~ Run Maadi Run ~

Even though I had a lot of enthusiasm to take part in the current edition of World10K event, was very lazy to go out there and register. That changed yesterday afternoon when Karma, manager & friend, called up and asked if I was interested in taking part. I didn't have to think twice, I just said Yes!

Thanks! Karma for doing the needful.

Am gonna run for Bangalore Cares and above else for myself, to kick in the lazy factor within me. I am taking in the majja run. Hope it will be fun, catch you all @ the event on Sunday.

Links: Official website | Majja Run | Run Maadi Run |

~ Dry Day ~

~ On a DRY day: Tender berry, Water and Green Tea ~

Normally fridays just pass by, you hardly witness the time. But yesterday was very different form the usual fridays; it seemed as though time was frozen.

After a boring day, decided to unwind with Rags @ Le Rock Cafe, off Brigade Road, Rest House Road. Half-way through my journey I realise today is a Dry Day or rather it has been Dry Day for the past two days, due to elections/polls. It didn't strike me or rags earlier, then we decided to do some shopping.

We decided to have our dinner and Rags was very keen on having Thai food, as he wanted to keep track of his chopstick skills. The nearest restaurant we could find was Bamboo Shoots, on Museum Rd. While we walked from Brigade Rd to Shoots, we noticed most of the drinking holes and restaurants were closed; very unusual for a friday evening in Bangalore.

Here you go with our Dry Day evening experience. Finally, we when reached our destination @ 21:25hrs, there were so many people in the lobby of Museum Inn, as it has 2 restaurants - Bamboo Shoot & Angiti - and the pub Tavern attached to the lodging facility. When we spoke to the manager & reserved a table for 2, he promised us one in 45 mins. Under normal circumstances I would have negated the idea of waiting for 45 mins to have dinner, but today was an exception as Rags wanted to taste some spicy Thai food & keep tab on his chopstick skills.

While I killed my time speaking with friends on phone, listening to Katatonia on my pod, watching expressions of various ppl in the lobby, admiring beauty @ times; Rags was busy sitting and solving Sudoku. It was 22:15hrs, when my patience was running out. I called upon Rags to find out if the Manager is even aware of us waiting. He checks with him once again and tells me that he has promised us a table in another 10 mins. I was like WTF, we have to wait an hour to just a get a table. Yes, it was our fault, we didn't have any plans to be here in the first instance & so we didn't have our reservations.

Rags was trying to pacify me, saying he is keeping himself busy with doing Sudoku. I was like dude, if I wanted to keep myself busy then why would I come to a restaurant and be occupied with something? Then we managed to solve his Sudoku, which he was trying for the past 20 mins :P. Still no sign of tasting our Thai delicacy, then I decided to talk to the manager myself and he assured me a table would be given in 5 mins. We thought it would be wise to place our orders, before we occupy our table as they take time to serve us. At last @ 22:35hrs after an hour & something we managed to get a table. The food was great, enjoyed it. Rags was happy with his chopstick experience, except that he would have preferred wooden chops for plastics :).

Overall the day for me has been boring and very DRY. Thanks to the polls which is 7 hrs from now. I am gonna definitely cast my vote and hope the rest of you do.

~ Trilogy: Arsenal Vs Liverpool ~

Its not that often that you witness Trilogy in football. It has been one of the rare things that just happen between football clubs. Arsenal face Liverpool @ Anfield in an hour from now. The previous two sequels have ended in draw. Even though Arsenal played their natural attacking game, the Reds never looked dangerous for the Gunners.

Rafael has already begun playing mind games by saying "by saying the Champions League is the only trophy the Gunners can win this season", more here. I know its gonna be a difficult for Gunners to play against Liverpool @ Anfield, because its an away game & u don't have the numbers of fans behind. But we have proved time and again this season that we can win our away matches as well, except for the recent defeat to Chelsea though ;). If Rafael's team is gonna play defensive game, am sure they are gonna have a tough time in their further matches even if they do manage to win on away goals. I am sure Wenger's team would go for the kill right from the word go. They just need to concentrate on their sloppy defending, which seem to be their weakness in their last few matches giving away goals cheaply.

I don't want to see the match going to penalties. It is such a shame to see a game end in penalties. Go Gunners Go!!!

~ I call it a day ~

Hi Everyone,

I have decided to call it a day in my life. I am sorry to inform you so late it all happened so fast, I have quit my current job and have decided to move to GOA. I also wish to share you that i found my dream girl while I was in Scotland & we both will be starting our new beginning.

Keep in touch.
Vivek

Update: Those who didn't happen to notice the date of the post, it was Avril de Poisson :)

~ Rock in India ~

The day has finally arrived where I get to witness the first performance of an international thrash metal band in Bangalore, India. Didn't fancy any of the international bands performing in India or Bangalore in particular, couple of years ago. The stage seems to have changed after Iron Maiden's initial gig in Bangalore last year and as paved way to the entry of Megadeth - 'Big Four of Thrash'. Billed as the first rock festival of its kind in India, 'Rock in India' has a line up of 9 bands featuring Megadeth, Machine Head and more local bands.

I am not sure of how much of a festival atmosphere I can find over there. But I hope Megadeth's performance would be a good, despite Chris Broderick replacing Glen Drover on the guitars two months ago.

We owe a lot to DNA Networks for bringing these bands and holding the performances in namma Bengaluru.

My reviews shall follow.....lets meet @ the fest!

Image: Screen grab from DNA Networks.

~ Guinness in Bangalore ~

Last friday when I joined rags @ Haze, Kormangala, I was pleasantly surprised to see Rags consuming Guinness. Atleast the last time while I was there, a year ago, I could get only lager. When we managed to settled down, I ordered a can as well. Both of us are big on Ale & Guinness; I got to taste whole family of Ale and Guinness was my favorite beer for the time spent in the UK. We were wishing that one day, Guinness would be served chilled from a tap. Rags wasn't too optimistic about that idea.

After a while, couple of my colleagues from the company happened to drop. One of them said, "You must be crazy enough to be having Guinness here as well". I said am very surprised & excited to see it available here. Then he mentioned the price, my jaws just dropped. Rags hadn't bothered to look at the price before ordering his can, neither did I when I joined him. Guess what would be the price for a 330 ml can of Guinness?................450 Rupees/$11.25/£5.62.......when i mentioned the same to Rags, he couldn't believe it either. We thot it was astronomical price for a 330ml can of Guinness. I could have brought a 5 cans of Guinness in the UK. Rags echoed the same, that he could buy the same quantity in the US. Well after gulping a can each, we weren't crazy to repeat another one.

So next time if you plan to buy Guinness in Bangalore, drink responsibly :)

~ Go Tsonga Go ~

The first grand slam of the year, the Australian Open, has been interesting so far with the major upsets of top seeds. The young players have shown lot of variety in their games, which untill few years have been just power play.



Even though I didn't follow the initial rounds of the Aussie Open, have been regular watching from the Quarters of Mens, Womens & Doubles. The matches which I enjoyed were the epic battle between Federer fand Tipsarevic in the third round, which lasted for four hours & twenty one minute; Tsonga Vs Nadal; Federer Vs Djokovic; Henin Vs Sherapova; Ana Ivanovic Vs Venus Williams. Am eagerly awaiting for the Men's finals which is to begin @ 14:00 IST. I am supporting Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, whose looks are very much alike the boxing legend Muhammad Ali in his younger days.







The above clips is Tsonga's performance against the World #2, Rafael Nadal in the Semi-finals. The Spaniard just couldn't match Tsonga on that day. I wanted Federer in the finals, to know how he would play against the young gun from France. Unfortunately, Djokovic proved to be too good for the World #1.



Enjoy the next video which has been brilliantly edited by Watts, capturing the emotions of the newly crowned women's champion, Ms Sharapova and the current World #1, Roger Federer & composing them according to the James Blunt classic, You Are Beautiful.