WorldVentures

2008-03-09T10:25:00.001-07:00

recipe for good luck
travel to an ancient city in china
climb up to the highest spot in the mountains
buy a lock and engrave it with your family name
lock it on the chain and toss the key into the abyss..........

picture taken at the top of huangshan mountain in anhui province - china

2008-03-05T18:50:00.001-08:00

grande dame of the garden...........

2008-03-04T17:50:00.001-08:00

basketball champ..........has been???

2008-03-03T15:36:00.001-08:00

ok ...........todays pictures of the day.............lacrosse practise...............

and............the miami heat dancers..................

2006-10-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

5 am manila airport...........its amazing how alive asia gets at the oddest hours. all flights to europe and america leave at this time. i mean even bombay- 2 am at the aiport is like a huge party going on.

making money means a lot of sacrifice........for example i travelled 28 hours to manila for 48 hours of business. today i travel 11 hours to china for 72 hours of business. its pretty wild

the other thing about business travel is the tremendous amount of time one spends alone........huge amount of time we can use in many ways.

how do i spend my time??????????

sleeping

praying

blogging

reading

watching a movie

taking photographs

eating or more like trying to control my eating.......( example - at the lounge this morning - a cucumber sandwich has about two teaspoons of butter slathered on it.....so ieat the cucumber and skip the bread.........still hungry but i refuse to swallow fat........gosh its like policing ones mouth constantly.)

shopping- i find something to buy at the oddest of places. last year was delayed by 5 hours in coimbatore and i bought 5 pounds of mithai- and i dont eat a dot.......gave it all awaya......and hopped into a cab to buy sarees.......and i dont even wear them more than once every 5 years.........what can i say -except i do need to kill time- or i will kill the passenger next to me.

and after all that - i still have time to spare.........craaaaaaaaaaazieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

guru nanaks birthday on sunday...............bummer - i would love to be in india to go to the gurdwara..........cant make it..................

prayer for the day.........lord thank you for making me an indian........i have the gift of humanity in my soul and prayer in heart.

2006-10-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

on the plane again.........this time another whirlwind trip.....philippines-china-malaysia-india- england and back.......

i am going back- again- with a complete lack of agenda. i will fall asleep - wake up in another time zone- another country and see where that takes me.

it almost feels like i am a vagabond.

if i had any business school professor quiz me about my success - i would be completely at a loss to explain how this strategy has worked for me.

its terrible- i dont even look at my reports till i get to the negotiating table.

i guess i should be greatful that i have a wonderful support staff at the office and great instincts to make it all work.

2006-10-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

2006-10-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

While doing puja for Diwali yesterday the pundit had the kids entertained with a very interesting story.

One day three sadhus were passing by a home. The lady of the house invited them to come in. The three said- we would love to - however we can only enter one at a time. You have to choose one of us to come in first- our names are- Success- Luck- Love.

The family debated- the husband says I want success for i would like to succeed at work. The wife protested saying - if we choose luck then we will be lucky at everything. The little daughter says- i want Love. Finally to keep their daughter happy they invite Love in.

As Love enters the other two sadhus follow suit.........the lady questions - "but i thought only one of you could enter at a time."

Love replies........wherever i go Success and Luck follow - for they are both blind.

So the story ended - that where there is love - there is everything.........happiness - harmony- success- luck everything.

2006-10-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

Diwali starts with Dhanteras.......somehow most people wish on Diwali day- but for me the first day of Diwali is the auspicious beginning of our new year. I always do puja and seek blessings on this day- spend it happy with my family and in my office...........

sooooooooooooooooo................Happy Diwali and lots of wealth and contentment on dhanteras.

2006-10-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Look to India for Career Placement..................feels great that we are becoming a welcoming option for the world...

2006-10-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

More drama..........the really funny part is that the donkeys caused it..........not Jolie........

Somehow I remember Pune being ruled by the buffalos- cant seem to remember donkeys running around. The visual picture though is hilarious........little wonder why the Asians can survive most situations while people who are from the West including our ABCD kids just flounder.

My kid for example cannot cross the streets in India or China.........he would be run over in one second........I have to literally huddle him accross.......all my explanations of " think you are in a video game" just done seem to work. The sheer number of cars, pedestrians and assorted moving objects- both machine and animal make it an interesting experience for us.

My take on it- its just second nature- we did it all our lives- cross roads- and dodge everyone and everything.........sure made it easier to multi-task around here.

2006-10-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Laugh with Russell Peters.......he is really funny - especially if you are Asian. More on You Tube.........

I cant believe that Angelina is shooting in Pune........of all the places..........believe shes holed up and just shooting.........it seems strange to have hollywood back home...more on popstarshow.com

Pixhere

2006-10-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

Pune as well.........India is getting hotter by the moment? Or frankly the Indians are too busy with their own to really care about Holly wood?

2006-10-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Full moon- satyanaryan- poornima........so many words.......but for me it means only one thing. a day for thanks..........a day for abstinence and a day to remember that all my family is in the same frame- wherever they may be. it is a day observed by all of us.

yesterday was the most important of all full moons- the day that ram conquered lanka- and ravana.............on that day he set forth back for ayodhya............and on the day he returned home- 14 days later the people lit the town with diyas waiting for him- therefore the festival of diwali- the return of ram to ayodhya - victorious.

the priest said to us yesterday- that laxmi on her own brings confusion- brings ego- and brings little peace- however with narayan by her side- there is balance and peace and happiness. therefore the laxmi puja is always done with narayan.

he also reminded us that ravan was the biggest devotee of shiva- however his ego took him over and therefore he lost his being.

it was an interesting evening..............as a hindu there is nothing more comforting than hearing the vedic chants............and being lost in the gayatri mantra or the chiming of the bells while being enveloped in the fragrant essence of the holy aarti.

2006-10-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

i dont know if this is an appropriate picture but i was reading an essay by L'amour and in it he quotes Indian poet BHartrihari.........who says of a woman...."she talks to one man, looks at a second and thinks of a third"

I myself have never heard of Bhartrihari so some digging on the search engine brought some interesting stuff to light.This
and from the website textetc.com I found this little piece on one of his famous works- Vairagya.......

"And transliterated from Devanagari:

Ayur varSazataM nRNAM rAtrau tadardhaM gataM
tasyArdhasya parasya cArdham aparam bAlatvavRddhatvayoh
zeSaM vyAdhiviyogaduHkhasahitaM sevAdibhir nIyate
jIve vAritaraNgabudbudasame saukhyaM kutah prANinAm

And the prose translation by A.B. Keith runs: {1}

To man is allotted a span of a hundred years;
half of that passes in sleep, one half is spent in childhood and old age;
the rest is spent in service with illness, separation and pain as companions.
How can mortals find joy in life that is like the bubbles on the waves of the sea? "

I wonder if there are some interesting books on his works...........

2006-09-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

anybody planning to be at cricket world cup. any scoop on finals tickets...........??????????? those are the only ones we couldnt get on the lottery............

looking forward to doing the rounds of the caribbean- drinking tea.......and getting baked.........though i heard today that india lost badly to australia. does that mean we are not going to make it to the finals.

finals in st.kitts- probably the most beautiful island in the caribbean i have ever been to.

2006-09-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

ColabaCausewayEconomy101

what a fabulous essay on one street corner of our city. This essay brought to mind the importance of all the street vendors in my life.

Boti kebab walla- kebab man
kele walla- banana seller
chana singh walla- seller of peanuts and chick peas
mithai walla- seller of sweets
paper batli walla- collecter of recycled waste
kachre walla-garbage collector
doodh walla- milk man
bhel walla- junk food vendor
frankie walla- more junk food vendor
machi walli- fish lady- fish was always sold by a woman
sabzi walla- vegetable seller
gosht walla- meat man
pan walla- the corner paan seller
ande walla- the egg seller
dabal roti walla- the bread seller
chai walla- the corner tea shop
vada pav walla- more junk food
paper walla- newspaper vendor

oh gosh- can you imagine our lives are filled with so many people on an every day basis.

which walla did i forget???

2006-09-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

Today is OneWebDay

How has the web affected me..............i get all my information on line......no newspapers........minimal magazines..........i use it as a place to air my inner self with no regrets................and i learn learn learn........about people and ideas. a great place to be

2006-09-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

The ocean in Miami is very different from the ocean in India.........As you can see the pix from my house- under construction...........and the water during a storm.........still lacks a passion found in India. One just has to walk down Marine Drive or drive past Haji Ali and there is a steaminess to the water there........perhaps its my imagination.........

2006-09-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Foodseems to be the theme of the day...........couldnt resist posting this article. can you imagine putting so much thought into a flight menu. frankly. they have it all wrong. a true business traveller wants to watch their calories and yet eat well........so the concept of having chicken makhanwala is fabulous- but if served as a french portion- two table spoons with a tiny triangle of nan- big salad- would be a great idea.

chefs havent really moved with the times...........first joel robuchon got it wrong and now sanjeev kapoor is on to making the same mistakes.

me for one- would never touch his meal- too much to eat while i am not moving.

2006-09-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

sorry- this is the full set of foodie pix.

2006-09-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

This is what a 16 course meal at Joel Robuchon- Las Vegaslooks like

What does it taste like..........you feel like barfing after the 4th course.

I guess i am not roman enough and i didnt have a vomitorial close by to make the experience feel wonderful.

2006-09-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

Studying American History with pc I never realized how similar the struggles of the Americans were vis-a-vis the Indian fight for independence. I havent delved into the details much however the Americans had some noteworthy leaders. The one that stood out the most to me was Samuel Adams. I didnt know that he was probably the second most quoted person after Shakespeare. Anyway- I dug up his Independence speech and although it is a long read- just imagine the words being spoken out loud- orators of that caliber are not found today.Enjoy here

2006-09-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Climate change

something to worry about??

2006-09-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

For those who might have heard about him- these are from Alyque Padamsees book..........a compilation of interesting one-liners.

A dynamic man- an out of the box thinker- and a great artist.

For those who havent heard about him- he played Jinnah in the movie Gandhi with Ben Kingsley.

FROM AP’S BOOK
Determination evaporates without stamina, staying power.
Reaction to distress can be a powerful motivating force.
It takes fire not only to make steel but to make steam as well.
Simile allows the imagination to soar. Statement brings it to earth with a thud.
A picture may speak a thousand words. But a symbol speaks a myriad of languages.
Desire is the key to all action.
Good vibes are good for creative growth.
The greatest advertising award of all is to have your brands live on after you.
Tough times breed togetherness. The secret is to avoid whining.
A brilliant concept dies without a brilliant execution.
The consumer listens logically, but acts emotionally.
You need to understand the difference between reproducing reality and capturing the magic moments.
The Big Idea is one that inflames your emotions. But don’t jump at it. If it still excites you after seven days, you’ve got yourself a winner.
Fear of failure is a great motivator; it acts like an electric cattle prod. It galvanizes you into action.
The adrenalin of the deadline is like an energy pill.
You’ve got to have stars in your eyes before you reach for them in the sky.
Always keep plan B ready, because Plan A invariably goes haywire.
Rethink your 3 P’s: Proposition, Personality and Pricing.
Charisma sells better than logic.
A professional does his homework. An amateur waits for inspiration.
When you impact the emotional retina, you create an indelible impression on the memory.
Why settle for brilliant when you can try for superb?
If you are noticed, you are remembered.
Perspiration without inspiration is a wet blanket.
Unless you enjoy something you won’t do it for long.
Caution prevents the past. Innovation invents the future.
To bore or bully an agency is to deplete its creative fire power.
The shortest distance to boredom is a straight line.
The biggest enemy of the important is the emotionally urgent.
HRD is just jargon. What it really means is “Do people love their workplace?”
Don’t tell it like it is. Tell it like it isn’t.
There is no free lunch.
The name of the game is motivating people to change their attitudes.
There are no problems. There is only a lack of ideas in the solution area.
Dreams do come true as long as you have the energy and a plan of action.
The sound of a different drummer.
To enter the head, aim at the heart.
Improve on your own performance. You are your own best pacesetter.
There are 2 types of people. There are the 100 percenters. And there are the rest.

2006-09-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

CROATIA

FINALLY UP FOR GRABS

2006-09-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

School was walking distance from home............though at the age of 7 it seemed oh so far away. In those days we had Madhu- a male servant- who cooked for us, cleaned for us, and walked me to school. I carried my books in a special Air India mini suitcase- heavy for me- and probably heavy for Madhu too, for I remember him carrying it on his head. I cannot seem to remember what my thoughts were though as I walked along by myself with my bodyguard in tow. I do remember the smell of the ocean on Apollo Bunder as I stepped out of the building and the damp red earth upon which my feet sank......the fresh fragrance of green leaves with morning dew. There weren't too many cars on the street, nor many people either. Just the empty asphalt road and the slate sidewalk merging into each other. I passed Electric House everyday which was almost ghostly quiet even at 7.45 am- it was a part of the journey where I wanted Madhu- I was always petrified someone would jump out of the low cost housing project to my right. I remember running past that section and making a quick right into the school lane. That was equally lonely however it seemed like home- THE CHURCH quickly came into sight , a quick prayer and a sign of the cross, if there was time- walk in and bless myself with holy water and voila- there was school.

2006-08-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Write a cool blog and GET A BENTLEY Interesting story- and whats even more cool that the guy from autoblog categorizes us bloggers as writing in our pyjamas..........pretty far from the truth these days. Most bloggers have serious jobs and take their blogs even more seriously- except of course people like me- who just need to do something all the time and fill their empty seconds and minutes with stuff........

I love the new NETSCAPE its a browser for the new world.......where real people post real news culled from all over the net........gives you a real free sense of reading- not much editorial censorship- the votes rank the interest.......just a great concept.

Great comeback of the day........reading Mandelas speach i point out to pc the section about the shrinking part...........his answer....." I'm not shrinking- I really am short....." He should be a standup this boy.

So heres a quick poll- Tennis or the gym?

2006-08-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

NELSON MANDELA

the above is a quote that we should all memorize and recite at the times we doubt who we are and doubt our reason for being - for in each and everyone of us lies that fear- a fear that we mistake for our inadequacy- and oh so wrong are we..........

pc and i are learning it as our mantra for all those times we hesitate and not believe in ourselves.

2006-08-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

WOW
These are some numbers that make ones jaw drop. Sad but true state of affairs?

Was treated to a birthday dinner by my wonderful girlfriends at Quattro
The decor was beautiful- location fabulous- all the beautiful people of miami humming around- the service- top notch- i was of course with the owners sister-in-law- the food- good. would i go back - probably- but not as often. local to be seen places are just not my cup of tea. i am more reclusive i think. prefer to be dressed as a bum where no one knows me.

And finally my photo of the day- a wonderful woman working at JetAirways allowed me to take her pix- a smile to light up the day.

2006-08-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

ok- this is pcs sailboat.............and him in it..................and we just removed sea shark so he wouldnt be that obvious when he is pushing the other guy around- ILLEGALLY. official sailing season starts this saturday..........which means every long weekend is an out of town regatta........... i am happy that he has some sort of passion..........and with him we as a family have built an enthusiasm for water sports.

2006-08-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

More stupid stuff i have done...........

signed on to freechess.org for my son- and have been using his account to play silly games with pros and losing in 5 moves- and the innocent child is getting rated on my games......ouch

started reading Katherine the Great- she sounds fascinating

leaving for lasvegas this week..............

signed on to airlinemeals.net- this website is a cool one for frequent fliers...........it covers all aspects of travel in a sense- and certainly gives you something to do at the airports.

have gotten hooked onto writely.com - i really despise microsoft and any alternative to word sounds attractive.

am still desperately trying to find a way to upload images fast- like without waiting...........is there an abracadabra spell to do that?????????

2006-08-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

aaaaaaaaaaagh these pix............

2006-08-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

Ok this is a temporary home- for my old blog- until i decide its easy enough to navigate and diverse enough to make my blog look fancy ( about time??).

First post some of my croatia pix............

second post...........this one

then...........more to follow