Trip to Bhandardhara and Shrirampur

Another weekend, another awesome trip around Pune... this time, 6 of us piled into Samara and set off for Bhandardhara. We left early this time, leaving Aundh by 630 am, hitting Nashik Road by 700.

A rare sight for me, the sunrise!

Half an hour later, we stopped at Navnath in Rajgurunagar for some delicious misal pav - highly recommended.

The road is in good condition, but most of it is 2 lane, and with heavy traffic, average speed quickly drops to 45-60. Not good if you are on a tight timeline, but we had all the time in the world - and folks in the back even managed to squeeze in some card games.

Our plan was to go through Malshej, so at Ale, we left NH 50 and caught NH 222. Just before Malshej, near the village of Madh, we came across an absolutely beautiful location at the banks of the Pimplegaon Joga reservoir. It was time for a break, and some pictures.

The innocent looking banks of the lake weren't as innocent after all, and it took all the power of the 4L mode to get us out of the sticky clay mud! A few anxious seconds passed before the Endy backed out of the trap.

 
Now a word of caution - follow Google maps at your peril. We soon found out that the promised road from Malshej to Bhandardhara through Vihir and Kotul doesn't exist. The road from Malshej goes along the dam to the base of the imposing hills, and stops there. And probably continues a few hundred feet above from top of the hill. So we had to double back to Otur, then take a picturesque but badly maintained internal road to Brahmanwada, Kotul and there on to Rajur and finally, our destination, Bhandardhara.

Puneites, unless you are brave enough to put your sedan through hell, or you have a SUV, please take the route via Sangamner and Akole.

We checked into Anandvan, taking a 3 bed room cottage for an outrageous 25000 per night off season rate. But unless you are terribly lucky to get a booking at Yash, the only other decent property we found in the area (and it was full), you really do not have other good options, unless you want to try out MTDC or some of the other shadier options. And though expensive, the resort staff is extremely friendly and went out of their way to accommodate every request we had.

Bhandardhara offers some stock tourist places - Wilson Dam, Amriteshwar Temple, Konkankada, and good hiking/trekking options - Ratangad and Mt Kalsubai. We went for a big drive all around the dam waters, a 50 km round trip that covers most of the key tourist spots while allowing you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the unspoilt surroundings.

At night, folks dances regaled us, and a warm campfire lightened up the mood, before we retired for the day.

The next morning, we loved simply driving around, off roading in the pristine and clean meadows and hills in the adivasi reservation around the dam catchment.

After lunch, we left for Shrirampur - passing Akole, Sangamner and Loni.

At Shrirampur, we gorged on the delicious pav bhaji and dahi puri at Shri Saikrupa, washed it down with Cream Cold, and then finally slurped some amazingly refreshing lassi at Parijat.

At 800, we left for Pune via Nagar, the 100 odd km detour to Shrirampur, really having paid off! At 1200, after multiple mini stops along the way, we were back home.

A beautiful trip, with loads of memories to cherish for a long time, had come to an end. Next weekend will be another story...

Kiwis Trampled

5-0, another clean sweep by India. I wish spectators were treated to more than a T30 though, the Kiwis folding up for 103 in 27 overs, and India needing just 21 overs to overrun the miniscule target.

Next stop, SA! Apparently the Proteas have prepared bouncy tracks - but given the form our pacers are in, I hope it doesn't end up being a case of Shekhchilli for the Africans!

Pathan Has Kiwis For Dinner

4-0 in Bengaluru. Playing a second string side of wannabes against the Kiwis in the Bangalore one dayer, after already winning the series 3-0, India seemed to be in trouble with more than 100 to win in 13 overs, 5 wickets back in the pavilion, and Yusuf Pathan and Saurabh Tiwary trying to up the scoring rate which was fast falling behind, especially with the rains threatening to bring D/L into the picture. But this Indian team is not to be denied :)

Yusuf completely demolished the Kiwis, smashing 4s and 6s by the dozen, with Saurabh providing a great foil at the other end.

Earlier, far away in the UK, Ponting finished biting the rest of his fingers, after succumbing to a humiliating innings defeat against the English in the second Ashes test.

CNN - Insights or Spoilsport?

CNN ran a news item on the French president's visit to India, and how he signed deals worth billions of dollars, especially in the nuclear energy space, and immediately followed it up with a tidbit on how India is ranked 88 in the corruption index, with China doing better at 78.

Insightful analysis, or just being a spoilsport?

No Screaming

My cat did it again yesterday.. I was giving Sanam a mock scolding, the cat woke up from its slumber on the door mat and came straight to me with a meow - and other than asking for food, she never really talks to me. We couldn't really believe she did this in response to my scolding, so a few mins later, I tried it again. And once again, Catrina came straight to me with a meow, and  this time, jumped on the center table between me and Sanam, and looked straight into my eyes, as if daring me to do it again!

If this wasn't enough, the other day, Casatta wanted to be let out. I was sleeping on the sofa, so Sanam opened the door for her. But no, she refused to go out unless and until I woke up from the sofa, opened the door for her, and let her out! Sanam couldn't stop laughing...

Gardening

There's something very fulfilling and satisfying about gardening - is it about nurturing a life? Seeing the green shoots, the fruits and the flowers blossom? Or is it just the chance to become a kid again, and play in the mud?

Me thinks, it's both :)

Terror Recruits?

Harsha commented on the movie to me in person, and I thought it was pretty insightful...

How different was AB's character from the scores of so-called terror recruiters brainwashing and using small  kids in the holy jihad against "occupying" forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kashmir, for that matter? He used innocent school kids barely in their teens in a poorly planned plot, and really, leaving them to their fate while he himself escaped and took refuse for months with his sweetheart, until he was finally captured and killed. I'm not belittling the sacrifices, nor am I in any remote way justifying what's happening today, but I think we do need to question history sometimes!
 
Sometimes, it's all about a different POV!

Break From History

I think it's time India stopped teaching its kids about our freedom struggle, especially failed mini-revolutions from places like Chittagong, which only remind us how we were slaves under the British for so long, and instead instill pride and a sense of power by focussing on more recent history - like Kargil. I want my daughter to grow up feeling like a queen, part of a powerful civilization that is ready to rule the world, and not be continuously reminded about our not so glorious (and very long) past as a poor, torn country unable to stand up to a handful of goras. No, I do not want her to go to Kasab and say, you killed my brothers and sisters, that's ok, we will peacefully protest while you kill again. No, I want her to go slap him, and tell him, enough is enough, we will fight to protect our happiness and our freedom, so don't push me, because if you do that, I will over run you and destroy you. I want my kid to grow up being proud of how our security forces fought terror for 3 days and nights in downtown Mumbai, ensuring not a single bastard got away. Teach them about our nuclear subs and power plants, our IT prowess, the names and lives of all those Indians that have made America what it is today, teach them about how we're fighting climate change.

Once and for all, let's forget those chapters from the past, and write a new history for our kids. Please.

Planet Ford Impresses

Samara had picked up a persistent and niggling sound (which seemed to come from its bonnet or glove box) after our last weekend trip, and I finally took it to Planet Ford for a check up today. I was hoping it would be something like a lose screw in the glovebox, because I really didn't want to have to give it for a complete pat-down in the garage, nor could I imagine having to live with the noise. Parag, the engineer who attended Samara in the Quick Service Bay was amazingly committed to the cause, spent more than an hour with me, patiently eliminating possibilities, came with us for a couple of test drives, until he finally isolated and fixed the problem - a lose screw deep under the air filter box.

And the best part, they didn't charge me. It's never about the money, of course, but when a service engineer understands the importance of getting a small niggle fixed for a customer, no matter how long it takes, irrespective of the "ROI", that's great customer service!

Movie Review: Phas Gaye Re Obama

A delightful comedy, Phas Gaye Re Obama has a very special script that takes the poignant issue of recession in America, and weaves an entertaining story around it, using Obama and his "Yes We Can" slogan as the perfect props, making you laugh and yet touching you immensely. The cast is perfect, the dialogue crisp and witty, the story moves along at a fast clip, beautifully using Wall Street's asset jugglery as its core theme, and wraps up to a very sweet ending at the just right time.

Totally, totally worth it - not once, but at least a couple of viewings!

Movie Review: Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Se

1930. Chittagong in undivided Bengal. A small group of young men, mostly in their teens, hatch an outrageously daring plot to take on the British. Block the rail lines, capture the British officers and ladies in the European club, smash the Telegraph office, attack the police lines and armoury. With Gandhiji's one year of non-violence not giving results, it's time to fight fire with fire for freedom. The plan moves switfly, but the revolutionaries make two fatal errors in planning. One, it's Good Friday, and none of the officers are in the club, they've all gone to church and from there, home. Two, the armoury has weapons, but no ammunition! The revolution is quickly crushed, and over the next few months, the revolutionaries are tracked, captured, tortured, and many killed.

Life's short, and after reading all you ever really needed to know about the Chittagong uprising, there is absolutely no excuse for you to waste another 3 hours enduring the movie.

So, what's wrong with the movie? Everything, and trust me when I say that. The first half is too slow, the "build up" quickly looking like endless retakes of the same shot with different actors that never saw the editor's knife! The second half sees the British trying so hard to capture the revolutionaries, one by one, that I never imagined I would see a movie and actually clap when one of our own is captured by the English! On to the next one, get them and finish them, you hear yourself pleading with the British soldiers. After all, it's been a long time since you got some fresh air! The dialogues are immature and unrefined ("Kya woh aapke gehere dost hai?" "Woh paas aa rahe hai, ab woh aur paas aa rahe hai"), an uncomfortable mix of Hindi and Bengali, the actors forcing their mouths into pouts to get the rounded Bengali names right. The opening scene itself should prepare you for what is to come. A bunch of "chikna" boys in sparkling clean white dhotis and starched cotton kurtas, each of  a different color (from M&S?), acting and talking like overgrown six year olds. A I-can-show-only-one-emotion-on-my-face chota big B and a I-told-you-I-wouldn't-be-able-to-pull-this-off Deepika looking sick and emancipated in two chotis and a saree add absolutely nothing to the movie. The sound track is jarring and repetitive. And finally, the unnecessary blood and gore towards the end, using sensationalism and shock where subtlety and emotion should have done the trick. The only saving grace is the authentic and beautiful setting, including the quaint houses, and the quainter vintage cars.

At 3 hours, it's criminal. Avoid it. Read a book instead.

Indian Juggernaut On The Roll

3-0 in Baroda today, another completely one-sided match, the Kiwis never in the reckoning. India, with a second string side, still in a completely different zone from its competition!

Go India Go - 5-0!

Nano No-No?

My first impression of the Nano was - hope this doesn't go the way of the Hero Honda Street (wasn't that the name of the scooter-mobike crossover that also failed miserably?)! Sometimes, when someone breaks into a completely new market, you might want to ask yourself - why isn't this market already occupied? Maybe there is a reason!

The problems, as I see it with the Nano, were multiple:

1) Over-hype, leading to over booking, but inability to deliver on time - if you are not geared up to grab the opportunity, people will quickly move on. As you said, most people became stars with their Nanos, but the novelty factor washes off pretty quickly.
2) 1.5 lakh on road is still a lot of money for a car, and for people shelling out that much, maybe a second hand Maruti was a much more reliable option!
3) Safety concerns and bad press - multiple instances of cars catching fire is scary!
4) Cars need parking space (unlike a bike, you can't park it in your verendah!), petrol is expensive, and it can't double up as a goods carrier!

Some possible solutions:

1) Target the youth - for the Indian middle class, make it the option of choice for the daughter going to college, a much safer option compared to a two wheeler
2) Target it as replacement for autos/taxis
3) Offer it on a hire basis - Tatas continue to own and maintain the vehicles, but rent it out by the month

Origin of Pimple, Anyone?

There are quite a number of Pimples in Pune... Pimple Saudagar, Pimple Nilakh, Pimple Gurav... anyone knows the origin of these names? Pimple is a surname, does it have anything to do with some kinda landlords by that name? Pimple is also the Marathi name for a peepal tree - any connection with that?

Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?

Because they have nothing else to do! No job, no email, no twitter, no Facebook. No chores. No bills to pay. No cars to wash. No clothes to put into the dryer. No answering phone calls. Not even a need to answer the door bell.

So what else you expect them to do?

Trip to Nighoj and Wadgaon Daryabai-Velhabai

After a brief lull last weekend, we were off on another trip today, this time to Nighoj and Wadgaon Daryabai-Velhabai, a 250 km round trip from Pune. We decided to leave late in the morning, and by the time we exited the city traffic and hit Nagar Rd, it was well past 230. We were 8 of us, including Sanam.

After another 45 min at Shirur for a late lunch, we took a left off the highway, passed through Ralegaon Siddhi - the model village - and the small town of Parner, and reached the Swayambu rock cave temples of Wadgaon Daryabai and Velhabai at around 430. As you climb down the stairs into the temple complex, you are met by dozens of fearless and scary monkeys, so make sure you aren't carrying anything that might look like fair game to them!

The cave temples are interesting, but what was disappointing was that the promised laterite stalactites were no more than tiny cm long droplets, the kind I have in my society's leaking underground garage! They're probably broken off and taken away as souvenirs the moment they grow any longer!

By the time we left from Wadgaon, the sun was starting to go down, and we knew we were rushing against time. We returned to Parner, some 20 kms from Wadgaon, and then took an immediate right to Nighoj, ignoring the route my MapMyIndia navigator showed - a further 10 km or so back towards Shirur, before turning right towards Nighoj. We saved 15-20 km with the shortcut, but the road quickly got pretty bad - a couple of times simply disappearing into a wide running stream with a very gravelly bed! No problems for Samara, but in a sedan, I would definitely have second thoughts doing this trip!

We reached the beautiful rock cut formations (deep crevasses and potholes) in the river bed at Nighoj around 615 pm, in the dying moments of twilight. It was too late for photography, and we regretted not having made it just a wee bit earlier! Finally, it was Samara to the rescue again, her Xenon lights flooding the scene sufficiently bright to have a good look. Photos are still less than interesting, so here's a stock photo of the place, so you have an idea what I'm talking about.

By 645, we started for Pune. The road from Nighoj to Shirur, around 25 km, is really bad, although we hardly felt it in the Endy. The bright Xenons are also terribly effective, illuminating as far as you would ever need to see, ensuring there are absolutely no rude surprises.

A quick stop for dinner for some amazing chicken masala and egg omlette, and then while I was immersed in my own trip, trying to focus on the last 75 km to Pune, the gang went beserk in the cabin, screaming in unison with Samara's speakers belting some of the most popular numbers.

Sanam enjoyed thoroughly - and also got a big lesson, which I hope she will remember for ever. A bunch of young men and women can have a great time, and get high on friendship and life, and you don't need drinks, drugs or cigarettes to do that!

Movie Review: Break Ke Baad

Deepika rocks, movie sucks. Well, a little more to it actually. Imran disappoints once again, and I am starting to believe it's just the way he looks maybe... he just cannot bring out the passion in a relationship, he's like a brother to one and all! And Deepika, while she looks smoking hot in whatever she wears, is starting to get type cast into these larger than life roles. Story sucks too. Meanders all along, especially break ke baad! A very ordinary sound track - you'll not remember it for long.

Overall unavoidable for Deepika, but avoidable for everything else.

Pune Traffic Police

The Pune Traffic Police has its own Facebook page now and enthusiastic "fans" are posting pictures of traffic violations as well as suggestions for improvements. Pretty encouraging... the Internet can really empower citizens and make governments so much more accountable!

Thumping Majority for Nitish

Results are in, and the Nitish govt has won an incredible 207 of the 243 seats in the assembly. Lalu suffered his biggest defeat, with Rabri losing both her seats, and the RJD only managing to win 24 seats.

As I commented earlier, I am really hoping 2010 is a real turn around for India...

Poll Positive: Development Wins Over Caste

The Bihar election results are coming in, and initial trends show a very heartwarming trend... Nitish Kumar's JD(U)-BJP combine is leading comfortably in 157 of the 243 seats for which trends are available, with a clear majority in sight. Voting clearly against the 15 years of corruption, casteism, and jungle raj of the Lalu-Rabri clan, the Bihar mandate is clearly for the development and law and order, promised and delivered, by Nitish Kumar. Bihar boasted one of the highest growth rates last year, excellent roads have come up all over the state, education (especially girls) has taken a major boost, and with over 50,000 goons behind bar under a no-compromise policy of the state government, greatly improved law and order situation has meant that the economy is booming.

A similar situation seems to be blooming in UP too, where Mayawati might not be as clean and clear and Nitish, but economic conditions backed by a much-improved law and order situation is winning clearly over caste and religion based politics.

Chinese Domination

Out of a total 360 or so gold medals in the contention so far, Chinese athletes have won a total of 165 golds and another 160 or so silver and bronze. What is it about Chinese way of life that makes them such strong sportsmen? Funding from the state (definitely helps!), inherent physical characteristics (definitely not), or years and years of focussed and dedicated practice right from early childhood (seems most likely!)? Can the Chinese factories mass produce athletes like they mass produce goods?

Movie Review: Guzarish

You really thought I would spend 2 hours watching Ash and Hrithik crying over a tragedy, when life itself is such a mega tragedy? :)

Haven't seen it myself, but I hear it's a good movie, as long as you can ignore Ash's constipated faces and believe she's a good actress after all.

Aah yes, one thing you can definitely look forward to, I hear, are the beautiful Goan locales!

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1

More of the same, Harry Potter fails to make me happy, and almost put me to sleep. However, a quick exit poll revealed that most kids who saw it with me liked it.

Net net, if you haven't seen the earlier HPs, then go for it. If you are a kid, maybe you should see it.

On the other hand, maybe you should really read the book instead!

Finally, 1-0

After two surprisingly even-sided contests resulting in tame draws, the Indian juggernaut finally steamrolled the Kiwis into submission in the third test with a comprehensive innings and two hundred run victory, taking the 3 test series 1-0.

Meanwhile, India notched up its 7th gold, with Somdev winning a historical first gold medal in the men's tennis, adding to his men's doubles gold with Sanam Singh yesterday. Unfortunately, the ladies in tennis and badminton disappointed, so did most of the shooters, and the Indian hockey team too crashed out in the semis after losing to a spirited Malaysia :( Good show so far, but a lot of misses means what could have been an excellent games will end up being could-have-been-much-better.

Criminal Minds

Amazing series... loved it so much, I got the Season 1 and 2 DVDs... love their team, love their work... most of all, I love the character, Jason Gideon. So much control, so much self-belief, such an amazing leader, and such an awesome person. Truly worth idolizing.

Sad he's missing in the later seasons :(

Zzyzx

Can you believe they actually have names like these in the US? This one is from Las Vegas...

Thunder, Lightning and Rain

10:24 pm, 19th Nov - are you kidding me?

Change?

Kalmadi, Chavan, BSY, Raja and even the honourable PM now... while corruption has been a way of life for India's politicians and public alike, the sudden spurt in "open action" by the judiciary, investigation agencies and auditors/regulators bodes well for the country. Is this true change, or just a phase?

Time will tell. But personally, I'd like to look at this as a real turning point.

(Adult) Joke

Why did Pamella agree to join Big Boss?

Because she thought the invitation was for Big Boobs

LOL

Samara Gets Wet

Dad & Daughter

Samara Makes Donuts on the Beach

Dapoli Trip - Memories

Chandan Bhai's farmhouse is a beautiful sanctuary, with no TV, no cellular coverage and not even the newspaper. Total and complete isolation from the hustle and bustle of every day life, the perfect way to recharge and rewind.

 
 
 At night, the firework display was a fitting tribute to the tandoori chicken :) 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Have you ever slept under the stars? Try it, it's a beautiful experience! Here at 630 am, everyone is snuggling into their wet-with-the-dew blankets, while I woke up early to the sound of the birds chirping! 
 
 
 
 

 
The mango orchard is huge, stretching away as far as the eye can see... and with the sea on one side, the views from the watch tower are simply breathtaking!
 
 
 
 

 
A majestic Buddha greets you at Chandan Bhai's nature resort coming up near the orchard. Dying to check in there as soon as it is ready!
 
 
 
 
   
 

 
The gang had a great time with Samara, and I am sure Samara loved it too!
 
 
 
 
 
 

And finally, here's the big gang (although a few members missed the bus!) posing for a photo with the Buddha on a tour of the resort.

Life is Tough - But Beautiful!

Samara Wild at the Mango Orchards

Samara at Dapoli

Some photos of Samara having fun at Dapoli - videos follow!

Wild in the Mango Orchards

Rock Climbing

On 3 Tires

Sun Bathing on the Beach

River Rafting

A Nice Bath

Not an UFO, it's just the Aftermath!

Pune-Dapoli-Pune

Just back from a fantastic 3 day family reunion in Dapoli... lots of pictures and videos to process, so keep watching for updates, but for now, here are some initial photos from the drive itself.

First, the drive through Mulshi and Tamhini.. a deep gorge on one side, towering cliffs on the other, mark the beginning of the ghat. A good pit stop.

Although it was late morning, around 10 am, the mist was still hanging around...

...and a final cut through the rock, and you are in the land of sea and sand

The way back through Varandha is a lot more exciting. The towering Sahyadris make you wonder - am I really supposed to climb all the way up there?

And if you had any thoughts of tunneling through, those are quickly dispelled!

A wonderful valley greets you on the other side of the climb

And hills quickly give way to dark blue and green waters of the dam...

...the shimmering sun is absolutely mesmerizing in the waters.

Finally, as we entered Pune, this is what we were greeted with! Cloud burst in November?

Customer Satisfaction

My cats are extremely picky about the fish I get them - needs to be of one of 2-3 favourite types, need to be cleaned, need to be warmed, need to be the right size. They drink milk only when they are in the mood. Rice, bread, chapati, most biscuits, any leftovers - not OK with them!

Yet, they eat every combination and product that Whiskas manufactures. Every single time. Without complaints.

Now, THAT'S customer satisfaction!

Narkasur

Diwali in Goa is predominantly about the slaying of Narkasur by Krishna, unlike the interpretations and celebrations in rest of India. The days before Diwali see youngsters enthusiastically building these effigies, which are the center of attraction on Diwali eve, with Goans all over the state getting out at night in their cars, jeeps, bikes and on foot, to soak in the revelries, before they are consigned to the flames early in the morning.

Competitions all over the state nowadays feature more and more "sophisticated" Narkasurs, growling, heaving, shaking their hands and heads in terrifying gestures, duelling with the tiny Krishnas, until, finally, good prevails over evil.

As we do every year, we had our own Narkasurs too. A smaller baby Narkasur that could be carried in hand, and a larger one that we installed on our borrowed Tata Ace pickup and went around town, singing songs and doing naarebaazi. Here's the baby that Mummy (my aunt) made for us:

Sorry, bad light means I do not have better or any more pictures - but if you search my blog with the right keywords, you can see some of our creations from the past :)

While roaming around town, we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of the Panaji Church competition venue, with hundreds of spectators eagerly waiting for the competing Narkasur's to arrive - and were welcomed with loud cheers and wild clapping. Lol...

By 1.00, we had consigned our Narkasur's to flames - and it was just in time! A huge downpour rain for the next 45 min ensured that very few of the other demons got their due!

Anti-Corruption Action, or A Smokescreen?

The Congress today sacked Ashok Chavan, less than 2 years after he took up the top job and led the party to a comprehensive victory in Maharashtra, for his involvement in the Adarsh Society scam, and replaced him with the Indo-US Nuclear Deal veteran and MoS in the PMO, Prithviraj Chavan. Chavan, at 64, enjoys a clean and efficient image, and has the strong backing of both the PM and Sonia Gandhi. With a University of Berkeley degree and experience in the US aerospace industry, he matches the impressive educational qualifications of the ex-CM, an MBA.

The Congress also fired CWG head honcho Suresh Kalmadi, ignoring his pleas to let him continue until the Asian Games.

Is this the beginning of a serious clean up exercise, or just a smokescreen before it's all life as usual? We can only wait and watch.

Obamaspeak

After supporting an "emerged" India's bid for permanent seat at the UNSC and upsetting Germany, Japan and Brazil (and of course, Pakistan!), Obama has raised China's hackles by a not-so-veiled attack at its human rights record saying, "Today, we sometimes hear that democracy stands in the way of economic progress. This is not a new argument. Particularly in times of change and economic uncertainty, some will say that it is easier to take a shortcut to development by trading away the rights of human beings for the power of the state. But that is not what I saw on my trip to India, and that is not what I see in Indonesia. Your achievements demonstrate that democracy and development reinforce one another."

Movie Review: Due Date

This time it's not a marriage, but the delivery of his first baby in LA that Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) needs to reach for in time. He is about to fly home from Atlanta when his "encounters" with Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) begin. Starting with his luggage and wallet getting misplaced, he is arrested for possession of drugs, and then put on the "no-fly" list. Desperate to get home Peter is forced to accept Ethan's offer to hitch a ride with him cross-country. The next 5 days will be the most agonizing, yet most exciting of his life!

Absolutely entertaining in the Hangover sort of way, Due Date is highly recommended for those who dig gross humour... Be warned though, if you thought the baby in Hangover had too much testosterone, you've seen nothing yet!

Goa: Mobile and Water

For the second time, on a trip to Goa, I have managed to drop my Nokia in a bucket of water, ensuring I am disconnected from most of the rest of the world for the entire trip, and then have it all come back to life the moment I land back in Pune :)

This time it was my E75. And it's all OK now, except for the camera which seems to have shorted out.

Movie Review: Golmaal 3

Touted as the only Bollywood movie franchise to have been made in a three part series, the third in the series actually comes off better than the not-that-great sequel to the hugely successful Golmaal. With many references to countless classic Hindi movies and dialogues, and packed with some brilliant moments - dialogues and acts - Golmaal 3 is a good option for some over-the-top mindless fun and entertainment with friends and family.

Arshad Warsi is in great form, and it is really good to see Johnny Lever in his element again. Kareena looks absolutely ravishing, probably her best so far, and puts in a very good, natural performance. Mithun and Ratna Pathak Shah are also surprisingly good, unlike many other performances from actors of yesteryears in recent films. Ajay, Shreyas, Kunal Khemu and a bunch of other actors also pull in their punch!

Overall, a fun movie, but make sure you are not in the first row - the splash of colors can overwhelm you :)

India Avoid The Collapse

After being 15/5 and dangerously close to a embarassing collapse and defeat at the end of the 4th day, India showed why they are number 1 - a fighting 90+ score by Laxman, and a maiden century by Bhajji steering India out of trouble, enabling the undefeated streak to continue. At the time of writing this, India were confortably placed at 255/8, with an overall lead of 283 in the post lunch session on the 5th day.

Gone are the days when the team collapsed like a pack of cards, this team has a very strong spine!

Rajnikant at Big Boss

RAJNIKANT enters BIGG BOSS 4...

Next day ...

RAJNIKANT chahte hai ki BIGG BOSS confession room me aayein!!!

Back From Goa

Just back from Goa after a nice Diwali break - lots of fish, lots of late nights and sleepy afternoons. Rains too! Narkasur was fun, but the tourist season has begun in earnest and that meant lot of traffic all over. Baga is overful, and we added to the crowds in the evenings. Titos is finishing renovation (my cousin Yogesh is doing the RCC and steel for the elevated dance stages) and due to open soon, but Mambos is all set! Zanzibar and the rest of the shacks are doing roaring business. Life guards continue to show off in the red 4x4 while saving countless lives.

Lot of pampering in the spa, but paid for it with the cell falling in the water... thankfully, except for the camera, there seems to be not much lasting damage.

Bad stomach ruined part of the holiday, and got no sleep while getting tossed around in the last berth on the way back... so the end wasn't that fun! (Is it ever?)

Cats were happy to have me back. Are you? :)