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!!

My trip back to the Old Town

While I was in San Diego..went down to Old Town...this place takes you back in time..to when San Diego was a part of Mexico..and is very much set like a village from an old western movie...

They have street bazaars, lots of mexican shops selling all possible things from tin work to salt water taffy..All the shops are adorned with birght colours and colourful ponchos and sombreros...really take you into the heart of Mexico...
Had lunch at the famous mexican restaurant 'Casa de Pico' in the Bazaar Del Mundo..and it turned out that it was the last day for the restaurant as they are moving to a new place..must say was very lucky to be there on time..the place was packed with locals as well as tourists..and some were actually emotional that the place was closing..

Really cherished the time I spent at Old Town...


Old Mexican Villa


Mexican Dance

My friends at Sea World

Last weekend made a trip down to San Diego...had a great time at Sea World...especially the dolphin and the Shamu show...it is really amazing how these animals are so well trained...would love to be an animal trainer someday...sounds like a really exciting job..

Fact: Did you know that all the killer whales in Sea World are named Shamu...this is done so that Shamu lives forever!!

Sat everywhere in the Soak Zone..this is the area where you get drenched during the show...was soaking wet at the end of the day..but felt really good in the hot San Diego sun...The sea lion show was damn good too..very funny...

Sea World is a must-see if you are making a trip down here!!!


Here's Shamu!!


Blushing Sea lion..

My walk in the park

This weekend I went to Zilker Park in Austin..this park is located right adjacent to downtown..and still while I was there..it felt as if I was miles away from the city in the middle of a forest..far from civilisation...
There are several nature trails you can go on in the park..took these snaps along the trail I went on..along the springs in the park...ran across many squirrels running from one tree to the other..quite interesting...


A walk along the trail


Springs along the trail

My journey through time

Many of you may not be aware but Texas is called 'The Lone Star State'..I think it is because the state flag has a single star on it...
Because of this..Texans are absolutley obsessed with stars...everywhere you go..every state building you see..every column..every wall...has a star on it!!! It is as if no other design pattern exists in the whole world and the Star is an omnipotent symbol!!

Moving on..I went to see the Bob Bullock State History Museum last weekend..it was definitly a unique experience!! The whole museum is dedicated to history, culture of Texas...right from the Spanish occupation till todate...
The museum has accounts of every small happening in Texas..things like when was barbed wire first used in Texas..and how it affected the people (wow..i have never really cared to think about barbed wire)..some things on the other hand were quite interesting like the setting up of NASA in Houston..

One thing I have noticed Americans are seriously proud of their heritage and their past..and the whole museum drills the sole message..."America: the land of dreams"...

I think there is a lot to learn from this..we don't really pay so much importance to our heritage..it is high time we do...


Texas State History Museum

I flew over the Llano Nest

Texas has always played host to a huge variety of birds migrating to the south for winter..now that spring is in full bloom..these wintering birds are also nesting here..and one of the main attractions is the American Bald Eagles...this is the national bird of America and also the one on the American Emblem...

Not far from Austin...in Llano, these magnificent birds are found in plenty..and the same birds return to their nests every winter to raise new eaglets..I went over to see these llano nests..and must say it was certainly a great experience...

Went to see this one nest..which strangely has 3 parents..one male while two female eagles...(Hmm..i leave this to your imagination..)..and now two eaglets have joined the family...The eaglets have just learned to fly and keep wandering around near the nest..while the parents still get food for them ranging from fish from the river and even turtles..have no idea how they manage to eat that!!
People here defintely take a lot of interest in observing and studyin these birds..the place was packed with people equipped with digital SLRs with huge telescopic lenses and some of them even had telescopes to observe them more clearly...

Enjoyed a lot..watching the eagles and their lifestyle and daily activities totally oblivious to so many people watching them!!

My Austin log: Part I

I thought of starting this section..so I can write kind of a journal about things happening here in Austin..

I finally got my social secuirty..and so could go for my written driving test..felt weird studying after so many days..you actually have to read a 90 page booklet..including things like effects of alcohol..offences like selling alcohol to minors...and how much time in jail will I have to spend for not paying a ticket and so on...
The test went quite well..it is an online test..and you need to get atleast 70% to clear..luckily got 90%!!

Being very close to mexico there is definitely a great mexican influence..mexican food is obviously a favourite for all...nothing like the food in TexMex..much more variety and more exotic..went to this lovely place called 'Hula Hut'..it is along lake austin..the ambience is just too good..reminded me a bit of boat quay...had amazing Shrimp Enchiladas there and my favourite Margarita!!

Latin dance is also very popular here..with many bars having live latin music..took this opportunity to put on my dancing shoes by learning salsa at the university of texas..they organise these informal classes which anyone can take up...it is defintely exciting and fun to learn salsa..basics are quite easy..also makes u feel really energetic and lively!!

As summer approaches..the day grows longer and with the day light saving kicking in from last week...the sunsets around 830..feels kind of funny...

well..thats all for now.
This is packan signing out for Part I of My Austin log.

My Fire Scare

On friday evening there was a huge thunderstorm in Austin..I was nicely relaxing at home when suddenly the fire alarm in the apartment complex goes off...It was the loudest thing I have ever heard..sure to make you deaf if you stay inside for more than 10mins..
I really didnt know what to do...I was running around in the house searching for a fire..luckily found none...then I saw that my neighbour was running down in the open...so I just locked my apt. and grabbed an umbrella and went out in the thunderstorm...there we were standing in the rain..gettin drenched..helpless and didnt know what to do...
one guy called '911' and the reply was 'please get back to us only if you see some fire or smoke'...wow...this was the limit..aren't these guys supposed to come to our rescue...

Standing in the rain I was reminded of 'Friends' and the episode where phoebe disconnects the fire alarm..i think it was titled "The one where they are up all night"

finally we got a maintenance guy who reset the shrieking alarm..apparently a lightning bolt had hit the copper conductors on the top of the building..which set off the alarm...

well this was definitely a unique experience...

My Real Encounter with Spring

It is here in Austin that I have finally experienced my first spring..it has always been just two seasons in singapore..hot and hotter!!

I can actually feel the gradual change in the weather from the cold glommy winter to bright sunshine and happiness...and the nature is certainly responding with full spirit to this change..everywhere the trees are adorned with new leaves and full with flowers...I clicked this snap right outside my office..very unique about this tree (don't know the name) that it has no leaves and only flowers and once the flowering stops will the new leaves emerge...

Must say.. I am truly in love with nature today!!


Purple Paradise

My Impatient Wait

So finally the harry potter covers are out and my excitement has crossed boiling point already!! the covers definitely look very good and mysterious..for detailed analysis of the covers refer to this site...
I wonder why the US and the UK covers are so different..in the UK one harry and dumbeldore look quite tense in the middle of a battle whereas in the US one they look deep in thoughts looking down into the Pensive...
also the adult UK cover shows a book titled 'Advaced Potions'..so looks like Harry is goin to be stuck with Snape much longer..

Anyways I just can't wait any longer for the book..the first thing I did after coming to Austin is to reserve a copy both at Borders and Barnes and Noble...actually i had reserved only with Borders but later found out that Barnes and Noble is gonna be open at midnight on 15th july so i can get the book then itself than on the next day...ya i know i am a freak!! but when it comes to harry potter who isn't!!


US Cover

My National Bird in Austin

nope..you are mistaken...I am not talking about Tandoori Chicken..but the actual national bird of India the beautiful peacock.

well..although being the national bird..I have actually never see them roam freely in gardens or meadows in my own country but always behind steel bars in zoos...however here in Austin these majestic birds seem to enjoy thier freedom and definitely make their presence felt!! found this peacock sitting idly outside an apartment balcony..was so surprised to see it just sitting idly..not scared of the evil humans..well probably because there is no peacock tandoori till today..I wonder if you can keep them as pets here...will be kind of cool..wat do u think?? will also get instant weather updates!!

Anyways..I sure do hope to get to see more of such exotic flora and fauna while I am here..


Majestic Peacock

My trip to the Capitol

Last weekend I went down to see the Texas State Capitol...it is very similar to the one in washington and a surprising fact is that it is actually bigger than the Capitol of the nation..it is the largest capitol in US..
It is an overwhelming structure and certainly gives you a taste of the enormity of the US government...


Texas State Capitol

My Texan Adventure

Ya I know that I have not been writing often..but finally now have a chance to let you know what is happening in my life...

As most of you would know..I started work with Emerson...was working for a while in the lion city but 2 weeks ago moved to heart of Texas..Austin. It is not too big a city (in American terms)..definitey larger than singapore!! yup and it is the capital of texas...

Must say it has been a great adventure so far...new city..new country..new people....

have got my apartment here..will be gettin my own car soon!! just getting settled in currently and planning a big list of 'to-do things' while i am here..also found out that they have sky diving and hot air balloon rides just an hours drive from here..yippy!!!

so for the next few months..this blog is goin to be more of a travelogue/photo blog...of my experiences in the land of dreams(apparently)

so stay tuned!!!

My Mup.sys problem

For the past few days I have been having problems with my computer...keeps restarting even in the safe mode!!!
Theproblem seems to be some file called 'Mup.sys' loaded during bootup..have tried all possible solutions and still havent got my comp working....must say it know..Win XP is pathetic!!!

It is at times like these that really feel like throwing my CPU: Conked Perfectly Useless device...from the window!!! Well if you guys know ne ideas lemme know...

Thinas already tried:
1. Removing all cards..and memory...
2. Disabling USB
3. Trying to disable mup
4. Kicking the bloody cpu
5. Praying to all the 33 crore gods...
6. Trying voodoo

HELP!!!

My trip down an Iris Field

I have always had an admiration for Van Gogh and his fabulous work...from his Self potraits to his Sunflower collection....
But I only realised the impact of his paintings when I saw his original 'Irises' at the Getty Centre in LA...the use of colour and the energetic strokes add such depth to the painting..it is as if you are actually in a field of irises....digital photos or prints simply donot do justice to his work...the layers of thick paint giving a 3D effect is just missing...
If you guys do get a chance to view any of his originals..please dont miss out on the opportunity!!


Irises