tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73505962024-03-07T14:20:38.954+05:30KroniclesThe chronicles of Kaushal KarkhanisExotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-2163231889045647352011-10-22T02:47:00.001+05:302011-10-22T02:47:04.514+05:30Serendipitous gift!<div><div class="goalentry"><p>A girl I had never met before, with whom I was connected on Facebook just happened to mention that she was giving away her bike since she was leaving the country for some time.</p><p>Went and picked it up, and now I have a fabulous Raleigh bicycle! :) Pics soon.</p><p>Incidentally, there’s a fantastic website called (no pun intended): <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.freecycle.org">FreeCycle</a> where one can pass on / request for stuff! :)</p></div><div class="goalprogresslink">See more progress on: <a href="http://www.43things.com/people/progress/kaushal/1493931">buy a bicycle</a></div></div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-48552730887859957812011-10-16T18:21:00.000+05:302011-10-16T18:21:44.967+05:30Shahdaroba<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DyK5ew4m6JU" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<i>quand le temps aura raison, </i><br />
<i>nous allons découvrir notre raison d'être. </i><br />
<i>les étoilés serait sourir sur nous,</i><br />
<i>et le sable va nous conduire vers l'avant!</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>- Just a glimpse of what's on my mind.</i></div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-128419007628822132011-02-21T03:56:00.001+05:302011-02-25T13:52:44.791+05:30The 2011 Big Move - Switching to leaner lifestyle!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of my life goals is to make 1 big change every year.<br />
Combine this with the fact that I'm always on the move, shuttling cities on cue.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUK7jO9uwh3MXaOyPhno-JdkEEc_jqLFwHSUjDeLXvDRbPcG767myQG1NbNm5R2z1aN23iEiWbno9x7qdSQbR0lINdil2Ev6G-JdorXomZVELIiUgMeHSP3muKB7ihqQijbuP6A/s1600/kauzen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUK7jO9uwh3MXaOyPhno-JdkEEc_jqLFwHSUjDeLXvDRbPcG767myQG1NbNm5R2z1aN23iEiWbno9x7qdSQbR0lINdil2Ev6G-JdorXomZVELIiUgMeHSP3muKB7ihqQijbuP6A/s320/kauzen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Zen and the art of zero-maintenance!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, earlier this month I decided to <b>cut on all material possessions, down to the bare minimum</b>:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Laptop</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Camera</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Phone</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Important personal documents</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Gifts from friends and family </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">My travel memorabilia</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
Here's what I plan to do with the rest, this week:</div>
<br />
<b>1. Clothes</b> - Only keep what I wore in the last 6 months, donate ALL earlier ones to <a href="http://anaggh.posterous.com/you-donate-dhl-delivers-mumbai-drive-2011">Goonj via DHL</a>.<br />
<b><br />2. Books</b> - Give away all books* I've read, to public libraries / pass on to strangers via <a href="http://www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/kaushalonline/all">BookCrossing</a>.<br />
<b><br />3. DVDs & CDs</b> - Give away everything. YouTube & external strorage FTW!<br />
<br />
<b>4. Everything else</b> - Gets <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">Freecycled</a> / goes in the <i>Swasta Ani Masta</i> Garage Sale.<br />
<br />
* If you would like something from <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/kaushal/shelf">my bookshelf</a>, write me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kaushalk">Facebook</a> and it could be yours!<br />
<br />
Thank you for the inspiration, Tim Ferris, Aparna Shekhar Roy and Hermione Way.</div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-1132499862567218852010-05-08T17:03:00.002+05:302010-05-08T18:11:03.205+05:3020 Desi Summer Coolers to Beat the Heat!<i>(This is an updated repost of an old entry).</i> <br />
<br />
I loved the UB Group's campaign in Bangalore… <br />
<b><i>"Yella OK, Cool Drink Yaake?"</i></b> <br />
(Everything else is OK, but why cold drink?) <br />
But instead of promoting their alcohol beverage, I'm gonna try to list out the alternatives to fuzzy cold drinks here! After all, India has such an amazing variety of beverages to offer, you have no reason to glug down a soft drink or that beer down your throat… <br />
<br />
So here goes - a list of non-aerated summer coolers! <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9373305@N07/3296577461" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo by Albert (via Flickr)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3296577461_721b7f1c57.jpg" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px;" title="Photo by Albert (via Flickr)" /></a> <br />
Photo Credits: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/albert8/" target="_blank">Albert Fernando</a><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Nimbu Paani</b> <br />Water + freshly squeezed lime + sugar/salt to taste </span><a href="http://www.jammag.com/jamtv/index.php?&page=3" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Check out how you do it right</span></a><span style="color: black;"> at JAM TV <br /><br /> </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Nariyal Paani / Thenge Neeru</b> <br />Pure unadulterated tender coconut. Tastes best with malai. <br />Scrape it off of the coconut you're sippin' from! </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Kokam Sharbat</b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_indica" target="_blank"><img height="344" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Garcinia_indica_-_fruits,_seeds,_pulp_and_rinds.jpg/800px-Garcinia_indica_-_fruits,_seeds,_pulp_and_rinds.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;" width="458" /></a> <br />Somebody help me with what <i>kokum</i> is called in English. I don't know. Just add it to water and add salt/sugar to taste. One of my favourites! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_indica" target="_blank">More info on Wikipedia</a><br /><br /> </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Amla Sharbat</b> <strong>/ Nellika /</strong> <em><strong>Gooseberry juice </strong></em>The richest source of Vitamin C, amla tastes great with water too! <a href="http://www.pachakam.com/CGI-BIN/blog/2007/11/gooseberry-nellikka-juice.html" target="_blank">Recipe here >></a><br /><br /> </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Jaljeera</b> <br />Jeera powder + salt to taste + Water. <br />The ultimate appetizer! </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Masala doodh</b> <br />Milk + masala (saffron, rock salt, etc.) Try the Everest Masala. Nice. </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Chaas / <i>'Kutchi beer'</i></strong> <br />That's buttermilk for the non-desis. Add jeera/salt to taste. </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Lassi</strong> <br />The sweeter alternative to chaas, and with more umm, butter? I don't know how lassi is made but it's yum. Think sweet liquid yoghurt. There's also flavoured variants. </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Doodh</strong> / <b>Cold</b> <b>Milk</b><br />Doodh hai good for every season, piyo doodh for healthy reason. Remember that cool song? It's the Indian equivalent for the <em>Got Milk?</em> campaign. Drink milk. Milk good. </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Theine Elaner </strong>Tender coconut with a hint of honey. Bliss. </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Roohafza / Rasna</strong> <br /><img src="http://www.roohafzabd.com/images/stories/pg/pp3.jpg" style="display: inline; margin: 5px 0px 0px;" /> <br />Photo courtesy: <a href="http://www.roohafzabd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=37&Itemid=83" target="_blank">Roohafza Bangladesh (see recipes)</a><em></em> <br /> <br />OK I'm getting into brands now, but these are still the local alternatives to Minute Maid (whose new nimbu paani is excellent too)! </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Neera </strong>The most common drink on an average Mumbai railway platform, neera is a natural, energizing coconut drink. I don't see those stalls anymore though :( </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Fresh Juice / Phalanso Ras </strong>Got fruit, will juice. All it takes is patience and a mixer or a walk to your local juice center. If you're in Mumbai, I recommend (a) Health Juice Center at King's Circle, Matunga and (b) Annapurna at Ranade Road. In Bangalore, I'd go for Juice Junction or Mr.Orange. In Goa, have it anywhere! </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Nannari Sharbat</strong> / <b>Sarsaparilla</b><br />I've only had it at 1 place in Bangalore - Muthu's. Nannari Sharbat I'm told, comes from the roots of a tree. That makes it a ayurvedic medicine (for God alone knows what, but I think it's for the soul) <br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarsaparilla">Wikipedia</a> / <a href="http://factoidz.com/beat-summer-with-nannari-sherbet/">Recipe</a></span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Piyush</strong> <br />To the best of my knowledge, this is made from a combination of butter milk and shrikhand, a yoghurt-like sweet. A common drink and delicacy in Mumbai, and best served at </span><a href="http://trivialmatters.blogspot.com/2005/11/bombay-breakfast.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Prakash Upahar Kendra</span></a><span style="color: black;"> & Aaswad Restaurant in Dadar, Mumbai. <br /><a href="http://enjoyindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/01/piyush.html">Recipe</a></span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Chai</strong> <br />Chai is perhaps the most common drink in all of India. <br />That's tea with added milk and sugar. Variants include chai adraki <br />(+ ginger), suleimani chai (- milk, + lemon, + spices), masala chai <br />(+ spices) and tons of regional specialities. </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Kaapi</strong> <br />Filter coffee for the Indian soul. 'Nuff said. Served hot, but gets you going! </span></li><br />
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong>Aampanna / kairiche panhe </strong>Raw mango juice with elaichi/saffron. You'll love it!</span> <br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aam_panna">Wikipedia</a> / <a href="http://food.sulekha.com/aam-panna-id1862-14629-recipe.htm">Recipe</a></li><br />
<li><strong>Chuski / Gola</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaushal/517829788/" title="Beat The Heat by Kaushal Karkhanis, on Flickr"><img alt="Beat The Heat" height="375" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/517829788_c3bfb93ea4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Crushed ice laced with flavored syrup – this one’s the only non-natural one to make it to the list, but there’s tons of places which do natural (including some milk / Milkmaid based ones!) </li><br />
<li><strong>Water / Paani / Neer</strong> <br />Almost forgot my most favorite summer drink of them all :) Ice-cold water. Available anywhere, anytime. Even for free, offered courteously by most restaurants even if you won’t order a thing!</li>
</ol>
Besides all these fab coolers, there's always fruit juices and local specialities like sugar cane juice - but I won't get into details of those.Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-82798925459914186882009-12-22T22:53:00.001+05:302009-12-22T22:53:42.828+05:30My Year in Cities, 2009<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_uHFR50uUzzaM7I89kp9P29UkwZDTgFklNm-TyLVovAfj-5eA2g-s8S0rOOJL3riRAISqAH2GfPV5oGc5gAhsL75J1yZmad5vbcqPRdKBFGPL-AzaO2Gpp8jCJFuClcvykj_QA/s1600-h/yeartravel%5B7%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="yeartravel" border="0" alt="yeartravel" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq18sDP9qxq0g-wajcBze_ypaBypJOIsAhAeeDBE-MeR_8tuk85fpMKkwyVoaj8W0oztUy1Q377eMTZCQosfQmaK9eVGe-OJI-WuZ3FC621mXg-na2X-1VMWw7jwnV90M0nf_NEw/?imgmax=800" width="482" height="768" /></a> </p> <p><b>I slept at least one night in each of these places:</b></p> <ul> <li><font color="#000040">Rio de Janeiro, Brasil <br /> <br /></font></li> <li><font color="#000040">Ilha Grande, Brasil <br /> <br /></font></li> <li><font color="#000040">Sao Paulo, Brasil <br /> <br /></font></li> <li><font color="#000040">Mumbai, India  <br /> <br /></font></li> <li><font color="#000040">Bangalore, India</font></li> </ul> <p>* Denotes multiple non-contiguous visits. <br />** Artwork by <a href="http://www.patrickmoberg.com/prints/">Patrick Moberg</a> <br />*** Template via <a href="http://secretenemyhideout.com/post/289037384/my-year-in-cities-2009-i-slept-at-least-one-night">Zach Klein</a> via <a href="http://oats.tumblr.com/post/289146893/my-year-in-cities-2009-nick-i-slept-at-least-one">Nick Gray</a></p> Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-56307076524114965822009-10-25T02:07:00.001+05:302009-10-25T02:07:30.330+05:30Multiple Clocks in Windows 7<p>Facebook and Twitter make you forget about timezones, but with friends n family on the other side of the planet, its a nice thing to know local times. Windows 7 does it with a simple hover over your local time – awesome simplicity! :)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wNyy9Nr7FFbvq7AX3o4NFxMwXd8NcyScicTnEMGDszbLrRcQhBEhM00sTUlZNgSr4kEE4OxlM2fFreyDMevpZqiCMuzCXB6vRzSeTBqk8l4etyM_Sm_XqxPc8lFfEka1yMMaiA/s1600-h/more_clocks%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Multiple Time Zones in Windows 7" border="0" alt="Multiple Time Zones in Windows 7" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tc1XWCYaDm9gqjRKRQ9NHY_BUZ2F28-zFH12OSHlHjJxs4st0061X4u0JVuJmOFhyOI8HOGUt2Ojl078k0j6w0EmxelxvCrOABbRiaaK8FdSJeLyLBpXudIqd-qqwQ2JCZD-Mg/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="404" /></a> </p> <p>Click on <strong>‘Adjust Date/Time’</strong> > <strong> ‘Additional Clocks’</strong> tab. </p> <p>Choose upto 2 new time zones to track …</p> <p><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="clock_settings" border="0" alt="clock_settings" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1UBvHy3gsEtnJjvM9M8_KYSlO-P2OYgV4GRhl6N_zjDfvHfd-GsYQC5pUTU8r1afXXzyqWwVStOEDS3lBpIHMfpsowe93-ON3iAGUOs991JzKQSzMrroPON6Brf_BzK4kCXF6w/?imgmax=800" width="467" height="486" /> </p> <p>Voila – you’re done!</p> Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-4295478569252190122009-06-25T14:51:00.005+05:302009-06-25T15:14:36.507+05:30The India-Brasil love sagaWhile I was in Brasil last year, I kept hearing about a new <span style="font-style: italic;">novella </span>(soap opera) that was going to start - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Caminho das Indias</span> (The Passage to India). Even strangers would tell me about it and break into fun conversations about India and its culture. It was heartening and fun sharing my perspectives.<br/><br/>
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-gYNicxPRAM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-gYNicxPRAM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br/><br/>
Just today, I got reminded of this, in an <a href="http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/jun/24/slide-show-1-the-indian-soap-opera-thats-taken-brazil-by-storm.htm">article on Rediff by B S Prakash - the Indian Ambassador to Brasil</a>. Do check it out - all that he says is true. The novella has indeed become a huge phenomenon there, and all my friends back there keep talking to me about it.<br/><br/>
Its definitely a wonderful portrayal of India (most of it at least, unlike Slumdog Millionaire which did quite the opposite) and Brasilians just love ropas indianas (Indian clothes!), music (my friends love Salaam Namaste), incense sticks (I bought and gifted some myself, in Rio de Janeiro) and the colorful culture.<br/><br/>
Like B S Prakash mentions jokingly in this article, it would indeed be fun to have a soap opera about Brasil made in India! ;) Interestingly, there's also another novella running in Brasil currently, about China - called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Negocios Com China</span> (Business with China) - Cheers to BRIC nations! :)<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Caminho+das+Indias&search_type=&aq=f">Search for Caminho das Indias on YouTube</a> for some videos!Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-80144582614903468332009-06-04T02:17:00.001+05:302009-06-04T02:17:41.170+05:30Action and Results<p>Stemming from a Twitter discussion I was having today with <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rashmid" target="_blank">@rashmid</a> I began to think about all the buzz around global warming, hunger, insert_global_or_local_problem here and the massive amounts of action surrounding these and other issues.</p> <p>I’ve seen this action in person, volunteering my time with projects with kids, the poor and even during the horrifying tsunami incident – and believe me, its heart gratifying. Touching, inspiring, moving to say the least. </p> <p>As an entrepreneur / business person or even on a basal level, as a logical person – it still poses a stark question in my face – action, yes – happening at the local and global level yes. But what about the results? Where’s the universal scoreboard? </p> <p>Couple of years back after leaving Microsoft, I picked up a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061121088?ie=UTF8&tag=kaushalonline-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061121088" target="_blank">‘Leaving Microsoft to Change The World’ by John Wood</a>. It caught my fancy because of the title of course, but it had me gripped once I started browsing through it. John Wood quit a lucrative, enviable position at Microsoft Australia – reporting at times, directly into CEO Steve Ballmer – to start an NGO, initially based out of Nepal. Their charter was to create a ‘room to read’ for young children who didn’t have the means to study. They created libraries and schools.</p> <p>What fascinated me most, was the way their model worked – they would map individual / corporate donations against action, or rather results. That model is widely used these days by a lot of NGOs – I don’t care who pioneered it. </p> <p><strong>Bottomline –</strong> I’d love to see local efforts reflecting in a global scoreboard or check sheet which maps donations/actions taken to make positive change happen, with the actual results. Now wouldn’t that be wonderful?!</p> Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-4060842530426361422009-03-12T16:13:00.001+05:302009-03-12T16:26:47.346+05:30The Pre-Planning<p>Finally starting to write about my (extended) South America trip. Lets begin from the pre-planning stage. Helps being a designer to create visual itineraries… this is what I cooked up.</p> <p><strong>Route, Dates and Initial Itinerary</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFSHeyzpAayf1SnnqfAzOl26T8BbgtdZCP5FS-qyYdt-AREk8gao890gH7sc5QItO0H3cCnhRELA3ZxTqjFyItPHjTMNib5FJ18rCZ2bTSviqYgg-_Mw8ubZiun9CuSZSpx0vGQ/s1600-h/Itinerary%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Itinerary" border="0" alt="Itinerary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMn2R6QfFc0FG4drXaUsx7mewFLaiVrOPfnpdVdjeGoCYcE2L9OOWuBJEHwvkd4MosrRHnKlGeUfWCQ4IABumbaCpl_lLxu6rdKg_rD6lPBgj8DEfzjo7eePu8dV2EwaDBpEsyg/?imgmax=800" width="178" height="248" /></a> </p> <p>The plan initially was to go through London, stop by and stay with a friend and move on to Brasil > Bolivia > Peru > Ecuador</p> <p><strong>Route Options & Costs</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSlaxyQ_wWpVGKUicLf4Y0ynBSAVSTBFeYNiAosKq529CsyasAvWQjcnUQqk-whBE5YiwHFOa07YCmxYEhLrkO6W1B7zLrcyNLKRHiiECtlG5xfQiCM5LHtMf_JgqLahGi6SHHQ/s1600-h/Itinerary2%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Itinerary2" border="0" alt="Itinerary2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW039G0zkrkaoOrqClhDdepUnYer-AqidcGC8Q0kiOl7fAIJzsCeh8GcKNrRmDNIBKyZdC97_xSMmFC_ZpSkSZwXH7_f3csAHUkYk2xYoqi__wkvaRMVFliJVKIy0TO0I6FBcYQ/?imgmax=800" width="178" height="248" /></a> </p> <p>Made this using a website – I forget the name. Will update this post with it. Fabulous way to map your route, explore flight options and see costs upfront.</p> <p><strong>Visual Itinerary</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c43omRtOYiBr6YAPIYk5gV5ee0xvYwU_dp90vXXn6zb5iQjIBdgZvgq7lzCZ1i501anyBx7weXqjwRYJyipvEmtkuw2tTh4G__RfRpRV1WdW0AQ4IN8LJAS5X0JxbM_VfMCsfQ/s1600-h/photo-itinerary%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="photo-itinerary" border="0" alt="photo-itinerary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1TXe7YPdEGKcoDRYYD7LzP2s3sV0590OikvvYtHp6Pd9N_1l8xJyTpP36G79ft4MYfBhK2y6ENWbCC_2gf2KCQNI5lcOd_o3FDsWKTS-WO6msVzj5kAD7tW7ubMmC2Vv51zDKg/?imgmax=800" width="248" height="178" /></a> </p> <p>This was my favorite piece of inspiration. Before this, the whole trip looked like a dream. Now it had a face. Spent half a day making this, but totally worth it! The dream was taking shape…</p> <p><strong>Next update:</strong> The real itinerary and first week in Brasil!</p> Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-89513569640930193792009-03-03T19:32:00.002+05:302009-03-12T16:27:02.925+05:30Greenpeace Design Awards 2009<a href="http://www.greenpeacedesignawards.org.au/brief.aspx" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.greenpeacedesignawards.org.au/images/trImage.png" border="0"></a><br/>
<b>Theme:</b> ‘Be a Part of the Action’<br/>
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<a href="http://www.greenpeacedesignawards.org.au/brief.aspx" target="_blank">More details here</a> (via Twitter)
</div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-685285149671609662009-02-27T01:56:00.002+05:302009-03-12T16:27:10.547+05:30Facebook Easter Egg<p>While browsing regularly through the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> homepage, I happened to hover around the language dropdown menu at the bottom left of the page and scrolled down to find “English (Pirate – BETA)” as a new option!</p>
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<p>Fun little surprise, and makes for some fantasy entertainment… </p> <p><strong>Screenshot:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpg-N6HULKh8j8oO23J7iYHKUgBMqPZTj8_rVWrGsF0GP-O4QH64oS88SArIjitUskcdIoGwcuHm5mcH2PMIrOmwkWZm-YzXGTRYTScJD_VVoWbUjdKeYaHowbDT6PLJgkTZa4g/s1600-h/screencap-fb.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="screencap-fb" border="0" alt="screencap-fb" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyp8ubVYt22gYuBkwnFYdBZr-CRgob-sUvwbueNM-oyJLbJKzVArt0z266pZGK_i8dnYZYeIIzM7Nj1xtVtCmckjFGUDWh2rZOnxyil2s68uy1qt_R-gDjHARFL5pGQgPv4Hvcfw/?imgmax=800" width="372" height="292" /></a></p>
</div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-78133324596209356802008-10-05T04:33:00.004+05:302009-03-12T16:27:17.771+05:30Updates coming...<p>I owe all my readers a mega load of posts about my travels. Been writing it down in a physical blog, so will surely upload it all soon (a blog redesign is also on the cards), with <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaushal">photos</a>! Salud, desde Quito!</p>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaushal/2769276964/" title="Appreciating Andean music by Kaushal Karkhanis, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2769276964_5bb048f784_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Appreciating Andean music" /></a>
</div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-53841604338370133662008-08-12T18:50:00.001+05:302009-03-29T20:19:17.241+05:30The Art of Forgetting Things<p>Woke up pretty late this afternoon – perhaps from the accumulated fatigue and not sleeping properly on the couch last night – Almost 11 a.m. Missed the breakfast again, and I had a bucket load of clothes to wash. Used the fabric detergent Paul gifted me and put the clothes to dry in the hostel verandah. </p> <p>Karima came along all excited to start the day and asked me to hurry up. We were going to <span style="font-weight: bold;">MASP </span>(Museu de Arte, São Paulo) and later to the Ibirapuera Park. After Tori changed some cash (we walked through the Carimaru market first) and Karima helped me activate my SIM card, we took the metro to Trianon MASP. Plans to meet up with Bebeto didn’t materialize. </p> <p>MASP was a very pleasant surprise for me – firstly, entry was waived off on Tuesdays, so we got in for free – but what I pre-conceived as a boring museum, in fact turned out to be an incredible experience with some of the most exquisite, detailed and breathtaking art I’ve ever seen.</p> <p>Half way through the museum visit, got a SMS from Bebeto around 1:30 pm <span style="font-style: italic;">“Man, your flight is at 6 pm, not 10! You need to be at the airport by 4!”</span></p> <p>Whoa – what a lifesaver! Did my quick goodbyes to Karima, Tori and Paul and dashed off to the hostel. 2:15 pm. Gulped down a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guarana</span>, packed my bags, bid adieu to Tarcisio, Ana, Juliana and my dear friend Husam – and rushed out at 3 pm. Reached Tatuape station at 3:40 pm. Doing fine – and finally reached the airport at 4:15 pm! Not bad :)</p> <p>Checked in, cleared formalities and flirted with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">TACA </span>stewardess.</p> <p>Had a cappuccino and a delicious <span style="font-style: italic;">sanduiche de frango</span> (chicken sandwich) and was on my way to… Ecuador.</p> <p>Writing this while having a nice meal of chicken rice with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Inca Cola</span> (from Peru) and Johnny Walker Scotch Whiskey. Viva Ecuador!</p>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-32007090386487089332008-08-08T18:50:00.001+05:302009-03-29T20:13:14.846+05:30Forro Night<p>Woke up after catching three hours of sleep, at around 9ish this morning. It’s raining outside, so I did some quick web surfing, took a shower, did a Skype video call with my family back home while watching the Opening Ceremony to the Olympics. My friend Bebeto gifted me a cool ‘Petrobras’ jacket to keep warm and off we headed to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Avenida Paulista</span> for lunch.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shopping Center 3</span> – the place was packed with lunch hour rush. Note to self: Next time, come a couple hours later to skip this rush.</p> <p>While Bebeto shopped for some caipirinha mixer kits, I was busy chatting up the cute chick at the t-shirt store with my broken Portuguese and some hand gestures thrown in. My first inspiration to learn the language well enough to converse with such ivory statues in the future.</p> <p>Back at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Praca da Arvore Hostel</span>, Ana informed me about Samba/Salsa nite so I stayed in. A tall, dusky, demure woman – Mara Santos taught us our first samba, salsa moves. At the end of it, she threw in a surprise – why not head out for the night and go to a real forro club!</p> <p>Meanwhile, got an SMS from Bebeto about another party happening at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blue Pub</span> with the CS gang. So I headed there first, met up a bunch of Paulistanos as well as gringos over some great Skol beers.</p> <p>After about an hour, I joined the hostel gang again and we headed to the forro club – <span style="font-weight: bold;">Canto de Ema</span>. What a spectacular experience!</p> <p>Forro is different from other forms of salsa/samba, in that it uses the ‘symphonie’ instrument and has easier steps. The passion in the dance form is simply beautiful. Met two beautiful girls, one Brasilian and the other Portuguese – both of them spoke perfect English.</p> <p>While taking a beer break outside, this guy walked in to our group and introduced himself as Roberto – making friends is so easy here! We managed to converse in broken Portuguese and English respectively, but it was good fun. Some more girls joined in. Later I watched Roberto and his girlfriend dancing, and I could bet my bottom dollar, they were the best damn couple, swinging and swirling to the <span style="font-style: italic;">forro </span>music with the most amazing grace I had seen. Ana taught me some dance moves and surprisingly I managed to pick it up pretty well. </p> <p>The final stop of the night was of course, food! Stopped by an Arabic joint called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Habib’s</span> – the best darn cheese and chicken <span style="font-style: italic;">esfihas </span>(think mini, soft pizzas)! Retired at around 5:30 in the morn. What a day!</p>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-79098143226109816492008-08-06T19:47:00.003+05:302009-03-29T20:08:33.514+05:30Day One in Brasil<div>Reached Brasil (São Paulo) last evening around 6 pm, roamed the airport for info - yellow fever vaccine info and mobile prepaid card. Didn't manage much (not knowing Portuguese sucks!)</div><br/>
<div>I had options of taking a cab to my hostel (R$ 110) or a bus and metro (this was tougher and i would get to learn more, so i took this option) ;) spent just R$30 with this option. And got to see the way locals travel. Nice.</div><br/>
<div>Reached the hotel around 10 pm, checked in, freshened up and made some friends. This hostel was the best decision - beats staying in a hotel any time! Full of young ppl from around the world in dorms (mine is a 10 bed dorm with just 2 more guys) - the other one is full!</div><br/>
<div>So anyways... one of the guys said they were going to the karaoke place nearby (around midnight)...so I went there and joined the ´gang´. Grreat fun! People singing, dancing, drinking (beer is just R$ 2.50 or Rs.70!!!!) and celebrating the birthday of a random girl (everyone here is super friendly).</div><br/>
<div>Today (August 6) is technically Day 1 for me - woke up at 10 (i was one of the earliest ppl to wake up!), showered, ate breakfast (R$3 bcoz i missed the free breakfast... hehe), and I went out in the market to check out things. Bought a phone card for R$5.50 but again, not knowing Portuguese got in the way of trying to get other things done. So I need to brush up on this some more. Much more. With time it´ll get easier.</div><br/>
<div>Now I'm making plans for exploring São Paulo - right now, I'm online to check out flights to Ecuador.</div><br/>
<div>Over and out for now....</div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-38712219200931226222008-08-05T01:20:00.000+05:302009-03-15T18:59:11.303+05:30Celebrating my 28th Birthday – Viva Brasil!<p>Sitting at the lounge at the Mumbai International Airport sipping on some white wine, I toast to myself on my 28th birthday – I was actually doing this – going to Brasil and Ecuador – South America ahoy!</p> <p>As the land of sun, sand, exotica and wilderness beckons me, I am reminded of Paulo Coelho’s character in The Alchemist. This was meant to be.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Next Update: From Brasil!</p>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-90627345710595651262008-06-03T14:45:00.003+05:302009-03-12T16:27:24.545+05:30New kid on the blog!<p>Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the new kid on the blogosphere - my little brother <a href="http://sskarkhanis.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Sagar Karkhanis</a>!</p>
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Sagar just finished his C.A. Final exams and loves studying and following world markets. Through his blog, he wants to 'demystify' investing and stock markets to help the common man understand the basics and professionals with some super exclusive personal analysis.<br/><br/>
My old readers would reckon that he was selected by DNA to interview his icon, super broker Rakesh Jhunjhunwala 2 years back!<br/><br/>
So head on over to <a href="http://sskarkhanis.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Sagar's brand spanking new blog</a>, and gain from his passion and expertise!<br/><br/>
</div>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-88615387252516666602008-05-23T12:38:00.004+05:302008-05-23T13:15:31.311+05:30Cosmological Thoughts on turning 29 [Repost]No, I didn't skip an year. Just thought I'd share an amazing post by a friend, <a href="http://vineetgupta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8DE4BDC896BEE1AD!228.entry" target="_blank">Vineet Gupta</a>, ex-colleague from Microsoft and one of the coolest, smartest people I know.<br/><br/>
Even though I didn't get to know him too well when we worked in the same team, I was pleasantly surprised at reading his 'cosmological' post - because I could relate to his thinking so much! Cosmology and studying and marveling in the universe has always been something close to heart for me... Leave me alone on a starry night on a hilltop with a clear view, and I'm a happy man! <br/><br/>
<a href="http://vineetgupta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8DE4BDC896BEE1AD!228.entry" target="_blank">Over to Vineet.</a><br/><br/>
Speaking of astronomy/cosmology, I just learned of a sky watching club in Mumbai which I'm glad about. But for most of us who never find the time to even look up in the sky for 5 minutes sometimes, here's something incredible, incidentally by Microsoft - The WorldWide Telescope. Think Live Earth or Google Earth, then zoom out into the universe - that's WWT. Yep, they've freakin' mapped the universe, and I can't stop raving and unraveling in it. A MUST see, literally out of this world experience!!<br/><br/>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LpB_YXkYiQDh4b5vPpZlTc6_fyR_yrN1MyVR94kUtQ27iVpvjFBwIdJaSFp_tx8d-248CIkDoCdD0um9Nn8g0omtZrz2VUV96npmy4GIuetHxUnapdaX3y9xVeQfFUgb-XrJww/s1600-h/wwt.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LpB_YXkYiQDh4b5vPpZlTc6_fyR_yrN1MyVR94kUtQ27iVpvjFBwIdJaSFp_tx8d-248CIkDoCdD0um9Nn8g0omtZrz2VUV96npmy4GIuetHxUnapdaX3y9xVeQfFUgb-XrJww/s320/wwt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203475984676486834" /></a><br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/" target="_blank">
<img src="http://research.microsoft.com/images/featureStories/WWT_Embroidery_500w.jpg" border="0"/><br/>
Microsoft WorldWideTelescope</a>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-75608319695677413482008-05-08T21:30:00.004+05:302008-05-08T23:26:27.759+05:30Yahoo! India launches 'Glue' at WebInnovation SummitYahoo! India R&D launched a <a href="http://in.search.yahoo.com" target="_blank">brand new avatar of their search</a> today at the Web Innovation Summit'08, codenamed <a href="http://in.search.yahoo.com" target="_blank">'Glue'</a>. <b>Kicked off only in India</b> as a test market, it combines traditional search with visual and relevant data from the web collated from multiple sources in a very intuitive manner.<br/><br/>
Intuitive because it has smart algorithms which figure out what you're looking for - so if you search for 'Sachin Tendulkar', you are thrown up his player profile from Cricinfo, stats etc. Search for 'Maldives' and you'll see photos from the honeymoon destination, a map and other relevant data. Similarly, an entry for 'Infosys' gives you stock quotes, company info and such. Very clever.<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.wikipedia.com" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> and recently <a href="http://www.mahalo.com" target="_blank">Mahalo</a> have been doing pretty much the same, but both have a different model which follow more of a wiki model with human editors around the world. Yahoo! India Search 'Glue' takes a different route in that, it mashes up data from various web sources and serves it up on the fly.<br/><br/>
I spoke to Tejasvi, a Yahoo! employee at the booth and asked him a couple of questions.<br/><br/>
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nr2pQhYYpuw"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nr2pQhYYpuw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br/><br/>
The most interesting thing he told me was that they will be opening up the modules to third parties, so you can add/remove custom modules. I'll wait for that - sure sounds like a great way to search and surely a step in the right direction!Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-7727319751522237262008-04-29T10:52:00.006+05:302008-05-02T15:37:07.677+05:30IndiBlogger Meet Mumbai Q2-08This Sunday I went for my first <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/bloggermeet.php?id=8" target="_blank">IndiBlogger meet</a>. IndiBlogger is an Indian blog directory and I had never registered on it, so it was a good excuse to do so, too!<br/><br/>
The planning and agenda seemed very professional, and the venue was the Kohinoor Hall opposite Siddhivinayak temple - also a good thing, so the line-up looked very impressive. I didn't know what to expect, but was looking forward to some fun, meeting interesting new people, pimping my blog and not sleeping through my Sunday :)<br/><br/>
<b>After the formalities and intros, it got more participative.</b> I like meets to be participative - its boring to listen to one person all the time, even if that person is me (hell I'm a Leo, I'm supposed to love the limelight!). Everyone had a one minute of fame and folks were out-funning and out-performing each other with their stories. Noteworthy mentions: <br/><br/>
<blockquote>"I write about good parenting.... no I'm not a parent" - 24 yr old <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/blogger.php?blogger=2886" target="_blank">Ronak</a>, who looked younger than 20.</blockquote>
<blockquote>"I started blogging when I was feeling lonely. It's helped a lot. Blogging is a very emotional thing for me!" - <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/blogger.php?blogger=3144" target="_blank">Anjuli</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>"Hurr hurr!" - <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/blogger.php?blogger=3422" target="_blank">Abhishek</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>"I think I should start a sex blog" - <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/blogger.php?blogger=3314" target="_blank">Clement</a></blockquote><br/>
<b>Then came the skit.</b> I found this a nice little addition - the story was simple, but the team did a great job putting it together and playing it out to us. Kudos, team IndiBlogger!<br/><br/>
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cUzlXeta6cE&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cUzlXeta6cE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br/><br/>
<b>After a pav bhaji and ice-cream break</b>, there was a talk by Microsoft on Windows Live Writer for bloggers, SMSGupshup.com and Ronak on professional blogging. <br/><br/>
All in all, it was a good mix of planned stuff, impromptu stuff and fun stuff - while getting to meet a bunch of interesting peeps. What else do you expect from a blogger meet?! See you guys next time!Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-59857171205538291952008-03-30T11:20:00.006+05:302008-05-02T15:37:07.677+05:30Hey, Taxi!Sometimes I wonder if I'm a compulsive chaser - you know, running behind cabs, buses, trains, girls, deadlines... blah. My friends who know the stories don't find these things funny anymore. It's a seamless part of my personality for them. Forget the personality anal-ysis. Let's cut to the chase, quite literally.<br/><br/>
Yesterday evening, I got out of my building in a hurry and waved to a cab. I was on the wrong side of the road, (the driver's side of the cab), so I opened the door, shoved my bag inside, and noticed that he looked bruised on his left eye - a recent wound, perhaps from a street fight... next, I walked around the cab to get in from the other side (the one by the pavement - the correct side). <br/><br/>
Just when I was about to open the door, the cabbie just took off! I was like - wt@^#$%? For a moment I thought he was just warming up the cab, so I just stood there hoping he'd figure out I had not got in yet... but the more I stood there, the cab just sped away. I do a few quick checks - red light, check. No valuables in the bag except a nice perfume, check. By now the cab is already at the next signal, and I'm still standing where I was supposed to board it. Wait a minute, red light?! <i>Dimaag ki batti jalao, apni akal ladao!</i> <br/><br/>
People standing around and the cabbie behind noticed what happened, and before I knew it - this was the scene... my cab has sped away to the next signal, I'm running to catch it, the cabbie behind me is honking away to stop that guy and has started chasing him in his cab, and onlookers are shouting to stop him. Filmi, no? ;)<br/><br/>
Just when the signal turns orange, I reach, open the door and said to him laughingly <i>"boss, sirf bag leke jaoge kya Lower Parel?!"</i> His expression was priceless. He was confused, embarrassed and very apologetic. He had thought I got in from the other side when I had just dumped my bag in it! Throughout the ride, he kept saying sorry, and I kept laughing at him and telling him it's alright and all fun!<br/><br/>
I love Mumbai cabs and talking to the cabbies - they always have some interesting stories and insights on life. This guy now started telling me how his day started off all wrong, how he got beaten up by some people a few days back because he was not a local and such. We had a good discussion on the state of things, how narrow minded people have become, etc. What really moved me was his take on things, in spite of what life had given him in the last few days. He was still positive, a sheen in his eye, accentuated by the black and blue bruise under his eye... and most importantly, a vision for a nation united... India as a winner in multiple disciplines. Putting the bag chase incident behind me, I marveled in his beautiful vision and a mind focused on putting mind over matter, in spite of the atrocities he was subjected to.<br/><br/>
I got down and wished him a great day ahead. <br/><br/>
In hindsight, chasing the cab was a good warm up for my workout :) I was headed to the gym, Day 2!Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-54103703641682775462008-02-26T16:02:00.006+05:302008-05-02T15:37:00.713+05:30Sex on a plane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VQi054tNz-PzeKJZy0eS_Ioa3M9j7RkySeuDPwVof8NzpTj5g5Ur_b8s0b6rn7A9iz2Q8-c5Uib_dofUQGWh-_1UqEJse1ri8QGqwIQ1NtT8wI6S62q42r1E42hPxxzZ_b0R0g/s1600-h/snakewoman1.jpg"><img style="float:none; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VQi054tNz-PzeKJZy0eS_Ioa3M9j7RkySeuDPwVof8NzpTj5g5Ur_b8s0b6rn7A9iz2Q8-c5Uib_dofUQGWh-_1UqEJse1ri8QGqwIQ1NtT8wI6S62q42r1E42hPxxzZ_b0R0g/s200/snakewoman1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171236897284890466" /></a><br/>
Writing this blog post in the middle of watching a movie...<br/><br/>
My grandma is sitting behind, knitting a sweater or something, and pauses to ask me what movie I'm watching, hearing all the dramatic noise.<br/><br/>
<b><i>"Sssnakes on a Plane"</i></b> - I speak too fast usually, so I make sure I am audible and clear<br/><br/>
Granny mumbles something and asks me back - <i>"Snakes or <b>Sex</b>?"</i><br/><br/>
I skip a heartbeat. <i>"Snakes, snakes!</i>"Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-78365752601433148782008-02-23T15:47:00.005+05:302008-02-23T16:12:22.196+05:30A new perspective to photosI recently installed this Firefox plugin called <b>PicLens</b> and I'm simply loving it!<br/><br/>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGZlpHr7Q7vkyj6JpjVV6OnsdHXoIQu2wtQPIUoiULrb98-Z-csNI-6LG0FHlbC_XdQFn79jAAnr06AVs1HUxeMo40cmdoV3XZbjAC2eEyPP78VqTUP9nztWDnNPn39qUEQ1ViA/s1600-h/pl1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGZlpHr7Q7vkyj6JpjVV6OnsdHXoIQu2wtQPIUoiULrb98-Z-csNI-6LG0FHlbC_XdQFn79jAAnr06AVs1HUxeMo40cmdoV3XZbjAC2eEyPP78VqTUP9nztWDnNPn39qUEQ1ViA/s200/pl1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170122336091709234" /></a><br/><br/>
What it does sound pretty simple, but looks pretty amazing - click on the bottom left corner of any photo in a photostream on Flickr or Facebook (or any other photo page) and the next instant you see a 3D carousel view of the same!<br/><br/>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmi92C-eAKktAPp00SpMtwlizMRBPrfCVzla6yQesrk5R7qcpxt_cfs5u2ESmZQwun_KqoNFdUz-vxX-lSD0BkLzrPUeCd8JZghQF9LFnUyh5zfEWpm_vhKG_Y0_pIkGSIsn13g/s1600-h/pl2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmi92C-eAKktAPp00SpMtwlizMRBPrfCVzla6yQesrk5R7qcpxt_cfs5u2ESmZQwun_KqoNFdUz-vxX-lSD0BkLzrPUeCd8JZghQF9LFnUyh5zfEWpm_vhKG_Y0_pIkGSIsn13g/s200/pl2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170122632444452674" /></a><br/><br/>
Yeah you've probably seen it earlier, but the great thing here is it activates it for any darn web view and I don't surf Flickr without PicLens anymore!<br/><br/>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeX78jWTlE68ePmtkI1JykGMb9tqpRbamlKIBVCiLNlo6vlEql_fLD97jVXDnVIxsw1WeppRdxnCDRSq8_exENj5vaXmmDNndrT9Fr61ZbYFU8y6Qh2bf8etCll4v9Lbm1LdoGQ/s1600-h/pl3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeX78jWTlE68ePmtkI1JykGMb9tqpRbamlKIBVCiLNlo6vlEql_fLD97jVXDnVIxsw1WeppRdxnCDRSq8_exENj5vaXmmDNndrT9Fr61ZbYFU8y6Qh2bf8etCll4v9Lbm1LdoGQ/s200/pl3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170124045488693074" /></a><br/><br/>
<a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5579" target="_blank">Give it a shot</a> - and watch it pimp it up! Also available for IE, Safari and desktop view.Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-79970826858177162412007-12-05T17:27:00.000+05:302007-12-05T17:36:44.699+05:30Yours truly by GayatriI was douced into this little game by a friend Gayatri. All I had to do was sign up and she'd tell me 8 random bits about myself, stuff which she knows at least. And this blog post is to honour her 8th commandment, i.e do a post on it!<br/><br/>
<blockquote>
Leave your names lil ones!<br/>
<ol>
<li>I'll respond with something random about you.</li>
<li>I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.</li>
<li>I'll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle with you in.</li>
<li>I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.</li>
<li>I'll tell you my favourite/clearest memory of you.</li>
<li>I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.</li>
<li>I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you.</li>
<li> 8. If I do this for you, you must post this on your blog. YOU MUST!!</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<b>Gayatri's responses</b> (with inline comments on the same by me)<br/>
<ol>
<li>You're a nice, chocolate-getting boy!! <i>Thank you!</i></li>
<li>Uncle Kracker!:P:P</li>
<li>Punch!</li>
<li>Will you beat him up for me? :P <i>Pleasure'd be mine. Pain his.</i></li>
<li>At, MTV sitting and discussing kickass stuff that never took off., And, you dropping me to the station! And, you saying I was SOO young :(:(</li>
<li>An old, dying animal :P <i>Hahaha</i></li>
<li>You could be a wanderer all your life, couldn't you? <i>Absofreakinlutely!</i></li>
<li>! <i>There you go!</i></li>
</ol>Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350596.post-89622858029285672412007-12-04T15:38:00.000+05:302007-12-04T16:21:28.222+05:30Novelty Follows LoyaltyJust like a relationship guru would advice a couple who've celebrated more than 3 anniversaries on 'how to bring back that spark in their relationship', I think there are marketing gurus who think not much differently.<br/><br/>
The other day, I was browsing through a local Sarvodaya and was intrigued by variants of some familiar brands. <br/><br/>
<b>Close Up Flavilicious</b><br/>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW-6Zp3Q31P7hWqfADOcGbhjlVR9XCYxdMaripufeomYfBnjQ_Omi9LqWgW3PAm_9Mc5dyQz1W7AJC66Wurz1E4SJome4x7ITT_VSRsUyrHeYganpeQr1W53tZfC8a85ErRM2-A/s1600-h/prod_cuflav.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW-6Zp3Q31P7hWqfADOcGbhjlVR9XCYxdMaripufeomYfBnjQ_Omi9LqWgW3PAm_9Mc5dyQz1W7AJC66Wurz1E4SJome4x7ITT_VSRsUyrHeYganpeQr1W53tZfC8a85ErRM2-A/s400/prod_cuflav.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140067687964600242" /></a><br/>
First reaction - flavi-wtf? Whatever! Being a 'connoisseur of brands', I had to pick it up and play guinea pig for the marketers and the greater good of humankind. The Close Up folks have come out with 2 'limited edition' flavored toothpastes - <i>Luscious Lychee</i> and <i>Tangerine Burst</i>. I've started using the Tangerine, and quite like it in the mornings, but I prefer the classic Red before bed. Lychee is too err... pink for me to even look at the box. Will leave it for the sis. And if you are someone from Unilever reading this, I have some suggestions - how about a chocolate flavor?!<br/><br/>
Some interesting observations about the packaging and the product:<br/>
<ul>
<li>The brand is seemingly so well established, that besides in the textual description, there is no mention of the word 'toothpaste' on the box!</li>
<li>There's a 'do not swallow' instruction :) Hehe. Good advice, since you may forget it's toothpaste!</li>
</ul>
<b>Taj Mahal Dessert Teas</b><br/>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyBFXj7FBZiYwnBWOjdwoOA4JynX65x9zIMvs-FJy1dEeeGAJyFCcftGnkGCAbxD1k7Ayy20A-3l7VzVUZrV_ubXA-PMfvL6JFqn0aazOTyTMO0UD50ECWJKYK3Y6iPfiM3oQtw/s1600-h/tmdt.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyBFXj7FBZiYwnBWOjdwoOA4JynX65x9zIMvs-FJy1dEeeGAJyFCcftGnkGCAbxD1k7Ayy20A-3l7VzVUZrV_ubXA-PMfvL6JFqn0aazOTyTMO0UD50ECWJKYK3Y6iPfiM3oQtw/s400/tmdt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140068057331787714" /></a><br/>
'Pamper Yourself', says the ad campaign. And indeed, this serious competitor to the cafe mocha makes friends with your taste buds - as soon as you've had your first sip. Priced at Rs.40 for 5 sachets, it comes at a premium, but one that I wouldn't mind paying for. It's still cheaper than a cappuccino and most importantly - I would give it a 10 on 10 on the brand+product experience, which begins at the very sight of the packaging. Housed in a very well designed triangular carton are 5 triangular pod sachets. The box opens easily, so do the sachets. And all it takes is adding a cup of hot water to make yourself a sinful cup of dessert tea. I had picked up the vanilla flavor, and it was definitely better than I had expected. Rich and creamy, without an iota of artificial taste - perfectly blended. Highly recommended (by a self proclaimed tea lover)!Exotic Gringohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311986153416811017noreply@blogger.com2