Category: experiences

  • So I recently returned from: The Odyssey

    Broke Nolan’s Law by watching it in a Non-IMAX theater. Hoped that I wouldn’t lose my way back home after watching the next movie in theatres. Also, this completes my one year since returning to Jaipur after a 15 year long stay in Bengaluru. This post is a mishmash of the movie watching and the emotion of completing the Odyssey.

    The Odyssey
    The Odyssey

    This might be one of the handful of movies, that I have seen in a theatre all alone. I mean, not that the theatre was empty, just me going alone all by myself. But it was surely not more than 25% occupied. This gave me a focused and dedicated viewing experience. As Nolan intended.

    My main takeaway from the movie was how relatable the story felt to Indians because our epics share so much with Homer’s work. We can go into a rabbit hole of things which are almost identical like the bow scene in the movie with Ramayan. How many characters look and talk the same between 2 cultures! We may be very different now but probably the stories just traveled from one place and just took a small deviation on the way and eventually turned out to be in a different language and creating different cultures. Few things got lost in translation and some stayed the same. (Obviously, the origin must be Indian because I am writing this from India. Jai Hind.)

    Now, when it comes to technicalities, I couldn’t watch it in IMAX because of its unavailability in Jaipur. But there are 2 IMAX theaters opening very soon, which is exciting. With what I had, one must appreciate Nolan for trying to stay as analog as possible. I am not a fanboy but I do understand the effort one has to make extra to make such a movie of such a massive scale. When everything around us is becoming more and more fake, Cinema which is techically all fake, made in a realistic manner, is a big deal I guess.

    I recommend this movie to everyone who wants to enjoy and relive a historical, mythological, and still cinematic take on a cultural defining epic. Don’t go with any emotional takeaway. Like how in Oppenheimer, one had to revise Nuclear Fusion and Fission beforehand, this was relatively straightforward to understand. Of course, I did my homework by remembering a few names. Like how Nolan intended.

    Taking a detour, like how Odysseus had to stay decades away from home, this month marks 1 year of my return back home after spending a decade and a half in Bengaluru. It has been literally a 2nd Home as well which I miss from time to time. Dose here doesn’t feel the same, no matter how Benne you may make it. But mentally, I feel now it is the time and totally fine to not invoke Bengaluru every now and then while talking to people. Jaipur is where I am and hoping to be for time being.

    Back in 2010, when I moved there, I had thought that I would return back after 5 years. Most of my mates did move back or moved abroad. Along with a few, I remained in Bengaluru. It slowly grew on me and I got used to the weather and the traffic, the only thing people bring up when they talk about the city.

    Though, like how Odysseus got sort of trapped with Calypso for years and didn’t know whether this was a confinement or deliberate attempt to stay, for me post Covid, it has been a similar experience. When you continue to work from home and don’t socialize much, there is barely any difference as to where you live. Life shouldn’t have to be that way, but that’s convenient and we seek convenience and compromise over certain things.

    Having said that, one should never say never to anything life hands over to you. If Odysseus hadn’t got the Odyssey, it would have been a boring tale. Wouldn’t it?

    Maybe that is the point of every long journey. Not just to reach home, but to look back at the detours, the years that stretched longer than planned, and feel grateful that they happened at all.

    P.S.: When I get a chance to visit Bengaluru again, I wish this gets completed.

    From the internet

  • 40 Points to Ponder

    40 Points to Ponder

    Here you go:

    1. If you ever get an opportunity to be close to nature, nothing else can top that. (don’t sleep in Jungle though)
    2. Education is paramount to whatever you would do. In our society, degrees matter.
    3. You can never keep everyone happy. Somewhere someone will get pissed off by your actions or inactions.
    4. You can choose whom you want to keep in your lives and whom to ignore. Reassess frequently.
    5. Aging happens. One can control only some aspects of it. Rest you cannot.
    6. Some core habits of yours will always help you no matter how difficult the world around you becomes. For example: Punctuality
    7. Nobody has time to read your lists, your lines, your paragraphs, or even your blog. It doesn’t matter. Do it for yourself.
    8. Writing is one of the best habits one can have. As they say: If you can read but don’t, you have no advantage over those who can’t. Same goes for writing.
    9. No matter how much you evade, politics would catch you somehow.
    10. Some people will always have an impact on you, even if you want to avoid them by all means.
    11. Your health is only in your hands. Nobody else would make you healthier or unhealthier. Only you can.
    12. Don’t sleep with grudges by your side. Wake up with a smile.
    13. Reading is a good habit to have. But don’t let anyone make you believe that it is the only way to learn.
    14. Listen to music regularly.
    15. Try your best to not harm anyone else.
    16. Always be humble towards others. You may show off if you have something to brag but needn’t overdo.
    17. Nobody really thinks about you as much as you do in your head.
    18. If you can learn a musical instrument, that would really be good.
    19. Don’t ever mock someone for something they cannot change. For example: their physical traits or their lisp.
    20. Learn from others. Learn from people you don’t like.
    21. Don’t assume things. pehle instemaal karein fir wishwaas karein.
    22. Never reveal all your truths. Keep some handy for right time.
    23. Learn basic life skills like driving, swimming, etc. which includes learning more than 2 languages.
    24. Travel when you can. Let some experiences shock you both negatively and positively.
    25. Be passionate about something. But don’t go crazy about it. Don’t make it your whole personality.
    26. Play with kids. Help elderly.
    27. Try all kinds of cuisines. If you have some limitations, it is okay. There are still a lot of things to taste.
    28. Being a vegetarian, and saying No to alcohol is fine. Otherwise is also fine.
    29. Tell people what you feel about them without regret. Regret about the way you told them if it didn’t end properly.
    30. Nostalgia is a waste of time. Life is very short.
    31. Try to wake up while you are dreaming. Or try to do something absurd within your dream, if you can.
    32. Learning about Space can keep you grounded.
    33. Faith is a tricky subject. But humans usually cannot function without it. Some go extreme and it is always safe to avoid those.
    34. Fiction might have same impact as Reality sometimes.
    35. Some bad experiences might shape your worldview permanently so try to hold your beliefs as fluidly as you can. Always be open to be challenged and changed.
    36. Some joys are beyond explanation. Like becoming a parent.
    37. Everyone will leave eventually. Or you would leave someone when time comes.
    38. Fail. Fail multiple times. But always give a try.
    39. The best place to experience everything all at once is India. It is like living in past, future, present and everywhere.
    40. Always stay optimistic. It is not the end. Even if it is, there could be something else coming up next.

    P.S.: It is not my 40th Birthday today. But I was planning to do it since a few months when it was. Thanks to https://x.com/Camp4/status/1992958445885198805

  • Year 2024 Summary

    Year 2024 Summary

    When one doesn’t write much, starting something new takes the most mental toll. The cursor blinking on a blank page is daunting. The best way to get over it is to write about that feeling itself. Easy hack.

    So, here we are, the year 2024 is coming to a close. Here’s a short summary of life in 2024.

    Good Parts

    Becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster

    This could’ve been a separate post in itself but the fact that it isn’t sums up the feeling I have about it. For someone who was not really considered a great public speaker, achieving a DTM is a big deal for those who are in Toastmasters. For others, not so much obviously. But the fact that I have achieved this feat in 8 or so years (after kind of restarting with Pathways), it does feel like a coming of age. Through Toastmasters, I got a chance to meet so many various kind of people with varying talent but a common feeling of appreciating others in public. Appreciating others is an art but in Toastmasters, this is in its ethos. I am proud to be a member and prouder to finish the highest educational award one can get in it. I still think that there’s a long way to go for me to be called a Proficient Public Speaker but at least now the collywobbles are in control. Thanks to everyone who have been with me in this journey. Special thanks to a few folks who thought it was funny to mock my speaking style thinking I didn’t really notice it.

    Parenting

    Although I wrote about it already but this deserves a lot more because each day is an experience and learning. No matter what you can do for your kids, one always feel like they’re not doing enough. My kid has now entered teen-age. Teen is 3 in Hindi. The experience nowadays is a good teaser for how actual teenage is going to be after a decade. In short, I don’t know how to convince her to do what I say. I am going to keep repeating this phrase forever I think.

    Bad Parts

    Aging

    I wanted to first have a bit of salt and pepper instead of sub-continent cricket pitch but what’s the fun in that?

    Larry David said in one of the seasons of Curb, he didn’t believe in praying because he was bald.

    Heh, thanks to Bengaluru water, general stress in work, and environment, I am balding faster than getting gray hair. Also, due to the pandemic mindset, physical activity has been tending to zero. Overall, the feeling is not great. But we cannot control it so entering the fourth decade will be done with enthusiasm instead of somberness. A lot has been said about it but when you grow, people you grew up with grow older faster. That is something I think about more than anything else.

    Ugly Parts

    Obesity

    Instead of writing about it, it is better to do something about it. Let’s circle back after a few months.

    Work-Life Balance

    Honestly, and frankly, I don’t really get working remotely. It is not good for anyone. All we needed is an option to work remotely in case needed but as per my 5 years of expertise in this field, working from office and switching the mind off after the day was ideal. This wave-particle nature of WFH and Return To Office is stupid. I’d rather be given stress face to face instead of someone slacking me about it.

    Things I consumed this year

    The list is not too big though.

    Books

    The Anthology of Balaji: A Guide to Technology, Truth, and Building the Future by Eric Jorgenson. – 3.5 stars

    Timeline by Michael Chricton – 3.5 stars

    So I recently read ‘The Complete Maus’
    So I recently read ‘Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman!’
    So I recently read: Same as Ever
    So I recently read: The People of Indus
    So I recently read: THE BEE, THE BEETLE AND THE MONEY BUG
    So I recently read: Factfulness

    TV

    What we do in shadows – Excellent overall. Review some other day.

    Succession – Excellent overall. Review some other day.

    So I recently watched: Barry

    With a hope of writing more, wishing the reader of this post, a Happy 2025 to you and your loved ones. Enjoy more, worry less.

    Header Image is AI Generated, as if this needs to be said even.

  • Adding my podcast to the millions out there today

    Adding my podcast to the millions out there today

    Here are all the links for  your consumption (next you know the drill like, share, subscribe)

    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkUh-KUiNVmW9GyGISDxZP5AonIfqLwXE (All (and only) 6 episodes are available already. Tudum!)

    On Audio Only Platforms, each episode will be released on Thursday Morning. 1st one is already out:

    Tools Used

    • Canva for all the cover art and animations
    • Microsoft Clipchamp for stitching videos and audio
    • Zoom to record video interviews
    • Spotify for Podcasters as the Podcasting Platform
    • YouTube for hosting and sharing

    Special Thanks to my Toastmasters Club Folks for allowing me to do this

    More thanks to these people for inspiring me to do this project

  • Just a stone’s throw away

    Just a stone’s throw away

    Dropping your kid to school for the first time is an experience in itself.

    *wait I will continue this in a minute after taking a deep breath and seems like something is in my eyes*

    It is slightly easier if the pre-school is just a stone’s throw away but leaving them there on their own is like someone grabbing your intestines and twisting them a bit gently.

    We have been prepping her for a year by showing the school to her so she didn’t face any difficulty in adjusting to the place.  Just being a new parent and adjusting to not seeing her around is challenging. Handing over your biggest asset to strangers and then trusting them fully is something to learn. You think you can focus but your mind keeps going back to school. imagining if your kid is safe there or did you just hear her crying?

    When I was sent to a school I know I must have cried buckets. Kids nowadays are built differently. Even schools are built differently and aren’t the same old dingy lit dungeons where a dragon (the teacher) is sitting there to split you open and gorge on your insides. Now they are airy, well-lit, and full of attractive toys to lure your kids. I hardly heard any teacher shouting at kids. And as I stay *literally* opposite that school, if they do shout, I will get her back instantly. *Eminem’s mockingbird song comes to mind*

    As I write this waiting outside to pick her back up, the teacher told me she vomited after crying a bit but she is totally fine now.

    I don’t know how to deal with such stuff.

    Photo by Michał Bożek on Unsplash

  • Jai Shree Ram

    Jai Shree Ram

    Although I was not old enough to understand what was happening back in late 1992 and why, I was old enough to remember the general mood of those days. Near my place, there’s a railway station and whichever train to Ayodhya used to pass at that time, people used to shower the people (Karsevaks) with flower petals and provide them with food for the journey ahead. Some nearby temples had been provided some sort of a Brass lamp (or only in some temples it was taken one by one by the rath yatra?). There were saffron flags and stickers from VHP all around and graffiti with phrases like ‘Mandir wahin banayenge‘ and ‘6 Dec Ayodhya Chalo‘ are still etched onto the memory as they were then. Many other scary things happened soon but I was too young to grasp them fully at that time.

    Then I grew up and realized that this religion thing, if not an unnecessary hassle, isn’t that impressive after all. People did too much hullabaloo for something that will eventually get stuck in the never-ending judicial battles, as that is the only peaceful way. By that, it essentially meant that it wouldn’t be resolved in our lifetime. As I grew up further, studying history in school and otherwise pushed me farther and farther from rituals and practices. History education drilled in us that as a Civilization, we haven’t had a win for millennia. What we got in 1947 was the only exception but it came with an even bigger Conditions Apply* caveat. Religion was one of the core reasons why we have ended up in such a place and haven’t recovered properly, yet. In my 20s, I had made up my mind. Fighting for/against religion is a lost cause. I should mind my own business in a way that keeps everyone around me happy by doing the bare minimum, and everyone away from me who believes in strict ideologies, away. I think I went on declaring that for a country that has usually seen so much bloodbath due to religion, shouldn’t the place be used for a Hospital or a School? A temple or Mosque would keep us divided further. I am pretty sure, people who had similar experiences would’ve felt the same.

    Then I grew up further and realized the word religion itself doesn’t necessarily represent what we have in this country. For example, the 26 alphabets and their combinations in Roman cannot truly convey how we Indians use a plethora of more alphabets in our languages. I don’t know how to comprehend ‘zh’ but I know how to pronounce ‘ळ’. Similarly, our beliefs and traditions don’t need any validation from others who see us from a different lens. I read further, broadened my horizons, and grew older. With age and experience, it has finally dawned on me that by not indulging in certain traditions with full fervor I could be seen as an atheist to devout Hindus but for non-Hindus, I am going to remain a Hindu. This means 2 things. One, it is perfectly alright to not go deep with rituals and traditions but remain a Hindu like the Charvakas. One can live happily as long as I am not being intrusive in other’s beliefs. There’s no need to be apologetic for following something or not following something. This calls for a detailed post in itself but in Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism, the usual definition of religion doesn’t fit. Two, for anyone whom I interact with, my identity would be assumed as a Hindu. So, in essence, being an Indian, I am going to be perceived as a Hindu by default.

    So, I changed my beliefs. I think as a Civilization, we should see our past objectively. We certainly have had problems but we also had many things good. The last millennium didn’t treat us positively. We lost many things and thanks to how our education system remained post-independence, we remained a low confidence nation for decades. Some confidence is returning now. It is important to rebuild the lost causes to increase confidence further. We do have the right to reclaim certain places, objects, or symbols if they were taken away from us unceremoniously. However, the means need to be thought out and utmost care should be taken to not create an upheaval and disturb the growth trajectory our Country is on right now. It would take longer but that would be the right thing to do. That is the true meaning of following the dharma.

    We know what happened in 1992 and have no qualms in saying that it could’ve been handled differently. But post that, the law was indeed followed and the matter was resolved in 2019. I don’t know if I have any desire to visit Ayodhya (too much crowd anyway) but the event suggested that we are now looking back at our past without shame and moving forward with heads held high. One would be naive and partially blind to not see what the current mood is. If there’s saffron everywhere around, it certainly shows that’s the desire of the population. I would like to also say one important thing here. While I am alright with public displays of faiths and beliefs at certain places, I understand where such beliefs should see themselves out and rationality comes into play. Having said that, it is not just to ask people to calm down when an event, as big as this one, took almost 5 centuries to come to fruition. Our mentality of appeasing should stop now. Why should one faith be asked to tone down when nobody else tones down when it comes to their ways? If others have the right to enjoy the freedom to pursue their religion, everyone else has that right equally. That’s the definition of secularism. Obviously, in an Indian context, the government isn’t secular and has never been secular. If anyone goes overboard, it is the responsibility of the law to check that. One cannot be asked to not feel happy if they feel elated. One’s snobbery cannot be forced upon others.

    One individual’s individual belief is too insignificant compared to this civilization and the unwavering faith people have. Religion isn’t going anywhere but religion and dharma are 2 different things. The civilization in this country has seen various churns and revolutions. It is now time to learn about it objectively. Fix the cracks and strengthen the foundations. We have to look forward while not forgetting the past. I welcome the direction in which we as a country are moving towards. There will be course corrections and sails would be adjusted if need be but the momentum should be preserved.

    Needless to say, the header pic is from the original fundamental rights page of our Constitution. Ram has been part of this civilization and if we aim to be a Ram Rajya, we have to be ready to face dire challenges but keep unwavering faith that this Civilization is here to stay and become better.

    Jai Hind!

    Jai Shree Ram!

  • Books I read in 2023

    Sorry to disappoint everyone who expected me to read a lot but I was able to read only 5 books this year. (All links are Amazon Affiliate Links). Adding my one-line review in CAPS for help.

    Same as Ever – EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT

    Faithfulness – EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT

    How to Fail at Almost Everything & Still Win Big – GOOD LIFE LESSONS, EASILY ONE OF THE MOST FRIENDLY SELF-HELP BOOKS.

    Ram – Scion Of Ikshvaku – PHILOSOPHICAL AND WELL WRITTEN

    The Gita – CLASSIC INDEED

  • Namaskaara 2024

    Namaskaara 2024

    ಇಂದು ವರ್ಷದ ಮೊದಲ ದಿನವಾಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ನಿಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳನ್ನು ಕೋರುತ್ತೇನೆ.

    We are well aware that nowadays nobody can read past 1-2 lines because of our declining attention span. Therefore, by writing the 1st paragraph 100% in Kannada and not a mere 60% like a hypocrite, I think my job is done. Continuing further in the language we all love to hate but cannot live without at this point in time, i.e. English.

    This blog is about Time.

    I recently picked up a book called:

    Affiliates Link https://amzn.to/3U1I0YX

    And if you are expecting a joke, here it is: I gave it up after a few pages of reading. I will probably go back to this later but too many things are happening way too fast in the world and one cannot catch up with them all. And still, it feels like nothing is happening. If you go by the trends and fads these days, it would appropriately be called: Millenials are getting old.

    2024 is here. When you last blinked it was 2019. Since I have been just repeating this line every year for the last few years, I am going to stop doing it from now on. I was recently sternly reminded by someone that I am still stuck in the lockdown (mentally) and it’s time to move on and smell the coffee. Fair enough, it is indeed time to move on and accept the reality. Even though some new variants are still lurking around, mostly everyone else has moved on and started doing normal things like living their lives, buying new things, expanding their families, traveling, and creating jams on the highways.

    2023 was a year that also finished pretty quickly, in my opinion. I have been complaining about how time is zooming away for the last few years. The theory of time flying is easily understood by this wonderful graphic by Tim Urban.

    It also boils down to the same old adage. Without new experiences, every day looks the same. Unless one tries to do things differently or try new stuff deliberately, even this year would be over in a jiffy. Hopefully, this year things will be interesting if not dramatically better. After all, our country would go through General Elections (which is also a good hint to stop watching the news and leave Social Media). AI would become more and more popular even if it is still not really AI, but it’s fine, why be a snob? Let’s call it AI. And so on.

    The responsibility lies on us, we have to be the change we want to see in the world. Like many past years, I don’t have any New Year resolutions. I am just going to try to read more books and control bhook (hunger) in general.

    But I am going to sincerely try to be more creative and less of a consumer. I don’t know how long I can do that but I have given up my Netflix subscription already. Prime Video already has everything on Rent or in other words it is useless. Nothing is there to watch on Disney Hotstar and after the debacle on November 19, 2024, opening the app itself gives me shivers. I still have a YouTube Premier subscription but it is mostly used to have an uninterrupted viewing of important channels like Pink Fong and Cocomelon. So, to change a few things, I have started to read more and ordered a few graphic novels (review soon).

    That’s the mantra for 2024 then: Create More, Consume Less.

    Happy New Year to anyone who landed on this page and continued to read till here!

    Header Photo by Ananthan Loggi on Unsplash

  • 100 Days

    Of return to Bengaluru

    Ulsoor Lake

    Ulsoor Lake

    It’s been 100 days since I returned back to Bengaluru and have started to travel to work. Few observations, in no particular order:

    1. I wanted to avoid Traffic and Weather in this post but all in vain. No matter what, these 2 topics always come up in every other conversation. This city needs to rise up above this.
    2. Roads and Traffic are slightly better. At least on the ways I travel.
    3. So heartening to see Metro work nearing completion at some places.
    4. Rain now ruins both the road and the traffic like never before.
    5. New Eateries have opened up. They are now bigger, crowdier, and more Instagram-worthy! Many old places are now gone too. May be every 10 years things have a churn. This time may be due to Pandemic, changes are more intensive. Few comments:
      • The Rameshwaram Cafe: so much crowd that you want to avoid. But so much hype that you want to visit. Repeat.
      • The Filter Coffee, Indiranagar: becoming new Favorite. USP: Sambhar is not sweet here.
      • Iron Hill, ORR: Loved it.
      • Long Boat, ORR: Okayish.
    6. Working from Home, 3 days a week. Same feeling as earlier.
    7. Working from Office, 2 days a week. Welcome change. New faces. New seat. New view. But, it is not the same as earlier because it is still not feeling organic.
    8. Cycling is bliss. I bought a new one and am now very tempted to go everywhere on that. But, the mindset to give up generating pollution takes some time. Hopefully, the frequency of cycling increases.
    9. All the past relationships are almost vanished. Several people have moved out, or are yet to come back. Faces are becoming hard to remember.
    10. I am not regretting the return as much as I thought I would. It is like I just went away for a small break and life has become back to the way it was.

    All in all, the return to Bengaluru is old news now. Things are returning to old times. Old is the new normal, I think.

  • Moved

    Moved

    So move is now complete. But the unpacking might take 200 more years. The money I saved by not renting a place last year has all been spent in moving and settling down. Fortunately new place is 90% same as my old place. So it’s all nostalgia and Deja Vu but hey paint is new!

    Talking of nostalgia and Deja Vu, I went back to office today after exactly 3 years having been there last on March 11, 2020. Not sure why but I couldn’t stop smiling all the way from the parking lot to the desks. The feeling of sitting and working from office is a thing I craved for so long. I am not a proponent of working from office full-time anymore but with office, there’s so purpose in life and it feels like moving forward. Though the lights in office were too bright and the mood was as usual lull.

    The sounds of mouse clicks, keyboard typing and occasional telephone was a welcome change. Seeing people waiting in cafeteria in a queue to get food was joyful for some reason.

    Moving is a task and it takes a lot of money, let alone effort. It would be lot more fun if the move is intentional and working from home or office is voluntary.