The curious incident of the dogs

Every morning, I drive for 6 km from home to office. Mumbai’s population is 20 million(2001 census). It is spread over 468 sq. km. The population density is estimated to be about 29,000 persons per square kilomete. This morning, I counted 61 dogs on my way to office..this roughly translates to half-a-dog every square km. The ratio of homo sapiens to a dog is 58000. Dogs sure have a better life in Mumbai!

Silvassa

Place: Silvassa

Season: Aug 2007

Verdict: Timepass, budget trip

How I reached there?

Started out by the morning Shatabdi from Mumbai. Reached Vapi and took the auto(called a special ride when it is not on share basis) for hundred rupees to Silvassa..a very bumpy ride, only left me wishing that the ordeal ended as soon as it had started.

What I saw?
1. Church – Built in 1897, of Portugese fame..still looks as good as new, and nothing much to marvel about except the historical value
2. Tribal Museum – For the first time, I saw a museum that was maintained keeping the posterity in mind..i.e. what if the tribal culture that is existent today(2007) vanishes in the next decade

With nothing better to do, and almost the entire noon ahead, took an auto to Khanvel.
3.Khanvel – good roads, lush green trees on both sides of the road.

What else..what else..what else….
4.Bal Bhavan – Yeah, I spent a couple of hours there while waiting to proceed to Vapi to catch the evening Shatabdi back to Mumbai

Worth mentioning:

Shatabdi serves good breakfast and dinner (really). The 10 cm long chilli that was served as salad with the dinner, just about a quarter of an inch shorter than the breadstick, deserves a special mention.

Honour in Begging – of a different kind

In Mumbai, eunuchs harassing young men for alms at traffic signals is an everyday scene. I was amused by what I saw today. There was a middle aged man in an auto, visibly hurried, for his morning duties at work. The auto had no option but to stop at the Murphy’s law abider – the red signal. There comes this eunuch, bothering him for money, and loaded with the choicest epithets. He tried to look away, wishing the signal was atleast shorter, but to no avail. The auto driver was visibly impatient too for he was not spared either. Then grudgingly, when there was no sign of the red to green flicker, the man took out some loose change and handed it over to the eunuch. Wilfuly or not, I do not know, but it fell off the eunuch’s hand onto the road. Instead of just picking it up, the eunuch made more noise about it and walked away without collecting it…to harass yet another gentleman. It was against the eunuch’s honour to pick it up from the road, though asking for alms wasn’t. Of course, the first gentleman got down from the auto and picked his change before the auto sped away.

Life in a Bubble

Life in a bubble
Kaleidoscopic view
Green, Blue and of Violet hue

Turn around Upside down
Still in peace as you unwind
In the realm of your mind

The bubble bursts..
And you are cursed
No more bubble in life

Monsters have an axe to grind
Keep you in a bind
But it no longer troubles you

As Life goes into the bubble again.

A Day Of My Life Without My Spectacles

Woke Up…
Scrambled Out Of My Bed Trying To Locate My Spectacles..
Crashed It With The Book I Was Reading The Night Before…
There Begins My Eventful Day…
Stumbled To The Washroom..
Located My Toothbrush..Green In Color..
Never Knew Green, Blue, Yellow Looked Similar & Could Be Confusing..
Identified It With The Frayed Bristles..
Escaped Using The Shaving Cream To Brush My Teeth
(It Might Have Tasted Better, One Never Knows)..
Braved Myself Into The Kitchen..
Made Espresso While I Actually Intended A Light Coffee
To Keep Me Clear Headed Through The Rest Of The Day..
Earned Myself A Free One Hour
No Misery Of Half A Dozen Murders In Broad Daylight,
A Couple Of Bomb Blasts,
Maybe A Hijack On An Interesting Previous Day..
Instead Went To Sleep Curled Up In My Chair..
Woke Up To See The Big Bright Yet Dull World Again..
Time For Lunch..
Cooking Anything < Feast Requires Knowing The Salt From Sugar..
So..Time For A Pizza…
Racked My Memory..
Elated At The Fact I Can Just Do A Re-Dial On My Phone..
Do Not Have To Type The Ever So Long Toll Free Pizza Number..
Why Are They Always Longer Than Your 10 Digit Cell Phone Number..
Pizza Arrives In 30 Mins..
Realize I Should Have Ordered A Cheaper One..
What Difference Do The Brightly Colored Capsicum & Jalapeno Make To Me Today..
Later Realized Food Always Seemed Better When Enjoyed
With Just The Limited Senses..Taste And Smell In This Case..
Time For Another Nap..
No Wonder Babies Need No Spectacles Or Lenses..
Before That Remembered
To Call The Ever Friendly Medical Guy From The Neighbourhood ..
He Offered To Collect The Broken Spectacles, Mend Them & Get It Back
God Bless Him..
Back To Lumbering..
Wake Up In Another Zone..Twilight Perhaps?..
Evening It Is For Sure..
There Rings The Bell..
Here Comes My Angel
Cradling The Best Piece Of Metal I Have Ever Used
In A Shiny White Armour..
Angel With A White Armour??
Sorry..Cant Think Better Until The Metal Perches Itself On Its Nosy Owner!