !

LV : dad says I think of this camera as an Expensive Toy he has ever got me.. I play like this too..by clickin pics

I start talkin to the couple & they have been visitin Mysore since 12yrs ! ! They LOVE Mysore! The baby’s name is Murgan, they say !

LV :wow, talk about being Indian !

After 5 min of silence,

Me : WHAT??Murgan ? Like M U R G A N Murgan ???? I spell it out like it’s a spelling contest !

Couple : Murgan when he’s in Mysore & Morgan when he’s at home (England)

LV : WOW..like WOW ! Talk about being creative ! :D

Me :  Cool J

            

            He’s a funny boy & he loves Indian people! The whole family loves Indian people… I was so involved with the baby that I forgt to click thr picture ! Witnessed regret again !

That was the end of that day.. cz I was upset the way the day went, no bus, so sleepy in bus that I went till the last stop..& then bird sanctuary with less birds,the heat definitely killed me !

Went to the main road only to get the bus after 45 min  & went directly to home  where I flaunted my happy day  to the girls like I saw beautiful birds everywr ! ! & they had this look “ We told you so” all thro the day !!

         

                     These are doctors that I was living with ! ! Crazy awesome people, the no. of medical books were EVERYWHERE. I was fainting everytime I see them . they were everywhere. On the couch. On the table. Wardrobes ! *Sigh* Hats off to those who study medical & to the doctors who save lives ! J

          Mysore is small but a lovely city! I felt like, within 20km radius,U can cover entire Mysore :) Mysore Palace was just 4kms from where I stayed! So I decided to visit palace again, 'cz there's lighting at nite & the palace looks such beautiful! U can totally fall in love with this place. I did :) The lighting is only for an hour. 7pm- 8pm ! So Priyanka decided to drop me off to the palace! It was at this place I felt wish I came with someone :) seeing parents show their kids the lighting & the people going 'aww' was definately worth the watch ! 

         

      While I was away, Priyanka cooked awesome dinner for us & it was a happy end to the day,over all! I was happy I cud survive another day,but felt a lil sad !Called up mom & told “I think I wanna come bk home” she was laughin like she wanted me to say that. Like it was some competition that she won !  in her own ..she’d be saying “ I told you so” ! !

           But I dint give up ! Like some war , I said BRING IT ON !  Next day I was high & happy again ! Woke up with no plan & went to visit this relative of mine who stayed in other part of mysore ! Whole day spent at home ..  late in evening, when I got back home..the girls were having thr “ WHAT TO DO NOW” look !

          

          So we decided to get all dressed & went to the restaurant across house ! It was literally a step away from home! We truly did enjoy each others company ! I had my camera. Thy were dressed to be clicked J Ate.clicked.came back home only to find that the key was still at restaurant :D Thank god it was just a step away :P

         

         Late night, started the modeling shoot ! ! Us posing, auto-clicking,posing mad ! It was the best trip of my life ! J Next day, we all knew it was time fr me to bid adieu to the beautiful Mysore & the girls ! But I dint regret much ! I was still smiling away to glory whn I was on train back home !  Sometimes its good to get some time for one-self..& fr me..I wud say..A trip like this  is definitely a much-needed break !  Break from not doing anything  ;)

       I would like to take a moment & thank EVERYONE who hav been a part of my life & my page on Facebook  , supporting,making comments,giving me suggestions,telling me try something new,there’s nothing in this page that needs to be LIKED .. Cz I wud have NOT thought of mysore if it wasn’t fr those comments & everything !  I did learn a lot .. its not easy living alone. In a city you don’t know..you have to be so responsible, so sure of what you’re doing & not doing something  just cz there’s no one to control you ! This is just my 3 days experience.. Looking fwd to lot more of this J