The Jazz in me.

     There are promises you make to yourself that you fail to keep.

     I broke my laptop. How? Because I am clumsy. And past few months have been exciting. Broken laptop and exciting months? Seems un-coherent but there is a connection; or so I think. Be patient.
     Though terrible at it I love writing. One of my cherished dreams has been to walk into a book store and see my name on a book tucked away on a shelf. I owe thanks to several people who have encouraged me. And in return I say thank you and do nothing. I feel terrible.

     Just few days ago I went to a music fest of a sort "Jazzmandu." My history with Jazz, I have to admit, has not been very good. My misgivings about Jazz had steamed from the handful of Jazz concerts and live performances that I had managed to dragged myself to (don't ask).

     Once I went to a Jazz bar in Shanghai - Cotton Bar if I remember correctly. Large crowd sat huddled over tables, waiting for the live performance to start. The hushed air was palpable with anticipation. We quietly beavered through the pool of tiny tables and grabbed the only available one - right in the front, barely a few feet away from where the musicians stood turning their instruments. Great, I thought agitatedly, calculating the meagre distance between me and the nearest musician, my ears were definitely in for some heavy-duty ringing. Some Jesus looking dude was on saxophone and my friends, Ozy and Jasmine, were tapping their legs. I gave them a wink and was happily pretending to like it (What's wrong with me?). Had to glug another glass of Long Island Iced Tea. But not even a potent mix of vodka, tequila, rum, gin and triple sec had been able to numb my senses. Only fun memory of that night is that we dined and dashed (I was younger and stupider; don't judge). And like I had known I woke up with a pair of ringing ears.

     That was 2011. So here I was in October of 2014; my friend suggested that I accompany him in Jazzmandu on 21st; his birthday. I said yes in a heartbeat. Firstly, because it's his birthday and I am really fond of him. Secondly, Jazzmandu is kind of big. So I got the tickets.

     21st October. We spent a day together; birthday boy and I. One of those days I can truly call meaningful. We reached Yala Maya Kendra dot on time. It was the burden of 2011 misgivings that I heaved on the shoulders of Jazzmandu upon my arrival. With plethora of Jazz bars dotting its historic landscape, Kathmandu has may Jazz lovers and Jazzmandu their Mecca.
     An atmospheric red-bricked hallway greeted us as I gingerly snuck in past the wine sipping audience. Excitedly took the seat on the 1st row (2011 all over again). Cadenza was playing tonight and I hold on to the fact that I love their music; I hold on to the fact that I was with a friend who means a lot to me. Rest I could ignore.
     The 1st movement, a moderate tempo, was unexpectedly light and within minutes, I found myself bringing my hands on my lap; tapping lightly. Several more minutes later as the piano embellished the notes of saxophone with the fusion of tabla, I found myself gradually leaning back, muscles of my body relaxing bit by bit. As the music reached its crescendo, I could feel my spine tingle and there they were - goosebumps dotting my arms. I looked at my friend and said "good birthday yeah."
     I found myself smiling when they fused "tabla and drums", "tabla and Brazilian beat-boxing." My legs sprung into motion as KJ (she was a goddess on stage) started singing in her powerful voice. I promised to love her forever. I let myself lose in the reverberating acoustics.

     Later that night we took a picture with KJ that I proudly posted on my Instagram. The truth was flagrantly winking at me. I do love Jazz. And the next day, on 22nd, I joyfully went to Hotel Yak and Yeti where they had planned Jazzmandu finale. Though there are promises you make to yourself that you fail to keep, I hope I keep these two - that I'll keep writing (no excuses) and that I'll return to Jazzmandu next year. 

     Happy birthday A****O. Thank you for the day. You truly are becoming one of my brightest stars.

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The Beautiful End.

     If I am a Romeo then Shanghai would be my Juliet. This however is not an ode to the city that I love. Past 6 years have been a precious chapter of my life - but things end. And quite sadly even the good things do. Last month I went through goodbye of multitude so high that it left a lump in my heart. Now in Kathmandu, the other city I looovvveee, I have all the time in the world to reflect upon the fairy tale like 6 years that I spent in Shanghai. Like every good story have some heroes, mine had some too. It was particularly hard to say goodbye to those. Among the stars in my life they will forever shine the brightest. So this is for them. Not for Shanghai, not for Kathmandu but only for them.

The end...

The beginning...

Perhaps this is the end,

Or the new beginning is it?

They say nothing comes with guarantees,

but right this moment as I write and pause

my beating heart loves you-

like a friend, a brother and a family.

Loves you,

like the only way I should.

And oh'dear - moments makes life.

And I dedicate this moment to you.

And how do I put it short and sweet?

Let's just say-

One day when you are in the crowded room-

full of strangers.

And you need a friend,

I will smile from across the room-

for you - Just for you.

<3
(7th July - 2013)

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Jumping into the DARK!!!

     If you asked me last year where I saw myself in a year, I would tell you that this wasn’t it. Everything I am right now is nothing like I thought I would have been. The way things are in general are nothing like I thought they would be. I've been meaning to blog. For starters, blogging form the self proclaimed "middle kingdom (China)" isn't exactly an easy job. Its tedious and time consuming. It has blocked the blogging stratosphere and one needs to use proxies and VPN's to filter through. And also my personal life has turned upside down (for good). Relations have been defined and there's just too much happening and too many things to write about. I opted the easy way out by letting the time take its course. And "Cross the bridge when you reach there" theory has been working out just fine with me.
     Going back to the main topic, as I said, I could never have foreseen what was about to happen in my life. Destiny took its course and now I marvel at how life does its best not to cease you off of serendipity's. Few years back I had to let some people go. To see people I couldn’t live without walk away from my life (for the reasons utterly important and undeniable) wasn't an easy thing. But tables turned. I met few of those people just few weeks ago and I realized resilience has taken its toll. I'm deplete of any feeling for them. I don't feel anything. It was like the churned up old thoughts that had settled in the manner of the sediment to the bottom of the pond. And of friendships. To see the true friendships finally be revealed. Seeing time fly by in the blink of an eye and feeling like nothing ever changes. Feeling like everything has stayed the same throughout these days, yet looking back to this exact time last year (or year before that), everything is different.

     And if you multiply the years backwards, you'll see that life has turned out really different from what you had planed out of it. People you wanted to hold onto lost touch eventually. Heart broken and fixed. Lost love and found it again. Still confused in regards to what you want to do with your life. Well these are usual symptoms posing as a common denominator in each one of our lives (part and parcel of being a human). You look into other peoples life as a spectator, stalk their Facebook profiles. You think they've figured out everything. That they are the happiest beings alive. Well get this straight it's the voluntary deception of the top order. People only post happy and pretty pictures. I mean who'll post the fugly pictures of themselves?
     There is no person in the world who is made to handle every punch that’s thrown at them. We aren't made that way. In fact, we’re made to get mad, upset, sad, be hurt, stumble and fall. We aren't supposed to be able to handle everything. But that’s what makes us stronger in the end, by learning from the things that hurt us the most. Yes, I was taught to look before I leap, but I was also taught a little something about fun and adventure. Every now and then you just have to dive into a situation head first, without looking too hard. Maybe you’ll crash and burn, or maybe it’ll be the best thing you’ve ever done. My life is nothing like I planned 5 years ago and I deduce that 5 years from now it won't be anything like am planning it be. So, might we all jump in a dark and figure out whatever it is to be figured later? Aren't we all supposed to believe and do what makes sense to us? What makes sense to me might be weird for you. So, be it. We aren't the standardized, processed cookies meant to look, taste and feel the same. Exercise your liberty and stay insanely happy. Hasta luego blog buddies.

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between the ticks and the tocs.

     Much awaited Friday is here. And it's a day off. So, practically weekend starts right now for me.
     It's 7:53. Way too early for me to be up and typing. I used to love getting up early (back when I was a high school kid). Mini morning walks and walking a dog were such delights. To sum up I had fun creating a the time to savor my morning. And today am thinking what happened to that guy!!! Time devoured me and I'm not a morning person at all, not now. PAUSE. I just opened my curtain. I drink in the rising sun like a cup of coffee.
     Past few months I've been busy travelling and attending people who came to visit Shanghai. Even as I type I've a friend in a room who came to visit me from across the continent. Needless to say we've been busy city trotting and planning new things to do. That apart, school keeps me busy. With so much going on in my life, I've realized how easy it is to get caught up in where you are going in life - rather than enjoying where you are.
     And where I'm is right here. It's between the two solid second hand sounds of the clock that life happens. I've actively participated all my life - in terms of decisions and choices, in creating the life I have right now. All the choices and people I've met led me to this very moment where I sit and type. And instead of taking in a long breath and savoring it, I find myself looking ahead of me. Yes, it's between the silent and swift tick-tocks of the second hand of the clock that life happens.
     PAUSE. Thoughts shrugged off. I remind myself "Quality of the present time is all that matters. Make it Joyous." I'm going to make myself a cup of coffee and dedicating a day for myself (Whoelse???). And wishing you all the same - Day Full of Joy. Yay*

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Something snapped and keeping it. Thankfully am liking it.

     Every true, eternal problem is an equally true, eternal fault; every answer an atonement, every realization an improvement.
    Habits are like few bolts in a huge body of machine. I've come to believe that thoughts and intentions cultivate habits. Habits are how we put up with the world and the world puts up with us according to our habits. Some are loud, some chirpy, some have nervous leg shakes, some bite nails, some are nosy, others bossy. List is endless. I'm a big mouth (don't read motor mouth). Impulse has been a driving factor to me. Impulse has made me make hasty decisions, made me do things I wouldn't do without that adrenaline rush, made me do things that makes me proud and some regrets. Yes, some regrets. Impulse has made me snap at people countless times. I've come to learn its also impulse that cultivates habit not only intentions. It comes from a very personal and very proud place when I talk of an impulse. Something happened yesterday. I said and did things I probably shouldn't have said or done. But then, again I'd do it again million times over. Yes, impulse comes handy. It frees you. Impulse made me snap and speak. I think it's linked to the realization that we're not going to live forever and that the way of saying and the language become more important than the story.
     Or is it that the factual story is the real deal. Fact deserves to surface. If snapping out is the way - so be it. Something snapped and am keeping it. Thankfully am liking it. I accept, am not in a happiest place now but things will get better. This feeling too shall pass. Down comes the rain - up comes the sun. But realization is a beautiful thing. It helps to clear the clouds and appreciate the good in life - good things and good people. And I don't have good ones - I've great ones. I can't possibly put in words how incredibly lucky I've been with people. Universe has been kind I've the greatest friends in the world. They're my extended family. Yes, realization is a beautiful thing. I realized something yesterday. While pursuing the life of fantastic and mundane I knowingly ignored the the friendship I was supposed to entertain. Yes knowingly. And after realization it hurts me more than anything to have ignored the shining spot of my life. My love, it was my loss. Things are clear now and I've realized some people are like rock in life. You might slip sometimes but you'll always stand above it. Cherish those rocks. I sure do.
     I've also realized some habits rescue you. I snap hence, I'm super. I'll keep that impulse of mine. I've realized I'd rather keep some of my bad habits. Judge me by the worldly yardstick - big FUCK YOU! Goes without saying - If you can't handle me at my worst, you sure don't deserve me at my best. Miss Monroe knew it all along, it took me a while to realize.

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World always looks brighter from behind a smile!!!

     When walking home from the evening walk few days back, my best friend told me that he finds Chinese to be very friendly people despite the stereotype to the contrary (Currently I'm in China). I had to agree. Chinese are nice people – even though they tend to be loud and annoy the tip of my skull. But truth be told, I’v always found people friendly – wherever I go. The country, province or city seems to make no difference.

     It seems to me that the biggest variable is the observer himself. If you greet the world with a smile, the world will smile right on back. Of course, the opposite is also true. The energy that we put out into the world returns back to us in the same form. Because I am friendly with the people that I encounter (a big proud brag), they tend to reflect that same energy back at me. Kindness begets kindness, and smiles are contagious.

"The world is a mirror. Be the reflection that you want to see."
Did you smile today?

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my adopted city...

Teenie Weenie background :: I was asked to write something by by fellow blog reader and twitter follower. Amateur as I was (and still am), I tried. And what you see here is the write-up which was published in FOLIO magazine June issue. After its publication I was congratulated and apologized at the same time. Turns out they forgot to mention my name. And to be honest it really doesn't matter. Am just happy it got published. But do I question the credentials of the magazine? Honestly, I do. Its too careless of 'em to forget the name of the person who authored the write-up. I mean they didn't forget to edit the picture, did they? I work in magazine (here in Shanghai). So, I can tell, there is one difference between good things and great things... and its in the details. But I stand corrected. Am just happy it got published. But, it goes without saying FOLIO has got the best cover in KTM town and so it seems best contents too.
    

 *My adopted city*(As published in Folio June issue)

     Traveling is all about going to places unseen, or unheard of and finding that world is one big weird place. Love it or hate it Shanghai has its own share of weird things. Shanghai - the Oriental gargantuan, waiting like an understudy behind the curtains of superpowerdom. Millions of people bursting forth in a frenzy of capitalism and consumerism, the likes the world has never known. Shanghai is China's answer to U.S.A's New York. The massive mega-city with a population that tops to an estimated 23 million during the week, Shanghai’s less dainty past is the fuse for its frenzied future. For this was the “Whore of the Orient”, where nihilism reigned from the seats of opium dens, and wealthy international trade guilds, the forerunners of today’s multinationals, built their empires. It was a city that attracted the greatest, the most debauched, the most ambitious and the most ruthless. But with the history with invasion (trade or otherwise) from the country as France, Britain, Russia and Japan makes Shanghai the cultural hotpot which is clearly visible in aristocratic buildings (sandwiched between the heaven high neon skyscrapers) and in posh and dandy French Concession area.

     As of now, Shanghai is practically my adopted home city. And even after my three years of stay here, the thing that baffles me the most is the fact that it has so much to offer and so many choices that it literally makes me hysterically delirious. Everyone knows modern China is now a monster unleashed with a credit card. You can see that in the gigantic malls which brags the brands to the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Swarovski to name a few. As opposed to popular believe not everything is cheap - Shanghai is, in fact, the most expensive city in China. It’s a huge county to begin with and with the raising GDP, Chinese certainly don't mind to cut loose and empty their pockets. However, if you are looking for cheaper fake goods instead then probably you should consider other cities in China. There is one place aptly named Qifu Road though, which is a mecca of cheap and fake goods.

     And then there is all those architectures and infrastructures to marvel at. You can see it in Pudong, a former marsh area that has been converted, in just over a decade, into Asia’s Manhattan - Shanghai now boasts more skyscrapers than any other city in the world. The architecture is indomitable (just look at the Oriental Pearl Tower), the development ambitions un-fearful. Everyone wants in on the action. Be it in chic Waitan and opulent Xintianti both of which is the solid example of British and French indigenous architecture. Be it in Yu garden which gives a taste of real China with oriental wood-styled pagoda. Be it in Jing'an district where rich and ostentatious ones indulge. And as of 2010, you can also get piece of Nepal at expo site. All of these will brighten up the night sky as soon as sun bides farewell. As the night falls Shanghai has completely new things to offer and pamper you with. Hengshan area alone, within its boundary, constitutes 300 or more clubs, bars and pubs. And Hengshan is only a small bloke in a huge body of night life machine. China might be conservative but Shanghai is not. Its nightlife is now one of the world’s most famous (just google it). The malls would close up around 10-11 at night which is the only down side for the people who might want to shop till they drop.

     Then comes the sunshine and you will find the city as vibrant as you had left behind at night. I can't even begin to suggest you places during the day. There's just too many which makes city trotting experience fun. From the likes of famous ones including wax museum Madame Tussauds, Oriental Pearl Tower to somber ones like People Square, Nanjing Road. I would highly suggest you to walk the alleys of Mogan'shan Road where there is the stretch of street with ghetto street paints and street arts. You'd notice that night’s hustle-bustle and fiasco turns into gatherings in park where old people would dance to the music too groovy for their age (even Bollywood numbers sometimes), kites of various fashion and design would rival the height of the skyscrapers. And you always have to eat, right? If you have a soft spot for sweet foods you have chosen a right place. What can be called Shanghai cuisine is epitomized by the use of alcohol. Fish, eel, crab, and chicken are "drunken" with spirits and are briskly cooked/steamed or served raw. All of this of course with the hint of sweetness. But you prefer something foreign to Chinese food then no wasting time on worrying. City is, in fact, invaded with franchise of foreign food chains and restaurants. Just suit your expense.

     There are series of sporting events that takes place in Shanghai including Shanghai Rolex Masters Cup and Shanghai Formula-one. So you might want to align your trip with the events as the tickets are priced reasonably. Everybody has their favourite things to do in Shanghai. Everybody reacts differently to the things they see here and has the right to react the way they deem fit. As for me nightlife and people are the best among all. As I consider the two, I wonder, will a third contender emerge?

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shang-high-ness

     I was walking through the village Thursday evening. Part of my stroll took me across newly completed bridge that binds together the two halves of Shanghai suburb. It was nearly evening and the weather was almost oriental. Fog clung the wet surface of the street's as an ambient drizzle gathered out of the cool night air. I was along on the sidewalk. The only noise was the tread of the occasional car as it made a sound that resembled the tearing of the paper. My view was directed south by the axis of track leading toward the city I call my second home - Shanghai. At the distance of short city block stood the train station. Perched in the darkness on the edge of the ravine, while below the tracks well illuminated in the amber glow of vapor lamps. On the weekends the train schedule is much reduced, so the station stood there just as empty and quiet as the tracks below. It was beautiful scene. It suggested more than emptiness - perhaps something like solitude. As I leaned on the railing I imagined that spot as I had seen it is so many times before - with the crowd of commuters bustling through the station on their way to the train. Too busy for breakfast, they scurry down and up the stairs briefcases and paper cups with little points of bakery paper sticking out of Burberry coats. The whole scene takes place in an appearance of an hourglass. A crowd routinely gradually filters through the narrow stair way landing on the platform below. I saw now the same vista now utterly vacant in a way that only a place usually crowded can be. The fog, the cold mist and the emptiness consumed my thoughts for a moment. I set my camera on a portrait, took a picture, and then wondered, "What could be so wonderful about being completely alone?"
What are your favourite things to do when you are alone?

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how an ass became a horse!! #true story

     For all the serious readers out there... well, the title is relatively fancy but its a theory that I believe in all so dearly. There's one saying paraphrased as "an ass went travelling and returned a horse." I just came back from a very tiring trip but wholesomely awesome one. And if I write this post in journal style it'll get gigantically long and brutally boring so I'll just sum it up and let it just be sweet summary. Actually, am too tired to write and every ounce of my body hurts but I'd love to write now; when memory is still fresh and when there's itsy-bitsy of adrenaline left in my blood stream from all those hiking;)


     There's something which works mysteriously in our ridiculously ugly looking brain. When things get monotonous; friends become foes, loved things becomes hated ones, beauty becomes beast, cabin fever sets in (meaning we start hating the people and things we see on a daily basis)...!! I'd say all the more reason to pack your bags and go out trotting. It refreshes our mind and our stupid brains comes back to its senses; foes become friends, we start loving the things we hated once, we see beauty in the things we were totally ignorant about, and we try new things. Just as we clean our home or things in routined basis, our mind needs to get refreshed, time and again to be in perfectly healthy state.


     Come last weekend I went to the third biggest island in mainland China "Congming Island." It was great change form usual random facade of life physically, mentally and visually. Physically from comforts of room to damp island, mentally from city hustle-bustle to sounds of chirping birds, and visually from super concrete civilization to the greenery which literally pokes your eye with its placidity. It was a school trip, if I hadn't mentioned before. Met some old folks who I'd lost touch with and realized I'd missed 'em all along. Met some new folks and fresh titter tatters. Tried new foods and hated 'em.

     Am not much of a nature lover. I haven't stopped and stared at the blooming spring flower or pristine mountain delta and said to myself "aha life is good." But I do enjoy strolling (swiftly and fast) on the park now and then, preferably accompanied with music. This time it was different. We, as in my friends and I, took bicycles and rode it beyond our stamina. Fact being we went to 3 parks in 2 days (forest park, marsh park and pearl park). At the end of the first night I was literally hoping no more excitement would come along our way before some sound sleep. But quite interestingly I loved what happened when we were not sight seeing. I loved taking the power naps in betweens on the bus and later on Saturday night few of us went out with guitars and sang our hearts out with bonfire and some BBQ's which, if I may say so, was one of the best things that happened along the entire length of this trip. We sang until some people next to our table were tad too impressed and would gift us few beers before some neighbours came complaining about the noise. Then came the rainfall and later we played some cards before calling it a night. Same day before we went to the hotel we had feisty outdoor gathering with stage set. All those fun games, singing and dancing was fun too. If I am allowed to brag, I won two of the games but the gifts I won are too ridiculous to be mentioned.


     To sum it up :: I saw teenie weenie crabs and load's of 'em; rode a horse which was maliciously slow one; some usual recreational games, nasty foods, new faces new people, was thirsty most of the time, songs, sun and getting a hint of tan (which I love), stumbling upon some brave deers, and ample body aches!! So my blog'buds remember "an ass goes travelling and comes back as a horse." Actually I fear infringement and plagiarism uploading photos in public forum like this. I'll upload tons of 'em in Facebook though. But it won't hurt to upload some here, so here's some pictures (some above others below), with which I conclude the post. Love you all to the moon and back!! 
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one helluva sandwich!! one helluva day!!

     It was one of those days when I'd wake up and just know "this is going to be one fine sunny day." I played "never gonna leave this bed" by Maroon 5. Man!! Adam Levine has one helluva voice. As i was brushing, I recalled my dream and I smiled. As a medical student many have been pressing me to watch Gray's Anatomy and I just did. Watched three episodes to be precise. And in my dream I saw one of the characters from the G.A. Also my mum was showing this big tomato tree with big trunk and branches (o'course in my dream/how hilarious). Its a dream anything is possible RIGHT?. If only reality was as much fun as dream is, alas. I left home feeling really upbeat and spotted following random things, thank god I took camera with me today.

SPOTTED#1 :: the old are in a second childhood!!

     The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquillity of the evening. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth (words from 'the summing up').


     I've always taken aged ones as story tellers. They've, within them fountain of stories. I remember my grand-mum telling me stories of the days when my dad was a child and his mischievous ways around her. No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances might be, you are special, and you still have something unique to offer. Your life, because of who you are, has meaning. This picture, in particular, is just too awesome. I was strolling in the park with a friend and there she was holding specs on her hand and squinting her eyes to read the book. Age is truly just the number. If she has in her, this will to study and this sense of inquisitiveness, at this age; we might as well learn thing or two from her and try to retain our sense of wonder;)


     Betty Friedan quote : Older, we must move, and stay, and move again, to keep our life-giving ties alive, for this movement is our fountain of age. And there's a freedom in realizing this, a new freedom to move or stay, new necessities and possibilities of choice.

SPOTTED#2 :: dirty stinky feet!!

     Behold people and try to find this feet sticking right out of the car window. Well he was there taking his scheduled siesta and not bothered at all. All this at the wee business hours. Don't we all wish sometimes, to just pause the helter-skelter days and date with ourselves. Relaxing and not worry about the global warming, apocalypse, world wars, job, money and what not!! My idea of relaxing might not be sticking the feet out of car and taking the nap but hey whatever works for you..lol.

SPOTTED#3 :: facebook and all the fun it brings along!!

     OK. Here's the thing. I'd always loathed this burgeoning facebook applications (silly ones), and today somebody posts on my wall with the question "DO U THINK SHAILESH IS A TERRORIST : CLICK HERE TO UNLOCK THE ANSWER".. Hold it there, the one who posted it is my English teacher from secondary school. Taru ma'am;) Aww facebook you gave me lol moment of the day!! Ta'ru ma'am keep facebooking.


     Next, one of my facebook friends shares a status which reads "Now am sure the world is not going to end in 2012 because even my toothpaste is dated to expire on 2013!!" lol. How refreshing and upbeat;)

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     And finally you might be wondering why did I state sandwich in the post title. Its because this amazing day started with me munching some sandwich's, and that might have catalysed the energy in me to look around my habitat and actually notice the humor (all) around!! So eat well peeps and keep your eyes wide open, because when you start looking you start finding things that might just make you smile. And we can always use some smiles;)

Below is another picture of this inspiring old lady this fine sunny day. Ciao

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I taught myself a new card game..

excitement and impulse are the funny lil' things. one moment you are up n' about, the next, totally sulking and slacking things off.

     My first two years in Shanghai, I went out almost every weekend, seeing things and doing things and socializing with friends. I entered Shanghai in summer of 2008 and was at the threshold of something big in my life. I started my medical studies here. Lived in a foreign students dorm and one thing I realized about Shanghai is that it eventually turns its denizens into this massive party animals. Most of my friends were here just for the language program, but I in particular was here for a long run. I could travel around in leisurely fashion as opposed to my friends -they obviously had fewer semesters than I did. Having load'sa time at hand is a good bit but on the contrary the lack of a departure deadline gave me all the excuse I needed to kick into lazy mode. We (as in me and others who were here for long run) started slacking off and limited our outings. We spent more time wandering around city-hub and just relaxing at a whole lot. A few months later, our classes became much harder/longer and laziness gave way to exhaustion. To shove it down your throat, yes everything was postponed because we had all the time.


     Year 2010. We felt lot comfy with out position as a foreigner in this hysterically delirious place. Got into the groove with the Mandarin. Good thing about learning a language in its native habitat is that you learn it much quicker. But staying there too long takes its toll, the impulse that you feel when you just move to new place will be fast gone like it never existed. I can barely remember how I felt when I first entered this big exciting country. But I remember how restless and excited I was. On January 1, i decide to end this feeling of passiveness for good and I grabbed a spare deck of playing cards and a Sharpie and started making plans (now just so you know I got this idea from reading one of the many blogs I read in my spare times. The writer there, read Switzerland, felt much like I did and thus, I deduced similar method could be used). I cornered in my best-bud Mickey to join the band-wagon. He reasoned that, once you remove the jokers, there are roughly the same number of playing cards in a deck as there are weeks in a year. On each card, he wrote one activity : reconnecting with friends (inviting them over or skyping), go someplace new, try out new foods and restaurants, internet free weekend, community work and many others. Sometime between Monday and Wednesday of each week, Mickey shuffles the cards and I draw one: that's our activity for the weekend. We reshuffle if the activity we picked seems unlikely that particular weekend (exam and stuff).

     The blogger that got me inspired to follow in her foot-steps maintained this photo-album to document her activities around year. As for me I have Facebook to document 'em all.

So far the card got us doing:

• Take a trip to Hangzhou (was exam stressful but survived nonetheless).
• Invite friends for lunch.
• Read a book.
• Try some new restaurants (picked Mesa Manifesto in Julu road. liked the ambiance, food not so much)

They have been completed, mostly successfully. Some were more stressful than the others but thats the whole point. Now we have album full of memories and stories to tell. Oh'well am picking my next card today;)

Following random things were led to by cards.

hasta luego

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faking a graduation.

     *Teehee* If graduation gown and cap is all it takes to prove that I graduated, well i declare myself as a proud graduate (well if you would be kind enough not to consider that it was for masters program and that too from another faculty and another university). I know its a whole lotta bargain, but I had wholesome fun faking a graduation.


     Ain't we all lil' dubious people. All we want is to connect with people and have fun while at it. But after we make that connection, its funny how readily we loose touch and not care much. But we whine about it here and there about life not being fair. Am not an exception. I actually faked a graduation willingly aided by Diwa and Uttam. Two of 'em entered China with me. I connected with Diwa instantly. I had no camera then and we took pictures from her cam and did bit of Beijing trotting. We parted ways and she came to Shanghai and I'd join her in Shanghai the following year. Three years running and we never kept touch and there I was on March 26th, 2011 attending her graduation and faking mine. Day-long toiling -graduation ceremony, wholesome photo-shoots, long walks, laughters, dinner party and getting drunk- and between all these, there we were catching up. She would tell me about how peppy fresh-out of high-school I was when we had last met. About how I demanded her to take my picture with The Great Wall as the backdrop (read big Great Wall wallpaper at the Beijing railway station/yeah I was that childish), about how I ate this big turkey/chicken at the station, about how happy I was taking into consideration I had just left home.


     All those chitty-chats made me realize how things change and how we change with time. Looking at those photos we took three years ago confirmed just that. We looked different, fresh and full of excitement (why wouldn't we be excited. We were at the threshold of this big adventure). I would end up meeting so many people, now so very important to me, would learn life lessons along the way, would make countless memories and laugh the countless laughs, would loose touch with so many people while making life-long friends... in a gist would live this awesome life.


     In hindsight, I realized how grateful I am for the life I have lived and how important it is to pause and marvel over your growth -spiritual and such- through years. Now I understand why people often look back at the time where there life was at such threshold and whine "those were my best days". Fresh out of something and trying to figure the piece in the jigsaw puzzle called life. Then don't we all grow up and carry this baggage with us all the time -too many things to do, places to go, things to buy, money to earn- all this while craving for the iota of time without these baggages. Oh'well am not a preacher but looking at my past photos and taking a pause with each one got me thinking. I would, therefore, try now and then to slow down and take a breather. Taking life as it is -good, bad or ugly- for each of 'em is pebbles which will possibly and hopefully turn out to be gold. So slow down peeps. I leave ya'll with the picture of me faking a graduation;)

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Rush hour minus Jackie Chan.

CURRENT STATUS :: 12:45 in the afternoon. Waiting for my brunch (in the microwave), and telling my first Shanghai story. PRELUDE :: nasty cab ride, helter-skelter hospital, awesome Jing'an view, White Day hype and short term memory loss.

     I have story to tell. Story which is happening hyphen unfinished. Its a story about a day in Shanghai which is proving to be nothing but topsy-turvy. I had bunked the early morning class today just so I could catch up with my sleep. Then buzzed the phone when I was basking in the morning glory. I had to rush to Huashan Hospital, which is another branch of my university, to meet Dr. Huang. You see, my dear friend Melda had fractured her leg and had this dilemma to go under the knife or not. Well there I was in a cab to get to the place which, by the way is in the  walking distance from where I live (desperate times, desperate measures).


     I just got myself in the worst cab ever; not that the cab was dingy but the cab driver was a nasty pimp. He kept on taking the wrong turns and we ended up far away from where I was supposed to be. I clearly remember giving his the proper address and directions. Meter running, he later blamed me for not telling him the address properly. Hello, which part of Wulumuqi middle road, lane 12, Huashan Hospital he didn't understand? And later he just told me to stop talking (I was talking with my friend in the cell). Yeah its funny but it was an emergency case and I was prepping over what to ask to the doctor. I could have stabbed the cab driver right about then but after reminding him to watch his motormouth, I told him to hurry up. He couldn't find the place even after five minutes, so I just paid him 15 khui (which was already tad too much than the normal price to get there), and he neither bickered nor apologized (cab meter read 30 khui).


     Lets just cut to the chase, there I was in the Hospital trying to figure where to go. Ain't the people who are working there supposed to be helpful? Instead they would make me run from department to department until I was literally tired and sulking. Long story short, I met the doctor, settled the case, blah blah blah. Out and about after Hospital, off I went to satisfy my greedy stomach. After quickie food fumble there I was in Jing'an area (one of my favourite places in Shanghai). There was this big hype about White Day all over the malls around Jing'an. I wondered what that was and googled it. Oh' well realized it was some sort of Valentines day seriously taken in and around Japan/South Korea. I never liked Valentines day in the first place so this new discovery was worth an eyeroll. But then i got to see this amazing view of golden roof of Jingan Temple (must see if you are in the city). Few snaps and *crap*, I was already late.


     Final destination: I had to sign this paper for a friend. I already entered the metro and then I remembered that I had forgotten to take her passport along with me. Sulk face again. So,  had to come back to my place and later go to this place to sign those papers and between all these, those, this and that I was getting little weary. So here I am telling you the story and hoping second half of my day goes well. Microwave informs that my food is ready. Good day peeps;)

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