San Francisco - City by the bay

Man is measured by his friends. I am a billionaire. Before I reach the US invitations, plans and discussions arrived or started with gusto. So dear pal and ex boss Sharayu and her Husband Hemant lay it down for me...first weekend its Frisco!

And not just any tepid car tour, we biked over the golden gate bridge. If you can imagine joy, aching muscles and wind blasted wide eyed exhilaration in one moment multiplied by several hours.

We had to buy a 3 bike rack, exchange it for a new working piece, load up the bikes then start to SFO from Surajganj, CA (Sunnyvale for noobs). The good thing in this season is that Sun sets at around 8.10 pm so you can do a lot of activities in day light. First stop FisherMans wharf. This place is the chowpati of SFO, but not a beach. It has rows of Piers, some of which are functional. Rohit had to rent a bike from here and off we go.

Slopes are killer in SFO. Killed my gears right off the start. My Bike was rescued by Hemant with his common sense and plain mechie skills. I dared not change my gears but then as can be imagined, I stress the slopes are killer. I crawled my way up the slopes while Sharayu, Hemant and Rohit were floating like fairies up the the picturesque route.

The route went through beaches, through awesome lawns, through lovely neighborhoods, through hills, through scenic high point vistas, through the golden gate bridge..through a mindbendingly beautiful montage of sights and sounds.

Biking over the Golden gate bridge is an experience not to be missed. The win blasts and chills you while you over look the pacific over one shoulder and Frisco city over the other. You see the traffic stream mixed with tour busses and you wonder why they are boxed in steel when they could be biking or else walking over the bridge. Get Sunscreen. Just after we went over the bridge is an awesome ride down slope into sleepy Sausolito. Unexpectedly we come across a bunch of Indians and among them is a pal Rakesh. What a coincidence.

A nice ferry ride took us back to Pier 39 where we had parked the car. Like little kids back from an amusement park we went back home with a glow and deep tan on our face, ache in our body and warmth in our hearts.

Amrikka!

Finally I manage to erase the shame of not having gone to 'Foren' despite being in IT for 3.5 years. Unlike my imagination, the entry wasnt as wide eyed and breath taking as I imagined primarily due to the fact that the airlines lost the bag which had all my clothes, the immigration giving me a hard time and the customs insisting they hand check every thing in my bags and pockets. Couple that with a let down of a hotel and you have one seriously angry jet lagged desi. The journey from San Francisco airport to my place in Belmont wasnt that jolly as I had imagined.

Rescue was 35 mins away at my cousins place in Santa Clara. Jumped into a cab driven by a weird bigoted taxi driver who started advocating me the reason for U.S's problem is the president till I reached Santa Clara. NOTE: its pronounced Sana Clara. Almost like the 'T' disappear here.

But things are not bad, not bad at all. I guess everyone goes through the pain of lost baggage, Immigration and customs once in their life. I got a small dose in my first trip overseas.

But things went better from then on...

Getting Kicked

I tried to slap her, a proper one aimed at the right cheek. She grabbed my right arm, twisted it deftly and flicked me on the ground. I anticipated this and rolled perfectly, regained balance and tried a right handed punch this time. This time she ducked, slid to my right side and threw me down. I was very much pinned and am sure IF I wanted to actually assault this lady I didn’t stand a chance.

Obviously this is deviant behavior. I would never harm a lady nor am training to do so; this was in a kick boxing class and my trainer was demonstrating a few techniques with me role playing as the attacker. With the new batch started, I had previously attended a month long course, hence was the ‘senior’ student and most eligible to be demonstrated upon. But no complaint as being part of the demonstration is the best learning in my opinion.

My first experience with Kick Boxing was amazing, within a month of training I felt like never before. I was in the best shape ever, I could resist sickness, I could endure a lot of pain, I looked good and I definitely felt beyond awesome. The journey indeed was difficult with the rigorous training and pain that came along with it, but the result was worth it. I had trained with the best instructors in the country and with a highly motivated group at various levels of proficiency. Unfortunately the demands of my job prevented me to continue the class as the travel and recuperation involved cut down my work hours drastically.

A centre opened near my house and I was super excited. Initially the class was for women only and I couldn’t get in and obviously they couldn’t make any exception without a sex change operation (kid you not that’s the conversation) later they relented and let the guys join in, I feel they needed attackers :D

So again the journey starts with Coach Sindhu who will reassure you that women can kick ass. People who feel they would start punching and kicking and become Bruce Lee over the weekend would be severely disappointed. The first two months are all about body conditioning and basics. Almost every class you end up tired and sore and hurting. Cliché’ alert – no pain no gain. A lot of work would be involved to get into a decently capable physique, stamina, endurance and flexibility; something gymming out would simply not provide even if you do it right and who wouldn’t want that. Right now I think I am still to achieve that level which would be half the war won for me.

More on this as I progress further

Check out their website
http://shootfighter.wordpress.com/

Forgive to Win

Something so universally relevant, simple and beneficial; yet we dont give it a try. Forgiveness, is very effective and beneficial, not to the person who offends you, rather beneficial to yourself. If you continually seethe with anger or maintain negativity about someone, invariably you end up clouding your mind with negativity. Almost always the time and energy spent in that negative loop amounts to nothing productive.

You can do yourself a favor by forgiving the person. This is more out of a selfish intention than an altruistic one. You realise when you do so, you can live better, think better, be happier and accomplish a lot by being positive.

If one thinks, 'what happens of my relationship with the offender?' well there is no relationship anymore. He or She is just one more person in the crowd for you. If the person forgiven is worth the gesture, you will in time realise it was a wise decision to forgive. If the offender has even half a brain, he or she will realise you have taken the high road and will probably reciprocate positively or else be netural. There is no negative outcome.

Trying it out is very easy, and you will start to realize its benefits immediately. Otherwise you can always revery back to the default setting we had from our cave dwelling times.

Hungry Iin Bangalore: Charting Chat - Masala Capsicum

Delhi Chat, Bombay Chat and yes there is something called Bangalore Chat (pronounced chat as in chat window and not the usual chaat). Its a different school of chat making in this town. Very different from the general understanding of the pudina, raw mango, khajoor infused and sev covered variety from Bombay, Bangalore Chat starts from the masala puri - puris covered with peas curry, bhel puri which is more close to the Davangere 'mandakki' and some interesting creations like Bullet masala - cylindrical fryums stuffed with stuff, pineapple chat (this rocks!) and Capsicum masala to be had fresh.

Capsicum masla - pipping hot fried 'Bhajji' of whole capsicum split and stuffed with veggies and Congress. Not the political party but the local name for fried peanuts. This stuff is awesome! A friend introduced me to this wonder of local snack. Worth wrestling through a mob of people to reach this variety and east fast before the crispiness goes.

Bangalore still has many chat secrets, unfortunately my reach limited due to my struggles with colitis, I hope to enjoy as many of the different varieties as possible.

Hungry in Bangalore: Halli Tindi Darshini

Its always breakfast time in Bangalore. Idli vadas are to Bangalore (and many many places in South India) what corn flakes are to the whole world. I practically lived solely on the combo my entire 1st year in Bangalore. There is a good chance one will get tired of this stuff, variety is the key. So you basically eat the same stuff at different places.

After climbing and descending a hill, its small but a hill, in Banashankari Bangalore to visit Ganapati at Banagiri, the best way to satiate your hunger is just opposite the steps. Head to Halli Tindi darshini. Recently opened, this place is an instant hit. It goes a bit beyond the usual Darshnini fare and serves you some variety in your everyday breakfast. The signature dish here - The Peserottu Dosa. Featured in many Bangalore newspapers, this dosa is healthy , tasty, fulfilling and as the proprietor scowls it - dilisius. Also must have the Jumbo Tindi, translating into Jumbo Meals. Not too Jumbo but the breakfast platter you were always looking for with idli, vada, dosa, upma and sheera.

Location - Banashankari 3rd stage on Ring Road. You can spot it by the crowd. The tea coffee is passable, you can have some real nice and exotic varieties at the 'Tea Shop' close by.

Whats new - Art @ Black Design

On my way back home, everyday I notice a shop very apart from the usual rash of shops. If I can define it properly, a boutique shop selling assorted Art with similar theme. Black design - a small neat shop selling artsy articles which are in use everyday. Photo frames, weird coat hanger hanger (yes the second hanger is necessary), Belt holders, showpieces and some nick nacks. I really liked the coffee table made of wood, glass sheet and bottles. Very artsy and has class. Much of the work is wooden, kind of rough and dark shaded, so everything probably wont work universally in someones house.

What I liked about this shop, the first one of its kind I stepped into, is its unique offering of practical articles which you can use everyday. Why the praise? I guess thats the way all the boutique shops work, but probably because I dont get to see a lot of variety in peoples house or workplaces. Apart from the potted plants and colorful flowers and stones in water bowls, there really isnt much to look at. What can work is 'Art' ing up everyday stuff. Functional and aesthetics, although subjective, an attempt can be made. Subjective being the main word to look at, of course. One mans trash is another mans art. Put that trash together and its that sells.

Have a looksie if you are around Jayanagar, straight down from KFC towards Ring Road. Worth your time.

Thorium, answer to India's power woes

'Obama could kill fossil fuels overnight with a nuclear dash for thorium' is the article heading in the telegraph article.

www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/7970619/Obama-could-kill-fossil-fuels-overnight-with-a-nuclear-dash-for-thorium.html

Just wish someone could write Dr.Manmohan rids India of power cuts with a big nuclear bite into Thorium(Th). Aunties now watch Saas Bahu serials non stop.

Th seems to be a wonder drug, clean and efficient and not as deadly as Mr.Uranium. Perhaps its non deadliness is what resulted in a technological lag to convert it into a usable power resource.

Some more R&D reveals India has 25% of worlds Thorium at last count, and it was upgraded recently by the IAEA. So it seems like we are sitting on a coal mine, with lots of coal, only radioactive and not coal. But many reasons stop our scientists from shoving loads into the furnace perhaps a lack of funds, stifling of any advancement by the jealous biggies, the brain drain (this is most responsible I think) and I might even go as far as to say the squabbling morons in the parliament, most of them though Dr.Singh you rock, just cant get their work straight when someone says 'this is good for India in the future' instead of 'heres your cut you pig'.

I see a glimmer though, what with signs of a proper nuclear treaty bringing things closer to a technology transfer and private investment into thorium based reactors and technology. Never mind getting dependent on fuel cartels, we got our own fuel stocks. Hopefully better sense would prevail in the powers that be and close the energy gap that affects us.

Check out more references at Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium

Worry isnt work

http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/2010/08/worry-isnt-work.html

Totally agree by what Dan Pallota says in the above article, we take worry as part of our work, fooling ourselves into thinking man thats a lot of work done. I confess I do this a lot and it screws up whatever amount of effective work that needs to be put in.

Quoting the best lines -After all, who is likely to be the more productive contributor to the company, and to the world — the person who is healthy, rested, well-balanced, full of energy, and clear of mind, or the sleep-deprived, overweight, heart-attack-waiting-to-happen, psychologically unexamined, self-critical maniac? Who is more likely to be present enough to see the next breakthrough? Who is more likely to analyze problems clearly, for what they really are, instead of what they are assumed to be?

Heres a mid year resolution - work not worry. Now wheres the beer.

The Wait Gain Project - step1 GOMAD

There has been only one period of time in my life so far that I have actually looked 'Khaate Peete ghar ka' or simply put a slightly chubby healthy guy. This was in the Third year of my engineering right after I made a trip to Tirupati. Well I infer it was divine intervention that helped me gain some mass, I now have decided to help myself and try some weight gain myself. Since its going to be a long journey without the use of any weight gain products, an all natural approach will definitely take time, hence the title 'The Wait Gain Project'

I am going to start out with the GOMAD diet - Gallon of Milk a Day diet. 1 Gallon = 3.7 litres. Nuts, I am going to start off reaching a 1.5 Liter a day target by the end of 1.5 weeks, which means I will incrementally reach 1.5 liters by starting off with .5 liter and go on increasing the amount, unless of course I go lactose intolerant which means I will switch to the 4 Packs O'Lays diet.

On a serious note - tonnes of body builders swear by GOMAD - its the best way to gain some natural weight. Just google.