My trip to the Tri-Wizard Tournament

The day finally dawned..and I got to watch the sneak preview for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire..this has always been my favourite book amongst all..and was certainly very anxious to see if the movie did justice to the book..and it did!!

guys..this is the best of all the 4 movies and is definitely THE movie of the year...the effects are just too good..especially the Hungarian Horntail..and the last task in the maze...ya stubborn HP fans will protest about some things being changed or omitted...but after all..I think it is too big a book to fit in 2.5 hours...and we must applaud the director for coming up with a clever screenplay...

Of the new characters...Rita Skeeter is just too good..madame Maxim with her french accent is also awesome!! and thumbs-up to Ralph Fiennes for playing a perfect Voldemort..

Shall write more on the movie later so that I dont spoil the fun for u all...

Go catch this flick today...you will just love it!!!

My Diwali

Spent this Diwali back home in Bombay after 5 years...and it was just awesome..although the spirit was dampened cause of the recent earthquake and Delhi blasts...the fireworks were still too good!!

Wishing you all a Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year!!

Some snaps of fireworks illuminating the Bombay skyline:

My Spanish fiesta

Saturday night..its party time!!

Clarke quay is one of the most busy places over the weekend..packed with people from all over the world..and I was there too (along with Angelsera and few others)..celebrating a friend's b'day...
Went to this really exotic spanish place called 'Tapas Tree'...the ambience was just too good and the food was yummy and truly something unique..(try the paella and the potato dish..dont remember the name)
but best of all was the live spanish music..i just love the spanish rhythms..the tunes and the beats...and the band was just awesome..performing all famous numbers from lambada...just wish they had a dance floor as well :)

anyways..guys, do check out this place..enjoy the food..the atmosphere and the music!! Ole!!

The Spanish band

My first encounter with a Piano

I have always wanted to learn some musical instrument...and now with a steady job with currently a "normal" time schedule..i finally have the time to pursue this!!

so now I am taking piano classes..(why piano...well I have always thought that there is a certain grandeur and class in it..and after watching 'the pianist'[yaya..I know it is a horrific film but the piano piece in the end is just awesome]..I have become more inclined to learn to play the piano) and my first class was just last week..I was so excited about this...
The first class was obviously the basics..which might sound really dumb to many..but neverthless I enjoyed it thoroughly...learnt about the keys and reading the wierd shaped notes from the book...now have to practice also!!

Hopefully I will learn enough to play for all of you someday....not as a mozart la but as Packan...

I got Tagged

well..as usual life in singapore has become a bit of a drag...so something exciting finally now that I got tagged by Angelsera

so here goes...

7 things you plan to do before you die:
1. Go backpacking in Europe especially Italy for its culture, Austria for sound of music, Poland for the concentration camps and Germany for the history
2. Accompany Angelsera to Africa or Latin America for some social work
3. Learn to speak as many languages as possible: Japanese, German, Spanish and maybe Russian
4. Learn ice skating and skiing
5. Take a hot air balloon ride in New Zealand and visit Middle Earth
6. Switch careers maybe to interior design or work in Ikea to design new innovative products
7. Visit my five most fascination countries namely Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, Russia, Israel

looks like i want to travel the whole world...:)
I think i need to add one more...
8. Make a schedule/timelime/gnatt chart to do all the above...

7 things you can do:
1. Be always cheerful no matter what happens
2. Be always enthusiastic to go new places and do new things
3. Order too much food and then get help from friends to finish it
4. Become a control freak when it comes to mess in the house
5. Plan to go on diet and lose weight
6. Try drinks with embarrassing names in a bar
7. Think of ways to get sick leave in office

7 things you say most:
1. Aai ga deva!! (Something like Oh God in Marathi)
2. Behave yourself in society
3. Hellooooo..I just cleaned the hall
4. What plans for dinner..lets go out no
5. Put no… (Telling someone to change to a particular TV channel)
6. Ok la..me off to bed
7. Aai ga deva satyanarayana..kuthe re tu!! (Long form of no. 1)

7 things you can’t do:
1. Scold or shout at anyone
2. Forget close friends/relatives birthdays
3. Take up smoking
4. Get upset over petty issues
5. Not avoid making an initial judgment on anyone
6. Keep a secret
7. Be mean to anyone

7 things that attract you:

Don’t know la…too difficult to describe…

7 celebrity crushes:
1. Preity Zinta…obviously!!!
2. Courtney Cox (Monica from friends)
3. Steffi Graf..how can I forget her…
4. Dory from Finding Nemo…love her character
5. Kareena from Kareena Kareena on Zee TV
6. Cameron Diaz
7. The main lead actress from Tru Calling (don’t know her name)

7 people you want to Tag:
1. Lehmunade
2. Blurred Pixels
3. Snowbeak’s Muffler
4. Nimbupani
5. Sayesha
6. Dangerous Beginnings
7. Chewlin

My friend Tut

well..nothing exciting is currently happening in singapore..so I am gonna take u guys back to US and my trip..

on my way back to singapore, I took a break in san diego..and from there had gone to LA..to see the world famous Tutankhamen collection currently showing at the LACMA

I have always been fascinated by egyption civilisation...and this visit for me was like a trip to meccca...guys..i have absolutely no words to describe the exhibit..it is just too good..and a must-must see if you ever get a chance...it is permanently placed in the Cairo Museum..

The amount of detail in carving and intricate patterns on the gold sarcophagus and other items is just remarkable..this boy pharaoh lived around 1300 BC..and I simply couldnot imagine how people back then were so advanced and had such a good aesthetic sense...the artwork, the stone sculptures, also the old furniture is designed in such fine detail..it is just amazing!!

Anyways...I am just so glad I got this opportunity to see this collection belonging to the incredible Tut.

Tut as king of Lower and Upper Egypt
The famous Tut mask

My return to the La-land

ya la..i am back to singapore la...:)

it does feel good to be back..meeting all my friends and catching up with them...enjoying nice cheese-less food in the food courts...

but at the same time I now miss the quiet life in Austin..the amazing weather..the picturesque landscapes...and on top of all that..what I miss the most is my car!! back to my EZ-link and "Doors Closing...ta.ta.ta.ta.ta...."

My Adieu to Austin

Time really flies and it is already six months since I came to Austin. I really enjoyed these six months in the US..learning and working in the office..meeting new people and best of all travelling around and visiting new places.
well...at the same time, now, I am really looking forward to return to the Lion City..eager to look at my new house..meet all my friends..and maybe have some chilli carbs!!

Anyways, I shall always remember and cherish the time I spent in Austin.

My Mumbai

Sitting here in Austin..helpless...the only thing I can think of is of Mumbai..the city, the people, my friends and relatives and obviously the water!!

Luckily my parents are in Austin too..and were spared from the brunt of the rain gods..but like me..they too are worried on how things are going...

When i was in primary school..we had a downpour(somewhat similar to this) and getting home on that day had taken me 5 hours which normally takes 20 mins by rickshaw...but wat happened on tuesday..3ft of rain fall...is simply unimaginable!!!

I must say I am very proud of all Mumbaikars..who always stand togehter in times of need...have been reading so many stories and emails from friends on how they managed to reach home and how people helped them..hats off to all of them!!!

But I do hope that the BMC will learn from this incident and plan better storm water drainage system..after all a city which pays 40% of the country's tax revenues definitely requires more attenttion and better infrastrucute

I am truly proud to be a Mumbaikar

Our World, Our UN

As the debate for the expansion of the UN Security Councils gains momentum...let us hope that the G-4 resolution gets the required majority.

It is time for the UN to change..and it is time for India to play a bigger role in shaping the world!!

Here are some snaps I took when I visited the UN headquarters in New york..did you all know that when you enter the complex..you have officially left the US and standing in a land belonging to the 191 member nations...
The tour was quite interesting..got to see a live debate of the UNESCO..saw several gifts given by member nations to the UN..like an ivory sculpture from China..and replica of the Royal Barge from Thailand...
One of my tour members was from Taiwan..and she was certainly disappointed on the fact that Taiwan was been left out..

Anyways heres hoping to a stronger balanced UN!!

UN General Assembly
Security Council (time to order a bigger table)

My unforgettable moment at the MET

While I was in New York..I went down to the highly acclaimed MET..and it was a trip I shall never forget..
I had earlier got to see a Van Gogh at the Ghetty Museum..that trip, itself was so thrillin...but now in the MET in the Van Gogh gallery..surrounded by magnificent master pieces...I was left totally speechless and sooo excited..cant really put in words what I felt...

The force..the dynamic strokes and the use of thick colour...makes these paintings so mind blowing...truly amazing!!

Here are some of the paintings I got to see:
Cypresses
Vase with Irises
Self Potrait with Straw hat
Wheat Field with Cypresses

My stroll through Central Park

I would have never imagined a park to be the very heart and soul of a city...till I took a stroll through Central Park...it is so lively with people enjoying small picnics...grabbing a quick bite by the fountain...musicians playing enchanting tunes...artists painting beautiful landscapes...new yorkers bustling thru to reach their destinations and obvioulsy we, tourists admiring all this..

There are so many things to do in the park itself..visit the famous zoo (from Madagascar)..catch a street show by the fountain...take a boat ride in the lake...try the famous new-york hot dogs..and just enjoy the lush green nature all around...

I really enjoyed my walk in Central Park!!

Bethesda Fountain
Lake by the Park
Tree tops with Concrete jungle in the background
In the Park

My God..so much water!!

Hi guys

I am back from my trip..and it was fantastic!!
My first stop was Niagara Falls in Buffalo, New York...I have never seen anything like it ever...so much water and the force with which it falls..dont really know how to descibe it..it is simply unbelievable...
The Falls are divided into two part the American Falls and the Horse-shoe (Canadian) falls..both look spectacular especially from the Maid of the Mist which takes you right in front of the falls...and you can actually feel the might of the falls as your boat sways up and down...with all the mist coming down on you...
In the night the falls are also illuminated making them look heavenly...and to top it all..there were some awesome fireworks!!!

It certainly is one of nature's best treasures!!

My summer-break

well..4th July is almost here...and I am off to see the majestic Niagara Falls and the bustling bubblin New York city!! The fireworks in New York are supposed to be spectacular..will try to get some good snaps..

Adieu for now!

My first summer in Austin

Days are just goin by..and summer is in full swing here in Austin..it is just so relaxing to have a nice coolin swim in the pool..and as the mercury keeps rising the BBQs get goin..pool parties are happening...last night was woken up by people shouting and yelling..got up to see wat was hapenning and wat did i see..a pool party goin on at 2 in the night...Austinites sure do know how to have a good time!!

Anyways...enjoy ppl and have a wonderful summer...for ppl in sgpore have a wonderful year long summer :)

My New Hope

Wow..with all the excitement of Indian airlines making a mark at the Paris Air show and with IndiGO actually ordering 100 A320's when it has not even started services yet and Kingfisher getting 15 planes including the A380...all I could think of was..I hope flying to Bombay gets cheaper....
I know this looks quite difficult with the all the taxes and ever increasing fuel surcharge...but I shall remain optimistic that the competition itself will drive prices lower...

May the good times roll in!!


The Flying Giant

I like to Move it..move it!!

Loved this movie..even though the reviews are not the best...

and the best part was obviously the dance number..'I like to move it..i like to move it'...the story line was good too..and the pengiuns really added to the humour...
among the four I really liked Melman the Giraffe...he was so similar to Ross..and who could play it best but Ross himself...

Do catch this flick or I will let the Foosas loose on you :)


New Citizens of Magagascar

My happiest vacation

Let me start with my usual apology for not writing for some time now...but the work was getting to me..and after going home all I wanted to do..was RELAX...

As most of you know (from previous post)...I was in Orlando over the Memorial Day weekend...and it was definitely a fantastic..adrenalin-rushing..exciting trip!!

Funny thing I noticed here...how Americans have cut down on their public holidays by clubbing everything together...President's Day in Feb is supposed to be for Washington's birthday but now it is for all the Presidents...and Memorial day is for remembering all the wars US has poked its nose into...was thinking wat will happen if we do this India...there will be a XYZ Jayanthi for all the Jayanthi's possible..people will definitley go to battle over this..

Anyways moving to Orlando now...frankly 3 days are just not enough..when Disney itself has 4 theme parks and Universal has 2 plus there is Cape Carneval and Sea World..but made the most of my time in orlando and after the trip I concluded to wat many great people have said "Disney is indeed the happiest place on this Earth"...I was so excited to just be there..and meet all the Disney characters...
The place is so well-managed with thousands visiting everyday...the parades were fantastic..and so were the shows...liked the Beauty and the Beast show a lot...will try to upload videos some other day...the rides were quite good too..especially space Mountain and Tower of Terror...but for more exciting rides you should go to Universal: Islands of Adventure...

Guys, you should definitely visit this Dreamland atleast once...


Magic Kingdom

My chat in the plane

well..on my way to orlando last weekend..the guy sitting next to me had just come back from Iraq and was going home after a year...he is 21 now and joined the army when he was 18 and the reason he joined..to make money!! aparently you can make like US$ 50,000 in 6 months if you go for any assignment...(I wonder where all this money is coming from..oil from Iraq??) he was in afghanistan earlier and then in Iraq and now is going back to Afghanistan in october...

He was telling me about his experiences in Iraq..was saying that the people there are really rude...but who wouldn't be when you invade their country!!! children throw stones at them..and how do they reciprocate...by throwing small stones at them!!! This was really shocking...after all they are just children!! and what do they do in the night...while patrolling..shoot all the dogs which bark at them!!

But he finally admitted that they should have never gone there..

I must say this entire conversation with him was really interesting...and learnt about waht is really happening...I think it is high time the world realises their mistake and leaves the counrty and more importantly its people alone!!!

My first anniversary!!

Ya..time to celebrate...my blog turns a year old this month...

has seen many ups and downs..long gaps of silence but has still survived..so three cheers for Packan's Perspective!!! Hip Hip Hurray!!

Thanks for all your support, fellow blogmates..and i assure you a fun-filled year ahead!!