This picture was taken in southern andhra. I would like to title this photo as 'Lonely'

I Love This Post

This is simply amazing. This makes me feel so nostalgic.
Click here to read.

I went to UK in January of 2004 for doing MS that was then, things were easy and tough.
I found MSN maps and went through them multiple times to make myself familiar to the area.

UK and I will forever share a relationship of love and hate.

That time I was driven by my ambitions and lived for other insignificant things.
Now, I am driven by the people in my life and the love they have for me.

2 Days 7 Hours

Two days and seven hours to start my journey and then couple of hours more on the flight and I will be eating Aloo Tikkis. Level of desperation is really high and my taste buds are crying out loud for an aloo tikki. I know how each single day has passed without my dear Aloo Tikkis.

2 days 7 hours to go

Hip Hip Hurrah

SLUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Can you hear the slurppp in Delhi?

Landing in New Delhi...

Now that I have landed in Delhi many times, I thought of sharing my experience and it is only 14 days before I land at IGI airport so the memories are coming back.

My nose tells me that I have arrived in Delhi. I can smell and know that the flight is about to land in Delhi. It is a good smell, a familiar smell of dust and smoke. This smell fills the air cabin as the plane flys over Delhi, few minutes before landing.

It is so wonderful to feel choked, I feel so nostalgic. For me who is allergic to dust and smoke, I know I have arrived in Delhi when I sneeze. It takes a while for my immune system to adjust to Delhi air.

As soon as one gets down at IGI airport there is a strong smell of Phenyl and the white tiles and mosaic floors reminds one that they have gone back in time. Man I love the 80s, I feel I am a kid again.

By this time having experienced so many 'fragrances' my nose gives up and I barely can breathe.

Then comes the immigration queues, the wooden tables, and paan eating babus waiting to stamp your PASSPORT and ask weird questions. Just as one thinks it is all over and now I will meet my loved ones. One has to collect the luggage, with people literally resting their heads on your shoulder to look at the conveyor belt.

By now I want to really get out, cry, scream, run; but wait there is more.
While getting out of the airport I have to tell so many people that I have arrangements to go back home. People of Saddi Dilli are so courteous to the guests. I am talking about millions and zillions of taxi drivers waiting outside.

Well, whatever it is. It is my home and I love being in Delhi. The dust, the smoke, the traffic, the swearing while driving, the food, the mess - I love it all.

Dilli is Dilli
And, I love Dilli

Wow!!!

I am sitting in Office working.

I get some free time, so I check the counter for number of days remaining in UK.

And then WOW!!!

I can smell DAAL MAKHANI and NAAN. Yes it is true!!!

I do not know how? But, it is true...

Yummmmmmm... I love DAAL MAKHANI...

I AM COMING BACK TO INDIA IN 16 DAYS

Small update for long time away

Well it has been long long time since, I updated my blog.

Things are finally picking up pace at work and my UK stay is coming to an end (30 days remaining). Looking forward to facing the Indian summers - which I have not faced in last 3 years.

Every time I say goodbye to UK and return. I have to return to UK.
Let us see what happens this time.

Bristol Revisited

This post was long overdue. The picture here shows Bristol city centre. Yes, I did visit Bristol again, after about a year.

I left Bristol in December, 2005 never to return. But, I always had this feeling that I will return soon and I returned. I returned as a completely changed person.

Well this trip was done over the Easter weekend, and I met all my old friends and revisited all the places I used to hang around. Even, got to visit my University.

Well, there is not much to say about the trip, except that I felt like home in Bristol. Also, I got to meet my old friends and all old memories were refreshed. It was a good trip, marking the start of some horrible weeks ahead.

Where is ThinkingThinker?

Well, thinking thinker is back to UK. Hence, there is reduction in number of posts on the blog. I will post more as more will happen, as at the moment except for work nothing is happening.

After a year’s gap it feels like I never left UK, it is all the same

New Year - I am excited

New Years Eve!!! Hmmm...

Coming year has so many things already set to happen. Some by chance, some planned and some spontaneously planned. Hopefully plans will excute as planned.

Last to last, new years was a bad year with Tsunami and me and my friends donated their new year celebration money. Let us hope nothing similar happens this year. And last year I was too busy to think about anything regarding life, celebration or anything. While, this new years resolution is to spend some time living and not working; and travelling across the globe. Hopefully I will be able to travel as much as I am planning to.

Wishing a very happy and prosperous new year to all, who visit my blog. I won't be posting anything till 2nd Jan, 2007 as I will be travelling.

Teaching India loo manners???

There is a mall boom in Indian cities. This exposes us to world class facilities, shops etc. But, Indian public is still not prepared to absorb all these international standard facilities. Especially, the public toilets are something we are not used to. We are still a country where majority of population has NO access to toilets and those who do, still like to enjoy the pleasures of open skies.

Therefore, no matter how hard these malls try to keep their toilets clean. They always end up being dirty and stinking. Hence, public toilets are better avoided - until and unless in cases of dire emergencies.

On my recent visit to a public loo at a well known mall in Bangalore - I saw something, that I would like to share with you all. Well it seems somebody finally has taken an intiative to start, a toilet manners revolution. See the picture below -


This picture was taken at Garuda mall toilet. And, those of you who think too much - No I am not a weirdo taking pics with my mobile phone in toilets - so please no comments announcing me to be a maniac on a run - taking pics of toilets.

Bombay Blues, Central Mall, Bangalore

@ Central Mall, Bangalore

Nothing much to write about this restaurant.

Good place if you want to sit outside and have dinner/lunch. The outside balcony is not a no-smoking zone so if you are a non-smoker than you can have a seat indoors. The food is good, the crowd is mixed (families, youngsters etc.). Service again is poor here and the food plates/bowls are not filled regularly during buffet lunch. You may see empty bowls, which is very disappointing :-D .

Bombay Blues - Average restaurant which is overly priced.To be frank - I have yet to come across a restaurant in bangalore where service is good and seating is proper. At most of the restaurants either table is high or sofa is low or distance between table and sofa is not right. I really hate a restaurant if the seating is not proper.

Three Quarter Chinese, Church Street, Bangalore

Decor at Three Quarter Chinese

Menu at Three Chinese Quarters

Three chinese quarters is situated on Church Street next to Brigade road. If you are coming from MG Road turn right from Sapphire and after NASA you will see Amoeba and there on the ground floor we have Three Quarter Chinese.

Coming back to the restaurant. Restaurant is nicely done, I don't know how to describe the decor but it is modern. There is a small black island on the entry with small candles on the table, which is a cool place to sit and has black leather sofas. Rest is the general sitting area and there is a bar. Restaurant is huge inside and so is the waiting time. You can expect minimum waiting of 30 minutes on the weekends.

The staff is english speaking and courteous; but service is poor in terms of time taken. You have to wait for the food to arrive, in the meantime you can easily forget what you ordered ;-). But, the food is delicious and well presented. You can order north-Indian or Chinese or have a combination of both.

Menu is not rectangular as you expect but a semi-circle; as you can see in the picture. The dining experience is formal. So, if you want to take your boss or that special someone for dinner or lunch, this is the place to be. But with so many people eating and chatting and music. The place can get very very noisy. So if you are a person who likes to eat in peace and calm surroundings you should avoid this place.

The prices are slightly above normal and a meal for two comes normally at INR 600.00 but, the quantities are large; so be careful while ordering multiple dishes.