Elections..

 Whoo.. Despite living on this planet for 22 long years, this was the first time I could make a worthwhile visit to the polling booth. Very exciting indeed, given it was the first time.  The plight  is, no matter how much you are determined to elect the best man, you will not find anyone worth even the better. 3 candidates not beyond 12th grade, one with severe criminal records, another with a fake doctorate degree and the last one from a party which caused riots few months back. Phew..  which button do you click???? Should we blame the electorate for the 44% ?? 

       After the audacious attacks on Mumbai, the city carried out peace marches and changed the face of the ministry. There was a general sentiment that the annoyance would reflect in the general elections. But more than half of the city was enjoying their long weekends. We blame the poor and illiterate for not exercising the franchise. And yet Marathwada saw a  55% turn out! With all the pompous rallies, controvertial manifestos and the tax payers money being flown in political advertisements; it took just 20% votes to elect the Mumbai MP!

       The stable government is a good news, but we have the same ministers, same minister lobbying and family recommendations by the coalition. Lets hope we have an improving economy, terror free country and responsible governance in this term!

A Vacation, much needed! 17th Jan,08

Its really been a long time that we've been brooding over PLs and exams...Finally i sought a much needed vacation and dat too right on time!

It in was a small town, few kilometers from Goa but belive me a much better place to unwind. Tarkarli is a quiet place, without the hasles of a busy tourist spot, lined with exotic, untouched and mesmerising blue beaches.

I started off with a visit to the Sindhudurg fort, which stands in the middle of the sea, battling the weather and waves for over 400 yrs....Watching the sea over its strong walls is a different experience altogether..

Then comes the beautiful resort right on the beach, surrounded by tall Shuru trees and hammocks inviting you for a beach-side nap...Its called as the talcum-powder beach...for its clean white coloured sand, clear blue waters. On a good day you can see the sea bed over 20 feet deep...n little fish could be seen as the waves die down on the coast! Starfish comes to pay you a visit pretty often. It was real fun playing there, nothing and no one else to bother you...As you progress visiting the surrounding area, you move through the backwaters, watching exotic white sand islands flanked by flocks of birds. I had never imagined, even in my wildest dreams that this place could be so amazing. My trip was just getting more better every moment!

Then i finally came back to my old habit, feasted on sea-food like i would never eat it again! These coastal places are a paradise for gourmands, where you get the best quality and big size fish, and that too cooked brilliantly by the locals!!

And it doesn't end here....like i said, if it becomes better with every moment, this cudn't be the end! Last day we planned snorkelling...the bestest of sea adventure i ever tried...it defeats all those pocket-dent-making sports we all love doing in Goa. You go in the middle of the sea...wear the equipment... get into the water...put yourself in the floating tube...and explore the world of myriad multi coloured fish, corals and sea plants. You can see schools of tiny fish moving around the water plants and sargassum...big ones like snappers, lobsters and many yellow, pink, blue fishes...... there was even a sting ray!!! There was a diver with me who caught hold of a jelly fish. You can see it only out of water( n i even touched it!!) coz when you leave it back, it disappears in the water like smoke!! It was an outta the world exprnce watching the mermaid's world, with its corals, rocks with shells and snails sitting on them, the aqua-turquoise coloured sea-bed and the water glittering in the sun's rays!!

Finally scrabble rocked the tour...n i won most of the times!! Hehee..

It turned out to be a very memorable trip...And i did not mind at all, getting sun tanned on the talcum powder beach!!