Got QWERTY?

I find the speed with which some people key in their sms frightening! My thumb start hurting after keying in about 30 "proper" English words (not a big fan of "sms lingo" myself). Digging a little deeper , I found that folks over 20 are considered "over the hill" when it comes to super-fast texting. The winner of this contest, held earlier this year, was a 13 year old! Had to happen I guess, considering school children with access to cellphones and all the practice they get.

Reckon we will soon see competitive texting in the Olympics? Or will addiction rehab centers and clinics treating repetitive strain injuries make more money?

Maybe both.

Kids' Pics

Photographs of children I came across on various travels.

This brother and sister duo were quarreling one morning in Saligrama (Udupi District). They broke it off to pose for the camera, though the brother doesn't seem too amused!

These guys had bunked school one sunny afternoon at Jimighat, on the trail to the Milam Glacier (Kumaon).


More curious onlookers on the trail to Milam!




The one above was in Belthangady Taluk ( Dakshina Kannada District). Lucky the chap carrying provisions home didn't break the eggs in all the excitement!

Children from a tribe in Arunachal Pradesh. Technically, not a "live" photo, but from the National Museum in New Delhi I visited last year.

Watch out Karan Thapar!

Saw this on CNN this morning. The woman, a Venezuelan politician, attacked the TV journo on a LIVE debate! Playing Devil's Advocate could prove costly if our desi politicians take a cue from this woman!!

Mafia's 10 Commandments

Came across this article on the Italian mafia , which had me in splits. Smacks of hipocrisy, doesn't it? The last one about "anyone who behaves badly and doesn't hold to moral values" is so ironic!

Wonder if our very own "D-Company" has anything similar?

St. Mary's Island

Was in Udupi a couple of weeks back with my friend Tambi and took the opportunity to visit the beautiful St. Mary's Island. The rock formation here is really unique and breathtaking.

Head to the Udupi city bus stand and take a "city bus" to Malpe, about 6 Kms away. There's one almost every 10 minutes. The harbour is right next to the Malpe Bus stand. Its a 5 minute walk then to the jetty where you find the ferries parked. Tickets to the island and back in these ferries cost Rs. 70. The first ferry leaves Malpe by 9 AM.

On the island -

This being a Saturday and thanks to a couple of gangs of college students on an "Educational Tour", the ferry was crammed. We counted at least a 100 people on board! The "cruise" took about 25 minutes. Just off the island, about a 100 meters away, we were transferred onto a smaller boat, which dropped us on the beach.

The island, like I said, is beautiful. You can walk all the way to the top of the highest rock formation (if you dont trip on one of the other million visitors) and the sea breeze was wonderful. Vasco Da Gama was here in the 15th century, apparently. The waves hit the rocks with awesome force and the crevices between rocks have enough water to breed a mini ecosystem within. We found a multi-colored crab, but he was camera shy, despite Tambi's heroics to capture him.

The ferry leaves you there for an hour, before they come back with the next boatload. You can request to stay longer if you wish and take a ride back later. We had to head back, though.

The ideal time to visit the island, we realised, is on a weekday and in the evening, to take in the sunset. Next time, perhaps.

Restarting the Blog

This blog has been in hibernation too long now. Have resolved to blog atleast once a week henceforth! So watch this space for more....