I am back

Hi friends, I am back once again, alive and kicking. Sorry was not able to post in last 3-4 months, not because of time but sheer laziness. I want to make amends now...promise to see you very often.
A new dawn is in the life for me, got a new job for myself and in a complete different role for me. Few butterflies are there in stomach let's see what happens... meanwhile.. the lately the interaction with PMI members in the weekend workshop has been very fruitful for me. It has given me back my confidence which i had somehow lost in the real world. Slowly feeling that my batteries are getting charged and feel the same full of energy and enthusiasm which i had in my college days...touchwood...Hope it continues with me forever.

Got the coveted PMP

Hi Friends out there..really apologise for this long hiatus....since then lot of water has flown down the bridge... :)....actually I got busy with my PMP preparation..and finally got the coveted PMP title to get in to the august club.

Sharing my LL with you :
It all started in Apr end, when I thought of give a new thrust to my career.I started my journey in mid May'09 when I thought of to take the certification and joined REP (Adept Techno, Chennai). They are really very good people with one of the best instructors in the business for the 35 hr contact program.

I gathered all possible free stuffs from Internet and purchased Head First PMP,Kim Heldman and Rita's book 6th Ed.

After reviewing the prepratory materials, initially,It seemed to be Herculean task ,but somehow managed to hang around. Started the journey with PMBOK.

I had based my prepration on Head First PMP. After every chapter form the Head First, I used to refer to PMBOK. Followed by chapter wise tests. Then after completing Head First, started using Kim Heldman in same fashion. This went around 30-40 days.

Then next 10 days went on completing Rita's book, which provided enough stuff to brush up the theories. The next 10 days went around taking sectional/chapterwise test from all availabale sources.

Then took 3 full length test and did a rigrous analysis. It was really a great help to me, It helped me to fix my self on chair for 4hrs without break. As I had scheduled my PMP test at 1:30 pm. I used to take test during the same time.

Revised Head First and Kim Heldman twice, Rita thrice and PMBOK thrice.


The day before exam I completely relaxed and had occasional glances to the self made flashcards.

On Exam day:

Went to Prometric Centre half an hour early, The test started with 15 min tutorials of understanding the buttons . It hardly takes 2 min to understand, spent rest of 13 min in Brain Dump on the scratch paper. The original test started, for me the initial 30 min were like "fighting the lost battle". I was able to see "Fail" written on my screen,then I realised it was illusion. I still had 150 qs left, calmed down myself and then started again. In two hrs I was able to complete the test. I took a break and after 5 min I was again back reviewing the each and every answer. I was able to change 15-20 answers. It took another 70 mins to do so. After the Review I prayed to almighty and hit the "END" button.For few seconds screen blanked out and when i saw it was Congratulations !!... I didn't believe it... But it was real, I had passed the PMP.

with this.. i would like to be back with posts regulary...

Cheers !!

Polidog Crorepati

So the Great Indian Political Tamasha is on...our venerable netas..without any ideologies...have passed the 1st phase of seating arrangements and alliances(the monkeying business of you scratch my back, i scratch your back ) are over...Now the next phase of mud slinging has started...newspapers... full of quicky anecdotes and witty slogans...But the most shocking of all them are the affidavits related to their asset disclosure...every body now seems to be crorepatis newpapers, webs, full of list of such candidates..it's the amount they have officially disclosed...299 cr, 150 cr,122 cr 80 cr,...and list goes on....I think these creature could be suitabily tagged as Polidog Crorepatis...Its the sheer jealousness on my part, which has forced me to broach upon this topic...their wealth in last 4-5 yrs have tripled...in somes cases the appreciation is around 3000%..wthout doing anything..Being a common man I still fail to understand when my net worth has taken nosedive despite investing with lots of financial calculations..in these worst market condition...how could our great political classes have got their wealth appreciated....despite neckdeep involved in "juntaa ki sevaa" .

I wish somebody could do a PhD on this and come up with few revelations for the common man on the street..so that in 2-3 yrs everbody's hard earned portfolio could see some appreciation....


Jai Ho !!

The Opportunity of the Lifetime....

The Great Indian Election..has become farce in name of democracy...with Congress and NDA in decaying mode....the numerous claimants of PM post .....as a common Indian.. it has really made me to think hard..where are we heading for....just few months back...every body seemed to hit by the Obama mania...now nobody remembers him...forget the even the thought of "Change" and "Youth Power" all the words seems to have vanished....open the newspapers..news channels...every where you will find the news filled with... who ditched whom...the stories of seat sharings...breaking alliances....caste arithmetics.... and every Tom ,Dick & Harry claiming the PM post....

No Ideologies..No vision statements...No policies...No debates...No Roadmaps....This election jamboree has really made the common man on the street feel bemused and suffocated...

Just yesterday, I was going through newspapers column..they had come up with comparison of the manifestos of UPA, NDA and CPM of last 1999, 2004, 2008 election...almost everything was Ctr C (Copy) and Ctr V (Paste) of the previous years of the respective parties.

After lot of contemplation and thinking I have decided to form the party and fight the election and pledge myself to be the PM of the country... So all of you who have the ambition to run the country can join me...this party will be equal opportunity provider where everyone can claim to running for the top most job....Folks this is the opportunity of the lifetime....so join my party

In my subsequent posts I will be detailing the party structure and vision document....so all of you who want to join me.. till then can soak yourself in the great Indian Tamasha...

Tab tak
Cheers !!

Yeh jo public hai...sab jaanti hai......

On 23rd Feb...morning when half of the Indians erupted in "Jai Ho"...the nation's mood was euphoric....hordes of people on the air staking their claim to know the music maestro Rehman...Here comes the most bizzare comments ever to be heard...Congress spokesperson..some Mr.Tiwary claiming that success of Slumdog Millionaire at Oscars to be attributed to the Dr.Manmohan Singh & Sonia Gandhi's good governance........Yaaron in pe ab hasin bhi nahin aati....inlogon ka level itna gir gaya hai....

Auction for Mahatama Gandhi's article was going to happen in New York.....after a long slumber..Govt..wakes up and tries to bring those items to India.....thought that there will be few difficult questions to answer in elections....they tried hard...but failed....articles went under the hammer...and fortunately there was Mr Mallya with his golden purse... to purchase the articles..
Shamefully ..once again....our cultural minister Ms Ambika Soni...on the air and dutifully explaining the world that Mr Mallya purchased the article on the behalf of govt and will be donating it ..... once again shameful act...these people don't even blink their eyelids..in making false claims....

Intrestingly, Govt of India has some law which asks its citizen to pay out some X times the price value before importing the auctioneered goods into India...because of these clause....the belongings of Tipu Sultan which was bidded by Mr. Mallya 3-4 years back is still lying in his UK home...still to comeback to India.....

Really our political class has reached nadir....no words to express further....abhi election time hai.. ..Main to bas yehi kahoonga yaara..Yeh jo public hai... wo sab janti hai.......

Jai Ho !!

Pakistan more "democratic" than us.

After 26 /11
Voices In Pakistan : Every political leadership and Govt officials airing their own version on Mumbai terror attack..its consipiracy theory angles...and information about the those involved...latest from their Navy Chief Nauman Bashir... and after every statements...the very next hr/ day comes the statements of contradictory claims.....retractions.....sacking of NSA, Attorney General...and story goes on...still continuing...

Voices In India: Lone Pranab da...has taken cudgel to reply Pakistani establishment...and few supporting rehtorics from 2-3 cabinet ministers...and occasional burps from Soniaji...

While observing the incidents aftermath of 26/11... in both these..country...only few would disgaree on the fact that "Pakistan is more democratic than us"...the reason very obvious...see the different voices and theories emanating from Pakistan..everybody worth pinch of salt has their views and explanations...where can you expect this... if not in Pakistani zamhurriat....

Signing off
Jai ho....

Jai Ho !!

Jai Ho !! Jai Ho !!....

Words fell short to praise them....Congrats !! Slumdog team...Rehman tujhe salaam.. Gulzaar s'ab , Resul aapko bhi salaam.........

:)

Bas Yun hi........

Last week I was going through intresting article in one of the leading newspaper....they have predicted that in India recession will fizz out by April...the reason...huge spending in the month of April.....Firstly the great Indian dance of democracy..LokSabha election is to happen and on the conservatives estimates...the spending is going to be around 4000 Cr....Secondly another great tamasha IPL is also scheduled in April-May....so another spending of 1000 Cr....Wow what a desi whopping idea to come out of recession...and intrestingly the article is backed by lots of research and economic theory...
May this article proves to be true and bail out the economy in some manner......
###################################################################
We also today did our bit to help the spending...and boosting up the economy....went out in supermarket to have packet of mushroom which costs some 28 bucks....when we reached there we were asked to wait for half an hour... as fresh stock will be replenished..... being sunday morning..we lazily moved around...gathering stuff which we really never wanted befor entering the store....shopped ...collected the stuff of more than1000 bucks....what economic booster sirjee....
but majedaar baat....when we walked out mushroom packet was yet to arrive..so we left...

####################################################################
Yesterday, I hit the theatre for Masakali.. Delhi - 6, with wife, a movie from heart by Rakesh Mehra. Certainly movie is overhyped but chalta hai......the film music is already a chartbuster..i liked the particulary Maula.... and Sasural Genda phool.....what a piece from maestro Rehman..wish him luck that he brings Oscar for us....lighting up the billion hopes....

Yeh Kyaa ho raha hai.........

Jan 24th 2008: The pub Amnesia is attacked by bunch of cowards hooligans of some Sri Ram Sena, in Manglore,Karnatka. Those preverts claims themseleves the saviour of Hindu Culture and Sanskriti by thrashing innocents girls in full public view...what a display of might...

The next follows as a ritual...political parties taking the sides...and slews of advocates "for" and "against" the episode..few arrests...

Then comes Muthalik emboldened by new found status created in media declaring that they are not going to allow Valentine Day Celebration..

Then again tonnes of prime time air debating on the issue..everyone to be the so called expert..voicing their honest opinions..political parties taking sides as per their own defined principles.....The Nation Debates .....

The pink chaddi campaign caughts up the imaginaton of the new forward looking....women and plans to send pink chaddi to Muthalik saheb....his sena plans it to retaliate by sending sarees in reply...

The drama continues.....

On the V day...news channel...gearing up to let loose the live TV coverages ..on the attack of V Day celebrating couple in public....different version of senas having their field day....

Feb 13th 2008 : Then comes sthg special from the Queen's land (UK)...a 13 yr old , baby faced Alfie Patten is dad of baby girl..this fellow even doesn't know..how much does the nappy cost !!

WOW !! Another glaring fall out of the western culture...teenage pregnancies

In midst of all these the little soul in me is confused...standing at the crossroads...not able to decide what is right.....we have....the young assertive and confident generation ready to take the world in their stride....on the other hand their very scared protective parents want to protect them from the evils of the blind aping westernized culture...

I don't know where this all is heading for.....the violence needs to be outrightly condemned..but debate is on.... Only GOD knows ....

Rightly said..Yeh kyaa ho raha hai....
*************************************************************************************
This weekend saw latest flick Billu...nthg much to say about..except Irfaan,Rajpal and Ompuri....everything is forgettable....It's can see type...

Signing off folks... Cheers !!

Ram Ram sa...

So once again..I was at Chokhi Dhani...This was my sixth visit in last 3yrs..first in Mumbai..earlier ones were at Pune... For the sake of gyaan..In Mumbai it's well located near Bhiwandi naka on Mumbai-Nashik Highway...Every time I visit Chokhi Dhaani..I am on my knees..trying to devour everything which they have to offer...the desi rajasthani food...baajre ki roti..makki ki roti..sangri..curry..khichraa...dal baati churmaa...and many more to list down...with loads of sudhh ghee....

I tell you it's amazing experience to be there and have the real feel of traditional rajasthani village in the midst of city's humdrum..

I strongly recommend that visit at least once and spend a weekend evening there...I bet you will always keep coming back...It 's welcome relief from maddening Mall Culture....

This is really one of the great example of Power of Ideas...Hats off to the gentleman who thought of this novel idea and executed it successfully..What an Idea sirjee !!

Neend aa rahi hai...so guys Signing off
Cheers !!

@Liesure by chance

This week that wasn't....ha..ha....really good entertainment..when Cyrus Bharocha is there...On saturday after long time I celebrated Saraswati Puja..Yahan mumbai mein to log jaante tak nahin.. way back in Bihar-Jharkhand.. it's a huge festive mood amongst the student community....Abhi tak yaad aati hai pandalon mein moorti baithana..performing puja..and most important the bhasaan..with all the abirs and gulaals flying in the air...dhamaal on the beats of drum and keyboard..bhai fultoo masti.... realy makes you feel...nostalgic...missing those days...sayaad paying up the price of being grown ups and well settled in the rat race....

Yesterday caught up with movie Luck By Chance....surprising it happened by chance...we were going out for lunch...raaste mein poster dekhaa and made up the plan to be there...

Yaar kyaa movie banayee hai Joya Akhtar ne...ripped up the harsh reality of parde ke piche ki duniyaa...most rivetting performance was from Rishi Kapoor...what an acting dude....finally assault from the Baadshah Shahrukh Khan in 3-4 min scene gives you the whole essesnce of the life....
This scene is really touching and strikes the chord...So my friends go ahead and enjoy a very good movie...

Saturday@Kihim Beach

Yesterday..again a time to enjoy the mufatiyaa holidays..we planned to spend a day on Kihim Beach (10kms from Alibaug) and decided to use sea route..inspired by The Pirates of Carribean..ha..ha...
As decided with Santosh,the trip started at 6.30 am in morning from Vashi stn..it was still dark when we reached there..we boarded a less crowded local to CST...and we were at CST at 7: 30am..there we decided to have some snacks for the breakfast because pet mein choohe kood rahe thhey..he..he..and we knew we are not going have these stuffs till we reached the Kihim. After that we took taxi for Gateway of India...after reinnovation structure looked more clean and polished..
When we reached there was very long Q to get the ticket for Alibag ath ferry counter..lagta thaa akhhi mumbai hi alibag jaa rahi thi...huge rush...somehow we managed to get the ticket for 9 :30 ferry...the one way ticket cost varied from 65 to 100...we still had 40 min..so started taking stroll along promenade of Taj....had gone there first time after 26/11..all the entries to the old building was blocked by plywood sheets..saw the burnt spots of Taj..felt sad...and lots of sadness...feelings..which i am unable to express....
Phir..we went to point where ferry was to be taken..we were jostling for space to get inside the ferry as..it was like taking the mumbai local in 2nd class in peak office hour..somehow we managed to enter the ferry amongst men,women, children..the cricket kits..bags full with snacks..and what not....

The view from the ferry of the mumbai skyline is really awesome..it makes you feel really exciting watching it from Ferry's upper deck.

We reached Mandwa Jetty around 10:40 am..from there it was a free bus ride to chondi phata (10kms toward Alibag) for there we took auto to beach..well 3km ride costed us 40 bucks...so we were at Kihim beach finally...around 11:15am...it was low tide and water had just started receding..the sunkissed beaches have been always my weakness...and i really wanted to jump into water..at the very sight of it...
We hadn't made advance booking for the rooms...we went for search for room for the day so that we could takes shower after our sea bath...and change the clothes...there were couple of shabby bathrooms maintained by gram panchayat...which we decided not to use...i still ponder..why the administration can't have pay and use toilets...
Next, 1hr i was looking for room..everywhere..rooms were booked...at last i managed one by paying 1000 bucks for 5-6 hrs...yaar if you go there on weekend..make sure that you book the room in advance to avoid this mess of finding rooms...after finalizing the rooms.. we dumped all in the room and ran towards sea and straight in the water...gush..what a feeling..we were in water for whole 4hrs..this was my wife's first sea sojourn...and with every wave hitting her she gulped few ml of namkin water...the amount of salt she consumed ..i think she would be salt free for at least 15 days..ha..ha...

we had lots of fun at the beach..parasailed...mud bathed...sunbathed..50 meter sprint..and more..

Uske baad yaara..we had sumptuous lunch..chicken thaali...and rested on the hammock....
So time had come to good bye Kihim...we hired auto for 130 bucks to Mandwa Jetty....soon we were on ferry back to mumbai...the soft wind blowing across the faces while on deep sea was really romantic... and we really felt if we could be there for whole night on the upper deck....but...
Soon we reached back to gateway fo india..it was 7:45pm and we were tired till the heels...took the taxi..back to CST...in 10 mins we got the Panvel local..and all four of us dozzed off... till we reached Vashi...then back to our homes at Koperkhairne...
still 2days in hand to spend....ha..ha...

Signing off...Cheers !!

Punya Earning day

On Saturday...it was the day when we (my wife and family friends) went on punya earning trip in Mumbai...started with sudden idea to go to Siddhivinayak....so bang at 8:30 am we were at ganpati bappa's darbar..the crowd was less..so we were able to complete darshan within a hr....uske baad..phir se sudden plan to go to mahalaxmi.....so from ganpati's durbaar to mata's darbaar...we reached mahalxami....wahan pe majaa aa gaya...was suceessfully able to stick the coin on mandir's back wall... with some effort..saying goes.. if you are able to do that you are able have mata's aashirvaad..he..he...sayad is baar main hi "millionaire" ban jaaon

Uske baad went phir se sudden idea from someone...yahaan tak aa hi gaye ho to..Haaji Ali ke durbaar mein bhi chalte...all of us nodded in agreement...so went to Haji Ali's darbaar...
I had gone there a year back.....noticed few changes...There's reinnovation work going....it is really a good effort on the part of the concerned people to take this decision....

The crumbling walls were really not a visual treat at dargah..which is such a world famous place...Also this time i found lesser number of beggars on the pathway.....

It was a great experience to have mathaa teko at all the three religious pace within span of 4hrs....got all the aasirwaad and punyaa..he..he.....
uske baad Dadar mein sumptuous lunch at Pritam da dhaba...

In the memory lane

Yesterday,I was browsing through some channels..happened to see some travelogue on Leh-Ladakh...uske baad pucho mat... it was the trip down the memory lane..my honeymoon trip to Ladakh....an accidental and unforgettable choice...words unable to describe the nature's paradise.....

I think every Indian should at least visit once, and enjoy the nature's breathtaking beauty.....snow capped brown Karakoram ranges...and the black serpentine roads between them...with no population in sight....scenes were really intidimating..eerie silence all along..the way to Tsomoriri Lake..197 km from Leh......

I'll be posting shortly my travelogue on Leh....

Few days in 2009

hey...i am back...

When the new year started..we all hoped that it would be very happy and prosperous, unlike the painful 2008. But somehow the painful baggage of 2008 seems to be on...

Satyam becomes aSatyam with millions of hopes dashed in few days... perfect case study for B school curriculums on the ultimate human greed.

Our neighbour Pakistan still in denial mode...and ready for war...Nobody knows "what's next".

On the job front still the painful reccession is on and eating away the jobs like termites....and pinkslipped folks praying almighty for the divine intervention.....

Yesterday, I chanced upon to see the pirtaed DVD of "Slumdog Millionaire"....what a beautiful film...Danny Boyle has really "slapped hard" to the bollywood biggies..with this film...stole the thunder...except director everything in this film is Indian..

The protagonist "Jamal Malik" is really the symbol of hope and faith and epitome of perseverance...where he bears all the brunts of the life to become a millionaire...

With this hope me signing off for the day ...