Hemanth.Net: The Personal Website of Hemanth Meka Rao

Life

Viewing 6 to 10 of 44 posts.

Read-A-Book-A-Week: Freakonomics starts it off
Sunday, October 29, 2006 [Interests]

Most people have little time for most things today - as I've written
earlier. And one of the casualties of this is reading. How much are we
actually enhancing and exercising our brain's muscle power? Reading
habits have come crashing!

Is reading the paper enough? I don't think so. But it never hit me
until I saw the stack of books that was accumulating in my room - that
I had bought and never read! So over the Diwali break, I decided that
I was going to improve my reading habits (which have really become
atrocious of late!) and try to READ-A-BOOK-A-WEEK!

For the Diwali break, my family decided to make a trip to Egypt. And
in that time, I promised myself that I'd read atleast one book. And 10
minutes before the plane touched down in Bombay, I finished the last
book of "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

Its a very interesting read and I highly recommend anyone with some
time for light reading and a little bit of thinking to read it. Its
not a very big book. Just about 200 pages in paperback form.

To simplify the theme of the book, which in itself would be doing it a
gross injustice - Steven Leviitt, a brilliant young economist shows
that with the right data, you can find links to everything which you
never thought had any links! To do this, he uses streams of data,
separates it, dissects it, and goes through it again and shows that
what we think is the reason for something to happen actually isn't the
reason and how what you do can affect things.

To make you a little inquisitive - What is the reason for decline of
crime in the US in the 90's? Whats the similarity between the Klu Klux
Klan and your Real estate agent, or Sumo wrestlers and School
Teachers? What makes a perfect parent? Why do Drug dealers live with
their moms?

Think about it and if you come up with a theory and want to see the
REAL reasons - pick up Freakonomics. The answers will startle you!

Comments

My recent trip to Thailand & the Tiger Temple
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 [Travel]

I just got back from a short but sweet trip to Bangkok last night. My friends didn't believe me when I told them it was a work trip.. that too in the action beach town of Pattaya!

So as soon as I landed, I was whisked away to an area close to Pattaya to see a berth construction project. As you can see from the pic below, it was quite a beautiful day!

After finishing the meeting, I got back into my hotel in Bangkok quite late. Since most of my work was now completed, I had to wait for my flight on Tuesday. So I decided to go to the place I've been dying to go to - The Tiger Temple - a buddhist temple founded by the Venerable Abbot: Pra Acharn Phoosit (Chan where tigers have been raised, protected and even tamed.

To read more go here (The Tiger Temple website) and here (Wikipedia)

If ever in Thailand, this is a MUST go to. The tel number there is: +66 3 453 1557. Its not very well known by the Thai people yet, but easiest is to go to Kanchanaburi (which is famous esp for the River Kwai tours) and its about 30 minutes from there. (Total travel 2.5 hrs one way)

And if you do end up going, do write and let me know how your experience was!

Comments

Hemanth's Music Charts
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 [My views]

For my friends out there who steal my cds!
Hemanth's Music Charts!
Diwali Dhamaka - Oct 2006

Hindi

Main hoon Don (The Chase begins again) - Don
Yeh mera dil - Don
Beedi - Omkara
Tu hai kamaal - Aap Ki Khatir
Ishq kiya kiya - Anthony Kaun Hai?
Kya mujhe pyaar hai (Remix) - Woh Lamhe
Mitwa - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Where's the party tonight - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Kabhi Alvida naa Kehna - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Pal pal..har pal - Lage Raho Munnabhai
Ya Ali - Gangster
Yeh honsla - Dor

English:

Summer Moon (Remix) - Africanism All Stars
World, hold on - Bob Sinclar
Burn it up - R. Kelly ft. Wisin & Yandel
Ain't no other man - Christina Aguilera
Sexy back - Justin Timberlake
Sexy Love - Nelly
Love Generation - Bob Sinclar
Hips don't lie - Shakira
Promiscuous Girl - Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland
Ridin Dirty - Chamillionaire
Call on me - Janet Jackson ft. Nelly
Come To Me - P. Diddy Feat. Nicole Scherzinger
Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)- Bob Sinclar
I don't need a man - Pussycat Dolls
Sophia - Nerina Pallot
When the night feels my song -Bedouin SoundClash
London Bridge - Fergie
America - Razorlight

Blast from the Past:
Missing you - Everything but the Girl

Comments

A captivating painting... bought!
Saturday, October 07, 2006 [Interests]

I love art. I'm not much a art buff who keeps up with the 'latest' artists etc but I enjoy a good painting, or sculpture or piece of artistic work. I see a painting or work that I like and that for me is enough, not who the artist is. Of course, affording it is another story altogether!

My aunt, Tarana Khubchandani opened a lovely art gallery Art & Soul in Mumbai in 2003. I have been fortunate enough to have liked and bought art from her! The first was a Sanjay Bhattacharya painting which I bought for my sister Sravanya way back in 2003. The next were two beautiful original lithograph stones of Raja Ravi Varma, the famous Indian artist.

Yesterday, I went to my friend Penny Patel's art gallery opening - Indian Fine Art and was fortunate again to have bought a lovely painting that I liked. In fact, I was impressed by her collection as they were all very different and very interesting. This one particular one that caught my eye was by an artist called Mrityunjay Mondal, who I had honestly not heard of until I saw this Untitled work. But I couldn't take my eyes off this painting. I decided that I should see if I could afford to buy it and fortunately, I could! So I thought I'd share my recent purchase here. Feel free to leave your comments on the painting and to drop into Penny Patel's gallery (Indian Fine Art, Film Centre, Tardeo) or Tarana Khubchandani's gallery (Art & Soul, Madhuli, Worli):

"Untitled" by Mrityunjay Mondal
Size: 24" x 36"
Year: 2006
Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Comments

The Magic of Mumbai's monsoon
Sunday, October 01, 2006 [My views]

For those of you who've been on this site earlier, you probably already know about my love for the monsoons. Every year, the monsoon hits Bombay (Mumbai) around the end of May and leaves around early September.

While it brings with it flooded roads, delayed trains, disruption of many essential services, mudslides, exponential traffic, potholes, and many other annoyances, it brings with it prosperity to a parched India waiting for its fields to be quenched and for its dams to fill to the brim with the all essential water.

In Bombay, it brings with it a cleaning effect. One where it washes the city clean of all the dust and grime, preparing it for the Hindu festivals of Dassera and Diwali. The dark clouds, rain and gloom of the monsoon is my favourite season of the year. Maybe it reminds me of my students days in Wales, or maybe I just love it anyway, but the monsoon is my favourite time. Yes, it becomes harder to work as the lethargy creeps in with the gloom. I guess it comes with a romance. And what better way to enjoy the monsoon than tuck into a nice warm duvet with a cup of hot cocoa, with rain, wind and waves lashing outside.

This monsoon however, I was unable to enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. Over the last few years, I've not stood in the rain just to enjoy it.. I've not walked on Worli seaface as the waves lash the stone embankment.. I've not kept my window open letting the wind and water come and hit my face. I became.. an adult.

It made me think of one of my favourite verses, something I was exposed to in the 5th grade in school. Its a beautiful poem called Leisure, by William Henry Davies.

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

- William Henry Davies
(Intereting, Mr. Davies was a Welshman! )

So, I noticed that more and more, as we grow up, we stop enjoying the simple things in life and focus more and more on work and earning so that ONE day we can enjoy the simple things. But life is not a destination. It is a process, which we need to enjoy and experience to the fullest.

This morning, I woke up and saw this beautiful monsoon and loved it. But instead of going out and enjoying it, I decided to go to the gym in the morning. When I got to the gym, the security told me that on Sundays' the gym opens at 9am - an hour later (Yes, as was evident, I had not been to the gym in a few months!). This made me think for a second - should I wait? Should I come back in an hour?

No.. I drove straight to Worli seaface, parked my car - and ran. Yes, I got out and ran in the rain. It was such an amazing feeling. Its the 1st of October - the monsoon has stayed on more than a month after its usual departure. And I felt like it was waiting for me to enjoy it. And I did.. I ran across Worli seaface, watching as the waves lashed the stone embankment, with me getting progressively more and more drenched yet loving every drop of it.. I drove with the windows down as the wind and water hit my face.. Finally, I was at Leisure.. I did find time to stand and stare.

Hopefully I will find more and more. Try and join in and find your Leisure.. Mr. Davies will be almost as thrilled as you.

Comments

<< Previous

Next >>