Happy Valentine's Day ?

Blasts occur. Some people die. Many others get injured. Rest move on...

"Why do we simply move on ?"

I asked this to my friends last night. As Pune once again welcomed Valentine's day with the color red. However, this time it is the red of blood, and not the red of roses. The answer: "What should we do ? And what can we do ? Sit ? Cry ? Sulk ? Find the terrorists ? What ? Vote ? Yea then what ? BJP ? Congress ? So we move on."

German Bakery. I can't count the number of times I have been to that place. And today. It's just gone. It was a hub of world culture, place to indulge in meaningless musings, lavish breakfast, sporadic conversations and for some a place to make new friends and meet interesting people. We didn't need a reason to land up in German Bakery. Breakfast, coffee or simply catching up. It was (can't believe I'm using the word "was") one of our favorite places. And it's no more... It's scary. Hope they rebuild it.

I don't want to write more, so let me try to finish this post with something cheerful on this otherwise ugly day.

Somebody sent 40 red roses to our apartment early morning. We don't know who are they from, and nobody is claiming it as well. Funny...

So my heart, my prayers, and the roses as well to Pune and to those who suffer.

Sleepless in Seattle. No. In Pune.

2.49 AM

I have been trying to sleep for more than an hour now, but without success. I guess this is the aftermath of spending most of your day on the bed. And while you try to sleep, the mind sways in all directions, in all corners, across geographies...

Unfortunately, my life is getting busier by the day. The more I want to make it simple, the more complicated it becomes.

And this reminds me of the status message Wansh had put on facebook the other day

"Every few months I think that life has stabilized, things have gone boring, no more screw ups no more weird happenings... maybe i've grown up now... God smiles at me, shows a middle finger and says NO"

ha ha... every time I read this, it brings a smile on my face, may be coz I can relate to it. I don't know. "The Pursuit of Happiness".

I am still not sleepy, not even close to it I should say. My 6-string Washburn is lying in front of me, or should I rather call it a 5-string leaning against the wall, hoping somebody would pick it up. The 6th string broke few weeks back, and I have made no efforts to get it replaced. May be coz it gives me a readymade excuse of not playing it.

I can't say that I am going to hit the sack now, coz I'm already inside the sack but it's not helping.

A Paulo Coelho book lies half-open on my table, but it's 3:07, and it's a big and busy day tomorrow and I need sleep. Though it is a wednesday, but it is giving me blues like a Monday morning thanks to the republic day holiday we had today.

P.S.: I didn't like the new "mile sur mera tumhara" video. So many film celebrities, and very few national icons. Wish they had made it better.

But as Wansh says, every time you wish for something, God comes, smiles, shows a middle-finger and says "No".

Good night...

Paranormal Activity

Saturday night... 2.17 AM... Just came back home after watching the movie "Paranormal Activity".

I have tried quite a few songs... since the mood is a bit serene, so we have everything from Chamba kee Rahein, to Death Cab for Cutie... :)

But surprisingly, forget the geeks, even girls want to talk about Hibernation... and how and why does a polar bear hibernate. Isn't that crazy. But I guess it is me who is the culprit. It all started when I asked these guys to switch off the fan since me, a warm blooded man is feeling cold... brrrrr... Evolution of discussion.

I have tried my bit, but somehow these people are too much into this "hot" topic. Gives me some time to devote to my blog. My brain is too messed up right now to discuss hibernation.

Btw the topic has changed to some Russian Assassinations. Unbelievable. May be this is the beer effect, or may be some Paranormal Activity at 2.27 AM

Talking about Paranormal Activity. What can I say... oh man... I want to meet me all those people who wrote those reviews on the internet and newspapers.

I will always remember the following couple of lines:

"After watching the movie, you will not be able to sleep"

Another said, "Forget about you will not be able to sleep. You will NOT SLEEP".

And the icing on the cake: "Be prepared to be Scared. Very. Very Scared".

Scared?? Scared my foot!! Oh man... After all that I heard and read, this movie has turned out to be a big disappointment. It is a nice movie, no doubt. And definitely makes the chill go down your spine. The movie being shot with a handy-cam gave that "Cloverfield" kind of effect, and it had some so called "dhappa" moments. But I would say "Ring" was definitely a scarier movie. The concept here is somewhat more real with the couple experiencing paranormal activities in their bedroom. But doesn't give justice to the hullaballoo going around with this movie.

But if want to get a scared, don't go to the theatre to watch this one. With so many people aound, you might end up having a big laugh, like me, forget the "getting scared" part. Watching this on a dvd when you are alone at home might make you slightly more scared than a zee horror show.

Anyways... time for me to join the discussion. Some paranormal behavior happening right now. :)

Current topic: "Next weekend getaway plans". Hopefully... paranormal activities no more...

Welcoming 2010 in Goa

Couple of weeks before the New Years I read an article titled "New Year Blues". It was an

interesting read where basically the writer wanted to point out an interesting fact:
- Why do you "Have To" "Have To" celebrate the New Year's Eve?
And basically he didn't care much about what did he end up doing on the New Year.

Well no doubt it's an interesting thought, but Goa has its own meaning of new year celebration. And would that gentleman had still written that article had he visited Goa... whoa whoa!! I highly doubt that...

This was my 3rd trip to Goa, and Goa has undoubtedly become my ultimate holiday destination!!

Celebrating the new year in Goa is surely one of the best ways to usher in a brand new year.
Sun, Sand, Sea, Booze, Food, Parties and People... yea "People"!!
Take all the beautiful and hot people in the world and put them in a place to celebrate "Life". That is "Goa" during New Years'.
So I would be crazy if I don't want to hang out here during this time of the year where the parties reach a crescendo as the new year approaches. Of course I had some great friends along with me during this trip, which made it even more fun...

We stayed next to the Fisherman Cove at Candolim, and there was a party at any restaurant outside our place. And the king of all parties : "The Sunburn" fest as well... We were sharing our roof with a jazz restaurant so you guys can imagine the ushering ambience.

My blog is titled "Let's Live For Today" and if you have been reading my recent posts, I am romancing "idleness" whenever I get any time to that. Idle time has been a scarcity of late, and Goa gave me that idleness and celebration to add onto it.

Breakfast has never been such a sumptuous meal till Goa. Then go to the beach... choose our beach chair. Sun. Sand. Take the occasional dip in the sea. Drink beer. The only place where we could drink Kings'. And as they say drinking water is a sin in Goa. Food somehow always tastes amazing at the beach shacks. Sunscreen lotions. Massage Oils. Our favorite books. Beautiful women all around. Pleasant climes of the beach breeze. Great friends.

aaaah... "Heaven".

And then there are a few who say don't go to Goa during this time of the year coz of the rush. And no solitude. But as I realized in this trip thanks to Rahul n Jo ;) , Goa is beyond solitude and it is about happiness. In fact lying down all day at the beach, relaxing and experiencing heaven. Isn't that inner peace some solitude in itself...

Picture: "That is the 31st December's Moonrise. It was a full moon day"

We spent almost all our days at the Claudia Shack at Candolim. We didn't want to move around much and spend time just relaxing. And everyday we had the same people around our beach chairs, so basically nobody prefers to move around a lot and just chill. You develop some sort of liking to one place so naturally you want to stick to it. Even these guys at the shacks service you in a much better way once they see that you are sticking to them.

For our driving charm, we rode to one of my favorites beaches- Cavelossim one day, and as always ate at the Fat Willy's Shack.

As dusk falls, Goa was another paradise. We had beach parties at the shacks, of course parties at the discs, and there's one or the other kind of party at any restaurant. Mostly we stuck to the beach, and enjoyed almost all our meals at the Mango Grove, at Candolim.
We had so much fun every night so it is tough to single out one. There was a fantastic fireworks display as the clock struck 12 on the new years' which was another bit to remember by.

As Rahul says, the best part about Goa is that everyone is happy. You don't see a sad face in Goa, and in fact people come to Goa to experience that happiness.
It has been a great start to 2010. A break like this refreshes and rejuvenates your mind, body, heart and soul...
I hope and pray that 2010 brings a lot of happiness for everyone. And brings at least one more trip to Goa...

Christmas. Goa. Brittany Murphy.

1.12 AM

Christmas Party is cooling down... People have started playing cards. Playing "bluff" to be more precise... It's crazy to see how a party changes colors in seconds... from the dance floor to the floor playing cards... why do people want to play cards on a party night? I will never be able to understand...

Anyways... cards right now is not my cup of tea or should i rather say not my glass of vodka... so here I am with my lappie. Multi-tasking- DJing, Drinking and Blogging.

We did some shopping today... trying to make Grevillea N-302 more party like place. We have new green, red and yellow lighting in the living room. May be a bit tacky but that's how it is. :) And it's looking kinda nice... :P

Ok time for some headlines...

1. Goa junket has actually materialized. Leaving 29th night... yipeee...!! Really looking forward to it. I have spent christmas in Goa, but new years' will be a first for me.

2. Neither the best day nor the time to write about dead people, but I have been wanting to write about her for some days now so here it goes.... Brittany Murphy is dead. Well she was not my favorite actress. But I always found her smile like bright sunshine. The contagious and beautiful smile will be missed. And as Ashton Kutcher said, "Today the world lost a little piece of sunshine".

3. Everyone is getting tired playing bluff... yeah!! I wanted to write more, not anymore.

Akon is back on and the cards floor is once again the dance floor.

Cheerio from me...

Merry Christmas to all...!!

Subtle happiness...

1.54 Am

There's so much going on in my life and the lives around me, that if I were to write a book, I am dead sure it's going to be one hell of a best seller...

And for sure it is going to be better than the book I am just about to finish reading after I publish this blog-"The 3 Mistakes of my Life". Just a few pages left...

But the problem is no matter much I want, I cannot pen down all that stuff here... Question of me intruding or may be even dilapidating stories. :P... aaaahh... state of crazy helplessness and idleness. It is the latter that I have started to fall in love with.(you can read my previous post for that). Of course, Jack Daniels' helps you to achieve that state very easily :).

Plans to Goa are still not certain, but if this junket materializes then I'm going to love it.

I don't know if it's going to be as good as the last trip, but then, lets see.

Talking about junkets, trips to Tunisia, Thailand, Indonesia were all talked about... yea Tunisia. But I don't know. Shayad jab jaane kee baat aati hai to thodo kee phat jaaati hai

Sharing another one of my favorite pictures:

That's the look on Ritisha's face after Hemang kissed her... :)

Happiness...

Cherry (in the background) proud of her brother's feat... :)

Not doing anything...

Sometimes it gives me immense pleasure in not doing anything. The state of idleness, slow pace and lazing around can be so wonderful.

It is during such times when I really feel like getting away from all the crazy hullaballoo and ridiculous bullshit all around. Getting away from all the technology and business management gyan, and may be sway into the world of lazing around on a beach chair along the blue ocean.

My favorite music, drinks and rajma-chawal would be all the luxury I ask for...

Time for me to come back to reality and go off to sleep. In a prolonged state of idleness I would say... :)

Anyways, I just love this picture. Hemang's tiny beautiful hands...