Penn's Landing, Philadelphia

My first picture from Canon XSI. 18-55mm lens.

Me and Aby drove to penn's landing at 1:00 a.m. We were just chatting, looking at the stars, drinking and what not... Suddenly we thought of capturing this amazing moment.

This picture has its own charm. You can see the clouds, Suspension cables of the bridge, water, cars parked in parking lot, water all over the lot... Light is consistent through out the picture.

I love Philly. No doubt about it.... I will miss you....

To see the details in the picture click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/raj_walia/3647466150/sizes/l/

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who finds himself just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

I personally didnt like the subject. Why do you want to show the cruelty and torture? Why these goras (americans, englishmen) like crappy movies? The torture and cruelty stuff? Now, its been nominated at oscars and has already bagged many awards. What is wrong with the world?

Certain parts of this film do become interesting and capture the imagination, like when the brothers landed at the Taj Majal and instantly recognizing a business opportunity, became tour guides and entrepreneurs, stealing shoes, selling them for money, learning to SURVIVE! Amazing how quickly children can become little capitalists.

In first part of the film, kids have acted so good. They stole the show. Thumbs up to them!

But still "Slumdog" is too disturbing to be considered entertainment. Just there is so much of torture and violence in this world, does not mean you can cram it down our throat.

Please STOP. Do not come to India to shoot movies like these. We are much more than that what you think we are...

edition: (on January 12, 2009)
Last night, I was watching Golden Globe and was really looking forward to A.R. Rehman's nomination. And I almost jumped out of the couch when they announced him the winner. It was a proud moment for me, for him and for One billion people back in India. You made us proud. You have taken Bollywood to a new level. God Bless you!

YOU ARE SIMPLY GREAT.

Motive behind Bombay attack?

As Bombay recovers from the brutality, the inevitable question arise. Who were these terrorists? What was their motive? what did they want?

They landed on Indian soil to create havoc. They wanted to show which they did, that they can create terror anytime anywhere they want. I was watching the news that these many people were taken hostages, but i dont think they entered Taj, Oberoi and other places to take hostages. You do not take hostages without even using them to escape or demand to release other terrorists. Sometimes i think that they came to India for some big objectives but somehow couldnot do it. May be they didnt had the chance to look at the people's eye to eye while training. They might have realised that their enemies are not just enemies but human beings.

We may never know the answers, but we must look out for them. We have to get rid of the terrorism not only by security but by understanding the mindset of these terrorists. We need to rise all as one and defeat the terrorism.

History has been made...

History has been made...

November 4th 2008 is the day when history has made here in America. On historic eve, i was so tired that i could not keep my eyes open after 10:00 p.m. Next morning, when i got up at 5:00 a.m. i switched on my television. What i saw was unbelievable. This is a historic day not only for black people but also for the world.

Just four decades ago, there were yobs back then who would go out on a weekend abusing blacks, calling them names, shouting at them and sometimes beating them up.
No one has ever imagined a black person would rise to the highest position in office.

I was very emotional in the morning today seeing all the people getting emotional and its not black majority people voted for him but lots more new registered and white people voted for him. This time people really are fedup of republican administration. Bush has made such a big mess that it might take another term to bring back America on the right track.

Just six months back, i posted about the racism in America and the attitude of common man here. I was so worried about my future in this country. It would be hard to survive if Mc Cain was elected. But thank God, today i am so happy and relieved.

After seeing all this, i think that if America can select a person whose anchestors were slaves not long time ago then why not India can be like America. I have a dream that one day in India also we will see this type of change. We all are fedup of corrupt, illiterate politicians. one day there will be someone like Obama will step up and will bring India on right track. I really wish i live to see this change in India. May God Bless us all and God Bless India(Janambhoomi) and America (Karmbhoomi)

Happy BBQ Season everyone!

After many long months of cold and winter, we are finally coming up to
spring and BBQ season. Therefore, it is important to refresh your
memory on the etiquette of this outdoor cooking ritual, as it's the
only type of cooking a real man will do, probably because there is an
element of danger involved.

When a man volunteers to do the BBQ, the following chain of events
are put into motion:

Routine:
1. The woman buys the food.
2. The woman makes a salad, prepares vegetables, and makes dessert.
3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along
with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the
man who is lounging beside the grill - beer in hand.

Here comes the important part:
4. THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.

More routine:
5. The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
6. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. He
thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he deals
with the situation.

Important again:
7. THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.

More routine:
8. The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins,
sauces and brings them to the table.
9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:
10. Everyone PRAISES THE MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
11. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off" and, upon
seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing
some women!

Happy BBQ Season everyone!

White Rabbit...

One day, I was reading this article suddenly these words hit me.
"There are times in our lives when we must make choices based more on instinct than intellect. Often, the soul recognizes its choices before the rational mind has time to process the information."

Immediately my mind skipped into that scene of Matrix where Neo awakens in front of his computer and he reads the words, "Wake up, Neo. The Matrix has you. Follow the white rabbit."

After few minutes, couple of people showed up at his apartment asking him to join at the club. Neo refuses saying he has to work tomorrow but then he sees the damn white rabbit on one of the girl's arm and there you go, the game started.

Deep inside, I think everyone is hungering for a mission. I know I am. If my own existence does not provide then i tend to look out in the world. Everything happens for a reason. Come on guys, a person's head does not go down to the desk in front of the computer for no reason. Messages, clues are being sent to us every time. We just have to trust our instinct what is says. But now a days, everyone is so self-obsessed with the way of living life that they think thats how the life is. But its not. Its just the matter of time when you come across it and when you do, believe me your whole attitude towards your own life and others' will totally change.

Its all about white rabbit. Do you ever look out for white rabbit? If you do, you know where your white rabbit is heading?

Think about it...

Do We get a little too stingy while donating, than we do while splurging ?

I ask myself many times, "Do We get a little too stingy while donating, than we do while splurging?"
I must admit that I love Shopping :) and I don't mind spending extra bucks on shopping. Sometimes, i buy stuff which is totally unnecessary at that point of time but since i like it, i will buy it. why not? after all, its my life and my hard earned money. I am sure many of you will agree to me.

But, when it comes to donation, we get little stingy. why cant we be the same?

I think we are programmed to believe that when we give money we must receive something back, when it works like that, we feel okay but when we give and get nothing in return, we may tend to feel a little cheated. I remember i use to feel the same way when i was little but thank GOD i am not the same any more.
Do we ever realize that how our little help can change other's life? You dont know you might be changing someone's life to some extent.
Do you know you can sponsor a cataract surgery in India for as little as the amount you pay for a dinner at a nice restaurant? You can sponsor a child for a month for that price. Unbelievable haan ? But people usually miss this part and they keep living their life the way they want. Wake up people, its time to do for others. Ab nahi to kab?

Why do we think twice about the amount we plan to donate, as opposed to the money we spend on ourselves ? Is it right to do so ? YOU DECIDE!