Today I read in the newspaper that Obama is encouraging children in US to study and study hard since "the Indians and Chinese are coming to get US". He has plans to improve the education system of US by training more teachers and encouraging parents to concentrate more on the study pattern of their children.
While many Indians are outraged at Obama's strict and 'closed door' policies for India, I personally think it's commendable. The root cause of the recent recession was that the US economy was not strong since many Americans were unemployed. They took huge loans but were not able to repay it. So improving the quality of the American brain does make sense.
It definitely means bad for NRIs since their jobs (which were never theirs) will be given to Americans now (at least that's what Obama aims at). I am glad that at least one US president is introducing some good laws and policies which will help strengthen America from the core instead of destroying the rest of the world.
Indians could do well to use their skills and intelligence on home shores....it would do well for India to reverse the brain drain process.
Well well...I have come back from my first official wine tasting event. And I can't think straight.
Brane-Cantenac has introduced a range of eight wines (from 2000-2007) which will be distributed by Brindco Ltd. The setting was elegant and luxurious in the Ballroom at Oberoi Hotel. Five wine glasses were placed before me with tags indicating the year of the wine.
I was pretty nervous before starting the wine tasting because of two things: since it was my first time, I didnt know how my body and brain would react to the liquor and again since it was my first time, I didnt know how I was supposed to judge these wines! A fellow journalist explained very politely to me that the aroma and 'fullness' of the wine determines how good a wine is. Now how am I supposed to know how 'full' a wine is?
Well, the tasting started. Mr Henri Lurton, owner of the brand, started with a history of the brand, his involvement in it and then took us through a 'guided' tasting. We started with 2007. I bravely took a sip...and I didnt like it. Not to say that the wine was bad. It was exceptional according to others.
Even though I didnt like the taste, I managed to swallow my dislike and taste the other wines (after all, I didnt want to look foolish in front of all those sophisticated people). Soon, I could feel myself getting disoriented. I quickly snatched the breads and the cheese available at the table and gulped it down, feeling some relief course down my body.
Then I again set to the task of tasting other remaining wines. Tasting eight wines at a time is no joke!
Even though I still dont understand the nuances of wine tasting, I am glad I went for this event. At least I know what to expect next time. And whatever it was, I definitely learned how to taste a wine. Yes, there is actually a technique to it! First bring the glass to your nose, move it right to left and smell it, then shake the glass vigourously, then again smell it the same way, and then take a small elegant sip.
I don't know how smelling and shaking helps, but at least you guys wont be as ignorant as me when you go for your wine tasting events. Hope I have helped somewhat.
All said and done, wine making, tasting and drinking is an art in itself. For those who dont know, wine is made from grapes. Even the kind of soil the grape is grown in makes a difference in the taste of the wine. Other factors which determine the taste is the time period for which the wine has been stored,the temperature at which the grapes have been fermented. I would love to go again the next time to learn more about it.
Its nice to hear complains when you don't post something on your blog. I guess it shows that you are worth reading. But since I don't really have anything 'specific' to write about, I am just putting some random thoughts on the page.
1. I am going ballistic with all the work in the office right now. I want, I mean seriously want, a big holiday!!! Can any one suggest a rescue plan?
2. There is this girl I know who doesn't have much money, but is still trying to make ends meet and continue with her studies. Her mother also believes in educating her daughter. But due to lack of money, she is not able to continue the education of her three children. She is more worried about their daily bread and water (understandably). So my family and I are funding the kids' education. And this is the first time in so many years I am actually feeling 'responsible' for someone. It's a big job, but I am really proud of that girl and I am happy about the effort she is putting in. She is really working hard and hopes to get into the medical profession someday. I am going to call her right after I finish this post.
3. We just had our asiaSpa Awards on 8th April. It was quite a star-studded evening with Malaika Arora Khan, John Abraham, Milind Soman, etc. I am still reeling from the after-effects of seeing John Abraham up and close.
4. I am confused about my future career path. Should I keep working or should I do a post graduation? Any suggestions?
5. I hate all the hype around recession. Is there any meltdown actually there in India?
6. I am worried about my television viewing time since the DLF IPL started (my brother has taken control over the remote). What's so big about IPL? I mean what!!!!!!?????!!!!!
7. One question that always stays in my mind: Why can't life be simple and why do people have to be philosophical?
8. The 'Jaago Re' campaign is really working. It's the first time I am seeing people so upbeat about the coming elections. Hope it shows in the election results. (Guys please take the right decision. I can't tolerate Mayawati as my Prime Minister!)
9. I just bought the book 'Many Lives Many Masters' by Dr Brian Weiss. Going to start reading it today. Any one read it? Any reviews or comments to share about the book?
I realise its quite a crappy post. No head and tail to it. Hope you guys can bear it... ;)
Today I saw another disgusting example of inhumanity. A JAIN family (one old man and woman) near my home sacrificed their maid for the ongoing navratras. The police is not doing anything about it. Three pundits are inside that house and doing some havan. And surprisingly, the media is not doing much about it either. I mean, WTF! The children of the maid haven't cremated the body of their mother yet. Very rightly, they are saying that either they want justice from the law or they will burn the old man and woman along with their mother. The post mortem report of the dead body confirms that she has been strangled and her neck has been cut. Apparently, the family has already murdered four other people like this for the past navratras, but nobody came forward to complain.
It is downright shocking and disgusting! How can anyone even think of doing anything like this! Just today, a Jain colleague of mine was accusing me of being a 'corrupted' Jain because I don't keep the usual fasts or pray to God. I mean, helloooooo, i thought the first and foremost religion of any person is to be a good human being. And if this is the kind of prayers you offer to your God, then I am sorry, I don't want to be a part of any religion.
Anyways the police isn't doing much. I plead to all the media people to come together and do something about it.
Just a single question. What's the meaning and aim of the third front? A mixture of all regional leaders like Mayawati, Deve Gowda, Chandrababu Naidu, etc, what does the party plan to do? I mean, why has it been formed? Is it because they truly want the betterment of the nation or they want victory? The fact that Mayawati made it a condition that she should be declared the PM if the party wins tells the agenda of the party and the other leaders in it.
I can't even start to imagine what will happen if Mayawati becomes the PM. Let's not submit to the greed and selfishness of these politicians. I am sure we can make better choices in the coming elections.
According to a recent report at http://domainb.com/brand_dossier/adv_brnd/20090302_no_marks_cream.html Kiran Bedi is the new brand ambassador of No Marks cream! Though the report says that it's for a charitable cause, the method seems hardly worthwhile! I am sure Dr. Bedi could have found better ways to further her cause...
An enjoyable part of working in a spa magazine is the frequent trips to resorts and spas. The most recent one was to Suryavilas Resort & Spa, Solan. Located in Himachal Pradesh, Solan is very near to Shimla. Though there is not much to explore in Solan, the beauty of the place is enough to make it a must-visit place. Stopping over on your way to Shimla is also a good idea.
As I got down on the Kalka station, the view of the mountains was exhilarating. Solan is a smooth one hour ride from the Kalka station. As we went up the winding roads, climbing higher and higher up the mountain peak, the feeling was totally awe-inspiring. It was surprising to see houses and small towns settled in the mountains. I could feel the fresh air on my face - a very important feature, since fresh air is very rare in metropolitan cities.
The resort extended a very warm welcome when we reached there. Apart from a sweet smile, we were served with ginger and lemon tea to freshen up ourselves.
The resort had many small cottages, with four rooms in one cottage. We were also led to a cottage and assigned a comfortable and cosy room. It was quite a spacious room, with a big plasma television and dvd player. The bathroom was also spacious and clean, with a very beautiful blue tub and all toiletries arranged appealingly. However, the best of the washroom was the big window which overlooked the mountains. Half the roof was covered with glass, letting in ample sunlight. It might sound funny, but a clean. hygienic and pretty bathroom is what appeals the most when you are outside the comfort of your home. The washroom here scores full points in that regard.
The room also had a small balcony with seating arrangement. It was a pleasure to get up in the morning and sip tea while breathing in the fresh air.
Their restaurant, Curries@3000, is also decorated tastefully. Though the restaurant has good food and ample choice, it would have been better if they could have included more items. The resort also has a theater, banquet facilities, swimming pool, gymnasium, and entertainment room.
Coming to my subject of the spa, I think that was one of the best features of the resort. The Thalgo Spa is managed one of the most renowned spa companies in the world. Completely using marine ingredients and products, Thalgo is an absolutely 'oceanic' brand. My spa therapist, Mamta, gave me a thorough consultation before giving me a spa treatment. After asking me detailed questions about my skin, lifestyle and eating habits, she told me to get their signature Algae mask. In a very sweet gesture, she even said, "I know the mask will smell like fish. But I know you are a Jain and I assure you that its completely vegetarian." The treatment was completely rejuvenating for the face. After cleaning my face and massaging it with various creams, she applied the hot algae mask on my face and covered it with foil. As my skin soaked in the goodness of algae (though it smelled foul), Mamta proceeded to massage my legs, exercise my shoulders and relax my body. After some time, she removed the foil and the mask and cleaned my face.
On the whole, it was an absolutely amazing experience. Everything was clean, natural and healthy, even including the bakery products which they serve! Gaytri Bajaj, the director of Suryavilas Resort and Spa takes keen interest and personally oversees the in-house bakery, which makes everything from normal bread to the most complex and delicious cakes!
The resort is good not only for the kind of facilities they provide, but also because of the hospitality which the staff extends. If in Solan, the resort is a very nice place to stay in and relax. Surrounded by natural beauty and clean environment, there is no better rejuvenation option. I, however, only wish that it was a little less expensive (rooms start from Rs 10,000 + taxes per night). But I am sure that shouldn't stop you from experiencing a nice tranquil holiday!
This is the Annual Report of Soumya Jain for the year 2008. The individual experienced profits in some months, while going to an all-time low for a few months. Following is a month-by-month report.
January
The month started with a lot of optimism, specially after the way New Year was welcomed (read: Agra trip). A new project, which was in the pipeline for long (read: Travex), finally commenced in this month. The month proved to be quite what was expected, with a lot of journalistic and idealistic enthusiasm. Work progressed at a commendable pace.
February
The work came at an all-time low due to various unforeseen disturbances. The project-in-charges were at loggerheads which proved to be a hindrance for the individual concerned. However, the personal life of the individual was on an all-time high. Thus, total extremities were experienced.
March
The individual prefers not to report the non-existential month.
April
The individual got in a new zeal of enthusiasm for a project which was long forgotten (read: Final year college project) since the deadline was already over. The crucial project, on which the future of the individual depended, progressed at a fair pace. The existing project, however, suffered a lot since the project-in-charge and half the team had resigned.
May
The individual realised that she was getting free money and fully enjoyed the month, personally and non-professionally.
June
The individual left the existing project and hanged on a new one (read: asiaSpa), which seemed to be more promising. The project marked her entry into competitive world. Her journalistic and idealistic ideas saw an all-time dip in the month.
July
Though work was on an all-time high, the individual enjoyed the pressure and benefited from it.
August
Work pressure was all the more high. The month also marked her exit from personal life.
September
Work pressure was again on an all-time high. No report on the personal front.
October
The individual had her first brush with the glitterati (read: Wills Fashion Week), which she throughly enjoyed. The increase in work resulted in disturbances on the personal front.
November
The work pressure was still on an all-time high and the individual started feeling the encumbrances of having a boss. The situation, however, was not so bad.
December
The month proved to be a mix for the individual. While the work pressure skyrocketed, she also got a temporary break through the first official trip(read: first spa trip to Hyderabd!!). The work, however, led to some suffocation for a while. At present, the individual is feeling elated since she realises what a great boss she has got. The suffocation seems to be bearable now.
Summary
The year, on a whole, proved to be quite fruitful despite the recession which seeped into her life too. The rollercoaster experience did not go waste and the individual learnt and progressed a lot.
Forecast 2009
The individual is starting the new year with the same optimism with which she started this year. The individual will take care that not only she, but the shareholders and stakeholders in her life also benefit from the profits.
I have just created this website and the blog. So it will take some time for me to update it. Till then I am providing the link of my earlier blog. Do you give your comments here or there in the blog. Happy reading!
http://uk.360.yahoo.com/soumya_2106
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