all that jazz

Reggae - Music of Jah people

2006-08-03T03:35:00.000-07:00

Reggae music has always been my favourite. King Bob Marley is the best and I even pride myself in being some sort of reggae singer. However apart from Marley there have been some other low-profile yet awesome reggae artists such as Burning Spear, Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, etc. Even Stevie Wonder had a great reggae number - Master Blaster Jammin. Many other rock artists came up with reggae numbers like, Led Zep, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jack Johnson, etc. Lately though I have been lucky enough to come across the new reggae sensation - Matisyahu. He is different from other contenporary artists like Damian Marley, UB40, etc because his blend of old school reggae with rap is truly unique. Matisyahu's popularity began with underground buzz. He then started to gain mainstream success as evidenced by his appearances on television. He appeared on the Last Call with Carson Daly in 2004, and was introduced by Carson as "the most exciting thing happening in music today". Matisyahu is currently getting some success in the mainstream with the live version of the song 'King Without a Crown', which has broken into the Modern Rock Top 10; an accompanying video and new album - 'Youth' - produced by Bill Laswell were released on March 7, 2006. On March 16th Youth was Billboard magazine's #1 "Digital Album" and as of April 4th stands at 16th on iTunes' top albums.
The music, developed partly with his backing band Roots Tonic has a unique sound, mixing reggae, traditional rap, and guitar solos typical of rock music. His fans are of different walks of life, religions, and ethnicities. He sometimes performs with Kenny Muhammad, a Muslim beatboxer. Matisyahu's major label debut album was produced by avant-garde musician and producer Bill Laswell, with minor contribution by pop producers Jimmy Douglass and the Ill Factor.His reggae vocal style is along the lines of traditional Rasta Roots stylings mixed with dub sound. Do listen to him if you get the chance.

Also here is some info on reggae music in general. Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica. Reggae may be used in a broad sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, including ska, rocksteady and dub.The term is generally used to distinguish a particular style that originated in the late 1960s. The two sub-genres of reggae are roots reggae (the original reggae) and dancehall reggae which originates in the late 70s. Reggae is founded upon a rhythm style which is characterized by regular chops on the back beat, known as the "skank", played by a rhythm guitarist, and a bass drum hitting on the third beat of each measure, known as "one drop." Characteristically, this beat is slower than in reggae's precursors, ska and rocksteady. Reggae is often associated with the Rastafari movement, which influenced many prominent reggae musicians in the 1970s and 1980s. However, the subject matter of reggae songs deals with many subjects other than Rastafari, with love songs, sexual themes and broad social commentary being particularly well represented.

So enjoy reggae music, maan.

Old school vs. new age

2006-07-30T05:33:00.000-07:00

Last new years eve we were at Aizawl and we all sat around a bonfire and had vawk-sa rep and other stuff. As usual there were guitars all around and everyone was trying their hand at a song or two. My brother in law OP had just told me a couple of days ago about how he wrote a bit in his blog about old school musicians with reference to the 'Rock Star Supernova' show. But he inspired me to write about my experience in this field with special reference to my trip last year to Aizawl. We all know that the Mizos are a talented lot in sports and music and every time I go to Aizawl I am more and more in awe of the talented musicians there.
However over christmas and new year I met a much younger crop of people and I gradually realized that I am getting older. At the bonfire one of my wife's uncles and I were strumming the guitar and singing oldies like Beatles, Van morisson, Bob Marley, etc. Then came these youngsters and I decided to play along with them and show off a bit. But much to my embarassment, I did not know a single song that they were playing and to make bad matetrs worse, I didnt even know of the bands they were playing. Finally I decided to mention some of the new age artists I knew. The youngsters were really good. I was amazed at their speed while playing riffs, and they were all trying to out do each other in playing the lead.
But when my uncle and I asked them to play some of our Oldies they were lost. Surprisingly they were not even able to play along with us. They just couldnt get the basic 1-2-3 strumming and the delicate plucking of our old country numbers. Finally my uncle and I decided that the seniors would play for the rest of the night and we all had a great time singing the blues.
The moral of this story is that no matter how fast some of the new agers are I believe that real music still lies in the basics. Take for example artists like Clapton, Knopfler, Van Morisson. No music lover on earth will be able to 'dis' these guys. Its not just the mellow stuff that I'm talking about. Take some of the best hard rockers andn you'll see that its not how complicated their music is but its how basic and simple they keep it.
Anyway now I'm going to hook up my RP80 guitar processor to my Red Epiphone electric guitar and riff the night away. Rock on.

Da Vinci Fraud

2006-07-24T02:54:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months there have been serious outbursts from the Christian community against the release of the Da Vinci code motion picture in theatres in India. My city Hyderabad has seen some pretty much vio;ent protests against the movie. When the movie was first to be shown in halls here there was a huge protest and the Christian rallyists barged into the Imax theatre and even spoilt some furniture. Then just a few days ago on friday the 21st a Christian youth slit his wrist in protest over the airing of this movie. Well being a lawyer and a Christian here are some of my views -

First of all it is just not right for Christians to protest this way over a fiction novel of a motion picture. Christians are not violent nor are they fundamentalists. Following a peaceful and tolerant path is what separates us from the others. Infact being vice president of the Christian Legal Association of India I was perhaps expected to intervene in this issue but I refused. Moreover what surprises me is that the vatican has not objected to this movie and so why should any others find an objection? I also think that there are many many other issues that Christian 'activists' can take up such as demolition of Churches, killing of Pastors, raping of Nuns, etc. But for them to go over board with this movie is not right. I think all the fundamentally inclined Christians should remember the famous abbreviation - WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)
Now heres is some research about Dan Browns theories - Dan Brown's error in The Da Vinci Code is that he calls the Last Supper a FRESCO. This painting is not a fresco. This is a critical mistake because if the painting had been a fresco, we would still have a superb image to view and examine. It is *because* it is not a fresco that we have all these questions now about what the painting is showing us. In fact, a main reason why the Last Supper painting is so famous is because it is not a fresco - and therefore that it was in essence destroyed immediately after being painted. It's important therefore to understand this issue.
Normally, the way a painting like this would have been done would be a "fresco". That means that the plaster is made wet, and then the painting is done on the wet plaster. When the plaster dries, the paint is sort of intermingled with the plaster and it's nice and permanent. However, that type of painting is limited in its colors and can't be retouched. When the plaster dries, you're stuck.
Leonardo wanted to experiment with a new style he had invented - tempera (egg yolk and vinegar) plus oil painting ON dry plaster. That way he could use more colors and redo portions if necessary. The painting took him four years to complete - 1495 to 1498. His patrons were furious at the delay but Leonardo refused to go any more quickly. Unfortunately, Leonardo's style experiment was a disaster. The paint almost immediately began falling off the plaster. The humidity was causing the paint to separate from the plaster on which it had been painted. Whole pieces of paint fell off the wall. Over the years, the piece has been vandalized and nearly fell apart completely. But the thing that we all should remember that Da Vinci was just a regular guy and he was not present at the last supper! So this painting is just a figment of his imagination.
ABout the OPUS DEI the villanous, treacherous organisation in the book is actually nothing of what Dan Brown makes it out to be. Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society. Opus Dei complements the work of local churches by offering classes, talks, retreats and pastoral care that help people develop their personal spiritual life and apostolate. In fact Opus Dei started its branch in India in 1993.

Finally friends I have read the book and seen the movie and liked both for what they are - pulp fiction and thats all. But the only good to have come out of this book is that more and more people are intrested in knowing more about Christianity and the Bible. As for Dan Brown himself who is a jew, lets hope some day we could discuss this with him over a goblet fo kosher wine.

My big fat indian world cup

2006-07-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

On saturday the 8th I organised a football match between my office - 'Hand of Hope legal services' vs. A.P. state police team. This was in aid of destitute children who were the spectators for the event.

So all was well, I had ordered the best looking 'juventus' styled jerseys for my team and we definitely looked the part. In the pic though you can see that some of my star players were a little...er..heavy to put it mildly. We decided with the refs that there were to be endless substitutes and that a substituted player could return to play again if required. In the pic I'm the one in the middle with my son - Zack who also had the same jersey. I think the match started off well. I was in playing defensive mid fielder and I got the opportunity to clear the ball a couple of times. However this sense of wellbeing was short lived. our team allowed the opponents to come too close to the goal and take a shot. Sadly that was the first shot at the goal and the police team didnt miss. So it was 1-0 at half time. i substituted myself and in came OP my brother inlaw and former team player for St. Stephen's college. I remember him saying that after we score a couple of goals we'll make another substitution. Well lets just say that a couple of goals were scored but the scoreline read 3-0.

However in the end it was all worth it as the under-privilaged kids all got gift boxes and we all quickly forgot the hiding we got. As for now, I'm ready for another game but this time a serious soccer match...on the computer.

Nike who?

2006-07-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

So you didnt know that Nike was the Goddess of victory. Thats ok since I dont expect everyone on earth to be blessed with the same outstanding general knowledge as me. This pic of the sculpture is of the Goddess Nike and was taken at the excavated city of Epheseus. Yes thats the same depraved city that the apostle Paul wrote letters to about Christian discipline.
Heres some more info about Nike.
Nike is the goddess of victory in Greek Mythology. She is the daughter of the giant Pallas and the river Styx in Hesiod and she is sent to fight on the side of Zeus against the Titans. Both Athena and Zeus can be seen carrying small figures of Nike indicating that she is an attribute of both of them. Nike as a separate goddess is always winged. Nike appears carrying a palm branch, wreath, or a caduceus of Hermes in works of art.
So next time you don your latest pair of runners you'll know what you're getting into!

Ladies tennis - the good, bad and beautiful.

2006-07-13T00:24:00.000-07:00

This wimbledons ladies final was perhaps the least attractive in history. Mauresmo vs Justine Henin-hardenne. Agreed, the skill level was ok but eye candy level was zero. However apart form Sharapova and Vaidisova there was another show stopper - Ana Ivanovic. This is the girl who, I predict shall be no.1 soon...very soon. Here are some stats about her -
Residence - Basel, Switzerland (cheesy1)
Date of Birth - November 6, 1987 (so shes not a minor..whew..)
Birthplace - Belgrade, Serbia (Thats sad)
Height - 6' (1.83 m) (Thats sad too)
Weight - 160 lbs. (73 kg) (ok...so at least shes honest)
Plays - Right-handed (moi aussi!)
Status - Pro (August 2003) (by pro we mean professional and not anything else)
This wimbledon she lost in the 4th round to the eventual champion - Mauresmo.

The Fed-Ex delivers agains

2006-07-12T22:35:00.000-07:00

Finally one of my favourites has come through. After the disappointing FIFA world cup where ALL my favourites lost, at least Federer won the all england tournament. I'm not a bad player myself (ahem!) and I know a thing or two about tennis. So here are my points of assessment of this incredible player:-

Federer has no obvious weapons, eg, no big serve, no great power shots, not the best return of serve and he is not too comfortable at the net, but he still manages to play one better shot than his opponent and thats the key to Federer's game. In Nadal sure he has found a worthy rival but Nadal has a long way to go. Nadal is just not at his best on any other surface other than clay. This wimbledon he did not face any class opponents with the exception of Bagdatis who anyway is not a grass court player. He also overcame Agassi who is on his last legs. This time the grass on the courts was so bare that the grass courts were playing like clay.

Federer on the other hand had to contend with much better opponents and also against grass court specialists, like the junior wimbledon champ, Mario Ancic, Bjorkman, etc.

I think that the US Open this year will be the key in determining as to how good Nadal is. In my books there is no comparison, Federer has no one in his class.

Pinot Noir - 2

2006-07-06T00:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago a friend of ours came to visit in Hyd. So I was in a quandry as to which wine I should pop. Out of my 150 odd bottles in my cellar(ahem!), I decided to open the Tyrells Pinot Noir 2002. This was the first time I was trying a good Pinot Noir. I am usually a merlot(Italian or french and not Californian or aussie), shiraz, bordeaux, kind of guy. I was really surprised with the response I got from the wine. Now I know why all the fuss was made about pinot noir in 'sideways'. It was a nice soft red. Not the kind of spice that a shiraz has and neither the seriousness of a Cabernet sauvignon. The aromas were pleasing, I mainly found the aromas of sandalwood coming to my senses.
All said and done, the pinot noir is a real charmer.

The samba has stopped

2006-07-03T00:46:00.000-07:00

I still think its just a nightmare, it cant be. Brazil cannot lose they were going to lift the cup again. Well, I am still in mourning and I will not rest till Brazil regain the cup in 2010. They still are the best team in the world and their loss to france was just a bad day in the office.

The finishing touch of Ronaldo, the magic of Ronaldinho, the guile of Cafu, the surprise of Roberto Carlos, the pace of Kaka, was just not there. France did play well or maybe I should say just a bit better than Brazil. Zidane was up to his old tricks and proved once again that he is a legend. But just think, that Brazil, playing their worst game ever conceded just one goal. And france playing perhaps their best game in the tournament scored only once. Thats some food for thought.

Well, next cup, will be a different story. Ronaldinho will be the senior guy, Kaka, Robinho, Adriano will all have matured and Ronaldo if he plays, will be a legend. So mark my words, this loss to France will only motivate them further and in 2010, Brazil will be unstoppable. Ciao.

Bye Bye Beckham, bad luck Rooney

2006-07-03T00:09:00.000-07:00

As much as I would love to see Brazil and England in the semis, I just wasnt convinced with Englands performance in this world cup. Having said that, I think that Rooney's red card was totally uncalled for and the ref certainly exceeded his authority. Also Christiano Ronaldo was being a real cry baby to appeal against Rooney. Wayne Rooney is one of the toughest players and he never pretends an injury and in that regard he is pretty clean.
However England missed the script this world cup. They were too defensive and that should be blamed right on Sven Goran Ericssons head. He showed the world why he is the worst coach and made too many blunders. He should never have given Crouch the chance and even Walcott would have done a better job. Infact, Dafore would have been a better inclusion in the squad over Crouch.
David Beckham stepping down from Englands captaincy was expected and I am not so sure that we will see the ball bending ever again in the world cup. Beckham proved that he still is the best in the buisness with his free kick against Ecuador. Also I must say that almost every corner that he took was pretty much on target. We will miss him but I'm sure a new hero will arise for England.

Dont cry...Argentina

2006-07-01T03:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, the biggest heartache this world cup is definitely Argentina's loss to Germany in the quarters. Now I'm not the biggest Agrentine fan but I was really rooting for the latin americans because to put it simply - they out played the germans for the most part.
However one cannot forget that the Germans are playing in their own homecourt and also they certainly had their fair share of assistance from the refs. It is already established that the refreeing of this FIFA world cup has been totally below par. In the first few minutes the german striker Podolski was given a yellow card. A few minutes later he committed another bookable foul but the ref turned a blind eye. In fact Podolski should have carded a 2nd time on more than a few occasions. Also every time a german fell down the ref blew his whistle but didnt seem to notice the fouls on the Argentine players.
Having said that, I think the Argentines missed a few tricks too. They started without Messi for some strange reason. Messi is a type of player who can turn the game around in a matter of a few minutes. Secondly Requelme just wasnt himself and I think he played his worst game of this year. Then Abbondenzieri the Argentine goalie had to get injured at the worst possible moment. Anyway theres no use crying over spilled milk but I think that the officials have to make sure that the Home team doesnt get too many favours in future.
The germans DO NOT deserve to be in the semis but some times good guys come last, huh.

reminiscing

2006-06-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

These 2 snaps bring back such lovely memories. The one of Ligia and I was taken on 27.09.2002 just before Ligia went in the theatre for Zacks delivery. We were in a suite in the civil hospital in Aizawl, Mizoram. Ligia looked tired and yet so radiant.
The one of Zack and me was taken at Chirala when he was about 2 years old. This was the first time he ever saw the sea. We had just come back from the beach and were entering our villa in the resort and Ligia snapped us.

My aquarium fish -2

2006-06-28T02:39:00.000-07:00

As I have said before, my aquarium fish as usually total odditties. Here are some snaps of my Arowana and my talking catfish.
The Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrosum) is a truly majestic fish has a great character too. However be warned that you should never keep any fish that could be swallowed by the Arowana. in some parts of the world this fish is considered a goodluck charm. Arowanas, also known as aruanas or arawanas are freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae, sometimes known as "Bony tongues." In this family of fishes, the head is bony and the elongate body is covered by large, heavy scales, with a mosaic pattern of canals. The dorsal and the anal fins have soft rays and are long based, while the pectoral and ventral fins are small. The name 'bony tongues' is derived from a toothed bone on the floor of the mouth, the 'tongue', equipped with teeth that bite against teeth on the roof of the mouth.
The Talking catfish(Agamyxis pectinifrons) is one of my favourites. He is a quiet fellow who doesnt like to disturb anyone. He is a solitary fish and prefers worms (tubifex or chopped earthworms). He always stays in a secluded spot avoiding the light.The natural habitat for these catfish is throughout the river systems of South America notably in Peru and Pebas. This particular species can attain a length of 140mm or 5½".
One time when I kept the catfish with the Arowana, the Arowana caught the catfish and tried to swallow it whole! This went one for hours and then finally the Arowana gave up and the catfish continued with his life! I had to separate them though.

Spiderweb

2006-06-28T02:03:00.000-07:00

This pic was taken by me at Chirala - a resort by the sea in south India. I couldnt resist taking this pic when I saw it. I used my Canon SLR with a macra lens for this.

Fishing at the Cauvery river

2006-06-28T01:43:00.000-07:00

The cauvery river in India boasts of the best angling in the country and also one of the best freshwater fishing in the world. So I decided to check it out. Well i went down to the river near a dam and tried my luck. I angled for about 4 hours mainly hoping to get a Mahaseer to bite. The mahaseer (maha - Large, seer - head), is the largest carp in the world. It can weigh to about 70 kgs and grows to about 6-7 feet. Well I did catch a mahaseer but it was a juvenile so small that I decided not to put it on this blog! But I did get success with the Tilapia. (see pic above).
The Tilapia is a fish originally domiciled in Mozambique, Africa. This fish has been introduced to various places in Asia for food. The fish is aggressive and breeds prolifically.
The whole experience of fishing at the cauvery was great. The weather was perfect and the lush green forests were enchanting.

The real crocodile hunter - 3

2006-06-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

In the Bandipur sanctuary, the most feared animal is not the Tiger nor the Gaur(A huge Bison), but the Elephant. We were warned about keeping our distance from wild elephants but I just couldnt resist this snap. i took it when I was trekking in the middle of the jungle and I came across a herd of these Pachyderms.

The real crocodile hunter - 2

2006-06-27T03:47:00.000-07:00

This pic was taken with my sony digital cam. This camera is an old school camera which uses floppy discs. The crocodile - Indian Mugger - was found in a jungle swamp in the Bandipur sanctuary.

All wild populations of mugger are legally protected, and management programs intended to restore populations have been very successful . Widespread captive breeding programs have restocked wild populations and now have a surplus of captive-bred crocodiles as suitable habitat is limited. The Mugger Management Project in Similipal, India was started in 1979 and was able to rebuild populations, provide muggers for restocking elsewhere, and resort eventually to farming the crocodiles . The Indian government has now called an end to all captive breeding programs in India .
Muggers have been used in traditional Indian medicine, and have been hunted for sport and for their skin, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. Hunting for their skin was the major factor that contributed to the decline of the mugger, but it is no longer the primary pressure on this species . Habitat destruction for agricultural and industrial development , egg predation by humans and drowning in fishing nets are the current threats that face the mugger.
The mugger is found in India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It was found in Bangladesh, but is now thought to be extinct there.Inhabits freshwater lakes, ponds and marshes, and may also be found in reservoirs, irrigation canals, human-made ponds and even coastal saltwater lagoons. The mugger prefers fairly shallow, calm waters .

The real crocodile hunter - me

2006-06-27T02:45:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I took a trip to Karnataka - a state in southern India with some friends. The highlight of my trip was most certainly fishing at the cauvery river and ofcourse a trek in the Bandipur Tiger sanctuary. The pic taken above was in the middle of a forest stream. My friend and I swam a part of the stream where the water was about 8 feet deep.

Chikungunya - the latest plague (contd)

2006-06-27T02:40:00.000-07:00

Chikungunya is closely related to O'nyong'nyong virus [3].
Chikungunya is not considered to be fatal. However, in 2005-2006, 200 deaths have been associated with chikungunya on Réunion island.
The symptoms of chikungunya include fever which can reach 39°C, (102.2 °F) a petechial or maculopapular rash usually involving the limbs and trunk, and arthralgia or arthritis affecting multiple joints which can be debilitating. There can also be headache, conjunctival injection and slight photophobia.

However one is not to forget the old housewifes remedy - Eat light, sleep right and say your prayers every night.

Chikungunya - the latest plague

2006-06-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

Well theres been so much hype about this new virus - chikungunya here in andhra Pradesh India. I've heard about many people affected and I've also read about this virus in the papers. There seems to be no cure nor is there any effective vaccine against it. However it may be noted that there is a homeopathic medicine available in any good homeo store that claims to prevent this disease. The dosage is about five tablets twice a day for 3 days. Then after a week you are to continue that same. If properly taken this medicine claims to be a preventive. I've just bought 3 bottles and I hope it works well. Here is some more info about this virus -

Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The name is derived from the Makonde word meaning "that which bends up" in reference to the stooped posture developed as a result of the arthritic symptoms of the disease. The disease was first described by Marion Robinson[1] and W.H.R. Lumsden[2] in 1955, following an outbreak on the Makonde Plateau, along the border between Tanganyika and Mozambique, in 1952. Chikungunya is closely related to

Brazil - lalalalalalalala

2006-06-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

Whoa the samba is back! What a match! Last night I watched my team come back from a goal down to totally destroy the Japanese - Sayonara Nippon! That means goodbye Japan..just incase you didnt know. Here is the amazing thing about the samba boys - IN their 3 matches they have scored a total of 7 goals, ok.., but out of the 7 goals, 6 goals have been scored by different players. Every player in the Brasil team is capable of scoring. Before the match I was hoping that Japan would score first just to wake the samba boys up. Methinks Juninho's goal was awesome but I'm really with Ronaldo's 2 goals. So for all of his critics - eat dirt!
For most of us Brazil means, fun, samba, football, bikinis and (bikini waxing - lol), Rio, Pele, Carnival, etc. But here is a few somethings about Brazil just for your knowledge:-

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil or República Federativa do Brasil)
It is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world in both area and population.
Brazil is thought to have been inhabited for at least 10,000 years by semi-nomadic populations before the first Portuguese explorers, led by Pedro Álvares Cabral, disembarked in 1500.
Judiciary power is organized at state and federal level along a structure of districts called comarcas. One comarca may include several municipalities.
Portuguese is the only official language of Brazil.
English is part of the official high school curriculum, but few Brazilians are truly fluent. Spanish is understood in varying degrees by most Portuguese speakers due to the great similarity between the two languages.
There are many sports that have their origins in Brazil:
Beach soccer, which originated in the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and
Footvolley, a mix of football and volleyball, also played in sand.
Capoeira, a martial art of African heritage.
Vale tudo, a fight sport.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu a variation of the jiu-jitsu.
Biribol, an aquatic variation of Volleyball

Ciao, amigos.

Goa - Zack and I

2006-06-23T02:08:00.000-07:00

Ligia too k this snap of Zack and I at the Taj beach at Goa. Zack was having so much fun with the sand.

Goa - Just us

2006-06-23T01:34:00.000-07:00

We took this pic on timer with our casio 7.2 mega pixel camera.

Our Goa vacation

2006-06-22T01:43:00.000-07:00

Hola! In may, the travellers (Ligia, Zack and I) took a vacation in Goa - the erstwhile Portugese colony on the western coast of India. It was great! We stayed at the Taj Exotica in Bernaulim. The Taj gave us a taste of what a resort should be. It was just so laid back and fun. We stayed in the Garden Pool Villa. So we had our own pool to splash in and we also had our own garden with a hammock.
There was much to do for Zack also who had a blast. Ligia and I rented bikes and rode all along the resort and then ofcourse we swam and swam, and then some more. Food was great. We tried the lobster at the lobster shack. Yum yum!
The weather was so so. It did rain a couple of times and one time I was in the pool at around 1 am and it started to rain. That was amazing except for the frog that decided to get friendly with moi. Ligia loved it too. She perhaps has never spent so much time in the water as she did here. She also came back with a sexy tan.
All said and done we liked it so much that we are planning to go there again soon...really soon.

My aquarium fish -1

2006-05-04T01:45:00.000-07:00

Right now I have 4 senegal bichirs inter alia (among other things) and there have got to be among the coolest fish ever. They are hardy, have no demands regarding temperature of the water, food, and tank mates. However be warned that these fish can grow and will eat fish small enough to swallow.

Together, bichirs and the reedfish are a small group of 11 species placed in their own family, Polypteridae, in the order Polyptenformes. Fossils are known from the Cretaceous period (145 to 65 million years ago) of Africa. Although fossils have been found in North Africa, the family is now confined to the freshwaters of tropical Africa and the Nile River system.Bichirs are elongate fishes with a distinctive series of dorsal finlets along the back and pectoral fins with fleshy lobes. Superficially these lobes resemble the fleshy lobes of coelacanths and lungfishes, but the internal structure is different. In fact bichirs are similar to lungfishes in a number of other ways, and some ichthyologists prefer to classify them with the sarcopterygians.
There are ten species of bichirs, all in the genus Polypterus. They are found in the rivers and flood plains of Central and West tropical Africa and throughout the Nile River system. They are similar in size and general appearance. Their color tends toward green and yellow-brown, with occasional darker spots and stripes; some species are mottled. They grow to about 0.3 to 1 meter (1 to 3 1/4 feet) in standard length (that is. body length without the tail).The reedfish Erpetoichthys cdabancus is restricted to the coastal lowlands of tropical West Africa between the mouths of the Niger and Congo rivers. The reedfish is more commonly known as Calamoichthys in the aquarium trade. It is much more elongate than the bichirs and is frequently known as the ropefish. At least one authority suggests that the reedfish is paedomorphic, that is, the adult reedfish retain characters seen in the larvae and juveniles of the related genus Polyptems.
Little is known of the courtship and breeding habits of the family in general, but breeding habits have been observed for certain Polypterus species. Males and females move into swamps created by flooding during the wet season, from August to September. Courtship has been observed in P. senegalus. A pair of males take turns leaping. The smaller male then continuously attends the female as she cruises about. A later phase consists of the male tapping the female's head while throwing his swollen anal fin, cup-like, beneath her abdomen. Eggs are laid a few at a time among rooted vegetation. Upon hatching, the young form schools. There is no information available on possible parental behavior.

Zack in an innertube at Mt. Spokane

2006-04-12T01:23:00.000-07:00

Ligia, Zack and I at Mount Spokane

2006-04-12T01:10:00.000-07:00

The snow was a little sludgy but it was fun over all.

our trip to Spokane

2006-04-04T03:35:00.000-07:00

We were in the US - Spokane from early feb to early march 2006. This was my first trip since 2000 and Ligia, Zack and My first trip to the US as a family. We went along with Mom and spent all our time with Kareena, my sister and her family. Greg my brother inlaw and the Kids spent some great times with us. Shafali, Sheadon and the twins Sitara and Shanaya were beside themselves with us and around especially Zack.
Spokane was cold and snowy almost the whole time. One of my highlights was watching College basketball - Gonzaga. Ligia and I got to see Adam Morission - the no1 player across the US, in action. Also imran my high school buddy flew down and spent a couple os days in Spokane. We also played cricket in the snow!
I got back about 30 cds from there to put into my Ipod. Got alot of Jazz, blues, reggae, country etc. I even got hold of some great vintage rock bands like Cinderella, Cheaptrick, etc.
Got Van morissions latest CD.
Here are some snaps from our trip.

all of us at chirala

2006-04-04T03:29:00.000-07:00

Ligia at sunset - Chirala

2006-04-04T03:25:00.000-07:00

A lazy afternoon at Chirala

2006-04-04T03:21:00.000-07:00

Chirala - Beach, Sun and fun

2006-04-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

Its funny how some of the most beautiful places in the world are right under your nose. Chirala is one such place. Its about a 6-7 hour drive from Hyderabad and I have been visiting there with my family and friends sonce the 80s. Its really all the cliches, tranquil, balmy, serene, etc.
So in late January we decided to trip a quick trip there. The gang was Ligia, Zack, OP, Pishima, Tao and myself. It was OPs first time at a beach. Zack, all of 3 years loved it and didnt want to get out of the water. For Ligia and I its our 3rd trip there together. We love it.
The resort was built by the british in 18blahblah and the service is excellent. The food fresh and tasty and it is maintained by the ITC.
So here are some snaps of the trip. Enjoy.

A most remarkable tropical New Year

2006-01-09T01:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas and New year was spent at Mizoram which happens to be my wife's place. So Ligia, Zack and I spent about 2 weeks over christmas and new year. It was coooold!! The funny thing about Aizawl, Mizoram is that even though the temp is not that low, you just feel cold because of the wind chill factor and also the moisture in the air.
Aizawl is gorgeous as a city. Though crowded there is always the backdrop of the lesser himalayas from almost every building.
New year eve was spent at a bonfire with guitars and hot cakes and tea. At the stroke of midnight the whole valley erupts with firecrackers of all kinds.
Boxing day and the day after new year begins early in the morning with preparations for the evening feast. The feast is a community event where everyone of the particular locality joins in at cutting the meat, veggies and making fire from fire wood, etc.
We also made a trip to the tlaung river which is the longest river in Mizoram. That was great but as usual really cold.
Any way the the funnest part of the trip was just lazing around and spending time with Ligia and my son Zack.
The only ebb is that Mizoram is a dry state so that means no wine!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Python and I

2005-10-05T03:08:00.000-07:00

On sunday, I had gone to Gandipet - a reservoir near Hyderabad where there is a dam to check flood waters. I had gone there with my wife and my in-laws. We had also taken along our security personnel at around 6AM.
I decided to climb down the dam by an unused ladder to find some minnows and crabs to take home. I climbed down ok but when my security guard was climbing down we heard a rustling from a tree branch and out dropped a HUGE python right next to my feet. The python must've been at least 9 or 10 feet long and bigger than my arms! It was really cool and the markings were so clear. I wasn't exactly sure if the snake was a python or a Russel's viper and that was the reason I made no attempt to try and pick it up.
I also managed to catch a few crabs, fish and freshwater shrimp.

New Fish species

2005-09-16T04:36:00.000-07:00

I have just recently got hold of many rare and exotic species of fish that I am keeping in my Aquarium. At present I here is the list of the exotics that I have
1 Spotted Talking Catfish (Agamyxis pectinifrons)
1 False upside down Catfish
1 Hi Fin Catfish
4 Senegal Bichirs (Polypterus senegalus)
2 Ctenopomas
1 Red tail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus )
1 Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)
more later

Pinot Noir

2005-09-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

I have finally got 2 bottles of Deinhard Pinot Noir. Haven't tasted it yet but I will...oh yes I will.
However my latest favorite is any good Australian Shiraz. Merlot is a close second. Cab Sauv is all time best but a little predictable.

It is said there is also a new type of wine that has been produced especially to treat incontinence in aged persons. The makers are calling it Pi-no-more.

The crow and the dove

2005-08-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

Said the crow in a huff,
I wish I was a dove
So beautiful in daylight.
I'd fly above, like a symbol of love,
donning my coat of white.

Thought the dove in his flight
I wish I was dark as the night
just like the clever crow.
For now I'm paler than white, though black pleases my sight,
I wish dark my coat shall grow.

- Stephen Ronojit Sen.

The hour of the moon I and II

2005-08-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

And the sea caught fire, there was fire all around me,
a world of people chanting and walking towards me
I wanted to protect her but the odds were against me,
I needed to think, if only time would let me.

They took us to the ruins through a dome shaped entrance,
walking and chanting as if in a trance
We kept walking backwards till we couldnt any more.
There was something behind us that wasnt there before.

That something made us feel so small
It was a clod, dark, beautiful wall.
A wall so tall we couldn't gauge its height
The end seemed dark, dark as the night.

I tried to think, I pulled her near,
I closed my eyes and said a prayer.

Who are they? I wish they wouldnt last
They are perhaps the sins of my past
Then whay is she here? its not her fault.
Stop their chanting! Please make them halt!

Is this a dream or lifes great drama?
No! those words again,"Chanda Mama"
It was then that something about their tune,
Made me realise it was the hour of the moon.

Part II

A multitude of them, her and I
they were waiting for something to catch their eye.
At the top of the cliff we waited for what we didnt know
But they were sure it was going to show.

The sun suddenly shone through the snow
Then they all stared at the big black crow.
It flew alone, it flew beneath
Neither felt the cold nor felt the heat.

Then it turned and flew towards the sky,
and the sun started setting, I dont know why.
Then the moon rose and chilled us to the bone
there were lights around the moon that brightly shone.

A multitude of them and yet we were alone
then they turned towards us and began to moan.
They hummed together that eerie tune
and bowed before the great old moon.

Then they took hold of me and pulled her away
I closed my eyes and said a prayer.
They took me to the edge and threw me down
I looked around, the crow was gone.

As I fell I could see no land
Then I reached out and felt her hand.
We looked down and we could see,
we were headed towards the fire in the sea.

They were all staring as I turned to see
I held her tight and she looked at me.
Our fall was slow and when I looked above,
I saw the crow turning into a dove.

Then I awoke in the early morn'
I reached for her but she was gone.
Then I saw her, she was humming that same tune
As she stared out of the window...at the moon.

- Stephen Ronojit Sen

Special effects laughter

2005-07-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

The new age movies have certainly given something more for the movie goer. Special effects has always captivated us. I remember watching 'Clash of the titans', years ago and being totally over awed. Now when I watch it I'm embarrassed.
The matrix was a real break through movie with almost every second movie trying out the same matrix effects. But one film maker has taken special effects to an entirely different level. Stephen Chow, has created something unforgettable by using special effects in his 'moral/comedy/martial arts' films. 'Shaolin Soccer' was brilliant and 'Kung Fu Hustle' was even better. His comedy is so unique. This type of flim is exactly what I'm looking for in comedies. Sometimes, I wish that I had made these movies.
However, its not only the clever dialogues and his excellent satirical depiction of Chinese soceity that stands out, but his use of special effects is totally unique.
Though the special effects makes some of the action seem so utterly impossible, it still looks so amazingly real.
I hope Stephen Chow makes lots more movies soon.

The day so far...Amit Jogi.

2005-07-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Busy day already. Cases, clients, the usual. Also my wife - Ligia visited me at office after she dropped Zack - our son to school.
Read the papers, Amit Jogi's case made me think back. I remember Amit was my junior at St. Stephen's College and the memories I have of him are not cool at all. I remember that he had a room in the residence and he also had a personal attender! That was just not done at a all boys residence. He got alot of grief over that issue and didn't last long in residence at all. On the other hand, I was told that he had a great collection of Cd's and perfumes. That was in the mid-nineties.
As for now, I dont know him at all and am happy to keep it that way.

Rain beautiful rain

2005-07-12T03:30:00.000-07:00

RAIN, BEAUTIFUL RAIN

Oh the rain, beautiful rain,
heaven sent in a drought hit land.
The neem tree sways so slightly,
the rain drops tap the mud so lightly.
I hear the gleeful voices of children playing outside,
and it makes me smile.

This season has seen
the different faces of the monsoon,
Floods in the north and east
teasingly elusive in the south,
But as always the rain this time too,
is an impact you cannot stop writing about.

We have done all we can to spoil the rain,
like building more and more and cutting down trees.
Our wants never cease,
but the rain has proved greedier than us.
Time and again it pours down like a strainer from above
despite all our efforts to thwart its plan.

(incomplete)

- Stephen Ronojit Sen

Monsoon wine

2005-07-12T00:42:00.000-07:00

It really saddens me that there is no good wine available in Hyderabad, India. The only available brands are Riviera and Castellino, apart from some cheap local port wine. Though Bangalore has some interesting foreign brands there is not that much quality wine there.
In my cellar I have about 30 bottles of good vintage wine. Jacob's Creek, Penfolds, Wolf blass, Hardy's, Joseph Phelps, some good bordeaux reds, rieslings, chardonnays, etc. But I am looking for some of the really good stuff like Chateau dYquem, etc.
Also I just realised that I dont have a single pinot noir!
Anyway my favourite is still Cab Sav with merlot coming a close second. Of the whites, my fav is riesling (German).
Cheers!

something fishy

2005-07-11T02:08:00.000-07:00

The local fisherman's knowledge is always accurate....well, almost always.

Came across this pic and I just couldn't miss posting it here.