Changing Lanes

Was quite an effort to get these pictures.....

I was with my family having dinner at this Iraqi restaurant in Deira. We left from there at about 10:15pm went to my brothers office in Garhoud to pick up the camera tripod (without which the pictures would have been blurry). At that time my brother got this idea of going to the Festival City canal thing to show it to the rest of the family. It was nice and all but I wanted to get into position for the fireworks. We left Festival City by 11:15pm, took business bay, entered Sheikh Zayed road near Trade Centre. By 11:35pm we had reached the 3rd interchange and there seemed very less traffic. According to my plan we were supposed to take the service road near the McDonald's Emirat petrol station where we could have used our 4WD to get us around the sandy area and closer to the Burj. But unfortunately the 4th interchange exit traffic had a long line that blocked our way to the service road. So making a quick detour we took Salik and got to this new road (don't know what its called) between the Sheikh Zayed and Soufou road and luckily it was traffic free. We parked as close as we could to the Burj (right next to the Dubai Police Academy). It was 11:50pm, I crossed the road and waited while setting up the tripod. And after all this, I took approximately 150 pictures in those 10 minutes. Here are a few of them......

Shooting Mode: Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ): 1
Av( Aperture Value ): 5.6
Metering Mode: Partial Metering
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal Length: 46.0 mm

I don't know which bird this is but it is quite common in Dubai. Me and my family call it a 'Dove'. Live in pairs and quite intelligent I must say (waaay smarter than the pigeons around). Well this Dove was sitting on the makeshift cabin for the construction nearby.



Shooting Date/Time: 31/12/2007 14:54:06
Shooting Mode: Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ): 1/400
Av( Aperture Value ): 5.6
Metering Mode: Partial Metering
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length: 500.0 mm

Shooting Date/Time: 19/12/2007 15:26:51
Shooting Mode: Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed): 1/800
Av(Aperture Value): 5.6
Metering Mode: Partial Metering
ISO Speed: 100
Focal Length: 500.0mm



Shooting Date/Time: 23/12/2007 18:20:00
Shooting Mode: Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed): 1/100
Av(Aperture Value): 5.6
Metering Mode: Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed: 100
Focal Length: 500.0 mm

The second picture was a full moon...taken yesterday night.... :D

One question does come to mind when looking at these pictures...Why is the moon bigger in the day picture as compared to the night one if I'm using the same zoom. Hmm....my curiosity will now make me look for an answer online...

Took this just after my DIFF shift was over. I think the white lighting on the Burj really adds to this picture as the surrounding lighting is colourful......one of my best pictures.....



Shooting Date/Time: 14/12/2007 18:55:22
Shooting Mode: Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ): 1.6
Av( Aperture Value ): 3.5
Metering Mode: Partial Metering
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal Length: 18.0 mm

Fodafone it seems....they even made there own version of the Vodafone logo....



Biliardo....'D' will be scandalised... ;)

"And it's you and me and all other people; And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you....."

This is such a beautiful LOVE song.......



Click here for the Lyrics.....

This is what the Marina plus the Media City buildings look like from the Knowledge Village parking.....was really bored...

This post is dedicated to the three most closest friends I have....Cheeku, CC and Fud....

I'M SORRY........and I really do mean it......

Been a utter disgrace in the name of friendship lately and well what can I say...I'm a jerk...a BIG one that is.....you guys mean a lot to me but just sometimes I seem to ignore that fact and get lost in my own crazy world......so that... :(

I don't get it...how does living/working in a new development like this give me a new way of living. I'll still scratch myself in the same way, burp after I have an aerated drink, sleep in the very same position as I used to...etc. How will it change me then...sheesh..... ridiculous. How unimaginative can these advertisement people get......

Yes yes I know, first I don't blog for several days and then suddenly I make two quick posts. Well lately I've really haven't bothered updating this blog but well its high time I got back to blogging as I really don't have anything else to do(I've left work, too much to balance with college already a pain).

Well this is yet another picture/s post so that means I have nothing to write about on this blog. Hmm....makes my life sound quite uneventful. Well I'll deal with my boring uneventful life later.

Getting to the post.....First of all 'Happy Diwali' to one and all(not that there is an 'all', highly doubt anyone really reads this blog anymore apart from 'd'...the one). The picture that follows was taken of the house which instead of using the usual bulb lights to decorate ones balcony, they decided to use candles or as you call them in Hindi 'Dia's', I think its spelled like that, at least that's how Dia is spelled in 'Dia Mirza's' name, no wait, I think she spells her name differently now after some 'baba' or 'Jootish'(don't know what you call them in English) told her to change it. Anyway back to the picture, it looked different to me so I took a picture and thought of posting it here as a 'Happy Diwali' picture.



Getting to the second part of my post, a building is under construction near my house. So recently they were laying out the foundation. After putting the rods, they got the heavy equipment to pour the cement. The close the road beside the site to make space for the trucks. Work began at 10pm on Thursday and got over by early Saturday morning. This one day schedule was all due to the fact that heavy trucks are allowed in the city for the whole day only on fridays. Not sure if the foundation work was complete so I do expect the trucks to be back this coming Friday. Anyway I took a few pictures(Duh!!) so here they are. Not very happening but well...the site of the trucks was pretty cool....

The Airport Tunnel information signs, how useful.....
Who cares about the Traffic at the Exit when we're already in a traffic jam. Sheesh!!!!

Btw...the Altima cab has a funky number plate....I'm sure it would be worth a 5 Digit number if it was a normal Dubai plate...

Just after the Sunset this is how the sky looked on 30th October. I was on my way to college while on the Al Khail road that I took a few pictures. The featured picture is basically two pictures combined to give you a wider view.

The driver of this crane by mistake put the gear on reverse and ended up in this ditch. This happened near Chili's in Garhoud....

Pool driver though, wondering what the company will do with him....

I parked my car near the lake in 'Meadows 9'. Took my camera out of the bag, walked to the fence [that surrounds the lake] to take pictures of the ducks floating/swimming around in the water. A security man who happened to be passing by at that exact moment of time comes to me and tells me that I need permission to take pictures in EMAAR properties. WTF???

Permission to take pictures of ducks....how weird is that!!!

Anyway I think it had something to do with my camera, maybe it made me look like a official newspaper photographer or something. Hmm...I need compact point & shoot camera for such situation......


Anyway I was able to click a single picture till the time the security guard got to me... :D

I'm at the office right now alone. There is not a single person here except me.
If you're wondering why then let me explain.....

As I have decided not to shift to the evening batch while continuing to work, I have to miss a few hours of work every week. Now to compensate for those few hours I've decided to go to the office on Saturdays [usually an holiday at my office]. Damn, I've become a workaholic....

So here I am sitting all alone & this ridiculous thought pops up in my mind...'If I were to die right now, my body would not be found for the next several hours'....that makes me feel so nice... :

Atlast I got my DSLR....woohoo!!!!!!
It's Canon 400D with a 18-55mm kits lens. For all those megapixel freaks its a 10mp camera... :D

Here's a picture from it....

I passed....WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!
After 3 weeks of torment duo to the British Councils brilliant administration [sarcasm intended], I got my results yesterday and overall I got more than I expected to get especially keeping in context how crappy the exam papers had gone for me [and everyone else].

Life is good right now....completely perfect. Time to get that Canon DSLR now !!!!! :D

My sister read the post on UAE community and could not stop laughing. That added to my embarassment that I posted it there and not here.....ahhh!!! Why am I soo stupid sometimes....argh!!

The Song says it all....Love it. Breaking Benjamin has gone in my Favourite bands list..
NOTE: Its a little hard alternative rock

Lyrics...

I see nothing in your eyes
And the more I see the Less I like
Is it over yet?
In my head?

I know nothing of your kind
And I won't reveal your evil mind
Is it over yet?
I can't win

So sacrifice yourself
And let me have what's left
I know that I can find
A fire in your eyes
I'm goin all the way
Get away, please

You take the breath right out of me
you left a hole where my heart should be
You've gotta fight just to make it through
Cause I will be the death of you

This will be all over soon
Pour the salt into the open wound
Is it over yet?
Let me in

So sacrifice yourself
And let me have what's left
I know that I can find
A fire in your eyes
I'm goin all the way
Get away, please

You take the breath right out of me
you left a hole where my heart should be
You've gotta fight just to make it through
Cause I will be the death of you

(take take take)

I'm waiting
I'm praying
Realize
Start hating
You take the breath right out of me
you left a hole where my heart should be
You've gotta fight just to make it through
Cause I will be the death of you

And so it ends....

The Harry potter series has ended & so has the world of magic that a lot of us dreamed to be a part of. The last book was the best by far. People dropping left right & centre, the struggle for safety, the close escapes...etc was amazing though many people cried about the book various downs which puzzled me. I felt bad at various junctions in the book, but a tear did not appear in my eyes. Does this mean I'm unemotional...I would say no. As many guys are known to have a emotional span of a teaspoon, I don't belong to that elite clan of baboons full of them self.

'D' said that maybe I am not connected to the characters[the book] as she maybe is. I again don't agree...Harry potter books have been a part of me for such a long time that now not having to look forward to another book to release is upsetting but instead of choosing to cry about it I plan to visit that magical world in the fantasy land that I live at night, accept the end of the series & move on.

So that's that......

This post has been overdue for a week but well...did not have the time. For people who don't know, I've been working as an online content editor in a publishing firm for about 3 weeks. It's been keeping me busy & as evident from my blog, I haven't been able to post as much as before. Anyway getting back to what this post was all about...me & a few fellow bloggers had to meet this lady [Already forgot her name :] from CNN Arabia at the Central Perk Cafe for a video-ed group interview session [the video will be posted on their site]. Anyway after the session I dropped my friend to her house [meadows] & drove back home[Deira]. As usual took Sheikh Zayed road [after avoiding the toll even though I have the Salik tag] driving with cruise control with my leg on the brake.

With experience, I have learnt that while driving on the highways of Dubai, you need to keep a keen eye on the rear view mirror of your car. This is basically to keep an eye out for any maniacal driver who might be on his way. So as usual I kept checking my rear view mirror more often than it was required as per my driving instructor.

I had just passed the New Time Square centre [that name still makes me wonder] when I noticed a car with bright Xenon lights. I looked more carefully & realised he was in a hurry. I put my leg on the brake bringing the car under my control & slowed down a little [from 120-100]. He passed me a few seconds later; it was an Audi A6 [2007 model I guess] followed by an old [early 90's] BMW 3 series, a Camaro [late 90's] & a Lexus LS400 [mid 90's]. They were racing, with the Audi a clear leader. Anyway as they zoomed past me I made sure not to change my lane, just in case one of them decided to change into one of the lanes near me.

When they had all passed, in the few seconds that followed I put the cruise control back on with my leg back on the brake. Back to feeling a little more safer [it's never completely safe on Dubai roads] I tried to see where the 4 cars had ended up: the Audi had vanished, so had the BMW. The Camaro & Lexus were still trying hard to catch up. The Lexus being the most heavy car of the lot would surely not have had a chance to outmanoeuvre the others in the little traffic that was there on the road. So he seemed to have floored the car in hopes to catch up but then had to brake immediately. Some dimwit did the mistake of shifting into the very lane the Lexus was trying to shift into...big mistake though it did not end into a accident as the Lexus guy was a good enough driver to be able to brake in time.

Anyway, soon all 4 cars had vanished while I kept driving on. It took me another 15 mins to get home. Anyway it made me think, if it had been me about 15 months back, I would have surely tried to race along with them but that was the crazy driver in me who died somewhere along the way. I know some of my friends would have still raced now, even though they got their licenses at the same time as me. Weird how I have mellowed down while they continue to burn....so that's that.

This has to be one of the best prank video's [idea] ever IMO..... :D

100 Person Flashmob Randomly Chasing After People
Damn!!! funny japanese people.....

I turned 21 recently. Many of my friends do hope to or will celebrate their 21st birthday by partying the night away. Not me, I had a quiet celebration with my family, stayed at home, played with my niece, had dinner with the whole family [apart from my brother]. Simple & nice.

I did go out with friends the very next day hanging out for about 14 hours with them, got a wonderful birthday gift from my petite Amie but no partying for me, 21 or not, doesn't matter. Its just a number for me and not a gateway to freedom as everyone seems to think it is.

Another number that has lately been popping into my head is the no 69. The information related to it has changed over the years. The following time line shows you how....

Age 4-12 - it was just a number like any other number
Age 12-14 - used to travel to school in bus no: 69
Age 15-17 - there was some joke regarding the no 69 that I never understood, who cared anyways, its just a number for me.
Age 18 - Understood the joke & went 'Ewwwwww'
Age 19-20 - Wondered who did it.....
Age 21 - The above question got answered ;)

[note: ';)' does not mean I've done it, I just know who does it :D]

Anyway another song I've been liking lately is 'Are you with me?' by Vaux.....



click here for lyrics.....

Usually after taking a call while being half asleep, I tend to go back to sleeping but today it was different.

Sometimes when someone says something [three some :S], it strikes a string of thought. A thought that may span for just a few seconds. So today that thought was a dream/wish I had hoped for about seven months back but every time I get close to fulfilling it some interference pops up & delays its fulfillment. So today I saw for just a second a chance that kicked in a lot of hope, the dream flashed by in front of me & I had a smile on my face but the very next second something else was said & it came all crashing down. The dream will have to wait for yet another day & today, well I was upset. Anyway I woke up while being very sleepy a moment back. The best part is I kept pretending to be sleepy while the phone conversation continued. After hanging up instead of wrapping myself up with a blanket & going back to dream land, I got out of bed & got back to reality [which usually sucks compared].

Anyway today, I kinda discovered this new song called 'Think Twice' by Eve 6. Here's the video of the song, a little on the angry side of alternative rock I assume for some but I'm been shifting into that genre lately.



Was going through the lyrics when a part of it caught my eye that goes like...

11/06/2007
14:21

He limps away into the mist
Leaving behind a path of destruction
Can you smell the stench of death?

These burning branches lay in evidence
The sun hides behind this shadow
Darkness shrouds a disaster...

Ever wondered where this all would lead to,
Why we even bother with such trickery
Life is life, live it, kill it, do whatever with it...

Mood swings seem to be in fashion
Wear it well with pride & passion
And stuff it in a corner during some sexual action

Rhyming words make a poem
And Love & hate make a human
What am I doing here does anyone know?

Lies shroud an imminent disaster...
He lives behind a curtain of deception
She's sinking in a bottomless pit..

I wonder where this all would lead to,
Why do I bother with such emotions
But Love is life and in the end I'll be broken...

I don't know why but lately I've wanted to close this blog up.
Just feel like it. Weird but yeah.....
Its like I'm not bothered to take time out for it like before. Just losing interest in it even though I like blogging [or used to]. So this basically might end up in my list of [many]things I've stopped bothering about. Damn! I'm changing......
So let see, as time passes if I close this up or not.....

Well I was planning to start a photoblog sometime back but then my mobile camera got busted so my plan went down the drain. So I keep borrowing other peoples camera now & then duo to which I've had Gudiya's cybershot with me for a few weeks. Now I gotto give it back & I'm kinda sad. Can't wait to get my own camera [the Sony cybershot H7] as a b'day gift from my sister. :D

Anyway some pictures I took while driving back from college after a horrible Exam paper :(.

Beautiful sunset + traffic = Dubai [29/05/07]

When a person knows more than the other person thinks he/she knows, when that person has every reason to doubt that other person & that person has no idea, what can one do. Confusion prevails as usual, can't let the truth out cause don't want to fight, tired of it, but hiding it inside is also killing. To be honest, What can anyone do?...can someone answer....

Its weird how a death of a relative/common friend/common acquaintance can make two people who haven't spoken for ages duo to some conflict speak to each other like nothing was wrong between them in the first place. Its pathetic in my opinion. How can you console a person you don't like. If you don't like a person, you don't like that person for all eternity unless your perspective about that person was waaaay off the mark & you have a very good reason to change what you feel.

I know many people disagree with me on this but I just don't get it. Its the same in college, if a person who has not been true to you, who you don't like. How can you just go & have fun. Its like "Hey!! who cares if you don't like that person, this is fun".

After some recent events I have become more mad. People can't share ones happiness on the birth of a baby but when an elder dies everyone is meeting up & consoling that person who was closest. Its is said that when you share sadness it reduces & when you share happiness it increases. With all this sadness in this world why are people so reluctant to share other peoples happiness but are so happy to console them at times of sadness. Either do both or none at all...so that...

This is sooo cool....Future Computer supposedly

A cute advertisement of the new Hyundai car..... :D



& A video as proof that cats are trying to communicate with us....



& Great Video...Just for laughs:Gags

18:32
!5/05/07
Jealousy....
A word so simple
With so many tacit words
These whys and wherefores that he grasps
Rolling on and on in his fucking brain
The society that passes him by
Without a second glance
The heartache they can't spot
A feeling to not fit in
To be dealing with existence alone
Hollow pages in front of his eyes
Ink splattered across the floor
Silent screams resounding in his head
A beast ready to roar

She's seeing him now
For reasons mysterious to him
What can he name us
Will he ever realise
The attention feels pleasant
But how long will this survive
He looks up to the sky for an answer
As today grows into tomorrow
The day has rolled away
And she's already departed
He's on his way down all over again
To that ditch he calls home
Now he will lie here unnoticed
Till the attention sparkles on him again

Now he waits
For that day to emancipate him
To put him back in the limelight
Till then he'll burn
Till then he'll wish some people were dead
For the end of their existence
He looks for just that one chance
But life is not his playground
And things move on
So does the society all around
Without a second glance
Rolling in his fucking head
Loud whispers muffled in his head
A man ready to moan

-Stained

Parkour - (park-or) an urban activity where a traceur completes a 'run', overcoming obstacles on the route with a variety of gymnastic and acrobatic moves including elements such as jumps, vaults, and wall runs.

Well this art was introduced to my gang by two of my friends, that was the year 2004. For about 2 years me & my friend tried to perform this art to our maximum potential. With the lack of any Gymnasium at our disposal we did all that we could do without breaking any of our bones. We took a videos during some jams we had, here is a compilation of those videos....hope you like it....

15:24
01/05/07

She dwells in ignorance
Concerning all that she had once accomplished
For folks whose breath was dearest
What does she possess
What does she bear inside
Obscureness, Isolation, Tears & Grief
What exists of her crusade
A smile on every face
What are the incentives that sustain
For her to weep for their pain
Hither she lays alone
Reflecting on how her lifeline expired
A fresh new day when she blundered
Yet another promise she raped
Pounding the invisible barrier
Calling out to deaf ears
As she invades dejection
Wishing for a spirit
To just live here
But what she has served
No one shall do for her
As she crumbles in this deepening sorrow
Reminiscing all those painful souvenirs
She's the damned one
Maybe she should run
But she's scared to be alone
Even though lonely she is
So she will cut out humanity
Create a world of her own
Till the time comes for her to strive
When the clock ticks away for her end
And this world will never perceive her pain
It will never try to bang her again
She shall be a spectre of her past
Hidden in the darkness around

-Stained

I like this one. A rare long poem by me.....