Empty.
Where have all the good people gone?
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tea
Tea
Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget the perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.
-Leonard Cohen
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Strange Places
“shine on you crazy diamond”
On March 21, 2006 Mhatre writes in the comments for the post:
The night falls silently on our land,
Our lives awoken and together we gather in a band.
This night is a day for us - the living,
Till the darkness of the sun arrives, unforgiving.
We ride through stars and castles like sheeps,
Whilst above us into obscurity the little moon slips.
From turf to turf we sail with our skipper - the wind,
For a moment let go of our past - the sinned.
Now here is another castle in the mountain deep,
Off we alight from our rides and into the dungeons we creep.
Whilst the sand flows through the hour-glass,
The intoxication draws all our thoughts into a single distorted mass.
But though the moon yet rides and the hour yet late,
The dust on the doorway sees us head out for the next gate.
And on and on we ride our souls unbound,
In search for the love that is yet to be found.
Till the crack of dawn pronounces its creep,
And the adamant sun sees us scuttling into our lonely keep.
To some place strange have we come. Look behind and you see only a foggy trail, no bridge nor rail. But come we did. Travelled through wind and rain and sun and arrived at a place were the colours all run. Before you start to feel a thing, you have again shifted your vacation.
Is this were we wanted to be ? Is this what we want ? What is the motivation behind each day's passage ? What higher aim drives us on ? Or is it only the drift ? How does on traverse this patch where all directions seem identical ? How does one make one's existence meaningful ? Study every passing moment ? Pay attention to the smaller details which make life so beautiful ? Help make everyone around you make their existence meaningful ? Make everyone's life better and consequently make your better too ?
Or just let go and follow your heart and let your faith guide you ... ?
Peth
This was the night before our trek to Peth. We had half a bottle of vodka and only Rooh-af-za (rose drink) to mix. Thus was invented "Shahi Vodka". I have never laughed as much as I have that night.
On the plateau before the village we slept. Early morning and we were at peace.
Irshal
One of the most amazingly beautiful treks I have been on. Only three of us, me, Mhatre and Prashant. The only people we met were some tribals in a hamlet we passed.
Karnala
Sudden trip.
Visapur
Complete relaxation.
Matheran
Heaven.
“Lone bird in the orange sky, fly far fly high...”
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Saturday Night and the Fools.
It was a holiday. The bigger fool was bored with his inability to think and do
anything constructive. With him joined up the fat fool. Also ready for inaction.
Together they sat in a place where the heaven's come down, called Candy's, and
watched the heavenly beauties. Being joined by other sundry fools, they all
departed in search of spirituality.
Toto's was the destination. First time for the bigger fool there, he was overjoyed at the prospect of music and spirituality. But the music was over. All other places, the Boat Club, H2O, they all required one to bring one's own source of amusement (i.e. chick) with hisself. This was, ofcourse, to prevent the fools from enjoying the sight of other folks' chicks. It was Sacrilegious behaviour.
But then we found our stream of fun. Shooter's with it's happy couples and sick music. LP with it's pseudo-nerds and hindi music. Aura's with it's HOT chicks and an air of unnecessary importance. And finally the no nonsense joint, Hotel Shiv Shambhoo, at Panvel with its numerous mosquitoes.
We met many on the way. The totally depressed dude at Shooter's. He was with two extremely hot chicks (and their boyfriends). The silly boys from LP who to excited because we played "their" song : sutta. They came and shook hands with us and danced a bit and tried to sing a bit and then went away. The Aura's and it's chicks. The one in blue who was maybe 1cm short of exposing her, err, neither regions. The cute chick in white who was sitting next to us with an extremely stupid (and rich) looking idiot. The waiter who had a glorious fall with the crystal water dispenser. The petrol dispenser from the middle of nowhere with his extremely interior accent. The happy boys at ShivShambhoo who offered me the entire packet of smokes when I asked for a light.
We ate for long at Panvel. Then headed back.
2300 hrs : Shooter's @ Bandra
0001 hrs : Liquid Paradise @ Andheri
0120 hrs : Aura's @ Powai
0420 hrs : Hotel Shiv Shambhoo @ Panvel
0544 hrs : Vashi Bridge
0620 hrs : View from Vishu's house, Tilak Nagar.
All photo's taken with a Sony Ericsson w800i mobile phone camera by the bigger fool
Toto's was the destination. First time for the bigger fool there, he was overjoyed at the prospect of music and spirituality. But the music was over. All other places, the Boat Club, H2O, they all required one to bring one's own source of amusement (i.e. chick) with hisself. This was, ofcourse, to prevent the fools from enjoying the sight of other folks' chicks. It was Sacrilegious behaviour.
But then we found our stream of fun. Shooter's with it's happy couples and sick music. LP with it's pseudo-nerds and hindi music. Aura's with it's HOT chicks and an air of unnecessary importance. And finally the no nonsense joint, Hotel Shiv Shambhoo, at Panvel with its numerous mosquitoes.
We met many on the way. The totally depressed dude at Shooter's. He was with two extremely hot chicks (and their boyfriends). The silly boys from LP who to excited because we played "their" song : sutta. They came and shook hands with us and danced a bit and tried to sing a bit and then went away. The Aura's and it's chicks. The one in blue who was maybe 1cm short of exposing her, err, neither regions. The cute chick in white who was sitting next to us with an extremely stupid (and rich) looking idiot. The waiter who had a glorious fall with the crystal water dispenser. The petrol dispenser from the middle of nowhere with his extremely interior accent. The happy boys at ShivShambhoo who offered me the entire packet of smokes when I asked for a light.
We ate for long at Panvel. Then headed back.
Mhatre's awesome poem from the comments!! The night falls silently on our land, Our lives awoken and together we gather in a band. This night is a day for us - the living, Till the darkness of the sun arrives, unforgiving. We ride through stars and castles like sheeps, Whilst above us into obscurity the little moon slips. From turf to turf we sail with our skipper - the wind, For a moment let go of our past - the sinned. Now here is another castle in teh mountain deep, Off we alight from our rides and into the dungeons we creep. Whilst the sand flos thorugh the hour-glass, The intoxication draws all our thoughts into a single distorted mass. But though the moon yet rides and the hour yet late, The dust on the doorway sees us head out for the next gate. And on and on we ride our souls unbound, In search for the love that is yet to be found. Till the crack of dawn pronounces its creep, And the adamant sun sees us scuttling into our lonely keep.
2300 hrs : Shooter's @ Bandra
0001 hrs : Liquid Paradise @ Andheri
0120 hrs : Aura's @ Powai
0420 hrs : Hotel Shiv Shambhoo @ Panvel
0544 hrs : Vashi Bridge
0620 hrs : View from Vishu's house, Tilak Nagar.
All photo's taken with a Sony Ericsson w800i mobile phone camera by the bigger fool
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Sunday. At Kanheri.
Sunday. At Kanheri.
Came after a long while. Lots of memories here. I felt her everywhere. Sad. If you ever need to screw your own happiness, come to me, I am the resident expert.
Update : added 3 more photos on 18 Mar 06.
Note : I am the resident expert in the art of screwing my own happiness. I can teach you to screw your own. Please note I dislike screwing your happiness. One has to do one's own dirty work.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Folks working while i play.
Folks working while i play. More fun this way. Have spent the last couple of days in insane meetings. Hours of discussion ... to be "on the same page" ... hehe.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Spirituality.
Spirituality.
Life is a series of Spiritual escapades. There is no question of drinking and driving - it is more fun being driven by the drink. hehe
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Our kaka
Our Kaka Joshi
We have spent some amazing times with him. I first met him on the trek to Rajgad in December 2001. It was a good trek. It was a good time.
I still remember the glorious morning with the beautiful yellow grass on the Gad. The finger numbing cold water in the night. I was one of the party who washed up the utensils. Heh.
My best trek to date was the Kalsubai Harishchandragad one. That one is beyond words. We spent 3 nights and 2 complete days on Harishchandragad. All we did was smoke, eat, talk and have fun. We saw two sunsets on the Konkan Kada.
Then there was the time when he was riding like crazy (he does) with me behind and his tiny daughter in between. And then there was a time when we rode through rain and cold wind and reached a far away place to meet a friend who fed us mutton and rice in a petrol pump and slept there too, to wake up in the fresh crisp morning and head back.
I could go on and on.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Aimlessly to Matheran
It was one of those nights .. no aim, no nothing. Just a bunch of fools who knew not what to do and a bigger fool having fancy ideas. A few willing accomplices, dealing with their uncertainties. A few unwilling, forced by their uncertainties.
So off we set : with many fools being added and subtracted to the bunch. Arriving at Chembur No.92 terrace, I departed with few of the fools to get the drink of enchantment and any comestibles which we could lay our hands on at such an unholy hour. It was past 12 midnight.
Having had some spiritual upliftment and a bit of what appeared to be mutton biryani, we were ready to go. But the original spiritual folks of No. 92. terrace, who we had joined, now posed a problem. They, having suddenly discovered great love for the fools, decreed that no one is going out on the bikes in the dead of the night with no destination and having become somewhat spiritual. This indeed posed a problem. With great diplomacy and brotherly love (interlaced with dire threats) we finally were on our way.
Because of the disused state of the minds of most of the fools, there happened to be great unrest and constant infighting. This notwithstanding the journey continued. Anyway, what is a journey without trouble, I ask ??
Panvel came. Tea. Some reheated kanda bhajji with soggy pav. We discovered a place where we could get booze at 0300hrs. Panvel went. The temperatures had dropped considerably as compared to the ones the fools were used to in the homeland. True to name most of the fools were in their summer clothing and were rather enjoying the cold. The bigger fool had come prepared and was very selfishly warm and content and watching the fun. May he break his other leg too and fry in hell.
Chowk came. The cold had gone to the head of most and soon a fire was ignited. Into it went whatever could be found nearby which cumbusted. Someone's (disused?) doormat. Decorative paper hung all over (pataka) (probably for next day's function?). Bamboo pieces and cardboard from the infrastructure of the many small shops nearby. We spent a uneasy, smoky, sleepy 45 minutes here.
At this point of time the bigger fool added to the confusion by suggesting that there may be multiple options open. Lonavala or Matheran (he claimed with great confidence that both were at the same distance and, more importantly, the temperature conditions were the same). A vote was called for and Matheran elected. What a successful democracy this was (despite the very vocal protests of a fat fool).
The road to Karjat is newly made. The ride in the early morning through the dark countryside was refreshing. If you allowed it, it cleansed the soul. The cold wind bitingly passed all through and removed the bad. The pain. The unnecessary questions. The infinite why's. It filled in the empty space which, like a vacuum, sucks in all your thoughts otherwise.
In full glory we reached the base of the Matheran climb. We parked and contemplated. The older fool's bike slipped from the side stand and it fell on its side breaking the helmet visor.
Matheran came. We had hot cutting chai and omlette pav. And then some more chai. And then headed back towards reality.
Such is a night with fools. Beware.
> Chembur No.92 terrace. Philosophy and Spirituality.
> Chowk and the fire we ignited. "Common baby, light my fire. Try to set the night on fire ...!"
> Dawn breaking at the Neral khind.
> Matheran aglow with the purest of pure lights ...
> Neral Village
> Yellow grass glowing with the Sun's first rays.
> Catching the Sun
> The Road to Enchantment
> Staggering wisps of fog protect the snug life below, cozy in their space and love.
> As the day grows ...
All photos taken with a Sony Erricsson K750i mobile camera phone by the bigger fool.
So off we set : with many fools being added and subtracted to the bunch. Arriving at Chembur No.92 terrace, I departed with few of the fools to get the drink of enchantment and any comestibles which we could lay our hands on at such an unholy hour. It was past 12 midnight.
Having had some spiritual upliftment and a bit of what appeared to be mutton biryani, we were ready to go. But the original spiritual folks of No. 92. terrace, who we had joined, now posed a problem. They, having suddenly discovered great love for the fools, decreed that no one is going out on the bikes in the dead of the night with no destination and having become somewhat spiritual. This indeed posed a problem. With great diplomacy and brotherly love (interlaced with dire threats) we finally were on our way.
Because of the disused state of the minds of most of the fools, there happened to be great unrest and constant infighting. This notwithstanding the journey continued. Anyway, what is a journey without trouble, I ask ??
Panvel came. Tea. Some reheated kanda bhajji with soggy pav. We discovered a place where we could get booze at 0300hrs. Panvel went. The temperatures had dropped considerably as compared to the ones the fools were used to in the homeland. True to name most of the fools were in their summer clothing and were rather enjoying the cold. The bigger fool had come prepared and was very selfishly warm and content and watching the fun. May he break his other leg too and fry in hell.
Chowk came. The cold had gone to the head of most and soon a fire was ignited. Into it went whatever could be found nearby which cumbusted. Someone's (disused?) doormat. Decorative paper hung all over (pataka) (probably for next day's function?). Bamboo pieces and cardboard from the infrastructure of the many small shops nearby. We spent a uneasy, smoky, sleepy 45 minutes here.
At this point of time the bigger fool added to the confusion by suggesting that there may be multiple options open. Lonavala or Matheran (he claimed with great confidence that both were at the same distance and, more importantly, the temperature conditions were the same). A vote was called for and Matheran elected. What a successful democracy this was (despite the very vocal protests of a fat fool).
The road to Karjat is newly made. The ride in the early morning through the dark countryside was refreshing. If you allowed it, it cleansed the soul. The cold wind bitingly passed all through and removed the bad. The pain. The unnecessary questions. The infinite why's. It filled in the empty space which, like a vacuum, sucks in all your thoughts otherwise.
In full glory we reached the base of the Matheran climb. We parked and contemplated. The older fool's bike slipped from the side stand and it fell on its side breaking the helmet visor.
Matheran came. We had hot cutting chai and omlette pav. And then some more chai. And then headed back towards reality.
Such is a night with fools. Beware.
> Chembur No.92 terrace. Philosophy and Spirituality.
> Chowk and the fire we ignited. "Common baby, light my fire. Try to set the night on fire ...!"
> Dawn breaking at the Neral khind.
> Matheran aglow with the purest of pure lights ...
> Neral Village
> Yellow grass glowing with the Sun's first rays.
> Catching the Sun
> The Road to Enchantment
> Staggering wisps of fog protect the snug life below, cozy in their space and love.
> As the day grows ...
All photos taken with a Sony Erricsson K750i mobile camera phone by the bigger fool.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Bored
A wild bore wearing a wild boar's tooth.
I recently acquired it (well, surreptetously swiped it off Rashmi really). I think it makes me agressive. May be just my imagination, but I have been a lot more fiesty and fighty of late. (Down side is, I have also been feeling excessively stupid of late) Maybe there are other factors. Heh. It does go well with my tiger claws, I think. The office folks were asking me if I am gonna do the whole animal kingdom now. Especially the firangs are very intregued. Maybe now they will expect me to ride my new tamed elephant to work.
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