General Update

Gifted t-shirt

I think it's about time,i blogged about random thoughts that come to my mind..

* Ramadan is over..Eid was here..ok it's gone already.Back to the grind.How was Ramadan..actually pretty chilled out.Used to get free from work early..say around 2.00 pm or so..Used to have a nap,then headed for the gym(yes,i am apparently a member of Fitness first for the past ,god knows how many months..they have this strange membership plan,which entices you to join in the beginning,but then they just keep debiting your credit card each month,and if u wanna quit,it's even more difficult..and if are a procrastinator like me..sigh..things can never change!!)..

So i finally decide to put it to good use,and have been gym ming religiously for the past month..What's interesting is what happened after the gym..I used to Booze around( i strangely discovered that u tend to get on a high,even if you have a single pint of beer after gym!,maybe it's a strange mix of the endorphins released after a workout + alcohol in your system)..I can safely say i have consumed more alcohol in the past month than my usually monthly intake..

The Equation--> Lost Calories at Gym = Gained Calories from Booze. So basically i am back at square one!.

Ps:-A good place to head out for a night out in Ramadan in Long's Bar @ the Towers Rotana on Sheikh Zayed Hotel.They had Happy Hours running all night long..

And Never Mix Vodka with Beer in a Cocktail..It simply doesn't work!

* I finally finished watching "Seven Years in Tibet".It was lying on my laptop for long..And it has taken around Seventy days to Finish it!!..Have been watching it in bits & pieces..Though i must say,it's a ncie movie.

* I have discovered a good radio station to listen to :--http://www.oldiesradionet.com/classicrock.asx

* Peanut Butter Jam is starting from tonight..It will sure rekindle my love for Good Live Music.

* The other night,i was reminiscing about the few times i had been to the Indie Rock Nights @iBO(a garage club at the Millennium Airport Hotel which has closed down now,because they wanted to build something there)..Those were truly amazing head banging nights with Free entry..

I was wondering if similar nights do happen elsewhere now..


* On a serious note,i am hoping the World Economic Recession,doesn't affect Dubai.I am praying people don't lose jobs,and the bubble doesn't burst..'Coz as long as it's intact we all are living a good life...

Random St Patrick's Day Snaps

Here are some old Random St PAtrick's Day Celebration Pics from Irish Village..Sir Bob Geldof performed..It was a good memorable day..and i was smashed out of my face..PS:- i don't know any1 in these pics!

Finally I did travel..

Guess where?

Yes,i have been Traveling,i visited 2 countries in the last 20 days..Mixture of Work + Leisure i must say..I met some old friends,visited some serene places..made some good decisions & some bad ones..

Above are just some random pictures..taken during these days(if some1 ever reads this post feel free to guess!,bloggers with correct entries will get a complimentary coffee,beer,pizza..whatever!)

But good things don't last forever,and am Now back to work,Ramadan has started,so everything is slow..Specially gets boring in the evenings...

When did you last let your heart decide?

I was wondering..this question pops in my mind every now & then..

Do we really follow our hearts..or it's just our agile mind..the surroundings & a plethora of other factors around us which moderate our decisions & thoughts..Food for thought..

I remember when i was in high school,i liked this girl..oh...it's a long story...maybe some other time..

Does music touch you...#1

Good Music has managed to send chills down my spine..I will be covering and writing about a few songs that have really moved me..This could be a series,as there are just so many..

You get the goose bumps..It's that moment..the lyrics just touch you somewhere deep inside,or u just feel nostalgic about a past event..u just connect with the song..that guitar,bass or sax solo resonates within u..the singer's emotion gets u engrossed..

Below are just 2 really good songs by THE BOSS himself(a.k.a Bruce Springsteen),that i associate with..all the words above just hold true with these...


Secret Garden-Soundtrack from Jerry Maguire
There's someththing about the sax solo in the outtro that really hits me..i wish it could continue for 20 minutes..



Streets of Philadelphia - soundtrack of the Tom Hanks starer "Philadelphia"
The drum beat..the lyrics..this song is just fabulous..he has put some true emotion in this song..

Where to go & FM radio..

I Need a BREAK..yes i do...Work has been slow..i feel underutilized..or maybe i simply am not performing upto the mark..I am still deciding where to go..what to do..i need a vacation..and i know i can get 1..

In the evenings while i am driving back from work,just randomly shuffling thru fm stations(no,my car doesn't have the latest 6-cd changer or the touchscreen Dvd player !,though it does have tape,but i don't have cassettes!)..

104.8 fm :- Channel 4,this is DJ moe..playing ur requests....sms 050-7461048...or call...hellllooooo...what can i do for u..Apologize- timbaland...goes out to u ,and every1 who's listening...

Dubai 92:- The evening session with Dan..we have Adele..coming up next...peee...the traffic update...moving slow on emirates road towards sharjah...trade center roundabout...

103.2 fm :- Coast fm--good music,less ads..though recently coast fm has done a massic ad campaign,i have seen their adverts on lots of hoardings & taxis..so now the on-air adverts are increasing as more sponsors flock in!

99.3 fm :- Classic hits--Radio 2:- i love RJ Suzy wonder..she has a deep & meaningful voice..she chooses the right music...

104.4 fm :- virgin radio:- 10 hits in a row...choose your music..usual tracks on air these days are "kanye west & estelle- American boy" , "kid rock- all summer long","maroon 5 feat. rihanna song-----"..and the list goes on...


Life has it's ups & downs...music wades me thru it all..

Tiny Dancer--Elton john(Movie-Almost Famous)

Easy Listening and the Jebel Ali shooting Club..

Last Nite it was the Jebel Ali shooting Club..My first time to that place(no,i am not a member as shooting is the last thing on my mind ;-)).

* As soon as we enter,there are ample notices explaining how "Delayed & short-supply of Ammunition" restricts shooting activities to members only!!It's still kept me wondering how such a massive Shooting Range is short of Ammunition Due to Late shipments!!Maybe it's just a way to hype the whole "shooting experience".

But Then u request,and try to emphasize[sir we have come a long way & want to try our hand !,and sir i think guns are good],and after signing up on a wait list(which also was hyped i think!,as it was mostly empty)..They give us a 8:30 pm slot.. AEd 125/ 25 shots...

It was good,i managed to get 2 out of 6 clay pigeons..Others did better..

* Other 'well-noticed' notices --"No Alcohol consumption before shooting"..Just next to an amazing bar cum restaurant,incidentally also named "SHooters",with the most extensive Cocktail list i have seen!!

* Ask for "Tin Soi"@the Shooters,that's the name of the cheerful Burmese waiter who served us.He sure had some nice serving tricks up his sleeve..and even managed to get us complimentary iceream..And some nice take away gifts too..

Let's get it on..Jack Black(High fidelity)

2 late night outs..

Interesting Ad(click to enlarge)

Wednesday night :-
* 10:00 pm :- Dubai international airport terminal 1 to see off my folks
* 11:20pm :- Apartment's Club,jumeirah beach hotel...the security at the gate explained club policy and didn't let me in,because i was wearing sandals..One thing lead to another,and i finally got in..IT was "SO EMPTY'..they even didn't charge us the cover!!..I counted.all in all there were hardly 10 people inside..
*12:00 midnight :- Leave Apartment's and head for Rock Bottom Cafe..Now,this place is as usual jam-packed..they charge us the 100 bucks cover..We get in...beer...free tequila(i managed to get 2 rounds!)..bull frog..more tequila..dance..music...
PS:-->I think the live band@Rock bottom cafe is crap..Okay.they play popular music but do they actually play...Not one guitar SOLO...half the time i see the Bassist standing idle...It's all background tracks man..i hate it..Quality live cover band's at the Majestic Hotel or the one at Sea View hotel...They deserve it!!
*03:20 am :- reach home..bleary eyed...feeling dizzy..sleep.
*9:30 am :- wake up.Late fr work again.!!

Thursday Night:-
* 10:00 pm :- i want to watch a movie tonight.what better than batman( the dark knight)..head for the cinema with a couple of friends.All shows are full.manage to get tickets for the midnight show at Al Ghurair city.
*10:20 pm - 11:53pm :-3 of us drink 2 pitchers of beer at the Lotus hotel..next to Al ghurair city.have some chicken..
*Midnight -- 2:30 am :-- Head to the theater...Watch the movie...with intermittent sessions to the Loo..Movie finishes 2:30 am...i sleep thru the last 20 minutes...Wake up..
Ps:- I don't want to comment about the movie...as i might seriously hurt some1..
* Reach home :-- watch youtube videos,some of them are really good....doze off again...

Being Lonely..

I am lonely,there's no point denying this fact..I feel the pinch each evening after work,while i walk by the creek and see couples holding hands & feeling each other's love..the smile & twinkle in their eyes,makes me reminisce..The desire to be cared for & loved for..it pops in my head every now & then..

Continuing my lonely sessions,last evening i happened to be in mamzar area,so i decided to head for mamzar beach alone.(not the beach park,but the 'silent waters' beach,which is surrounded by a jogging track)..I parked my car..took out my mp3 player & forayed into the dark..thoughts running through my head..

Massive attack--> 'Live with Me'
This is one of those less heard of songs,which just epitomizes 'loneliness" & 'despair'

Just Another day..

Walking in Memphis

It was just another day..Nuthing special..But there was this moment whilst i was sitting in my car & singing out aloud..The song was "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn..Some1 won a shopping voucher for guessing this song On FM..(i am not sure Channel 4 or Dubai 92)..

The lyrics still come back to me..."Put on my blue sweat shoes....middle of the pouring rain..Walking in memphis..Maa'm i am "..

It's all in bi t s & p i ece s ,for you to fill in..

Online Friends

Another of my fav Artists

Online friends..people we never meet..probably will never meet..have never talked to..

Sometimes we share a lot with them..i think some of my online pals know more about me,than even my closest friends..I have shared with them my deep dark secrets..my ups & downs..my mood swings..

There's this one online bud of mine,who lives in dubai..we used to share(atleast i used to..) everything under the wide blue sky..I had her cell number..but never talked to her..neither did she..I requested to meet her a couple of times,but then it just faded off....nor did she want to meet me..

But this afternoon i learnt that she has left Dubai for good..Now all of a sudden..i feel i should have met her atleast once..before she left..

'Navs' may u have all the success in life..This post is dedicated to u..

'No need to Argue' ---> The Cranberries

It's been a long time

The Graduate
(is this my fantasy?)

Yes, it has indeed been a long time...I have been through a lot in the past 6 months..

** i discovered that,what what i though was love..was nothing but a hoax..
** I have been trying to involve myself at work,and i think i am partially successful at it..
** Have discovered some great friends...at college & outside..
** Family restrictions have been loosened up a bit..and even if i am late,i am not guilty anymore.
** Broke my left knee twice..actually a ligament tear..but it hurts..

Such is life...will try to update more often

I am tired of this..

The Anchor
This is the picture..of an old anchor lying by the creek..Old & rusty..uncared for..

Off-late i am feeling terrible..Excessive control over my life..Why did u drink..when & whom did u go out with..Why don't u eat home..Come back home befre 11:00 pm..I am 25 and i think i know what's right & what is wrong...

I need a break..No fone calls..no restrictions..just the cool breeze..the good music..your best bud.
Life is short..if i am to live it the way my folks want me to..i would rather start off on my own..

Hoping that things can change..

Music Room-->the best music in town

Good Music..at it's best

In my continuous hunt for places that play good live music in dubai,i can confidently say that the MUSIC ROOM @ the Majestic hotel ,Bur dubai is amongst the best.The entry is situated on the ground floor,from outside the hotel,

The good points:-
** Large spacious pub,unlike the other cramped up 1's..
** Two absolutely fabulous bands " Flipside" (Brit band-->they play really good music ranging from jazz & soul to hard rock,has a versatile guitarist and an equally good keyboardist..On numerous occassions i have enjoyed theie extended extempore solo's on songs like Hey joe & black magic woman) & "the Rock spiders"( eerie sounding name,but this pinoy band put's up a real good show..the 3 female vocalists are good,guitarist excellent,and they cover some really good songs..specially Ironmaiden & G 'n' R)
** Happy hours till 8:30 pm..
** The food a'int bad either.

The bad points:-
** WHY WHY the cover charge on thursday nights>..they started it some 4 months back,and this has turned it into a proper hooker place on weekends..!
** Dress Code..the bouncers tend to stop u if in slippers/sandals>>??..what else Is Good rock music supposed to mean.Freedom Of Expression & walking in like a Caveman right!!

Verdict :- A ++ if u want to have a couple of beers & wish to soak urself in some good live music!

Abra Snap.

The Dubai Creek..has it's own charm..and there are few things as relaxing as crossing the creek on an abra and gazing into the distance.This is just one random snap of no special significance..

FestiVal ExPress

Love..Peace & Rock & roll..

I have to admit it I like music..i am not particularly limited to one genre..Anything that sounds good to my ears..Exploring new artists & sounds has always been my passion.Featured above is FESTIVAL EXPRESS,the documentary which introduced me to some really amazing musicians of the 70's...the grateful dead,buddy guy,the band,Janis Joplin just to name a few..The best part of it was that the whole series of rock concerts featured in the documentary were done for the heck of it..the organizers knew it was going to be a financial disaster..There are numerous scenes of all the great artists jamming together inside their tour train..The whole concept was great...and i totally recommend this movie to all the 60's-70's rock & roll lovers..

Sometimes i feel that there are a whole bunch of talented musicians out there..and not many make it big..Those unknown faces,those amazing backup vocalists ,those cool session guitarists who churn out spine-chilling solos,the improvising sax player whose name u don't know..they definitely deserve respect & recognition..

Below is one relatively unknown duo(Deb Talan & Steve Tannen),"The Weepies"..their music is calm,serene,and has a tinge of emptiness..i like every single song off their album titled "Say i am you"..

The Weepies-->Nobody knows me at all

The BeiJing Blues..

The Magnificent Wall

I was in Beijing recently on a business trip..Now being there and even being short of time, i was simply tempted to visit the Great Wall...The decision was made at 8:00 pm on a Friday,and i asked my Chinese friend to help me out..

He called up many tour agents but seemingly all of them had closed down..We asked the hotel guys,even they didn't have any suitable arrangements.Finally we managed to find a small-time tour agent who fixed me up with an all - Chinese tourist group with a no-English speaking guide..That meant i was going to be alone,with sign language and broad smiles..to my rescue..

Woke up at 4:30 am with bleary eyes,after staying up late till 2:00 am,watching a Hollywood movie starring Orlando Bloom,in which he enacted the role of a failed Shoe R&D guy(i don't remember the name of the movie.),and Kirsten Dunst(she looked really pretty) plays the role of an air hostess.

The pickup time was 5:00 am...

Slept on the Bus.After a supposedly scenic drive(which was lost in sleep)..Reached the Great wall..Couldn't make out a single word that the tourist guide was saying..so just roamed around on my own..from whatever little i could understand the guide asked me to come back to the bus by 9:30 AM..

They had a trolley car system to get you from the base(where the buses were parked)..to the wall..

The weather was cool..the Wall itself was an amazing structure,the architecture was splendid and off course it was strong enough to have endured thousands of years..there seemed to be no end..it just went on & on..and i had my music with me...What more could i ask for..

After finishing the Great wall tour,the bus took us to the Emperor Ming's tomb..followed by the Museum of the Ming dynasty..Both were places of historical significance..and the tourist guide's commentary had every1 nodding their heads...and i was just trying to figure out things on my own...

The bus retunrned back to the hotel by 6:00 pm.It was raining heavily and i had to catch a train to Shanghai..That night on the train i was thinking..if only i could visit the 7 wonders in my lifetime...2 i had ...5 more to go..