4 Days of Fun !!

Just sitting by the side of balcony. Enjoying the weather. It’s raining here in Bangalore after a long time. The aroma of rain and sand is all over the place. And what better way to enjoy, when its a Sunday evening and there is no current at home. I can here the sound of generator van on the road. There is some kind of festival tonight in the near by temple. Lot of things going through my mind. How am I gonna pay credit card bills. Whom I shall borrow money from. Thinking of the last few days of the week was amazing.

On Wednesday, 23rd December 2009, after the unusual gala night at office(were we all danced like crazy). We all went to the Movie Avatar. Its an amazing movie. Although the story line is not that great (kind of Bollywood movie) the 3D effects are fresh and new concept. There were scenes in the movie that will shake you up in your seat. Giving you a feeling as if objects are literally coming out at you, from the screen.

Next day On Thursday,24th December 2009 we had office as usual. But this time we were going for the premier show of 3 idiots the much awaited movie of Year 2009 by Aamir khan. It was in REXX Theater. Rupam some how managed to get ticket for the same from bookmyshow.com. We didn't go with much expectations. By again like the movie avatar, this movie turned out to be good one. First half of the movie went in minutes, the second half was a bit draggy thought. Specially the birth of child scene (was a remainder that, hey you are watching a Bollywood movie,he he) again I would say it was a good movie and must watch. I would personally recommend you to watch these two movies. In spite of, me not being a movie buff. After the movie was over it was X’mas time. We went straight to the church. Attended the prayer ceremony. Came back home.

25th December 2009 was a holiday and we had already spent the whole day doing nothing. At evening it was a usual confusion. What shall be done were to party, whose place to party etc. Finally we got BBQ from Rajpa and spent all night gossiping over chicken and paneer (though they were not as tastly as Rajpa’s). It was almost 2 by the time we went to sleep. Before going to sleep me and Rohan decided that we would go for a short bike trip next day (as we had got our bike serviced)

We started 26th December 2009, a bit late. Had breakfast by 12 noon. We decided to go to a fort at Magadi road which, to my rough idea was 60 kms from home. We started by 1 and zoomed our bike through the NICE corridor. But wait. Where is the fort ? We inquired by the village people and it was hard to explain. As people knew only Kannada. Unfortunately we couldn't find any fort. But we came across a dam. We reached the entrance of the dam only to find that we needed to have a written permission to get inside. We tried buttering and bribing the guard. But all went in vein as he didn't let us in. We spent some time there chit chatting. And came back home by 4 ripping the bike for 125 kms. Evening had arrived and we were unsure of what we were going to do ? Amin was at home, he called up some guy @ FUGA to get us an entry (DJ Ivan was playing) Me and Rohan rushed to FUGA and fortunately we got the entry without much hassle. I was literally tired of dancing. As It was an extended party that went on till 12.30 PM (something very rare in Bangalore).

Didn't do much today ie. Sunday 27th December 2009. Was at home relaxing. After a expensive week, at the time when I should not be spending much. Because of the pending bills and new years knocking the door next week.

So over all one of the best weeks for me in Bangalore since I arrived in 2003(after the Chikmaglur bike trip). There is no current @ home yet. And I am wondering what next. Time is passing by and the fear of getting back to office tomorrow (Monday fever) is badly eating my head and giving a depressed feeling.

Display Day of a Date in Excel

If you want to get the Day(Monday, Tuesday etc) of a particular date is Microsoft Excel. Use this:

=TEXT(A1,"dddd")

Where A1 is the cell that has the Date.

Did You Know ?

Extend Life - Razor Blade

Have tried it and it works !!

By any Means – Bangalore -> Kolkata-> Dhanbad-> Giridih

I had to catch a flight at 6:30 morning that too from BIAL (Bangalore International Airport, thanks to Indigo!! Cheap tickets) and it was 12 midnight by the time I completed packing. Go up at 3.30 am lazy but excited coz I was going home. By 4 I was ready, asked my cousin to drop me to padmanabhnagar bus stop to catch the bus to BIAL. Reached the stop by 4.20 AM ;) and was waiting for the bus. The bus was spot on, 4.30 am. Board the bus I was the only one till I reached BHEL were I was joined with few more travelers. Although the traffic was very less, I reached airport by 5.50 am.
Had a look at the new airport building and entered the building. Was in the queue to collect the boarding pass, I see a familiar face, its one of my hostel mate when I was at school in Noida. He was travelling on the same flight and obviously to the same destination, Kolkata. Then me all alone to a small town Giridih Jharkhand. No time to chit chat, hurried to the security check, was a long queue but was moving fast. In a flash boarded the flight. Flight started moving and my excitement was getting to the peak, I was giving a surprise visit at home. Didn’t have to worry about the travel time of 2.20 hours in flight as I had a window seat and it was a day journey. Take off was as usual nothing great about it.
Started enjoying the outstanding view of rural Bangalore and in minutes we were above cloud. Took some snaps.


Got this view of a dam, don’t know where I was but it looked like a big one. Rest was as usual and was in Kolkata by 9.30 am.

I had to catch train at 1 from Howrah to Dhanbad, so I had lot of leisure time. Spent some time at the airport observing people, what they were doing. It was 11 and I thought it was time to leave for the railway station. Took a pre-paid taxi to railway station for Rs. 230 and got out of the airport. What do I see.. its raining and raining like hell. I don’t see my taxi, and there was no one to assist. Asked a few people they guided me to the taxi stand. Was a bit worried as I was carrying laptop and it would get wet. Got my taxi. Gave the pre paid slip stating I had to go to Howrah Railway Station. Already few minutes into the journey taxi driver askes “ what time is the train ? “ I said its at 1. He said you will not be able to make it as its raining heavily. Damn worried I asked “ what is the alternate? “ he told will go through the new bridge but that will cost 100 rs. Extra. I got irritated and left everything on fate thinking he was trying to fool as if I am a first time traveler to this place.
By the time I reached the baara bazaar area it was 11.50 am, that alarmed me looking at the jam “Am I going to miss my train” checked with the driver what can be done (as it was raining and the place is almost like a fish market). He just said wait. He took few twists and turn and all of a sudden I was in front of a railway crossing which I never came across before when I had travelled to the railway station. The gate was closed and I was getting late. The driver asked me to get down with my luggage. WT !! he took one of my luggage and crossed the gate with the train approaching, I took the risk and crossed it too. I asked the driver what he is up to. I realize I was on the shore of holy river Ganga. I kinda got a hint what he was about to tell. He pointed me towards the ferry stand, and said from here you will get a ferry directly to the Railway station (the rearliest way to reach). Still confused, driver says “I have done so much for you, give me something” gave him 30 bugs without thinking anything, which he accepted happily. Exchanged thanks and I rushed to the stand.
Took a ticket of just 4 rs.(hell cheap) and went on towards the dock waiting for the ferry to arrive. Ferry arrived in 5 mins. Luckily. Boarded the ferry and everyone was staring at me (may be because I was carrying the laptop bag, which is a big thing in that part of India)Crossed the burning (shamsan) ghat, looking at which my mood turned sad. All of a sudden I see the ferry approaching The Howrah Bridge. Never thought I would experience this. Took out my mobile to take some snaps without thing of the people staring at me. Took some snap, the view was amazing.

Waiting for the ferry...

Howrah Bridge..

Howrah Bridge Again..

Reached railway station dock by 12.20 pm. “The dock takes you directly to the station”. Entered the station, saw the status of my train and it was already waiting for me on platform # 10. Rushed to the railway canteen to get some food packed was very hungry, had not taken anything since morning. Got biryani packed and went forward to board Bhopal Express (3025) . Boarded the train Thanking driver !! gosh was spot on time. Kept my luggage and in few minutes the train started.
The train trip was going to be a short journey of 259 kms to dhanbad. Train turned out to be a good one, with just 2 stops Durgapur and Asansol. Exchanged some words with a lady who was also travelling to dhanbad. Had some conversation on recession (everyone is talking about it and I am bored of the topic). Train trip was smooth, kept staring through the window and see the places pass by. Lot of things going on in my mind, visualizing the reaction of parents when I would reach home and kept laughing at myself. ;) Train reached dhanbad before time at 4.15 pm instead of 4.40 pm (unusual as per Indian railway standards). Assisted the lady getting her luggage down (I don’t understand why they carry the whole world in the suitcase).
At Durgapur Railway Station ..

Went outside the station looking for my cousin, who would have come to pick me. Waited for him to arrive as he didn’t reach, as the train was before time. Called up, he said he will be there in another 5-10 mins. He arrived. Hold on … the journey is not over yet. There is still some travelling left.
My cousin arrived, hurrah!!! Got into the car and we exchanged some words wrt to the journey and stuff. Completed the work which my cousin had to do at Dhanbad and we started another journey towards Giridih which was 60 kms from dhanbad .
Was kind of worried as it was dusk (5.30 pm) and the area which we were going to travel is inhabited by naxalites. Keeping the worries aside (as I was too excited to reach home), we went on with the journey enjoying the road and the sceneries.
Finally, reached home at 7 pm without any naxalites attaching at us.. hehe. And the journey ending with a happy note.
“Literally” ran to my house to see my parents, they were there doing their daily work and they were kind of aww… (speechless, no word can describe that).
Did you notice something? I don’t think so…
Why did I write all this ?
It’s today that I did realize that I travelled through:
1. BIAL bus – Land
2. Bangalore -> Kolkata – Air
3. Some whre in kolkata -> Howrah Railway Station - Water
4. Howrah -> Dhanbad – Train – Land
5. Dhanbad -> Giridih - Land
So I travelled through Land, Air and water in a span of say close 12 hours or so.
Happy Journey !!

Start Fire with your Cellphone

Found this vid very useful....

Courtesy: www.lifehacker.com

Happy Mothers Day !!

Image Courtsey

Hero Honda Passion Plus Track

The track is awesome... not sure if there is a full version of the song...
Have extracted the audio grab the mp3 here

Cafe Good Luck Pune

First things first... I am not the one in the pic.... ;)
Recently I got a chance to visit pune to see my school days friend. So many of my friends who had been to pune suggested me this place called Cafe Good Luck @ F.C. Road (Fergusson College Road). It was afternoon and was very hot (as usual in pune).
Already 3 PM and we were not sure if they would be serving lunch or not. We were not having any number so I google'd "Cafe Good Luck Pune" from my mobile(+919773300000) and got the exact address and number (020-25676893) of the place(thanks to Google). Called up and they said it's open. Within minutes we were near cafe. damn hungry. Lunch time was about to get over. We were just entering and noticed them buttering some breads... was not sure what that was. We got the table. we were soaked with sweat . too tired to look at the menu... The waiter arrived.... Ordered for Mutton Dum Biryani, Chicken Tawa and Bun Muska...

Within minutes... things started to arrive.... bun muska was too good... loads of butter in it .... and with chai it was a great combination (chai @ lunch time... crazy)... Dum biryani and chicken tawa was cooked well.. and good at taste.... the bill came to Rs. 330 (for 3 person) ... worth the money....
Overall a great experience....
So the next time you go to F.C. Road...
My personal recommendation... Do visit this place....
(readers let me know if I missed something)

10 Rupee Coin

A Glimpse of Rs.10 Coin to be launched soon by Reserve Bank of India. Looks better than the new Rs.5 coin. The copper circumference is a nice idea to differentiate this coin with other coins...

Updated : 29/03/2010
Now that the coin is already in circulation. It seems no one wants to give away this coin. I dont see the coins anymore. :C

Barcode Nokia

Can you read this ? No!!!!
Go grab the Nokia E Series phone with the Barcode Reader..
You can create your own encrypted message here.