Cricket at O'Malleys

I have been promised a Live Telecast of the India Pak game on Saturday at O'Malleys, and really hope this promise is kept by an ardent Sachin fan in the Manager of O'Malleys. So i guess its going to be Fried Eggs, Baked Beans and Toast for breakfast followed by Beers on Saturday at O'Malleys.

Keeping my fingers crossed! Look forward to the game, and ofcourse a India win.

Gambei!

The Big Banyan - Nostalgia

Yes, I found it! For the last few years, i had been looking for a picture of this tree....I am happy! Nostalgia! It was in the year 1925, while motoring through the forests of Southern India's Rayal Seema (Literally translated: Stone Border) that Late Dr. Annie Besant and J. Krishnamurthi stopped at the sight of this splendid Banyan Tree. At this very place, J Krishnamurthi set up one of India's finest Centre's of Learning and Education - Rishi Valley School where i had the privelage of studying at from the year 1991 - 1996 while my parents were residing in Saudi Arabia.

Associated with this tree are those so called Golden Years of my life, the numerous plays and Hindustani Classical recitals, the fun weekends swinging on the roots of the Banayan or walking in to our near by Vegetable / Fruit farms picking Guavas and Passion Fruit etc.

Among the many, I will always thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to study at Rishi Valley School.

Looking at this tree, I am missing those days! Gotta get back to work or else my boss will take me to a tree in Shanghai and have the TALK following the Indian MC tradition.

Shanghai...

Clockwise from the left, The Center (Office), Jingmao Tower (Grand Hyatt), Pearl Tower, Yuyuvan Gardens (Traditional architecture in the heart of Shanghai)

Nihao aka Nohao by the Shanghainese….

So here I am at one of my favourite spots in Shanghai so far… a Starbucks at the Huangpu River Promenade on the Pudong side. And mind you….a Chinese re mix of Kambakht Ishq is playing. Sounds great!

Those who know me well enough would have already identified the reason for this silence. The last time I blogged was the night before my departure from Provincial USA, Springfield. Its simple…. A phenomenon called Laziness and Lack of Interest towards blogging crept in. This happens to me more often than not…. Start something with a great deal of enthusiasm…. and its not long before Laziness takes over.

Slowly but steadily I have coped with the fact that….in less than a year I have lived in three different countries. Netherlands, then famous city of Springfield (USA) and now Shanghai, China. Geeez, how come? No Idea. Cest la vie, This is It.

So Shanghai….whats it in a nutshell? If I am able to do justice at explaining Shanghai in a nutshell….I would consider myself a Star. I will try never the less. Most importantly home to extremely beautiful women (is there a better way to say this Abhi if you agreed with me), vibrant, fast, chaotic, loud, an international city of sorts in many ways. Naaaah…I should give up coz I am at a loss of words. I am over whelmed.

A lot of people asked me How do you like Shanghai……and my instantaneous response was I feel at home here. Hmmmmm…..Now isn’t it too early to say this. It is indeed…..but this is how I feel right now.

A couple of weeks ago….i spent 2 days in Singapore. You cannot believe how happy I was to meet with people I knew after 7 odd months of loneliness (ofcourse barring the trips to Boston and New York). Met up with with Nicole, Krishna, Ying, Diogo, Digs, Lars, Gitti.

I would end with a promise to my self….which I hope to live up to. I will not let laziness get the better of me. I will blog as often as possible (now dont you see a paradox there).

Anyways…..GAMBEI. Need to get back to THG2TG and steal a glance at another Shanghainese beauty who just walked in.

Rohit