SHUTTER ON THE MOVE

New Year Wishes

2011-12-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

Time flies they say and i indeed have felt so, during my stay in the US. A year has flown and i am ready to go back to the place i belong.

Exactly a year back when my life was quite in turmoil on professional and personal front, i decided to move to the US. I didnt know what was in store for me. I just took the decision and today as i look back, i am so glad i did it.

What i knew right then was that i needed to explore and tour the places around. And i stuck to my stand. The Journey begin with Chicago, moved to Washington, then to NY /Niagara, Vegas followed and then Duluth. This considering, that i am quite a distance from all the major locations in the US.

From a Professional front, it was good and the ending infact very good. The most important being that i was loved by people both across the local junta and the client team. I couldnt have asked more.

The icing on the cake was the arrival of 7D and offcourse winning a couple of awards. Today i am optimistic and confident and look back towards the year to come. I plan to bring about a lot of change in the next months.

Merry Christmas and have a lovely Year Ahead .

"Smile when it hurts most."

Bliss

2011-12-08T20:44:00.000-08:00

Bliss. It means so much to different people. To some, bliss would come when they get promoted, to some, when they are in love and to some, even when they are getting married.

I got my canon 7d. And its beautiful. A little intimidating. As i look 3 years back, when i got my Canon 1000D it was intimidating too. I slowly understood her and learnt the tricks. I believe that i really matured up with her. In jist, i dont believe that having a great camera would give awesome picture. You need to basically understand the camera and get the best out of it.

Welcome 7D. You have brought a smile. Canon 1000D- You will always remain my first luvv.

" Ignorance is not bliss, but in my case, that was. "

Ups And Downs...

2011-11-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

I get this often in Life- being hit by the 'Down' Bug. I feel low. I feel betrayed. I feel angry. But what this does to me is -Gets me grounded. As one says it shows me my 'Aukath' -what value i hold among all. And this precisely gets me to think - 'Abh kya?'.

The same situation has arised today. I need to work on few weaker things of mine. I need to scale up. I need to Statergize. Basically need to stop being good and sincere.

And As Obama Said -He can bring Change. I say to this too. I can bring change. But this time only for myself.

Lots of Good Byes !!

2011-10-27T19:27:00.001-07:00

One of my Fav blogger just wrote this.....

It was the start
of a beautiful love affair --
he was in love
and she needed an affair.

Highly recommended read: http://saltwaterblues.blogspot.com/

Hazaaron Khwahishain Aisi

2011-10-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very dull day post office. Back from work and nothing to do. My post office activities involve playing Tennis or Squash and cooking. Its getting cold out here in Marshall, so i stuck to home today.

Bored and down, i glanced at my system. I got my Yahoo mail open and read through few of the gem of mails send by my friends. 5 years have passed of college and it looks like just yesterday. I miss those walks with Chau and Raha on FC road, The BC with Lala and Abhinav, the fun i poked with Adil, the post placement hangouts at Kothrud with Aiya, Tiks and Farji. Life was quite bindaaas, i must say...

I read through some beautiful and fun loving chats i had with people i cared. When u look back they sound so funny but invaluable.

Being Nostalgic reminds me of Jagjit. I miss Jagjit and he needs a special mention with my past. Here it is to him...

"Hazaaron Khwahishain 'eisee ke har Khwahish pe dam nikle
bohot nikle mere armaaN lekin fir bhee kam nikle"

"Mohabbat meiN naheeN hai farq jeene aur marne kaa
usee ko dekh kar jeete haiN jis kaafir pe dam nikle"

"HazaaroN Khwahishain 'eisee ke har Khwahish pe dam nikle........."

Vegas and Grand Canyon

2011-10-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

This trip has been the best among alll the trip so far in the US. The sole reason being that the junta was either bachelors or Psuedo bachelors on the trip. Marshall town has been lately getting too much of me. I see the same Proffesional folks in my personal life. And after some time alll people do is gossip. I am done with this and i would concentrate on positive side of people. And this is precisely the reason why the trip rocked. Office and Marshall were never discussed. What was discussed were Maliks indian adventures, Adesh's party plans, Jayvant's analysis and funda's of life and mine silly jokes.

I must also mention that Vegas is indeed a bachelors paradise. Our day would start at 9 am and end next day at 6 am. The last time i slept so less was during my engg days just before the exams. Every moment of my lost sleep was worth it. Cant get into details as all that happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas ....But a trip worth every penny.

Cheers to Fun, Frolic, bachelorhood and Life.

Duluth, MN

2011-10-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

"A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine. "

Thank You And Cheers !!!

2011-10-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

I was 15 when i first fell in love. Also at 15, was when i first broke my heart. I had none who could understand and comfort me. It was then, You. From 15 to now, i have had numerous heartbreaks and every time i turn to you for support. You give me that sense of solace and peace. You tell me that i aint alone and people feel the same when they are dejected. You take the words out of my heart and make them priceless. You have made me realise how beautiful Love is. Thank you Jagjit.

I have always had this dream. I dreamt that one day, when i am back in Pune, i would attend your concert. I would see you slowly sip that scotch of yours and dazzle us with the songs. This dream is incomplete. I hope i can hear you one day in heaven. We both sipping a glass of finest scotch and you mesmerizing me through my past. Amen.

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”

Late R....

2011-09-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes i miss You dearly......Just to realize, You were Never there !!!

Friends for Forever...

2011-09-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

I have been too long away from my family now. To me, now my friends are my family. I feel they understand and know me more as a person. They have stood besides me like a rock during my bad times and celebrated like a Dope during my Good times. They are an important constituent of my life.

One of my very good friend, who last among my B-School groupmates stuck to me fighting bachelorhood called saying that the D time has come. I am happy for him. And when i was speaking his to-be wife, i just realised that we havent connected for last 8 months since i moved to the US.Thats when i realized that good friends dont need to be in touch with each other. You meet back and connect instantaneous from where you left. We dont complain that we didnt speak for such a long time and Blah Blah. We share what we need to shared. Thats true friendship for me and the rest of relationship are just a passe.

Mr. RR, I wish u a great future ahead.

Super Bored...

2011-09-05T19:50:00.000-07:00

I am Super Bored.

I guess this is not specifically related to the place and the people. when i was in Pune i would occasionally also get super bored. I guess this is a very common phenonemon with our generation. Never in my life, have i seen my Dad and mom ever saying that they are bored of their jobs, place or people. Never. However we seems to get bored at the drop of the hat and this i guess would be a part of our behaviour for the rest of our life.

Now getting superbored is a problem. I need to find a solution to it. i have been doing what i like doing here in Marshall. I have been i lotsa sports thats keeping me fit. I have been travelling around seeing places and photographing them. I have been meeting people and socializing. I have been Cooking some Ausumn stuff.

But the question is what is next to be done.I would to love to join a dance class. I knw i have two left legs and only a beer often solves the problem. But a try to banthaa hain yaar.

Aur kya Karuan...

Free Soul

2011-08-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

"Janemann...Tum hain karo ya na karoo, main toh Chala"

Kick Ass

2011-08-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

I have recently won the Robert Schwans Photography competition here in Marshall. Though it was not my first award nor a very prestigious one, it still remains very special. This was the first time an award was formally presented to me at a ceremony and i was interviewed my the local newspaper. Felt Good.

Hope i get kicked more often. It just pushes me ahead.

MAFAC Link: http://www.mafac.net/exhibits.html

Newspaper Link: http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/529472/Taking-a-different-angle.html?nav=5010

"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score? "

Where it Matters the Most

2011-08-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is what i have learned in Life. Everybody around you are good to know and be with in good times. However its circumstances in life which show you the real characters of the person.

We as humans are bound to be selfish. That's an inherant quality we posess. However a moment will arises when you know that the people you stuck to during their bad times just dissapear when you need them the most. That precise moment my friends is the 'Moment of truth'. You will be saddened by the fact. However as we go along the journey of Life, such instances will make you decide whom to choose and whom to Ignore. Life they say is Viscious and trust me it will soon get you what you deserve.

I look at these moments to also gauge my own connect with others. Infact these are the moments which make me stay grounded.

A wise man once said " Once bitten Twice Shy" and i heard him really welll. Hence i will never again cross the wrong path again.

'How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. "

The Niagara Falls

2011-08-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

I have been lately been exposed to the American television. And holy ya, i love their comic series. Its amazing that each dialogue the characters depart has so much to smile and laugh upon. It may be The 70's show, where the 5 friends have so much of a differents trait, but suprisingly still stick togather. I luv Fez. I luv the way he speaks and dances. A honest man i say. This show is followed by ' How i Met your Mother'. Obviously Robin is Gorgeous, but i like Ted. He is a Honest man too. Maybe i can relate to Honesty :).

Moving from Comic to my other passion -Food. I luv cooking and that really attracts me to Travel channels. Man V/s Food is right up there. Adam Richman rockz. That guy can eat. What i have seen with guys who luv food is that they have amazing sense of humor. This is followed by Anthony Bourdain.I luv that he travels acrross the world and does not restrict to the US region. I hate that he is very critical of people and food, flaunts his attitude everywhere and still despite having food all the time, doesnt add an inch to the belly. Maybe this adds a difference to his show, we all luv.

I have watched a few episodes of Millionaire Matchmaker and i luv the way Patti knows precisely what her clients need. Now thats called customer Focus. I plan in the next few months to get to know and follow the American Football.

The Idiot Box is what is keeping me going these days. And i am loving it.

Facelesss...

2011-08-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

Its so ironic that people take you at Face value. They dont see what lies beneath the face. People who stand there, get to know the real You. Rest walk by with assumptions. Funny, that this is coming from a very impatient person like me. Guess, that Life. Makes you realize the loopholes in you. Cheers.

The Place they Call - New York

2011-07-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years"

Website Launch

2011-07-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.

Ladies and Gentleman, I now have my own website showcasing my Portfolio of work.Hope you all enjoy it.

Website: http://www.saishkuvelker.com/

Cheers Saish.

Kabhi Kabhi..

2011-06-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

‘Kabhi Kabhi’ was a movie in the mid 1970's, with Amitabh as the Protagonist and Rakhi as his ex- Luver. I will talk about this particular scene which is quite touching. The scene begins with Rakhi interviewing the once-famous writer Amitabh on national television. She, who at one time knew him in and out, tends to ask him ignorantly about his current series of work. To which Amitabh blendly replies that he has stopped writing poetry a long time back. This particular scene very succinctly puts a point that Rakhi has very well moved on in life and Amitabh still hold on to the past.

As the interview continues, we see Amitabh revert very personally to Rakhi on her generic questions. The pain and anguish is brilliantly portrayed by him. This is where he recites a poetry that defines his life, post her move on.....

Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein

Khayaal Aata Hai

Ke Zindagi Teri Zulfon Ki Naram

Chaaon Mein Guzarne Pati

To Shahdaab Ho Bhi Sakti Thi

Yeh Ranj-O-Gam Ki Syahi

Jo Dil Pe Chhayi Hai

Teri Nazar Ki Shuwaon Mein

Kho Bhi Sakti Thi

Magar Yeh Ho Na Saka

Magar Yeh Ho Na Saka Aur

Ab Yeh Aalam Hai

Ke Tu Nahin, Tera Gam,

Teri Justaju Bhi Nahin

Guzar Rahi Hai Kuch Is

Tarah Zindagi Jaise

Ise Kisike Sahare Ki

Aarzoo Bhi Nahin

Na Koi Raah, Na Manzil,

Na Roshni Ka Suraakh

Bhatak Rahi Hai Andheron

Mein Zindagi Meri

Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein

Khayal Aata Hai…..”

Quite a recite I must say. The interview ends and a new twist is brilliantly depicted through Shashi Kapoor, who enters the scene as husband to Rakhi. Shashi invites Amitabh for a drink and this is where he recites Amitabh's old poem. The camera focuses on Rakhi and Amitabh in the backdrop. Both lost in the past.

Kabhi Raste mein mil jao, to katrakar guzar jaana

Hame iss tarah taknaa jaise pehchaana nahi tumne,

Hamara Zikra jab aaye to yun anjaan ban jaana,

ke jaise naam sunkar bhi hame jaana nahi tumne!

A Brilliant shot. You can watch this scene in You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEUjVUbJlPY&feature=fvwrel

“ Kabhi Kabhi, Mere dil main kayal athaa hain.... Magar Yun Hi.....Kabhi Kabhi "

A Solo trip to Washington DC

2011-06-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Chicago: People and the City

2011-05-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

“I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work."

Happy B'Day

2011-05-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Bday Mr. Kuvelker.

Let Another Year bell ring,

Let Another year be a Memorable One

As time goes by i wonder' Maine kya Paya, Kya Koya'

Contemplate

2011-05-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

Does it help ??

"We contemplate all the time, knowing very well that it wont help an inch "

She Hides Away...

2011-04-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

She Hides Away

For the Sin's, She COmmitted

For the Promises, She Spoke

For the Heart, She Broke

She Hides Away

To be in Someone's

Elses Arm,

But Forgets

That She has

Just lost her Charm

She Hides Away

To Lead An Easier Life

To Live a Guilt Free Life

But Alas,
She Keeps Missing
That

Life doesnt Erase memories
And they

Just keeps Coming Back

“He lives the poetry that he cannot write.
The others write the poetry that they dare not realise."

Hampi

2011-04-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

I studied in a place called Hubli in Karnataka. The place was 3 hours distance from Hampi. But never in my wildest dreams during my Engineering days, would i thought that one day i would look forward for visiting this ruins. As they say, you never value the things that are readily available to you.

The trip to Hampi was quite a memorable one, for few right reason and a few wrong ones. I met my Engineering friends after a long time (precisely 7 yrs), but realised that the bond that had formed during the study days still remain intact. Infact grew stronger with time. Once you touch someones heart, they bond stay's on.

As i look back in time, I realise that the Hampi trip just takes me to a flashback. Many things happened got decided over the trip. They stay now intact in my mind and shall remain so in my soul.

I am Around...

2011-04-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. I am still here, like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry, seldom stopping to rest.

Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi...

2011-04-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

This Song is dedicated to me. I am charmed by its meaning every time i hear it.

---------

Tujhase naaraaz nahi zindagi, hairaan hoon main

o hairaan hoon main

tere masoom savalon se pareshaan hooN main

o pareshaan hoon main

jeene ke liye socha hi na tha, dard sambhalane honge

muskuraoon to, muskurane ke karz utaarne honge

muskuraoon kabhi to lagata hai

jaise hontonn pe karz rakhaa hai

tujhase ...

aaj agar bhar ayi hai, boondein baras jaayengi

kal kya pata inke liye aakhen taras jayengi

jaane kahan gum kahan khoya

ek aansu chhupake rakha tha

tujhase ...

zindagi tere gum ne hamain rishte naye samajhaye

mile jo hamain dhoop main mile chhaanv ke thande saaye

O tujhase ...
--------
I choke.I contemplate. And I try Moving on.

Smile...

2011-03-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

"There are thousand's of reasons to be unhappy. A few Reasons to smile. Let's count on the few ones"

DownTown Minneapolis

2011-03-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me

I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me

In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Though I know that evenin's empire has returned into sand

Vanished from my hand

Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping
My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet
I have no one to meet

And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming.

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me

I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me

In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship

My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip

My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels

To be wanderin'

I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade

Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way

I promise to go under it.

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to.......

- BoB Dylan-

Minneapolis Zoo

2011-03-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

"I love acting, but it's much more fun taking the kids to the zoo. "-Nicole Kidman

To Falter , Rise and Falter Again

2011-03-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

What I have realised is that we are all vunerable in life. We are all designed to commit mistakes, learn from them and then move ahead to commit some new ones. The mistake part keeps happening and I guess, this is what is called as learning or experience.

I wonder, when we all know that mistakes are bound to happen, why do we try to be perfect ?

I realise that some mistakes do cause a big impact in life. The effect of it is not on how people treat you after you have commited the blunder, but on how you deal with yourself. Its lies all in the mind. Some times we are so hard on ourselves that we loose our track in life.

I also know this is easier said than done. I guess what can come as a little bit of a rescue during such crisis is external support. A shoulder to hold on to. Trust me folks, helping someone during such a crisis can revive him or her. You may not even realise your effort. But you may soon realise that this support has done wonders to him or her.

To Falter, to rise and to Falter back is what's going to happen for us all the time. Let us accept the fact and be a little lenient on ourselves. Many more gross mistakes, still awaits us in the future.

Kabhi toh Sochoan Yaroan...

2011-03-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

Its been 2 months since I have moved to the US. But somehow it looks like ages. Sometimes I wonder whether I should have moved to the US, long time back. But then I realise that I would have lost all the wonderful years that I would have spent home.
.

People say, one should move to the US at the young age, make quick money and then laze around for the rest of the life. But what people don’t realise is that with growing age your hunger for money and materialistic pleasures just keep increasing. Dil mange toh sirf More and More.
.

Things start in your childhood. Dad Bole padhai kaar, fir future Set. So I studied. Boss bola mann lagage kaam karr, fir Promotion set. So I sloughed. Duniyain boli Onsite settle hoan beta, Life Set. So I flew. Is set ke chakaarr main toh salaa life unset hoan jaati hain. This brings me to the point that - Why are we living our present for the future, that we aint even sure of seeing it.
.

Lucky are the beggar. He is one among the few who lives in the present. He lives just to survive the moment. Kuch expectations nahi na kuch goal setting. Bus Ajh ke liyain jiyaon.
.

Life as they say is all about choices. We need to make a choice and stand by it. However life sometimes doesn’t give you choices. They sound and feel like choices. But in reality they are someone elses decisions. You are just an actor in front of the camera. Its not you whose enacting the drama, it’s the director. The moment you don’t listen to him, you are shown the door. People would say that this in itself is a choice. But to me in reality, its just an incovenient decision thrown on you.
.

Sometimes I wonder how much Life has taught me in the last 28 years. And I still Ponder, how much is yet to go.......

Undisputed LoVe

2011-02-27T13:05:00.000-08:00

I love the way,

You look through me.

I prize the way,

You read my Mind

I relish the way,

You hear

My Unheard Voices.

You have been the only One.

You are my Delight,
You are my Passion,
You are my true Love.

Love You – ShutterBug

Now and Forever.

“The love that lasts the longest is the love that is never returned."

Faded...Away.

2011-02-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there lived a man who dreamt. He dreamt for his future.He dreamt that he would be supported by his own people to achieve his dreams. He dreamt togather with them, for a beautiful world.

However his dream crashlanded. His own people killed his dreams. They didnt stand besides him, but against him. He fought. He persisted. He Failed.

Today the person no longer dreams. He only sleeps. He is alive. But not living.

“Life is never easy for those who dream"

Changed Destination

2011-02-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

I have nothing much to say this time around. The only update that i have is that i have moved to the US and i am enjoying the change.

For Couples, You have a great Valentine. For Singles, Teachers is amazing, so u folks too have a great time.

" Luv is sthing that cant be told, cant be Shown and cant be communicated. You just know when it luv. Its feels heaven till eternity"

Bye Bye....2010

2010-12-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

Long Long time ago,

I sat on this bench with a friend,

Who kept asking questions,

Of all sorts.

I was asked....

‘What will you do when I go?’

I had just laughed it off then and said nothing

I was again asked....

‘Will you miss me when I go?

I had just laughed it off then and said nothing

I was once again asked....

‘How will you survive without me?

I had just laughed it off then and said nothing

All this time I kept laughing and not saying a word,

Thinking that life would go on and on,

But

Today as I look back,

Surprisingly i realize,
that people move on

But

I still keep smiling and laughing,

But

This time around

'Just on Myself'

Bye Bye 2010

IndiasHots Photo Contest: Please Vote

2010-12-16T01:56:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I had submitted my photographs for the India Shots 2010 competition and have been down selected in the final few in the “ People” and “Only in India “ Category.

The final results will be based on Visitors Votes that are You folks. Appreciate if you can spare time and Vote for my submission based on your liking, in the “Rate this Post” ( Score 1 to 5) note, which is displayed below the photograph.

The links are available below:

Your votes and comments would be indeed encouraging.

Luv
Saish

Jazz Utsav 2010 Pune

2010-12-08T07:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, I dont understand Jazz. People say it music and music shld have no boundaries. However, i aint convinced. With due respect to the participants of Jazz Utsav 2010-Pune, i couldnt enjoy the session. I didnt comprehend the notes nor did feel the rhythm. I gave up with time. And switched to a different Music.

The Music of my shutterbug. Becoz this is the one thats really a music to my ears. A music that my other music luvers friends may not comprehend. As I always say " To each, It Own". Cheers.S.

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain"- Bob Marley

Baggage - This one the heaviest of All

2010-11-13T23:08:00.000-08:00

The mind baggage is the most heaviest of all. It can kill you when you are still alive. The pain can be deep and you are caught to escape nowhere. You are alive. But Not Living !!!

"You'll just never know...soo many emotions I choose not to show...."

Agha Khan Palace, Pune

2010-11-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

Location: Yerwada on Pune Nagar Highway"
Famous for: Gandhi Memorial
Go there for: Calm and its serenity
Photography Standpoint: Average. Explore more than just the Palace.

"In search of peace, I travel the unknown paths"

Aise Hi Kuch...

2010-11-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

No bullshitting this time....As if you damn care !!!

Oktobeer Fest 10'

2010-10-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

What started last year as just an idea, has turned into a beautiful tradition. On 29th Oct 10', Mont vert 1102, welcomed alll Beer lovers for a get togather to celebrate the second successful season of the 'Oktobber fest'. What followed was fun, frolic and next day Dizziness. Hope we continue to hav many more. Amen.

" I often wondered how traditions were built and maintained. Today i know how!!!"

The Burning Age

2010-10-16T02:28:00.000-07:00

I am wondering what to do. The recent times have been very hectic. Not on the professional front though. All personal ones. It’s just another Saturday today and another of my unfruitful weekends. Talking about ‘unfruitful’ periods is so relative. The meaning has changed substantially. A men’s life has so many phases and the transformation happens without you actually understanding the change. Suddenly one day, you look at yourself and feel the change. See the other You.

Let’s me categorise men’s life into few stages. The first being the Mama’s Boy stage, age being 5-15. The boy lives his life, but under the strict guidance of his parents. His sole aim in life is to wind up his homework and be there at the playground as soon as possible. Some smart one end up spending time near the girl’s schools and the smartest ones behind them. Then come the Sudden Independence Phase, age being 16-23. This is the stage where you suddenly smell independence. The jail inmates are let loose. Some loose track. The smart ones are the one who lose their track and somehow work it hard to reach back to the road. The really smart ones are the ones who intentionally lose their track, wander around, think through and finally create their own roads to wisdom. The phase starts with getting into a good school and ends with getting out with a good job. The search for ‘good’ begins right here. Next is the Golden Age, 24-26. Nobody questions you nor do you answer anyone. You have the most powerful weapon all for yourself, the Money. You spend it at your whims and fancies. A large part of it is dedicated to good food, good wines and good women. All these turn out to be basic necessasities. You spoil yourself to Glory.

Boom Boom. The golden age disappears and what begins is the R’ age, 27-30. You suddenly feel the weights around. The weights of career, Money and Marriage. You feel burdened. Helpless. You wonder whats wrong. Why suddenly is the junta asking you to be responsible and take decisions. Peer pressure further adds to miseries. You get screwed for not taking a decision and for not scaling up. You are made to feel Responsible.

Welcome folks to the Burning Age. Age that makes you burn to glory to die to Ashes.

P.S: The rest will follow with experience. I hope the burning stops and the cooler wind lie ahead of me. Amen.

Why No Comments ???

2010-09-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

Fellas....I seek a deep explanation.

.
September 2009, I received 5000+ hits on my blog. A big landmark for me. One year down the line, I currently stand at 9250+, further disbanding my fear that I am not the only one visiting my own blog (Hoping !!). Alas. However proud I may feel of my little blog, I often miss those encouraging Hi's and a few of those constructive criticisms.

An artist often needs a wake up call. why dont you wake me up. I shall wait eagerly.

" I am that brick thats stuck in here for a long long time. Not in the wall though, But in my Mind "

The ladakh Series: The Trip Cost

2010-08-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

The most important piece of information about the Ladakh trip that you alll would adore is the costing details. So here you go

Airline Chareges: Pune -Delhi and Srinagar- Pune flight was Rs. 11,000/- per person
Train: Delhi -Jammu Train Rs. 800/- per person
Taxi from Jammu to Leh was 17,000/-. Please note that this was for an Innova and Sumo would start from 15,000/-. This is a 3 days trip from Jammu-Srinagar-Kargil- Leh.
Accomodation: Stay at the Army guest house with all food charges incorporated cost us around Rs. 6000/-.
Travel around: The Ladakhy taxi association has defined fares. We did trips from Leh- Pangonso - Kardungla- Around - Hemis. We got a further 15% discount on the taxi fare courtesy the Indian Defence. Thanks to Lt.C. Mahima.
Leh- Srinagar: There will be a lot of taxi's who plan to travel to Srinagar for some personal work. Get hold of them and you will end up saving a good amount of money. I guess we paid Rs.10,000/- on our way back and we did it in a day.

To sum it up, the overall cost of the trip came to around Rs. 28,000/- per person. Prior to the trip we had spoken to a couple of package providers who quoted Rs.25,000/- each, sans the air flights. Considering that we were a team of only 4, we ended up saving a minimum of 7k each. I would recommend that you travel sans packages as Ladakh is now truly commercialised (Need to confirm this post the flood situation). Incase you need further details i would be glad to help: saishkuvelker@gmail.com

Happy travelling and Happy Saving.

" Whats money i say. Just another piece of paper to buy you luxury."

The Ladakh Series: The last Pitstop

2010-08-08T03:54:00.000-07:00

As they say it never gets enough. We decided to shorten our Ladakh trip and spend a pleasure day in Srinagar. This would possible if we could travel from Leh to Srinagar in a day. Seems quite impossible knowing that we had travelled in the same route while coming to Leh. And how could one not take into consideration the nature who actually decided your schedule in such terrains. We were lucky. We started our day at 4 am in the morning and by 6 pm, we were in Srinagar, strolling down the Dal lake.

We spent the next day spoiling ourselves in one of the most elegant Guest houses on the Dal. A nice shikara ride, followed by sumptous lunch, followed by tea and moving on to some beer and dinner. A nice peaceful and refreshing day. The bill did move us the next day, but chaltha hain once in a time. Why am i earning the moolah, if i aint gonna spend it. Wattasay?

As i write this blog, a month later to my visit to Ladakh, two things have immensely pained me. Srinagar and Leh. Catastrophe has striked both these beautiful valleys. One by People and another by Nature. I consider myself lucky enough to make a trip right in time. All i can pray is more a little of Peace, Calm and Blessings. Inshallah and Amen.

The Ladakh Series: The Bikers and BRO

2010-08-08T03:17:00.000-07:00

I must admit that though i had a great Ladakh tour, i still felt an incomplete feeling about the trip. A feeling that i have missed on something very important. Two things strike me. One being trekking, because i luv walking. And point two being, that the beauty of ladakhi terrain can be felt only thru Biking.This coming from me who has never been very passionate biking. However a day out with the cruisers completely changed my viewpoint. A days bike lease (available in plenty in leh) cost Rs.600/-.So folks who cant make it from delhi can easily make it from Leh. Next time if i go to Ladakh, its gonna be one bike folks. Nothing less.

Let me also take an opportunity to salute the BRO folks. They have not only build quality roads, but also made every turn on the road very interesting with intelligent and humourous quotes. My favourite of all being " Be delicate on my curves'. Move slow and smooth- is my addition to it.lol. You guys rock. Can we have a P(une)RO in Pune? With such an easy terrain this folks here cant get it right.Maybe they are never supossed to !!!
.
"It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end. "

The Ladakh Series: The People

2010-07-11T03:28:00.000-07:00

A place is often characterised by its people and infact play a pivotal role in distinguishing between a good destination and an average one. The Ladhaki population like a secular base consist of Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and Christian community. On a professional front, the community is divided further into Mons and Dards, which predominantly have survived on Agriculture and cattle raising activities. However with passage of time, the local population has slowly grabbed on the opportunity of tourism and moved to restaurants, taxis and other tourism professions.

.
Ladhak may have a harsh climate for 9 months of the year, but the people of Ladhak are genuinely soft, simple and kind hearted. I could see this through multiple instances, may it be Lotus –our taxi driver who would not argue on the taxi fare and agree with most of our demand or be it Phanchuk family, our host at the Pangong Lake who took great care of us. I infact felt genuinely touched when a father of our taxi driver-Dorgi, paid for our breakfast money, which is so unlikely in most situation.

.
Maybe this is attributed to the religion they preach and practice, where any kind of negative vibes are not encouraged. This non commercial psychic behaviour can also be due to Ladhak not being open to the rest of the world until the mid 1970’s. In this harsh climate, people would need to remain cooperative and bonded as a community to survive rather than live in a status quo. However I can see a change in this behaviour with the younger generation being exposed to the tourism and slowly being non tolerant specifically to our ever demanding Indian tourist. I can just wish that Ladhaki people stay bonded to their roots and culture. Amen.

The Ladhak Series: Hemis festival 2010

2010-07-11T00:48:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to have my Ladhak visit coinciding with the Hemis Festival on 21st and 22nd of June 2010. The Hemis monastery is the largest and the richest Gompa in Ladhak. The monastery is situated away 7 kms from the main road and goes very well with the actual meaning and purpose of a Gompa – meaning a Solitary place.

.
The Hemis festival is conducted ever summer to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmassambhava, the founder of tantric Buddhism in Tibet. During the festival, the lamas perform the sacred dance wearing colourful robes and mask.

.
Though the festival turned out to be a great opportunity to click some great photographs, I missed on the opportunity to derive the meaning of the actual dance. One could easily relate the dance drama to Good V/s Evil. However I did get different interpretations from various sources (book and locals), with each one of them deriving their own meaning out of this act, further adding to my confusion. Maybe that’s how it was designed to be seen. As they say, nothing is right and nothing is wrong. It’s only the way we see it.

The Ladhak Series: Palaces and Monasteries

2010-07-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

What’s in a place, if it does not have a history to uncover? Ladhak does not disappoint you in any sense. The Palaces and the monasteries are two aspects of the state that can amaze and wow you, as well as help you understand the Ladhaki culture and history.

.
Ladhak has predominantly 3 main palaces- The Leh palace, the Shey Palace and the Stok palace. And all of them are very much unlike the others palaces in grandeur from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. These Palaces are simple in terms of architecture and beauty. The only aspect that differentiates the palaces with the ordinary household in Ladakh is the size of the building, for example the Leh palace which is 9 storey large and still remains the largest structure in Ladakh.

.
The Namgyal family which currently resides in the Stok palace, has been ruling the province of Ladakh since the 15th century and has played a vital role in spread of Buddhism in the region. There were Mughal and Sikh intrusions in the past, however with the passage of time the practice of preaching and following Buddhism has just grew stronger.

.
The monastery or the Gompa mean Solitary place. The Gompa’s are the centre of worship where the lamas (monks) go about with their duties, presumably oblivious of the crowd of sightseers. The most famous of the monasteries are the Thiksey, Hemis, Lamayaru and Alchi. These Monasteries give you a sense of calm and I indeed felt so when I visited the Spituk Monastery.

.
I have travelled across many destinations in the recent past and am making a genuine effort to know culture and history of the land. An easy way to do so it to read a book to relate what you have seen. I would suggest a book by Janet Rizvi – Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia. A genuine effort to help us understand Ladhak in its entirety i.e. people, history and culture.

.
I travelled across numerous lands in search of calm and peace, but eventually returned back home to find them both within.

The Ladakh Series: PangongSo Lake

2010-07-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Murali has been really happy man these days. His last post on my blog has brought an unnoticed writer into limelight. So he insisted on writing another article, which seems to be the only way to Sucess. Lol. Kidding folks....

............................

Pangongso Lake By Murali rajan

After spending a day wandering around Leh, we started out for “the lake”… with Lotus bhai at the helm and Jitendra Singh Ji by his side, we left by 8, late by more than a hour… risking the cliché, the song for the day was from 3 idiots, which I believe, made land of numerous passes and the lake a must visit place… the terrain changed immediately on exiting leh, winding roads, slowly and steadily we climbed…
.
en route to Pangong Tso lies the third highest motorable road in the world… The Chang La, standing tall at an astonishing 17,590 ft (5360m)… as we moved on towards the pass, the landscape changes from green fields and dusty hills to all white mountains demarcated by electric (or telephone) lines… thick blankets of snow adorning the sides of NH 1D welcomed us… a small temple, couple of army shacks, few loos, a yellow sign and lots of prayer flags, all beautifully framed in pure white… our defense personnel was extremely hospitable to all… serving hot tea (herbal as well)… a lifesaver for many in pretty cold locale… the temp it seems had touched 5 deg below zero early morning… that is cold… we had been warned not to stay up there for more than half an hour and to drink loads of water, as altitude and thin air could cause headache and nausea on the way down… lack of time explained why the shutterbugs were buzzing around… however, I felt that, for most travelers, the snow seemed to create the flutter rather than the pass… everyone was running around in the snow… throwing snow balls… somebody had made a snow man as well… very good one… complete with a red cap and a carrot nose… seemed to come right out of calvin & hobbes strip…
.
we were soon on the way down through the town of dubruk… there seemed to be very few climbs after the biggy… the roads were great with amazing views to leave anyone dazed and dreamy… Tangtse was the next town and the only town in the way… lunch time… the hotel (unfortunately, none of us remember the name of the place, but there are very few places anyways to eat and stay) threw us a surprise… in the hallway were pictures of the hotel owner with the stars of 3 idiots… aamir, madhavan, sharman and saif (oh, he is not in the movie, but kareena is, but couldn’t find any pics of hers) all of them nicely framed… guess the star value rubbed off on the prices as well (only slightly more expensive than the eateries on the Jammu- Srinagar – Leh route)…
.
the road takes us through many wildlife protected areas in ladakh… yaks and horses roamed freely, but the star of the day was marmots… cute little animals, belonging to the rodent family, they prefer high altitudes… found them chilling out in the sun…seems that these rodents hibernate through the entire winter… cool…
.
finally, we laid eyes on the bluish green waters of the one of the world’s highest salt water lake… the colours seemed to change every time u looked at it… another 20 min and we were at the edge of the lake… it was a sight for sore eyes… the lake just did not seems to end… snow capped mountains on both sides… clear blue skies… and lots and lots of bar headed goose… but then the shutter bugs complained… there are only a few shots to take and that is it… ha ha… it didn’t matter… the silence is like music… gives u a high… damn good one ;-)
.
we had not booked anyplace to stay… all the places were booked, but one tent owner did take us in for nights stay and food at his house… got just what we wanted, however some kind of training would be required to tackle the ladakhi toilets… there was one room for us with a lot of beds on the floor and some thick blankets… the room had glass windows and wooden roofing… once settled into the our new pad, we headed to the lake shore… the place was getting cold and we put on all the possible warm clothing that we could… the lake shore had other ideas… as warned our host, the winds started blowing, and suddenly cold was killing… the trip or rather trek back to the room was rather painful… nightfall and time for campfire… soaked up all the heat that we could under the starry skies… diamonds all around complemented by golden silence… probably only the cold kept us firmly rooted to the ground… our host cooked some wonderful food, hot hot food… seemed like icing on the cake on a marvelous day…

The Ladkah Series: Leh- Destination One

2010-07-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

Our long journey of 3 days finally ceased with our destination Leh. Tired but excited we seeped in the Army accommodation guest house. The next 6 days, gave me an opportunity to get a feel of Leh, which in fact was quite unlike the picture I had in mind.

.
The city of Leh is the capital of the Ladakh province and situated at the banks of Indus. Leh is located about 475 kms from Srinagar and 450kms from Manali, the two most preferred cities to travel to the destination. The travel to Leh has been as wonderful journey and as good as the destination. For benefit of all, I would like to reiterate the fact that ladakh is a province and Leh is the capital city. I often missed this point and would use the term Leh ladakh quite naively. The Ladakh province in itself is a part of the J&K state and in fact in the Himalayan region often addressed as Jammu, Kashmir and ladakh state. A point, we in the rest of India often miss out. People often wonder how Ladakh, a predominantly Buddhist habitat would be a part of Jammu (Hindu base) and Kashmir (Muslim base) state. The history goes that the Namgyal, the rulers of Ladakh were defeated by Ranjit Singh, the king of Kashmir and as a part of an agreement; Ladakh became an integral part of J&K. The people of ladakh have still not come in terms with this fact and internally still within crave for their own identity.

.
Coming back to Leh, I often visualized when detailing our trip, how the city of leh would be. Pictures of a very sparsely populated city with not much accommodation and food facilities would often come to my mind. But I guess globalization has caught us everywhere and Leh isn’t spared either. Leh, like any other tourist centers has what you ask for- the Hotels, the restaurants and the shopping Centers (malls may soon come up). So folks who plan to do a Leh trip without a package tour can do so with any hesitation and can get accommodations ranging from Homestay (Rs 200/- onwards) to luxury hotels.

.
An important question, that arises out when planning for a Leh trip is - what do we visit in Leh. Being the capital city of the erstwhile ruler, makes Leh quite an accessible place, with most of Palaces and Monasteries build around the city. One can visit all the 3 palaces- Shey, Leh and Stok along with monasteries – Thiksey (15 km), Spituk (7 kms), Leh and Shanti Stupa, in a single day tour. One can go shopping specifically around the Tibetan market for precious stone, dry fruits and clothes. Mind you, the cost of goods is slightly higher in Leh due to transportation cost that is involved. Adventure sports needs a mention with Rafting, rock climbing and cycling being conducted in packages. We had the opportunity of rafting (Grade 3) in the Zanskar River and it was a wonderful experience. The package included transportation sans lunch for Rs.800/-. One can do a mix of cycling and rafting for a day’s package of Rs.1500/- that would include lunch.

.
When in Leh eat what the ladhaki’s eat, ie the rice, dal, sabji and roti. Yes, this indeed is the staple food of the people which being a contradiction to them being having a close food habit with the Chinese and Tibetan counterparts. However the famous restaurants in Leh serve predominantly Chinese food. A few to mention are - Tibetan Kitchen (My take), Summer Harvest, and Chopstick and Dreamland. I would also suggest that one visits the German Bakery (Nothing to do with the Pune branch) for some nice coffee and cakes. The shopping center and the restaurants are all situated in a market place and at walkable distance to one another.

.
Finally, a point of advice - when you touch base Leh, you may find it nice and warm, but as the day progresses to nights, you may experience headache and weakness. A two days rest is highly recommended with a constant need to sip plenty of water. Start your day early and rest well into the night and you shall enjoy every moment of this Ladakhi expedition. Amen.

The Ladakh Series: To Leh Via Zozilla

2010-07-04T07:31:00.001-07:00

I was Pondering how i would wind up the Photoselection process this week and as well as write atleast an article on the ladakh series. I had soon identified my solution in Murali-my colleague, roomie and good buddy who also accompanied me to ladakh. I convinced him that writing an article for my blog would make him famous. It worked.lol.

.....................

The Jammu- Leh travel thru Murali Rajan

The Aii Jat Express dropped us at Jammu 2 hours late... fresh though from a luxurious second AC travel, we searched out for options to reach Leh. Finally one sardar approached us and bellowed “where to...?” a few minutes later, we were in a innova careening through the streets of Jammu, under the guidance of Tiger aka D S... tiger was to drop us at Leh in couple of days time. Once out of Jammu, the beauty of this place began to reveal itself...on the climbs to Srinagar, the landscape changed dramatically and just as we wanted, all in gorgeous green (news of argentina’s destruction of Korea added to the glee)...but the most terrific moment of the day came after we crossed the 2.5 km Jawahar Tunnel. The first sight of the magnificent snow capped Himalayas caught us all in awe... just mind numbing experience... we sat all the way to Srinagar grinning in quiet satisfaction...

.
At first light, we set out again... breakfast by the Jhelum river, feasting on some sumptuous aloo parathas and puri bhaji, we were luving it...

“Gar firdaus zamin hasto, Hami asto, Hami asto, Hami asto ...”

Kashmir is truly a land of extraordinary beauty... lush green meadows, snow capped mountains, frothing rivers... truly a spectacle to behold... we hit the first pass of the many to cross at Zozilla pass...the route also held the war memorial for the war of ’99... the war was fought on the mountains of Tiger Hill, Kargil and the Tololing Range... we stopped for lunch at Drass which is the second coldest inhabited region in the world (Siberia hold the record), and set forth for Kargil, where we initially planned to stay... a tiny little town with a bustling market awaited us... had the first taste of namkeen tea from Kargil which Dilip loved... however since we had reached very early, we decided to leave for Mulbekh... the local tourist office confirmed that a guest house was available... we hit the roads immediately to reach Mulbekh before sundown. The beautiful village with the guest house bordering the farmland... it was deadly cold that night, lit up a campfire though... and thanks to ali bhais hospitality, we slept like logs...

.
We left mulbekh at half past seven in the morning; hit some bad road patches before we reached Fotu La, the highest point on the Srinagar Leh Route. We had our first sight of a monastery at Lamayaru... the Alchi monastery was also on the way, but since both required detour from the main road, we decided to skip them both... Lunch at Basgo was our last stop and we eagerly looked forward to reaching Leh... well into the third day in innova, a nice warm room with a good bed beckoned us... MES accommodation, thanks to mahima, Chang La was just what the doctor prescribed..

The Ladhak Series :Day Zero- The Deadly Run…..

2010-06-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

We (Murali and Self) were excited and looking forward for our trip to ladakh. We were scheduled to fly at 6.45 pm from Pune airport to Delhi and then catch a train to Jammu from the Delhi old station. We had a gap of 1.45 hrs to cover up the distance between airport and station, which seems quite reasonable with the help of the Delhi Metro.

.
Abhi dropped us at 5.30 pm at the Pune airport and we were pleased to see the Indian Airline flight on schedule. We comfortably checked in and boarded the flight at 6.40 pm. All seems on track.

.
But surprise, surprise. The flight scheduled to depart at 6.45 only departs at 7.25 pm, i.e. a loss of 40 min and we could touch base Delhi airport only by 10 pm. No way, can we now reach on time at Delhi station by 10.30pm to catch the scheduled train. We still rushed out (thank god, we hadn’t checked in our luggage), caught a cab and let him know that we needed to zoom off. We did not realize that we had jumped into “a sheep in wolf’s clothing” The cab was a CNG vehicle and was not capable of zooming past the 50 Kmph mark even on the empty eight lane super highways of the capital. Holy shit we screamed and seeing even bikes overtaking us, helplessly said to our self “Allz is well”.

.
Dilip & Mahima had been waiting for long at the station and they informed us that the train was running behind the schedule. The Hope brightened. But our CNG cabwala was convinced that no way we could get to the station in 30 mins. Infact he wasn’t even making an effort. He even stopped for a Gas fill. But Dilip kept calling us, keeping our hopes alive and kicking.

.
At 11 pm we touchbased the Delhi Old station. As we stepped in the train blew its horn and arrived elegantly at the station as if she was just waiting our arrival. It was a scene just like the Hindi Filmi movie, but unbelievingly true. Maybe somebody somewhere was praying for us. However we didn’t have to run and hop to the compartment, as the sweet train decided it would halt for another hour at the Delhi Station.

.
I couldn’t have asked for a better and exciting start to this journey. Just before a dozed off in the comfortable two tier Ac compartment of the train, my heart beat fast and politely said to me “Kahani abhi katm nahi huan hain dost”…………..The Journey had just began.

P.S: With the Manali Leh highway blocked, we were not left with any option but to take the Srinagar-Leh highway on both the counts.

Off for a While....

2010-06-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

I have a dream. All of us have a dream. People dream of wealth, joy, happiness and Offcourse vacations. The Couples dream of Paris, the Vacationers dream of Europe, the Oldies dream of the State's and the Singles dream of Bangkok. I dream too. I have always dreamt of Ladakh.

I had promised myself last year, when i had just returned from my bagpacking stint in Uttaranchal, that same time next year, i gonna land myself in the Mountains of Ladakh. I see myself fulfiling my dream. The 16th of June 2010, along with Murs, Baba and Mahima, I start my 11 days trip to " The land of numerous Passes". And off course accompanying us will be my camera kit ( Canon 1000D, 18-55,55-250) and a new babe, the gorgeous, the beautiful and the elegant (did I fgrt to mention the " Expensive"?) Canon 10-22mm wide angle lens.

The Journey starts from Pune- Delhi-Manali-Sarchu-leh-Nubra-leh-Pangong-Leh-Kargil-Srinagar and Back. Sound exciting isnt it. But there is a catch to the plan. The Manali Leh highways isnt open yet and BRO isnt sure of it too. But then whats life without a sense of mystery. So folks pray for me. Pray for my dreams. Luv.S.
.
“Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you.”

Shitty Bored.....

2010-05-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

I havent been doing much these days. I aint reading a book, nor playing tennis, nor doing Photography, or anything interesting. And the suprising part being that my Office isnt keeping me busy too....

So what am i doing i ask myself?

I am reading a little, flirting a little, playing a little and enjoying a little. Isn't that enough i ask me? Isn't a bit by bit making up for the whole. No i guess!!!

M Bored to death. Why do i of death so much these dayz.

The 100th Post

2010-04-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

Life they say is a drama, where every protagonist has a script custom designed for him. A script; you are completely unaware of and written by someone up there. Some scenes require you to meet specific people every day, who never influence you and sometimes some people only once, who infact change the course of your life. I say, isn’t this an Irony…….

.
I have been influenced, loved, hated and been dismissed by many. At each stage of my life, with each scene I deliver, I have been confident of predicting the next one. But gosh, every time I am convinced of the script, Bang Bang - a new twist with vivid turns is embedded in my script. I say, Aint I lost yet again…..

.
Such is the uncertainty of life that if people now ask me what I plan for the future, I stare back at them with convincingly blank look. Yes, I am best being blank. Blank against planning, blank against being prepared for my next scene and just blank against my future.

.
I say, let me live life as it comes. Let me extempore my journey as it comes……

.
“Life is a culmination of Happiness, Sadness, Awe, Anger and Peace. All packed in a single drama, whose show begins at the birth and ends only with your existence”

P.S: Thank You all for sticking here for the last 3 years. Its been a pleasant journey so far and i am sure, the future holds lotsa more suprises. So stick On....

Cant be Transparent......

2010-03-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

Ask anyone who knows me and all of them will tell you just one thing- that I am extremely a cute fella. However they also say that i look cute and simple only on the first impression. And once people know me, they loudly proclaim that i am a Devil In Disguise.

Is this the reason, this fellas are staring at me? But this was the first time we met. Could they have seen me in and Out. Could they have done that?

Food for Thought...

2010-03-16T01:46:00.000-07:00

Our reason for sheer hardwork and slough is mere Food. But over a period the factor has taken a backseat and other luxuries in life have just popped out. But anyways notthing is as good as good food. And Nothing can beat Moms food.

Mom- I luv you and ofcourse your delicious food.

The Suspicious Creature

2010-03-07T00:40:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, there lived an weird cock called Mr. Suspicious. He was a pleasant looking man, but with a susupicious eye. He looked at his wife with Suspicion and so, his boss and peers. His relatives and close friends werent spared at All. All their good effort in helping him resolve this grave behaviour would backfire and they would meet their dead ends.

Few months turned into year and years into decade. Alas nothing could change this man. One fine day, his wife brought in a servant called as Mr. Good. Suprisingly things became better that year and the family ties improved. Now this lead to a good news in the family and a baby boy born. The mother named him Mr. Happy. And believe it or not the the Mr. Suspicious suddenly changed and became neutral. Abh Bolo Kyun??

Kyun ki , Suspicious ko good and Happy ne balance kiyain na baba. Arey yeh maine nahi newton ne Bola. I was trying my scriptwriting skills. Ok fine, no more stories from now on. Happy? Who says we have freedom in this Country?

Enjoy the pic now:)

Another Big North Indian Wedding

2010-03-05T23:20:00.000-08:00

What do i say of about these North Indian wedding. They are big, infact Grand. Right from the clothes, Food and the Music, everything is planned and given utmost importance. The good food flows and there is so much of energy around. And then how can i miss the crowd. Folks the gurls are Hot and there is hariyali everywhere, just Everywhere. A sight for Sour eyes i say.

Was wondering when my friends drop down for my wedding ( many many yrs later)in Goa. The poor folks will be thoroughly dissapointed. Forget the food, there will be no hot babes too. The only gurantee i give is the Booze, Unlimited booze. So cheer, Lifes isnt that bad!

My Heartiest congratulations to the new couple on the block, Mr. & Mrs Jigyesh Mehta. Cheers.

"To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the wedding cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it; whenever you're right, shut up."

Catching Time....

2010-02-13T01:12:00.000-08:00

I wish time never passes by. But neverthless, i know its passing. And at a quite steady pace. How can i stop it?

Can SomeOne help me please???

"Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch."

Touch and Run: Rajasthan

2010-02-13T00:56:00.000-08:00

Another short trip to Rajasthan and this time again it's for a friends wedding. The best part of north indian weddings is the 2B's and 1K. Matlab Babes and Booze accompanied my mast khana. Wat can one ask for in life?

The trip though short was rather pleasant one. The only curse remained the sleeper compartment of my train. I need a bloody Ac one. And with india economy back on track, the AC tickets get sold out like hot cakes.

Ok fine, I know i am spoilt.

Random Sunday and Random Scribling

2010-01-29T21:03:00.000-08:00

Why?

I say, why are we expected to do something in this journey called life. Do something that makes us proud, makes your parents happy and makes people to remember you after you are long gone. Born arent we with expectations. lol.

I dont want to achieve anything or overachieve nor Underachive. Let me be in peace.

" Watt the Fuck. I am good doing Nothing. Thank you."

A Slow death...

2010-01-25T11:04:00.000-08:00

My past is crystal clear and the future is blur. The present is just stuck.

Am i dying a slow death??

" Tears are words the heart cant express"

FC- Faces that count

2010-01-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

When i started my photography journey, I was asked " Dude, whats ur focus area". I had laughed then. How could one have a focus area in photography. You click things that you liked. How could one restrict themself to Potrait, Architecture, Landscape and All. However suprising, i am today into Potraits. Faces charm me and b\w photos induce me.

I have taken the liberty of posting photos of my workshop mates without seeeking prior permission. Kajari, Atul, Radhika -I just couldnt help posting this. Spare me.

Peace, Love and happy Click.

Fergusson College

2010-01-23T04:51:00.000-08:00

Gods has been good to me these day. Lifes been better in terms of money, friends, health. Quit things that i would have loved too. Few things fallen in place, few more to settle.

As the Saying goes " Harr Kutte ka din Atha hain. Today is Mine"

PhotoGraphy Workshop @ British Library

2010-01-23T04:33:00.000-08:00

Attended a Workshop at British Library. The idea behind my attendence were two things. Point A, that there would some fundamental technical learnings, that i could take out from the sessions. And B - Meet like minded people who have or wish to develop a passion for photography.

Point A proved to be decently good. However i have realised that i am more inclined towards what i exactly require in my frame, rather than keenly being involved in the technicalities like shutter speed and aperature. Point B - We have did a Photosession at Fergusson college which was a good start. Lets See how far the folks keep this passion alive.

The bottom line is that such activities keeps, One going. And sometimes, this is all That Matters.

2009..Here I Run..2010....

2009-12-31T03:44:00.000-08:00

I wish that I could run,
Run into this world of photography of mine,
But Instead, I am just stuck here in office,
Until the clock strikes nine

And when no work hits me hard,
I enter into the web world of mine,
Where I sit, browse and drowse
Charming the beauties all the time

But then it strikes me of all,
How long will I be able to take this nonsense fall?
Scared to face this ruthless society,
Scared to break the shackles its set

So maybe it time to run,
To lope, jog and sprint
In the world of photography of mine
Back to the place I belong.

Congratulation !!!

2009-12-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

Super Excited!!! My photographs have been published in the ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY November 2009 issue. I had submitted the Ajanta & Ellora trip photographs in September this year and hadn’t heard from them since then. Luckily got to visit the Crossword store today and was truly amazed to have got my photographs published in the well known photo magazine.

Its wonderful for an amateur photographer to have got his photographs published. Cant express the feeling through words.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt:

Dear Asian Photography,
I would like to this opportunity to share the photographs of my visit to Ajanta and Ellora caves. The Unesco World heritage sites are located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. The rock-cut cave monuments dating from the second century BCE, contain paintings and sculpture considered to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art.

The photos had been taken in January 2009 from my Canon 1000D, predominately using the 18-55mm lens. I was amazed by the sheer beauty of the sculptures and paintings, thereby inspiring me to capture this truly world class state of art.

I hope these publications encourage more Photo Enthusiastic to visit and appreciate the history engulfed in this art.

Regards
Saish Kuvelker
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks ASIAN Photography and I shall impatiently await the besotted prize.

Marriage - Not mine though

2009-12-04T23:58:00.000-08:00

Its Raining Marriages. My school friends are getting married, My college friends are doing the same and my cousin seems to be following it too. I juealised that i have recieved atleast 15 mail invites in that last 1 week. Wow, Its raining Marriages for Sure.

Anyways, until i aint marrying, i have nothing to worry. So cheers to all who got married and a greater cheers to those who are still single and very much eligible.

Stuck in my Glorious Past

2009-11-14T04:05:00.001-08:00

One day, as i was lazing about, God appeared out of nowhere and started a conversation.

God: Mr. Saish, where are heading to?

Saish: Me? Nowhere God. where do i need to go. Its such a lovely place up here.

God: You mean you arent heading anywhere in Life?

Saish: Errr.

God: Are you atleast waiting for someone?

Saish: Yup, my friends. They have gone somewhere but will be back soon.

God: haha. Poor Boy. They have all moved ahead in a new world and a new life.

Thats when it hit me that “There's only one me, and I'm stuck with him.”

A Sweet Pull Off...

2009-10-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Wow!! After a long time in my three and half years of my career i have finally been able to pull something off. And this moment is something to be cherished. People say there comes a time for evrything and guess my time had come. I somehow believe in a combination of destiny and luck, as they tend to do magic for some and agony for others. It's tough to routinly work on same thing again and again without rewards. But when it does come, the routine task does not look routine any more. Anyways over the years, i have learned of what needs to be done on work front and specifically what needs to be ignored.

Ladies and Gentleman - A big wow to me and my hard work. Cheers.

A guilt Free Life

2009-10-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Its late at night. And as always i wondering and thinking. I am thinking of me. What am i doing wrong? And why is my right's taking a backseat to my wrongs. I want to ignore the wrong's and lead a guilt free life. I just want to live a fairytale life.

"I aint confused. I am just mixed too well"

Kas Lake, Pune

2009-10-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Picture Perfect

2009-10-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

Camera: Canon EoS 1000D
Lens: 55-250 mm
Shutter Speed: 1/4000
Aperture: f 5.6
Place and Time : Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad @ 5.30 pm

Description:
The shot was taken at Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad. A tourist was busy clicking photographs of his friends, at the peak of the fort against the dusk.

He got his Picture Perfect and I got mine.

Rest In Peace

2009-09-26T02:12:00.000-07:00

"Life lives, life dies. Life laughs, life cries. Life gives up and life tries. But life looks different through everyone's eyes"

Windows Wide Open

2009-09-21T04:14:00.001-07:00

Place: Pune University

Timing: 6.00 pm

Reason: Dying of boredom. What better then to spend time capturing images.

Snapshots of Life

2009-09-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

Its indeed difficult to give a jist of ones life in one page. There are so many things that have been good, so many that have been bad and so many that have changed your perspective on life.

Alas, i had to highlight a few in my office collage competion and i did that throught this collage. it highlight my current thoughts on my life. Won the runner up prize for this, but guess i think i shld have won.

who said Life isnt fair. i am indeed listening.

P.S: 5000+ hits. Not bad eh.

Paint My Life

2009-08-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

You Guys believe in Destiny. I had started to do. 6 months is all i ask to repaint my Life.

"Believing that Life is based on destiny, is one thing; Allowing destiny to mend your life is Another "

Uttaranchal- Faces that Count

2009-07-05T05:02:00.001-07:00

I feel One should travels for two things - To see new places and understand the people that reside there - Culture, food, lifestyle and thougths. A place without people is a like a body without a Soul.

The people in Uttaranchal are very friendly. I dont know - if it's because of tourism or its genuine. I felt the second was right. The people of Uttarnchal Stood Out in my journey to make it worth every bit of it , In all terms of it- Hospitality, food, info and help.

Would like to Thank few people for making the journey special: Anuj ( Professional Adventurist and can surely help you plan your trip -09411384804, Ram Singh - Hotel incharge @Joshimath and excellent cook, Vishal and Ruchir for their important tips and Billoo the Horse @ Auli.

And offcourse to the unknown ones....

“What most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things"

Delhi Express

2009-07-05T04:53:00.000-07:00

I had reached to the end of my memorable tour and the day had sadly come to return back to Pune. In the concluding part of the journey, Delhi was just a pit stop and not the finish line. So with a heavy heart, I left Dehradun in the morning at 7 pm via the Uttaranchal State transport bus. The buses to delhi ply every half an hour and the tickets are available only at the counter (No reservations plz). Preferably please take the AC bus, as the jourmey is quite mundane and if have the need to travel further to Delhi.

Reaching Delhi, i called up my two old buddies, Mr. Vij and Mr. Sah and got to know that i further need to travel for an hour to reach to their place. Rs. 120 was the target fare given to me and i was told not to pay a penny more then that. I spent the next half an hour confidently bargaining with Rickshaw fellas and finally suceeded to find one. Half an hour of my precious time gone and i didnt have more than 4 hours left for my flight.

WIth limited time, the only Plan now that stuck me was to get these fellas to take me to the nearest Restaurant and have a nice cold beer and exchange important notes (Gossip and updates). However the next few hours spent at Delhi left me fully satiated and excited. My plan was put to a halt, the car bought out and we Zoomed around for a quick Delhi Darshan. The must see places were quickly mapped and zeroed down under.

Quenched my thirst with Flavoured Milk at Cannaught Palace
Zoomed fast in the Metro
Gave a Salute at the India Gate
Shot the Rashtrapathi Bhawan
Glanced at the Parliament
Ate Gol Guppa and Chat
Eyed the Delhi hotties
And most Importantly exchanged Notes while travelling

Wat more could i ask for?....Luv you guys, you made my day....

"You only live once - but if you work it right, once is enough"

Mussoorie

2009-07-05T04:49:00.001-07:00

Hrishikesh- Aarthi at Parmarth and Trviveni Ghat

2009-07-05T04:40:00.001-07:00

" When you get in touch with the Almighty, you are bound to get in touch with Yourself"

Auli

2009-07-05T04:27:00.001-07:00

Famous for: Skiing destination of India
How to reach: Travel to Joshimath- Take the cable car and reach to the base camp. Another option is to drive by car right to the base camp.
Cable Car Travel: This is the highest and longest cable car in the world and constructed by GNVML. They charge Rs. 500/- per person. But I guess it’s worth the ride.
Season: October to February. But to me, this place is simply too attractive. I recommend a 365 days holiday season.

Tips:

Don’t stop at the base camp. The real beauty of Auli lies about 1.5 kms above base camp. Take a phony ride or just walk. But get you ass there to see the real Uttaranchal.
A pony ride for 2 is approximately 500/-. You can still negotiate, as this is India.
The cable car ride has a fixed time plan. They allow you for a stay of 1 hour at the base. Talk to station master, convince him that you are more than just a tourist and spend the day up there enjoying the view.
A must visit for Photographers. Recommended visit time is 4-6 pm as the cable car services starts only at 8 am in the morning.

“I wish to travel to the deepest corners of this world, just to satiate my hunger for the next shutter click”

Valley of Flowers

2009-07-05T04:18:00.000-07:00

"The Himalayas must be approached humbly. Respect their beauty, their majesty, and their power, and they will treat you as you deserve. Other Mountains may Forgive you, But not the Himalayas"- Frank S. Smythe ( Discovered- Valley of Flowers 1931)

Trek to Gangaria

2009-07-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

The trek from Govindghat to the Base camp of Valley of Flowers- Gangharia is just 13kms. Yes, you heard me right that it just 13kms. But I bet you that if haven’t been much into climbing, than this 13kms will be one hell of a trip. The first 6 kms is quite a start – Up and down, so you won’t feel much of the heat. But then the honey moon period ends and what comes is a ride of your life. You climb, climb and keep climbing. With that you curse, curse and keep cursing.

It took us 4.5 hours (Avg: 6-7 hours) to reach the base camp. But the sight of a plateau had never been beautiful. I must admit, it’s been one hell of a trek.

Tips:

At Govindghat and Gangharia, you pay thrice the MRP price for everything. So what you need to remember is to carry everything- torch, cigs, soap and just anything from Joshimath or Rishikesh.
Climb with minimum luggage. Drop all you’re belonging at Govindghat@Gurudwara, at free of a cost.
Food and Water are easily available in plenty en route to Gangharia. So you don’t need to carry the basics.
Do carry glucose and chocolate mints. You surely need those.

P.S: However I guarantee you a nice and entertaining journey, as you are bound to have a close encounter with the Sardar community. They are unique breeds which are hard to ignore.

“I admit I'm being paid well, but it's no more than I deserve. After all, I've been screwed more times than a hooker.”

On the Journey to Heaven

2009-07-05T03:58:00.001-07:00

" The journey to Heaven is as wonderful as having two shots of Tequila before descending upon single Malt Scotch"

Water Rafting at -Rishikesh

2009-07-05T03:49:00.000-07:00

Destination: Rishikesh

Difficulty Level: Medium

Cost: RS.400/- per head

Time Spent: 2+ hours

Tips:

- Do not carry expensive material, Though a dry bag exist in the raft.

- Please jump into the Ganges for a swim. Its Holy anyways.

- Cliff Jumping is a must. Surelly gonna give a high and a moment to cherish.

- Do not book packages from the inetrnet. It will be heavy on the pockets

- Please take the Shivpuri Package. More rapids more fun.

Season: October to June

"My only fear is that I may live too long. This would be a subject of dread to me."

With a Bang- Uttaranchal

2009-06-26T10:14:00.001-07:00

Here goes the itenary:
Day 0: Pune-Mumbai-Delhi
Day1: Delhi- Haridwar -Rihikesh
Day2: Rishikesh- Devaprayag-Srinagar-Rudraprayag-Karnaprayag- Govindghat
Day 3: Govindghat- Gangaria
Day4: Gangaria- Valley of Flowers- Gangaria- Govindghat- Joshimath
Day5: Joshimath- Auli- Joshimath
Day6: Joshimath- Karnaprayag-Rudraprayag-Srinagar-Devaprayag-Rishikesh
Day7: Rishikesh
Day 8: Rishikesh- Dehradun- Mussorie- Dehradun
Day9: Dehradun- Delhi- Pune

Wow...Its been a hell of a trip. ..i am Speechless

P.S: Details shall follow.

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."

Off to Uttarkaandh...

2009-06-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

M off to Uttarkandh for the next 9 day.....So for the next few dayz i am off from Proposal, Calls, Presentations and Corporate Buzz.....

I somehow have the feeling that this trip is to to enlighten me....M not sure if i am running away from things or actually seeking self enlighentment....

I am on the the way to Resigning...Inshallah...I shall be back with many more things to talk about...Till then SiOnara...

" Travel is the shortest way to Wisdom they say...I seek all of it"

A Breathless Life

2009-05-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

I wonderer often,

On whether i should surrender,

Surrender my soul my heart.

But somehow my brain

which is dark as coal,

Pull me back

and holds.

Holds me all the time

and pushes me to do

all the crime.

I cry

I Cry to die

As I am living,

A breathless Life.

---------------------------

My dear friend Rahul Ranjan, read my weird thoughts and said it is too pessimistic. So he quickly penned down few words and shared the across. Here it goes...
---------------------------------------
Looking at the depth

I wonder,

It’s time to unleash the power under,

If you shy away

from dark night and rain,

You will never be able to

discover that thunder

So rise up and reach to sky

And ask yourself the question Why?

Why is that you exist

why is that you resist

To get to know you is the jist

and with life you will have tryst ….

-------------------------------------------

Cheers.....But U folks decide now.....

Singhad- The Joy of being Togather

2009-05-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Lost the Subject...

2009-04-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

" I focus on things that need very little attention in life, but still somehow get the Bigger Picture"

Ajanta: The Buddha is Wide Awake

2009-03-29T01:01:00.000-07:00

What Photo enthusiastics need to do when visiting the Ajanta and Ellora Caves:

Please visit the site on weekdays and start early
If the place is still crowded, start from last cave and move up. It did wonders for us.
Do carry a tripod - A must
Preferably visit the place during the Winters and Rainy season. Summers may not be a grt idea.
Please Do Not use the FLASH in the caves - Ur destroying the past.

Happy Sighting.....

“Sleep is lovely, death is better still, not to have been born is of course the miracle.”

Ellora: The Glorious Past

2009-03-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

Whether I'm painting or not, I have this overweening interest in humanity. Even if I'm not working, I'm still analyzing people.

Aurangabad: Daulatabad Fort

2009-03-29T00:21:00.000-07:00

Let’s meet on the road my friend,
Let’s start a new story,
To keep moving is what we were meant for,
Let’s revive our spirit and the glory.

Time flies by quickly for us,
Only yesterday we were back,
But our spirit is thirsty for more,
C'mon friend, I am ready with my pack.

I desire to see more of the world now,
Exploit the day before I am sorry,
Let’s meet on the road my friend,
Let’s revive our spirit and the glory.

--------Mohsin Khan--------------

"Mingle a little folly with your wisdom; a little nonsense now and then is pleasant”

Happy New Year - 2009

2008-12-31T22:23:00.001-08:00

Was just wondering what New Year celebration has meant for me over a period of my life.

Being from Goa, New Year parties and celebration have always been a part of my life since childhood. When I was a kid, New Year Eve meant exclusively watching Doordarshan. Ila Arun, Sharon Prabhakar, Alisha Chenai, Usha Uthup and likes, entertained us till the clock struck midnight. This was followed by telephone calls to Uncles, Aunties and all near and dear ones. As I moved to College, New Year meant Strictly Partying. We planned well in advance, communicated to the group and Partied hard till the wee hours of Morning. Not Partying was considered uncool. How then often I wished that the night would never come to an end. Now As I Age, New Year celebration to me involves a peaceful evening at home, some drinks and nice sumptuous home cooked food.

I guess I am becoming sober with days passing by and somehow fear that soon as Age catches up with me you may find me sleeping well before the clock strikes 12.

Anyways Happy New Year 2009. God Bless us All!!!

PS.: I have some resolution surprising in mind and look forward to complete them all.

Being Myself....

2008-12-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

I sway around random thoughts
I move around motionless objects
I blabber words that have no meaning
I hear things often unsaid
Career thoughts don’t interest me
I am living a meaningless life
Just to be myself…..

Udaipur: What to visit?

2008-12-13T00:10:00.000-08:00

A list of must visit places in Udaipur :

City Palace: This is India’s second biggest palace next only to the Mysore Palace. The Palace has been build across the rule of several Maharanas and each of them has left a unique mark in its architecture. The Palaces can indeed make a rich man realize how poor he is.
Saheliyoin-ki-Bari: Maharaja Fateh Singhji builds this garden so that he and his beauties can dance, play and fool around.
Pratap Smarak: This smarak was built in fond memory of Maharana Pratap Singh and his close associate, the beloved horse- Chetak. People in Udaipur still recite the story of how the horse sacrificed his life to save his master. I was astonished to see the armor of Maharana at the City Palace - this guy must have been atleast 7 feet tall. It was believed that Chetak himself wore an armour of about 30kg in weight. Wow, A giant Horse with a Superhuman Master.
Jagdish Temple: The temple was built by Maharana Jagjit Singh in 1651 and has an Indo-Aryan architecture to it.
Sajjangarh–Monsoon Palace: The Palace is situated in the outskirts of the city and to reach it we have to travel through a patch of forest area. It was build so that the Maharana could take his time out during the monsoons. This place gives a panoramic view of the city and is most definitely worth a ride to the top.
Car Museum: Can you believe that this beautiful place was once upon a time was meant to be used as a servant quarter and Car garage. The Cadillac’s, the Convertibles, the Merc’s – You Name it and they are all here.

Besides places to visit, I recommend the few must visit restaurants. Do visit these fine dining restaurants to have a complete feel of Udaipur.
Ambrai – This place provides an amazingly good view with one end towards the City Palace and another end towards the Lake Palace. Surprisingly this place is reasonably priced and worth a fine dine.
Park View: Doesn’t look great from outside but does provide a more than decent meal. Its located right in the city and most of the folks do recommends this place to tourist.
Berry’ restaurant: We did visit this place in hope of drinks; however the drinks permit is withdrawn as of now. A recommended place by locals.
Lake Palace and Udaivilas: Nothing can beat the experience out here. You just need dough to make merry.
Please make it a point to have Lal Maas, for all the non veggies out there…

“Eat Food today as there is No tomorrow”