All posts by haikvr
The Uneducated Sufi
Sufi never once licked us – the most common thing all dogs do to show their affection.
Sufi was born in a lab and never had her mother’s affection. This common trait in all dogs is missing in Sufi and is one of the things that makes her unique!
I have made this joke so many times at Sufi’s expense. She doesn’t mind. She loves us and we love her.
Ahem.. if you haven’t got it – Lick sounds like Likh – in Hindi to write.
Bad Punn.
Mokkai.
I am not Sorry 🙂
The Poisoned Boli
This was before the Vaali play began ( The play was spelled Bali – they had bengalisized the word ). The play was about Rama killing Bali by hiding behind a tree and shooting an arrow to kill Bali. What if Rama did not chose an arrow – but a poisoned Boli?
The Missing Sink
I enjoy making really Mokkai ( banal, PJ ) observations.
These are not really a “joke” joke – it is an emerging yet to be named art form which Chatgpt cannot create.
It is up to me to save humanity.
Here is my attempt at linking my 2 passions – making mokkai observations and drawing terrible cartoons – introducing Mokkai Cartoons.
Here is the first one – The missing sink
We had gone to Rangashankara to watch a play ( a mokkai play called Baali ) – before show started P and I went to the washroom.
This happened there.
The infamous Meme by Elon Musk “Let that sink in”. I patted Prithvi for the quick mokkai addition – the fruit does not fall far from the tree!
Metro @ Whitefield finally
It took forever – may be 5 years?
But finally – this coming Saturday – May 25th 2023 – Metro is going to be thrown open at Whitefield.
From Kadugodi to KR Puram. The critical KR Puram to Byappanahalli will take June/July – but I am ok to wait – we have waited all these years.
Every time I go to Dubai I will be jealous of their Metro System.
In December I was there for 10 days – and not once I took taxi. Did go around a bit – we even went to the Dubai Library – it was a long walk from Metro station though.
Now – soon – things will be the same here.
For the nearest Metro station – SAP labs – I have to do a 900m walk, then take a bus – 335E and 500 series – 4 stops. Then I can go anywhere in Bangalore.
Just love this freedom – and guilt free travel – without polluting too much nor adding to the traffic woes of Bangalore.
Come March 27th – Monday – I will go to office in Metro – for the first time in India. Have done it in Chicago ( not metro exactly – it was a suburban train ), and in Dubai.
Me happy!
My daily routine now – 2023
Finally I seem to have hit a consistent routine. It all started with me learning another yoga bit – Suriya Kriya in Dec 2022 – a variation of Suriya Namaskar – but more like a moving meditation than yoga.
I start my day around 4 to 4:30ish – by lighting lamps to the Gudi – an Yantra we had got for my sister from Isha Coimbatore, and then handed over for temporary safe keeping by Charu to me.
Then I start with Bhutta Shuddhi. To cleanse the five elements. Has lighting camphor and doing deep Ujjain breathing.
Then I do the preparatory asanas – Flutter, Cradle your baby pose,Cat pose. Simple stretches – to prepare the spine.
Then I do Anga Mardhana. Series of Asanas – brutal in a few places – has the heart beat going up some 2/3 times – and ending with savasaana – it will be like ice cream after an hour walk in the hot sun. This takes some 45 minutes – so if time is short ( I wake up late ) I skip this.
Then I do Suriya Kriya – the latest addition to my arsenal. It looks so simple – but just injects so much energy into the system – keeps me fully ON till I go to sleep.
It will be around 6:10ish.. I take a break to say bye to Prithvi – his bus leaves as 6:30 am.
Then I continue – now I do Shambhavi Maha Mudra. The Main Course This Kriya is taught by Sadhguru and doing just this one is enough – if not we do anything else. Is very powerful.
Starts with a simple alternate nostril breathing – or – pranayama, then Oam Kara sound and some flutter breathing and finally bandha locks – its an experience to be felt – 20-25 minutes.
Then I do Shanmukhi Mudra. This is the brahmari – in the marketing material of Isha it said it will help reduce Tinnitus – I signed up – Could be it is effective – not sure.. but I read this targets the pineal gland – this guy is the main controller of all other glands in the body – so why not?
And I am done.
Anga Mardhana I have just added last week, but since December have been consistently doing Suriya Kriya along with Shambhavi.
Almost daily – but here and there I drop it when I am traveling or some weekends when I am just too lazy.
The effect has been startling – like day and night. Almost zero anger. And the mood is very stable.
Yesterday – for no reason was exuberant.
Immediate next step – to continue Anga Mardhana. It is not easy – takes more time – but the effect is really good.
Next step – sign up for Shoonya – I have learned almost everything I can learn outside Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore. Shoonya is available only there. 4 day residential course.
Alleppey 2022
Nainital & Mysore – mid 2022
US Visa Interview – then and now
Then – Year 2000. For Student Visa.
The visa tokens were given on first come first serve basis.
Me and my friend – Radhakrishnan – had a nice dinner in Anjappar I think – then around night 10 PM – dropped him in the line which started at the US consulate. The line had already reached Lloyds Road ( now called Avvai Shanmugham Road ). Lloyds Road is where my first project in TCS was – before we all moved to Sholinganallur.
There was a continuous supply of tea/coffee biscuits to the people in the queue. I then went back home after chatting for an hour. I would do the same waiting for him the next week.
Woke up at 4:00 AM and took an auto to the consulate. Relieved my friend around 5:00 AMish – and slowly saw the placeholder people being replaced with people like me.
Finally got my token and got my visa – now dont remember how much time it took – or who even interviewed me or what we spoke.
I did not carry any cell phone – oh wait I never had one that time – and just the folder with all my papers and some cash. Took an auto and went home.
Probably would have treated my friends that evening.
Now – Year 2022. Went for B1/B2 Visa
Had to book the appointment online. Got a confirmation for a Friday and Time – 8:30 AM slot.
This time I stayed in Ibis Chennai City Center – at 1000 Lights. I reached Wednesday night by train.
The interview was on Friday, but on Thursday had to go to a place in Nungambakkam for Biometrics and Photo – Chennai VAC center. It was well organised. They had multiple counters. The documents were checked and ten printed as they call – and took my photo.
While taking the finger print I had to use my right hand to put pressure on my left fingers – as I was not being able to give much force – thanks to my fall last week.
I had trouble when I had to put my 2 thumbs. My left thumb was not registering and the counter person asked me to put more force. I had to put some more force – to a point where it was hurting a bit – and it registered.
Close call. I dont know what would have happened if I had to put plaster etc. how would they have ten printed me.
It was all over within 10 minutes of me entering the premises.
Then got back to the hotel and worked on a very sloppy internet throughout the day.
Doze off by 10:00 PM reading Ponniyin Selvan Part 3. Friday morning, woke up at 5:00 AM. Do my morning meditation routine and even shaved – even though I will be wearing mask all the time – but being clean shaven makes me feel confident. I was ready by 7:50 AM.
I go to the lobby for the shuttle to the consulate – earlier the reception person said there is a shuttle every 30 minutes.
Till 8:10 AM the shuttle did not come. I considered walking – but walking in the Chennai weather would have made me all sweaty – or taking an auto. Did not want to haggle in the morning – since I cannot carry my phone ( or apple watch ) – I cannot book an Uber / Ola.
Finally the hotel shuttle arrived at 8:10 AM and dropped me by 8:13 AM. I got down in style. What a contrast – In 2000 I was sitting on the footpath on a newspaper on the same road. Few people were waiting – for the 9:00 AM slot.
They were allowing 8:30 AM slot candidates.
They checked my appointment letter and passport and let me in.
I didn’t carry my watch – so did not know how long it took. I had to stand in a meandering queue – before I was moved to the seats. There were 4 or 5 counters – and the ones who were seated were sent in round robin fashion.
I had my entertainment – could hear one side of the conversation – as they had speakers when the interviewer would ask questions. They spent a good amount of time with each interviewee. They were being thorough.
There were moms visiting their daughter in US, students going for their higher studies, a doctor, most were from the IT companies, and some one was going for a cultural program. Quite an interesting crowd.
I surveyed the crowd. Just one more guy and I were in Blazer.
We are the ambassadors of India and we should take extra care to present ourselves well. Of course there were some smartly dressed folks in regular formals – but wish the majority could have taken some extra effort to dress up well.
The Mom who was going to meet her daughter wore a nice Kanchipuram silk saree. That’s what I am talking about.
I was a bit disappointed on our crowd. Next time I will wear a dhoti and silk shirt.
One of the interviewers – was wearing jasmine flowers. She was such a sport. I decided if I go to her counter I will compliment her. But I was sent to another counter.
Finally my interview was done, the gentleman said my passport with visa will reach in a week.
I came out, avoided the auto guys offers, took the subway to the other side of the road and walked to Ibis. The time was around 9:50 AM after I reached the room.
The next adventure begins! Looking forward to reconnecting with US / LSU – and taking ADDA truly global.
Bahrain Food Trip
Well went to attend a conference where San was speaking. This time I became a food photographer.
This was in Lulu Mall – next to the hotel we were staying. We had a salad buffet.
1 BD – Bahraini Dinar = Rs.222.
There were some Kerala dishes too. The big brown ball was delicious. Not too Sweet. Deep fried. With ajwain or something inside. The orange bottle was a freshly squeezed health drink.
The salad was ok. Luckily before coming here I spotted a Kailash Prabhat and had a Sada Dosa. San disapproves of me for eating Dosa outside India. Sometimes I do it intentionally to irritate her.
IBIS breakfast the next day morning. Poori sabzi with coconut chutney. It was good. Ahem – San also ate Poori – outside India.
San made me eat lot of cheese. This was the 2nd round.
San’s talk was in the end – and she was famished. When I gave her the option – lets go wherever you want to go – she searched for a Japanese Restaurant – Maki – an upscale one. This was a Veg Sushi. It was good.
The waiter made this bubble with a gun – after 2 tries. It was Vodka based – and very potent.
A Vegan dish. Tofu and Eggplant made to look like fish! This dish was delicious.
The bill was quite steep – we blew up half our per diem in just this restaurant alone.
And since we both eat 2 meals a day – we could splurge once in a while.
Maki was in this iconic building – Bahrain World Trade Center. For Architecture Buffs like us – this was a pilgrimage of sorts. It has 3 wind turbines – and generates 11-15% of the building’s power.
Stole this from internet. I did not shoot this.
Next day for lunch I was searching stuff nearby – and found Raising Canes in a Mall nearby. Raising Canes was the junk food place on the way to LSU from the place I used to live ( Nicholson apartments ).
They have a very unique sauce, curly fries, garlic bread – plus soft chicken fries. Typically I will reluctantly eat Chicken, but this time I volunteered to have half of them – ended up having 1.75. I had ordered the meal – it came with Coke too. Typical American junk food.
It was nostalgic to me. It was the exact same taste – all of them.
San meanwhile ordered from Al Baik – a new discovery in this trip. The Falafel Wrap was really good. And the chips were mildly spicy and crispy.
Return trip Emirates Meal. Thankfully they did not put any paneer – and the cabbage dish was delicious. Got tomato juice – and broke my rule of not watching while eating – and watched No Time to die while eating this delicious meal.
