In my own apartment!

It's been almost a week since I updated my weblog! Since I arrived, in the very first week, I was so busy, moving into and fixing up and settling down in my apartment with around next to the Dambovita River, and up many stairs on the 2nd floor. I am in Romania! First thing which comes in your mind is “communist” concrete bloc apartment buildings ...WAIT A SECOND!!! Nope, in fact it was a royal stable - an installation for equestrian exercises, horse stables and services grouped in pavilions around a large square inner courtyard treated in the manner of Italian regionalism... luckily all these things are now in the pages of the past and was turned into student's dorms and state institution accredited for the activity in physical education and sports in 1950's.

Seriously it’s quite nice inside. We have a nice entry, two bedrooms, living cum dining area and tiny kitchen (actually a passageway). The bathroom is kind a nice. We had a washing machine; well it’s not there anymore, a good terrace to hang the laundry outside to dry, like everyone else.
What to say?? Worst of all, , OR best of all, I cooked very first time in my whole life! Romanian food is largely pork, chicken, salami, cheese, cabbage, and potatoes. The national dishes are cabbage rolls, called sarmale (“sar-ma-lay”), a sort of cornmeal mush called mamaliga (“mama-leega”), and Papanasi, traditional dessert recipe from Transylvania. They don’t like spicy food AT ALL, and still, being an Indian, I want spicy food, maybe not that hot. I managed to score some “hot salt, spices” and Indian food courtesy a friend back from India staying in the same apartment. The local folks usually shop every day, and eat whatever is in season.

I've been doing a LOT of walking, so I'm probably losing weight, hopefully. Unbelievably, I have high-speed Internet at dorm and a cable television. Soon I’ll have a new cell phone…I guess, after my first cell got stolen somewhere in bucharest.

Everyone in Romania adores flowers, gardening, all growing things, babies and animals… ESPECIALLY DOGS! But some things are funny to me: they always carry flowers upside down, with the stems up (I wonder if the flowers actually stay nicer that way, all hamburgers and other sandwiches include the french fries INSIDE the sandwich, pizza doesn't have any tomato sauce and hardly any cheese, but it's always served with Romanian ketchup, dulce (sweet) or picante (spicy). Most women wear very high heels, tight low-cut clothing, and care a great deal about fashion and women of all ages often have reddish, almost maroon-colored hair. I’ve heard that Romanian women are the most beautiful in the world, and it’s likely true!!

The stories of the communist years are really scary, the dictator’s control lasted for forty years, and finally in December of 1989 the people revolted and killed him and his even crazier wife. So this country has only been independent for 17 years!

Being a part of EU for past 2 years, modern conveniences are also arriving fast. They are expensive, but they are here. In some ways, three months seems like a very long time, and in other ways it seems like home here. I hope someone manages to come and visit while I’m here….you never know!!

I went to quite a few places around Romania like Sibiu, Sighisoara, Sinaia, Constanta..etc..etc…This weekend probably will be going to Brasov located in the central part of the country, about 166 km from Bucharest. I’ll be back soon with more escapades of my Romanian travel….soon.

Escapades of Romania I

It has been quiet a while I have been inactive in this blogging arena. I think it’s the right time to strike the keys of my keyboard, fill ink in my sketching pens and markers….and start jotting down the excerpt from my experience…a travelogue!!

Romania, well first thing which strikes our mind are - land of the Dracula (a myth of course…I figured it out myself after coming here); home to the mysterious Transylvania region, where vampires are said to appear from fog-covered castles set high in the desolate mountains towering above rural villages.

In reality it is quiet a mesmerizing and charming experience to come here and in some way or the other become a part of this beautiful European country for three months. The enchanting landscape is spotted with picturesque windmills, articulate monasteries, and ornate churches, all perched in an untamed, mountainous terrain that rolls across Eastern Europe.

In August of 2009, I embarked on this European internship travel journey all alone from Mumbai (India) after completion of my internship tenure back in Pune. I would be working here in an architectural firm for almost 80 days. After almost 16 hours of travelling, I finally landed in Otopeni international airport, nestled in the capital city of Romania - Bucureşti.

I was picked up by Mihai, an ex-student from the architecture university. We loaded into a Renault mini-van and pulled onto the crowded city streets and boulevards. We were passed by dozens of miniature and luxurious sport vehicles, zipping between lanes and around corners. Modern day innovations exist harmoniously with Old World ways of life. It was absolutely fascinating. As I would soon discover, the country’s splendor is both amplified and haunted by the remnants of a fierce era of communism. Under communist control for more than 40 years, the cinder-block buildings still fill Romanian cities, but the preservation of Moldavian and Gothic architectural styles give the country a timeless feel.

For first few weeks it was pretty tough on my part to adapt to the food, roads and the ROMANIAN language. It was probably among the first of the romance languages to split from Latin, greatly influenced by Spanish, Greek, Turkish, German and Hungarian!!

The other international interns, who were incredibly warm and generous, welcomed me with open arms. In fact its all because of them that I don’t feel lonely staying thousand miles away from my home. Over the next few weeks, I became engrossed with the Romanian culture and the language.

The people are quiet hospitable though the same doesn’t apply for everyone, the tourism industry is bit underdeveloped at the moment but would definitely catch adequate pace in the coming years..

By this write-up I suspend my almost one year long mourn… Remember this is just the pilot write-up for my travelogue, I’ll be back soon with more escapades of my Romanian travel.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY>>

Year 2009 is here >>

It is the start of a fresh new year. 2009 is here! Thousands of people around the world have a fresh outlook on the year to come. This year has been an eventful one especially for me and probably for millions around the globe including you ofcourse. This year I started the blogging thingie but could'nt give my 100% to it, hopefully this year I'll try to be bit more regular in my posts. I'll like to thank all those critics and visitors for viewing my blog and expressing their feelings and comments. Many of the people around the globe are using the wonderful idea of a New Year's resolution. The New Year's resolution can be an extremely successful goal setting plan if used correctly...ah!ah! gottta admit, have to work a lot in this "being regular and timing" department.

Whether your resolution is to lose 15 killos or to stop biting your nails, the power of goal setting can help you. The New Year's resolution is simply another term for a yearly goal. With that said, there are many important steps to goal setting itself.

· First, the goal you choose for your New Year's resolution must be attainable. It cannot be something like "I want to learn to be a superhero or batman".

· Once you have your resolution in mind, it is important that you put it in writing. Writing it down helps you better understand your commitment to your goal.

· Now that you have it written down, put it in a place where you can see it every single day. If you see your resolution every day, it will give you motivation and determination to meet your resolution. Or, if you are like me, it will annoy you enough to work your hardest to make it go away.

· As time goes on, it is important to check on your progress. If you are being successful, good for you. If you are not, there is still hope. This is the last big piece of goal setting to take in consideration: managing and arranging your goals. For example, if you are trying to lose 15 killos and you are finding it a challenge, try to aim for 7 killos instead.

With the start of a new year, it is a good idea to set a New Year's resolution.I used to have a high passion for something in the begining, but then start ignoring with the passage of time. All I wish is that I could keep the energy to the end, I feel this time my goals are different, and I really think I could catch my goal and so can you! Fight for it! Let's go!!!

Bums....yeee!!

I've been out of this blogging thing for more than 2 months I suppose and I am returning back to the arena with this post.

I have been thinking of keeping this post on and off private mode. I guess I should stop pondering on what is or isn't appropriate.This is after all my blog. The good overrules the evil,and i thank all the angels who stood by me.

I went to my archive, scrolling down randomly picking entries to read.There was a period of floods, architecture, flowers and kayaks. I was enthralled, charmed, I was happy and I laughed at everything. It felt like everything was near perfect, my life ran smooth. I was literally breathing love and content, and all I ever needed, was for time to stop there and then. But, time never did. It went tick-tock-tick-tock, and before I knew it, my sorrow was here. It's no more sunshine or pretty flowers. It's just leafless trees and twigs. Life is nothing more than a festal or funeral procession. Blows after blows are coming right at me like asteroids, I think Armageddon is coming, at least mine is coming. I'm going to be blown into tiny gazillion pieces, and sparkle the world.

Today is one of those days, where I just want to keep to my hostel room or some abandoned place, and not let anyone find me. Devoid of all communication devices I have,just enjoying the peace of being alone, in somewhere i felt safe. Today is one of those days, which made me want to hide away under a rock and take a moment away from life. I want to experience anything but, pain.

It's my birthday today, on the 27th /10.

I'm sorry you can't be here, I'm sorry i can't be with you, but actually I m happy, If you guys begin giving me the special Birthday Bums until my butts became rosy red and numb, I wouldn’t be sitting and writing this blog entry rather would be in some hospital getting medication for your precious love. I'm sorry you missed your much anticipated gathering, but still I got a pretty good kicking wishes from my mates rather a queue lined up in front of my room waiting patiently to try their karate skills on poor me "birthday boy".

Its diwali(one of the biggest national festival) here in this part of the world. Iam terribly missing my family and school friends. Sky high and ocean deep kind of misses, misses with no measures . . .I wish I could weep the world away, or at least roll around in bed and forget it all, but you guys and my mates are here who fill my void starving for familiarity, affection and companionship…

Thanks a lot for all your wishes, except for those who kicked the hell out of me. God knows who started this tradition, wish I could have given that guy a tight kick and ask him from where did you got this idea to start this stuff.

As the birthday arrives, person rather thinking about the birthday ceremony starts counting the number of persons he going to get bums from?

Will this be his last birthday or will he be alive to see his next one?

My end semester exams starting next month and I haven’t read a single word, let’s face it then!!

Cyah and happy diwali to all!!

My new roomie !!

     Well there are times in your hostel life when you tend to be all alone, sitting in your room watching some movie - crap in your lappy or listening music in your mp3 player...or simply doing nothing at all!! Those are the times when you tend to get bored to the utmost hilt and you definitely want some company who can help you get rid of this boredom.. Frankly speaking I got a roomie already but he is a busy kind of person...One who is in engaged in lot of co-curricular activities..he is an awesome dancer and is a member of NIT-Trichy dance troupe, so majorly he returns to the den by late night...

     Lets come straight to the point...my new roomie...well she ...ya whatever you are reading is a fact...a in a boys hostel...she is really cute, someone you can play with, someone with whom you can share your thoughts with, chat for long hours non-stop, she even won't get irritated or bugged. She is definitely my new sweetheart, I just love her. Well she is my lovely new baby cat - a kitten to be more precise. My roomie found her day before yesterday lying all alone in one of the hostel corridors, she was very hungry and the poor thing wanted someone to take care of her, so we decided to take the initiative and now she is a part of our life. She is irresistibly cute and loves to hop around my study table, loves to play with ball and strings...drinks lot of milk, actually thats the only thing she intakes, she rejects everything other than this..Still 3 yrs to go in my college life, hope she will grow up and become reponsible by that time so that I can leave her where she actually belongs - her own habitus!!

Life at trichy>>

Hi everyone out there!! Its been really long since I posted my last article...well the reason for this delay is quiet obvious...guys i m back in college...back in trichy!!

Got a new hostel room, far better than the last one...name of my hostel is garnet (its a kind of precious gem...if I go for the literal meaning)...neways its the nomenclature they…the college administration use for the hostels here, probably cos’ the south indian people are too fond of gold jewelleries and stuffs related to it...ya ya including precious stones as well...Name of my last year hostel was jade(again a kind of gem) before that it was agate and coral....for girls its opal...It actually creates lot of confusion in my mind as well, am I studying in some technical college or some gem-jewellery designing school..

So I m back on grill, weather is too hot, with scorching sun right overhead almost throughout the year, just the inverse what I m used to at home. Yesterday met few of the fresh bloods...well I mean juniors and definitely will be meeting another bunch of them in coming days...College as such is still the same, still there are few exceptions which should be given due respect and must be mentioned, My architecture department got some fresh landscaping treatment in the courtyards as well as at the portico, new hospital is coming up almost 80% done, mostly they will be shutting down the old one. New central library cum media center is coming up and will be ready in another few months or so. Well there are always some bad news everytime I return back from my vacations, this time its even worse!! These webmasters(the internet server guys) blocked around 30000 websites and prohibited download feature on web..they made my life miserable...you know what does no-downloading mean - no music, no books, no softwares...they literally limited my resources by 1000%, and i m totally cut-off from the outside world, these guys don't understand a simple thing...WHERE THE HELL I'LL GET NEW HINDI AND ENGLISH MP3 HERE IN DOWN SOUTH CAMPUS?? Coming back to college it’s not that pleasant as it used to be earlier but if you talk about the living standards, definitely that department got a face-lift...garnet rulezzz big time!!

Chao!!

Leaving for college

On 20th I m leaving for the college after a long vacation and when I say long - it was really long...semester break.. So another few days to go!!

I wanted to share these lines with everyone out there, these lines mean a lot to me...I read these about 2 years back during FIFA world cup finals (Italy vs. France) - well that was the day when I left my home to join a college in a place called trichy (tamil nadu), a place I had never heard of, never seen, just knew that it was a good place for technical education and all , thats it!! I was really nervous and sad, and didn't want to display those emotions and sentiments…the mental agony I was going through to mom and dad. First time in my life I was leaving my home and family behind and going to stay in some hostel at NIT campus for long 5 years. These lines helped me cope a little bit.

Leaving For College

My final day with familiarity
My last day at home before
I must
Leave for college

A lonely feeling
Is unshakable as
I realize what I leave
And what I leave it for

All my things to be packed away
Hugs will be shared and
Tears will be shed
When I leave for college

The place I once called home
Will soon only be a place to visit
All my things, all my friends
Are to be left behind

I am so cold as I think
About the uncertain future
That my solo move holds
And I am scared

Scared, lonely, and sad
I will miss everything, everyone
As the world I once knew changes
And I must deal on my own

Excited, I am as well
For all the new things waiting
But right now, the fear
Of the unknown permeates my being

It's hard to look forward
When part of me still
Wants to hold on
To Mom's hand

A security blanket no more
I must grow up instantly
As my parents leave me
And I am scared

Scared, lonely, and sad
I just want to hold onto that
Hand forever
To be protected forever

Change, uncertainty
They scare everyone
But fear must be overcome
So I will go

I know the tears will flow
I am already choked up
I know I will miss them
I know I am afraid

But I must face the fear
Bravely
To grow into someone
They can be proud of

Scared, lonely, and sad
Nervous, afraid, and worried
Excited, anxious, antsy
The time has come

The time to leave the nest
And fly on my own
Even if it means
Falling a few times first

My love for them
My family and friends
Knows no boundaries
Always

I will miss you
But the time has come
So wish me luck
And I'll see you soon..

Guitar : definitely not my cup of tea!!

I have been a music lover since childhood. Over the years I have come across a good many number of musical instruments and loved all of them. But the instrument which fascinated me the most was the Guitar. It has always been my childhood dream someday learn to play a guitar like a rock star. People say learning to play guitar is difficult and easy at the same time. In my last vacation I thought of doing something about it, atleast initiate this learning process...so as a beginner I took an acoustic guitar.

I still remember what it felt like when I was first learning guitar...majorly frustrated, did'nt expect it to go this way. It requires lot of finger strength, stamina and patience..well requires tonnes of it...seriously. Its not that easy as I thought it would be - big time misconception.

You need to practice it daily (5 out of 7 days minimum) for at least an hour. If you want to learn quickly, you must force-feed your brain with guitar. This entails learning how to have a good ear for changes in sound/pitch/intonation, comfortably positioning your body (including leg, back, shoulder and arm positions), strum-hand coordination and technique, etc..etc..Pressing down on the strings harder will be painful, and will make your fingers hurt.

I actually tried my best to fulfill all the requirements but the major reason for my failure was in the practice department, I was unable to fulfil this because of the tight academia. Practice makes perfect isn't just some old wives' tale. Well another reason is bit unusual but pretty true in my case.

I always have had problems with constant breaking guitar strings which makes me go infuriated. They say it is actually attributed to my playing style, simply playing too hard on my guitar strings. Whatever!! Mostly after finishng college I'll again switch back to guitar and try to achieve what I longed for!!

Bhopal lake - its big..really big!!

Bhopal Lake 'n' me>>

Today I thought of showing you a place in Bhopal (India). I often visit this place almost every week or so, whenever I m on semester break.. The bhopal city sprawls over seven hills, like Rome. Well you just can’t compare Bhopal with Rome at all, I m just talking in terms of topography…lol!! There are many lakes and for this reason, bhopal is known as the City of Lakes. Upper Lake is in the center of the city and its so large that you can't see all the way across and, for a moment, you imagine you're at the seashore.

Boating, water sports and kayaking....or simply hanging around are the most common thing that people use to enjoy in this lake. I just include here some images or photos of Bhopal Upper Lake and ya me...hehe.

lake view from promenade
Thats me!!

There is a temple in the center of the lake in just a small island. And you can go up to the temple by boating. When to go there?? Well best time to go there according to me is in the evening when the sun is near the horizon and about to verge. Cold wind of the lake in the evening will take away all the sorrow and tensions off your mind, this thing goes for me I dunno about others. This is a peak time and you will majorly find couples and college youth hanging around in promenade and cafeterias....and ya the fresh water cruises (namely "LakeView Princess") are another center of attraction.

Evening time!! Isn't it captivating!!

In the other side of the lake, there is marine drive and it must be around 4-5 Kilometres long. The road is totally straight and it runs by the side of Upper Lake.

At marine drive, bhopal!!

This Marine Drive is even a better place to hang out with friends in bikes and other open vehicles to feel some fresh air during summer and autumn...ahh this place is definitely a paradise if you are committed or into some kind of relationship, just come here with your dear ones, I bet you will remember time spent here for quiet a long time....

But plz do think twice before coming here if you are a SINGLE DUMB like me, mentally prepare yourself to keep yourself cool, and don't get frustrated chewing peanuts and cashews all alone...lol!!

Cheers:)

Anurag

Relationship between music and architecture!!

NOTE: even true for other professions as well!!

Architecture and music both have movements and feelings.A musician expresses its feelings through music and architect..obviously through his design. Both these people can use what is at thier diposal to bring forth something that could produce deep emotions or nothing at all.hehe....
Rhythm and pitch can invoke soul in music listioners and elevate it altogeher into a new level, the same way visual rhythm of forms and spaces in architecture with pitched elements like colour and texture can elevate soul to boundary-less and timeless ambience of architecture.

Well this is my view, I enjoy music a lot while designing and hope the same goes for many architects and architecture students all around the world...still there always can be exceptions...If there is no music...err....I can't think at all, my brain goes dead and stiff as frozen ice...I think thats the only reason I find it difficult during the design exams - music is not allowed in the exam studios...shit, they should allow it atleast for people like us. Anyways I need to mention, other than architecture its also quiet true to a certain extent for other core professions as well....I think...lol!!

Your personal views on this post are most welcome>>

If you are also addicted to music during work like me, you are most welcome to join arch-muzik group!!

Cheers:)
Anurag

Still pencil is the BEST!!

Well I thought of writing this post because of the few incidents I came across these days. Due to the advent of some 3d modelling and visualisation softwares like 3dsmax, maya and archiCAD people have started to design using these as their primary medium, they have literally forgotten the paper and pencil. Many famous designers around the world still prefer pencil as their primary design medium and later using computer simulations and applications as their secondary medium....People think pencil sketching is a waste of time and much more manual labour, well.....its true to a certain extent still using computers to start a design from a scratch may hamper your creativity to a large extent and restricts your mind and graphic co-ordination. Pencil or pen is a must for graphical thinking... Anyways I found this tool Google SketchUp software quiet an useful tool in the preliminary design stage, when your building's form and concept development are in process. You can use the software to feel the virtual environment and built space....But still pencil to me is the best!!
Cheers:)
Anurag

Unforgettable match!! Nightmare for indian batsman!!

India’s bad record of Final remains the same as before as they lost yet another important final . Eight years ago, , Sanath Jayasuriya scored a magnificent 189 before Sri Lanka’s bowlers sent India tumbling to 54 all out, and a humiliating 245-run defeat.And at Karachi now he is 39 scored a superb century and stunning bowling by Mendis put India to yet another humiliating defeat by 100 runs. Mendis created a history in Asia Cup as he took 6 wickets for 13 runs which was not done before this.

Well I thought sri lanka were good 30 runs short from the psychological target of 300+ and seems to be a cakewalk for India with its famed batting line up. First 8 overs actually went according to my expectation - all srilankan pace bowlers were wacked all around the park by sehwag until this guy mendis came. A new face in one day international cricket with an unorthodox bowling action as far as spin bowling is concerned, flights the ball in the air and the ball literally skids from the track generating that extra pace and trajectory thus beating the batsman in the air. All indian batsmen struggled against him and he provided breakthroughs at regular interval thus striking the spinal cord of india's line-up..majorly, almost paralysing it...Dhoni played a captains knock but all in vain and srilanka clinched the asia cup trophy 4th time, first time outside srilanka..That surely is an achievement and they really deserve a hard party!!

India definitely need to rethink and reconfigure its batting startegies before the coming up srilanka series.

Cheers:)
Anurag

ONE DAY - a batsman's game??

20/20 has started to show its effect on oneday international matches and a very recent example is the asian cup 2008 taking place in pakistan. Scoring 300+ runs in the first innings is becoming a norm, very soon 400+ would be considered to be a DECENT total. A team scoring less than that would be considered a weak team.

I know its a bit of exaggeration but I can see some team to go onto score 500(Again I am not saying this would happen tomorrow, may be it will never happen, but after seeing the way players like Jayasuriya, sehwag, yuvraj and Gambhir are improvising and scoring at such a rapid pace while playing genuine cricketing shots, 500 is definitely a possibility in the coming years.

Yesterday I saw the match between India and Srilanka and was a 300+ game, Srilanka scored a good 308 but as I said before times have changed so is the pace of the game, chasing down 300+ mammoth score 3 to 4 yrs back was supposed to be a tough ask but today..er..308 kinda score is chased down by India with 24 balls spared..
I m looking forward to the final match between India and Srilanka on sunday, god knows wat would be a safe taget on such flat pakistani wickets..maybe 350+ God knows!!

Feel free to express your thoughts.

Cheers:)
Anurag

Zaha hadid started designing shoes!!

Well for those people who are not familiar with zaha hadid, she is a world renowned british-iraqi deconstructivist architect. She is the first female recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, architecture's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Two days back I got bedazzled when I came to know about zaha hadid’s latest project. It is not a new skyscraper or opera house, but a rather small project.

The british architect teamed up with the brazillian plastic shoe manufacturer melissa to create a new design. The shoes features her signature morphed curves transformed into a ballet slipper like form. The form according to me is very alien in nature, a person fitting in those shoes will definitely be distinct in every characteristic..err....who would like to buy those shoes, maybe those hardcore zaha hadid fans or some fashion test-pilots...deconstructivists!!

Cheers:)
Anurag