A Series of Bizaare Dreams...

I can't exactly remember details but I had dreams of all these episodes on the same night! Interpretations anyone?

A green goddess giving cheap haircuts in a neighbourhood dominated by sikhs.

My father insisting that I let the goddess cut my hair but I refuse.

My father starts yelling and cursing at me for not listening to him and I run away from home feeling very distraught.

A discussion about the prospects of studying overseas on a never-ending escalator with a secondary school friend whose name I cannot remember. He tells me how I should revist SJI and how beautiful it looks now.

A taxi driver swindles me and steals my car from a dingy mutli storey carpark.

I run around shoving kids crowding along the corridors of a public housing block in Hong Kong. I am looking for my car.

I get stalked by two Indian female warrant officers who are unhappy that I marked them down on a multiple choice exam.

Added Links!

Finally I have learnt how to add links of my friends' blogs...check them out! Today marks another milestone in my endeavours to upgrade my IT skills.

cheers,

Kartik

My song of the moment

By Sandi Thom...I particularly like the line which I have highlighted in bold.

Chorus

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair
In 77 and 69 revolution was in the air
I was born too late to a world that doesn’t care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

When the head of state didn’t play guitar,
Not everybody drove a car,
When music really mattered and radio was king,
When accountants didn’t have control
And the media couldn’t buy your soul
And computers were still scary and we didn’t know everything

Chorus

When pop stars still remained a myth
And ignorance could still be bliss
And when God Save the Queen she turned a whiter shade of pale
When my mom and dad were in their teens and anarchy was still a dream and the only way to stay in touch was a letter in the mail

Chorus

When record shops was still on top and vinyl was all that they stocked
and the super info highway was still drifting out in space
kids were wearing hand me downs, and playing games meant kick arounds
and footballers still had long hair and dirt across their face

Chorus

I was born too late to a world that doesn’t care Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair......

Some good news...

It was slightly difficult readjusting to the routine here but I am almost back on track now. Meanwhile, I have some good news to share...

1) I received a letter from the dean inviting me to the faculty's awards ceremony at the end of this month. They are apparently going to present me with a "Top of Class Award."

2) Vice-Chancellor has also sent me a mail saying that I will be presented with the "Vice-Chancellor's Academic Excellence Award" on the same day. They have invited my family to be present and its really a pity they can't be here especially since the last time I received any academic prize was in 1992 (I came in third in Tamil at Primary Four..hehe)...but at least sister and Pramod have promised to come and support me...thanks guys.

3) I have finally mustered enough guts and signed up for another driving test after the trauma of going over a curb and nearly damaging the car during my last test in October. So after nearly a year, I'm going to try my luck again on the 9th of next month...wish me luck...lots of it.

cheers,

Kartik

Back in Australia

I am back in the Gold Coast for the second semester of my course. Thanks to my wonderful family and friends in Singapore who have made this one of my best holidays ever and for reminding me why Singapore remains home.

Movies watched this month...

Akeelah and the Bee

An inspirational, feel-good movie about a poor black prodigical 11-year-old girl who wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition against all odds. A must watch for all teachers and teacher wannabes. * * * 1/2 STARS

Jillendru Oru Kaadhal (Tamil)

Not unlike the rest of the Tamil movies that have been released this year, the storyline was substandard and sloppy. It would not be an exaggeration to say my younger brother used to write more creative stories when he was in primary school. Nonetheless, I concede that Tamil movies are not meant for those wanting anything vaguely intellectual and from a pure entertainment-value perspective, there were some redeeming features like the songs..AR Rahman rarely disappoints and though this was not one of his masterpieces, there were some pretty good tracks...I particularly liked the jazzy title track by Tanvi. Who would have thought Tamil and Jazz could sound so good together?

On a side note, congrats to Jyothikha and Soorya who got married for the first time in real life on Sept the 11th.

* * 1/2 STARS

Monster House

For the first few minutes you almost forget you are watching an animated movie. The grass in the movie looked so real it was freaky. What happened to those good old days when technology was not so advanced and cartoons looked like things people drew?? But once you get over that bit, you really start enjoying its delicious horror-comedy blend.

* * * * Stars

Pictures from Onam

Banana Leaf Galore

The reason for the season...the food!

My Parents

Ganesha

Oil Lamp (Villaku)

Altar

Gradmother wearing the saree I bought her with my first NS pay

Brother enjoying his Onam Sadhya

And sometimes even Hindi movies make sense.

For those of you who have not already heard, Australian crocodile hunting legend Steve Irwin died yesterday after being speared in the chest by a stingray. This was a man who battled massive crocodiles and venomous snakes and of all things he was killed by a STINGRAY!!!...that harmless looking fish which my grandmother used to fry and put in curry?! I don't really get affected by the death of people I don't know personally but like many others around the world, I was also shocked by the suddeness of it all. People like Steve Irwin are not supposed to die. They are supposed to play with crocodiles and do silly things on television and get away with it. They are there to remind the rest of the world how powerful and in control man is. Alas, his death just shows us how fragile and unpredictable life is. Indeed, "Death and love come unannounced" (Bachan, 2006 in Kabhi Alvidha Na Kehna).

Meanwhile, wishing everyone a very blessed Onam!! (Its a harvest festival celebrated in Kerala and is considered the most important celebration for Malayalees) After years, I am finally celebrating with my family and devouring home made sadhya and a healthy dose of family love and warmth.

cheers,

Kartik