C'est la vie

Colorful Lory!

2008-03-09T20:36:00.001-07:00

Colorful, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

Feeding time at the Lory Loft. Jurong Bird Park.

Kiss me in the moonlight

2008-03-09T20:35:00.003-07:00

IMG_013618.jpg, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

A lone couple in the town square at Gouda, The Netherlands.

Run!

2008-03-09T20:35:00.001-07:00

Run!, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

Playing with shadows in the Singapore Science Center.

Gotham city

2008-03-09T20:34:00.001-07:00

Gotham city, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

Not the most perfect photo, but I liked the ominous effect... If only there was a bolt of lightning in the back drop...

Boat Quay

2008-03-09T20:33:00.003-07:00

Boat Quay, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

I know, everyone else has done it too!

At the Jurong Bird Park

2008-03-09T20:33:00.001-07:00

At the Jurong Bird Park, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

A flock of flamingos get their 5 minutes of fame. Jurong Bird Park

Deadly color

2008-03-09T20:32:00.001-07:00

Deadly color, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

Flights of fantasy

2008-03-09T20:31:00.003-07:00

Flights of fantasy, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

Again from the Jurong Bird Park.

Please come to our wedding!

2008-03-09T20:31:00.001-07:00

Please come to our wedding, originally uploaded by vijay.thampy.

A nice (and romantic?) wedding at the Jurong Bird Park. Off the beaten track for sure...

Random shots

2007-07-22T06:07:00.000-07:00

What kind of sports car am I?

2006-04-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

I'm a Ford Mustang!

You're an American classic -- fast, strong, and bold. You're not snobby or pretentious, but you have what it takes to give anyone a run for their money.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Unpimp your ride

2006-03-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

Great ad... V-Dub in da house... Representing Deustchland...

V - twin glory

2006-03-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

My roomie's Hyundai Accent in the reflection!

Dry Run

2006-02-25T18:20:00.000-08:00

Sun Tech Days, Singapore, Feb 2006

2006-02-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

iReach for the Sky

2006-02-22T05:50:00.000-08:00

Yesudas in Singapore

2006-02-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

Standing Tall

2006-02-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

Good morning sunshine...

2006-02-11T16:15:00.000-08:00

The sunrise by my window

Singapore

2006-01-29T18:23:00.000-08:00

This City is what it is because our citizens are what they are. Plato

Good morning, Singapore!

2006-01-29T16:28:00.000-08:00

In the morning a man walks with his whole body; in the evening, only with his legs.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Esplanade

2006-01-29T16:21:00.000-08:00

The Esplanade, Theatres on the bay
Singapore

Rise & Shine

2006-01-29T16:11:00.000-08:00

The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.
John Muir

Night time reconnaisance

2006-01-29T04:48:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd take a slow shutter shot on my cousin's EOS 350D, but this superbike pulled in to the lot at that precise moment... The lighting is unintentional, but it turned out pretty... What do you think of it?

Sheltered...

2006-01-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

It's all me in here, and the rest of the world outside...

Scary man!

2006-01-27T06:25:00.000-08:00

Embers

2006-01-27T06:14:00.000-08:00

It's burning, the fire catches on...

Unfinished work of art?

2005-12-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

The soft blue sky did never melt Into his heart; he never felt The witching of the soft blue sky... - William Wordsworth, Peter Bell

Till death brought them together

2005-12-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

In the democracy of the dead all men at last are equal. There is neither rank nor station nor prerogative in the republic of the grave.
John James Ingalls

Where do you want to go today?

2005-12-02T22:34:00.000-08:00

The Sky's the Limit

2005-12-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

One Liners

2005-11-19T02:20:00.000-08:00

Thanks to amazing response to the elephant jokes, I think you'd all want some stuff you can use everyday, so that no one goes overboard with their good opinion about you!

Read on, and enjoy...

1. Two antennas meet on a roof, fall in love and get married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

2. Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive..."

3. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

4. A sandwich walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry we don't serve food in here."

5. A dyslexic man walks into a bra�

6. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says, "A beer please, and one for the road."

7. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

8. "Doc, I can't stop singing, 'The Green, Green Grass of Home.'" "That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome." "Is it common?" "It's Not Unusual."

9. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," says Dolly. "It's true, no bull!" exclaims Daisy.

10. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.

11. Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

12. A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet and says, "My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?" "Well," says the vet, "let's have a look at him." So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes. Finally, he says, "I'm going to have to put him down." "What? Because he's cross-eyed?" "No, because he's really heavy."

13. Apparently, one in five people in the world are Chinese. And there are five people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mom or my dad, or maybe my older brother Calvin or my younger brother Ho-Chin. But I'm pretty sure it's Calvin.

14. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any.

15. I went to the butcher the other day to bet him 50 bucks that he couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf. He said, "No, the steaks are too high."

16. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, "Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you can't -- I've cut off your arms!"

17. I went to a seafood disco last week and pulled a mussel.

18. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly; but when they lit a fire in the craft, it sank, proving that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

Clarke Quay

2005-10-24T03:06:00.000-07:00

C'est la vie : Elephant jokes!

2005-10-20T01:09:00.000-07:00

Why do elephants wear blue tennis shoes?

Because the white ones always get dirty.

Why do elephants float in the river upside-down?

To keep their blue tennis shoes from getting wet.

How do you get an elephant up an oak tree?

Sit it down on an acorn and wait 50 years.

How do you get an elephant out of an oak tree?

Just wait till the leaves start to drop.

Why do ducks have flat feet?

For stamping out forest fires.

Why do elephants have flat feet?

For stamping out flaming ducks.

Why do giraffes have long necks?

For spitting on burning elephants.

The following is probably my favorite joke in the whole world:

How are an elephant and a banana just alike?

They are both yellow . . . . uh . . . . Except for the elephant, of course.

What did Tarzan say when he saw a herd of elephants coming over the hill?

Look! A herd of elephants coming over the hill!

What did Tarzan say when he saw a herd of elephants wearing sunglasses coming over the hill?

Nothing. He didn't recognize them.

What did Jane say when she saw a herd of elephants coming over the hill?

Look! A bunch of bananas coming over the hill!
(Jane was color-blind.)

Why do elephants travel in herds?

Because if they traveled in flocks, it would confuse the sheepdogs.

Why do elephants walk on four feet?

Because if they flew, you could never keep your car clean.

Why did the elephant paint the bottom of his feet yellow?

So he could hide upsidedown in a bowl of custard.
(Have you ever seen an elepahnt in your bowl of custard?)

How do you get three elephants in a taxi?

One in the front next to the driver, and two in the back.

How do you know there is an elephant in your house?

There's a taxi outside with two impatient elephants.

How do you know there is an elephant in your refrigerator?

There's a taxi outside it with two impatient elephants.

And what if you don't notice the taxi?

There are footprints in the butter.

How do you get an elephant into the refrigerator?

Open the door, put in the elephant, close the door.

How do you get two elephants in the refrigerator?

Open the door, put in the first elephant, then put in the second elephant, then close the door.

How do you get six elephants in the refrigerator?

Put three elephants in a taxi, put three elephants in another taxi, then put the two taxis in the fridge.

Why are there so many elephants running loose in Africa?

Not enough refrigerators.

Why are elephants large, grey, and wrinkled?

Because if they were small, white, and smooth they would be aspirins.

How do you kill a blue elephant?

Shoot it with a blue elephant gun.

How do you kill a red elephant?

Strangle it till it turns blue, then shoot it with a blue elephant gun.

How do you kill a green elephant?

Tell it a dirty joke until it blushes and turns red, then strangle it until it turns blue, then shoot it with a blue elephant gun.

How do you kill a yellow elephant?

What are you talking about? There are no yellow elephants!

How to catch a white elephant: Go to an place where there are white elephants. Bring with you a muffin (with raisins). Climb a tree. When the white elephant is close, drop the muffin (with raisins) in front of it. The white elephant will be happy, and eat the muffin (with raisins). White elephants like muffins (with raisins). Repeat this procedure for five days in a row. After the fifth day, the white elephant will be used to its daily muffin (with raisins). The sixth day you climb the tree, bringing with you a muffin (without raisins). Drop the muffin (without raisins) as usual. When the white elephant finds out that the muffin (without raisins) lacks rasins, it will darken in anger. And then you catch it the same way you catch an ordinary grey elephant.

(Please note: NO ELEPHANTS WERE HARMED IN ANY WAY AT ALL IN MAKING THIS JOKE PAGE!)

How do you stop an elephant from passing through the eye of a needle?

Tie a knot in its tail.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get to the other side.

Why did the elephant cross the road?

He was riding with the chicken.

Why did the elephant cross himself?

The chicken was a bad driver.

After they crossed the road, the chicken and the elephant went to church. Why did the elephant cross himself?

To get to the Other Side.

La Reine de la Nuit

2005-10-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

1998 Yamaha Virago XV125

The Queen of Darkness

Reaching for the heavens

2005-10-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

I've noticed, each place has it own unique cloud patterns. Tequila Sunset posted sometime in the past is the cloud formation over Cochin. Scientifically speaking, clouds over any place is a direct measure of precipitation there, but I'd say it was a measure of how pleasant the place can be! :)

Chennai has the most beautiful bluest skies you can ever see. Mostly there is not a cloud on the horizon, making for some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

Singapore has rain all through the year, so there's clouds around most of the time. But once in a while, you have great definition, making for a memorable scene.

If you spend all your time living your life, when do you have time to look to the heavens?

The University Hall, National University of Singapore

2005-09-30T23:51:00.000-07:00

Where the heavens meet the earth...

2005-09-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

Rahman creating...

2005-09-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

Sivamani in action!

2005-09-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

Rahman talks to us...

2005-09-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

A R Rehman live in concert

2005-09-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

To be able to hear is a God given gift, but to be able to hear A R Rehman at work, is just too good to be true! Was fortunate enough to hear the Master along with Chitra, Hariharan, Sadana Sargam, Sivamani, et al working their magic on stage. Will be posting a few pics a bit later...

Boooorrrriiiinnngggg

2005-09-08T05:14:00.000-07:00

I'm here sitting in a class, bored to the bone! Man, going back to studies really sucks... :(

2005-09-07T01:03:00.000-07:00

When the sun sets...

2005-09-07T01:02:00.001-07:00

Life in the fast lane...

2005-09-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

Cityscape

2005-09-07T00:58:00.000-07:00

Onam in Singapore!

Almost there...

2005-07-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving on Saturday, though I can't really tell you which flight I'm on yet. Pesky travel agent... :(

The sad part about the whole thing is that it still hasn't dawned on me that I'm leaving for good. The nostalgia and the wayward depression. I was hoping I could do all that on Indian soil itself.

Laid everything out to be packed yesterday. Have a zillion more things to do... Wish me luck, people...

Sarkar

2005-07-07T05:05:00.000-07:00

Giving into a lot of hype, and after numerous STD calls to my posse out in Chennai, I went in to see Sarkar yesterday afternoon. Hope you read the part about the hype, cos that's basically all there is in the movie!

As the movie starts, in one among a series of silent visuals, Ram Gopal Varma writes that all directors since Godfather has been influenced at one time or the other, this is his tribute. Well, let's just say he blew his chance. I hope we aren't bothered by a second tribute by RGV.

Relying on his stock of rich background music and washed out visuals, and general goonda settings (replete with ugly guys running in dirty alleys) and a wonderful story line for inspiration, RGV has managed to screw it up, even though he had the Bachchan duo for backup.

If you ask me what's missing, then I think it's the Godfather's aura. The absolute power that Don Vito Corleone enjoyed. The absence of harsh words and raised voices. The action that speaks louder than words. The smooth nature of it all. The original gangster.

Don't waste your cash on the movie. Just read Godfather again.

The link is complete...

2005-07-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

In a frenzied exit from my beloved Chennai, I thought I did a good job of packing, especially when I found out at the last moment that the car's registration certificate (RC) was lying around on the floor, in all the confusion.

Well, I thought wrong.

Those of who know me well also know that I'm a trigger happy camera freak. My fav possession would definitely be my Panasonic Lumix FZ 15 camera.

Yeah, isn't she a beauty? ;)

Anyways, in my hurry, I did *not* forget my camera, but forgot the connecting cables instead! So I ended up taking pics anyway, but no way of actually seeing them apart from the tiny preview screen.

As a saviour, my ex-roomie PA carried it down for me last weekend. So now the link is complete. The photos have been delivered.

Enjoy the nonsense... :)

Tequila Sunset

2005-07-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

The Omen

2005-07-02T04:34:00.000-07:00

Do you know where the movie The Omen got it's inspiration from???

Just kidding! A pic of my exteremely naughty nephew Ayush!

A railway station in the middle of nowhere...

2005-07-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

Ganeshaya Namahaa...

2005-07-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

Flitting about...

2005-07-02T04:31:00.000-07:00

Did I tell you it's raining down here in Kochi? :)

2005-07-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

Anniyan - The foreigner

2005-07-02T03:51:00.000-07:00

Just back from watching Anniyan.

Here's my review - but don't worry, I won't give the plot away!

Here's how to make your own Anniyan

1) Take the Tamil movie Indian
2) Replace the bribery part with all the other evils in society
3) Replace Kamal with Vikram
4) Replace babes Manisha & Urmila with one Sada
5) Add in a lot of Matrix Reloaded inspired graphics
6) Put in some psycho babble
7) Spice it with a lot of comedy from Vivek
8) Garnish with a lot of great songs, dance and action sequences

There, bake till the crust turns golden brown, and serve hot with a side scoop or two of vanilla icecream.

But I liked the theme and message delivered by the movie. There was a certain feel good factor emanating from the whole plot. Though bordering on the impossible, Shankar seems to be talking to the new youth on what is wrong in the first place. Stick to rules, seems to be the message of the day.

The irony of the whole trip today was that even though I was second in line, the ticket-issuing ceremony (yes, they made us wait a very very long time in queue before the counters opened!) was preceded by 2 sepereate touts coming into the line and placing their assistants in queue. Probably they haven't seen the movie yet... :)

Planning on seeing Sarkar sometime this week. Will review that also!

Ciao!

Chatting is injurious to health...

2005-06-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Was just lazing around on our beanbag downstairs talking with two equally lazily reclined females, my sister and mother.

Topics needn't make sense nor need they be contigous. It's more of a sessionless thing; you can walk in at anytime and be a part of it. Sort of like Malayalam soap operas on TV. Be warned, they run from 7 - 10 on the various channels, so don't make the mistake of getting your women folk hooked!

Back to topic, it's fun to have someone to talk to and make fun of.

Back in Chennai, we used to have a pad with around 12-13 people staying together; we're not too sure of the number taking into account that all were in the IT industry and were constantly moving around in the job or just changing jobs. All of us would make it home tired and sweaty at around 7 - 7:30, and then sit around in a room horizontal or vertical (depending on how tired you felt) and sort of automatically home in on a target. That evening would be entertainment courtesy of that poor fellow. Guffaws into the night so long and loud that we've had neighbours yell at us to go to sleep! But of course those neighbours invested in soundproof thick curtains (to block out the noise and light) soon enough!

Though the target selection was not always fair like many other things in life, it was fun. I've had my fair share of time on both sides of the battle. Being a target is not all that fun, especially when the big guns don't know when to stop! But all in all, you start missing something when you it stops. Same thing here.

Another vocal interaction that I like is during the time that all the guys decide it's late enough in the night to call it a day; and all trudge off to their respective rooms. Lying there in the darkness, your brain still hasn't gotten over all the activity that it's gone through and refuses to wind down. So since all are awake, we launch into conversations in the darkness.

Taking into account all the times and phases of conversation, this must be the only time when a guy is sober and still makes all the gaffes possible and says stuff he'll regret the day after. It's funny how people will forget that nobody's perfected built in nightvision, and will gesticulate in the darkness, making gestures to prove his point. It almost reminds me of how my mother was describing some shape over the telephone with animated and descriptive gestures...

Chatting with no agenda at all seems to be a genetic flaw in me, when I go to family clan gatherings. Everybody who's anybody, and considering everybody is somebody, I would like to tell you how funny it is to be a part of it, but then I would have to make gestures to show you.

After a lot of rambling, I still haven't made my point. But then that's the whole point of chatting, isn't it?

Complicated, huh?

Where will I stay?!

2005-06-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

With visions of a Type A Room in Gillman Heights, I'm all raring to start on yet another episode to the wonderful adventure that is life. I know, cliched dialogue, but nothing else says it better.