Read the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini en route from San Francisco to Hong Kong. I had read some rave reviews about the book on Amazon, hence my expectations were already reasonably high. I hadn't read a lot more about the story line other than the fact that it was the story of two 10 year old friends who get separated, and that it was based in 1970's Afghanistan. So how was the book? The short answer - Amazing! I have never felt so many emotions all at one time, in one book. Amir's foibles, Hassan's loyalty maybe exaggerated or 'laaf' as the Aghanis would say, but they made my heart and mind turn, churn. What was so special in the book? Maybe most of us see those episodes of our lives vividly through Amir's actions as a prism - when we failed to stand up to things we belived in, when courage failed us, when we disguised cowardice as prudence. and later as some of the more brave ones ask forgiveness for past mistakes, have the strength to atone for them. Most of us, I believe had had such episodes - some few, some many. I think the book comes closest to that notorious mirror of the shameful past - in those early chapters upto the part where Amir and Hassan part ways.
Then came the next phase - a new life for Amir in America. Somehow the indirect connections the book was typing me with, in the first part actually started seeming much more real now. Hearing Amir talk about his life in Northern California as an immigrant far away from his past made me feel that I was in that story - visiting all those places he mentions - East Bay, Los Altos Hills, Highway 17 places I have come to know pretty well in the last 4 years that I have spent in the same area.
Later when Baba dies, and the mosque overflows with well-wishers paying their last respects, both of my eyes shed a tear. Something there, just touched me.
I won't give away any more of the story. All in all its a wonderful book and I am looking forward to getting his second book soon.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Bulgaria Day 1
So I landed in Bulgaria, unable to get away from India for good. Geos was good enough to pick me up from the airport. It was a long time since I had experienced seeing a new country (well Canada last year does not really count :)) so I was really looking forward to this. The airport was newly done, though it was small, there were not a lot of people around so it seemed pretty empty and quiet.
Once bags were done, met up with Geos and we drove out of the airport in his car and came straight to downtown Sofia which is about 10 minutes from the airport. Along the way I was keenly observing all the sights of the place, the apartment buildings built during the communist era of this country, reminded me a lot of similar buildings in most of Mumbai.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Can't leave India behind!
When I left for Bulgaria and as I started coming closer to the last segment of my journey to Sofia, I started believing that for once in 4 years I will be in a place where there really are no Indians, and it will really feel like I am one of the first to come to that country.
This feeling started getting strengthened at Frankfurt airport. I saw Indians of all sizes and colors all over the airport, at nearly every gate, in flights going to all places around the world. I was awed by the sheer numbers, but in my mind I was convinced that Sofia is probably one place where there probably is no Indian going to. While in the line for getting on board the bus that would take us to our plane I looked around and could see all seemingly Bulgarian people around me. Good, no one to make me feel non-unique. I got on the bus and was about to gloat over my achievement, when alas there comes an Indian couple. Not the tourist kinds, but the kind that seemed to have the husband coming to a foreign country for a project and the devoted wife in traditional Indian salwar kameez following the husband around. But I did not care, I was dejected by the destruction to my uniqueness in that bus and more importantly in the country I was heading too.
As if this was not enough, read on for what further transpired in the bus. Right across me on the other side of the bus there was a young Bulgarian sitting across a middle-aged Caucasian lady who was probably from the US. As the bus was still relatively empty I could easily hear their conversation. It went something like this -
Lady - "Are you from Bulgaria?"
Boy - "Yes. Are you visiting Bulgaria?"
Lady - "Yes I am. So have you lived in Bulgaria all your life?"
Boy - "No. I was in Turkey for a couple of years for my education. And then in India for a few months for traineeship." (At this point my interest was aroused :) and I listened keenly for the rest of their conversation.)
Lady - "So where in India did you go?"
Boy -"Kolkata."
Lady - (Not able to understand) "Where is it?"
Boy - "Its on the east coast of India, close to Bangladesh."
Lady - "So is it in Bangladesh?"
Boy - "No... It is close to Bangladesh but in India, in a part of India called Bengal. Though people in Bangladesh also speak Bangali."
The conversation then moved on to what the lady was planning to do in Bulgaria etc. As I said before, at a place where I had expected to be away from India and everything Indian (not in any bad sense, obviously like most I am proud of who I am and where I am from) for a few days. But I realized that its not going to be that easy to achieve this, already before boarding the flight to Sofia I had encountered two connections to India.
You probably need to go somewhere much more remote to actually realize this goal. In fact recently I heard that at many tourist spots in Switzerland, the local guides talk to you in English, German and yes you guessed it - Hindi!
Jai Hind!
This feeling started getting strengthened at Frankfurt airport. I saw Indians of all sizes and colors all over the airport, at nearly every gate, in flights going to all places around the world. I was awed by the sheer numbers, but in my mind I was convinced that Sofia is probably one place where there probably is no Indian going to. While in the line for getting on board the bus that would take us to our plane I looked around and could see all seemingly Bulgarian people around me. Good, no one to make me feel non-unique. I got on the bus and was about to gloat over my achievement, when alas there comes an Indian couple. Not the tourist kinds, but the kind that seemed to have the husband coming to a foreign country for a project and the devoted wife in traditional Indian salwar kameez following the husband around. But I did not care, I was dejected by the destruction to my uniqueness in that bus and more importantly in the country I was heading too.
As if this was not enough, read on for what further transpired in the bus. Right across me on the other side of the bus there was a young Bulgarian sitting across a middle-aged Caucasian lady who was probably from the US. As the bus was still relatively empty I could easily hear their conversation. It went something like this -
Lady - "Are you from Bulgaria?"
Boy - "Yes. Are you visiting Bulgaria?"
Lady - "Yes I am. So have you lived in Bulgaria all your life?"
Boy - "No. I was in Turkey for a couple of years for my education. And then in India for a few months for traineeship." (At this point my interest was aroused :) and I listened keenly for the rest of their conversation.)
Lady - "So where in India did you go?"
Boy -"Kolkata."
Lady - (Not able to understand) "Where is it?"
Boy - "Its on the east coast of India, close to Bangladesh."
Lady - "So is it in Bangladesh?"
Boy - "No... It is close to Bangladesh but in India, in a part of India called Bengal. Though people in Bangladesh also speak Bangali."
The conversation then moved on to what the lady was planning to do in Bulgaria etc. As I said before, at a place where I had expected to be away from India and everything Indian (not in any bad sense, obviously like most I am proud of who I am and where I am from) for a few days. But I realized that its not going to be that easy to achieve this, already before boarding the flight to Sofia I had encountered two connections to India.
You probably need to go somewhere much more remote to actually realize this goal. In fact recently I heard that at many tourist spots in Switzerland, the local guides talk to you in English, German and yes you guessed it - Hindi!
Jai Hind!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
A busy summer ahead
Well its going to be a busy busy summer ahead. Had been to the HCI conference the week before last, followed by all the running for the planning for the Europe trip. Yes for those whom I haven't gloated over yet, I am going to Europe but fear not I will be going only to Bulgaria. Well, why not elsewhere? coz they wouldn't give me a visa in the short time that I have left :(
So maybe the rest of Europe will have to wait for some other time.
2 weeks in Bulgaria is going to be followed by my folks joining me in 2nd week of June. So it is going to be pretty happening the next 2 months or so after that. And add to that A & K moving for good to the bay area in June, and it is all a recipe of a pretty eclectic summer :) I do like that.
That gets me thinking on how it seems like yesterday when 2007 started, just like yesterday when I got my new car, just like yesterday when I had that awesome time at graduation.... Some of these memories are so vivid, I wonder why. Like just the other day we were talking about how some of us remember things when we were like 3-4 years of age. A time when you still did not even have a concept of memories, a time when you just lived for the day and forgot that your friend had taken your favorite toy the day before. But why is it that, even from that age some memories stick with you till maybe the end of your life?
The brain has lot of mysteries and this is very well one of them, you remember really random things from eons ago and forget important errands assigned to you just a day back. Like for instance I remember my memories from nursery school where I used to be so scared of Santa Claus, especially when I could see below the false mustache and beard that it was actually someone else. And there is that other picture of my mom forcing me to drink my milk when I really didn't want to, well I think I was traumatized enough by that one to remember it :)
Maybe there is something in each of those memories which triggered something in my head and seared them there for good.
So maybe the rest of Europe will have to wait for some other time.
2 weeks in Bulgaria is going to be followed by my folks joining me in 2nd week of June. So it is going to be pretty happening the next 2 months or so after that. And add to that A & K moving for good to the bay area in June, and it is all a recipe of a pretty eclectic summer :) I do like that.
That gets me thinking on how it seems like yesterday when 2007 started, just like yesterday when I got my new car, just like yesterday when I had that awesome time at graduation.... Some of these memories are so vivid, I wonder why. Like just the other day we were talking about how some of us remember things when we were like 3-4 years of age. A time when you still did not even have a concept of memories, a time when you just lived for the day and forgot that your friend had taken your favorite toy the day before. But why is it that, even from that age some memories stick with you till maybe the end of your life?
The brain has lot of mysteries and this is very well one of them, you remember really random things from eons ago and forget important errands assigned to you just a day back. Like for instance I remember my memories from nursery school where I used to be so scared of Santa Claus, especially when I could see below the false mustache and beard that it was actually someone else. And there is that other picture of my mom forcing me to drink my milk when I really didn't want to, well I think I was traumatized enough by that one to remember it :)
Maybe there is something in each of those memories which triggered something in my head and seared them there for good.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
A long and happening time
This has been a really hectic and happening past month and a half. N & J came over to stay with us (albeit temporarily) and Jiju was visiting us last week. On an average we have had 5 people or more at our place in these days. fun times :)
looks like things will be slowing down now, and I do hope they do. Really been a while since I took it easy, curled down with a book late into the night :) Have not even finished Code Name God which I had been reading before all the mayhem started. chalo, now that I have found time to come back and write a bit, I am sure I can find time to finish that off.
looks like things will be slowing down now, and I do hope they do. Really been a while since I took it easy, curled down with a book late into the night :) Have not even finished Code Name God which I had been reading before all the mayhem started. chalo, now that I have found time to come back and write a bit, I am sure I can find time to finish that off.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Planning for Friday
Whoever thought that planning for a Friday evening could be so complicated? Just speaking from firsthand experience of today. Had to plan dinner and something after, and it so happens that my circle of social acquaintances were split into a mindboggling number of mindbogglingly intractable groups :(.
Here's what they looked like -
Group 1 - consisting of 3 people planned to have dinner at office and watch Babel later.
Group 2 - consisting of 2 people asked me to plan something for tonight, maybe dinner at one person's place and movie later.
Group 3 - consisting of 4 people planned to have Mediterranean food for dinner at 7.30 pm, with a booking already done, and preferably no movie for them
Group 4 - consisting of 2 people wanting to have dinner early and non-Mediterranean food at that, preferably Indian buffet.
Group 5 - 2 people, not in any dinner plans, but in for either Babel or Blood Diamond
Group 6 - Crazy me, hopelessly believing that I could get the above groups to some kind of agreement on what to do Friday evening.
And well, this does not include the whole set of people I would hang out with in the bay area as atleast 3 of them were out of today's plans!
God give me some better sense.
Here's what they looked like -
Group 1 - consisting of 3 people planned to have dinner at office and watch Babel later.
Group 2 - consisting of 2 people asked me to plan something for tonight, maybe dinner at one person's place and movie later.
Group 3 - consisting of 4 people planned to have Mediterranean food for dinner at 7.30 pm, with a booking already done, and preferably no movie for them
Group 4 - consisting of 2 people wanting to have dinner early and non-Mediterranean food at that, preferably Indian buffet.
Group 5 - 2 people, not in any dinner plans, but in for either Babel or Blood Diamond
Group 6 - Crazy me, hopelessly believing that I could get the above groups to some kind of agreement on what to do Friday evening.
And well, this does not include the whole set of people I would hang out with in the bay area as atleast 3 of them were out of today's plans!
God give me some better sense.
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