Blogging: Completed a year

Last year, on 18th March, I wrote my first blog.

I started writing about travelling- my first blog itself was about a trip to Sravanbelagola and Hassan. And then about our trip to Hampi, but stopped at Hampi and didn't write about the other places we visited like Badami, Aihole and Pattadkal. Since then I have written on various topics, hostel days to Horoscopes, Politics to Pasta, Tiger Woods to 4D Cinema and recently about DD Days.

In all, 25 Blog Posts.

It feels nice to read all the old posts now. It takes you back in time. Hope to continue writing more.

Is it a Blog Anniversary or a Birthday?

Beautiful Memories: Digital Scrapbooks

Scrapbook or Photobook is the most beautiful way to keep your memories alive. One can select nice background pages, the photo frames and pretty embellishments to decorate the photo pages. Some days back, I got my second Photobook and am so happy to see it. I started getting photo books done in December last year and since then, I keep on looking for reasons to get more of these.

It all began, when I got a mail from Shutterfly to check out their photo books and got one done right away. It came out really well, with blue cover and clear n crisp pictures. Then, by chance I found the link to Artscow, and now am a member, and I have already ordered a photobook from them. Here, I got more options for decorating the pages with some very pretty embellishments and background pages available on the site.

I made a 8x8 Photobook and it came out pretty well too. Again blue cover and almost 50 photos, this one looked great with all the ribbons and flowers. It came a month after I ordered, but it was worth the wait.

Next, I again placed an order with Artscow, for a second book. I ordered it a week back and expect to get it in another 3 weeks, that's a long wait (I know).

September 29th, 2010 - My love for Photobooks continues, made a quick one in one hour and ordered a 6x6 photobook today from Artscow. 

Daylight Saving Time begins: March 14

The Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday of March. This year it is on March 14th at 2 am i.e. tonight, which means setting our clocks one hour ahead. So Sunday will have 23 hours instead of 24. That means one hour of less sleep....not good. And that also makes the summer days longer by one hour. It is also indicative of the advent of spring.

All these changes in time makes it so difficult. You have to keep in mind the time difference between U.S. and India, hufff !! And in India, we are not used to this concept of changing the time. But anyways, its for a good cause of saving energy. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is followed in most of the states in U.S. except in Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Arizona.

All said, Spring is here, which means respite from all the snow and chilly winds. So, losing one hour is not a big deal. What say?.....

March 14th - 1:30 a.m.

We have set the time one hour ahead in my phone, in the kitchen and room clock too. So the Daylight Saving Time has begun.


Links:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzRlGUgJ6xk
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0EL0hyzSPg

Nostalgia: Loved the old Commercials

Not just the shows but also the old commercials make me feel nostalgic. Am sure, everyone remembers the Dhara Oil Commercial, with a little boy who leaves his house but is ready to come back when Ramu kaka tells him that his mother has made 'jalebi'. The innocence of the child makes it special.

And the Nirma Washing Powder advertisement, was so famous especially the 'washing powder nirma, doodh si safedi nirma se aaye, rangeen kapda bhi khil-khil jaaye'. The Bajaj Scooter commercial was the perfect picture of India at that time - A husband teaching his wife how to drive, a son surprising his mother with a scooter and yes! a newly married couple driving off on a bajaj scooter with the 'just married' sign on it.

The Lijjat Papad and Big bunny ad, had the most catchy jingle, 'Mazedaar, lazzedaar, swad swad mein lijjat lijjat papad'. And the unforgettable 'Vicco Vajradanti' commercial, with wide smiles and again a catchy jingle.

'Kuch khaas hai hum sabhi mein, Kuch baat hai hum sabhi mein, baat hai, khaas hai, kuch swad hai, kya swad hai zindagi mein', that's the Gadbury Diary Milk commercial, where a girl runs to the cricket field dancing. And I was surprised, when i saw Shahid kapoor and Ayesha takia as kids in the Complan ad, 'am growing mummy'. The Titan commercial was a big hit, where a father gifts his daughter a titan watch on her wedding day, it was really sweet.

In the Asian Paints commercials, a soldier comes back home on Diwali and surprises his son. And 'Lifebuoy hai jahan, tandurusti hai wahan, lifebuoy', the lifebuoy commercial was pretty famous too. The Hajmola ad, was so good, with the kids in a hostel passing the bottle of Hajmola under their beds, when one of the kids gets caught and he says 'Hajmola sir'. The Bajaj bulbs commercials tops it all, with an old man recalling his childhood.

All these ads remind us of those times so vividly. Don't forget to check the links below.

Links:
1. Dhara Commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbV5Y5KJCUs
2. Washing Powder Nirma - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-sx_Nd
3. Bajaj Commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEV8MWd1p3M
4. Lijjat Papad ad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSYMX6PmT34
5. Vicco Vajradanti Commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coNJY1lqkLg
6. Cadbury Diary Milk ad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU9PnVWBx2c
7. Complan ad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-fysFHfBYM
8. Titan Commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvx8pB9Ivoo
9. Asian Paints Commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIsG2CNy5IM
10. Lifebuoy Soap ad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHXaYXecsCg
11. Hajmola ad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6rpjH-IzBU

Nostalgia: Those DD Days !!

I miss those days so much. We used to love Sundays particularly, Chandra Kanta at 9 and everyone used to rush to finish everything and sit in front of the T.V. and of course the awesome fried breakfast we used to get that day. I get so nostalgic about all those days, i still remember the moment i used to hear the title song of Chandra kanta, i used to leave everything and rush. The aroma of bread rolls, fries makes me wanna go back to those times again.

Then Mahabharat, The Sword of Tipu Sultan, Shri Krishna used to be other favorites. The cartoon time used to follow, shows like Danasur, Potli Baba Ki, Ali Baba Chalis Chor, Guchche Khahaniyon Ke, Sindbaad the Sailor, Pancha Tantra Ki Kahaniyan, Disney Hour, Jungle Book, Talespin and Duck Tales ......It was so much fun. And all these shows were aired only once a week, so everyone used to eagerly wait for sundays. Shows like Chitrahaar and Rangoli used to be fun- as you got to see the latest songs. Then Alif Laila, Raja aur Rancho, Stone Boy, 1991 (most fav.), Malgudi Days, Tenaali Rama, Gayab Aaya and Fauji were also good. Swabhimaan(1995) was aired on DD in the afternoon at 3 and though it was time for a nap, we used watch it and then go off to sleep.

Circus, Gul Gulshan Gulfam, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan, Aap Beeti and the 'detective' shows like Byomkesh Bakshi and Tehkikaat had a message in the end. Comedy shows like Dekh Bhai Dekh, Flop Show, Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne and Shrimaan Shrimati were no doubt the most hilarious. And the educational ones- Surabhi and Bharat Ek Khoj glued us to the seats, though Krishi Drashan used be so boring. There was one show we used to watch, called Sea Hawks, based on Navy; not many people might know but it was aired in the night around 10.

I might have missed some of the names of the shows, but that time was unparalleled. It cannot be compared to the present times when we have so many channels, so many options but still Sunday can never be a Sunday like the one in those DD days. Check out the links below, they are sure to make you feel nostalgic.

Links:
1. ChandraKanta - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuqvpmpnTYI
2. ChandraKanta - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC3DVSrRui8
3. Mahabharat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPdTI3wehK8
4. The Sword of Tipu Sultan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW3yp-tu7XY
5. Talespin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ReyS9i9BJg
6. Alif Laila - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxVWPFIjZLE
7. Jungle Book - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hglv3Myhw
8. Surabhi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1rNDOdFOYY
9. Tenali Rama - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFeg5PKsxMQ
10. Tehkikaat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqyXzV_bQy0
11. Dekh Bhai Dekh- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5k7k_O3ziA
12. Shriman Shrimati - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UFqeZfX4A8
13. Malgudi Days - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9koiLyUQFI

Awesome: 4D Cinema Experience

A visit to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum was incomparable. We didn't expect such an experience, especially when we entered the hall for a 10 minute movie. Though we had heard, that in a 4D experience the chairs move and you feel like a part of the situation. As we went in, we were given the red and blue glasses. We settled in our chairs and in moments we were in a different place. The sponge-bob, burger and things flying here and there.

When the wood cutter comes with a knife, you feel like he is gonna chop your head off. And then, another guy throws water from his mouth and yuck! it falls on you. The bubbles start pouring out and the very next minute, you get hit in your back. In the end, you are so close to getting sucked into the monster's mouth.

After all this when you take off the glasses, its like coming to some other place. Its an awesome experience. A must watch for everyone