An amazing place for couples looking for quiet seclusion, the perfect honeymoon. Not on the beach, but the adjoining Colvale river provides a lot of adventure including crocodile sighting tours in their boat.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Casa Colvale
Off NH 14, just before crossing Colvale bridge on the Panaji-Mumbai highway, a small nondescript road will twist and turn in front of quaint village houses, and finally give way to a kuccha road that leads to Casa Colvale, one of the half a dozen such boutique resorts of the Casa series in Goa.
An amazing place for couples looking for quiet seclusion, the perfect honeymoon. Not on the beach, but the adjoining Colvale river provides a lot of adventure including crocodile sighting tours in their boat.
An amazing place for couples looking for quiet seclusion, the perfect honeymoon. Not on the beach, but the adjoining Colvale river provides a lot of adventure including crocodile sighting tours in their boat.
Another Day Out - Kesarval, Baina and Soul Souffle
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| The Ikon, the Polo and the Civic meet at the entrance to Kesarval Spring |
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| A bird's nest greets visitors on the path to the spring... or was it a large ants' nest? |
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| Even in the scorching summer evening, the lush greenery is cool and welcoming... unfortunately, if I panned the camera lower, you would come across the filth and slush of a spring that's been reduced to a mere trickle, and a bathing hole for workers in the area. |
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| On to Vasco for snacks at the La Paz. Vasco is a typical small town, very little action. And very few Goans! |
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| Baina beach... until the crackdown by Parriker a few years back, this area was a red light district, out of bounds for families! |
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| Cousins playing in the sand... this used to be so common for us when we were kids. An evening always meant hanging out together and getting down and dirty in the sand, not TV and video games! |
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| Dinner at Soul Souffle.. a pretty interesting hideout in Verna. Dinner was OK, nothing much to write about, though |
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| Loved the watermelon and Feta cheese salad |
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| A shot at snooker |
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First Salary
Came across this old offer letter from Tata Unisys... never took it up, since I went for my Masters... but have a look at the numbers :)
And interestingly, almost a decade later, Mr Bhalerao became Head HR at Persistent, retiring just this year. Never made the connection until last week!
And interestingly, almost a decade later, Mr Bhalerao became Head HR at Persistent, retiring just this year. Never made the connection until last week!
Phantom
Remember this? Phantom cigarettes... were very popular when we were kids. And the combination of the Phantom and the sexiness of puffing away on the sweet "cigarettes" made them irresistible.
Now I think, should they even be legal?
A Day At Montego Resort, Morjim
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| A narrow road through the fields is the perfect introduction to what's coming up ahead.. the peace and quiet of Morjim at the fag end of the tourist season |
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| My ride for the day, my sister's awesome roarsome Ford Ikon, rests in the shade after a scorching ride burning rubber on the roads |
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| The cute reception hut of Montego Resort |
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| Mam strikes a pose with the wheel of fortune... |
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| ...while the rest of the gang proceed eargerly towards food |
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| The resort |
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| The wonderfully designed beach huts... |
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| Mussels Rawa Fry... my big draw any where, any time! |
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| The ice cream was great, but the fruits didnt taste half as good as they look! |
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| Time for contemplation... |
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| Pretty dame at the beach |
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| A siesta beckons |
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| Do you always look for captions? |
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| Yes, there are still virgin beaches like these in Goa! |
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| Finally, it's the end of a lazy family outing! And a great start to the vacation. |
IPL
Two more wonderful experiences from the IPL.. last week, it was Mumbai vs Pune, an absolutely nail biter of a match, down to the last ball... even though it was a very low scoring game. Had the pleasure of watching Dada, the great Sachin in full flow, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan, Munaf. This week, it was Pune against Bangalore. And what an experience watching Gayle smash those six effortless, huge sixes, four of them coming from a single Bhuvaneshwar over. Add to that the experience of Zaheer castling his opponents and Kohli doing his warm ups on the field, and the magician Murali spinning his web... aah, worth every shower of heavy rain we soaked under while the covers stayed on to protect the wickets.
While on the topic of IPL, another minor point... on Cheerleaders. Bucking the trend of firangi girls in their sexy costumes and pom poms, Pune put up navvari clad desi girls doing bharatnatyam, bhangra and a variety of Indian folk and classical dances. Great idea, but hey, when 40,000 wild fans are screaming their heads off, does a Bharatnatyam really fit in? Also, as I am sure most observed, the Pune cheergirls were rarely performing, while the firangs clambered on stage and performed at every chance they got. It probably took too long to get the costumes ready for the Puneites, making those quick sorties between two deliveries impossible!
Here are some pics... can never replicate the stadium experience, but will definitely stoke my memories :)
While on the topic of IPL, another minor point... on Cheerleaders. Bucking the trend of firangi girls in their sexy costumes and pom poms, Pune put up navvari clad desi girls doing bharatnatyam, bhangra and a variety of Indian folk and classical dances. Great idea, but hey, when 40,000 wild fans are screaming their heads off, does a Bharatnatyam really fit in? Also, as I am sure most observed, the Pune cheergirls were rarely performing, while the firangs clambered on stage and performed at every chance they got. It probably took too long to get the costumes ready for the Puneites, making those quick sorties between two deliveries impossible!
Here are some pics... can never replicate the stadium experience, but will definitely stoke my memories :)
Long Time, Lots To Blog.. Satyamev Jayate!
Been a long time since I blogged, it's been a hectic week or so, with a lot to write about. Some great pics too, I think :) But I am wondering where to begin! Maybe a couple of movie reviews...
Watching Satyamev Jayate while I write this. How do you find it? Pretty commendable format, and a noble endeavour, I think.. but could have been more natural and free flowing, not as set up as it looks. But I guess as long as the audience watches and likes it, all's fair on TV.
Do you know Persistent is the engine that is driving their analytics? All the lakhs of SMSes, feedback, emails, voice and video calls they get need to be quickly processed and analyzed, and the reports handed back to Aamir's team within 2-3 days. Do look out for our logo on the programme and the website. and yeah, keep the SMSes coming!
Watching Satyamev Jayate while I write this. How do you find it? Pretty commendable format, and a noble endeavour, I think.. but could have been more natural and free flowing, not as set up as it looks. But I guess as long as the audience watches and likes it, all's fair on TV.
Do you know Persistent is the engine that is driving their analytics? All the lakhs of SMSes, feedback, emails, voice and video calls they get need to be quickly processed and analyzed, and the reports handed back to Aamir's team within 2-3 days. Do look out for our logo on the programme and the website. and yeah, keep the SMSes coming!
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Movie Review: Haywire
Gina Carano plays a black ops soldier who's abandoned by her own, and forced to hit back. The action is OK, the story drags a bit, and the end comes too late. Or maybe I was just too sleepy to focus.
Gina is different from the other recent action heroines like Angelina Jolie.. she feels and looks vulnerable, and gets hurt too..
Nothing special, can be avoided.
Gina is different from the other recent action heroines like Angelina Jolie.. she feels and looks vulnerable, and gets hurt too..
Nothing special, can be avoided.
IPL
The fifth IPL is half way into the competition, and it's already been a roaring success. As of today, more than a million spectators have already watched inside the stadiums, not to mention the billions who have watched it on TV.
For all the criticism of cricket overdose and commercialization, one cannot deny that the IPL has done some wonders for Indian cricket. In a cricket crazy nation like ours, the ready availability of tickets and the dozens of quality games being played has gone a long way in satiating the hungers of the millions of cricket fans. And think from the perspective of the dozens of quality cricketing youngsters who never really got a chance to play for the country, and never really got recognition. Folks like Mandeep Singh, Shadab Jakati, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda.. these are household names today, having proven their mettle playing against some of the biggest names in world cricket.
And what entertainment many of these games have been... high quality contests worthy of international, first class status!
For all the criticism of cricket overdose and commercialization, one cannot deny that the IPL has done some wonders for Indian cricket. In a cricket crazy nation like ours, the ready availability of tickets and the dozens of quality games being played has gone a long way in satiating the hungers of the millions of cricket fans. And think from the perspective of the dozens of quality cricketing youngsters who never really got a chance to play for the country, and never really got recognition. Folks like Mandeep Singh, Shadab Jakati, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda.. these are household names today, having proven their mettle playing against some of the biggest names in world cricket.
And what entertainment many of these games have been... high quality contests worthy of international, first class status!
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Good Time!
Time has one wonderful quality that comes very handy when you are having a rough time. Remember, no matter what happens, time will pass. And since situations never remain the same, you can be assured this too shall pass and a new day will dawn. All you need to do, is hang on.
Yes, I agree, it doesn't always help.. but in many, many cases... when you are ill and miserable, when you are in the midst of a very uncomfortable journey, or in a very upsetting situation, the awareness and acceptance of this undeniable and irrevocable fact can make a huge difference to your ability to cope with the situation and get out of it...
Next time, try it, and you won't be disappointed!
Yes, I agree, it doesn't always help.. but in many, many cases... when you are ill and miserable, when you are in the midst of a very uncomfortable journey, or in a very upsetting situation, the awareness and acceptance of this undeniable and irrevocable fact can make a huge difference to your ability to cope with the situation and get out of it...
Next time, try it, and you won't be disappointed!
Movie Review: Vicky Donor
Vicky Donor is as real as it gets. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but most of all, it will make you feel like you just had a most wonderful time in Delhi at the home of your Punjabi best friend!
VD takes a very taboo and "yucky?" subject like sperm donation, and weaves it into such a beautiful and touching story, without any vulgarity or resort to cheap jokes. Anu Kapoor refers to sperm with such matter of fact nonchalance and such amazing comic timing, that you can't help by laugh out aloud, and almost fall in love with the sperms! :)
In addition to the hilarious jokes and comic situations, VD also brings some very touching drama and a beautifully executed romantic angle. The lead couple is so realistic, so believable, you cannot imagine they are just acting it out! Their early dates, the build up, the fights, the tears, the arguments, the make up... as far as I can remember, I have not seen a better couple on screen. The drama in the Punjabi family is fantastic, both in terms of the comic dialogues, as well as the underlying tensions and strife any family has. The Bong-Punjabi culture clash is also wonderfully portrayed.
The cast is top notch, the performances even more so. Beeji (Kamlesh Gill) and her daughter-in-law Dolly (Dolly Ahluwalia) and the chemistry between them is something to remember for a long long time! Ayushman Khurana has an easy-going screen presence and a boy next door attitude that is so believable and natural, and he plays his part to perfection. From the fun-loving jobless but confident Punjabi munda, to the shy donor, to the loving husband, you can't get better! Yami Gautam is stunningly beautiful, and you can't get enough of her when she's on screen, but what impresses you even more is the effortless ease with which she portrays the serious bank officer, the young girl in love, the sad woman who finds out she can't have a baby, the angry wife who's shrilling at her husband, and you will live every moment with her like your own. Anu Kapoor is super as Dr Chadda as the pushy yet caring "sperm businessman".
The screenplay is intriguing, the story fresh, although the end is predictable. And even though there's a bit of mush and social messaging, it never goes overboard, hitting you just right!
A truly enjoyable movie, a wonderful entertainer, and a definite must-see... and if you can do it in the theatre, it will only add to the experience!
VD takes a very taboo and "yucky?" subject like sperm donation, and weaves it into such a beautiful and touching story, without any vulgarity or resort to cheap jokes. Anu Kapoor refers to sperm with such matter of fact nonchalance and such amazing comic timing, that you can't help by laugh out aloud, and almost fall in love with the sperms! :)
In addition to the hilarious jokes and comic situations, VD also brings some very touching drama and a beautifully executed romantic angle. The lead couple is so realistic, so believable, you cannot imagine they are just acting it out! Their early dates, the build up, the fights, the tears, the arguments, the make up... as far as I can remember, I have not seen a better couple on screen. The drama in the Punjabi family is fantastic, both in terms of the comic dialogues, as well as the underlying tensions and strife any family has. The Bong-Punjabi culture clash is also wonderfully portrayed.
The cast is top notch, the performances even more so. Beeji (Kamlesh Gill) and her daughter-in-law Dolly (Dolly Ahluwalia) and the chemistry between them is something to remember for a long long time! Ayushman Khurana has an easy-going screen presence and a boy next door attitude that is so believable and natural, and he plays his part to perfection. From the fun-loving jobless but confident Punjabi munda, to the shy donor, to the loving husband, you can't get better! Yami Gautam is stunningly beautiful, and you can't get enough of her when she's on screen, but what impresses you even more is the effortless ease with which she portrays the serious bank officer, the young girl in love, the sad woman who finds out she can't have a baby, the angry wife who's shrilling at her husband, and you will live every moment with her like your own. Anu Kapoor is super as Dr Chadda as the pushy yet caring "sperm businessman".
The screenplay is intriguing, the story fresh, although the end is predictable. And even though there's a bit of mush and social messaging, it never goes overboard, hitting you just right!
A truly enjoyable movie, a wonderful entertainer, and a definite must-see... and if you can do it in the theatre, it will only add to the experience!
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