tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37120472024-03-14T03:57:04.212+05:30kvrlogscat kvr.logVenkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.comBlogger318125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-3795581172615171432021-03-02T20:35:00.007+05:302021-03-02T20:35:40.967+05:30Blog Moved to kvrlogs.me<p> My own domain - <a href="https://kvrlogs.me">kvrlogs.me</a></p><p>Hosted in AWS Lightsail.</p><p>Thanks Blogger for hosting all these years - without Ads.</p><p>Bye. See you at <a href="https://kvrlogs.me">kvrlogs.me</a></p>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-9165211792206911422020-12-27T11:23:00.001+05:302020-12-27T18:45:34.030+05:30Bit by the Bike Bug (again)<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_8da2_604e_88d5_e54f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6hsf4MwsGhLbRijNzup3qgm6bcykoZIOYO98XPEKNki_fTBc9LnDr0dZMs_mteY" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">TLDR : I have booked the above bike, A Duke Adventure 390. Yes, at this age going to ride a bike which is typically a bike the post teen’s ride. How I convinced wifey - if not now when will I dance? Works all the time :) <br /></span><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Sometime in September Honda Highness was launched. I am a fan of Honda. I started reading and watching reviews in YouTube. Now that’s a good bike. No vibrations at 80+, a good looking bike nevertheless and is going to challenge the current King of the market - Royal Enfield.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_3ef4_665_714e_a547" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MP3UkqwOmyZil7lcEnY8TrT_Afx7xoqdzPNDzvQ4PDmNFZRQDtIVav-ZhhA5Les" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I love the looks of this chrome laden bikes which look like what the Terminator robot rode years ago. The Honda had the same retro look.</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">But it was not chrome - its plastic. Now that’s a bummer. Also Highness is being launched by Honda as a new brand - with brand new showrooms and service centre’s etc. and there are no showrooms nearby - I have to go to Bangalore for this ( I live in Whitefield ). Anyway didn’t bother </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_cfa5_7367_b3e8_2d70" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/iEcHW6Mg3CS7O5qElWtVlljulcbWT3jZ8_fBXl_rwQb-G-eC-vVkJdgqZEWHl0g" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">There are some movie shots that are still etched in my memory - just like I saw it yesterday. The scene where Arnold Schwarzenegger gets on the bike he stole from the thug who played billiards and attacked him. <br /></span><br />The closest that came to this look was the Thunderbird. I had it since 2014 and loved the riding posture and the feeling only a bullet can give. It was always a love hate relationship. There are lot of niggles and I will keep getting angry with the bike. But when I ride the Thunderbird all the frustrations will be forgotten and forgiven. </div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_f424_f415_9c76_f9b7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8tfRgLmSrWr6pZ6mLQDb85dICJ_5noluPLu81aBiQ_aiq2UZLyyzB6B_nrq5XyQ" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_5519_c4d2_f74b_cd5e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/eY1QJLymkdqX_3OQBeeuUYTcD2rJg8K07L_epxc4AGx6bekWTCsjwE8YWD-nfFU" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_54bb_785a_8a10_c6f9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4MdALjT7rl4F71naC8_Wcrw0G4_F2mUJBgFPRtohF0tpGCKCcfw65B1Cml2lDJk" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I don’t know who this guy is. Snapped this photo on a wall to wall poster in the bike workshop in Mumbai. <br /></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The recent niggle was the key got stuck in the Petrol tank lock. It used to give trouble but somehow I will wiggle it out. This time it refused to come out. It was a frustrating moment. Then I had to get help of the petrol shop guy, he put oil and somehow wiggled it out. God bless him.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is just one instance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes it is old. Perhaps it is rusting. The tank lock, bike lock and key were changed just 2 years back. It was done in an authorised service center. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then the answer came in the form of Meteor. RE opened an office / test track in UK, close to Triumph - so the Triumph engineers could easily switch to RE without moving their pots and pans and changing children’s school.<br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">RE says this one is built with the latest technologies and they had quietened the vibrations. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Both Meteor and Highness had good feature set. Meteor had the navigation display which is super cool. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_b328_3d94_a555_44c3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Xyocm4oFR6cZiQLD1fTzjpQ3HN1UVLI7GQR23Aoipa1ix8CPWU3RUgAd4ov01wY" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I started following reviews of Meteor. Now this is a winner in the hands of RE. Absolutely no vibrations at 80-90 and has ABS, Tubeless tyres. Wow. I was tempted. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">It was 2 weeks back. San had got out of quarantine after her trip and was ready for riding her FLG. The bike refused to start. It does not have a kick start - so one of us has to push, on 1st gear and the rider has to release the clutch after the bike picks up some momentum. The bike will start. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">San was very frustrated - we had serviced it from the local AECS Layout mechanic a couple of months back and was working fine till suddenly the battery stopped cooperating.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We went to checkout the Meteor one Sunday evening. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_a91c_8a0c_e8a4_9a22" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zSFpGihWJZV0RHNt3fm4tJDXwhs-1AS1YVMM5tHAwa8P2_mgUTsMYLNkYegtUZ8" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The bike was still tall. The shop guy told just a day back an Avenger lady had come and tried this bike. It was taller. San wasn’t happy. She said I will fix my FLG and ride it. She did not like the ergonomics. And she couldn’t flat foot. She could have managed if she wears her riding boots, but it is not practical for the AECS layout shopping trips.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Monday morning we went to the Bajaj service center and dropped the bike for service. We changed the battery and signed up for the yearly AMC - so we will keep the bike in prim shape. Return we stopped at the Showroom. KTM is adjacent to the Bajaj Showroom and checked out the bikes. I had a meeting so did not take the test ride.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Between the time Honda Highness had launched and till now - I have been reading and watching lot of bike related stuff. I had made a mental model of the what a bike should have.</span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Non negotiables : </b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">ABS. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Tubeless Tyres</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Pillion Comfort </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>ABS</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We had switched from 2006 Honda City to BRV last year. The old Honda city did not have ABS nor air bags. BRV had ABS. We experienced ABS first hand in the last trip. On a wet road, on Chennai Bangalore Highway a lorry swerved to our lane. San was driving and was over taking it. San slammed on the brake. The car did a thud thud but stayed on the same lane and slowed down. It did not swerve a bit. I was impressed. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Had it been the 2006 Honda City it might have swerved to the left or just kept moving with the wheels locking and car skidding on the wet tarmac. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Imagine similar technology on a bike. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Adventure 390 has ABS and in addition cornering ABS. Even while slamming the brakes while turning the ABS keeps the bike stable. The videos were pretty impressive. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><b style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Tubeless Tyres</b></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Again in October, during Diwali - we loaded the car and when I moved the car felt it was tilting to the left. We had lot of luggage on the rooftop, thought it was because of that. We went out of AECS Layout and went to fill the tank. When I stepped out to tell the petrol attendant to not top it ( They typically round it to the nearest whole number by squeezing in more ). I noticed the rear wheel tyre fully flat. Filled air and went to the nearest puncture shop. With tubeless tyres we can still ride it fully flat. It does not damage the tyre.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">For the bikes - tubeless tyres are the best. I did read about the advantages of the spoked wheels - for adventure bikes when you are in a trail it matters a lot. Alloy wheels will just break when it takes a hit, but in the spoked wheels the impact gets distributed and only a few spokes will break - so the bike can still run and can be fixed later. In a trail - where no help is going to come it makes sense. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">But for my use - mainly city + touring - tubeless tyres make total sense. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Pillion Comfort</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">In 2006, the week we got back from US we walked into Honda showroom next to Diamond District where I used to work, and we purchased an Unicorn. It was the first mono suspension commuter bike and it had superb suspension. It used to glide on the roads and the pillion got superb comfort.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><img alt="" id="id_4ea4_1824_b0bd_e1f3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lKs_87M1KeD7g8ROHClW2QZV1m2maZfGmOrbRlX-7Wdg9t_xgso4BUfXkQmJVT4" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img alt="" id="id_894d_ab31_58c1_b622" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zDen5dkzSIPF15Kisqh3FTMLrU4QTZiEsqnSprvZNoSMWNM0dJH_65fT_M0w2bE" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">On the left is the mono shock suspension. To the right is the traditional twin-shock. <br /></span><br /><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">When we switched to Thunderbird found the suspension was very poor. When I put it in potholes it will send jerks through the spine for both rider and pillion. Since I can see the road and anticipate it, it will not bother me much. But for the pillion it will be too random and San hated it. She loved the raw power and the and sound of the engine - it sounds like how a bike should sound she will say, but hated the suspension. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">When we did the Adventure 390 Test ride, I dropped it into a few pot holes harshly ( Sorry Test Ride vehicle, this is not how I ride a bike ). San gave a thumbs up. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This is another non-negotiable. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Nice to haves</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Traction Control</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Digital display with Turn by Turn</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Mileage</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Traction Control</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">One should have good riding skill. Know how to ride on gravel, loose sand, oil, snow, wet roads. It comes from years of practise. Traction control definitely assists in this regard for an occasional rider like me. It detects the wheel spinning speed, and the bike’s velocity and controls the petrol being sent to the engine ( hence it has to be ride by wire - not the cable for throttle ) . So when the wheel spins on loose gravel or wet road, it will slow down the spin - even if I am accelerating the throttle - by mistake or on panic. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Adventure 390 is the only bike less than 4 Lakhs which has this feature. Even the BMW GS 310 -another good adventure bike - does not have Traction Control. This safety feature is present in the high end bikes. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Digital display with Turn by Turn Navigation</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Google has spoiled us all. Those days of stopping at shops and auto wallahs asking for the route is long gone. In cars we can mount the phone anywhere, or just stop the car, pick the phone and check. But on bike - it is a pain. One has to stop the bike, remove the glove, pull the phone out, consult and do it in reverse. The phone mounts are a good alternative - but if it is integrated into the bike’s display it will be God Awesome.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_83f9_2de9_a238_f89a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fIaugxlLGhTtp4s-ggGtRLC6KRQbCLJaqbbXHN1N7jiU9e6D-vfJdbeQLhwtnNc" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This one is in Adventure.</span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_2133_234d_8ad8_ebc5" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/togNzGow4AcHExo9sICIMaNuEZTSizrbwRMH9yk3l92qcw0qOBuSuAgwD5ateUs" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The one in Meteor. This is really good stuff. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><br /><b style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></b></div><div><b style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Mileage</b></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">When people were upset with the rise in petrol prices, our Sardar said - I always put Rs.100 petrol, so it does not affect me. I am like the Sardarji in the Sardarji joke - I always put Rs.300. Honestly I have never calculated how much the Thunderbird gives. However a bike which can go from Bangalore to Coimbatore/Chennai on full tank will give good confidence. On highways, like Murphy’s law - when we want a petrol bunk it will not be available for miles and miles. The adventure 390 has 14.5 Liters and gives 30+ Kms on highways when ridden < 100 Kmph - the speed I typically drive on cars even. The mileage on Meteor and Highness are more than 40kms. Even more impressive. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The Adventure 390 ticks all the boxes and much more. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_66da_882_9040_a1aa" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/PXWLw_PIUAF-ntAPMH1rLzs2QHkzaCf-aLP8DqRemDdtMNeSIuO2OwOLuJYGiIU" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I was concerned about the height of the bike. Once I sit, with good shoes I could plant my feet - almost flat footed. I can also walk the bike. I should be careful how I park the bike - should not be face in as I don’t think I can easily reverse walk it. I do the same with Thunderbird so will not be a problem.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Other bikes I considered.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Meteor</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Well they did not have a test drive vehicle. The sales guy took my number and said he will call when the bike comes. But no call came. Perhaps a test ride might have sealed the deal. Also the wait time was 2 or 3 months. Sorry RE.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Himalayan</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This is the closest contender to Adventure 390. The day I went for a test ride of the Duke, I met a guy outside on Himalayan. He had come to check out the Husqvarna bikes - it is a subsidiary of KTM and has an odd looking city bike.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_f77_d1c6_9210_a38b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/USjU1OB7Xri0CfzVB-XGq3WOVTPV4oCFBSkY7bEmlLIBHGVnS1MLNeBSzEK9K2M" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />This one - Husvarna by a Swedish company.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Himalayan guy said - if the Adventure was there when he got the Himalayan he might have got it. He owns an estate in Wayanad and Himalayan is perfect for the non-roads. </div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_5114_e7fa_57a8_6b65" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/l09Rhc8Ko4EGeMjoGPZfyZikbe0y13lPD0_EfklIXNFzyFesGwNlbike7Xm_uF4" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br />This one - Himalayan. The BS6 one is really good. No vibrations, ABS, Wonderful Highway tourer, Mono suspension. great on dirt. But has spoke wheels. I saw a few videos of Himalayan on Ladakh. They have named it aptly - it is made for the Himalayas. </div><div><br /></div><div>But doesnt have traction control and turn by turn display. Not major but having been with RE and all the niggles - decided not to pursue Himalayan. <br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Highness</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Highness is the Bike of the Year in Team BHP. But there is no showroom nearby and it did not have mono suspension. And does not have Turn by turn display.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_1733_cb5b_42d2_a02b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/1zV87Nc5qj3DmD0QlPCoU_PXN3aqhRh15QEB_IWzIqbafQStxRxP53Eh9BWycnw" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Duke Adventure 250</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This is a Trojan, to make Adventure 390 sell more. This one is 50 less, but has a black and white display, and no traction control. Otherwise similar specs. This bike is to make everyone stretch a little bit more and get the Adventure 390. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">After losing sleep over a few nights, decided to make the plunge. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I am not too concerned on what the world will think. Someone in mid-40s riding what the 20s kids are riding. Why should the boys have all the fun! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I have booked the Adventure 390 now, last Saturday, and I am in the impatient waiting phase every biker goes through. The sales person said it should be ready for delivery by Wednesday. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I am reading forums on how to break in the bike and how to ride safely. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Very excited to get on it and face the wind.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Thump Thump to Vroooom.</span></div></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-2454209781737184022020-11-01T09:24:00.001+05:302020-11-01T09:26:48.070+05:30Donald Trump and US’s fateI am not a fan of Donald Trump.<div><br></div><div>He is a bully. He is a misogynist. He is a hypocrite. He is a racist. He uses religion to further his means. </div><div><br></div><div>He just got lucky being born in a rich family and has zero empathy for the rest of the world struggling.</div><div><br></div><div>He is bad for the Environment. He moved US out of Paris accord. We were to slow down the destruction of earth and US being the largest pollutant in the world would have made a big difference. He has also reversed many Environmental laws - so Businesses can make more money. Like he allowing drilling in Alaska.</div><div><br></div><div>He sided with Dictators around the world. So US could sell more missiles to some countries to bully their neighbours.</div><div><br></div><div>Sigh.</div><div><br></div><div>US is self destructing under Trump.</div><div><br></div><div>I like USA. It was my home for 6 years of my life. India tugged our hearts and we got back. But had I got into academics - if I had continued after MS into PhD I might have still been in US now. Or if I had got bit by an entrepreneurial bug while I was in US, I might be running my own startup there.</div><div><br></div><div>I don’t like what is happening in US.</div><div><br></div><div>I don’t like bullies. I don’t like misogynists. I don’t like hypocrites. I don’t like racists. I don’t like people mis-using religion.</div><div><br></div><div>I wish Trump loses this election. </div><div><br></div><div>US has made a mess of its democracy. It is ironical that Hillary Clinton won the majority people’s vote, yet lost the Presidency. Because of the electoral college concept. </div><div><br></div><div>I read somewhere that US election is on Tuesday - and it is not a holiday - so the lower working class people cannot go to vote - the majority cannot decide their own fate. Instead the rich and powerful go to vote - on their way to the Golf course - and keep the power among themselves.</div><div><br></div><div>So many of the democracies in the world have collapsed. Greeks, Romans.. The systems collapse after a while.</div><div><br></div><div>In US - the TV industry became dominant and a realty star took advantage of it. </div><div><br></div><div>The democracy in US is collapsing. </div><div><br></div><div>It affects everyone - including me. </div><div><br></div><div>If Trump loses it might slow down the collapse a bit. Or US will wake up and see how close to the brim they were. </div><div><br></div><div>I am quite depressed thinking of the US situation. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-34160724636738332832020-08-02T21:22:00.001+05:302020-08-02T22:16:32.125+05:30Wa-Honda forever!2006 we purchased a Honda City. <div><br></div><div>What a lovely car. Though TopGear used to call it akin to driving a Washing Machine. I never felt so. It has taken us across the country without any hiccups. For the sedate driving we did it was perfect.</div><div><br></div><div>Umpteen trips to Coimbatore and Chennai</div><div>Pondicherry and Auroville</div><div>Ooty's 36 hairpin bends and Kodaikanal, Mt.Abu</div><div>Mysore, Coorg, Madikeri</div><div>Goa,Harihareshwar,Mumbai</div><div>Rain drenched Lonawalla, Kandala, Bushi dam</div><div>Kissed Beach sand on Gorai beach near Mumbai</div><div>Kissed Desert Sand at Jaisalmer and India-Pakistan Border</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnTwBzwmxsoKaRkQwmvstKUe7cFHEJaoiNNOdYSJisUOJovoQakZ7Yu8sQ4NknvpLl3fRwp-9LcZoTev4OuWooBKAxoIqyqy77d7iDhquQ5DstL6e7TXb5Ug32tjryoE-2p2U/s2048/IMG_1498.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnTwBzwmxsoKaRkQwmvstKUe7cFHEJaoiNNOdYSJisUOJovoQakZ7Yu8sQ4NknvpLl3fRwp-9LcZoTev4OuWooBKAxoIqyqy77d7iDhquQ5DstL6e7TXb5Ug32tjryoE-2p2U/s640/IMG_1498.jpeg" width="640" id="id_5644_6d08_81b6_93e2" style="width: 640px; 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height: auto;"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTtc1ciwJOW7CmPBBZrerz3FQ1_ASeRvnLxlH0shVzEs0NWh353gI8YakCcqNO7TTMoppBilRodziNSQHopCluZc2vJBLJelcCn7L72VZoT_6dyOilDVaEX8sr1x6Upy0zhiD/s2048/IMG_6990.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTtc1ciwJOW7CmPBBZrerz3FQ1_ASeRvnLxlH0shVzEs0NWh353gI8YakCcqNO7TTMoppBilRodziNSQHopCluZc2vJBLJelcCn7L72VZoT_6dyOilDVaEX8sr1x6Upy0zhiD/s640/IMG_6990.jpeg" width="640" id="id_1a23_a149_f124_a78e" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>Changed Car Tyres twice. Touched almost 98,000 on the odometer.</div><div><br></div><div>Had one accident when a BMTC bus banged the car from the back on Marathahalli Bridge, when I had to hit a sudden brake to avoid crushing a 2 wheeler who cut across from left to right. Had our share of close calls, had hit sudden brakes, skids - but luckily no injuries.</div><div><br></div><div>There was a good amount of bootspace. Helped pick US travellers with their 2 large suitcases and had room for their cabin bag too. When we migrated from Bangalore to Mumbai - all of San's plants were in the trunk. We shifted in the hot month of April. Every 1 hour we will take a break to water the plants which were literally getting cooked in the summer heat. All of them survived the transit, but soon withered away in the Mumbai heat.</div><div><br></div><div>The car was rock solid. </div><div><br></div><div>However - the 2006 old model did not have air bags, nor ABS. It was not mandatory that time and Honda made a handsome profit by not including these safety features. We paid around 8Lakhs odd that time. While the highways became better - and San was touching 140kms - we were running on luck most of the time. I am a sedate driver and will hover around 100kms and not let it go beyond 110. </div><div><br></div><div>City was touching 13 years and it was on my mind to change the car. </div><div><br></div><div>Early in 2016, when Hexa was launched I took a test drive and loved the gigantic car. The cost was north of 20 Lakhs and started saving. </div><div><br></div><div>One Sunday, last August 2019, we had lunch at Salem Kitchen in AECS Layout and went to Chef Bakers on ITPL road to have dessert.</div><div><br></div><div>We were sitting near the window and we were watching a family take delivery of a Tata Nexon. I said lets go check out these cars.</div><div><br></div><div>I loved the Nexon's design. It was very sporty and compact. I loved the features. Apple Car play support, a bracelet for keyless entry and starting the car, had air bags, ABS, ESP. It had 3 cylinders and had a variable selection - economy, city and sport. It was an automatic manual transmission - AMT. We saw the Harrier but rejected it because of the gigantic size and also it was manual. We saw Hexa too but it was way beyond my budget. I had saved 11Lakhs till now - cannot stretch it to 21+Lakhs a Hexa demanded. </div><div><br></div><div>We got home and made a mental list of non-negotiables. Air bags, ABS and an automatic.</div><div><br></div><div>Safety was top priority. Also the next car we were to buy has to be an automatic. We are in the early 40s, and it should last another 15 years. With the Bangalore traffic manual did not make any sense. </div><div><br></div><div>We test drove the Nexon diesel and the top end Petrol variant. Diesel was too jerky and noisy. I liked the Petrol one - it had AMT, Apple Car play and a bracelet plus - Air Bags, ABS and ESP. Yes I am like that - I make my decisions on these little things. I asked them about Hill Hold - which they said it is not guaranteed on steep slopes. It was a downer - the 2nd reason for an Automatic is to have peace of mind in Hills. </div><div><br></div><div>When we visited Sikkim in 2018, I had said to the Himalayas - we will be back. To enter Gangtok, the last 2 Kms or so will take a couple of hours - the cars will move an inch at a time. Can't imagine driving a stick shift. </div><div><br></div><div>However, I was ready to make a booking and pay the Rs.5000 booking amount - the total came around 11Lakhs which I had saved, but before that San wanted to know the price they will purchase the Honda City for. </div><div><br></div><div>Later during the week 2 guys came to estimate Honda City. They removed the beadings and did a thorough inspection and found that this car had got rear-ended, and said Rs. 30,000. We were both disappointed. The car's value was around Rs.2,00,000 in the insurance papers, and I expected atleast north of Rs.1,50,000</div><div><br></div><div>We then went to Honda showroom the next weekend. The WRV was there - and we were disappointed that it had a manual transmission and no automatic - otherwise loved the design. Test drove the Honda City - it was a CVT - Continuous Variable Transmission - and it was very slick. Had all the gizmos - touch screen with apple car play support and even a sun roof - but it was touching almost 20 Lakhs. Way beyond our budget.</div><div><br></div><div>Then we spotted a BRV parked at the very end. I am a frequent visitor of Team BHP and all the discussions will be around Hexa, Creta, City,XUV, Nexon, Ertiga, WRV, Jazz,Kia, MG Hector - but never a BRV.</div><div><br></div><div>I had also missed this car in my browsing. </div><div><br></div><div>We saw it had 3 rows of seats. Strike 1. In all our long drives it will be a fight for space between Man and Dog. Now Sufi can travel comfortably at the 3rd row.</div><div><br></div><div>The dash had a very basic music system - not a touch screen - thankfully had bluetooth. Did not have a rear camera. But it was a CVT - and had hill hold which they did not advertise - but CVTs do a good job in the hills. Strike 2.</div><div><br></div><div>Whitefield Honda showroom itself had a 2nd hand sales division and they sent an evaluator. They gave a price of Rs.1,30,000 and an additional loyalty discount of Rs.50,000. Strike 3. Plus they offered a 5 year warranty. </div><div><br></div><div>BRV had Air bags - which later I found was mandatory in all cars now, and ABS. But did not have ESP - Electronic Stability Protection. BRV had good crash testing ratings but not as good as a Nexon which hit 5stars - a first for an Indian Manufacturer. The onroad price came to 15,92,000 - chose a Rear view camera and leather seats. Along with the discount and resale, had to stretch quite a bit to reach this number.</div><div><br></div><div>Nexon, like Ford Ecosport - which was the next showroom I would have visited if we did not spot the BRV - is a 3 cylinder engine. They compensate the lack of the 4th cylinder through some fancy electronics - because in the long run it has less wear and tear and gives God awesome fuel economy ( like 20 KM plus even for a petrol ), but it does not have the smoothness you get from a 4 cylinder car at low speeds. In highways the momentum takes care of the missing 4th cylinder. Hence the option of Economy, City and Sports mode for the AMT - so you decide how comfortable the ride will be - Smart! </div><div><br></div><div>Also during the test drive of Nexon, found everyone’s head wobble to and fro whenever the gears switched up. I asked in Team BHP and the experts said you should get used to driving an AMT. Whenever you increase speed, you should anticipate the gear change coming and take foot off the accelerator - so the wobble does not happen. This was not present in CVT where the transition was smooth - actually the technology later I learnt is quite interesting. CVT does not have gears in the traditional sense - its continuous. </div><div><br></div><div>BRV had the same 1500 CC, 4 cylinder petrol engine - the 20L City had. Honda has perfected the Petrol engine and it has the best among all its competitors. The Economy they claimed was around 14 - 16 Kms per liter. </div><div><br></div><div>We decided to go for the BRV. </div><div><br></div><div>Later, I changed the stock music system with a Pioneer touch screen which supports Apple Car play and Google Maps + Apple Music were now available in the dash.</div><div><br></div><div>BRV is a flop in Indian market. It is high priced plus devoid of any fancy features. However we loved the practicality of this car. Any other car which had 3 rows was north of 20 Lakhs - an XUV, Hexa, Fortuner or Endevour. Ertiga was the only contender, cheaper than BRV - but we were already in Honda's clutches - so did not check it out.</div><div><br></div><div>After we took delivery of the vehicle we found some more good features this car had.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2nd row seats could be tilted back further which was a pleasant surprise. In most of the sedans it is fixed and cannot be tilted further back. </div><div><br></div><div>The 3rd row seats - even they can be tilted slightly back - can fully fold down and against the 2nd row seats and we get a humungous bootspace. For the first service, I put my cycle inside the car after folding the seats, dropped the car for service and rode the cycle back home. </div><div><br></div><div>BRV does not have any fancy bracelet like Nexon, but it has keyless entry. We made a chain with a black thread and hung the key on it - and we wear it like a necklace whenever we take the car out. During these Covid times it is super beneficial as we do not need to touch the key at all. </div><div><br></div><div>The window for the 2nd row passengers is humungous. In Nexon it was a bit claustrophobic. Sun is a problem - still on the hunt for a good sun shade system. Then I imagine the view the 2nd row passengers will also have when we hit the Himalayan slopes some day.</div><div><br></div><div>BRV has paddle shifters. First I thought it was a gimmick but later found it quite useful. Whenever had to reduce speed - lets say while approaching a Toll gate, instead of hitting the breaks to reduce speed, I can just downshift using the paddle shift - this will use engine breaking and is easy on the breaks.</div><div><br></div><div>The speakers are quite loud even in the 3rd row - there are outlets there. In the 2 rental cars we had taken from Zoomcar - a Fortuner and Hexa - both were entry level models in their defence - the 3rd row can hardly hear anything. We had to keep maximum volume for the 3rd row to hear, but it will give a headache to the driver.</div><div><br></div><div>Air con vents - actually these are just blowers - on the top for 2nd row passengers - and can be adjusted. It was one of the biggest complaints in our good old Honda City. During hot summer trips, the 2nd row will want the AC fans to blow at top speed - so it will reach them. However the driver and co-pilot seats will get super chill. It was always a fight. Now with the vents at the top - it was nicely circulating the air. Also one feature we missed in Honda City - automatic climate control was there in BRV. </div><div><br></div><div>Things BRV does not have - Cruise Control - it is debatable if this feature is useful in India, but I am for Cruise Control - one less thing to monitor while driving. Also it is a 2 Wheel Drive. If we take to Gorai beach once again and car gets stuck - will have to get help of the locals to push it out! One of our acquaintances in Mumbai, always carry’s a thick rope - once he got stuck in desert sand it was a fight to get his car out. After that he always carries a thick rope. On my to-do before the next long drive.</div><div><br></div><div>Now the BRV has completed its 3 free services. It is 11 months old now, has only put 4,000 Kms and is cooling its heels waiting for the Covid to blow away - so we can point it towards the Himalayas, or Goa, or Kerala or North East.</div><div><br></div><div>Wa-Honda forever! </div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavejzlcRJg5Z8GdXOd6mxel1smdK-7cF-1EMegyWXiEM3qXPwNvfXI0Q06e5OwHSn13aedcShbDQjx7BYr07ioS0F3qlJxcXw9_dyWMFNZQfL4sNmiljd73RiQUMGF0tUYL8o/s2048/IMG_9948.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavejzlcRJg5Z8GdXOd6mxel1smdK-7cF-1EMegyWXiEM3qXPwNvfXI0Q06e5OwHSn13aedcShbDQjx7BYr07ioS0F3qlJxcXw9_dyWMFNZQfL4sNmiljd73RiQUMGF0tUYL8o/s640/IMG_9948.jpeg" width="640" id="id_33c2_f1d0_ded8_6f0f" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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height: auto;"></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-30961382540684661882020-07-05T13:29:00.001+05:302020-07-05T13:35:25.550+05:30June 2020 - Coronovirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/06/week-1112-coronavirus.html" id="id_676e_9a0b_5fb7_b4a6">Link to Week 11,12</a><div><br></div><div>July 5th - Sunday</div><div><br></div><div><b>1. Coco / Cocoa</b> ( official spelling ) </div><div><br></div><div>Switching to monthly blogging now. Week 13-16 was the month of June.</div><div><br></div><div>Rumi was renamed to Coco. Rumi sounded so much alike Sufi. Coco was our back up name and all agreed.</div><div><br></div><div>Coco bites and scratches us a lot. All of us have cuts and bruises because of her. And night she is a terror. She hardly sleeps for 2 hours and by midnight she is up and running - biting legs and hands and brushing past the face. I had to cordone off her with boxes - every night it would be my ritual. The defenses will work for only 2 or 3 days and this intelligent cat will figure a way to come out.</div><div><br></div><div>Coco had a few nature call accidents - on our bed - exactly at the center - again and again. We had to block that spot with boxes till she got used to the litter box. Otherwise training coco was a cakewalk. Cats are very intelligent ( sorry doggies - I love you all but facts are fact ) - and she quickly got it.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_1eff_64cf_ac52_eea0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tO18Rjq30pJiFbYxIeqipkeJNxORHAPjCQ1SQO3Y5k4NugFmAxF-niVBBk2u3ho" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><img id="id_ac66_668_713_edd5" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PsLgyyyS4EPyzeuxioiliPPqF4nRrbH1Csw3m_dp5j-D6JzGyChc7TmUsXcTvx8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_50b8_4ef0_3cf0_13e5" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rbFODCL_S9aRF8RNYqowyVStvOC49de9qolhym9iDtB3QwGz-7ZCufS6OnjLljk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ff83_9e0d_6293_39cf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bVEiNeXFSEndCSiWaAZCvo5A8JtmKYtttrxIKaDNB08FmEKqiawUJ7Mrrk7a3U" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e890_3fee_3aab_7e90" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mVszNT-KzBJLyc9yWWL30s8ph4IsnBlhz5c77oZHlHWNPCWrletLo0FJb8sUHEg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d310_fa6f_2f18_cf00" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/itxmuOhFjnFZ8xXQYhqh1IZi4LzszdxZkc31dvwnKnvixYUuAbP0g3qiIUG4KN8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8d7f_d13e_2444_ac3e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/z6K6ilUDoc1t6biPyFtCFXyVKSyQw4iNRKHUnXim6C6hf3oO7LE-NzeKa08vZlI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2e43_d6e4_344f_8f5f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/U4hSiFXZ-YU5RWA5ZdSSPbIvqI3IPiZn39Y-IaSA7YRMIL88zd8yKofuS3s7eCM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3318_a183_fb25_6019" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4S3rIA7QXWlnNUi7RzLcQl0OFkAkwQpsccN36EkARM6gDywKR-EdW-6K-J9mIFI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d66a_77db_a037_4be5" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/w1Gkxp4tqj--XOE-1CP_UVvl2A2pZHDJ4iTM3oK6rRc9HHJx12JKlv_kJ2Mg5Z4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2cfd_c639_2249_89a5" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cQQYUzHW-KCbSFVaHm1IQbK_fahGnVVHHVSWClSbdZFoEVaOFvUI4qyZfu1-SOs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><b>2. We go on a picnic</b></div><div><br></div><div>It was San’s idea. I did not want to step out of the house - lockdown Et al. Her idea was to go some 50-60 Kms outside Bangalore, spread out a blanket under a tree, have lunch and get back. We drive towards Shivanadurga - never reach it, but instead take a detour on Mysore Road -and have a outdoors experience after a long time.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_bba_b245_c41d_9973" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/K6bnYA692lyXtmBfH4ObhPq0O5kI--dxs60MqUbl61DIAnVM-EafK4DdBsq_uOc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3e79_15cb_6d8_706" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/87f1S2b6h9IGppPckGIk8TyfnnJTLZvwigbZf_PHJQCVM303rZDMq5MIgTgj71Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_c54a_72fa_165d_b421" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/heyF8fqkGp2dAjjzhGoyPBAm_dyu-VQFYFPiiqkdKchmDfJey5ZPOWWSpQ3BQ1g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a339_2301_c149_bf69" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JdyGaLUegN0zr17ylCPtAJ_XkrNkcjm-pv1ja0r2kZ1tLh-7kYAVIlfztQ-e-bE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_22b8_3a40_895b_2901" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6spKNfDIEg2cP4fO9lcwmtx9fkkchRpoNBinlsmpPvkYr1u3oN1xN3RMdB4j2Eo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_273d_be33_7a9e_36f6" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/b_jy6-clAJke7kN42aU5X0Tmg1t4rJVXfeqb9tEON7-kPrWR0uNI-wUcoVE4NCE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><img id="id_3cea_55a7_eae0_c3a6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KhQd3_KrjTGAKRMwIB21HjBtJnwra_u35HdIvE3amt2oiTbPpKwHN0J2MSl3uNI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_46fe_f53b_b319_59c8" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/TFglJvYPcCVeA0-1cVjTZTpn0ExT76XYv0ctAsmRuoEL1URaYiC0WSE1_fENO88" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3f95_108b_cdd9_23f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/AXhB5eI0BqxQhQEkC5dL6y8YL7ZgxyIskGAj7EA9PTix6Nsgxa0iuH-LHVX-qQI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_f591_2fba_b6e4_1572" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/i-alzA3g_WWrWpas8o1g-nWo2u74zJ2uC1qpUWVv2iu8LwjIesLyxPlaPqdOg_w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_93db_7f7e_27c7_c099" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JWovElJIm9jwEHfRFvCEFK3vnntQaV46g9snjDfzOYinCeAJAh__J8nC7fARktk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5fff_2e4_176b_caca" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/onzD_vcNQIWcZpBVB5_t__8DjdE0RmZkXupgVBDm4FPp34PNLD4X6mZKjDWIyy8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br>We made some critical mistakes during the trip. Carried only 3 bottles of drinking water which was not adequate for us. Also we did not get water to wash our hands - so we got some water bottles from a shop. Also on the way, in one of the villages, San spotted mangoes being sold by an old man. We had to get it. Other than this we did not have any other interaction with outside world.</div><div><br></div><div>We made a checklist for picnics in future</div><div><br></div><div>1. Water - Sufficient for both drinking and for washing hands.</div><div>2. Polythene gloves and garbage bag - even before we can spread our blanket we have to do thoroughly clean the place - there are lot of bottles, broken beer bottles - with kids and pets - we have to be thorough. </div><div>3. A flask with coffee / tea - we were tempted to stop for coffee/tea but better sense prevailed - and tea cups. </div><div>4. A knife to cut fruits etc.</div><div>5. Old Newspapers.</div><div><br></div><div>We want to leave the place cleaner than we found - and leave nothing but organic waste.</div><div><br></div><div><b>3. The Transfer</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>NEET exam date was July 26th. It was decided to transfer Charu back to her home. Passes were obtained - but we had a problem. If Charu’s dad comes to Bangalore to pick Charu, he will have to quarantine for 2 weeks. If San and I go to Hosur to drop Charu - when we get back we will have to be in quarantine.</div><div><br></div><div>We decided to send Charu through a contact. The D day arrived and we went to meet this contact - who said he has a car with an e-pass and will help. Only after we met him we realised it had become hard to transfer as there is lot of checking. His driver suggested lets go to the border near Anekal. When we reached there we saw the border was closed. Charu’s Dad came to the other side and the exchange happened. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_bd36_4fe3_6d05_b533" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Hj2MBBV_6lxrVooWsnRAh1F89HFhdvwnZUoIWgVDslvHBy8ANmlhWth0sReyNF8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4f3f_9ab3_6d6d_225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Sw0mzYhtVRc2-rs2TZVSx07gLF774G6BW2cngw4GUgozf5d8jQoU2PV2uS9UYV8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9df8_c5ed_89ed_45b4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fWAeBD68-7VvRTnTD-LJbKKAAyZaT5ZSxuDzNqTlAO7eSJJZx28DwolOUtiGPv4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>4. Mottai</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">In May we had planned to Tonsure Amu’s baby hair. In between San started reading Death by Sadhguru where Sadhguru says it is important to remove the hair of the baby, because still there is link to the previous birth Karma via the hair. San was even more determined to do it. And so one fine Sunday - she played the barber and tonsured cute Amu’s hair. <br></span><br><img id="id_4096_9c71_8979_cccb" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/eh1TR9AfQ10Ct74RBqM0YVV41J-Bsuvd0y47w-sxyWvkAjbuZ7ctT4icf1lckos" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><br><img id="id_4400_c9ce_b520_a1bf" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/X-J7j6FA_BKVtKg95LUlqYl1YAEJvSr9CUZq0sJLcLf_ezGqgPl3FBquD_mEMq4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_90dc_8835_b67f_594e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/j6SA7sgsg7UKzhAmmZsak8MVHnmR6CiTR7CCB6BgGbUCXhDrUImdfHQa6fu9Vjk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div><b>5. Finally more Coco</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Coco - touchwood - has grown quite fast. She is not that frail being anymore. </div><div><br><img id="id_cfad_f38e_e963_a817" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/w-LMXTYufdm5YYggggsiJSc0l2N6OgE9nublSHgMSKJTXjLSGIek0v-borwxh8c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5b97_5fa7_e748_c80d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/48PcwUhp0pn8YRR30XwLWfjvic5nRff4Vp_oyiUpOci2zxZ_FGr_ELeUT4-4Ve8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_99f5_3eb8_ae58_dcaa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZN-KORW8A_CUvVkK67JHaVLtFzfWH-mLiVhOihaPPvPZOx7o4tEvKuNFDnhc-CQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><b><br></b>Once we took her for vaccination around Mid -June, but the vet said let her put some weight. Last weekend when we went the pet clinic was crowded. Will have to go on a weekday.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangalore covid cases have started increasing. Around 10 Apartment Complexes around our Apartment have one or two cases. Lot of debates happening within our Apartment Complex who to handle quarantining. </div><div><br></div><div>Things are just starting here. </div><div><br></div><div><br><br><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-69150766668226541092020-06-01T08:38:00.001+05:302020-06-01T08:38:29.435+05:30Week 11,12 - Coronavirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/05/week-10-coronavirus.html" id="id_530c_fea1_704a_1d7b">Link to Week 10</a><div><br></div><div>San’s teammate is fostering rescued cats and was telling now I have to find homes. </div><div><br></div><div>San on a whim says I will take one. She was interviewed. She took photos of our balcony - which is pigeon netted and her application was approved.</div><div><br></div><div>On May 23rd, Saturday evening we met Desire - yep - that’s the name of the 40 day kitten - along with Sufi. Both smelled each other and we exchanged some clothes rubbed on these to get familiarised. </div><div><br></div><div>After the meetup - we get back into our layout and find it totally jammed. It was around 6PM.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_85bd_ccbe_6b6f_6488" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/cuBdGG2ckT-EzToXKpHaGOnXHx_Uz1cqKyc6ou4jjtPMpbhhzEJbuNEH9vZUdYg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>We stop ( and further the jam ) and pick up potato chips from our regular shop. </div><div><br></div><div>Night we have dinner in Amu’s home.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_173_1a63_3556_46d1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3HXYvpdLUtC-HAWWnkZH6COGoTTY3XWjpnZOxs29lQQKyzWbTim9RQYrIcEPT7g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>Made from scratch Chowmein, Panner Manchurian and Chicken manchurian. Sweets we got from Pulla reddy. The mysorepak was out of the world.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>On May 26th there is an online Webinar organised by MSWA - Maharashtra Society for Welfare Associations - they brought in all our competitors. San rocked the show. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_298e_e892_7cbd_a3b1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/U0_93JB13p7qKn8_2TYE4oT0V3lgRQrMHlztnRxQqJt5ixZJGHA3X8HhYDCmy_0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Here is the recorded Facebook live link</div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rsprabhu13/videos/10221894696146776/" id="id_c694_63db_7f31_2ef7">Facebook live link</a><br><div><br></div><div>My stress levels are slowly increasing. It is raining on evenings / nights and the terrace is wet. We don’t do Angamardhana now and I am not able to dissipate the stress building up.</div><div><br></div><div>On an unrelated - but again stress adding thing - we are running out of our monthly home internet bandwidth. 3 more days to go and only 100GB left. We are doing too much binge watching or downloading games.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_6c3b_ddde_cf91_176e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/1QG8g0BT3jXHm59Q2SKZpnpOo36vkQfgiCxfG2-kbrdJYu6ofmiRIpgphD1pNhc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>Friday is our investor call. You will read about the call in the book I will write. I have taken copious notes on what was discussed :) </div><div><br></div><div>Once the call is over, I start worrying about how it will be to bring Desire home. We are yet to decide on a name. Friday evening we write the 6 names - Coco, Koochi, Miha, Rumi, Sasha,Pi. All are kept under the beanbag. Each one picks a name and finally which over is left behind is the name of the cat.</div><div><br></div><div>Rumi is left behind and so Rum it is.</div><div><br></div><div>San and I both like Rumi. Rumi is a Sufi poet. Our dog is named Sufi - both will form a cute pair! </div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday morning we go pick up Rumi. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7d2e_b900_3d4d_2370" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2sS1XL7gVoqyqJ0Oc9wbBJs0rV2LlzCyGXSSsivTVwUH6_wc31p2CZz2-fNbD7E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><img id="id_aea9_d614_6f32_d58e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZyJNovNMkiclB01X7ZSMl6MOxxzdwyLkKBG6TNEadNUeyxMnjtrmMiLXHgfi7no" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Rumi exploring our home. Just this month we installed these wire shutters to keep dengue mosquitoes out. This is the 2nd layer protection - balconies are already pigeon proofed. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_9572_fdd8_84c4_c39c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/po9UAMaekcH3Am1s8KXmnfW7_1mcOlYFpblaYbI1y943ZEQAVUU9x47_-gTVXhk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8946_6a3e_d111_3ec2" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/HcEnbr45pLTWpcpYeRu1F3aUJBp6KiUTU8jDgDs3ZOayj-9NtTlnA3GhUdHtp78" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4239_1afb_1dd8_f63" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Zp5XF2INI6FBZ4khjyT4rZE3PyPphXjhtf13lvk6Hc_fsKhIq501zQjK_o-27Bk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>She found this cosy place under the bed to sleep - where a spare bed is kept. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_26f9_5d6c_abb1_b043" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/p1KM-uUM1DGcBrUwvywL_0X8byqnje24tygfRMjhyhYvqiWy7n3dJCKbx3j2MyU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_4113_10f4_26b6_8aa0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/apapmw4si4hOVO4TRQIWOI6ciDg96Obe7kzfVOeq-c9ZSiZt-dv9EAeMZH6knys" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><img id="id_1761_8e56_f2a_340" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3CnwwYjsknstykBt4tr2abxcCzwii2yHB7yrGk2C6u1ylvdYQFrAzrnpPJbQPaE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Cat watching mouse :)</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5e7e_5bfa_4d92_6a3a" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tR15GEH6IBNrMF4A33xVyGGwcjwGkJNihGt_Dr4-RqhjhUlz_PwHiJAhbiFXLK8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7cb2_7508_dc57_9b31" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6y3_EhtQfuBSnRWuDfdaEPpc1yGPdkBE4Ie_-zhRRBRVOqxl5uJtW1RByC2wZg4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>Rumi snarls at Sufi. It has reduced and we are keeping both of them away for now. Sufi is very curious and is watching Rumi all the time. </div><div><br></div><div>Saturday night Rumi slept in Charu’s room. Rumi woke up at 12:30 AM and wanted to play. She was up for an hour.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunday night Rumi slept in our room. Likewise Rumi woke up at 12:30 AM and started meowing. She roamed around for sometime and apparently she slept on our bed. </div><div><br></div><div>So that’s the story for last week - another life has joined our home. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-90513149773467771262020-05-18T07:37:00.001+05:302020-06-01T08:45:11.610+05:30Week 10 - Coronavirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/05/temporary-backup-temporary-backup-week.html" id="id_4909_1a9_34_c900">Link to week 9</a><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f513_4e2b_a1a8_2351" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MOQWJnkz-0YFSBUacL0uSqY8KYYf1US6eGDRJ19RSkOsK2CZj8f8HVNVWAwRo9s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_16e1_2578_5e69_a4b0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sicM5aaivhXWsilW-jCAubNa_0BfNNCn0I7poHqMZlu74mjmgg-PgYSf961w_ks" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_a2ea_af7c_ce75_90d" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6cBYWWV1RLA1Z_6cVlT2AEE7O8i1fEPI0MS8upkf-GCi0hk3c5RMAZApW-ttsKM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3640_239_7c84_e924" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2IXBBhLhl4geaGWwqIzyr2MQb0dfIrxbduNmosJT3LArIZa8wjbayUBYUH0H5Vs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Friday San and I go to Daily Dump in Indiranagar and improve the composting solution - San was using 2 clay pots - now she has gone high tech with a custom solution - with microbes and coco peat and all. . </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">When I was at Daily Dump I was checking some statistics. A family of 4 can potentially save 300 Kgs from going to landfill a year. Imagine if all homes start composting. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div></div><div><br><img id="id_6be8_a488_e50a_407e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5EPyqU4qkywShF1HayMhkRonelbe-w0_KHfxSCQRvKgGfGCFbytWX9SeWOPDqTg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7d86_5dfe_7529_1dc5" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SwJxnMLrJF7OZbFEPlWI2OeryHci1m9kW7UXbid-sl7yESrk_N6CGvXduWLz154" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The army of sauces - keeps life interesting for these kids.<br></span><br><img id="id_74df_e034_8d8b_68f7" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tWiukKcW1XdccErKis_NgkTm4sUL1DuK3Y_KwpVb2rLHJe34QqBlyQ-ozy9o8LM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3046_91a_8bf8_4578" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mSyWaIgltsMOI0v1UxBZqIAqRczTA0wiTPDi7IeqDUQDx8GnljtZSokR-YSzQ88" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5c96_753d_ced_ce73" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/w5UAp1tbeY24N50avN2tt7OcR9JPjyk-19zRRnxkQ2Dcu9RyZn0uz7xGkkd3imM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Saturday Achu makes Chicken Marhaba</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><img id="id_b9dc_31ce_dd8_ce81" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mD_09f0IFqEHIv_O7XI5EIlXexCdLVxaF7_olGHAEL_MVnSBH9YCndmkbbxbKfQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Sunday evening I make Tacos with Baked Beans. The hard shells costed 150Rs.<br></span><br><img id="id_44da_18f2_a736_785a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/r_5xz1YxiCT-FR3_FuylOFCqWx2Z7Euq8uRQLJrwP0Oil2wUIwSHa-Iy702-vxg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>On chess.com I try to figure this 4 player chess game. Couldn’t. Over the weekend was playing blitz games. Trick is not to watch your points - and be ok to lose. Then it is lot of fun. I was not looking at the time and was losing because of time outs - even though I had captured the opponents queen. Next week will try to increase my speed. </div><div><br></div><div>Sunday morning I go running around the layout. Planning to run 30 minutes daily around the layout. </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/06/week-1112-coronavirus.html" id="id_17d_cadd_dd62_ff85">Link to Week 11/12</a></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-39259842904318662682020-05-17T12:48:00.001+05:302020-05-17T13:15:15.834+05:30We all are in Greta Thunberg’s Universe<img id="id_e6c8_aaa4_3ed3_688a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JoZVejkZaXpQliFHpzT7eXVg-FP2MbMq-XDLpRds5wkyGpQZtodSQuTMDHiuWAY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><div></div><br><div><font face="Times">“<span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> It is the most extraordinary, alluring and thought-provoking of all the ways in which quantum mechanics has been interpreted. In its most familiar guise, the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) suggests that we live in a near-infinity of universes, all superimposed in the same physical space but mutually isolated and evolving independently. In many of these universes there exist replicas of you and me, all but indistinguishable yet leading other lives.” - </span><a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-the-many-worlds-interpretation-of-quantum-mechanics-has-many-problems-20181018/" id="id_7831_2bb7_9444_3c45">Quantum Magazine</a></font></div><div><br></div><div>Back in August 2018, one high school girl in Sweden, Greta Thunberg, stopped going to school on Fridays, and instead sat in front of the Swedish parliament with a placard which said “<i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i lang="se" title="Northern Sami language text">Skolstrejk för klimatet</i></i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">” - School Strike for climate.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In 2019 - she travels to US, on a boat - because Flights are the environmentally most inefficient of all transports, and travels around the country - in a Tesla - lent by Arnold </span>Schwarzenegger<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> nevertheless - speaking in Colleges and climate forums and irritating Donald Trump - the joke that turned out to be true - President of USA.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Earth is being destroyed at a rapid rate. We have to stop and reverse the damage we humans have done to this planet. The only home we humans have got. The politicians - all in their 70s on an average - are only worried about the next 20-30 years - the number of years they are going to live on earth - and are not thinking beyond what would happen to Earth.</span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The politicians have the power to make the change. But they do not want to make the change - they have sold their souls to the lobby groups and their own inner greed for power and money. </span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The little children will in future inherit a battered and bruised planet - with rising sea levels and hurricanes and catastrophes and scarcity. </span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Greta was interviewed, attended talk shows and people and politicians talked - but nothing changed.</span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And then Covid 19 happened.</span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">If you are reading this blog - it means - you are in Greta Thunberg’s Universe. </span></font><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What Greta Thunberg willed is happening now. </span></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The world gets a much needed pause. All the flights have been grounded. Mindless consumption has stopped. Fossil Fuel consumption have plummeted all over the globe. Oil commodities went negative in US because there were no more takers for the Oil that is being pumped. Garbage that is being dumped in landfills and oceans has reduced. </span></font></div><div><font color="#202122" face="sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><div>If you are wondering what happened to your universe before Covid happened - it is still continuing as usual in parallel.</div><div><br></div><div>You are still going to office - in a car - stuck in traffic, with AC On - and cursing the traffic and wondering why the others will not take public transport.</div></div><div><br></div><div>You are planning at work, at your desk - a nice foreign trip for a week for this summer vacation - your kids and yourself are bored of going to Malls and the Beaches and Hill Station. </div><div><br></div><div>During lunch break your colleague is talking about the new SUV he has purchased which has lot of gizmos and you are now hating the mini SUV you purchased just couple of years back. It does not have lot of the new features - and thinking - I can still dump it while it has a good resale value and purchase this new SUV.</div><div><br></div><div>You come home, but the food your cook made does not excite you - it’s this same old stuff. You tell the family, oh lets put in the fridge ( which will be thrown out tomorrow ), lets go to the new restaurant that is opened in our layout. </div><div><br></div><div>That other universe - is still going on right now - wrecking the planet with mindless consumption and the human satisfying his personal desires mindless of the suffering the earth and the environment have to endure.</div><div><br></div><div>You should be happy you are in Greta Thunberg’s universe. It is good for the planet and thereby you, its inhabitant and other co-inhabitants - the plants and animals, all can live a better life.</div><div><br></div><div>You are now working from home - if you are the privileged .5%. Thanks to you the roads are now empty and those who have to travel to work for their living can travel quicker and with less pollution and stress.</div><div><br></div><div>You now have to find ways of entertaining your bored family - plan something for the weekend in the confines of your home. Have food at the dining table 3 times a day and talk of previous vacations, or the next vacation after lockdown - and not knowing - this is the best vacation ever. </div><div><br></div><div>The mini SUV you had purchased a few years back - is gathering dust - just like your friends new SUV - tank full but no where to go. </div><div><br></div><div>You start cooking and relish all the meals made at home. The initial days of lockdown where you badly wanted to eat some dish from your favorite restaurant - that urge is not there anymore. Now you see that the same restaurant is open, but you are not interested in ordering food anymore. </div><div><br></div><div>We are all in Gretna Thunberg’s universe.</div><div><br></div><div>We should all be happy! </div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-65898684555842848052020-05-11T07:57:00.001+05:302020-05-18T07:39:22.264+05:30Week 9 - Coronavirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/05/week-8-coronovirus.html" id="id_f570_20a0_a4af_1224">Link to Week 8</a><div><br></div><div><b>Monday - May 4</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>I was still battling server issues. The load on the server was not just going down. Even starting 20 EC2 instances did not help. It was making it worse - and slowing the site and app further.</div><div><br></div><div>Monday morning I started with Angamardhana + SMM on the terrace. While doing the yoga+kriya I get an insight - I am not kidding - perhaps the memcache is failing on heavy load.</div><div><br></div><div>After standup I test my theory and it turned out to be true. When Memcache fails, all calls start hitting the database - and hence the load. Increasing more EC2 instances, was making more memcache failures, and more database load.</div><div><br></div><div>By noon the issue is resolved. App and site are back to their super fast mode. I am jumping with joy here - and no one to tell. I go to tell San, but she is in the middle of a long meeting with the Sales heads - they are strategising the Life time ERP free the competitor is touting. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_942c_126c_cf95_148c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e42tQU6u1HJKfCf8aWpaSUJYvYWKjUhREARddS8XCyVMFEtMtq6JByQ2KE_yds0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>ADDA’s P&C Team ( People & Culture - we do not call ours as Human Resources ) - arranges for Mangoes. </div><div><br></div><div> And today Liquor shops open all over Karnataka. Lot of videos circulate of people standing in long lines. Someone had taken the Bahubali snippet where the statue falls down ( India Economy ) - and how a drunkard ( Bahubali ) comes and resurrects it.</div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EgNGUUwWx60" width="606" height="341" id="y_id_e493_f748_f556_472a" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Thursday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>San and I step out post lunch time to see how our area is doing. There are 2 liquor shops and still long lines were there! The grocery shops however were empty and the neighbourhood chaat shop was having Pani poori packets. They didn’t have the masala though. We pick up 3 packets.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Friday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>The editorial on New Indian express shines light on the uncomfortable truth of the Migrant Labourers. I felt guilty being the beneficiaries of their work.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_de68_f294_2c2b_7f65" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/VRIwJ83kossv3TIlYDJ8V5FM7xrhe41sbzocp6S6x995w_Kccr0osg5xZERTPMI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><b>Saturday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>I write a short story - <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/05/and-all-fell-down.html" id="id_bb25_e141_1a82_c515">And all fell down</a> - Achu Charu are not happy with it. I post it in my college group - they are not happy with it. It does trigger a debate on capitalism. We discussed various models - like an ideal one which is a cross between a Wikipedia and an Amazon. </div><div><br></div><div>Evening we have Pani poori. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4eaf_fcc8_798a_368f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/YRSqeeIxHZukMxj4I9oYbM8UFI9aBbyFKgpXmdIAzEcxexPhnc7K05g-h3u_3Dc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f2c1_e156_b330_88d4" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Bf8NSwXkjCMY4grJpS9XIzXfKv4HQg1mG_bJfPjBMx7Pyv2bwK5gFTo9Qv43UpE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2d8a_b336_9430_e9d7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8JeuVgJar3j9Z75FqmpQzXaPqn7gcklZD8h5qBWAAQ_I-ordcY1LGuVU4v5gb3k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Sunday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Morning I do the weekly weight check. It is mixed this time. Mine has gone down by half a kg to 71. Last week I did not touch any chocolates or sugary mock tails these kids make now and then. It helped I think. </div><div><br></div><div>First half I work. </div><div><br></div><div>Post lunch catch 8 miles - Biography of Eminem. Lose yourself is one of the pump songs I listen when I feel down. Loved it.</div><div><br></div><div>Later we see - Intern - Robert De Niro and Anne Hathway. Beautiful movie. When I grow old I want to be like Robert De Niro!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/05/week-10-coronavirus.html" id="id_2905_4b8c_b52d_766b">Link to Week 10</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-22674516862472855822020-05-09T08:02:00.001+05:302020-05-09T11:14:33.833+05:30And all fell down<div><img id="id_ad0_d21b_ca82_105d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nDcTtq7iJRDv0H4g20jRhQ175gTpMETy86xvR-LJXsNfePFZ9CNSf82U65MFX6M" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div>[ Image credit : <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidyarrow/p/BiXY1KlHH2c/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/davidyarrow/p/BiXY1KlHH2c/?hl=en</a> ]<br><br><b><br></b></div><b><div><b><br></b></div>2020 </b><div><br></div><div>10 million died from coronovirus - a new strain of common cold which spread across the globe.</div><div><br></div><div>In the beginning many were in denial. It will only affect the elderly. The Western capitalistic economies thought - this is awesome. > 60 year olds are a burden to healthcare and social security budget. Let the virus take them out of the system - economy which is tanking at 2% growth can grow up by a few decimals.</div><div><br></div><div>The virus killed the elderly who were deposited in old age homes. It looked like a success. The western countries allowed the virus to spread. They relaxed the lockdown because the economy was tanking.</div><div><br></div><div>In populous 3rd world countries in Asia and Africa - the multiple chain lockdowns couldn’t stop the virus. People living on a day to day earnings all died of hunger and Mal nutrition. The Governments supplied food - once a day meal - to the poor. But the Govt ran out of money and commodities. </div><div><br></div><div>Then the virus mutated. It started targeting children and young adults.</div><div><br></div><div>Towards the end of 2020 - the most vulnerable were not the > 60s, but the < 20s. </div><div><br></div><div>Schools and colleges shut down permanently. </div><div><br></div><div>Old age homes were mostly empty - across the world. </div><div><br></div><div><b>2021</b></div><div><br></div><div>By mid 2021 - < 20 and > 60 were mostly gone. A few survivors in this age were still left. Those who had not yet come in contact with the world or they had really strong immunity or had very special anti bodies which could resist the virus.</div><div><br></div><div>Unfortunately the scientists who could have taken advantage of these antibodies to create a vaccine - they were all dead. Most of the hospitals have closed. Permanently.</div><div><br></div><div>The virus again mutated, having decimated children, the young adults and the elderly population.</div><div><br></div><div>There was mass depression. Mass suicides were the norm. </div><div><br></div><div>Concerts across the world started happening - the very last concert. There were booths were one can go to get infected with Covid and die. </div><div><br></div><div><b>2022</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>The worlds human population has dwindled. Just over a billion. </div><div><br></div><div>All human activity has come to a standstill. Animals were multiplying everywhere in hordes - just like how humans had multiplied everywhere.</div><div><br></div><div>Snake bites, leopard attacks, stray dogs - turned into wolves - roaming around and attacking humans - became the norm. Animals out of hunger broke out of the zoos - and started multiplying. </div><div><br></div><div>Urban Concrete Jungles became the home for the animals - all big and small.</div><div><br></div><div>The few human survivors tried to create barricades around their cities. But it was of no avail. The animals like Leopards, Panthers could easily circumvent all the defenses .</div><div><br></div><div>Elephants and Rhinos could just push them aside.</div><div><br></div><div><b>2023</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Human population has dwindled even further. Just over a million now.</div><div><br></div><div>Where one could look only animals were there. All human activity has ceased completely. </div><div><br></div><div>The virus has stopped its work, but now the poor humans with no special skills like other animals wait their turn to die. Either dying of hunger, or water borne disease or being mauled by a small predator. </div><div><br></div><div>By end of 2023 - the species called Homo sapiens became extinct. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-68965230208635668802020-05-04T07:54:00.001+05:302020-05-11T07:58:36.279+05:30Week 8 - Coronovirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-7-coronavirus.html" id="id_f57_d552_a04_b10a">Link to Week 7 </a><div><br></div><div>Monday April 27</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_791f_d416_bde3_8f77" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nQEgtuAb0qK-QguIzd_M4YJV27-0voJVjJaNgYaur3z6GGY_i2YfGiRp5RJGSaI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Sufi resting the whole world on her nose.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5752_5f85_89ab_6946" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IuUZR2tbxKQ3FzKkR-JXmNHg8j0xs7kN-rRHNHYMjEiiM08gUKhQOyJ9HkpYp1w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Sufi loves to sleep under tables</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_eb61_376f_a280_2774" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/io8a8t92mwiDzJml79aer-rTOKsB4d6ixwS90X25z2LGrqa133k6ojOTbA-UKpE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Charu gives finishing touches for this cauliflower Chinese dish</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_3c2b_94ac_e114_8bc7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/J5ez95MGZ_umeABrr3yFdqxb_YNeCMosv1bZu7RMbxx6GtR8eY0rTPU_KQ9KZIc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Kidference in progress</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5ef3_3a0_f1c3_876e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Pdk8_Bke57gs1G1hmX4k8bcFszU4H-i9dv1zhtwGLdD-M6Qvq2M59caZUW27wiU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4d1c_6243_77bb_1b7a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3kUFLLq7o_BMgWlo5MlYq1akE5jPzOZtBG0HZiRtz9LqDy9su3LBQCrWLhlEd3I" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6074_c54d_94b3_aee9" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_0dUhD0VkIPw1LTvMwu-qk19XoLOaS3-0sihQlSZlNaKd6ZStODxG-EBPTiwhO0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Saturday evening we have Pani poori</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7421_572c_c4f9_5dd7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Oep_bSwjuDBomSOi5DjGyDBVB5A5PNmknJ1QzpZSXvXFrU5b2oGwyTY-JT-rATk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Prithvi and I go for a walk on the terrace. Here is our balcony from the other side. Its a tropical forest.<br></span><br><img id="id_7b29_65e2_1d10_b64f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Loi8sWaMEdr7uPFwJb-vT0jOgZtv8xaVBreweth9TAk2ysf1ITzDJ_wR2a4vpRY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9694_3fdd_72b5_c514" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/FLwMBsH0FSRIiJHWk7CbH_2BXmXEdtnyJMmGUcGZlvMQBRSH6TXIC448sB9qHuA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><a name='more'></a></div><div><br></div><div>Middle of the week - San gets to know of two of our employees helping out people near their locality. She sends 5000 Rs to each of them to help them out.</div><div><br></div><div>Rs.1000 will help a family of 5 people for a week. Here is the update we got from one of the employees. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_3d79_dfa8_fc99_4320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SUAUzlFX49oVPUEXHYbB4v61xNnWJvIxaU4D-ZkUkCuPLWXZd8oGV_ZlZaEju-g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><div>Atta- 5Kg</div><div>Rice - 5kg</div><div>Toor Dal - 1kg</div><div>Moong daal - 1kg</div><div>Onion- 2kg </div><div>Potato-2kg</div><div>Sugar- 1kg</div><div>Gram Flour - 1kg</div><div>Tea Leaf-300 Gms</div><div>Soap - 1 Nos</div><div>Salt - 1Kg, Oil - 2ltr</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Name :Munir</div><div>Address : Squatters colony, Malad east</div><div>Profession :Mechanic</div><div>No. Of family members : 8</div><div>Earning person : 1</div><div>Mobile Number : *******</div><div><br></div><div>Name : Sufiyan </div><div>Address : flyover society</div><div> goregaon east</div><div>Profession : </div><div>No of family members : 05</div><div>Earning person : 1</div><div><br></div><div>Name : Geeta Shirola </div><div>Address : squatters colony , Malad east</div><div>No of fam mem : 4</div><div>Mob No : *******</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Name : Wasim </div><div>Address : flyover society goregaon east </div><div>Profession : Auto rickshaw driver</div><div>No of family members : 06</div><div>Earning person : 01</div><div>Mobile Number : *******</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Name: Abdulla</div><div>Address : squatters colony, Malad east</div><div>Profession : Plumber</div><div>No of family members : 5 </div><div>Earning person : 1</div><div>Mobile Number : *******</div></div><div><br></div><div>I took Prithvi for the once a week supply shopping. He was stepping out after 2 whole months. He picked 4 bottles of Bitter Lemon Schweppes. I did not see the price - apparently it was a wholly imported beverage - and each one was Rs.125. Felt guilty that here we are splurging on imported stuff, and families around the country are going hungry.</div><div><br></div><div>We decided not to buy any more of these stuff. And step up sending money to people who are helping others. </div><div><br></div><div><a name="more"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Here are some funny forwards we got this week</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d6b6_a8c1_f346_8b4f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5ZOn5MFFTxAF7LOW6HfzNtdsEN8-mmb6yWskOxeFdyxU2RfhCuctC7jKW1xHhIM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e67f_124a_2f24_e214" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/q6yExMey7Zb85VkXubdWcGc-yqf_02iCDPZ8Utzd6bQfto9rXEs3gSvm_oZhnpY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9aa9_32e2_e0d9_28f0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7qf4QagVDpvcC4IErB0St4PqlpfwSr6-XbWxs3rbvjoLtc0Pp9Kn3iEbx7vQMvU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7bad_f9f1_1ff1_543e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8pz27CL4rvryzP0OHPGTXsD91GcjkC1ookqCpyNZyF8kE2DP0Vca_9wW8zHeWYw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><!--more--></div><div><br></div><div>Even though Friday (May 1 ) ,Sat,Sunday was a long weekend, I ended up working all 3 days. Server load went up and I tried Auto scaling for the first time - but it did not have much impact. I have been optimising multiple bottle necks last few months and the bottle neck keeps shifting. Performance optimisation is a never ending job.</div><div><br></div><div>On company front we continued the cuts we did on March for this quarter. Over the weekend came to know that one of our competitors is giving Life Time Free - the ERP part of their product. They were giving it free wherever they were going head on head with us - but this was new - announcing out in the open. Giving the product free by a heavily VC funded company is a strategy we have been fighting for the last 10 years. However this time it is different because it is not just one - but 3 VC funded companies in the fray fighting with one ADDA. 2 of them are real estate brokering companies who have acquired companies like us - and for these companies the ERP + Visitor Management part is not their core income, they give it free. Third is the Visitor Management App startup - who is the one giving the ERP part lifetime free. The fight just went up another level. Have to sharpen our weapons and warriors. </div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday ADDA did a Webinar. It was well received - more than 100 participants were there. One of the presenters - Dr.Aravind gave a confidence boosting pep talk. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c39_bce8_691f_2643" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FjtsXQdDDA0Oj0KefDxOYOaITBdpLPQpe4KxR3AcKRNDeszq5Yk1RtB_f0dKE4E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>My Todo plate is overflowing - going into May. Have noted down a few optimisations for the server load issues. Will tackle them first. </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/05/temporary-backup-temporary-backup-week.html" id="id_9771_7b9f_55a6_3893">Link to Week 9</a></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-89986876018118659472020-04-21T08:22:00.001+05:302020-05-04T07:55:21.085+05:30Week 7 - Coronavirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-6-coronavirus.html" id="id_bb22_9543_c659_f5b3">Link to Week 6</a><div><br></div><div><b>Monday - April 20</b></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_218c_c695_2181_2d5e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mVZb-_131APtE610dbA3rVgQCTskudivgv-7At9ID0FGAXqTHRZ4oUqp25I98iU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Evening we play board games. I try to wind up by 7:30 PM.<br></span><br><img id="id_1420_5418_a638_7503" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hB_65kkjgj4R4fJHNfZ18ceMvB6y1_FC45M5iXbDSeIdCc2dYJCDmZacS8lTeGE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>Wednesday</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I sign up for Flutter course in Udemy - they are having a sale now - all courses are 460Rs or something.. Flutter reminded me of Java Swing days - the UI is constructed with code. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_9a44_9124_a785_5d9b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/E2Js2wDdgrDULmrJej6IXDi3sraDpsahWtNbSBpNwLfVFvQo92kedZQbcj5UIm0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><b>Thursday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Hair is becoming unruly. Debating whether to go for a full head shave. Later order a hair trimmer from Amazon for < 500 Rs. Delivery date says May 8th. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_2c6a_dffd_e42b_2e48" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GCRI7rOfRlVs5JKaU3AZYxIYZV8Vfz8ORm_1IHe0dmet1dFswkJifN24pDM5x9A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>San comes up with an idea of a resort for Saturday. </div><div><br></div><div>We will check in by 4:00 PM. There will be a welcome drink - mocktails. Then there will be cake and tea. There will be a game. After that there will be veg roll, egg roll and chicken roll. We start planning - kids have something to look forward for the weekend.</div></div><div><br></div><div><b>Friday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Friday evening we have a pencil sketching session by Akshay from Dubai. As a budding cartoonist I watch in awe. I recharge Apple Pencil and plan to revive my Idly cartoon series. [ <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2019/02/idlee-takes-look-at-bikers.html" id="id_b73_da6b_9c3_96d3">Idly takes a look at <font size="4">bikers</font></a><font size="4"> ]</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_5a0b_312e_e297_ac53" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/WAUeoPqSeORGQGbLrF_jKm2d20HfxvgBccWZVaTGUKkX9OoDgthCfHFahonuXIQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Akshay’s masterpiece. <br></span><br><img id="id_7465_2828_efed_be03" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ss9SNVJeeXGKwvKKNnaj019JZAV5dZMTAymu3fPFHIvZ6jV8bfP-GDQsnSby0Oc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The learner’s. <br></span><br><img id="id_71a5_2536_5305_eeb5" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jdkj63cG83TOmw_llfMFs6C1iqvUQLhLTqXAlXf22y5ez0P-Mqquz3TEJRnSoA8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4">Prithvi saw for sometime, but got bored and ran away. </font></div><div><b><font size="4"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font size="4">Saturday</font></b></div><div><b><font size="4"><br></font></b></div><div><font size="4"><img id="id_4cb_e392_1b8b_6cca" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xbUpBc0STSUZjYt6bnW1Qz7A8W5kU52KvyUwVDdZyLsWFibHhcy6vUZFHM7VXpY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></font><br><br>The welcome drinks</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_64a3_66cc_18da_6a15" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JEftC9edYiqSO6Dfx0JQFW0x8bqeqlHQ_W92iCRQLAsqy8NWvDtSuaJ8mhvmKBs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Pressure cooker cake making in progress. Apparently equal part of maida and sugar was added. Cakes are quite dangerous!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_a46c_9c3d_d99a_5886" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Hh7cvbhjqLs0I0kU2ue9_9Pz0Vaufx9lCkgpMVPncEZdntH2iUVlIvvikxHYBvU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Chocolate chips was put at top - it got melted and didn’t taste well. Below the top layer it was yum.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_2dcb_7600_e62e_e660" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sU8FxNVs23RVgEzRX4yNN3KYlqLWhUcW9VFvcdrQ0bStheEwT1JIPva48EycfwI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Game making in progress.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><img id="id_7c6_b2f6_7338_e195" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/t5vv5NTwivKLomZHpigWodbGgPQ3stmutz3vQrf7npvcmU_yv1Ln15g8_AhkeI0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The bottom of the cake was good.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_a747_1be_aaf1_505e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/D0lf6wkL3HuVAcFx6neWvu5KjfTYlUdsqQ6_0sOGsWkWQMRKRdtVUzoxr8Ou8ew" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span>The finished game. It was a nice variation of Snakes & Ladders. San’s College friend’s School Friend had come up with this idea.<br><br></div><div><img id="id_71e9_7475_69a8_bc5e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OnOP9AW0BB9SwfjnGqUSr7vjQi1rzxTxmov5t-rNt13nepnRwrAqrlt1sNqYcT8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_87a7_9b3e_82c6_7ffc" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZeKrfGm0c51Qk-LCIhY0OAcOQJhh73PwzrSJDUfeviF4qXp9ARzNO85kwqKCHpI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Write a 4 letter word with both hands.<br></span><br><img id="id_d4c_653b_718e_f7e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XCXj1dZHxQN4Flw0EsKkI67kHlzrSYrhOj0A-ayoaE_8tlZagomBBYkWvSXwi_E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ef59_ed0f_c918_1bf1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/B_2DwDrpDIuC5NNXWMpLuFtyuJ4p__tOd6ZclHefUtd2nzBe_qknj9s9ex_wVCs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Scratch someone for 2 minutes. <br></span><br><img id="id_bc3a_1369_728f_fd46" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/yhHDd9Vbxen0cNNX-okVvZaNI0a-U_0gzYKlUPXfUEUrzGakReKUggDyzay9rZc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Stand like Statue of Liberty till next turn.</div><div><br></div><div>I get an idea - why not create this snakes and ladders game in Flutter. This board game will get stale - we tried playing on Sunday and already we were bored of the repetitions. The game can randomly pick from a repository of harmless tasks - or - one can choose the level - easy to ridiculous.</div><div><br></div><div>The number of cases is on the rise. The govt says the rate of doubling has reduced from 7 days to 4 days. Well it is a media spin. It is not slowing down, but doubling every few days. But the Govt has to do its job of not panicking people. Compared to the European countries India is doing lot better, but how long can we continue like this - will this be sustainable. </div><div><br></div><div>I see people in groups commenting on photos of over crowded markets where people are rushing to refill their supplies. They don’t have any other option - its a fight for survival - they might not even have a fridge at home to stock up veggies for a week. Millions in India live on a daily wage mode. What will they do after they run out of their little savings. When we lived in Kandivali, Mumbai - I sometimes used to run through the slums - because they were built on the hills and had upslopes. People are packed in thousands in narrow streets and dingy huts. How will they survive this epidemic?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Tamil Nadu has announced a 4 day curfew. Madurai,Chennai,Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruppur.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangalore things seem to be quiet. I keep creating mental models in my head - how the world is changing. But I know its all useless. How the world will look like in another 3 months I have no clue. Looks like dine-in restaurants are out. People wont be taking vacations anymore. Or who knows - cities like Dubai, Singapore - might be able to attract more tourists because of their clean image? </div><div><br></div><div>We step out of our apartment gates once a week - to get weekly supplies. I have a vague feeling we are consuming more than usual - or because I do groceries now I am getting the feeling. Our apartment complex has an in-house store and I go once every 2/3 days to refill supplies - sometimes its onions, potato etc. </div><div><br></div><div>Every Sunday we measure our body weights. This week we all have gone up by an average of 250gms. </div><div><br></div><div>This week I started with my standing desk - so did not go for a walk ( try to squeeze in 2 in a week ) - and also did Angamardhana only twice this week. Gotto pick up pace for next week. </div><div><br></div><div>Finish off Sunday with UNO in the morning. Post lunch I watch Unda ( Bullet ) a Malayalam movie and more Flutter.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_19c_6e7a_c884_67b9" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BKqhQL3syoQG7iD9rRgpJa540Bp5-BzsPmg5x8VKHbyhkKngqAP5IHPzdc7Zgzc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/05/week-8-coronovirus.html" id="id_a6ea_68f9_c215_d071">Link to Week 8</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-60439848591530409432020-04-20T07:48:00.001+05:302020-04-27T07:26:01.921+05:30Week 6 - Coronavirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-5-coronavirus.html" id="id_49bd_f488_c6ac_10c8">Link to Week 5</a><div><br></div><div><b>Monday - 13th</b></div><div><br></div><div>Mondays are hard for me. Also coming out of a long weekend - it was a bit more stressful. Around 3:00 PM, felt my throat getting sore. Lot of piled up tickets and escalations come to me non stop.</div><div><br></div><div>But I stumbled upon a happy piece of news. AR Rahman’s 99 Songs got released in Apple Music.</div><div><br></div><div>I got nostalgic. Whenever AR Rahman’s songs gets released I will go buy the cassette and will listen. At least 3 times - so I get used to it. One has to train one’s ears to listen to AR Rahman’s songs. There are so many layers - and at first hearing it comes all together and difficult to appreciate.</div><div><br></div><div>I could do 2.5 times on Monday - and by evening my ears had got tuned to 99 songs.</div><div><br></div><div>The songs are really good. Not at the level of Rockstar or Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya - both were love at first hearing - but definitely top 10 of all time AR Rahman’s.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_45c1_c3cb_2969_b83c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/biyE6EzJlS5q3XlUUIgll9fEmOaHMt3Mv9ofQPA96yia-tBw8h9TrEIIPeI0Yj0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Prithvi’s online classes got cancelled / postponed. Boy is back to enjoying his self. </div><div><br></div><div>Monday he apparently hurt his fingers plucking the guitar - so he will not do the little 10 problems his mummy gives daily. However he could still game - because he used a different finger it seems. Heights! </div><div><br></div><div>I had downloaded Invisible Man in kindle. He is almost at the verge of completing it. But I have to literally force him to read 2 chapters a day. Found Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyl and Hyde in free section - downloaded them both. He picked a liking to Treasure Island.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Tuesday - 14th </b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Tamil New Year. Bengali New Year. </div><div><br></div><div>I start Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2. </div><div><b><br></b></div><div><img id="id_7a21_b1c0_d93_46cc" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/T-M_0ZayaVhvtvmwOVZ4Dj4ww_Op_oIORZ9skUcXCp_mfc_ZU2NG54wzYfjepXQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><b><br></b></div><div>Modi extending lockdown till May 3rd. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b969_6f4a_e5c5_22eb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MITQzm--QdYoChZwLvaAxi8tTQHjqIsF82XetyvF0QegWRriI_eY7D46Z8FFju0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Prithvi gets a haircut.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Wednesday/Thursday/Friday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Sucked deeply into work. Had 2 exits this week from my team. Friday evening our dusk standup went for an hour with each giving a farewell speech to this developer - Dinesh - it would have been the most memorable time for him I believe. The 2nd developer - a senior guy - still KT has to happen and he is negotiating. Don’t blame him but the same time as a founder I have to be fair to everyone in the company and cannot do any special favours. It is really sad. </div><div><br></div><div>All this stress got to me. My throat started hurting. Had severe headaches throughout the day. The outside temperature is also on the rise and it gets quite hot in our home. We are on the top floor and don’t have AC in any of our rooms. Friday I started taking breaks every half an hour - get up and walk around. It helped I think. Headache did not come.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday San got to know from the Association President that in one of the apartments where 3 girls are staying by themselves, one of them is running a 106 temperature and is trying to go to a hospital. This was around night 8PM. They finally managed to get an Uber which is running essentials - as long as the destination is hospital they will come. They take her to Manipal on Old Airport road where they give Paracetemol and Saline. Suprisingly they don’t do blood test for Dengue.</div><div><br></div><div>Thursday they talk to the layout clinic - to send an ambulance. They charge Rs.6000! San drives her to the clinic for testing. Again they do not do Dengue test, Doc continues paracetemol.</div><div><br></div><div>Friday morning the girl calls San and says she is feeling very weak and wants to go to the clinic to see the doctor. San takes her to the clinic and this time they do Dengue test. It comes out positive. They get back and decide to get her admitted later in the day. Apparently hospital will inject fluids only up to 3 Liters. The rest 5 to 8 liters has to be compensated by drinking water or juice - every 3 hours. An attendant is necessary. Luckily one of the girl’s relatives is in Bangalore and he could come and stay with her. </div><div><br></div><div>That girl’s mother - she is in Hyderabad is freaking out. San had to console her and give confidence. The mother tried getting a pass but couldn’t to travel to Bangalore. Can imagine how helpless she will be feeling right now. We had an important call at 3:00 PM and San was still on phone till 2:45 PM - almost an hour. I had to make signs asking her to get off the calls to prepare for the meeting. </div><div><br></div><div>San goes in the evening and gets the girl admitted in the hospital. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c5ba_222c_15f8_5370" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/hlwlM800CTSSnoKOmQIEIwtc6W5KML7Y6mPiohGCZnvm1uwJMN9frQpo7psBClI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>This is the photo San took. Apparently they have a Dengue cart and it was kept ready - Standard operating procedure! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>2 weeks back, I didn’t blog it here - there was a death in one of the apartments. A 54 year old lady - she had complications with heart - she passed away at home. San went to their home and helped them with lighting Diya and generally helping them with the paperwork etc. San is reading Death book by Sadhguru - and last week while reading a chapter she said - Wish I had read this before - we did not tie the lady’s foot together, or play some slokhas. </div><div><br></div><div>In Dec 2018 we attended Inner Engineering Course by Sadhguru. There was one meditation where Sadhguru asks us to imagine you are the mother to a child. Then for one more. Then what about a family. Like that he expands and asks can you - can you be the mother to the universe. When we were done I found San - we both sit at different places like strangers - and she was crying unconsolably. It had affected her deeply. </div><div><br></div><div>That’s Sangeeta.</div><div><br></div><div>Nothing will stop her from helping out her children - big or small. Both these instances San need not have bothered - but she did go out of her way to help. </div><div><br></div><div>Friday evening 6:00 PM onwards I started a Nirjal fast for the next 36 hours - no food or water - till Sunday morning 6:00 AM. It’s Ekadeshi - on Saturday - 18th. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Saturday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>It’s 7:00 AM now as I am typing this. 13 hours into the fast. Autophagy genes will be kicking in shortly and they will be starting their work. </div><div><br></div><div>The mind has to be kept quiet during these times. </div><div><br></div><div>1st option - being totally devoted to God helps. Thinking of Allah or Krishna during this time - the stomach never grumbles or you will never feel thirsty. </div><div><br></div><div>The 2nd option - for not someone who is totally committed to God - is to first read up on all the science and benefits of fasting. Imagining how the toxins are getting cleaned up from the system. How the autophagy genes are out of their barracks with swords in hand - searching and destroying the aged or half dead zombie cells - who have potential to turn cancerous. </div><div><br></div><div>Me? - I am in between the two. I am devoted but not to any one God - like Allah or Krishna. I am still forming the spiritual thesis in my head - so cannot commit myself to any God - or one God. But I believe in the Religious practise of fasting. I am a firm believer in Science though - and the power of autophagy genes.</div><div><br></div><div>Here is a video on benefits of fasting I saw long back - which convinced me to do the Ekadeshi fasting. </div><div><br></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XcUYf7kffQU" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_eff1_9160_3a5a_3f97" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div>Around 4:00 PM I got bugged. And my mother asked me - you want coffee? I said yes. So broke my fast around 4:30 PM.</div><div><br></div><div>That’s around 22.5 hours of Nir Jal fast. Not bad. If it was a work day then I could have extend it till 6 PM.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f056_70ac_8e63_b7a6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/emMOluaIUEUI127pRK_uEIRziSeQmWpKLu9my7r-Ac8pYlhrRFMV81GPtXUsfhE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e2c4_952a_833a_b0b6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wHamn2mTE3uOfqU5inPTzrojOeRJpzpr2Qu6_HmUvEdykMf0JI5QHd1VrNYj_lg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6329_5c8f_137e_2a62" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/b4a6nDiM0v8czRQhn4ufKcVStYh-7r3W80oh95S1CKcPtIxkp9dr7KWYzoWFsHs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>We dug out this Disney puzzle we had - which has never been solved before. I realised my eye sight has gone very poor. I could not see with my current glasses. Have to remove and bring the puzzle pieces very close to see the details. Not good!</div><div><br></div><div>Later we invent our own game with a TT ball and a cup and a later we even removed the cup and came up with TT Ball Sammangal game - where the opposite side’s samanangal posture is the goal post.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5c8d_1951_8a48_a3d1" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/drbh1IaOlp3vrpfps5HZRADxijoEtgJlW6XuFRZwQN_GVfdZmaGhKLrmVxdy1s4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4623_c82a_43a8_1b32" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ig-YtsRjT4nWdGues7GN_yjbhqFCe3cbc57QOKlTi3aUj-1D8FKNWKrCupbTUkc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Sunday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>We were all discussing what we wanted to do after lockdown happens.</div><div><br></div><div>Me - Dalhousie </div><div>San - Beach with Amu</div><div>Achu - Goa</div><div>Charu - Meet friends in Coimbatore</div><div><br></div><div>Prithvi - Wants to go to Taco Bell! </div><div><br></div><div>And he has been craving for a Taco or a Quesadilla. So we decided to make him happy. Before that we went to office - which is in the same layout - and picked up 3 tables and 2 chairs. One of the tables I could completely dismantle - so did in 2 trips in the car. San,I and Krishanu - in his house - have been sitting on the floor and we have started developing back pains. Our posture is not good and the body has started creaking.</div><div><br></div><div>Later in the day I setup my standing desk. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d55a_4106_9c62_4185" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/YyH6kkc0-QS8l4y6oBHOutG5w9EUNAyLBqa320fDEprcabJYeAsOPOf1hclZ59A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>The laptop gets super hot in the late afternoons and the fan that kicks in makes lot of noise - for ventilation purpose have kept it elevated. </div><div><br></div><div>Back to Quesdilla. After moving the tables and chairs - we 3 started work on food preparation. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f38b_52b6_e0b5_50b8" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gjuGsqFnPZg0Jjgk_IGpxEknBupTw85JQf6P-cKXu4MEX7LB1WcRbm0KFUQ8sVQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Rajma Beans, American sweet corn, Red+green bell peppers, Onion, Tomato + Cheese which was grated. On the left is Maida + corn flour for the Tortilla.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8d31_820b_633b_b514" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cHdFmtI9hxEapFBylLN_7cJqsM-g-jhPYIAZseVD0Q8ADbxQbOeMl7SZGnhl9dg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>The finished product was nothing close to a Quesadilla. Some stuffed Roti it became.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4a70_fb97_b676_eac6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wnVHuPrbYrRkPkylsDBrfJCpCUj0RGOTGtox8vEjf_aXr-kMmnJP433353C6V-Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>When asked how is it. Prithvi said Ok. </div><div><br></div><div>Like his honesty, I was expecting kisses and hugs from him - and I was disappointed. </div><div><br></div><div>Quesadilla project was a dismal failure.</div><div><br></div><div>I wont bother making this junk food again. At least not a Sunday Prime time lunch.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-7-coronavirus.html" id="id_116c_322e_4b0b_e311">Link to Week 7</a></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-43823154522103876442020-04-12T20:38:00.001+05:302020-04-20T07:49:07.740+05:30Week 5 - Coronavirus<div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-4-coronavirus.html" id="id_7f6d_abcf_18c_d38f">Link to Week 4</a></div><div><br></div><div><b>April 6</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Monday</b></div><div><br></div><div>Was happy to start the week. Let me confess - I am a workaholic. Any time I take a vacation ( I hardly take one or two max in a year ) - I feel restless, count the days I can get back to the routine - where I sit in front of my mac. </div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday (Sunday) I was a bit edgy. Post lunch we saw Uri - there was a good dose of patriotism but somehow the outlook of the world has changed. The virus does not differentiate between a Pakistani or an Indian. We are all in this together. Wish humans realise this and we put all our energies in fighting the virus for now, and later after winning the war - instead of going back to our old ( current ) ways - focus on space exploration or making this world a better place - less pollution, more greenery, more movies and art and literature and take humanity up a notch.</div><div><br></div><div>So come Monday, I dived right into work and was happy to start the week.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Tuesday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>This is my routine : Morning I kept alarm at 4:45 AM. Open my phone to check Server statistics. Its a routine I have for the last 11 years - before going to sleep and moment I wake up - I check for this email which ADDA sends. Subject is ADDA Says hi. First line is Lub Dub. Followed by the queue lengths ( should be zero else some process has gone zombie ) and server statistics ( load and other vital information ). This email comes every 15 minutes. If I don’t see the email - then many things could have gone wrong. I have to login to figure out things. </div><div><br></div><div>Then I do the ablution, brush, wash my legs hands and face and go light Diya in our home Temple. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_117_865_589e_a9c1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pujbWshYMv5TXGOvMyX_zHxojX2-BCZK8xaujlo37ZQUfoKg9sYyVL5IudkbZ_U" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>They say lighting Diya during Brahma Muharram is really impactful. Brahma Muharram is around 3:30 AM. The time I light the Diya is around 5:15 AM - its close to Brahma Muharram. Early morning mind is clear and devoid of any clutter - so praying at this time is good.</div><div><br></div><div>Next I go back to our bedroom and lay out the yoga mat and do Bhutta Shuddi - a cleansing process of all the 5 elements.</div><div><br></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzSX_uBstSA" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_6bce_e442_10c6_790d" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div>Then I pick up the yoga mat and mosquito bat and go to the terrace.</div><div><br></div><div>Here for the next 30-40 minutes or so I do Angamardhana</div><div><br></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9aAzFTQOJJU" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_8214_8f8_c32_4eee" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div>Post Angamardhana - I do Shambhavi Maha Mudhra which is another 20-30 minutes.</div><div><br></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C_xsXnRd_uc" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_b2dd_ee02_4173_9e6c" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div>Post Shambhavi - I do Shanmukhi Mudhra. </div><div><br></div><div><br><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CiCOBg_Dtas" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_3e5c_2eab_b2dd_8c50" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div>I could not find the video from Isha - which is where I learnt. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>By the time I open my eyes its bright day light. Thank the Sky and the Sun and get back home.</div><div><br></div><div>I pick up my affirmation book and write 2 of my affirmations - 15 times each.</div><div><br></div><div>Then I start my day with Filter Coffee and Online newspaper on Magzter.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Wednesday,Thursday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>It was tough 2 days. I have to attend meetings, plus have a long list of to-dos which I have to strike off. Also have to meet my committed deadlines. I end up working, even after my dinner. </div><div><br></div><div>Could be exhaustion - Thursday evening I think I drank water from the Clay pot. Even before dinner time I felt my throat go sore. The hypochondriac in me woke up with a start. </div><div><br></div><div>Today Prithvi’s dry run starts. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_2399_d0d7_8ed5_407" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/M8icu-IBRQ2DoFzWfS7ZBCvddgI00I-Q9o9zEUIBQZRtBlfybsADJu8RAjm6sYE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>From Monday his classes are to start in Zoom. </div><div><br></div><div>Friday was off for all of us.</div><div><br></div><div>I had planned to work on Friday. But I ended up binge watching Panchatyat - on Amazon Prime. Also managed to complete Neal Stepheon’s Fall, or Dodge in Hell.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b723_95e4_8488_903d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Dn3D6i2UCtWvmTOhg6VAlVDZ7ZakelhRRYzpBFJK9OkGoFnmG3RF6Cf4zc75npk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><img id="id_a0e_e6fe_56da_2ce1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p4E3tzwMDrzkOZIqkfmWVjRq_rzhO_paTXGD45gMT7P2rCjzaE_yXMPbEZvZ-LY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>Neal Stephenson’s books grinds you down. You need to be a masochist kind of book lover to read his books. I was in a daze after finishing it - didn’t feel like reading any other book. </div><div><br></div><div>After someone dies, the brain is scanned and uploaded into the bit verse. The 2nd half of the book is entirely in this bit verse. Processes create processes ( Adam and Eve ) and these processes descendants go on a quest. A separate blog post is needed to talk about this book. </div><div><br></div><div>I think the 3 off days I got was a good rejuvenation.</div><div><br></div><div>By Sunday mid-day the cold mild feverish feeling was gone. It was just plain exhaustion and body was forcing me to take a break. No more bragging of being a workaholic. </div><div><br></div><div>Lesson to self - should take 1.5 days on the weekend. Will work half days on Saturdays. </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-6-coronavirus.html" id="id_3775_6a03_9a63_2d43">Link to Week 6</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-78357478717427505722020-04-06T08:11:00.001+05:302020-04-12T20:39:49.768+05:30Week 4 - Coronavirus<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-3-coronavirus.html" id="id_2465_1829_4d6c_8226">Link to Week 3</a><div><br></div><div>March 30</div><div><br></div><div><b>Monday</b></div><div><br></div><div>Right now at home we are not thinking of Coronavirus. How do we manage Dengue is in top of our mind.</div><div><br></div><div>Achu had severe pain in his thighs and calf muscle. He did not sleep properly in the night. I had woken up at 1:00 am to give him his mid-night dose. One of the tablets is to be given every 6 hours. </div><div><br></div><div>Post lunch, I take Achu for the 2nd blood test, and platelet count has dropped to 77k. Before doing the test, we met the doctor and she says if it falls below 80k you get admitted.</div><div><br></div><div>This spooks me. This clinic in our layout has been there for more than 10+ years, but does not have a good reputation. I think they are pulling a fast one?</div><div><br></div><div>I go to the Chemist I typically get medicine from for some practical advise.</div><div><br></div><div>She tells, till the platelet count drops below 25k you are fine. Do not get admitted. Just water and pomegranate juice. That’s all is needed for treating Dengue.And even if you are getting admitted, go to a bigger hospital. Not this clinic.</div><div><br></div><div>I go around the layout and find another lab and we give blood for testing. Around 6pm the result comes - while I am in the middle of the dusk standup - I drop out of the standup because the result says 110k platelets. </div><div><br></div><div>I am totally confused now. How can this big a difference exist?</div><div><br></div><div>After lot of deliberation we decide to stick to the first one. What matters now is to see if the platelet reduction is stemmed. Doesn’t really matter on the numbers. Continue monitoring and if Achu stops taking fluids in - then things are serious. Then get him admitted. </div><div><br></div><div>On another note - I see a conspiracy theory video. Beijing and Shanghai had hardly 500 coronavirus cases. Their stock market did not plummet like every other stock market in the world. Chinese investment firms are still strong flush with cash. They have started acquiring businesses in Australia which are going bankrupt.</div><div><br></div><div>In India lot of Startup’s are funded by Chinese VCs. Now Chinese VC firms will get more active and will take over as the American and Indian VCs might tighten their belts. Is it East India all over again? Future history books will talk about this phase.</div><div><br></div><div>I am not happy with my productivity. First half went in planning the cash flow situation. We got insurance for all our employees, their kids and spouse. Then had some contingency discussion. Then fixed a few escalated support issues. My todo list keeps growing - not being able to churn out stuff at the usual pace I do.</div><div><br></div><div>Over the weekend ADDA app new UI gets released in iOS and Android. I had promised my team to take them out for lunch if we release by Feb end. A month delayed but it has come out really well. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d1b9_5c40_d6f0_1e26" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yvuDu3fJD1LpiaemgUEdzeyA8didcSUWLJd8VYJgGx1x3w9wp025k6EO0AobHl8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 542px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><img id="id_e591_b472_ecd7_6952" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/La3M-wdJEtitJ1wIwJNxGwaX1Qk1zMvW4UJaHSrMlhQBW7FxoRSYl22b0PROVCo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 547px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Tuesday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Achu’s condition isn’t improving. He still has pain and his headache is still persisting. He has fitfull sleep and is taking Tremdol - a pain killer.</div><div><br></div><div>We go for his test and the count is now dropped to 69k</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4422_b1ce_1034_afee" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/dp3C8lCTCrRW0fbxZh7mobRS6CxnxeDA6lBGFhmyyY9QWRRfzYtPiujuNfslK2s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div>This is during our standup. Sufi came for cuddles. Today morning her mom fed Pedigree and she didn’t like it. She only finished 1/4th of it - which is very unusual of Sufi. She will always wipe her food bowl clean..Typically she is always at the foot of her mummy - and even when she goes to the bathroom she will be waiting outside. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8f00_cb56_435b_73a1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/MsuZgZoVDBHDJejCJ0NGs7DBSKBA2wGEwp5q4j1rpwe8tbEFMC5KWriaeqN8xMw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>Prithvi learns music for Hum and Strum - a very good music school. They are now giving classes online. That’s his piano Sir. We are all adapting quite fast. This could be the norm going forward. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Wednesday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>We do a test and result comes as 57k. We are now worried. The doctor had advised to get admitted the moment the count falls below 80k.</div><div><br></div><div>Achu’s dad also wants us to admit him - who is stuck in Coimbatore and is feeling helpless. We debate internally a lot - getting admitted in a good hospital is out of question. There are barricades at the nearby junction and we cannot leave the layout. We will have to get an ambulance and how will we shuttle between home and the hospital. We can get admitted in the same clinic which is there in the layout - but I don’t have faith they will do a good job. Already I am a little suspicious of them - what if they extend the say or administer unnecessary medicines just to make some money.</div><div><br></div><div>We decide to step up a notch Achu’s treatment. Achu sleeps most of the time and misses drinking water or juice. I set alarm on Amma’s phone every half an hour from 7:30 AM to night 8:00 PM. From tomorrow the new drill begins.\</div><div><br></div><div>Today is April 1 = peak billing day. The monthly, quarterly, half yearly and yearly bills get generated today. It is like Black Friday for ADDA - and the load goes through the roof. All the new sign ups over the last few months are all starting their billing today. The load goes through the roof - users signing in to look at the bills, the Covid discussions, users making payments - I sit glued to the screen - turning off some services, adding more servers.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Thursday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>I get this message that Google’s Neighbourly is shutting down. What a time to shut down - this is the time when they could have been of some use. Perhaps they had planned it all along, or the entire team which worked on Neighbourly might have got laid off ( I am certain it was in India - because this was launched only in Mumbia and Bangalore )</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8a5d_fc41_a1d6_94b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MqpW0oTCD5zPxabVbuMQ0zDkPkZj-ouY5Phhey6ensZuiKt3IPu0xfCbR0AXbIw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Achu’s drill begins. San takes the day off to focus on making juice and also waking up Achu to drink water or juice. Around 3PM, I pack my laptop, and change of clothes for Achu and I - and we go out for the testing ritual. Before we go to the clinic, we go to the 2nd clinic where we tested ( and they gave better numbers ).</div><div><br></div><div>Count is 54k. The 2nd clinic gave a number of 100k. The rate of drop has slowed. Achu also feels much better. Pain has gone away and today he walked by himself without any support. We all are confident.</div><div><br></div><div>We come back home. And decide to continue the practise of water or juice every 30 minutes. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_91d6_9174_dfb0_4f79" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vhjEK5BgePIY4Ya7EXLBXmGwAEfEYcDbiB7iHWSF6mAuZRjrPlpgvpv7hKQrnT8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Waiting for my morning standup to begin. Sufi is still with me - she is angry with her mom still? </div><div><br></div><div>Night the kids sleep outside in the room. Sufi goes and lies down whenever the beds are laid. She owns this place.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4eb6_5e3f_2cec_6143" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/AlusPAtwoD7tQJhCaLA47r_-sSNHncy4Z_oq43EA7MuXUiNUkqIBPe2i8_pKgPI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><b>Friday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>We now have a kid preparing for NEET. And 3 Working from home. And 1 kid who has to entertain himself - all locked up in one house! We need more than Social Distancing so all of us can work / study / play without disturbing one another.</div><div><br></div><div>Morning we rearrange the tables a bit and as the mom works, the boy watches movies on a 15 year old iMac which still works! </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_ca7a_9f49_a37a_42a6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9emDv-Q27MPKeL_eZejZFE1lf_6WiARZXg3KXBWJuLdC415F-jy8KWFMoPVYQuY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>Afternoon we go for Achu’s blood test. He is quite confident now and even has a bet that his count will go up by 1000.</div><div><br></div><div>Results come - it is 58k. We are all much relieved. It was quite a stressful week - with server load, and managing a dengue patient. Phoo!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_688_8a49_8015_196e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/odImV9dJnuYURebMWMrJr-SRbQn8Lb_vdHlIGPH78iO9mcm5n0QmJfSiQt-1-gA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>Sufi is now back to being the tail of her mummy. </div><div><br></div><div>Evening we have a 2nd Team Lead’s meeting - to catch up on what all the teams are doing and strategize.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_6a6c_bff4_529b_5923" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hwqFeXm3HEdM2GfS3q-todEW_Ds0pkOAjQ4wVL981GZq4-5kHkLgyTvSKOs7huE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>My zoom background is the filter coffee photo I took in Saravana Bhavan, Kanchipuram ( <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-0-coronavirus.html" id="id_28eb_ee8e_d179_7ffa">Week 0</a> )</div><div><br></div><div><b>Saturday</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><img id="id_ea6c_f741_6bd4_59ed" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3EQKO3iQER-5NH84UakJPD8enc4fPSa3-qrlh12eGa4qbvA-kdN5bnfrOg8VNUg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5cde_86ab_bc2a_90d6" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/f5T7uyOWMQy0qdcgbpOBQgOF912LzJFYmCdZPy9J6n5yqd2HTHwj0gM8af-OL8A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I redo my setup with double monitors. Psych! <br></span><br><img id="id_3cbb_a349_8b7f_38dc" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/hQEtMMgEF0QEQYRZp7UxQU-F5Y5wMQ6umIjaHFCPxOStyuDmWIAq_k5XBkeWqSY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>San goes shopping and we air the stuff. She gets all “sweet stuff”. </div><div><br></div><div>Achu’s test result comes - 88k. We are officially out of Dengue now.</div><div><br></div><div>I work on Saturday too - and by evening I am mentally drained. A tough week comes to an end! </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-5-coronavirus.html" id="id_8e3a_6c50_9181_3135">Link to Week 5 </a></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-63257112504561662812020-03-29T19:31:00.003+05:302020-04-06T08:25:57.146+05:30Week 3 - Coronavirus<div>
<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-2-coronavirus.html" id="id_cafa_34ea_970f_fc6b">Link to Week 2</a></div>
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Week 3 - March 23rd<br>
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Chaos begins.<br>
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Karnataka Govt by mistake or by plan - leaks the list of 15,000 passengers who had travelled via International Airport. Immediately everyone starts searching for their Apartment name in the list.</div>
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2 from our Apartment Complex are found. And fun starts.</div>
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A stinker message is posted in the forum - there are 2 people and they did not disclose. This is not right. One of them is coming to the terrace to do yoga in the mornings. That apartment’s other members are seen going out. Their maid and cook have gone and worked. Their garbage is being put out.This is wrong. Take it seriously. This is big. Blah blah blah. </div>
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The association washes its hands off - they did not disclose to us.</div>
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I had to step in to put the records straight. Because one of the 2 apartments in the list - one of us was ours. San had returned from Dubai on March 13th. That time they did not tell anything about quarantine. But she thankfully decided to do a self quarantine. Our apartment is on the top floor and terrace is right above us. She climbed the stairs to the terrace and did the yoga there - around 5:00 to 5:30 am. She did not take lift ( obviously - lift service does not run to terrace ), and she did not touch any railings. But perception was set as if she was roaming around - these forum posts are dangerous I tell you! Not posting the not-too-kind messages that started going around. But here was my response. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_50c5_d8e1_2641_6a77" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/b8WgYWY_bOZmTc2jSLx74JhH7zUijZIcqle7leA-7MM8AmVvdNDttPvXfTNIY7c" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
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Morning when San woke up I told her that what was happening in ADDA forum. Read it out to her. She then corrected me on one thing - the Covid task force - she had created it. And the Association members were part of it and they knew very well! Anyway - I didn’t bother to add these 2 facts. [ Here is the account from San's perspective - <a href="https://sandwaves.wordpress.com/2020/03/29/living-through-self-quarantine/">from her blog</a> ]</div>
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People are being treated like his for a healthy quarantine. What happens when someone in our apartment gets contracted with the virus? </div>
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And our Apartment complex is one of the most gentler and peaceful places. Can’t imagine what is happening in other places. Scary indeed.</div>
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My mother who is locked in is getting angry. San - some of her daughter in law genes still work - sensed her uneasiness and said she has to go out. She loves getting groceries and veggies - we have stopped her for almost 2 weeks now and you have to take her.</div>
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Around 3PM I take her out. Make her wear a mask and give strict instruction not to touch anything. The entire layout is deserted. Only the grocery shop was open. And there were lot of people inside. Anyway we go in and most of the stuff is gone.</div>
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We wanted idly rice and it had a hole and it was leaking. Did not pick it - don’t know if the hole was created by a rat or something. There was no more idly rice. Picked couple of Maggi packets. And soup packets. We have 3 kids at home and 3 adults. Got some snacks. Kids had asked for Bounce chocolate - but only 5 star and Kitkat was there. San wanted to eat cake - only the cupcakes were there. I pay with Google pay. The shopkeeper says - I wont give discount. If I pay with card he gives apparently. I wanted to be touchless. Others were still using cards or even cash. Only few were using Google pay or BHIM.</div>
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We then went to the Veggie shop outside the grocery shop. Some 20 people were there inside. I asked my mother to stay outside and picked up stuff and billed it. </div>
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Dropped the stuff in the car. I keep an alcohol based sanitizer in it and we both rubbed it clean. But that teeny weeny virus could still be sticking in any of the packets - or could have been in the shopping cart where the bags were kept. If it has to come it will come and hit us - there is no escaping. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d38d_b4e0_ae07_1574" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_rovAUeuQKlleowYRTMbUcvzOFTGjYgXh_M1Iisqo3Tuo66F3PrlUxx0_tLATyw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Sufi loves the lockdown the most. She goes around getting cuddles.<br></span><br><img id="id_262_66bf_5b6c_b243" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_FkeC1RdctBRHstO-zi_DY4HTWx3vvvi8oXupOs7eVI5bEIjPGqr4BCDxkvXfzg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">She watches if I am working or reading coronovirus news.<br></span><br><img id="id_1286_d8c5_9b8c_c67d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pppNX_f7NaprMKezry2J-f4GTryLOTxaW2QKjqBF_3TAKIyj8kn3T28NYJ2yQg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">She has taken liking to this bean bag.<br></span><br><br></div>
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Amar Chitra Katha has made all their magazines free for one month. Prithvi is having the time of his life.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The new iPad Pro got released - and on the apple website there was an AR feature - we can see how the iPAD Pro looks on your table or home. We were playing with it.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span>Prithvi did a skull, and then made a mess off it. Here is the after picture </div>
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Night 8 PM - Modi again addresses the nation.</div>
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Everyone is predicting lockdown. And so it is - he announces 21 day lockdown. </div>
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This time we watch it from YouTube PM’s channel. Did not want to see Aaj Tak’s underwear Ad.</div>
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<b>Friday,Saturday</b></div>
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We have a busy day. All hands for our company is planned - some 94 employees we have. All of the company is going for a pay cut - the leadership takes 30%. Desperate times, desperate measures. We have decided not to lay off anybody - but we will move people around to other teams.<br>
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Evening the call goes. Its all a bit gloomy.<br>
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Then Achu picks up high fever. Around 103. It had started after lunch time. He was complaining of headache from thursday.<br>
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First thought that came to all our minds is - is he struck by covid? We isolate him in a room, and dig out some paracetemol tablet. He complains of headache, but thankfully no cough or sore throat.<br>
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Saturday morning San installs Apollo app and they have a Q&A in it. We feed in the symptoms - it says this is not Covid but consult a doctor.<br>
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We are worried. While stepping out the security guard asks where you are going? What if we tell Doctor and they all get spooked. Already our flat has become famous ( because of San's quarantine and the police visit to stamp her ).<br>
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We use Apollo app to get an appointment - but none are available - not even online. We call a family doctor friend and she prescribes Calpol 650 MG and asks to take lot of fluids.<br>
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We wait for 2 doses, and by late afternoon - neither the temperature or the headache is reducing for Achu.<br>
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We decide to go to Apollo at Kundalahalli. At the gate, security guard asks - I just tell flat no. and move on before he asks for what?<br>
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Apollo Kundalahalli is deserted. No doctors. We then go to Aayugs in AECS layout. Its deserted, but thankfully there is a doctor. She is in full armour. She is wearing a white glove, and a surgery glove. She is wearing a blue apron. She is fully masked and is wearing a head cap as well. It is as if she is out of a Heart Transplant surgery. Kudos to her. I should not be joking. She is at the highest risk right now of catching covid.<br>
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She advises an injection and a blood test. We get home, and the injection reduces the headache.<br>
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Around 8PM I call and they send me the report. Its Dengue Positive.<br>
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We are relieved and worried at the same time. Its not covid, but dengue.<br>
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The blood platelet count is slightly above 1.5Lakhs. We need to keep it up now. Dengue we can fight.<br>
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I have a vague fear - is this the beginning? I dont know.<br>
<br><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/04/week-4-coronavirus.html" id="id_6f2_b909_784d_9e">Link to Week 4</a><br>
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Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-46529280153194002992020-03-24T08:01:00.001+05:302020-03-29T19:32:35.936+05:30Week 2 - CoronavirusWeek 2 - March 16th<br />
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<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-1-coronavirus.html" id="id_2d1a_548e_a6fc_9793">Link to Week 1</a></div>
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Sunday we announce everyone to work from home and not report to office. Office will still be open to come and collect anything they will need.</div>
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I go to office today and bring my stuff - Decathalon party table which I use as standing desk, my external monitor and keyboard. Also pick up San’s laptop charger. </div>
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I take my mother and son to Star Bazaar. It is closed. Govt has ordered closure of all Malls and movie theatres. Star Bazaar does not qualify as a Mall but still they were closed. We went to Big Bazaar. It was crowded as usual. Saw lot of people wearing masks. I got a doubt, perhaps its not a good idea to bring my mother and son.</div>
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Monday, in my team half had come to office. We do the standup - some online, some physical. Around 11:30 AM I go to office to discuss a few things and also tell my team mates to not come to office from tomorrow. </div>
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Also meet a few from Sales team - they argued cannot work from home, how can we not meet customers. Valid point - but no other choice.</div>
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Tuesday - in Tech we all meet online. Try Zoho Conference, Prime time - and then settle on Zoho meeting. It worked pretty well.</div>
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San meanwhile is still in quarantine. She gives a scare saying she is having headache. I quickly check and its not one of the symptoms of Covid. She is glued to her phone all the time - in umpteen whatsapp groups. All the news we read is also very depressing. And also overdose of facts. She loves plodding through such information overdose. It’s over use of her phone.</div>
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I ask her to stop using phone for a few hours and headache goes off. I don’t let her touch the phone for extended periods of time. Phoo - close call.</div>
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Wednesday morning I feel a bit sore in my throat. Previous night had eaten a guava. Or could be all the news I keep reading. Mind can do wonders. Damn you.</div>
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Feeling went off after a while.</div>
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Work from home is tiring. I keep getting ping after ping - from all the teams. At office also I constantly get pings - but its not this bad - I sometimes go into meetings and I cant be reached that time. Here they all know I am available and pings keep coming.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_9b90_6b5_f24f_aa9c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2wJl-h1XAyuUmXkKaXeQ2de7MaT72o7ZjLxfSXCjLY6JrnJp-pz92X79T9pFPS4" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Had just put this last Friday. Things got overwhelming.</div>
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Prithvi is having the time of his life. First couple of days we let him out - then we realised its a bad idea. Lockdown for him started from Wednesday. He plays this online game - Roblox - with his friends. He chats with them on whatsapp and plays some 5 - 6 hours. Evenings he starts drawing something. </div>
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His mom has hung a thread and has started collecting his artwork.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_8298_ce75_9f74_a231" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9zf6jQuHoGHbiODVeQCpCZYYX4vcmjg_TPS6rG71QLH_QiM_0CvmGPrwnvNqTp8" style="height: auto; width: 757px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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<img alt="" id="id_1771_743f_e080_58f7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/C6yWOF4Ubyr8fLRBUszRGyCEdkcyuFe5vVI7XNXwkfqm7aL6X2-1MDum7lqCJjI" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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On Saturday I setup Xbox - and stop all online games. Prithvi loves Minecraft - its purely offline. We come up with 4 to 7PM game time.</div>
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Rest of the time he listens to music, or reads comics - All Amar Chitra Katha comics are available for 1 month free. </div>
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Prime Minister Modi announces Janatha Curfew on Sunday. It’s a brilliant idea. It might temporarily pause the spread of the virus. 7AM to 10PM. 5PM we have to make lot of noise.</div>
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Sunday we do just that. It is lot of fun at 5pm. I take out my djumbe and beat the hell out of it. I was afraid Sufi will be scared but she was fine. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_c531_e851_e362_46db" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Pt3aKDRkIyRFYYzhRrZoPofam0Ztcf6-giTW3AW2l7wTU57qdPEINddZxeMVW7E" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Modi addressing the nation and Aaj Tak showing a terrible Underwear Ad. Ughh.<br />
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<a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-3-coronavirus.html">Link to Week 3</a></div>
Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-13877470433398279332020-03-22T21:22:00.001+05:302020-03-27T08:38:14.127+05:30Week 1 - Coronavirus<div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-0-coronavirus.html" id="id_f4eb_eec4_e005_ba17">Link to Week 0</a></div><div><br></div>Week 1 - March 9th - things started going south. Fast.<div><br></div><div>First Italy and Iran hit the roof. Case after case started piling up.</div><div><br></div><div>One Italian tourist was quarantined in Jaipur. Along with him the people he came in contact with. Another Indian who travelled from Italy and landed in Delhi - he went around and infected a few.</div><div><br></div><div>I heard murmurs of - oh this is all a conspiracy to quell the CAA protests that are happening. This virus wont come to India. Saw Whatsapp forwards of how this virus does not last in hot weather.</div><div><br></div><div>By Wednesday couple of cases in Karnataka got identified. In Bangalore. Rumour mills were working over time.</div><div><br></div><div>Someone from Dell had tested positive. Some 2606 humans have come in contact - the newspaper said. Wow - we could calculate with so much precision?!</div><div><br></div><div>Thursday schools in Bangalore started closing. Parents wanted schools to close without exams. I was little confused. Just last week I had started the drill of making Prithvi study. He was reading one chapter a day in History. He finds it hardest to memorise the dates, or the family lineage of the Kings.</div><div><br></div><div>I was relieved. Now the drill will be only in September. Phoo!</div><div><br></div><div>Thursday he came home with all his books. His 6th grade was over. Vacation starts now - 3 full months. Or might be more?</div><div><br></div><div>I get a call from one of our investors - as of tonight ( Thursday night 12 mid night ) - all international flights are going to be stopped.</div><div><br></div><div>San had a return booked for Friday. I called her and said you come tonight. Being Bootstrapped all the while - she tried calling the airlines to reschedule the flight. She was going for a meeting and was distracted - said will book later. Had to convince her to let the return flight go but book a new one. Also cleartrip had a message that on cancellation they will refund. Prices hadn’t soared yet. We are still waiting for the refund btw ( Mar 22 ).</div><div><br></div><div>She relented, and booked her for Thursday night. She would land morning 2:30 AM on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>India had banned entry of all Indian borns who are now Foreign nationals. Apparently Indian Citizens would still be let in. San was fine - but now she could work on Friday - otherwise it would have gone in travel.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7124_8d41_a02b_8cee" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yeys7icSC8GEc3zESZyiwWWWs-1nsM4q31NscZDXCD2mghmHRk7M-02hcIXWDUs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br>5 years go, same day we were in a Goa beach. I have this journaling app - Day One - which sends these this day long time ago messages. Wish could go to Goa and sit there in a beach shack right now. Hmmmm..</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, in our tech team we kept debating whether to work from home the next day - Friday - just a trial run to see if our team can work from home. Discussed with a few but many were against it. We were working on couple of releases and lot of interaction was needed.</div><div><br></div><div>I let it go - so tomorrow, Friday we will work as usual.</div><div><br></div><div>Friday, I woke up at 4:00 AM and saw the message from San that she is out and is waiting. I did not want her to take the airport bus - which she typically takes or an Uber. </div><div><br></div><div>During this week read a lot about Social Distancing. There were so many forwards and they clearly explained the importance of not infecting others or being infected - just by keeping away from as many people as possible.</div><div><br></div><div>By traveling by bus - San has the chance of risking infection - what if someone from Italy just sat before her - or if she is infected, she should not spread it in the bus.</div><div><br></div><div>I reached around 6AM, picked her from the curb and we reached back home. She said in airport they did a thorough screening - 2 rounds of checks - they checked her temperature and also enquired where all she has been. She had to fill a form. A week later she will get an automated IVR call to check if she has symptoms. Someone had painstakingly entered all the data - and that too accurately.</div><div><br></div><div>San decided to self quarantine for 2 weeks. </div><div><br></div><div>Our maid and cook decided not to come. Someone advised them that if someone has travelled international the risk of them contracting the virus is higher.</div><div><br></div><div>My mother was a bit upset but we felt that it is practical.</div><div><br></div><div>Saturday we took stock of things. We discussed a lot about the power of social distancing and how it is important for all of us to act responsibly. We called for a meeting of Team Leads and we decided to announce work from home for the coming week.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-2-coronavirus.html" id="id_dcad_6ec0_5599_32a4" target="_self">Link to Week 2</a></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-2130661262873414812020-03-22T19:49:00.001+05:302020-03-27T08:39:47.704+05:30Week 0 - CoronavirusAnd here we are.<div><br></div><div>2020 has just begun.<br><div><br></div><div>Human race experiences another challenge. Nature plays its hand now. A virus has got loose from animals and is now spreading among humans.</div></div><div><br></div><div>What is your move Humans?</div><div><br></div><div>I will be documenting my journey through this phase of my life. I am in Week 2 as I am blogging this - looking back how Week 0 and Week 1 were. [ I am a programmer. Things start at 0 :) ] Not sure how Week 4 and on will be. Historians - you are going to study this phase of Human Civilization - here is the story as it happens from the view point of a Bangalore Bootstrapped Entrepreneur. </div><div><br></div><div>This is my Week 0. Today is Monday, March 2, 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>Friday is Board meeting. San has booked tickets to go to Dubai - she has lined up few meetings. We are debating whether she has to go. She messages some UAE friends and they are saying things are fine. Things are as usual. No cases found.</div><div><br></div><div>We are worried, what if she lands there and she get quarantined and becomes incommunicado? Or when she gets back she gets quarantined. </div><div><br></div><div>San decides to wait and watch.</div><div><br></div><div>Tuesday,Wednesday we keep watching the world slowly turn towards chaos. China things go from bad to worse and they lockdown Wuhan. Iran Italy names are coming in the news.</div><div><br></div><div>Thursday evening its decided that I will visit Chennai - to meet a few strategic customers. I decide to drive down instead of taking the train. </div><div><br></div><div>I start dreaming of doing Shambhavi Maha Mudra (SMM for short ) on the beach. Few weeks back we both had learned Angamardhana - a kind of yoga - and these days in the mornings we go to the terrace around 5:00 AM and we do Angamardhana there.</div><div><br></div><div>Friday morning we both do Angamardhana and SMM on the terrace. On Board meetings we have to handle quite some questions ( topic for another day - perhaps a book someday ) - time ticks to lunch time and meeting is going on. San takes the investors to lunch and she sets me free. Venkat is driving to Chennai for meetings tomorrow she explains. I come home have lunch and take a nap.</div><div><br></div><div>Feel a bit drained, and I hit the road. Download Paula Hawkins, Girl on the Train - and get immersed in it. Forget about the virus or the board meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Morning I wake up and go to Beasant Nagar beach. They are having a rally - its International day of Childhood Cancer. The beach is being cleaned and plogging is happening. </div><div><br></div><div>Sat on the shore and did my SMM. Felt good.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d10b_e857_9b21_a0f3" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IJYafuIomft97XFglmbMc8j-CvT18qMoMJBYHnUa5n7Pw8xYu-in26QWCIeYaNk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a60b_55ac_d589_7439" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XoTw6SUMrg-DZBk9QUFrz10wigSXMO8Who4xI2JEO69FxqpweN-zSA3qQUodTF8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Ploggers.<br></span><br><br><br><img id="id_b11_1adf_30dd_c2e4" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7GPCya-gE7r0lwLrpoIEZVFUywN25bJNJy2LYZo_nLi064Qlq1nSw11iIVUCenQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">A modified tractor to take out trash. Beasant nagar was cleaner than I expected.<br></span><br><img id="id_78d7_9c80_e56c_d4f2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LjoRwa9NAWJ83BuVv_n9061HJ2TlHE2imlW3lZBAkTZrQvesif5WjAevdLSLN2Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>First meeting is at 11:00AM and it goes on till night 8:00 PM - 4 meetings. One of them, the clubhouse is locked down for 2 weeks because of Coronavirus. We sit inside the clubhouse for the meeting. I see some Koreans walking outside.</div><div><br></div><div>Return I had not booked any stay - continue driving towards Bangalore and before Sriperumbudur I find a roadside inn. I see the form with Chinese like characters along with English - I ask them is this Chinese - they say Korean.</div><div><br></div><div>Have a fitful sleep. I typically don’t go for demo meetings and I have exhausted my 2020 quota in one day! I keep running over the meetings - wish I had said this instead of that. Introvertish brain - always keeps overanalysing.</div><div><br></div><div>I try some meditation and doze off close to midnight. Wake up at 5ish and take bathe and go to Kanchipuram. It was just 45 minutes from the place I stayed.</div><div><br></div><div>Go to Ekambareeshwarar temple. Stand in the free Darshan line. I keep thinking - this is not good. We are standing way too close, I keep thinking - perhaps this is not a good idea. Think I stayed in a hotel where Koreans are staying. Am I going to contract the virus? </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_e092_ad63_b9f5_e05f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OK-nx8fOHmQbFZRzOzuAh0vqyufdBJgTBTEzp0Wp8xl41p3ZjmPK_U3yg4aR6bE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5ec3_d9c0_a314_9dac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0pYaqOJ8GDKFe9AimU2ocB9gdHAudNY1tGrIyQDniAPhIPpD7AqJ1eBaxISn8rc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9a05_c699_92ad_d249" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tTXaXEdRWOH4nVxFmHe8z2MYIF4efUmX2JFJVMcneJB9s96vacArjckbXN6sCb4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This was a 3D painting in the hotel I stayed. The camera does not do justice to it - parts of the car are real steel tubes and its blended beautifully.<br></span><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>Later have breakfast at Saravana Bhavan - the first one - historic one. Reach home for lunch</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_a688_6a63_ce50_9860" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/44PYvPsXnTDnkpAV60Z7gfOizc6xNSTEZBlX6iDfSeKMF-zRCP6a1YUSSrgbhPI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2892_1591_8a85_599f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BrnDnBieVMo-uLx-imNoB_1NJStR3qyqipbeD6p_w8IsqBPZbqEN-XnK5b-qGW4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I don’t know going to temples will take me to heaven, but having Saravana Bhavan Breakfast certainly will put me in heaven for some time.<br></span><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile San had reached Dubai - things fine there, and she has got busy.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2020/03/week-1-coronavirus.html" id="id_76c6_7261_5433_8de7">Link to Week 1</a></div><div><br></div>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-3442821392406103112020-01-05T12:28:00.000+05:302020-01-05T12:58:03.864+05:302019 Books Round UpHere is my own Yearly Tradition!<br />
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Every year I start my first blog post on the books I read the previous year. Here is the list from <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.in/2011/01/my-2010-books-roundup.html">2010</a>, <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.in/2012/01/my-2011-books-roundup.html">11</a>, <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.in/2013/01/2012-books-roundup.html">12</a>, <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2014/01/2013-books-roundup.html">13</a>, <a href="https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwi36fG2yvnKAhVQcY4KHfabBnEQFggeMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkvrlogs.blogspot.com%2F2015%2F01%2F2014-books-roundup.html&usg=AFQjCNE42yc54h376AMkcJVqfZSbvbIbzA&sig2=8zKuPPlM2r3mi0B2sYf0lA&cad=rjt">14</a>, <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.in/2016/02/2015-books-roundup.html">15</a>, <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.in/2017/01/2016-books-round-up.html">16</a>, <a href="https://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2018/01/2017-books-round-up.html">17</a>, <a href="http://kvrlogs.blogspot.com/2019/01/2018-books-round-up.html">2018</a><br />
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Here are the books that journeyed with me in 2019<br />
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<h2>
<b>Science Fiction</b></h2>
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<b>1. Dark Age ( #5 of Red Rising Saga )</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1WDiFv4Ih6UVSM5LL7U8PwUO0SA1J1D_cb00xm0ds0VJctnE1xCdshvnotc-29L2lhwU_sfZa-KcJSCBoPm5OewAgprMiT1TBtUntkCFuyZ7Wxch4VXH5qexExULpXi1W2n1/s1600/29226553._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1WDiFv4Ih6UVSM5LL7U8PwUO0SA1J1D_cb00xm0ds0VJctnE1xCdshvnotc-29L2lhwU_sfZa-KcJSCBoPm5OewAgprMiT1TBtUntkCFuyZ7Wxch4VXH5qexExULpXi1W2n1/s320/29226553._SY475_.jpg" width="210" /></a></b></div>
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The first book in the series - Red Rising - I started on a solo drive to Chennai sometime in 2016. The book has a solid platform and interesting characters - everyone's favourite Savero is missing in action in this part. Other characters are developing very well - Lyria for instance and Pax - our Hero's son is evolving too. When I started I had forgotten the plot of Book 4 and took some time to get back to the story. And it gets better and better. There were parts where I had tears while listening. 45 hours on audible. Eagerly waiting for #6.<br />
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<b>2. Endymion (#3 of Hyperion Cantos )</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuruL2mBtDMz2lb8qRmFVww6LQ9fLqjGyHVw92TuyFgOd5h7uVTnVA5ViZTYxDQxyrzWd5xFM-moCykWTcTnCo9AVsRunyelYoWaJDZiOgxvSppPmGpEqU4yTeB1t4zqsKnqK5/s1600/3977.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuruL2mBtDMz2lb8qRmFVww6LQ9fLqjGyHVw92TuyFgOd5h7uVTnVA5ViZTYxDQxyrzWd5xFM-moCykWTcTnCo9AVsRunyelYoWaJDZiOgxvSppPmGpEqU4yTeB1t4zqsKnqK5/s320/3977.jpg" width="194" /></a><br />
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Very enjoyable read. They should make a movie of this so everyone can enjoy the story / plot. The mind game battle between the Commander and the little "messiah" girl was quite interesting.<br />
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<b>Fiction</b></h2>
<b>3. Beartown</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEkC1_eBomkDmf3xktSA7x8UlokKflcbN4h0xmV_hdDzcC7wOdZP5P6CllxsoiLW6QgVC90W0tEutDn_lGmCtDNg1p-GeiSg-GF3wBanZ3X7dj9vQLV7jCgrFGiGnwEG3JItx/s1600/33413128._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEkC1_eBomkDmf3xktSA7x8UlokKflcbN4h0xmV_hdDzcC7wOdZP5P6CllxsoiLW6QgVC90W0tEutDn_lGmCtDNg1p-GeiSg-GF3wBanZ3X7dj9vQLV7jCgrFGiGnwEG3JItx/s320/33413128._SY475_.jpg" width="212" /></a></b><br />
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Sometimes I watch a movie and say - this is like reading a novel. This book is the inverse - while reading it felt as if I am watching a movie.<br />
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I picked this book because I wanted some sports story - sports is the backdrop but there are some very deep character portrayals and plots. The story moves in a steady pace and culminates in a very riveting climax.<br />
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This author has a good style and has flow. Best discovery of 2019 for me.<br />
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<b>4. A Man called Ove</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PGsmYaNSIgJ3iP0nXqlgfc30KW8tTsVrcjObUGv49gdMazDu95JmQg5Mv0Wp-k6E2I6jowyRDmhNMJQ9Xl9Gyjxm6R5FJaqd9qr65QiigU51Np4kLsBNBHshfKDOkbdmsKQ-/s1600/18774964.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PGsmYaNSIgJ3iP0nXqlgfc30KW8tTsVrcjObUGv49gdMazDu95JmQg5Mv0Wp-k6E2I6jowyRDmhNMJQ9Xl9Gyjxm6R5FJaqd9qr65QiigU51Np4kLsBNBHshfKDOkbdmsKQ-/s320/18774964.jpg" width="208" /></a><br />
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After Beartown wanted to read another book from the same author - Fredrik Backman - and picked his best till date.<br />
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It started slowly, Ove trying to commit suicide, and a Persian family moves next door and how he continues being a grumpy old man but becomes the central character around the entire neighbourhood.<br />
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At times it drove me to tears - both with laughter and emotion.<br />
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This is a beautiful book - a masterpiece - in my opinion<br />
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<b>5. The 7 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlrz29g7-XgaLOWB7xvrEfFHG6j8BXO0mDEaKnzN2j5AEpNU8AzZzvqTXcC3gWt7749DfxkWd3UbE3DKxWyTuRXXg8YQqnme46URf8GUaSaUiDdWj0OGd-JVQqNqeY4GbalsU/s1600/36337550.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlrz29g7-XgaLOWB7xvrEfFHG6j8BXO0mDEaKnzN2j5AEpNU8AzZzvqTXcC3gWt7749DfxkWd3UbE3DKxWyTuRXXg8YQqnme46URf8GUaSaUiDdWj0OGd-JVQqNqeY4GbalsU/s320/36337550.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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Every day - in the end Evelyn Hardcastle gets shot and killed. Every day - the narrator is born as one of the inhabitants of that castle. Whatever the narrator does - he cannot stop the murder. The same story gets unravelled from different angles. Till the narrator solves it in the end.<br />
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It's like Agatha Christie got drunk with Sherlock Homes and solved a mystery together.<br />
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This is not for the faint of heart. It is a difficult read - but the joy is in the grind when it comes to tough books<br />
<br />
<b>6. Raavan </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PfIkyjJo34e97Y8SuEfmUod6rN3MMbHqGVIoohpl5BRNsKh92YwIQgQOvsSLmSSQ5FI_F26dcJCqxsCL2So8O9p_h_I9ZLsFqplnN2GvylzFspDHt7kasfiSZrc1CZaVpYwy/s1600/35286872.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PfIkyjJo34e97Y8SuEfmUod6rN3MMbHqGVIoohpl5BRNsKh92YwIQgQOvsSLmSSQ5FI_F26dcJCqxsCL2So8O9p_h_I9ZLsFqplnN2GvylzFspDHt7kasfiSZrc1CZaVpYwy/s320/35286872.jpg" width="209" /></a><br />
<br />
This book was quite dark and was siding towards mild pornography. After Ram and Sita I was expecting a different portrayal of Raavan ( who is this kind misunderstood soul ) - but here Raavan is portrayed as Raavan we all know of. Not sure he did not want to take risk - or - the publishers wanted another best seller - so write how the masses would want.<br />
<br />
Disappointed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Work / Productivity</h2>
<b>7. Delivering Happiness</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5nDs6pvA4sDpQbgy0nVxxo2SvNhyiFi4Goma_jQBYTQQfeUoGrAyv8H2-inlwqMUHwWT5bfjYUi0GkYDFWQu1WqNubeGZ9KpQMGuSiwtSPngpZ2JIXVp3_iT_1EkhKr3_pT5/s1600/19053660.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5nDs6pvA4sDpQbgy0nVxxo2SvNhyiFi4Goma_jQBYTQQfeUoGrAyv8H2-inlwqMUHwWT5bfjYUi0GkYDFWQu1WqNubeGZ9KpQMGuSiwtSPngpZ2JIXVp3_iT_1EkhKr3_pT5/s320/19053660.jpg" width="204" /></a><br />
<br />
Have heard of Zappos on its exemplary customer service. This book gives a good insight into it. Picked some good lessons.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Business Sutra</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpA799JqwQO605Gi9S5aguHLzOdHBPadxDwblDa4LoyWkE0bllZDGXs5_t_bEXv_LRDq_XGW_j63iXX9ZFEnn3nQtmXpcf65OPGk4H586YpVcFQWFwPXF7l9yEpg8YkibKQp6/s1600/17342664.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpA799JqwQO605Gi9S5aguHLzOdHBPadxDwblDa4LoyWkE0bllZDGXs5_t_bEXv_LRDq_XGW_j63iXX9ZFEnn3nQtmXpcf65OPGk4H586YpVcFQWFwPXF7l9yEpg8YkibKQp6/s320/17342664.jpg" width="215" /></a><br />
<br />
Was interesting in the beginning, but got boring towards the middle. He has drawn interesting parallels with Indian Mythology - not sure how much I could use or adapt.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Start with the Why</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamBk2tOWJuFCgJj6_hTAWriVuN-rvAT1RguD4mJjNOLdCDvI4PDZACyAjQMLwB48RJZLLO6vLtP_BaxASe_fr12zjeEJMzMZoNruUKByW-RaHCH5_p6dm-_GYoLEPplObY1I6/s1600/7108725.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamBk2tOWJuFCgJj6_hTAWriVuN-rvAT1RguD4mJjNOLdCDvI4PDZACyAjQMLwB48RJZLLO6vLtP_BaxASe_fr12zjeEJMzMZoNruUKByW-RaHCH5_p6dm-_GYoLEPplObY1I6/s320/7108725.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
<br />
Highly recommend this book. It helped us spell out our company's purpose clearly. Anyone running a startup - the sooner you read this the better it is. The "Why" forms the nucleus - everything else evolves from that<br />
<br />
<b>10. 12 Rules for Life : An Antidote to Chaos</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2yRu22QW6oXIhr1Mj0jOL-0Rgo3FP7Dxu8h7c-JV_FE9sFuEkJ0rFAA3FF_BWktTcPP7MtCPfPFe0dWtLwgnrDaloQIiBpvJu1WVHBegjMBgic0CwEgvpHYzBSCLrBTpo5ds/s1600/30257963.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2yRu22QW6oXIhr1Mj0jOL-0Rgo3FP7Dxu8h7c-JV_FE9sFuEkJ0rFAA3FF_BWktTcPP7MtCPfPFe0dWtLwgnrDaloQIiBpvJu1WVHBegjMBgic0CwEgvpHYzBSCLrBTpo5ds/s320/30257963.jpg" width="212" /></a></b><br />
The author is a Canadian Professor of Clinical Psychology. He had written this quota post ( <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-valuable-things-everyone-should-know/answer/Jordan-B-Peterson">https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-valuable-things-everyone-should-know/answer/Jordan-B-Peterson</a> ) which was quite popular and the book picks 12 of these rules.<br />
<br />
The first chapter is fantastic - why we should stand straight. After that now when I think back do not remember the 11 other rules.<br />
<br />
However, I only remember the essence - it is about creating deep and meaningful relationships - with everyone - your spouse, your parents, your co-workers.<br />
<br />
There is lot of references to Christianity - and I could sense some patterns<br />
<br />
Life is a struggle - and we can make it enjoyable by playing it well.<br />
<br />
Its not an exciting read but would recommend for the lessons it teaches.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Biography</h2>
<br />
<b>11. Swami Vivekananda</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrZZq-ULprhoFUud6FhNCdpqFoR59Ih4S2j3J8pKfO-grLMvwONGk7zTkZtTnZIO0NmeF_85k0lJmL_W6DV5YYDSiFu4pccj-n6ffcqkavMuccRryUIyztbau4FjrYuo1GTVF/s1600/610eodIVWSL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrZZq-ULprhoFUud6FhNCdpqFoR59Ih4S2j3J8pKfO-grLMvwONGk7zTkZtTnZIO0NmeF_85k0lJmL_W6DV5YYDSiFu4pccj-n6ffcqkavMuccRryUIyztbau4FjrYuo1GTVF/s320/610eodIVWSL._SL500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></b><br />
<br />
I bought this in audible, ( even though could have returned ) and sat through it. This one is very boring - like a History book - with too many dates and facts.<br />
<br />
I love visiting Belur Math in Kolkata and was curious about the origins. This book had all the details how Vivekananda established this place.<br />
<br />
I was looking more for a philosophical treatise which sadly this book missed. However did pick up some interesting facts - I thought Vivekananda is from Tamil Nadu - given his popularity in this region. Apparently he was a Bengali but had developed a huge following in Tamil Nadu.<br />
<br />
<b>12. I am Jackie Chan</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhcGDPGydx57wXyTkVrujAlyoWdXJQOIEPWI2IOd4J7ovBBklRbXWNsbMmkr-8B3c2i0Th8mhgHmAns6JDQzHS7n_fhaLQxTG9qeOtnWpu8AwIZKKym-q-B47UeETn5HkImwn/s1600/370152.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhcGDPGydx57wXyTkVrujAlyoWdXJQOIEPWI2IOd4J7ovBBklRbXWNsbMmkr-8B3c2i0Th8mhgHmAns6JDQzHS7n_fhaLQxTG9qeOtnWpu8AwIZKKym-q-B47UeETn5HkImwn/s320/370152.jpg" width="191" /></a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
I loved this one. The first movie of his I saw was Armour of the Gods ( or was it Police Story? don't remember correctly ) and I will never miss any of his films.<br />
<br />
His early childhood ( which was quite miserable ) and how he became a star after multiple failures - and how he recovered from a spoilt rich star - love this personality even more.<br />
<br />
<h2>
<b>Spiritual</b></h2>
<b>13. Inner Engineering by Sadhguru</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB4xzlO0ur1ZR6XGCdo14L45bSkk-hCeRsxAHk7rROiGbL4K2fgHXgj235UZzcT4xbUiF9TcbDbHHFr4q10agD7X8DhjNuL637_t7hC9CZ5EKL2LxZe_k0Ncxcs89_L5uIqS_/s1600/29513878._SX318_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB4xzlO0ur1ZR6XGCdo14L45bSkk-hCeRsxAHk7rROiGbL4K2fgHXgj235UZzcT4xbUiF9TcbDbHHFr4q10agD7X8DhjNuL637_t7hC9CZ5EKL2LxZe_k0Ncxcs89_L5uIqS_/s320/29513878._SX318_.jpg" width="217" /></a><br />
<br />
Even if you don't believe in Guru's or God - you should read it. It questions some beliefs and shines some light on the power we Humans have - and how we are wasting it in petty things and not going for Greater Glory.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Mystery of Death by Swami Abhedananda</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhP63RHmxiZYUUNbn1pJyKKVN8LBO_rQxmHQLNhhw9sOgBN4akqtfJgZ967HVsTyqhBCgAeG8DtnXghTs9kJbi1VDNM95HIGxShHCYKwBivYlk3YztGf432FJ6t_kOG9nTBwl/s1600/6869762.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhP63RHmxiZYUUNbn1pJyKKVN8LBO_rQxmHQLNhhw9sOgBN4akqtfJgZ967HVsTyqhBCgAeG8DtnXghTs9kJbi1VDNM95HIGxShHCYKwBivYlk3YztGf432FJ6t_kOG9nTBwl/s400/6869762.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
The entire book is the interpretation of conversation between Yama Dharmaraja - the God of Death - and Nachiketa - a smart young man. The more books I read on Spirituality - the mind starts seeing some patterns repeating in all these - be it Hinduism, Chirstianity, Buddhism... I am yet to read Koran or Islamic discourses - in my todo for this year.<br />
<br />
<b>15. The Secret of Secrets - by Osho</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HhT7lna_5U71viEZ3mSVLi9VTXNbhyC25GWfqDpY888gwwBz9DSBLJRFoWSPETBZRQFmAUpWDl-5-7Rf53U9K7JutSC9ms2cHL_BjJ7MckC-9T8CvlCjNPqR12vTAyCrXrQX/s1600/35381182._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HhT7lna_5U71viEZ3mSVLi9VTXNbhyC25GWfqDpY888gwwBz9DSBLJRFoWSPETBZRQFmAUpWDl-5-7Rf53U9K7JutSC9ms2cHL_BjJ7MckC-9T8CvlCjNPqR12vTAyCrXrQX/s320/35381182._SY475_.jpg" width="209" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
This is an audio compilation of Osho's talks. His discourse derives from Tao and Buddhism. He makes controversial remarks - if one can ignore it - one can appreciate his philosophy. This is some 50+ Hours. I am half way through - I turn this on now and then. Will sail through 2020 also with this.<br />
<h2>
Comics</h2>
<div>
<b>16. Safe Area Gorazde by Joe Sacco</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v08dYx0jzKWtswHd5M7x5lfJsbxXeXd36A72aF9YKj9TnCRYw1iakYqBa_hL_ocXvSkSLVNx6uHWOvC5VaecZqF-oTA8kpkduoturZ9LNa3OTlA3Ai6zMEbJlGzJQUTw9UVo/s1600/82861.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v08dYx0jzKWtswHd5M7x5lfJsbxXeXd36A72aF9YKj9TnCRYw1iakYqBa_hL_ocXvSkSLVNx6uHWOvC5VaecZqF-oTA8kpkduoturZ9LNa3OTlA3Ai6zMEbJlGzJQUTw9UVo/s320/82861.jpg" width="233" /></a><br />
<br />
Riveting. I thought Comics was only for children, or adult children who dreamt of super heroes. Did not know this can be used effectively to portray the Croatia-Serbia conflict. How this little piece of land got cut off and how their inhabitants struggled for years. It will make one sad and wonder why? Want to some day visit this place - hopefully it turns peaceful. Many times we read about car bombs going off or genocide happening - I really feel sad for the people going through this. The world depresses me.<br />
<br />
Ciao.</div>
Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-30276883442228390322019-12-19T08:05:00.001+05:302019-12-19T08:20:04.914+05:30Welcome Failure. Work towards a glorious failureI got this video forward on Whatsapp - by a Teacher giving advise to her kids - might be on graduation or a reunion. It was in Tamil.<br />
<br />
Here is the gist of her talk which resonated with me.<br />
<br />
"I wish you lot of problems. Life is not easy. I wish you failures. You might wonder how come I am wishing you failure. There is a reason.<br />
<br />
Success does not teach you anything. Success puts you in a drunken state and you will settle for less.<br />
<br />
Failures will keep pushing you forward.<br />
<br />
Go after a bigger challenge. Bigger competitor.<br />
<br />
You should fight big and fail. It is ok if you do not get the Trophy at the end but you should have fought hard."<br />
<br />
I totally agree with her.<br />
<br />
If I brand myself a failure and say I keep searching for bigger and bigger battles to fail - how awesome it will be.<br />
<br />
I have seen this from people with early success in life - the toppers from colleges.They do not take risks as they are afraid to fail. They are not ready to take a cut on their salary to work on a challenging project. Instead they are stuck at their current job - being paid well - but a boring job.<br />
<br />
If you brand yourself as a failure, then there is no pressure in failing. This sets you free to go after risky battles.<br />
<br />
Want to enter a territory with your product where you are going to be killed. So be it - give a fight. What if you survive?<br />
<br />
Want to release a crazy feature which you believe will give 10x productivity - and only some customers will love, but majority might reject. So be it - build it. What if it becomes mainstream and majority would start using it?<br />
<br />
Fight risky battles with no pressure of becoming a success. Then your focus is on fighting the battle and not the outcome. The outcome will come on how good you fight the battle - not by pressurising yourself that you want success.<br />
<br />
It is a mind shift.<br />
<br />
It is like a negative feedback. In control systems Negative feedback is what makes the system stable. Positive feedback makes it race and runs towards instability quickly.<br />
<br />
Failure is like the Negative feedback. Success is like the Positive feedback.<br />
<br />
If we can embrace failure - it is similar to negative feedback. It ensures stability. It will help us in focusing better on the problem and working on it.<br />
<br />
If our end goal has to be success - we will not take the risks that are needed sometimes. It will put undue pressure on ourselves.<br />
<br />
I embrace you failure.<br />
<br />
Now I go conquer the world or might fail spectacularly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-51504501622430590182019-02-27T22:30:00.001+05:302019-02-27T22:30:50.557+05:30IDLee Takes a look at Bikers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-1989779262814699662019-02-12T08:12:00.001+05:302019-02-12T21:08:47.637+05:30Thank you AR Rahman<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We were watching one of the live performances of Hotel California on YouTube. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The boy was with me and we were seeing the crowd go crazy.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>Being a responsible Dad have to use every opportunity to show him the path. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I told him, “I want you to be a great guitarist or musician and form a band like the Eagles. But on one condition.”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He asked what.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.1px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I said, “If you become a star, you are not supposed to get into drugs and commit suicide - because most musicians cannot handle the fame and fans and do stupid things.”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pat comes the reply - “Nana, But not AR Rahman. I will be like AR Rahman.”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thank you AR Rahman. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p> Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-26969712453499973052019-02-03T22:41:00.001+05:302019-02-04T08:16:53.732+05:30Birth of IDLee<img id="id_5721_d2f6_bdeb_27c7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RgMfWBco8Ic/XFenm014OAI/AAAAAAAAkVc/m_DhqiqDYlo0BTNKUDp4r2GEOJ_cqfY3QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_fb85_20f9_a56b_613a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MS67zaNuu4A/XFcgqJnYosI/AAAAAAAAkUY/V0A_hfjTuOE6s6aQjdop0rzTLMAeuv4fQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_f9d6_7eea_f8f4_325" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EnIIaAP0vJ8/XFcgqg6rMYI/AAAAAAAAkUc/YYiA7aZ4cgE2UPtBPofJ1V2QGCim9fKzgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_13aa_3561_6ba5_79e9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xKNR1PqpKF8/XFemx4HXmcI/AAAAAAAAkVE/jKKbmem9Rz4kghwPSeGFe10rV2telwk_wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_301b_1c02_dd6a_4b0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-foTi81qrm38/XFemy6pUPmI/AAAAAAAAkVI/93q-whsZo_0m8NgEu4_dSCksWmHRJbIBACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_139b_93c4_45a7_96c0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4-AHFE01UA4/XFemzYGkeOI/AAAAAAAAkVM/wIC-Tz5co8UO1Y-FJLdly25ZvN4F-OvVACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712047.post-84922451106508586982019-02-02T19:17:00.000+05:302019-02-02T19:32:49.981+05:30Sikkim Tugs My HeartOur vacation revolves around school vacations. Last October 2018 during Dussehra I had planned a trip to Darjeeling. Booked tickets but people discouraged saying Darjeeling is over crowded and has lost its charm.<br />
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So changed plan to Sikkim and re-booked rooms in Gangtok ( pro tip : Agoda allows free of cost cancellation upto a certain point ).<br />
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Took Yeshwantpur-Howrah Duronto Express. Love long train journeys. Can sleep as much as you want and read as much as you want. I had off-lined a few movies in Prime - and family were entertained. I saw Dhalapathi with San - after 26 years - what a kick-ass movie. Last time I saw Dhalapthi was in my 10th standard summer holidays - a 2nd show that too in a movie theatre near Railway station. To kill time because we were to board the Cochin-Howrah express at 3:00 AM in Coimbatore. We were going to Cuttack, Orissa. The Howrah Connection!<br />
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Started Sunday 11:00 AM Bangalore. Reached Monday 5:00 PM Howrah.<br />
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We took a break. There are lot of trains to NJP - New Jalpaiguri. Could have booked a train for 8:00PM but we have a 60+ Young lady and a 10ish Old man.<br />
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Took the train Tuesday evening 5:00 PM. It was going to Assam, we got down at Jalpaiguri Wednesday 6:00 AM. Brushed teeth and we get out of the station.<br />
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There is a Pre-paid Taxi stand. Best is to go via this - there are lot of these Mahindra and Tata Sumo. They charge around 250 or 300 per head. It takes 4 - 6 hours to reach Gangtok from here by road. Entire way the beautiful greenish Theesta river accompanies you. Lovely site.<br />
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We break for breakfast on one of the road side dhabas. Momos are there everywhere. They have a healthy vegetarian offering called Thakkali thaali.<br />
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There is a simple alternative now - if you are short of time can take a flight directly to Gangtok - a new Airport is opened now. Otherwise on Train + Road it takes 2 nights and 2.5 days from Bangalore.<br />
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Notice the folded 10Rs. note - all cars have this!</div>
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Thakkali Thaali</div>
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At border they check for Indian identity. Foreigners are not welcome in this state. They have to register separately and more paper work for them. </div>
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This is nothing for Bangaloreans. Last few kms took more than an hour. </div>
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<b>Day 1 :</b><br />
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Immediately after checking in - via the hotel - gave aadhar copy, passport size photos for registration. This has to be done before 4PM - so they can get a pass for visiting Nathula Pass ( India-China Border ). Also one day of the week this is closed. Please check before making travel arrangements.<br />
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<b>Mahatma Gandhi Chowk.</b>Vehicle free street. Lot of shops and eateries and trinket shops. Nice place to hang out. The place looked so good they could have held a concert there. Then I later found - public speakers are banned in this state. Sikkim is unique in many ways. Kept uncovering interesting facts about this wonderful state.<br />
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No Vehicles for almost a km section. </div>
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This is towards one end - half the road is for Pedestrians. </div>
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<b>Day 2 : </b><br />
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We had to leave around 7:00ish. There is a ban on SUV kind of commercial vehicles from entering Gangtok during office hours - Being the capital + tourist place - it is seriously messed up.<br />
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There is a package. Nathula Pass, Baba Mandir and Tsongpo lake. Will be a full day.<br />
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Amit - our driver cum tour guide. These guys listen to Bollywood songs. We had a blast. Also Amit arranged for Jackets and gloves on rent for Rs.100 each.. so need not pack heavy duty stuff. These operators make some extra money on the side.</div>
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These trucks are from China. Trade happens via this pass. </div>
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The border. There is a treacherous( explained below ) walk + steps to the top </div>
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<b>Treacherous walk. </b>The altitude is (only) 14k Feet. [ Mt.Everest is 29k. Hence the only] The air is very thin. Since we were comfortably cruising in the car body did not adapt itself. So even if you take a few steps briskly Oxygen doesn't refill quickly and you will get dizzy. Have to walk slowly and take deep breathes. Was weird at first. </div>
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Photos are banned at the top. We can see the checkpost and Chinese guards on the other side. Indian side has lot of paintings bragging about our deep cultural heritage. Chinese was very bare bones. Also there were no Chinese tourists. Developed new respect for our Armed forces. They had to be here in such an inhospitable climate. I shuddered thinking of Siachen. </div>
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Airtel does not work here. Only BSNL works. Note to self - Have to get a BSNL SIM card for travels. Has better coverage in remote locations. </div>
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Also my phone connected to Chinese Network and picked its Time. It is 2.5 hours ahead of us. Interesting fact - China does not have timezone! How do they manage?! </div>
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These 2 nut cases were from Jharkand. My kind of guys. Have to pull this off someday. We started making plans how to do a ride in our bikes. Fire lit in our hearts.<br />
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<b>Baba Mandir</b><br />
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There is an interesting story of an enlightened Jawan. How this Jawan died in a water accident, he came in a dream of his friend and told the exact location to find his body. This shrine is in his honour.<br />
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Highlight here is at 12noon they play National Anthem and we all can sing together. San started crying here. It was an emotional moment.<br />
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<b>Tsongpo Lake</b><br />
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It was just after 2pm and mist started enveloping the mountains.<br />
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Those Black Rocks are Yaks.</div>
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<b>Day 3 : </b><br />
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You can stop any small taxi ( Santos or altos ) and they will give you a 7point package for Rs.1000 for half a day. We decided to visit 2 places in the package - wanted to drink Sikkim deep. <br />
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<b>Ranka Monastery</b><br />
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It is not one of the famous monasteries. Picked this because this was uphill ( downhill if we go then we had to spend 1 hour to enter Gangtok on the way back).<br />
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It was totally deserted. Had green tea in a cafeteria inside the monastery compounds near parking. Richard Gere, Aamir Khan - lot of celebrities have visited this place. Also they were serving Chicken moms - What Sacrilege!?<br />
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I did not take pictures in their sanctum. No one was there, I just opened the main door and walked in. It was like in some KungFu movies. Sat and meditated and studied all their paintings and the Beautiful Buddha statue and so many Gods ( later found out who they are all - another blog post ). It was a moment I will never forget - it was so quiet and magical.<br />
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It started raining today. Was thinking of the Jawans at Nathula pass.</div>
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There is a large Prayer Wheel in the middle</div>
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Next stop was the waterfall. <b>Banjhakari waterfalls</b><br />
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The climb to the falls is well setup with Gazebos, and statues etc. The waterfall was a little disappointment - as it is little - but the entire walk was well made. We had lot of fun at the falls too - it was like walking in a Japanese Movie Set.<br />
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Got back, had a late lazy lunch and then took the Ropeway that runs across Gangtok.<br />
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Next day we returned to Siliguri, over night bus to Kolkatta.<br />
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While researching on Sikkim found that the Northern part of Sikkim is untouched. The place where Teestha originates is a site to behold.<br />
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Sikkimese are very kind and loving people. They speak with a smile and are very courteous. There is no fleecing in the taxis or the shops. There is a kind of gentle peacefulness in this place. There were absolutely no foreigners. All prices are moderate and not inflated like in other Touristy places.<br />
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I sound like I am marketing but found a totally different state of mind among Sikkimese. <br />
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Also I saw lot of posters for an Organic state. They are banning pesticides throughout the state.<br />
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My kind of place.<br />
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Will be visiting again definitely. Not done with this cute little state of ours. Might even live here for a few years - who knows!<br />
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<br />Venkat Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03284408859862840095noreply@blogger.com0