Dating New York this Christmas break!

Staycationing in New York this holiday break, I made it a fully non-work vacation (I deleted my office apps!). 


I visited the Whitney Museum, which has some very engaging destinations. 3 floors dedicated to Andy Wharhol! His numerous, diverse, huge paintings and installations are awe-inspiring. So very colorful, vibrant and contemporary. The Programmed section has both very soothing as well as exciting sections including algorithms on screens, moving images, etc. Some of them can be seen here.

I also got a chance to visit and study in the New York Public Library at Bryant Park, which was a serene experience. Liked the architecture and grandeur of the place, all tourists moving silently through it like 'Sleep no More' - nice immersive experience. I ended up studying for quite a bit about Kurt Vonnegut. What better than reading your favorite author in a nice library!



We also had our 1st date of 2019 and enjoyed the French-Italian cuisine (unlike me, I don't like trying new places so was scared), but ended up having a good lunch.




Wandered the chilly streets of New York with a cup of coffee, enjoyed looking through Bryant Park, I studied the architecture of old buildings, looked through at least 20 large Christmas trees in the city, each one differently vibrant from the other, read a few engaging books, which have been on my list for a while, listened to a lot of classical music & finished my list of pending documentaries, We enjoyed the ambiance of century-old preserved restaurants, I leveraged the solitude to think pure thoughts, wrote a few pieces (short-stories/book reviews), I reconnected with family members & friends regularly over calls and messages, experimented with cooking, exercised yoga.

Overall, a wonderful holiday break, soon coming to an end, wishing can imbibe some of these in regular life and not just vacations.

Kurt Vonnegut

This holiday season, I had the privilege of finally reading the book I have bought since a year, The Last Interview and other conversations with Kurt Vonnegut. It lays down his simple words and thinking with a lot of clarity. You can imagine him being right in front of you have a face to face conversation, from the true, sarcastic, funny voice he has. His simple excerpts are so powerful and lay a deep impact on one's thinking. A few listed here:

"I want a military funeral when I die, it will be a way of achieving what I have always wanted more than anything - something I could have had, if only I'd managed to get myself killed in the war - The unqualified approval of my community"

"We should send literary notices not to the English departments, but to the chemistry, zoology, anthropology, astronomy & physics departments, medical & law schools. That's where the writers are most likely to be"

"Are you willing to have a conversation with this woman for the next forty years? that's how you pick a wife"

'He has reached Nietzsche's melancholia of everything completed'

"Just because you have talent doesn't mean you have to do something with it"

"Practice an art, no matter how badly or how well you do it, it will make your soul grow, and not to become famous or rich. Have the experience of becoming"

"Just because there is no market for them doesn't mean you stop making them" (talking of any form of art)

"A writer's job is to use the time of a stranger such that he/she doesn't feel their time is wasted'

Such deep, wise truths in the simplest of articulations, being funny, serious & dreary at the same time. Loved his writing and made my day quite fresh. 

Will revisit his other books Breakfast of Champs and slaughter house 5, it's been too long.

Have a happy, healthy and fulfilling 2019 ahead.

'Sleep No More' in New York

Its our 4th wedding anniversary, and we saw 'Sleep no More', as Vartika had blocked tickets and wanted to see it since a long time.

It's a unique experience. You got to seek the characters, scenes, and the story yourself. No commentary, no prodding, no guideline, no sequence to help you. Initially surprising, you start to figure out what's going on. The acting is highly intense, rooms quite gloomy with dim lights and classical music playing, ghost masks on each audience member surrounding the actors. Created a haunted aura but not scary. It was psychologically intense, storing up emotions, shocks, pity, sadness, empathy, envy, lust and others on your mind. Whilst this is going on, you also need to run up and down the stairs (5 floors with hundreds of rooms) and seek where the actor is going next and who are they going to interact with. Some scenes when all of them come together - ballroom dance, dinner, orgy, blood bath is when all audience come together and you see crowd of ghosts staring at all actors and absorbing their mime and movements. The ruthless nature of murders and orgy, dry faces and evil looks, in your face nudity and sex scenes stir your mind quite a bit while creating a lasting impression. 

Working in Analytics and Visualization, this sense of Immersive Storytelling experience was something I could totally relate to. This is what I sell to clients go change the nature of Collaborative decision-making via group discussions, issue discovery, co-investigation and resolutions with your own understanding. Everyone in the audience can theoretically gain a different, new yet completely right insight through their own path.

Another exciting part was that if you stared into an actor's eyes, they would hold your hand and take you to a closed room alone where you experience their acting in person, alone and different. I saw 5 people in different scenes experiencing this. The last 2 were escorted at the end of the play go to bar on 2nd floor where they kissed passionately and left smiling.

I had gone into it without an iota of knowledge and hence it hit me very hard. People who had read or seen reviews before hand may not have been as surprised.

Quite different from the static, fixed play where someone is taking you through the play with a predefined commentary, scene sequence, practiced and times scenes and interactions.

It was a beautiful experience, such as life itself- while your paths are different and decided by you, the destination is something you can decide, and the journey itself will be the exciting artful experience that is most important irrespective of the outcome. Salud!

California

Lovely, Rocky, pleasing, adventurous,

California Furrore with Friends & Family.

Sophisticated wineries, painted ladies,

Yosemite falls, Golden gate, US-1,

Amazing chai, liberating people, tourism maximus.

Anti-drudgery, Radiant Smiles, farts & jokes,

College stories - driving, hiking, eating,

Childish laughter, Nok-Jhok, edgy demands.

Nature & Adventures pulling everyone together.

Touching the face of God at the Falls,

Washing away, pain & isolation,

Memories numerous, pictures nostalgic.

Lovely, Rocky, pleasing, adventurous,

California Furrore with Friends & Family.

Chai

I love Chai
It makes me fly
Give it a try
you will know why

US and us

Firstly, this is for all those people who don't ever pick up calls, keep their cell phones locked away. (Its not a cartoon, Nelson and his thought-speak is a placard, and the telephone is real too. Courtesy: Universal Studios, Orlando)

Hello Party People,

Its been almost 10 months since I visited this space. Just like you lose the zeal to crack jokes once you don't feel very good about yourself, you lose the will to write. This is dedicated to Vibhu who was shocked with my stories and suggested I write all whats about to follow.

[Quick Summary: I studied for CFA level 2, Failed, Read Zero books, worked on some 6 projects, initiated a School in the workplace, the school failed after 8 months of much effort, Mom learnt how to write emails - from not being able to start a laptop, bro passed CA finals, Asif, Pondy, and Avinav surprised with engagement news, got posted to Jacksonville, Florida, USA.]

I was/am happy to be on my first On-Site Visit, my first visit to US, my visit to another country after a lot of time. The Promised Land, as I had heard.

Away from all the boredom called office and home, nagging parents, timelines, over burdened schedules, all the traffic, meeting the same people over and over again, not finding some personal space.

The first thing that I found difficult, was saying 'Mozzarella'. The waitress had to ask me 4 times to clear it out. I thought, is this the level of communication difference that I would have to cover up. I was good in 4 days. Its just a few letters like 'r' and ..

Staying alone in an apartment, cooking, dishwashing, throwing out trash, cleaning - feels good. Its a country which makes even sloths like me work to eat and live. Some places in the US don't have Public transport. Zilch. A car is a must. Jacksonville has no sense of distance and space, or rather the lack of it. It is 10 times bigger than Bombay with a population about half. Hardly ever do you see a 2 storey building. Everything is flat. Recently, I visited a mall which was 1 million sq. ft., around a mile long. We had to drive several times to visit different showrooms.

No trains, buses, Mahendar bhais, free ATMs or a bai. Now, thats a bummer, aint it? Its unimaginable for a person who has lived through 5 pm local.

At first, it was difficult to explain to my cousins about the course of my work. I work for 2 companies, deal in 2 currencies, have 2 access cards, have 2 HRs (and 2 monitors!). My workplace seems quite serious, with a very corporate culture in place, with formal greetings and lack of informal pats on the backs. People vary right from eating lunches at desks to taking whole 2 10 minute breaks in a day. [Yeah, thats the variation]. Spoilt by Fractal, I cannot imagine not getting off my butt at least 15 times a day, just for the heck of it. We are not meant to be sitting working all day long without being social, or abusive or smoking or having lots and lots of tea and samosa or talking crap on Fone or making some plans for the evenings.

However, this leaves a lot of time at hand in the evenings, when you can get out, party for 5 hours every night and still be fine with your schedule, i.e. if you have people to hangout with.

Visited Orlando - Universal Theme parks with infi bade rollercoasters, movie shows, simulation rides, and the happy music playing all along. Rollercoasters were crazy and scary. It gives a very happy feeling.

The Orlando HRC - worlds largest HRC was literally brilliant. It had a falling car out of its facade, and a colloseum feel to it from the outside. Inside, there was another car just above the bar.

The waitresses danced on MJ's number, the beer was good, and the sistine chappel ceiling with Jim Morrison quoted: 'Excuse My, while I kiss the sky". Awesome.

Euphoria on Thanksgiving

Gatecrashed on Thanksgiving eve, after waiting in line outside Best buy for 16 hours (16, yes). Slept on the road covered with blankets attracting smiles from middle aged women. Played American Football with others in the line and UNO with a group. A couple of American throwers tried to go long on distance while throwing, and we showed how strong our arms were, and a catch rate of 95 %. 15 years of cricket paid off. They were amazed (and a little belittled at our ability), while we hid the pain in our arms after a 4 hour catch and throw marathon. It was felt like a Poker night, with a tinge of adventure. This effort led me to buy a Sony Vaio for 400 bucks. Thats somewhere close to a 50 % discount. And believe me, typing on this keyboard is surely going to spoil me. Words just flow on this one.

Surprisingly, as I had thought earlier, I still haven't felt a jingoist within me. The phrase, " Jo Dar Gaya so Mar Gaya" is perfect for newcomers here. If at once, you hesitate due to an uncertainty in your plan, or discomfort with the system, getting over it will take long. (If you are spending that much time here that is)

The difference of living is tremendous. Everything looks spectacular. The rules inherently make it work. Technology assists every little chore. Personal Space is a given. The concept of friendship still baffles me in such an environment. It is joyful at moments, other times it feels a bit lonely. I believe, its a place for me where I should be busy. (i.e. cause you are not with any prior friends in the same place)

Its much less picturesque than Europe. European surroundings were very peaceful, with cultured people, a very laid back attitude, and much importance to a family life. Clubbing was not THE most important part of a week. Sunbathing, reading, visiting monuments, museums, language trouble were.

In these respects, US is totally opposite to Europe. (forgive me, my Europe is Germany/France/Italy)

Germany was very disciplined concerning public rules and safety, more than the US. Even crossing wrongly, spitting or ticketless travel could cancel your interim stay. People in US seem more free though. I met half a dozen people discussing the arrogance of US, blondes maaroing blonde jokes, no subordination at work place.

Its a different experience. Europe was good to have fun, but US is better to work. (this is also biased with the Southern US hospitality and good natured culture which I'm exposed to, compared to the fast paced NY or LA.)

Happy New Year World. May we fulfill some of our desires, move an inch towards our untold, humongous ambitions, may we drink to our glory in the new year, may we find what makes us go Wooooohooooh!

I think I'm a man of too many words.

Rest for the Next.

(To see Orlando Pics, Click here for Facebook link)

Newton's Inertia

Khoob time Ghatiya kaam se awesome vaali feeling aati hain. Ghar jaaker nahate hain to lagta hain saare paap dhul gaye.

So I guess I will shower with some pseudo philosophical sipirituality. What is happiness? Once again, within a span of 2 years, this question has risen making it finally umpteen number of times.

A theory.

Abstract:
1. There are two inertiae. One of Happiness and one of Unhappiness.
2. Inertial of Unhappiness is statistically much longer than inertia of happiness.
3. Man's state always tends towards inertia of unhappiness.
4. Man has to put fight to enter state of happiness.
5. This happiness is short lived (due to 2).
6. When both inertiae become equal, there arises Indifference.
7. At this state of indifference, there is no distinction, since then both inertiae become
infinitesimal. (this may require some proof, but we postpone it for later)

Analysis:
We always say, 'move on'. From what? Unhappiness, right? Have we ever said, 'move on from your happiness, get a life'. Then we are definitely saying, we all need happiness. At least desire happiness. Since we are in short supply.

If you are still reading this, I suggest you look up Aristotle, his theory of happiness. Might find promising yet troublesome views.

Page 1 over. Will publish as soon as I methodize my postulates and 'move on'.

And then there were none

Agatha Christie

Since the last few months, had this urge of reading her book, and this was suggested to me by a
friend. A 3 hour read, it is a very gripping yet non horror story. Suspense. Very known suspense yet baffling. The style of writing is very unique. I liked the simplicity with which she has narrated the whole story. Very simple language, intricate plot. Liked it.

The Art of Reading

When you don't understand why a book is so great, or why you are not able to relish how others have proclaimed to, either they all are false, or there is a possibility, you are not in the best position to read, comprehend, absorb the intricacies and the depth of the situation described. Maybe you are just unaware. Unlearned. Not upto the level. Hasn't it happened, that you have started reading a very famous book, but you are not interested and put off the book, just to read it a year later and derive amazing levels of contentment and pleasure from the whole text? Or the book is plainly horrible.

How to write a novel, exist, but I haven't read anything about how to read a novel. Do you go about it scientifically, reading a series of books one after the other, and derive organized pleasure? Maybe that is possible. More often that not, picking up random books on random subjects is what I do. Which introduces me to topics suddenly, and hits me. I like that feeling. Instead of reviewing the book, knowing about its details and then try to find how the book is. I'm not a critic. What I want is learning. Pleasure of a spontaneity. Of novelty.

Greatness

"In what way does life contribute to the beauty of human existence? As respects those puruits which contribute only remotely, by providing the mechanism of life, it is well to be reminded that not the mere art of living is desired, but art of living in the contemplation of great things."
- Bertrand Russell.

Jean Paul Sartre was also involved in Marxist politics and was impressed upon visiting Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, calling him "not only an intellectual but also the most complete human being of our age". It feels so big, Satre meeting Che and commenting. Great people. Great ideas. Great events.

That is something you can idealize. Reading about books, reading them, and reading in between the lines, when you realize the experience and thought that has gone into writing the phrase, the line and the paragraph, is when you see a pursuit. When Salman Rushdie says, while writing Midnights Children, he was not considering it as a joy, but as work. He wanted to perfect the work. Not just romantically writing the book, jot down his feelings, and make a bestsellor. Most ideas which have bases so noble as these, are what become in the true sense, 'successfull'. Others just randomly pass by and make some impression, but the former ones are the ones which stand out. Talent is not enough, but the inspiration, the motivation, and the objective. That is what is quintessential.
Today is Martyr's Day. Today symbolizes the siren which goes on in respect of the father of the nation. His ideologies, strength, perseverence. His fight. Whether he was wrong, right, good, his approach, his ideas, implementation faults, whatever. The point is, he was so strong to carry it out. As in individual.

I can go on and on, and it will be an epic.

So when you see an 80 year old man at the base of Mount Everest in Full gear, then is when you realize what greatness is.