Cogito ergo sum http://adityakandala.com Let there be light posterous.com Wed, 23 May 2012 09:26:07 -0700 Hong Kong Diary - Cars http://adityakandala.com/hong-kong-diary-cars http://adityakandala.com/hong-kong-diary-cars
Taxi

Well, it had to be about cars didn't it? I had to rant and rave about them.

I will not go hyperbole on how I keep turning my head at every street corner virtually every 3 minutes. But I do.

Given the fact that housing itself is expensive here, parking is even more so. This coupled with great public transportation, most of the ones who own cars are the ones who can afford the really great ones. I have seen some great cars in the last 10 days (apart from the classic Toyota taxis). I am listing down the ones I think are worth mentioning.

Ferrari 458 Italia (Yellow)
Ferrari California (White)
Ferrari 599 (Black) (I saw no red Ferraris, maybe because the cabs are red here)
Mini Cooper S
Mini Cooper Classic
BMW Z4 (gets a mention only because I love it)
BMW Z3 (with Matte finish Black paint *wipes drool*)
Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martin Spider
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Gallardo Spider
Jeep Wrangler
McLaren MP4 (in the showroom)
Golf GTI
Volkswagen Scirocco
Maserati GranTurismo
Porsche GT3RS
Porsche Panamera

I will add a few more in the next couple of days I am here as I see more of them. I haven't mentioned many other cars like Mercedes, BMW and Lexus luxury cars because they are not really exotic. Of course they exist here too like everywhere else. (I will continue to pretend that the entire reading world really cares about all of what I just said)

Maybe I sound like an idiot raving about cars which others might see around them everyday, but I have never been to a place where I saw all of them within a small area in just a week's time; so screw you! Also, maybe I sound like a 5 year old kid talking about seeing all these cars for the first time, well, I am one.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Mon, 21 May 2012 08:41:08 -0700 Hong Kong Diary http://adityakandala.com/hong-kong-diary http://adityakandala.com/hong-kong-diary
Img_0042

Since the time I have come to Hong Kong (8 days back), I have been planning to write down everything I see here or experience here. But either I didn't find the time or the inclination.

What I am going to do, is keep writing separate posts about things Hong Kong. This will hopefully cover all my thoughts and also help me get over my guilt for not writing much about my first trip abroad.

First up, I LOVE this place. As a city, it has most of the important bases covered; great food, good people, decent weather (relative to where I come from), great transportation system, Wifi through most of the city and some awesome cars. Some of the things that work against it are the expense of living here, the surprising lack of recreational options except shopping and the crowd, the quantity. Given the fact that Hong Kong is a 'World City', what works against it is that it is after all an island with limited land mass. They have solved this problem by building insanely tall and efficient apartment buildings, however, when all the people decide to get out of their homes and be on the street, all hell breaks loose. But I guess one gets used to it.

This is kind of all that I have time for right now, but I do hope to cover the shopping (will require a separate blog by itself), the people, the food, the experience and much more in my future logs. Also, more pictures hopefully. Will tick each one off as I get to them eventually.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:25:00 -0700 Fat vs. carbs: What's worse for you? [infographic] http://adityakandala.com/fat-vs-carbs-whats-worse-for-you-infographic http://adityakandala.com/fat-vs-carbs-whats-worse-for-you-infographic
via holykaw.alltop.com

Eat.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:53:00 -0700 The awesomeness of Stephen Hawking [infographic] http://adityakandala.com/the-awesomeness-of-stephen-hawking-infographi http://adityakandala.com/the-awesomeness-of-stephen-hawking-infographi

via holykaw.alltop.com

Respect.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Sat, 31 Mar 2012 08:41:59 -0700 Earth Hour http://adityakandala.com/earth-hour http://adityakandala.com/earth-hour
It is 20.30 as I begin to write this and Earth Hour has begun. 

I fail to understand the concept of Earth Hour. I mean, I do understand the what and the why, but I don't understand why they are still keeping at it. It has obviously failed miserably.

The prime objective of the Earth Hour is to increase awareness and sensitize the populace regarding the damage they are causing to the environment. The objective is not to save electricity for one hour all over the world. However, what it has become, is a facade for pseudo-environmentalists to show they care. Earth Hour is to everyone, what a Toyata Prius is to Hollywood. Non-vegetarian Hindus all over the world pick a day of the week to eat only vegetarian food. They believe God will be pleased by this sacrifice they make. What about the other 6 days?

I take environmental damage very seriously. My friends and colleagues will vouch for my OCDish behaviour regarding this. I do my bit for the environment all year round. I honestly do. And it is not difficult. However, I chose this hour to switch on my laptop and write this post. I believe it can benefit the environment much more if even one reader gets inspired.

It looks beautiful when the Opera House in Sydney, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and other landmarks such as these participate in it. But has this served the purpose? Does the amount of energy and money used to publicise Earth Hour, generate an equivalent amount of return on reduced damage to the environment? I do not say stop this facade. I say find a better way.

Here is an idea for Earth Hour, don't tell people to switch of stuff at this hour. Tell everyone to switch on their laptops and PCs exactly at this hour and GOOGLE Earth Hour. Make Google show only pages about the Earth Hour for this one hour. Force people to read. Blanket all TV channels with hour long documentaries. Force people to know. Grab them and push it down their throats. Force them to discuss. It is the only way.

The problem with us humans is, we are not human enough.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:19:00 -0700 Harry Potter characters drawn by Rowling in 1999 http://adityakandala.com/harry-potter-characters-drawn-by-rowling-in-1 http://adityakandala.com/harry-potter-characters-drawn-by-rowling-in-1
via holykaw.alltop.com

I was a late bloomer as a Potter fan. But I did become one.

She does sketch well.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:55:00 -0700 Creativity anyone? [video] http://adityakandala.com/creativity-anyone-video http://adityakandala.com/creativity-anyone-video
via vimeo.com

Create.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:26:00 -0700 Please find me a wife who will do this http://adityakandala.com/please-find-me-a-wife-who-will-do-this http://adityakandala.com/please-find-me-a-wife-who-will-do-this
via youtube.com

I couldn't stop smiling the entire length of the video. The groom's reactions are just perfect. Just like the rendition of the Champions League Anthem.

People keep asking me what kind of wife I want. Up there is the answer. I swear on everything holy, I will be her slave for life.

Find.

 

(Hattip for the video: Ashay Kubal)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:08:00 -0700 IPL Carnival ad [video] http://adityakandala.com/ipl-carnival-ad-video http://adityakandala.com/ipl-carnival-ad-video
via youtube.com

Get inspired!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:08:00 -0700 Most epic motivational speech ever! http://adityakandala.com/most-epic-motivational-speech-ever http://adityakandala.com/most-epic-motivational-speech-ever
via youtube.com

I wish I could meet this kid and talk to him. I wish I was this kid. I wish my kid is like this!

Thumbs up!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:48:00 -0700 Conversation in a Delhi Metro http://adityakandala.com/conversation-in-a-delhi-metro http://adityakandala.com/conversation-in-a-delhi-metro

This conversation took place about 4 months back.

I was in Delhi for the Half Marathon and after I finished the run, I took the Metro to go from the venue to my friend's place. Next to me sat a 16 year old boy, clearly belonging to SEC A. This boy saw me in my shorts and decided to ask me a few questions:

Boy: You just ran in the Marathon?
Me: Yes
Boy: What distance?
Me: The Half-Marathon. 21 kms.
Boy: You have run before?
Me: Yes, this is my 4th.
Boy: Ok, can I get the medal you got there for finishing the run?
Me: No. It is a souvenir.
Boy: Where are you from?
Me: Bombay
Boy: You keep going around just to run?
Me: Trying to.
Boy: So where in Bombay are you from?
Me: Thane.
Boy: How is Bombay?
Me: Good. I love it.
Boy: So you keep seeing movie stars?
Me: Errrrr, not really.
Boy: Was there any celebrity here in Delhi for the Marathon?
Me: Shah Rukh Khan and Bipasha Basu flagged off the run. 
Boy: You met them? Clicked pictures?
Me: No, I just saw them with a flag in their hand.
Boy: How many celebrities have you seen in Bombay?
Me: Errrr, this is my stop. Got to go.
Boy: Ok.
Me: You should start running.
Boy: I am giving my boards this year.
Me: All the best!
Boy: Thanks.

I don't know why this conversation still amuses me. :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Sun, 04 Mar 2012 08:18:00 -0800 30 Dr. Seuss quotes that should change your life [infographic] http://adityakandala.com/30-dr-seuss-quotes-that-should-change-your-li http://adityakandala.com/30-dr-seuss-quotes-that-should-change-your-li
Media_httpwwwmamivers_xgbrg
via holykaw.alltop.com

Change.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:43:00 -0800 What I think about when I am running http://adityakandala.com/what-i-think-about-when-i-am-running http://adityakandala.com/what-i-think-about-when-i-am-running

Img_20120114_115939

He feels lonely. There are too many people around him. None, to give him company. He doesn't think. Music drives him as strangers egg him on. A sea of people and a cacaphony of noise. He thinks. All he wants is the next step, all he needs is the next breath. He IS lonely. And he loves it.

Draw.

Run.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:06:00 -0800 Them http://adityakandala.com/them http://adityakandala.com/them

They flit around like butterflies,
Fortunately, they are as pretty as most too,
If they were not, God help them,
They would most likely be in the zoo.

If they mean yes, they say a no,
Sometimes they never let you go,
Most times give a high sometimes low,
Why, I wonder my head doesn't blow.

Round and round the mulberry bush,
Twinkle twinkle little star; I know,
I don't make any sense to you,
But try to remember, this is how they crow.

Their smiles, they light up the world,
Scowls, they fright down the world,
Words, they ignite the world,
Dear lord, this world, poor, poor world.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:58:00 -0800 Christmas wishlist 2011 http://adityakandala.com/christmas-wishlist-2011 http://adityakandala.com/christmas-wishlist-2011

I know I am late and there is no time to fulfill the below wishlist, but I have to live upto my long standing tradition spanning one year. So, here goes nothing.

  1. Ferrari 458 Italia (yes, it's a repeat, but I never got it last year)
  2. Samsung Galaxy Nexus (What? It's an upgrade!)
  3. Fiat 500 Abarth Edition
  4. Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle
  5. A house at Marine Drive
  6. A lap of the Top Gear test track
  7. Tickets to the UEFA Champions League finals in Berlin
  8. A trip to Leh
  9. A Kindle Touch 3G
  10. A much much better 2012


Merry Christmas!! :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:31:00 -0800 The anatomy of an advertising emergency [Infographic] http://adityakandala.com/the-anatomy-of-an-advertising-emergency-infog http://adityakandala.com/the-anatomy-of-an-advertising-emergency-infog
Media_httpleighhouset_ggoob
via holykaw.alltop.com

He he he he.

The world over. Any creative service.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:46:23 -0800 The wedding season http://adityakandala.com/the-wedding-season http://adityakandala.com/the-wedding-season The wedding season in Bombay comes with the advent of Winter and leaves as Spring sprouts new leaves. There are multiple reasons for this being the wedding season. The weather being the most important one. Who wants a humid Summer wedding or a mucky Monsoon one? This results in thousands of weddings being cramped within the 3 months of non-existent winter in the city. This is complicated further by the requirement of stars being suitably aligned. Leaving remarkably few days for the cities banquet halls to host the blingy and expensive weddings.

If one happens to be in the age bracket of 25-30 (which all of us invariably and unavoidably will be in, someday), the number of people you know who are getting married in a given year, is equivalent to the number of the auspicious days in the given wedding season. This however applies to the social outcasts. Usually, for an average social being in this city, the number of people they know getting married is many more than the number of days. This situation is only salvaged by the fact that this is Bombay and one does not feel the need to invite people to weddings just for formality. Hence, the average Mr/Ms X receives just the right number of invitations to manage to eat out on all those days when the stars are favourably aligned. This, is the good part.

The bad part is, quite a few of these weddings happen to be within a particular circle. Hence, you end up going with invariably the same people. This gives rise to the most annoying problem. Yes, you guessed it. 'What to wear to the wedding?' This was not what you guessed? Well, better luck next time. One cannot be seen wearing the same set of clothes repeatedly! And with the obsession of posting wedding pictures on Facebook before the couple consummates their marriage, you are bound to be caught if you do.

Guys especially have a hard time. I mean, how many different 'wedding type' shirts can one buy? Additionally, Bombay winters and social norms don't really allow us to wear jackets to weddings either. 

I am attending 3 weddings this week. I am petrified!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:02:55 -0800 Perfect day http://adityakandala.com/perfect-day http://adityakandala.com/perfect-day

It was the day,
Oh what a day it was,
When it might go her way,
Oh what a day it was!

It started clear and bright,
Oh what a day it was,
All seemed so right,
Oh what a day it was!

Then there was the perfect lunch,
Oh what a day it was,
That should have been the hunch,
Oh what a day it was!

The tea was just perfect,
Oh what a day it was,
Nothing was a suspect,
Oh what a day it was!

I can go on forever,
Oh what a day it was,
It is not really all that clever,
Oh what a day it was!

Now like a bloody fool on weed I have extended over a mile,
Oh what a day it was,
Hope it is looked on by your smile,
Oh what a day it was!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:17:00 -0800 Should you use twitter? [Infographic] http://adityakandala.com/should-you-use-twitter-infographic http://adityakandala.com/should-you-use-twitter-infographic
Media_httpwwwflowtown_qevhp
via holykaw.alltop.com

Chances are, if you should be using twitter, you would already be.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:18:00 -0800 Brilliant Steve Jobs quote poster http://adityakandala.com/brilliant-steve-jobs-quote-poster http://adityakandala.com/brilliant-steve-jobs-quote-poster
via holykaw.alltop.com

Absolutely beautifully made poster by Brightwurks.

You have heard the quote, seen the ad and read it again and again. Print this one out. Hang it.

Change.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1637375/36159_445049765755_509300755_5793694_4294987_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/160S1hfb8E9 Aditya Kandala Aditya Aditya Kandala