The Saturdays and the Routine!!!

Its been a long time since I wrote something..just like any other blogger, I too feel the uncomfort  and botheration of whether someone would be reading the posts that I keep on bumping off..

Anyways, right now I m trying to figure out what catches on to my head on a Saturday, its as if I m a totally different person on Saturdays, I do things, that aren’t meant to be done by me. I visit places, which I guess I wont be visiting on normal days (its not that they are bad places or hell or anything, they just differ from the normal waterholes I m used to). Even this Saturday I did something maiden, which I don’t think I would have had the guts to do on normal days. That’s me, cannot explain why all that happens to me.

Okay, in other things, there’s lotsa things happening with life and it seems to me as if I m standing at such stage of life, where I can make or break myself and the people surrounding me. That had been the case, when I was studying in my high school and that was even the case in my college. Well, I dint make great decisions in my high school or dint do anything in my college as well to correct the mistakes of my high school. At this point of time, the only thing that comes to my mind and the folks whom I can pinpoint to for some of my lewd decisions have to be my teachers and even me myself. Ours was a pretty bland school, which paid more of an attention to the disciplinary side and making students independent (I m actually grateful to them for all that stuff), but they couldn’t provide anything worthwhile in terms of career planning or the career growth of their students. The school was too new at that point of time and I sincerely hope that they have improved and have a career placement cell or something to lead their students. For the uninitiated, my school was called Maharaja Agrasen Vidhyalaya.

Well the reason for my current blabber is a movie called Revolutionary Road, staring Leonardo Dicapario and Kate Winslet. I wont say that it’s a great movie, going by what people have reviewed, but its worth a watch. Any one going thru a mid-career crisis and pressures should watch it. Well it does turn out to be tedious and engrossing at the end and I actually thought that the director had lost his way and couldn’t find a way to end it. Anyways that’s of the end, but thru the mid of the movie, its great and I could actually equate my situation with what Frank (Leonardo) was going thru.

In other other things happening in the world, my boozing has stopped to a minimal beer bottle on Saturdays or two depending on my pocket and the company I have. And in personal life, I cant determine, whether I hate her or love her more, but then I console myself saying that this may be the part of the self imposed de-addiction that I m taking to forget her , but its far from over and I m miles away from forgetting her. damn….

The week has just started and its gonna be a very small week, true for the next week as well as its Easter. I haven’t planned on going any place as yet, but there was a plan for Murchison Falls, but it hasn’t materialized (as of Saturday) coz we couldn’t get room bookings at such a small notice and some of the group member (about 16 of us planned) had a change of mind of sorts when they heard about the planned expenses, roughly about Uganda Shillings 600,000 (US$ 320), well it does seem to be on the higher side, but Murchison Falls and game ride should be worth it.

That seems to be all of my talks for the moment, would write again next week to inform what I did with the pathetically huge weekend (yeah I hate holidays except if I m going to India in holidays, which is not the case on Easter!!)

Cheers

Santosh

The Update and How to impress a man and woman!!!!

I have been on a sabatical of two weeks or so..

I dont have any reasonable reason to write of why I m not blogging.

I have been reading people post and enjoing that element of the blogging.

Yesterday, I was going through some of my old back up cds and interestingly I came up with this. It isnt my own creation, I m not even remotely capable of coming up with stuffs like the ones listed below. When I used to work at IIMA, somehow, I got access this sharing platform, where I could go into the network drives of the students. It was an unexpected bonus, as the students had lots of good stuffs posted on their network (inclusive of latest english movies, latest e-books, pornos and many other interesting stuffs). The point here being that I got many interesting tidbits and while its has been over 2.5 yrs tat I quit tat place, the things I put on my back-up cds are still relevant.

Below is an example of the same:

HOW TO IMPRESS A WOMEN 

COMPLIMENT HER,

RESPECT HER,

HONOUR HER,

CUDDLE HER,

KISS HER,

CARESS HER,

LOVE HER,

STROKE HER,

TEASE HER,

COMFORT HER,

PROTECT HER,

HUG HER,

HOLD HER,

SPEND MONEY ON HER,

WINE AND DINE HER,

BUY THINGS FOR HER,

LISTEN TO HER,

CARE FOR HER,

STAND BY HER,

SUPPORT HER,

HOLD HER,

GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH FOR HER,

HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN

 SHOW UP NAKED,

BRING FOOD

Isnt it jst amazing...It may not be genuinely written by me, but even then its fun to read....more of such amazing stuff to come in the later posts!!!!

Who would cry when you die?

Quite an unusual title for a blogrite of a alive and very much kicking person. Well I m compelled to write it. Oh for that matter a dead person cant be writing a blog. Anyways 23^rd morning, Monday, first day of the week, first thing I see outside my office is a speeding matatu knocking off a lady. The lady is flung about a 6 feet screaming out. A very sad start to the week. Very sadly, the lady couldn’t move even a bit. A hit and run case but then some good Samaritan ran after the matatu and brought him to the spot of accident. I was in total shock but then we can do anything.

Cut back to my journey to Jinja (about 100 km frm here), the same day. There’s this conversation with my driver, lets call him ‘M’ regarding the same. The talk is put in exact same way as it went through:

Me: I saw an accident very deadly near our office. I think the lady wont survive.

Driver M: It is God’s wish

Me: But the vehicle hit her at a very high speed and it is a LIFE. It would be bad if she doesn’t survive.

Driver M: If God had wished her to die, she would die. If God had plans for her then she would had died even after being hit at a very low speed as well.

Me: Wow, you don’t care for a life or what!! Due to some other person’s mistake she would lose her life. Ok even if its not about her own life, what about the persons who were dependent on her. She could have been supporting a whole lot of people, who in turn would turn destitute due to her death.

Driver M: God will look after then.

Me: will God feed them and give them clothing and other necessities as well?

Driver M: Yes he will.

Me: What have those people at the mosque thought u up (he is a Moslem). One has to feed ourselves, one cannot depend on God for everything, otherwise we will starve to death. We should have belief in God but never put everything on Him.

Driver M: You know what I lost my father at the age of 2 and God helped me survive.

Me: Its not about how you survived. Its about the pains that your mother took in growing u up. You can say that God helped you live out but you cant leave everything on God only.

That conversation ends there. He is quiet and I didn’t say anything more. I had such discussions with him many a times.

My driver is a Muslim. No I don’t have anything against muslims. I got many muslim friends out there in India. I had a very close Muslim friend, with whom I used to share food and many a thoughts as well. But then this type of dependence and putting everything that’s ill on God, is something which I have not seen in them or there. Its only here that I have seen this. I had this debate about God and things etc. may a times with my driver, but then stopped short of having a fight with him because of the fear of being bashed up. Hehhehehehe… he seems stronger than me. Lol

In other things, Govt. calls for a scheme of health insurance. Good thought, if action taken in good faith. But then workers declined to take in the scheme. For their part they are also correct, 4% of salary for me wont be nothing as I can call myself pretty well to do. But for an average Ugandan, who earns like 300,000 – 400,000 (USD 150-200), it would be a big amount (well for that matter earning USD 200 is a big amount in India as well, for me as well, but that fact requires a different post and entry). Couple all this to the 10-15% which they tend to put into a hole called NSSF (Social Security) and then again cant withdraw that amount or take a loan on that amount and then again something like Temangalo happens, it feels bad (for anyone).

Lastly some food for thought, I thought about it many times, you too do so.

I had read somewhere that in Uganda, for Ministry of Health, the four wheel drive Land Cruiser Vehicles outnumber Ambulance by a ratio of about 20:1. i.e. 20 LCVs for each ambulance. If you don’t believe me then check out any Govt. vehicle with a M after the number plate and then tell me how many of them are Land Cruisers and how many of them are Ambulances!!!!

Cheers and have a great week ahead!!!

Santosh

Saturday, the 7th of Feb and UGANDA m here to stayyy!!!

Saturday night, and at doldrums. Had food at Temple (yeah as a tribute to God, I will never forget the food I m having, I totally thank God for that) and didnt want to had back home and sleep (waste) the saturday off. So headed to Rock to get my roomie. Found him engrossed into dancing and singing there, thus ensuring that I sat ther and watched a perfect Liverpool vs Porthsmouth weekend EPL Match, as Liverpool was losing and me being a eternal Goonner was loving it. Then the unprecedented happened, that in the 85th minute bloody Reds got away from a 2-1 defeat to a 3-2 win. Bloody how can that happen!!! was totally disraught, keeping in mind that Gunners are at the 5th place (damn). 

Well, I actually dont like Rock as its too crowded with Indians and the place isnt what it used to be in the early 2008s (thats what the old veterans tell here). So headed off to some other place. I particularly couldnt think of any specific place, so headed off to The Venue@ Garden City. Boy, wow is the place, I loved it, economical place to have a couple of beers without being disturbed. So lets come to the real reason why I am writing this entry. 

The Venue had seemed to me a place popular with youth, mostly collegians and also a place that I regarded was alien to me. Yep I was correct with the first presumption and wrong with the second, I loved the place. I had a beer and was about to walk off when a group of youngsters walked in and turned the place lively wiht all the energy and dancesteps that they brought in with them. I waited and enjoyed the group, had two more beers. Wow the energy they have. They danced, they frollicked, took pics and damn made me miss my youth. Its not that I m as old as hell, m still in my 20s. The grouping, the late nights, the all nite outings, the booze, the smoke, the dance.

One thing that I would try to do is head back to college. Stay in a hostel, study, flunk and LIVE LIFE. I had thought and said about it time and again this two years I spent in Uganda.

Lastly, but never the least I have finally got a word on my increment-payhike. But its still under suspense, as I m not sure if I should accept 25% or 50% hike. But by the time I m typing this out, I have accepted a 38% hike. hehehe. m loving it, absolutely loving it.

KAMPALA,  UGANDA - m here to stay....

NOTE: ALL THE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT ANSWER HAVE COME TO ME IN THE LAST WEEK!!!! SO I WILL CHERISH THE 6TH AND 7TH WEEK OF 2009!!!! 

cheers, absolutely full cheers

santosh

My musing the post stuff...read it to understand the heading!!

Note: was to be published yesterday night but due to my current temperory situation of unavailability of resources, I couldnt do it, and this post effectively puts through my condition last night...nevertheless let me enjoi!!!

I am absolutely drunk and drunk on two NILES, thats the worst way to get drunk. Its a monumental time for me. Its actually fucking cool and mindboggling to have a first, its the first time ya mind me first time someone has rejected my phonecall, but again there always has to be a first to everything. And as I said in a previous entry, I dont bloody care if anyone reads this entry or not, its for me and only me. I just live for myself, the egoistic, self centric me is back to the fore, anyone likes it or not. I wont say that its the first time I fell for someone but I would perfectly say that its the first time I seriously thought that I could be spending a life wid someone. Well my thoughts are blabbering as I m absolutely drunk, but then its time to rejoice also as I had the most perfect statement of rejection.

At least now the mind doesnt waver back to the same distraction again and again. Atleast the bloody heart doesnt go back to the same heart as yesterday. I aleast got a bloody answer to my years of contemplation, misendeavours, misunderstandings and misthoughts (years wud be bit of a overstatement, but who care, i dont!!).

As I wrote earlier, I cant publish this post, coz I m a living hell, I dont have a home of my own, I m living in a paying guest accom, which absolutely sucks, but then who cares, I dont, do you!!!, but then its good actually, it will allow me to save some more pennies which I could safely utilize towards my dream house and the EGYPT trip. I m damn going on that trip and cruise that accompanies it. Whatever the bloody cost is!! and m also going to get married in that dream house, again whatever the bloody cost is gonna be!!! 

I will check this notes 2 years down the line and no doubt will cherish what I did and wrote today. Falling in love isnt a crime right? Its a perfectly beautiful thing to do . A very enriching experience, but what's bad is letting it turn into an obsession. Thinking what the world would think about it. I perfectly adore my sister for what she did. She bloody married a person of her choice from a different community and background and I would surely salute her for that and will do it all my life. Why did I get her guts, bloody me. But then, I take solace thinking that whatever happens, will happen for good, as good as gold or even better as diamond.

As one of my closest friend said, "I dont regret what I did, I just regret that I dont have any control over what others do or did." Absolutely loved it throughout. A perfect statement to end a blog I have been longing to write..

m cheering now

cheers

santosh

The Latest Win and the Latest CRUSH!!!

And WE won the CECAFA Football Cup.....wow for a change we beat Kenya in some sport or rather some activity... (Not intended to be derogatory, coz Uganda is too weak in cricket to beat Kenya). 

We defeated the Kenyans hands and foots and everything else down. Though I didnt watch it coz it was on weekday. I loved to hear about it. LONG LIVE UGANDAN FOOTBALL AND KEEP WINNING, Next time, we will qualify for the African Nations Finals and if God wishes even the WORLD CUP (2015 atleast!!)

Anyways, theres' this beauty working in CB, whom I have seen in CB and who lives just the next door to my office, she happens to be my latest crush. She is such a beauty that today morning when I saw her I felt like heaven on earth. I m totally out for her, utterly butterly done in for her. And to complicate things for me, she even looks South Indian, wow. And as a bit of Indianness is still left in me, I will refrain from asking her anything or doing anything. damn, I m so inane.

Well thats a lost cause (at least it seems to me, as I m the only one who seems to have noticed her and like my former crushing crushes, I m sure about the results!!!).

In other things, Mengo region is fun to live in. The house is on top of a hill and the breeze is absolutely awesome. The morning are cold, the evenings are also cooler, it hasnt rained yet but then I m loving it with my whole heart. Coupled with all this, at night you can see the whole of Kampala from the side of the house. Isnt it amazing. This city is blessed from the palm of God. I m hoping against hope that I dont leave this city (but then all that depends on destiny and I m a Destiny's Child (;D)

That seems to sum up my mid week post.

cheers and waiting for the weekend (though this weekend would be pretty bland, coz frnds arent arnd...damn)

santosh

A later Happy New Year to all

Happy New Year to ya all people.

Its a bit late wish, but its better late than never.

So whats new in the New Year, except for the fact that I broke the new year resolutions the very night of 31st.

We were at Nawab Restaurant, which hadnt been my first choice for the 31st eve. We did regret the decision, due to the fact that it had a buffet system of food and the crowd was unbearable, all this coupled with the price tag of abt UGX 30,000/-. But then as the night progressed and the crowd wanned, it became more and more fanfare. Nawab as always has been good in the matter of food, so we didnt have to worry about that. For the first time we tried mutton there and it was mindblowingly good. The masala and the marrination was perfect (atleast when it was hot) and it did make a great bitting for the beers. Only sad thing is that Moonberg is not available in most of the restaurants here. May be they have to do something about their network.

The new year has been eventful. After a tough and very dull month of December in which surprisingly we worked for only about a 15 odd days only(due to this and the credit crunch and all the other blah blah, the sales were at an all time low for the year), January has brought a whiff of life into business. Sales has been not particularly bad, to say the least. It has picked up very well and nicely, though at a slow pace, but then something is better than nothing.

Now the new year resolutions, I had resolved not booze much, which I broke the very next day and had it for like a week continously on and off. But then now, its reduced to a large extent. The change of residence has a lot to do with it. The old gang of guys had nothing else to do other than booze together (well even now i dont have much to do, but then m not boozing as well).

In other news Warid had this ka greatest scheme I have seen in Uganda, they were giving 100% free bonus airtime on whatever you load. That made me reactivate my Warid Line again and dump the Uganda Telecom line as my secondary line (Sorry UTL, you have been my first line, I will always cherish that). So the scheme saw my phone having a loaded airtime today of about UGX 37982, thats like the highest I m having in my lifetime on a prepaid line. Its like 1000 INRs that is wow. But then Warid scheme is due to end in 3 dyas, so I hoarded as much as 37982 UGX and when you include it with the 30000 that I got as bonus, it makes it a whooping 67892 in my account, isnt that wowww...yes it is.

And ya the new year started off quite well in terms of personal life as well, I got (atleast for now) a permanent house to live in, even though its a pg accomodation. Then I as told before I have reduced on the alcohol intake by a huge margin, then again I stopped just minutes close of proposing to someone and then regretting it very next moment. Well donno why m I getting into this. Neways, new year has been again and again as good as it gets, and hope it remains the same way for the rest of the year.

cheers

santosh