Last time, when I did DI’s tag on Soulful Songs ….I said I would update too…I am being very bad these days with my baby blog!! I am getting too tired after office, and weekends, have loads to do pending since weekdays i am virtually living in office! But today I decided I would make a point that I spend one hr atleast on blogging , both reading my favvvvvv ones [man I am missing!!] and writing new posts….Hope I stick on to this!

Now coming to the Tag, this post is for new releases….Here are some great ones added….do listen and tell me if you like them too I strongly recommend these songs!

1 ) New song by Subha Mudgal called Sapna Dekha hai maine…..Awesome it is, both lyrics and video!! I was almost in tears when I saw this for first time!! Hope u und why i had this as title of post!

2 ) Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na – Kabhi Kabhi Aditi …I am sure this should be playing in your mobiles/ipods!

3) Tum Ho Tho and Yeh Tumhari meri baatein — Rock On 

Different and awesome to listen Loved them!

4) Teri Ore –   Singh is King, Movie I felt was ok but this song was awesome…….what do u say?

5) Pehli Nazar Mein, Zara Zara touch me – Race , I dont know why, I loved all the songs from this movie….infact I like the movie too!! I think I added, Pehli Nazar mein, here is video for the next one.

6) Baatein Kuch Ankahee si kuch ansuni sii…. Life in a metro, I rem I added In dino in the last one, this one is another lovely one too! do add to your playlist

7) Mar Jawaan and Kuch khaas hai from Fashion – I loved the movie and songs too

Khabar Nahin and Jaane Kyun – Dostana , believe me, I saw this movie in theater and baap re…..but still its funny!

9) Zindagi Zindagi , Tu hi To Mere Dost Hai and Tu Muskuraa – Yuvraaj , though movie was avg, songs are superb!

10) Kannal Pesum Penne – Mozhi , awesome movie…hindi ppl, u can watch it too…i loved it totally…and here is the song,

what say now? arent they awesome songs worth adding to your little playlist?

Sapna Maine Bhi Dekha…is really nice among all! it touches your heart!

“I am Back n Back with more smiles and tulipssss!!!”

Tell me, Did you miss me?? Well, I would love to hear that you did, but u cud be honest too … I def missed your posts and mine too……There are around 500 unread posts in my reader , more so on my blogroll! Guys hope u dint forget me, I would soon come and leave my “precious” comments on urs  

Ohh Ya, I said , I am back with more smiles and tulips right? Here we go!!

I went on work to a village called Noordwijk in The Netherlands for 9 days…..weekdays , man I tell  you, were damn hectic [8am till 10pm mostly!] but this hotel where we stayed was on beachside, so dinners and work in evenings too on beachside [ dont i have a cool job? ] 

And weekends, I went to Amsterdam for the first weekend…and second weekend I went to Tulip Garden called Kekunhof !! As always, pictures speak volumes more than words ,so here we go

The first photo  is Eglantiers Graht , this is where my friends was there in AMS [thats how i cud have 2 weekends there, tourism clubbing with work!]….Its very walkable distance to Anne Frank House! The 3rd photo in collage is a boat house. It is said, that for the area in NL , population is very high, so it was very normal for people living on the sea/canals like these…and they still do! It was very interesting to see these boat houses.   The first and last photos are churches near DAM SQUARE in Amsterdam. Dam Square is the city center and the place where Madame Tussauds is there….I felt Belgium’s Grand Place is based on this Square. The 3rd photo is my office in AMS….isnt it cool? on the bank of the river Amster and each day we need to go by ferry across the river.

So here is the feast for your eyes

Kekunhof, here it comes, all for my precious beloved readers!

Hope you had smiles on your faces after seeing these !

PS: I have no idea why the pics are small, I did upload just as I used to before, but did not work! someone please advise me if you know how to make them bigger . For now , please click on photo to view the full size thanQ

Oflate I have become sooo bad towards my blog…no regular posts…waaaaa…..am too tired with work at office now a days…its like , all i do is work…so I deserve a break, haina?? Yayyy I am off to Netherlands , the TULIP Garden Nation, next week …..Ohh dont think its a real break…its not holiday, but on business! So thats the update from my side…

Now coming to post, I have been aiming to share this info since a month now, but could not post in time….

I dont know if you heard of TED? If not, read on….even if you heard, read on….What I am going to share is something AMAZING and something each one of us would appreciate and be proud of !!

The genius behind SIXTH SENSE, Pranav Mistry! 

He is a grad student at MIT, and he did do wonder! Its awesome…

I strongly recommend you see this video and I am sure you would be as mesmirised as I was!

Isnt that wonderful…amazing? 

Its just one among many others in TED…Now go on, Follow TED and Join TED! Spread the word, Spread the ideas

Enjoy!

Well, its time to reveal the mystery gift I was telling you on my birthday!! Guess what??? As I thought , if its a gift, its def from Renu else its not a gift, must be something else and Yayyy Yayyy its a gift and from renu

Lovely Lovely Lovely Guess the ear to ear smile on my face

Its a beautiful hand made photo book with all our photographs It made me smile with tears in my eyes  

You know what? we are 4 friends from coll, virtually roommates for all 4 yrs……and we are all so damn lucky to find each other…thanks to our seniors  who said, ragging is done place wise and all of us are from hyd so a grp! Our seniors were another lovely bunch of people….10 in number, they told by example how to enjoy the collegelife and pave the career path at the same time………There was not a single day where we didnt admire them for what they are…..their friendship probably was the unconscious inspiration for us!! I am sure these would be exactly how the other 3 wud feel too!

Made my college memorable, we had lots of silly fights and learnt a lott from the special qualities of each other….To see, speak we are all so different  but inherently we are just the same………..just like a rainbow colours which are from pure white

See even now, got gift from one , and I cant stop at thanking just renu ……You c an see the colors of everyone in any one of us!  We are all what we are now because of each other!  

If one of us is wrong, other sit and tell…..we never felt any hesitation in saying something frankly coz we are so damn sure of each other. Ya we did feel bad , had silly fights and all but even thru those fights, we used to be stubborn just because we are so damn sure this issue wont have bad ending! Agree girls??

4 of us now in 4 diff places, 3 diff time zones…but still friendship is as strong as it ever was!! Renu says, heights yaar  

Its like, we are always there for each other, no matter what!! cant even think otherwise….

All those quotes about friendship seem so true! 

Well, yaar words never suffice, I could write on and on …

Lovely ladies, You all are my priced possesions, precious, and lovable friends I am sure I could have said We here instead of I haina?

Pictures speak better than words so here you go  

This is the greeting card I got and the front and back of the photobook

This is an excerpt of whats inside….lot more of personal photos which I dint think are ok to post here

Look, she even featured my blogs she knows how much I love them unsaid , given that she is not much interested in blogging

Love U Loadssssssssss girl!!

Me

PS: Guess what?? You wont believe! renu’s budday is on may 19th and I had already bought a photobook and was decorating it like the same way she did! Same idea eh and now, man, i should be thinking of a new idea and get more creative!

This post was supposed to be posted yesterday! but delay delay delay!!

3rd April was my budday but was in office all day long buzy buzy

And when i was back I had soo many little little surprises!

Swaps  gave a new def of BUDDAY – Bud’s day! – Thank You for your wishes

Kanagu – gave me a mail wishing me, thats so sweet Thank you

Axinia – I was smiling off to glory when she mailed me, it  said ” MY Sunshine, Happy Birthday ” in the first line of mail! You can imagine the glee on my face! Thank You Axinia

Last but never least – Sailaja Aunty – She sent me two cards which I picked up late actually! at 7 in night but such a sweet card, I was overwhelmed!!! Thanks aunty Stay the same

Sometimes, the best moments in your life are such simple gestures So I am collecting

Now coming to personal wishes,

My best buddy , Samyuktha – guess what, she called me at 12 IST, and she played happy birthday to you on her violin!! Isnt is wonderful [she started learning recently and this one was exclusive to me Yayyy]

Renu dals – called me at 12 my time and wished me [gosh i was in deep sleep!] and next day she called and scolded me stupid girl u dont even know how to recieve wishes! :X katti neetho

And ofcourse amma and kiran – 2 beautiful cards…:) and dheed sara wishes on orkut

Mystery parcel – well I had a card in my post box saying i got something but they took it back to mail main office coz it was too big for my post box….instantly i thought it shud be renu…but she insists she is not…and she cant act this well..so umm waiting to go and collect on monday!! oooohh could be a welcome package from ICICI bank too! i have been waiting since long!

And yesterday evening I invited few friends from ofc for dinner and made idli chutney and biryani and aloo kurma whose recipes and photos would be soon on my kitchen blog

My collegues here who are indians, brought me a cake and we had a mast dinner

So Choti Choti khushiyan, zindagi banate hai!!! [ Small small moments of happiness make a whole life ]

Yaaay its ads again! So people who read it through reader, come on to the main blog!

These are a few ads I found are either funny or creative…..have a look and njoi

This one, haha I particularly enjoy….esp shes hot wala and liar one….this is creative def and very funny too! what say you?

NO SMOKING Ad, well it does a make a point about smoking in public places! For this one thing, I have never had problems in india….and i came here to find that BAN started off just before…..I was immensely thankful!

One time, about mid june last year, I had to go to Netherlands on business….and I was suffocated everywhere outside my office, believe me or not! It was FIFA time, and any restaurant you go out for dinner, was filled with smoke….

And not so surprisingly, its women who smoke a lot here in europe! Pregnant women, mainly teenage moms/young moms, are totally unaware of what they are bringing onto their unborn child by smoking! its lack of awareness, no responsibility and carelesslessness ! And later I knew the ban started in Europe too in July 2008, which was a great relief for me!

the next one is definitely creative, to the point and definitely makes the impact!!

Its for the “SAVE TIGERS” Campaign!! It does the similar ads with many more animals! 

Hope you enjoyed watching these

Love

Me

Man, this is addictive

Situation – Mom and her 3 yr old daughter planting plants in garden

Mom : So, girls planting plants is best thing you can do to go green because…..[thinking]

Daughter – it gives Oxygen and….

Mom : which helps us in [thinking]

Daughter – Breathing!!

Funny how we overlook the basic things! ******************************************************************************

This is specially dedicated to Smitha’s  Miss Little Sunshine  and sweet little Peanut of Solilo’s!

Ladies, ur angels are smart!!

*******************************************************************************

A literary work will be considered 55 Fiction if it has:

Fifty-five words or less (A non-negotiable rule)

A setting,

One or more characters,

Some conflict, and

A resolution. (Not limited to moral of the story)

Picked this up from Solilo and Dhiren’s blog!

Well, in this case, its not actually fiction, but could well be! So do not know if it qualifies, but thought I would post it

*********************************************************************************

He : Don’t try to hold air in your palms…..Its just escapes through the finest gap it finds!!

Me: (to my own and his surprise) : I am not trying to hold air , I am breathing it through….it cant escape anywhere……its within me, a part of me!!!

*********************************************************************************

A literary work will be considered 55 Fiction if it has:

Fifty-five words or less (A non-negotiable rule)

A setting,

One or more characters,

Some conflict, and

A resolution. (Not limited to moral of the story)

Last week, when I wrote my Spring Post, Sailaja aunty left a comment saying “Common we too have Spring!, its not quite the same though!” …..Ahh well , How could I miss it?? Ofcourse we have SPring and as aunty said, its not the same way!!

Today is the start of Chaitra Maasam , new year according to Telugu Calender. And Chaitram marks the advent of Spring in deccan India…..a season, where the cuckoos starts singing, where the forests and trees grow green ….and most importantly, the season of Mangoes start!! Yum Yum….you guys must already be enjoying…gosh, we dont get good mangoes here! [only tinned and i dont like them]

Ugadi [yug+adi in sanskrit] is a celebration of New Years eve on Deccan area of India.

Andhra people call it Ugadi, Kannadigas call Yugaadi/Ugadi and its also celebrated in Maharashtra as Gudi Padwa!

To me, its Telugu New Year! Let me give you a brief idea of what its about and how we celebrate it!

Mostly, the family gets together, we used to meet up in our granny’s place in the evening…all of our cousins with pattu pavada and poola jada… But the day starts with pooja , and we make a spcial prasad for today….its called “Ugadi pachadi”

Its main ingridients are :

• Neem Buds/Flowers for bitterness – depicting the bad experiences we might face in life – sadness
• Raw Mango for tang – for the share of happiness we get
• Tamarind Juice for sourness – for anguish and anger we might feel 
• Green Chilli/Pepper for heat – for the ambiguity or fear we may feel
• Jaggery for sweetness – for those sweet moments of surprise in store for us…
• Pinch of Salt for saltiness – for the flavor of year…

All in all, we call them as “Shadruchulu”   the six tastes/flavors of Life….I think, the philosophy behind it is, we cant expect to have a fully happy life or fully sad one…..Life is a mixture of all these emotions! 

Just like, all the flavors together make a delicious recipe, Our Life also with all the emotions tastes delicious! So it is to remind ourselves of what we might get in new year and to encourage us to accept all of them as they come and still enjoying! Isnt it a wonderful way to start a year???

Later, through the day, we listen to PANCHANGA SRAVANAM – from a priest which tells us what to expect in the year, how could it be etc based on positions of planets. Whether one believes in them or not, I find them fun to read! As long as you know, YOU are the sole person responsible for yourself, believing these wont hurt…..The moment, we tend to depend on someone else’s prediction that on ourselves, failures are bound to happen…what say?Image Source : Google Images.

I remember, when we were kids, nannamma [fathers mom] used to tell us lotsa stories, which not only  were fun but also imparted knowledge and manners into us! If not for our grannys , we children would be unaware of all those epics which we thought as bed-time stories!!

So Guys and Girls, please feel free to say how it is in Gudi Padwa and Yugadi.

And Virodhi Nama Samvatsara Subhakankshalu!

When daisies pied, and violets blue,
  And lady-smocks all silver-white,
And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue
  Do paint the meadows with delight,

– William Shakespeare

Thats when you know Spring’s Here!

Last week I was in London, and as I came back You know what I found….

Whoa!….Sidewalks filled with blooming daffodils,

Buds of violets blooming in my backyard….

Clear blue skys with clouds moving fast,

as if running away to a distant land….

Long days with Mr Sun playing hide and seek,

But still that chill doesnt leave the breeze…

Ahh well, I realise and clap in glee,

Spring’s Here with all its magic !

Only after coming to UK, I realised the power of Seasons….yes, they can change your mood, make you feel blessed

Its sooooo good and beautiful…Here are few snaps!

These are from various places, few from roadside [first 4 and the blue one down], few from a zoopark

And these from a park nearby!!

Howzaaat???

Hope you enjoyed !!

PS: This post was scheduled for 21st March, but somehow it did not get published!! So the delay in announcing Spring in Chester!