Sunday, November 26, 2006

Random Post

Well don’t have anything worthwhile to write, so I will just fill in with some mambo-jambo.

Terribly busy with work these days, being allocated in more than 3 projects at the same time, which ensures that the bug list I have, is never small. Winters setting in and the whole place looks so depressing with rains dripping every now n then, the low temperatures coupled with windy conditions. I don’t mind the chill but no windy wet chill .. puhleeeeeeez. And it snowed… on 1st Nov.. Now, where on earth does it snow on 1st Nov???? Wait.. don’t even try to answer that.. it’s a rhetoric question.

I am sick n tired of, what I initially enjoyed, Cooking. Every evening I return home and open the fridge and try to think of what I should be having for dinner. How I wish there was some pill which you could pop and no hunger or thirst for the next 24 hours. End of problems.

Let me end the post on a positive note. Come X'mas n I am off to Italy for a 6 day vacation… Rome, Venice, Pisa n Milan. The one thing I love about my job here is, how it allows me two vacations a year to some beautiful locations in Europe.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

The Countdown Tag

Sakshi tagged me to do this tag.
BTW, Deepti m still woprking on ur tag. It will be up sometime soon :)

10 Favorites:
Favorite Season: Spring – isnt everything so beautiful in spring?
Favorite Sport: Cricket, we’re Indian afterall.
Favorite Time: Late evening, just like to unwind after work n relax
Favorite Month: March, its niether too hot nor too cold.
Favorite Actor: Too long a list to be out here.
Favorite Actress: See above point.
Favorite Ice Cream: Chocolate.
Favorite Food: Indian, but anything that tastes good is more than welcome.
Favorite Drink: Beer.
Favorite Place: Home :)


9 Currents:
Current Feeling: Relaxed. Two days of doing nothing has this effect.
Current O/S: Windows XP Home Edition
Current Windows Open: Microsoft Word (where I’m typing this) and Winamp.
Current Drink: Water
Current Time: 03.19 p.m. CET
Current Mobile(s) Used: Nokia 6230i, Nokia 6610
Current Show on TV: Some random movie on the idiot box. Don’t know which one. Usually the telly is on mute.
Current Thought: I need to finish this soon n go out n buy a few things? The aatta is also finishing, will it last a week?
Current Cloths: Trackpants n Tee.

8 Firsts:
First Nickname: Lalli – only my family calls me by that name and I prefer to keep it that way.
First Kiss: was so special.
First Crush: When I was 17(late bloomer yeah), a girl in my tution classes.
First Computer: Assembled one, Dec 2003.
First Vehicle I drove: Bajaj Priya… Took it straight in the side drains :)
First Job: At my dad;s canteen as waiter/server/cook/dish washer/cashier.
First Movie I watched: No idea which was the first…
First Pet: I once bought 10 fishes. 2 died on the 2nd day, 2 on the 3rd, 2 on the 4th n 2 on the 5th, the remaining 2 lasted about three months.
First Shave: hmmmm I was 15 and even though I didn’t have a moustache or beard worth shaving.

7 Lasts:
Last Chai (Tea) : at 1 pm.
Last Movie: Vivah(If u r a diabetic stay away from it.. m serious.. could prove prove fatal)
Last Time I Drove: No idea.
Last Time Shaved: Friday morning.
Last Web Site Visited:
http://games.yahoo.com/pl
Last Software Installed: WinRAR
Last Pill I Had: Viagra … just kidding.. I hate taking medicines. No idea when was the last time I popped a pill.


6 Have You Evers:
Have You Ever Broken the Law: Yeah. Paid for it ... in cash.
Have You Ever Been Drunk: Yup .. a few times.
Have You Ever Climbed a Tree: Too many as a kid and even now. Lat one was a couple of months ago.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: no 
Have You Ever Been in the Middle/Close to Gunfire or Bomb Blast: No 
Have You Ever Broken Anyone’s Heart: Yes 

5 Things:
Things You Can Hear Right Now: The song on winamp, computer keyboard and someone with whom I am talking on Gtalk right now, vehicles outside and the clothes spinning in the washing machine.
Things on Your Computer Table: Computer Table ??? what's that. A Laptop, a digital camera, few CDs, toothpicks, a nailcutter, an ashtray, Hajmola bottle, earphones, a USB drive, Pens, a Notebook, papers, a Swissknife, chewing gum, a hankerchief, a water bottle, a lighter, cigarettes.
Things on Your Bed: 2 pillows, my quilt, my phones and an alarm clock.
Things You Ate Today: Biscuits.
Things in Mind: I need to call home, what will I eat for dinner tonite, tomorrow I will get the design approval for my project, am I hungry?.

4 Places You Have Been Today:
Kitchen
Toilet
Bedroom

Living Room
(Havent ventured out today)

3 People You Can Tell Anything To:
I don’t tell ‘anything to’ to anyone.

2 Choices:
Black or White: Black.
Hot or Cold: Hot

1 Thing You Want To Do Before You Die:
See my dreams come true.


I tag -
All those who read this n havent done it. Yes you, and you too sir, and aap bhi.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Copenhagen, once more!!

Back after a long hiatus. Blame it on the increasing workload or my procrastination. Apologies for not being regular. OK.... coming up some pics from my trip to Copenhagen recently. If u remember I have already covered Copenhagen in two posts earlier (Copenhagen I and Copenhagen II). Having seen most of Copenhagen city I decided to go to the outskirts and discover some of the beautiful sites surrounding this city. So off we begin on our journey.


I don’t know if it happens only with me but the sky was again overcast and slight drizzling had occurred that day making it a bit unfortunate but overall it was still very enjoyable. The ride till the castle was marked by some beautiful spots here n there.


First stop Kronborg Slot(slot=castle). It is is situated near the town of Helsingør. This is the Øresund region and the water body seperating Denmark and Sweden is the narrowest here, merely 4km wide. You might associate the region with the world famous Øresundsbron (Oresund Bridge)

This was an strategically located castle in those days when dues were collected from all vessels passing by. It also enjoys being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kronborg acquired its current name in 1585 when it was rebuilt by King Frederick II into a magnificent renaissance castle, unique in its appearance and size throughout Europe.

Kronborg during its times was considered the strongest fortress in Europe. From 1739 until the mid- 19th century, it was used as a slave prison. The inmates were guarded by the soldiers in the castle. From 1785 to 1922, the Castle was completely under military administration. During this period, a number of renovations were completed.


The castle had been invaded and conquered by the Swedes in 1658. The hostility remains no longer but the canons are still pointing towards Sweden.

However the most important point about Kronborg is that it was the setting for much of William Shakespeare's famous creation The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark which is arguably the most popular of Shakespeare's plays. It is def the longest play and from which are derieved the famous words “To be or not to be”.

Kronborg is also the resting ground for the Danish mythological character Holger Danske (Ogier the Dane). According to folklore the statue will come alive when Denmark is in great danger, and Holger Danske will save the country.


Next stop Fredensborg Palace. It is the Danish Royal Family's spring and autumn residence. The palace was built in 1720-1726 and is one of the most used of the Royal Family’s residences. Didn’t spend much time there but was able to catch the change of guard.

From Copenhagen Oc...



Next stop - Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerød, was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV, and is now known as The Museum of National History. It is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia. The oldest parts of the palace date back to 1560, and were built by King Frederick II, after whom the palace is named. Most of the current palace, however, was built from 1602 to 1620 by Christian IV.
In 1850s, the palace was again used as a residence by King Frederick VII. During the night of December 16-17, 1859, while he was in residence, a fire destroyed a large part of the main palace's interior. Reconstruction was funded by public subscription, with large contributions from the King, state and the prominent philanthropist J. C. Jacobsen of Carlsberg Brewery, who also provided funds to establish The Museum of National History that now occupies Frederiksborg.

Prince Joachim (younger brother of the Crown Prince) and Princess Alexandra were married in the Palace Church also known as Chapel of orders. Various Coats of Arms adorn the walls of the palace church and the spiral staircase that leads you to the top of the four storey building.