Something about Nothing

Colors of Corralejo

Kunal — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:31:41 +0000

A beautiful white-sand beach, great company, an empty vista, and the sun bathing the world in its last glorious rays – what else can you ask for?

Book Review: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson

Kunal — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:41:00 +0000

This was a book which I picked up solely based on the title and without a doubt this is one of the most hilarious books I have ever read! The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared is originally a Swedish novel authored by Jonas Jonasson and published in 2009 – I of course picked the English translation. I have never been a fan on translations till now, but now count me as a convert.

Allan Karlsson is no mood to attend his 100th birthday party and disappears from his old-age home. Along with him a suitcase full of money also disappears and so we meet a criminal gang, an elephant, a hot-dog vendor who has unlimited knowledge, an overzealous prosecutor, a foul-mouthed beauty, and many more intricately woven characters. And this is just the present. After all the protagonist is 100 years old, and has a lot to tell.

We revisit Allan Karlsson’s life and get a completely new perspective on the major events of the 20th century. While he is a completely apolitical person – he loses the conversation thread as soon as politics make an appearance – Allan has played a pivotal role in the world politics. He has a hand in rise of General Franco in Spain, Mao in China, and Charles de Gaulle in France. He has foiled an assassination attempt on Winston Churchill, he has sung songs with Stalin, and is indirectly responsible for the fall of the Soviet Empire. Oh and did I mention he made the atom bomb at Los Alamos while working on the Manhattan Project and later spilled the secret to Soviet Union over a bottle of Vodka.

Wish this book was a few hundred pages longer and wish I could take a 15 year vacation like Allan. Go pick this book today, you would not be disappointed.

P.S.: Posting a book review after a year!

Venice

Kunal — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:27:06 +0000

Venice by Kunal

Bright colors, lots of bridges,countless boats and water everywhere – Venice is remarkably beautiful.

I need a break…

Kunal — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 05:56:21 +0000

Call of the sea by Kunal

Brrr

Kunal — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 +0000

It is Friday night, and I am yearning for a cold beer. I check the fridge and find nothing. So I pick a bottle from the crate and push it in the fridge hoping the marvels of modern technology will help me. 30 minutes later, I am sitting with a still-not-cold beer in my hand absolutely parched with the shards of my hope scattered around me. Then the bulb lights up! I put the beer in balcony and put my hopes at the marvel of freezing Munich winter. My faith is restored in 15 minutes with an absolute chilled bottle of beer in my hand!

True story!

Man, I miss the warm climate…

Clicked in the very warm climate of Fuertventura, Canary Islands.

Generations by Kunal

2013

Kunal — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:07:34 +0000

Tomorrow will be the same day as it was yesterday, then why this hooplah about a new year?! Have not gone on twitter/fb for the same reason. This is no new beginning, a new beginning is only when you want a new beginning in your life.. Anyway whoever believes in these things, a happy new year to you!

The only reason for this post – I wanted to publish the above shot. I rarely take a good fireworks shot, this was an exception!

Fatherhood Tales

Kunal — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:54:11 +0000

I live to eat and sleep well, and most of the people I know will agree to one if not both; one of the biggest opponents of my life-mantra is my dear daughter. Why does she hate sleeping? And why does she hate eating good food, and no I am not talking about the baby-goop that is branded and sold as full nourishment for your kid, I am talking about absolutely tasty food made by the wife in shuddh-ghee. I would lick the plate clean if presented with that, take a nice loud burp and toddle off to sleep, not my daughter – she would take a look at it, scoff at the insolence of her parents that they gave her food, turn to the closest non-food object, pop that in her mouth and toddle off to tear apart another paper in small pieces. At least for the sleep part I can understand her logic – why waste it sleeping when you can spend that time making mom-dad turn tricks for you?

—–

I don’t know how, but she seems to have picked up a few political genes as well. She won’t do anything until her palm is greased. “Want me to take a bite of food? First give me your mobile-phone.” ”Another bite? Jump up and down for me.” “Another one? Only if you let me go out of the room after this bite.” ”More? I need Dad’s glasses before I can promise anything.” “Are you trying to stuff me? I need to watch that video on youtube.” ”Are you kidding me? I already ate 5 bites and I refuse to yield with even all your pressure. I am not a politician that I will agree if you promise me more.”

—–

I remember some research that kids start lying early, I can provide conclusive proof to that. If I am ignoring the kid, and she wants my attention she will resort to all tricks possible. She will blow her nose like it is running so that I check all is well, “OK Dad came and went back seeing my nose is not runny at all. Time to step it up a notch.” Next she will shout putty (no, she is not talking about the ssh client – although can’t be sure with kids of this age) instead of potty and hope for the best. When another check reveals her lies, she will resort to the safest bet: shout “dudhu” or “pani” – after all which Dad can ignore a plea of hunger? I will pick her up and get a glass of water for her. Mission accomplished! :-)

—–

Absolutely enjoying this phase, should have started writing these fatherhood tales earlier.

Of Diwali, Fall and Winter

Kunal — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:52:28 +0000

Till today Diwali used to mean lots of hustle-bustle, fliers screaming sales, being forced to clean house (at times), applying for vacation 2 months back, and booking train/flight tickets even earlier. Never realized how integral these things had become in my life till today when I am celebrating – no that is the wrong word, there is no celebration here – spending my Diwali in office working more hours than usual to cover for people in India who are enjoying this day. For the past 2 days I have been avoiding Facebook like a plague as the posts and photographs only serve to remind me of what I am missing. I know today is a special day, it even feels the same way but I am forced to treat it as a normal working day. For me this is the first Diwali as an expat, and I am hoping all my subsequent Diwali’s are at home in India.

Enough depressing talk, I think another factor responsible for it is the weather. I don’t mind the cold, but give me some sun! 1-2 hours of sunshine is enough, but here the weather has been dreary for the last few days. The fall is at an end and as the Starks’ say “Winter is Coming”

“Winter is coming” by Kunal

Enough talk, hope everyone has a safe and really enjoyful Diwali!

Oktoberfest 2012

Kunal — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:55:49 +0000

Ferris Wheel at Oktoberfest Munich by Kunal

The natural lights dimmed, the artificial ones came alive, and as dusk settled over Oktoberfest 2012 Munich I captured this juxtaposition of two different light sources.

“An Italy Travelogue”

Kunal — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 23:24:23 +0000

This is not a travelogue – I hate these kinds of beginnings.. This *is* a travelogue, at least I think so, but not the usual stuff – simply because I have forgotten how to write. I’ll just write random things I remember about Venice and Florence and sprinkle a few photographs within and try to pass this off as “An Italy Travelogue”

Italy is just few hours away from Munich and consequently I was thinking that the place would not be much different from Germany – how wrong was I?! Italy and and the Italians reminded me more of India then Germany. How? That is a long story, so instead of blabbering about that let me post a photograph from the city of Venice!

Venice from the boat

Venice is completely dependent on two things – bridges and boats. Actually add another thing – tourists. Without them I seriously doubt anyone would ever live there! Before a few Venetian people find my blog and vow to avenge their home let me post another photograph of this beautiful place.

How did they ever make a complete city on water?

But on the whole I enjoyed visiting Venice – a completely unique experience. And when booking a hotel for Venice, I would recommend *not* booking in Mestre (the mainland counterpart of Venice) but in the actual city of Venice. It was beautiful having a room overlooking Grand Canal from one window and a not-so-grand canal from the other.

Venice Sidewalk

A ride on a train (where I decided to learn Portugese to help out any further without-ticket Brazilian girls – hope the wife does not read this) later we entered the beautiful city of Florence. The city left me spell-bound with its art, and my hotel left me hungry with its snafu! I was about to dig up the baingan-pizza-without-any-sauce when the hotel recovered brilliantly and I had the best pizza of Italy (I may not be exaggerating, considering my other experiences with pizza in Italy). Alright I wrote a long paragraph, time for a photograph!

Ponte Vecchio – the only bridge to survive WW2

I absolutely loved the city of Florence – narrow cobblestone roads, majestic architecture, awe-inspiring art and shops magical enough to wipe the contents of your wallet with one glance. My cloak of disregard helped me avoid those glances but the cloak was no match for the aromas of pasta, scratch that, make that the scent of Wi-Fi! The internet speed was no doubt good, and it was fun seeing I had 70 unread emails in my Inbox – of which just one was worth reading and even that was addressed to the wife; but the pasta was equally good.

Florence framed by a window in the Giotto’s Campanile

The agenda for the final day was to visit Pisa and lean on the Leaning Tower but my view that Italy is similar to India was reinforced in the worst possible way – a strike cancelling all trains to Pisa and then an hour long wait to cancel my tickets (for which the refund will arrive in two months)! Anyway that allowed me the time to climb the 414 steps of the Gioto’s Tower and see a brilliant view of the Duomo and the city of Florence.

Florence from the top with the Tuscan countryside in the background

And that brings us to the close of this not-a-travelogue travelogue.
Samachar samapt hue, shubh ratri.