Amusing myself in a museum

Went to the London Museum today. Enjoyed myself. Especially liked the Elizabethan display. Started from prehistoric, which I guess is common across civilizations. Medieval was interesting too. There were quaint exhibits like a puzzle jug with three spouts, me
ant to confuse the drinker.
It was quite interactive, with children encouraged to try on clothes from different eras. It was fascinating to see the minutae of a bygobe age, from manicure kits to gowns. Also enjoyed learning about the buldings here that I had already visited. The London Wall was right outside the museum, and a glass window showcased it inthe museum.

Vauxhall got a special section, and I remembered Georgette Heyer novels. Also liked the section which had padlocks and chains used by the suffragettes. Saw a William novel in anexhibit showing the stuff children took with them during the war evacuation.
Also
saw the first Time Out. Took the highwalk back to the Barbican, an international India Habitat Centre I found yesterday. The library was open for longer today, so read the Time Out guide to London.

Boxing Day and the Bank Holiday

yesterday, went to Oxford St. to shop. Hordes of people were there for the Boxing Day sales. Intheafternoon, part of the street was cordoned off after a teen got stabbed there. Had a late lunch of lip smacking Lebanese. Took thebus back again as the tube strike was on. Enjoyed the view from the deck.
Today, went to Hyde Park. Then Harrod's. Had to stand in line to enter the perfumesale area. Worth it though. Beautifully done up, with a sense of history, it trulywas experience shopping. Egyptian hall to modern interiors, it had a variety of settings. Oohed and aahed over soft Hermes bags, modern works of art. Today too, the tube was partly shut. Eateries also shut early.

Christmas Eve

went to piccadilly on christmas eve. lovely shops, playhouses, and restaurants. saw a ship in a bottle at the square, Nelson's Column, and fountains inwater. very European. Trafalgar Square also had a Christmas tree Norway sent, which was tall. Also walked to Leicester Square. Continued taking photos of the beautiful buildings.
Heard the Big Ben chime the quarter hours. Saw the vast Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Also saw Buckingham Palace. The Tube was smller than I expected but   easy  to use. Also saw the Thames and London Eye. Had a delicious late lunch of pasta at an Italian restaurant by the street.       

First Friday

had dimsums for lunch. discovered a shortcut to liverpool station and spotted heron tower, which I had seen yesterday. Stumbled on to St. Paul's Cathedral. Bells were ringing. Very soothing. It is huge. Only saw it from outside though. Huge line for non ticketed entry to carol service. Rained but now I just turn a thick skin. Bank of England remained elusive. Felt like Christopher Columbus. Set out to find a bank and found a cathedral instead. Maps helped me make my way back. Shops are so nice and warm here, no wonder Shopaholic was a shopaholic. Had some yum chili cheese nuggets at Burger King. Saw kids i e skating away at a rink, even in the rain. Enjoyed eggnog latte at Starbucks. Did a couple of crosswords while I rested my weary feet and mustered up enoug courage to brave the cold wind outside. Want to see the Xmas lights at Hyde Park and Oxford St. Here too, Time Out is my guide. Was fun to read about restaurants online which I had seen during the day.

Walkathons

have been walking around my area, enoug to get backhomecomfortably - thirty minutes each way. theunexpected discoveries are the best part. walked downmystreet with a friend. it was interestingto see our neighbourhood through her eyes. keen to lunch at a lanewhich hhas street food in the day.
saw some artistic graffiti in Shoreditch. walked till a building which loked like a rocket.
yesterday I think I saw the bank of England.
today was the longest I walked- three hours. The lanehad mostly houses and offices. Kings Cross station was grand. Got a map so hope to take a bus or the tube soon. 

London Bridge

london seems staight out of the storybooks I read and re read as a child. you actually get eggnog here, which the fairies in Enid Blyton, used to get high on. Vera Wang gowns are advertized on the telly, which I first read about in Shopaholic. I keep expecting to see Mrs. D alloway on her bus ride.
Day one saw me exclaiming over the buildings on the way fromthe airport. On one side modern, the other old. Saw Ickenham on the tube and remembered PG Wodehouse. Keen to go to the Sherlock Holmes museum. Saw Baker St. 

Mountain Memories

From Rimbik, a plenitude of greenery on the way calmed my spirit. Rivers, mini waterfalls on the way, valleys and mountains all greeted us. The waterfall had water in a hurry, in contrast to the rest of the surroundings, which simply were.

Watercolors merged with blue, trees silhouetted against the sky. After lunch, another trek took us to Gurdum. UNO now also known as ENO and a local brew led to a merry evening. Saw orchids too.

Next morning, after a breathtaking sunrise, we started trekking to Sandakfu. The stillness and coolness of the jungle green was soothing. Panoramic clouds crept up on the hillside. Felt like pulling a particularly fluffy one down for a pillow.

It gave a feeling of achievement to see how far we had come in just half an hour. Seven hours later we were in Sandakfu. Most of us slept through the sunset. In the morning we saw the first rays of the sun hit Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest. The range looked like a sleeping Buddha.

Coming back we reached Gurdum by lunch and Srikhola by evening. In the morning we trekked to Rimbik by starlight and torchlight. The entire sky was glowing with stars. After a peach blushed sunrise on the way, we soon hit the plains.

I can still taste the memories though. Only need to close my eyes and I am back in the hills.

Silver Lining

The stars elbowed out the night from the sky.

I knew Venus, Sirius, and Orion’s Belt.

Then I started making up my own.

Silver spangles in the sky’s night dress.

They rained down on us, as we craned our necks.

Hillistan

Is it hookah smoke?

Or are the hills on coke?

Tucked in a white blanket they will slumber sweetly

Till they are woken up tomorrow morning.

Sunset in the Hills

Blue light of twilight rose to the top like yeast

While the golden red sunset we know 

Settled like rust in boiled water at the bottom.

Streaks of gold electrified the sky

Intense fireworks before the earth sleeps again

Red clouds blushed the sky for an evening out.

Sunrise at Gurdum

The sun made its presence felt

Yellowing the sky while being out of sight

Then blues, as if it didn’t want to get up

But had to, for duty’s sake, to awaken us.

Still no sight of the sun, now

Watercolour hues drench the sky

Yellow wins finally

Warming waves of mountains from the back

Which we can’t see, only deduce.

A range of cloud formations also seduce

It is camera shy

Warm red with yellow in the right.

Want to erase the mountains blocking our view

Like we could do when we painted them in

Now we cross them, once we choose to and have to both.

Now the warmth reaches the eyes

The clouds on the left warm

The mountains in front of the red

Are mere graph lines now.

Streaks that could be clouds

Now the yellow’s warmer

That’s where the sun is

The rays reach an opposite mountain

The yellow’s swallowed the red

Liquid gold floods the V.

Relationship is a Big Word

The first part of that word- "relation"- seems less appealing than the second- "ship". "Relation" reminds me of duty, while "ship" seems delicious, sailing off in the unknown.

Isn't that why we hang out with others? To escape from ourself? We know our stories, we need to hear theirs, and view our lives through their lenses. Talking to old friends on the phone, I can pick up the threads easily from where we left off.

Sometimes, it's like the Pause button has been hit. The story moves forward when we meet again. At reunions, we rewind. Parties are when we fast forward, accelerating our lives in the frenzied rush to have a good time before midnight.

While we wait for release from boredom, we must pack in learning, entertainment, and action. Although nowdays my RSS feed on Facebook or Twitter timeline seems to be more active than me :)

(R)evolution

It's tough to think of a tiger as a cat
Or to imagine a cat as a tiger. That
is a stretch- literally.

A killer who accepts leftovers?
Shrinking in size, a roar that cowers.
They say tigers don't change their stripes.

Evolution, with time, changes every being.
Is it a pity, or is it not? With every singe
Survival, the herd instinct, and the bio clock
All rear their heads, to stalk the one who stalked.

Memories remain of the wilds, the air of the unknown
The promise of prey to come, which tasted overblown
Will the tiger drink of the milk of human kindness?

Or will the cat bolt, seeking to sharpen claw once more
Breathe life in a skeleton, search hills again for blood, gore
Is it even possible? Or will it be too little, too late
The spirit remains, even if the flesh falls to fate.

Cal Rain

Rain. Everywhere. You just need to look up.

Sometimes it finds you, amidst gupshup.

The rain has a voice too, chattering away.

Sometimes it drowns you out, on its day.

Often it's in the background, like the generator

Which kicks in when lights go out. What's more

Is that it demands attention, khichdi, pakodas

As we snuggle in again, excuse for samosas.

It may irritate, being housebound for a day

Brave knee deep water, only to find no way

To cross rain's dominion. Buildings are islands

Calling out for paper boats and magic wands

To hold our weight. Umbrellas, upside down

Would help us sail through the town.

Until then, our heads are bowed

As we wait till it's cowed.

The need for IIPM

It's a reality that not all of us are bright enough to get in a top B-school. Maybe we don't want to drop years to get in an IIM. Or perhaps we are socially intelligent, and only of average academic intelligence.

But we want to do an MBA. And we can afford it.IIPM was constantly mentioned by our Advertising management professor, as an example of advertising that got results. By the time the students exited the course, it was too late to ask for a refund.

Maybe they know what they were getting into. Those larger than life ads, the silly "Dare to think beyond the IIMs slogan", the guru.

Ultimately it's what you make of your degree. The degree doesn't make you. When Arindam Chaudhuri is brought to book, measures should be taken so that those wanting to buy in the dream he sold have an alternative.

Otherwise, the cycle will be repeated with a sequel.

Fashionably You

If fashion is related to our clothes, social media is getting connected with how we fashion our inner selves. I was reading this and it has a point. We create content on social media, which is read by marketeers who shape products which we buy again to showcase our identity.

Is there a way out of this circle? Do we want an out? Just as fashion is sometimes what we chose to rebel against, but can't ignore, social media is similar. Even if we choose to not be on social media, it says something about us.

We construct different selves for different audiences- family, friends, colleagues. On social media, they are grouped together as 'Friends'. Can we have one identity online and split it up offline? A Limited Profile can hurt the feelings of people you exclude.

How do you explain to them that you are vainly trying to compartmentalize your life? Is it even possible? Parts will leak through, often in a graphic manner. tagging, comments, the system basically- keeps you on your toes deleting, untagging and so on in a vain attempt to keep silos intact.

Be yourself. Offline and online. Or else, you could go crazy :)

What's his face- Mark Zuckerberg a.k.a Frankenstein

After watching The Social Network, I wanted to know more about Mark Zuckerberg. I went to Wikipedia, which factually more or less confirmed what was mentioned in the movie. I watched an interview of his on YouTube, in which he came across as very different from his movie persona.

As I was multi-tasking while listening to the interview, I stopped paying attention to what Mark Zuckerberg was saying after a while. A comment by the interviewer stayed with me though. He said that Facebook seemed to enroach on our privacy as a default, only stepping back and raising its hands when it was obvious that it had gone too far.

That seemed to check out with the movie's portrayal of Facebook's founder too. Sometimes I think that privacy on Facebook is oxymoronic. If we wanted privacy, we wouldn't be on Facebook. I think Facebook is breaking new ground because it is media that is personal and social. Unlike books, radio, TV, internet.

Maybe that's why we spend more time on it. It's our filter for other media. Will the collective consciousness improve? Will we know more, read better articles, watch more educational videos as they are shared by our more learned friends?

Or will we click on titillating links, treat Facebook like our personal idiot box? Will there be a mass dumbing down? We still don't know what Facebook is, can, or will be. It evolves constantly, and we evolve with it.

It is truly two way media. Often we find it's intuitive, easier to use. Another part of Mark Zuckerberg's interview stayed with me. This 27 year old asked high school kids what email they used.

They thought email's slow. I too find it cumbersome nowadays to type out a subject line and text. It's just easier to keep others in the loop by writing on one friend's wall on Facebook. I also watched some hilarious videos of Facebook in the offline world. People poking each other actually, writing on wall, and shouting out comments.

We write about the real world online. It's still funny to imagine the virtual world offline. Maybe one day it will be the other way round.

Facebook's not our Newspaper, it's our Ad

I'm often irritated when I see photos of happy friends at birthdays etc on Facebook. People don't seem to share the downs as much as the ups here. Although no one likes a wet blanket friendship does mean sharing the good with the bad.

Is Facebook making us more optimistic? I don't think so. Our editing skills are improving definitely. We may not be happier but by choosing to only share our high points we are projecting illusions. These are only part of the truth.

Would any purpose be served by status updates which moan, grumble, and seek reassurance? Maybe not. Facebook is not a personal newspaper, it is an advertisement. You don't objectively report the good, bad, and ugly in your life.

You try to sell your life to others and yourself. Look at the fun I'm having! See how wide I'm smiling! Rather than candid photography, it seems posed. A Polaroid which gets instant reactions. Ironically half the time the people who react to our updates are the ones to whom we are supposedly close.

The real conversations happen offline, where we share our desires, dreams, and fears. I too like posting happy updates. If I don't post one for a while I wonder whether my life has become unexciting.

But life is like that. Chronos lasts longer than kairos. We would get tired if we were cutting cakes, dancing, or climbing mountains all the time:) So let's not forget Facebook's our movie, offline's our reality to which we return when we finish watching pictures of others' lives.

On the loss of a kilo

Motivation. No shortcut to working out, eating healthy, and keeping on working out and eating healthy. Initially I did feel more hungry, and would fall asleep promptly at 10 PM. In week 2, my hunger pangs are a little less, but they are still there. And I still feel like crashing by 10.

Your social life takes a hit- if you have to go for a workout early in the morning, you can't have a late night. On Saturdays, you theoretically can, because Sunday the workout place is closed. But because you have worked out on Saturday, you will still fall asleep at 10 PM:)

I struggle to catch Desperate Housewives at 11 PM on weekends. Have now decided to catch the repeats at 8 PM on weekends. It seems like a small price to pay for feeling lighter, better, and fitting back in the clothes I had given up :)

Weight Poem CaPoWriMo 2.07

This war is one which is more deadly

Than nuclear ones for it is a medley

Of water (zero calories), negative calories (herbal tea)

And another relevant myth and mythology.

Will I lose weight by going to the gym?

Some say yea, some say nay, not thin

Permanently will you be, only till you keep going there

A bit like using Fair and Lovely. I’m tired of greens everywhere

On my plate, whether it is lunch or dinner. I never feel full

Only look it, alas. The stubborn scale smiles scornfully at me, gull.