Year 2010 to Me....!!

2010..This year was the most memorable year in my Life!!!!!

It's been said, "Life and thoughts changes as years pass and as the transition happens from a carefree,freewheeling College going gal to a serious Career oriented gal..."
Initially that freewheeling College going gal transformed to a Flippant gal and later to a serious gal......

Guessing who that freewheeling,flippant,serious gal is???
It's meee........

All these transformations happened in me during this year 2010.I almost roamed around places,travelled crazily and what not.....All these experiences thought me new things in life.Everything,every moment thought me one common thing...ie.Patience.

It also thought me how to deal with people.Speak whenever required and just enjoy and live every moment and be contented with what I have actually gained.

I just lived every moment of the year to the fullest..

During the beginning of the year,Life had dragged me to a place which I had'nt even dreamt of..But then I got accustomed to the same.Met new people,learnt new things,visited new places,learnt what life is outside when we are far far away from home sweet home....
I am grateful to the Almighty God for bestowing on me what I actually wanted and being with me in all times of distress.

With lots of new dreams,aspirations and dream of flying far and wide life a carefree bird , I heartily welcome this New Year 2011..

"“Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find ''tomorrow'' on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday's defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year. The saddest words you can ever utter are, ''If I had my life to live over again. ''Take the baton, now. Run with it! This is your day! Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.”....This is a very nice inspiring thought........:)

My visit to The TAJ

Pic1: The grand reception at the entrance of TAJ

Pic2: The waiting hall at the entrance



It's been sometime that I blogged.I actually wanted to write something about TAJ which I visited during my stay in Mumbai..But due to so called time constraint I couldn.So writing about it after a span of 7 months,visiting it.

The TAJ..The first time I saw or heard about this marvellous place was when the terrorists entered the place and killed thousands of innocent lives.Then,after that I saw the place and heard about the place during my TCS Induction at Trivandrum.Got to know as to why did such a marvellous and palacious star hotel come into existence.

The History of the prestigious luxury five star hotel located in the Colaba region of Mumbai is that it is widely believed that JamsedJi Tata decided to build the luxurious hotel after he was refused entry to one of the city's grand hotels of the time, Watson's Hotel, as it was restricted to 'whites only'.This was what I heard during our Induction.

Then I finally got a chance to visit the place.It was all of a sudden that my parents came down to Mumbai to meet me,that we decided to roam around the place called Mumbai.We reached the CST station from where we hired a Taxi to reach the gateway of India at the Nariman point.
Got a chance to see the corporate head office of the firm I work for in Nariman point.

Then we spent some time over the place in and around the Gateway of India.No sooner did we see the TAJ opposite to Gateway of India we were all astonished.We saw all who's who of Mumbai getting in there and decided to get inside the place.In the beginning we were a bit hestiant as to if they would allow normal people like us to enter the place.The security was very kind enough to allow us inside.

No sooner did we get inside the TAJ we were all preplexed and shocked seeing such great interiors and what not.It was like a dream land for each one of us.Me and my friends just started off exploringthe place.Every thing inside the TAJ is very unique by it's own.

We had a photo session in and around there and then managed to search for a coffee shop in such a big hotel. The Coffee shop is again unique by it's own.God!!!We saw the menu card and finally decided on satisfying ourselves with Coffee and Tea.(actually By 2 coffee and Tea)..Such was the price out there.

Then after paying off the bill, we started exploring the place again.A huge mall which runs for floors was present in there.We saw a visitors book which was kept on display with eminenet personalities writing about the hospitality that they received at the TAJ.The list was like who's who from every corner of India along with personalities across the seas.

Finally after spending some more time loafing around the place, we left the place.We reached the famous Chowpatti to have the mouth watering and famous chats after a drive across the sea which is called as the Marine drive.

LOVE:)

"Preetiyannu Preetisida Preetiyu, Preetigagi Preetisida Preetiyannu Preetisuttade"

All amazed!!!! Even I was equally amazed when I heard this..

It was a few days back when I got back home all exhausted from office,that I turned on the TV and heard this sentence or rather a dialogue from a movie..

First few minutes I pretty much thought that it was just a dialogue and then a tongue twister. I sat down for a moment and realised what was it actually...Man!!!This has too much of a meaning which I just loved...

I basically donno what love is...Cos I have not met anyone as such to realise the same. But yeah..I do agree that I dream about it......

It's just that love which loves love, loves everything..The person who loves this love for the sake of getting love will automatically get that Love......All Confused!!!Yeah...It's the direct translation..

I have actually heard a lot about love from my friends...It's a wonderful feeling,sense of a good thought that some one's made for us for a lifetime,feeling that someone would be with us always and what not....

Love for me is just love.It's just giving..What ever we give.,we get it back..This is what I just believe.. For this if I have good understanding ,I can get back the same.

So we gotta love love, so that we get the love which loves love and craves for love.....:)

HAS TIME CHANGED OR HAVE I???

It was almost an year, that had passed by when I finally got to go to Mysore ..the place which made me what I am now,the place where I graduated to be an Engineer,the place where I spent the best days of my life,made great friends and what not...

I just had been to our so called adda!! Ie. KD Road and realised,things are just the same, but the place is not as happening as it used to be when I used to haunt the place in big gang.

The frequency of 129,130 buses have increased and all over the place I could actually see buses plying around. I just remembered those days when we used to wait for hrs to get into one 129 or 130 and reach my destination..Not now though..!!!Even though a Bus was right in front of me, my cranium didn’t let me get into it...

Thus after all these ,I just realised one thing that...”Have things have changed or is it that I myself have changed to a very great extent”

Work has actually made me get what I want at any instant of time these days, but I seriously don’t feel the charm nor the happiness which I used to, during those days..Those were "the best days"

Life has become pretty mechanical these days.Those were the days wherein I never used to get up before 8 AM atleast, it was only during my Internals that I used to get up and go and write the same. My day never ended without a chit-chat with all my friends till late night,watching numerous number of movies and gossips used to be at it’s peak many a times...There used to be actually no difference between a weekday and weekend and I never used to crave for the same.

These are the days wherein I am forced to get up atleast by 6.30 and get ready and run to take the CAB so that I can reach the office by 8 AM.No chit chat’s in the office.Just the serious work and work alone, with compulsory breaks for Breakfast,lunch and coffee. I head back home pretty tired and just SLEEP would be in my mind and nothing else.This is what life has become.Almost mechanical.No movies,no chit-chat,nothing...

I just crave for Weekends these days hoping that I would atleast then be what I used to be..But cant..!!!Cos..My Time-table has already changed. I sleep early on Fridays and Saturdays too...hoping to get up late,but end up getting up at 6.30 and realise that it’s Saturday or Sunday and that I can sleep for some more time. I end up getting some sleep and by an hour I wake up at 7.30 realising that I need to complete the usual weekend chores and some extra tasks.

I seriously donno where am I exactly heading too.....Have I changed or has things around me changed, making everything mechanical......!!!!!

Life in Mumbai-2

"Shoppers Paradise" is the word which can be very aptly given to Mumbai.."Mumbai=Shopping".Nothing can equal it.I had actually heard that it's just like Shopping Street as here in Bangalore.But when I went there,It was something more than Shopping Street..

Every area we go,there's are shopping malls and a shopping streets.There are uncountable no of shoppers who shop day and night in each and every area out there.There's no end!!!

Pic::A street in Linking Road

During the beginning days of our stay in Mumbai,we were in a very great josh to shop as our first
salary was just credited..Man!!!!Then we realised the importance of M factor,as it's very much
required out there in Mumbai.During the initial days we just shopped in Raghuleela Mall and Inorbit mall which were just opposite to our center..Later did we realise that there's something more in Mumbai..

So we were all waiting for our second month salary to be credited.No sonner did it get credited than we all set out to Bandra for shopping which can be actually called as Shoppers Paradise..We all litrelly went crazy seeing the shops in and around Linking Road and believe it or not shopped the whole day from morning till evening even without realising the time.

Each road in that area has a different thing to sell...If one road sells sandles,the other sells dresses and the other Bags and the list goes on.There's litrelly no end..We kept on drawing money and buying things.There was no end for it...Later did we realise that we had to get back as it was pretty late..We ll have to bargain for the things we purchase.At the beginning they state a very big price.We gotta take minimum of 2 ,be it sandles,dress or what ever.They themselves reduce the price by more than 200 bucks..The area is always crowded with shoppers from Morning till night..This was the Shoppers Paradise which I really felt was "the place" to shop after so many years...

With countless number of plastic bags filled with the stuffs we had bought for ourselves as well as for our families, we all returned back to the Railway station of Bandra tired and exhausted...We had to change 2 trains from Bandra to reach our place in Vashi..We all left Bandra and reached Wadala Road. As I already stated the local trains just stop for few seconds and departs,we all ran towards the platform and I got into the train thinking my gang had got in..No sooner did I get into the train did I realise that my friends havent got in...This was the first time that I travelled all alone in the Local Train to reach Vashi..Till then,I was all in a group....Dat was when I realised that these trains are safe and anyone can travel safely in the train...All my fear about the Mumbai local train vanished away from that instant of time...;)

My sincere advice to all people who crave for shopping is..If u go to Mumbai,please do not forget to go to Linking Road in Bandra West...It's a must visit place...:)Prices are pretty cheap when
bargained...

Life in Mumbai-1...

To continue my experiences in Mumbai from my previous post, I had to donno do what all..Basically no time.Weekdays just work ,get back home exhausted and rest..Even today the same thing happend...But thought it was a bit okay!!!!!
Know why...???..Water drops in the form of rains came down to reach the sand,making the land cool and the environment all around Bangalore was a bit lively and happy as every species craved for rains as the temperature raised to a high degree,making it difficult to survive...So in this due course I am a bit happy as I am not dat tired either....Happy enough!!!

Yeah getting back to those Mumbai days,I had already stated about Mumbai city...Now coming in detail..l would like to tell something about the people of Mumbai ie.the proud Mumbaikars...
People in Mumbai are so Independent and Hardworking..Everyone ie.every single individual has to earn their own bread to survive as the cost of living in Mumbai actually reaches the skies...So in the due course almost everyone works..May it be a small job or a big one.Everyone keep themselves pre occupied in one or the other thing and never ever waste time.I liked this quality of Mumabaikars a lot and this actually gave me a zeal to work and achieve greater heights in life.We actually realise the importance of work and the M-Factor ie(M=money) only here in Mumbai a lot...

Coming to the people,as I already told every human being is very hardworking..Adding on this quality is that they are pretty humble too...They help us when required and they do not interfere in our tasks..They all are upto themselves at all times unless and until asked for some help or guidance of route or something information which the local Mumbaikars know..They are pretty much understanding and helpful..

Not to forget the Local trains in Mumbai which is the nerve of the city.There is not even a single day when these local trains stops for a single moment.If it stops for a moment,then Mumbai comes to a standstill. This tells how inportant the local trains are to Mumbai..It's the fastest means of Transportation which any one can get in such a big city..No comparisons to any other means actually..Such is the greatness of the trains..The trains stops at every station for just a few seconds and starts moving.It does not even wait to see who got in and who got out!!!Kind of a thing like the buses...It's the best thing I have ever experienced and makes me realise how imporatant can time be..

Local trains in Mumbai are on one side the fastest mode of transportation..and on the other side its crowd..Man!!!!!!! Total count of the people cannot be taken at any point of time.People just rush into the train and rush out...It's like we need not step into the train during peak hours.People just push us inside the train and we get in and it happens the same way when we have to get down at our respective station.But at hrs other dan peak time..It's so nice to travel in those trains..It's one of best experience any one can get,if we travel in those local trains of Mumbai,which is the nerve of all activities. It's also said that "we cannot experience Mumbai and cannot get the feel of it unless and until travelled by the Local trains".I am proud that I used to travel each day during those peak hours and got what the real experience of what Mumbai
is...!!!!

In the compartments of the local trains,especially in the ladies compartments how much ever crowded the compartment might be,we can find people of all ages selling one thing or the other.Be it fruits to vegetables ,dresses, artificial jewellary,pens,boooks and what not...A shopping place for all kinds of people actually...wherein stuffs can be brought for cheapest rate possible and not to forget those juicy Oranges..Every other person would buy those oranges wherein each orange would cost just a Rupee,when eaten,.Man!!!It used to feel like heaven when had in that hot hot Sun...From School going Children to working people and aged people...Almost everyone travel in the Local train.

One of my experiences on a particular day when the train was litrelly full as it was a very peak time of travel was that,I was a bit scared as to how do I litrelly go out of the Train..When I asked a middle aged lady about the same,she told me " Hum logonko Dhakka marke andar aate hai,aur dhakka marke bahar jate hai!!!!"...Such is the way the train will be crowded..

Standing near the door of the Local train and travelling is literlly Fun.Just used to remember the movie "Saathiya" while travelling in the train each time...

So this is all about the Local trains out there in Mumbai,a lot more to tell about it though!!!!!!

New Phase -2.....Mumbai....

Mumbai ," The City of Dreams" as it is rightly said..I landed in Mumbai with lots of fear and depressed emotions,but my love for Pani-puri's never reduced and I craved for it more and more...:)

With a smile on my face and fear in heart,I was all there in Mumbai to give myself to that whole new place,experience what is called as the most happening city of all times...Back home my family was a bit worried as it's something very big for me, as I was brought up in a small place where my place did not even span 2% of what Mumbai is....The local trains scared them the most, as they had heard about some accidents...With all these I was in Mumbai-----City of Dreams,city which never sleeps,city which never stops...and so on.....

My first day of the second phase of training was pretty good....I knew many people who were from Trivandrum,who were along with me during my first phase..Our parents actually went in search for a place for us to dwell..Finding a proper place in Mumbai to dwell was the first task..There were 100's of places,but a proper one was a bit difficult..Anyways within a span of 2 days we were able to find a place to stay and got adjusted and bid good bye to our parents to experience what is called as Mumbai and Mumbai life..A cosmopolitan life actually!!!

We all put up in Vashi,where our training used to be,which is a part of Navi Mumbai.(one of my uncle who used to stay in Mumbai during 1950's and 60's told me Navi Mumbai was the place where people never used to go.There was a very thin population out there then and people had to reach there only through the locally available boats and ships..) Now..God!!Navi Mumbai.. A completely different scenario..We cant even believe that,was it like that over those days..Anyways Technology and Population and people's dreams..Have made it what it is today.

Mumbai...The very place is ruled by people from almost all walks of life and all professions.It has a growing population..Each day atleast 500 new people go to Mumbai to earn their livelihood..We all were one amongst the lot.There are actually many aspects that makes Mumbai what it is..

First of all the very place..It's almost 20-30 times Bangalore.We always used to compare both the cities.There can be basically no comparison between these cities..Mumbai is Mumbai...!!!Each area or say each 2 roads have 4-5 malls and people man!!!The population is so much that each mall is completely filled with the proud Mumbaikars.. The most happening city..not to forget Cosmopoliton city,the head quarters of most of the firms including the firm I work for and most important the Financial capital of India..and not to forget the city where Bollywood takes it's breath..

Many many many more more more things..ll update in my next Blog....:)

New Phase of Life - 1.....TRIVANDRUM - ILP

Every direction I turned around, I saw Coconut tress all around and backwaters in the form of lakes.It was then that I realised that I have landed in Kerala about which I had heard as God's own Country.

Pic: Sunset at Kovalam Beach

Luggages were dumped into the cab as we headed towards Technopark.The city of Trivandrum wore a deserted look as it was Sunday.As the cab reached Technopark I was all excited, as it was the very first company I would join and work.We were allotted quite spacious good rooms with all basic amenities and we just explored the place until we were tired and went off to sleep dreaming about the best part of next day as it was going to be very historical in all our lives.."First day at work!!!"....

Over the Induction on the first day we saw many movies about the TATA group and the company,which weer quite good and inspirational .Then started the usual training sessions wherein we were all just waiting for the weekend wherein we freaked out all around places staring from Kovalam Beach,Anantapadmanabha temple and Kanyakumari and would also catch up some stupid movie which would be released and we would be there to watch it...It was fun!!!Litrelly fun...At the expense of someone enjoying crazily...

Kerala is a pretty good place when it comes to the beaches which never ends and backwaters.Enjoyed the best part of my life in Beaches at Trivandrum and Kanyakumari even though I was hesitant a bit...Once I got into water..Man!!!Didnt even feel to get back to Technopark...

Training was the best part..Met many new people from many colleges,shared jokes,laughed,learnt many things together..Life skills sessions were the best part of ILP training where in we had to enact a sequence or speak something or learn so called Spoon and Fork stuffs(fighting with the spoon and fork actually)..It used to be fun..It was more of an paid holiday actually..

Days passed by with the wink of an eye and came the dreadful evaluations and allocations..The lucky lot got their preferred locations and we the unlucky ones got allocated which we didnt even opt for!!!This made us sad...But life is always a mixture of Joys and Sorrows...Not exactly sorrows,but disappointments cos we actually expect more and dream about it...Finally got mentally prepared to head towards our allocations given and now in that course I headed towards Mumbai!!!!

Mumbai!!!!!!The very word sounds exciting and gives me a tinge of unknown happiness....Wanna know the secret??? I just love eating Pani-puri's (golgoppa's) and Mumbai is the land of Golgoppa's and chats!!!!

I was so happy that I can have it crazily to my heart's content....With the Hope of exploring a whole new place and experiencing new things is life spicing up each moment with Golgoppa's..:)I was off to Mumbai!!!!!!!!!!!

Life in Mumbai will be described in my next post......:)