Thanks to last.fm I could easily get the list of the top 25 songs I listened to in 2009 (using Historical Last.fm Charts)
( Love Aaj Kal, Kaminey, New York & Delhi 6 Rule the Lists :) )

Tags: 2009, a. r. rahman, bollywood, favorites, kaminey, love aaj kal, mohit chauhan, music, new york
Current Mood: impressed

I traveled more in 2009 than any other year; a neat fifty thousand miles or so on land, air and sea. Looking back at the year I can only wish that all years would be that good. Here's my journey.



( Memorable images from the past year... )

Tags: 2009, travel, wildlife

Hi folks,

Wish you all a very happy new year!

I have been doing good. This year I am gonna be upgrading my resolution to 1900xXXXX at least. Full HD to say it all. This year my bank gave me the lousiest card possible. So sharing some details with you!

Read and enjoy!

Have fun!

-V

Hi BANK,

Thanks for sending across the card!

I would like to bring the following to your notice:

1. I see that the the date of issue is the same as the date of expiry.

2. The date of issue / expiry is 12 / 09.

3. I received it on 1-Jan-2010, which essentially means that the card expired in transit. So much for the fast courier delivery.

I wish to imply that you, 'did not issue me a card'. I am keeping it as a new year card since it as as worthless, along with the wishes you sent me by e-mail!

If you may please issue issue me a card that will really work this time, I will be obliged.

Thanks.

Regards.

-Vikrant

Tags: lyfe
Current Location: India, Bangalore
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: That dial tone of the phone!

There is something magical about an event that has happened every single day for thousands of years. I have borne witness to it only a handful of times and everyone of those moments have been special in there own regard...

2009 ended for me with a gorgeous orange setting sun and the magnificent full moon rising over the ruins of Hampi... 2010 began with what can only be described as a pilgrimage of beauty and grandeur. To add to the happiness, I watched the first two sunsets of the year sitting over hill tops (one of those times conversing with a Bulgarian who was in love with India).

Something tells me 2010 be fine :)

Tags: 2009, 2010, hampi, india, pilgrimage, trip
Current Mood: contemplative

When? When?

In 2010.

May the year to come bring a happy ending to one or more long-running waits for you :-)

Current Mood: calm

A few quick jottings (Could be boring):

Considering I haven't been to Bombay in 23 years, this is effectively my first time :) It's a good thing I changed my hotel at the last minute from the suburbs to South Mumbai, since most of my places of interest are there. I'm staying on Marine Drive. The guy at the check in told me there are no rooms available overlooking the seafront, but after I was ushered into one I opened the balcony curtain and gosh - all of Queen's Necklace!

Decided to make the most of the evening and dashed to Churchgate station in order to reach Juhu. Naturally was comparing the railway system to London all the while - no route maps, no signage, no swipe cards etc. A few stops and a few hundred people in the cabin later, I realized all comparisons have to cease. But I was pleased to see the platforms are *full* of shops selling knick knacks. They wouldn't allow that in the West. By the way, why are so many people *running* up and down the platforms? And why did so many get off at Dadar...

Walked the length of Juhu beach, saw the sun set. Had some chaat and saw tons of kids playing cricket and football. The only niggle is my Nokia 5800 XpressMusic /gratuitous-name-drop which keeps running out of battery. And Airtel's GPRS brings back the dialup experience if you were missing it.

I returned to find Marine Drive fully alive at night. Walked the entire stretch with the moon sky high :) The footpath is wiiiiide and free of obstacles. Must have taken a lot of political will to keep hawkers from setting up shop there, as even the underpasses leading up to this promenade are lined with petty shops. A great thing in Bombay is that you are never more than a few feet away from food of *some* sort. In London I used to feel like a fool walking ten minutes for a nibble. Not the hallmark of a free society. And Bangalore seriously lacks open, public spaces like this :(

At some point I realized that within 12 hours I've travelled in a bus, auto, car, train and plane. If only I'd gone boating ... :|

Every time I travel by plane, I am reminded of the below stand up act by George Carlin (contains bad language):

George Carlin on Airplane Safety - I

Part 2, if you liked the above.

A few days ago I found Jerry Seinfeld do a good set of jokes about the same. Much cleaner humor: Link.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Lets see - Travelled to 4 different countries, ran a 10k run & kissed a tiger cub. Im sure there were many more 'events', but they just arent flashing to my mind right now :P

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Some... I went after a few... I gave up on a few... I woke up to realize I really did not need to do somethings
( Read more... )

Tags: 2009, thoughts
Current Mood: blah

I really liked this meme from 2008 so, here we go again :)

Post the first line from the first post of each month in 2009...
Here we go:

Jan: You will never climb the mountain if you keep looking only at its peak. (2008... 2009)

Feb: Here is a short list of things I did in the last 12 days (for the first time in my life). Lets see if I can remember them all :P (Last 12 Days...)

Mar: A lot of people warned me about watching Delhi 6, the reviews weren't entirely flattering and a lot of my friends simply refused to watch the movie. (Delhi 6 - Movie Review)

Apr: Me: I wanted to ask this question to you... (Conversations With Her - Stories of Love...)

May: My last weekend's trip to Kannur in Kerala was one of my most awaited trips. (Finding Perspective...)

June: Last Sunday I participated in my first 10K run, the Sunfeast World 10K run. (The Run...)

July: It has been over four years since I started blogging and what started as a simple way to hone my writing skill and reach out to more people easily, has become a part of my life. (Thank You...)

Aug: Im Jack's absolute lack of surprise... (Epiphany...)

Sep: What is a more accurate definition of a Good man? (Good & Evil)

Oct: Last evening I got the tragic news that my friend Mehmood had passed away a little while earlier. (Memories Of A Friend...)

Nov: A motion picture, or music, or television, they have to maintain a certain decorum in order to be broadcast to a vast audience. (Guts...)

Dec: Nigahon mein dehko (Na Jaane Kyun...)

Tags: 2009, blog, history, posts
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Abhijeet & Sunidhi Chauhan - Lamha Lamha (duet) | Powered by Last.fm

The new year is almost upon us and this means that its time for my series of new year posts looking back at how the year has been for me. This year I will drop off some of posts I did last year coz I will be traveling from 30th Dec till Jan 03rd.

This has been an eventful year so hopefully the set of posts will be colorful :)

Tags: 2009, life, looking back

I have been to 4 countries, 7 different trips(With one more to go) and 27 days of traveling in all!




You can see more details and photos from the trips here: http://www.dopplr.com/traveller/chandrahasa/public

Tags: 2009, travelling