The Maverick

Maverick's New Year's Eve

2012-01-03T18:53:00.002+05:30

While we step into a new year, this Maverick has a newexperience and learning to share.

So this time, having spent the New Year’s Eve in a new cityand a new country, there were loads of new things to observe and talk about.

Countdown to the New Year 2012

While the way we celebrate New Year’s Eve in India and theway its celebrated here in Malaysia are stark contrasts. Even though culturally both the Indian andMalay societies are family oriented, I believe the youth behaviour is a lotdifferent. On the last day of the year for almost 28 year’s either I have celebratedthe New Year with parents, watching TV or going to some party with them. When Igrew young, either went with friends for outings or house parties at somefriend’s place. When I talk about my plan’s I almost generalise the pattern ofalmost eighty per cent of Indian families. Roads are empty, or if there’scrowd, its full of brazen, heavily drunk bunch of men you are always suggestedto stay away from. Infact New year’s eve is a celebration of alcohol for many,extra patrolling and check points for the police, and an occasion consideredbeing at home in order to be safe especially for the ladies!

Crowd at Pavillion Mall, Bukit Bintang, KL

Coming back to Malaysia, here the scene is quitedifferent. For Dec 31^st everyyear , the Malaysian Government makes special plans for crowds to be gathered (Though here the focus is tourism to attract Asian and European Tourists) . The Main down town area from KL City Centralto Bukit Bintang, is lit up beautifully and there are different kinds ofperformances everywhere. MalaysianCultural dances, 3D Shows, road shows, evening performances and special theme dinnersby most of the hotels here, to celebrate the New Year countdown.

So while we stepped out to see how Malaysia welcomes NewYear, post 9 pm there was only one thing you could see on the roads- CROWD!! Itappeared as if the entire Kualalumpurwas on road. Every Mall in the central area had a setup of its own, with a DJand you could see the crowd going mad over music.

Initially we decided to stay at Pavilion Mall and see howthey welcome the New Year, but within an hour we released that it would beimpossible for us to stay there as it was a packed house. A mall with close to500 premium outlets ! So we movedback to Petronas Twin Towers to see the fireworks at mid night. It was a littlebetter here and we even got a place to sit and wait for the fireworks to happen.Though some basic fireworks, but seeing them with the phenomenally beautifultwin towers, it looked majestic.

Firworks at Petronas Twin Towers

With this, we began our year by experiencing themagnificence of two towers which stand tall, strong and determined and a grandwelcome for the year ahead with fireworks adding a testimony to the gleamingmega structures.

While on our wayback, I realised that it was a beautiful way to welcome the New Year 2012.Wesometimes get so lost in our daily quest’s that as individual’s we stop lookingbeyond the obvious , do not stretch anddo things differently. May be next time around when I am in Mumbai on NewYear’s Eve, Juhu beach or the Queen’s Necklace would be a good idea withfamily.

Wishing a Healthy, happy and prosperous New Year 2012

Selling tips and a Rambutan Convert!

2011-12-22T14:09:00.006+05:30

Quite near to where I stay, there is a lane full of food hawkers selling local Malay and Tamil delicacies. Both my fruit and vegetable vendor’s also have their vans here.

The fruit vendor is a Chinese Malay whereas the Vegetable vendor is a Tamil Malay. Only the Chinese guy understands bit of English but the Tamil guy has to make serious effort to even tell me the price of vegetables in Ringgit’s. It’s an interesting contrast to make, how both these guys sell their products. Whenever I pass through the Chinese guy and ask him the price of a new and interesting fruit, he will tell me the price and immediately give me the fruit to taste! The first fruit I tasted is the Rambutan, a close cousin of our very own Lychee and it was amazing to taste

At the same time, whenever I go to the Tamil guy, it’s a tussle to figure out prices for the veggies which I am aware of. Most of the times, we end up calling someone nearby who understands English and then I buy the vegetables!

While the Chinese guy has taken pains to learn very slight English only which can make him sell his fruits, the Tamil guy almost adamant no to use any other language or learn it even at the cost of loosing customers!

So while the Chinese guy has already converted me to a Rambutan lover, here’s how the fruit looks . It tastes similar to a Lychee and has almost similar nutritional content.

An encounter with nature

2010-03-28T21:14:00.003+05:30

Last month I had a chance to break away from the clutches of a mumbaic (a self coined term for a day in the life of a mumbaikar) lifestyle and move to the hills. Besides the fresh air and the hill station specific, it was the season of strawberries….One of my favourites fruits..:-) The thought of it still fills my mouth with water.
We could visit the strawberry gardens, savor the juice of freshly plucked strawberries from the garden and enjoy sumptuous strawberry with cream dessert….SLURPP…!!!!! A close encounter with nature, that’s how I would like the trip to be recall as.
Adding to the strawberry flavor, were the long walks with husband dear, a beautiful resort on the hill top and ONLY green view from the room.
I was inspired to write this memoir because while I was reading an article in the Sunday paper about ‘New age stress busters’, my mind instantly knew what it should be..

Culmination of an eventfull year.

2010-02-12T16:44:00.003+05:30

Its culmination of a year for me. Offcourse the journey doesn't stop but the year ends.
My year of biggest change. I have loads to write and share. From Jodhpur to Mumbai to Singapore and Bangkok hopping in the midst to Jaipur, Sirohi, Udaipur. What is important is people, opinions, experiences and above all what I learnt from them!
Coming Soon..All of them..

I will dream till the end..

2010-01-29T15:15:00.002+05:30

I start with the Future..
I see myself to what my future is ..in my dreams..
I am a free girl in a farm filled with Sunflowers..
There 's beauty around me, there are colours that adron my garden..
there are open fields, basking in radiance , in the reds and yellow's , oranges of nature..
I dream of a palace, filled with happiness, love, and lots or romance....
romance to let my spirits float in the air ..
air of mist and of warmth...
I dream to live upto my spirits, in dreams and action....

2010-01-08T22:52:00.007+05:30

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughsand stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare. -William Henry Davies

I was reminded of this poem yesterday morning, as soon as I opened the daily paper whose headline’s read: ‘Stress tests ahead for parents & kids’.It talked about the number of suicides taking place amongst school kids during the exams and results season. Adjectives like peer and societal pressure, sibling rivalry etc remind us time and again that we are living in an environment thriving only on competition and whose only by products are Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Suicide. It’s disheartening to see that in this race of life for ourselves and our family , we have lost track of the basic essence of life. If life’s a game, its winning for some and loosing for the rest.
Are all these events hinting towards a gradual moral degradation of the Indian value system around us? Once upon a time these moral/social values taught us to live and let live and to carry on the zest of life. Now, they seem to be disappearing and so is the zest for life!
But why have we moved away from the times when the first thing parents taught their kids was to successfully live their life by being a good human being, a good son/daughter. I believe more then kids, the parents are at fault, because it’s the parents who have let these values be eroded from their lives by pressuring the kids with their expectations, irrelevant societal standards and comparisons. Parents please let the kids be free. Let them grow with nature and learn from it
. I feel blessed to having born in a family and to parents who understood my talents and capacity. They gave me the knack and freedom to choose a profession I was apt for. Thank you Ma and Papa.

Good Ol' days

2009-12-30T23:07:00.001+05:30

With the New year's eve at the corner and festivities in the name of New Year Bash being talked more then any other news. I am forced to look back and ponder at the beautiful things and ways I have celebrated such occasions.
Like every generation remembers its own way's and mannerism's I am reminded of mine. And the first rhetoric that comes to my mind is..' When we were kids...
……Being glued to the telivision sets, was the foremost task for us on any New year's eve...Ever year we saw the clock ticking twelve and the anchor in the television set congratulating its audience for the New Year that came by..

There were not many options in terms of the channels to watch...Zee TV was amongst the fore runners and it was big glue for us to be stuck to our parents room..(TV was considered a disturbance for our studies, timings were set by mom when we could watch TV..) and to top it all , ZEE TV 's program's would start at Seven in the evening..

Being with Mom and dad for those many 31 December's was routine for us...wishing Mom Dad on the new Year, and seeing them taking phone calls…this was our way of celebrating new years eve for many years to come
With passing time, we started making our own plans, with friends, office collegues etc..Parties, music, bands, pubs, discs, huge gatherings, celebrity turnouts, have been through all these, but my belief that THOSE old days and THOSE new year eves were the best stays much strong.Here’s something that I pen down in toast to those Good Ol’ days…

“The Good Ol’ days that I remember,
A wine and cake on the platter..
Winter morning sun with a little cool breeze,
Siblings on a fight for small things,
Rasing up under mother’s vision and father’s gaze
Its was like being the most blessed in a race..
The good Ol’ days that I remember

A joke

2009-10-01T13:26:00.000+05:30

This particular joke won an award for the best joke competition Organized in Britain:A man walks into a bar in London and ordered 3-glasses of beer and sits in the backyard of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn.When he finishes, he comes back to the bar counter and orders 3 more. The bartender asks him, “You know, beer goes flat after I fill it in the glass; it would taste better if you buy one at a time.” The man replies, “Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Dubai, the other in Canada and I’m here in London. When they left home, we promised that we’ll drink this way to remember the days when we drank together.”The bartender admits that this is a nice custom and leaves it there. The man became a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He order 3-Beers and drinks them in turn. One day, he came in and ordered only 2-Beers All the other regulars notice and fall silent.When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, “I don’t want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my sincere condolences on your great loss.”The man looked confused for a moment, then he laughs.... “Oh, no,” he, said, “Everyone’s fine - both my brothers are alive”. The only thing is I just quit drinking...!!!

Unveiling the New Maverick

2009-09-30T12:46:00.003+05:30

Here comes a new identity for Maverickrides
This new identity is a part of self discovery process and I absolutely love the change reinstating my belief in impermanence
- Green denotes the freshness associated with it.
- The shoes represent imagery of a little girl who's a maverick. She is restless , but quiet..Learning but unlearning too.. She believes in impermanence and the theories revolving around it..
This new look is not just a change in the imagery but also reaffirming the theories of moving on. Of how the constant change in life brings about situations around you and how can one keep moving. Its an attempt to move ..walk, limp, run, jog or whatever..but move because times changes and so does the left and right images around the journey of life.
A Special thanks to a friend and companion for helping me represent this change- @Ashventure.His design and his understanding of my one line design brief has always been amazing.

Any suggestions?

2009-09-30T12:09:00.002+05:30

I am coming back to writing after a pretty long time...May be I can call it a self proclaimed break from writing..but I guess when it comes to writing or rather penning down your own thoughts, I am very temperamental. A few days back someone told me that I have been very personal in my write ups and I should avoid that. Rather was even suggested that I delete a few old posts of mine..
Well that actually a personal opinion and i think that this blog is just a medium to express and communicate.:-)
BTW if any one of you have known me, or read my other articles, would love to receive suggestions on what else would you want to read on my blog :-) or may be you can tell me if i am good at some particular beat, i can take it on more .....:-)
awaiting your replies..

Attracting the real talent of India for tourism Industry

2009-08-19T22:17:00.004+05:30

Being part of the media and communication industry, I have tried to keep track on what interesting is happening across the industry. Just a few days back, there was ‘Rakhi ka Swayambar’ which caught up all the limelight. While it was interesting to see all the hype and PR activity happening across this show, sad part is, that there are many other shows and programs which deserve to get noticed and share enough media space. I am not endorsing any program here but through this platform want to share a very impressive show which I came across recently. Colors television‘s India’s got Talent, showcased a dance group’s performance for the second time in their semi finals. The group called as
Prince Dance group (hailing from the Orissa) showcased an amazing performance not just of creative conceptualization but also of determination. What the healthiest of us cannot think of doing, was improvised by few handicapped and healthy boys coming from the most humble backgrounds in Orissa.
When such amazing talent exists in Indian subcontinent why not capitalise on it? Amongst the educated class, marketers, tourism experts ,journalists and media guys, need of the hour is to promote such talent at a cost which can earn these artists a decent living. They in turn can offer humongous tourism opportunities to the outbound tourists by presenting such amazing musical and cultural shows. When I had gone to Thailand for a holiday, I realized that India has much more to offer then what we saw their in the name of ‘Thai cultural show’(no derogatory remarks to any culture or a country, but it’s a personal opinion).
Can anyone lend ears to the Tourism Minister please .??(BTW did I tell you that if you choose to visit Thailand through a tour, it’s compulsory for the tour guy to take you to the Thai cultural show and a gems and Jewelry store promoted by the Thai Government?). Can we also give some thought to it?

PS:Read Shekar Kapur's reactions to this performance on his blog at http://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/archives/2009/08/and_i_thought_j.htm

I grew up ...

2009-08-11T18:30:00.004+05:30

I grew up to the rythm of daffodils,
'a host of golden daffodils',

to the sunshine that spreads across every morning,
gives its way to the hope i have lived up so far,

i grew up to the dreams of the valleys,
the golden mud valleys,
they were the golden deserts,

i grew up to the discipline of living and enjoying,
discipline for making up my life,

i grew up under a pair of strong neem,
they were bitter but gave me insurmountable sweetness of life,
am a daughter of the deserts, the golden deserts..who are eternal forever.

The Swine Scare

2009-08-11T16:11:00.004+05:30

Past few days have been scary for the Indian public health scenario. The Swine Scare is getting on people's nerves to the core. Media everywhere is inundated with the Swine Flu spread, the death tolls , the measures, do's , dont's and all possible..Its a good thing..Government and health officials are on a toe and people have become much more vigilant, thanks to the media and Government efforts. Am sure if we stay that vigilant we can avoid /decrease the death toll .But can we not work for other fatal diseases like HIV and Cancer? Should'nt media create more awareness for these days. Instead of being made CSR topics by big brand names, can we not quietly and in a more vigilant manner help fight these diseases.
Sitting in a Cancer hospital for even an hour can be heartbreaking..patients die due to lack of proper aid..big institutions have become money minting machines in the name of Cancer cure..Its my earnest request to the Media to bring this issue in limelight.. Let people approach an institution where aid for Cancer cure is available to them cause everyone does not have the resource and the ability to fight such demons..

Hospital Life

2009-07-21T21:53:00.002+05:30

I had a long day today.. had been at the hospital to be with my mom who recently underwent a major surgery. She is undergoing post operative care in the ICU of the hospital. Its a different world all together for this part of life. While at one point your patient is inside the ICU undergoing intensive care in order to recuperate, the attendant/relative passes through streams of experiences sitting outside some of the most dingy and badly maintained care areas for the attendants. While even in the biggest of hospitals you are given one bed area, some hospitals are considerate enough to give you a folding bed.In this case a folding bed was given to us.I tried reading a few people today and tried to find out what they do the entire day. Guess all possible ways to spend the day are used. Talking to the neighbour, reading other people, checking out some interesting people if they happen to come and finding possible ways to go and meet your relative inside the ICU....If i could, possibly one day I will write a book on hospitals, doctors and journey from illness to fit mode..its a diff experience all together

Is that you God?

2009-07-20T15:12:00.003+05:30

Each one of us have its own manifestation of God ,with their unique experience. This is for those who believe in the power of the almighty. For those who do not believe in it, the first question that comes to mind is does god really exists? From Saints to religious teachers to our own parents, all teach us different versions about existence of God. My version is that God exists in the simplest of things, people and situations around us and i have exprienced it. God comes to us, stays with us in the form of people and one needs to have an eye to recognise it .Life becomes beautifull when we learn to identify such beautifull things around us.
In the daily hardships of life,in the run to succeed, there is something which makes us win with tiniest of second. Thats divine and beautifull..thats the experience of spiritual forces within us.

Rain or you?

2009-07-14T15:12:00.004+05:30

My day begins with you,
My day ends to your sound,
Your chirping and your crackling,
You are the perfect whistling.
Its your feel and your intensity that brings out the best in me
It’s the rain or is it you?

Bandra Worli Sea Link, Mumbai

2009-07-13T18:54:00.004+05:30

Having gone over reviews, good ,bad and some even ugly over the newly made Bandra - Worli sea link in Mumbai, I fail to understand why is there so much of negative PR about it?Its simple, no matter the amount of time taken by Government, contractors and other parties associated with it to build it, money associated with it or the political motives to name it after Late Rajiv Gandhi...this link still stands as one of the most modern and of its kind architectural structures in India . Feels like raising a toast to all those who worked hard to get this done. Here is a pics of the link on the second day of its opening. Took this picture when the rain gods were too happy and in turn made my ecstatic

Its your choice that matters

2009-07-08T15:36:00.000+05:30

Want to quote a beautiful article i read in today's Hindustan Times in their coulumn -Inner voice. It talked about life being what we choose to live it up.Everyone goes through a new struggle everyday of his life..Some of it ends the same day, some gets carried forward but life continues.Each one of us is fighting a battle every minutes, it just depends on how we classify it..some call it normal and some call it crucial.
Life is generous to those who pursue their destiny.The strongest people are not those who win but who dont give up when they loose.Fear is good if we can use it proportinately and not be paralysed by it.
The tragedy of life is nit death but what we let die inside us while we live.We cannot change course of event but we can change the response to course of events.Let salute those who never give up and succeed.

Rain Rain come again another day!

2009-07-08T09:02:00.000+05:30

There is something about Mumbai rains..the fervour with which they trickle down, the vengence which they show on being late and the pleasure they bring you inspite of the delays and traffic jams... Sitting in one corner of the room , sipping my favourite 'Masala Chai' and starting my day with a rain which has been --falling since the past two hours..it brings out the toxic thoughts, the negative emotions and urge you to start another day with a new thought, a new idea and a new zeal..
hail rains...aka..Mumbai Rains..

Father

2009-07-06T16:50:00.000+05:30

Father's are a beautifull thing i realize. Not that it's a realisation which has dawned upon my tiny brain now...but having been married for alomst five months now..having a man besides your father and your brother in your life add's up to your perspective about life through a different view point.. Will tell u how..
before my marriage, everyone under the sun came and told me how i would miss my home, my parents more, post wedding and how my relationship with my mother will become stronger after I enter married life. You know why ? because I would be able to relate to her thoughts having experienced it now..Agreed..Mom 's are a beautifull gift...most beautifull infact...but dad's are also no less..Because at the time when your mind is ready to accept ideas about family and social life.. an experienced man like your father would give you an unbiased perspective and a new way to deal with your problems without giving you solutions for them....as you become more seasoned to the environment, the problem (which are inevitable) solving skill becomes stronger and you come at ease with social responsibilities around you..
Its just beautifull how father's (like mother's ) help you shape and set your life :-)

Social Media, Here there everywhere

2009-07-01T11:16:00.000+05:30

This time's latest edition of Business Today( dated July12,2009) covers various aspects of the burgeoning social media and its impact across various user profiles.Needless to say , Facebook, orkut, Linkedinn, You tube, Flickr and not to forget the rage of twittering, all now dominate major time of our internet usage.Even a student aged 12, could be found glued to an orkut or a facebook at a local cyber cafe( not to forget the minimum age for users in most of these e social cirlces is 18 but there is not check on that!!).

Two days back a leading national daily talked about our latest Minister of State for external affairs, Mr Shashi Tharoor having a fan following of 10,000 users on his twitter account..Bingo!! Sounds impressive , but then deeds are better seen in action then just a twitter.Let see.

What is interesting is, the avenues these e-social circles have opened in terms of networking and reach for everyone across the globe. Everyday these e social circles offer umpteen opportunites for us to build our social intelligence( to be precise the e social one!) and then make it work towards or own interest- be it job opprtunites, meeting with old and some new found friends, knowing who's where, doing what, and may be breathing how? Expressing your professional and personal self is now a new found subject for researchers to work on..Understainding the psychographics and consumer behaviour model of various profile w.r.t their usage of different application on these sites...

Here the number of these social media sites is not important, fun is keeping pace with them.

Happy E socialising!!

The Local Flavour

2009-06-15T19:17:00.000+05:30

On a recent interview “adventure”, I was told, we are looking for local candidates for the post of a brand manager....

I said… I am a local candidate Sir…..I stay in Mumbai itself....am married to a local guy( certainly yes for a guy who has been brought up in Mumbai and for whom travelling in local trains is not an Ouch factor…..), my permanent address says of Mumbai…how else do you want me to be local???

I am still not sure how to make myself more localized. As far as learning the pulse of a city is concerned, you immediately catch it once u decide to accept the city and start making your living in that very place..

Come what may, I am poised to take on the local favours of Mumbai and relish them too…!!!!Here I come…………