Lilies

Lilies
Originally uploaded by PaGLi

Loved the Paint Brush effect on this Pic :)

aDeSe

Indian School of Business

Indian School of Business
Originally uploaded by PaGLi

Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

Visited this place for the first time as part of AIESEC - ISB Partnership. I think it was November 2005. The National Strategic Conference had a special tour to ISB.

Loved it at first sight, loved it after the brief interactive session we had where our concerns about their courses were answered, loved it while walking across the institute - checking out their dormitories, meeting the staff, interacting with the students and Professors and after this trip, ISB had become the Destination 2010 :D

This Pic is from my last visit, again in the month of November, as part of TiE - ISB Connect, a conference hosted by TiE Hyderabad with ISB. Amazing sessions, amazing people and met a whole lot of people I knew over mails and twitter and facebook.

a Nokia 3500c product...

aDeSe

Bangalore - Goa Adventures_Day I

I made my second trip in a month to Bangalore and Goa around 23 - 27 Jan and it was nothing less than an adventure.. The first time was post New Years - which was much more fun. I shall write about it later may be.

Not a very positive trip, but still it was something which shook me from my roots..

Reached Bangalore on the 22nd Evening and headed off to my cousin's place. I was staying back at her place and we were meeting after almost a year after her marriage. Brother in Law was hit by an iron rod a few days back by some random guy outside the Microsoft Office in Bangalore, which kind of shocked me and made me feel disgusted..

Are these the Metros which they talk about... Why would someone hit someone so innocent, someone who hasn't scratched anyone all his life..

They were in the US before returning to India, Jiju was pursuing Post Doctoral at the Rutgers and also teaching at Princeton. I am not sure if its the other way round, but probably if you know Neeraj Kayal, I don't think I would need to make further statements about him.

I am going to get thrashed by sis for putting him up on the blog, but I guess its ok :P

Anyways, I was in Bangalore for Proto, which went off pretty well and unorganized. We did a Pitch Camp and also a VC Speed Dating Session for startups who wanted to meet potential funding partners, which was appreciated by the audience and the participants. It was a little unorganised and on the spot, but it went off pretty smoothly.

The Event was a good networking platform and I ended up meeting a whole lot of VCs and Startups and pitching them our iAccelerator Program.Freeman did a small Introduction on both the days and got a good response as well.

24th night, I took the bus to Bangalore. I had reserved a KSRTC and the services were ok. The mid way stop was awesome, and since I didn't get a chance to grab on some food, this was a blessing in disguise. Chatted with a couple females on the bus, the men were all obnoxious.. :P

25th morning, I headed off to Namita and Priya's house near Baga. Post friday night, I expected these girls to be drunk and sleepy.. I reached at about 11:30 pm and Priya was still sleeping and someone by the name of Sonia was also sleeping in Namita's room. Namita was no where to be seen, apparently she went off to sleep at her friend's place because Sonia had taken her bed :D

Sonia is an Afro Indian lady, who was in Goa writing her thesis on Afro Indian Lifestyles in India. She is studying in France. She still looked hungover and dead and I had just met her, so I didn't know what would make her feel better. Nonetheless, since I was hungry [no breakfast] and she looked like she wanted some breakfast, we headed off to the near by restaurant to eat something.

Had some banter about Commitment, Marriage, Guys, having kids and not having kids and how 33 yrs and Socialogy has taught her what life is all about... All this over Masala Omlette and Veg Fried Rice with Coke and Mazza.. And then we headed off, when she insisted she wanted to go back to Panjim to her house, as she had a lot of stuff to wrap up.

Asked a couple people there for rickshaws and where we can get them, no one had a clue. So we crossed the road and stood under a tree against a White Maruti 800, and were looking for an empty rickshaw to Panjim or Mapusa. 2 mins.. 5 mins.. no luck and the sun was burning me up.

The traffic was speeding past and no one even bothered to stop by and help us what so ever. The roads were thin and two lane traffic is something which was almost impossible on these tracks. But traffic was flowing.. at almost 50 - 60 kmph.

Worse comes to worse, I would have had to hire a bike and drop her to Mapusa and drive back to home at 1 in the afternoon. I suggested to come back home and rest for some more time and leave in the noon, but she was hell bent on leaving at 1 pm. So I accompanied her..

We were still waiting for rickshaws when a speeding inter city volvo, which looked almost out of control of the driver, was coming towards us. Considering that we were standing off the road, Sonia didn't expect it to come and bang into us. I mean, the bus is expected to move atleast half a meter away from the parked vehicles if not more. I moved behind the car because I didn't want a scratch on my body. But she was still there, leaning against the car so that she can be safe.

Well, the bus came crashing into the White 800, scratched the car, pushed it about half a meter from the road and also hit Sonia. Sonia was pushed about a meter from the car on the sides of the road and her head was bleeding. All this happened in the second that I moved from the car to the back.

I ran to her, was disgusted at the driver's ways. The bus had stopped about a 50 metres away and someone from the bus had already called the Emergency Number - 108. Gave her some water to drink and shouted at the driver, apparently the guy I shouted on wasn't the driver :P

Till the Emergency Van came, we figured that she had fractured her right arm, it was swollen and painful. The Emergency Van took us to Calangute Hospital which looked like some shady Government hospital, but the services were ok. They cleaned up the open wound and stitched it up. Almost 14 stiches on the forehead ! and applied some red tonic on the other open wounds.

In between, Sonia called up one of her friend who came to see her at Calangute Hospital. Priya and Myself had to accompany her all over Goa because apparently her "friends" were all working on a "national holiday". She also informed her Mother about the accident and aunty was trying all possible ways to figure out how to help Sonia from Bangalore.

The right arm was squashed and the Doctor just tied it to her neck with a bandage for support. She was being carried around on a wheel - chair. We were asked to move to a specialty hospital for X - Rays and CT Scans and we drove off to Goa Medical College.

It was the 26th of January and everything was shut. And it was getting difficult to get small things done. Goa Medical College took a lot of time to carry out tests. Priya was running around with her because I couldn't sit any longer in the Emergency Ward, which had people puking and screaming with pain. It kinda brought back memories of Ahmedabad Blasts and the patients at the Civil Hospital [I had gone to meet them 3 days after the blast, with a reporter friend]. So I was waiting outside.

One of Aunty's Contacts came to meet Sonia at Goa Medical College, someone with connections in the Government and private establishments in Goa.. Rich Man :D. We were a little relaxed then.

It was almost 3 pm and Priya was hungry.. She'd just gotten up and washed her face and brushed too [apparently she thought it must be some minor accident so she dressed up and freshened up before coming out to see the drama on the road outside her house] but didn't have anything to eat. So we rushed to the Hospital Coffee Parlour [Nescafe it was] and called for lots of stuff to eat. I explained her the entire story and she still looked confused.. Had to use the empty glasses from all the drinks we had and animated the scene on the table.. was fun.. :P and she seemed to be following it, so all was good.

I am not sure if such tragedies and dramas in my life make me a comedy model, may be its just a reflex action to not show the tension on my face and in my head. But I was smiling all through out and handled the situation pretty much well.. I would say so. This was the first time I'd ever faced an accident and so it was good..

Talked to a couple friends, while Sonia got herself checked up at the CT Scan place but all in vain.. didn't really help.. I didn't know how I was feeling.. One part of me said its all fine and that I need to keep my head open and take quick decisions and that tensions on this moment will screw up more than one life.. Had this rush of blood and energy and all good things which kept me going..

God was there.. And I knew he was there.. cus I was saved by a second and I knew he would help me.. :) help me survive till Sonia gets into better hands..

Goa Med College wasn't of much help, to the extent that they didn't want to give it in writing about the analysis they did on her and the injections they gave her. The IAS Office [Aunty's Friend] made a decision of taking her to the Manipal Hospital. We carried Sonia back into his car and drove to Manipal which is pretty much South Goa. Sonia was craving for a smoke, lit one for her and she was happy.

Manipal Hospital is close to the Cidade Goa resort, pretty location !

We put her into the hospital's custody and while they did their duties. What a relief !

The X-Rays and CT scan was done again and the reports mentioned multiple fracture of the right shoulder which had to be operated and no other major injuries. The Right Shoulder would be eventually fixed with metal joints because it was squashed completely.
The operation was scheduled for the 28th Morning. I still haven't got a chance to talk to her and ask her how she is, but I know that her family reached Goa on Tuesday morning to take care of her.

Another problem emerged before we could leave her in the hospital. Someone had to stay back with her all through the night to take care of her demands etc. We were in a fix and hoping she had enough friends to stay back at the hospital, because we barely knew her to stay back and take care. Over and above that, both of us were dead tired and lived pretty far away, leave that, We didn't have clothes or the morning stuff to stay back at the hospital.

Sonia then called her friend to come and stay back at the hospital and he agreed.
It was almost 7:00 P.M. when we left her. Her friend had still not come and we were not in a mood to stay longer.

Bid her farewell and headed off home, only to find Max sitting with Namita in her room. Max is Makarand Deshpande :)

Eventually, Sujoy drove down to Namita's place and the five of us headed off to Whispering Lake Resort, near Arambol Beach to have some gala time and good food. Makarand and Sujoy are Namita's friends. Sujoy lives in Goa itself and is a journo by profession, and Makarand came down from Mumbai to spend the extended weekend in Goa :)

Whispering Lake Resort was one heaven and after all the jazz during the day I really needed some piece of mind and a nice place to relax. The place has been designed and maintained by Stanzin, again Namita's friend from TISS. Amazing person and amazing work. If you like this place and want to make a visit there, leave a comment on this blog with your e-mail ID and I shall put you in touch with Stanzin.

The Night passed away singing with another bunch of people and Makarand Dancing :)




coming up, Bangalore - Goa Adventures_Day 2

Whispering Lake Resort

Whispering Lakes Resort, originally uploaded by PaGLi.

A resort in Goa, owned by a Friend's Friend [Stanzing], who also happens to have a resort in Ladakh.

The interesting story is that, 8 months of the year he spends in Goa and 4 months in Ladakh, taking care of his resorts in both these places.

The Goa Resort is constructed and designed by him, including all the rooms and the eating place. The rooms and the outside lounges are made up of wood and hay and he has also used Mud, Cement, Clay and Plastic where required. He builds and fixes all the fixtures with his group of other 10 - 15 people, all from Ladakh after the rains in Goa.

Whispering Lake Resort is washed away during Rains every year, and is built back in over weekends after the rains by Stanzing and his Team.

Amazing Enthusiasm. Was a pleasure meeting him in Goa and I have plans of checking out his Ladakh resort sometime this year as well.

aDeSe

Thor

Thor 2, originally uploaded by PaGLi.

A pic from the closest Bird Sanctuary in Ahmedabad. This one's from my 2 mp Mobile Cam and I have played around with colors in Photoshop. Feel free to leave comments :)

More Pics coming up soon.

aDeSe

The Meeting with the Man

I saw him walk out from the class, barely got a glimpse of his forehead.. tried to look through the crowd, and still couldn't manage to see him..

The crowd still surrounded him.. running behind to touch, probably take an autograph, talk to him, just see and I don't know what else..

Anyways, I ran, ran behind the crowd.. I wanted to see him ! I mean, I can't just go back to my room without having a glance, like a proper one. And no one would accept it, if i told them that I saw his head..

Pushed a few people, smashed against the benches on the way, dropped a couple coins [nah, I didn't bother turning around and picking them up] and pushed a few fat and slow people on my way.. ran down the slope and then tried to walk through the security.. didn't work out..

And I suddenly heard one of the guys "He will go up the stairs, clear the crowd, quick" and I jumped through the pool of Lilies, and went right in front of the stairs and stood there waiting for him to cross me. I was the only one..

I was at the stairs almost 5 seconds before him, a good enough time to have a full glimpse. Black T-shirt and a blue jeans, just like the receptionist described. I saw him, he saw me. I smiled, He smiled back. I waved at him and he waved back. All this before he started climbing the staircase to head off to his room..

Hehh.. never done this before.. Not for a guy, not for a celebrity, but yes, this time around, it was just for a kick. A saturday evening, and Ahmedabad doesn't really have much to offer, except for this lil adventure, which was going down the right track...

Well, I did see him.. So did, other normal junta.. I had to do something much more than that.. yeah, what, get an autograph, get a pic with him.. hmm, or may be something else.. things were running through my head, but cut it short.. An Autopgraph and a pic should be good enough. So what if some 80 people got to do it too, its awwrite for a start, and gives me enough kick for the moment..

Was walking back to my room, when I suddenly decided to walk to the first floor and check up on his room number.. ran up the stairs on the other end of the guest house, obviously, there won't be any security there. reached 'his' area.. crowded by some fat men and a whole lot of security guys... My colleague didn't want to walk in till there, cus she was probably scared or knew that they won't let us in there. Anyways, I tried, once, and confirmed if he was in there.

The room number was not visible, as his room was pretty inside in the wing.. Had to do something about this..

I walked down, and at dinner with some people, I made a plan of getting his room number..

"So how many people from the conference haven't paid up the room tariff" I asked the receptionist at the Guest House... In Between, the receptionist got a phone call and he got busy. And this was the chance. Flipped through a couple pages and there it was.. Aamir Khan 220*.. Wooo Hooo.. I like almost wanted to do a jig there, right in front of the receptionist.. Ha ha..

I walked back to my room, thinking what happen should next. I have the room number, but not the Land line number...

I faintly remembered that rooms around his were also given away.. and thought it would be a nice idea to call up the reception and ask for someone's number around his room.. So I called up and the same guy picked up the phone.. And I asked him for the number.. Apparently, the rooms around his were let out to his crew.. May be the secretary and four bodygaurds.. So he just wouldn't give me the number to the rooms.. "Ma'am no one is there in those rooms" is all I got to hear...

I kept the phone down, pretty upset. Still thinking what to do, when this brilliant Idea struck me.. Brilliant, atleast I want to call it so, but yes, it actually was pretty brilliant...

I had the directory to the Institute land line numbers.. !

Flipped through it, and found the series.. 2201 - 2210.. and calculated his phone number.. I was delighted..

Pallavi was chatting with me on GTalk, kinda told her what was running through my brains.. And gave her the number too.. She was too scared to call up..

I gathered some courage, and called up.. First time, I just heard some fax tone.. All plans seemed to fall to ground.. Wanted to give up, but tried one more time..

And it connected..

"Hi, who's this" he asks me.. "Hi.. can I know who is this on the other end"

"Yes.. Aamir here".. And I was all smiles..

"Hi Aamir, this is one of your fans calling, from campus.. " and all I could hear was giggles.. It was a nice feeling.. Yes I was talking to Aamir Khan over a Land line and no it wasn't a dream.. :)

We talked for some time.. like a minute, cus he wanted to crash and wake up early for his early morning flight.. I asked for a favour.. and he accepted it..

5:15 am is what he said, 4:50 am is the time we reached at the Guest house, for the fear of losing out on meeting him. First we were asked to leave by the receptionist. But Pallavi almost shouted on him saying "But, we talked to him over the phone and he asked us to come", which didn't help either. Eventually, the Guest House Manager - Neeraj, came to our rescue. Probably he met up with him and convinced him to let 5 - 6 people meet him at the entrance. We were delighted..

And well, the wait of 15 + extra delayed time was totally worth it. He walked down the stairs, charismatically and we three [Pallavi, Anushree and myself] headed off to meet him, take pics and autograph.

This did give me a kick.

There was this instant connection, greetings exchanged, and it seemed like he already knew me.. I am sure, he recognized my voice and also my face after the one second meeting in the evening.

Everything that I wanted to tell him, just vanished out of my head. Specifically, wanted to tell him about my Birthday falling 24hrs before his and how much I loved his old releases like Qayamat se Qayamat Tak, Andaz Apna Apna, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Jo Jeeta wohi Sikandar and the latest ones Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Rang De Basanti and ofcourse TZP, and about Imran Khan, and about how I like his Ads and acting and well, everything :D

Got some pics clicked. I am waiting for some better pics from the others who were standing there.

[click on the pic for a bigger version, Pallavi - Anushree - Aamir, in that order from Left to Right]

[click on the pic for a bigger version, Pallavi - Anushree - Aamir - Aditi, in that order from Left to Right]

"So you are the one who blog's on http://aamirkhan.com/blog right?" and I got an affirmation to that question. Pretty impressive to know he reaches out to his fans himself and not through his PRO or Secretary who might be writing for other celebs on their Blogs.

That's the end of one awesome Saturday Night. Well spent, not Partying or watching movies, but waiting to meet someone early in the morning and bidding him farewell.

The most embarrassing part was getting a kiss on the cheeks by both Pallavi and Anushree together.. He He He.. They were so happy.. I think all of us will remember this for the rest of our lives, atleast I will :)

I shall wait for Mahesh Bhatt and the rest of the Bollywood team to come to campus, probably might end up chatting with them for longer than what it was with Aamir Khan. I wish there was some time to talk to him. Hoping to catch up with Aamir Khan over Coffee sometime in Mumbai. Lets see.. :)


Adios..

aDeSe

P.S. Aamir was at IIM Ahmedabad for one of the second year courses called Contemporary Film Industry, which some of us from the Centre also wanted to take up, but weren't allowed to. And his Secretary was in the very next room, the number of which I had asked for from the receptionist.

P.P.S. Pagalpan Resurrected ? :P