As you start to learn driving a car...

I am learning to drive a car. 

Reason: Thinking of purchasing a car. 

Reason for the Reason: Better mode of transport and more convenient for a family!

Ok, boring stuff apart, lets dig into more boring part! Just kidding, thought of penning down my experiences so far after 6 hours of intense learning to drive a car. Have started on an old WagonR. 

The first thing, get to know more about the space your car occupies on the road. Get a judgement on the same. See the car first, its shape, size - get an image of the car in your mind and where you would be placed within as its driver. Next, get a feel of the steering, the gears, accelerator, brake and clutch. Also, check for the horizontal distance of the seat and reachability of each of above. Getting familiar may take some time initially!

Next would like to jot down few things one should try to get as much practice as possible

1. Parallel Parking

2. Reverse Parking within 2 cars

3. Regular parking within 2 cars

4. On a slope, stop the car - then try to start and go ahead at dead slow speed without accelerating much and meanwhile preventing car to go back or stop. This is primarily a test of clutch-accelerator-brake in one go.

5. Negotiating sharp narrow turns (which are in plenty in Bangalore!)

Off-course, as the old saying goes "Practice makes man perfect". Just jump into it with text-book knowledge perfect and the rest will fall in line, in time.

Good Luck! :)

More on the first car in later blogs...

I do not, what I know not to do!

Just a thought that came by this morning!
In our daily course of actions, we tend to do many things which we know are not good. The are bad in terms of of the negative affect they have on a living being (including ourselves). And what would we call a negative affect, abstract nouns like pain, hurt, etc. So, we know some of the actions lead to negative affect, still end up doing the same at-times! Only knowing is not maturity, but implementation is what counts. 
So always aim at doing not, what you know not to do!

Three of the kinds!

Just an observation of three kinds of driver/riders plying on Indian roads.

1. Those who don’t signal (indicator) while changing lanes and change abruptly.

2. Those who give signal while changing lanes, but don’t care of current state of lane before changing, i.e. if some vehicle is near and just behind on the target lane.

3. Those who give signal to change lanes, but wait and wait and wait, and don’t change! Two possible reasons, by mistake indicator has been kept on, or an amateur driver trying his best to find way out in the Indian traffic!

All three are equally dangerous enough scenarios. Remember, always show indicator (especially if in 4-wheeler) and check for if the target lane is clear enough to change to! Have safe driving…

Moi Breakfast Series

"Breakfast" has an important place in my day-to-day life! Today, while walking back after having idlis & chutney, I was just trying to remember all the items I have had till date for breakfast. And as I remembered, the list grew on and on and at the end, I was just amazed to acknowledge having eaten up so much of variety! :) I know these may not be the only items, and that many more would be there lying on the table, for me to put my hands on ! :) Well, hoping to expand on the list with time..


Meanwhile, here's an exhaustive list of what I have had for breakfast so far in life, as far as I remember.
Dosa (Set/Open/Masala/Mysore/MLA Pesarettu/Ghee Roast/Masala Ghee Roast/Rava/Rava Masala), Idli, Vada, Upma, Poha (Kanda/Batata), NootPuttu, Puttu, Seva, Valiyaappam, Sheera, Kozhalkatta, Lemon Rice, Roti/Subzi, Paratha, Bread Omlette, Boiled/Scrambled Egg, Corn-flakes, Oats, Bread Toast, Puri/Subzi, Bonda, Mysore Bhajji, Rice/Dal, Maggi. 


Have I missed out on something? Well, I suppose I have at-least covered almost all of South Indian Cuisines! Its like Mission Breakfast Accomplished! :)

Power of 2! A couple of acts done in couple of days for the second time….

 

Am proud of myself. Have been long awaiting for such a moment…. Broke all mental blockages and successfully completed couple of acts for second time in life, within couple of days! Hence the name of blog, “Power of 2!”

First, I ran 10km Hyd Run on Sunday (Nov 22, 2009) in 75 min. Had kept 90 min as the cut-off for myself to complete the race. But, was happy to keep it well within reach. Trust me, its difficult to carry a 78 kg weight for such long time and distance. Ran for 2.5 km in single stretch at the start and then the jogged and brisk-walked alternatively. It was fun, especially with the crowd cheering, hard metal music pumping the adrenaline, beauty of Hussain Sagar Lake in the early hours. Had earlier ran only 5km run. So, it was for first time, and though I had doubts of completing the race, somehow I managed to. :) Next target would be, a couple of more 10K’s and hop on-to Half-Marathon!!

Second, an act of random kindness (ARK). Donated 350 ml of valuable blood today (Nov 24, 2009). This was second time in my life too, first being 1.5 years prior to this. Was worried, but once in, there is no turning back. Its a noble cause, people, so would definitely appeal to all to donate blood generously at-least once a year. (Of-course through a well-established organization).

So, here it is, a double strike for me. :)

After quite a long time....

After quite a long time, I have planned to return to the world of blogs. As simple as it sounds, the duration or the break has seen a whole lot of events in my life. Change of job, relocating to HYD, getting married to my 4 year long sweet-heart, TWITTER, post-marriage responsibilities and others. Had thought that with Twitter, I would never be blogging ever, but as I re-think, conventional blogging always will have an upper-hand over micro-blogging! Anyways, looking forward to post more practical and philosophical views in future. One liners on Twitter! :)

Happy Holi, 2009!

Wish you all a very happy Rangapanchami! May the year 2009, bring in some bright colors as the year proceeds.....

Something original below :

Autumn in life!

Life has taken a dramatic turn,
With lots of worries, peace of mind I yearn!

Personal and Professional lives have taken a dip,
Like stock markets, I travel in a sinking ship!

Fighting out each issue, as far as I can take,
Pi along with me, happiness I vow to make!

The following I remind myself, time and again,
Fight, fight, fight, and come out of pain!

Now, the wood's aren't lovely, but dark and deep,
I still have many promises to keep!
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep!

Happy New Year, 2009!

Feel happy to be awake and blog about the zeal I have for welcoming the year, 2009 and bidding farewell to 2008 which went pretty average for me. For, in 2009, lies many important events to happen, in personal as well as professional life. Hope the brightest part of me gets reflected and I come out shining in the new year!

Well, I would, definitely like to share and announce some of my resolutions for the year 2009:

1. Bring down weight to 70 (from 75 currently).

2. Take part in the 5 km run (for which I have already registered) and atleast run a half-marathon (~22 km) by the year end. Not that I haven't started off with the preparations. Slowly and steadily I tend to realize this dream!

3. Learn swimming, because that's what I fear the most I suppose! And I don't want to loose out on anything due to this phobia.....

4. Learn a musical instrument, preferably a guitar (since I have one!), 'coz music really soothes your soul. Its relaxing. Atleast, arise the passion and search for some peace in music!

5. Get actively associated with an NGO, especially related to kids. Not just monetary-wise, but volunteer for some act, like teaching, reading stories, playing around, making them laugh, etc.... , 'coz I feel kids (majority) are the only ones who are away from the bad qualities in this world, though they are catching up on it pretty fast! I think mind-set should be set right in a person, right from a smaller age. And a small kind deed in this direction may help these kids in some phase of their life!

This was a shortened list, some more personal things hidden in mind! Well, I hope I live upto my expectations and dreams and turn 2009 into a fruitful one!

Meanwhile, wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year, 2009. I sign off, going to sleep, only to wake up to see yet another day, yet another year! WOW!

Birthday Eve...

Sitting around, on birthday eve, nothing great to do.... I came up with an idea to capture a video inspired from Dil Chahata Hai.... Just gave it a try.. Swallowing a knife, with brilliant assistance on camera by Manisha. :) Here's the crazy video, something to look behind, maybe 15 years down the line, to laugh at.....

 

Swallow the knife

Indian Media!

Have been following the disastrous terror attack on Mumbai (on TV off-course!) that started on Nov 26, 2008. Yesterday, there was a news that broke out about Nariman House (terrorist-attacked place) getting cleared from these dangerous species. Apparently some NSG commando gave a thumbs up, and the public watching the action from a distance initially, rushed onto roads to celebrate and cheer these heroes! Various news channels were covering this incident and I, personally, was following a few of them to say, NDTV, CNN IBN and Aaj Tak. The place had become real chaotic and though there was no official announcement of operation finishing, people had over-crowded the place, making it impossible for the operations to end/continue in a smooth manner. There were public announcement made by police about the operation being still on. Amidst these chaos, I was just observing how the press personal behaved! NDTV was right at a top of a building covering this news. Rightful to say, not adding to the chaos. CNN-IBN was covering from the roads, at a distance away from the happening place. And in their footage, I observed some camera-men rushing on to the commandos coming out of the place! I wondered, who are these press people adding to the reigning confusion..... I switched over to Aaaj Tak and there they were. Right in front, as if attacking the commandos itself, jumping around in public, acting like monkeys.

@Press : Yes, we want live coverages, but not at the cost of discipline in such a circumstance. Its a great work you all are doing, out there at the war-front, not caring your lives. But, please co-operate and behave in a more matured manner!

Thanks Google!

Thanks Google for introducing Themes into Gmail. Was bored seeing the previous look of gmail everyday without options to change it! Also, liked couple of Google labs offerings, viz., Mouse Gestures for navigating emails and 'Mark as Read' button on the Inbox page. Kudos Google for bringing about a change! :)

Worst Phase of Life!

How can a person define the worst phase of ones life? Maybe, all the below together can be thought of being such a scenario:

* Issue related to emotional bondings (which leave bigger influence of emotions over intelligence)

* Things not completely under self control

* Decision taking authority vests in hands of others.

* Decisions are to be taken on a emotional basis rather than intellectual

* Lack of direct support from others, everyone apparently helpless!

* Pressure to perform/act ever-increasing

Nice scenario right? Won't like to much expand on this, personal! Fighting the scenario! Life sustains on the keyword 'hope'...

~(I know what happened on December 28)

I was just wondering what all auspicious events could have happened on my birth-date, i.e., December 28. With this thought in mind, I searched through the net to find out some trivia, results of which have left out a feel-good factor in me! Some great personalities in past and present born on my birthday, and other events, etc.

Some of the happening people born on my birthdays include the greats like Dhirubhai Ambani, Ratan Tata, Arun Jaitley, Denzel Washington, Linus Torvalds :), Patrick Rafter, James Blake, Sienna Miller, Sajid Khan et.al. It really feels pleasure somehow to think of these big shots celebrating birthdays on the same day as I do! And also motivates me somehow (a little atleast) to reach their levels. Ah, well I don't much believe in numerology or stuff like that, but ya that does definitely leave behind a good feeling!

Just to mention, there were some sad moments too that the world has witnessed in the form of losing some of great people on the same day (like Benazir Bhutto)!

Do you know what all have happened on your birth-date so far?

P.S. : The title read as negation of itself!

Origin of the titles around this blog

As one may observe, there are three major terms visible in this blog, viz., Chaotic Arena, Musings and Hitchhiker. I was thinking of an apt name for my blog (especially after my Google account got deleted one fine morning!). These are the key things I came up with keeping in mind the need for a blog :

Chaotic Arena - Not much clear, what's right and what's not! What to follow and what not! Not everything can be understood and neither should everything be blindly followed!
Musings - Few thoughts collected during this wonderful journey called life!
Hitchhiker - Life is a journey that we cover through various modes (spiritual, mental, physical, et. al.) Selecting a mode is circumstantial and I tend to change the modes like a hitchhiker!

Way to go in life! Hope to capture some of finest moments in life through this blog for a flashback reference in future...