The Mumbai Diaries

 No. This is not about the movie Dhobhi Ghat. I have better things to do in life than see stupid crap art movies. This post is about my visit to home in this looong weekend.

 Last Sunday I came back to Pune DC from Hyderabad, also I am getting release from my current project from next friday. Looking forward to what comes next! :D. However I did take an off, last Friday and came home after doing morning shift on Thursday!

 I have a very bad impression of Neeta travels, based on my experiences and thankfully this time I traveled in some other travels. Dunno name but Purple was written in the front and Prasanna on the back of the bus. The best thing about this bus was that it was a non stop bus from Pune, started at 5PM, reached Panvel at 0630 and I reached home @ 0830...in time for dinner! :D

  Whenever I go home there always good home food waiting for me. This time was no different, Dal dhokdi, Cheese Pav Bhaji.Undhyu-Puri-Basundi, Dum Aloo Kashmiri and Ragda Pattice..Also Gajjar no halwo and halwasan of Ahmedabad for sweets!! :D . Thank You mama for putting in all the effort...bhagwan tamara dikra nu kalyan kare.. ;)

 Another thing you do when you go home is help out the family with the electronics stuff. Had to buy a chord-less phone, got one today. They are so pale comparing to the mobiles, I was hoping for a touch screen chord-less phone or something....so did that and also went to Taj Lands End, Bandra to celebrate the loong overdue anniversary celebration of mom and dad. Nice time there. One Veg Handi costs 700bucks and one garlic naan 215 bucks....they did have the silver spoon, fork and knife though.. :D

 What else, this time my neighbor Shrikanth is also here. Went to Oberoi mall with him yesterday, again something long overdue.  Oberoi mall is really nice, it is decently big and has everything in it. It has a biiiiiiig croma store and I had to check out XBOX 360 Kinect and Playstation Go and so I did.

 I went in to the store and I asked them if they have it on display, they had and I went there. I was searching for some joystick kinda thing but was amazed that its all gesture recognition. Played football, table tennis and boxing till my shoulders and legs started paining...(30mins) ..had great fun. Really nice thing. Di'nt have any energy left for the playstation, will check that next time. However I do know one thing that playstation 3 go is the best followed by Wii and XBOX is last. Always remember one thing..Microsoft is last in everything these days.. ;)

 Also Oberoi mall has a furniture showroom and we do what we do...we go there sit on the recliner and move up the leg support...Joey style.. ;) We also take pics till the store person tells us to stop..Mysore, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai...somethings never change...hehe

 Also the mall has a big crossword store and lots of good food options. The ambiance is also good in the food courts. Also played all the arcade games kids play...seating on a bike and driving it with a screen in front and all. FTR....I came 2nd in the Super Bixes console on my first attempt.... B-)

 Nothing else really, recently won a SitnGo in Poker and got 45k chips and my chip level is above $250K  now B-)  . I think India lost the 5th ODI, but should win the world cup!!! Manchester United spanked Birmingham 5-0 with Berbatov scoring a brace. Still undefeated in the league, they are at the top with two points lead over Arsenal and a game in hand!

 That's it...back to Pune tomorrow..hope not to get a Neeta bus...the stupid old Neeta bus with unnecessary stops in between which takes a lot of time!!! :@

Diwali 2010, My

Come Diwali 2010, 5 day trip planned to Mumbai. I was in Hyderabad on Microsoft project, needing a respite from the hectic work and I was looking forward to it. It was a wonderful trip and here it goes.

For those who have missed any flights before they would no how important it is to be early at the airport, desolately I am one of them. Reached the airport 3 hours before the flight, damn I was so early the airline guy said I will get boarding pass after one hour. So just rested for an hour as I had done raat pali the day before.

Did get the boarding pass and I went inside. Hyderabad airport after long time, first thing is it does look like an airport…last time I checked it looked like a mall! Neways I did the security check and was wandering. A book shop ne where is an ideal time pass for me and there is one at the Airport and I went right in, checking out some books. I was already carrying Freakanomics to read, but still I feel like home in places like big book shops and library.

I found a book called “Love, Life & a Beer Can” by Prashant Sharma. Pretty catchy name for sure. Started reading it, read some 8 pages and then I thought, what the hell..it’s just 100 bucks and pretty cool book, I bought it. After than I was feeling hungry, normally I don’t feel like eating idlis worth 75 bucks and parathas worth 120 bucks, but I was damn hungry and Pizza Hut looked inviting, I had a Spicy Veg meal. Damn there were lotta chilly in it and barely any veg, had to remove the chillies which left me with only chees . Ne ways the meal was worth it as after boarding I had a good nap in flight..partly due to meal and partly due to my night shift. First time I believe I have slept while flying.

One thing which is always good to come home is the wonderful home food. This time no different…Dal dhokdi, muthiya, undhiyu, basundi, Puri, Gulab Jamun, etc. Also this Diwali was good because I meet lot of relatives, especially Dhruv bhai after long time. Had got gifts for everyone and glad everyone liked it . Wanted to see Golmaal 3 but didn’t find time, also I am longing to see Oberoi mall since last three trips but am unable to :( .

Obama has come to India and his trip has been pretty good for India as well as him. Today there was an official meeting after which Obama and Manmohan Singh addressed media and answered media questions. There was one question on outsourcing and Mr.Singh said and I quote: “We are not in the business of stealing jobs!” This line is like…I dunno simply magnificent. He is close to Obama but to make such a statement openly, kudos to Prime Minister. Also Aaj Tak went crazy…their headlines were like “Manmohan ne mara maidan!” ……..ROTFL. Many agreements and deals were signed. Obama also said, India is already an emerged super power! Sounds nice to the ears.

I travelled in local trains of Mumbai after almost 3 years, went all the way to Thane form Vile Parle. Went in the afternoon, so was not that crowded, but still felt good to travel, in the lifeline of Mumbai.

One of the great days in history for Indian cricket, India 85 for 6 in second innings with one whole day to go. Harbhajan Singh slammed his maiden test ton today…what a time to do it too!! India saved the test match and man of match was Bhajji. Also Liverpool are back, back and how, beating league leaders Chelsea 2-0. Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0. Hope ma club MAN UTD can capitalize on this. It was Red Bull 1-2 in the pen ultimate race of F1. I believe they have sealed the constructors championship.

Overall, it was a very good diwali, quality time with family, great food, some most needed rest, some travelling….and yes I did download Kssha and Taio Cruz songs!!! Also saw Top Gun…that’s one of my all time movie! Also the new LCD in hall is awesome…everything going well :D.