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February 23, 2009
Weekend in Mumbai
I spent the weekend in Mumbai. I took the bus on the way there and on the way back.
First, I have to say, bus sucks if you don't want to watch a movie. Truly, Indian's ability to sleep despite major disturbances eludes me!
Anyways, choose between watch and don't sleep or don't watch and don't sleep.
So on my way there, it was Ghajini. The love story in itself was worth watching. The violence was not needed.
On the way back, it was Fashion, which was stereotype-filled piece of fanservice.
Leaving the movies aside, I attended a friend's wedding, saw a play at Prithvi theater in Juhu (Hamlet, remade by clowns, very funny!) on Saturday. On Sunday, I went to Leopold Cafe and had FANTASTIC pesto pasta. hhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Then, my friends and I walked about in Colaba and took in the view. We Andherites never go there... I didn't go for a long time when I was living in Mumbai... all that you need is between Bandra and Malad, so why bother?
Anyways, it was great to catch up with my old friends :D
Posted by ma at 8:54 PM in Life | TrackBack
February 18, 2009
Other Misc Updates
I have gotten my driver's license. Legally, and no bribes too. The process was really painless, I must say, and nearly quick. Yup.
Don't get excited though...
I've gotten failed 3 times last Sunday. The plumber didn't come. The repair person didn't come. My friend didn't show up when we were supposed to go see a movie together.
And I didn't even get to see the movie!
So, I have a fridge that is not keeping things cold, a pipe from which nauseous gases come out, and a boring Sunday that was supposed to be packed and productive.
And I've been trying to get a stabilizer for said fridge, only to have the shop selling it in the neighbourhood not be open when I needed it.
Oh, and I'm getting a new doctor (again!) for one constant problem I've been trying to get healing on. Its the 3rd in 3 months, litterally. Lets hope that '3 is a charm' is gonna work for me.
And things have not been working out too well for me with my scheme to stay late at night during the week.
I'm in Hyderabad, without a vehicle. That means that stores don't stay open super late, doctors don't work late (nor early, for the most part) and people won't be available either. And I can't order stuff on the Internet either for all my needs. And distances are farther than in Montreal. Suffice to say that a Montreal-like strategy isn't working.
Personal things don't get done well, so I'll need to switch to a more classical 9-6 and stick to it. I'm not so happy about that (less freedom, more stuff to do on weekends instead of having a social life), but it would make more sense for me and would make me more useful as a servant of God.
That also means more discipline, and having super-productive netcafe sessions when I get everything email-related done in one shot (despite the slowness of the connection). Can't think of a better approach.
At least I'm trying to optimize...
Posted by ma at 7:28 PM in Life | TrackBack
Other Misc Updates
I have gotten my driver's license. Legally, and no bribes too. The process was really painless, I must say, and nearly quick. Yup.
Don't get excited though...
I've gotten failed 3 times last Sunday. The plumber didn't come. The repair person didn't come. My friend didn't show up when we were supposed to go see a movie together.
And I didn't even get to see the movie!
So, I have a fridge that is not keeping things cold, a pipe from which nauseous gases come out, and a boring Sunday that was supposed to be packed and productive.
And I've been trying to get a stabilizer for said fridge, only to have the shop selling it in the neighbourhood not be open when I needed it.
Oh, and I'm getting a new doctor (again!) for one constant problem I've been trying to get healing on. Its the 3rd in 3 months, litterally. Lets hope that '3 is a charm' is gonna work for me.
And things have not been working out too well for me with my scheme to stay late at night during the week.
I'm in Hyderabad, without a vehicle. That means that stores don't stay open super late, doctors don't work late (nor early, for the most part) and people won't be available either. And I can't order stuff on the Internet either for all my needs. And distances are farther than in Montreal. Suffice to say that a Montreal-like strategy isn't working.
Personal things don't get done well, so I'll need to switch to a more classical 9-6 and stick to it. I'm not so happy about that (less freedom, more stuff to do on weekends instead of having a social life), but it would make more sense for me and would make me more useful as a servant of God.
That also means more discipline, and having super-productive netcafe sessions when I get everything email-related done in one shot (despite the slowness of the connection). Can't think of a better approach.
At least I'm trying to optimize...
Posted by ma at 7:28 PM in Life | TrackBack
February 12, 2009
Cycling Around Hyderabad
Yup, you read it well.
This weekend, I purchased a bicycle. I'm using it to go to the train station and back. Its a 10-15 minutes trip. Not bad, considering that this is as much time as you'd spend waiting for the bus to come AT BEST. And its roughly the cost of 200 Rickshaw rides, about 10 months' worth of rickshaws (unidirectional) rides. So it'll have paid itself off by year's end, and then its free :)
Other than that?
Life is OK. I'm doing a bit less well than before though. I feel irritated and stressful more often. Its more challenging to be spiritual, and I feel ravenously hungry all the time. I guess I need to double-check the side effects of that pill I got prescribed lately...
Posted by ma at 7:21 PM in Life | TrackBack
Facebook Privacy Settings
10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know
Nothing to add. Read, do. :)
Posted by ma at 7:17 PM in Software | TrackBack
February 2, 2009
Food Poisoning and Other Non-Fun
Oh well, life happens.
I was sick most of the night from Saturday to Sunday thanks to food poisoning. Things are back to normal now.
I went to the Transport Bhavan to get an Indian driver's license, but I'll have to come back. That day they just weren't doing the licenses, and I needed some documents in original too. Anyway, it is cheapter than to get a new license in Canada, so might as well do it.
My DVD drive in my laptop is broken. Replacing it is 8000 Rs, half of what a new system would cost me. Do I endure things as they are, with the workaround of an external drive? Do I buy a new laptop? Or a new desktop? Do I put the 'net in my house?
So many questions I'd rather not have to consider.
On the + side, I've gathered enough information to take insurance, and I've learnt enough about investing in India to feel confident to start soon enough. Lots of savings are required: travels, marriage, retirement...