Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oy Oy Oy!

I found a shirt with that saying and I almost bought it... wish I had now. Australia is amazing with its great vast space and beautiful cities. First off we landed in Melbourne. Spent about three days there. The first day we explored the city. Melbourne is a lot like Washington DC. It is smaller but very pretty and there is lots to do there. It has the cricket stadium and it hosts the Australian open (two events which I have missed here... Crikey!). Anyway the second day we drove along the great ocean road. Did a tree top walk called the Otway Fly walk. It was cool ascending amongst the trees! We met a sweet little boy named nikoli from France. He followed us along the entire walk and then teased us because Aleena said she was scared of the height- quite funny. Then we drove to the 12 apostles. Such a gorgeous view! I find Australia to have so many wonderful natural sights. You can just be driving along and come across mountains and rock formations that will take your breath away. The third day we explored the Victoria Market and then drove to Philip Island to see the fairy penguin parade. The penguins were sooo cute- with an average height of about 30 cm! They normally make their way from the ocean to their burrows in the night when the birds of prey are asleep. Our groups did not start the journey until about 9 PM. They move in lines of about 12-15 and if they feel threatened they will run back to the ocean. It was such a great even to witness and be a part of. Afterwards we saw them all along the walk way up close. Such adorable little creatures they are (although they smell a little funky haha). Melbourne was a great experience! Now we are on our way to Sydney...

Last night in the box

Tonight is officially my last night EVER staying at Neesa's place in NYC. I am SO sad! This place has kind of become a landmark in NYC for me. Every time I come here I always end up telling the cab driver "121st and Amsterdam"... my home away from home (if you will). It is really weird how time just passes so quickly before you. I remember when Nees started grad school here and now she is about to be done... JD in one hand and a one-way ticket to DC in the other. I feel so emotional about her leaving NYC but at the same time I am so excited to have her back at home. We have had such a blast with her these past few years but good thing is that there are many more memories to come. Now if only I can somehow make the move to the Big Apple myself... hmmmm...

Love can't (and shouldn't) be voted away!

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.


Sometimes the nature of politics disgusts me. We live in a world where people are having more divorces than marriages. Why is it then that the government is forcing these people to take back their vows? It is plain unfair. Please sign the letter and take part in making this world a better place. Thanks!

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/divorce

I'm MACin'

Just got the new aluminum macbook! My dell laptop broke about 3 weeks ago and after several attempts to resuscitate it I gave up and went over to the bright side (the wonderful world of Apple). I am super excited about it!

A lesson learned

As we are celebrating the holidays I always find it important to reflect on the past. In particular, I want to write about a very valuable yet important lesson I learned this year.

Sometimes in our adulthood we get lost in the limelight of pretty people and pretty things. We forget that it is what is inside a person that really counts.

I have been blessed by having so many beautiful people in my life both inside and out. I have also met people who have lied to me consistently and shown me a very ugly side.

I guess what I am trying to say is that finding true beauty is really a precious thing. Once you find it try to really appreciate it.

Happy Holidays everyone! Hope everyone gets to spend it with the people they love.

Attacks on Mumbai

Here is a letter my uncle wrote to the PM. I hope you all can understand the terror and grief people are experiencing as a result of these attacks...

LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER
Dear Mr. Prime minister
I am a typical mouse from Mumbai. In the local train compartment which has capacity of 100 persons, I travel with 500 more mouse. Mouse at least squeak but we don't even do that.
Today I heard your speech. In which you said 'NO BODY WOULD BE SPARED'. I would like to remind you that fourteen years has passed since serial bomb blast in Mumbai took place. Dawood was the main conspirator. Till today he is not caught. All our bolywood actors, our builders, our Gutka king meets him but your Government can not catch him. Reason is simple; all your ministers are hand in glove with him. If any attempt is made to catch him everybody will be exposed. Your statement 'NOBODY WOULD BE SPARED' is nothing but a cruel joke on this unfortunate people of India.
Enough is enough. As such after seeing terrorist attack carried out by about a dozen young boys I realize that if same thing continues days are not away when terrorist will attack by air, destroy our nuclear reactor and there will be one more Hiroshima.
We the people are left with only one mantra. Womb to Bomb to Tomb. You promised Mumbaikar Shanghai what you have given us is Jalianwala Baug.
Today only your home minister resigned. What took you so long to kick out this joker? Only reason was that he was loyal to Gandhi family. Loyalty to Gandhi family is more important than blood of innocent people, isn't it?
I am born and bought up in Mumbai for last fifty eight years. Believe me corruption in Maharashtra is worse than that in Bihar. Look at all the politician, Sharad Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Bal Thackray , Gopinath Munde, Raj Thackray, Vilasrao Deshmukh all are rolling in money. Vilasrao Deshmukh is one of the worst Chief minister I have seen. His only business is to increase the FSI every other day, make money and send it to Delhi so Congress can fight next election. Now the clown has found new way and will increase FSI for fisherman so they can build concrete house right on sea shore. Next time terrorist can comfortably live in those house , enjoy the beauty of sea and then attack the Mumbai at their will.
Recently I had to purchase house in Mumbai. I met about two dozen builders. Everybody wanted about 30% in black. A common person like me knows this and with all your intelligent agency & CBI you and your finance minister are not aware of it. Where all the black money goes? To the underworld isn't it? Our politicians take help of these goondas to vacate people by force. I myself was victim of it. If you have time please come to me, I will tell you everything.
If this has been land of fools, idiots then I would not have ever cared to write you this letter. Just see the tragedy, on one side we are reaching moon, people are so intelligent and on other side you politician has converted nectar into deadly poison. I am everything Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Schedule caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian Schedule caste, Creamy Schedule caste only what I am not is INDIAN. You politician have raped every part of mother India by your policy of divide and rule.
Take example of former president Abdul Kalam. Such a intelligent person, such a fine human being. You politician didn't even spare him. Your party along with opposition joined the hands, because politician feels they are supreme and there is no place for good person.
Dear Mr Prime minister you are one of the most intelligent person, most learned person. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost expose all selfish politician. Ask Swiss bank to give name of all Indian account holder. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find wolf among us. There will be political upheaval but that will better than dance of death which we are witnessing every day. Just give us ambient where we can work honestly and without fear. Let there be rule of law. Everything else will be taken care of.
Choice is yours Mr. Prime Minister. Do you want to be lead by one person or you want to lead the nation of 100 Crore people?

Prakash B. Bajaj

Times are a changin...

I am sitting here in my living room... almost time for the big election tomorrow and I find myself getting teary eyed. The fact that our nation is so close to getting what it finally deserves is overwhelming to me. On the flip side, it is also very close to receiving the same abuse it has gotten for the past 8 years. Where do you stand?

OBAMA 2008! Let's make this happen!