Rakhi!!!!

Though Raksha Bandhan is on 28th August, but since I will be in Turkey at that time, I tied Siddharth Bhaiya Rakhi today!!! I love this festival!!

Getting ready for the Occasion!!! Siddharth Bhaiya prepared the Roli I gave to him :)

Putting the 'Tika' on his forehead!!!

The guy I love the most in NUS *not in Singapore....hiks hiks!!!

Mwahahahahah!!! Tying the knot of sisterhood for the life-time!!! With yearly renewals.... ;) *Poor Siddharth Bhaiya under bondage now..... wakaka!!!

Rakhi!!!!

Praying for his success and prosperity!!!





Though both of us were not supposed to eat anything until I tie Rakhi... He already ate TIGER Biscuits... Poor me starved!!! *Buhuhuhuhu.... (We are supposed to make each other eat something sweet and break the fast!)

This is such a weird photo!!!!!

I like this pic.. Good work Shankar!!!

The Champu (Siddharth Bhaiya) and Dimpu (Shankar)!!!!!

Leia Mais…

Being Detached!!!

I was reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.... One part of the book really answered a lot of my questions! It is about getting detached!

"Detachment doesn't mean that you don't let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate you fully. That's how you are able to leave it."

"Take any emotion-love for a woman, or grief for a loved one, or what I'm going through, fear and pain from a deadly illness. If you hold back on the emotions-if you don't allow yourself to go all the way through them-you can never get to being detached, you're too busy being afraid. You're afraid of the pain, you're afraid of the grief. You're afraid of the vulnerability that loving entails.
But by throwing yourself into these emotions, by allowing yourself to dive in, all the way, over your head even, you experience them fully and completely. You know what pain is. You know what love is. You know what grief is. And only then can you say, 'All right. I have experienced that emotion. I recognize that emotion. Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment.' "

How true?? Answered so many of my doubts!! So many times we love something or someone but can't be with that person. We feel lonely and miss our parents. And only when we have reached the height of love, or loneliness.... we realize that that thing doesn't hurt anyore.. We detach ourselves!!! It is almost miraculous... First I used to think that my feelings are not strong enough, not genuine!!! But now I know that they are of a very high intensity and thats why I am able to reach the height of the emotion faster and hence, detach myself faster!!

Co-incidentally, today's thought on my calendar was :

Detachment does not mean lack-of-will-to-live. It does notmean negativism. Detachment means being more objective, more balanced.

Leia Mais…

Bitter Sweet~

Hmmm... Dunno what yesterday actually was!! A series of adventures and a mis-adventure... Well, on the whole no harm done so, I think the sweet element was more powerful than the bitter one :)..

The following things happened yesterday:
1. Woke up early after a looooooong time! Yay!! Was ready to rock the world by 7:30 am
2. Went to the Temple... The best part about yesterday! To feel the divine serenity around you, protecting you
3. Went shopping *hiks hiks...but all normal day-to-day grocery... nothing splendid about it
4. Met the people at my office (or rather once my office), got my internship certificate and allowance cheque *muah!
5. Got my turkey Visa!! Yay!! I am goin on Monday... Hurrah! *Thank you Visa Guardian Angel and Vi!!
6. Left my atm card in the machine and realized about 45 minutes later about it.. Gosh!! My heart beat gave a skip, or rather many skips... I had S$***** in my account... Not all mine, infact most of it not mine!! I still haven't finished paying S*****l S$**** for no fault of mine and could not afford to be paying this large amount.. But no harm was done... *Thank you God!! Love you!!
7. Went to NUSSU for some work...
8. Kept someone waiting for me back in India.... If you are reading this I am really sorry!
9. Watched Chak De India!! Awesome movie
10. Met Aman from NTU and had a nice conversation with him *Aman, we should meet more often, you know~

So, I left my room at 7:30 am yesterday and entered it today at 2:45 am.... But I am happy as always to be busy and to use my day soooooo constructively :)... By the way, since I was travelling soooo much yesterday, I finished reading one novel and started with the other one... So, good eh?

Leia Mais…

Majulah Singapura!!!!!

Today is Singapore's National Day.... Singapore which is my second home!!!! Which has open the doors of opportunities for me!!! Here is the National Anthem of Singapore:

Original anthem

Mari kita rakyat Singapura

Sama-sama menuju bahagia

Cita-cita kita uang mulia

Berjaya Singapura

Marilah kita bersatu

Dengan semangat yang baru

Semua kita berseru

Majulah Singapura

Majulah Singapura

Marilah kita bersatu

Dengan semangat yang baru

Semua kita berseru

Majulah Singapura

Majulah Singapura

English translation

We, the people of Singapore

Together march towards happiness

Our noble aspiration

To make Singapore a success

Let us all unite

In a new spirit

Together we proclaim

Onward Singapore

Onward Singapore

Leia Mais…

Being Friendly to VISAyon!!!!!

For the past few days I was really stressed because of my Turkish Visa Application... Phew!!! When yesterday, I finally submitted all my documents... a strange thought occurred to me... In the past one year, I have applied for three Visas and have had problems with all *Not that I look like a terrorist and they have refused my VISA or anything....but still... May be, this has got something to do with the fact that I always tease my friend VISAyon and hence, VISA problems... For those who don't know Visayon (Vi as I call him)... He is the Finance Head of AIESEC in Singapore, very handsome, Year 3 in Finance and perhaps the only Laotian in NUS at the moment *psst psst girls, he is single ;)

Let me take you back to July 2006 when I was all ready to come to Singapore and was happily waiting for my IPA letter which also serves as a single entry Visa... When there were only 5 days left, my family started getting a bit panicky... No VISA!!! So we had to apply for the Visa in Delhi... And I was going to get the Visa on the same day I was supposed to fly... That means No Second Chance for me... But fortunately, I got it on time *My mom got the IPA letter 2 weeks after I had left for Singapore

Then, I had to go to Malaysia for a camp in May.... I was working in May, so the Visa application delayed... And I was supposed to get the Visa one day after I was leaving for Malaysia... Whoa!!! I had to plead to the officer and he said that he will try and I can call him on the day I was leaving... But fortunately, I got the Visa, one hour before my coach was leaving for Malaysia... *What a luck!!!!!

And now the Visa for Turkey!!! Firstly, they require soooooooooo many documents.... I became mad collecting all the documents.... Here's the list and a short story behind each of these:

1. Student Status Letter:
Place: Student Service Centre Date: 6th August Time: 2 pm
I really needed the status letter that day itself but it requires minimum 3 working days to generate... Please sir, please please please please.... I really need to apply for the Visa tomorrow.. Finally the officer prints the Letter... But but Buuuuuuuuttttttt.... it reflects my wrong passport number.... This can't be done by SSC in any case... needs officers of registrar's office to make the changes and lady who does that is on leave.... Please sir, please, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease... Fortunately, the lady on the next counter was listening to my pleadings... She scanned my passport and made some quick calls and the officer was doing his best *Thanks a lot both of you... Finally, I got my Status Letter by 4 pm

2. Bank Account Statement:
Place: DBS, Clementi Date: 6th August Time: 4:15 pm (Bank closes at 4:30 pm)
I asked Meera Di to transfer S$**** in my account as the transfer my mum made was 1 day late... The lady said that the bank statement requires atleast 3 working days to be generated and now the bank was also closing.... Please Ma'am, Pleeeease, Pleeeeease.... Finally she agreed to do so... She did overtime till 5:15 pm for my document :) *Thanks a lot!!! You are an angel...
But my Bank statement reflected my new address whereas my Disembarkation/Embarkation Card still showed the old one (Went to ICA to get it changed butthey said it can be changed only by 16th August)... No time to think... Have to collect my Air-Ticket from Cheryl.. She was waiting at City Hall MRT...

3. Address Proof:
Place: PGP Office Date: 7th August Time: 9:30 am
The proof takes minimum 3 days.... But I have to apply today otherwise I can't go... They generated the proof, called the OSA officer to come down and sign it for me *Thanks a lot.... Love you all.... But then, my name was mis-spelled in the proof.... Phew!!!! They just corrected it and signed on it....

Then I fill up the 40 questions in the application form and rush for the embassy..... The embassy stops collecting applications at 12 noon and I reached there by 11:25 am.... just on time...

The following docs were submitted:
1. Application form with a photo
2. Passport (original and photocopy)
3. Student pass and D/E card (original and photocopy)
4. Photocopy of travel insurance
5. Inviatation letter in Turkish and English
6. Bank statement
7. Status letter
8. Photocopy of air ticket
9. Application for difference in addresses
10. Address Proof
11. 62 S$

Hopefully, I'll get it on Friday...Otherwise no second chance as I fly on Monday!!!

Oh Visa Guardian Angel.. please help me get e Visa on time!!! VISAyon, I love you... No more teasing.... Now please let me get e Visa on Time!!!

Leia Mais…

My Trip to India in pics!!!

I went to India after a year for two weeks..... I am kind of living those two weeks again and again in my mind.... Its now time to LET GO!!!! So, I thought I should share them..... I love you all sooooooooo Much and Miss you guys a lot!!!!

Me, Mummy and Papa :
I miss You soooo much



Mausi and Me

Avi, Me, Anu and my Sister Saloni:
Saloni is our Teacher and we are portraying Gandhiji's Three Monkeys

From Top to Bottom: Avi, Me, Anu and Saloni (Looking Drunk)

Re-Union at Mc.... Most of the people had gone back by the time we started torturing Ronald (I am sitting on him)

Rashika (My Best Friend) and Me

My Group (Minus Jyoti) : Me, Shivani and Rashika

"If there is sunshine always then the Earth will become a desert!!!!!"

Let go Shub!!!!!

Shooooo shooooo Good memories..... There you go at the back of my mind...... I wish I had a pensieve to let go of these memories that easily!!!

Leia Mais…

Loads of work again!!!!

Another one of those posts where I take out my frustration for too much work!!! Sometimes I wonder if it is wise that a 19-year old be given(or rather takes up) so much work...... but then, the satisfaction you get from working like an ass with super brains is almost inexplicable....
Here is the list of things I should get done before the 13th August, when I am going for a 3 weeks roller coaster ride in Turkey:

1. Apply for my Turkish Visa : Owwww!!!! It has soooooooo many documents which I have to get settled by today, otherwise I might not get e visa in time!! Phew!! *What a lazy bump am I!!
2. Get the preparations for welcome teas done : Which includes liaising with the speakers as well as the caterers, seeing that everything runs smoothly and AIESEC creates an impact on the attendees.. *thank God I have my Vikings with me :)
3. Go shopping: I am in scarcity of even the basic requirements for survival!!! Gosh!!!
4. Arrange my room: My room is in utter mess even now....
5. Choose the Acting President in my absence
6. Put one of my co-ordinators in probation period *The toughest of all the jobs in hand!!!
7. Review the performance of all the AIESEC departments to see that they are on track
8. My part- time job
9. And settling a lot of stuff before leaving for Turkey.....
10. Tutorial Balloting
11. Lab allocation....phew!!!
12. Apply for leave from the University!!!
13. Go to my office and get my Internship certificate and the Balance allowance
14. Hundreds of mails to be sent out...

But then, one week later :

The much awaited International Congress in Turkey!!!

Leia Mais…

Wah Taj!!

Bart Simpson has taken the lead to present her views about the Taj Mahal being one of the seven wonders... Now let me present my views from the perspective of a Taj Nagari Vasi (person from the City of the Taj)... Ok, may be while reading the post you might feel that staying in Singapore has made me "un"patriotric... but then it depends on how you define patriotism.... Patriotism is something like Bravery... For some, a person who has the courage to kill himself (commit suicide) is brave [fair enough! you need courage to kill yourself] while for some the one who faces life is brave.... I prefer the latter... Same goes for Patriotism... For some the person who speaks well of his country is Patriotic.... But for me Patriotism means accepting the shortcomings of the country and then working to free the country from these....

Again, as Bart mentioned, India is known primarily for the Taj and Kashmir, and I feel proud while introducing myself as a citizen of the City of Taj Mahal (Agra)... I am probably among the most happy people from this news and I invited every Tom, Dick and Harry I met to visit the Taj and stay at my place... (Psst psst.... it also includes some very good friends like Juliana and Won Jang, good news being that I'll probably meet Won Jang.... Hurrah!!!) But then, I remember the state of the places around the Taj.... Do I really want people to see that??

It is all shitty, tacky, smelly.... so much so that I (living only 15 km away from the Taj) find it really hard to motivate myself to visit it.... The Taj is indeed a marvellous monument but it is tarnishing... Yellowing... and what about the river Yamuna which flows right behind it... The water there is worse than sewerage water... What are we doing about it??

Just proclaiming that I am from the City of the Taj doesn't mean that I am patriotic.... There are so many children in that City of the Taj who don't even know that their city is one of the most renowned places in the world.... For them life is a constant struggle for survival... What are we doing about it??

And can you guess that what will happen now??
Here is a much underestimated crookedness which will take place... The MP (Member of Parliament) of Agra will appeal for a huge sum of money to maintain the Taj Mahal and the nearby places....By huge I mean, HUGE......

And then, 10% of it will be used to do some temporary maintenance (To last till his term gets over)... The remaining 90%..... ahem ahem ahem.... The result being that the money allocated for the welfare of the people (out of which again only 10% would have been used) went to maintain the Taj or rather unmaintain the Taj...

Do you want to know why the MP would go only for a temporary maintainence??
So, that during his term the Taj looks maintained and in his successor's term...well, let me not use the word I intended to... This will then be used as a point in the next election...

Complicated?? Nah.... This is the most common tactic in Agra Elections...

So, now tell me, what shall I feel about the Taj being one of the seven wonders of the world??
Proud to be from the city or worried about the political game which will be played using Taj's name??

Leia Mais…

Reflection!!!

During the last days I have discovered a lot about myself. I was browsing through Dey's blog and shockingly stumbled upon some of his learnings which were in a way same as mine.... These are, perhaps, the learnings which everyone experiences at some point of their life's journey and to be truthful, you can understand them and enjoy the beauty of these learnings only when you actually live them!!! So, here you go!

--------------

I have learnt that people around you matter. The ones that are around you influence the world you live in. No matter you lie to yourself many times saying that it doesn't work that way, but the truth remains. So be careful of the people you hang around with - they can be the best inspiration or the worst nightmare.

--------------

You don't change people.You change yourself and that changes people. Isn't it so true?? And many times you are just amazed with the change in people's attitude... It is more like a miracle!!!

--------------

Your world is what you want it to be. If you don't like it, move! If you like it, enjoy!You don't need to spend your life complaining. It is better to smile.So, look for the things that make you smile.

--------------

Loneliness is a good company.Not all the time, not forever, but definitely is a good friend that I need to visit more often. To may be understand myself better.... To understand where I am heading to!!! Is it the place I really want to head to??

--------------

Living life fast is the new trend. Not stopping to let things sink is not healthy anyway.Balance is needed everywhere, not necessarily happens continuously, but it needs to be found. I think I have the tendency to make myself extremely busy and living life fast.... Then not be able to step back and reflect... To actually face the innermost problems rather than running away from them...

--------------

Love is not about a relationship.Love is about love.

--------------

Don't be scared about the kind of person you want to be. Let it emerge, it is within you.It is within me! Give it all the time and support it needs and life will be heaven!!

--------------

You are a beautiful person. Everyone is.... Just concentrate on the beauty of others and Life will become BEAUTIFUL!!!

Remember!
Forget!
Let it go!
Let it come!

Leia Mais…

Lights, Camera Rolling and Action!!!!

Alright, I don't want to sound immodest here to say that I am one of the Best Actresses I have ever known.... (Its not only in my opinion but in that of many others who have seen me act) Being in AIESEC made me realize that I am a good stand up comedian too and have the power to engage a large group of people for hours!!! *thank u, thank u But I never thought that I would be working with professionals in a movie clip in la-la land.... And above all, during my internship with the Singapore Compact for CSR!!! But it happened...

I was asked to reach office on time on Monday (And also, be very smartly dressed *do I not dress smartly everyday??)... When I reached the office, I was informed that the Singapore Business Federation is making a movie clip (5 min long) and they want me to act for them.... Whoa!!! How did these guys come to know about my acting abilities??

I said,"Alright" with the air of Angelina Jolie.... and came out of my cabin (Yes, I have been promoted from a cubicle to a cabin)... As soon as I stepped out Sally, Jenn, Allie and the Director (Jack) said unanimously, "Put some make up, atleast lipstick"...
"Sorry, I don't wear make up"

"She doesn't need one. Jack, you should see the shot, her face is made for the camera", said the camera man *hiks hiks, I am so touched..... I have not heard such flattering words in such flirting tone for full one and a half days.... Good Mr. Camera man (Oops, forgot to ask your name :( )

Anyways, we start shooting for scene 1, where I knock the door, enter the room and shake my hands with Phillis and we exchange cards and I sit and talk for a while.... Can you believe that the part where I enter the room was shot about 10 times before we moved further.... It took us 45 minutes to just shoot the perfect scene for my entry... Sometimes, Phillis blocked me, sometimes the way I opened the door wasn't perfect, sometimes, the way I leave the door wasn't perfect, sometimes I moved my left leg first, sometimes I looked as if I had come to kill Phillis.... Phew!! I pity poor actors and actresses.... But then I was enjoying every bit of it.... Then we moved on to shaking hands.... Gosh!!! I never paid attention to how I shake hands but my, my if you are acting you have to take care of so many intricate details.... Finally, scene 1 was shot in 4 and a half hours and length of that shot in the movie would be 2 min....

And then scene 2, for the remaining day... They didn't need me for scene 3 (length in the movie half a min) so I just ran out of the office.... I enjoyed every bit of it but I don't think I would ever make it my life long profession... I am a kind of person who needs change every moment and doing the same scene again and again is not my cup of tea....

I had always thought that it is so unfair that the actors get paid so much money but acting in this short movie clip, I understand the reason why it is so! I am happy not being an actress... :D

p.s. The movie will be screened on 2nd August in Singapore Business Federation's office. And the voice recording will be done when I will be in India, I just hope that the voice which is used for me matches my personality otherwise it will be hilarious

Leia Mais…