A handy prayer for a few married souls

Lord, I pray for
Wisdom...to understand a woman
Love...to forgive her and
Patience...for her moods
Because, Lord, if I pray for strength
I'll just beat her to death ;-)

Weekend was good, rainy - but still enjoyed with a lots of party. It just feels great to go for a movie on a Friday night and walk back home in the rain and stop for a hot cappuccino ...watched Oliver twist and Salaam Namaste. Two different movie with varied topics. One brings the sweet childhood days and another one just tells you how life is when u at cross roads ;-) but both the movies made me nostalgic.
This picture was taken in Lyon

Can't stop laughing

Could stop laughing after seeing this. Thanks Lux for sending me this. It reminds me of this Engineers jokes, let me put it by points, first point number A ;-)

#A What is the difference between Mechanical Engineers and CivilEngineers?

Mechanical Engineers build weapons and Civil Engineersbuild targets.

#B Three engineering students were gathered together discussing thepossible designers of the human body. One said, "It was a mechanicalengineer."Just look at all the joints."Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections. " The last one said,"Actually it was a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic wastepipeline through a recreational area?"

#C Engineers point of view - "Normal people ... believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet."

how do you feel?

Today when I went to the printer to pickup some print-out which I had given - I was in all shock, On the board which displays the printer name there’s my soft-skill course completion certificate in all colors displayed with my full name. I really felt very embarrassed - as this printout I had given the previous day in the morning.

I was wondering what would have happened if I had not gone there to pickup this print to mine today? Here is a picture of the season

A weekend in St.Genis Pouilly

What is called getting lost with a map and very good navigator by your side – It’s called fun. Karine, Laura, Amelie & myself set-out to KS & Birgit’s house for the weekend. On the way after we crossed the France-Swiss border and entering Swiss we really got lost. I think we got lost for a purpose, we landed up in some beautiful vineyard. After driving back we reached Mrs.&Mr. KS house and had our lunch. The theme for the food - whole weekend was Austrian/Indian mix. Post lunch we decided to go to Geneva. Oh this needs a mention; it is my 6th trip to Geneva.
The fun starts there. I was in the car, which was Austrian with an Indian navigating was not stopped in the border, but the other car which had French/British girls with French registration was stopped and questioned? What a pity, these people had to talk to him for 5 minutes and then he lets them go. Later we went around the famous Geneva lake and this was the first time I was the water fountain in the shades of rainbow. That evening we presented the gifts to KS for his birthday.

On Sunday morning as we sat for the breakfast session, Laura narrates a story saying that every time on her birthday the next morning her mom would tell her that the birthday not complete till the time we present something during the breakfast session and there she pass on the gift voucher we got for KS which we forgot to give him. Once this session was over we drove up to Divonne-les-Bains and walked passed the market there and then around the lake as well. The beautiful color of the autumn was a pleasant sight to watch. I just lost myself during the walk.

Pole Sud

No this is not another travel plan of mine, I wish I could travel to that place. After my 2, 3 ,4 ,5 day Paris trip I come back to Grenoble to be welcomed by the snow clad mountains, not covered with snow, Just spread here and there, at about 2000+ m levels. This year the short spell started when I was not there around.
After coming over to Grenoble and deciding what to do for the weekend I was invited for a Birthday party on Saturday and then on Sunday for the ice skating-dome named Polesud. It was one hell of experience. Had great fun as the angels where by my side. I was not sure I would be able to stand straight with the skates on? But I was thrilled to do that. With the help of Niru & Caroline was able to skate for a while. Then the most interesting things was going on. As these both left me and went then I was surrounded by a group of people trying to help me. Their French was too high for me to learn, But in all it was a nice experience to see a whole bunch of people trying to help u to learn this sport. After I finish my session I head to Reena's place for the lunch, WoW roti and sambar with some curry- after the lion's lunchon session I go home. I tell Natoo that I was hurt, due to the numerous fall during the skate session. She was asking me I wanted the cushion, like how they ask in “Dil Chata hai” - so cheap naa.

This picture was taken in Notre Dame in Paris with all angels wishing you. I wish u too

Everything fifth

I just decided to cut short my trip by a night, Instead of staying in Paris, I decided head back to Grenoble straight from office itself on this day. So on this trip to Paris which happens to be my 5th trip to Paris and on the 5th night of my current trip I headed to Le Louvre. I always wanted to visit this place in the night and be alone there to take this picture of mine like this. I did it this time. The first time I visited this place was in the night and I fell in love with this place.

One of the famous landmark of the capital is Le Louvre. Built around 1200, it was a former palace for the royal family. In 1793 during the French revolution it became a museum . The great masterpieces as Mona Lisa of Leornado Da Vinci is here as u all know. Wondering what I'm looking at...here they are. Watch the Angel sitting on the bus and looking at me. The flickering of light happens for 5 minutes on every hour from the evening to night.

Welcome to Notre Dame de Paris

Though it was a misty and dull weather still decided to head to the Notre Dame of Paris. Do you recognise this picture on the right? Yes this was the view of the Notre Dame very many years back.

What would be Paris like without Notre Dame? Work for this gothic masterpiece was begun in 1163 by Bishop Maurice de Sully, and its construction was completed only in 1345.
We were lucky to know how this master piece was constructed. At 9.15 in the evening there is a show inside Notre Dame which explains the different phases.
The show begins with the explanation on significance of the place and how the plan evolved and from where all the stones for the building were brought. Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone.
I was told infact its dangerous to buy some land in Paris without knowing the history of the place. It's possible that there could be some big holes there in the land from were the stones would have been moved ;-)




Then we walked past the Hotel de Ville - The city hall of Paris.

In-a-way the strike in Paris was good. The roads were free without traffic jams, which gave us a great freedom to cover more places.
Started walking from Les Halles then to Saint-Eustache, a splendid church with a stopover in one of the coffee shops around.

Walked past Saint Germain Church then to then to the Latin Quarter, saw the building which houses archives-of-Paris, a building without any windows. then on to the narrow lanes of Ville de Sully and headed to the Italian restaurant. Till I visited this restaurant for me the Italian food was only Pizza & pasta the usual food we know. But here in this restaurant the food was served in a different manner. The pasta was served in the cheese bowl, can u see that in the picture and does this make u hungry? Sorry could not get the picture of the dessert, next time will try to post that ;-) Bon Ap.

One-day strike in France - Black Tuesday

Of all the times why should this strike should happen while I’m in Paris. As I have come on a 5 day assignment to Paris the first day had a bad weather, the second day is a strike. Let me see how well the next 3 days are going to be. Paris metro lines are the most affected by the strike and we need to admit that these people do the strike in style. Life is really in a stand still. I’m always lucky, the office I work is away from the city so we drive out of the city and hence the traffic is less, Otherwise while I was coming in the morning could see miles & miles of traffic jam in the oncoming. Some times the sight is so nice to see in the dark at 6.30 in the morning, it was like on a floor if u have strewn some light emitting droplets. There is an interesting story in the strike, as the French government plans to sell off the SNCM ferry firm which had led to greater unrest in Marseille, what did was took one of the ferry and stopped it in the mid between the main land and the island of Corsica. Thousands of tourists are stranded on the island of Corsica for several days. Indians way to go to learn how to do a strike ;-)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

This weekend it was a dull weather and it was raining and we already feel like that winter has arrived, Wait I’m not jumping into what is mentioned in the title over the weekend ;-).
Let me start how the weekend started on Friday, I had been to a dinner in one of our colleague’s house and it was very nice place. Caught up with some old friends and had a gr8 time. I saw a tree there which was 600+ yrs old. At first I didn’t realize it was true, but later checking the facts I realized it was totally true.
On Saturday it started with another invitation for a lunch and then quickly came back home so that I could join some more friends for a fun filled evening with a dose of fantastic movie. Went to watch “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and then in went to another friends house and had a nice session were we all laughed to our heart content. It’s been very long since I had a session like this. The movie was equally funny with the following story line - A petty thief (Downey) posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Monaghan) and a detective (Kilmer) who's been training him for his upcoming role.
On Sunday I started with my journey to Paris, from were I will be working for one week, could not go out much in Paris due to the chill weather.
This picture of a fjords was taken during my trip from Copenhagen to Oslo on a ferry.

Coupe-icare 2005

The world’s biggest free flight event in St Hilaire du Touvet was on for the weekend 24-25th Sep. The whole Indian gang with a few non-desi fellows went there.
There was an
# An aero-show
# 40 years after: a reconstitution of the first paraglider by David Barich - the below picture
# 1000 paper hot air balloons from Brazil launched simultaneously - this made me really wonder how its possible to make a paper balloon and fly it was amazing

C'est bon

These days I'm really enjoying my tram journey. Today I was traveling in the tram way back home. I was seated were in 4 people can sit if 2 people sat opposite, is like facing one another , I hope u get this picture. And now 4 of us are already sitting and there a guy & girl was standing beside us. Then at a particular tram stop 2 people got of who are facing diagonally, Then this guy & girl came to sit. It didn't strike to me how intimate they want to sit and do all possible things in tram, which is very common here. Me as a dumb not realizing this, was about to get up and was about to offer them a comfortable twin seat. Then that guy realized what I was about to do and said "C'est bon" , I understood what it was and went back to my seat. But I could not control my smile for close to 2-3 minutes. It was little embarrassing for me but I some-how took refuge in the book and was pretending to leave an impression it was more for the joke in the book was the reason for my smile. This picture was taken in Annecy when I went to the lake festival.

The Zahir

Yesterday evening I was standing at the Victor Hugo, this is spot were all partners in crime (including myself) meet for all activities done under sky, waiting for the tram. This stop needs a special mention as all the people take it for granted that it’s the place to get-together.

A few things to mention
# The only tram stop even at 2 am in the morning you can meet people
# The popular radio man is mostly found in that stop
# There a nice park around the corner
# All theaters are around this place
# All banks are there with ATM’s
# & last but not the least this is the city centre with Mc.D there ;-)

Now coming back to the topic where I started as I wanting for the tram, a lady on the pushchair come to me and starts talking to me in French, I was so engrossed in the book I didn’t bother saying hello to her even. Later she realizes that I didn’t give her attention she comes a bit close and asks have u read “Veronika Decides to Die". I still didn’t bother to respond to her. I’m not like this usually, this was more due to the book, I was feeling little lost. I was wanting to finish the book AEAP so was highly focused on the same then she says are you reading “The Zahir”
I nodded in a manner that prompted her to say “you don’t know Zahir”. These words really caught my mind and I grabbed the moment to give a glance as who was this saying to me with so much confidence, and I see a smiling face saying once again “you don’t know Zahir”, I just responded saying I’m still reading.

According to the Author What Zahir is?
PAULO COELHO: According to the writer Jorge Luis Borges, the idea of the Zahir comes from the Islamic tradition and probably arose in the eighteenth century. In Arabic “zahir” means “visible”, “present”, “incapable of going unnoticed”. It can refer to an object or a person, and that object or person gradually takes over our every thought, until we are unable to think of anything else. This could be considered a state of holiness or a state of madness.

What Similarminds tells u

I took up this interesting test on Similarminds

This is what they tell me about

What Classic Movie Are You?

Stockholm - Museum

It's not just in Stockholm in all Scandinavian countries there are a plenty of museums. If you are a museum buff then this is Stockholm is the Mecca for museums on earth - head on with the museum pass. I had been to the Vasa Museum, Skansen Open-Air Museum, Music museum, Army museum and the list goes on for 70+. I have mentioned a few, click here to know more about other places.

Let me start with the Vasa museum

This museum exhibits a beautifully preserved ship built in solid oak and pine with wood in 1628 and which sank on the maiden trip. It was salvaged in 1961 in a fabulous. "The Age of Vasa" is a journey in time to the country behind this ship, miniature of the Vasa ship

The history of Vasa can be read here

Skansen Open-Air Museum is one of Stockholm's most popular tourist attractions with some 150 houses and farmsteads from all over Sweden. Zoo, "Mini-Skansen", summer concerts are a few interesting things.

Music museum - Instruments from a 17th century tavern to the heyday of ABBA all under one roof. You can play many of the instruments here...

Aquaria Water Museum
Worth a visit even on virtual one that's provided in the official site.

mangroves, Living rainforest all beautifully created

A Boat Sightseeing is worth mentioning

Long/Short/Medium

People I need to tell u...in this part of the world having a haircut is some big tasks. This is one corner of this part of the world I live now. With what ever little language I know I some how manage to get an appointment with them and turn up on that day with a little delay every time. Then the big ordeal starts - long/short/medium. After this with lot of words exchanging not knowing what I want they jump into action. Some time I make it a point to take a picture in the digicam or a photo and let them know that this is how I need ... my god this 30 minutes wait in life to see the outcome of the finished product is something really great. After so many visits this is first time it came out the way I wanted. ...so this is the story of Venkat going for a haircut

Quality of Life

Got this fwd. from S, thanks for such a nice one. Not a zen story but worth studying this. Read on...

A group of working adults got together to visit their former university professor. The professor was pleased to see them, and after the students' chats about the old days and reminiscing was over, their conversation turned into complaints about their stresses in work and life.

The professor said nothing, he just smiled and went in his kitchen and brought back an assortment of cups on a tray - some were fine porcelain, some plastic, some glass, some plain-looking and some rather expensive and exquisite. He then asked if his former students were thirsty, and offered them the cups to get iced water for themselves.

When each student had a cup in hand, filled with iced water, the professor spoke:"If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups have been taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ordinary ones on the tray. While it is usual that you will only want the best for yourselves, that is the main source of your problems and stress... What all you really wanted was water, not the cup - but you unconsciously went for the better looking cups."

A silence followed, as the students digested this. The professor continued, "This is just like in life....If Life is water, then your jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are merely tools to hold and maintain life, but they will hardly change the intrinsic quality of Life. If we focus only on the cup, then we won't have time to taste and enjoy the water in it!"

"And also remember this: A RICH person is one who has a lot, while a HAPPY person is one who does not want a lot....The choice of which type of person you want to be is your own."

And the students thus got their most important lesson in life from their wise old teacher

Only For The Best

Can you take this challenge? No inscription on the keys... That's the keyboard u can try out..
If you are an elite programmer who can write sophisticated code under tight deadlines, someone who makes impossible projects possible; or a Silver Web Surfer your colleagues turn to when they need IT advice: this keyboard is for you.
Checkout for this site for more info.

Can't be better

This morning I shot this picture as I was heading to office, This is the reflection of the Bastille Mountain on the Grenoble-WTC complex. Many a times I get to spend time close to an hour both ways in the tram reading the book I want to finish. That’s how I get to finish a lot of books. Some time it’s a kind of sweet surprise to meet some one you know and get to chat with them the whole way. Today met T from Ukraine and then got introduced to some girl from Mexico. Then we discover that some girl was baking some nice cakes/cookies and taking then to office, now.. .. .. she has to offer us. Poor girl she unsealed the pack and offered some cookies, Now I discover it advantageous to meet in the tram some people whom u know, especially if they are carrying some thing to office. Then during the day and get a nice fwd like this ... Thanks Edu for the joke

Jim and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled Jim out. When the hospital director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered that Edna be discharged from the hospital because she now considered Edna to be mentally stable. The director went to Edna and said, "I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you're being discharged because you responded so rationally to a crisis by jumping in the pool to save the life of another patient. Your action displays sound mindedness. The bad news is that Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead." Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself. I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?"

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

I was looking for the story that needs to be read as a part of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, stumbled on this site which gives nice and crisp info on the Don't Look at the Moon;The Story Behind, Lord Ganesh's VehicleThe Mouse, The Legend ofOnly one Tusk!!!, Many names& there Meanings, Significance of his formand his Belongings - read on and Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Caves at Sassenage with Stalagmite

The caves at Sassenage are with Stalagmite, there was this interesting one which was the shape of the Mexican hat. Here are some facts about the caves - 17th cty - first explorations was made.
1947 - 200m of the cave developed and opened to the public. These are the beautiful formations. In the whole cave there was just one made made path, everthing else was natural. There were lot of Stalagmite when u go deep inside the caves.
















The Cuves de Sassenage is known for a very long time. It is the resurgence of a cave river which comes from the famous Gouffre Berger, one of the deepest caves of the world. This is close to the entry point and you can see 2 waterfal out of 3 in the picture.

The cave tour includes a light show which tells the story of the elf Melusine. It goes like this, Every Saturday, this young girl swam in the water of the river, transformed partly into a fish by her mother. But one day her husband saw her and so the secret was discovered, and the charm became irreversible. So Melusine could not become human any more and she went into exile in the cave. Only when a member of the family of the lords of Berenger was about to die, she came back to predict the death. While sitting in the cave she waited for her husband to free her, but he never came. Her tears rolled into the river Furon and were transformed into stones, so called eye stones.

And do that how the weekend was.

This can only in France

It confirms that the figure in pedestrian signal is only a man ;-)

Stockholm - Overview

Let me start the trip with Stockholm. Stockholm is one of the most beautiful national capitals I have ever visited, Its scattered with close to 11 islands(main ones). A walk around the islands is really wonderful and walking around the city's waterways and parks is a glorious way to spend a week-long stretch of European summer. If u have to pass through Gamla Stan - the old town its particularly spectacular.
So my trip started with walk going around and understanding the places. Bought a Stockholm card and went around. The boat Stockholm-af Chapman & Skeppsholmen is a youth hostel which is located both in an old sailing ship & an building adjacent to the ship. I was lucky to get in the ship which you can see in the above picture. This city really a lovely one. I just feel in love with this city. More on other locations later.

Things that are stopping me

Sorry for not being so regular in my updates.
As I just look for what next at this juncture in my life I stumble on my mail box with a record 10000 mails, in spite of me deleting and archiving many mails.
This is a picture was taken in the Munich airport on my way to the Scandinavia trip. I had to wait for close to 30 minutes to sit and relax there. Felt bad when some kids who came there and was staring at me...I'm also a kid come on leave me alone.

Who Pays ???

He says

The pleasure and satisfaction of taking a man out: Priceless

She says

However, when a man pulls out his wallet to pay at a restaurant, it tells you, he's generous. When he fights through a crowded bar to get you a fruit juice at the disco, it means he's thoughtful.
When he picks up movie tickets, it means he's considerate

Read on here...

I'm back

I'm back after my trip to the Scandinavian countries namely Sweden(Stockholm,Goteburg), Denmark(Copenhagen) & Norway(Oslo, Bergen, Myrdal, Flam,Stalheim, Voss) .
Overall a very nice experience and had a great time, I went alone and wandered the way I wanted to do. The cities in bracket are the ones I visited in those countries.

Lots of history learnt and went along the famous Flam railway and the fjords trips, Fjords is a glacially over deepened valley, usually narrow and steep-sided, extending below sea level and filled with salt water.
More on this trip later with regular updates on each of the country visited with updates on Vikings, Kon Tiki, Change of guards, Nobel, a lots of museums.

Be right back on 22nd August - till then no post

Change

Looking at these fruits I understand why there is a process called Change

Fete du LAC D'ANNECY - 2005

The festival of the lake d'annecy is the major traditional event of the summer season, which takes place on every year first Saturday of August. During the evening, while the sun laying down, tens of thousands of spectators gathered ... read on about the event on my previous FETE DU LAC D'ANNECY - 2004 post.



This year its all the same, it's a nice evening to remember. The sunshine was really good and you can see in the picture how nice it was. This year Cipri, Chris, Ioana & myself setout to watch this spectacle. We did some nice party around us and while the sun was setting we enjoyed watching the fireworks from this beautiful side of the lake.

The road not taken

This picture reminds me of Robert Frost's "The road not taken" . This was taken in a small town near Geneva called St. Genis where I spent a relaxing weekend with KS & B. KS & myself preparing some Indian food and B with her usual Austrian baking skills. This time I tried the cake with Icecream, WOW yummy... thank KS & B, wishing you a happy married life.

Green day

Nothing much, today Natoo came back from India and its also Tom's birthday, While doing some planning today we discovered that a few of us are dressed in light green color, So that's why called it as an green day nothing associated with Green peace group or something. At the party we played with the salsa paste which was also in green color. So this makes even more special why I call it as Green day. This picture was taken near the lake while I was walking back home .