Life is a creative thrust with everchanging forms

All the best for the forthcoming exams!

2012-01-25T21:05:00.000+05:30

Happy New Year 2012 _ ROME

2012-01-22T05:24:00.003+05:30

Christmas at Delft!

2011-12-25T07:47:00.003+05:30

SoMe team TU Delft enties in first month

2011-12-25T07:47:00.000+05:30

Are you the next one??

2011-10-06T22:05:00.002+05:30

Maybe someone like u...sitting this very moment looking at this sketch from ur laptop....will carry forward this Legacy where Steve Left us today... WHO KNOWS??

What to do list @ Delft

2011-09-04T07:01:00.001+05:30

Excepts from epicalendar '11

1.Do youfeel your room looks sad and boring?

Go to IKEA and buy something to decorate your room.

2.Do youneed food at your house?

You canfind fresh and cheap food at the market at the Marktplein, near the Nieuwe Kerkevery Thursday from 9:00 to 17:00. You will also find typical Dutch food!

3.Are youwaiting for the weekend to have fun?

You don’thave to wait anymore! Today you can go to “La Cantina”, Markt 3, and have aMargarita for 3 euros (only on Tuesdays).

4.Have youalready seen Delft from above?

Climb tothe Nieuwe Kerk tower for 2 euros, from 9:00 to 18:00, and have a magnificentview of the city!

5.You’regoing to live here for a long time, but do you know anything about Dutchhistory?

Learn whoWilliam of Orange was and take a picture of the place where he was killed.

6.Have youever eaten at a TU Delft cafeteria?

Have lunchat your faculty’s cafeteria, join a table with people you don’t know and take apicture with them in the end.

7.You’veprobably gone to the supermarket and didn’t know the Dutch words for things youwanted. True?

Make a listof what you want to buy and look for the translations, and then your visit tothe supermarket will be much easier! You can also ask people in the supermarketfor words you don’t know.

8.Doyou miss having contact with the nature?

Don’tworry! Delft has everything for you! You can take a walk and maybe camp atDelftse Hout, a small forest you can find in the eastern part of Delft, nearIKEA.

9.You’veheard about the famous Dutch tulips but have you ever bought one?

On Thursdays the flower market can be found at the Brabantse Turfmarktin the inner city of Delft. Just for fun, try having a five minute conversationwith the person who sells it to you.

10.Have youseen any other Dutch cities since you arrived here?

You and afriend could have a trip to a city nearby, such as Den Haag or Rotterdam. Youcan also try to get some information about the OV-chipkaart, that gives yousome advantages and discounts.

11.Have youalready shown your homeland traditional food to anyone?

Invitesomeone to have dinner at your house and cook something typical from yourcountry. You might have a really nice evening!

12.Have yougot some problems with your bike?

Maybe yes,or maybe not; but it will be useful to know where you can fix it or how to doit. Try to find some place, like HEMA (Molslaan 33), in which you can fix yourbike and if you are interested in you also can buy a repairing kit to do it byyourself.

13.Do youfeel “blue”?

Go to thedelftse Pauw factory at Delftweg 133. It is a dutch company that produces thehand-painted traditional blue delftware. You can get a free guided tour between9:00 and 16:30.

DARE TO!!

14. Whenwas the last time you ate fish?

You shouldtry the typical raw Haring. It’s very tasty and you can find it in many placesin the centre of delft.

Formulated by Nijmegen-1 Project Team for Introduction Programme 2011.

Illustration/caricatures by Anurag (India)

Product materialization by Xue (China), Anurag (India)

Activities formed by Francisco (Portugal), Ioanna (Greece), Jorge (Spain)

Presentation prepared by Simon (Germany), Ioanna (Greece)

My impression of holland

2011-07-18T23:43:00.000+05:30

Seems Like... Jus' Yesterday!

2011-06-19T18:10:00.002+05:30

Thesis...THEN and NOW!!

2011-06-09T09:29:00.002+05:30

FABULOUS '11

2011-01-01T01:10:00.001+05:30

2011 cartoon series: 4a/4

2010-12-31T19:08:00.000+05:30

@ LIVING

2011 cartoon series: 3/4

2010-12-30T14:16:00.001+05:30

@ DORMS

2011 cartoon series: 2/4

2010-12-29T13:39:00.001+05:30

@ OUTDOORS

2011 cartoon series: 1/4

2010-12-28T14:36:00.004+05:30

@ LIBRARY

Spanish matador VS dutches... WC'10 final it is!!

2010-07-09T23:46:00.000+05:30

World Cup 2010 is here!!

2010-06-11T13:56:00.003+05:30

Travel Photo Contest @blogadda

2010-05-28T20:23:00.010+05:30

This contest is sponsored by :

I have penned down quiet a few good number of travelogues right here in my blog, be it of my excursions to different parts of country or abroad. Well when it comes to the selection of 5 photos out of that large pool for this "travel photo contest", its kinda tough. Nonetheless, this time I have sorted out 5 photos from my Rajasthan trip and my internship location, "Romania - a sweet little country in the eastern Europe". These 5 photos are extension towards the capturing of various emotions with context to the location/surrounding.

But wait; Where are the in-dept thorough explanations to your photos?

Well, what I think, photography is a subjective work of art, and the interpretations could vary from one person to another depending on their mind and mood. So, I give full freedom to the reader to critique over the same. Anyways, I have taken the liberty to tag a CAPTION to each of the photos though.

Without wasting much of your precious time, lets start with it.

OPTIMISM

A BRIEF RESPITE

Only time - ANTICIPATION

RIDE FOR TRIUMPH

CLASHING AT VARIANCE

I hereby declare, all the above photographs have been taken by Anurag Bhattacharya, i.e. me at Jaisalmer(India), jodhpur(India), Sighisoara(Romania), Sibiu(Romania) and Brasov(Romania) repectively.

Well this is it, don't forget to critique over it, I mean the photos and lemme' know the light you see these photos in!! I am thoroughly excited to see the way you interpret these photos. That would be quiet a fun, I guess.

Cheers :)

Anurag

Summer is here!

2010-05-20T12:41:00.007+05:30

Now that May is upon us, and we climbing one step closer of becoming an architect, thus can finally see the speck of light at the end of the academic tunnel. Well summer vacations are here and that too a long one. Summer vacation for college students means a break from papers, demanding course schedules, and a chance to relax and maybe try out some new stuff. Some plan to spend the summer with families, while others will travel far from school working on internships or travelling around. Well what about my plans.... though had many before, preferred to stay back till the monsoon arrives.The summer this year has been unusually–yet predictably–very hot. Hotter than previous summers in ways more than one: with not just a peak daily hot session but the high heat intensity starting earlier in the day and not giving any real relief until long after dusk. The city has become an ideal case study for the proponents of climate change, and with the monsoon both arriving late and only giving a guest appearance, the impact of global warming has never been so evident to so many. The average temperature ranging from 42 degrees to 47 degrees Celsius, it's crazy!!

So my big plan this summer... is.... doing nothing!! Stay back... relax and enjoy the last longest vacations. Being an architecture student sometime sucks to the core, where my other engineering batch mates are all done with their courses, I still got another year left!

Well complaints apart, wishing my engineering friends all the very best and success in the future endeavors and professional career :)

Wish all a very happy holi!

2010-03-01T02:59:00.002+05:30

2010: A New Year with a New Prospective

2009-12-30T16:47:00.004+05:30

As the last little bit of 2009 winds down, and the first decade of this millennium comes to an end, it's the time of year to reflect on the old, dream of the new, and commit to a re-alignment of life. It's the reason New Year's resolutions are so popular nowadays, everyone seems to make them but no one keeps them.

Most of the world is under a blanket of winter weather, which gives us a great visual of what's to come. The temporary death of the trees, the grass, and the crops, gives us hope the newness will emerge with even greater fervency.

So as the last week draws to an end, I just wanted to take some time (all week) to spend on reflecting on the beauty of newness. I have experienced A LOT of newness this year. Some good. Some not so good. But one thing will remain, the beauty of the hope all things will be made more vibrant in the new year.

Twenty Ten: Bring it on, baby! Over & Out for 2000 & Nine....

Vibrant Rajasthan - Udaipur

2009-12-26T20:47:00.005+05:30

With the winters playing wicked games with us north indians, I was craving for some warm destination, where the sun had made its presence felt. I always wanted to visit the Forts in Rajasthan, the colourful and vibrant land of desert. I packed my bags and headed for the bright sunny skies. Going through some maps, I decided to start off with the lively city Udaipur. Dotted with exquisite marble forts and palaces, Udaipur showcases the rich history and architectural patterns of the Rajput Kings. Most of these forts and palaces were built in the medieval era by regal personages. I was completely overwhelmed to see the lavish interiors, royal decor and rugged exteriors of these spell bounding structures. Reflecting the lifestyles of the passionate Rajputs in the best possible manner, the City Palace stands over the Pichola Lake.

The palace was built by Maharana Uday Singh and later several palaces and structures were added to the complex by succeeding Maharanas. Various huge gates, the Mor Chawk (the peacock square), Armoury museum (exhibiting a huge collection of protective gears and weapons), Manak Mahal or the Ruby Palace (known for a lovely collection of glass and mirror work) and Krishna Vilas (displaying a rich collection of miniature paintings) are a few major attractions of the City Palace. The rooms of the Moti Mahal, Chini Mahal and the Zenana Mahal in the City Palace complex are superbly decorated with mirror tiles and paintings.

I then saw the renowned Lake Palace Hotel, located on an island on Lake Pichola. I also came to know that the Lake Palace Hotel was originally built by the Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1754. It is rated among the most romantic hotels in India as well as world over. I paid short visits to the famous Fateh Prakash Palace and Jag Mandir, which are known for authentic royal luxury. Almost all the major forts and palaces in Udaipur boast of the legends of their glorious past. These ancestral structures have witnessed several changes over the centuries and still they stand tall retaining the vibrant aspects of the age old cultures. If I start goin' into historical details... it would take me ages to complete the draft.

After going through these hyped touristic destinations, I snatched away some time to explore Udaipur, the inner city I had heard so many stories about. As soon as I walked out of the hostel, I found myself in the midst of a busy market. Colourful clothes, leather bound notebooks, hard carved wooden elephants and camels, stone carved ganeshas, colourful jootis, zari borders of old saris and so much for a shopper's delight.

Amidst the busy market I discovered these steps that reached quite high and ended in a temple far above. My curiosity led me to a marble temple of Jagdish (or Krishna) and spent some time there discovering the temple complex and its colourfully traditional Rajasthani people.There I found samosas, kachoris (those who don't know - a kind of snack popular in India) and tea, with fried green chillies and chopped onions... God! Does my mouth still water at the thought of it. Lemme' make it very clear, I am a big time foodie. Walking down I discovered many faces, many architectural wonders, ghaats, old bridges, mandirs (temples) and old houses or havelis. Curiosity and wonder not leaving us, I walked on and on…

The eateries were the most amazing discovery. All sort of food sells out there... Korean, Isreali, Mexican, Italian, Swiss, American, just name it. And yes you also might get a decent Rajasthani Thali there! Exploring beyond I found many small houses converted into cafe's that can hardly seat more than 8-10 people, but served all sorts of food, teaching how to draw miniature art. Even I tried my hands on painting with thin single hair brushes and learning how to do miniature art! I met an artist who did really good miniature work but gotta tell you it requires good amount of patience and good eye-sight ofcourse.

This was my first draft on my rajasthan trip... hope to post more on it asap!!

Packing for a journey

2009-12-11T21:43:00.003+05:30

Whenever I feel lonely or disgusted with my daily boring routine, I extract myself out from the barriers of my home and proceed on a trip to rejuvenate my senses with fresh energy. So the time has arrived and finally I am leaving for a trip to Rajasthan, a state of India, which is popularly known as the "Place of Rajput Warriors", a place that seems suspended in time, dotted with old forts and palaces and where monkeys and camels still dominate the streets. It fascinates the senses: the colorful saris, the twangy sounds of the sitar, the exotic scents of spices.

One of my friends told inorder to have an intimate look at the state, avoid the tour buses and hitch-hike. So that thing is definitely in my mind, though pretty tough to follow sometimes from past experiences. I am planning to cover Jaipur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Ajmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. I am pretty sure about these places though I can’t deny of some later additions, which happens with me almost everytime.

There was a time, I’d pack days ahead of any journey. I’d start thinking about what to take a week before setting off, and be mentally piling things and considering gadgets and options. Those days have gone. These days, I’m more likely to have a vague idea what I’ll be taking, and then throw it all together the night before I go, because there is such a thing as leaving it too late.

Hope the weather would be alright. Forecast looks OK and not super hot which is a great sign for a great trip. Keeping a daily journal of a trip sometimes get a bit cumbersome and boring, so you can expect postings in the coming days once my journey comes to its end… summarizing my experiences in Rajasthan in greater detail about the most interesting events. Can't wait to get packed... so much to do!!

So gotta’ do less typing and more packing :)

Dracula stigma?

2009-12-07T01:01:00.003+05:30

Well I am back in India…back to the grind after three months stay in Romania. The moment I stepped in Bucharest, I was flooded up with lot of questions… some answered and few still unanswered. One of the questions, which was quiet an over-rated was that of link between Romania and Count Dracula….Did u see him??…did u meet him??…how does he look like??…etc..etc.. I had enough of it and think it’s the right time to clarify this one, even if it took bit long. So, what about this Dracula stigma? Did such a person ever exist or was he simply a fictional character of Bram Stoker’s famous 1897 novel? In short, yes, he existed. However, the vampire notion is entirely fictional. Stoker’s inspiration for the Count Dracula character came from Vlad Dracul, a fifteenth century Romanian prince known for his exceedingly cruel punishments imposed during his reign. The most famous of these punishments was impalement, which earned Vlad the nickname “the Impaler”. Unfortunately, Vlad the Impaler’s original castle is nothing but a pile of rubble.

However, Dracula’s unofficial castle can be found in the town of Bran, about 20 miles south of Brasov. Bran Castle’s towering white walls, red-hued shingles, and threatening towers combine for a truly breathtaking site. The mystery and folklore surrounding Vlad Dracula’s involvement in the castle’s history add a sense of intrigue that will leave you hanging on the tour guide’s every word. You’ll climb through secret passageways, hear tales of violent battles and brutal impalement, and stand atop soaring turrets.

Romania’s most famous fictional citizen, Dracula, has certainly become a key promotional tool for the Romanian tourism industry. Even with the fallacy surrounding the Dracula myth, Romania’s tourism industry would be foolish not to use the legend of Dracula to attract visitors. So, if you’re feeling courageous and willing for an adventurous journey into the past, a rewarding and eye-opening experience is soon to follow back there in Romania, and who knows… maybe you turn out to be the lucky one and meet Dracula in person.

In my own apartment!

2009-10-08T14:55:00.003+05:30

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

2009-09-29T13:04:00.007+05:30

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>>

2009-08-02T11:37:00.001+05:30

Year 2009 is here >>

2008-12-31T11:04:00.006+05:30

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!!

2008-10-27T14:21:00.005+05:30

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 !!

2008-08-01T17:09:00.006+05:30

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>>

2008-07-27T20:01:00.004+05:30

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

2008-07-17T22:34:00.005+05:30

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!!

2008-07-14T15:27:00.004+05:30

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!!

2008-07-12T13:10:00.010+05:30

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!!

2008-07-10T17:49:00.004+05:30

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!!

2008-07-09T10:12:00.003+05:30

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!!

2008-07-07T13:20:00.004+05:30

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??

2008-07-04T17:17:00.002+05:30

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!!

2008-07-02T16:24:00.003+05:30

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

A new month = new fun…?

2008-07-01T17:56:00.002+05:30

July 1, 2008

A new month calls for some attention! There are several reasons for this, one of which is that it is after all, July. It’s just a great month because after long semester break, finally college is gonna reopen and this is actually where all the fun lies. Will be meeting classmates and friends after so many days...n ya will be there to welcome the freshers jrs... Anyway, 7 (July - month no.) is also a great number. 7 days make a week, 7 colors make a rainbow..etc. It’s a number indicating a fresh start. Hush….

Well, this is it.

You bet…..

Cheers:)
Anurag

Euro 2008 final !!

2008-06-30T17:54:00.004+05:30

So I m back after a break.. Today I witnessed one of the most one sided finals in soccer history..

Spain had gone close twice before the goal from Torres.

Torres showed what a dangerous finisher he is after 33 minutes. Philipp Lahm appeared to have Xavi's through-ball covered but fractionally hesitated as he hoped Lehmann would reach it first and that was all Torres needed as he sped past him then cleverly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

Spain's precision delivery earned them several more half-chances early in the second half but none were taken and Germany, never a team to give up on a trophy without a fight, raised their game but still one of the most boring final clashes I have ever seen.

As Germany pressed, for the equalizer the gaps opened and Torres almost broke clear twice more. In the end, though, his early effort proved enough to clinch the trophy for Spain 1-0.

Cheers:)

Anurag

When you try too hard!!

2008-06-28T12:33:00.004+05:30

Well thats what happens when u try too hard...it starts all in front of a drawing board with a desire and later transforms into frustrations and then the next act comes into play...COOL down...hehe...

Cheers:)
Anurag

Where thoughts are reborn and dies in matter of seconds!!

2008-06-27T11:13:00.003+05:30

A day in my office. After a long time they finally took me off from the animation team and gave me an opportunity to try my hands on some core graphic designing stuff. I was asked to submit a logo and banner design for a funky highway transit on bhopal-indore highway. So I put it off for a while; played with some different ideas; spun my wheels; and eventually put together some rough scribbles here and there.

I have seen times when you get loads and loads of ideas at an instant and you are not able to interpret them to the mark. Even their are times when you go totally blank and try to relocate set of old ideas but finally you end up with some wierd stuff. Actually its quiet a common phenomenon for me and happens almost everytime I sit to design, don't know whether it happpens to other architects and designers....even engineers..

"If the idea is good it’ll come back to you". It’s a great way to reduce idea overload and ensure high quality.- said by a faculty member of our architecture department.

I will say that although I think it turned out tight enough, the idea isn't that strong - and I wanted to tweak the letters and add some layers of pattern behind it...something related to highway and activities taking place there.

The cabin which they allotted to me is something like a box having two openings - one rectangular window opening to the exterior and one circular window just in front of my drawing table opening to the interior office space, according to them designers can extract ideas by observing activities goin' on in office space...wat a nonsense, I would call it more like a disturbing element seeying people roaming around in front of you...it would have been far better if they could have simply put up a nice portrait...even a mirror will do the trick...

I think I gotta figure out some way, if you are getting new ideas every now and then.....you should even learn how to manage them and use them effectively in future. Let me know if you have something to add to it - some effective tips.

Cheers:)

Anurag

Road-trip became a boat-trip!!

2008-06-26T10:29:00.003+05:30

Day: Wednesday

Sky was sunny and finally the weather gods thought of giving some relief, the pouring of rain got stopped here in bhopal….The weather was pleasant with a tint of cool breeze and diffused sun, a perfect stage set up for a travelling enthusiast like me… So I packed my bag, took the car, went to a food court n packed some refreshments. My destination…well a place called sehore, a city at the outskirts of bhopal. Takes about 1 hr long drive here from bhopal. I usually visit this place atleast twice whenever I come to bhopal. I like this place because of its lush green outfields, big farms and good amount of small hills where you can climb and get the bliss like feeling!!

Its been 30 mins. I started driving, half the way through and another half to go. After another 5 mins or so, I got stuck up in a traffic jam, 10 mins passed…20 mins passed….30 mins passed, it was enough for me to get curious about the whereabouts of the traffic. Then I came to know national highway vehicular movement was suspended for 10 hrs or something… it seems there is a flood kind of situation 3 kms. away from where I got stuck. I have never seen a flood in my life, according to me it was an opportunity to go and explore, so I parked my car in a field nearby and started walking towards the flood affected area. After an about 20 mins walk, I finally reached the site, standing water level was about 4 ft.. Sight was pretty disturbing but at the same time I was able to figure out some interesting stuff ….

Found fishes swimming in national highway, fisherman with their boats catching fishes, traffic lights in the middle (most probably directing the boat traffic…lol!!), houses partially submerged and the families standing on their terraces….Got a chance to help some school children cross the lane..

After spending some time there I decided to return back to my car before something worse occurs. It was totally a new experience and now after seeying a small scale flood I don’t wanna see it again in the near future. Neways its still a secret, not for you guys…my mom dad would never had allowed me to go there.

CAUTION: Never try this alone, it may result in serious consequences…

Cheers:)

Anurag

My first official blog post

2008-06-25T19:33:00.002+05:30

This is kinda illustrated blog u'll be seeying throughout my blogging....last one was more kinda essay-types, I wanted to write about the topic creativity and its forms from quiet a long time and as an introductory I wrote on that...hope u'll enjoy that one as well.. I'll b back again tomorrow with some more interesting stuff n illustrations..
Cyah.

Cheers :)
Anurag

Wats this creative crap?? I'll take you inside!

2008-06-23T12:32:00.001+05:30

First of all, let's remember that although we use the word "creative thrust", it is not something you can put in the drawers of your house or sell in a bottle- it is a nominalisation, and that means it was taken from a verb which describes an activity and frozen into this nebulous noun.The verb literally means "to create".In essence, this means "to make something", and that's our first stop on re-defining creativity.

1. You can't be "creative" unless you are DOING SOMETHING - CREATIVELY.
This is really important to understand because the word is so terribly misused all the time.Being creative is something THAT YOU DO when you engage in the act of MAKING SOME THING.

2. CREATE SOME THING with a purpose is what it means to be creative.
That's another place where people really lose it on this topic.
That could be some thing that solves a problem, has an effect on society or on reality in some way, or on yourself.
3. In order to be creative, you do NOT have to "invent something new"
Creativity and innovation are TWO SEPARATE TOPICS, that's very important to understand.A lot of people mistakenly think that when they explore their creativity, they WILL have to come up with something no-one, out of all the billions upon billions of people on this planet in all the hundreds of thousands of years of human history has EVER thought of.That's NOT creativity! Creativity is when a little kiddo works out for themselves how to get at a toy on a high shelf with a stick.Happens to virtually EVERY kid, it is THEIR CREATIVITY, their marvellous experience and their REWARD.

Opening the Doors To Creativity

The No. 1 obstacle to creativity and flow is FEAR.

Art and engineering Solutions & Creativity
Instead of asking, "What's wrong with me?" and painting the answer in words or colours or structures or circuits, over and over again, we might ask instead, "Give me something that will heal me ..." and wait for the mind to present something. Jus wait and I m sure u'll get something.
That is THE most extraordinary moment of turning away from old stuck "pain screaming" and beginning on a whole new exploration of the processes of creativity, and the PURPOSES of creativity.

What questions would YOU ask of your own creativity?
What contributions would YOU like to make to the world, what legacy would you like to leave in pictures, sounds, in systems and structures that YOU CREATED?

"Give me something that will make the people who see/hear/touch/use this feel ..."
Feel what?
Happier? More hopeful? Less sad? Less angry?
But as an artist, architect or an engineer, this is up to you.
You can CHOOSE to choose differently. If you want people to feel even worse than they already do, disgusted, more angry, more desperate, that TOO is in YOUR POWER .

Creativity Explored
It is EASY to ask ourselves a question and receive the answer, as easy as it is for me to say to you, "Remember a time when you saw a dramatic sky that was like a symphony or a flamboyant dance? What did it look like? What were the colours? Tell me about it ..." - AND FOR YOU TO ANSWER MY QUESTION, as best you can.
Do this every day and your vision become richer, deeper, more satisfying, every more astonishing, ever more wonderful.
In the process of this active use of your creativity, you will LEARN about your creativity. You will learn how it works, become more comfortable and assured as you begin to really UNDERSTAND how you create the answers to your questions, and you remain absolutely IN CONTROL of these processes of creativity, all the way.
YOU choose where to take this; YOU are in charge through the questions you ask before the stream begins the answer.

Long live CREATIVITY and its everchanging forms..>>
Cheers :)
Anurag