Barcelona

Well last week, 10 April, I travelled to barcelona from Pforzheim for 3 night.. I was lucky to get myself booked on a cheap RyanAir ticket which costed me euro 10 return.. but there has to be a catch.. When you book online, 24 Euros are charged as transaction fees! plus the airport for departure was karlsruhe baden, which is good 15 euros away, and also in Spain, the airport was Girona which is about 85Km from barcelona (11 Euros away).. the good thing is Ryanair operates a bus from Girola to Barcelona centre for every flight of theirs.. and its cheaper if you buy a return trip which costs 21 Euro, rather than single which is 12 euro.. also be careful, if you are travelling on a Sunday, then all things are still here in Germany.. so I had to take a cab from baden-bade station to the airport since the first bus would have taken me to the airport at about 9-45 AM which was too late for the fight.. But the trick is you stand next to the bus stop at baden baden (bus no 205) and look reaaly disappointed.. wait for some time and you are surely going to find some other traveller who has to go to the airport.. then you can share a cab and it costs 28 euro's.. thats what we did!!

coming back....

Well.. I never was much of a writer.. But when I look back at the scanty posts by me, once in a month or two and then  a long pause (of over two years), it certainly proves a point.. that writing is not my cuppa.. just had some thoughts when i was coming back to bombay this morning after a four day shaadi break (my friend's).. Every time that I have a change of place and when i return to bombay, I think about how so many things which I usually do as part of my day to day stuff, I shall do them differently... but I hardly keep these resolutions (if I may call them so).. lets see how long (if at all) these ones last...!

berozgaari!

Well today was just another uneventful day for me, in the sense that there was an event going on, unfortunately I wasnt a part of it.. Sometimes have you felt like a dog, with someone luring you with a bone but he has kept it just slightly beyond your reach.. Ofcourse the stupid dog tries once, twice and inspite of not reaching the bone, it just wont give up.. And the entire day passes by, the dog after getting tired rests for a bit, probably doses off, but then once awake will go back to the fruitless effort of trying to reach the bone again and again until its tired and so rests again but then after a while, is back at it, with a vengeance.. stupid dog.. Well placement season in a f#ck## up economy can be a bit similar to the situation described earlier.. We are all dressed up in fancy suits clean shaven at f#ck### 9 AM in the delhi winter chill, but the day passes by without getting a chance to have a lick at the bone.. :) :)
Just wanted to write down my thoughts on this!!

No Title

wow, i completely forgot about having an account in a blog... thats because i have pretty much done total injustice to my blog since the very first day it was made.. Looking back at my last post about germany - how i intend to write frequently and make an informative blog for potential travellers to the place - what a shame.. anyways so its been a long time.. so long that the year has changed.. i am at a critical juncture of my career.. standing 2 months away from completing my mba.. mba was such a cherished dream for me.. but looking back I cant honestly answer whether it was as per my expectations or no.. Just a couple of days back I faced a big disappointment.. did not get through a very good company on campus.. well maybe if I had, my career would be on an entirely different tangent and so many of my ambitions would have been unfulfilled.. (not a case of sour grapes here, or well maybe!) but yeah I missed it big time!... well accepting defeat and moving on, these are such important virtues a man should have.. i m slowly learning too.. being postive and remaining an optimist is getting difficult day by day!!

Europe

I have been meaning to write about my europe endeavor from so long but then the lazy me prevents me from going ahead.. and i have pretty much wasted the past 2-3 days so i have decided to sit up and do something... Well, i am here in Germany on students exchange.. all thanks to my college in India, IIFt - Delhi.. Well student exchange is all a hum-bug if you try finding out the academic gains from it.. but for the non academic gains, trust me, they are tremendous!!

So i have decided to structure my posts in such a way so as to they come across as informative and probably someone who wishes to travel around europe might benefit from it.. (since i myself plan to travel quiet a bit - and so you can learn from my mistakes)..

Getting to Germany wasn't a problem as i booked my self on an Air-India flight from new Delhi to Frankfurt.. btw Air India is the only one which allows you an open dated return ticket for international travel..

I had to reach a pretty little city called Pforzheim, which is down south.. it is actually on the outskirts of black forest bordering switzerland! I took a train which is available right outside the Frankfirt airport, it brought me to Pforzheim after a change over at Karlsruhe.

Now its been some time here in Pforzheim and I think I will conclude this post now.. will give more specific title for further posts!!

prison break

just completed season 4 of Prison Break with a heavy sense of nostalgia.. it all started in the final year of engineering.. after completing two seasons, i had a split of about 2 years after which i randomly decided to watch the remaining two.. i started on 27th dec 2010, and finished today on 18th march 2011 with the other two seasons... what distinguishes these western TV series with their indian counterparts is with their unbiased ending.. they dont really go all out trying to finish of the serial on a happy note.. Michael Scolfield should have been dead maybe 153 times before the 22nd episode of season 4, but when it made no sense to kill him, the producers go ahead and do just that.. maybe it could be a measure taken by them to discourage them from coming with newer seasons and to close it for good at season 4... Just a guess which does make sense... anywayz, i so truly enjoyed this!! chus - as they say in German'

some economics!

Commodity markets is not a zero sum game.. everyone can make money, also everyone can loose money.. only 3% of commodity trading is between producers and end consumers, rest all are speculators.. only 20% ppl in commodity markets make money!!


some comments on burgeoning food prices, is it due to speculators or simply demand-supply mismatch? as more corn is being diverted towards production of bio-fuel, this is leading to shortage in corn.. and since corn earns better than other agro-commodities, more and more farmers are diverting their farmlands from growing other crops to corn.. this is leading to lesser production of food grains, hence the demand-supply mismatch..
if maybe a system is put in place for absolute fair pricing of these foodgrains, and there is some way by which the farmers can transfer thier risk of growing food grains, then they will have more incentive for producing the same... it is in place in the form of derivates market for agro commodities..

another point to substantiate that speculators aren't involved - price of wheat has gone down 40% from its highs of March - 2009, yet the open position in these contracts is stil the same.. which means, the speculators still hold the same amount of position..

dont know what!

so what's happening in India.. so many things! what all do i know? inida's ranked 79th in some latest survey, showing the order of countries in terms of health, education, happiness etc.. finland, sweden, switzerland, australia are 1,2,3,4.. US of A is at 11th followed by Germany.. SO.. Do we seek solace that we r better off than Pakistan (89)? Lets analyze some latest buzzez buzzing in india.. Ministers (MP) particularly the yadav's (mulayam and laloo) have taken the house to task by demanding for an increase in wages.. from 30K to straight out 1.6Lacs.. i think now they woudn't get any additional allowances besides the latest agreed upon figure.. What a situation.. ministers themselves decide how much to pay selves.. !! Shoudn't those buggers have taken some external agency to do the maths for them.. anyhow.. CWG OC.. some interesting facts.. initially ccame out with Rs 69 cr for organizing the Common wealt.. raised it to 1110 Cr.. and eventually ended up spending almost Rs 1400 Cr.. yeh jo desh hai mera, swadeshh hai meraaa!!!!!!!! Hindustan motors which also makes vehicles for mitsubishi -- like lancer, pajero etc has decided to revamp their age old Ambassador.. Ambassodor which currently sells about 600-700 units per month in a 2lac unit pm month (gosh! who even buys the 600-700 odd pieces), hopes to raise it to abt 2K units pm.. the cost is phenomenal.. They are planning to rope in some brithish team to work on the designing aspect and also the engine's performance.. last straw for amby.. will it be ablo to do an Enfield?? i leave you with that friends..

preparing for summers

guys i dont claim to know a lot about the world of finance.. i dont actually have to;);).. Well India has done really well to check its non food item inflation.. However food inflation is something that it hasn't been able to manage well.. With about 60.5 million tonnes of grains lying with the FCi, almost 30% or 18 million tonnes are lying in open areas. That is enough to give each and every family of India below the poverty line, some 27Kgs of grains each month.!!! isnt that astonishing.. but in all likelihood, we are going to loose those 18 mio tonnes of grains.. look at the onslaught of monsoons man.. rain is falling chama cham cham... and all those bora's of grains will go waste... now lets come to another point of concern.. Pulses! Indian poor has very recently realized the high protein value of pulses.. we eat about 18 mio tonnes, however produce only 14 mio tonnes!! kahan se ayega 5 mmio tonne.. enter stud myanmar.. we import almost all of their produce.. and they are so happy to charge us heftily for the same.. but rich India being the golden peacock (some years ago!) we happily pay.. that is not what the contention is.. govt. needs to encourage plantation of pulses.. they have announced increased MSP in pulses.. (almost 30% high).. but alas, apna sarkaar.. this too comes at such a delayed stage.. when farmers have already sowed for the next kharif season... so a few laggards would probably gain.. long live India (it again shows how late to bed and late to wise makes ram shyam birju healthy wealthy and wise).. but thats how it is boss!! but everything aside, we really need to be self sufficient in food!!! http://www.mbauniverse.com/business-schools/mba-rankings-comparative-business-school-rankings.php check out IIFt at no 4...

The Indian Derby 2010

Describe the abome mentioned in three words:

1) Chicks
2) Booze (cheap that too, courtesy Dr. Vijay Mallya who's UB groups the main sponsor)
3) Gambling

and then maybe horse racing... well the 3rd and the maybe part are somewhat connected, but what a glam man!!!! First experience to a derby and trust me, its so much like what they show in movies.. a lot of drama quotient, ladies with an opportunity to flaunt there well worked figure in gowns, gents in boots and leathers stuts and then the horses.. what beauties man... thrill!! gotta learn the tricks of the trade and be back next year and start gambling... and for the winner this year; jacqueline ridden by richard hughes took away a cool Rs 2.17 Cr INR... good career option mates....

DRUNK@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~~~~~~~ fIRANGI paNII//,,,,,,,,,

Just this morning I was thinking about something..I have quiet accepted that I am feeling not very in the moment these days.. Its been like this for a while now…Now what could be the reason to that.. I actually did not ask myself this question… I was under the presumption that its just sad and boring overall.. But then this morning while studying for MBA entrances, it struck me that MAYBE one of the reasons that I am sad is that I feel time is passing by and I am not really killing things around.( not really making the most of),,,, well just then that I realized that whats it is to worry… I shoudnt be fretting.. after all we are the masters of our own universe.. If I am worried about time passing by, then I am already thinking about old age.. Hpw sad is that.. isn’t it.. at 23 yrs of age, old age already frets me.. well, If not age then just the time that’s gone forever, gone where? God only knows.. are we leaving a parallel universe behind us every moment? The second before typing what I am typing, has that second frozen as it was in the gallery of time.. Or that is just over? Non existent after the clock ticks ahead? So strange are the ways of the world.. I don’t really think I am making a whole lot of sense right now as the title of this essay would suggest why..
Hum unko bhulA na sake, par jab who saamne the, toh yeh aazma na sake, kis pathar pe kismet likhi gayi hai hamari? Who pathar ko bhi mitti bana na sake.. apne khwaisho ka mahal bana na sake, par I sbaar hawaye disha badlengi, tuffon aye ya na aye, upper se paigam ayega, aur iss baaar who manzil hum paa ke hi rahenge!!!!!....

random - you may not agree - but its my blog!

Been trying quiet hard to come up with something interesting to write. But the crazy part is nothing interesting happening around. So what to write? Thought of blatantly cooking something up.. but that doest work… thinking hard doesn’t work either!! It gotta flow naturally.. The obsession of doing mba.. how sserious am I into it.. is it just a satiation of ego or I really want to do it.. no answers there.. what would I want to see myself doing 2.4 years down.. no answers there either… the absence of direction shouldn’t misdirect me is all I hope. The current job has atleast instilled one desired job that I would want to do.. currency options TRADING… (doing broking as of now).. that is quiet possible.. all I need to do is do masters from IIM’s MDI FMS… but is that possible is the bigger question… 3 Lacs students vying for 3000 seats.. STUPID COUNTRY…..

The problem I feel with the Indian culture is that there is too much of protectionism for your children. This does clip their wings/ the desire to exceed.. Well the desire to exceed may be there, but the need may not be.. having a very comfortable life since the time you remember can actually be a detriment to your success.. you gotta suffer in order to succeed is what I feel… well there are upsides of the care and growing up in cocoon too.. but more downsides is what I feel.. you gotta break the cocoon and take up some real hard decision man… well too much to write… too little energy in hand… goodnight.. more on this later

staying (un)healthy!

How much fun, to vroom ahead,
Not having to strain your legs,
Work your legs you do,
But that’s way better than walking!

You gotta feed him,
get him regularly checked,
sometimes you name him,
moreso if it’s the first!

It poops, but that’s all gas;
Many actually enjoy the burning fragrance;
You want to bathe him everyday;
Especially at first,
And then you get lazy,
And he grows old!

But you still are fond of
Yours truly ~~~ dear Bike..!

A Double Whammy !!!

To begin with, the domestic help at my paying guest accommodation has ran away today, owing to ill treatment by his employees – reminding me of olden days bonded labour – the bond in this case being minuscule amount of currency and a shelter to stay. His demand of increase in wages is so similar to the work staff at our mill back home in the mountain kingdom of Nepal who have stalled work from the past two days for the same demand – “increase in wages”. So funny it is, I am supporting one increase of wage whereas totally despising the other.. So is the big irony of life…

Why a double whammy???

My very dear friend Rahul is too running “towards” the big states of A, a.k.a USA; this very same day to pursue his dreams of mastering the universe-ity of Pennsylvania, for his MSc.. Here’s wishing him all the very best.. Hope he gets a green card very soon!! ;)

So you see, it’s a double whammy, life’s going to be a tad difficult hence forth.. but hey, life moves on!!!

my own...

do you know, even the river flows faster at night!!!....

so people buck up and move ahead when others aren't watching...

or however you like...

but do.. move ahead...

(dont do here!!)

aaachoooo!!!!!

The dreaded “F” word which sends people scurrying away to safe distance in order to save their faces --- or rather people saving their faces from the big F --- you got it -- flu -- more precisely -- swine flu---
How & why save face?
A new trend of covering up their faces with whatever piece of cloth available – preferably the fancy green masks or in dire situations your regular handkerchief comes handy-- its so funny when in trains you see lone individuals with face covered up – but the moment their daily group comes in – the logorrhea overcomes the fear – masks go underneath the chin and – the chitter chatter begins.
When are we going to see the financial system shut down ( i mean bank treasury holiday ) (totally as a precaution) like the schools.. ( wish we were in schools now!!)
God save the swines….!!!

the first post for me, a giant leap for world literature!!!

My friend who has roughly completed 23 years of breathing; still doesn’t know what he actually wants to achieve, still doesn’t know where his elysian is; still doesn’t how he wants to see himself 10 more years down the line. The world around us has become so complex with so many specializations and super specializations that it becomes really difficult to discover one’s actual desires. Truck loads of happiness and bullock loads of money!! Isn’t that what we all want?

But HOW?

Happiness being a very subjective thing would differ from person to person. A child with mud all over him could be having the best time of his life. Happiness doesn’t cost anything here. Those who said childhood days are the best were so true.

My 23 year old friend is craving to get his childhood back.

Can anybody help him?


cheers!!!!