Travel Dairy # 001

Goa – December 2009
The four days to be in the land of booze and more booze was highly awaited by many of us. The same ole routine was wrecking the last few days of our college life. Goa was indeed an event to break free. I was equally excited about the trip for many reasons. Firstly, it was a chance to consume a lot of fermented grains juice without getting worried about our folks. My birthday was on the very next day of our stay at Goa, and I was anticipating a nice memorable one. Apart from these, catching up some good international movies, long beach walks, clicking photographs and some shopping was other reasons of extreme excitement.

# Day 1
We reached Goa in the afternoon after a long tiring train journey. Checked in our allotted hotel rooms, and likewise everyone fought and claimed there bed. After some light food, we hit the Colva beach for some water sports. First we did para sailing, which was like F@#&ing awesome, once you reach the height everything down looks so tiny and you just like flying up above. Then it was time for Banana boat race, which was again a great pseudo- drowning experience. For dinner we had some nice Squids fry and Pork curry cooked with traditional Goan species. After which was time for Booze and trust me I was totally lost my senses. It was Birthday the next day, most of friends knew about it which was scary as I don’t like public birthday wishes. And to avoid it we went to coffee shop near the beach. Some thick dark espresso got me back to my senses. It was around 11.45 when I started getting calls and messages wishing me. We four of us went to the beach, and as soon as the clock struck twelve I cut small piece of cake. It was total dark with only light of the moon and sounds of the gushing water waves. Oh! It was such memorable day. It was then time to have some sweet dreams. I still don’t recollect who all called me on that night.




# Day 2
Started with early morning long walk on the beach, clicked some amazing photographs. The breakfast was such a mess, but we managed on bread omelet and coffee. A friend had a lot of food troubles. At his breakfast plate, he got a mosquito in it. It was time for IFFI. Watched two good movies, two of our gang member enjoyed the movies while sleeping. Attended, Hollywood actor Ben Kingsley’s felicitation. Came to hotel by evening, sat for some glass clinging time followed by dinner at this li’ll shack. A friend of mine was craving for white wine and finally got to taste it. She was happy though the food trouble of other friend continued. The day concluded on some trippy music session on the beach.





# Day 3
Breakfast got messier and friend continued to have his food trouble. He got a non veg sandwhich which he wasn’t supposed to eat it as he was fasting. Reached IFFI venue saw great regional films and had nice discussion on them. Other two friends continued to sleep during the screening, though the white wine female friend managed to see this Persian movie without sleeping. I slept for that movie. Half of the students went back to college and while we had to wait till the new bus comes. Came back to hotel, dinner and simply went to back to sleep. Though the juice I spoke above was undoubtedly a part of our liquid consumption. Time to hit the sack. G’night.



# Day 4
Sightseeing day- We were taken to this beautiful secret beach. It was a beach time. I could see myself as the only person roaming in my swimming undies. Played, clicked and got buried. Yes, I was buried in the sand apart for my face and then people drew mermaid shaped figure on the sand. And yeah the boobs of the mermaid of the mermaid was as well included. Then went straight to Paloem beach. After heavy lunch and drinks, I choose to go for some shopping and other went to this boat ride to Butterfly beach. It is another secret beach of Goa. With my not so good Konkani, I bargained and succeeded in getting discounts on the stuff that I bought. I bought a nice poster of a Holy man smoking chillum, and sling bag with Calvin on it and Tibetan prayer flags. It was an exhausting day and we were almost dead by the time we reach to our hotel room. Though the being the last day in Goa, it lifted our enthusiasm. Dinner was so much classy. Great pasta and malted whiskey was going so smooth. Friend’s food trouble continued with this time the chicken being very spicy. Here, very= 1233569!!!!. A joined another group of friends for some peace session. People got sloshed and thus began their emotional drama. I am still so proud of all of them, you see. The session continued for the entire night with random senseless jokes. A friend and I went for a walk on the beach, only to realize that we have been walking since half hour. Slept at around 6 in the morning.

# Last Day
Got up packed our bags and went for a south Indian breakfast. Finally, there were no food troubles this time. Bought few more things including port wine, cashews,. Time to leave Goa. Everyone started a lot of clicking photographs. Got in train, it was a lot of fun. Reached Mumbai, people hugged each other and back to home.

And it was indeed an memorable trip !
Memorable for –
# Amazing birthday at the beach
# talking with a friend on philosophy- *both of high on booze*
#climbing a boat and not remembering it and people asking the questions on the same
# delicious food
# friends food trouble
# good movies
# Photographs
# booze
©
Peace out!!!

No need to convince

After nearly five months of working, I quit my job, without having the other one. I joined work immediately after my exams. The first one was at an NGO and it was just okay kinds. It was getting boring and I did not find any growth there. Unnecessary office politics was just the spoiling the working environment there and finally I quit after three months. Soon, after I got an internship with leading tabloid. I covered legal and occasional crime stories. The work was so much fun. I have learnt a great deal of lessons of life and of journalism in these two months. I again quit this job citing personal reasons. Now these reasons were not digestible to many curious cats. Many of the lot, having no experience of journalism whatsoever, termed my reason of quitting as- unconvincing, unreasonable and stupid. There were many terms, but the most used ones are been used here. Why was it so hard to accept that someone can genuinely need a break? I mean the people who matters me the most including my parents and boos had no issues with my decision. And I still have no regrets of quitting. The term ‘break’ meant a comeback after a while and not lifelong unemployment. I will back to business in a while.

The idea is just to inform people that someone must be genuinely having reasons behind their decision. Stop being nosy in other’s business and I am sure no one will question you on your decisions.

...And I romanticize her

"She is anti- Indian, always support terrorist, why do you read her essays and how the hell can you like her?" said a friend of mine, expressing his anger against Roy. I quiet admire that lady for her writings. She can't be simply ignored, and her ideas and views are thought provoking ones. Her recent 32 page article "Walking with the Comrade" in magazine - Outlook created such an uproar. All the ones that know me as her avid reader , accused me of romanticizing her. Soon after the article was published, 76 CRFP soldiers were killed by the so-called naxals, as it was widely reported in the media. And well, the broadcast media, did what I expected, attack Roy for supporting them. The public in general asked her to condemn such killing. Coming back to, why I like her? First, think liking is purely for her writing- including the style, topics, analysis, historical citations. And yes, reading her does not amount to *supporting* all her *views*. Though some of the issues raised, does make a valid topic of discussions. This includes the demand to set up independent inquiry by the CBI to investigate the Batla House encounter as there were so many loop holes in the primary investigations.
One thing about her or for that matter any other social activist/ writer, why do people attack them when we go ga ga about freedom of speech and democracy? In a democracy, debate is always welcomed, then why the people who raise question and start a debate are being targeted?
I am of this clear view, we are indeed in a need of more Arundhati Roys and if that interprets as romanticizing her. Then I have no qualms in accepting the accusation of romanticizing her.

The first one

It’s been like the longest delayed work that I have been just not completing. Well it’s to have a blog of myself. I am not much of procrastinator, but at times I just can’t move my ass off to get the work done. This is gonna be my first update, and the streams of ideas are already running across my mind. Nothings working in a way I want it. So it’s just will be what comes to mind will be included. After working and watching series of episodes of a sitcom, I just sat on my not so cushy chair to write this update, the first one for the blog. Okay, the dog right in front of door is too much sleepy and my cup of tea I had in morning is still lying unclean. Well I know that does not make any sense, but I am also to make absolute non sense. Okay, smart na?? Nay! Anyways, my taste is in Politics and anything that has to do with Arundhati Roy, even the remotest of things related to her. I adore her writing and not all her views. the taste is further extended to books, music and coffee. This, I guess probably would be my topics to be posted on the blog in future. I promise to make it boring, having no followers.