Funky Restaurants !!!

Hello people!!! Hope you guys are really enjoying the summer showers and having a wonderful time. I am doing great. Eating, sleeping, freaking out and in short, wasting time. May and June have passed silently. I have begun my countdown already. One more month to go and I will be off!!! Leaving behind all loved ones here. Ready to start another semester, all alone, with memories of people and home haunting my dreams every night. Anyways, it’s the life I adopted for myself and I am happy this makes me realize the importance of each and everyone who have touched my life in some way or the other. Ok, let’s move on…

I am not someone whose inbox is loaded with forwarded messages. And if at all it happens to land in my inbox, its apparently from my dad!!! My dad is a wierd character. If he has got to show me some interesting article that has appeared in the newspaper, he will immediately look up for it in the net and forward the article to me. Dat's probabaly because i am hooked up with the computer most of the time that, he feels i will check it for sure if its in my inbox. Now, last evening, i got one of these forwards from my dad. It pictures some of the wonderous restaurants in the world. Initially i thought they were true. But now i am beginning to feel these are picture tricks. What say eh???

This would be one hell of a place to dine. Can you see the little cable car to the right linking to the restaurant?? One big wave or tsunami and you are washed away with you food!!!

This seems better. Very picturesque environment to lunch. A banquet in a castle!!!

Sccccchhhreeeecccckkkk.... If u hear this sound, u can be sure the tree is giving away and you can have a wonderful free fall. The secrect of Newton and the apple! Amazing suspension dynamics nonetheless ;)


Gulppppppp!!! I would have to force food down my pipe if i were to eat in this place. Climb the tiny ladder up to your restaurant!!! The first time i saw this pic, my heart literally skipped a beat!!!

This reminds me of Titanic. Seems a cool place, but again, one big ship comes its way, you would probably sink with a burger and a cup of tea in your hand!!!

Wasnt that amazing!!!??? I have a few more breathtaking pics. I have shared the best ones here. One day, i wish we could all lunch in one of these places!!! ;) Anyways, Have a wonderful weekend. Take care all of you and hugggggggggggzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Been there, Done that, Hated it !!!

Hi guys!!! I am back after a wonderful weekend and a great Monday. My friends came home and we had a roller coaster ride into our school days. We visited school, met all our teachers, juniors and most importantly our old class rooms. Awestruck by the new look it had now, we stood there stunned by the presence of a large LCD screen and a computer installed in each class. They had been put up to give the students a “Seeing is Believing” effect. But we were happy such things were not there when we were in school. Guess why??? If we had to view those slide shows and audio clips, our teacher had to take us to the Audio Visual room, which was just across the playground and 2 buildings away. A walk which will take less than 5 mins, would take a solid 15 minutes or even more for us. A very common tactic employed to “eat away” valuable class time!!!

So, I passed off my Monday with friends and teachers. Later, towards the evening, as I was watching a match with my dad, he suddenly popped up with a strange plan. Puzzled by such a thought, immediately I protested. My dad and mom, both have been through the experience, both have not enjoyed it. In fact, none of us would enjoy it. Now, they were pushing me to this. Why do they want me to go thru this too??? I have been a good girl, though I brush my teeth only once in a day, I don’t think they are bad enough to be certified by a dentist!!! Yes, my dad wants me to get my teeth cleaned and braces set up!!! My teeth are neither so expertly aligned, nor are they in total disarray. I am happy the way they are. Then why put me thru this crisis???

My previous visit to the dentist, about a year back, was a very unpleasant encounter. My dad had developed a very bad cavity and had to get a root canal therapy done. This is supposed to be the most dreadful treatment that you can give yourself that you would better wish you had no teeth at all!!! My father had been through the whole treatment and I accompanied him to the last sitting, where he had to fix a crown on worked-up tooth. We were waiting in the lounge, observing patients walk in and out, holding on to their cheeks. As usual, being a health conscious father, my dad began his advice. Being to the dentist for the first time in my life, a 1 hour wait was enough to give me a panoramic idea of what to expect. Finally, when we were ushered into the room, I walked in behind my father.

My dad and the dentist exchanged pleasantries and my father settled in the dentist’s chair. As if I had landed in an alien land, I looked around the place curiously. I watched as the dentist fixed up the crown for my dad. I was waiting to get off the place and finally when it got over, or at least I thought it was over, my dad turned to me and casually said, “Get your teeth checked Preethi. Let’s see if it needs a cleaning.” I was left speechless. I stood there rigid, not knowing how to react. My heart pounding. Utterly terrified. A tempest raging in my mind. Given a chance, I would have barked at my dad, unfortunately, I stood there, tongue tied. I stared at him with desperate eyes and a how-can-you-do-this-to-me kinda look. Finally, when my gaze shifted to the dentist, I saw that he was already getting ready to attack me and with a “warm” smile gestured that I take the seat. I returned his smile with a nervous smirk and took my seat, with a feeling I was going to be crucified in a workshop.

The seat was set high and inclined as if it were an easy-chair. The dentist adjusted the chair’s height hoping he was making me feel comfortable. He tried to develop a conversation with me. But I sat there, uneasy, holding the hand-rest tightly, as if it were my only saviour and answered in monosyllables. And then, it all began; my visit to hell couldn’t have been any closer. He placed a “saliva sucker” on my tongue (guess that’s what its called), focused the light right onto my mouth and took out a metal rod kinda thing. My mouth wide open, eyes set on the pale dusty ceiling, jaws slowly beginning to ache, a suction effect on my tongue and someone staring right into the intricacies of my teeth – Nothing could have been a more undignified posture. The doc came up close, gently placed a metal tool on my teeth, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

I am such a sensitive character, that even when someone scratches a painted wall with their sharp nails, I can feel that tinge of “something” pass thru the corner of my teeth. I got the same effect when he scratched my teeth with the drilling gun trying to remove some tartar. Occasionally, I raised my hand requesting the doc to let me close my mouth for a minute and gasped for breath. My palms were beginning to sweat and I was losing grip of my only support. I wished the whole world would simply melt around me. Finally, he asked me to gorgle and said it was over. I heaved a sigh of relief and quickly got out of the chair hoping that my dad wouldn’t come up with anything more. I thanked the doc for the “wonderful evening” and we turned to leave. As if all this were not enough, the doctor professionally exclaimed, “Come back after 6 months!!!”

Invisible… Yet… Invincible :)

Hi guys!!! Hope you are all enjoying the FIFA matches. I am having a great time watching them too. Now, to reveal my new love, its none but Lionel Messi, the youngest guy in team Argentina. Might not be as good as Ronaldo, Beckham or Ronaldinho, but definitely someone to watch out for in this World Cup. Great talent. I am loving his game…Thoroughly…

Ok… getting to something serious this time. Three solid months of vacation and I have done nothing useful apart from attending a 2 week training in genetics, 16 sessions of music class and a bit of blogging. Apart from all this, one thing worth giving myself a pat for is, I have been taking real good care of my health and body. Something I have been striving for, something that gets the smile on my parent’s face. Two months have passed since I came back home and I cant believe that time has been so cruel on me. Its been speeding really fast. Last night, my dad asked me which date he had to book my return tickets to S’pore. Shocked! So soon??? Only then, I turned to the calendar hung behind me and realised that we were already nearing the end of June. Horror struck me. Only one more month and my lonely counterpart will be waiting to take over. Damn It!!! :( Hard times ahead of me, but I must only remember this – “At times of distress, behave like a duck, stay calm and unruffled on the surface, but keep paddling away like crazy underneath.”

The worst part of my vacation has been that, I have still not had a gathering with my friends. Its either that most of them are not in town or else they are hooked up with their books preparing for exams. Even my close friend who stays just a road across hasn’t had the time to come home. I go to her place almost every evening and chat for a while. I have a whole semester of stories to be narrated. Unfortunately for me, she has been doing most of the talking when we meet, and my ears have been as sincere as ever – doing all the listening. After all it’s during these times when we meet, that she gets a break from her books, so why bother her with my musings??? I am just holding my feelings - so many thoughts fighting their way out of my head, like a bee buzzing desperately inside a closed bottle…

A very disturbing truth in friendship is that sometimes friends do not realize that just like every rose comes with a thorn and still we yearn to smell its freshness, admire it beauty and enjoy its presence, each friend comes with something you might not like, but still you will enjoy their presence and without whose company, life can be miserable. Being a very sensitive character by nature and a demanding friend, some things really hurt. Afterall, who would not love to have such demands ??? A friend… the freak-out kind… the lets-sit-by-the-fireside-and-chat kind… who truly loves the relationship that exists… one who would regard each other’s thoughts, actions and feelings… trust you as much as you would… one who opens up everything to you, just like you would… one who would sing that song you have forgotten… one who would know well in advance that something is bothering you, just by the look of your forlorn eyes… one who would join you in your celebrations, sorrows and lend a chest to hug and cry… or more-so, one who would wish not to see that drop slid down your cheek…

I’m sure each one of us would have someone like that in our life... someone in whom we would confide every single secret… And yes, I do have one such person. Its just that she has been too busy and stressed. Its now my turn to give her that enthusiasm and boost. So my stories will have to wait. But, I guess I have been telling you guys almost everything that has been flashing my mind. Most importantly, its like I have a set of invisible friends who, though connect to me through wires, share with me this amazing relation called friendship. I love you guys for being there, speaking out, criticizing, congratulating, encouraging and letting me be myself. Thanks a ton!!! Take care and lots of huggggzzz comes your way from me!!! :)

Nurture this… Murder that…

Day 13. The tension is rising. Every second has wonderous action to offer. Every goal scored so far has been splendid. Breath-taking performance by leading players. A surge of true patriotism fashionably potrayed by spectators. An absolute treat to watch. The football fever has been spreading like an epidemic. To give you the intensity of my previous statement, this is all I have to tell you - From dad to me and now from me to mom (a homemaker, for whom sports = last couple of overs in a cricket match, if and only if India is playing and is in the verge of victory)!!!

In my previous post, I never expected so many to fall for my prank. Anyways, i have been ignorant of football these days, my attention was only on cricket and my love has been (and still is) the reliable, handsome, soft-spoken, Mr.Wall – Rahul Dravid. This football season, I have let my mind wander and it has just discovered my new sporty sensation. This time, I shall reveal my new love. No, No, Not so soon. Hold on. My description of this guy goes this way - Cute yet so athletic, straight black unkempt hair that casually falls on his forehead, unmatched talent for a player of his age, admired by the greatest of football players, so much so that this sensation is thought to be the mighty legendary's successor. I’m sure you would have guessed my new love by now. No more clues. I now leave it to your wildest of imaginations to take its ride :)

Ok, now lets get down to the topic. As usual, I woke up only at around 9am on Monday morning. Opened the newspaper (read as – last page of newspaper) and read thru the football reviews. As for the rest of the newspaper, I only look at headlines and pictures :) Now, over to the supplementary papers. These are the ones that really interest me. This time it is Education Plus. And the article title read – Old habits die hard, so kill them. Fearing plagiarism, I have changed my post title :) I would like to share some of my thoughts on this and motivate myself. Yes, myself, so that I change certain things for my own good. Frankly, I have not seen the beauty of dawn for more than 2 months - shame on me. Late to bed and late out of bed. When mom told me roughly that I had to change this habit of mine, I told her that its my nature and also claimed myself to be a night bird. Only today morning did I realize that I could indeed turn a morning bird. I awoke at 5.45am, even before my mom did!!! And that’s because the previous day I made up my mind!!! Oh come on!!! Isn’t that a great achievement? I cant hear the applause yet…

Perseverance. Insistance. Determination. Enthusiasm. Good will. A conscious effort. A reason to change. A reason to get rid of the bad habits. That's all is needed. Now, I know bad is a relative term. What I meant was, get rid of those habits that do not help us achieve anything useful, instead substitute them with those, that might one day turn our dreams to reality. Once we have implemented this change, what do we have to wait for?? We have a reason to celebrate!!! As quoted in the article, “Old habits die hard. But no one said old habits never die.” And as the title says, lets nuture the good ones and murder the bad ones. Its all in the mind. In this context, I would also love to share this quote with you –

“ Watch your thoughts, they become words,

Watch your words, they become actions,

Watch your actions, they become habits,

Watch your habits, they become character,

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

I shall stop my philosophies of life here. I have got to stay awake until 2 tonite (Argentina vs Netherlands – cannot be missed), but wake up atleast by around 6.30 to keep up my new change going. However, I have this doubt. What are holidays for anyway??? I thought it was to sleep round the clock and to catch up with all the sleep, that we have lost while studying hard for the exams. Ok, forget it. For now, I shall leave you with this thought. Hope I can look back to this post one day and motivate myself. I do hope the same for you guys. Till then, take care and hugggggzzzz.

p.s. : Here's the link for the article i read : http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/06/19/stories/2006061900701000.htm

And yes, dont forget to guess my new love ;)

Of my new love... of my mind...

Girls say he is so handsome, charming, quick-witted and athletic… So do many guys… They think he is their role model… I was wondering as to what was so great about him that makes everybody go Ohh and Ahh about him… But I have always refrained from falling for him… Right from my school days… He used to be the heart-throb of many… He wasn’t the show-off kind, but definitely attracted attention… I won’t say I didn’t like him… but he wasn’t the kind on whom I would fall in love at first sight… Or atleast I didn’t even imagine he would be someone I would consider spending time with, if not fall in love…

My interests have always remained different – music, books, cricket, tennis… Though I used to occasionally follow his movements to check on his character that makes him such a topper, it was my tendency to keep safe distance from this guy… I never really felt he was so interesting a guy until I met him a week ago… My friends were all so excited that he was coming to Chennai… I had also told my cousin about this guy and he was much more eager than me to check out his guy… And he came, as promised…. right here, to my home, to everyone's home... in television… you wont believe me… but he came Live and Alive… Yes, in ESPN !!! :)

I guess, given the chance, you would all be ready with one football to strike me hard… If you had even a faint thought that I was going to describe my first love to you, you are mistaken…. But I am pretty sure, people in my blogsville are all as sharp as the game itself to realize that prithz is afterall fooling around with her new-found love - football… I have got addicted to the game… I make sure I watch atleast 2 matches… occasionally I watch the 3^rd match also… I never knew the game had so much entertainment to offer…edge-of-the-seat entertainment… Apart from reading books when you are low, I just realized that watching a football match can ease your senses and make you forget yourself… the game brings with it so much involvement and enthusiasm…

Now if you are wondering what the title had to so with all this, I shall as well come to the point… I was watching the match between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, where Tunisia leads with 2-1 and in the last couple of minutes, Saudi Arabia comes with a wonderous equalizer and ends the match in a draw… Though Tunisians were already celebrating a victory, the final goal would have come as a shock and been so disappointing… That brings me to this… I have for long wanted to study Sports Psychology, though I didn’t take it up as a serious option (I’m not the arts kind)… It would be a wonderful field to focus on… Counsel them when they lose… Instill faith in them and give them that ray of hope… Give them the strength to take on the next challenge… For its true when they say – “Its not because its difficult that we don’t dare, but because we don’t dare that its difficult”… Going on these lines, I was waiting to discuss this thought with you…

The root cause for such emotions is the mind... The mind is really dangerous… Its joy knows no bounds and depression is the worst enemy… I consider the mind a separate entity by itself… much more predominant and controlling than the body… In fact, a weak mind is stronger than a weak body… It can collapse the entire body and bring the person to ruins… A person with determination and will power can manage to get out of the world’s most devastating disease… He is capable of withstanding anything that might happen… On the contrary, the one with a weak mind is only capable of spoiling his body and his life… I belong to the 2^nd category… Very sensitive, Faintly optimistic, Inferior, weak by nature, but pretend to be mentally very strong… a trait I believe has genetically travelled from my maternal grandma to me… I have always learnt my lessons in life the hard way… which makes me realize the depth of my mistakes and gets me into this trance where I lose my mind… crestfallen...

Though I may be weak by heart, I am the firm believer that “Time Cures”… I am sure it will… It’s the mind that makes all the difference, something unique for each… which gives one their individuality, a different outlook to the world… This time, its a simple prayer to live and let live… take care… keep smiling… huggggggzzzzzzzzz… :)

Baby Bash....

Been quite busy for the past 2 weeks... Something that i really got involved in... As i mentioned in my previous post, i saw many more innocent and poor little babies being dissected and checked for their abnormalities, so that the mother could be councelled before her next pregnancy... The people in the lab showed me a complete dissection of the fetus, its internal organs and the brain... Though i was inquisitively watching all this, i had this unexplained feeling of guilt of having watched such a dreadful seen... wonder why...


Anyways... In the midst of my training session, my cousin came home with his family... It had been nearly a year since i met him and his daughter, or better, my niece, Aditi :) Such a cute thing i must say... i was so eager to see her... As soon as she came home, i walked to her and took her by my arms and that's the last of silence i heard from her... Bhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!... she began her musings... Shocked, i gave her to her mother and began questioning my cousin - "Enna, ponnu kitta edhanum solli kootindu vandhiya???"... Starting trouble, he called it... Slowly, i gave her my soft toys to play and gradually she began mingling with me... Being just a year now, she walks around the house like a penguin let loose and occasionally falls down out of balance, and gets up laughing at herself... so cute!!!

That Sunday, we had a family get-together and all of us went to the beach... She enjoyed the sand, the breeze and especially the kites... She watched us eat molaga bajji and kuchchi ice with her mouth watering, she fought with all of us wanting to get a bite on it... Her eyes sparkling with mischief and joy - a wonderful mind-picture that can never get out of my mind... As usual, she was the centre of attraction for all of us... When we offered her our mobile phones, she would so beautifully hold it in her hand... as if she were born with one, she would press a few buttons with the same hand and keep it in her ears... slightly inclining her head to one side, as though she were busy conversing with someone... Then she would go on and on saying something only she could understand... and turn to us and grin :)

You never know how quickly time runs when u have a kid around... all your worries and botherings seem to simply evaporate... You would really wish you were like that kid, free from any commitments or appointments... a life where someone would always be around to look after you... feed you from time to time, for which you would striclty say no, unless you are shown the moon during the mid-day... a life, where everybody's attention is on you... a life, that's nothing but smiles, mischief and curiosity... It is such a wonderful time that none can miss enjoying... Unfortunately, i can only very faintly remember what i did when i was a kid... i am just trying to learn all that i did from my mom and grandma... Shall pen them down sometime... :) Till then... take care... hugzzzzzzzzzzz....

Epitome of Life - Birth

I couldn't stay away any longer from sharing this piece of my mind with you guys... Lots has been happening this vacation... for a change, i am now down to something serious which i have been waiting to pen down... This post is going to be pretty much bio-related... but i hope i can get across the message that has rested deep within my heart... For the past one week, i have been on-going a training programme in a leading genentics lab in Chennai... With just 5 days of observation of their lab techniques and diagnostics, i have been able to interact with some wonderful people and learn certain amazing, as well as a few devastating truths of life... I also realised how true it is when people say - "Seeing is Believing"

There are some days when we realise how ignorant we have been to certain intricate matters in the world... And today was one such day which has opened up a whole new world to me... In the morning, as soon as i went to the lab, i sat in front of one the free microscopes and began counting the number of chromosomes and checking their banding pattern... After a few minutes, one of the staff there called out to me to observe DNA isolation from blood... While i was on my way to the Molecular Genetics lab, something i saw shocked me... i stood there stunned and it took me some time to believe what i had just seen... And this is what i saw....

A number of buckets were lined with formalin filled in them and some brownish figures were floating in them... a lady in full medical costume, opened up a bucket and took out a palm size fetus... Yes!!! U heard me right, a 7 month old dead fetus... She smiled at me and walked back into her lab... i stood there not knowing how to react... Never in my life have i seen a new born baby... Even when my cousins were born, my parents would not allow me to see the 1 week old baby saying i will contaminate its environment... And today i was face-to-face with a baby which had been removed from the mother's womb even before it was developed enough to be born... Moments later, overcoming my shock and little realising how stupid a question it would be, i blurted out to the staff - " Was that a real fetus? "... Amazed by such a senseless question, he smiled sarcastically and said - " Of course!!! Do you want to see it??? Bayanthura matteengale?!!!? " Bravely i said no and walked in behind him....

Lying on a broad table, with lights neatly focussed on its entire little body, with dehydrated brownish-grey skin, tiny head, eyes closed, bones so thin as though they were made of joint matchsticks, 10 fingers and 10 toes clutched tightly and a white umbilical cord hanging out loosely... was the baby, cuddled in the air... probably it thought it was happily sleeping in its mother's womb, but no, the placenta was lying there beside it... The baby looked perfectly normal to my eyes and i could see nothing but the beauty of a premature new born... It looked orphaned, deserted, helpless and killed even before it had a chance to see the world outside the blood-stained tissues of its mother... Spontaneously, i questioned the lady in the lab as to what was the abnormality in the kid that it has been aborted... She said - " Its head is too small. The baby might suffer physical and mental retardation if it were born. "

Utterly puzzled, i stared at the fetus for sometime and later walked out with a racing mind and a broken heart... How miserable could it have been???... The baby's mother would have taken so much care for the past 7 precious months and the father would have been so expectant of a new-comer, only to find that the baby has to be aborted... Everyday, hospitals see so many couples with repeated abortions, hundreds who are infertile and thousands who are lined up to get counselled for having an abnormal child... The very thought seems really pathetic and discomforting...

Life is so tough to be given... and tougher is to get a life with perfectly functioning parts and one that is free of all abnormalities... A small deletion, translocation or infertilty in the developing fetus can mean so much to the life of the baby...Though the sight of the unborn was so painful, in a way it had been saved of having to lead a life with under developed organs... Truely, i realised how blessed each one of us is to be able to smell, taste, see, feel, understand, interpret, cry, laugh, emote and enjoy the pleasures that life has to offer... The birth of life is such a wonderfully crafted and synchronised series of developments that can be matched by nothing in this universe... I am left with no words to describe my feelings... I only wish that each one of us value the life that has been so selflessly offered to us and we make the most out of it... Enjoy life, keep smiling and take care... Hugzzzzzzzzzzz....

p.s. : This blog is dedicated to my mom and dad... both their b'days fall this month... Happy B'day!!! :)