I have recently become a travel literature junkie (I am not sure if there is any word that describes this mania!)...I have realized if I cannot get time and money for a decent holiday, I can at least read about the various places all over our planet...While most reading seems to bore the hell out of me now-a-days (really strange!) but I voraciously chew down any and every piece of travel information that I seem to get off the internet...http://www.nytimes.com is an excellent source for this..But more on the internet feed later...
With this in mind, I have been browsing the Travel Sections across bookshops...While I admit my sample size is not significant enough but my observations may be bang on...
I get the sense that in India (again extrapolating from a few big bookshops in Gurgaon & Delhi!) travel literature primarily comprises of Lonely Planet, Rough Guide spanning the world...If however your interest tends more towards the story telling element a la travelogues, then what you will have are books on spiritual awakening of various foreign (and some Indian!) writers while traveling through India...Again mis-perspective!
If I actually want a good read on any other geography (and even about India!) I feel myself starved of just entertainment...Yes there is Bill Bryson to throw light in his unique way but sigh again that is the end...
While I do not confess to reading each and every book that is available, but for some reason what I see off the internet I can never seem to find it on physical bookshelves...
Monday, July 20, 2009
What did I learn from Happy Gilmore?
I watched Happy Gilmore on TV over the weekend...although I have seen the movie many times before and found it to be one of the staple formats which comes from Adam Sandler...the poor underachiever who realizes what he is made of by the end of the movie...normally accompanied by same actors in most of his movies...Honestly the only movie that I think is worth a repeat watch is 'The Wedding Singer' and '50 First Dates'. The remaining can be clearly relegated to days when there is absolutely nothing else to watch...
However coming back to 'Happy Gilmore', I realized the movie did have something interesting to say and it is summed up in one simple question - "What is your Happy Place?"
I thought to myself - how simple an answer it will be...and that's where it started to get complicated...My happy place or rather places became a jumble of lush, green fields with a quiet, peaceful river/lake flowing by, people that I wished I could meet, books that I so had my eye on but such a lack of time...Phew! it did get tiresome after a while...
And that is when it struck me - do we know what is our Happy Place?
However coming back to 'Happy Gilmore', I realized the movie did have something interesting to say and it is summed up in one simple question - "What is your Happy Place?"
I thought to myself - how simple an answer it will be...and that's where it started to get complicated...My happy place or rather places became a jumble of lush, green fields with a quiet, peaceful river/lake flowing by, people that I wished I could meet, books that I so had my eye on but such a lack of time...Phew! it did get tiresome after a while...
And that is when it struck me - do we know what is our Happy Place?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Start of the Month
Have you seen the latest Cadbury's ad - it's quick and snappy under 30 sec commercial...no actors...just a voiceover reminding you that it is the start of the month and time for some celebration (in this case by eating Cadbury's chocolates :))? If you haven't I have a sense that you will not have to wait till next 1st to see it...
The USP of this ad is not about the actors, or the visual story that Cadbury excels in, it is in its ability to capture a universal principle in such a simple manner (and this commercial has been running since 12AM last night - I know I was up then :)) - as soon as we see our salary in the bank account (the messages from the bank regarding your bank balance are never more welcome!), it is literally a time to celebrate...and if the month starts around the weekend then it is an absolute party...
The USP of this ad is not about the actors, or the visual story that Cadbury excels in, it is in its ability to capture a universal principle in such a simple manner (and this commercial has been running since 12AM last night - I know I was up then :)) - as soon as we see our salary in the bank account (the messages from the bank regarding your bank balance are never more welcome!), it is literally a time to celebrate...and if the month starts around the weekend then it is an absolute party...
Janice...Janice...
Hey just a question out for the cyberspace - do you guys have Janice(s) (a la Friends!) at your workplace, in your personal spaces? Would love to hear of them...and swap notes too (yes as guessed I have a Janice at my workplace too!!!)
I must say though for every Janice in this world, it is very quick to put on a Joey expression...
I must say though for every Janice in this world, it is very quick to put on a Joey expression...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
What should we have for dinner?
After a long (more often), hard (sometimes) day at work, all one wants is to reach home and find a hot, delicious meal ready :)
Only if wishes were horses and all that...so the perennial question always remains - "What should we have for dinner"- this more often than not elicits instant groans or silence (depending on what kind of a reaction you tend towards!)....and before one starts envisioning a 4 course meal, even a simple (yet interesting meal) option is so difficult to find and more importantly to think of...
Haven't we worked our brains enough for the day in the office for us to come back and work them again for a menu...
Searching the Internet will always somehow yield results which will require items you don't have just at that moment...can technology not help with a simple invention which would automatically scan what items are available at home and prepare a menu? The rest one can take care of...
Well till some brilliant scientist figures that one out, tell me what are you having for dinner, I might be able to pick up some clues from there...if not for today then some other day...
Only if wishes were horses and all that...so the perennial question always remains - "What should we have for dinner"- this more often than not elicits instant groans or silence (depending on what kind of a reaction you tend towards!)....and before one starts envisioning a 4 course meal, even a simple (yet interesting meal) option is so difficult to find and more importantly to think of...
Haven't we worked our brains enough for the day in the office for us to come back and work them again for a menu...
Searching the Internet will always somehow yield results which will require items you don't have just at that moment...can technology not help with a simple invention which would automatically scan what items are available at home and prepare a menu? The rest one can take care of...
Well till some brilliant scientist figures that one out, tell me what are you having for dinner, I might be able to pick up some clues from there...if not for today then some other day...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Movies this Weekend
Saw 'The Hangover' and 'New York' this weekend (with the Multiplex strike over, it is time to heave a sigh of relief!).
'The Hangover' as my FB status also said is a MUST WATCH...the Tiger in the Bathroom is simply hillarious...it is so well put together, you find youself laughing all the way. Of course with the 'A' Certificate, you did not see the movie cut and 'Beep(s)' every 5 minutes...
'New York' you can watch for the candy value that its lead players bring and to see an Indian commercial film treat a socially relevant topic and treat it with sensitivity and actually make you sit up...not often have I seen this happen and to make popcorn uneatable....
'The Hangover' as my FB status also said is a MUST WATCH...the Tiger in the Bathroom is simply hillarious...it is so well put together, you find youself laughing all the way. Of course with the 'A' Certificate, you did not see the movie cut and 'Beep(s)' every 5 minutes...
'New York' you can watch for the candy value that its lead players bring and to see an Indian commercial film treat a socially relevant topic and treat it with sensitivity and actually make you sit up...not often have I seen this happen and to make popcorn uneatable....
Keeping up Appearances
I have been watching re-runs of 'Keeping up Appearances' on BBC Entertainment and I think it is absolutely hillarious...actually BBC Entertainment is quite an exciting channel - lots of old and new BBC programming and with minimal advertising (how I love that!)
The word 'incorrigible' truly describes Patricia Routledge playing Hyacinth Bucket (or Bouquet)... her neighbour who is perpetually coerced into having teaaaa, one almost feels as jittery as her everytime she is called out and doesnt blame her for being oh so jittery.
And of course the poorest soul amongst them is Richarddddd (the oh so sweet husband!).
I loved the episode where Hyacinth turned a simple country picnic into riparian entertainment...and another gem is where a Bobby has the misfortune of visiting her house to inform her of about her 'Daddy' and Richard is sent on 'business' to get Daddy out of jail.
The word 'incorrigible' truly describes Patricia Routledge playing Hyacinth Bucket (or Bouquet)... her neighbour who is perpetually coerced into having teaaaa, one almost feels as jittery as her everytime she is called out and doesnt blame her for being oh so jittery.
And of course the poorest soul amongst them is Richarddddd (the oh so sweet husband!).
I loved the episode where Hyacinth turned a simple country picnic into riparian entertainment...and another gem is where a Bobby has the misfortune of visiting her house to inform her of about her 'Daddy' and Richard is sent on 'business' to get Daddy out of jail.
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